When Frank Cannon, president of Right to Bear, sat down for an interview with me, one of the first words out of his mouth was “culture.”
Not coverage limits. Not pricing tiers. Culture.
Founded in 2021 and headquartered in South Carolina, Right to Bear is one of the newer players in self-defense legal protection business. It operates as a membership association rather than a traditional insurance company—a distinction that matters. Avoiding the word “insurance” sidesteps the regulatory thicket that forces some providers into layers of compliance theater. As a member organization, Right to Bear has more latitude on what it covers and when it doesn’t.
That “when it doesn’t” part is rare. Cannon says the organization has denied coverage in just three cases. One involved someone who signed up after the shooting already happened—nice try. The other two involved the classic cocktail of testosterone, ethanol (the drinking kind), and stupidity that didn’t come close to righteous self-defense. Those denials are the exceptions, not the rule.
More About Culture
Right to Bear’s version of culture is different. Cannon’s guiding principle—“We kneel at the cross, we salute the flag, and we stand for the 2nd Amendment”—is not subtle, and it is not a marketing slogan from people who have never carried a gun in self-defense.
In practice, that culture shows up when a member is involved in a use-of-force incident. In addition to connecting the member with an attorney on the emergency hotline, Cannon is notified early and reaches out personally. He offers to pray with the member, talks through the possibility of PTSD, and reminds them the membership includes psychological support (up to 40 counseling sessions). He then continues checking in on the member in the weeks afterwards.
Got a problem on Christmas Day? An attorney still answers the emergency hotline. Right to Bear’s team will hold your hand when you need it most. Members regularly thank Right to Bear staff for their great service and personal follow-through. It’s all part of the culture there, Cannon says.
The organization maintains recommended attorneys in every state. Members can also bring their own attorney if that JD has criminal trial court experience. They won’t approve your estate attorney to represent you in the aftermath of using deadly force. Expert witnesses are available and provided as needed – at no charge to members.
Right to Bear pays for civil trial defense but does not cover judgments if you lose. Cannon doesn’t see that as a major gap and here’s why: he says roughly half the states provide some form of immunity from civil judgements after a justified use of force. In the rest, the Right to Bear legal team says it has found no damage awards against those not charged or who were acquitted criminally.
Some competitors market civil judgment coverage as a headline feature. In the real world of righteous self-defense, those judgments simply don’t materialize. Additional coverage for that scenario for those who just have to have it is expected after the first of the year.
The organization also covers appeals and provides lost-wage reimbursement while you’re in court. Firearm replacement is available if the gun is seized. Red-flag/ERPO defense has a $25,000 attorney-fee cap. Unlike some competitors, Right to Bear covers members who receive compensation for carrying a gun—security work, church safety teams, and similar roles.
Why I Bought It
Weeks before this interview, I went looking for affordable coverage after my membership expired with another company. With Armed Citizen Legal Defense Network gone (it’s been acquired by another company), I compared providers and products and liked this relative newcomer to the space. Then I learned that Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is a big fan of Right to Bear, along with William Kirk or Washington Gun Law, Jimmy Meeks, and Johnny Strickland. That got my attention.
For roughly $375 (discounts from full freight happen regularly) I got the annual family plan for me, my girlfriend, and my two kids—nationwide, full coverage. No wedding ring required. No upgrades to cover the boys. In a world where solid coverage is pushing $250+ per person for adults, that felt like real value. I spent my own money on it even though I could probably have gotten coverage comped. My endorsements and recommendations aren’t for sale.
Cannon kept returning to the faith-based culture at Right to Bear. “We’re there for them when they need it the most,” he says. The organization recently announced a 50% lifetime membership discount for pastors and faith leaders who establish and maintain security teams at houses of worship or faith-based schools.
In a field where several solid options exist, Right to Bear distinguishes itself less by marketing slogans and more by a culture that treats members like family. That’s on top of attorney of your choice access, personal follow-through, and a willingness to stand with the good guys and gals who use force lawfully. For many, that culture of support when the phone rings at the worst possible moment is the difference between a policy on paper and surviving the legal aftermath with one’s sanity intact.