Which provides actual protection from gunfire?

• A. Concealment hides but may not protect
• B. Cover provides protection; concealment hides but may not protect
• C. Both provide protection
• D. Neither provides protection

Answer: (B)

The key idea is the difference between cover and concealment. Cover is a solid barrier that can stop or blunt bullets, providing actual protection between you and the gunfire. Examples include a concrete wall, a heavy door, or a sturdy vehicle’s body that can block rounds. Concealment, on the other hand, hides your location but does not guarantee interruption of bullets; you can still be hit if a bullet penetrates the concealment or if the shooter can see and shoot around it.

So, when we talk about real protection from gunfire, only cover offers that physical protection, while concealment merely hides you without necessarily stopping bullets. In practice, you should seek cover to create a barrier, and only use concealment to stay out of sight if no cover is available. Some objects can provide both concealment and cover, but the essential distinction is that cover equals actual protection.