Have Gun. Will Carry.
December 3rd, 2007 by Syd
When you make the decision to arm yourself with a defensive pistol, one of the first psychological bridges you have to cross is when and how much to carry the pistol. The choice generally comes down to either carrying the pistol only when you think you’ll need it, or carrying it pretty much all the time. My preference is for the latter – as close to all the time as I can get it. This is just one man’s opinion, but here’s why I think this way.
- Keeping the gun on you at all times (or as close to that as is reasonably possible) is the safest way to store your gun.
- Keeping the gun on you at all times is the most effective way to deploy a personal defense weapon.
- Keeping the gun on you at all times is the most comfortable way to deploy a personal defense weapon.
Safe
If the gun is in your holster, you know that no one else is messing with it. Unless you live completely alone and no one else ever enters your domestic domain, a loaded gun lying around unattended is a dangerous thing. Even with other adults moving through your space, it is a risky proposition, but if kids share your space it can be a recipe for disaster. I have trained my own kids on firearms, but I don’t know about other kids they might bring over to the house. If the gun is under your immediate physical control, you know that none of these dark possibilities can become realities.
If the gun isn’t with you, it can’t perform the function of defending your life, and it becomes nothing more than an expensive and problematic paperweight. In other words, it’s not keeping you safe. If you’re not going to use it, why have it? Assuming you don’t leave the pistol lying around loaded, you must unload it when you take it off. In an emergency, it is just too slow to load a gun before you can bring it into action. Loaded guns are much more effective at discouraging goblins from doing unpleasant things to you.
Effective
When you wear the gun day in and day out, your body “learns” it. It learns where it is and where to reach to get it. It becomes almost like a part of your body. The value in this is that in an emergency, you don’t have to think about where the gun is and how to get your hand on it. It just happens, smooth and quick. When you go to the range to practice, all you should have to do is clear leather, aim and squeeze the trigger. Personal defense guns don’t live in plastic boxes.
If you ever have to use the gun in earnest, it will probably be a surprise. It is likely that you will be responding to a threat quickly, and it will probably not be something you expect. The shock of a sudden, violent attack is not the context in which you want to be doing new product testing.
Comfortable
Unless you are a retired law enforcement officer, the first time out in public with a concealed handgun will be an incredibly uncomfortable experience. You won’t be able to think of anything but the gun. You’ll feel like you have a red neon sign on your back flashing “GUN.” You will most likely feel that everyone has x-ray vision and can see right through your clothes and to your pistol. You will move strangely, stand differently, and act unnatural. It’s not a good thing. Experienced people can spot the awkwardness and discomfort you’re feeling. People will talk to you and you’ll have trouble concentrating on what they’re saying because all you can think about is the GUN. Wearing the gun every day dispels this discomfort and awkwardness.
In terms of physical comfort, I’m not sure that any chunk of metal hanging from your belt or bouncing in your pocket is really comfortable, but I am reminded of Clint Smith’s observation that “Your carry gun should be comforting, not comfortable.”
As the gun becomes a part of you, you move naturally, quit being nervous about it, and adjust your wardrobe and carry gear so that you are more comfortable, well concealed, and not worried about the gun. Part of successful concealment is not “telegraphing” that you’re wearing a gun with awkward body language.
Practice, practice, practice…
To be safe, comfortable, and effective with your carry gun and rig, you must practice with it. The ideal form of practice for most civilians is the IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) style of tactical pistol matches in which you must draw from the holster, get on target quickly, move, and engage multiple targets while being timed and scored for speed and quality of hits. (IDPA is not “tactical training” but it is good practice. For more on this, click here.) Standing in a pistol range and punching holes in paper is better than nothing, but it does not allow you to practice many of the skills necessary to effectively use a defensive handgun. Classes offered by local shooting clubs are also excellent opportunities to improve your skill. Like any martial art, the movements of defensive pistolcraft must be practiced and repeated thousands of times to achieve the speed, accuracy, and fluidity of motion which a violent encounter will demand of you.
Closing thoughts
Finally, and perhaps an ancillary but vitally important issue, rights are like muscles; if you don’t exercise them, they wither away. There still remain powerful forces who would take away all of our gun rights if they had their way, and shall issue concealed carry is first on their list. One of the greatest arguments and supports for shall issue concealed carry is the tremendous track record of safe and lawful concealed carry by millions of permit holders across this nation. When you carry your gun, you are joining this historic movement and casting your vote for the right of individuals to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This is no small thing. When you strap on your gun, you are telling Chuck Schumer, Frank Lautenberg, Dianne Feinstein, Sarah Brady, Hillary Clinton, Carolyn McCarthy and Paul Helmke to go to hell, and it feels good.
Remember, it is your legal and constitutional right to carry your gun, and you don’t have to apologize to anybody about that. As a responsible and trained gun owner, you are making your corner of the world a safer place. The goblins will have to find some other place to do their nastiness.
OK.. great points… now what kind of holster is that? Concealco?
It’s a DeSantis Cozy Partner
Every time I leave the house.
A mouse 9mm in my front pants pocket.
It is worn before I reach for my wallet or keys.
If the Georgia laws ever ease up a bit on “where” you’re allowed to carry then I’ll strongly consider Open Carry and something more substantial, but until then I have Concealed Carry anywhere I want to go.
A weapon does you absolutely no good if it is ANYWHERE other than on your person … during those times you might as well not own one.
Let me also add that, IMHO, you need to have a hot chamber as well, otherwise you’re only “sort of” carrying. If you cannot safely carry a hot chamber then you need to consider another handgun.
Just my 2¢.
Another EXCELLENT newsletter!! Thanks for all the sanity and truth!
Great Article as always. I agree with what you said. I got my permit here in Denver, Co back in April of 2007. At first I only carried some of the time, while I became used to the fact. Yes, I was a bit nervous and apprensive at first. But now I carry all the time, even at work. I drive a truck here in town delivering meat to high volume restaurants, sometimes even at night or early evening. It’s a comfort to have it there. And I have gotten to the point, that if it’s not there, I know something is missing…
carrying a gun is not applicable always…since our country always implement gun ban during elections so it is encourage to be flexible in carrying a gun
A very concise look at concealed carry — why and when to do so. Thanks much.
PA Resident with CCW permit, and an avid fan of constant carry, I Learned the hard way - ONLY time I do not carry is when I go to NY state or some other place that does not honer PA permits. - Coming home, after dark, from weekly visit to NY I took dog out on leash before strapping my Kahr 45 on my hip, its usual safe and handy resting place.
Dog and I were attacked by a wild and particularly aggressive and vicious racoon that came out of the shadows of the yard light. I was able to kick said coon away and make good my escape , but not until after he damaged my whippet, requiring a trip to vet’s and a serious cash outlay. Now, a beautiful creature is scarred for life. Had I been armed, I would have dispatched the coon before he got close enough to do damage. Worse yet, he (the coon) is free and alive to attack again.
Live and learn.
Al Robbins
New Milford, PA
Couldn’t of said it better if I wanted to.
As a retired officer, believe me when I say, the average person can’t take an aggressive stand unless he believes his life to be in danger but they can sit with peace and confidence any where he or she wants. Please get legal training & a legally owned firearm, don’t say anything without a lawyer, no-one can fault your actions then. The average shooting (even justified) cost about $20,000 plus. Bernard Getz (alleged subway shooter), was legally correct in every action, except his mouth.
Coming home from work, alone at 3am, I’ve seen a whole train car of people in terror because of a couple of dopes. No firearm is too heavy at that point. Think out scenarios (even at home), practice and remember 12 people have to feel, they would do the same thing in your place. Breathe deep, stay calm and be quiet, consider no one to be your friend at that particular point. The confusion is unbelievable but will pass, keep in mind always, you are correct, don’t doubt your action afterwards.
That’s why you train, “go with god and may you never use your gun in anger”. That’s what they told me at the academy and allow me to pass it on..
I read this a few years ago on your 1911 site. It was a great read then and still rings true.
Thanks for all you do for CCW and the 2nd!
Anyone reading this should also sign up for Syds emails, you won’t be disappointed.
Correction, I should have said “newsletters”.
Thank you. I’m flattered that you remembered. Yeah, it’s not a new piece, but given current events, I thought a re-posting might be in order.
There’s a subcaliber mousegun in my pocket always.
Usually there’s also a “real” pistol on my waist or at least in the glove box but I’m not convinced the 1911 or Glock 19 IWB qualifes as deeply concealed. I “make” off-duty cops all the time at the grocery or the mall…. but I never tell them their concealed piece is only mostly hidden and not truly and completely concealed.
Hey, Shamalama, what 9mm fits in your front pocket? Does it fit when you’re wearing normal slacks or jeans and not some Tactical brand of pants or oversized gangsta low-riders with giant pockets? Even a PPK seems marginally obvious….
I hear ya, Rudy. I sometimes rode the trains but they recently posted “homeland security” notices saying it was illegal to CCW there even with a permit. So I’m back to driving everywhere. Didn’t the Long Island RailRoad massacre prove that passengers on trains *need* to be armed, not treated like criminals for taking measures to defend themselves from the real evildoers….
Very nice! For me, what helped me get my mind off the GUN was training. How to react to a threat, when to react, recognizing threats, etc. Anyone who carries should get some advanced defensive handgun training - the cost is worth it.
joe voter, I carry a Kel-Tec PF9 in a custom pocket holster.
Dress slacks, jeans, whatever.
http://www.commonfolkusingcommonsense.com/pics/guncontrol/pocketcarry.jpg
http://www.commonfolkusingcommonsense.com/pics/guncontrol/concealedcarry.jpg
The holster breaks up the outline, making it look more like a Blackberry or PDA.
The only thing I can think of to add is practice, practice, practice. When a situtation arises your training will take over and you will do the right thing without thinking. Oh yes practice doing things the right way.
Hey, check out www.gunmap.org and pass it on!
gunmap.org