Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about carry bags and when it’s appropriate time to utilize a carry bag. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to look at some of the worst things I have seen out in public when it comes to carrying a concealed handgun. Whether it’s someone just starting out and learning how to carry a gun or someone just flat out doing wrong, it’s a good learning experience to talk about some of these mistakes so more can avoid them down the road. Let’s take a closer look at things to not do concealed carrying.
Concealed Carry Corner @ TFB:
Open Carrying
Whenever I see someone open-carrying, I always try to find a way to chat with them a bit more just to understand exactly why they are open-carrying versus carrying concealed. The vast majority will say because they have the right to do so. Others will say they do not want to jump through the hoops of obtaining a concealed pistol license. Regardless of the answer, open carrying is just a bad idea as a general rule. Some argue having a handgun visible on your hip is a “deterrent” when in reality, if someone armed comes into your area, the person open-carrying will be the first target since they pose a threat. It’s a no-win situation, and the element of surprise is completely gone because you’re parading the fact you are carrying a gun very openly.
The second part of open carrying is the fact most states don’t allow individuals to open carry in a vehicle. This means you have to unload your handgun and place it at the furthest point of your vehicle in most states without a concealed pistol license or constitutional carry. The vast majority of time is spent inside your vehicle, so as a general rule, it’s not a great plan to visibly show your gun and be without your gun in a vehicle. If you have no other choice and absolutely have to open carry, it’s still better than nothing but there are problems associated with visibly showing your gun out in public. Personally, I think it’s a bad look not only for gun owners but makes the general public uncomfortable when the goal is to educate people rather than embolden stigmas.
Using Cloth Holsters
Another big problem I see is when people use universal cloth holsters rather than having a holster that is made specifically for that gun. Trust me, I completely understand the appeal of cloth holsters. They are cheap and for most people, they can serve as a holster for a number of guns they may own. Going to the range and practicing with a cloth holster and carrying one for personal defense are two very different things. Cloth holsters can flex and deform when put in certain positions.
There was a case of someone shooting themselves in the buttock because of the cloth holster flexing and snagging the trigger. Other holsters like Kydex and leather have more rigidity and offer more support than a standard cloth holster. Although universal cloth holsters may be cost-effective for shooters on a budget, they simply don’t offer the support that people need to carry a gun daily. Companies like We The People and others offer very inexpensive holsters for specific carry gun models. This allows you to still have an affordable pistol but one that offers stability over something like a cloth holster.
My Personal Experience
One of the reasons I decided to talk about these subjects is based on what I saw down in Raleigh, NC a couple weeks ago while inside the luxurious shopping center of Food Lion. The individual I saw in the wine aisle had a black band around his ankle which at first I thought was an ankle monitor but upon closer inspection saw it was actually a small Glock 43 or a similar-sized variant. This individual had an ankle holster holding this Glock on his ankle and instead of using the spare magazine holder for a magazine, he decided to put a small knife in the holder instead. Everything about this is what I tell people to avoid.
He had a great firearm choice, but open ankle carry is probably the worst option I’ve seen in public. Most people will open carry on their belt for a faster draw and easier time accessing their handgun. Open carrying on the ankle, not only gives away the fact you’re carrying a handgun, but having it in the ankle position makes it the slowest method of drawing and furthest from your center point of the body. The longer I looked at this setup, the worse it became, and it should be a lesson to everyone on what NOT to do!
Overall Thoughts
Finding your groove when it comes to carrying a concealed handgun can be challenging, to say the least. Navigating the world of carry guns and finding the right gear for you can be a process. I hope this not only helps new people who just started carrying a gun but also gives the experienced guys a good laugh. What do you guys think are some other things people who carry guns shouldn’t do? Let me know your suggestions in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.
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