Handgun Conceal And Carry Options - Part 4
You have decided to purchase a handgun and carry it under the legal requirements of the state you live in. You have also decided to carry your handgun in a holster designed to be attached to the belt or your pants in the waistline area. We referred to this as waistline retention in a previous article. Overwhelmingly, this is how most civilians choose to carry a handgun, and it is the preferred method of most criminal justice professionals. But how safe is it? We are faced with a double-edged sword. Carrying a handgun or other defensive weapons using waistline retention allows for quick weapon acquisition and stronger defense – yet you remain vulnerable to these same items being removed quickly by an adversary. We have considered a number of variables.
Let’s summarize the main issues presented thus far.
1. Lethal force is not always the appropriate option. Statistically, it is much more likely you will use less-than-lethal force with an adversary. Where should you carry your pepper spray, flashlight, impact instrument, stun-gun, handcuffs or kubaton?
2. Fanny-packs are a signal to others you may be carrying a concealed weapon.
3. Waistline retention of weapons is good for quick weapon acquisition and defensive strength, but presents risk for retention of weapons.
4. 70% of physical confrontations end up on the ground.
5. If 20-25% of officer deaths result in an adversary using the officer’s handgun to kill them, and most officers use waistline retention (belt systems and belt holsters) – either the carry system is less than desirable, or training in weapon retention is deficient.
6. If I am carrying a handgun or other weapons, will I have time to get them out and use them against an adversary?
7. Under high stress the cognitive process begins to deteriorate rapidly and the body loses many of its complex and fine motor skills. Many weapon retention systems actually require these skills in order to retrieve the weapon.
8. Smaller frame guns are more easily concealed. Choose a handgun your hand is comfortable with, and one you can shoot with accurately. Choose the cartridge carefully.
9. As few steps as possible should be required to retrieve a handgun or other weapon, and gross motor skills should be utilized. Fine and complex motor skills should be eliminated.
10. The method chosen for carrying defensive weapons, including handguns, should be such that in order to retrieve them requires very little cognitive function.
11. Consider using instinct shooting instead of traditional shooting methods.
Based on these considerations, what is the best method of carrying? If you are like most people who have the legal authority to carry a handgun, you will likely carry your handgun using some type of waistline retention method. Does your jacket cover the handgun? Where is your pepper spray, kubaton or impact weapon? Are they in your car? Are they in the pockets of your jacket? Let’s consider one more variable.
The Wild Card
Here’s the wild card. What about the weather and your environment? If it is 90 degrees outside, a jacket will become very uncomfortable. Additionally, wearing a jacket or long shirt on a hot day may actually draw attention to you, because it is not normal. Does your schedule require you to be in and out of meetings and buildings all day long? Do you have to stop at the bank or pick up groceries? Doctor appointment? These three elements; weather, environment and schedule will have impact on your carry method.
The question most often asked by those who are considering carrying a handgun is:what is the best way to carry it? This is the wrong question. The questions you should be asking are:
1. What is the likelihood that I will be involved in circumstances in which a favorable outcome for me will depend on my ability to retrieve my handgun or other weapon within several seconds? In other words, should I carry my handgun using a waistline retention method?
2. If I choose a waistline retention method, how confident am I that I can successfully defend myself from an adversary trying to remove these weapons?
3. What if I end up on the ground?
4. Does the weather, my environment or my schedule today have any impact on my carrying method?
On a typical day I may be attend several meetings at different locations with people ranging from CEOs to civic group members. I might have a doctor appointment or need to stop at the grocery store. It is impractical and uncomfortable for me wear a jacket all day long. When I do take it off, I am wondering if my handgun is in view of others. Knowing that lethal force is statistically unlikely, I also carry some less-than-lethal weapons. If I do need them I do not want to be fumbling around under high stress trying to locate and retrieve them.
As I began to ponder this dilemma, I searched for a retention system that would allow me to carry my handgun, pepper spray, impact weapon, kubaton and flashlight in an organized manner. I could not find one, so I designed one myself, considering all the factors outlined in this article.
It looks like a book cover, or business portfolio, with several zippers. Inside, I had several pockets sewn with Velcro tabs to secure my handgun and other less-than-lethal weapons. I have taken this into virtually every environment; from the bar to the boardroom, without raising any suspicion or concern. Everything I need is within arms reach by unzipping one zipper; and it is all in front of me. I am not reaching into a pocket or behind my back fumbling with some type of retention holster.
The downside is that it may take an extra second or two for me to retrieve the appropriate weapon. Also, if the adversary manages to remove this pack from my possession, he will have all my weapons.
Conclusion: there is no perfect method of carrying your handgun or other less-than-lethal weapons. If you have the legal ability to carry a handgun, please consider these principles carefully as you decide.
By: hipper
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