http://cdn2.cheaperthandirt.com/blog/?p=21608
May 12, 2012
You have decided to carry a concealed handgun and you might be nervous about the first time you decide to walk out the door with your gun strapped to your waist. Being nervous is completely normal. Almost every single person I talked to about his or her first time to carry was nervous and self-conscious. Before you step out, make sure you know exactly what your state’s laws are regarding where you can and cannot carry, how you carry, and if you will need a license or permit to carry. Federal law does not allow you to carry a gun into federal buildings such as post offices, courthouses, polling stations, law enforcement offices, and jails or prisons. This is a universal law and federal law restricts you from carrying your gun into these places. So don’t take it! Also, payclose attention to the laws regarding establishments that sell alcohol. It is illegal in most states to carry a gun into a place that sells only alcohol or more alcohol than food.
With his shirt down, you will not be able to see a thing.
Before heading out, you will want to make sure that your clothing choice is comfortable, allows you to access your firearm quickly, and conceals it properly. In Texas, it is illegal to have a gun showing; not even an imprint of a gun is legal. An imprint occurs when you can see the outline of the gun underneath your clothing. Make sure your clothes cover it properly and completely. A wardrobe malfunction can get you into trouble.
You might think that everyone is staring at you and that everyone knows you are carrying a gun. It is normal to feel this way, but don’t worry. No one knows! They are all too preoccupied doing their own thing to worry about what you are doing.
To help ease some of the tension you may be feeling, I have asked many concealed carry veteransfor tips and tricks to make your first time to carry more comfortable.
Plenty of people told me that smaller guns in pocket holsters are what they prefer. One concealed carry old-timer says, “One thing I learned carrying a gun over the years—the longer I carried a gun, the smaller it became.” Another agrees, “I conceal carry every single day and carry my small .32 in my front pocket without any added “gun junk.”
Along those same lines, I heard quite a bit of “It’s better to have something than nothing.” If yourgun is too big and cumbersome to carry, you are less likely to carry it. Therefore, it is fine to carry the smallest caliber you feel comfortable using for self-defense.
Another important factor is how comfortable your holster is. Here is my journey in finding theperfect holster. Believe me, if you are not comfortable in your holster, you will not be carrying it, “the best holster is the one you forget at times you have a gun on.”
Make sure your gun does not imprint.
In Texas, concealed means concealed. You want to make sure you keep your gun covered. This requires the right holster and the right clothing. One concealed carry veteran says, “Make sure your weapon isn’t visible.” Many who have pared down their carry weapons from large frame to small frame say they did so because it just became too hot to wear jackets to cover the large guns like a full-sized 1911. For example, one person who carries says, “I carried a J-frame .38 Airweight. This is still one of my favorite guns to carry, but not too much fun to shoot. I could throw it into a front pocket in a decent holster and no longer had to have extra clothing to cover the firearm.”
A retired police officer who carries says, “Keep your driver’s license and your permit in the exact same location.” Do not leave the permit at home!
If you have been carrying for a long time, what do you suggest for newbies?
65 Comments »
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– get a GOOD holster, not some cheap knock-off
– dress around it (yeah, you might need to go a size up in pants. Sorry!)
– CARRY!!!! The more you carry, the more comfortable (and comforting) it becomes.
Wow! Really? If writing an article discussing federal laws regarding the carrying of firearms is it too much to ask that you actually read federal law regarding the carrying of firearms? I did love your quote “I conceal carry every single day and carry my small .32 in my front pocket without any added “gun junk.” No, just a junk gun. Anyway, if you are going to write an article about concealed carry in Texas, please state that this probably applies only in Texas.
1. Don’t carry the gun to make you a man. Carry because you are in fact a man.
2. Have more than one concealable gun (i.e., Glock 19, Glock 26, Kimber Ultra Carry, etc.).
3. Practice with all the guns you own often.
4. Carry the gun you can use best regardless of social fashion.
5. Always carry your gun regardless of social pressures.
6. Whenever you carry a gun, also carry a knife…and some spare ammunition.
7. Have several concealed carry options (i.e., ankle holster, inside the waist band holster, high rise outside the waist band holster, off-body holster such as a fanny pack holster, etc.).
8. Dress for success. With multiple concealed carry options, you should have no problem finding the one that works for what you are wearing.
There’s more, but this is a good start.
It is NOT illegal to print or even have it accidentally exposed. It must be intentional.
It it NOT illegal to carry into a city/state building, (courthouses, SECURE areas of police stations, schools, major sporting events, are the exceptions. no carry.)
It is illegal for cities to ban CHL carry on city owned property, with the above exceptions.
It is NOT illegal to carry in a liquor store/beer wine store. Consumption of alcohol is the key factor of whether you can carry or not.
There are some states that even let you carry into bars, so alcohol is not a universally banning factor.
Know your state laws.
Know the laws where you are traveling.
Law enforcement does not always accurately know the laws. If you travel having a copy of the local laws never hurts.
There are some good forums and state websites that will give accurate info. Most states have a dedicated web page that will cite the specific gun laws.
You can get a small car safe for about $30 for keeping in the car if you have to disarm. Secures with a cable, fits under the seat.
A majority of restrictions are for unlicensed carry, but people read the overall laws and get confused, which is easy because laws are written in lawyer speak and are overly complicated.
2. Know exactly when you can use your weapon. 3 criteria must be met:
a. His ABILITY to inflict serious bodily injury
b. His OPPORTUNITY to inflict serious bodily harm
c. His INTENT (hostile actions or words) to inflict serious bodily harm
3. If you can run away safely, run
4. If you display your weapon, you can go to jail
5. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you! Be humble … don’t instigate
I would also recommend practicing (with the weapon unloaded!) drawing the weapon time and time again until you are extremely comfortable drawing the weapon and acquiring your target naturally. this may not sound like a big deal but if you ever need your weapon you want to be able to get to it draw it and if necessary discharge the weapon without having to think about the steps needed to do so. I know people who have carried weapons for 25+ years who still practice drawing and firing their weapons and one who had to shoot back and he said it was the practice that kept him alive not just having the gun.
1. Carry the piece that you have practiced with.
2. Understand fully the “escalation of force” and abide by it.
3. If you practice carrying at home, walking out the door the first time will be easier and less stressful.
4. Try several different holsters- determine which works best for the clothing you will wear. Break them in and make adjustments before wearing them in public to prevent comfort issues. Constantly tugging at a poorly fitting or poorly adjusted holster in public is a no-no. Your selection of a holster should also be determined by WHERE you are going- The beach? The marina? Will you spend most of your time driving? Are you going to walk for hours today?
5. If you are carrying concealed, no one should know that you carry- unless they are your partner, bride, or traveling acquaintance/business associate. Carefully select whom you will advise about your concealed carry.
6. I recommend that if you and your wife both carry, carry the same make/model/caliber weapon while you are together (interchangeability of ammo, magazines, etc).
7. Every concealed weapon carrier should understand and practice weapons retention drills. You must be able to stop another person from taking your weapon and using it against you or others.
A LOT of inaccurate or semi-accurate information is out there, the GOVERNMENT makes and publishes the law and today, with the internet, it’s trivial to get the truth in a few minutes of looking.
Second rule of concealed or open carry, if you cannot say “Yes, I have zero problem blowing someone’s insides outside of their body” or something similar and irrevocable, DO NOT CARRY. If you hesitate, that weapon WILL be used on you, then on others. I’ve talked rape victims out of carrying a firearm, with that very argument and the gun shop was very happy, rather than risk learning about a new victim in the news being a former customer of his. He sold her some high potency pepper spray and a stun gun, which she would have zero hesitation over using.
Third rule, DO KNOW AND PRACTICE with whatever you carry. I do. My two carries are a light weight .38 snub and a M1911. The .38 is in an inside pants holster or gunny sack. The M1911 is most comfortable with a clipdraw inside the pants OR in that gunny sack. What is carried is largely seasonal, as that M1911 is a bit difficult to conceal in the summer.
I’m proficient with both and can rapidly draw to point of fire.
Fourth law, learn what the use of lethal force law REALLY IS for your state, see the first rule about accurate-inaccurate sources. MANY states have the reasonable person hypothesis, ALWAYS consider that “reasonable person” totally unreasonable! That puts the ducks in a row to NOT get charged with a felony. The use of lethal force SHOULD e the LAST option employed, always. That said, I’m not one to run away, as my back is no more bullet proof than my front is and front first is a far better way to fire than over the shoulder or something. But, be really, really, really sure, without hesitating.
Yes, that sounds silly about being sure, but, let’s face it, usually, it’s black and white. Someone’s getting or has a gun out (if theirs is out, it’s really late to try to get yours out unless you are The Flash). A knife is out and intent is obvious.
Forth law, part A: Find a weapon you will be comfortable with, both in concealed carry AND firing. If you can’t comfortably carry that M1911, don’t bother with it. If you can’t comfortably fire that magnum, don’t bother with it, scale down. Remember, though people knock it, Reagan nearly died from a single .22 round that ricocheted into his limo, which left the round even weaker than normal when it hit him.
Fifth law, every poster here’s personal preference for carry method and carry weapon is valid for them, but may well not be valid for you. That is for you to decide, so try going to quality gun shops and see what they offer for concealed carry for your desired weapon.
And remember, a firearm doesn’t make you bulletproof.
The Code of Federal Regulations 39 C.F. R. 232.1 Conduct on Postal property prohibits a prvate citizen from carrying fire arms on postal property. But, it also states nothing in the rules abrogates any other federal, state or local laws,regulations. So,the CFR cannot trumpthe U.S.C., which allows concealed carry in a federal facility. This infornmation was found in the Law Enforcement Guide to Firearms Law, 13th Edition.
Don’t misunderstand me; I agree with your comments in general and have enough brains to realize (on my own) without being told to check for myself laws for my state and prohibited places.
If you carry a gun put it in holster. Don’t let anyone else know about it.
Practice with your gear before you employ it with live ammo.
relocate here and FFL dealers Etc. Me teach and cert Gun Smith .but I will not Spam no need ,, i can’t keep up with my classes.and i send out to other gunny’s.
Nevada is a traditional open carry state with complete state preemption of firearms laws.(Open in all of NV) However, Clark County is grandfathered so as to continue a “Deadly Weapons” registration scheme. Fortunately, Nevada law exempts travelers to and through Nevada from these registration requirements for 60 days.So say hello and goodbye with middle finger!
no permit required why do i need to have an CCW??? (AZ now A Choice for travel purposes in and out of AZ.
I was trained by professional law enforcement officers while attending a law enforcement acadamy in ’05. We had three “target response” areas on our firearms targets: A response(chest) B response(head) C response(groin). Through 1700 rounds each we practised double taps to all three, as well as triple taps; two to the a response, one to the b response. Your arguement that LE officials do not train this way is absolutely invalid. The first thing we were taught is “shoot till hes down.” If he drops after two shots, good. If he drops after a third to the head, better. If it takes all fifteen to put him down, then fifteen it will take. If it requires a reload and fifteen more, that is what will happen. The point is, once he is down, he is no longer a threat. How you bring him down depends on your training and skill, not what the prosecutor thinks you did. Most states have a law that protects civilians in situations like this. A good phrase to memorize is “I was in fear of my life and/or those around me.” End of story.
I bought a M&P shield 9. Nice and small and I did forget I had it.
My first carry was to a movie with my wife. I scanned the theatre for possible escape routes should anything happen as I know the weapon is last resort.
The average LEO hits about 9% of the time in his first 3 shots.
Thanks