As concealed carry becomes increasingly popular, more law-abiding citizens than ever before are carrying handguns for personal defense. Overall, this is a good thing. More concealed carriers mean better deterrence against becoming a victim of violent crime. But are you doing all you can to make your world safer by carrying a firearm correctly? Are you being safe and smart?
To find out, ask yourself if you fall victim to these six classic concealed carry blunders.
1. Do you dress like a Gun Guy in public?
What’s the phrase nowadays? “Tell me you’re a whatever without telling me you’re a whatever.” In this case, it’s telling me you’re carrying a gun without telling me you’re carrying a gun. The dead giveaway? Dressing like the gun guy/gal. You’ve seen the look: Glock tee, Smith & Wesson trucker cap, gigantic NRA belt buckle. Nothing against those fine products or the organization, but what message does it send to those around you?
Even if your gun is concealed, what does your overall look reveal about you? Like stick figure families plastered on the back of minivans tell bad guys how many kids are in the family and their favorite activities where they will be on weekends (leaving their house empty), your wardrobe can tell bad guys that you are the “gun guy.”
Look around you next time you’re out. See the guy wearing the Glock hat? How about the lady with the “I Don’t Run, I Reload” t-shirt? Chances are these two are fellow concealed carries. That’s good, but guess who the bad guy is going to shoot first: the easily identified adversaries, the two people most likely to put up a fight and stop him.
Wearing gun garb is almost as obvious as open carrying in public. Save yourself some uncomfortable looks from those around you and potential death from the bad guy by dressing more like Average Joe or Jane Citizen. Blend in. Disappear. Wear your suburban camouflage.
2. Is your holster inadequate?
How you carry your gun around all day is critical. It needs to be in a good holster. Whether you concealed carry on-body (preferred) or off-body (only when you have no other choice), the gun must be in a holster. Jammed into your waistband or in a bag without a holster is dangerous. Not only could it slide right down your pants leg and onto the floor, but the trigger is exposed to all sorts of objects that could pull it—and put a bullet right down your leg. You won’t be a happy camper after that, if you even live to tell the story.
There are three things I look for in a holster to consider it a good product worthy of recommendation.
- It must hold the gun securely. You would think all holster makers would get this right, but some don’t.
- It must cover the trigger and trigger guard entirely so that nothing can accidentally pull the trigger.
- You must be able to reholster the firearm one-handed, so you don’t muzzle your other hand. You can put the gun away after the threat is over, and you’re not the one holding the gun when the police arrive.
Beyond that, it comes down to personal choice on comfort, color, materials, etc. Pick a holster that works for you, one that you will want to carry your gun in every day.
3. Is your gun… not enough gun?
Choosing a concealed carry gun is always a compromise between capacity and size. Naturally, you want to carry as many rounds as possible, but higher capacity usually translates to a bigger gun that’s harder to conceal.
In the past, that meant a severe tradeoff between rounds and concealability. Thankfully, many gunmakers today have discovered innovative ways to put more ammunition into magazines of guns that traditionally held fewer rounds. This is a vast improvement that reduces the conflict between size and capacity. However, it is still possible to bring ‘not enough gun’ to a fight.
For the ladies out there, don’t fall victim to the mentality that you need to carry a tiny gun because either you think you do or some gentleman friend has stereotypically recommended that “ladies need to carry lady guns.” Wrong. Maybe you do, maybe you don’t, but that’s your choice, not his. He’s not the one depending on that gun to save your life. You are. Pick a gun that works for you. It may not be the best choice for him. That’s okay. It’s not his gun. It’s yours. Carry what you want to carry, not what he wants you to carry.
For both men and women, find a gun that is concealable, holds as many rounds as possible, and you feel comfortable shooting. If you don’t like the gun, you won’t practice, leaving you unprepared if something happens.
4. Do you carry… sometimes?
“I only carry when I go to the bad part of town.” You’ve heard this, right? Maybe you’ve said it. It’s certainly crossed your mind. Now throw it out. Way out. As far away as possible.
How many of us live in areas where the police carry guns? All of us. Do you know why police everywhere carry guns? Because crime can happen anywhere, even in so-called good neighborhoods. Even the cops in Beverly Hills carry guns. (We know this thanks to Eddie Murphy.)
Even if you live in or travel only to “good neighborhoods,” do you know everyone there? Can bad guys come and go? Absolutely. Nobody is stopping them.
Check out the crime statics for various parts of your town or community. Are any of them zero? No burglaries? No car thefts? No assaults? No murders? Nothing bad ever happens where you live? If so, we all want to live where you live, and you should never venture outside that precious bubble because crime does happen everywhere else. And you need to be prepared.
The other problem with not carrying your gun all the time is it doesn’t become part of your everyday routine. A major part of concealed carry is developing good habits. If you only carry occasionally, you can’t develop those habits. When you suddenly find yourself in a bad situation—and it will happen suddenly—you likely will not be prepared to handle it. Your gun probably won’t be with you, and you will not have the tools you need to address what is happening because, in your mind, carrying a gun is a casual nice-to-have, not a necessity. But now you need it, and it’s not with you.
If you survive the encounter, you may realize it’s time to change your mindset. Your gun should be as much part of your everyday carry as your wallet, keys, and cell phone. You won’t leave home without those because you recognize the value of keeping them with you at all times. The sooner you recognize the value of carrying your gun everywhere every day, the sooner you will be prepared to defend yourself.
5. Do you carry without a spare magazine?
Those who argue against carrying a spare magazine usually quote some obscure statistic about how many rounds it typically takes to end an average threat. If you can guarantee you’ll only face that particular threat, more power to you. You have far more control over bad guys than the rest of us.
There are two big reasons to always carry at least one spare magazine with you.
First is the capacity issue. Even with compact concealed carry gun magazines getting bigger and bigger, it is possible you could run out of shots in your magazine and have to reload to stay in the fight. Sure, the odds may not play out according to some sort of weird statistical analysis, but wouldn’t you rather be ready just in case you get in the one shootout that bucks the trend?
The second has nothing to do with capacity. It has to do with malfunctions—by the magazine, which could break, and by the gun, which could jam. If your magazine breaks and you have a spare, you can swap out the old with the new and continue defending yourself. Certain weapon malfunctions can also involve an unplanned magazine swap. For instance, if you get a double-feed, one way to clear it is to eject the magazine to relieve pressure on the two rounds competing for the chamber. In the process and under pressure, however, you could accidentally drop the magazine on the floor and likely be unable to retrieve it immediately. So grab your spare, insert it, and you’re back in business.
6. Are you prepared?
The Boy Scouts may have trademarked the Be Prepared phrase, but it’s a good motto for all of us. Be prepared by getting the right gun and holster, training continuously, and carrying all the gear you need everywhere and every day. You never know what the world will throw at you. But you can be ready to protect yourself and your loved ones.
