In a recent communication with members of the Front Sight community, Dr. Ignatius Piazza, Front Sight Founder and Director, made the following comments. I am not sure I agree with them all, but it is a very thought provoking article:
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A concealed handgun is an emergency defense tool. It is carried for the unexpected emergency and you cannot predict what day or hour you will need to use your concealed handgun to save your life or the lives of others around you. If you could predict it, you should either AVOID IT ENTIRELY or have a shotgun or rifle?not a handgun!
So how do you carry a concealed handgun all the time? You will need a variety of carry methods based on the weather, the function you are attending, and your attire.
Here are some common and not so common methods of carry. Whatever methods you employ, you will need to learn how to present your weapon quickly from those methods of carry. (edited out here an ad for Front Sight)
Carried tucked inside the pants with no holster: Behind the back, firing side hip, or cross draw on support side and covered by a shirt, vest, sweater or jacket. This is a very common method of carry and conceals the weapon best but should only be used by very advanced shooters? if at all.
Most who use this method are not aware of the problems associated with carrying a handgun tucked into the pants with no holster, but when they find out, the problems can be quite embarrassing and dangerous. Such problems include: the gun falling out while running or moving aggressively; the gun sliding down below the belt (and down the pant leg); the gun not being in the same place each time you attempt to present the weapon from concealment thus causing you to fumble and slow your presentation; the trigger not protected from pressure from clothing, items in your pockets or your hand and fingers when you reach into your pants to secure a grip on the weapon; body to gun contact causing rust; body contact pressing magazine release buttons or disengaging safety and decking levers;
Carried in an inside-the-waistband holster secured through your belt: Behind the back, firing side hip, or cross draw on support side and covered by a shirt, vest, sweater or jacket. This is one of the best ways to carry a concealed handgun because it conceals most of the gun, keeps it close to your body and avoids all the problems associated with carrying a gun tucked inside your pants with no holster. The only drawback is the width of the holster requires a slightly larger pant size and initially it takes some time to get used to the extra pressure and bulk of the holster wedged between your pants and body.
Carried in an inside-the-waistband holster clipped to your belt: Behind the back, firing side hip, or cross draw on support side and covered by a shirt, vest, sweater or jacket. This is better than no holster at all but not as good as a holster secured through your belt. Why? Because when you present your gun from a clip-in holster, it quite often comes out with the gun and you are standing there, pointed in on your adversary with your holster still attached to your gun. Not good form!
Carried in a holster outside the belt: Behind the back, firing side hip, or cross draw on support side and covered by a shirt, vest, sweater or jacket. This is the method most used by off duty law enforcement and government suits. This is also one of the easiest methods of concealed carry to spot because the holster and gun on the outside of the belt create unnatural bulk in the area the gun butt (prints the gun butt) and the barrel end of the holster often can be seen if the person carrying concealed has to lift his arms (like Air Marshals placing luggage in the overhead storage bins. Yeah, seen it many times) or when bending over.
Carried in a shoulder holster with or without tabs securing to the belt and covered by a jacket (See reruns of Miami Vice): With the right fitting holster, this can be a comfortable way to carry concealed but requires wearing a jacket cut for the extra bulk of the holster or your are going to print the holster and gun. It also tends to reveal the holster or gun more often than any other method of concealed carry whenever the jacket opens due body movements or a breeze.
Carried in a bra holster or tummy belt under a dress, blouse or dress shirt: For large breasted women this works well because the bust line creates the space below the bra for the gun to "hide." Presentation is relatively fast to lift a shirt or tear away a button dress to access the gun. This will definitely place the element of surprise in your favor!
Carried in an elastic band around the waist at the belt line or below: Works great for small guns. Anything approaching a full size service pistol will result in your friends asking if your are packing a pistol or just happy to see them!
Carried in a fanny pack: You are not fooling anyone who is paying attention, but that is less than 1% of the population! Great for hot days, picnics, the beach, etc. Make sure your gun fits completely inside the fanny pack and the Velcro or snap enclosures are secure. Cops and crooks who are in Condition Yellow (relaxed yet alert and aware of their surroundings) will suspect you are carrying a gun.
Carried in a thigh holster under a dress: This is for women only. (My apologies to you cross dressers and other weirdoes) This is a great way for a woman to always be armed with a gun but does require always wearing a dress and having an athletic build to wear the gun on the inside of the thigh. Stretch elastic and Velcro closures make the holster lightweight and comfortable to wear.
Carried in a ankle holster covered by pants: For men this is really for a backup gun as it is relatively slow to present a gun from an ankle holster a compared to the other methods of carry. Similar materials are used for the ankle holster as you would find in the inside the thigh holster and this may be a good method for women to use when wearing pants?although not nearly as sexy! (I?m sure I will get complaints about that comment... Come on, lighten up a bit and think of Angelina Jolie in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Didn?t she wear her holsters well?)
Carried in a purse or briefcase: This is NOT as good as being carried on your person but will do in those situations where you cannot carry a gun on you ?although I am having a hard time thinking of when that should be! The purse or briefcase should have a designated holster built into it so the gun is secured. You do not want the gun moving inside the purse or briefcase for obvious safety reason and if you need the reach for it you want to know exactly where it is. And it you are the type of person who has to ask your spouse where you placed your purse or briefcase, this is definitely not the method of carry for you.
So with all these methods of carry, there really is no reason not to be armed.
If you have a concealed weapon permit, start carrying your weapon all time, every day WITHOUT FAIL OR EXCUSE. Just find a way to carry every day all day. After 7 to 14 days carrying a concealed handgun will become part of your daily routine and you will want to carry it with you forever.
Dr. Ignatius Piazza
Front Sight Founder and Director
