I have carried a gun for many years. I have learned from sad experience that there are some things you should never do as a concealed carry participant. I have not done all of these, in fact I’ve done only one. But all have been done before. These are the most important but there are others. You don’t have to feel bad if you’ve ever done one of these, just make sure you don’t ever do it again!
Firing Warning Shots
There are a lot of tense, ambiguous situations out there. Like, maybe you’re debating whether or not you should take a defensive posture and remove your concealed carry firearm or not. Let’s cut to the chase, if you feel threatened, act accordingly. That’s all it comes down to. But DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT fire warning shots. If someone doesn’t believe your concealed carry firearm is loaded, they’re welcome to find out the hard way. Heck, if you have it out already, you can even tell them to chill out on the ground while you wait for police to arrive. There’s a whole lot of options (A LOT). Firing a warning shot isn’t one of them.
So, if it’s come to rounds being exchanged make sure the first one counts.
Concealed Carry A Pistol In Your Waistband
Can’t afford gender reassignment surgery? Having a hard time hitting those high soprano notes? Sticking a loaded pistol down the front of your pants isn’t really a good alternative.
Holsterless concealed carry isn’t effective. There’s nothing protecting your trigger guard and even with a tight belt, you’re not really providing good, even retention across the firearm. It’s asking for a disaster to happen.
Holsters are just like ammunition, a required investment in order to protect yourself. And there are plenty that are affordable and effective.
Instinctive Shooting Without Practice
If you don’t practice instinctive shooting, don’t expect it to suddenly appear when you pull out your concealed carry pistol. Actually that is true of any shooting. More importantly, if you don’t practice dry firing, holstering and re-holstering, and do some actual range time once in a while, those skills are virtually non-existent. The skills are perishable.
Not Paying Attention To What’s Around Your Target
In an actual active shooter environment, you have to stay on top of what is in front and behind the shooter. Reflexively spraying rounds in the general direction of an attacker is a great way to injure or kill others with absolutely no guarantee of taking out your target. So before you fire, look around the target area. It only takes a few milliseconds and you could save someone’s life. It’s also a fundamental of firearm safety. Which brings us to…
Ignoring The Fundamentals Of Firearm Safety
There’s a serious misconception with some concealed carriers that the fundamentals of firearm safety suddenly evaporate if they’re stuck in an active shooting environment. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every single round that exits your gun will be investigated when the police arrive. And if they find you’ve negligently responded to a threat, you’re not going to be the “hero that saved the day”, you’re going to be up on criminal or civil charges.
One Magazine And Done
If you have a concealed carry pistol, where’s your number two magazine? If it’s not on you or nearby, you’re putting yourself unnecessarily at risk. Once the shooting starts, it doesn’t stop until the police arrive, the threat is gone or someone is dead. If it’s not a direct hit that does it, it certainly will be the first person who runs out of ammunition. That doesn’t mean you need to walk around with an ammo can. Just having a spare magazine that’s accessible is (probably) good enough.
Inserting Yourself Into Conflicts
There is nothing wrong with self-defense. There’s nothing wrong with helping out someone who is being brutally attacked, robbed, or victimized. But do understand the legal quandary you’ll be placing yourself in. Make sure, whatever you do, you’re willing to accept the consequences. And there will always be consequences.
Not Locking Up Your Firearms
If you have children in the house (or even other occupants), you should always secure firearms that are not physically on your person. This is important! A firearm is a tool. It can be used by anyone who picks it up. And if it is not secured, you are giving them an invitation to do so.
Choosing Convenience Over Safety
There are a lot of fads out there in regards to “new” ways to holster a firearm. Everything from using a holster system that doesn’t protect the trigger guard to storing it at an angle where it may be easily taken from you. Your concealed carry firearm is your life line. Do not take chances with it. Do not put it on your body in such a way that it may harm you or others. If that means wearing clothes that break your status as a fashion icon so be it.
Complacency kills.
Overestimating Your Abilities And Underestimating Your Opponent’s
The most dangerous habit a concealed carrier can get himself into is assuming he knows more than his opponent. Most people in the United States will be able to live their lives without being the undue victim of gun violence or gun crimes. For the very few who will deal with it siding on the side of caution is always the right move.
Never assume anything about your opponent or the situation you find yourself in. Judge it critically, quickly, and always move towards the option that promises safety first. Prepare and train for uncertainty and never assume an enemy will act like a paper target. These are good steps towards avoiding overconfidence as a concealed carrier.
These are only a few things that need to be remembered when carrying a concealed weapon, and using deadly force. Know the laws in your state or the state that you’re in.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
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