10/15/95
Disclaimer: I am not an expert on concealed carry. If someone who does claim to be an expert wants to submit a FAQ article, I will happily defer to it. I have carried a concealed handgun on a regular basis, (UW police please note: never on University property) and I have read a number of books and articles about it. The discussion below borrows, without detailed attribution, from "In the Gravest Extreme" and "The Truth About Self Protection", by Massad Ayoob, "The Street Smart Gun Book" by John Farnam, "Armed and Female" by Paxton Quigley, lectures and personal discussions with Duane Thomas and Greg Hamilton, and other sources too numerous to mention. I hope that they will all forgive me.
WHY TO CARRY: Pistols are not defensive weapons, in the sense that they cannot be used to absorb or deflect a blow. Pistols are offensive weapons with which one attacks an adversary, and any attack with a pistol entails the likelihood of inflicting death or crippling injury. Legally and morally, the only circumstance which justifies using a pistol against a human being, or even drawing it, is the appearence of immediate and otherwise unavoidable danger of death or crippling injury to the innocent. We carry pistols because we might find ourselves in circumstances where attacking another person seems to be necessary to preserve innocent life, and for no other reason. Let us all be clear on this point.
WHAT TO CARRY: The general rule is this: you should carry the most powerful gun which you can carry comfortably all day, conceal effectively, and shoot fast and straight. There is obviously a tradeoff here: Powerful handguns tend to be large and heavy, hence difficult to conceal and uncomfortable to carry. Light handguns which fire powerful ammunition have unpleasant recoil and are therefore hard to shoot quickly and accurately. Each of us will need to make this tradeoff for ourselves, and I will only make two more observations: for self-defense, anything that goes "bang" is better than anything that doesn't, and in my own personal case I have found the Glock-19 to be the best tradeoff for concealed carry (see "The Glock Owner's Case").
Another consideration with concealed weapons is that they should be smooth and slick, free of protrusions which can snag on clothing and sharp or rough areas which can wear through clothing over time. Many small handguns are designed for concealed carry and come with these features, but any handgun can be "de-horned" by a gunsmith for a reasonable fee. Removing or reducing the hammur spur, softening checkered areas, and rounding off sharp edges are all modifications which pay for themselves in comfort and convenience, to say nothing of reducing the chance of snagging the pistol on clothing during the draw.
Whatever you carry should be safe against accidental discharges. If you carry a large, well-made pistol designed for self protection, this is more or less a given, but with some of the smaller and older pocket pistols it is a real concern. If there is any doubt on this point, you should carry the pistol with an empty chamber, and accept the loss of speed and firepower. Accidental discharges are nothing to fool around with.
Do not attempt to save money on your concealed carry pistol. This is always a false economy. Your life is worth more than however much money you might save, and anyways the cost of a reasonable training program will quickly overwhelm the cost of the pistol itself. Good handguns are not cheap, but this is one area where you should definitely not look at price tags.
HOW TO CARRY: Your pistol should always be carried in a high quality holster which completely covers the trigger guard, keeps dust and pocket lint out of the action, and keeps the pistol from moving around randomly as you go about your day. The holster's mouth should be stiff enough so that it cannot get inside the trigger guard as the gun is inserted.
Many systems have been devised which meet these minimum criteria, and the reason there are so many different systems is that none of them works satisfactorily. All that I can do is list the pros and cons of the major options I am familiar with, and suggest that the reader try as many as possible before making his own decision. An ideal concealment system would be extremely discrete, compatible with any clothing fashion, would allow a large, powerful pistol to be carried comfortably, and would allow a fast one-handed draw which did not require the gun muzzle to point (even briefly) at anyone other than the adversary to be attacked.
Whatever concealment option you choose, you should practice drawing the pistol until you can do it quickly and reliably, and then practice regularly to maintain proficiency (of course, you must take great pains to ensure safety while practicing). Your drawing motion should never point the pistol at your non-shooting hand, or at any other part of your body to the maximum extent possible. As far as possible, you should carry the same pistol in the same manner all the time. This is because emergencies make you stupid, and you can literally be frozen in place trying to remember which gun you have today and where to reach for it. The effect of sudden, extreme fear is hard to imagine unless you have experienced it, but it is real, and must be taken into account in your preparations and training.
SPECIFIC METHODS:
Purses and handbags (also briefcases): The advantages of this method are that it is compatible with any clothing fashion, comfortable, and highly discrete. The disadvantages are that the handbag/briefcase is the first thing you will lose control of in a scuffle, and that drawing the gun is extremely slow, complicated, and likely to "sweep" innocents with the gun muzzle. Rather than just tossing your pistol in your handbag or whatever, you should have a holster permanently attached to the inside of the handbag. You should never let the handbag out of your direct control while there is a pistol in it. You should be extra cautious against purse snatchers.
Belt packs (specialized): There are many belt packs with built-in holsters and quick-opening velcro or zippered closures. The advantages of this method are that it is compatible with most casual fashions and fairly comfortable. A belt pack is also easier to maintain control of than a handbag. The disadvantages are that the gun-specific belt packs can be recognized by other people "in the know", be they policemen, criminals, or other armed citizens (although ordinary people don't seem to have found out about them yet). The draw is faster than with a handbag, although still painfully slow compared to other methods, and the gun muzzle does sweep the surrounding area before lining up with the adversary. IMHO this is the least-bad concealment method for casual clothing. This is the method I personally use in hot summer weather when a continuously worn jacket would be conspicuous, although I am not really happy with this method and would gladly entertain other suggestions. You should choose a belt pack which stores the pistol with the barrel pointing downwards at as steep an angle as possible.
Belt packs (general): There are many models of belt packs which are not intended for carrying pistols concealed. These can easily be modified to do so by attaching a holster inside the belt pack. This makes the draw even slower, but people "in the know" will not see the quick-release features and therefore will not automatically know you are carrying. The other advantages and disadvantages are the same.
Waistband holsters (straight draw): These holsters position the pistol with the barrel pointed more or less straight down, and waist level, at or slightly behind the side seam. They require a sturdy belt to support the holster. The holster may be inside or outside the waistband (inside is somewhat more discrete and less comfortable). The advantages of this method are that the pistol can be drawn rapidly, and the draw does not require you to point the gun at anyone other than the intended adversary. The disadvantages are that this method is not the most comfortable (because the belt tends to cut into your other-side hip, especially with a heavy pistol), and is not the most discrete. You must wear a jacket or heavy shirt at all times and you must be careful that the jacket is not blown open by the wind. You cannot generally reach above your head, or bend very much at the waist, without exposing the pistol (although you can squat to reach low-lying objects and still maintain concealment). Women's fashions are generally less compatible with this method than men's fashions (because women's jackets generally fit tightly at the waist). IMHO this is the best general carry method in any social situation where a continuously worn jacket will not be conspicuous, and it is the method I personally use except in hot summer weather.
Waistband holsters (cross draw): In this variant the pistol is positioned on the belt, pointed diagonally downwards, in front of the non-shooting-side hip, and is drawn by reaching across the body. This method has nothing to recommend it over the straight-draw variant, and several disadvantages. This variant is less discrete because the pistol is closer to the opening of the jacket. The draw results in the gun muzzle sweeping over innocents to the left of the adversary (if you are right-handed) and also over your non-shooting arm. The pistol is ideally placed for an adversary to grab it during a scuffle.
Waistband holsters (small of back): In this variant the pistol is positioned at waist level at the small of the back, pointed either sideways or straight down. This is the most discrete waistband variant, and is the most comfortable while standing (because the gun's weight is distributed evenly to both hips) but the least comfortable while sitting, especially while driving a car. The draw is relatively slow (although faster than with a belt pack or handbag). The draw necessarily involves the gun muzzle sweeping large sectors of the surrounding countryside, as well as important parts of your own body. In my own experience the vertical barrel position is more comfortable than the horizontal, but opinions on this differ.
Waistband holsters (groin): Recently several holsters have been advertised which position the gun inside and below the waistband centered in front of the body (directly below the navel). With a small, flat gun (and a flat stomach and loose trousers) these appear to be very discrete, and do not require a continuously worn jacket. The draw would probably be quite slow because you would have to tunnel past several layers of clothing. The main reason I have never tried this method is sub-rational, however - I just don't want to have a gun pointing at my manly parts, or more seriously, at my femoral artery. With most other concealment options, a negligent discharge during the draw results in a wound to the extremities, or to a bystander, at worst.
Shoulder holsters: The pistol is positioned under the non-shooting arm, on the side of the body, with the barrel either vertical or horizontal. The horizontal positioning is much to be avoided, because you will be sweeping innocents with your gun muzzle continuously. The advantage of the shoulder holster is that is can conceal a very large and heavy handgun, and that it is more compatible with women's fashions than most of the waistband variants. The disadvantages are that the straps interfere with ventilation, so that you sweat vigorously over most of your upper body, that a jacket must be continuously worn, and that the straps often creak (leather) or rustle (synthetic). The draw requires the gun muzzle to sweep your surroundings (and usually your non-shooting arm).
Ankle and calf holsters: Small handguns can be concealed in holsters which wrap around the ankle, or higher up the shin. Some of these are supported by a cuff around the ankle, some by garter belts around the upper calf, some by both. These are very discrete (assuming long, loose pants) although some care must be taken when sitting down. The draw is generally very slow, requiring both hands and a major change in posture. Only small handguns can be concealed in this way, and there is a danger of serious medical consequences if the holster interferes with blood circulation.
Thigh holsters: Women who wear skirts can conceal a handgun on the inside of the thigh, pointing down, in a holster supported by a waist belt with down-straps, a garter around the upper thigh, or both. Some care must be taken when sitting down, but most women who wear skirts do this anyways for reasons of modesty. Drawing the gun is immodest, but in situations where a gun must be drawn, this is irrelevant. As far as I can see this might be the best overall carry method for women, but not being such I cannot say so with authority. As with ankle and calf holsters, care must be taken not to interfere with blood circulation.
Pocket holsters: Extremely small and light handguns can be carried in a trouser pocket. The gun should still be in a holster, to protect it from pocket lint and to cover the trigger guard. Ideally, the holster should be attached to the inside of the pocket (either permanently or with velcro, snaps, zippers, etc), so that the gun will ride in the pocket consistently and so that it can be drawn with one hand. Somewhat larger and heavier guns can be carried in a coat pocket - again the same considerations regarding a holster apply. The advantages of this method are that it is very comfortable and discrete. The disadvantage is that it imposes severe limits on the size and weight of the pistol so carried, to the point of precluding the use of "serious" self-defense ammunition in my view, and to the point of sacrificing accuracy.
Other: The inventive imagination of man is truely unlimited, and people have concealed guns in some amazing places. The methods given above are the most generally effective and popular, but if you come up with something else which works well for you, please let the world know about it (after first applying for a patent!).
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
Extra ammo: You should always carry at least one reload (speed loader or spare magazine). Your extra ammo should be in a pouch which protects it from dirt and pocket lint, and should be carried in the same place all the time (so far as possible), and you should regularly practice reloading with it.
Social hugging: In some social circles it is common for non-intimates to hug each other. This can be a problem if you are carrying a pistol in a waist or shoulder holster. I do not travel in such social circles myself, but according to Duane Thomas, it is usually possible to forsee such situations, and to be sure that your arms go underneath the other person's arms, thus preserving your secret.
Encounters with police: Always have your CCW (license to carry concealed weapons) with you. Research the laws regulating concealed carry in your area and follow them regligously. If you have any sort of interaction with a policeman, be polite, move slowly, and keep your hands in plain view. If it seems likely that he knows about your pistol or will soon become aware of it, open the subject first by saying that you have a CCW and a pistol, and ask what his instructions are. He will generally have the right to take possession of your pistol during the interaction. In some Liberal jurisdictions (usually large cities run by Democrats) he will be under orders to keep your pistol and turn it in at the station - you may have to sue the city to get it back, which may cost more than just buying a new pistol. This is all terribly unfair, but none of it is the individual policeman's fault, he probably wishes that things were otherwise, and in any case nothing is to be gained by berating an employee for the policies of his management. Just regard it as one more reason to vote for supporters of the 2nd Amendment.
Showing off: One word: don't. There is never any good reason to tell people besides your immediate companions that you are carrying a pistol, and often it is better not to mention it even to them. In today's society, announcing that you armed will get you far more attention than you want, and all of it unpleasant. Again, this is terribly unfair and illogical, but nothing can be done about it for now.
Guns at work: Most companies have a policy which forbids employees to carry guns while on company premises, or sometimes in any other place while carrying out company business. This is entirely legal, because companies have the right to regulate their workplaces and the conduct of their staff, and you don't have to work for them if you don't like their policies. One could make an argument that this is unconstitutional (imagine what would happen to a company which refused to let its employees vote, or practice a particular religon), but under current interpretations of the Constitution this argument would not prevail. One could also argue that such policies are stupid, because criminals who might invade the workplace are not going to follow them, but again, don't expect this idea to fly in modern, liability-averse America. If you feel a need to carry a gun at work, my advice would be to find a safer workplace, or failing that, to exercise extreme discretion, even to the point of concealing political views which might lead others to suspect you of carrying.
Final Words: (To paraphrase Massad Ayoob): In deciding whether to shoot, some situations will be absolutely black and white, and some will be terribly grey. Do not shoot into the grey. I sincerely hope that you never need to shoot anyone, but if you do, shoot straight, and keep shooting until you put your man down, because he would do the same to you.