Going Armed is a Pain in the Ass, But I do it Consistently

By John Farnam

How do you choose which holster is right for you?
I advise students that, before their search is over, they’re likely to have a box full of holsters!
Defense Training International, Inc
Defense Training International, Inc

Ft Collins, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- “Where, oh where, can my pistol be? Liberals took it away from me I’ve gone to heaven, because I tried to be ‘good’ I didn’t have my pistol with me, so I had to leave- yeah- this world” ~ With sincerest apologies to J Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers in “Last Kiss,” from 1964.

Going armed, consistently:

Last weekend, my students were intensely interested in talking about carrying concealed. Some did already, but at least until last weekend, few did consistently. My job is, of course, to emphasize consistency.

I explained that going armed is a confounded nuisance! When suggesting various methods, I keep coming back to this point:

Some “adjustment” in dress, disposition, personal philosophy, knowledge base, skill base, and lifestyle in general, is going to be necessary, when you are determined to be one of us. The notion that you’re going to “fit a gun into” your current lifestyle, with no alterations, is naive and dangerous!

Flashbang Bra Holster
Flashbang Bra Holster

Occasionally” carrying a concealed pistol is akin to “occasionally” wearing a seatbelt while driving! Either wear a seatbelt or don’t, but please refrain from insulting my intelligence by insisting that you can predict the future with sufficient precision, so that you’ll know exactly when you’ re going to “need it,” and when you’re not, nor that you have the uncanny ability to arbitrarily separate your life into “safe” and “dangerous” moments.

Women, for any number of reasons, are confronted with far greater challenges when carrying concealed than are men. Off-body carry (in purses and handbags) smugly shunned by some (mostly men) often represents one of the few viable options for many women. “Bra-holsters” represents another.

Every concealed-carry option, regardless of your gender, feature advantages and weaknesses. For some, depending upon the way they dress and the places they go, a single carry method may not suffice. Some of us may thus be compelled to carry in different locations on different occasions. That, of course, complicates the entire affair, yet may be necessary.

Crossbreed Holsters Belly Band
Crossbreed Holsters Belly Band

Shoulder-holsters, ankle-holsters, belly-bands, bra-holsters, et al all service a specific requirement, but all have failings too. One big issue is that most of the foregoing are “one way.” That is, the gun may come out quickly, but it cannot be speedily reholstered using only one hand. Thus, when you need to get your brandished pistol out of sight quickly, it will probably have to be placed in a pocket.

“Appendix carry” is currently all the rage, but it has issues too, not the least of which is safe reholstering.

And, we all know that holstering is pistol is the single most dangerous things we do with guns!

I advise students that, before their search is over, they’re likely to have a box full of holsters! Even then, the “perfect” pistol and “perfect” concealed-carry method will likely elude them! The combination ultimately selected may suffice most of the time, but as noted above, it will ever be a confounded nuisance.

When you have made the firm and irreversible decision to go armed, as a permanent lifestyle, you’ll find a way! As noted, it will be far from perfect, but you’ll make the sacrifices necessary to make it work.

If not, you’ve likely stopped reading already!

“The most perfect technique is that which is not noticed at all” ~ Pablo Casals

/John

About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor John Farnam will urge you, based on your own beliefs, to make up your mind in advance as to what you would do when faced with an imminent and unlawful lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance, if any. Defense Training International wants to make sure that their students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or inactions.

It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to the Planet Earth. Mr Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com

5 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
binder

Wearing a seat belt everywhere is not against the law. Wearing a seat belt is not going to freak out a boss or client. You don’t have to hide that you are wearing a seat belt. Seat belts are not politically charged. You don’t need a licence for a seat belt. Fix all that, and then we can talk.

DrSique

With a bra like that, she should be in a James Bond movie.

Larry Brickey

LOLOLOL

Ted

Anybody want to buy some slightly used holsters?

GomeznSA

Maybe, maybe not – depends on what they are and what gun(s) they fit! Or maybe some horse trading would be in order 😉
I have to agree with the gist of the article: there is No Perfect Way To Carry Concealed – it is always going to be a degree of compromise, between size/type of the firearm, attire and (left out of the article) a suitable reload (or two). But if your personal security and that of your family/friends is a high enough of a priority, you WILL find a way to make it work.