If you're a gun guy and if you carry concealed in a civilian capacity then you have several basic responsibilities that goes with carrying a gun in public.
Below is a basic list of what you should have....
A retention holster.
If you're carrying concealed then you need to make sure that an out of the blue shoving match with a stranger doesn't automatically turn into a gunfight because you got jostled and now your weapon is on the deck. For all the criticism that the Serpa Holster has received it did one important thing that got ignored. It provided the average guy with a retention holder that was good enough for everyday carry. I still think that the belt attachment is a bit flimsier than I would like but to each his own. If you use one of those range holsters (thats what I call the average kydex holster...no retention just an adjustable screw...if you're lucky) as part of your everyday mix then I think you're wrong.
Weapon retention training.
The above photo shows a suspect attempting to take an officers gun. Luckily he had friends there with him but did you notice something? The officer that is the subject of the snatch attempt is trying to control the suspect and not the weapon. That's not how the Marine Corps teaches it. The suspect might leave you a bloody mess with punches about your head and shoulders but he won't be able to kill you with your own gun.
Additionally this is a rather feeble attempt. I'll post a video of California inmates practicing disarming LEOs (another reason why open carry is a bad idea...criminals practice taking weapons from LEOs...imagine the field day with the open carry crowd!). The way they practice it, its violent, extremely aggressive and they don't care if you give them black eyes and broken noses. They go straight for the weapon without hesitation and with full force. Civilian concealed carry holders must get weapon retention training or they're a threat to themselves and the public.
Practice.
If you're a concealed weapons carrier then you need to practice the skill of firing a firearm so that you hit what you intend to. I'm not talking about the speed drills every 6 months but actually going to a range at least once a month and putting steel on target. Yeah when the ammo shortage hit I bailed but since its over I'm back and its a no brainer. I don't want to be responsible for hitting the innocent child, instead of the vicious perpetrator that was attempting to harm me and mine. If you want to see a shooting turn into a steaming pile then explain to the judge why you tried to shoot the guy menacing you but instead hit the little old lady minding her own business.
Carrying a weapon in public is serious business. If you're going to take it upon yourself to carry then you owe it to the public to do it right.
Below is a basic list of what you should have....
A retention holster.
If you're carrying concealed then you need to make sure that an out of the blue shoving match with a stranger doesn't automatically turn into a gunfight because you got jostled and now your weapon is on the deck. For all the criticism that the Serpa Holster has received it did one important thing that got ignored. It provided the average guy with a retention holder that was good enough for everyday carry. I still think that the belt attachment is a bit flimsier than I would like but to each his own. If you use one of those range holsters (thats what I call the average kydex holster...no retention just an adjustable screw...if you're lucky) as part of your everyday mix then I think you're wrong.
Weapon retention training.
The above photo shows a suspect attempting to take an officers gun. Luckily he had friends there with him but did you notice something? The officer that is the subject of the snatch attempt is trying to control the suspect and not the weapon. That's not how the Marine Corps teaches it. The suspect might leave you a bloody mess with punches about your head and shoulders but he won't be able to kill you with your own gun.
Additionally this is a rather feeble attempt. I'll post a video of California inmates practicing disarming LEOs (another reason why open carry is a bad idea...criminals practice taking weapons from LEOs...imagine the field day with the open carry crowd!). The way they practice it, its violent, extremely aggressive and they don't care if you give them black eyes and broken noses. They go straight for the weapon without hesitation and with full force. Civilian concealed carry holders must get weapon retention training or they're a threat to themselves and the public.
Practice.
If you're a concealed weapons carrier then you need to practice the skill of firing a firearm so that you hit what you intend to. I'm not talking about the speed drills every 6 months but actually going to a range at least once a month and putting steel on target. Yeah when the ammo shortage hit I bailed but since its over I'm back and its a no brainer. I don't want to be responsible for hitting the innocent child, instead of the vicious perpetrator that was attempting to harm me and mine. If you want to see a shooting turn into a steaming pile then explain to the judge why you tried to shoot the guy menacing you but instead hit the little old lady minding her own business.
Carrying a weapon in public is serious business. If you're going to take it upon yourself to carry then you owe it to the public to do it right.
On the subject of guns, it seems France is planning on replacing the famas
ReplyDeleteGreat Post, Solomon. Important info.
ReplyDeleteLanyards are your friend.
ReplyDeleteSerpa holsters are dang hard to conceal, but I'm with you on the part where your holster should secure your gun during activities. A cheap Uncle Mikes open top type holster is not good enough to keep your weapon secure in a shoving match.
ReplyDeleteAs far as training goes I'm reading On Combat now and it makes a case to use realistic targets kinda like the ones DHS got heat for. This helps reduce the decision process in a deadly force situation. Also you have more and more realistic shoot don't shoot simulators and there are more force on force places out there for civilians which is great. Yes, you have to be precise with your aim, but when the time comes that target could be moving and doesn't look like a bulls-eye.
I carry most of my handguns in a Comp-Tac MTAC holster GREAT holster with some great design features. There are also different holster which you can carry either inside or outside waistband, shoulder, or ankle. It depends on your choice.
ReplyDeleteRegard
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Mass firearms safety course.
Retention holsters are needed by Law Enforcement Officers who "open carry" to prevent snatches by the criminals they engage with. The criminals don't come up to intended victims expecting to grab a firearm... in fact, they AVOID civilians with firearms if they suspect there is a gun present. Retention holsters are a danger to CCW holders as they add another level of complexity and under the most stressful of circumstances.
ReplyDeleteThe writer has good intentions, but this thought is the road to hell.
no. on the contrary. you're not THINKING! first if operating a retention holster offers a level of complexity that a CCW holder can't train to perform under duress then he doesn't need to carry. second, have you taken the time to actually watch the vids on prisoners practicing taking weapons? i can't find one online and the last time i saw one was with some training with San Bernardino Sheriffs but it was a sight to behold. next, you say that they're only for open carry? what the hell? i can walk down the street and clock about 90% of the guys carrying concealed. if i was looking for a gun and wanted to take one it would be easy. WHY? because most people operate in a white spectrum. they don't stay in yellow and an assault will be more of an ambush than anything else.
Deleteyou want to sound authoritative but you're living in the fantasy world that some in the gun community want to promote. we're heading toward a time when the "SHEEP DOGS" become prey. why? because they think they have skills that they don't and will get their asses handed to them because they didn't take the time to learn...OR to practice necessary skills.