I realize open carrying is your right. And by all means, if you want to exercise that right you should do it. In fact, I’m lucky enough to live in the great state of Virginia where open carry is legal and people do it all the time.
Personally though, you’ll never catch me open carrying. You see, I’m a very practical sort of guy. The only reason I carry a gun and spend hours at the range is for personal protection purposes. I’m not a competition shooter and I don’t own a tricked-out $3,000 1911. My firearm of choice is a Glock 19. (Yes it may be ugly, but if I pull the trigger I know it will go boom.)
My point is, when it comes to carrying a gun I’m doing it for practical personal protection reasons and open carry isn’t “practical” in my eyes. Now, I know that half of you just screamed at your computer “this guy’s an idiot, of course it’s practical,” so let me explain.
First off, when I carry a gun I carry it concealed for a reason.
I don’t want anyone else to know I have a gun. I don’t want to be standing in a 7-11 one day and have some criminal run in and shoot me first because he sees that I have a gun on my hip, therefore I’m his biggest threat.
Also, I don’t want to be standing in line at Walmart and have to worry about some dirt bag grabbing my gun from behind. You see, when you open carry you have to be very aware of where your “gun side” is at all times. Law enforcement officers are well- trained in this, but I’ve seen the “average Joe” open carry and far too many of them have no awareness when it comes to their gun. (Plus, if you open carry you’d better have a retention device on your holster, but this still doesn’t mean someone can’t try and take it.)
Of course, in general, I just don’t want to make a spectacle and draw attention to myself. When I’m out and about running errands I want to blend in with everyone else. If I’m ever face to face with a criminal who’s about to take my life or someone near me I want him to look at me and think I’m some harmless guy in jeans and a t-shirt. (I don’t want him to know that if the situation calls for it he’s about to see the business end of my Glock.)
Plus, we all know…
That many cops and other law enforcement officials don’t know state laws when it comes to open carry. And as fun as it is wasting half my day while some cop hassles me, I’ll pass.
But perhaps you’re thinking to yourself, “There’s got to be some good reason to open carry,” right? Well, as I stated at the beginning of this article it’s your right to open carry. So if you choose, go ahead and get together with your fellow friends and have “open carry night” at the local Denny’s.
Another reason to open carry is that it is faster to come out of the holster. I realize that when you carry concealed you have to lift up your concealment garment with your opposite hand to be able to draw the gun. However, if you “dry fire” practice coming out of the holster with your concealment clothing on you should soon be able to draw very quickly. And in my opinion, carrying open for a faster draw does not outweigh the benefits of carrying concealed.
Well, there you have it. I know that open carry vs. concealed carry will always be a personal preference so let the hate mail begin.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
How Much Ammo Can You Bring On a Plane?
If you’ve never transported your gun on an airplane before it’s a piece of cake if you follow these simple tips. In fact, I fly with my gun often and I’ve never had a problem. First off, before you leave your house to go to the airport, make sure the gun is unloaded. I would double and triple check this. Next, the gun needs to be locked in a solid case. Personally, I just use the cases my guns came in when I bought them and I use a padlock to secure them.
Once you’re satisfied that the gun is unloaded and locked up, simply throw it in your checked baggage (not your carry on.) As far as your ammo, I just leave it in the box and throw it in my suitcase too. However, I’ll put the ammo at the bottom of my suitcase and the gun at the top. I like to make sure they’re separated by several layers of clothes, but that’s just my own personal preference.
Once you get to the airport, you’ll walk up the counter and tell the representative that you need to declare a firearm and ammunition. And if I were you, I would use those words exactly. I would not advise walking up to them and saying “I have a gun.” That probably won’t end well and you might end up surrounded by airport police who’ll ruin your day and make you spend the next eight hours in a small dark room explaining yourself.
After you declare your firearm to the counter representative…
They’ll hand you a small card – about the size of a 3×5 index card – which you need to read and sign. The card basically says that your gun is unloaded and you’re following all safety regulations and that if for some reason you’re lying you could get a big fine and/or prison time.
Once you’ve signed the card, you open up your gun case, throw the card in the case and secure it again. Then you give your luggage to the representative and you’re all done. In all of the times I’ve flow I’ve never had anyone look at the gun or even ask me if it was unloaded. All they do is hand me the card, tell me to sign it and put it in my case.
Of course, I usually fly Southwest or Delta and I know their respective regulations. So before you fly you should go to your airlines website or give them a call to see their requirements. However, I’ve heard that almost all airlines are the same with guns. But, one thing I have heard is that airlines are different when it comes to how much ammunition you can bring on a plane.
For instance, my brother just graduated from a police academy in Utah.
While he was in the academy one of his instructors said that they could order a couple thousand rounds through the academy and get a big discount. So my brother called me up and asked me if I wanted some ammo. (Do I want some ammo? Does Charlie Sheen want crack?)
Of course I told him I wanted ammo, and when I was in Utah a few months ago, I decided to pick it up. However, 3,000 rounds is a lot of ammo and there was no way I could carry it all back in my luggage at once. So I gave Southwest a call to see how much ammo I could carry on the plane and they told me 11 pounds.
Since it was a few months ago, I don’t remember how many rounds that added up to, but it sure wasn’t much. I think it was something like 350 rounds. I realize I could ship the rest, but right now I’ve got plenty of ammo in my house. Plus, I’m getting ready to head to Utah again soon, so I’ll just bring another 350 or so rounds home with me then, and continue this for the time being.
The bottom line is, don’t be afraid to fly with your gun and if you plan to carry a lot of ammo, know how many rounds you can bring. And, if you happen to be traveling from Utah to Virginia anytime soon, let me know if you’re interested in adding 11 pounds to the weight of your luggage.
Once you’re satisfied that the gun is unloaded and locked up, simply throw it in your checked baggage (not your carry on.) As far as your ammo, I just leave it in the box and throw it in my suitcase too. However, I’ll put the ammo at the bottom of my suitcase and the gun at the top. I like to make sure they’re separated by several layers of clothes, but that’s just my own personal preference.
Once you get to the airport, you’ll walk up the counter and tell the representative that you need to declare a firearm and ammunition. And if I were you, I would use those words exactly. I would not advise walking up to them and saying “I have a gun.” That probably won’t end well and you might end up surrounded by airport police who’ll ruin your day and make you spend the next eight hours in a small dark room explaining yourself.
After you declare your firearm to the counter representative…
They’ll hand you a small card – about the size of a 3×5 index card – which you need to read and sign. The card basically says that your gun is unloaded and you’re following all safety regulations and that if for some reason you’re lying you could get a big fine and/or prison time.
Once you’ve signed the card, you open up your gun case, throw the card in the case and secure it again. Then you give your luggage to the representative and you’re all done. In all of the times I’ve flow I’ve never had anyone look at the gun or even ask me if it was unloaded. All they do is hand me the card, tell me to sign it and put it in my case.
Of course, I usually fly Southwest or Delta and I know their respective regulations. So before you fly you should go to your airlines website or give them a call to see their requirements. However, I’ve heard that almost all airlines are the same with guns. But, one thing I have heard is that airlines are different when it comes to how much ammunition you can bring on a plane.
For instance, my brother just graduated from a police academy in Utah.
While he was in the academy one of his instructors said that they could order a couple thousand rounds through the academy and get a big discount. So my brother called me up and asked me if I wanted some ammo. (Do I want some ammo? Does Charlie Sheen want crack?)
Of course I told him I wanted ammo, and when I was in Utah a few months ago, I decided to pick it up. However, 3,000 rounds is a lot of ammo and there was no way I could carry it all back in my luggage at once. So I gave Southwest a call to see how much ammo I could carry on the plane and they told me 11 pounds.
Since it was a few months ago, I don’t remember how many rounds that added up to, but it sure wasn’t much. I think it was something like 350 rounds. I realize I could ship the rest, but right now I’ve got plenty of ammo in my house. Plus, I’m getting ready to head to Utah again soon, so I’ll just bring another 350 or so rounds home with me then, and continue this for the time being.
The bottom line is, don’t be afraid to fly with your gun and if you plan to carry a lot of ammo, know how many rounds you can bring. And, if you happen to be traveling from Utah to Virginia anytime soon, let me know if you’re interested in adding 11 pounds to the weight of your luggage.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The #1 Holster for Concealed Carry?
Finding a good holster for concealed carry is not an easy task and one that should not be treated lightly. For instance, I know plenty of folks who will spend hours upon hours researching a gun and trying it out at the range, yet they’ll spend 10 minutes picking up a holster for it at the local gun shop.
The fact is, a holster is just as important as the gun, because if you can’t get your gun out of the holster or if your gun falls out of a cheap holster, then it’s not going to do you much good and could even cost you your life.
So what should you look for in a quality holster and what’s the best holster to buy? Well, as I just mentioned, it needs to keep the gun in place. If you turn the holster upside down with the gun in it, does the gun immediately fall out? If so, get a new holster. Also, if you’re running, does it slide all around as if it’s going to pop out at a moments notice? If the gun is sliding all around, get a better holster and also get a gun belt (either 1½ inches or 1¾ inches thick) to keep it in place.
Perhaps, most importantly, you need a holster that provides quick access to the gun. I’m sure you’ve seen the “cell phone” or “pager” type holsters or the holsters built into underwear and other “neat” looking holsters that in my opinion are terrible ideas.
I realize these holsters are fun to market and look cool…
But tactically they are a bad idea all around. If the time ever comes that you have to draw your gun to defend your life, you need that gun as quickly as possible. Two seconds could be the difference between life or death and you don’t want to be fishing around in your underwear or trying to get a grip on some cell phone holster.
If the gimmicky holsters are out the window, then what should you look for? Simply put, if you’re going to carry a concealed firearm, get an inside the waistband holster. You don’t want an outside the waistband holster unless you plan on wearing a winter coat all year round. You don’t want a shoulder holster because they’re too slow on the draw and you’ll end up muzzling yourself and everyone near you. And you definitely don’t want an ankle holster, unless it’s for a backup gun. If you use an ankle holster for your primary weapon, you’ll likely be dead by the time you bend over and try to draw the gun.
So if the best type of holster is an inside the waistband, which one should you get?
I’m a fan of the leather holsters with a reinforced mouth. It is extremely important that any holster you purchase is reinforced at the top to allow one handed re-holstering. If you have to use two hands to re-holster then you’ll end up taking your eyes off the threat and that’s a situation you don’t want to be in.
My two favorite inside the waistband leather holsters with reinforced mouths are the DL Clipper and the Milt Sparks Summer Special. Neither of them is cheap and they’ll cost you around $80-$90, but its well worth the price. Just like you don’t ever want to be cheap with a gun, you never want to be cheap with a holster since you might be betting your life on this equipment one day.
The holster that I personally use is the DL Clipper because it felt a little better and I felt I could get a better firing grip on the gun. However, before you go out and purchase this holster or the Milt Sparks Summer Special, make sure and find out the company’s return policy that you buy it from.
You could spend a small fortune trying to find the perfect holster, so make sure you can return a holster within 30 days if you don’t like it and get all of your money back. If a company says they don’t allow returns, move on to someone else because most of them do.
So right now, if you’re staring at your box full of 10 million holsters that you don’t like (and you still don’t like the one you’ve got on now) try out one of the holsters above and I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised. And for heaven’s sake stop using the “gimmicky” holsters that are going to get you killed one day.
The fact is, a holster is just as important as the gun, because if you can’t get your gun out of the holster or if your gun falls out of a cheap holster, then it’s not going to do you much good and could even cost you your life.
So what should you look for in a quality holster and what’s the best holster to buy? Well, as I just mentioned, it needs to keep the gun in place. If you turn the holster upside down with the gun in it, does the gun immediately fall out? If so, get a new holster. Also, if you’re running, does it slide all around as if it’s going to pop out at a moments notice? If the gun is sliding all around, get a better holster and also get a gun belt (either 1½ inches or 1¾ inches thick) to keep it in place.
Perhaps, most importantly, you need a holster that provides quick access to the gun. I’m sure you’ve seen the “cell phone” or “pager” type holsters or the holsters built into underwear and other “neat” looking holsters that in my opinion are terrible ideas.
I realize these holsters are fun to market and look cool…
But tactically they are a bad idea all around. If the time ever comes that you have to draw your gun to defend your life, you need that gun as quickly as possible. Two seconds could be the difference between life or death and you don’t want to be fishing around in your underwear or trying to get a grip on some cell phone holster.
If the gimmicky holsters are out the window, then what should you look for? Simply put, if you’re going to carry a concealed firearm, get an inside the waistband holster. You don’t want an outside the waistband holster unless you plan on wearing a winter coat all year round. You don’t want a shoulder holster because they’re too slow on the draw and you’ll end up muzzling yourself and everyone near you. And you definitely don’t want an ankle holster, unless it’s for a backup gun. If you use an ankle holster for your primary weapon, you’ll likely be dead by the time you bend over and try to draw the gun.
So if the best type of holster is an inside the waistband, which one should you get?
I’m a fan of the leather holsters with a reinforced mouth. It is extremely important that any holster you purchase is reinforced at the top to allow one handed re-holstering. If you have to use two hands to re-holster then you’ll end up taking your eyes off the threat and that’s a situation you don’t want to be in.
My two favorite inside the waistband leather holsters with reinforced mouths are the DL Clipper and the Milt Sparks Summer Special. Neither of them is cheap and they’ll cost you around $80-$90, but its well worth the price. Just like you don’t ever want to be cheap with a gun, you never want to be cheap with a holster since you might be betting your life on this equipment one day.
The holster that I personally use is the DL Clipper because it felt a little better and I felt I could get a better firing grip on the gun. However, before you go out and purchase this holster or the Milt Sparks Summer Special, make sure and find out the company’s return policy that you buy it from.
You could spend a small fortune trying to find the perfect holster, so make sure you can return a holster within 30 days if you don’t like it and get all of your money back. If a company says they don’t allow returns, move on to someone else because most of them do.
So right now, if you’re staring at your box full of 10 million holsters that you don’t like (and you still don’t like the one you’ve got on now) try out one of the holsters above and I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised. And for heaven’s sake stop using the “gimmicky” holsters that are going to get you killed one day.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Why You Should Never Draw Your Gun in This Situation
A few weeks ago I got a frantic email from a fellow who wanted me to be an expert witness in a gun related case. He included his lawyer’s phone number, so I gave the lawyer a call to see what happened.
Here’s what he told me: His client lives in an apartment building with underground parking and assigned spaces. For one reason or another, his client decided to park in another person’s spot (We’ll call him Mr. T.). Well, Mr. T. was not a happy camper about this, so he left a nasty note on the client’s windshield along the lines of “never park in my spot again or bad things will happen.”
The client did not appreciate the note so he wrote an even “friendlier” note and taped it to the wall on Mr. T’s spot. To make a long story short, these two very mature adults went back and forth trading nasty notes with each other… until one day, the client caught Mr. T. in the parking garage writing one of these notes.
A verbal argument ensued…
And the client said he turned his back to Mr. T. to read a note which had been taped on the parking garage wall. And that as he was reading the note, he thought he saw Mr. T. raise his hand over his head as if he was going to hit the client in the back of the head. At that moment, the client drew his firearm as he turned around and told Mr. T. to back off. (Mr. T. then called the police and the client was charged with brandishing.)
After this long story, the lawyer asked me if I would be an expert witness and I said “sure I’ll do it, but you’re not going to like what I have to say”. The reason being, the client should not have drawn his gun, because this was not a deadly force situation.
You see, even though I’m not a lawyer myself (thank goodness) you have to remember that in order to draw your gun you must be in immediate fear for your life. You don’t draw your gun to scare someone off, you don’t draw the gun and shoot to “wound” someone either. If you’re taking out your gun it’s because you need to use it that instant because if you don’t you might end up a dead man.
In the instance above…
The client saying “he thought he saw a raised fist” is not a reason to use deadly force. Had he said, he was sure he saw a knife or a baseball bat or a crow bar, then he would have been perfectly justified in drawing the gun – because those can obviously cause serious bodily injury, and he was 100% sure that’s what he saw (even if he was later wrong.)
As any police officer will tell you, one of the most important things you must be able to do when you draw your gun is to be able to articulate the fear for your life. That’s why in the case above, if the fellow had drawn his gun because he saw a knife (which later turned out to be a cell phone) he would have been justified.
Believe me, I know we’d all like to draw our guns at the “jerks” we come across in life such as the guy driving slow in the left hand lane who we’ve been flashing our high beams at to get over… or the rude person who insults your wife. But when these things happen you must swallow your pride and remember the only time your gun should be coming out of the holster is when you’re prepared to pull the trigger and immediately stop the threat.
By the way, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, I did not end up being an expert witness in the guy’s case and as soon as I told the lawyer why I wouldn’t do it, he said to me “I was afraid you were going to say that.”
Here’s what he told me: His client lives in an apartment building with underground parking and assigned spaces. For one reason or another, his client decided to park in another person’s spot (We’ll call him Mr. T.). Well, Mr. T. was not a happy camper about this, so he left a nasty note on the client’s windshield along the lines of “never park in my spot again or bad things will happen.”
The client did not appreciate the note so he wrote an even “friendlier” note and taped it to the wall on Mr. T’s spot. To make a long story short, these two very mature adults went back and forth trading nasty notes with each other… until one day, the client caught Mr. T. in the parking garage writing one of these notes.
A verbal argument ensued…
And the client said he turned his back to Mr. T. to read a note which had been taped on the parking garage wall. And that as he was reading the note, he thought he saw Mr. T. raise his hand over his head as if he was going to hit the client in the back of the head. At that moment, the client drew his firearm as he turned around and told Mr. T. to back off. (Mr. T. then called the police and the client was charged with brandishing.)
After this long story, the lawyer asked me if I would be an expert witness and I said “sure I’ll do it, but you’re not going to like what I have to say”. The reason being, the client should not have drawn his gun, because this was not a deadly force situation.
You see, even though I’m not a lawyer myself (thank goodness) you have to remember that in order to draw your gun you must be in immediate fear for your life. You don’t draw your gun to scare someone off, you don’t draw the gun and shoot to “wound” someone either. If you’re taking out your gun it’s because you need to use it that instant because if you don’t you might end up a dead man.
In the instance above…
The client saying “he thought he saw a raised fist” is not a reason to use deadly force. Had he said, he was sure he saw a knife or a baseball bat or a crow bar, then he would have been perfectly justified in drawing the gun – because those can obviously cause serious bodily injury, and he was 100% sure that’s what he saw (even if he was later wrong.)
As any police officer will tell you, one of the most important things you must be able to do when you draw your gun is to be able to articulate the fear for your life. That’s why in the case above, if the fellow had drawn his gun because he saw a knife (which later turned out to be a cell phone) he would have been justified.
Believe me, I know we’d all like to draw our guns at the “jerks” we come across in life such as the guy driving slow in the left hand lane who we’ve been flashing our high beams at to get over… or the rude person who insults your wife. But when these things happen you must swallow your pride and remember the only time your gun should be coming out of the holster is when you’re prepared to pull the trigger and immediately stop the threat.
By the way, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, I did not end up being an expert witness in the guy’s case and as soon as I told the lawyer why I wouldn’t do it, he said to me “I was afraid you were going to say that.”
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