A good article on 9 Things Never Do While Carrying Concealed

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peggysue

Moderator
Darn good artical with 9 things never to do when carrying concealed.
1.Show off your weapon.
2.Adjust the concealed weapon. I don't agree with this. One has to discreetly adjust the package every once and a while.
3.Load with practice ammo. I don't agree with this. Some small handguns run best with ball ammo. Defensive ammo can be fussy.
4.Pocket carry with out a holster.
5.Tell others in public you are armed.
6.Never Use the gun to intimidate. I was taught if I pull I kill.
7.Travel across state lines without knowing the laws.
8."Simply carrying a concealed handgun does not give you the right, or the bravery, to step in and stop crimes. A gun is not a citizen’s badge."
9.Put you finger on the trigger only if you are not defending yourself.


http://americanconcealed.com/9-things-you-should-never-do-while-carrying-concealed/
 
6.Never Use the gun to intimidate. I was taught if I pull I kill.
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So if you pull your weapon and the assailant gets scared and starts running away, do you shoot him in the back?

I'll add #10 to the list:
Forget the words "never" and "always". Gun fights don't work like that.
 
No. 11- Don't consume alcohol or other intoxicants.
No. 12 - Modify your behavior and attitudes to the extent that you are never culpatory in having to defend yourself.
No. 13 - Don't allow your buddies to get you into defensive situations.
 
Not really donts, but more so "do's"

Learn to de-escalate situations. I.e. pen mightier than the sword mentality, when appropriate of course

2. Do realize as your day to day habits and life factors change, your choice of carry should change too. I.e. I carry a k frame .357 but looking for a smaller j frame or an m&p subcompact as I find myself driving a lot more for my new job now.

Oh and these are a couple of dont's.

1. Don't be that guy standing in line with your hand propped on the butt of your gun/holster like your John Wayne or some wannabe cowboy tough guy-. You look like a clown.

2. Never and I mean never under any circumstances, drive into NJ or ny with your gun. I have the unfortunate burden of living close and have heard enough accidental stories to make my head hurt. This is pretty much number 7 on that list, but I feel the need to repeat as even something as innocent as carrying unloaded in your trunk in NJ could send you to jail.
 
1.) Don't use a floppy fabric or cheap leather holster that can snag the trigger.
2.) Check DAILY that fuzz from clothing doesn't build up in the action.
3.) Don't keep loading the same round first - rotate the ammo and shoot the loaded rounds in practice. Scratched and set back rounds aren't viable in the long run and problematic after months of abuse.
4). Don't follow fashions, find a comfortable belt, holster, and wear location so that you don't need to mess with it during the day.
5.) Don't go places you don't belong.
6.) Don't tell anyone you carry, the last thing you want is someone else yelling, "YOU HAVE A GUN, DO SOMETHING!"
7.) Don't skip practice - go monthly to determine if some new item or method actually works, not hangs up. And wear your normal clothing you wear with the gun.
8.) Don't think your gun is the Final Answer. A back up knife to get an attacker off you grappling for your gun is. Defend in depth.
9.) Don't think checklists answer all the questions.
 
6.Never Use the gun to intimidate. I was taught if I pull I kill.
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Another good rule to remember is that anything you post on the Internet is discoverable and that statements like the above can come back and bite you.

I was taught I don't pull unless I can specifically articulate an action by my assailant that lead me to believe my life was in danger.
 
6.Never Use the gun to intimidate. I was taught if I pull I kill.
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That is just plain messed up. You always have the option to not shoot and not shooting is sometimes the best option.

8."Simply carrying a concealed handgun does not give you the right, or the bravery, to step in and stop crimes. A gun is not a citizen’s badge."
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While carrying does not, there are many laws in place that do give you the right to intervene to stop crimes, gun or not. Here, it is important to know your local laws. So it does not matter if carrying doesn't give you this right as it may already be granted by self defense or other laws. With that said, intervening may not be the smart thing to do.
 
For a citizen carrying concealed, the current line of thinking - philosophy if you will - is that to draw the weapon you need to be threatened with lethal force. Otherwise you could be just "brandishing" to force others to your will.

No lethal force, don't introduce it. You are only elevating the confrontation, not decompressing it. Most face offs aren't about matters over lethality in the first place. They usually start with someone getting their feelings hurt and neither will back down. If you carry - you are then OBLIGATED to back down. What you gonna do, shoot everyone who disagrees with you?

The concept does have a major flaw - because we know that if a firearm IS presented, as documented in hundreds of thousands of instances across the US annually, the perp makes a new decision and beats a hasty exit. Shooting him in the back isn't allowed under the law, and frankly not justified. You no longer have a lethal threat confrontation.

The point being, if you draw it, you must already have decided it can and will be used, unflinchingly, no hesitation. Don't draw to impress the other guy, draw to implement the decision you made. You are still obligated to respond to any new factors they introduce. Fleeing is one.

This is why little lists of Do's and Don't are silly - they don't explain things fully so the weapons user can make an informed decision.

If you DO carry, it very much DOES go to "You are not a cop OR a hero." The real issue is situational awareness - you could very well can see a lethal threat presented against someone else right in front of you, but do you have the omniscient bird's eye view to see the entire scene? Ask the guy who was shot down in the Utah Walmart by the second shooter behind them - a woman he never keyed on as the male's partner. There is no way to know all the details of the scene - you could be interrupting another CCW carrier stopping a crime. And that HAS happened to the embarrassment of both.

We might harp on the news never telling us the stories of successful self defense, but the gun media sometimes doesn't tell us of the stupid things we do, either. Two guys pointing guns at each other yelling isn't something I need to be involved in. Drawing down on a 2A supporter wandering the aisles of a Bigbox lumber store exercising his rights by carrying an AK isn't something I need to misinterpret - or be a hero over. You do need to respond to lethal threats around you as a citizen or human being, but the problem is that we all too often just like to act as if we have more authority when we really don't. And that other guy just might consider YOU presenting YOUR firearm as a lethal threat. HE'S ARMED - just what are you thinking?

I see the potential of a mini-Waco biker shootout. Don't expect a coverup to follow just for your benefit.

Frankly, it IS the hokey religions that help us control the blaster we have by our side. Not little checklists of half informed stuff.
 
Interesting opinions. I have had my CCW since 1972 and carry when I am not working at the University. I am still upright and mobile.
 
peggysue said:
8."Simply carrying a concealed handgun does not give you the right, or the bravery, to step in and stop crimes. A gun is not a citizen’s badge."
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You always have the right to step in and stop a crime as it is being committed. Carrying a concealed firearm neither creates nor negates that right. What the CCW creates is the dilemma (for the CCW holder) of whether or not it's worth the personal and legal risk to intervene and, if so, what level of force is appropriate to use.
 
If you DO carry, it very much DOES go to "You are not a cop OR a hero." The real issue is situational awareness - you could very well can see a lethal threat presented against someone else right in front of you, but do you have the omniscient bird's eye view to see the entire scene? Ask the guy who was shot down in the Utah Walmart by the second shooter behind them - a woman he never keyed on as the male's partner. There is no way to know all the details of the scene - you could be interrupting another CCW carrier stopping a crime. And that HAS happened to the embarrassment of both.
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And it has happened that such people performed a service that went a long way to helping people. Think Mark Wilson in Tyler, RIP.

Philly Barbershop shooting http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news...-Inside-West-Philly-Barbershop-297176271.html

Think Pearl High School and Golden Market shootings.

The point is that there are definitely times you have the legal right to intervene. Such actions do not come without risks and is does pay to know what is going on before intervening. You mentioned the Utah Walmart. Wilcox, unfortunately had very poor situational awareness and it cost him his life. Joe Zamudio was late in coming to the senator's shooting in Arizona and almost shot the wrong guy AFTER the gunman had already been disarmed. It is a very big responsibility and risk to take action in ANY situation and it pays to make all the right decisions.

Sometimes it isn't about being a cop or being a hero. It is about doing the right thing. Sometimes, the right thing is to intervene. Sometimes, it is not.
 
aguila blanca said:
You always have the right to step in and stop a crime as it is being committed.
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That's one of the sillier things that I've read on here.

Just as a simple example, you really think that you have a right to step in and stop someone from going 5 MPH over the speed limit on the interstate?

Or maybe the neighbor's are having a late night party with some loud music violating the local noise laws. You believe that you have the right to trespass onto their property and stop their crime (loud music) as it is being committed?
 
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45_Auto said:
Just as a simple example, you really think that you have a right to step in and stop someone from going 5 MPH over the speed limit on the interstate?

Or maybe the neighbor's are having a late night party with some loud music violating the local noise laws. You believe that you have the right to trespass onto their property and stop their crime (loud music) as it is being committed?
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The offenses you describe are civil infractions, not crimes.

My statement stands.
 
I fully agree that your statement stands. It stands right alongside all of the other incorrect statements on the internet.

aguila blanca said:
You always have the right to step in and stop a crime as it is being committed.
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So where do you draw the line? Do you believe that you have the right to step in and stop a felony but not a misdemeanor or a "civil infraction"?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crime

crime

noun \ˈkrīm\

: an illegal act for which someone can be punished by the government

: activity that is against the law : illegal acts in general

: an act that is foolish or wrong

Full Definition of CRIME


1: an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law; especially : a gross violation of law
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http://felonyguide.com/List-of-felony-crimes.php

What are the most common felonies committed in the US? What are common punishments for these felonies? A list of the 20 most common felonies in the US.

Felonies are serious crimes - if you are facing a felony or know somebody who is you should definitely seek professional legal help.

...

(15) Curfew and loitering 143,002
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You really think you have the right to step in and stop someone standing in their yard from breaking a felony curfew law?
 
45_Auto said:
So where do you draw the line? Do you believe that you have the right to step in and stop a felony but not a misdemeanor or a "civil infraction"?
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You are using lay dictionary definitions, which apply to legal terms only if the terms are not defined in law. In law, there is a clear distinction between a "crime" (or "criminal act) and a "civil infraction." Do I believe that I have a (legal) right to step in and stop a criminal act -- meaning a felony or a misdemeanor? Yes, I absolutely believe that. If you think that's incorrect, since the legal premise is that "That which is not illegal is legal," you'll have to provide some citation to show us that it's not legal to do so.

As to a right to issue civil infractions? I don't know and I don't care. The most I'll do if I see a guy driving crazy or running stop signs is call the cops. Let them deal with it.

45_Auto said:
You really think you have the right to step in and stop someone standing in their yard from breaking a felony curfew law?
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I don't think I've ever heard of a curfew law being a felony offense but, if it is a felony offense, then yes -- I absolutely have a right to step in and [try to] enforce it. Given my age and degree of decrepitude it would be extremely foolhardy for me to attempt to do so, but I certainly have the right to try.

Of course, if there's a curfew law that would make it a felony for someone to be standing outdoors in their own yard, presumably it would apply to me, as well, so how would I be in any position to even know about the offense, let alone try to do something about it?
 
I carry only to defend me and my family if they are present.

Any decision to stop a threat to someone else's safety will be made on a case by case basis. I have no delusions that I could stop a theater shooter or anything else of the like.

My first priority is ushering my family to safety and my survival to continue to provide for them.

I expect that the end of my life will come and go without using the pistol in self defense. Just like all the years previous to now, the pistol will probably always remain in it's holster.

No one except maybe your life-mate should know that you are carrying. Not your kids, not your cousin, sister, best friend or coworkers.
 
I have no delusions that I could stop a theater shooter or anything else of the like.
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Why would a "theater shooter" be any different than one only threatening your family? If you are in a theater and it happens...


I worry as much about civil liability as I do about criminal.
 
Why would a "theater shooter" be any different than one only threatening your family? If you are in a theater and it happens...
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I posted that because many people do have delusions of saving the day or appoint themselves protector of the public because they have a ccw. I've talked with people who feel that the license gives them some kind of status. When cashiers ask for ID, they whip out their concealed carry license, then want to argue about it.
I see "Concealed Carry License" badges for sale.... Someone is buying them, or there wouldn't be a market for them.

If taking on an active shooter will save my family, then I'll do it... If I can get them to the nearest exit, I'll do that.
 
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