Placing your holster in your new CC bag

I just got a beautiful new bag from GunGoddess.com. and it made me think others may not be as comfortable.

Just get a new Conceal Carry Handbag?  They are awesome for the times you can't or don't want to carry on body.  They also require a lot of vigilance. 

But, if you are new to CC Bags, you may not be sure about adjusting the holster.  Most bags will have a zipper on either side with the holster velcroid to the bag inside that pocket.  The easiest way to remove it is to unzip both side and lift it out with both hands,  This saves you from freeing one side and the other getting stuck and then back and forth to get it free.

Second, decide you preferred way to carry the bag, the 90% solution.  I prefer cross body, reduces the risk of it being snatched from my shoulder.  I also prefer the dual zippers close to my body.  Try the bag, hold it, see what feels good to you.  Some may want the zippers to the outside.  Most non shooters won't recognize it for what it is.  Once you have your preferred carry placement, you are ready for step 3.

Take you UNLOADED pistol and place it securely in the holster.  Yes, UNLOADED, you will be doing a little administrative handling, and you want to stay safe.  Think about if the pistol will be on the back of the front of the bag as the holster will have Velcro on both sides.  Once you have ensured a solid fit in the holster, think about the orientation.  For a smooth draw I prefer it with the backstrap a little higher than the muzzle.  Once you are comfortable, zip the forward zipper and carefully insert the holster from the side you would draw from.  Carefully so you don't stick to the Velcro too soon.  Once you have is where you think is good, firmly press the holster and bag together.  Now, does the zipper close easily?  with the bag in your carry position, can you easily draw the gun? 

If you can not say yes to both question, remove the gun and repeat the steps to remove the holster, rethink the position and reinstall until you have a comfortable placement, easy zippers and a smooth draw. 

Now, just be very aware of the bag.  remember it holds something precious and you can't hang it on the back of a chair, or unattended anywhere.

Responsible Carry

I'm a vocal advocate for Concealed Carry, but I believe more in Responsible Carry.  What is responsible carry?  It means you regularly go to the range and practice your skills, not just plinking, but drawing and firing, assessing the threat, firing again if needed.  It means you understand that the annual range trip is not enough.  Shooting is a perishable skill that needs to be kept up.  Responsible Carry means you train, beyond whatever the minimum was to get a permit, you take defensive training, you work on supportive skills as the gun is not always the first choice.  You choose not to go areas where you have a high risk of needing your gun.  You've made the decision, deep down inside, that you are prepared to use your firearm to defend yourself or your family.  You understand that there is great risk in interfering in a situation that you stumble on and don't have all the facts.  Finally it is understanding when not to carry, such as when you are not able to practice due to injury or physical instability.  It is accepting that you are dangerous if you can't be confident in your skills.  The only way to be confident is to practice.  When you are injured you more vulnerable, and that may make you think you need your gun, but if you are not physically able to practice, you are not in a good position to use your gun defensively, you put yourself and bystanders at higher risk.

Be smart, be responsible, be safe.

#2A

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.".

There have been multiple interpretations, but I tend to focus on “…shall not be infringed.”  In the last few years there has been a lot of calls for “gun control” in various forms, ranging from complete disarming to banning specific types of firearms.  These calls get louder after an atrocity like a school shooting, church shooting, etc.  Why am I so resistant to the call for my gun rights?  For one, history shows that disarming the citizens is often a first step down a very dangerous path.  Also, the adage “if guns are illegal, only criminals will have guns” rings true.  Just look at the rate of firearm violence in Chicago, a bastion of gun control.

Some are saying we need to follow the model of New Zeeland by having gun turn ins.  We have our Constitution, and affirmation by the Supreme Court, that grants us the inalienable right to “bear arms”.

Other voices are calling to chip away at our rights, by banning specific firearms.  With the swipe of a Governor’s pen, many in New Jersey became felons for possessing magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds, including off duty Law Enforcement Officers. To the uneducated, calling for magazine bans for semi-automatic firearms sounds reasonable.  However, the stock magazine for more of these guns holds more than 10 rounds.  There is a call for banning Military Style features, but they aren’t defined.  This is a move against the AR, which many call an Assault Rifle.  Actually, there is no such thing as an Assault Rifle, it is an Armalite Rifle.  It is not used by the military, it just looks scary to someone who doesn’t understand firearms.  It is also the most popular rifle for hunting and sport.

I have two specific issues with those calling for firearms restrictions or bans.  First, they are often protected by armed security guards.  Second, they don’t know what they are talking about.  The don’t understand.  They are ignorant of how guns work, or what is currently legal.  Most have never fired a gun.  Or if they did, it was with a big show of how “scary” it was.  Remember the “journalist” who was nearly knocked over shooting an AR 15?  This was contrasted with videos of young girls happily shooting Ars with their families.

Firearms allow us defense options, fun time at the range, family outings, sport and competition.  The vast majority of gun owners are law abiding citizens who use their guns for lawfully allowed purposes.  We need to continue to resist the call, and support our #2A rights!