Concealed Carry: Things you should Never Do

13 Things You Should Never Do While Concealed Carrying

The decision to carry a concealed firearm is a personal choice that can either be a lifesaver or a “life taker.” It is a choice that may leave you taking the life of a fellow human being or disfiguring them. Therefore, how you conduct yourself will determine whether you protect yourself or put others in danger. Whatever you do, you should never make these mistakes while carrying a concealed gun.

1. Leaving the concealed carry permit at home The first mistake, especially for veteran concealed carriers, is to leave their licenses at home. You can talk yourself out of situations, but police officers will hear none of it. Unless you are in a state that allows the free use of guns, always have your permit.
2. Buying a holster without testing it Many first-time carriers fall victim to this mistake. When you purchase a holster and fail to check it, you will be subjecting yourself to potential physical and financial pain. Make sure you buy a holster that fits your body comfortably. Read as many online reviews as possible and consult veteran carriers for advice. When testing it, ensure your body will feel comfortable when you carry the firearm. Next, choose between a leather holster and a Kydex holster.
3. Acting unnatural Unfortunately, some concealed carriers do not behave normally, which often raises eyebrows. The moment you start looking uneasy, you are subjecting yourself to police scrutiny and potential theft. Although you may feel a little uncomfortable with your hidden treasure, avoid making it evident. Besides, if everyone knows you have a gun, what is the point of concealed carrying?
4. Removing your handgun to show-off The importance of concealed carrying is to keep it unseen. That implies that irrespective of how excited you feel about having a gun, you must not show it off. Even your friends don’t need to know you have something inside your garments.
5. Firing warning shots Apart from not showing off your firearm, you shouldn’t fire warning shots. There are many tense, ambiguous situations out there. You don’t have to use your gun in all of them. If you feel threatened, it is okay to act accordingly, and that is all it goes down to. If your attacker does not believe that the gun is loaded, they are welcomed to find out the tough way, and not through a warning shot. Some municipalities consider the discharge of ammunition without the intention of self-defense to be illegal. So, if you must exchange fire, ensure that the first round counts.
6. Getting drunk and carrying Some states prohibit the habit of getting drunk while carrying a gun. Others stipulate that one must not go into an alcohol-selling shop with a concealed weapon. Firearms and alcohol don’t mix. Otherwise, you will be serving two masters at a go, which will not be well with you. It is a known rule, and when it comes to concealed carrying, never beating the classics is imperative.
7. Taking marijuana Although marijuana is accepted as a medicinal drug, it affects your judgment. So, even if you are allowed to take it, you should be careful not to take it and carry it. Not only would you set yourself up for trouble when the police show up, but you won’t do your neighbors any justice. The same applies to all prescription drugs that put you at risk of impaired judgment. A rule of the thumb would be that you must not consume anything that you wouldn’t if you were driving.
8. Instinctive shooting without training If you haven’t been trained on instinctive shooting or you haven’t trained, do not expect it to show up when you hold the pistol. Make sure that you get trained on all kinds of firing before concealed carrying. The skills are non-existent in your reactive mind, which is the part of your brain that responds to emergencies.
9. Carrying while under severe emotional distress Life has seasons; some are sunny, while others are rainy. If there has been a lot of rain in your life lately, you should reconsider concealed carrying. Give it a rest and allow yourself to heal first. If you carry a firearm and you are carried away by the emotional distress, it might impact your judgment. Before you know it, you might have shot someone or caused harm to yourself.
10. Escalating conflicts Violent crime is a considerable risk irrespective of the location. However, you can always mitigate it. One way of managing risks while carrying a firearm is to avoid escalating disagreements. As a licensed carrier, you have a deadly weapon, which can go either way. Therefore, you are tasked with ensuring that you don’t get into small rifles. Errant clerks at a store or a traffic dispute do not warrant you to discharge. Be diligent because the world needs it.

11. Disregarding the basics of firearm safety Whether you are licensed to use your gun for hunting or protection, you must not ignore the fundamental gun safety rules, because they will keep you out of trouble. Many concealed carriers assume that they are immune to the laws. However, you must account for every round when the feds arrive. If you didn’t follow the rules diligently, you would be in hot soup.
12. Allowing other people to borrow your gun Your firearm is meant to protect you and your loved ones. However, if your spouse isn’t licensed to carry a weapon, you must refrain from lending it to them. Why should you jeopardize or risk your life and that of others to please your friend or relative?
13. Not paying attention to what is around your target If you find yourself in an active shooting environment, remember to stay put. Take note of what is in front, at the side, and behind your target. If you decide to spray rounds of ammunition in the general direction of the threat is a sure way of injuring or killing innocent people. It only takes a few milliseconds to do this, yet the result is the possibility of saving a life or several lives.

Article by Josh Montgomery Josh Montgomery, MMR’s founder, runs Minute Man Review in his spare time and actively documents the Texas secessionists’ movements from his home in Austin, Texas. Since its inception in 2013, Minute Man Review has been covering gear reviews, citizen’s rights, and reporting on what Josh believes to be the crackdown on free speech and activity both in the US and worldwide.