I was watching the History Channel last week. They were discussing the Texas Tower Sniper Shooting from 39 years ago. Three men climbed the tower to take out that shooter. Two Policemen and one good samaritan. They interviewed one Police Officer, (Officer McCoy) about the details of that shooting from years ago. I think they said both others had passed away.

When officer McCoy, now in his 70's, recounted the actual take out sequence, it brought him to tears. This was a tough and determined man (Police Officer) who showed no fear on that day. That sniper had shot 41 unsuspecting innocent people and had to be stopped. A justifiable shooting if I have ever seen one.

Yet, the recounting of that shooting, with a shotgun and two shots in the head and face, brought this good man to tears 39 years after the incident took place. It is a long time to carry that burden.

Fellows, this worries me. I read post, by some on this and other forums, talking about pulling their "Roscoes" and defending someone or intervening on another's part like it was nothing. Brothers and sisters, if you take another life, even if justified, your life will change "NEVER" to be the same "Ever" again. Also, the older one gets the harder it becomes to deal with the stress of taking another's life. It is not an easy thing so be very cautious what you get yourself involved in.

My concealed carry is specifically for my families protection, and I am willing to go as far as I need to stop a threat. But, I am not a cowboy and I'm not looking under every rock just looking for a fight to get myself into. VERY SERIOUS BUSINESS!!!! IT AIN"T LIKE THE MOVIES!!!! There are terrible and serious long lasting consequences, even for Officer McCoy 39 years later.

My prayers are with him for peace in his life. Please, be careful!

Fasteners. An IWB is secured in place by either a single or pair of tunnel belt loops, snap belt loops, or clips. The advantage of snap and clip attachments is that they make the holster easier to put on and take off.

One of the best leather IWB holsters available, and at a price that won't bust your piggy bank, is Mitch Rosen's form molded "USD Express". This rig is remarkably comfortable, concealable and quick. The belt loop has a one way snap for ease of putting the holster on and taking it off. However, once you put it on, you won't want to take to off!

High Noon Holsters' "Tail Gunner" IWB with its unique rear stabilizer wing, helps to keep the holster from rotating or shifting positions. It features rough side out construction, a 15 degree forward cant, a leather lining, and a reinforced holster opening that is crush resistant to facilitate one handed re-holstering. Additional features include an open muzzle configuration, a stitched-in sight track, a tension screw for adjustment of tightness of fit and ease of the draw, and a slide guard to protect the wearer from being irritated by the pistol's slide, slide stop, safety/decocker, rear sight, and hammer. The snap straps will fit up to a 1-3/4 inch wide belt.

Galco Gunleather is the manufacturer of a large line of high quality leather concealment holsters. One of the best IWBs made, and one of my all time favorites, is their famous "Royal Guard". The Guard offers exceptional comfort and durability. Constructed of premium horsehide with the rough side out, and a smooth leather interior, the Royal Guard facilitates a smooth draw and easy one handed re-holstering. Its one way snap-on belt loops will fit belts up to 1-3/4 inches, and with its forward rake and quality design, this rig provides excellent concealment.

"Tuckables" Within the class of IWBs, an ingenious adaptation for maximum concealment is the tuckable belt loop extension -- brainchild of gun writer and holster maker, Dave Workman. Dave's unique concept, born in his original tuckable, which is available from D&D Gunleather (http://www.danddgunleather.com/index.htm), has been copied by numerous holster makers. The tuckable feature allows the wearer to tuck his shirt completely over the holstered handgun between the body of the holster and the extension strut such that the only visible part of the rig is the belt clip, tunnel belt loop, or snap strap on the belt. A well designed "tuckable" rides with enough stability inside the waist band to be worn as a traditional IWB as well.

To draw your handgun from a tucked in tuckable, you need only pull your shirt tail up out of your waistband, grip your handgun high on the backstrap as you would in the first stage of any draw, and then draw the gun.

High Noon Holsters' "Hidden Impact" and "Hidden Ally" clip-on tuckables ride vertically in the pants. This makes it comfortable to position the rig forward of the hip. Also, their clip-on feature allows for ease of putting on and taking off. They are very affordable, no nonsense, high quality rigs that exemplify the axiom that form should follow function.

Galco Gunleather's significant contributions to the tuckable IWB line of products are their very functional "Deep Cover", "Ultra Deep Cover", or "UDA", "Ultimate Second Amendment", or "USA", and "Skyops" models. All but the "Skyops are vertical drop rigs. The "Skyops" offers an extreme cant for those who desire this and Galco's unique "Y-hook" for exceptional stability. When you wear any of these models, only you will know you are armed. The "USA" and the "Skyops" are the most concealable as they do not have reinforced open tops. This means you sacrifice easy one handed re-holstering for deeper concealment. If deep concealment is essential, this sacrifice is worth it.

Made of hard, thermoplastic synthetic material, Blade-Tech's "Ultimate Concealment Holster" (UCH) is a real winner. This tuckable IWB holster is adjustable for cant, or can be worn as a straight drop. It easily allows the shirt to be tucked into the pants, completely concealing the firearm and holster. The well constructed belt loop and tuckable extension arm provide for a very stable ride of the holstered handgun inside the pants. This rig works equally exceptionally as a regular IWB, or as a tucked in IWB.

Last, but certainly not least, I strongly recommend, the "GS Tuckable" by H.B.E. Specialty Leatherworks. Master holster craftsman, Eric Larsen, has made a remarkable rig that does everything an IWB tuckable should do perfectly. It is made of cowhide and horsehide, such that it is not as stiff as an all horsehide rig usually is, but yet, it is just as durable and moisture resistant. Cosmetically, the holster is beautiful, and spells Q-U-A-L-I-T-Y. The fine stitching and molding make this rig a work of art. It is almost too pretty to wear, but yet it begs to be worn, and when you put in on, you are not going to want take it off! It is that comfortable!

This rig works equally well as a tuckable or as a regular IWB. The construction of the belt loop and tuckable belt loop extension strut also spell S-T-A-B-I-L-I-T-Y. The reinforced open top and slide guard (which is just the right height) facilitate easy one-handed re-holstering and a comfortable wear. Eric Larsen is a master craftsman and a true artist.

OWB Belt Holsters Open Top or Thumb Break? Within the class of OWB belt holsters, the pancake style holster that has a belt slot fore and aft of the holster body, typically rides closest to the body and conceals best. Such a rig can be had with either an open top or with a thumb break retention strap.

Whether the top is open or has a thumb break, the top can be reinforced to help it stay open for ease of draw and easy one-handed re-holstering. However, the down side to a reinforced top is that it reduces concealment by giving the rig a wider profile. For maximum concealment, a non-reinforced top is best. A well made concealment pancake holster is form molded and retains its shape, without a reinforced top.

Quality examples include (1) Mitch Rosen's forward tilted, "5JR Express", (2) High Noon's forward canted, "Slide Guard" and "Sky High", and (3) Galco's radically forward raked, "COP 3 Slot", "Combat Master" and "Concealable" belt holsters.

The thumb break retention strap Keep in mind that a thumb break retention strap can only prevent a gun grab from being successful if you do your part—which means being alert, aware, and in Condition Yellow at all times, until the need arises to transition into Condition Orange or Red. However, generally speaking, because we are carrying concealed, a thumb break is not a necessary device to have in most situations. People shouldn't know you are carrying!

A thumb break retention strap provides secure RETENTION of your weapon. This is a good thing to have if you are going into a crowd. It retains the gun in the holster by preventing the gun from being drawn unless the retention strap is released first. However, this adds an extra step to the draw. So, it requires practice. In one continuous smooth motion, your strong hand thumb must come down and push through the snap fastened thumb break to "break", or release, the lock on the gun, and permit you to grab the gun and draw it up and out of the holster.

Also, with many pancake holsters a thumb break tends to cause the rig to hug closer to your body, improving concealment—definitely a good thing! Mitch Rosen, DeSantis, High Noon, and Galco all make excellent thumb break OWB holsters.

The down side, however, to a holster with a thumb retention strap, especially for concealed carry applications, is that a thumb break adds an extra step to the draw. Thus, it can retain your weapon too well, and spell R.I.P. when you need to grab your weapon fast—not a good thing! Obviously, if you are going to wear this equipment, you have to practice drawing your unloaded gun from your holster so that it comes natural in a pinch. It's a muscle memory thing.

Open or Closed Muzzle? So called, "belt slide" holsters are made with open muzzle ends so they can holster the same pistol in different barrel lengths (e.g., all of the small or large frame Glocks). The advantage of course is you save money as the same holster works with all of your Glocks. The down side however, is that your muzzle and front sight are not protected. For this reason, I prefer a closed, molded muzzle, and each of my handguns has a holster that is specifically made for it.

Cant or Rake? A vertical drop, or straight up and down carry is desirable if you tend to wear the rig on your strong side forward of your hip, at the strong side appendix position, or in the cross draw (i.e., non-dominant side) appendix position. Otherwise, if you wear your holster on your strong side at your hip, at your strong side midline, or slightly behind your hip, a forward angled cant, or rake, is a better choice. In this angle of carry, your handgun's muzzle is raked to your rear and its butt is raked or canted upward and forward. The strong side forward rake, enhances concealability.

Snap Straps Or Tunnel Loops? One remarkable OWB concealment belt holster is Lou Alessi's "CQC/S".

The "CQC/S" is a forward canted, reinforced open top, leather, high riding, pancake belt slide, with snap belt loops fore and aft. Its unique construction keeps the rig stable and close to the body. The snap belt loops make it easy to put the holster on and take it off, because you don't have to rethread your belt! Many have copied Alessi's design, but no one has matched it in quality or functionality. It's a comfortable rig to wear all day, under a shirt, sweater, sweatshirt, or jacket.

Pocket Holsters Pocket holsters are designed to carry small caliber pistols or small frame revolvers in a front or rear pants pocket or jacket pocket. In my experience, the most functional pocket holsters (1) are made for the front pocket, (2) do not create a tell tale bulge that prints G-U-N, (3) keep the gun positioned upright and in the same position in your pocket, (4) are comfortable all day long in your pocket, to the degree that you can forget the rig is there unless you need it, and (5) stay in your pocket when you draw your gun. It is more than embarrassing in an unfriendly social situation to draw your pocket gun sandwiched in its leather rig!

Seven cleverly crafted and unique products that fit the bill to the "P" in Pocket are: (1) the rough side out, soft leather, wallet style, flap pocket holster made by Jason Schafer of JS Holsters, (2) the ambidextrous "Pocket Grabber" made by High Noon Holsters, (3) the ambidextrous DeSantis "Style N38 Nemesis" which is made of a viscous, sticky, synthetic material, that keep this pocket holster in your pocket when you draw your pocket gun, (4) Mitch Rosen's "Pocket Softy" and "No. 18", (4) Galco's ambidextrous "Front Pocket Horsehide Holster", (5) Greg Kramer's hard molded, horsehide front pocket, wallet style pocket holsters, and (6) Andrews Custom Leather's pocket holsters. What's more, owning one or more of these pocket holsters is easy on your pocketbook!

I use my Mitch Rosen "No. 18", my JS Holsters wallet style pocket rig, and my High Noon Pocket Grabber to comfortably and securely carry my Kahr Arms PM9, MK9, and MK40 pocket rockets. For my .380 ACP Kel-Tec P3AT, .32 ACP Kel-Tec P32, .380 ACP N.A.A. Guardian, my .32 ACP Seecamp, and my small Smith and Wesson J-frames, nothing beats my Galco horsehide picket holsters. I also favor my High Noon "Pocket Grabber" and Pocket Reload", my Mitch Rosen "Pocket Softy", and my DeSantis "Nemesis" for small caliber pocket handguns. Last, but far from least, for my .38 Special J-frame snubbies, Greg Kramer's horsehide, wallet style pocket holster, and Galco's horsehide, front pocket holster cannot be beat.

Arm Both Pockets and Practice with Both Hands. It's best to have right and left handed versions of the same pocket holster for each pocket gun. Thus, when you're carrying a more substantial caliber handgun on your strong side in an IWB or OWB holster, you can carry your pocket gun in your support side pocket. However, make sure that you practice drawing from your support side pocket!

With a doubly confirmed unloaded gun, alternate practice drawing from your strong hand and support hand pockets in a designated, safe, "dry practice" area at home. Also, practice deploying your pocket gun from your pockets at the range. Become used to carrying a pocket sized handgun in your pocket. It's the best way to assure you'll be armed most of the time, and when you need to be.

Personal Defense Options and Solutions In sum, the more options you have for concealed carry, the more solutions you'll come up with to satisfy your personal defense needs. Hopefully, this article has made you aware of the wide range of options available for concealed carry. Remember, "You have the rest of your life to solve your problems. How long you live depends upon how well you do it." (famous quote by Clint Smith)..

In future articles, we shall cover additional concealed carry options - shoulder rigs, belly bands, waist packs, etc. - as well as gun belts.

SOURCES Andrews Custom Leather. 386-462-0576. www.andrewsleather.com.

Blade-Tech Industries. 253-581-4347. www.blade-tech.com.

D and D Gunleather. www.defensetactics.com/dandd.htm.

DeSantis Gunhide. 516-354-8000. www.desantisholster.com.

First American Ordnance. 800-982-4009. www.holster-connection.com.

H.B.E. Leatherworks. 801-916-9248. www.hbeleatherworks.com.

High Noon Holsters. 727-786-7528. www.highnoonholsters.com.

JSHolsters. 434-239-7210. www.jsholsters.com.

Kramer Handgun Leather. 800-510-2666. www.kramerleather.com.

Lightning Arms Sports. 503-643-8198. www.lightningarms.com.

Mitch Rosen Extraordinary Gunleather. 603-647-2971. www.mitchrosen.com.

RM Holsters. 225-262-7446. www.rmholsters.com.

Galco Gunleather. 800-874-2526. www.usgalco.com

IDPA stands for International Defensive Pistol Association. Its purpose, as stated in its rulebook, available online at www.idpa.com, is: "Defensive Pistol shooting as a sport is quite simply the use of practical equipment including full charge service ammunition to solve simulated "real world" self-defense scenarios. Shooters competing in Defensive Pistol events are required to use practical handguns and holsters that are truly suitable for self-defense use. …the main goal is to test the skill and ability of the individual…"

How Does Competition Build CONCEALED CARRY Skills? It has been said that under stress, you are unlikely to do anything that you are not SUBCONSCIOUSLY sure you will do reasonably well. Competition develops our concealed carry skills in several ways:

•It gives a benchmark of your ability to shoot your pistol, should you need to. Areas needing improvement become readily apparent in the competitive environment. "A smart man knows his limitations." As a responsible gun owner, you should always be looking to improve your ability.

•Repetitive performance of simple gun-handling tasks, such as loading, reloading, and unloading, in a safety conscious environment builds the ability to perform the tasks safely. Learning to do these tasks with subconscious skill and a high degree of confidence is one of the most under-valued aspects of competition. Many times, people who have just purchased a firearm lack understanding and competence in basic safety procedures due to a lack of training and practice.

•Competition tests the functionality of the contestant's personal equipment. Until tested under pressure, a shooter does not really know how well the shooter/equipment interface will perform under stress. Sometimes, competitors find that the pistol and holster they liked so well in the gun shop doesn't work as well for them as they might desire.

•It's a fun way to use our pistols and develop familiarity with them. Most people find that after shooting competition, informal shooting at bulls-eye targets isn't nearly as much fun as it seemed before.

•You meet other like-minded people and enter into the firearms community. Since gun owners have had to become nearly a secret society in the United States, it's refreshing to find out that there are many people just like you who live in your area. Frequently, they can provide good advice about what worked and didn't work when they began to carry. "A smart man learns from the mistakes of others."

Many people are surprised just how difficult it is to use a pistol when they are placed under pressure. While competition is not the same level of pressure as a criminal attack, it does provide an environment where the shooter does not control the scenario and must work against time, which are characteristics of real life defensive encounters. Competition can provide a form of "stress inoculation" which is not readily available elsewhere to most people who carry concealed.

What is IDPA Competition Like? IDPA competitions typically require shooters to draw their handgun from a hip holster and fire at several targets while being timed. Contestants may be required to move from one shooting position to another and to take advantage of cover that would protect the contestant from an assailant's bullets. The targets are scored and less than perfect hits add time to the contestant's score. Shooters' scores are divided into equipment divisions and shooting abilities so that scores are comparable among different equipment types and skill levels. The shooter with the lowest score in each equipment division and ability class is the winner in that division and class. There is no overall winner of a match.

As a sporting competition, IDPA principally exercises marksmanship and gun handling skills. These include: drawing the pistol from a concealed holster, firing multiple shots at multiple targets, reloading an empty or partially empty pistol, and moving from shooting position to shooting position, sometimes while firing the pistol. IDPA places emphasis on hitting targets accurately. Each round that hits outside the central scoring area adds one-half second to the competitor's time. By placing a timer into the situation, an added measure of stress is placed on the contestant, forcing shooters to rapidly demonstrate their marksmanship ability in a tactical situation they do not completely control.

The competitions also test target discernment by including non-threat targets. These are targets are marked in a manner that indicates to the contestant that they are not to be shot. By including non-threat targets in the scenarios, shooters are forced to pick which targets need to be engaged, just as in real life.

While IDPA does provide an experiential learning environment, it is not tactical training, per se. IDPA does not stress Avoidance, De-escalation and Deterrence skills. Such skills are best learned from one or more of the many firearms trainers who are available throughout the country. The competition is based on an underlying assumption that the lawful decision to shoot has already been made. Neither does IDPA test tactics at an advanced level; as a timed sport it is not a good venue for practicing advanced tactical skills such as team drills and extensive structure clearing. IDPA provides a component of a person's ongoing learning needs by providing a place where an ever-changing combination of marksmanship and speed can be evaluated. Scenarios in IDPA are shooting problems that simulate self-defense shooting such as might occur on the street, in a vehicle, or in home defense. Strings of fire will generally involve a few rounds at relatively short ranges with some movement. Ideas for scenarios are drawn from several sources: actual incidents involving private citizens, actual incidents experienced by the law enforcement community, and "what-if" ideas that occurred to the course designer.

Standard exercises are also an integral part of IDPA. They are shooting exercises that test marksmanship and gunhandling ability. Strings of fire will generally involve several rounds at medium to longer ranges with limited or no movement.

People from all walks of life shoot IDPA. At a match, a shooter will encounter business people, homemakers, tradespeople, law enforcement officers, and almost anyone else who possesses a pistol. Newcomers are welcomed with friendly advice and an understanding that everyone was a new shooter at some point. In the beginning, it is wisest to simply shoot as accurately as possible without regard to speed of fire. With practice and repetition, speed comes naturally as fumbling and unnecessary movement are reduced. What Equipment Is Necessary for Shooting IDPA?

Equipment required for IDPA is a basically stock service pistol or revolver of .38 Special or .380 caliber or larger. Highly modified pistols suitable only for competition are disallowed, as are all pistols whose barrels are ported or have compensators. Probably the most common pistol encountered at IDPA competitions is the Glock pistol in 9mm caliber. The second most common pistol is the Browning 1911 pattern in .45 ACP caliber. Many other good pistols and revolvers are suitable for the sport.

Ammunition does not need to be expensive hollow point ammunition. Full metal jacket range practice ammo available at the sporting goods counter will be sufficient. Whatever ammo is used, is should be reliable. One mistake commonly seen is to use underpowered reloaded ammo that does not reliably cycle the gun. Since IDPA does not allow "alibis" for equipment problems, unreliable ammo will reflect poorly on the competitor's score. Most local matches will require less than one hundred rounds of ammunition; many require fifty or less. The contestant will also need a concealable hip holster. For range safety reasons, cross-draw, shoulder, pocket, or ankle holsters are not permitted. All holsters must cover the trigger guard and must retain the pistol during normal movement.

The most popular holsters in IDPA are outside the waistband (OWB) holsters made of hard thermoplastic. As a safety note, holsters that require two hands to re-holster the pistol, and inside the pants holsters that collapse on the draw are NOT suitable. As noted defense trainer John Farnam puts it: "people who continually point guns at themselves [unintentionally during weapon manipulation] will eventually shoot themselves." Most cheap nylon holsters will not be suitable for IDPA. An entry level thermoplastic holster can be purchased for less than $20, and is the preferred solution when starting out in IDPA.

At least one spare magazine or two speed-loaders is necessary because most matches will require some timed reloading, A magazine carrier or speed-loader carrier is also necessary. As with holsters, cheap nylon carriers, especially those with Velcro flaps, will not perform well on the range, just as they don't work well on the street. Entry level plastic magazine carriers are available at reasonable prices and are the preferred solution.

And certainly, eye and ear protection must be worn at all times. For outdoor ranges, a hat is highly recommended, as is plenty of water to drink for several hours at the match.

Shooting IDPA At One Club Pickens County Sportsmen's Club (PCSC) in Georgia holds an IDPA match once each month. Generally, it will consist of four courses of fire and require about fifty rounds of ammunition. Usually there are about ten competitors, including two or three ladies. Many of the IDPA competitors in Georgia come to matches for the purpose of furthering their marksmanship and gun-handling skills, as well as for the fellowship of other gun owners.

Many of the scenarios at PCSC are written based on actual incidents reported on in "The Armed Citizen" column of the NRA Journals. A recent course of fire, called "Hitting the Links" is based on an incident that took place on a golf course in the Metro Atlanta area in December of 1998 and was reported in the March 1999 The Armed Citizen. The scenario required the competitor to run to the rear of a simulated vehicle, get the pistol out of a golf bag, and then fire two shots at each of three targets that had non-threat targets interspersed among them.

Along with carrying a concealed weapon comes a great deal of responsibility. Physical manipulation skills are required to fulfill those responsibilities. Consistent practice and stress inoculation are key to developing the requisite physical manipulation skills. IDPA competition is an excellent format to get that practice in a safe and structured way. For more information and a list of clubs in your area, go to www.IDPA.com.

But first, an important point: Weapon retention has to be the primary consideration when you opt for off-body carry. A fanny pack or belt pouch like Uncle Mike’s Gun Runner will insure you don’t set your gun down and forget it at the local breakfast diner, but those are not always the best fashion options. A briefcase or handbag with a built-in holster or a portfolio with room for a pistol are great options when you can’t wear a fanny pack, but remember that you can never let those items out of your immediate control. If you do, you’ll be both morally and legally liable for what happens with your firearm. So, before you opt for any style of concealed carry other than the traditional holster, be absolutely sure you are ready for the added responsibility that comes with what could be called a non-traditional style of carry.

For those who insist that the means of carrying their firearm remain firmly attached to their person, the fanny pack and the belt pouch are the two best options. In light of today’s fashion and technology choices, the belt pouch is the most likely to go unnoticed. Between PDAs, Blackberries and IPods, a simple nylon or leather pouch hanging on the belt is something hidden in plain sight. You will be limited to small revolvers or one of the deep-cover auto pistols, but those are easier to carry all day anyway.

Uncle Mike’s Gun Runner offers a small, front pocket with a Velcro closure and a main pouch closed with a stout, two-way zipper. A thick, nylon panel topped with Velcro divides the main pouch into two compartments. The rearmost compartment is for the pistol. This panel allows you to conceal your small handgun tightly, up against your body and still keep your personal gear like a wallet or car keys in a separate area. If there is one drawback to the unit, it is the access tab to the gun storage area. The tap is a bit small to grab under stress, but that can be corrected by attaching a simple key ring to the tab. The nylon strap of the key ring gives you plenty to grab onto and insures you get the pouch all the way open when you need the gun.  

But first, an important point: Weapon retention has to be the primary consideration when you opt for off-body carry. A fanny pack or belt pouch like Uncle Mike’s Gun Runner will insure you don’t set your gun down and forget it at the local breakfast diner, but those are not always the best fashion options. A briefcase or handbag with a built-in holster or a portfolio with room for a pistol are great options when you can’t wear a fanny pack, but remember that you can never let those items out of your immediate control. If you do, you’ll be both morally and legally liable for what happens with your firearm. So, before you opt for any style of concealed carry other than the traditional holster, be absolutely sure you are ready for the added responsibility that comes with what could be called a non-traditional style of carry.

For those who insist that the means of carrying their firearm remain firmly attached to their person, the fanny pack and the belt pouch are the two best options. In light of today’s fashion and technology choices, the belt pouch is the most likely to go unnoticed. Between PDAs, Blackberries and IPods, a simple nylon or leather pouch hanging on the belt is something hidden in plain sight. You will be limited to small revolvers or one of the deep-cover auto pistols, but those are easier to carry all day anyway.

Uncle Mike’s Gun Runner offers a small, front pocket with a Velcro closure and a main pouch closed with a stout, two-way zipper. A thick, nylon panel topped with Velcro divides the main pouch into two compartments. The rearmost compartment is for the pistol. This panel allows you to conceal your small handgun tightly, up against your body and still keep your personal gear like a wallet or car keys in a separate area. If there is one drawback to the unit, it is the access tab to the gun storage area. The tap is a bit small to grab under stress, but that can be corrected by attaching a simple key ring to the tab. The nylon strap of the key ring gives you plenty to grab onto and insures you get the pouch all the way open when you need the gun.

The best place to carry the Sidekick is just in front of your weak-side hip, with the tabs of the zippers away from your centerline, allowing for the quickest access to the gun. Your strong hand pulls the zipper tab open to the center. Your weak hand yanks the Velcro pouch wide open and your strong hand retrieves the gun. This gives you a bit of a cross-draw presentation, and it must be practiced repeatedly to insure that you perform smoothly. This, as with any of the off-body options, is by no means a quick-draw rig, so think about the situations you might be in and the tactics you might employ when you carry this way.

The fanny pack was all the rage about a decade ago. With perfect, casual styling providing hands-free carrying capacity for everyone from soccer moms to long-distance runners, it was only a matter of time before the concealed carry crowd followed suit with packs built specifically for firearms. Such a pack might be more appropriately called the belly pack because you need you carry it up front and arrange it properly to provide access to the firearm. I own two different fanny packs specifically designed for concealed carry. I purchased the first one from one of those mega-discount catalogs. I honestly can’t remember if it was Sportsman’s Guide or Cheaper than Dirt, but the $20 was a wise investment. This pack is a big, tough, solidly built mass of Cordura nylon with Velcro access on both sides, behind the main storage compartment. It’s big enough to carry a full-sized auto and a couple of spare magazines. I love the side access, but it wasn’t long before I realized toting that much hardware was getting to be a burden. And with a pack that big, I got the feeling everyone knew what it was anyway. It still makes a great pack to use on the trail.

The Uncle Mike’s fanny pack is a bit smaller, better for a mid-sized auto or revolver, and it comes with some features I love and one I don’t. Access to the pistol is from the top. This not much of a problem, but it took some getting used to when switching from my original store-brand pack with side access.

The two elements of the Uncle Mike’s fanny pack I really love include the retainer strap that holds the pack in place on my belt and the internal strap that holds the pistol in place in the pack. The latter is a straight, Velcro hook band that allows you to secure the gun in any position against the back panel of the pack, which is completely covered with Velcro loops. Once the Velcro band is secured, the pistol is not going to shift inside the pack during any activity.

For those who have to carry a briefcase to the office, choosing one with a built-in holster might be a great option for concealed carry. Trying to use a traditional briefcase just won’t work. Even if you can find a way to secure the handgun inside the case, you’ve still got all that other stuff in there that can get in the way of drawing the gun or worse, interfere with the function of the firearm. Imagine what a paper clip would do if wedged into the cylinder of a revolver or behind the safety lever of an auto-loading pistol.

If you want a big briefcase with room for everything you could ever need, Uncle Mike’s #5255-1 is the one for you. Not only will it keep all your professional work properly organized, but there’s also a hidden, yet easily accessible compartment for your gun. The case also has room in other pouches for extra ammo, and if you are so inclined a few elements of a basic first-aid kit.

The case is made of ultra-heavy Cordura that is water-resistant, but it leaves a rather casual look. If you require gleaming, polished leather, you might look to some of Dillon’s Urban Camouflage line. I’ll get there in a minute. But if you want a tough, well-built briefcase with an ambidextrous holster hidden inside, Uncle Mike’s is the case for you. With four individual compartments aside from the holster area, the case could nearly be used for an overnight bag. Just remember to remove your pistol before you use the briefcase as a carry-on bag on your next flight.

Using this case also requires a fair amount of forethought as to pistol placement. If you are right-handed, you’ll want to start by carrying the bag on your left shoulder and insert the pistol with the butt facing forward. Again, this gives you a cross-draw presentation, so basic safety elements are all the more important. Once you have the precise set-up figured out, you’ll need to practice getting the pistol into action. This can be accomplished through dry practice, as long as it is done safely, without any ammunition in the vicinity.

Another option for effective concealment is within a portfolio designed for the purpose. Dillon Precision offers a fine example called Plan B, made of premium leather with a full-length zipper. The portfolio offers ample room to store a full-size pistol and you could keep a spare magazine too, if you use Velcro to hold it in place. First and foremost, there’s not much room for anything else in there: perhaps a few business cards, a pen and a small notebook. What’s worse, you pretty much have to display the pistol if you open the portfolio. But if the negotiations are going so poorly that you need to revert to Plan B, it’s nice to have a full-size pistol and extra ammo. And this is just one of several fashionable options sold in Dillon’s Blue Press catalog.

As for tactics when it comes to off-body carry, one thing must ring clear. As I mentioned above, these options do not allow a really quick presentation of the weapon. In a reactionary situation, as most self-defense situations are, don’t expect to open the zipper, peel back the Velcro and draw the pistol while you are fending off and attack. As always, maintain situational awareness and attempt to move toward cover or some safe (or safer) area to give you time to draw. The second rule is equally important. When you do feel the need to draw the weapon, get that pack, pouch or briefcase wide open. Open it forcefully and completely, to insure you have enough room to grab the gun and get it into action.

Finally, unless you can completely secure a spare magazine for the pistol inside your pack, pouch or briefcase in such a manner that it does not interfere with your draw, the gun-storage area of any off-body carry option should be reserved for the gun and the gun only. Anything else in there will get in your way and could cause a malfunction or a fatal delay in your presentation. Don’t risk it.

There are many great concealed carry options out there, and with forethought and practice you can insure your safety any number of ways. But remember, you can’t just drop a gun in a pouch or briefcase and call it good. Get training and keep your skills sharp with real practice.

All my life I have never had any particular aversion to firearms, but I had always been clear that I did not want one in my house, especially with children living in the home. I would have categorized myself as “second amendment neutral,” meaning I had no objections to the individual right to own firearms for any legal purpose, but on the other hand, I had no passion about defending second amendment rights either. As far as I was concerned, it was neither here nor there to me whether guns were legal for private ownership or not. I simply made a decision that I did not want them in my house, as I was scared of potential consequences.

Who would think we would have a desire or need to carry guns on a daily basis? That sense of complacency changed in a very radical way, on Mother’s Day weekend of 2000.

I owned my own restaurant from 1997 until 2002, and in early 2000, I brought on a partner to assume day to day management, as I wanted to get back into the computer business. To make a long story short, in May of 2000, while I was away for a weekend visit with my wife’s family, I received a phone call from a 15 year old employee at my restaurant saying there was a problem. The “problem” was that 2 former employees had entered the restaurant on a Saturday morning at about 8:15 am, both armed with semi-automatic pistols. They locked the 15 year old female employee in the walk-in freezer and surprised my partner in the office. Before leaving the premises, the two had shot my partner 11 times and tried to shoot the 15 year old employee between the eyes at point blank range. Fortunately, the gun stove piped and she was miraculously spared. At that point, the intruders simply gave up and left, without even stealing any money. All of this was caught on video, and I was forever chilled by watching the callous and cold nature of the shooting and attempted murders. It was slow, deliberate and downright evil. I had never realized the depth of true evil until seeing this unfold through the eyes of the camera in real time. Fortunately, after being shot repeatedly by both criminals, my partner managed to kick the office door shut, thereby securing the video tape, and I was able to work with the police to identify the two perpetrators, who were apprehended within 24 hours, due to the tireless efforts of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s department. By the Grace of God and through many documented miracles, my partner not only survived, but is leading a happy and productive life, having now started his own family.

Upon immediately returning to the restaurant to meet with police, I was told that the perpetrators had specifically asked about me and my whereabouts and indicated that they would be “back for me later.” For the next 24 hours, I experienced the most helpless feelings of my entire life. Walking through every door, coming and going from the hospital and watching every pedestrian and car pass by represented renewed feelings of helplessness, while I wondered when life threatening trouble was going to find me. Even after the perpetrators were apprehended, the feelings of helplessness continued, as I wondered if and when friends, gang members or even family members were going to come after me and my family. Talk about a rotten way to go through life.

Strangely, although I had genuine reasons to fear for my family’s physical safety, I never seriously considered arming myself. I am not quite sure why, but that default feeling of “I should not have guns in my home with my children” seemed to prevail.

Gradually, through support of my wife, I changed my views on firearms in general. My new attitude started as an open mind to shooting as a recreational sport and gradually shifted to serious consideration for protection purposes. As I gained experience from a recreational perspective, I started to seriously think about obtaining a gun for self defense. My first purchase was a Beretta 92FS. At the beginning, I still convinced myself that my newfound interest in firearms was still for sporting purposes and not legitimate personal defense. This was primarily illustrated by the fact that I kept my Beretta unloaded and in a locked case while at home. If I ever had a home invasion situation, it certainly would not have done me any good, unless the bad guy called about 20 minutes in advance and warned me he was on the way.

Again, as I gained a higher level of confidence and experience, my attitude continued to change and I gradually transitioned from leaving the Beretta in a locked box condition and finding ways to make it more accessible, yet still secure. Then the light bulb went on and I finally decided that if I was going to have firearms in the home anyway, I might as well have the additional benefit of increased security. So I rethought the storage situation, began to take my gun in the car on trips and started looking for a suitable weapon for my wife.

Jumping to the present, at this point, my wife and I both have concealed carry permits and are always armed (where legal) every time we leave the home. I carry a variety of weapons, depending on the situation, and my wife has settled on a Smith and Wesson .38 Special +P revolver with Crimson Trace laser grips. She absolutely loves it and is deadly accurate with most any pistol. Our home is now well protected, with Surefire lights within easy reach in the bedroom and a loaded and easily accessible, yet secured gun is always available in the home.

Our interest in shooting has become a family affair, with my two children and wife being active target and sporting clays enthusiasts, and all are proficient with handguns, rifles and shotguns. All of us, including my 10 year old daughter and 12 year old son, are pretty far up the NRA Qualification program in several disciplines at this point.

Being familiar with gun safety and being able to shoot frequently, I am not concerned about my children mishandling firearms in the home. However, always wanting to live as a rule by an abundance of caution, any firearm not in my direct possession is always safely secured. You simply can’t be too careful.

Now, as a daily carrier, I feel far more secure going about my daily life. The world continues to get uglier, but I feel that we are far more prepared to defend ourselves against those who wish others harm. We have found a new hobby and passion and find ourselves engaging in some form of practice or recreational shooting activity on average of once (or more) per week. I read about a lot of people who have to make a conscious effort to practice periodically to maintain proficiency with their self defense weapons. In our case, that is pretty easy, as we have so much fun doing it anyway. And I have to say, we have met some of the nicest people in the shooting community – lots of friendly attitudes and down-to-earth values. It’s been very refreshing in this day and age. We make it a point to bring friends with us and “share our sport,” and to date, one hundred percent of the reactions from them have been tremendously enthusiastic. The best way to make converts is to bring someone to the range with you! In addition to sharing our new found views with friends, I have also become far more politically active in support of our nation’s entire bill of rights, not just those defined by the second amendment. Talk about a dramatic change!

Interview Questions:

CCM: Was there a specific incident that caused you to carry a gun?

Tom: Unfortunately yes, although it was a somewhat lengthy process from that incident to my current status of carrying a weapon daily. As detailed in the preceding story, my business was robbed and my business partner shot by former employees who were on some sort of psychotic rampage against a number of their former places of employment. In addition to our incident, which included my partner being shot 11 times in cold blood and the attempted execution of a fifteen-year-old employee, these two murdered a husband and father who was working as a delivery driver for another restaurant where these two had worked previously. I was not physically there at the time of the crime, and on arrival to meet with the homicide team. I was warned that the two killers were out looking for me as well. Additionally, there was reason to believe that others involved may be looking to do my family harm, as I identified the shooters via video, so even months after the criminals’ apprehension; I was in fear for my family’s safety on a daily and nightly basis. At that time, I owned no firearms and essentially had no means to defend myself against this sort of situation. Never in my life have I felt so completely helpless and powerless to protect my family and myself. While I can never offer enough thanks to the detectives, deputies and prosecutors involved in this case, I think even they would agree that their role is to solve crimes, and they simply cannot hope to prevent each and every one of them.

Prior to this incident, I simply did not believe that this sort of pure evil could interfere with my family’s life; it was completely incomprehensible to me, and the thought of owning firearms for self-defense never really occurred to me. However, the harsh reality of today’s world soon set in. I found myself wondering what was behind every corner when I would awaken to strange noises in the middle of the night. I have to credit my wife of 17 years with the true beginning of my transformation of beliefs. Several months after the crime, my grandfather offered to give me one of his “old guns,” as he no longer used them. At first I refused, as I had young children in the home and thought it a bad idea to have any sort of firearm in the house. Fortunately for me, my wife suggested that if for no other reason, it would be a great family heirloom, and I agreed to accept it. Lucky for me! It turns out, that “old gun” was a mint condition 1936 Colt Woodsman .22LR target pistol. I would be shocked if it had been fired more than 50 times—ever. Anyway, to make a long story short, I started to take it to a local range for target practice and was instantly hooked. From that moment on, my story probably becomes a lot more common to gun owners. Knowing the value and history of the Woodsman, I decided I needed an “everyday gun” to shoot, as the Woodsman is somewhat of a collector piece, so I bought a Browning Buckmark. That it turn led to a Beretta 92FS and so on… With the arrival of the Beretta, I slowly began the mental transformation of the gun being a useless piece of metal locked away at all times to something that would actually be useful in a defensive situation.

CCM: Have you ever had to use your firearm in a defensive situation?

Tom: Thankfully no, and hopefully I will not have to. However, since my wife and I have obtained our concealed permits and started to carry a weapon on a full time basis, there have been a few times where my level of awareness has increased to the point of my hand moving to a more advantageous position. I think the mindset that accompanies you when carrying a weapon raises your overall level of awareness of your surroundings, so maybe you tend to avoid potentially troublesome situations even more than normal. Carrying a weapon is a huge responsibility, so I find that we are more careful than ever about how we perceive the world around us. We live in a safe area and don’t have the sort of lifestyle that places us in what I would previously consider “high risk” situations, but as our story shows, in today’s world, you never know when trouble will find you, so we intend to be prepared.

CCM: What training methods do you employ? Do you have any recommendations?

Tom: During my transformation phase from gun neutral to .22LR target shooter to concealed license holder, I have become an avid consumer of all types of information related to gun safety, general firearms knowledge, defensive tactics, ammunition, constitutional rights and anything else related to firearms. Sources for this include subscriptions to virtually every gun magazine published and a broad variety of books from well known firearms community writers. In terms of physical training, my wife and I have completed classroom and range instruction. This has been supplemented by range practice time at least once per week, and usually twice, with a good dose of dry fire practice at home using snap caps. Fortunately, my wife and kids have become avid shooters as well, so it is more of a hobby than a chore. The big gap which we are currently looking to fill is an ongoing defensive firearms training curriculum. We certainly recognize the need for this and that “range paper target time” is no substitute, so we are currently shopping for the right defensive shooting school to fit our family’s needs.

CCM: How long have you carried a concealed weapon?

Tom: Just about five months now, so in addition to having plenty to learn on the training side, I am still working through the right combinations of carry weapon and holster. At this point, I am carrying every time I leave the house, but continue to look for just the right combination of power, size, weight and ability to conceal.

CCM: What weapons do you carry?

Tom: As of now, I carry a variety of guns depending, on my attire. Living in Florida, it can be a real challenge to conceal a full size gun properly, so I am experimenting with different combinations of guns and carry methods. I rotate between a full size Beretta 92FS 9mm with hi-cap magazines, a Walther PPK/S in .380 and a Beretta Tomcat .32 ACP. I consider these interim carry options as I am still looking for that perfect combination of effectiveness and size. At the moment, I am considering a Glock or Sig Sauer mid size and/or a carry size 1911 such as a Kimber Pro Carry II. My wife, after having gone through a few small .22’s and a Walther PP in .32 ACP, has settled on a lightweight, hammerless, Smith and Wesson 642 .38 Special +P. She particularly likes the weight, simplicity, total reliability and “shootability” of this gun. I think this brings up an important point. Both of us started with smaller caliber guns because we were “comfortable” with them. However, with just a little time at the range, we are now both quite comfortable with anything up to and including .45 caliber. It’s amazing how quickly you get used to controlling a handgun with some practice. It’s just not intimidating anymore. I also own a Browning BPS pump 12 gauge that serves as my sporting clays gun and backs up as a bedroom gun. My wife prefers the semiautomatic Browning Gold Fusion in 12 gauge which she keeps handy when I am out of town.

CCM: What type of ammunition do you carry?

Tom: I look for total reliability in the particular gun first, so whatever I carry in any of my guns has had several hundred rounds of the same ammo run through it without fail. If there is even one failure, I look for different ammo. With that said, I have currently settled on Cor-Bon 115 grain +P hollowpoints for my Beretta 92, Cor-Bon Pow’rBall for my Walther and Cor-Bon 60 grain hollowpoints for my Beretta Tomcat. My wife uses Cor-Bon 110 grain +P hollowpoints for her .38 Special. The shotguns are loaded with 00 buckshot when not being used for sporting clays. So I guess we have settled on the most reliable, highest performance ammunition we can find for our particular guns. There are a lot of good options out there, so use what works best for you in your specific firearm.

CCM: What concealment holsters do you use?

Tom: Like most gun owners, I seem to have quickly accumulated that box of unloved holsters that don’t get used much. Unfortunately, it seems that you just have to try them for a while to see what really works for you. With that said, I seem to have settled on a couple of favorites. My preferred method of carry is an inside-the-waistband hip holster, as this allows me to wear more natural cover garments here in Florida. A loose shirt does just fine most of the time. With our climate, vests and heavier outer garments are simply not a realistic option. I have found that I like the soft Uncle Mike’s IWB holsters, as they are extremely comfortable and have worked well for me so far. I realize that re-holstering is a problem with these, but I have elected to make that tradeoff. In my view, if I ever have to draw, one handed re-holstering will be a distant second or third on my list of worries. I also own a Galco IWB for my Walther and a DeSantis IWB, which I use frequently. I have an ankle holster that I use on rare occasion when other options are difficult. Although concealment is great, I find I feel a bit less secure, as my gun is much less accessible than with a waist level holster. I have a couple of pocket holsters that work for my Beretta Tomcat, depending on the particular pants or shorts I am wearing at the time. My wife tends to favor a custom carry purse, which is nice with her hammerless revolver, although she is evaluating other options as well. CCM: What do you do for a living?

Tom: For the most of my professional career, I have been in the software business as a marketing manager, working for a major software company. I tend to travel a bit, so needless to say, I am in full support of more reciprocity between states when it comes to concealed carry laws. I am also in favor of Second Amendment rights to self-defense overriding corporate policies, as this places restriction on your ability to carry for a large part of each week. For several years, I went entrepreneurial and opened and ran a restaurant. Strangely, it was not until I got out of the cash-heavy restaurant business that I obtained a concealed permit. My wife is a homemaker and full time mom, although she is out and about most weekdays serving our church and other religious organizations.

CCM: Do you have any advice for our readers?

Tom: First of all, I cannot stress how critically important it is that if you decide to carry a concealed weapon, you better make sure it is instantly accessible at all times. I used to read the gun magazine articles that emphasized this and thought they bordered on extreme paranoia. I think my business partner offers proof of this point. When he was shot, he actually had a handgun in his possession, but unfortunately, it was in a portfolio two or three feet from his reach and in a zipped compartment. In his incident, he was not able to retrieve his gun until after he was shot 11 times and the criminals had left the premises. Who knows if the outcome might have been different with some other carry scenario? The point is, you don’t know when or where trouble may find you. If you did, you would of course avoid it in the first place. So once you make the commitment, stick to it—always.

Second, I still consider myself a “self-defense student” and always will. When it comes to learning, especially in dealing with matters of life and death, I believe one is never finished learning, so keep seeking education, formal training and plenty of practice. I think the main thing we have learned to date is how much we don’t know.

Last, shooting makes a great hobby. Since I got hooked, my wife and both children have also become interested in the sport. In addition to the obvious safety benefits of everyone in the household being well aware of firearm safety, we have a lot of fun together. We also make it a point to invite friends to come shooting with us at either the pistol range or sporting clays field. Without exception, they love the experience. There is nothing better you can do to protect your Second Amendment rights than to bring a new shooter to the range. Taking aware the fear and mystery goes a long way towards discrediting the misrepresentations and outright lies that we hear from the mainstream media every day.

To pass the time, I prepare for my future as a gun-toting mama. The postman finally brought by the Coronado tote bag I had ordered four months ago. It’s larger than the Coronado shoulder bag I carry now, and it can double as a concealment holster and a diaper bag.

I’ve only had my CHL for eight months, and it’s only been 14 months since the first time I picked up a handgun and fired it at a target. I’m one of those people who fell immediately in love with the activity, and I quickly signed up for every defensive training class I could find. My first trip to the range wasn’t prompted by anything dramatic, and I really had no compelling reason to learn to shoot. I’d actually been quite intimidated by guns, and having been raised in Canada, I had never even laid eyes on a semi-automatic before that first trip to the range.

I think it was my growing intimidation of handguns that finally pushed me to fire one. I like to conquer my fears head-on, which in this case, meant that I’d have to actually handle and fire a pistol. I never expected that I would enjoy it so much! My life changed after that first trip to the range, and I spent a great deal of time (and money) investing in my new hobby.

My husband wasn’t exactly thrilled with my newly discovered passion for firearms, and although he went with me to the range on several occasions, I could never convince him to take any defensive shooting courses or try out the tactical range with me.

Although it was proving to be a rather expensive activity, I think he was more concerned about my safety than he was about the cost. We had yet to have any discussions about starting a family, and therefore had no reason to discuss gun safety issues or costs.

I can only hope that now, just over a year later, I've proven to be a responsible and safety-conscious gun owner. More likely though, my husband is going to wait until we actually have our baby before he points out that this sweet little “baby in mother’s arms” scenario doesn’t look so sweet once you shove a deadly firearm into mother’s belt. Doesn’t anyone realize that the addition of a concealed weapon transforms this image from a fluffy, idealized fantasy into a bittersweet and real image of a mother who passionately adores her child and will go to any lengths to protect her baby?

Being halfway through my second trimester, with a rapidly developing child inside of me, I operate as though I already have that baby in my arms. By protecting myself, I am protecting that baby inside.

I bring my Glock with me everywhere I go, and if I'm out alone in a dark or unpopulated area, I casually keep my hand near my holster in the “ready” position. It takes me less than a second to draw, aim, and fire.

Just as importantly, my mind and body are in a constant state of alert, so that if the situation ever does occur in which I need to protect myself, I won't sabotage myself with a slow reaction time. Nobody's going to sneak up on ME from any direction. (Sometimes I wonder what they'd think of me [those strangers who share the sidewalk I'm on] if they knew that the pregnant lady walking by was packing heat. Well, odds are they will never have to know...)

So what will change in five months when I strap on the baby carrier for my walks? Does the handgun stay at home? How about when I venture farther away from home into unknown territories? Do I have to choose between leaving the baby or the firearm behind? The answer, to me, is a resounding "NO!"

In fact, I would say that the necessity of my carrying a firearm quadrupled as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I will be damned if I allow myself to willingly make myself vulnerable in a dangerous situation, when I have a baby inside me who is depending on me to provide a safe and secure home to grow in! And I'll be a thousand times more damned if I allow a bad situation to happen once I've got that baby in my arms instead of in my belly!

Go ahead, try to argue with me. Give me the "safety" argument, "What if the baby gets hurt by accident?" That will not happen. Because of hundreds of hours of practice, I've ruled out the possibility of ever hurting myself by accident, and I've significantly reduced the odds of doing something equally idiotic--I'd say "eliminated" but I haven't experienced these situations to say I know for certain--like revealing my gun without the intention to use it or shooting an innocent bystander.

I'll just have to tailor my practices for the new situations I'll be in once I become a mother. At the range, I'll load up the baby carrier with a life-size doll and learn a modified, quick-draw technique that doesn't put the baby in harm's way. It's not like I'm looking for the opportunity to shoot someone while I'm holding my baby, but the best way to ensure my family's safety is to be prepared for all situations and to not be caught off guard.

That’s what those defensive handgun classes are all about. We learn to shoot while running, while backing up, and while lying down. We learn to shoot at arm's length from our attacker, to shoot at multiple targets, to shoot in open spaces and in closed spaces. We even learn how to respond to hijacking situations--not just theoretically. The instructor brings a real car onto the range with scenarios that we cannot predict, including ones in which the "bad guy" is surrounded by innocent bystanders whom we must avoid accidentally shooting.

I'll just add a few scenarios of my own, such as, Mommy strapping baby into car seat with her back to the parking lot, Mommy loading groceries into car (a favorite scenario for carjackers), or Mommy wiping spit-up off baby's face, plus a whole lot more of Mommy is distracted by baby and not paying attention to her surroundings scenarios. Can I be on the alert while attending to my baby? I don't even know yet. Can I physically ready myself to pull a handgun out of a hidden holster while I'm in the process of moving my baby from Point A to Point B? Who knows? But I intend to find out, and to work out a technique that will allow me to be an attentive mother who is ready to protect her family when necessary.

No, that handgun will NOT stay at home when I'm out with baby. Even though the concealed handgun community is generally extremely impassioned in protecting our second amendment, there must be some individuals within this group who have mixed feelings about the combination of a firearm and a small baby.

Would you believe me if I told you it would be physically impossible for my baby to get a hold of my firearm when it’s in its holster? Would you trust that my baby is 100 percent safe from getting hurt by this firearm, even though most of the time it will be less than two feet from her? Perhaps not.

I feel as though I need to provide a disclaimer now, in case I’ve blurred the concepts of carrying a concealed firearm, compared to general ownership of a deadly weapon. I'm not speaking in generalities of firearm ownership and storage; I'm speaking specifically of concealing a handgun on my person that will be drawn only in the event that my baby's life or well-being (or mine) are in jeopardy.

I'm not planning to be a vigilante against any crime I happen across. I am speaking only of protecting my baby and myself when we are alone, and of protecting our home against intruders who cross the premises. And if you think it's safer for us to venture out alone without any means of protection just because the statistical odds of being attacked are unlikely, then I'm not sure any amount of logic would change your views.

As for how firearm safety is handled in our home, I most certainly will be moving the two thousand rounds of ammo out of the study and into a locked safe in the garage, out of reach and inaccessible to even the most determined child.

My husband will probably also have me unload the handgun and use a chain lock to render it physically useless anytime that it's not holstered to me.

... And I'll probably try to argue with him on that one, telling him that if an intruder enters the house while we are sleeping, we will need the gun to be ready for immediate use. (Once the adrenaline starts flowing, there's no way I'll be able to unlock it and load it without fumbling with it several times and wasting precious time.)

... To which he'll counter-argue by saying that we spent a thousand dollars on our alarm system to provide early warning against an intruder and that we'll never be in a situation in which an intruder makes it as far into the house as our bed without our being awakened first.

... And I'll counter his counter-argument by saying that the intruder could cut the phone lines, rendering the alarm system useless.

... To which he'll inform me that the alarm will still go off, it just won't communicate with the alarm company.

... And I'll be stumped momentarily, disliking the idea of having to dismantle my firearm every night so that I cannot use it.

But this time, I won't ignore his protests by insisting that it's perfectly safe to have a loaded firearm within arm's reach while we sleep.

... This time, I'll be thinking of unpredictable little kids exploring every square inch of the house and examining every item they come across. And I'll unload and lock up that firearm as predictably as we lock each door and set the house alarm each night.

And perhaps a time will even come when it seems like too much trouble to remove the lock and load the gun every single time I get ready to leave the house.

But for now, this gun serves as a tool to provide protection in a world that doesn't exempt women and babies from violence, and until the day comes when I feel differently, I will fight to defend my right to protect my baby and myself. And as surely as I will pack extra diapers and formula for our outings, I will also be packing heat.

Interview Questions:

CCM: Was there a specific incident that caused you to carry a gun?

Gabriela: Not at all. I was born in the U.S., but raised in Canada and had no exposure to firearm threats until moving to Texas several years ago. I met a lot of gun hobbyists here, but the people I knew just liked to go the range to blow off steam, or they were shotgun owners who went hunting on weekends. I had never been exposed to situations in which guns were used in a protective capacity.

Because they were illegal in Canada and only carried by law enforcement, I never had the chance to see a semi-automatic up close, let alone handle one. Perhaps this is why I always had a fascination with them, but was extremely intimidated by the idea of handling one, even after coming to Texas. Several times, I turned down invitations to go to the range to shoot without ever really understanding why I was so hesitant to go.

Then one day, it just happened that a good friend and I ended up talking about handguns, and I learned that she too was curious to handle one but had been too intimidated to venture out on her own to a gun range. We decided to join forces to conquer our fears, and learn how to shoot together.

It turned out that the range we selected was owned and run by a very friendly police officer who gave us an impromptu (and free) lesson on gun handling and safety, and then let us try out several of his firearms (both semi-automatics and revolvers) to see which we liked best. I still remember firing my first shot, and the exhilaration I felt as the gun went off when I pulled the trigger. I fell in love with shooting immediately. I also turned out to be rather good at it, and at one point, the officer actually called a ceasefire just to point out my little cluster of bull’s-eyes and announce that I’d never shot a gun before in my life. (I think he took personal pride in my shooting ability, since all my skills at that point were based entirely on what he taught me.) When he asked me which gun I preferred, I couldn’t decide; I loved them all! I may have been partial to his Glock 23C just because it was the first one I ever fired and the first to shoot the bullet right in the middle of the bull’s-eye.

This little story has a bittersweet ending though. My friend turned out not to enjoy the experience as much as I did, and although she went to practice with me at the range several times and even ended up buying a firearm for herself, she quit practicing shortly after and it’s now been over a year since she’s fired her Glock 20. She never gave herself enough time to build up her confidence, and now her lonely firearm is gathering dust in a closet, where it will continue to sit until the day comes that my friend is ready to give it another try.

My own passion for shooting ended up growing and I eventually took all of the defensive shooting courses available at the local range. I split my time practicing at two different ranges (one near my work, and one near home) and I used the tactical range near my house on a regular basis. I also applied for and received my CHL and took additional classes, such as Shooting from Cover and Concealment. Being pregnant has kept me off of the range for far too long, and I plan to take some review classes and resume practicing on a regular basis as soon as the baby is born.

So, while there was no incident that occurred to prompt me to pick up my first handgun, I did discover a hidden passion and talent that will ensure that if such an incident should ever take place, I will be more than equipped to handle it.

CCM: Have you ever had to use your firearm in a defensive situation?

Gabriela: No, but being able to carry a concealed weapon has given me the confidence to go places that I would otherwise avoid. I’m not speaking of places that are dangerous and should normally be avoided either, but of everyday places where women have every right to be. For example, there is a nature trail that runs through a forest, near a public park, in my neighborhood. The trail is right in the middle of civilization, with only a few trees to conceal it, and every time I’ve walked it, I’ve only run into young couples or mothers with kids. I really have no reason to expect a dangerous encounter, but the fact that it is isolated from its surroundings and has the potential to be unsafe is reason enough for me to want to exercise caution when I go there.

I'd be too worried about being attacked to enjoy the experience. When I have my gun with me, I can walk the nature trail with high spirits and allow myself to get lost in the beauty of the experience of being near nature. I still do a visual sweep of my surroundings every few seconds, but I don’t feel the apprehension or vulnerability that I would feel if I didn’t have a weapon to protect myself.

I always have my hands positioned on my purse so that I can draw and fire within one second of identifying a threat. It’s become second nature for me to be “at the ready” when I’m out alone like this, so that I don’t have to constantly focus my energy on being alert to potential dangers. Because I can trust that my body will react if a reaction is necessary, my mind is free to enjoy the surroundings without the burden of fear.

CCM: What training methods do you employ? Do you have any recommendations?

Gabriela: In order to have the confidence and comfort required to carry a firearm and use it if it should ever be necessary, a person needs to do two things: get appropriate defensive shooting training, and then devote regular time to practicing what one has learned. Both are equally important. Training should be provided by a qualified instructor and include all aspects of firearm handling and defensive shooting, starting with breathing, stance, grip, sighting, aim, etc. Practice comes next and must be done several thousand times, until it becomes an automatic response.

My instructors frequently talk about “motor muscle memory” and how one needs to practice the same motion about 4,000 times before it becomes an automatic response that occurs outside of the cerebral cortex (such as drawing one’s gun in self-defense).

In addition to training and practicing different techniques or scenarios in which one must draw from the holster, it's good to practice what might be considered unexpected events, like unjamming a gun, changing magazines while in the midst of a threatening situation, shooting from the weaker hand or from the hip, shooting while moving, shooting multiple targets, shooting while retreating or behind cover, etc.

One of the most important things we as responsible gun-wielding individuals must do is find a range (or other appropriate place) that will allow us to practice these tactical techniques and work through real world scenarios that involve more than pointing and shooting at a single, stationary target.

It is more important than all else though, to make sure we practice on a regular basis, even if we’re just practicing drawing and dry-firing at home, or we’re more likely to have a slow reaction time when it's critical. My own, personal mantra (which acts as a reminder to practice) goes something like this: I carry this gun for a reason… I carry this gun for a reason…

CCM: How long have you carried a concealed weapon?

Gabriela: Since April of 2005. I only recently became involved in guns, about five months before I got my CHL. Getting a license to carry a concealed weapon wasn't my initial goal when I started shooting, but it seemed like the next logical step for me. If I was planning to own a handgun and become thoroughly trained and experienced in defensive shooting to protect my home and family, why would I stop there? It would only be logical that I’d want to be able to protect myself and my loved ones outside of the home as well.

CCM: What weapons do you carry?

Gabriela: I currently own and carry only one firearm, a Glock 26. I’m not a gun hobbyist; I own a gun and practice using it for defensive purposes only. I get more pleasure from learning new shooting techniques and practicing my speed and accuracy using my one handgun than I do trying out different types of weapons.

With that being said, I also believe it's best to stick to owning only one handgun, or a maximum of two if you have enough time to practice both equally or if you carry both at the same time. I always thought it would be cool to carry two, but my Walther P99 40 caliber was too big to carry concealed, and I ended up doing all my practice with what I had originally intended to be my "backup" gun (my Glock).

As I spent less and less time practicing with my Walther, I eventually decided to sell it because I also don't believe guns are meant to sit in a locked closet. Guns are meant to be used, just like music is meant to be heard. (Who ever heard of having a CD collection but never playing any of it?) I'm definitely not a collector. I wanted my Walther to go to a good home whose owner would give it a good workout on a regular basis. Then I could devote all my practice time to my Glock.

I do carry other weapons, however, including a can of FOX five point three (5.3 million SHU) Cone Law Enforcement Formula pepper spray along with a couple of Sudecon decontamination wipes (just in case), a Spyderco Native III (3 inch blade), and as a last resort, a ballpoint pen that conceals a narrow, 4 inch blade. I haven’t been practicing enough with the knives lately though, so I have been leaving them at home where they will stay until I feel they will be of more advantage to me than to a potential attacker.

CCM: What type of ammunition do you carry?

Gabriela: 9mm, luger, 135 grain, Federal Hydra-Shok, jacketed hollow points and 9mm, luger, 115 grain, Cor-Bon, jacketed hollow points. I've practiced with both types on the range and I feel comfortable firing them. Since I’ve yet to use my firearm in a defensive situation, I’ll just have to have faith that they will work as intended when off of the range!

CCM: What concealment holsters do you use?

Gabriela: I'm not really into using holsters. A scenario was described to me in which a law enforcement officer had grown accustomed to using a shoulder holster, but then one day switched to an SOB holster to accommodate his undercover attire. That day he got into a situation requiring fast action, but he couldn't get to his gun in time because he had automatically reached for his shoulder firearm that was no longer there. He suffered several shots and was down before he remembered where his firearm was.

I took a Carrying in Concealment course that gave us the opportunity to try out various types of concealment holsters and it only confirmed that my first choice, a purse holster, was the best choice. Not only am I able to have my gun at the ready without anyone knowing it by resting one hand inside the concealed compartment where the gun is, but I could shoot right through the purse if I had to. Fortunately, I won’t have to worry about destroying my holster if I ever do have to fire quickly because with the help of my instructor, I mastered a technique in which I can properly draw, aim, and fire very efficiently: My purse is strapped diagonally across my chest with the holster side pointing to my right. As I put my right hand into the concealed holster to grip the gun, my left hand yanks the purse strap to pull the purse out of the way. As the left hand moves the purse away, I am extending my firing arm and aiming in the direction of the threat.

The total time it takes from reaching toward the holster to getting the firearm free and in position to fire the gun is one second. A hip holster takes me longer to draw from unless I’m planning to start firing from the hip before I raise my gun to eye level. Because the purse holster naturally rests at a higher level, I can get into a point and shoot position more quickly than I can when using other types of holsters.

It’s unfortunate that some reviews of different concealment holsters have rated the purse holster as one of the slowest draws because it’s the most reliable holster I can imagine. It’s a natural extension of a woman’s daily wardrobe.

Perhaps the people who rate the different holsters aren’t taking the time required to fairly judge the purse holster on its own merit. This type of holster may initially require a greater time commitment to master, as it is very awkward at first to try to reach into a tight compartment and pull a weapon out with any speed or coordination at all, but with sufficient practice, I would say that it is ultimately faster and more reliable than many of the other options available to women.

The one thing I am sure to carry with me on a consistent basis, regardless of weather and location, is my purse. Using the purse to carry my gun gives me a level of freedom that other holsters cannot offer, such as being able to maintain a diverse wardrobe and being comfortable in any climate. (I don’t have to wear a blazer every day to hide my hip holster and I can wear a breezy skirt in the summer instead of belted pants.) And with the zipper lock, I feel better knowing that I can bring my purse into other people's homes without inadvertently presenting new risks.

My current holster is a Coronado Aspen Classic, but I recently purchased a Coronado Classic Carry All because it's larger and will be more practical as a dual purpose handbag and diaper bag. The Carry All has shorter straps that will require me to carry it on my left shoulder if I want to draw with my right hand, so I do have a bit of a learning curve to face before I will feel really comfortable using this purse.

My newest holster: Coronado Classic Carry All (www.coronadoleather.com)

CCM: What do you do for a living?

Gabriela: Until I took my latest career move toward motherhood and ended my stint in corporate America, I was a network and internet security specialist for several large corporations. Most of my work involved developing tactical and strategic solutions to address security issues that would then be implemented by the companies’ various operating teams. My specific area of interest and expertise put me in the position of “expert on call,” performing all investigations that involved employees or external threats, and I frequently acted as the technical liaison between law enforcement officials and the companies’ internal legal departments.

I love performing investigations and tracking down unauthorized or illicit activities, as the process not only requires me to utilize many different technical skills, but it demands creative thinking or putting myself into the mindset of the person whom I am investigating. There’s great satisfaction in the final outcome as well. One investigation earned me a commendation from the FBI for tracking down the identity and source of an individual who called in a bomb threat to an FBI office and then later tried to impersonate the judge trying her case. Another investigation resulted in my turning over the identities of two individuals who were actively engaged in collecting and disseminating child pornography.

The work can be extremely stressful at times when I am up against the clock and must drop everything else to get the job done, and it can be very intellectually and emotionally draining, but when I successfully close a case, showing proof beyond a doubt of an individual’s culpability (via computer forensics), I feel a deep level of satisfaction that is like nothing else I’ve experienced. It’s a far cry from police work, but it gives me the chance to use my technical skills to help score some points for the good guys. In fact, I’m seriously considering working as an FBI consultant in the area of internet exploitation when I decide it’s time to re-enter the workforce.

CCM: Do you have any advice for our readers?

Gabriela: My advice is specifically to new parents who are debating what to do with their concealed handguns once they begin carting a newborn or small child with them everywhere they go… Do not stop carrying! Remember the reason you got your CHL in the first place: to protect yourself and those you care about from harm. Having a baby gives you more reason than ever to be vigilant in protecting yourself and those close to you. Make sure that regular visits to the range to keep up your training and skills remain a high priority, and plan to educate and train your children in gun safety and handling once they are old enough to understand that guns are not toys.

Plan how you will protect your children from your firearms when you are out with them and carrying, as well as when you are at home. You will need to devise a strategy that will protect your children from harm, while still giving you reasonable access to your gun if the situation demands it.

If you are a new mother, consider bringing props (like baby-size dolls and baby gear) to the range and working with the defensive shooting instructors to help you develop new defensive strategies that will work when you are in real world situations with your baby. Once I have my baby and am able to get back to the range, I plan to work through several scenarios that I might find myself in one day. I particularly want to practice how I will draw and fire under the following circumstances: when I am carrying my baby against me in a sling (and have less freedom of movement to reach my holster), when I am pushing my baby in a stroller (and don’t have both hands free), and when I am physically engaged in an activity like feeding or diapering my baby. What steps do I take in each of these situations if a threat presents itself? I need to be able to envision it, learn how to respond to it, and then practice my response over and over so that it becomes automatic.

One of the most important aspects of being a responsible gun owner and protector is to be familiar with and well practiced in responding to threatening scenarios that apply specifically to you.

Every gun magazine has a “new products” column devoted to, in essence, publishing press releases for every product that comes along. This column is different. I will give you my “regular guy” perspective on concealed carry related gear that I have actually used and tested in everyday life—from knives, to holsters, to flashlights and other “gun stuff.” And not just the latest and greatest, but some old favorites too. The photos you see are not glossy press release photos from the manufacturer; they are photos of the gear after my evaluation, showing how each has held up to daily use. If you want to see more of this type of column, e-mail me and let me know!

BlackHawk Night-Ops Gladius

Everyone needs a compact, high quality flashlight. Many well known companies are now churning out the standard tactical flashlight, a tough, durable, two 123A lithium cell powered light, with tailcap switching and both momentary and constant on functionality. This has become the generic standard for “tactical lights.” The Gladius has now raised the bar by adding new features never before seen on this class of flashlight. At first glance, the Gladius seems to fit the standard mold for these types of lights, with a strong aluminum body and a shape to accommodate a variety of handgun/flashlight holds. However, the real genius of this light is inside. The Gladius is controlled by a smart computer chip—a flashlight with a brain. The tailcap of the light actually rotates into four different “channels,” each selecting a different mode of operation. Channel 1 is the standard tactical mode, with momentary switching and a blinding 100 lumens from its single LED light source. Channel 2 is an ingenious “strobe” feature for tactical use that is intended to blind and disorient attackers with an optimized strobe pattern of 100 lumens of flashing light. This is an innovative idea and it seems to work very well to disorient an attacker, while still providing useful illumination for the user. Channel 3 is another innovation, a constant on light with user adjustable output “on-the-fly” from 5 to 100 lumens. While there are some lights on the market with two intensity levels (usually one incandescent bulb for bright output and LEDs for lesser output), this light actually regulates the output electronically and is infinitely adjustable. This feature makes the Gladius truly stand out. The ability to regulate the output turns your ultra-bright, tactical light into an all-purpose light that is suitable for much more mundane tasks when not pressed into defensive use. Some tasks just don’t require 100 lumens of blazing white light. Cranking down the output also saves on battery usage. Finally, Channel 4 is a lock-out mode that prevents accidental activation of the light for storage or carry. Battery life will vary, but the industry standard two 123A lithium cells will run the Gladius for about 90 minutes at full output, and up to 400 hours at its lowest setting. The digital control of this flashlight provides other very useful benefits. Lithium batteries, by their nature, quit with no warning. The Gladius monitors battery status and pulses in short intervals when the batteries are nearly depleted, warning you in time to make a battery change. The Gladius also has smart temperature management, gradually dimming the flashlight if an overheating condition threatens to melt the lens or damage the unit. Of course, all of this whiz-bang technology comes at a price. M.S.R.P. for the Gladius is $250, and discounts are hard to find. A good street price is still over $200. That is, without a doubt, a lot of money for a flashlight, but if you want the most advanced and versatile personal tactical light on the market, you won’t be disappointed with the Gladius. I use mine for everything from concealed carry to camping, and I love it. BlackHawk has undoubtedly raised the bar in the high-end flashlight market.

SureFire Alpha Knife

SureFire, well known for high quality illumination tools, has entered the knife business with its new Edged Weapons Division. In collaboration with renowned custom knife designer, Steve Ryan, SureFire is currently offering two folding knives, with at least two more coming in the near future. I have recently had an opportunity to evaluate their flagship model, the “Alpha.” The Alpha is a very large, tactical folding knife with a four inch blade carved from high performance S30V steel. This monster blade is coated with a slick, tungsten carbide, black coating and mated to a 7075 T6 aluminum frame with tough G-10 scales. One-handed opening is possible by starting the blade moving with a flipper type device, then following through with pressure on one of the dual thumb studs. This takes a bit of practice if you are not used to such a set-up, but the blade opens smoothly and locks securely with a liner lock. Once locked open, the flipper serves as a guard to keep any part of your hand from running up onto the blade during severe use.

Everything about this knife is large. The theme carries over to the dual pocket clips that adorn both sides. The clips allow you to carry on either side, but only point down. If you demand a thinner package, one clip can be removed, but the result is not very cosmetically appealing. SureFire quality comes at a price. This knife retails for $300, and street prices are pretty close to full retail due to the limited distribution channels. However, for this $300 you get the assurance of SureFire’s top-notch customer service and lifetime guarantee. As with SureFire flashlights, the strength of the guarantee adds a lot of value to this product. Even I am hesitant to beat up or torture test an expensive knife, but my use of the knife convinced me that this large, tactical folder will take any reasonable abuse you have in mind. If you want a high quality, large knife from a well known designer, I can definitely recommend this knife. Keep in mind, however, that this knife carries like a big knife, and it is likely to scare any “non-knife people” who see you use it. In my opinion, it is not a knife you would want to use to carve an apple in the break room at work. But if you want a do-anything and tough-as-nails tactical folder, this Alpha could be for you.

Kershaw Tactical Blur Knife

Kershaw Knives is a leader in producing innovative knives at very reasonable prices. Well known knife designer, Ken Onion, has partnered with Kershaw to produce a large line of production folding knives, from small utility knives to larger tactical knives. The Tactical Blur incorporates a 3-3/8 inch tanto style, partially serrated blade, fashioned from 440A stainless steel with a black, Tungsten DLC coating. This functional blade folds into a nicely contoured, aluminum handle with Kershaw’s “Trac-Tek” inserts. The “Trac-Tek” inserts are one of the unique features of the Blur series, and they give this knife a grippy, textured surface, not unlike skateboard tape. It is hard to imagine how you could lose a grip on this knife, even in the most adverse conditions. The Blur also sports a pocket clip that can be positioned for tip-up or tip-down carry. The most unusual feature of this knife, however, is the Ken Onion designed “Speed Safe” technology. Speed Safe is an assisted opening technology that allows the knife to spring open quickly, once the blade opening has been started manually. In the Blur configuration, you merely have to press on the thumb studs to start the blade opening and the spring assist takes over and snaps the knife smartly into its locked open position. This is a practical feature that makes for a very quick opening, and it is just a lot of fun. Kershaw makes no representations about the legality of this mechanism in all jurisdictions, but it certainly is not a “switchblade” in the normal legal sense, since the blade is opened by movement of the blade, not by a button. Check your local laws if you think it could be an issue in your state. The Tactical Blur retails for $99.95, but is available from many sources for around $60, sometimes even less. This is a lot of knife for the money. Some knife snobs would prefer a higher performance steel, but the price would have to be considerably higher. There are also other Blur configurations and colors available, including a “Rescue Blur” with a rounded safety tip and integrated glass breaker. I have really enjoyed my Tactical Blur and I carry it daily. This knife is up to any reasonable task, from opening boxes to defending yourself if necessary. The knife is large enough for a working knife, but not so large that it scares people, although the Speed Safe opening just might! Sometimes if using the knife in a crowd, I will chose to pull it open in the traditional manner, rather than draw attention by snapping it open with the assisted opening. I find this to be a great everyday carry knife that has held up exceptionally well to the rigors of daily use. The Kershaw Tactical Blur has my vote for a practical, tactical and affordable folder.

Threat Solutions UCR Holster

I have tried a lot of inside-the-waistband (IWB) holsters. I keep coming back to the Threat Solutions UCR (Ultra Concealment Rig) made by Dave Vaughn. Unlike a lot of IWB holsters on the market, the UCR does not have adjustable or interchangeable belt loops or an adjustable cant. The holster is very simple in that respect; there are no adjustments. The holster either fits your needs or it doesn’t. In my experience, the holster fits great, and it’s the most comfortable kydex IWB I have found. The use of kydex materials makes for a tough holster that will probably never wear out. The kydex won’t absorb or retain moisture and will not collapse, allowing for easy one-handed re-holstering. By moving the belt attachment points away from the gun itself, the whole rig is thin and stable, with less rocking and belt sag. The UCR is reasonably priced at $59.95 and is available for Glocks, 1911s, Kahrs, Springfield XDs, S&W J-frames and the CZ-75. Barrel length doesn’t matter, since this is an open muzzle slide-type design, giving you some versatility to use the holster with various sizes of the same gun platform. The holster shown is Dave’s first UCR for the Ruger SP-101. He made it by special request for me, and now that he has a proper mold, the SP will become a regular offering. Sometimes the simplest solution is the best, and I believe that the Threat Solutions UCR holster is likely to become one of your favorites too.

For More Information on these Products:

www.surefire.com

www.kershawknives.com

www.blackhawk.com

www.threatsolutions.com

About the Author

Duane A. Daiker is a Contributing Editor for CCM, but is otherwise a regular guy–not much different from you. Duane has been a life-long shooter and goes about his life as an armed, responsible, and somewhat opinionated citizen. Duane can be reached at Duane@Daiker.net.