You Want Me To Put That Where??

Ladies know that concealing a handgun is a challenge.  We have challenges with our wardrobe and we have challenges with our anatomy that men just don't have to contend with  and sometimes do not understand.  Let's talk about that.

Me, trying to dress for church with a Glock 19,
extra magazine, flashlight, tourniquet, keys,
knife, and ... lipstick

Wardrobe

One reason women have a greater challenge than men do when carrying a handgun because our wardrobe changes from day to day,   We don't always have a waistband.  Sometimes we wear dresses or skirts, or yoga pants.  That means we are going to have to look at ways to carry that may be less than ideal.

On the body carry is going to be your very best option.  I know, I know ... there are times when you can't pull that off.  There are simply times when we have no other choice than to carry off the body.  Its not ideal and I would encourage you to not make off the body carry your primary method of carrying, but for those times when you must carry in a bag, consider one of the Vertx bags that are made for concealed carry and allow you to draw your gun faster than you can from a purse. 

I LOVE my Vertx bag. I have the commuter sling and its pretty much perfect.  There are several reasons I do not recommend carrying in a purse but the main one is that I simply am not convinced that you can get your gun out of a purse and get on target fast enough.  I know I just made you mad.  I'm sorry.  I just don't feel like lying to you is going to help you and I really, really do want you to have the best chance possible if you have to defend your life from an attacker.  If you really must use a purse, use one that is made for concealed carry.  Don't just put a gun in a purse, not even if it is holstered. And if you carry in a purse, please treat it like a newborn baby and don't take your eyes off of it for a second.  If you leave it laying on the kitchen counter or your desk - guess what - a loaded firearms is in that and its up for grabs to anyone who walks by.  If we are honest, most of us are just not diligent enough to take the gun out of the purse and secure it.  And then it is no longer quickly available to us if we need it.      This video will help you think through all of those options.  Grab some coffee and take a few minutes to watch.

Anatomy

Let's face it, sometimes certain parts of our anatomy get in the way when we are trying to get to our holster.  Some of us are rounder than others, some of us are more well endowed than others, and some of us are short-waisted which makes it feel like you are reaching into your armpit to access your gun.  What's a girl to do? 

Work with your curves.  We all have curves.  They may  not be where we want them to be, but we all have them.  Make those curves work for you!  Try moving the holster around to different positions on your waistline and see what allows you to access your gun the easiest and fastest.  I love and recommend appendix carry because it truly is the best position if you need to access your gun fast, which you do in a fight.  Here is a hint - small of the back carry is probably the hardest and least effective, plus you can really hurt yourself if you fall or are thrown to the ground and land on that gun that is right over your spine.  

Women's Products

Fortunately there are some companies out there making products that take into account the unique needs of the female concealed carrier.  Unfortunately, many of those products are not designed to help her be successful in a deadly force encounter.  They do well at holding the gun, but too many of them leave something to be desired when it comes to accessing your gun quickly, effectively, and safely. My best advice - never sacrifice safety for the sake of fashion.   We are getting better all the time though so I do have some hope and you can find some good products out there that keep us ladies in mind.  

Belly Bands

A lot of women like belly band holsters.  They do have their place, but I can't personally recommend them for your primary carry.  My issue with them is that they usually have a pocket that requires you to use both hands to reholster.  I've just seen too many women muzzle their support hand as they struggle to get the gun back into that little pocket.  I think they would be great for joggers, or if you have workout clothes on.  That is about the only time I would really feel good about them. 

Unsafe Holsters

Just because somebody makes and sells a product does not mean its a good idea.  Its a good idea to avoid any kind of holster that collapses requiring you to put your fingers inside to open it in order to reholster.  "Pocket" type holsters are just that - a pocket and not a holster.  This is often a feature of  holsters that are made for women.  Every holster should meet these safety requirements:

• The trigger guard should be covered completely
  
  
  
• It should be molded to your particular firearm providing you with passive retention (having it slide out of the holster is not a good thing)
  
  
  
• It should attach in such a way that when you draw your weapon the entire holster does not come out with the gun
  
  

Minimalist Holsters

Minimalist Holster are popular because there's not so much bulk to have to stick inside your waistband.  Some are made well and very safe, others, not so much.  DO NOT get the "clip carry".  Its a clip that attaches to the slide of your gun. It is sold as a holster. It is not a holster.  Its an accident waiting to happen because the trigger guard is not covered at all.

If you want a minimalist holster, I recommend the Raven Concealment Systems Vanguard.  Some people will love this holster, some will hate it, some will freak out when they see it thinking that it is unsafe. It is safe. Some people feel it doesn't conceal as well. I feel like it conceals better than any other holster I've used.    It completely covers the trigger guard and has a great attachment system and it really does keep the holster very secure. I use this often.  The drawback to these are - you can't train with them because you can't reholster it. For day to day carry, I like it a lot

Belts

I know, I know.  You HATE belts.  So do I!  I find that most women really don't want to wear a belt.  However a good belt is an essential part of your concealed carry if you carry on the waist. The absolutely most comfortable belt I have ever found is the Ares Gear belt.  I was sooo reluctant to buy one because I despise belts and didn't want to spend big bucks on something I really didn't want.   But I can tell you it is the most comfortable belt I've ever worn, so much so that I wear it at home even if I do not have my gun on.  It is durable, holds its shape, supports the weight of the gun, is easy to take in or let out, and even offers lower back support.  It is truly worth every single penny and can make wearing a belt something pleasant.  I had a leather concealed carry belt that was made for women before. I think it was around $80. I hated it.  It did the job just fine but I felt like I was being strangled and couldn't move.  I couldn't wait to get home and get the stupid thing off.  With the Ares belt I don't even notice it.  Take it from an avowed belt hater - the Ares belt is a good thing!

Beware!

Some holsters that are good but need adequate training to use are the active retentions types with a button that needs to be depressed in order to release the firearm.  Most notably (although there are others) is the Blackhawk Serpa.  

It is not a bad holster however far too many people use it incorrectly and end up with a negligent discharge right into their leg.  Ouch!

IF you choose to use this holster (I don't recommend it) you must keep your index finger (trigger finger) straight while depressing that button.  If you tend to curl your finger it is likely that you will bring the gun out of the holster with your finger on the trigger..  Youtube is full of videos of people shooting themselves in the leg with this or a similar holster. Many ranges do not allow shooters to use this holster in training due to the fact that they are often used incorrectly and result in students being hurt.   My advice, is just don't.  There are better options out there.  

Recommendations

I recommend a kydex or other hard thermoplastic  holster made for IWB, a good quality belt that is made for concealed carry.  Why kydex?  

• Because it holds your gun securely (having your gun slide out of your holster is never good.
  
•  It remains open so you can reholster much safer,
  



What I carry.  Glock 19 in a Raven Concealment Systems
Eidolon holster with an Ares Gear belt

• And it is smooth and slick so that gun will slide into the holster much easier than any other material.  I've watched far too many people trying to reholster their gun into a leather holster and struggle to the point I feared they would shoot themselves.

I have used Raven Concealment Systems holsters for the past few years and I doubt I will ever use a different holster.  They are simply great holsters.  I have never had an issue with them nor have I seen or known of anyone else having an issue with them.  They can be a little on the pricey side but - you tend to get what you pay for.  Its certainly less expensive than buying a box full of holster that are useless.  Buy once, cry once.  

Opinions

Everybody's got 'em.  These are mine.  You are always free to make your own choices and have your own opinions. I have had women vehemently argue with me about purse carry. I'm not going to argue.  These are my options.  I've had most of the holsters out there and the box of them to prove it.   My opinions are based on  my experience.   I also work with a group of highly skilled SWAT officers and Special Operations Military guys who have years and years of experience. I think its wise to listen to them.  If I didn't learn it firsthand from my own experience, I've learned it from them.  Its your life and your gun and your holster.  Just be safe.  

Ladies, we've got this!  We have years of experience concealing things.  Concealing a handgun shouldn't be too difficult of a task.

A Sneaky Little Thing

Most things we do in life come down to mindset. 

Complacency is one of those sneaky little things that can creep up from time to time.   Most likely is something we will all battle on some level.

I will admit that complacency is something I struggle with from time to time.

True confessions - I do not like carrying a gun.  Sometimes I downright resent it.  Its inconvenient.  Its uncomfortable.  And frankly, its a reminder that I can't always trust my fellow humans.    There are times when I think, "I am just going to run to the store for a minute.  I think I'll leave my gun at home."   BUT, I can't let myself begin to think that way.  You can't either.  Unless we are ok with the possible ramifications.

I am 56 years old and have never needed a gun a day in my life.  Odds are that I will live out the rest of my days and not need a gun.  However, I live every day as if I will need my gun before I get home ... because I may.

That is not because I live in fear; I do not.  Its because for me, its not about the odds; its about the stakes.

For the record, I still believe the good guys outnumber the bad guys.  There are a lot of good people out there. I talk about some of them over on my home page.  There are a lot of screwed up people out there too.  And there are a few really evil people.  And since I have no control over when I might cross paths with one of those evil people, I carry a gun every day of my life, everywhere I can legally carry. 

And you know what?  That makes me less afraid ... because I am prepared.  

Stack the Deck

Last night I had the pleasure of teaching a group of 8 women. During the class, we discussed briefly why we recommend a larger gun over a smaller gun.  I admitted that I had at one point purchased one  of the smaller semi-automatic handguns, a Sig Sauer p328 to be exact.

It was my "pretty" gun.  And it was indeed pretty.  I loved it!  But I didn't feel confident in using it for self-defense.  I never carried it.  Not even once.

Let me tell you my story....

I grew up in southern Indian where everybody is pretty much expected to own a gun.  I grew up around them but never had much interest in them.  Guns were not good or bad, they just were part of life.

When I married my husband, he had grown up in northern California and had no exposure to guns at all and was not a fan.  His position was that, "we will have no guns in our home".   For me, that was an odd way to think, but it wasn't an issue because I didn't feel a need to own a gun.  I live in a nice neighborhood.  I have good neighbors who do a good job of looking out for each other.  I am married, so there is a man around the house.  The police station is just a few streets over from my house.  I raised two boys, so there were 3 males around the house for a time.  One of those boys grew up to be a police officer so for a while, a cop lived at our house.  I don't go to dangerous places and I don't hang out with dangerous people, so I was the lady who always felt safe ... until I didn't.

Some years ago a man started attending our church who had a really nasty criminal past.  We had to set some pretty firm limits with him in order to protect our congregation, particularly our children.  He did not take very kindly to that.  In fact, he became so enraged that a man in our church had to identify himself as a police officer and escort him off the property.  This man was very, very angry .. at my husband.

And I began to wonder ... what would I do if he came to our house sometime when my husband wasn't around?  I thought I would feel better if I had some way to defend myself if I had to.  So my husband who had always said we would not have guns in our home, looked at me and said, "You should feel safe in your own home, go buy a gun."   And I did.

I bought a Smith & Wesson .38 special, snub nose revolver. 

I knew that now that I was a gun owner I needed to take a class and learn how to be responsible with it.  Going to the range and shooting is one thing, owning the gun and being responsible for it is another. 

I signed up for a class and quickly realized that I had bought the wrong gun.  I shot well with it, but had not taken into account a few very important considerations.

1. Under duress, in a deadly force encounter, I may miss. I'm a decent shot but in under those circumstances I will be experiencing lots of adrenaline rushing through my body, I will likely have a moving target, and I will have to make life and death decisions in just a few seconds of time. 
2. I may have to shoot my attacker more than once to make him stop.  While it is never our intention to kill, very often one shot, even when well placed, does not stop the attack.  If the attacker is cranking on some kind of drug, he may not even realize he has been shot. 
3. Bad guys don't always come by themselves.  Sometimes they bring friends. 

I looked at my 5-shot revolver and knew I needed something more.  My next purchase was a GLOCK.

The small Sig Sauer p238 was not ever my "carry gun".  It was purchased to be my "pretty gun" that I treated myself to. 

Why was it not my carry gun when it is clearly smaller and easier to conceal?

• Smaller guns tend to malfunction more frequently than larger guns.  We see that all the time on the range.
• Smaller guns do not hold as many rounds as larger guns.  In a gunfight, no one wishes for fewer rounds. 
• Smaller guns are generally harder to manipulate.  Very often people struggle with them. 
• Smaller guns are not as accurate as larger guns.  In a gunfight I am going to lose accuracy for all of the reasons mentioned above.  I do not want to lose accuracy because I have a gun that is less accurate.  

My advice is to stack the deck in  your favor as much as you can.  There are a lot of things we do not have control over.  We don't have control over when we will have a car accident.  We don't have control over when we will have a heart attack.  And we don't have control over when a criminal will choose to try to make us his next victim.  You do have control over what tool you use to fight with and how much training you acquire to use that tool effectively.  Stack the deck in YOUR favor.   

Carrying A Firearm in a Purse

I have never been a fan of purse carry.   Sometimes get some grief f or my views on purse carry, but I want to offer solutions that will WORK for ladies.   Here is a FANTASTIC video show why I don't think its a good option.  Its lengthy.  Grab a cup of coffee, and watch.  Its well worth your time to think through this decision with careful consideration.

The only time I carry off-body is to the gym and then I use my Vertx bag, which is a great off-the-body option for those times when you have no other choice.