6 Concealed Carry Myths and How to Avoid Them
We are a community of people concerned with concealed carry and the resultant issues, questions,and challenges. We’ve talked a lot about CCW law, the resources supporting and informing CCW, and a host of other questions. Generally, we stick to addressing factual information or real-life issues, but today we’re going in a different direction. We’re going to delve into the world of myth.
Sadly there are no hobbits, dragons, wizards, or ghosts. At no point in this (hopefully) does anyone battle the Black Knight. Instead we’re going to point our lances and arrows at the various myths surrounding concealed carry, and see what we can do to put them to rest.
You don’t need to carry a loaded gun/with one in the chamber/etc, etc
From the Voodoo School of firearm thought, these folks postulate that the mere presence of a firearm will somehow magically dissuade all harm. I have bad news on that front: the gun is a tool, and it’ll only function as well as you let it. If you’re going to carry, carry loaded and if you’re going to pull a firearm, be ready to use it. Pointing an unloaded gun at someone is, for lack of a better term, pointless.
Here are a few articles that cover this subject:
You don’t need to carry all the time
Apparently some gun owners are psychic and can predict when trouble will strike. While I strongly encourage you to avoid risky situation and take sensible, non-firearm oriented steps to avoid trouble, the fact is that it can come looking for you, through no fault of your own. Be ready. For extra credit, check out Why You Should Always Be Carrying.
“Concealed means coquate for self-defense
I’m cheating a bit here, as this is less a myth and more a totally pointless discussion. While some calibers may be better defensive rounds than others, the fact is that a bull’s eye shot with a .22 beats a clean miss with a larger caliber. Your ability to shoot well matters more.
“I don’t worry now that I carry.”
This is a close cousin to #2. While your CCW should be a comfort, it doesn’t give you a pass for putting yourself in risky situations. As I’ve suggested above: take other precautions for keeping yourself safe. A good rule of thumb: if you find yourself thinking either “I’m sure glad I have my CCW” or “Boy I wish I had my CCW”, it’s past time to get out of there.
You don’t need a holster
As the young people say these days: “No. Just no.” This is perhaps the most dangerous myth presented here today, as carrying without a holster—gun shoved in a pocket/waistband/purse—is an accident waiting to happen. Buy and use an appropriate carry system, folks; there is no substitute.
As always, this is far from a definitive list of the end of the discussion. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts, so let a civil discussion commence. Let me know what other myths about CCW you’ve run into, and until then be safe out there.
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