8 months ago I made a decision to get a concealed carry permit. I didn’t do so because I was afraid, or because my job required me to carry large sums of money, or because of personal threats or crime in my neighborhood. I decided to get a concealed carry permit for one reason only and that’s because I could.
So I purchased an appropriate handgun and holster (I decided to appendix carry), joined a local shooting range, bought a biometric gun safe, went through the process of getting a background check, (3 actually, federal, state and sheriff), got finger printed, took a written test and a practical test which required meeting a minimum standard of shooting proficiency.
Since then I have been involved in zero incidents. Now, just like before, I avoid situations that could lead to a physical confrontation, I drive the speed limit, and while I do walk around with a high level of situational awareness, 12 years in the Army kinda imbeds that way of thinking, I don't feel powerful, I don't go looking for trouble and I still don't go places armed that I wouldn't go to unarmed. The only thing I feel is the weight of the gun and the responsibility that goes with carrying it.
Of course some things have changed, I go to the range more often, when dining out I don’t drink any alcohol and I have to plan to buy new clothes, can’t just do that on the spur of the moment anymore, seeing that I am not willing leave my gun in the car, hand it to my wife in a department store or leave it in a changing room while my wife tells me that the clothes I’ve picked out don’t match all that well. Additionally when I travel I make sure I know the gun laws of the states I’m going through and visiting. Thankfully 40 states honor my permit, the ones that don’t, (California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, District of Columbia), I’m not interested in visiting, other than Oregon.
All in all, I am quite happy with my decision to carry concealed and I encourage everyone who has considered getting a permit to do so just because you can, besides a right not exercised is a right that will ultimately be lost. With that said, there are some things that those of you not so inclined should be aware of if you’re not already. Only 8 states are may issue, California, Delaware, Hawaii, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, the other 42 are either shall issue or constitutional carry states. Whether we like it or not, concealed carry is the law of the land and pretty much has been since before the Heller decision. Prior to 2010 35 states were shall issue so the trend started well before the Supreme Court got involved. Here is a timeline:
1961: Washington
1980: Indiana
1985: Maine, North Dakota
1986: South Dakota
1987: Florida
1989: Oregon, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Georgia
1990: Idaho
1991: Mississippi, Montana
1994: Alaska, Arizona, Tennessee, Wyoming
1995: Arkansas, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Virginia
1996: Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina
2001: Michigan
2003: Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio
2004: New Mexico
2006: Kansas, Nebraska
2010: Iowa
2011: Wisconsin
2013: Alabama, Illinois
In total there have been roughly 11 million carry permits issued (this figure is more than likely low since numbers aren’t available for all states that issue permits), that represents at a minimum 5% of the population, so it’s not unreasonable to assume that many of you have recently been in relatively close proximity to someone carrying a concealed weapon. While this reality maybe be somewhat unnerving, take heart, those very citizens you've been bumping elbows with, IIRC appear to have a lower criminal incident rate than the general population and law enforcement officers.
With millions of people having the ability to legally carry a concealed weapon I feel obligated to share some information with you that will help you potentially identify those carrying so you can avoid being in close contact with them.
Concealed carry identifiers:
Generally speaking, most concealed carriers will not look like dirt bags. Many are professional people who will be more neatly dressed. They don’t generally have the crotch of their pants at knee height or wear their baseball hat cocked at an odd angle.
• A concealed carrier can fall prey to fashion. The “tactical look” is in. Brush up on the huge variety of advertised tactical gear, clothing or concealed carry wear. Study the brands and learn what the clothes look like. Felons don’t generally go for this look but concealed carriers often do.
• Look for “tactical carry” vests — with brand names like 5.11 Tactical or Blackhawk along with baseball hats with logos (sporting goods like Cabela’s or any firearm manufacturer).
• Untucked dark colored short or long sleeve shirts.
• Cargo pants.
• Blue jeans.
• Some sort of lightweight hiking foot wear, tennis shoes or boots.
• In the summer look for an outer garment that hangs out below the belt line and in the winter an unzipped jacket.
• When it’s sunny look for high end impact resistant eye wear like Oakley or Wiley X.
• Thick leather belts or web belts with strong buckles.
• No belt.
• Bulging pockets.
• Look for bulges on one side of the body, unless they appendix carry.
• Look at the hemline of long pants, one side may droop more if the gun is pulling that side down.
• Watch for accessories — An expensive folding knife, a Maglite or Surefire flashlight.
• Are they right- or left-handed? Most carry the gun on the strong side of the body. What side of the body is the wristwatch on? Right handers generally wear the watch on the opposite hand. This will tip you off on where to look.
• Shifting of the clothing — such as hitching up the pants, moving a jacket in place, pulling a pant leg over something.
• Posture - A bladed stance combined with manner of dress and a calm demeanor. They often have a more alert, balanced stance than the typical, sitting-on—the-heels, slouched back posture of the average person.
• Checking out their surrounding constantly — the head on a swivel.
• A perception of “readiness”.
• The carrying of a purse.
• The wearing of a bra.
• Wearing of a knee length or above the knee dress.
• For people that check for identification a concealed carrier may have a drivers license or motorcycle endorsement.
• Look for tattoos.
• They will be breathing.
Concealed carriers may or may not dress in any or all of these styles and may or may not exhibit some, none or all of the mentioned behaviors. The only characteristic all concealed carriers will have in common is the breathing bit. As for me, for the most part I wear shorts, Tevas (unless I am riding my motorcycle), a Dead Kennedy’s t-shirt (or other punk band), close cropped hair that can’t be grabbed and I smell faintly of patchouli.
Anyway I hope this helps those of you who are a bit uncomfortable with concealed carry in being able to possibly but probably not identify some of the millions of us (we really are everywhere) that carry concealed. For those of you who aren’t uncomfortable, enroll in a concealed carry class if for no other reason than because you can. Take your time, think it through, no need to be in too much of a hurry, the ability to carry concealed is the law of the land, it's here and it's likely here to stay.