If you’ve taken any personal defense training, read articles, or watched videos offering concealed carry tips, you’ve likely heard the following at some point: “Try to always keep your dominant hand free in case you need to draw your firearm.” For the sake of writing this clearly, I will use the right hand as the dominant hand here (sorry for all you lefties, but I’m sure you are used to it).
This may mean that if you hold a child’s or significant other’s hand, you should always ensure they’re on your left side. For the gentlemen reading this, depending on which direction you’re walking, this may go against what some of you were taught as common courtesy…walking on the side nearest the street.
Also, if you are carrying packages, bags, books, etc., you should have them in your non-dominant hand or slung on that shoulder.
Now, let’s add a phone to the scenario while you are carrying something in your left hand (because you ALWAYS keep your dominant hand free). Now, both hands are occupied. How will you react when the bad guy shows up?
Do you have the mindset to drop whatever may be in your hand(s) to get to your firearm? How will that affect your OODA Loop?
I can think back to when I was in my late teens and carrying a stack of books down the stairs from my bedroom. I tripped at the top and fell down about 12 stairs…while never dropping the books. Had I done so, I may have had a free hand to stop my chin from going through the wall at the bottom. I fear my brain may not register right away to drop what’s in my hand should I need to draw my gun. I need to change that.
I’ll practice that first through dry fire with an old phone I recently found in a file cabinet. Then I’ll head to the range, bring along some grocery bags with some cans in them, along with the phone, and practice incorporating some live fire.
Concealed carry isn’t just a choice, it’s a lifestyle. And part of that lifestyle is continually training with your firearm for various situations. However, circumstances can change. Just when you think you’re doing everything right, a threat can catch you off-guard. That’s why it’s crucial to think about potential situations you may encounter and consider how you’d handle them.
The moral of this storey: the body won’t go where the mind’s never been.
I recommend the Active Self Protection YouTube Channel if you’re looking for informative videos. Take it a step further and practice some of these scenarios with dry fire and, when possible, live fire. That’s a good way to instill a sense of security and confidence in your ability to defend yourself, whatever may happen.
interesting idea. im all for efficiency in concealed carry but it feels like we are nearing diminishing returns here. or unintended consequences. or risks outweigh advantages. i think the risk of my kids getting hit by a car is greater than getting shot. so im going to keep putting myself between them and traffic.
No one believes they will be a victim of a violent attacker…Until they are and if you are unprepared to defend yourself…It sucks to be you.
didnt say be unprepared to defend yourself. im carrying. when/if i need to draw and defend in a defensive situation i will. meanwhile im going to keep my kids as far from traffic as possible because, statistically speaking, they are far more likely to be killed by a motor vehicle.
“…statistically speaking, they are far more likely to be killed by a motor vehicle.”
A non-criminal person is more than 1,500 times more likely to be hit by a car, even as a pedestrian, than they are to be shot accidently or negligently by an armed (law abiding) citizen even if the armed citizen has to use the gun in self defense or defense of others in public areas or home no matter if permitless carry or not.
But in permitless carry areas only its a little over 1,600 more likely a non-criminal person would be hit by a car, even as a pedestrian, than they are to be shot accidently or negligently by an armed (law abiding) citizen even if the armed citizen has to use the gun in self defense or defense of others in public areas or home.
“I never thought it would happen to me!” thought briefly by every victim of a violent crime as they lay bleeding or raped or dying.
Seriously, this reminds me of the rabid anti-gun lady in our local area. She worked with national anti-gun groups, had even worked with Watts. People here locally had many encounters with her, she was well known and did everything she could to make gun owners as harassed as possible here locally. Lived and preached anti-gun. Her claim was also “its not going to happen, the odds are so low of happening that ya don’t need a gun, just call 911.” she would try to convince people of that not knowing some of those she was trying to convince of that had been victims of violent crimes and only survived because they had a gun to use to defend their selves.
Then one night, this anti-gun lady was attacked by several thugs. Almost killed her, doc told her one more blow to the head would have killed her. Anyway, it just so happened that a local gun owner, carries EDC, made a wrong turn and as he passed down the street he saw her being attacked and came to her aid and used his firearm to defend her against these thugs. She woke up in the hospital a few days later, her last memory before passing out was a stranger firing his gun at the thugs.
Her first stop out of the hospital was a local gun store where she walked in, still with bandages on, and said she wanted to buy guns and ammo and accessories. The folks in the gun store stared at her shocked, were silent, they all knew who she was, had past harassment from her and encounters with her, they knew how rabidly anti-gun she was, and it shocked them into silence when now here she is wanting to buy guns. But, the staff helped her anyway. She bought a few different guns that day, an AR among them, ammo, accessories. Everyone in our local gun community had heard what happened to her, and were glad some of those thugs were dead and the rest now arrested as they had been a problem in the area.
While buying guns she asked where she could get the type of training that would, basically, help her kill bad guys if she were ever victimized by their violence again. She was directed to a local range where classes were taught by an retired navy seal (the range owner) and his volunteer group of active duty and retired special forces and police officers who teach a tactical defense course. Its the same place I got my training from and you will learn how to engage and overcome and defeat the bad guys. Even they were shocked when she showed up, but, they entered her in a class anyway and trained her.
Today, she is a staunch supporter of the second amendment and has 80’ish guns in her collection, AR and AK platforms too. Never goes anywhere not armed. It took a dose of reality to knock that made up anti-gun agenda out of her, it took a dose of reality to knock that “it can’t happen to me” fantasy out of her.
She teaches classes sometimes at a local range. Turns out shes a great cook too with a flair for deserts, she shows up at the range and brings food for our weekly group gathering.
very well written post 40! people should definitely carry every day! never disputed that. simply dont agree with the recommendation to put kids closer to vehicle traffic just because it may keep the dominate hand free. no one is disputing the need to carry. yet we can all agree getting shot is less likely than hit by a car.
A classic example of overthinking it.
yep. would also be easier to draw in car without a seatbelt. lets not forget there are other dangers in life than getting shot at.
Bad things can happen any time and any where. The anti-gun crowd constantly preach “call 911”. Is that “call 911” before the bad guy rapes, robs or beats you? Or is it “call 911” after the bad guys rape, rob or beats you? Either way is evidence that a person with only a cellphone is ill prepared to protect their self. The bad guy(s) are not going to hold up while you “call 911”. “Calling 911” after the rape, robbery or beating is a call for help with the injuries and does nothing to prevent the crime you just suffered. A cellphone is no defense and has no value after the crime is committed, if the bad guys take it along with your dignity, leaving you with mental scars for the rest of your life.
Grow up, face the facts of life and get prepared thus be prepared.
no one here is saying just call 911. cars can hit you too so please carry concealed, wear a seatbelt, and walk between traffic and your kids (even if the last two mean losing a few milliseconds on your hypothetical
draw). there are multiple risks in life.
@ fppf: I was talking about the ‘anti-gun’ crowd and not about anyone here including you.
Note: ” The anti-gun crowd constantly preach “call 911”.”
The overall point/lesson is to think it through. You may well be practicing something that could backfire. I, for instance, carry my cell phone and wallet left side. IWB on right. Truck gun on right. Fortunately, I’m about 60/40 ambi. This keeps my preferred gun hand free and tools available. I use the cell with the left hand. Practice makes it comfortable.
indeed. think it through. good advice, too often ignored.
I imagine the author will be a big hit at the range with her grocery bags filled with (soup) cans! 🙂
Seriously, she makes a good point. It reminds me of the advice to not instinctively try to catch something you drop (like an open knife).