Maverick9
Regular Member
It occurred to me that one can limit one's options and fail to see a solution to some OC issues that is right out in the open.
There are some times where, perhaps in a crowd, in a store where you might be bent over your shopping cart, that you are more concerned than other times about retention or being profiled. If you are in an area where you might be concerned about a BG seeing you are armed, then don't look at using a jacket or a coat as anything but a retention barrier. In a store where you are carrying at 4:00 on the belt, bent over a cart, you might have concerns, but just having a jacket on prevents access to your belt and holster.
Is it possible that being so opposed to the command to 'cover it up' that an OC-er might be missing the opportunity to use a light covering garment as retention, as a strategy, as a method?
Now it's true that if you lack a 'permit' in some places you are not allowed to conceal your firearm. So to that extent you don't have this option. Many OC-ers are averse to being 'on a record' somewhere due to the permitting process. For them, they have no choice but to carry a fully exposed firearm. I have no idea how many OC-ers are without permit.
The converse is also true. In Va, we have the option known as the Va Tuck, where one might normally carry concealed with permit, but tuck the shirt or jacket behind the handle to allow quick access when that is anticipated.
Anyway, just sharing a thought - don't be limited by others' prejudices or by an idealism if you don't want to be.
There are some times where, perhaps in a crowd, in a store where you might be bent over your shopping cart, that you are more concerned than other times about retention or being profiled. If you are in an area where you might be concerned about a BG seeing you are armed, then don't look at using a jacket or a coat as anything but a retention barrier. In a store where you are carrying at 4:00 on the belt, bent over a cart, you might have concerns, but just having a jacket on prevents access to your belt and holster.
Is it possible that being so opposed to the command to 'cover it up' that an OC-er might be missing the opportunity to use a light covering garment as retention, as a strategy, as a method?
Now it's true that if you lack a 'permit' in some places you are not allowed to conceal your firearm. So to that extent you don't have this option. Many OC-ers are averse to being 'on a record' somewhere due to the permitting process. For them, they have no choice but to carry a fully exposed firearm. I have no idea how many OC-ers are without permit.
The converse is also true. In Va, we have the option known as the Va Tuck, where one might normally carry concealed with permit, but tuck the shirt or jacket behind the handle to allow quick access when that is anticipated.
Anyway, just sharing a thought - don't be limited by others' prejudices or by an idealism if you don't want to be.