In our previous post, we discussed 10 Do’s and Don’ts of Concealed Carry to ensure you’re doing the things you should when you carry a concealed firearm, as well as helping you understand the things you should avoid. However, knowledge is crucial when you carry so, in this article, we’ll take a deeper dive into some additional helpful tips you may not have considered.

Do: Practice and Experiment In a Safe, Private Area and Carry in Your House for a Few Days Before Going Out in Public 

Practice walking, running, bending, sitting, and laying to ensure you can draw the firearm from all of these different positions. Verify the gun is unloaded, and live ammo is not near or in the gun. 

Use this time to get used to the gun’s feel, the weight of the firearm, etc. You will have to find new or creative ways of doing routine everyday tasks. An example is if you are carrying a Glock 17 in an AIWB holster with a sidecar for an extra mag and you can’t touch your toes, how will you tie your shoes if the laces come undone?

Do: Tell the Police Officer Who Pulled You Over

A little bit of honesty goes a long way when dealing with a police officer. The smartest thing to do is be forthright in disclosing that you have a loaded gun on your person. Whether or not your state has mandated you disclose this to the police, it is best to inform the officer before they unknowingly find it. The safest way to let them know that you are carrying is to simultaneously hand over your driver’s license, registration, and carry permit. The officer will appreciate your honesty and may even let you off with a warning for your other violation. To make sure things go smooth, try to keep your hands in view during your entire interaction with them. 

Do: Get Concealed Carry Insurance

Today, gun owners are subject to much public scrutiny. As a result, you may consider insurance and wondering if concealed carry insurance is worth it. Concealed carry insurance is worth the investment to protect your livelihood and assets if you own a firearm for personal protection.

Do: Train and Take Classes From Licensed, Reputable Instructors

Simplyt because you met the minimum requirements for a license, don’t think you’re now ready to navigate every situation you find yourself in. A responsible person who carries concealed is constantly learning, both mentally and physically.

Concealed carry is a lifestyle. Learn to shoot, shoot in a tactical/self-defense situation, learn to shoot from retention, learn trauma care—bottom line: never stop learning. You have chosen to carry a tool to potentially save your life and your loved ones’ lives. Standing still in a temperature-controlled, flat, stationary range, taking five seconds to shoot at a paper silhouette, is not sufficient.

Don’t: Perform Security Checks On Your Firearm

Many beginners perform “security checks” on their firearms while carrying them in public. Touching your holstered handgun can draw unwanted attention to your concealed firearm and should not be done.

If you feel you need to touch your firearm, you may want to re-evaluate your holster selection. Additionally, security checks convey a lack of confidence, comfort, or both.

If confidence is your problem, consider these tips:

• Carry an empty holstered firearm around your house
• Perform various activities with a model firearm to know the limits of your holster

Don’t: Escalate Conflicts

As a person licensed to carry a firearm, the power to destroy life resides in your hands. A conscientious person does whatever it takes to avoid using it if at all possible. Consequently, it is your responsibility not to get into fights over trivial matters. Traffic disputes, an errant clerk at the grocery store; these things are entirely fleeting, yet people resort to violence over them all the time.

Don’t Clean the Gun in an Unsafe Environment

The ideal place to clean your gun is at the range immediately after firing it. If that’s not an option, find a place with an optimal “safe direction” and always maintain and clean your gun in that place with the muzzle facing the safe direction.

Don’t: Buy a Poor Quality Holster

Holsters serve to make the firearm safe, secure, and within reach. These three things are of utmost importance, and trusting them to a foreign-made piece of junk isn’t a good idea. The wrong holster can feel uncomfortable and cumbersome. It can also make it more difficult to draw your firearm in a time of need.  

How is Clipdraw different?

A holster serves to provide ready access to your firearm in a situation where security and protection are needed. The Clipdraw is an alternative to traditional concealed carry holsters because it directly attaches to the pistol. You can easily install Clipdraw on Glocks, Springfield XDS, M&P Shield, Ruger LCP, Model 1911, Smith & Wesson J-Frame revolver, and other traditional handguns and revolvers. 

Get a Clipdraw Gun Clip today for your weapon of choice!