Michael Bane has a blog posting in which he dispels some myths gun folks have about guns and carrying.
I agree with most of his posting. Most of it.
You have to consider the real world aspects of carrying, like changing the way you dress. For the most part, I have not changed the way I dress. I have started to prefer cargo-shorts/pants over jeans because I’ve just got a lot of stuff to carry (e.g. that iPhone pushed it over the edge), but that’s about all. People just don’t have the money to go out and completely change their wardrobe, nor does anyone want to. Maybe because you can’t (e.g. business reasons) or just because damnit I like the clothing that I wear and the style that I have and don’t want to look like some tacti-cool mall ninja that has to wear 5.11 Tactical clothing now.
IWB carry… well, how about losing some weight? 🙂 Helps you carry, plus now you can actually move around better, which works into that whole “saving your life” thing. Not just an ability to run away or physically fight, but not having a heart attack in the middle of it too. 😉
Fanny packs? No one cares. They do not scream “gun” despite what some people think. I wore a fanny pack for many many years and never once thought gun, nor had anyone think that about me. The only thing they the tend to scream is lack of fashion sense. Same with vests.
So, for the most part I agree with Mr. Bane.
What I don’t agree with is the attitude. Not Mr. Bane’s attitude because he’s just telling it like it is. But that’s the rub: should this be how it is? The cliché is: a gun should be comforting, not comfortable. The attitude painted by Mr. Bane is one where we want to get the gun to conform 100% to me, not us to the gun. I’ll admit, there’s actually a balance to be had: if it’s way too cumbersome and uncomfortable, you won’t do it, but will you be able to achieve 100% comfort? Probably not. Doesn’t mean it’s not a worthwhile goal, but you may have to accept some discomfort in some areas for greater comfort in other areas. If this does mean you have to change a few things, then be willing to change them. If as you go along you find yourself wishing something could be better, find out how to make it better (e.g. that’s why I dumped jeans in favor of cargo pants). Most of all, be willing to change your own attitude towards your personal safety.
In the end, it is all about balance. To forego carrying because of mild discomfort well… Breda said it best:
Just remember to always carry the best tool for the job – it’s a lighter burden than regret.
Stuff From Hsoi 
I disagree on the fanny pack and vest. Anytime I see someone wearing one in public, I think it immediately screams, GUN!!! The difference is, I don’t care. Because if you’re wearing a 5.11 tac vest, or a big ‘ole honkin’ fanny pack and carrying a gun, chances are you’re doing so legally. I don’t see many gang bangers wearing 5.11 vests, so I’m not really concerned about it.
-Rob
I agree.
I saw a guy rockin’ his vest at the local sporting goods store the other day, and I immediately thought he was a CHL holder, though he might have been a fisherman. LOL.
So Rob, when you see those granola-eating hippies with their hemp rainbow fanny packs down on The Drag, you think gun? 🙂
Guys, we might think that because we’re tuned into such things. We’re aware of what a vest can do, we’re aware of what a fanny pack can hold. The vast majority of folks out there (read: sheep) have no idea. Like I said, I wore a fanny pack for years and never once did anyone think “gun” about it, that I know. I certainly asked folks, after I became aware of using a fanny pack as a holster, and never did it occur to the folks I asked.
So the difference is: to gun folk, those things could say “gun”. To the sheep? It just says bad fashion sense.
Still, Rob has a good point: in the end, it’s just a good sign. 🙂