This past weekend I assisted with a Beyond the Basics: Handgun class. This is an intermediate class, and while you didn’t NEED to have a concealed handgun license (CHL) as a prerequisite, certainly some students come that way. Before class begins, we need to ensure everyone is properly outfitted, so if you have gun on you, unload it (so we can do dry-fire drills); if you don’t have a gun on you, get a holster on and put your unloaded gun in it. So to make this happen, we intercept people at the parking lot, take them to the range and get them prepped.
Decided this time to approach things differently, opening with the question: “Do you have a CHL?”
Certainly, some people said no and we went about things as normal.
For those that did have a CHL? the follow-up question was, “so you have your gun on you, right?”
We were met with more than a few “no”, which I followed-up with a disapproving look and “Why not?”
Reasons were numerous. Some people misunderstood policy, so here’s an excerpt of KR Training policy:
In the Parking Lot Before Class
You should arrive with your guns unloaded, stored in a case or a bag.
“Unloaded” means no ammunition anywhere in the gun. Magazine out, chamber empty, hammer down.
Do NOT carry a gun uncased from the parking lot to the classroom or range.
If you have a CHL and you arrive wearing a loaded handgun, leave the gun holstered until directed to unholster by an instructor.
If you were not wearing your carry gun when you drove through our front gate, do NOT put it on and load it in the parking area.
Put it in a case or bag or in your holster and bring it to the classroom unloaded.
So, if you have a CHL and are wearing your gun, that’s not a problem. Just leave it in the holster until we tell you otherwise.
One person arrived carrying, but because he knew he was going to a class, he had loaded up at home with practice ammo. That’s not good. You should continue to carry your “social ammo” at all times. You will be given an opportunity to switch from social to practice ammo before things begin (and if you’re in doubt or we forget, you’re always welcome to ask or speak up).
But the bottom line is this: if you have a CHL, why aren’t you carrying?
The implication there is ALWAYS carrying.
You cannot know when the flag is going to fly. If you are so fortunate as to be able to know or predict that, then you should take the preferred course of action and avoid the situation entirely. But since I’m unable to predict when evil people will do bad things against me, I just have to be prepared — always. YMMV.
To paraphrase Tom Givens, carry your damn gun, people!
Stuff From Hsoi 
I just wish it were that simple.
It’s easy enough if you work at a place that lets your carry or has a don’t ask don’t tell.
When you work someplace that is verboten, then you’re forced to accept that, or break the law and jeopardize your career. It’s a tough choice, I hope that most people never have to make it.
Things can and do happen any and everywhere, it’s a fact of life. It’s unfortunate that not everyone is okay with you being able to protect yourself effectively. Or that our rights as citizens are being impeded by legislation and legislators.
-Rob
And of course, that’s one reason we need to work to improve legislation.
I should say, I grant that it’s not always possible to carry. I had to go to the post office the other day and well…. couldn’t carry. But the point I’m making is, there are many people that CAN carry but don’t. Why not? Why did you get a CHL, now you can carry, but are not? If you’re forced for some reason, that’s one thing…. but by choice? That’s another.
It isn’t always practical Hsoi. I work on cars. I carry a lot of tools around with me at work. If I need to defend myself at work it will be Hammer Time.
Sure, I’ll be worse off than if I could whip out the Glock but I’ve got to make a living and the holster would get in the way too much.
Now, if I worked at the liquor store down the street I’d open carry, wear a Kevlar vest and have a dog in the shop with me. But that wouldn’t get in the way of business.
Really, it is the same reason you and I don’t carry our AR15s all the time. It really is that unlikely that you’ll step into that much trouble.
While it may be unlikely we’ll step into that much trouble, that’s the whole point of carrying: that we acknowledge trouble can happen to anyone anywhere.
Why does Tom Givens think the way he does? He’d had some 50+ students involved in self-defense incidents. All but 2 lived. The two that died? They didn’t have their gun on them. That man had good reason to preach as he does.
I understand the issue you run into. Wearing a gun all the time is not convenient nor comfortable. But it’s not supposed to be. So could it be argued in your situation that you could go for another solution? Maybe a microgun like a Kel-Tec or LCP? snub revolver? And worn in alternative locations? Hard to say, I’m not in your shoes. Just thinking aloud. But the question could be, if the flag did fly there at work, would you find yourself wishing you had your Glock?
Yes, I’d wish I had my Glock, MAC90, Kevlar vest, and three of my similarly equipped buddies.
I have been considering a more compact gun, but it isn’t in the budget now.
We can hound and hound, but in the end, it is still up to the CHL holder whether to carry or not, like cops and their body armor. There are lots of statistics and actual shootings where body armor saved a cop’s life, but many still choose to not wear it. You can provide numbers and statistics all you want for carrying, but they will still find a way out of carrying. Carrying is a lifestyle change, and until they are willing to make that change, they won’t carry. It’ll just be more excuses.
I’ve got 7 cadets in my Academy class with a CHL, and only one carries on a day to day basis – a combat vet who got back from Iraq at the end of last year.
Granted, there are honest cases where you can’t carry (i.e. illegal) or it is far too impractical to carry. However, simply saying “If you wanted to carry bad enough there are always ways to carry” is a BS statement. If I’m an electrician, I wouldn’t want a gun on me when I’m working.
Again, I grant there are times and situations where you just can’t carry. But since we cannot choose nor know when the flag is going to fly, well… it’s a risk that you choose to take.
It’s your life, gamble with it as you wish. I guess I just don’t want the last thought to go through my head to be “damnit… why didn’t I wear my gun today?” or some similar sort of preventable regret.
Two thoughts when I read this.
Once I was pulled over for a traffic issue and gave the cop my CHL. He asked “Are you carrying right now?”
Me: “No, sir.”
Officer: “Not going to do you much good then is it?” 🙂
Second is part of this is a user interface problem with the policy page. Putting “You should arrive with your guns unloaded, stored in a case or a bag.” first says they really don’t want you to be carrying. Even if you normally do, you will be more likely to unload it. Could put the CHL line first or highlight it if it were more important.
One: See? 🙂 That’s the thing… if you got it, why aren’t you using it? Granted again, there are times when we law-abiding citizens must disarm ourselves (and that’s a whole other discussion). But apart from that, if you can, why aren’t you?
I mean, I just drove from Texas to Louisana to Mississippi to Alabama to Tennessee to Georgia (and could have included the tip of North Carolina if I wanted to). And I carried the whole time. And I’m glad I did. That’s something I’ll blog on later in the week.
Second: that’s something you’ll have to talk to Karl about (his school, his policy), but you raise a good point.