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Rules For Concealed Carry
If you carry concealed, carry well concealed and carry concealed well.
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Rules For Concealed Carry
If you are looking at this site then you are more than likely looking for a concealed carry holster. That in turn means that you have reason to carry a pistol concealed from public view. There are many and varied reasons that you may choose to carry concealed. You may be a plain clothes law enforcement officer, a business person accustomed to carrying large sums of money or valuables or you may want to carry concealed for self defense purposes. Whatever the reason you choose to carry there are some things that you must take into consideration. Not the least of these is the mores and attitudes in the community in which you intend to carry.
In a previous article we discussed the importance of ensuring that your weapon is concealed and on your deportment if the weapon were to be discovered, whether by your intentional or accidental display of the weapon, so we will not go into that except to reiterate the importance of ensuring that your weapon is in fact concealed until the moment that you need to display it.
The next thing that you must consider is the purpose for carrying a concealed weapon. Why do you want to carry concealed? While it is true that you have a right to carry concealed, keep in mind the laws in the area where you intend to carry. Then keep in mind the purpose of carrying a handgun. Notwithstanding sporting purposes, the purpose of carrying a handgun is to have that handgun available should the need arise to inflict a degree of bodily harm to a person that renders that person incapable of rendering serious bodily harm to you. I know this sounds ugly but don't skirt the issue if you intend to carry. That is the purpose for carrying a handgun.
Thus, if you carry a concealed handgun you must be acutely aware that you may use that handgun only to prevent death or serious bodily harm to your or someone else. That does not mean that you can confront every ruffian in town and when that ruffian challenges you then you go to the gun. That means that if you find yourself in a situation in which your failure to resort to deadly force will result in someone dying or being severely injured then you might be justified in going to the gun.
Keep in mind here that the basis for deciding if the use of the gun is justified is the “reasonable man" theory. The reasonable man theory is generally defined as would a reasonable person, faced with the same situation, having the same information, have reacted in the same manner that you did at that particular time. For instance, if you are faced with a 6"6, 275 pound man running at you at full speed with an axe handle cocked as if ready to hit a home run while screaming that he is going to break your head, it is possible that no one would question that you are justified in going to the gun. Conversely is the same man is standing in your way on the sidewalk while holding the axe handle and tells you that if you don't get out of his way he will break your head, it might be a better idea to get out of his way. For all of you legal beagles out there, this is a for instance and not to be construed as hard, fast rules when considering whether to use a handgun.
Keep in mind also that the “reasonable man' theory is always decided afterwards, by people in the community where the use of the handgun occurred, in a controlled setting, by Monday morning quarterbacks. You, the person lawfully displaying the handgun, must be prepared to justify the use of the handgun to your peers or else find yourself treated as a criminal. Be judicious in when and how you present your handgun.
In order to be judicious in the use or display of your handgun you must be aware of certain things. Singularly, neither of these things may immediately justify your use or display of a handgun. In combination, your are more likely to be justified in displaying a handgun.
First, are you or someone in your immediate presence in danger of physical attack that could result in death or serious bodily harm? Not in danger of a future attack, but are you presently in danger of that attack.
Secondly, does the attacker have the present ability to carry out that attack? If the attacker says he is going to shoot you, while he is walking away, with both hands visible and empty, it might not be a good idea to shoot at that person. If on the other hand, the person says they are going to shoot you and immediately reaches under their shirt into the waistband area where you just saw a suspiciously gun shape bulge, you might be more readily able to justify resorting to the use of your gun.
Taking numbers one and two in combination, are you, or do you reasonably believe that you are; under dangerous attack and; does the attacker have the ability to carry out that attack.
Additionally, do you believe that the attacker has the ability to cause you physical harm. In other words, are you afraid that the attacker will kill or seriously harm you or someone else if you do not resort to the use of a handgun? It is amazing how many times I have investigated cases where the reason for use of force was self defense and the person who defended themselves refused to admit that they were in fear of being harmed by the attacker. If you do not fear that the attacker can harm you then you have no reason to use any type of force in defending yourself, mush less in resorting to the use or display of a handgun.
If you believe the person is bluffing, keep you gun concealed. If you believe you can handle the person, keep your gun concealed. If you reasonably believe you might be killed or injured in the attack then you might be justified in resorting to use of the handgun.
Again, in combination, you are under dangerous attack, the attacker has the ability to carry out the attack and you believe that the attack will result in death or serious bodily harm to you or someone else, then you might be justified in resorting to the use of the handgun.
Remember that there are many other variances that the reviewers of your incident might take into consideration. The size, gender and physical ability of the attacker and defender carry great weight. As a police officer I responded to many situations where other officers might have been justified to immediately resorting to the use of a higher degree of force, but due to my expertise and training, I was expected to be able to handle the situation with a lesser degree of force. True, there were times when that expectation was unfounded, but I had to be prepared to explain it. So will you. Whether the person wielding a gun is eight, eighteen or eighty, the gun has the same ability to kill you. But do they all have the same physical attributes and are the circumstances such that would cause you to immediately go to a gun?
Finally, is the situation such that you must resort to the use of the handgun or are there other options available? If the attack is upon your immediate person you may not have an option. But if, for instance, a person in a vehicle becomes enrages over a traffic maneuver you have performed and that persons invites you to the side of the road to discuss such issue, and you accept, be prepare to take a beating. If you are carrying a handgun you are expected to act in a mature manner. Accepting challenges to fight does not necessarily authorize you to resort to deadly force should you find yourself losing that fight. If you are going to the ATM at night and notice suspicious persons around the area, it would be unwise to decide to go ahead and use the ATM on the basis that you are armed and figure that you can handle whatever these ruffians have to dish out.
Don't let your handgun give you the big head. Be a wise gun handler. Remember that the Earp brothers were more apt to knock a guy over the head with their revolvers than they were to shoot. Remember also that the laws and view of the use of a gun were different in those days.
The use of a handgun is final. If you must use a handgun at least one life will be drastically altered. If you use the handgun when not justified, your life will be altered for the worst. Once you draw the handgun, it is visible. Re-holstering it does not negate the fact that it has been displayed. Once displayed, the chances of having to use the gun are enhanced if it does not cause the immediate retreat of the suspect.
If you find that you do have to resort to the use of the handgun, be prepared to have to justify the use of that handgun. That includes, in many jurisdictions, being prepared to be placed under arrest, to having your firearms confiscated and to having to seek legal assistance to extricate yourself from misconceptions regarding the use of your handgun.
If you carry concealed, carry well concealed and carry concealed well.
Ruben Chavira
Owner
El Guapo Holsters
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