Carrying a Concealed Firearm. What's Your Plan?

Gregg Kielma an FFL, Firearms Instructor, First Aid Instructor and Gunsmith says this about carrying a firearm for concealed protection. 

I have two firearms that I carry on my body no matter the time of year, weather condition, or for personal comfort. I carry the most reliable firearm I’ve owned for the past 30 years, the exact same gun, a Glock 19 Gen3. Never once in 25K rounds run through this firearm has it ever jammed or misfired. Never.

My choice of carry is the same for a holster (30 years), I use a pancake holster, mounted on my right hip. I do not change guns for any reason or from one manufacture to another. I practice and shoot the same gun I carry on a regular basis. It’s all about repetition and being comfortable with your firearm, how to draw it quickly and efficiently, and present the gun on target. I also carry my Glock .380 on my ankle. (I understand you need to wear pants or jeans,) it sometimes “hot”, however, I’m willing to sacrifice comfort for defending myself in a bad situation. (my Glock .380 10K rounds fired no jams or issues ever) People ask how can that be? I take care of my guns. They are cleaned regularly after every use, inspected and reassembled every time I use them. No exceptions, ever.

Please remember this, I carry both of my firearms loaded with one in chamber.  I also carry two full magazines on my belt, which gives me the opportunity to have 66 rounds at my disposal. Ok I get it, it only takes one round to neutralize the target, but remember one thing when making your plan, there could be possible several targets that need to be stopped. 

In my opinion humble opinion, I’m a devoted Glock firearm user. I recommend Glock to my customers every time I have the opportunity. My Glock’s have never failed me. I believe based on my experience this is the finest firearm manufactured. In all my years as a gunsmith I’ve only had one Glock run through my shop for repair due to malfunctions. I contacted Glock USA, and I was able to resolve the issue in my shop to my customers’ satisfaction.

“Unknown author”, I carry different concealed guns depending on climate, attire, and personal comfort. In shorts and sandals, I carry a pocket .380. In winter I carry a Shield in .40 and cover it with a vest. If I change clothes, I might carry a different .380 in a holster on the belt rather than swap the Shield over.

I want all 3 to shoot the same way when I pull them from the holster!

A pocket .380 has no safeties beyond the blade embedded in the trigger. The Shield has a thumb safety which is hard to engage or disengage (unlike a 1911 thumb safety). The Bersa has a decocker which disables the trigger. That one I carry with the decocker off, the hammer at half cock, and holstered (all 3 are holstered).

All three I can pull from the holster, aim, and pull the trigger. All three will fire with no other action. I don’t have to remember if this gun has the thumb safety or not. The actual trigger pulls vary somewhat, which is minor when this is, by definition, a SHTF situation.

When carrying a 1911, it’s not concealed. That I carry cocked, locked, and holstered (aka Condition One). Bullet in chamber, thumb safety on, hammer cocked, and holstered.