This is why I’ve never recommended off-body carry

Published February 13, 2014 by
Filed under Carry, CCW, Clothing, Equipment, Self Defense

I was a professional advertising photographer for ten years, and to getting the shot meant I carried  a gadget bag full of expensive cameras on my shoulder in some pretty shady areas full of pretty shady people. That gadget bag drew attention to me and said to the criminal element “Look, here’s a bunch of expensive stuff you can fence quickly: STEAL IT!” 

And I never once considered carrying a self-defense weapon in my gadget bag: It’s what the crooks want, why would I just add to the stuff they get to steal by putting a weapon in there with my lights and lenses? 

Same with a purse: It’s what the crooks want and one of the things you want to defend, so keeping the means to defend yourself inside the thing you’re to defend. 

It’s like freezing your diet plan inside a tub of vanilla ice cream: You’re going to get into more trouble getting to it than you are using it. 

Video courtesy of Kathy Jackson, who recommends on-body carry, and so do I. 

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Comments

7 responses so far ↓

  • 1 ArmedAmigas // Feb 13, 2014 at 7:40 PM

    RT @TeamGunBlogger: This is why I’ve never recommended off-body carry: Because purse snatchers snatch purses. http://t.co/a15i1n6yVy

  • 2 Phil Wong // Feb 13, 2014 at 7:50 PM

    Phil Wong liked this on Facebook.

  • 3 This is why I’ve never recommended off-body carry | The Gun Feed // Feb 14, 2014 at 7:00 AM

    […] Go read this article… […]

  • 4 J.LARRY // Feb 14, 2014 at 8:01 AM

    So what do you recomend for the “full figured” ladies?

  • 5 KevinC // Feb 14, 2014 at 9:03 AM

    It’s a matter of personal taste, but I wanted to find out how women preferred to carry a gun on the body, so I asked them.
    The results surprised me, and they’d be what I’d use as a starting point.
    http://www.teamgunblogger.com/the-best-place-for-a-woman-to-carry-her-gun-is…/

  • 6 RP87 // Feb 14, 2014 at 1:03 PM

    I have to disagree to a certain extent. There ARE concealed carry bags out there that I both use personally and recommend to my customers everyday. I tell them that carrying in a purse is not the best bet but if you absolutely MUST then be smart about it. Cross body bags ONLY. Lockable pockets always. Never set it down and walk away, even if locked. Choose a bag with steel cable running through the strap to prevent slash and runs. Keep the bag on unless you HAVE to set it down. When I have to take mine of, say at a restaurant or something, I put the strap around the leg of my chair and put it firmly between my feet if there’s no room to keep it next to me. You can carry in a purse, you just have to be willing to be vigilant and smart about it. On body carry for women isn’t always an option unfortunately. I use a Roma gunleather concealed carry purse WITH steel cable, WITH lockable pocket, and cross body style. I like the bag alot, its stylish, safe, good quality leather, and pretty damn affordable comparatively.

  • 7 KevinC // Feb 14, 2014 at 8:44 PM

    Good points, and as I said in my last article on off-body carry, it can be done safely and effectively, but you have to get your hand and your gun quicker than with on-body carry. This works if you suspect an attack is coming, but criminals are DARN GOOD at not letting you know an attack is coming. 🙂