I bring this up to emphasize how important gun safety is to understand and to practice it ALL THE TIME!
This is a tragedy and please keep cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ family in your prayers.
I feel like this is a good time to re evaluate my (and perhaps) your mindset. I believe this is at the core of making the decision to carry a firearm for self protection.
Are you mentally and emotionally prepared to pull the trigger if your life is threatened or another?
Don’t brush over this decision without some soul searching. If it’s not for you, you should know that (and if that’s you, it’s completely fine! No judgement here!).
Now would be the opportunity to chose another means for self defense (check out my Damsel in Defense site)
So, if you’re on board with the mental and emotional aspects of this decision and you carry, do you also carry some sort of shooters’ insurance?
This is basically insurance to help with the legal ramifications and legal assistance (this is another blog story to write).
If you don’t know about this type of insurance, now is a good time to study up on why and how it can help you should you ever have to draw your firearm.
find some time to explore (or re visit) your reasons for carrying self defense tools, whether it’s non-lethal or lethal.
Given our current social intolerance in culture, rise in crime rates, and the decline of consequences for breaking the law; one’s likelihood of an encounter some sort of scenario is, unfortunately, on the rise.
It’s my goal at Incognito Wear IX, to make protecting your life a little easier by providing clothing that’s fashionable and functional.
How? By style design that minimizes printing. Knowing you have these staples in your wardrobe saves you time in dressing, and getting out the door, so you are able to protect yourself and others.
Not only do you have a “Go-To” garment anytime you desire to carry, my clothes can save precious time (on your draw) by allowing you to discreetly grip and access your firearm.
Don’t leave home without it, and you’ll never be a victim because of style.
Traveling with a pistol / firearm; “learn from my mistakes” #106
I Just got frisked…Went into a restricted area with my gun. Oh No! Bells, whistles, security alerts. People looking, taking out their phones – OMG! Talk about embarrassment!
Air travel with a firearm
How to avoid this mistake when flying with a weapon
Maybe this is why you never traveled (before) with a firearm. You don’t want to be that person… in the center of chaos at the airport.
So, you do your research: you checked not only TSA (https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition) website but also that of your specific airline carriers’ website to make sure of their specific guidelines for traveling with a firearm. You verify the gun laws and concealed carry laws for any state you will visit (and stay in) and if your final destination has reciprocity with your weapon permit.
Bigger is better… when you’re traveling with a firearm because you are required to have a hard lockable case for your unloaded firearmwithin your checked baggage.
A bigger bag also means the likelihood of someone over packing.
Click here to download our Checklist for traveling with a gun.
You’ll need to take your luggage with you to one of the inside check in counters to declare you’re traveling with a firearm. Remember, this may be your first time to travel with your weapon but not for the agents helping you.
Ammunition can be transported in the same hard shell case as the firearm, but the gun must be unloaded.
After you inform the agent you will be flying with a gun, expect a small Q&A session about your firearm and how its stored. They’ll ask you to fill out a short form and show ID. You’ll receive an orange card to place in the case like below:
Place orange card inside lockable case
With most airlines, you will then carry your luggage to the large / oversized luggage station. You may be asked questions here too. There’s no reason anyone should ask for your keys to unlock the firearm case. You, as owner should maintain the keys and no one else.
Now that your luggage is in the hands of the airline, you can continue on to your own screening and gate to board for your final destination.
Perhaps, this is a little UN-nerving the first time but download our checklist guide to help ease the tension next time you plan a trip.
Safe Travels!
Stay tuned for tips about traveling cross country and our highways.
What to do when duty calls and you’re carrying concealed ?
A gun and a stall…
Forging ahead with this topic because I feel like it’s one,
we all wish someone would ask and talk about it but we don’t want to be the one to ask– how to use public facilities (restrooms)
when concealing a firearm (on body). I believe this to be particularly more changing
for women then men. Let’s face it, it’s pretty obvious, right?
Here’s some insight for you men understanding why women usually go to public restrooms in pairs or a group. It’s not because we’ll get lost or need help, it allows us more time to talk; continue the discourse, making it less uncomfortable staring at strangers in line, or perhaps occupying your mind until its your turn to go.
Let’s imagine there is a waiting line for the bathrooms and you are concealing a firearm around your waist. You can’t ask your friend to hold your gun, and take it off and freak everyone out in the bathroom because of their feelings about firearms. That would be like yelling “fire”. Not cool!
So, the question is how do you handle this obstacle? What’s the best way to manage a gun in a stall?
First, take your time getting into position. Slowly and carefully, holding the firearm grip with one hand, if possible, as you lower your drawers.
.Depending on the space between the floor and the bottom of the partition wall, you may want to keep your pants close to knee height. We assume you are leaving your gear attached to your pants vs removing gun and holster.
Once you’ve lowered your pants, you could buckle the belt back and or press knees apart to keep the waistband taunt and carefully arrange gun, keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction.
Obstacles of concealed carry and using public restrooms.
Bear in mind, as you carefully maneuver your pants and
firearm in the privacy of your stall, its likely the firearm will flip or point
at you. This breaks one of the critical laws of gun safety so take your time.
This is challenging whether you have a double clip on your holster or a single clip. Do you unhook one side of the holster and leave the other side connected? Depending on your carry location, you may have other experiences.
I find appendix carry easiest to conceal and most comfortable for me.
If you remove your firearm and holster completely, what do you do with it? First, let’s acknowledge that you’ve now surrendered your control over the firearm.
I don’t suggest balancing your firearm on toilet paper rolls or toilet paper holder. This is a risk. What if your neighbor slams the stall door next to you?
Balanced on toilet paper
Never try to catch a falling gun!
Might there be room to place your firearm behind the toilet
near the plumbing? While our skin may crawl with this very concept, it would be
just as easy to leave it behind for the next customer of the restroom stall.
Let’s say there’s a shelf behind the toilet. This is a great place to put your weapon… BUT – you don’t have control over it and
what if …you’re in a hurry and forget it!! Not really a good idea after
all.
It’s too easy to leave your firearm behind if you placed it on this shelf.
Another option would be to place it on the floor, but chances are others
could see it. If you have to use this option, go to the corner stall so
you only have to worry about one open side where prying eyes could see.
What is a better idea is to go to the “family” bathroom if there’s
one. This is typically floor to ceiling walls and a lockable door so it’s just
you and your firearm in the stall. Much like being at home.
Because of these obstacles, I’ve learned to take my purse, no matter the requests to “watch it” while I excuse myself (for the bathroom).
I insist on taking my purse to the public restroom with me. This is one advantage ladies do have!
If there’s not a coat hook in your public bathroom stall, chances are your purse will cover and hide your firearm and holster from spying eyes. Again, depending on the space from floor to the bottom of the stall partition. Placing your firearm and holster in your purse is probably the safest place if you remove them from your pants.
Safest to place firearm and holster in your purse while using public restrooms.
If you wanted to hold your purse while taking care of business, this is more easily accomplished as many handbags have long straps so you can “messenger” your purse across your body.
Concealed carry is a lifestyle change. “Taking care of business” in public restrooms can be awkward; but hopefully with planning ahead you can steer clear of any troubles.
And remember, if you’re a woman,to always carry your purse with you to the public facilities. If you’re male, maybe get a man-bag.:)
You choose to carry for your safety and protection. Have you thought about self-defense insurance to protect yourself from legal ramifications? Check out USCCA Defense Shield– Providers of self-defense and legal protection for responsibly armed Americans.
It’s been awhile since we spoke. I know this is a very busy time with baseball, gardening, garage sales, weddings and graduations to plan and attend. Have you made a plan of how you will carry? And what you will wear?
What, if any, restrictions on guns are there for the venues for such special events that you will be attending? I am thankful to have been able to attend my own daughter’s graduation this last week. Here is a resource to verify statereciprocity laws.
crowds
As I write this thinking of celebratory events and happy times to look forward to, the news breaks in with an overwhelming sobering thought of just how short life is. At an event in the UK – Ariana Grande concert, the unthinkable happened… again. My heart goes out to those whose lives have instantly been turned inside out & upside down and many stricken with grief and sadness.
While it is tragic, it is a call to action and to train. This is why we learn how to shoot; why we concealed carry. It is a reason for starting Incognito Wear IX – so that you don’t have an excuse to not be armed. That is “not having anything to wear” and to be able to conceal a weapon-with the assumption that it is permitted by law.
So, what kind of clothing do you want to wear with your firearm?
We want your input! Here are some of our newest designs. Please let us know what you want, what you would like us to make. These Ready to Wear fashion clothes have a hidden access to your firearm and allow for a singular hand draw.
A – Trinity Aztec print
B – Cris Cross 1 pc jersey, cross body draw with one hand
C – Weekender lightweight Aztec print
Let us know what you like, or don’t like. Tell us about your clothing needs so we can keep you armed. We are waiting to hear your thoughts and your input on what to manufacture (selection(s) A, B, C) & sizes (S/M/L or numerical). Email Jan!
