By Terry Hipp
Many states have implemented some type of personal protection legislation that allows a citizen who does not have a criminal record and passes certified training to carry a handgun for personal protection. While statistics show the chances of actually using a handgun for self defense remain incredibly low, many people find carrying one allows them to feel more secure. Inevitably, handgun permit holders must decide the best method to carry a handgun for defensive purposes. In order to determine this, let's examine the dynamics that surround self defense shootings.
Traditional carry systems for civilians interested in personal safety are long overdue for a change. Many of these systems are cumbersome and risky. They are designed primarily to hold weapons, not secure them from others. At the same time it is imperative people have the ability to quickly retrieve defensive weapons they need for any given situation, particularly under high stress. These principles have direct application to off-duty and plainclothes criminal justice professionals as well as civilians.
The holsters, fanny packs, briefcases, backpacks and clothing on the market today specifically designed and marketed for conceal/carry purposes have several major drawbacks.
For fanny packs, briefcases and backpacks: why not use all that empty space to organize other items I might need?
Lethal force is usually not the appropriate option in a confrontation with a potential assailant, yet that is what most of these items concentrate on; the gun. They all have some type of method to secure a handgun. But where are the holders for pepper spray, a flashlight, baton, impact instrument, stun-gun, handcuffs or a kubaton?
For fanny packs; a perception exists that someone with a fanny-pack is likely carrying a concealed weapon. Fanny packs are no longer chic in terms of fashion and popularity. So why would someone have a fanny pack except to carry a concealed weapon?
For belt systems and holsters: under high stress the body loses many of its fine and complex motor skills. Locating, un-holstering, aiming and firing a handgun require fine, complex motor skills. Many of today's holsters (and holders for other items like pepper spray) require the owner to unzip, tear away, unsnap, rotate, push down or some other combination of movements to retrieve their handgun and other defensive weapons.
For these reasons it seems clear that there is an arguable case for re-thinking how to carry a handgun and other defensive weapons.
Lesson in physics and body mechanics: The body works best in forward movement, not to the rear or sideways. The closer to the center of the body; the stronger your movements are going to be. The center of the body is where the wrists intersect when standing straight and letting the arms hang down in front of the body, crossing the wrists over each other, below or near the abdomen. This area is described as your center, and it is vital in understanding how it works in self defense tactics.
Holding and striking power is most effective when the center of the body is brought into play. For purposes of this discussion, we will concentrate on holding power. This principle is best demonstrated by holding a 10-pound weight in your hand at arms length - with your arm fully outstretched. Chances are good that your arm will grow weary very rapidly. Now hold the same weight near your center. It is much easier and more balanced holding the weight near your center (or waistline). Ergonomically then, it makes sense to involve the strongest part of the body, the center, for tasks involving carrying and holding. Additionally, carrying weapons in the waistline area allows quick location and retrieval of the weapon as opposed to pants pockets, a purse or bag, or the ankle area. This is one good reason that law enforcement personnel use waist belt systems to carry their duty gear.
In theory the risk of having your handgun or other defensive weapons taken from you drop significantly by carrying these items near the center of your body for one primary reason: if an adversary tried to grab your handgun from its holster on your waistline, you would naturally grab it as well in an attempt to hang on to it. You are better suited doing this by using your center as part of this defense.
However, these waistline/belt systems can get hung up or snagged on things when moving around or running. Additionally, a quick visual study of waistline belt systems reveals something interesting to a discerning eye. With a little practice, it is fairly easy for an adversary to remove a handgun from a holster, or take pepper spray from its holder. All the adversary needs is an understanding of how these holders work. In fact, all handcuffs, mace or pepper spray, batons, flashlights and the like are universally held in holders that either have an open-top, snap-top or Velcro-top. Although carrying weapons in this manner allows the owner quick weapon acquisition, they also allow the adversary quick removal of the same items.
We are faced with a double-edged sword here. Carrying a handgun or other defensive weapons using "waistline retention" allows a stronger defense - yet you remain vulnerable to these same items being removed quickly by an adversary. We need to look a little deeper.
© 2008 Terry Hipp
Terry Hipp is a career veteran of the Criminal Justice System. He serves as the CEO and Sr. Director of Training and Education at Assault Prevention LLC.
For more than 25 years, Assault Prevention has helped individuals, groups, and organizations proactively plan for successful mitigation of unexpected violence and emergencies-and as a result, bring about a sense of control to their daily lives.
Since 1980, Assault Prevention has educated the public about personal safety issues. Nearly 20 years ago, they expanded our services to include individual and group consultation and instruction, including personal safety, defense, and awareness training; corporate threat assessment of physical facilities, intellectual property, and key personnel; and presentation of local, national, and global trend research and analysis. They also offer specialized security.
Mr. Hipp may be contacted at http://assaultprevention.info/
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