5 Common Concealed Carry Myths Debunked

 There is an old saying that I love, “Opinions are like buttholes - everybody has one and they all stink.”  It’s true.  I have an opinion on most things just like everyone else – and there’s nothing wrong with that.  The problem is not that people have opinions; the problem is that some people try to force their opinions upon other people by packaging them as a fact.  I find this to be especially true when it comes to people giving advice to self-proclaimed “newbies” in the gun and concealed-carry subculture.

     I am a part of numerous gun and self-defense Internet forums, and for the most part, they’re great communities of like-minded people sharing real-life experiences.  The forums can be great places to learn if you are new to guns.  Unfortunately, from time to time, you get someone that regurgitates information that he/she read somewhere, that was originally written as an opinion or theoretical piece.  Said person also tends to present that regurgitated information to people as fact.

Here are five concealed-carry myths that I have seen presented as factual information on different forums over the past week:

1. “It’s dangerous to carry a pistol with a round in the chamber if you are new to concealed carry.”

WHAT?!?!
Why carry a concealed weapon if it’s not going to be ready when you need it the most?  Most situations that would warrant your pistol being drawn, certainly won’t allow you the time to draw, rack the slide, point, and shoot.  If you have made the decision to carry a concealed weapon, it is your responsibility to learn how to safely carry that pistol concealed and loaded out it public.  Don’t carry until you are completely familiar and confident with your system (pistol, holster, gun belt etc.), but when you are, by all means, carry that pistol in a condition ready to save your life.

2.  "Carry guns should always have a manual safety."

     I don’t like manual safeties on my carry guns.  To me, it just represents one extra step that I need to take to get my pistol ready in a precarious situation.  Thank God, I have never had to draw my pistol (hopefully I never will); but if I ever was in a life or death situation, I wouldn’t want to worry about flipping a safety off with all that adrenaline flowing through my veins.
     
     All that being said, there is nothing wrong with manual safeties.  I feel more comfortable without a manual safety, some people feel more comfortable with one.  When it comes down to it, concealed carry is about being comfortable – both physically and mentally.  If a manual safety makes you feel more mentally comfortable when you carry, go for it.  Just make sure you train for it.  Meaning, you want to make sure that when you practice your draws from a holster, you will also need to practice flipping the safety off – it needs to be second nature.

3. “You should carry the smallest pistol possible.”

     There are a lot of very small, concealed-carry pistols on the market.  Most are comfortable to wear, and very easy to conceal, but a one-size-fits-all approach, like saying “smaller pistols are better for concealed carry,” isn’t necessarily true.  
     
     Physical and mental comfort is huge when it comes to carrying a concealed weapon, but they are not the only factors.  You also need to find a weapon that feels good in your hands, and you can shoot accurately.  For some people, a Kel Tec p32 (a tiny gun) is a great choice, for others (me included), it’s too small to grip properly and hard to aim and shoot.  Some people carry a full-sized 1911 (a very big pistol) everyday without a single problem.  I prefer something in between the two extremes, usually in the form of a Glock 19 or M&P 9c.
    
     Remember, the key is finding a gun that is easy for you to conceal, but also feels comfortable in your hands, and allows you to shoot quickly and accurately.

4. "People new to concealed carry should carry a revolver."

     Revolvers are great.  They are easy to operate, and most are very concealable and lightweight.  But again, a blanket statement like this one is an example of bias and even a bit of condescension.  Let’s face it, operating a semi-automatic pistol is not rocket science, and should not be treated as such when talking to people new to guns.  With just a little bit of good instruction, anyone could safely operate and carry a semi-automatic pistol.  While revolvers do have the advantage of being simpler to operate, semi-automatics typically carry more rounds and are able to be reloaded faster because of the magazine system.

     Again, carry and shoot what feels comfortable.  Whatever gun you shoot comfortably and consistently is going to better serve you when it counts.

5.  “___________________ mm/caliber is better than ___________________ mm/caliber.”

     Like with anything else, each caliber is going to have pros and cons.  The 9X19mm doesn’t have the stopping power and energy transfer that the .45 does; but most 9mm pistols hold twice the number of rounds as a comparable sized .45 ACP.  There are obvious trade-offs; you need to find a balance that works for you.

     Again, this comes down to comfort and confidence.  What caliber are you confident carrying to one day save your life?  I own and carry 9X19mm and .45 ACP.  Am I any better protected than someone who carries a .40 caliber pistol or even a .38 Special revolver?  No!   The truth is, with the modern self-defense ammo on the shelves today, I would feel comfortable carrying anything bigger than a .380.  Caliber doesn’t mean anything without good shot placement, so buy ammo (if you can find it), and practice, practice, and practice some more.

       These are just five myths out of hundreds that can be found buried in advice given to people on the Internet forums.  Next time you are patrolling the online gun communities, pay attention to some of the advice you see being thrown around there – you may be surprised at what you see.