Carry one in the Chamber? If not, you could be setting yourself up for disaster!

 Have you ever put the seatbelt on during an accident?  Well, that would be the case of having a full magazine with no round in the chamber. 

How do you get used to carrying a firearm?  Well, for one, you can start by carrying one on you in the comfort of your own home, getting used to sitting, walking, using the restroom, etc.   Carry it on your person as if you were in public, careful not to bring attention to it by touching it all the time, adjusting your pants, etc.   Conceal it the best way you can, and find the right tools to do so by looking at comfortable, sturdy options, a leather-backed holster with Kydex formed to fit your firearm brings you all-day comfort.  I chose Crossbreed Holsters for my main concealed carry holster option.   I also use other types of holsters for how I dress. There are good options out there, but finding one for your needs is a task for you and you alone. I, nor anyone else can tell you what works best for you and eventually, you will have a drawer or closet full of holsters you won't wear again. 

Be sure that the belt you choose is sturdy and can not be pinched from top to bottom to fold, and as you hold both ends and bring them together, the loop does not droop down towards the floor.  The best way to know if your belt is strong enough to hold your gun and holster is to be sure it was made exactly for that. Most, if not all store-bought belts are not that strong.  Be sure it is bought from a holster company or one that manufactures everyday carry concealed carry belts. 

Once we realize (you realize) that the firearm's trigger guard is covered and knowing that the gun will not go "off" all on its own. We can start to train ourselves to draw from the holster choices we chose  (empty gun, empty magazine) to make certain we are training ourselves correctly, we can use a mirror and watch for your finger to stay above the trigger guard and not on the trigger. Once we can successfully complete this task, we can (you can) move on to carrying it loaded. 

I have students who tell me that they are pretty fast from concealment to first shot because they have practiced.   Remember the 21-foot rule:  From 21 feet from draw and place 2 rounds on the target, it takes an average of 1.5 seconds.   From the same 21 feet, an attacker can cover that same distance in the same 1.5 seconds.  Most tell me they are pretty fast usually when timed consistently, starting from about 4.5 seconds to 2 to 2.5 seconds from cold.  Not Bad, but NO!  You must be faster the time given at the distance you are being attacked from in a controlled environment with you being "ready".  Imagine, and I am not saying this to dissway you in any way.  Imagine being attacked at like half that distance not being ready or prepared.  Would you know how to handle that? So now, from half the distance, you are at a disadvantage by .75 seconds to respond with 2 rounds on your attacker on average. 

Even worse yet, you decide to not carry one in the chamber.  Let's say you will train and can carry none in the chamber, but you are only prepared for the longer distance of 21 feet or 7 yards, and your time is .78.  Great! Congratulations, you should play the lottery! Cut that distance in half, and you have half of that time .39 seconds. The problem is now according to FBI statistics that most shootings among civilians are 15 feet or less. 

Now, let's add having to rack the slide from concealment to the first 2 shots fired.  Times went from 6.7 to 5.5 seconds. Nowhere near the time needed at 7 yards, let alone the 5 yards and less issue. 

So, carrying concealed and with one in the chamber is the preferred method by most who are interested in surviving an attack, just like clicking your seatbelt before you start driving to avoid unnecessary risks. 

Remember, your firearm will not "magically" go off in its holster with no way to press the trigger.