Here’s a perfect example of doing it wrong:
, Video of Karen at a No Kings Protest
Notice a few things. First, it’s extremely open. Second, she’s not carrying it for protection or self-defense- she’s counter-protesting, trying to disrupt the crowd. She’s surrounded, with multiple people in close. Third, the firearm here is her talisman- notice how she grabs for it when she evidently loses an argument or gets frustrated? Either way, her “obey me I’m armed!” Karen becomes a lethal threat to everyone around her, because she’s an idiot trying to introduce a firearm to an argument. Hence the swarm-and-drop, for which she’s lucky…what if she clears Kydex? If you’re carrying, do you draw on her when she draws to (presumably) light people up for disagreement?
Fourth, this is a classic example of carrying “at” someone- the pistol is a fashion statement intended as a threat and a declaration, not a serious tool. Retention, access and even possession are all horribly ignored here- if this were a rowdy crowd, it’s very easy to see her holster simply getting ripped away, gun and all.
Without stoking political tensions, this is exactly what those last few threads should have been more about. There is absolutely a legitimate reason to carry at a protest or in public, especially in a world where Karens and Keiths are taking their Magic Speaking Rock Sigs into protests to make themselves heard or just trying to crowd-surf their F-350s. But doing it with larger guns, visibly, etc very rapidly puts you on the side of **someone**…be it a self-appointed “guardian”, the cops, counter-protesters, etc. That’s usually a silly thing to do.
In this case, it immediately identifies Karen as a threat to pretty much everyone because she’s got gun-touchy hands, a visible weapon, agitation and strong Karen vibes. No bueno. When we see people bragging about carrying semi-concealed or openly, remember, attitude and your choices matter way more than ammo capacity, caliber or any hardware.
IMO, these are the perfect times for a concealed IWB 1911, revolver or similar that you can hide readily in a good, well-retained holster and more importantly avoid being swarmed or boxed in…and not touch unless absolutely necessary.
, Video of Karen at a No Kings Protest
Notice a few things. First, it’s extremely open. Second, she’s not carrying it for protection or self-defense- she’s counter-protesting, trying to disrupt the crowd. She’s surrounded, with multiple people in close. Third, the firearm here is her talisman- notice how she grabs for it when she evidently loses an argument or gets frustrated? Either way, her “obey me I’m armed!” Karen becomes a lethal threat to everyone around her, because she’s an idiot trying to introduce a firearm to an argument. Hence the swarm-and-drop, for which she’s lucky…what if she clears Kydex? If you’re carrying, do you draw on her when she draws to (presumably) light people up for disagreement?
Fourth, this is a classic example of carrying “at” someone- the pistol is a fashion statement intended as a threat and a declaration, not a serious tool. Retention, access and even possession are all horribly ignored here- if this were a rowdy crowd, it’s very easy to see her holster simply getting ripped away, gun and all.
Without stoking political tensions, this is exactly what those last few threads should have been more about. There is absolutely a legitimate reason to carry at a protest or in public, especially in a world where Karens and Keiths are taking their Magic Speaking Rock Sigs into protests to make themselves heard or just trying to crowd-surf their F-350s. But doing it with larger guns, visibly, etc very rapidly puts you on the side of **someone**…be it a self-appointed “guardian”, the cops, counter-protesters, etc. That’s usually a silly thing to do.
In this case, it immediately identifies Karen as a threat to pretty much everyone because she’s got gun-touchy hands, a visible weapon, agitation and strong Karen vibes. No bueno. When we see people bragging about carrying semi-concealed or openly, remember, attitude and your choices matter way more than ammo capacity, caliber or any hardware.
IMO, these are the perfect times for a concealed IWB 1911, revolver or similar that you can hide readily in a good, well-retained holster and more importantly avoid being swarmed or boxed in…and not touch unless absolutely necessary.
