Officers Need To Carry Their Firearms

I can remember going to a police training seminar on this exact subject, and thinking before I went "Is this really that important?" But I went anyway for the training, and after leaving was amazed by what I'd heard. In this article I'll try to convey some of the things I learned and try to convince you as well as to why it's so important to always carry your firearm off duty.

For obvious reasons, when things go bad we need our firearms now

As police officers we are never really off duty. But when we are out of uniform and find ourselves in a deadly situation, your firearm is the only friend you've got. If you didn't bring it with you, you better prey that the suspect decides to spare your life and others. Otherwise you will have to live (or die) with the consequences that you had a choice before hand to have possibly changed. Your failure to bring your weapon with you could have long term psychological effects if something really bad happened.

Imaging your out with your family and a gunman enters a store where you're at

No police officer ever wants to be in this situation, but it can and has happen. What do you do? As a police officer I know that I personally would not draw my weapon unless I had to. I would have to believe that the suspect or suspects were going to kill myself, my family or people in the store. If it appeared to me that once they got their money they would leave, I would not my draw my weapon and simply try to be a good witness.

But what if you find yourself in a situation where you believe a shooter was going to shoot, and you didn't have your weapon? Can you imagine the psychological aftermath that you would go through for the rest of your life if something happened to your children, knowing you "could" have done something to possibly change it? I'm not sure I could live with myself. Could you?

When we decide to not carry our firearms off duty, we become the herd

When you are the herd, you are no longer the protector; you are now at the will of the wolves. The wolves, who are the criminals for this analogy are only 3% of the herd. The protectors (you) are the other 3%. When you decide not to carry your firearm, you lessen that 3% of the good guys and are now at the mercy of the wolves, simply running with the herd. Where do you want to be?

We're only going to church, I don't need my firearm

I've been a victim of this myself. I've went to places several times thinking "nothing's going to happen." The problem is we don't know that. And in today's society with so many kids wanting to make names for themselves by killing people, a church almost seems like a perfect place for someone to go nuts in. Again, do you want to be the herd?

It's inconvenient wearing my firearm off duty

Again, I've been a victim, but not any longer. The answer is to find a concealment holster that's comfortable and convenient if you are in and out a lot. One that I recommend is the inside-the-pants-holster. It's a holster that allows the weapon to be carrying inside of your pants (to help with concealment), and hangs on the lip of your pants. There is also a pocket holster which is what I'm been using more often lately. I can simply put the weapon in my pocket and go. Another option is an ankle holster.

When using these holsters

Be sure your weapon is assessable - If your pants are too tight and you can't get your weapon out easily, then get a bigger pair of pants. Obviously it's important to get to your weapon quickly.

Be sure your weapon is concealed - I used to wear a regular paddle type holster for it's convenience. Just pop it on and go. You never had to worry about pants being tight, lose, etc. The problem was it would bulge out and make it obvious that I was carrying a gun forcing me to always wear very large shirts.

One last note on carrying your firearm off duty: Carrying your Police ID

Since you're carrying your firearm off duty, it's obviously important that you carry your police id as well in the event you have to identify yourself to the police. The problem is if something bad actually happened, and say for example the bad guy started ordering everyone's wallets, they would know you are a police officer. Our recommendation is to carry two wallets. One with your police id, and the other with your regular information (money, credit cards, pictures, etc.). This way you at least have a chance to hand that over instead of your police id.

Conclusion

Don't become the herd. Bad things happen every day. Just because you don't see it or believe it could happen in your area, where you're eating, walking, etc., it can. Of course the likelihood is very low for most cases, but you have to remember it only takes one incident to change or end your life forever.