Unhappy with myself for a carry decision tonight

[trentwhite778]

I debated about bringing this up to get people's opinions or just let it go, but I figured if it helps someone else in a similar situation to make a better decision then it's worth it.
I've been beating myself up this evening about the decision I made on how I carried today and I wanted to know if others have done the same, or can offer their input on what they think I should have done differently.
Typically, I carry a Ruger SR40 Compact in a crossbreed IWB at about my 7 o'clock (I'm a lefty). But today, I was out running errands all day, doing lots of driving, walking, and squatting while looking at items at the store, so I decided to carry my Ruger LCP .380 in my FRONT left jeans pocket. I have a belt clip on it and when I have it clipped in my pocket, it looks like a pocket knife. Plus, I have a long button down shirt untucked which covers it completely. To get an idea, it looks just like the picture on the right except I also have my shirt untucked and covering it up.


I wore it all day like this and was rather enjoying how comfortable it was, and then this evening I decided to go watch a movie.
I sat in the back row of a somewhat small theater and at first, I was happy with how comfortable it was to sit down compared to my EDC on my back. Well, that comfortable feeling quickly turned to a pretty severe anxiety as the theater filled up and the movie started. The LCP has a really long and stiff trigger pull and therefore does not have a thumb safety. I keep nothing else in my pocket with the gun and my jeans never bunch up or snag anywhere around the trigger so I know for a fact that there was NEVER any chance for an ND. The long trigger pull alone makes it impossible.
HOWEVER, it suddenly occurred to me that simply sitting in a theater with it in my pocket was breaking Rule Number 2. The theater was stadium seating so the people in front of me were significantly lower than I was and I realized that my gun, inside my pocket while I was in a seated position was pointed in the direction of a couple of people in front of me.
I reassured myself that the gun could not discharge while in this position and that there was nothing whatsoever around the trigger, but I still felt extremely uneasy about the direction it was pointing while I was sitting in the theater seat.

After the movie, while I was driving home, I really started beating myself up about it. I can't decide if I'm completely overreacting and that I did nothing wrong, or if I was negligent and should have excused myself and put the gun in my car since I did not have another suitable way of carrying it comfortably.

Please tell me what you think. Am I still being a noob, over thinking things? Has anyone else ever carried in a similar fashion at the movies? Should I have just put the gun in my car? I'm really feeling like I did the wrong thin by simply leaving it alone, knowing that it was in a safe condition, simply because of the fact that it wasn't pointed down at the floor. I feel like I really should have just put it in the car. I would much rather have become an unarmed victim were something to happen, than to have been an accidental cause of, well, you know...

I welcome any thoughts comments, verbal lashing, and finger pointing. I really did enjoy carrying this way, but from now on, if I ever go to the movies or out to eat, where I have to sit down, I'll either find a way to carry on my back, inside the waistband, or I'll leave it in the car.

[jmra]

Pocket holster - always.

[The Annoyed Man]

Pocket holster - always.

This.

[trentwhite778]

Pocket holster - always.

Yeah, that's how I'm feeling. Today was the first time to carry using the clip. I had originally carried it in a DeSantis Pocket Shot like this.

but after taking it to the range and shooting it in the holster, I was extremely unhappy with how the recoil caused it to come loose. Having said that, the Pocket shot doesn't block the trigger either. It's just designed to make the gun not print the outline of a gun.


I appreciate the feedback, but with regards to it pointing forward towards other people. Even if I had a pocket holster, the gun would still be pointing in an undesirable direction. What would you do?
A. Not worry about it, it's in a holster and can't go off.
B. It's still pointing in an unsafe direction so excuse myself to the restroom to move it somewhere else, or put it in the car.

[Heartland Patriot]

I am a big fan of using a holster no matter what location you carry in on-person. I know some folks do the old "Mexican carry", and are quite comfortable doing so...but I just don't happen to be one of them. A pocket holster sounds like the way to go.

[Keith B]

Pocket holster - always.

Yeah, that's how I'm feeling. Today was the first time to carry using the clip. I had originally carried it in a DeSantis Pocket Shot like this.
[ Image ]
but after taking it to the range and shooting it in the holster, I was extremely unhappy with how the recoil caused it to come loose. Having said that, the Pocket shot doesn't block the trigger either. It's just designed to make the gun not print the outline of a gun.

IMO this is still not a good holster as it does not cover the trigger. A DeSantis Nemesis is a good option. Use one for my Kahr PM9 and it is plenty safe as the trigger is covered.

[howdy]

I too carry a LCP in a Meco pocket holster. I carry it in my right front pocket and it looks like a wallet.
http://mecopocketholsters.com/rearpocket.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; The problem with this type of carry is actually getting the gun out when sitting. If I am in my car, the seat belt is directly over the gun, AND in a seated position, the gun is pretty much locked in. It would be difficult to discreetly get to the gun if you are seated.

[packa45]

I use a desanti pocket holster that covers the trigger I have carried it strong and weak side front and back pocket no problems whatsoever.

[Dreamliner]

+1 for in a holster all of the time regardless and a holster that completely covers the trigger.

[hpcatx]

IMO this is still not a good holster as it does not cover the trigger. A DeSantis Nemesis is a good option.

My first though when I saw the photo.

I also have a Nemesis for my Kahr P380 and would recommend it.

[trentwhite778]

i appreciate the feedback and yes, I plan on carrying in a pocket holster in the future.

But back to my original question. Even if it was in a holster, being that it was in my front pocket and I was sitting down, causing the barrel to point out in front of me, where people are sitting. Would you guys be okay with that? isn't it still breaking the 2nd rule? would you relocate the firearm to a different pocket or go IWB, would you leave it in the car, or would you just not worry about it?

[Jumping Frog]

Today was the first time to carry using the clip. I had originally carried it in a DeSantis Pocket Shot like this.

Bottom line, I think it is very poor decision making to carry a firearm without a competent holster. By "competent", I mean it must at minimum keep the trigger fully covered and be stiff enough that the trigger cannot get activated through the holster.

The two choices you presented? Guns should never be carried that way. My opinion, worth what you paid for it.

As fair as muzzle sweeping is concerned, I don't regard a properly holstered gun to be muzzle sweeping anything.

[bnc]

I have a FIST pocket holster made out of their thin kydex. It is indeed thin, but stiff and solid enough to keep the trigger properly covered.

http://www.fist-holsters.com/vm.html?pa ... egory_id=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


If you wanted to change the position of your gun at the theater, you could have gone into the bathroom and moved it to 7:00 or small of the back. That way it would at least be pointing at the floor.

One question though:

Would it even have been possible to draw from the front pocket while seated? If not, I would really rethink front pocket carry in that case since having to leave your seat to draw takes time and probably puts you in a worse position to be targeted compared to drawing while seated (or moving to the floor). When I pocket carry it is in a jacket pocket rather than pants to avoid this, YPMV (your pants may vary).

[jmra]

I have a FIST pocket holster made out of their thin kydex. It is indeed thin, but stiff and solid enough to keep the trigger properly covered.

http://www.fist-holsters.com/vm.html?pa ... egory_id=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


If you wanted to change the position of your gun at the theater, you could have gone into the bathroom and moved it to 7:00 or small of the back. That way it would at least be pointing at the floor.

One question though:

Would it even have been possible to draw from the front pocket while seated? If not, I would really rethink front pocket carry in that case since having to leave your seat to draw takes time and probably puts you in a worse position to be targeted compared to drawing while seated (or moving to the floor). When I pocket carry it is in a jacket pocket rather than pants to avoid this, YPMV (your pants may vary).

This why I carry owb at 3:00. Easy to reach in multiple situations. I would want my weapon positioned so that I could draw it while simultaneously crouching behind seats to make myself the lest visible to the shooter as possible. Any carry method that requires you to expose yourself as a larger target in order to draw gets scratched off my list.

[RPBrown]

Pocket holster - always.

This.

Absolutly this. And a holster that covers the trigger as well. There are way to many things a trigger can snag on if not covered. Long pull or not, it should be covered.