The ladies room, potty, doing your business, going to the bathroom, or even powdering your nose. Whatever you call it - we ALL have to do it! The problem is, what in the world do you do with your concealed firearm when you do?
For some obvious reasons, men have it a little easier in this department, well... most of the time. There is quite a bit of confusion and not a lot of discussion on this “interesting” topic. In a recent discussion on The Well Armed Woman Facebook page, the lack of information clearly results in less than safe solutions. So, what should you do? You don’t want anyone in the next stall to see your firearm, freak out and call 911 when you’re simply answering Mother Nature’s call. You don’t want it to fall on the floor and slide over to into the next stall with a mother assisting her young child and you certainly don’t want to do anything that could risk an accidental discharge. So what do you do?
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| Photo: Theo Romeo UCD Advocate |
The answer is quite simple. The less you do the better! Anytime your remove your firearm from its holster you create risk. A well made in the pants or on the waist holster should hold your firearm snug, even if you accidentally turn it upside down. If your’s doesn’t - get a new one. Not everyone likes a thumb break but here is a good place where they come in handy. Keep your hand on the HOLSTERED firearm as you carefully slide down your pants and keep your hand on it. Keep the top of your pants up off the floor and out of view from “neighbors”. If you’re wearing a belt, this is even more important as once you undo your belt - the weight of whole package takes on a mind of its own.
The problems arise when you remove the firearm to get comfortable. Some of you are placing it on the toilet paper dispenser, the back of the toilet and even hanging it by the trigger guard on the hook on the door. These are not safe solutions and yes, even the most responsible and conscientious gun owners can leave and forget their firearms behind. It has happened, perhaps it has even to you.
Many women are wearing bra holsters and belly bands. With these holsters this challenge is eliminated. For those of you that carry in your purse, as awkward as it may be, place your purse on your lap or even hang it over your body cross body style.
If for some reason not addressed here you MUST remove the firearm from your body, keep it holstered and hold it or keep it on your lap while you’re “busy”.
All of this “work” just to do your business may seem cumbersome, uncomfortable and even a pain in the neck. The truth is, this comes with the responsibility of safe gun ownership. If you really think about it, we are very lucky to even have the right and opportunity to be a little uncomfortable this way. So... Give thanks and go take care of business!
LOL, even the FBI woman "accidentally" left her firearm in the bathroom on Air Force 1. How embarrassing. Good article Carrie.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this I have tried lots of tactics and was wondering what all the other women who carry do but sadly not a lof of my female friends do so I didn't have many sisters to turn too! Thank you thank you thank you! Btw first time reader and now I am excited to have found you (thank you facebook)
ReplyDeleteI have had a few hilarious experiences with this exact issue! I use an inside the waistband holster, and getting the pants down and doing the business isn't the problem I encounter, it's the getting everything back up in proper order that I have issues with! As I'm adjusting the undergarments, the weight of the firearm always makes the waistband of the pants flip upside down. Luckily I have found a holster that will not come unclipped from my pants and the gun does not fall out, however, I have had the weight of it pull my pants all the way down to the floor and the gun crashing onto the floor along with them. That's not good! I've mastered a "wide stance" while getting undergarments back up...seems to be the only thing that works almost all the time, as long as the stall isn't too narrow!
ReplyDeleteI have a very simple solution, I wear mine on a belt by it’s self; it stays where I put it without any trouble at all. Let me know if it works for you.
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing. At the range, when it's outside the pants on a belt, I tuck the end of the belt back in the beltloop, making it really tight, and it doesn't slide down.
DeleteThis was a very helpful article. I encountered this problem at the movie theater yesterday and was glad that I read this post beforehand. I had a crossbreed supertuck on and everything stayed put so I considered it successful first trip to the restroom.
ReplyDeleteThanks, this is the type of thing that women need to address and men just don't think about. Plan for everything!lol
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post, I carry my gun around with me at home (better to have it close and not need it than to need it and it's in another room) My neighborhood is dubious at times. I've come across this same issue and wondered if there was a better method than what I had come up with but I came to the same thing you mentioned here but I appreciate the post because it's nice to know I'm not alone on this one.
ReplyDeleteBest unnamed in Illinois: I recently purchased a DeSantis Sof-Tuck inside the waistband for my Sig Sauer 380. I wear it around the house at all times when I am awake. Of course in Illinois we have NO RIGHTS to carry unless we carry in a regulated container and unloaded even though the ammo is beside the weapon. We are having numerous flash mobs breaking into homes in broad daylight and people robbed in their vehicles in the parking lots while shopping in the local towns. This was a helpful article and yes my weapon stays in the holster when I go the the restroom and I keep it in my hand so that it is safe and the jeans are there as well! LOL
ReplyDeleteI hang my 1911 by the trigger guard on the hook inside the stall!
ReplyDeletehahaha I'm pretty sure she just said that's one thing NOT to do!
DeleteI usually carry my Bersa 380 Plus in a belt holster. I can place my 380 in a pocket before dropping my pants. Safe, secure and out of sight. When done, I pull up my pants, etc. and then put my 380 back in the holster. I never leave my gun.
DeleteOne of my worst fears is to leave my gun in a public restroom stall! Great article!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I have tried is when I unbutton my jeans and pull them down a little bit to above my knees and then sit down while holding on to them, I immediately rebutton them and that way I can keep the pants and gun on my thigh level and hold on to gun if necessary. Then when I stand up, it is easier to keep hold of and unbutton and pull them up. Of course this is inside the waist holster.
ReplyDeleteI always wear a belt. So I unbuckle it slide the pants to just above the knees then tighten the belt. Keeps everything up out of view and from hitting the floor. Has worked great with no issues.
DeleteI have had my gun fall out of a fabric holster one time while sitting down to go to the bathroom in a public restroom, luckily there was nobody else in there.. and that holster went in the trash! I am having a custom holster made for it so that it is secure from now on.. But I agree, it is VERY awkward trying to pull your jeans down and hold onto it at the same time!
ReplyDeleteA belt holster with a thumb break can be an alternative.
DeleteIf you have pockets and the gun fits, place your gun in a pocket for security and concealment.
I don't like to recommend it, but a shoulder holster sometimes might be a good alternative.
If your carry solution requires unholstering your firearm for any reason other than preparing to fire it - you need a new carry solution.
ReplyDeleteOne of the perks of the Flashbang is that you don't have to deal this this issue. :)
ReplyDeleteI just ordered THE MARILYN holster, funny, this is one of the reasons, my Desantis inside the waistband has a REALLY tight grip on my waistband, & so far has held on to my firearm when it flops over during my nature call, but the lack of a thumb break worrries me, I keep thinking that one of these days it's gonna flop out onto the floor, can't wait for my bra holster to come!
ReplyDeleteYou need to order a kydex holster from MultiHolster. I use one for my Bodyguard 380 and another for my Glock 19. They are thermomolded to the specific gun. They are so thin, yet strong. They have Chicago screws that allow you to hold the holster upside down and shake it and the gun stays in place. I never have to worry about what to do with my gun when going to the restroom. It is an IWB. I have a bit of extra weight around my middle and yet this holster is totally comfy. I also have hot flashes and the kydex does not absorb moisture and protects my gun. I also wear my gun daily
ReplyDeleteI just got the bra holster so hopefully this wont be an issue for me EVER again. Thank you for posting this article though as Im sure I wont use the bra holster every day
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pmateusa.com/how-to-use.html or pee standing up!
ReplyDeleteMy holster is a belt thread holster, and has a second hole on one side of the holster... I undo my belt, and thread the end back through the holster nice and tight, then I can just slide my pants/shorts down, and keep everything out of sight of neighboring stalls... Love my holster!! But, might be looking into the belly band holsters soon... I am in the process of lots of weight loss, which will allow me to be more versatile when carrying...
ReplyDeleteI use a belly band holster, made by vedderhosters.com. It stays put! Impressed with these over all. More than one option to wear it too. Only 4" wide. Four holster positions/pockets sewn in. Made in USA!
ReplyDeleteI use the Belly Band also. It is wonderful in keeping the gun where it needs to be. I usually wear it pulled lower to sit on my hips under my jeans. When necessary, I just pull it up to my waist, then back to my hips when "the Call" is finished. I can't believe how comfortably tight to my body my 38spec. revolver sits. It disperses the weight so well, I keep having to touch the gun to make sure it is still there. When I carry it in my purse, it feels SO heavy.
Deletegreat article. being a dress wearer, have either had to use a carry purse or ankle holster - the latter then exposed when the skirt comes up! if the skirt is long enough, leave it hanging low in the front. have just ordered the flash bang to hopefully help make it all easier. Since its a left hand, have to wait . . . .
ReplyDeleteI found this to be a problem with my OWB holster until I realized that I could simply "lace" my belt in the opposite direction that I normally do. I carry on the right side, so I lace the belt thru the first jeans loop on my right, then thru the holster, then thru the rest of the jeans loops. The buckle at the first loop and the length of the belt keeps the holster from falling off when I drop trow.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to add that even men have this issue sometimes. As I don't like my gun being visible, even under the stall door, I take it out as the pants are going down and place it inside my pants.
ReplyDeleteIf you can safely holster your weapon in the morning and un holster at night, you should be fine doing this.
As a "newbie" I never even thought of this! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteinside the waistband holsters
ReplyDelete- Welcome to DeSantisHolster.com, your online source for the finest Concealment Holsters, Inside the Waistband Holsters and Gun Holsters for every major weapon manufacturer and model.