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Old May 5, 2008, 07:45 PM   #1
Socrates
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Do NOT carry center of back....

Friend of mine just had an accident. He was carrying his Glock center of back. He now has a big mess where the gun was forced into his spine, and, came within about a 1/4" of being paraplegia, or worse. Car accident, caused by wet road conditions. Flipped the car.

DO NOT CARRY CENTER OF BACK AND DRIVE.
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Old May 5, 2008, 07:51 PM   #2
rantingredneck
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I was never comfortable with that spot before and after having a spinal injury and surgery I really am not comfortable with it.

Hope your friend comes through OK.
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Old May 5, 2008, 07:53 PM   #3
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Prayers out to your friend.
I have a friend who is also an ER doc who carries SOB and I've been after him for a while about it.
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Old May 5, 2008, 08:23 PM   #4
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Used to be a no-questions-asked automatic five-day, unpaid suspension for us if we were ever caught carrying in the small of the back.

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Old May 6, 2008, 12:09 AM   #5
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This guy is a very nice guy, and runs one of the local gunshops, owns actually. He's in a wheel chair, with chest support, and thanks God daily for the excellent chance he has to recover. The gun mashed the disks, and bones, in his lower back, and nearly severed the spinal cord.

He didn't really need this to happen...
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Old May 6, 2008, 01:30 AM   #6
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My Brother had a partner that carried his Handcuffs SOB.

The day came when a felon picked him up and threw him down a flight of stairs. Twenty years later he is lucky to be able to walk with the aide of a Walker.

I carry my Latex Gloves in a pouch located in the small of my back. I figure it will serve as padding, and has already. I don't want anything hard on my spine, all those years of riding four legged animals that didn't want me on their back has messed mine up enough.

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Old May 6, 2008, 04:47 PM   #7
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I have never used the SOTB carry and never will for the reasons described above.
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Old May 6, 2008, 04:53 PM   #8
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I have carried SOB off an on for years , been in car wrecks , been in fights where i was knocked down on the gun . I call bull pucky that it is any more dangerous than any other carry method . Saying dont carry sob because you can break your back is akin to saying dont carry strong side because it might break your hip . There are reasons not to carry sob but they have to do more with safety and sweeping the muzzle over things you dont want to shoot rather than the chance that you will somehow fall on your gun and break your spine .
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Old May 6, 2008, 05:02 PM   #9
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I carry mine in the small of the back cuz i'm a skinny guy and can't carry concealed strong side. I take it out of there when i get in a car... goes under my leg or in the glove compartment.
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Old May 6, 2008, 06:48 PM   #10
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I've been warning of this for a long time myself.

Goes triple-true for bikers, horsemen, bicyclists and the like.
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Old May 6, 2008, 07:05 PM   #11
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Another "don't do it" post, fo rthe reasons mentioned.
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Old May 6, 2008, 07:06 PM   #12
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I carry that way often, can reach with either hand. I also don't feel the need for it there when driving plus it's uncomfortable. Carry my tape measure in nearly the same position for the same reason and remove it for almost the same reason. I might need fast access to the pistol while driving but a 35' FatMax is just a pain.
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Old May 6, 2008, 09:35 PM   #13
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Strong side, baby, strong side!
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Old May 6, 2008, 09:38 PM   #14
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When I had my accident my hunting pack was across my lower back. 18 ft fall onto it and I burst fractured L1. Believe me, that is not something you want to do. I thought carrying a gun there was a bad idea before that accident. Now I'd NEVER carry one there. Of course I've got six figures worth of titanium in there holding my spine together too.
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Old May 8, 2008, 02:51 AM   #15
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yikes

I "kidney carry"-- at about 4:30. Butt facing forward. I too am skinny and can't carry on side. And I'm not going to carry in the front with the barrel pointed at my shlong. No way!!
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Old May 8, 2008, 02:54 AM   #16
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Very sorry to hear of your friend's injury. I hope his prospect for a full recovery is excellent.

Back when I worked uniform I wore a handcuff case on my gun belt SOB for a while. It didn't take long to discover this was not something I cared to do. Just normal sitting, and getting in & out of the car for hours at a time, caused noticeable discomfort.

I wouldn't want to fall on my back onto a hard surface with something held directly against my lower spine, either. Just bumping up against something with much force was noticeable.

Again, I hope your friend experiences a full recovery.
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Old May 8, 2008, 03:01 AM   #17
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Sorry to hear about your friend. Luckily it was not as bad as it could have been.

As a person that enjoys being functional below the waist, I have been warning against this type of carry for a long time.

The guy that lives across the street from me is an ex-LEO on disability from falling on a radio that had shifted around to the small of his back during a foot chase. It really does not take much to injure yourself in this manner.
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Old May 8, 2008, 03:38 AM   #18
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sob

+1 on the do not carry SOB. I also have a back injury and now may have exploded the disc (long story and I don't like typing). My doctor collects firearms also and strongly advises against the SOB carry. As I ride motorcycles it is strong side or shoulder holster only. God speed to your friends recovery, our prayers are with you.
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Old May 8, 2008, 06:00 AM   #19
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I've heard of this problem with SOB carry, it only confirms what I've heard. Best wishes to your friend!
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Old May 8, 2008, 08:26 PM   #20
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Having been in a couple of motorcycle crashes, I'm convinced the second safest place is in front of you, to one side or the other of "Capt. Happy And His Two Crew". Basically in front of your pelvic bone.

There are no really fragile organs there - there's the femoral artery and some colon/intestine but both are very tough compared to the kidney, spleen and liver. The pelvic bone is ridiculously tough and even if it breaks, it tends to heal up OK. You also tend to "fold forward" around your waist.

This means either front-crossdraw open-carry, or a fanny pack. The latter carried this way is a great choice for bikers in my opinion.

If you're going to do a shoulder holster, left side is better because it's not over your liver, one of the delicate organs...

The ABSOLUTE safest rig puts the gun in a pack that drops down from the belt and straps to your thigh, on TOP of the main thigh bone. That is one hell of a tough bone. I slammed mine into a steel stop sign post at 25mph while flying sideways one time, hurt like you would NOT believe the next day (literally couldn't walk) but the bone held. If that won't break it, I have no idea what will .

I'm considering modifying my fanny pack for that sort of carry. It's somewhat oddball, but...it can be made to work and gun access is decent both sitting and standing.
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Old May 8, 2008, 08:36 PM   #21
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Quote:
Butt facing forward
You're a lot more limber than I am...

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Old May 13, 2008, 11:39 PM   #22
chrisandclauida2
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SOB carry has always had that danger. infact most departments mandate that officers dont put anything in that part of their duty belt. hundreds of people have been injured of paralysed because they fell on a flash light handcuffs etc.


like anything else this method of carry has its place but it also has a big downside.
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Old May 14, 2008, 12:13 AM   #23
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Thanks for posting this. While I can't carry SOB, I do know folks that do. I'll pass this along to them.
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Old May 14, 2008, 11:41 AM   #24
David Armstrong
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Quote:
I call bull pucky that it is any more dangerous than any other carry method
Exactly. All methods have advantages and disadvantages, and one has to work around that concept. SOB has some donwside. It also has some upside in certain situations, just like crossdraw, shoulder rigs, ankle carrry, etc. Blanket statements rarely are valid across the board.
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Old May 14, 2008, 11:54 AM   #25
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I am sorry for your friend's injury. Hopefully this story will help to convince others not to do the same as well as disregard those who seem to think SOB is no problem and any stories of injury are made up.
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