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#1 |
Junior member
Join Date: April 4, 2011
Posts: 134
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I'm so ashamed of myself, and completely embarassed.
I have a CPL from the State of Michigan. I got it about 5 weeks a go, and have been carrying in my truck, in my locker at work, and trying to build up gradually becoming more comfortable carrying, always with an eye towards safety. I've become very adept and proficient in handling handguns and shooting on the range.
I have a holster on order that should be here later this week, but for the last week or so I've been carrying in the small of the back tucked in my jeans with a belt. I carry a Bersa UC40 with one in the chamber. I chose this gun for the decocker feature, which also is a trigger disconnect. I just felt safer having a ambidextrous decocker. I was shopping today, and it finally warmed up in Michigan enough to wear shorts which I did, along with a belt and a light long sleeve sweater. I was carrying, and getting ready to swipe my debit card, and damn if my gun dropped out right on the floor. Quicker then hell, I couldn't react fast enough as it slide through my shorts. I had an old fella behind me,(I'm 52), he of course seen it, and the cashier seen it, they both reacted decently, I showed them my CPL card and explained I was legal to carry, and apologized profusely. I learned a hugh and very serious lesson today. No matter how much you focus on safety accidents are always possible. I understand there's a block also on the firing pin to prevent accidental discharge, but the unsafe and unexpected movement of the gun spooked me and will stay with me for quite a while. |
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#2 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 4, 2007
Location: Shenandoah Valley
Posts: 3,276
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Quote:
Responsible concealed (or open for that matter) carry means in a proper holster that covers the trigger and holds the firearm securely. Anything else is an accident actively looking to happen. I'm glad you didn't fare worse but get-that-holster and don't "carry" until you do! |
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#3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 3, 2010
Posts: 2,016
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This is how we learn... I had a similar incident in my early carry days too. Thanks for having the humility to post about it. Those new to the carry concept need to read about such incidents because they always happen WAY more easily than we think they would (until they actually happen)!
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#4 |
Junior member
Join Date: April 4, 2011
Posts: 134
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Yup, agreed.
I started this thread in the hope that someone else in the same situation will see it and think twice before doing what I did. We all feel were careful and responsible, and we are, but accidents could happen that could be prevented. CPL classes are brimming over in Michigan, I hope another newby reads this and learns. |
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#5 | |
Staff
Join Date: September 25, 2008
Location: CONUS
Posts: 18,821
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Quote:
Just ask Plaxico Buress. |
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#6 | |
Junior member
Join Date: April 4, 2011
Posts: 134
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Quote:
Yup agreed, No matter how secure you think it feels, unless it's in a holster, it's NOT secure. Like I said that's why I started this thread. I completely admit it was incorrect but didn't realize it. I hope someone else learns. |
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#7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 13, 2010
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 2,016
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Good on you for manning up and admitting your mistake. Maybe some one who is lurking this forum who thinks it is perfectly safe to carry without a holster will begin to see the error of their ways...and will go buy a decent and well-designed carry holster.
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#8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 16, 2011
Location: Woodinville WA (north of Seattle)
Posts: 147
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I can relate to a couple of things on this thread. Like the OP I'm a new owner of a Washington State CPL. It took me a little bit of pushing my comfort zone before I started carrying so I know what you're feeling. I still don't carry with one in the chamber and I don't know how I feel about that just yet. All part of the process of accepting the responsibilty attached to the right I guess.
The second thing is reacting to a falling weapon. My dad is a custom knife maker and he has a saying that the best way to catch a knife when you drop it is to pick it up. Kind of back woods wisdom for stand back and let it hit the floor. And of course the age old concept of surviving mistakes is how we learn. I'm glad to hear no one was hurt. I'm glad you took the time to realize what could have gone wrong. I'm glad this is a safe and adult place to air our mistakes and that you are taking the comments to heart with out getting defensive. |
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#9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 16, 2011
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,599
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We can all thank GOD for cheap lessons.
I am proud that this turned out okay for you and the others in the store. It is good that you are embarrassed and I do not say that in a pious way, it is just that I always remember my embarrassing moments and seek to prevent this from happening again, especially when it has dangerous connotations. Anyway, it happens to the best of us and we should learn from it. How about that Mexican scary.... ![]() Last edited by shootniron; May 9, 2011 at 06:50 PM. |
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#10 |
Junior member
Join Date: April 4, 2011
Posts: 134
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I have a Stoner IWB coming any time now. Everyone has opinions on holsters of course, but from the reviews I could find, people seemed to like them, and they put out a decent product for the money.
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#11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 10, 2010
Location: MI
Posts: 315
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You learned a very valuable lesson, luckily for you and everyone else involved, no one was injured or worse.
Always use a proper fitting holster. |
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#12 |
Junior member
Join Date: April 21, 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,555
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Thanks for posting
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#13 |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: June 29, 2000
Location: Rupert, Idaho
Posts: 9,659
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This tale is best suited for the General Discussions forum. More folks will read it and hopefully, learn the lesson being taught.
Moving..... |
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#14 |
Junior member
Join Date: November 12, 2000
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 9,494
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There is a good lesson here. I also dropped my gun one time, when first starting to ccw, and get this...It was because I stuffed it in my waistband without a holster. Luckily mine hit the carpet just inside my friends house, and it was just a bit of ribbing for me.
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#15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 4, 2010
Posts: 1,210
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Quote:
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#16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 20, 2004
Location: IL
Posts: 853
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But it looks so cool to carry "Mexican" style! Seriously, an alternative that some might consider who don't want a traditional IWB holster and can't or don't want a pocket holster is the SmartCarry. Especially for those with a bit of a beer belly, this holster is easy to use and makes the firearm virtually invisible. It is not, however, as ready to draw as some more traditional holsters (my opinion).
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#17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 8, 2009
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Posts: 1,902
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Thank you sir for sharing your incident with us as this is the type of post that each and everyone of us that takes the time to read can learn from. The best lessons are the ones we learn the hard way. Thankfully no was hurt and the only injury was to your pride but you have turned a negative to a positive by sharing.
I had been carrying a 1911 for years and years. One day at a shooting club I belonged to (which also had a gun store) I came across an H & K USP Compact .45. I had heard what nice guns they are, the price was right and so I bought it. All I needed was a holster which was not in stock at the store. It just so happened that there was a gun show in town that weekend and I found a great deal on a leather shoulder holster for the H & K. Back in those days I wore a sport jacket nearly every day and thought that I would carry the H & K in the shoulder holster. The very first day I did that I happened to be in the parking lot of a very large mall and found a parking spot right next to the jitney stop with lots of people standing around. I got out of the car and immediately felt my brand new gun leave my holster. It hit the pavement hard, making a sound that attracted everyone's attention. I can appreciate your embarrassment as I was as embarrassed as you were, if not more and to make matters worse, I now had a constant reminder because of an ugly scratch that was made on the slide. The obvious lesson I learned was to always make sure the gun is secure in the holster. The other lesson is that one always gets what one pays for. I bought a "deal" on a leather shoulder rig only to discover after the fact that the retention snap did not snap together properly thus allowing the gun to slip out of a less that perfect fitting holster. Now I examine a holster with the same discipline I exam a gun before purchase.
__________________
45Gunner May the Schwartz Be With You. NRA Instructor NRA Life Member |
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#18 |
Junior Member
Join Date: September 1, 2010
Posts: 2
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I live in South Africa.We dont have to have a special licence to carry weapon but you need a compentancy and the liecence for eatch weapon .This is not that important but what is, is the the law that states that you have to have weapon in a holster or in a bag and it needs to be coverd in public.Mexican carry is illegal and can cause you to have your weapon taken away
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#19 |
Member
Join Date: April 28, 2011
Location: Florida
Posts: 48
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Thanks for sharing this. One can never be too comfortably safe while carrying. You never know.
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#20 |
Junior member
Join Date: April 4, 2011
Posts: 134
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I'm going to range right now, my guns are all tucked away and secured in my range bag. No more belt carrying stupidity for me.
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#21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 19, 2010
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 349
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Pick up a cheap uncle mikes until the holster you ordered arrived.
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#22 | |
Junior member
Join Date: April 4, 2011
Posts: 134
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Quote:
Just got back from the range. Didn't shoot my best but this was at 10 yards, with my Sig. ![]() |
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#23 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 5, 2011
Location: here
Posts: 551
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Quote:
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...ithout+holster If you read thru the thread you'll find several arguing that carry without a holster is just peachy keen. Glad no one was hurt Duckkkk. And glad you posted here so we can use your lesson as example. Hopefully in time to prevent an idiot from hurting themselves or others with unsafe firearm practices. |
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#24 |
Junior member
Join Date: March 18, 2009
Posts: 572
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Preparedness...
...makes all the difference.
Before I got my Michigan CPL, I tried out several handgun/holster combinations while I awaited approval. By the time I got it (about 60 days), I already had several holsters to go with the guns I owned, and I didn't have to experiment. As it has turned out, I use several handguns in the rotation. I practice with all of them. My favorite holster is the Don Hume J.I.T. Slide. It seems to solve most issues I had with other designs. Be sure to check with the folks at your LGS. They've been a wealth of information to me. PS - I never could comfortably carry a gun in my pocket. With wallets, keys, etc., there's just no room for a gun. |
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#25 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 9, 2004
Location: Southeast Michigan
Posts: 101
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Quote:
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