Off Body Carry Conundrum

Off body carry seems to have a big market available, with purses, fanny packs, backpacks, and even specially designed laptop bags. The idea of off body carry is to conceal carry a weapon in something other than a holster attached to the body. This method of carry has proven to be popular with people new to carrying a firearm. While there may be several reasons for this, I believe it’s because these people cannot find a comfortable holster and simply do not know what to look for in the first place.

Off body carry may be somewhat popular ,but it is often derided by those who are knowledgeable about firearms, and are experienced in carrying a firearm. I want to explore the reason why off body carry is often derided and considered unsafe. I also want to look at some possible advantages and whether it’s ever appropriate to carry off body.

If there is one thing that anyone serious about firearms knows, it’s that safety is always paramount with firearms. By themselves guns are harmless, it’s only when they are mixed with people that they become dangerous.

Safety Consideration

Off body carry can be a dangerous method to carry a weapon, plain and simple; however; this can be minimized to the point where it’s just as safe as on body carry. The first problem is, if you aren’t using something specifically designed for concealed carry, you could be putting yourself at risk. Something that does not have a holster that guards the trigger built into it can allow other loose items to engage the trigger and fire the weapon. If you are carrying off body, and not using an item with a holster built into it, the weapon should be in a separate secure holster. Anything less is unsafe.

Next is simple human nature. No one wants to carry a bag everywhere. This presents two problems. First you may decide to leave the bag and, therefore, the weapon in a vehicle. This means you are unarmed, and leaving your gun in an area you do not control. The second aspect ties in with the same, even when we enter grocery stores, restaurants, and the local coffee place, we tend to take our bags off and set them down. This means the bag and weapon aren’t in our control, and we’ve seen tragedies of children shooting their parents after accessing their off body carry gun. The only method to mitigate this is self-discipline or the unfashionable fanny pack.

The last risk is someone wanting your bag, or trying to snatch your bag. This makes it possible to inadvertently arm your attacker. This is, of course, very unlikely, but not impossible.

Another factor includes human forgetfulness. If you pack a firearm in a bag you carry daily you may never have an excuse to remove the weapon. You may forget the weapon is in the bag and attempt to enter a gun free zone, like a courthouse, or the sterile area of an airport completely ignorant of the fact they are carrying a firearm.

Tactical considerations.

First of all, off body carrying adds a different layer to your draw. If the bag is specifically designed for concealed carry, it’s liable to have moved around and be out of place. This adds precious seconds into getting your weapon into action. The off body draw is much slower than a traditional holster regardless on the design and style. To be proficient, you’ll need to practice so much you’ll eventually become skilled enough to realize you’ll need a holster.

Another consideration is the simple fact you’ll be instantly telegraphing that you are going for something. This sets alarm bells off for any would-be attacker, and can easily reveal what you’re doing. It is something to consider.

Advantages

Does off body carry offer any advantages? Surely it does, and in this section I’ll point out situations where off body carry could be the only option. Do the advantages outweigh the potential risks of the practice? That will be a personal decision, like most things, one opinion is never entirely correct.

Advantage 1 – You can carry a bigger gun

When it comes to off body carry it’s quite easy to carry a full sized firearm. A Glock 17 or CZ P09 offer a high capacity, a long barrel, and a more accurate and easy to shoot weapon when compared to a subcompact or pocket pistol. Someone dedicated to a bigger bag, like a backpack, can carry a small pistol caliber carbine like the Kel Tec Sub 2000, if local laws allow it, of course.

Advantage 2 – No clothing Restrictions

A lot of different kinds of clothes can make it difficult to conceal carry. I know jobs where I’ve worked in a shirt and tie which would’ve made it difficult. No one questions a purse or messenger bag, a fanny pack is still unfashionable though. Can you imagine trying to carry a firearm in women’s evening wear?

Advantage 3 – Diverse Situations

So I’ve been looking at this page trying to figure out the best way to title this. By diverse situations I mean situations where on body carry is completely impractical. A situation like a gym, where clothes are either loose or tight, makes it difficult to carry. The same goes for exercises like running, and rock climbing. Don’t get me started on trying to conceal a handgun while hiking, you’ll be dealing with chafing the entire time. In these situations the fanny pack is truly the king of carry.

Off body carry will never be widely accepted and, in my opinion, is certainly not the best way to carry. Even so, I’ve found myself using off body carry for specific situations, especially the gym, and going for a run. It may not be perfect, but a large part of its failure is human failure. If you choose to walk the off body carry route, then you need to exercise discipline, and remember that complacency kills.

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