It’s Halloween and that tends to mean candy and lots of kids running amok. What does that mean for you as a gun owner? Well, if you’re a gun owner and a parent—or anyone involved in taking kids out for the spookiest night of the year—it means considering some additional safety issues and addressing them. It helps to have an idea where to start with Halloween safety for gun owners, so we’ve put together this handy guide.
1. No open carry
I’m likely to strongly suggest you don’t practice open carry anyway, but on Halloween it’s an extra bad idea. Open carry leaves your gun visible to all and makes for an easy grab for kids or other adults, some of whom may thing it’s not a real firearm. Think someone can’t possibly take your gun away? Guess again. Do the gun world and trick-or-treaters a favor and conceal your handgun when you’re out tonight. Concealed carry also gives you the element of surprise should the worst occur.
2. No toy guns
You’re probably thinking that’s ridiculous and unfair, right? There are plenty of Nerf guns and water guns around my house—it’s an unavoidable part of having kids. But they aren’t for Halloween carry by kids, adults, or dogs (hey, I usually take one of the dogs out with us). The sad truth is the climate today isn’t the same as it was when we were kids. That means toy guns are now more likely to be mistaken for the real thing. Even objects that are clearly toys might be seen by some panicky person as real. Or maybe even by someone in law enforcement (yes, it happens). It’s a sad state of affairs, but you should strongly consider leaving the toy guns at home.
3. Teach your kids which hand to hold
If your kids are still hand-holding age, take the time to teach them to hold your support side hand. This is one I taught my daughter at a very young age and am now teaching my son. Your strong side hand needs to be free to smoothly draw your handgun. Whether or not you tell your kids why it’s a rule to hold one of your hands is up to you, but this one’s a solid idea year-round. Have more than one kid holding your hand? Go over the rules of what to do if you have to immediately drop your hand if the need arises. You can also try to get the kids to hold one another’s hands and leave you on one end.
4. Don’t be reactive
It’s Halloween. There are going to be some disturbing costumes right alongside the fun and ridiculous stuff. Masks, fake weapons, screaming, and kids who were never taught the idiocy of trying to jump-scare a perfect stranger will be out tonight. Work at not being too reactive. Figure out how to identify an actual threat when you’re surrounded by all kinds of potential triggers. The last thing you want is to end up standing on the sidewalk brandishing your handgun at some dumb kid in a mask…that won’t end well.
5. Consider a backpack
The reason to carry a backpack is…candy. If you have little kids whose arms are likely to get tired carrying a sack of Kit Kats and circus peanuts, having a backpack ready to dump extra candy into is a good way to keep your hands free.
6. Admit your costume idea might be stupid
Are you planning to dress up, too? Awesome. I’ve always enjoyed doing that when I take my kids out. Put some thought into your costume choices, though. Some possible ideas might be a less than stellar for a variety of reasons. Downsides of certain costumes include capes that could snag your hands or be used to yank you backward, masks that obscure your vision, and any restrictive clothing that makes it difficult or impossible to access your handgun (having it on your hip won’t matter if you can’t get to it).
Of course, there’s more to bad costume ideas than things that make it hard to maintain situational awareness or access your gun. I’m a huge horror movie fan year-round, although I readily admit to preferring the classics (or what I consider classics, anyway). That doesn’t mean every villain or slasher makes a great costume idea, not if you’re carrying a handgun. That goes triple for dressing as a real-life serial killer. Don’t do it.
It might seem like a spoilsport thing to say, especially when the odds of your needing that gun for self-defense are slim, but stop and think what your costume will look like if you’re forced to defend yourself and your kids. Think about law enforcement and the photos being blown up in court. No, that’s not much fun, but it’s reality. A poor costume choice isn’t likely to lose a case for you, but it’s highly likely to mean your attorney will make more money defending you.
7. Your handgun isn’t a prop
Are you a Deadpool fan? Cool, me too. That doesn’t mean you should get your Deadpool Cerakoted pistols out for Halloween. Your concealed carry handgun isn’t a prop, it’s a defensive tool. Treat it like one.
8. Stick to people and places you know
I whip out John Farnam’s Rules of Stupid a lot, and it applies on Halloween, too. Don’t go to stupid places with stupid people at stupid times and do stupid things. That means you don’t go to sketchy neighborhoods or visit strange, questionable homes.
When I was a kid it was the norm for kids to go door-to-door taking candy from total strangers. Today, that’s less common, and it’s for good reason. Somehow, people have gotten more comfortable being sick and twisted. Avoiding stupid places and people is a great way to make Halloween safer.
9. Don’t get stuck in a crowd or group
You won’t have any time to respond if something goes sideways if you’re trapped in a crowd of people. Depending on your neighborhood, might not be possible to keep a decent open area around you at all times, but do your best. And if you are going to get wrapped up in a crowd, they’d better not be strangers. It’s never smart to be within easy grabbing, assault, and theft range when it’s possible to avoid it. Let the group pass by or go on ahead, and enjoy some semi-alone time with your kids.
10. Know the law
This one’s simple. It’s your responsibility to know and follow the laws and regulations in your area regarding handguns, carry and their lawful use. You can try claiming you had no idea, but that won’t work as a legal defense. Research the laws in your area for yourself—don’t rely on getting information from some random social media post.
Bonus round
If you’ll bw staying home this year and answering the door, there’s a tip for you, too. Don’t get complacent simply because it’s Halloween and trick or treaters are everywhere. This is the one day people are going to swing their doors open without stopping to consider who or what might be on the other side. Don’t be one of those guys.
If you have a camera that allows you to see who’s out there, that’s great. If not, do your best. But try not to open the door open while you stand front and center like a big target.
Does that sound paranoid? Could be, because the odds you’ll be targeted by a violent criminal are low, even on Halloween. But that doesn’t make it an impossibility. There’s no harm in paying attention to how you answer the door. Oh, and if you don’t have your gun on you, you’ll never get to it in time if you do end up needing it.
Am I a total killjoy? Maybe, but it’s a good idea to take some basic precautions for safety on Halloween. Stay safe and don’t forget to tax your kids’ candy haul for some of the good stuff.
Very good tips………thanks.