Safety Tip: No Naked Guns…Your Pocket Is Not a Holster

Welp, it’s happened again. An innocent person was negligently shot, this time inside a Walmart by someone who seemingly didn’t intend to do so. 

According to the Valdosta Police Department, a woman sustained a gunshot wound to her lower leg at the store at 3274 Inner Perimeter Road. Police said the injury is believed to be non-life-threatening, and she is receiving medical treatment.

Initial reports suggest the firearm, which was being carried in another shopper’s pocket, may have discharged accidentally, according to police. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

During the last two weeks or so, we’ve had a plethora of incidents regarding unintended and negligent discharges. However, this particular incident offers a different set of circumstances. According to the information that we have at the moment, the violator wasn’t trying to clear the gun, nor were they in the process of shooting (deliberately). They were carrying the handgun, likely in accordance with the state of Georgia’s constitutional carry statute, in a concealed fashion.

Pockets Aren’t Holsters

As you would expect, the typical local news reporter isn’t educated or experienced enough to ask specific questions such as, What was the make and model of the gun? Was the gun secured in a pocket holster? Was the violator touching, moving, or fiddling with the gun in their pocket? 

If this were 1996, a person might have an excuse, flimsy though it may be, for not securing a compact handgun in some sort of pocket holster. However, this is the 21st century and good concealed carry holsters are easy to find. Companies like DeSantis, Galco, and Tuff Products all make pocket holsters to both secure a compact handgun in place and cover its trigger. 

None of these pocket holsters are expensive or difficult to come by. But they all serve an extremely important role…that of assuring a sub-compact handgun doesn’t shift around in your pocket while preventing anything — including human fingers — from coming into contact with the trigger. 

Pocket Carry Etiquette

While I don’t do it often anymore, I have utilized pocket carry for both a backup gun as well as in situations that were…less than permissive. There are two basic or primary rules when it comes to concealing a handgun in your pocket; jeans, shorts, jacket, down vest, whatever.  

Number 1) No naked guns. Don’t just drop a naked gun into a pocket. As highlighted earlier, there are far too many good, affordable options for a pocket holster to not use one. The only true reason you aren’t using a pocket holster is you’re being cheap and lazy and thereby reckless and negligent.

Number 2) The gun pocket is for the gun only. If you decide to go the pocket carry route, then that’s all that goes into that pocket. Period. No loose change, car keys, pocket knives, etc. should occupy the same space as the gun. This includes clip-on accessories like flashlights and knives which are secured to the top edge of the pocket. If you can’t dedicate a pocket to carry only the gun in a holster, you need to figure out a different way to carry. 

Parting Shots

The Walmart incident above is certainly not the first time a person carrying a gun in their pocket had it “go off.” Fortunately, it seems that the woman who was shot will be alright…or as good as you can be after taking a bullet to the lower leg.

Since no one lost their life, it’s unlikely that the Valdosta Walmart story will get much traction after the initial report. Nonetheless, the incident is another reminder that we should be treating our concealed carry guns with respect as the deadly force instruments they are, not casually tossing them in a pocket to ride along like some kind of good luck charm.

My strong encouragement would be to take a resolute stand against naked guns. Remember, your pocket is not a holster.   

 

Paul G. Markel is a combat decorated United States Marine veteran. He is also the founder of Student the Gun University and has been teaching Small Arms & Tactics to military personnel, police officers, and citizens for over three decades.