Randy S. lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
One day, he was driving near Harry Reid International Airport when he was the victim of a carjacking.
Police were searching for a man who’d been seen spraying graffiti near the airport. The suspect took off running as police approached.
The suspect jumped a wall and ran into heavy Las Vegas traffic with a gun in his hand and fired shots.
He pointed his gun at drivers until he forced someone to stop.
That driver was Randy.
As the suspect pointed his gun at him, Randy drew his own pistol and fired two rounds at the criminal.
The 30-year-old suspect was transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries.
At the time of the incident, police said that Randy was the victim of a carjacking and wasn’t facing any criminal charges.
These days, drivers have so many things to be aware of…
From car accidents to carjackings there is no question that people are vulnerable in their cars.
This is just one of the many reasons I always carry concealed.
When carrying a gun in their vehicle, many people put their gun in the glove box, console, or under their seat.
This is because, for some people, it’s not comfortable to carry a gun on your body while driving.
But I always keep my gun on my body – even when I’m driving.
The amount of time it could take to get your gun out from the glove box or from under the seat is precious time wasted.
By the time you’re able to draw your gun, it could already be too late. A criminal might already be in your car by then.
Since I believe the best place to carry your gun in your car is on your body, here are a few options to do that.
Hip:
Carrying concealed on the hip is the most common way people carry. But, in a vehicle it can be hard to draw a pistol from your hip.
Most people will need to move their bodies or shoulders to the opposite side to give them enough space to safely draw.
So, when you get in your car, always make sure to clear your cover garment from the gun. The clothing could make it impossible to get your gun.
And you want the clothing to be loose even when your seatbelt is fastened.
Cross draw:
I’m not a big fan of cross-draw holsters but sitting in the car is one of the times it could make sense.
A cross-draw holster sits with the butt of the gun forward. So, it’s relatively easy to reach across the body to draw the gun instead of reaching back to the hip or other location.
A gun holstered in the cross-draw position shouldn’t be easy to see by others when you are driving.
But when you get out of the car you would need to put on a jacket to cover the pistol.
If you are considering a cross-draw holster, I would check out the ones made by DeSantis.
Shoulder holster:
If you spend a lot of time driving (for example a truck driver or taxi driver) your best option might be a shoulder holster.
Shoulder holsters are fast and can be one of the most comfortable ways to conceal a gun.
The drawback is that you would need to wear a jacket to cover the holster, even when driving.
If you are considering a shoulder holster, I suggest brands such as Safariland and Galco.
Ankle carry:
I’m not a fan of ankle carry. But, in a car it can work.
The good thing about carrying a gun on your ankle in the car is that you can draw it without anyone seeing it.
If someone is approaching your car you can lean forward and have your hand on your gun before they know it.
While ankle holsters are good for being in a seated position, the problem is when you get out of your car you still have a weapon on your ankle.
This can be a disadvantage if you need to draw your gun when standing. It’s a long way to go, and will be one of the slowest draws you can perform.
Pocket carry:
One of my favorite ways to carry concealed is pocket carry. It’s discreet and simple to draw your pistol.
But pocket carry is not the best when you are driving.
First, your seatbelt might cover your pocket, and if you have to draw the pistol the seatbelt could be in the way.
Also, if your pants are tight, it might be hard to clear the pistol from your pocket.
So, when I carry a pocket pistol, I wear pants that have plenty big pockets.
This allows me to draw my pistol quickly and safely even when seated.
There is no one-size-fits-all way to carry concealed in a vehicle. The decision comes down to comfort and how much time you spend behind the wheel.
If you drive for a living, you should consider a shoulder holster.
But if you drive a normal amount of time, your best option might be your hip.
If you’re not sure which you might prefer, my suggestion is to try them.
Here’s how…
With a safe and empty weapon, you should practice drawing while sitting in your car from all the various positions.
Get comfortable with the movements of each.
One will likely stand out to you as the fastest, most fluid, and comfortable for you. That’s the one to use.
In addition to the intricacies of carrying concealed in your vehicle, there are a number of nuances to gunfighting in your car.
The windshield, cramped spaces and lack of true cover anywhere but your engine, all dramatically impact how you’ll want to shoot and maneuver inside your vehicle.
This is a skillset and should be drilled and practiced like any other skill you’re looking to improve.
