FIVE THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT OFF-BODY CARRY SHARE by Colion Noir (NRA News Commentator and the host of NOIR on NRA Freestyle)
I don’t like off-body carry, but I still do it, a lot. For those of you asking what off-body carry is, it’s when you carry a gun in a bag. If you search the Internet for concealed carry long enough, you will most likely come across the guys who completely hate the idea of off-body carry and will lament about how you should never do it, because someone can come and snatch your bag or purse and now the criminal has your gun. There is some truth to this, but a gun in a bag is better than nothing.
I carry a gun 90% of the time, 25% of which is done off-body. I do this for a number of reasons, one of which is comfort. For instance, as I write this I am in a coffee shop in uptown Dallas, Texas, sitting on a couch with my bag resting on the other side. Not only does this prevent an ambitious seat-searcher from mistakenly believing it would be okay to try to share this small-
couch, but it also makes sure my glorified HK VP9 transporter is always in sight and within my immediate reach.
I’ve been in this coffee shop for two hours now and am very restless, and the last thing I need while I am trying to write is my Kahr PM9 jabbing me in the side with each change of position I make for the next two to three hours I will be in this place. Therefore, I choose to carry my gun in my bag. That being said, off-body carry is no joking matter, as it changes the entire dynamic of carrying a gun. Here are a couple of things I have learned after carrying off-body for some time.
1
You have to treat your bag like a newborn.
Nothing on this planet gets more attention than a newborn baby, well, second only to the Kardashians. The mother of a newborn watches her child like a hawk; she knows exactly where the baby is, how many breaths a second the newborn is taking, even how many times it blinks. That’s essentially how you should treat your bag/purse. You think you know panic? Imagine the terror that will overtake you if you look and realize the bag containing your Sig Sauer P230 is gone and is now in the hands of a thief who thought he was only making a come-up on an iPad and a nice Tumi bag. Know where your bag is at all times, and keep it as close as possible.
2
You should carry a big enough gun.
One of the biggest upsides to off-body carry is that generally you can carry a bigger gun. I say “generally,” because some girls’ purses are the size of wallets these days. The thing is, if you ever have to get to your gun, you don’t want to have to search for it like you’re scouring the bottom of your bag for those last two Mentos breath mints. So carry a gun big enough to easily get a good purchase of when you draw, without having to search for it.
3
You must have a dedicated gun pocket.
All of my bags have a dedicated gun pocket. Most of my bags come with a pocket specifically designed to place a gun in; otherwise I find the biggest pocket on the bag that is quick and easy to access. Obviously, having a dedicated gun pocket takes the guesswork out of remembering where to reach in an emergency. If you find yourself in a sticky situation, the last thing you want to have to think about is which pocket you put your gun in.
4
Practicing your draw is next to godliness.
I can’t belabor this point enough. Practice drawing from your bag. In the moment, you’ll feel silly, but if you can’t get to your gun, you might as well not have one. You will be surprised how slow drawing from a bag is when you’re relaxed. Once you add stress to the equation, it becomes an exercise in magic to get the gun out quickly.
5
Never forget that you have a gun in your bag.
When you have the grip of a gun digging into your side every once in a while, it’s hard to forget you have a gun on you. When you carry a gun in a bag, it’s very easy. Don’t forget. When you off-body carry, in an instant your bag can become your lifeline, and you should never forget that. Also, you don’t want to forget when you’re going somewhere where you are not allowed to have a gun; you’ll be forced to remember the hard way when the metal detector to the courthouse goes off and you realize you left your Glock 19 in your bag.
Like I said before, off-body isn’t the ideal way to carry a gun, but in my mind it is a reasonable option, as long as you understand the limitations and consequences. I will continue to carry off-body, and at times I will have one on myself and one off-body; just depends on the scenario. Either way, off-body carry comes with its own set of rules and idiosyncrasies and should be taken very seriously. These five things I’ve learned about off-body carry are by no means meant to be exhaustive, and as I continue to carry in this manner, I will continue to learn more.”
