Quick News: Go Responsible Citizens!

Just wanted to share this news article.  A violent knife attack outside a school was stopped by a quick-thinking, and brave, bystander with a concealed firearm.  This kind of news doesn't get nearly enough exposure.  Props for being alert, responsible, and selfless!

Oh, Fashion.

Alright girls (and guys), let's talk about fashion.  You know, there's a lot of trends and a lot of fads that come and go.  To some extent, we're all limited by the clothes and styles that are available in the stores at any given time.  That being said, the fashion world is not exactly working to give us clothes that make concealment easy.  In a world where your figure needs to be displayed under skin-tight shirts, and no one actually uses pockets, it can seem like carrying and being stylish don't go together.

Style is all about the right accessories... even the ones you conceal!

Especially women's clothing, yikes.  I recently read an article called "The 7 Most Baffling Things About Women's Clothes."  (FYI, crude humor and language.)  And what do you know, most of the things that baffled that author can also present quite a conundrum for us gals who need to pack a little heat along with our other accessories, too!

For one thing, the article points out, lots of women's clothing is made out of material that is way too thin.  Whether clothing designers do this because they think it looks good, or because they want you to buy more layers, it definitely causes a problem for concealing a gun.  The most obvious problem is the possibility of seeing a black gun through a thin shirt.  Plus, if we're talking thin and tighter, that fabric is going to form itself nicely around your gun, showing off its outline.

Thus, layering!  That author thinks the layering trend is a conspiracy, meant to make us spend more money on more layers.  Which is a definite possibility.  But, layering is also really useful for carrying.  An extra layer adds structure and opacity, and is a super simple way to obscure anything you're wanting to hide.  You'd be amazed at the power of a simple tank top to completely smooth out any gun's outline under a thinner blouse.

You know what I don't get?  Pockets.  And neither does the aforementioned author.  As she points out, lots of women's pieces have ridiculously small pockets, or even fake pockets!

"Sure, there will be unsightly bulges if they put too much in their pockets, but the solution isn't to take them away -- the solution is to trust women to have the common sense to not put a bag of rocks in their pocket. These pockets are just fine for carrying a key or some cash or credit cards, and it's stupid to not give anyone that option because some idiot might try to put, I don't know, night-vision goggles or a piece of cake in their pocket."

... Or a gun.  Actually, the right gun in the right pocket holster can totally be hidden in a pocket, just not any pocket I've ever seen on women's jeans.  Okay, so pockets are not the most essential thing for concealed carry, but it'd be a nice option to have!  Anyone out there in clothing manufacturing who can tell me why we're not allowed to have decent sized pockets in our jeans?

Anyways, the article goes on to discuss the problems of women's clothing showing more skin than men's, how hard it is to find a decent t-shirt, and the lack of "normal" casual clothes.  As annoying as it is, I'm probably not going to start making my own clothes anytime soon, so I have to work with what I've got.

Layering with a tank top is probably my favorite concealment solution, along with wearing cute cardigans and jackets.  Do you have any favorite strategies for making it work?

One last thing, I've learned through trial and error that it is actually much easier to conceal in a lot of "typical" women's clothes than I would have thought.  When you haven't tried it, an inch or two of firearm seems like a lot to hide!  But it's amazing what you can do once you get to know the clothes and the curves you've got!

Headlines

There have been several interesting stories in the news recently of people acting in self-defense and succeeding at thwarting attacks.  So often the media covers sensational stories of crimes and violence; it is encouraging to read about ordinary people who avoided being victims.  Imagine how differently these headlines would have read if these people had not had the resolve to defend themselves!

In Oklahoma, a young mother called 911 to find out if it was okay to shoot an intruder in self-defense.  I'd say the outcome is better than the headline "Mother and Son Killed in Home Invasion."

In Pennsylvania, a man was attacked while biking and was able to fight off three teens who were in the midst of a crime spree.  Could have read "Man Killed in String of Robberies."

Just this week, a woman in Florida fought off a would-be rapist near her home.  This incident didn't involve the use of a firearm, but the woman acted in bold self-defense nonetheless.  I'm sure she's relieved to have avoided the headline "Local Woman Raped Near Home."

You see how things can change in the blink of an eye?  The difference between being the victim of an attack and a survivor can be found in the resolve to protect yourself.  Whatever your method, whether carrying a firearm or stomping on a rapist's foot, choose to protect yourself!

"I am a child of the King, I will not be a victim!"

When you make the decision to carry a concealed handgun for self protection, someone will inevitably tell you that you need to do some self-talk.  Go find a mirror, they say, look yourself in the eye, and decide for yourself whether you would be able to pull the trigger and take a life if necessity called for it.  This is a valuable exercise.  It's not saying that you want to take a life, and certainly not saying that you would enjoy doing so, but confirming that if the time comes you would be able to.  Strapping on your holster and loading your firearm are acknowledgement that it may come down to your life or that of a mugger.  The lives of your family or that of a home invader.  It's the moment we all pray will never come, but the one we must be prepared for nonetheless.

As my NRA instructor stated, when you are carrying every conflict becomes an armed conflict because you brought a gun to the fight.  This means that the armed citizen, much more so than the unarmed one, must be cool, collected, and careful not to escalate a confrontation.  It also means that you must be resolved to effectively use that gun if need be.  You see, the situation becomes much more dangerous if you draw a weapon you are not really willing to use.  It is not going to scare the criminal away.  Instead, the assailant now feels threatened, and on top of that, has a gun within their reach.  That's why the conversation with yourself deciding what to do needs to happen before you are ever confronted with a life-threatening situation, so that you can act when you don't have time to think.

Now, if you look in the mirror and determine that you would not be able to pull the trigger, you've made a wise decision.  Knowing that, and choosing other methods of defending yourself could very well ensure your safety better than putting yourself in the dangerous situation described above.

But what gives us the resolve to act as necessary?  How do I know that it is worth it to protect my own life, possibly at the cost of another's?

When I was an undergraduate at a small Christian college, I took a self-defense class. The instructor was a slight, 70-something woman, who quickly had the football players in the class more than a little hesitant to "assist" her with demonstrating self-defense tactics.  At the end of class  each day, she had us repeat a mantra:

"I am a child of the King and I will not be a victim!"

As Christian students, the idea of being "children of God" gave us motivation to defend ourselves.  Knowing that our place and our worth came from belonging to the King meant that our lives were worth protecting, and no one could take that away from us.  Now I know not everyone shares the same philosophy, so replace that with whatever gives you your motivation and self-worth.  I am a mother of two children, I will not be a victim!  I am an American, I will not be a victim!  I am a husband, I will not be a victim!  Even something as simple as I am a worthy human being, I will not be a victim!

Reminding yourself of the source of your intrinsic worth, whatever that may be, gives you a tangible reason to believe that your life is worth protecting.  Hopefully, that will also give you the resolve and confidence needed to know that you are capable of defending yourself and your family if the time comes.

Chicks With Guns

A friend just sent me this article, and I just have to share it.  Photographer Lindsay McCrum recently released a photo book called Chicks With Guns.

At first glance, that title made me all kinds of nervous.  I’ve seen way too many gun magazines featuring busty, scantily-clad women posing with whatever new gun they’re apparently trying to sell.

And so, the photos in this gallery are surprisingly refreshing.

I love that the photographer says she’s not trying to make a political statement.  She’s not trying to “glorify” or “vilify” anyone.  She simply wanted to learn more about the community of women gun owners, and share that with the world.

These portraits are gorgeous.  It is so positive to see women who could be your neighbors and friends displaying their love of firearms in a positive way.  I may need to buy the book just so I can see more of these!

Enjoy!

Cardigans and Cupcakes!

Why hello there, October!  Can you believe we are so far into fall already?  I can't, mainly because the temperatures keep jumping between the fifties and the eighties.  But, regardless of how the thermometer feels, I've decided it's definitely time for fall.

I made Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes, oh yes!  Recipe

Autumn is without a doubt my favorite season.  Beautiful colors, warm baked goods, cozy clothing, and a general feeling of comfort.  Today I pulled out my fall boots, even though the high was eighty.  But the best part, if you ask me, is the sweaters.  In particular, and especially in these early weeks of indecisive weather, cardigans.

Cardigans are great!  Usually light weight, they can be worn on warmer days or layered for colder ones.  They are classic.  Audrey Hepburn rocked them, and they are still wildly popular today.  They can be dressed up or dressed down.  Versatility!

My own collection of cardigans has grown quite a bit recently!  Clearly I am into embellished cardigans.

Clearly I am *very* into cardigans.

And of course, they conceal!  Cardigans conceal spectacularly.  Typically they're a bit looser around the middle, so they can easily hide a bulge whether you wear them buttoned up or open.

A lot of concealment is about the art of distraction.  Layers, different types of fabric, textures, all distract nicely from any shapes that might otherwise be noticed as not quite natural.

And a lot of the reasons that cardigans are so great also apply to clothing in general when looking for things that will conceal well:

• The fabric has some structure to it 
• It's not too clingy, even if it’s tight-fitting 
• Not too thin 
• The garment allows some space between you and it 
• Texture hides bumps

Encouragingly, cardigans can be worn well by anyone.  So find what inspires you, whether it’s color, texture, embellishments, or accessories, and get ready to conceal fashionably for fall!

The Belly Band Review (Part 1)

I’ve decided to start out with a Galco Underwraps Belly Band. The belly band is typically a wide band of elastic material that fastens around the torso with Velcro. It has built-in pockets for the handgun and often pockets for extra magazines or other items too. The belly band seemed like a good option for me because I don’t often wear belts. Since the belly band uses the tension of the elastic to stay put, it should (theoretically) be useful under many different types of clothing, and doesn’t require a belt.

I like the design of the Galco because the actual gun pockets are leather. Should be pretty sturdy. It has one pocket designed to fit revolvers and one for semi-autos. I chose the tan color so that it will be less likely to show under lightly-colored clothing. It also comes in black.

Reminder: When trying out a new holster of any type, ALWAYS become familiar with it and do any fiddling while the gun is EMPTY. Do not use a loaded gun until you are confident about where you will wear the holster and how to safely put the gun into and take it out of the holster. Finger off the trigger! (I need a graphic here of a smiling 50s housewife shaking her finger at you…)

To start out, I am wearing the belly band low on my hips, so it sits mostly below the waist of my jeans. It took a few minutes of wondering why the pockets seemed to be going the wrong way before I realized that right-handed users wear it with the leather pockets facing in, left-handed users wear it with the pockets facing out. (Yes, reading the directions is a good idea!)

After a bit of experimenting with positioning, I think the most concealable position is placing it so that the gun is in the middle of the small of my back. I positioned it there wearing jeans and a form-fitting top, and did some modeling for my hubby.

“Oh, is that a new shirt?”

Success!  (Seriously, that’s exactly what he said.  I was quite pleased.)

So, first impression, I would say the belly band is pretty comfortable and very concealable.  Of course, wearing it around the house is not exactly the same as wearing it in the real world.  I’ll spare you all the details, but I have so far worn it in the low-on-the-waist position on several occasions, with several different types of outfits.  Here’s what I think:

Comfort:  Overall, the belly band is quite comfortable in this position.  The elastic is soft, and the Velcro is sewn in such a way as to avoid scratching.  My only complaints are pretty minor.  First, when worn low on the hips like this, I did experience a bit of chaffing against my hipbones.  Second, I did occasionally feel some poking from the corners of the Velcro.  Both problems were easily solved by wearing a thin tank top under the belly band, putting a softer fabric against my skin.  The tank top did cause some minor difficulties in the Confidence category, as you’ll see below, so it’s a bit of a toss up. 

The belly band was also very comfortable while out and about.  Walking, standing, sitting in an overstuffed armchair, and sitting in a chair at a restaurant were all just fine.  The only time I encountered a problem was while driving.  With the gun positioned right in the small of my back, sitting in the driver’s seat of my car was not great.  I did notice that having the gun slightly lower was better than slightly higher.  While not terribly comfortable, I was able to wear the belly band this way for short trips.  I would not, however, wear it with the gun for long trips.  If the situation allowed, it may be easier to put the gun in the glove box for the drive, then return it to the belly band at the destination.

Overall, I’m giving the belly band a 6 for Comfort when worn below the waistline.  On the whole I am quite pleased with the comfort of it, but the driving issue could be a big one depending on the situation.

Concealability:  (Microsoft Word informs me that I have made up a new word here.  Oh well, so did Shakespeare, right?)

As mentioned above, the Concealability of the belly band with my Ruger LCP is quite good.  It fit nicely in the waistband of all of my jeans, and disappeared under most types of tops.  I was able to wear it with a form fitting jersey-type top, t-shirts, and flowing blouses.  Any type of jacket or cardigan is also great for concealing a lump on your back.  There are definitely some outfits that won’t hide a gun in the belly band, such as tops that are skin-tight around the waist, or anything made out of thinner fabric.  But, of course, not every method of concealment will work with every outfit!

Most of the time, I’ve worn a tank top under the belly band.  This does a lot for the comfort.  I also found it did not inhibit the concealability.  As long as the tank top isn’t bunchy and doesn’t have embellishments, it shouldn’t show under other shirts.  Plus, layering is a great look, so you can totally make it work!

I’m giving the belly band an 8 for Concealability worn below the waistline.  It was pretty darn easy to make it disappear with most types of clothing!

Confidence:  Ah, confidence.  Turns out, confidence is trickier than I expected it to be!  It is very difficult to tell whether a problem with confidence is due to the particular product, or simply because I’m not used to using said product.  Because, let’s face it, having four inches of elastic strapped around you and a gun to boot is not easily ignored!

My problem here is that I felt like the belly band, and my LCP in its pocket, were riding up.  I especially felt this when standing up after sitting.  However, when I checked, they really didn’t seem to have moved much.  I think I was a little paranoid because I am not yet used to wearing the belly band.  It would make sense that there is some riding up occurring.  The elastic band is not contoured at all, and when putting a straight band around curved hips, it’s naturally going to want to ride up.  But, I don’t think it ever moved enough that it would cause a real problem.  Being nervous the whole time I’m wearing it is a problem, but again, that may just be me.

I’m not sure whether or not the tank top I’ve been wearing under the belly band may have contributed to this problem.  It did seem like I experienced more riding up on the days that I was wearing the tank top.  I think it affects how tightly the elastic is able to hold on to my waist.  Clearly, some more experimentation with different types of tank tops is in order.  That and working on my nervousness…

The other half of Confidence is whether you can confidently access your weapon if you needed to.  Here, the belly band does well.  Positioned on the small of my back, I am able to reach for the gun and naturally and easily find it.  It slips in and out of the pocket smoothly.  It’s a good idea to do some practicing of drawing your weapon, finding your grip, and acquiring your target, all of course while the gun is unloaded and in a safe direction.

On the whole, I give the belly band a 6 for Confidence when worn low on the hips.

So, the belly band, worn low on the waist, gets a 6 for Comfort, 8 for Concealability, and 6 for Confidence.  Average score: 6.7.

Keep in mind, this is just my experience.  Next I will be reviewing the belly band worn higher, on the natural waist.  Could turn out to be totally different!

Have you tried a belly band for carrying?  How did you like it?