Concealed Carry Holsters

About once a week, I get an e-mail or question from someone about the best way to carry a handgun in the car. There are a number of things that have to be considered when you both asking that question and answering that question.

Some of those questions to be considered include:

• Do you want to carry on body or off body in the car?
• What hand do you shoot with?
• Are you looking for a holster that is actually mounted in the vehicle? If so, does it have to be concealed if someone happens to glance inside the car?
• What are the legal implications for carrying concealed in a vehicle in your state or county?
• Does the set-up need to be designed so that you can carry the same holster both in the car as well on on your person?

The average person has to decide if the holster will be a permanent mount in the car or one that can transition to other carry situation. In the case of a permanent mount, you'll need to try to find a mounting location where you can quickly access the weapon with your strong hand and keep it somewhat hidden as well. According the data from the 2008 UCR (Uniform Crime Reports), most handguns are stolen from vehicles versus residences.

Once you have selected a mounting method and location, you have to decide what the most comfortable way to access the handgun. I personally am right handed so I have a G-CODE kydex holster mounted to the right hand side the center console. It's not readily visible from outside the car (I have a CCW permit as well), but I can access it pretty quick if needed. The weapon I keep as a "car gun" is a Taurus PT-145 as it's a durable weapon that isn't too expensive, should it be stolen. I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable using my Kimber Ultra Carry Custom as a car gun as it would break my heart if it were stolen.

Although this isn't a pic of the set-up I use, it's pretty close. Something like this works great for me. Test a few things out and you'll figure out the best solution for your needs.