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LIFETIME CARRYING CONCEALED FIREARMS

© 2024 Chuck Klein

“One either never carries, or

One always carries, but

One never sometimes carries.”

(Lt. Umbaugh’s Law)

 The logic of this is clear … it’s a mental, acclimatizing thing. If you NEVER carry, you can afford to be in condition white (oblivious to your surroundings), whereas if in the habit of ALWAYS Packing, it’s imperative to be in condition yellow - aware of possible threats or entering prohibited locations such as airports, schools, police stations…. SOMETIMES carriers could find themselves reaching for a defensive gun that isn’t there or being discovered with a firearm in a restricted place.

 As a cop, private investigator or ordinary citizen, I have had to use a firearm for self-defense on numerous occasions. Fortunately, I’ve never had to shoot anyone. Way back in the early 60s, I was a salesman for a paper-converting company calling on corporations from small towns to mega cities. I traveled mostly by car, but also via commercial airlines. My EDC was in a shoulder holster, strongside hip or concealed in a special compartment in my briefcase, but it was always available having decided early-on, I was not going to be a victim. Places I packed heat included airports, commercial airlines, schools, media, entertainment venues, ballparks (long before metal detectors and paranoia-based laws). When someone who doesn’t have a need to know asked if I’m packing heat, I’d look them in the eye and say: “There’s only one sure way to find out … you can make an overt move in my direction that can only be interpreted as life-threatening to which I will use what means are available to me to repel your unlawful and deadly assault … then, if I am armed, that might be the very last piece of information your brain processes.” If the inquisitor was a threat or just a jerk, I make ‘em blink. If they were friendly, I’d be smiling. No one ever asked a second time.

 In the 1990s and 2000s, I worked as a Licensed Private Investigator while living downtown Cincinnati. At the time, Ohio had the affirmative defense law where it was a felony to carry a firearm unless one could prove – to a judge or jury – that they had an acceptable reason to carry. To challenge that law, I became the lead plaintiff in the class-action case, Klein vs. Leis, where I testified to having carried a concealed firearm my entire adult life.

 On court days, I would look out my window to see if any cops were lurking as they would have probable cause to pat-me-down due to my sworn testimony. I would then walk the six blocks to my barbershop where the proprietor allowed me to hide my carry piece until returning from the courthouse. To the credit of the Cincinnati Police Department, they never accosted me, preferring to let the case play out, but paranoia was paramount (note: we sorta lost the battle, but we won the war inasmuch as it forced the legislature to pass a permit system – full details, including a link to the Guns & Ammo Magazine feature article: www.chuckklein.com).

 Had I been arrested; my affirmative defense would have been:

* Death threats from perps I had arrested as a law enforcement officer and targets I had investigated as a P.I.

* Residence in a high crime area of the city.

* Trained in the use of lethal force.

* Employed as a licensed private investigator where most details were solitary investigations without radio contact or back-up and where targets were most reluctant to be served, found or interviewed … and known to be armed.

 Entering a large private boat docking facility, exigent circumstance forced me to temporarily pull my boat into someone else’s, albeit empty, slip. The slip’s owner, who had about three inches and 20 pounds on me and one too many drinks, came from behind, wrapped his arms around me and tried to wrestle me into the water. Fellow boaters pulled him away and by then the emergency was over and I moved my boat to an adjacent pier. In the haste, I ended up with one of his ropes and he had one of my buoys. A shouted exchange and we agreed to meet at the head-boat for the swap.

As he approached for the trade, I held up my hand – palm forward – and said, “Stop. Throw the buoy off to the side. Keep your hands where I can see them. I’ll toss your rope to the other side.” He paused, then stuck his hand out saying let’s be friends … as he took another step toward me.

I dropped the rope, pulled my .38spl Diamondback and took a chest-ready, two-hand hold while in a commanding voice repeated the instructions. Inasmuch as he was now sober enough to comprehend that there was disparity of size, he had committed a physical assault, had been drinking and was one-step away from being the recipient of lethal force … the confrontation was over.

In all this time, either as a P.I., LEO or private citizen, I’ve never had a firearm discovered - other than family/close friends I shared a hug with. Successful discreet carry depends on proper attire, secure holster and firearm size. Open carry or bulges on your hip send the message to the bad guys: shoot me first.

Some of the firearms I’ve carried, clockwise from top: Sig Sauer P230, .380ACP; S&W M37, .38Spl; Ruger LC 380, .380ACP; Colt Diamondback, .38Spl.; Glock M36, .45ACP;

None of these every-day-carries required physically cancelling a safety such as a 1911 in condition-3. My mindset was always to just pull the trigger. In dire situations crucial time can be lost fumbling for a safety when one is not present or squeezing the trigger when the safety hasn’t been released. Faced with an immediate need to draw and fire, the entire focus being on the threat, the mind can’t process the thought … what am I carrying today – does it need to have the safety clicked off or can I just stroke the trigger? In other words, whether your EDC utilizes a manual safety, or not, is a personal preference – just be consistent, i.e., always carry the same type of self-protection.

Finally, play the game, if only by yourself: “What would I do if…?” Run scenarios through your mind about being confronted with a lethal force situation, for example: entering a retail store or while filling your car with fuel, a man holding a firearm, wielding a baseball bat…. Each episode is unique as to when to draw, fire, take cover, stand-your-ground, retreat and/or call 911. Having conjured such events, you’ll be prepared rather than surprised and far less apt to over-react.

The second to last thing a morally responsible, prudent person wants to do is kill another human being regardless of how reprehensible, villainous or dangerous that person might be. The last thing this morally responsible, prudent person wants to do is be killed by that reprehensible, villainous and dangerous person.

Chuck Klein is a former Police Officer, Licensed Private Detective (ret.), author of a dozen books including: INSTINCT COMBAT SHOOTING, Defensive Handgunning for Police, 4^th Ed. and THE BADGE, Stories and Tales from Both Sides of the Law plus many firearm articles and columns. www.chuckklein.com