Concealed carry at Movie Theater

[aich]

I always have the rule "Dont point gun at something unless you are willing to destroy it" in my head. When Im at the movies seated, the gun is pointing at the person sitting in front of me. It really bothers me. I know the gun will not go off unless I want it to and even though the trigger is covered in my crossbreed it is violating that rule. Mechanical failures can happen. Murphys Law can happen. anything can happen. My point is how do you all carry at the movies without violating the rule? I carry at 1 oclock in a crossbreed holster ..thank you for the help

 

[Firefighterchen]

I am interested in what everyone has to say here as well. I have similar issues when I pocket carry in public places where I am sitting (theatre, restaurant, etc), I do try to keep my knee pointed in a safe direction, but like in the OP, the movie theatre it's very hard to do so.

In fact, not to hijack the thread, a lot of times when I sit down while pocket carrying, the firearm is pointing directly at my other thigh/knee. Do others have this happen as well? Also like in the OP, I fully trust my firearm to only discharge when I want it to, but I like to practice safety as much as possible.

 

[roguejesse]

I don't see how your firearm is pointed at the person in front of you, carrying the firearm in a holster around your waist. At the 1:00, the barrel is pointed at your femoral artery, or your family jewels. That is if you're seated in a civilized manner, and not slouching like some gangsta. Even then I find it to be a stretch.

Care to elaborate on your seating position?

 

[jg1967]

Not an issue for me at all since in my State you can't carry at all anywhere where admission is charged ... :girl_wacko:

 

[mappow]

True that JG.
I would add that when I CC in a shoulder holster the people behind me have a .45 pointing at em. Good thing I'm CONCEALED CARRYING. The safety issue is usually good while holstered but those that CC a BUG in your pocket. I think its nuts. Unless a firearm is properly holstered, the chance of "Accidental Discharge" is greater. Again, the nuts thingy or femoral artery or some unsuspecting by-stander. JMHO

 

[geuse 21]

You can change your carry position. I carry in my lower back, no matter what I do it is always pointed at the ground. I may shoot my butt off, but no one else.

 

[Lowjiber]

I fail to see how a weapon carried IWB is pointed at the person in front of you.

Additionally, having read the thread, I realize that one could use your "no point at anyone" rule to completely eliminate carrying a firearm...period.

Respectfully, I just think that you're over-thinking the entire matter.

 

[Rocketgeezer]

If you are that worryed, that you cannot practice proper weapon control, keep the mag in it but take the live rd out of the chamber befor you go in, then if you say if a rds not chambered you may not be ready if the gun is needed, your safety senario is a moot point

 

[wolf_fire]

In my training, the two safest conditions for your gun to be are 1) disassembled on the table, and 2) in your holster. There is no chance (as long as your holster covers the trigger) that your gun can go off in these two conditions.

With that said, let's address your main concern about having your gun holstered and pointed at the guy in front of you. I have tried to place my holster in several position around my waistband, sit down and get the gun to point in front of me. I could not do it. Then I thought that you may have your gun pocket holstered either in your front pocket or in a side cargo pocket. Both situations would have the gun "pointed" at the person in front of you.

I don't even like pointing a training pistol at someone, and I can understand your uncomfortableness. However the cardinal rule in question of "never allow the muzzle to cross over or point at anything you are not willing to destroy" seems to me to be directed toward a gun that is not holstered. If you are sitting and having it point forward and feel uncomfortable about it, I would try one of the IWB or OWB carry holsters. While sitting, it will either be pointing into your leg or straight down.

 

[Phillip Gain]

The NRA's Three Rules of Safe Gun Handling:

1) Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction
2) Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot
3) Keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it​

I often get asked questions like this. Obviously when you carry a gun, it's loaded, and pointed wherever the holster points. IWB holsters point at your leg. Shoulder rigs point at your hip, or at the person behind you. On and on. So it seems like you're violating 2 of the 3 rules at all times! What's a citizen to do??

The answer lies in the name of the rules. The rules are for Safe Gun Handling.

When the gun is properly secured in a holster, you are not handling it. It is stored, static. Just the same as if it were in a case or shipping container.

Because you are carrying it for self-defense, it must be ready to use at any time. Therefore, it is to be kept loaded.

One of the most dangerous scenarios out there is transitioning the gun from this stored and static state to an active and in-use state. In other words, drawing from a holster. There is a very real risk of shooting yourself in the leg or the weak-side arm. And there is also a very real risk of "sweeping" unintended targets (or worse, shooting an unintended target) while drawing, creating a gross violation of Rule #1.

There is a lot of time devoted to proper drawing technique during the NRA Personal Protection Outside The Home course. For this reason, I strongly recommend this course to EVERYONE who carries a handgun on a daily basis.

 

[MCMXI]

I wouldn't worry about it. A holstered weapon is a safe weapon. I carry at 3:00 in a CB. I don't give it a second thought once my shirt goes over it.

I don't see it as you breaking any of the rules. As another poster stated, the rules apply when the weapon is in your hand, or maybe at the range if you lay it on the bench.

YMMV

 

[wmodavis]

Why are there four rules, instead of only one?
Because each one of the four rules provides one layer of safety.
If you violate only one rule, the chances are that no one will be harmed.
It requires a violation of at least two of the rules in order for any significant harm to result.

1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Never point the gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target (and you have made the decision to shoot).
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

 

[olsparky]

I'll echo Phillip's comments. In a proper holster (trigger covered and unlikely to fallout out of the holster with normal body movement) the gun is in a safe position. If you are that concerned about an accidental discharge, don't carry with a chambered round.

I applaud your commitment and concern for the safety of others, and your willingness to be a responsible armed citizen. I wish every gun owner had that level of awareness.

 

[Deserteagle]

Take your gun, load it, and put it on your kitchen table for a week. Check every day to see if it shot itself. If it does not shoot itself, then dont worry about where it points while holstered.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Why are there four rules, instead of only one?
Because each one of the four rules provides one layer of safety.
If you violate only one rule, the chances are that no one will be harmed.
It requires a violation of at least two of the rules in order for any significant harm to result.

1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Never point the gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target (and you have made the decision to shoot).
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

I prefer the 3 rules Gain mentioned earlier. I prefer Canada's rules over Coopers rules in this instance as well. I do like Gain's point about rules being for handling a firearm, not storing the firearm.

 

[wolf_fire]

The NRA's Three Rules of Safe Gun Handling:

1) Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction
2) Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot
3) Keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it​

I often get asked questions like this. Obviously when you carry a gun, it's loaded, and pointed wherever the holster points. IWB holsters point at your leg. Shoulder rigs point at your hip, or at the person behind you. On and on. So it seems like you're violating 2 of the 3 rules at all times! What's a citizen to do??

The answer lies in the name of the rules. The rules are for Safe Gun Handling.

When the gun is properly secured in a holster, you are not handling it. It is stored, static. Just the same as if it were in a case or shipping container.

Because you are carrying it for self-defense, it must be ready to use at any time. Therefore, it is to be kept loaded.

One of the most dangerous scenarios out there is transitioning the gun from this stored and static state to an active and in-use state. In other words, drawing from a holster. There is a very real risk of shooting yourself in the leg or the weak-side arm. And there is also a very real risk of "sweeping" unintended targets (or worse, shooting an unintended target) while drawing, creating a gross violation of Rule #1.

There is a lot of time devoted to proper drawing technique during the NRA Personal Protection Outside The Home course. For this reason, I strongly recommend this course to EVERYONE who carries a handgun on a daily basis.

Well said. The cardinal rules of gun safety are for when you are handling it. One of the safest conditions for your loaded weapon is in your holster (as long as the holster covers the trigger).

 

[jg1967]

The NRA's Three Rules of Safe Gun Handling:

1) Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction
2) Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot
3) Keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it​

I often get asked questions like this. Obviously when you carry a gun, it's loaded, and pointed wherever the holster points. IWB holsters point at your leg. Shoulder rigs point at your hip, or at the person behind you. On and on. So it seems like you're violating 2 of the 3 rules at all times! What's a citizen to do??

The answer lies in the name of the rules. The rules are for Safe Gun Handling.

When the gun is properly secured in a holster, you are not handling it. It is stored, static. Just the same as if it were in a case or shipping container.

Because you are carrying it for self-defense, it must be ready to use at any time. Therefore, it is to be kept loaded.

One of the most dangerous scenarios out there is transitioning the gun from this stored and static state to an active and in-use state. In other words, drawing from a holster. There is a very real risk of shooting yourself in the leg or the weak-side arm. And there is also a very real risk of "sweeping" unintended targets (or worse, shooting an unintended target) while drawing, creating a gross violation of Rule #1.

There is a lot of time devoted to proper drawing technique during the NRA Personal Protection Outside The Home course. For this reason, I strongly recommend this course to EVERYONE who carries a handgun on a daily basis.

And there we have it. The gun is in a holster, the safest practical place to keep it in and still be on your person. With a decent holster that should suffice.

 

[The_Outlaw]

I always have the rule "Dont point gun at something unless you are willing to destroy it" in my head. When Im at the movies seated, the gun is pointing at the person sitting in front of me. It really bothers me. I know the gun will not go off unless I want it to and even though the trigger is covered in my crossbreed it is violating that rule. Mechanical failures can happen. Murphys Law can happen. anything can happen. My point is how do you all carry at the movies without violating the rule? I carry at 1 oclock in a crossbreed holster ..thank you for the help

May I suggest that you start carrying at your 4 0'clock position?
That way your firearm would be pointing towards the ground instead.

 

[aich]

May I suggest that you start carrying at your 4 0'clock position?
That way your firearm would be pointing towards the ground instead.

Thank you everyone for the replies!

I would carry at 4 o'clock but i carry a decent sized hand gun (Walther PPQ) Not to say anything smaller is not decent this is just what I have at the moment. I cannot conceal carry it at 4'oclock as the grip will stick out from my back and look weird.

I really like the idea of going to the movies without loading one in the chamber. This is a good compromise as I think I'd have enough time to rack one in in the dark room should the need arise. Unless somebody is behind me or to my side in which case im already done for.

 

[CharlesMorrison]

You all need to get over yourself. If the "golden rule" is to worry every time your weapon is pointed at someone, IN YOU HOLSTER, might as well leave the gun at home.
You have to pull the trigger on all firearms to make them go bang. I carry pocket guns with no holster and I don't worry. It's a DAO trigger and it's the only thing in that pocket during carry.
Be adults and follow safety guidelines and you'll be fine.
I carry every where so my gun is pointed at someone at some point in the day but I don't panic about it.