No, I'm actually glad you asked me, since it did make me stop and think in more detail what my actions would be.
A woman with a baby is probably the biggest target there is, in my opinion. There really is no information or advice on self defense when with an infant. They're immobile and wholly dependent on you, and your only inclination is to keep that baby safe, no matter what. For the average individual, that usually would mean letting the criminal have their way without any fight, and these criminals know that.
When in a parking lot, if I feel unsafe, which usually means I'm in a bad area, I have no qualms with testing the boundaries of brandishing. Before I even get out of the car I have a round chambered, safety off, and my hand is hovering near the pistol grip. For example, just the other day I was at at Shooters Supply...a very bad area. I had my son on my left hip and my right hand hovering at my gun as I walked to the door. Sure enough, a man saw me and began walking towards me asking for money for gas. I said no, continued towards the door, and he continued towards me, so I let my hand rest on my gun, he then suddenly stopped and walked away. I have no doubt in my mind that it was then that he had noticed that I was carrying, and was not inclined to seek out confrontation with a person already wary enough to act in the way I did. While this is questionable legally, then I honestly am ok with that, although in an area of Fayetteville such as that, I think you would be hard pressed to find a police officer interested in arresting a woman with a baby for doing as I did.
The carseat is probably our biggest vulnerability, because it requires two hands and attention. I angle my body my gun is facing outwards, and I take my time strapping him in, enough so that I can turn my head, scanning around me while I get him in all of the way. If anyone of a suspicious nature shows up in that vicinity, I close the car door, having already set the locks beforehand, and head over to my side of the car. This way my son is secured in the car, even if he's not strapped all of the way in, and if that person does still seek to confront me, my son is safely in the car. While this does open up the possibility of someone stealing the car with him inside of it, it is no more so of a risk than if I had stayed at his door to get him back out. By immediately closing the car and locking it upon sighting a person, I'm already sending a clear message that I see them and I they have me on guard, making me less of a target. If it is dark and we have to get in and out of the car I do so by climbing in the backseat with him. While this would probably be the best course of action overall, I honestly just can't stand doing it that way, but do if I feel the risk level necessitates it. If we were walking and someone did choose to engage in confrontation, my son would be on my left hip, with my arm wrapped around him, angling him away from the individual. Should I need to fire my gun, it would be at a very close range either way, as it would require the person coming towards me physically in a threatening manner. I would have to shoot one handed, which is certainly unideal, but, especially if it is practiced, it should not pose too much of an issue.
At the end of the day, openly carrying, while maintaining a hyper alert awareness of your surroundings is the best way to use a gun in self defense, in my opinion. By making it clear that I am are on guard, and I will not hesitate to use my weapon, I've gone from being an easy target to a confrontational one. I've eliminated the incentive associated with my status as a mother with an infant, and instead replaced it with a clear possible consequence for choosing me as an victim. All of these crimes that could occur while in public with my son are crimes of opportunity...if their ease is negated, visibly carrying a gun ensuring those around me can tell I am keeping an eye on the, negates the opportunity in the crime,.
