Having been a resident of Az. for many years, I'm a big proponent of the right to carry as we so please, and without having to ask any government entity for their approval. However, I think it's advisable to consider all elements of safety and security, disadvantages and advantages of either CC or OC, to which I would like to address.
I've carried OC in Az. and New Mexico since about 1972 without incident, and up until about 8 years ago I never gave it much thought regarding firearm retention, would someone actually try to take a gun out of someone else's holster? The short answer is Yes, it can and does happen.
I was standing in line at a convenience store waiting to pay for my merchandise. This young thug, yes, I profiled him prior to the incident, kept staring at me. I figured he was just eye balling me because I was wearing a plainly visible S&W M66 snubby. I tried to keep my eye's on him, but because this store had two separate lines, I was also having to divide my attention between him and the other couple shady looking characters in front of and behind me. When the moment was right, or while my attention was momentarily distracted, he grabbed the grip of my gun, yanked on it a couple of times whilke trying to unsnap it. I was actually some what frozen for a second, I think I was in a state of disbelief as well surprised that this was actually occurring. I did respond by coming down hard on his wrist with my elbow, thus breaking his hold. At that instant he threw his hands up, stating i'm just playing dog, I'm just playing. I immediately stepped back to give myself some distance between us, already had my hand on the gun, then told him he almost got himself shot. He complied, I paid for my merchandise, end of story.
However, I learned a lot about carrying that day, especially regarding OC-ing. First off, I really appreciated the fact that I was wearing a decent retention holster. Despite the fact that he was trying to unsnap it in that second or two, he was unable to do so because he didn't understand how the retention strap functions, thank God. This said, I think it's safe to say that wearing a good retention holster is key when OC-ing, as is situational awareness. I give myself an "A" for picking a good holster, but an "F" for my lacking awareness on that day. BTW, the holster is an Uncle Mike's.
I have also looked back on how I responded post incident, and I think it would have been very appropriate to have dialed "911", rather than letting or rather ordering him to leave.
S&W
I've carried OC in Az. and New Mexico since about 1972 without incident, and up until about 8 years ago I never gave it much thought regarding firearm retention, would someone actually try to take a gun out of someone else's holster? The short answer is Yes, it can and does happen.
I was standing in line at a convenience store waiting to pay for my merchandise. This young thug, yes, I profiled him prior to the incident, kept staring at me. I figured he was just eye balling me because I was wearing a plainly visible S&W M66 snubby. I tried to keep my eye's on him, but because this store had two separate lines, I was also having to divide my attention between him and the other couple shady looking characters in front of and behind me. When the moment was right, or while my attention was momentarily distracted, he grabbed the grip of my gun, yanked on it a couple of times whilke trying to unsnap it. I was actually some what frozen for a second, I think I was in a state of disbelief as well surprised that this was actually occurring. I did respond by coming down hard on his wrist with my elbow, thus breaking his hold. At that instant he threw his hands up, stating i'm just playing dog, I'm just playing. I immediately stepped back to give myself some distance between us, already had my hand on the gun, then told him he almost got himself shot. He complied, I paid for my merchandise, end of story.
However, I learned a lot about carrying that day, especially regarding OC-ing. First off, I really appreciated the fact that I was wearing a decent retention holster. Despite the fact that he was trying to unsnap it in that second or two, he was unable to do so because he didn't understand how the retention strap functions, thank God. This said, I think it's safe to say that wearing a good retention holster is key when OC-ing, as is situational awareness. I give myself an "A" for picking a good holster, but an "F" for my lacking awareness on that day. BTW, the holster is an Uncle Mike's.
I have also looked back on how I responded post incident, and I think it would have been very appropriate to have dialed "911", rather than letting or rather ordering him to leave.
S&W
