Might consider an ankle holster, at least while driving. I live very rural, but whenever driving into Colorado Springs, I always put my secondary in an ankle holster because my primary would be too hard to get out quickly while in a seatbelt. When I have to drive in town, I pull my panties up above my ankle holster and take off the retaining strap. I’ve practiced this draw and can do it amazingly fast.
I live in a dicey area, one of the things I’ve learned when approaching any indication that I may have to stop, leave yourself about ten feet in the front. if may tick off the guy behind you but this enables you to 1- make a turn without having to do a three-point turn, it also leaves enough area in front of you, if someone hits you and tries to push you, you have enough room to maneuver out of the situation
I was never at Patch Barracks other than to go shopping at the BX! In the late 1970s I was stationed in Dallau—a place no one would ever know about, with the Army Air Defense Artillery 32nd AADCOM as a young army platoon leader. I later would go TDY to meet with the commander of the USEUCOM commander (O-10) and his general staff as an USAF field grade officer to discuss an upcoming weapon system called Joint STARS in which I worked as a program manager. Always loved the area, and was quite familiar with the Stuttgart area, particularly Zuffenhausen, picking up two new Porsches over the years!
WI is open carry, but I am in a powerchair. I don’t carry because of being able to get to it first. Tough rules we need to live by. Yes, it sucks.
I loved the area myself. Couldn’t get enough of it.
I remember the Baader Meinhof Gang very well. One of their members tried getting onto Patch with a fake ID to see how secure entrance was.
I spent time with the 32nd as well in Kaiserslautern from 90-92. Was actually my last tour before getting out.
Porsches? You must have loved the autobahn!
Anytime I’m in a conversation with someone about self-defense, I always try to drill the point home about always, always, ALWAYS being situationally aware and playing out “what if” scenarios in your head. You did both of these well and it definitely saved your butt in this situation. Cudos to you!
Welcome to the family brother’s @Aaron101 & @Robert955 , glad you brother’s could join us.
My solution: I have a Shadow Systems MR-918 (souped up Glock 19) with three mags in the car at all times. It lives in a cubby that is in the center under the stereo (just lucky my car has that) When not in the car, it either goes in the glovebox or is neatly covered with a folded black hand towel that matches the black interior of the car. The firearm is virtually undetectable from outside the car.
It is far too cumbersome to get to an EDC in your pants while seated. I also do Not carry hammer-based guns. A cocked hammer, with a round in the chamber and the safety off is a recipe for disaster. Lately, I have been carrying the Hellcat. It is a Very Comfortable 9 mm double stack carry. Hornaday Critical Defense on board.
One more thing: watch how the police stop at intersections. The smart ones Always leave a considerable gap in front of their cruiser as an escape route. You did the same basic thing - Great!
Always Know Your Surroundings!
Welcome to the family brother @Aaron101 and you are in the right place at the right time.
Welcome to the family brother @Jeffrey208 and God bless you.
This was really a thought provoking post. Thank you for taking the time to share it. I carry in the 4:00 position (both IWB and OWB, depending on clothing) and would have a similar issue with drawing while seat belted in my vehicle. I do, however, keep a second gun in my truck at all times, located in the pouch behind the passenger seat. It’s easily accessible and would be my first option in the situation you found yourself in.
Wow! It’s like you had a premonition about things to come. In reality, you have obviously done your homework on self awareness in potentially dangerous situations. Great job on situational awareness and positioning your car in a defensive and proactive position. Furthermore, your self-critique of what you did wrong in preparation for a possible confrontation, was spot on as well. Driving to the police department was a perfect decision. What if you are in a town you are not familiar, what could you do to stay safe?
Personally, I am not a fan of pocket carry because of the things you pointed out. When I’m in my vehicle, I have a loaded handgun immediately available and within my reach. I also keep my doors locked while traveling, especially when I’m at a stop. Watch your mirrors and out your windows.
What I try to do in those situations is I always leave at least a car length between the barrier such as a RR crossing gate or the car in front of me so in an emergency I can easily maneuver my way out of it. I try to stay ever vigilant at all times, sometimes it is impossible but 99% of the time with a little situational awareness you can expidate an escape if necessary.
Well done. We had a similar circumstance occur 4 years ago inside Joshua Tree NP, about 4 miles in from its south entrance (I-10 side). Wife and I were parked on the roadside inside her Jeep, watching the Perseid meteor shower about 0030 hours. In August, NO ONE is in JTNP. We were facing south in a roadside turnout. The first vehicle we see in 45 minutes comes our way northbound from I-10, and slows as it passes by us, but continues on its way northbound. I see it is a white Ford pickup with a cab-high camper shell.
Several minutes pass, and I see a vehicle now approaching from behind. I start the Jeep and put the shifter in “Reverse”, I can now see it is a very similar truck. The truck stops about 30 feet behind us and I see the driver’s door come open and the cab light come on. Two occupants. I shove the shifter into “Drive” and haul ass outta there when I see the driver start to get out. SIG P-220 in shoulder rig, just in case. They didn’t follow us. We can all surmise just what these jake-legs were up to.
Thanks for sharing this post. It is a concise summary of an everyday situation that could happen to anyone. Adding your Notes (+/-) and Lessons Learned made this even more instructive. Glad you’re OK.
I am impressed with the OP’s preplanning and alertness. It undoubtedly saved him a lot of problems.
Like you I’m not a fan of pocket carry but for a different reason. So many encounters today involve multiple attackers each with their own weapon and I just don’t feel like a gun that is capable of fitting in my pocket is going to provide me with enough defensive fire power should things go badly .
I cut my teeth on Sig DA/SA pistols and carry nothing smaller than a P229 or P226. I am armed every time I leave my home, even while mowing my property, but I’m not a fan of leaving a firearm in an unattended vehicle.
I am curious to know though, of the people participating in this conversation, how many of you have actually taken a class or practiced manipulating a firearm from inside your vehicle. I’m talking about actually drawing your weapon from it’s holster, presenting it towards the threat without flagging any portion of your body and making shots on target. I can almost promise you the first time you do it you will discover you have bugs to work out of your technique. A carjacking or robbery shouldn’t be the first time you try operating your firearm while seated behind the steering wheel
I would revise the stand on safety off. You should be able to do fine with safety on if you practice the draw.
Car magnets - as holster should be avoided as during collision your firearm can be flying…worst case scenario.
Car holsters - in general should be avoided. Consider the scenarios where you have to step out of car or when you can’t reach at it. Your best bet is to have it on you, in your possession all the time. Best carry option while driving is appendix carry with your shirt outside of belt that way you can access it even when belt is on and tight.
Anytime you have to leave the ground you want to make sure that you have things you will need. For example even at gas station you don’t walk out without your phone, IDs, keys etc after you scan the area and lock the car as soon as you are out.
Reminds me of a trip to Chicago I did when I was a pilot. We stayed in a hotel on the south side close to Midway Airport. We had a day off and a day trip to the downtown museum seemed in order for me and my copilot. We looked on a map of the city and found a road that went straight to downtown. Little did we realize we were about to drive straight through the famous South Side of Chicago. Things started to look a little strange with police cars everywhere and cops that had people handcuffed up against the wall being frisked. We stopped at a red light and quickly realized that was a mistake. There were several guys standing next the the signal pole and as soon as our car stopped they came off the curb toward us. One guy grabbed the door handle as I told the guy driving to RUN THE LIGHT. LETS GO.
Needless to say that was the last traffic light we stopped at. And we didn’t go back to the hotel down that road. Never again!’
keeping a dry erase marker in the vehicle can help getting a plate, just write it on the windshield.
I carry a 7+1 in my pocket as well. When driving I tuck it under my right thigh on the seat. Easy to draw quickly.