Pocket carry lesson...

[Afff_667]

I recently attended a community event held in a smaller Dallas suburb which shall go nameless to protect the guilty. Although I was not carrying since I had just come from work (another issue), there were no reasons why carrying in this public park and in this particular situation would have been prohibited. There were approximately 1,000 people in attendance at this event with probably as many or more kids than adults. My extended family alone included probably 25 folks bunched together. Since the event involved live performances on a stage, people were pretty much jammed together with lawn chairs, blankets, etc. Kids were milling around the audience area and running back and forth to the playground, etc. The scene is set....

After the last performance, my family were gathered around talking when one of my cousins pulled me off to the side and said that she had found something on the ground but wasn't sure if it was real. I looked down at her hands and she was holding cupped in them a small semi-automatic pistol that looked very real to me. I asked her quietly if she wanted me to take it, and she did. As soon as I took it, I realized that it wasn't some kid's toy. Instead of trying to unload it there among everyone, I made sure that it wasn't cocked and put it in my front pocket. I asked her where she found it, and she pointed to an area just behind the spot where one of my other relatives had been sitting in his folding lawn chair before he refolded and moved it in preparation for leaving.

At that point, I knew to whom the gun belonged and quietly pulled him aside and asked him if he was missing anything. He quickly answered that he wasn't but then checked for his wallet. It wasn't until he checked his other back pocket that his face turned white and he started looking all around. I told him that I had it and that we'd work out making the switch later.

I asked him what kind of holster he was using just to make sure that I never considered buying one like it, and he said that he simply had it in the back pocket of his jeans. No pocket holster, no nothing, just slipped into his jeans pocket. He said that he'd gotten into that habit and had never had a problem before....

He doesn't read this forum, so dog piling, no matter how well deserved, will do no good. In his defense, he's a very decent man, has not otherwise exhibited irresponsible behavior in the past, and had consistently demonstrated safe gun handling procedures before this. We had a chat.....

I thought maybe another lesson on the dangers of complacency might be worth a quick read.

[kidder014]

I'm just glad the situation was handled as it was. good job on your part.

[BigDan]

I'm glad an adult found it and not a child.

That said, how about making some suggestions for good pocket holsters so he can pass them on. =-]

[The Annoyed Man]

When I first bought and started carrying my Kimber Ultra, I had also purchased two spare magazines for it, which I carried in two magazine holders. I wasn't used to having two extras, and I somehow caught one of them on the door frame of my car as I was getting in or out of it. That caused the metal clip on the mag holder to get bent a little bit sideways, and pulled out so that it didn't clip to my belt as securely as before.

There is a nice Christian coffee shop a few blocks from my house, and one day soon after that thing got bent, my wife and I went there together. We had our coffee, and left. When we got home, I realized that I was missing a magazine holder. I couldn't find it anywhere in the car, and when I drove back to the coffee shop, it wasn't on the ground near where I had been parked. So I went inside and called one of the guys behind the counter over (we are regulars there). I said "I think I might have left something...", and before I could finish the sentence, he grinned, leaned over the counter and discretely handed me my mag holder. I felt sheepish as heck, but I grinned, and said, "just so you know, it is all nice and legal." He just winked, chuckled, and I went on my way.

Lesson learned.

[Dan20703]

+1 for you and your family. Looks like they were brought up not to panic and did the correct thing. I will bet that the guy that dropped it will be getting a pocket holster for future carry.
Glad it all worked out well.

[dukalmighty]

Good thing somebody responsible found it and with a little detective work a tragedy of catastrophic proportions was averted but for the heroic and unassuming responsibility you took upon yourself....I'm saying good job

[SRizz21]

I would recommend getting a cheap uncle mike's holster...I got one for like $12. Much better option than having to worry about my LCP dropping out of my pocket.

[Roshi]

Good handling of the situation. I like the Desantis Nemesis and Fly holsters. Both are "sticky" in your pocket but allow a quick draw. Both are under $ 30 so there is no excuse for not having one.

Before they were available, I'd use an Uncle Mike's soft holster by removing the belt clip. This is also better than bare pocket carry.

Bare pocket carry can also wear holes in your pocket quickly and load the gun up with lint.

[Mark F]

Whew... that was close.

What if someone else found it. The possibilities are staggering and quite scary. There is a MASSIVE responsibility in carrying a concealed firearm. This time the situation worked out OK, he won't be so lucky if there's ever a next time...

GREAT JOB handling!