Now that it is widely legal in the United States to carry a concealed handgun, it’s important to consider a few key things when it comes to safety. Your number one priority should be to keep yourself safe when carrying your gun in public because you could lose your permit if anything goes wrong. The decision to carry is a big one and should not be taken lightly, so here are 3 tips to safely carrying your gun in public.

Choosing the Right Holster

If you plan on carrying a slightly larger gun, go ahead and get yourself a concealed shoulder holster so that you can comfortably handle it. If you plan on carrying a smaller gun, such as a miniature pistol, look no further than a hip holster to give you ease of access while tucked into a waistbelt.

Safely Disarming Yourself

At the end of the day when it comes time to undress, remember to remove the entire holster with the firearm in it, then remove the firearm. This will ensure that your finger is not near the trigger after a long day out when you could be fatigued and lackadaisical. Always treat your weapon as if it were loaded.

Practice at Home

Get used to walking around with your weapon around the house first before taking it into public. No one will feel comfortable around you if you don’t feel comfortable with yourself in this situation. Obviously, if you have been around guns and have used them for a very long time, you’ll likely need less time to get the hang of this compared to someone handling a gun for the first time.

With these tips in mind, also remember that you likely decided to begin carrying a concealed weapon out of concern for the safety of yourself and others. As always, keep up to date on current laws and policies in your state to continue safely carrying your concealed weapon.