When you stretch, crunch, or squat, those are all opportune times to show your concealed carry handgun to the world. The problem? Not many people want to see it.

And depending upon where you are in the course of your daily activities, you may not want them to see it. We’ll go over some ways to reduce the chance of printing or showing your concealed carry handgun to others.

First, let’s define the term printing:  Printing refers to the outline of your gun becoming clearly visible through the fabric of your clothing.

Now, let’s define partially concealed:  Partially concealed refers to a gap in clothes coverage whereby your concealed carry handgun is now visible to others.

This can range from just a section of the gun or holster all the way to a full reveal.

Lastly, let’s define brandishing:  Brandishing is a legal term referring to the unlawful display of a firearm or weapon. It can be something as simple as you pulling up your shirt to reveal a handgun is holstered in your waistband all the way to you taking the handgun out of its holster for the purposes of intimidation. Both of these – and many shades of grey in-between – can be considered brandishing.

A concealed carry handgun is a private part – a piece of yourself that’s not always socially acceptable to show to others and, in doing so, you may get some unwanted attention.

1) Where’s the best place to adjust?

In a bathroom stall or private place outside the view of others.

2) When is it appropriate to show your firearm?

When you intend to use it.

3) Have most adults seen one before?

Probably.

4) Do they want to see yours?

Probably not unless they have specific reason to see it.

Perfect! That’s covered.

Now let’s talk about how we observe ourselves. Some people are just naturally more aware of how they carry themselves than others. This reflects in their choice of clothes, disposition, and how considerate they are to others.Remember, that has nothing to do with self-defense. But, discretion does help not draw attention to yourself or your legally holstered concealed carry firearm. Be the gray person!

Squatting down to pick up a box or heavy object is the correct way to lift. It’s something reinforced on any job site and strongly encouraged for concealed carriers in particular. If you’re using an inside the waistband concealed carry holster (IWB) with a backpad, there’s likely two belt clasps attaching your holster to your body. When you squat down, your belt will sag and if you’re wearing clothes that don’t cover your waist very well in this exposed position, at the very least the clasps will become visible. For the everyday carrier, we’ll pick up on this immediately when we see it. For those less trained, simply seeing the clasps become visible may likely pass their attention. For hardened, trained criminals, it will be an instant warning that you either need to be target priority #1 or they need to come up with a new plan.

Sitting and Bending You can offset the amount of gun gets shown by using a reinforced gun belt (1 1/2 to 2″ wide) Not only is it great for your lower back, but it also helps keep your holster/weapon steady while you’re squatting down. When sitting, this is another opportunity to accidentally show too much. Make sure to wear clothes that are flowing and break up the outline of the area where your holster is situated. Use a good concealed carry holster that contours to your body. And, again, a gun belt is recommended to keep your holster/weapon situated cleanly at the waistline.

If you’re going to reach for that object up high, this is going to cause the fabric on your torso and waist region to stretch and pull up to expose your weapon.

Tucked is better than non-tucked in these situations, because at least the fabric is held in place. Using an IWB holster that allows you to tuck in your shirt will assist you in not printing or accidentally showing to the rest of the people in the audience.

In conclusion, a lot of the issues surrounding bending, sitting, standing, or squatting can be alleviated by wearing the proper clothing and holster.

The number one cause of printing is a poor choice of clothing. While it’s fairly easy to conceal during the winter, it is more difficult during the hot summer months. Consider buying loose shirts for waist Carry and tucking in when possible when using a IWB ( inside waist band), bottom line choose the right holster.

Everyone’s body type differs, so it’s difficult to claim that one holster is better than another. For best results, try out multiple types — including shoulder holsters, waist, IWB and ankle holsters — to see what works best for you.

The way you move is just as important as what you wear. When concealing in your waistband, try bending with your knees instead of your waist. When wearing an ankle holster, avoid situations, in which you are required to stretch or reach.

Before leaving the house, ask a friend, spouse, or family member whether they can spot the outline of your firearm. If they know what they are looking for and can’t immediately find it, this usually indicates that it is concealed well.

While there are ways to conceal large firearms, some select a smaller size. No matter what size of firearm you decide is the best fit for you, be sure to use the correct holster and clothing to conceal it.

Hope that helps and we will see y’all down range soon!