Carrying While Wearing Business Attire - US Concealed Carry

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CARRYING WHILE WEARINGBUSINESS ATTIRETable of ContentsIntroductionby Cody S. AldersonThe Suit Offers Great ConcealmentOverweight Versus Under-WeightUsing Natural CamouflageQuick Access Versus Deep ConcealmentDrawing From an IWB HolsterAnother “Tuckable” IWB DesignSuit Coat Versus Sport CoatWearing a Vest With a SuitThe BeltSmartCarry Brand Lower Abdomen Deep Concealment HolsterAnkle HolstersShoulder HolstersThe TieSuspendersWear And TearOff-Body CarrySpare MagazinesCompression Tee Shirts and Other OptionsIn ConclusionNoteResources446788101111111213141415151617171818183© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.

IntroductionCody S. AldersonCARRYING WHILE WEARINGBUSINESS ATTIREThe Suit Offers GreatConcealmentEmployment that requires wearing formal business attireautomatically subjects employees to levels of risk that makeit even more appropriate to be armed. Even if it is not thejob that increases risk to the person, the simple fact of wearing asuit makes a person appear to be a more lucrative target for thecriminal element. A guy in a suit or a woman in business attirewill usually accessorize with better jewelry and watches. It is justthe thing a criminal is interested in.It would be nice if every office job or place of employment thatrequires business attire would simply encourage their employeesto be trained and armed. However, that is far from what actuallyoccurs. Even attorneys and others who work in our court systemsmust disarm as they walk the halls of a building that by reasonof its purpose has a higher concentration of sociopaths persquare foot.No one should make himself a felon by carrying any weapon in aplace where it is illegal to do so. However, there are places whereit is not against the law to carry, but they may come with the riskof being asked to leave or being in violation of a company policythat could result in termination of employment. Some states havestatutes making it a firearms violation when someone brings aweapon onto property that prohibits the possession of weapons.In other words, the state that one lives in may have a law thatmakes it a firearms crime if a person is caught carrying a weaponon private property where it is posted no weapons are allowedeven if the person has a permit.The nice thing about a business suit is that it comes with acoat that is expected to be worn. That is a very good thing.For those in public who are wearing casual attire, thephotographers vest is often used as a cover garment. On a hotsummer day it just looks weird. Untucked shirts are actually thisauthor’s favorite casual cover garment. I can conceal a largecaliber weapon since I’m a heavy guy and have been wearinguntucked button-down shirts for years. People expect to see medressed that way. However, an untucked shirt does not work asbusiness attire.In all of the places I have ever carried concealed, my gun was onlynoticed twice. The first time was when I was wearing a pancakeholster on my hip and reached overhead to do something. WhenI did, my shirt went up in the back. Someone coming down thestairs saw my gun. No one else was in the area with me, andthe person who noticed the gun had just come down the stairsas I was reaching overhead. He asked me if the gun was real.Though he saw it and it was obvious it was “real” and in a “real”holster, he couldn’t process it in his mind that someone in closeproximity to him had a gun—and in fact a real gun. Not beingable to comprehend a civilian with a legally possessed gun, thewords popped out of his mouth asking me if the gun was real.Other states may only charge such a violator with a trespassingviolation. Still, other jurisdictional authorities may only beallowed to force a violator to leave the premises. This report isnot going to delve into the legal ramifications of carrying on thejob or anywhere else where one is wearing business attire. It isonly going to go into a few of the ways of carrying while wearingbusiness attire.4Here is a pancake style holster worn on the belt. Though it offers quick accessto a handgun, it is one of the methods of carry that is easiest to spot. (Noticethe model is not wearing an adequate gun belt. We did not have one to fit himat the time.)© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.

The second time was almost the same thing. My shirt went up inthe back and revealed just the bottom of the holster and a verystreetwise guy saw it. He had to have been watching me to noticeit. I hesitate in calling him a thug, but he surely fit any profile ofone that any of us could come up with.The business suit has a built in cover garment that can be veryeffective. If one is the type who never has occasion to removehis suit coat, then the combination of the coat and an insidethe-waistband(IWB) holster is almost the perfect concealmentmethod for a carry gun. The IWB holster gets everything belowthe grip of the gun down inside the pants behind the belt. SomeIWB holsters get the grip below the belt as well. I only like theones that have the grip of the gun above the belt line, but the IWBholster is great at providing another layer of concealment for alarge portion of the gun. The suit coat takes care of the rest. Evenif you have to reach overhead or bend fully at the waist, since thegun is in an IWB holster, it will be unidentifiable except by thosewho are trained to spot weapons. Carrying a wallet on the gunside while wearing the IWB holster just to the right of the rearpocket can hide even a big 1911 .45 ACP.Here is a suit coat worn over the pancake holster. The bulge is noticeable.Choosing suits that are cut to fit a bit more loose will fix this problem. Thereare many different styles of suits. Tell your clothier what you are lookingto accomplish.From the front, a pancake holster is invisible.5© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.

Overweight Versus Under-WeightIn plain language, a fat person can hide a gun better than areally skinny person can. People expect to see a bulge or twoon the big guy. After all, he will at least have love handles anda pot belly. The extra bit of real estate a gun occupies on his bodyis more likely to go unnoticed. It has a lot to do with how we lookat people. Guys who spend their free time ogling women will paymore attention to the body part they are most interested in. It isn’tnews to anyone that some men have a preference for legs whileothers may have a preference for breasts or bottoms. A womancould hide a bazooka on top of her head and many guys wouldnot even notice it. However, if she put a little .380 in her bra someogler would notice the out of place bulge.Years ago I knew a guy who was so skinny that I could almostwear his belt around my bicep without it falling off. We checkedit out one day after I made a joke about my arm being as big ashis waist. Of course that was back when my arms had a lot moremuscle. There was no place on that guy’s body where he couldeffectively hide even a compact 9mm. That is until the fashionchanged. When everything went baggy, he could hide a MAC-10 and no one would notice. There is a method to the madnessof those who carry concealed and never get made. They realizethat wardrobe needs to be adapted to carrying a gun more thanthe gun to the wardrobe. If you like your business attire to fit likeSpandex, there isn’t much this report can help you with.Our preconceptions and prejudices make it tougher for a reallyskinny guy to hide a gun. A fat person as well as a rail-thin personwill be more scrutinized because each is a novelty in public. Wemore closely scrutinize those who don’t look like everyone else.However, an interesting thing is happening in the US where thosewho were once considered fat are now considered normal dueto the population at large dramatically increasing in weight. Thereally skinny guy now gets as much scrutiny as a really fat guy.People will look at his skinny arms, legs and waist. In fact, I hearda man comment today on how skinny another man was.Here is a 1911 in a Blackhawk SERPA holster under the suit coat of our model.As long as he is standing still and upright, it is not noticeable. The SERPAholster is a fantastic holster, but it is hard polymer, unyielding and sticks outunder clothes. It works perfectly for some applications, but probably shouldnot be a first choice for use with business attire. If our model bends, twists orbumps into something, his gun might be discovered.Here is the SERPA with the suit coat out of the way.6© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.

Using Natural CamouflageNature teaches that it is beneficial to go unseen amongpredators. There are incredible examples of naturalcamouflage in the wild. We can use natural camouflage aswell to hide a gun. Our society has rules. When someone stepsoutside of the accepted norm of attire for the environment, he orshe gets noticed. A guy in a business suit at a punk rock concert isgoing to stand out. A guy with pink hair and face tattoos is goingto stand out in the office even if he is wearing a suit. The naturalcamouflage in the business world is just not looking or actingdifferent than anyone else. The opposite of camouflage is contrast.Survivalists teach to stand out in stark contrast to the environmentwhen seeking rescue. It is why blaze, or florescent, orange is usedby hunters afield. When carrying concealed in any environment, itis prudent to be aware when you might be contrasting against theenvironment you are in.A pocket pistol carried in the front pocket might get noticedbecause of the bulge. In a back pocket carried in an appropriateholster, it looks like a wallet. It is not usually recommended tocarry a gun in the back pocket even using a good pocket holster,but if that is the only choice available it is up to the person carrying.The problem is the constant torsional twisting and pressure puton the gun from sitting and standing. It is not so much a worryof an uncocked double action pistol going off as it is a concernover long term structural damage occurring, especially withpolymer pistols. Also, a chiropractor would warn against it forthe pressure it causes on the bottom and how it may contribute tospinal misalignment.Side view of Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm in front pocket of suit pants. Bigger pocketsand a fuller fit would completely hide this pistol. This is why it is importantto work out the carry method before shopping for clothes. In the dressingroom of the suit store, the buyer can test out the pockets to see if a gun canbe adequately hidden.Our model carrying a Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm in the front pocket of suit pantsinside a Galco Pocket Protector holster. The suit pants on this model are tootight to completely conceal the gun. He would need to choose a fuller cut forthe suit to accommodate concealing a pocket holster.The same gun and holster carried in the back pocket of the same suit. Again,these suit pants are not of a cut that is full enough to totally conceal the gunor make it easy to draw. Baggy does have benefits over tight tailoring, but realbaggy has not been in style with suits since the Zoot Suits of the 30s and 40s.However, there are stylish brands of suits that have a looser cut than the onethis model is wearing.7© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.

The suit coat itself is a wonderful piece of natural camouflage.It is expected to be worn with the suit and can cover big pistolsand revolvers on the belt, inside the waistband and even shoulderholster rigs. The coat still looks normal in public whether it is ahot summer day or blustery winter morning. It is expected to beseen on the person wearing a suit. The problem occurs at officeswhere all of the guys take off their suit coats when at their desksor in meetings. If that is the case, then the odd man out who is stillwearing his coat will be scrutinized. He will be in stark contrast tohis current environment.Another subtle form of natural camouflage for “tuckable” holstersis wearing a shirt that is not tailor fit to the body. Guys in topphysical condition do not need to wear a tight fitting dress shirtto look good. Put away the narcissism and wear a shirt that isjust slightly roomy at the waist. These types of dress shirts areperfect for concealing a firearm in a tuckable IWB holster whichcan allow a jacket to be removed in some work environments.(See the section titled Drawing From an IWB Holster.)The issue of quick access versus deep concealment is a concerndue to how most civilian lethal threat encounters play out. Threatsusually manifest and are over within seconds. A situation candevelop and be over literally before some civilians can draw andfire a weapon on target due to their chosen mode of carry. If it isat all possible to carry in a manner that offers quick access overdeep concealment, always choose quick access. However, if deepconcealment is the top priority, then it is better to be armed with agun that takes longer to get to rather than having no gun at all.An IWB holster offers deeper concealment over a belt holster butstill allows for a quick and smooth draw when the grip of the gunrides above the belt line. It is a tradeoff of possibly getting tangledup in a shirt or other cover garment while making the draw butis still a great option for deploying a concealed firearm on targetquickly. When the shirt is worn over a holster such as a GalcoKing Tuk IWB holster, it slows the draw due to the need to firstraise the shirt to reveal the grip of the gun.Quick Access Versus DeepConcealmentIn all things carrying concealed, there are tradeoffs. It is whythere are so many pistols and revolvers filling up the gun storecases. It is why there are whole catalogs filled with holsters andother carry gear and garments. Ideally we would all just have a nicebattle rifle with us every day. That is not practical even on a ranchor farm let alone in an office. Practicality for use and operationalenvironment is why we have so many choices. However, a noviceneeds to carefully consider each of the tradeoffs because theyvery well could have a direct effect on his lifespan during a lethalthreat encounter.Large calibers are simply better suited to stopping a threat.However, we have smaller calibers that are easier to carry andconceal. It is a tradeoff. How far are you personally willing togo? We have the belt holster without any straps, levers or otherretaining options for the gun. It is the fastest holster to drawfrom, but it is also the easiest holster to lose a gun from. An ankleholster is one of the slowest to draw from (except when seated).How far are you willing to go to sacrifice the retention capabilityof your holster? How far are you willing to go in sacrificing speedof response during a lethal threat encounter? There are lowerabdomen holsters that carry a gun concealed below the bellybutton inside the pants. They are slower to draw from than a beltholster but can offer an incredible deep concealment advantage.Drawing From an IWB HolsterDrawing from either a belt holster or IWB holster is prettymuch the same—get the cover garment out of the way anddraw the gun. Most of the time it is easier to quickly get abetter grip on a gun that is in a belt holster rather than one that is inan IWB holster. Consistent practice with the carry method makesall the difference.In the accompanying photos, our model is showing both a pancakestyle holster worn on a belt and a tuckable holster. The suit coat canbe quickly cleared away from the gun to facilitate the drawstrokefrom a belt holster. It would be the same for an IWB holster that isnot covered with a shirt. For the tuckable holsters that have a shirtover the gun, it requires pulling the shirt up and out of the pants toclear the gun so it can be drawn.It is easy to get a good grip and draw from most any belt holster.8© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.

Drawing from a Galco KingTuk IWB holster is almost the sameas drawing from a belt holster. Just give a bit more diligence tonot tangle the gun up in the shirt on the draw. However, if theshirt is tucked into the pants over the gun to take advantage ofthe holster’s “tuckable” feature, the shirt must be cleared to getat the gun. The shirt has to be pulled free of its tucked positionand raised high enough to fully expose the grip of the gun. Thedrawstroke is then commenced.The model is carrying a 1911 .45 ACP in Commander size under this shirt in aGalco KingTuk holster. The slightly loose fitting shirt completely conceals thegun. The metal clip seen on the belt is the only revealing thing that anythingis there. There is a fix for that. Swap out the standard metal belt clips for theC-hook shown in the next photo.Get the shirt completely out of the way when using the “tuckable” feature ofthe so-called “tuckable” holsters on the market.With your shooting hand ready to get a proper grip on the gun,use your other hand to pull the shirt up and out of the pants all theway up to the arm pit. Be aggressive with this move to fully clearthe cover garment away from the weapon. Then, get a proper gripon the gun and draw it the same as you would from a belt holster.Present the gun on target using the method you have been trainedin. Just realize that if you normally draw the gun straight up andthen cant the muzzle forward before moving the gun toward thetarget, you may get the muzzle hung up in the fabric of the shirt.These are just a few things to think about when practicing.Here is a C-hook that can be used in place of the standard metal clips ontuckable holsters. The C-hook can barely be seen on a belt.9© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.

Another “Tuckable” IWB DesignThe Galco UDC (Ultra Deep Cover) holster uses a J-hook to hold the holsterin place. The shirt can be tucked between the J-hook and the holster. Theholster is made out of premium horsehide with a reinforced top to help keepthe holster from collapsing when the gun is drawn. Horsehide is much tougherthan cowhide. This holster has the rough side out to help keep it from slidingaround. Photo used with permission.Here is an overlay graphic of where and how the holster is designed to becarried. Photo used with permission.Drawing the gun requires pulling the shirt up in a much more aggressivemanner than this photo shows. Photo used with permission.Here is the bottom of the J-hook shown on a brown belt. It is the only thingvisible. To the untrained observer it is very unlikely to be thought to be aholster. Photo used with permission.10© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.

Suit Coat Versus Sport CoatSome jobs allow sport coats (jackets) rather than the traditionalsuit coat. A sport coat usually has the pocket flaps, if notactual pockets. If you can get one with pockets, all thebetter. A flat lightweight pistol can be carried in one pocket and aspare magazine in the other for balance. As an instructor, I alwaysrecommend using a holster for the gun and a magazine pouch inanother pocket for the spare magazine for this carry method. Besure to never carry anything else in a pocket where a gun or sparemagazine is present.It may be thought that the weight of a gun and magazine in thepockets of a sport coat will be a dead giveaway. Sport coats bytheir very nature look a little less polished and sometimes a bitrough when compared to a quality suit coat. It is dressing down.A little less will be expected so a little less will be noticed. Nowbanging onto an edge of a desk or filing cabinet with a pocket thatcontains a pistol will catch some unwanted attention. On the otherhand, the savvy concealed carry civilian always has somethingready to explain things away, and it does not have to be a lieeither. A tactical flashlight carried in a combo magazine/flashlightpocket holster can be shown to the curious. Just remind them ofthe people on 9/11 who had no light to get out of a building ortell them how the bright light can be used to buy time if accostedin the parking garage. Concealment sometimes includes the artof redirection.If the sport coat comes off at work, then the gun is unsecured.If you wear the coat all day, then it is not a problem. Anytimea gun goes off-body it presents myriad safety concerns that donot exist with on-body carry. Think things through. You are100% responsible for your gun. If it is misused, you are the onegoing to jail.Shoulder holsters, lower abdomen holsters and ankle holstersare options. Except for the shoulder holster, these other ways ofcarrying a concealed handgun are at the bottom of my tacticalpreferential list due to the time it takes to get a shot on targetafter it has been deemed necessary to shoot to defend life. Again,it is about tradeoffs. Drawing from a lower abdomen holster canbe fast if practice is consistent and maintained. The thing is thatmost civilians do not consistently practice to maintain proficiencyskills. Absolute need versus tactical prudence and whether thecarry method requires extensive and consistent practice are thevariables to constantly consider.The BeltAs it is of vital importance in casual wear to have a belt that isspecifically designed for holding up both the pants and a gun,it holds true in business attire as well. Suit belts purchasedat the store where the suit was purchased are highly unlikely toget the wearer one that will both meet a fashion ideal and tacticalnecessity. Buy your belt from a gunleather maker. Get one that isdesigned for more formal wear yet still specifically made strongenough to support a gun.For this report we actually didn’t have a gunleather belt to fit themodel. If he was going to be going to work carrying using thebelt and IWB methods we have shown here, we would insist thathe put away his belt for a real gun belt like the Galco SB 3 DressBelt in tan, black or Havana Brown. They also have sizes for bigmen that go beyond what is listed on the website. Just call themor email them and ask.Wearing a Vest With a SuitIf you prefer to or are required to wear a vest (suit vest not aballistic vest) with your suit, then it adds to the issue of drawingfrom an IWB holster. Suit vests are not often worn anymore.However, if that is your preference or requirement, then wearinga dress shirt that slightly blouses at the waist for covering a guncarried in an IWB tuckable holster may not be practical. Drawingfrom such a setup will not be practical either. This then leaves theoption of either using an IWB with a fitted and tucked shirt behindthe holster, a pancake style belt holster or choosing another carrymethod altogether.Galco SB 3 Dress Belt. A 1 1/2 inch wide belt specifically made to support theweight of a gun. The SB 1 and SB 9 gun belts (not shown) are 1 1/4 inches inwidth for smaller belt loops.11© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.

SmartCarry Brand LowerAbdomen Deep ConcealmentHolsterThe SmartCarry holster used to be called the Thunder belt. Itis a soft pouch style holster that will carry up to a full sizecarry pistol or revolver and spare ammunition just below thebelt line in the front of the body. It will work for most men andwomen. This style of holster may not be suited to a person oncethey reach a certain weight in which their abdomen protrudesoutward. In other words, a really big belly or a belly that has whatis called an apron of fat may cause discomfort or hinder the speedof draw with this carry method.The shape of the SmartCarry holster is reminiscent of a fanny packbut it is flat and not worn outside the clothing. It is a padded pieceof fabric that has a pouch to hold a gun and spare ammunition.The belt to hold it in place on the body is elastic and has a hookand loop fastening system. It rides low on the abdomen right atthe protrusion of the hip bones and disappears completely whenpositioned correctly. New users may have to experiment a bit tofind the correct position and tension of the belt. Once that is figuredout, it is a great deep concealment holster option for many.Here is the XD being withdrawn from the SmartCarry holster. Photo usedwith permission.The SmartCarry holster. Photo used with permission.SmartCarry’s Charlie Parrott has a Springfield Armory XD .45 ACP witha 4 inch barrel concealed up front just below his belt line in a SmartCarryholster. Photo used with permission.The SmartCarry with Charlie’s Springfield Armory XD .45 ACP and sparemagazine. Photo used with permission.12© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.

Smart Carry is made in the U.S.A. by expert seamstresses. Thecompany is owned by former Marine Charlie Parrott who is featuredin the photos of the holster. Each holster has a 100% waterproofbacking made of Cushmax. There is no worry about perspirationwicking through to condense on the gun or ammunition.SmartCarry holsters even use a patented seam design to eliminatesnagging of a gun. The holster design can also incorporate extraspace at the barrel end to accommodate a laser aiming deviceor light. This is only possible on other holster designs if theyare specifically made for laser aiming devices or lights. TheSmartCarry works with either left or right hand draw. Each holsteris designed to accommodate the firearm the holster owner willbe carrying. The belt is elastic with hook and loop fasteners thatshould be worn as tight as comfort allows.Drawing for the SmartCarry is done by using the off hand thumbto hook the belt or waistband and push it outward away from thebody. The gun hand is then inserted down the front of the pantsto acquire a proper grip on gun. Unless really tight clothing ispreferred by the wearer or if the wearer is really overweight, areasonably fast draw can be learned.To be able to successfully train to draw from an ankle holsterwhile standing, the wearer needs to be in good physical shape.Some draw methods require dropping to one knee while othersrequire the agility of a contortionist to perform. A novice candraw from a belt holster and empty a magazine before many whowear an ankle holster can even get their gun out. It is an optionfor a deeper level of concealment under some circumstances butshould never be a first choice. Even police officers who use thismethod for a back up gun know it is a last ditch survival methodof carrying a handgun.With the limited amount of options for women to carry on bodywith some business attire, this may be the only option whenwearing dress pantsuits. Men’s fashions can incorporate thewearing of a heavy belt to support a gun at the waist whetheron the belt or in an IWB holster. Many women’s fashions do notallow for a stiff leather belt to be worn.The SmartCarry Security Model has a pocket behind the holstersection for carrying valuables or other necessary items. It isjust an added bonus to the deep concealment capability of thiscarry method. You can pick which style of holster you want toaccommodate your carry gun. The SmartCarry can be fitted forwaists up to 71 inches. However, the more overweight you are,the more it is possible this carry method may not suit you.Ankle HolstersOut of all the carry methods for use with any sort of attire,whether it be business or not, the ankle holster ranks upthere among the worst ways to carry. It is tough to drawfrom an ankle holster during a lethal threat encounter whilestanding. It does have advantages as a carry method when seated.If the ankle holster is not made of top quality materials, it will beuncomfortable. It can more easily be twisted out of position sincestraps or elastic tension is all that holds it in place. Many whowear suits have suit pants that ride above the ankles when seatedthus totally exposing the weapon to all onlookers.An ankle holster. There are some good and poor designs. Even a superblydesigned ankle holster like this one from Galco should still be one of the lastchoices when choosing a carry method. Photo used with permission.13© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.

Shoulder HolstersThe shoulder holster is often overlooked today as a viablecarry option. For those who spend a lot of time seated, itis the best option for quick access to the concealed firearm.Since business attire is the suit, the suit coat makes a perfectcover garment. However, in situations where the coat shouldnot or cannot be worn, the shoulder holster has nowhere to hide.Large revolvers and pistols are easier to spot than smaller ones.Horizontal carry on a shoulder holster just might be the mostperfect carry option for the man in a suit who spends a lot oftime seated.Consider carrying a small frame revolver or pistol in a shoulderrig. It will have the gun right where it can easily be drawn whetherstanding or sitting, and the smaller gun will weigh less and be lesslikely to print through a suit coat or sport coat. Anyone catching aglimpse of the straps will just think they are suspenders.This author carried a Dan Wesson .357 magnum in a shoulderrig for quite some time back in the 80s. Shoulder holsters weremore popular then. A lightweight jacket was worn over the rig asa cover garment. The sleeveless photography vests and even therebel look of the sleeveless denim vest works as a cover garment.There was never an incident where this author was discoveredcarrying concealed using a shoulder holster. However, if yourjob remotely has the chance of someone hugging you, then theshoulder holster is the worst rig to carry a gun in. Clergy andchurch parishioners come to mind. You could trap the gun underthe arm and hug openly with the arm opposite the gun side toavoid detection.Galco Miami Classic II Shoulder Holster Rig. Photo used with permission.The TieYou might be wondering what the tie of a suit has to do withcarrying a gun while wearing business attire. There is apossibility of being attacked no matter what our wardrobeconsists of. One thing for certain is that our wardrobe shouldnot be able to be turned into a weapon to be used against us.A tie can be used to strangle a suit wearing victim. Clip onties are far from fashionable, but they will prevent the tie frombecoming a weapon.You could replace all of your ties with new ones that have a hookand loop or other breakaway feature, or you could take all of yourfavorite ties to a place that does alterations. Have hook and loopfasteners attached where the tie reaches the middle of the back ofyour neck when tied. Put enough hook and loop to hold the tie asit is snugged up against the collar but not enough that it wouldhinder being broken free if the tie is yanked. When a criminal triesto use your own tie to strangle you, he will be surprised when itcomes off in his hand when the hook and loop fastener gives way.This can literally save your life in a fight. Be sure the alterationsare done with materials that can survive being dry cleaned alongwith the tie. Also advise the place that cleans your ties that the tiescome apart in two pieces.Galco Miami Classic II Shoulder Holster Rig being worn. Photo usedwith permission.14© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.

SuspendersThose who have been carrying concealed for any length oftime whether the gun is in a pocket, on a belt holster or in anIWB holster have recognized the benefits of a good pair ofsuspenders. Not the flimsy ones with the little alligator clip styleof attachment, but real suspenders that either attach by buttonssewn into suit pants or by tough polymer clips over a belt.Perry Suspenders makes a whole line of suspenders suited forwearing with a suit and belt. Instead of a squeezing clip or theneed to have buttons sewn on the suit pants, Perry Suspenders usea super tough polymer clip that grabs the belt and holds on tight.The only way it would come off under tension is if the clip brokeor the suspender fabric tore. That is unlikely to happen becausePerry Suspenders are made of very durable materials and thecraftsmanship is excellent.Dickies brand work clothes has a Perry Suspenders versionavailable for casual and work wear at WalMart and probablyother places that carry Dickies work clothes. The suspenders areinexpensive. Try them out with casual and work clothes. Soon youwill be incorporating the Perry Premium Dress Suspenders withyour business attire. It takes about a week to get used to suspenderspressing down on the shoulders as they hold the pants up.Once a person gets through that short adjustment period, he willalways want his suspenders. One day of not having to hike upa pair of pants while carrying a gun is worth its weight in gold.Most people have work, casual and more formal attire that theywear depending on the occasion. There are different styles ofPerry Suspenders to suit every need.Dress suspenders look great with a business dress shirt. Thesuspenders are almost like a jewelry accessory that makes thewearer look better. However, the suspenders worn with a businesssuit must be of the proper style. Work and casual suspenders won’tsuffice. They have to be dress suspenders.Wear And TearCarrying a gun will cause accelerated wear of clothing wherethe gun is carried. It is noticed more in pocket carry and IWBholster carry than shoulder holster or on belt holster carry.An IWB holster can have a sight or slide of a pistol wear a holethrough tough denim. It is not a flaw in the holster design whenthe gun is wearing through your clothes. It just happens becauseof constant movement of the fabric over the gun and holster.When looking at the different holster types that are available forthe decided upon carry method, consider possible acceleratedwear points of the clothing it will come in contact with. A rearsight, hammer, grip protrusion or other spots can wear a holethrough a nice suit coat or dress shirt. By far the muzzle end of agun is the top offender when carrying in an IWB holster.Here is a model wearing Perry Suspenders. Photo used with permission.Using a redundantly confirmed unloaded gun along with a holsterand belt, lay out everything on the pants as they will be worn.Thread the belt through the belt loops. Attach the holster. Put thegun in the holster. Now with the suit pants flat on a table, look atwhere the slide, front sight and even the holster can cause wear on15© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.

In ConclusionIf it is legal to carry on the job and if the only issue wouldbe an odd look if it was discovered, then it is not a big dealwhat method of carry is used while wearing business attire.However, if a person decides to carry a gun at work and thecompany has a no weapons policy that is not enforceable by lawyet enforceable by termination of employment, deep concealmentis the only viable option for those who insist on being armed. It isnever recommended to carry at work if it is a crime to do so.For anyone who will be carrying while wearing business attire,there is a need to take into consideration body size, whether moretime will be spent seated or standing at work, whether or not a suitcoat or sport coat ever comes off at work, and how quickly canthe gun be drawn from the holster and carry position of choice.Obviously having a gun deeply concealed is better than not havinga gun. However, if it takes seconds to draw the gun, it is highlylikely that any lethal threat encounter that ever happens will beover long before the victim ever gets his gun out.Resourceswww.blackhawk.comSERPAwww.perrysuspenders.comDress and casual suspenders that are tough and perfect for thosewho carry a concealed handgun.www.smartcarry.comSmartCarry Lower Abdomen Holster.www.usgalco.comBelt Holsters, Inside The Waistband Holsters, Shoulder HolsterRigs and Components, Gun Belts, Spare Magazine Carriers, andmuch more.Don’t be misled into a false sense of comfort from a deeplyconcealed handgun that cannot be drawn and fired on targetquickly. After finishing training with a new holster and the chosencarry gun, the person wearing the rig should be able to draw safelyand put a shot on target in less than two seconds. Some shooterscannot do that under stress with a gun already in hand. It is possibleto learn to draw fast even from non-traditional holsters such as theSmartCarry. It takes lots of practice using a redundantly confirmedunloaded gun to perfect the drawstroke first.Using a redundantly confirmed unloaded handgun, the readermight wish to test how fast he or she can dry fire at a target fromthe chosen concealment method. Dry fire practice teaches plenty.Most of us who carry concealed have never been officially timedwhile drawing from concealment. Try it. Practice all safety rulesfor dry fire practice when attempting the timing test. You mightbe surprised just how long it takes. Now compare your time withthe fact of how most civilian lethal threat encounters are over inseconds. How did you do?NoteThis author is familiar with and recommends products fromUS Galco. There are many quality manufacturers of holstersout there. It just so happens that I have more experience withGalco products than any other company. I can only talk aboutwhat I know. If you have a different favorite, then by all meansstick with what you know and trust.18© 2003-2011 U.S. Concealed Carry Association & Delta Media LLC - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.