Thoughts on Bar carry.

[Irving]

Also, if the fight is big enough, and he ends up getting involved, he would really have to worry about a retention holster.

[cstone]

Work in a bar? This is what I would carry: http://www.karatemart.com/slap-jack

A gun is a last resort. Irving is right though, in crowds that often get rowdy, retention becomes pretty important. A pancake holster with a snap keeper with a shirt over it would be my choice.

What type of a bar is it?

[Irving]

I thought black jacks were illegal?

[JlazyH]

It's a pretty mellow bar. They do something different every night. DJ one night, live band one night, open mike night and so on. My son likes to carry in an IWB but when he is at the bar he has an ankle holster. He is the bouncer.

[King]

It's a pretty mellow bar. They do something different every night. DJ one night, live band one night, open mike night and so on. My son likes to carry in an IWB but when he is at the bar he has an ankle holster. He is the bouncer.

Knowing this, if I were him, I would certainly carry.

[Irving]

In a bar like his, the biggest worry is likely getting robbed at closing time I would think.

[Wildboarem]

Knowing this, if I were him, I would certainly carry.

It's a pretty mellow bar. They do something different every night. DJ one night, live band one night, open mike night and so on. My son likes to carry in an IWB but when he is at the bar he has an ankle holster. He is the bouncer.

I definitely don't recommend an ankle holster for a primary and no way would I have it in that situation. You in all likelihood have to get in a lower submissive position to draw ie. kneeling or crouched. No way to defend the gun and no way to protect yourself while drawing.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Guys he isn't asking about drinking and carrying. He is asking about carrying in a place that 1) is likely to have physical confrontations between patrons or patrons and staff on a regular basis, and 2) is even more often packed shoulder to shoulder with people.

To help get you guys on the right track, here are two situations:

1) You are behind the bar when a fight breaks out. A space in the middle of the floor opens up where two dudes are fighting. You can see because you are standing on the bar, but otherwise, the two are completely surrounded by a wall of people at least 20 persons deep. One of them whips out a 5" knife and starts swinging at the other. Do you clear leather and engage the guy with the knife?

The scenario you describe combined with my skills as a pistolero would say I do NOT clear leather. There is way too much chance of injuring an innocent bystander with the shot (and of course you have to think about retention of either of them have friends near me). I would likely keep the pistol in its holster and look for some other means to separate the two without getting knifed myself. Is there a fire hose or extinguisher available?

2) Same situation as #1, only you are the other guy in the circle in the middle of the bar.

Same situation with a concert. You see a guy knifing people in the mosh pit, do you draw and fire into a mosh pit?

Again, I'd be worried about overshoot and retention in this scenario and be looking for some other means to keep him at bay -- a chair or sidetable would be handy. Some of you might think I'm pansying out in these responses but while I like having the option of a firearm, it's not the only or even first line of defense. The last thing I need personally or we need as a community are overshoots in crowded spaces that result in headline-grabbing injuries or deaths among bystanders.

[hurley842002]

Some of you might think I'm pansying out in these responses but while I like having the option of a firearm, it's not the only or even first line of defense. The last thing I need personally or we need as a community are overshoots in crowded spaces that result in headline-grabbing injuries or deaths among bystanders.

This ^^ carrying a handgun isn't the be all end all of self defense or "use of force", it's simply an option in your box of tools. When certain scenarios cross my mind, many times my firearm isn't even my first line of defense, those of you in law enforcement can relate.

[SideShow Bob]

41 year old son ? Time to cut the apron strings and let him make his own desicisions concerning if he carries at work or not....