Andy W.

I saw this post on a hunting forum by a guy from Maryland, and was wanting to see what your thoughts are on this:

I explained that shoulder holsters point the gun at a lot of people, but as long as the trigger is covered, I don't see a problem with it.

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deadeye72

Doesn't bother me. I have never seen a gun just start shooting on it's own. As long as it is holstered ( and I would also guess that it was a very good retension holster) there is nothing to worry about.

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youngda9

Any pocket holster is bound to point at someone when the holster wearer is sitting down. The only difference being that the person at the end of the muzzle doesn't have a clue. You're probably pointing it at the person's crotch that is sitting across the table from you and don't think anything of it. That's because you know the trigger is guarded and that guns don't shoot people. This is just unavoidable. And what they don't know can't hurt them, right.

That being said, it is not cool/safe to have a gun(loaded or not) pointed at you. Something should have been said to the guardsman and he should have turned in his seat to avoid this. Some people it won't bother at all...but a little etiquette should be exercised here.

Whether or not someone wearing a shoulder holster decides to aim a gun at their own armpit/shoulder all day is their own business.

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goldshellback

A holstered sidearm is a safe(er) sidearm. If the individual wearing the sidearm is irresponsable then look out for him. Unless the Coastguardsmen in question was being generally unsafe, I think all was good to go.

But like youngda9 said, a little professional etiquette is always good as well.

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Herknav

+1. If you're using a downward-facing holster, you sweep people on the floor below you in a multi-story building. If you wear a horizontal shoulder holster, you sweep untold numbers of people. It happens, and the chances of a gun going off by itself are pretty infintessimal.

Now, when the SPs show up at the chow hall and sweep everyone with their rifles, that's a different story...

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Ram Rod

I reckon it happens more than most of us might realize. That being said, I don't believe I'd sit there long enough in a quandry as to what caliber it was by looking at the "hole"--I'd be moving to one side or the other. If the muzzle followed me then I'd get up and sit on the same side as the tactical dude. No--the pistol won't go off by itself, but it would make me a bit uncomfortable. If the muzzle was covered it also might make a difference as to just how uncomfortable I might feel.

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aepilotjim

A good holster is designed to protect those areas that could snag on something and cause the gun to go off. Guns just don't spontaeously fire themselves. Something has to disengage the safety (if there is one) and pull the trigger. Any holster that I've seen for carry covers over those areas and the gun is, I consider, safe.

That being said, I've seen people carry guns on clips or loose in their pocket. Those people are a little crazy if you ask me. It's a sort of asking for it situation.

If the coastie had the pistol in a drop leg holster then the trigger and safety were protected by the holster.

QKShooter

Properly holstered firearm. No Problem.

I've said this on DC several times before.

When you have your firearm holstered muzzle down at the waist...do you ever walk around on the second floor of your house?

If you do then your muzzle could be pointed right at the tops of the heads of the people walking around on the first floor below you.

Since most average construction homes will not even come close to stopping a bullet do you feel that you are NOT endangering the lives of the people on the floor below you just because you can't actually see them?

If your properly functioning firearm is properly holstered don't fidget with it - leave it alone - and don't be concerned about it.

The muzzle rule is not applicable to properly holstered firearms.

If your holstered firearm was sitting on the coffee table in front of you - would you never walk in front of it because you were afraid it was going to shoot you all by itself?

Of course you would walk in front of it. It's no less safe just because it's attached to your body.

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crzy4guns

You explained that well and caused me to pause to think. Now I will feel confident about a properly holstered gun and not worry about where the muzzle is pointed.

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ccw9mm

Assuming reasonable equipment, absolutely.

Have had a few "pointed" in my direction similarly, before. If well-holstered, I generally have no issue. If issue, I simply move to change the mix.

I've got a Galco Yaqui slide holster that has a pretty good cant to it. When bending down to pick up brass, the muzzle certainly points at folks behind me. Can't help that. Still, as with the Coastie example, this isn't a threat ... since it's holstered.

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