When entering PFZ do you remove IWB holster and gun or just gun?

If I know that I'm going someplace legally banned (school, post office) I will leave my pistol at home just to avoid any potential issue (but keep my IWB holster on - just empty). When going to a courthouse or someplace with a metal scanner I take everything off to avoid problems. Otherwise, I lock it in my car (I keep a pocket holster in the car). When doing that I unload and take all ammo with me (in case some idiot breaks-in - it's bad enough that they would have my gun, but it would be worse if loaded).

As far as being "risky," you really need to be proficient enough and careful enough with your firearm to not view this as a risk. Negligence is negligence. I'm more concerned about someone seeing me reload in my vehicle (which I do out of sight), them calling the police, and then being surrounded by squad cars. Nobody needs that.

Interesting that this topic came up. I have to work within many police jurisdictions with the various agencies. Like others, there are some agencies where I am not allowed to carry a firearm inside the police station.

Several years ago, I had to go into a police station of a mid size city. I removed my sidearm from the holster and secured it in my vehicle and proceeded to walk inside. A desk sgt came from his desk with his hand on his sidearm and approached asking that I keep my hands up. After some brief questioning, all calmed down. His fear, and in retrospect I see his point. He sees a man he does not know walking in with a holster showing but no gun. He assumed I might have a gun in my hands or a place where I could have gotten it to do some damage inside the station. It has happened in the past at several police stations where officers were shot. There is even at least one You Tube video of it happening. If the holster is showing, then where is the sidearm. Since then, I remove the entire combination and leave them in the vehicle. Yes it is a little more effort but it is also safer for everyone. I now consider it to be the cost of carrying.

JMHO

cn262 said:

If I know that I'm going someplace legally banned (school, post office) I will leave my pistol at home just to avoid any potential issue (but keep my IWB holster on - just empty). When going to a courthouse or someplace with a metal scanner I take everything off to avoid problems. Otherwise, I lock it in my car (I keep a pocket holster in the car). When doing that I unload and take all ammo with me (in case some idiot breaks-in - it's bad enough that they would have my gun, but it would be worse if loaded).

As far as being "risky," you really need to be proficient enough and careful enough with your firearm to not view this as a risk. Negligence is negligence. I'm more concerned about someone seeing me reload in my vehicle (which I do out of sight), them calling the police, and then being surrounded by squad cars. Nobody needs that.

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I actually had this issue one time, entering a court building I took my snubbie out of my holster and locked it in my vehicle and proceeded to go through the metal detector at the door. The single thin metal clip on my holster was to much metal to allow me to go through the detector so I had to go back out to my vehicle and leave the holster there. Now I know that I cannot wear the holster through the detector so I remove the holster with the gun in it and lock it up.

And YES I think this actually safer than taking the gun out of the holster because the holster adds one more layer of safety to prevent anything from accidentally coming into contact with the trigger. Keep in mind though that you want to grip the gun, not the holster because a slip or moment of distraction might allow the holster to be turned mouth down and let the gun fall. The best thing to do if the gun falls is LET IT FALL. If you attempt to catch the gun you just increase your chances of getting a finger in the trigger guard.

I also agree though that reholstering after having to remove the holster and gun is difficult in public. I always try to make sure the gun free zone is my last stop of the day so I can just leave the gun off until I get home to reholster. It's still with me should I need it. Just make sure you don't leave it on the seat if it's not legal in your state or where a sudden stop could send it flying like happened in the Miami FBI shoot out.