Off-body carry is simply defined as carrying a gun in a conveyance that is not attached to your clothing. Examples of off-body carry options include purses, man-purses, satchels, day planners, backpacks, brief cases, and basically anything else that allows you to hide a gun.

The Pros

The benefits of off-body carry include comfort, convenience, concealment, and capacity.
A gun in a bag, backpack, or briefcase doesn’t dig into your hip or bang on the arms of your chair when you sit down or stand up. You won’t have a backache from leaning away from your gun side while you sit and you won’t be constantly adjusting because you made the belt tight enough to support the gun but so tight you can’t get comfortable.
Securing a gun in an off-body container is simple. Most such packs come with internal “holsters” that attach with Velcro. Several companies are making kydex and leather holsters backed with Velcro that allow you to simply stick the holster in place, insert the gun, and go about your daily business.

There are some rules you need to remember if you’re going to utilize an off-body carry method. First up, use some sort of internal holster that covers the trigger guard. Do not simply let that pistol bounce around in the bag. This is not only a safety issue, but an access issue, too. Secondly, the pocket or location you choose for your gun should be exclusively for your gun. Do not be putting keys, pens, or anything else in there. Any such items can impede your grip and draw or they could hang up in the trigger, causing a negligent discharge.

You can also carry “more gun” in most off-body options. If you really want a full-sized gun, but you can’t hide it on your hip, a briefcase or satchel works wonders.

The Cons

It is very true that you can’t get something for nothing. All those benefits come with some downsides; namely access and acquisition.

On the access side of things, off-body carry is not a quick-draw proposition. You have zippers, flaps, and straps getting in the way of your draw. You will likely have to reposition—or better yet, pre-position—the bag for the draw. All this takes time, but someone with good situational awareness will use those skills to his or her advantage. You also have to be aware that if you have a gun in an off-body carrier, you could potentially set that container down and walk away. Or you could put your bag on the floor as you eat lunch. If you carry off-body, you MUST keep control of the item that contains your firearm at all times. 

Acquisition is not about your ability to acquire the gun. It is about someone else’s ability to end up in possession of your firearm. Think about it: there is a whole class of criminal behavior centered on grabbing bags from unsuspecting victims. If someone grabs your bag in hopes of getting your computer, tablet, smart phone, or wallet and they end up with a bonus firearm, well, that’s just doubly bad for you.

To avoid this, I suggest slinging the bag not just on one shoulder, but instead completely across your chest. This is not a surefire deterrent, but bag snatchers will likely look for an easier target if they feel they can’t quickly separate you from your bag.

Off-body carry is an option. I’m not saying it is the best option, but for places where you really don’t want people to know you have a gun, carrying off-body provides some great benefits

You need to be mentally and emotionally ready to take action in the face of danger. You need to be ready to fight. If you are not ready and willing to fight, the gun you bought, the fancy personal defense ammo you loaded it with, and the holster you put so much time into choosing will do you no good.

And people are starting get it.  Apparently a growing number of people in this nation have realized that personal defense is indeed personal; that self-defense actually involves the “self.” Or maybe people are just fed up with being victims.

You, by reading this blog and by taking your training with Trigger Action, LLC you have taken an active role in your personal protection. Now that you have started on this path I urge you to continue along it, learning all you can about the laws, ethics, tactics, and gear that you need in order to keep your loved ones and yourself safe. Your skills are perishable. Laws change. Only two things remain constant: criminals don’t care about you and police cannot get to you in time to save you.

Every element of self-defense starts with your willingness to participate. Will you get training? Will you apply for a concealed carry permit if you need one? Will you hone your skills? Will you talk with your family about all of this? And, when the time comes, will you choose to fight or will you shrink back in fear?

I’m a believer if you can escape without a fight, please do it.  But when you can’t escape—when you are trapped with a madman—you must be ready, willing, and able to fight. There can be no hesitation at that time.

The root word of gunfight is fight, not gun. If you are not ready to fight, you are not doing anyone any favors.