Drawing a concealed pistol from under a jacket is a technique that requires a good deal of practice.
1. The first step is to grasp the jacket with your strong side hand. Then flip the side of the jacket away. The jacket side should swing around and hit you near the middle of the back.
2. While the jacket side is out of your way, grasp your gun with the same grip as you would grasp your duty weapon in a duty rig. It may be advisable to bring your offside hand around to your chest at the same time you grasp the gun. If you must make a snap shot after just barely clearing leather, it would be best to have that off side hand out of the way.
3. Bring the gun to bear by marrying the two hands just in front of your chest.
4. Push the gun toward the suspect. Remember, keep your finger off the trigger unless you plan on destroying what you are pointing at. Drawing a concealed weapon from a sweater or sweatshirt is relatively the same as from under a jacket. The only difference is you use your offside hand to reach around your belly and grasp the bottom of the sweat shirt as close to the gun as possible. Then you lift directly up and as high as you can. As soon as the sweatshirt is above your gun, grasp it and draw it.
Just in Case
Sometimes a law enforcement officer or security agent can't wear a pistol even in a hidden rig. For such times, retired cop, criminal investigator, and private detective Dan Tschudy developed the Just in Case, a high-end briefcase that's designed to secure and hide a gun.
The Just in Case briefcase, manufactured by Concealed Carry Systems Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz., features external locks that are programmable to any combination chosen by the user. The case offers everything that you might need in an everyday briefcase. It accommodates papers and file folders, and has areas for pens, toiletries, and personal items.
It also accommodates a pistol. Foam inserts allow for the storage of the gun and keep it in place while you move. But when you need it, all you have to do is open the case, push a button, turn a key, and the gun is in your hand. Two keys are provided to each buyer, and a third is kept on record at Concealed Carry Systems.
In addition, the Just in Case has internal aluminum mounts that can be fitted with Kevlar ballistic panels. The panels can be ordered from Concealed Carry in several different NIJ protection levels.
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Dave Douglas is a sergeant on the San Diego Police Department with 25 years of service.