Originally Posted by CPT.ZERO

...could you be able to rack with one hand, while the other is employed to keep away an aggressor?

So your sayinig you just unholster and pull the trigger, your probably right.

Originally Posted by Packard

Try drawing your weapon while belted in your car and then get back to me.

I can draw mine pretty quickly when belted in my car or truck. I make sure the shoulder belt is behind the grip frame of the gun, which is carried open, and that affords me the ability to get my gun out in a hurry should the need arise.

Originally Posted by Teuthis

If condition 1 carry is an issue for someone, I suggest a pistol with a safety; or a revolver. Additionally, I also think it is not an issue to carry without a round in the chamber. There were, and still are organizations that do not allow condition one. I remember the SP's and MP's practicing the draw and charge drills and they were quite skilled. The key to self defense is awareness, more than being a quick draw artist. If a civilian allows himself or herself to get into a situation where an instant draw and shoot means life or death, then their life if likely forfeit anyway. What you really want to do is be able to turn around and leave the area, or get to cover; not get into a gunfight. It seems that a lot of people with no experience in close range firefights have some very romantic ideas of what would happen in a shootout. The condition 1 that I want to be in is my own alertness as to what is happening around me when I am out in public places.

All of what you say is true with one exception. You are not going to be the one to dictate where and when an attack is to take place. You comments about heightened awareness and seeking cover are spot on. But I'm sure we all know that one cannot predict a sudden violent attack. We can look for the profiles, but Murphy's Law is at work in these matters pretty much all the time.

Originally Posted by SouthernBoy

I can draw mine pretty quickly when belted in my car or truck. I make sure the shoulder belt is behind the grip frame of the gun, which is carried open, and that affords me the ability to get my gun out in a hurry should the need arise.

New York is a concealed only state. Seated access is problematic. The way I see it I am not toting two guns, but rather I have access to one gun in each of two standing/seated positions.

I still say if you pocket carry you are being negligent if you don't also carry on the ankle.

A shoulder rig is a good solution for those whe spend a lot of time in a vehicle. One gun, one holster, easy acess from any position.

Originally Posted by Packard

New York is a concealed only state. Seated access is problematic. The way I see it I am not toting two guns, but rather I have access to one gun in each of two standing/seated positions.

I still say if you pocket carry you are being negligent if you don't also carry on the ankle.

That does make a difference. The normal (default, standard) mode of carry in Virginia is open. No permit is required for this mode of carry whereas to conceal, one must obtain a CHP (Concealed Handgun Permit).

What happens if you get caught with a concealed weapon in CA?

Originally Posted by TheLAGuy

What happens if you get caught with a concealed weapon in CA?

Ask a California-licensed attorney.
Failing that, search California State's own law website. Look at the California Penal Code, perhaps starting at Section #12020.

Years ago, when I lived in California, illegal concealed carry was a "wobbler." That is, it was the prosecutor's option to charge the gun carrier with either a misdemeanor or a felony. At that time, a non-predatory first offense was normally charged as a misdemeanor, while obviously-predatory carry and subsequent offenses were charged as felonies.
However, I am certain that all of that has changed. New laws have been written, to go along with new attitudes toward guns.
Therefore, I strongly suggest that you need to do some serious research.

Every public library in California stocks a book called California Standard Codes.
In this book, in easy-to-understand format, and with a very good index by topic, you will find all of the applicable laws.
As stated above, look at the "weapon, concealed" topic of the California Penal Code, probably starting at Section #12020.

Another source of information is your own county's law library, to which you are entitled free access. (In L.A., it's downtown, near the County Courts building.)
The librarian will help you find the appropriate statutes and related case law.

You might also be able to "sneak into" the UCLA Law Library, as I used to do. Just try to look as if you belong there.

But nothing—absolutely nothing—beats asking an attorney. It's worth whatever it costs.

Or just abide by the rules and not carry a concealed weapon!

Thanks for the response..

Originally Posted by Packard

New York is a concealed only state.

Can you cite this law please.

Originally Posted by niadhf

Can you cite this law please.

If you are in a police or guard uniform you can carry open. Otherwise it must be concealed or you can be cited for disturbing the peace (and almost certainly lose your CCW permit).

Some jurisdictions are stricter than others.

But what ever happened to the right to bear arms, bill of rights, passage #2?

Originally Posted by TheLAGuy

But what ever happened to the right to bear arms, bill of rights, passage #2?

Ask the California legislature.

Originally Posted by TheLAGuy

But what ever happened to the right to bear arms, bill of rights, passage #2?

California's state constitution is among the very few in the western US in which there is no mention of the right to keep and bear arms.

This may have its historic origin in the land-ownership conflict between the resident Mexican families and the incoming Anglos, back in the middle 1800s. It may also be the result of what was a slave-owning independent nation coming into the Union as a free state, and the conflicts arising out of that. It may also stem from the preponderance of southern sympathizers, living in a state that (just barely) remained in the Union during the Civil War.

Originally Posted by VAMarine

Ask the California legislature.

I carry condition 1. The pistol won't fire otherwise
A guy I know showed up at my house once after he got his concealed permit. He had a full size XD 40 down the pack of his pants! This was the one time where I thought, "Man I hope he's not condition 1." He was carrying it with an empty magazine. *FACEPALM*

I always carry handguns with a round in the chamber and in a proper holster. Currently, none of my carry guns have manual safeties or magazine disconnects.

In the past, condition 1 with a 1911 made many people nervous. Mine were never drop safe, but I carried condition 1 anyway. Cocked and locked was the way.
I have seen security camera footage of how many people actually react to an up close attack. One video was disturbing enough that I had trouble sleeping that night. The store owner was unable to get a single shot off and panicked, trying to rack the slide over and over. I think he had a manual safety blocking the slide movement. He died never figuring how to get his weapon in the fight.

Another issue is that it is possible your first sign you are in a gun fight is when you are shot. Why make it tougher to get in the fight after an injury? Also, you may be using other arm for something such as moving innocents to out of the line of fire.

A proper holster is essential along with trigger discipline.

Remember, you already failed to see the attack unfolding; why handicap yourself even more?

so how about when you take it out of the holster? i actually got a blackhawk poly holster for my px4 storm. i must say its pretty nice and cant access the trigger. however im a newbie when it comes to hand guns, dont have the confidence yet to be running around condition 1.

Originally Posted by TheLAGuy

so how about when you take it out of the holster?...

I don't understand your question.

If your pistol is in its holster in Condition One, it comes out in Condition One.
You would only press its safety lever to "off" when you are bringing it up to eye level, in preparation for taking a shot.
When it's up at eye level, with its safety "off," and you are certain that you are going to fire, only then does your finger reach for the pistol's trigger.

This whole sequence is simple if you break it down into separate steps. Then you must practice doing it, over and over again, until it becomes one smooth motion and almost automatic.

Originally Posted by Steve M1911A1

I don't understand your question.

If your pistol is in its holster in Condition One, it comes out in Condition One.
You would only press its safety lever to "off" when you are bringing it up to eye level, in preparation for taking a shot.
When it's up at eye level, with its safety "off," and you are certain that you are going to fire, only then does your finger reach for the pistol's trigger.

This whole sequence is simple if you break it down into separate steps. Then you must practice doing it, over and over again, until it becomes one smooth motion and almost automatic.

Do you find yourself more nervous when its in condition one?

Originally Posted by TheLAGuy

Do you find yourself more nervous when its in condition one?

No.
I am aware that my pistol is in Condition One.
I am also aware that it is safely contained within its holster, with no access to either safety lever or trigger.
Further, I never access my pistol without first thinking carefully about what I am about to do. I routinely access my pistol only when I go to bed, at which time I remove it from its holster and place it upon the table at my bedside. Other access times might be when I am displaying the gun to an interested friend, and, of course, when I might have to make a presentation in self-defense or in the defense of others.
If I access my gun to show a friend, I follow an invariable, specific routine which ends up with me handing the friend a completely unloaded, wide-open pistol.
Were I to access my pistol in self-defense, I would use a well-practiced, very specific series of actions as well.

If you feel nervous handling a loaded gun, I suggest that you invest in some professional training.
Once you have learned the safe routines of gun handling, all it takes is a whole lot of practice, by which you make those routines an invariable part of your life.

Condition 1 always..

Put it this way.. if I wasn't comfortable carrying a firearm in condition 1 I'd be looking for a new firearm..
My Kahr PM9 is my primary carry with no worries about condition 1..
And I recently picked up a Glock 19.. what a shooter..

Originally Posted by Steve M1911A1

No.
I am aware that my pistol is in Condition One.
I am also aware that it is safely contained within its holster, with no access to either safety lever or trigger.
Further, I never access my pistol without first thinking carefully about what I am about to do. I routinely access my pistol only when I go to bed, at which time I remove it from its holster and place it upon the table at my bedside. Other access times might be when I am displaying the gun to an interested friend, and, of course, when I might have to make a presentation in self-defense or in the defense of others.
If I access my gun to show a friend, I follow an invariable, specific routine which ends up with me handing the friend a completely unloaded, wide-open pistol.
Were I to access my pistol in self-defense, I would use a well-practiced, very specific series of actions as well.

If you feel nervous handling a loaded gun, I suggest that you invest in some professional training.
Once you have learned the safe routines of gun handling, all it takes is a whole lot of practice, by which you make those routines an invariable part of your life.

Some good comments in there and I appreciate your honesty.

I'm just saying that I'm a newbie, really like Beretta PX4 Storm, 9mm full version and its safety interlocks. I might venture into the G19 when I get some more confidence!

Thanks again guys for the comments!

Always carry with one in the chamber... when faced with a deadly force encounter you may not have time to chamber a round.

I see students that always ask this and explain that they assume if they pull out their firearm and "rack a round" an intruder or threat will turn tail & leave... wishful thinking.

Once you gain confidence in your skills and learn to employ safe handling of a firearm you not want to carry any other way.