The majority of my students have never touched a gun before in their lives, so it is essential to go over the basics. But it is surprising how practical some of their questions are. For example, a student was wondering what they should do if they have to use the toilet in a public restroom. Where do they put the gun so the rest of the patrons don't freak out, or so a thief won't make a grab for the valuable and expensive weapon while the owner is in a delicate position?
The image of some punk kneeling on the floor outside of a bathroom stall so they can snake their hand in and grab a gun that is puddled around someone's ankles might seem ludicrous, but consider the amount of cash involved. Even reasonably priced yet reliable handguns sell for somewhere around the $400.00 USD range, and thieves will take greater risks for less reward. Why take the chance?
I was reading a gun magazine some years ago, and came across a tale of a lawman who liked to carry a Colt 1911. He would use the trigger guard to hang the gun from the clothes hook on the inside of the toilet stall door while he was indisposed.
(Please click on all pictures to see if a larger image is available.)
One day the inevitable happened and he shot up the ceiling of the public rest room. The conditions had to be just right, with the thumb safety off, the gun cocked, and his hand had to be placed perfectly to depress the grip safety. After that, any light brush of the hair trigger was then enough to send a bullet into the acoustic tiles.
Obviously, I want to take this chance to caution you against doing anything like that yourself. Don't hang your gun off of the clothes hook via the trigger guard. Please!
There are other options available, although you should keep in mind that none of them are perfect.
I went to the movie theater today to catch a film, and I figured that it was a perfect moment to get some pictures of the inside of a real live no foolin' public toilet stall. As an aside to my female readers, now is your chance to see how the other half lives!
Not very exciting, is it? Just your standard, ordinary, mass produced public toilet stall.
But wait! There is something that sets this apart from most other toilet stalls! It is the bar used by disabled patrons to hoist themselves out of their wheelchairs and on to the porcelain throne!
The rail can be used for our purposes since it provides a handy place for us to store most small handguns.
Please note two things.
First, the handgun is still in the holster, which in this case is a nylon inside-the-waistband model. This provides an extra level of safety for both you and your firearm. It helps prevent accidental discharges since your finger cannot reach the trigger while the gun is still in the holster, and it helps keep all that nasty moisture typically found around toilets off of the finish of your gun.
The second thing I want to bring to your attention is that this method ensures that the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction. Safety first, after all.
Muzzle pointed in a safe direction or not, old gun fighters like myself are still extremely uncomfortable placing a firearm outside of our direct physical control without first unloading it. Sometimes it is necessary, though. Anyone who has watched a few action films knows the distinctive sound of an autoloader slide as it ratchets back and forth, and most people would take it as an aggressive or threatening act if they heard someone loading up their gun before emerging from a stall at the mall. (I know I would!) If you don't want to start a panic, then you are going to have to forgo that important safety step.
It is, of course, different if you carry a revolver for defense.
Since loading and unloading a revolver doesn't necessarily involve any distinctive sounds, one can simply take the cartridges from the cylinder and place them in their pocket until the distasteful transaction with the toilet is complete. Then it is just the work of a moment to reload during the tucking and buckling phase.
So we have discussed the merits of using a handicapped-accessible stall, but what if there is a long line of people confined to wheelchairs waiting to use the toilet? Is there any other place where we can stash out firearm while we do what we came there for?
Actually, there is!
That is the dispenser where you can get a paper toilet seat cover. They say that they are "Provided For Your Protection", but it also an option where you can place the object you carry on your person for your protection.
That's right, just jam that sucker right in there! If there are so many seat covers that you can't find the room for your gun, then just grab a few handfuls and pull them out. Hey, they're free! You can toss them in the wastebasket on your way out, still clean and usable, which certainly defines the word "waste". But it is more important that you have a safe and secure spot to place your firearm.
I want to point out once again that the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction. It is always a good idea to keep the basic safety rules firmly in mind.
One of my female students told me that there is usually a shelf inside of the stalls in the Women's Room. It seems that it was included in the design to provide a place for the fairer sex to place their purse, and I don't see why it couldn't be employed as a gun rest, although it would be more difficult to make sure that the muzzle isn't pointed anywhere we don't want it to be pointed.
So why didn't I get some pictures of the inside of a stall in the distaff bathroom? Because I have never been inside of a Ladies Restroom in my life!
At least that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
Comments (18)
I like those big plastic toilet paper dispensers that are usually mounted on the side of a stall - they often provide a flat shelf, and the gun is in easy reach of you and pretty much nobody else. Only problem is if someone gives the stall wall a really hard shove, the gun might fall. But that seems like it'd be really rare.
Posted by Mulliga | December 25, 2007 12:25 AM
Posted on December 25, 2007 00:25
I use a Smartcarry. You don't have to remove anything if you use one of those.
Posted by AlanDP | December 25, 2007 8:40 AM
Posted on December 25, 2007 08:40
I can neither confirm nor deny feeling like an idiot upon entering a stall and standing for a few moments, perplexed, trying to figure out what to do.
I like that you kept it in the holster.
Posted by existingthing | December 26, 2007 9:40 PM
Posted on December 26, 2007 21:40
There have been so many stories about handguns left forgotten in public restrooms, I now put my gun and holster cradled in my underwear as I sit on the throne.
I'm really forgetful at times and having it right there gives peace of mind.
There is no way to forget the gun, because when you pull up your pants having that hunk of metal hit your crotch is a great reminder.
Posted by hammer | December 26, 2007 10:24 PM
Posted on December 26, 2007 22:24
Hammer,
As much as I hate to admit it, I do the same thing.
Posted by Rustmeister | December 26, 2007 11:22 PM
Posted on December 26, 2007 23:22
A perplexing issue handled well. Thanks to SayUncle for the link!
Carry methods such as using a shoulder holster or a fanny pack that can be slung cross-body from your opposite shoulder while sitting can alleviate some of the problems encountered with IWB holsters in this situation. They do present other problems which need to be balanced against the ‘potty problem’ when choosing your preferred method of concealed carry. A belt slide would be even more problematic in a public restroom if you have to unthread it from your belt. Particularly if you are in a hurry…
As a birthday/Christmas present to myself I recently bought a Maxpedition Fatboy along with the accessory CCW holster. The ad claims they can carry a full sized 1911. They can, but it’s a tightish fit and presents some snag issues when drawing. A smaller gun should work quite well with this pack though. And being designed to be carried cross-body like the repositioned fanny pack mentioned in the previous paragraph, you are all set to ‘go’ as soon as you get there. ;-)
Linked and cross-posted at the Dragonfly
http://herrbgone.livejournal.com/
Posted by HerrBGone | December 27, 2007 11:20 AM
Posted on December 27, 2007 11:20
whenever i use the bathroom, my holster and firearm are similar (i have a pt111 pro), i will take the firearm and clip it to the side of my shorts/jeans, or leave it clipped to my belt, and re-tighten the belt around my ankles when i take a seat
Posted by mattsrevenge | December 27, 2007 12:26 PM
Posted on December 27, 2007 12:26
"I now put my gun and holster cradled in my underwear as I sit on the throne."
-- We need a photo of that! :))
Posted by _Jon | December 27, 2007 1:35 PM
Posted on December 27, 2007 13:35
We do?
Posted by Bruce | December 27, 2007 8:03 PM
Posted on December 27, 2007 20:03
I'm not comfortable removing gun or holster, and with the right holster and belt it isn't necessary. A stiff gunbelt will keep your holster upright. When I belt carry it is inside the waistband in a Crossbreed or Minotaur holster. When I've got a good belt, I can just drop my pants. When I'm wearing a flimsy belt, I spread my legs a bit, pinning the holster between pants and leg. Either way, it stays put, with no chance I will leave it behind.
Posted by Sevesteen | December 27, 2007 11:28 PM
Posted on December 27, 2007 23:28
Normally I take pains to alight upon familiar thrones, i.e. work and home. On the odd occasions were I'm packing and need to go in a foreign latrine, I keep it my boxers too. I'm glad I'm not the only one.
Posted by el duderino | December 28, 2007 3:14 AM
Posted on December 28, 2007 03:14
Two words:
BVD hammock.
Because it's impossible to walk away and leave your sidearm there.
I concur: an unload/load cycle is unnecessary. If anything, the gratuitous administrative handling increases the risk of a public ND, and is therefore counter to the purpose for which the rule of thumb "never let a loaded gun leave your direct control" exists.
Public ND's: a gun carrier's #2 nightmare, and #1 public relations disaster.
Posted by geekWithA.45 | December 28, 2007 11:44 AM
Posted on December 28, 2007 11:44
I almost always use a CTAC - and I can just let the gun rest sideways and be covered. No handling.
I'd argue *vehemently* against *ever* removing it and leaving it in the bathroom such as that...
What if, for instance, the gun slipped down inside the tissue container? (The locked, stainless steel, narrow container?) (I'll leave aside the obvious problems with leaving them accidentally).
Or if you should nudge it while it's wedged into the handrail? And it falls?
Get a holster that lets you use the bathroom.
Posted by Unix-Jedi | December 28, 2007 9:27 PM
Posted on December 28, 2007 21:27
Just be aware that some of those seat cover dispensers aren't hung on a solid divider. Sometimes they're hung back-to-back through a hole in the divider. This could allow someone to reach through the dispensers and grab your gun. Highly improbable, but you have to consider all the possiblities.
I use a Don Hume Ankle Safe holster. Perfect if I'm sitting on the throne, a little tricker draw standing at the urinal....
Posted by A.E. | December 30, 2007 4:41 AM
Posted on December 30, 2007 04:41
I've recently thought about this myself, even talkeing about it with some friends who carry.
For the most part you are right, the need to unload is not necessary, but keeping the weapon in the holster is. Thus, the reason I use only holsters that clip on and not threated through a belt. This way I can pull both holster and weapon off at the same time. I even remove the magazine and shove it in a pocket. It is just not for safety, but for privacy. It is nobodies business to know that I am armed, but my own.
Posted by Michael | December 30, 2007 7:25 AM
Posted on December 30, 2007 07:25
I just thought about this.
Some washroom stalls which are for handicapped people sometimes also has a baby changing station so you can just pull down the baby changing station and pull out your weapon of choice in the holster, go about your business and you will have it close at hand, just remember to look around before you leave but that is second nature for most people.
Posted by John | February 3, 2008 11:50 AM
Posted on February 3, 2008 11:50
If you ever have to use a Port Authority restroom in New York you sweep the other stalls first to make sure they are empty while your partner stands point at the door with his weapon ready while you do your business, then you do the same for him.
Maintain control of your weapon at all times. It stays in your hand. As you learned in Boot Camp "This is my rifle, this is my gun....
Posted by ke4sky | February 15, 2008 10:25 AM
Posted on February 15, 2008 10:25
Are we sure the guy with the 1911 didn't do something even stupider like put one of those houge rubber sleeve grips on it thus always disabling the grip safety?
Posted by Chris | February 23, 2008 1:18 PM
Posted on February 23, 2008 13:18