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If your face has the same incredulous look reading the title of this article that mine did when I first heard about my friend carrying a gun around the house, I won’t hold it against you. For the anti-gun, pro-gun control supporters of the world, I’m sure home carry is the epitome of being a gun nut. After all, your home should be a safe haven. Why do you need to carry your gun around the house where you have locks, alarms, and other security systems in place (a big dog, maybe)?
I personally do not home carry much at all – I prefer to leave my guns hidden around the house with gun magnets positioned strategically so I can reach my firearms at any time (read up on how magnets affect/don’t affect guns here). If we have big family/friend gathering, I MIGHT home carry (you NEVER know what every one of your house guests get into and what kind of people they associate with).
However, given the political and social climate we are in today (I’ll explain later), I can’t blame other gun owners for feeling the pressure to carry a gun around the house to protect against the unknown. Example: when a home invader breaks in with you in one room and your gun in another.
In this article, we will dive deep into the legalities of home carry, why you should consider doing it, how you can go about carrying a gun around the house consistently, and common fears about home carry.
The GMW Cavalry Series Quickdraw Fast Loader Holster Gun Magnet available now on Amazon.com. BUY NOW
“Pants on, gun on”
Table of Contents
Are you allowed to home carry?
Why you should consider carrying a gun around the house
How to home carry
Common fear/arguments against carrying a gun around the house
Conclusion
Are you allowed allowed to home carry?
The quick and short answer is “yes”. Gun owners explicitly won this right after McDonald vs. the City of Chicago in 2010. In this case, Otis McDonald took the city of Chicago to court after being denied the right to own a handgun (at the time, all guns in Chicago had to be registered with the city. However, government officials were purposely turning away all handgun registrations that were sent in). McDonald had been looking for a handgun to keep in his home to protect from looters and drifters.
In layman terms, this means that even if you aren’t allowed to carry around a firearm without a permit in your area, you are still able to carry a firearm at home to protect yourself as per the 2nd Amendment.
Makes a lot of sense, right?
Why you should consider carrying a gun around the house
Increased home invasions in recent years
I’m sure you’ve read recently that crime in America has been lower than it has ever been. This is true and should be celebrated – a safer world is always something worth cherishing and celebrating.
However, certain types of crimes have not experienced this same drop. In this case, home invasions in America have actually gone up over the recent years. To add on that, some statistics:
In 34% of home invasions, the burglars enter through the front door (which likely is close to your living room, where you and your family congregate), and usually go straight to the master bedroom to dig for valuables (where you and your spouse sleep).
Also, most home invasions are carried out by people you know or people living in your area who can observe and spy on your everyday patterns. That means if your home gets invaded, it’ll likely be when you least expect it, by the person you least expect to break into your house. In such scenarios, if you aren’t carrying a gun around the house, you might be very far away from your gun if (God forbid) someone breaks in.
Criminals don’t take days off
When you get home:
Close your door (and may leave it unlocked).
Take off your concealed carry and put it in your safe.
Sit down for dinner with your family.
Plop down in front of the television.
Go to bed.
If every day went EXACTLY like this, it’d be easy to say that we live in a safe world and that your house is a safe haven. In such a hypothetical situation, once you close your front door, all your safety precautions are no longer needed.
As you read that paragraph, you probably thought to yourself: “okay, I know where Jon’s going with this” vis-a-vis home carry.
The fact is, criminals DON’T take days off, and the world DOESN’T stop spinning the moment you get into your house. The dangers that exist outside of your home that necessitate you to conceal carry don’t stop existing when you get home.
These dangers still threaten the lives of you and your family when you get home. A break in could happen at any time (just like a shootout could happen any time), and if you aren’t ready at every waking moment of the day (even at home), you won’t be able to defend yourself.
You don’t need to be a target to be a target
The point emphasized in the above section is the same here. I’ve heard many gun owners say: “I don’t do anything wrong, so I’m not a target. My home is safe”. While this point can’t really be debated too hard (let’s face it, if you generally stay out of trouble, you’ll stay out of trouble. Bad things NORMALLY happen to those who seek them), it’s not a steadfast rule.
If it was, we’d never have innocent bystanders gunned down by lunatics on the street. You don’t need to be involved in nefarious activities to cause someone to want to break into your house. Carrying a gun around the house may be your first and only line of defense when someone does break in.
Yes, you’ve got guns everywhere. But what if you can’t get to them?
So now you might say – well, I’ve got guns hidden all over my home. 34% of home invasions start from the front door? Well, I’ve got a gun magnet hidden underneath my coffee table where I’ve stored a Glock – good luck to that burglar coming through the door.
Fair point. If you get to your Glock as the burglar’s coming through the door and have the element of surprise (and a good shot), then you’re probably well set up to win.
However, what if you aren’t near your coffee table, and you aren’t near your strategically hidden firearms? What if the burglar comes through a side window near your corridor, and you aren’t carrying a gun around the house? In such a scenario, you and your family are completely exposed to danger because you don’t home carry, while the burglar probably has gun.
What if a home invader finds one of your guns?
Although you have guns strategically hidden around the house, what if a burglar snooping through your belongings finds your gun before you find him in the house? That would put you at an immediate disadvantage if you were not home carrying, as he would be armed and you would not be.
Your dog and security system aren’t fail-safe
While most burglars won’t attempt to case a house that they know is protected by a security system (hang your signs out, folks…), security systems can be cracked. And even if you’ve got a dog with a heart of gold but a ferocious bite and bark with strangers, it doesn’t mean that your dog can’t be tricked with treats, killed, or poisoned by a more devious (frankly, evil) home invader. This isn’t an unheard of scenario.
Okay, fine – this is all a bit crazy…
So I’ll admit flat out at this juncture, yes – this is all pretty crazy. I’m suggesting for you to carry a gun around the house, where you live. This IS crazy.
And that’s just the point – it’s crazy, but it’s also just how it is. The dangers of home invasions and intruders are extremely real, and while it’s crazy, it’s something that won’t change any time soon. It’s better to do something crazy (that doesn’t hurt anyone of course…), but be prepared for when the worst happens.
How to home carry
Now that we’ve covered why you should be carrying a gun around the house during your waking hours, there are several methods and best practices for home carrying.
Secure your gun properly like any other concealed carry
I hear many anti-home carry proponents say that they don’t home carry because they’re afraid that their children might grab their guns. While this is a real concern (protect your children at all costs), this is more of a question of firearm carrying best practices.
Like concealed carrying, you don’t want your gun to easily accessible by others while home carrying. Ensure that the holster you use secures your firearm so only you can access it in a time of need.
Find the most comfortable carrying method for yourself
Another complaint I hear about carrying guns around the house is that home carrying isn’t comfortable. However, if you think about it, carrying a gun isn’t always comfortable to begin with. Hot Texan sun, 220 pounds, appendix holster with a 2-pound gun? That’s not ideal for a comfortable day.
But I do it anyway with my concealed carry – because I know that the safety that comes with carrying a firearm vs. not carrying one is far more important than comfort. The same goes for carrying a gun around your home – it’s about protection from the dangers of the outside world that don’t just stop when you get home.
This being said, it doesn’t make sense to not make yourself comfortable while protecting yourself – if you can. Find a holster that suits you the best – whether it be an outside holster, inside holster, or a shoulder holster.
If you have a small enough gun (a pocket carry like a Ruger LCR etc.), you can even pocket carry in the house for ultimate home carry comfort. Just make sure it’s secure when you’re walking around.
Remember, discomfort is a holster issue, not a home carry issue.
Don’t put your concealed carry down when you get home
When most people get home, they like to empty their pockets and put their concealed carry on their counter or in their gun safe. If you are looking to start home carrying, when you get home, just leave your concealed carry on your person and go about the rest of your day. If you build up this habit, it’ll become second nature and you will be able to unconsciously carry your firearm around the house at all times.
For the gun owners who like to get into comfortable clothes the moment they get home, fret not – like mentioned earlier, you can pocket carry or use a shoulder holster.
Your home carry doesn’t have to be a huge gun
Sure, defending your home with an AR-15 is great. But you don’t need to carry one on your back around the house all day long – even your smallest pistol packs enough punch to ward off a bath salt sniffing drug addict breaking into your home.
Shower with your gun
You’ve definitely heard this one before – and yes, it is a bit extreme. I myself don’t do this – if you’ve read my article on how to avoid having your guns rust, you’ll know why.
However, that isn’t to say that this shouldn’t be done. Think about it – when someone speaks to you while you’re showering, do you always hear them? And if you do, is it always easy to figure out what they’re saying? With water from your shower head crashing against your ears, it’s very hard to hear what’s going on outside of your bathroom.
That being said, if a burglar breaks in while you’re showering, you are very vulnerable as you probably won’t be able to hear him. If you have a gun at the ready while showering, you are much better poised to defend yourself rather than being just naked with a bar of soap and shampoo in your hair.
To protect his guns from rusting in his shower, a friend of mine actually leaves a vacuum sealed gun (like seen in the picture above) in his shower with a tear at the corner to rip open in case of emergency. You can do this as well.
Common fears/arguments against carrying a gun around the house
I don’t want to get house guests nervous
Fair point – all guests entering your home should feel welcome and safe. However, if you are a home carrier, and you are inviting them into your house – this is just how it is. Your home is your haven, and you have your rules.
Before they come over, let them know that you home carry – if they are opposed, they won’t show up. If they are okay with it (or can live with it), they’ll show up. And as I mentioned before, you don’t know what your friends and houseguests get themselves before entering your home. I home carry whenever we invite house guests over, because I don’t know what kind of trouble they may or may not bring into my home that I don’t know about.
My spouse doesn’t like me carrying a gun around the house
Another fair point. In such scenarios, educate your spouse and household about the dangers of home invasions and about importance of home carrying for the safety of your home.
I don’t want to have a gun on me when I drink at home
Believe it or not, this is a fear that has been confided in me by my more boisterous-when-drunk, gun owning friends. In these cases, there are a couple of things to do.
Think about leaving your gun in your safe while you drink at home, and have another family member who is not drinking home carry while you are drinking.
Speak to a therapist about your anger issues. These are issues that many people experience, and can/should be addressed.
I don’t want to seem paranoid and on edge
You’re just home carrying – you aren’t building yourself a fallout shelter in the off-chance nuclear war breaks out between the United States and Canada. You’re not paranoid – you’re being prepared, and don’t let anyone say different.
As an example, if you conceal carry or open carry, a strong number of Americans already consider you paranoid. But as you know, those two things are perfectly normal and justified. Same thing with carrying a gun around the house.
I don’t need to home carry. I have guns all over the house
As I touched on earlier in this post, just because you have guns positioned all over your home (want to know how to hide your gun in your bedroom?), it doesn’t mean that you’ll always be able to get to them. Stay vigilant and carry a gun around the house.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, your choice to home carry really comes down to personal choice. Carrying a gun around the house is a difficult habit to develop. However, protecting your home and your family should be a no-brainer, and home carrying is just another layer of defense you can leverage against potential outside dangers and intruders.
With a mix of a security system, a rude dog, guns hidden around your house with gun magnets and other gun accessories, AND a home carry firearm strapped to your person, your home becomes exponentially safer.
What are your thoughts on carrying a gun around the house? Let us know in the comment section below or email us at support@gunmagnetworld.com. And if you want to see what your friends think about home carrying, share this article on Facebook or Twitter with the share buttons below!
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Home Carry: The Hows and Whys of Carrying a Gun Around the House
The GMW Gun Hooks with Cable Gun Lock Hole and the GMW AR15 Wall Mount. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
The GMW IWB magazine holster with built-in neodymium magnets. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
If your face has the same incredulous look reading the title of this article that mine did when I first heard about my friend carrying a gun around the house, I won’t hold it against you. For the anti-gun, pro-gun control supporters of the world, I’m sure home carry is the epitome of being a gun nut. After all, your home should be a safe haven. Why do you need to carry your gun around the house where you have locks, alarms, and other security systems in place (a big dog, maybe)?
I personally do not home carry much at all – I prefer to leave my guns hidden around the house with gun magnets positioned strategically so I can reach my firearms at any time (read up on how magnets affect/don’t affect guns here). If we have big family/friend gathering, I MIGHT home carry (you NEVER know what every one of your house guests get into and what kind of people they associate with).
However, given the political and social climate we are in today (I’ll explain later), I can’t blame other gun owners for feeling the pressure to carry a gun around the house to protect against the unknown. Example: when a home invader breaks in with you in one room and your gun in another.
In this article, we will dive deep into the legalities of home carry, why you should consider doing it, how you can go about carrying a gun around the house consistently, and common fears about home carry.
The GMW Cavalry Series Quickdraw Fast Loader Holster Gun Magnet available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
“Pants on, gun on”
Table of Contents
Are you allowed to home carry?
Why you should consider carrying a gun around the house
How to home carry
Common fear/arguments against carrying a gun around the house
Conclusion
Are you allowed allowed to home carry?
The quick and short answer is “yes”. Gun owners explicitly won this right after McDonald vs. the City of Chicago in 2010. In this case, Otis McDonald took the city of Chicago to court after being denied the right to own a handgun (at the time, all guns in Chicago had to be registered with the city. However, government officials were purposely turning away all handgun registrations that were sent in). McDonald had been looking for a handgun to keep in his home to protect from looters and drifters.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court found:
“The right to keep and bear arms for self defense in one’s home is protected under the 2nd Amendment”.
In layman terms, this means that even if you aren’t allowed to carry around a firearm without a permit in your area, you are still able to carry a firearm at home to protect yourself as per the 2nd Amendment.
Makes a lot of sense, right?
Why you should consider carrying a gun around the house
Increased home invasions in recent years
I’m sure you’ve read recently that crime in America has been lower than it has ever been. This is true and should be celebrated – a safer world is always something worth cherishing and celebrating.
However, certain types of crimes have not experienced this same drop. In this case, home invasions in America have actually gone up over the recent years. To add on that, some statistics:
Also, most home invasions are carried out by people you know or people living in your area who can observe and spy on your everyday patterns. That means if your home gets invaded, it’ll likely be when you least expect it, by the person you least expect to break into your house. In such scenarios, if you aren’t carrying a gun around the house, you might be very far away from your gun if (God forbid) someone breaks in.
Criminals don’t take days off
When you get home:
If every day went EXACTLY like this, it’d be easy to say that we live in a safe world and that your house is a safe haven. In such a hypothetical situation, once you close your front door, all your safety precautions are no longer needed.
As you read that paragraph, you probably thought to yourself: “okay, I know where Jon’s going with this” vis-a-vis home carry.
The fact is, criminals DON’T take days off, and the world DOESN’T stop spinning the moment you get into your house. The dangers that exist outside of your home that necessitate you to conceal carry don’t stop existing when you get home.
These dangers still threaten the lives of you and your family when you get home. A break in could happen at any time (just like a shootout could happen any time), and if you aren’t ready at every waking moment of the day (even at home), you won’t be able to defend yourself.
You don’t need to be a target to be a target
The point emphasized in the above section is the same here. I’ve heard many gun owners say: “I don’t do anything wrong, so I’m not a target. My home is safe”. While this point can’t really be debated too hard (let’s face it, if you generally stay out of trouble, you’ll stay out of trouble. Bad things NORMALLY happen to those who seek them), it’s not a steadfast rule.
If it was, we’d never have innocent bystanders gunned down by lunatics on the street. You don’t need to be involved in nefarious activities to cause someone to want to break into your house. Carrying a gun around the house may be your first and only line of defense when someone does break in.
Yes, you’ve got guns everywhere. But what if you can’t get to them?
So now you might say – well, I’ve got guns hidden all over my home. 34% of home invasions start from the front door? Well, I’ve got a gun magnet hidden underneath my coffee table where I’ve stored a Glock – good luck to that burglar coming through the door.
Fair point. If you get to your Glock as the burglar’s coming through the door and have the element of surprise (and a good shot), then you’re probably well set up to win.
However, what if you aren’t near your coffee table, and you aren’t near your strategically hidden firearms? What if the burglar comes through a side window near your corridor, and you aren’t carrying a gun around the house? In such a scenario, you and your family are completely exposed to danger because you don’t home carry, while the burglar probably has gun.
What if a home invader finds one of your guns?
Although you have guns strategically hidden around the house, what if a burglar snooping through your belongings finds your gun before you find him in the house? That would put you at an immediate disadvantage if you were not home carrying, as he would be armed and you would not be.
Your dog and security system aren’t fail-safe
While most burglars won’t attempt to case a house that they know is protected by a security system (hang your signs out, folks…), security systems can be cracked. And even if you’ve got a dog with a heart of gold but a ferocious bite and bark with strangers, it doesn’t mean that your dog can’t be tricked with treats, killed, or poisoned by a more devious (frankly, evil) home invader. This isn’t an unheard of scenario.
Okay, fine – this is all a bit crazy…
So I’ll admit flat out at this juncture, yes – this is all pretty crazy. I’m suggesting for you to carry a gun around the house, where you live. This IS crazy.
And that’s just the point – it’s crazy, but it’s also just how it is. The dangers of home invasions and intruders are extremely real, and while it’s crazy, it’s something that won’t change any time soon. It’s better to do something crazy (that doesn’t hurt anyone of course…), but be prepared for when the worst happens.
How to home carry
Now that we’ve covered why you should be carrying a gun around the house during your waking hours, there are several methods and best practices for home carrying.
Secure your gun properly like any other concealed carry
I hear many anti-home carry proponents say that they don’t home carry because they’re afraid that their children might grab their guns. While this is a real concern (protect your children at all costs), this is more of a question of firearm carrying best practices.
Like concealed carrying, you don’t want your gun to easily accessible by others while home carrying. Ensure that the holster you use secures your firearm so only you can access it in a time of need.
Find the most comfortable carrying method for yourself
Another complaint I hear about carrying guns around the house is that home carrying isn’t comfortable. However, if you think about it, carrying a gun isn’t always comfortable to begin with. Hot Texan sun, 220 pounds, appendix holster with a 2-pound gun? That’s not ideal for a comfortable day.
But I do it anyway with my concealed carry – because I know that the safety that comes with carrying a firearm vs. not carrying one is far more important than comfort. The same goes for carrying a gun around your home – it’s about protection from the dangers of the outside world that don’t just stop when you get home.
This being said, it doesn’t make sense to not make yourself comfortable while protecting yourself – if you can. Find a holster that suits you the best – whether it be an outside holster, inside holster, or a shoulder holster.
If you have a small enough gun (a pocket carry like a Ruger LCR etc.), you can even pocket carry in the house for ultimate home carry comfort. Just make sure it’s secure when you’re walking around.
Remember, discomfort is a holster issue, not a home carry issue.
Don’t put your concealed carry down when you get home
When most people get home, they like to empty their pockets and put their concealed carry on their counter or in their gun safe. If you are looking to start home carrying, when you get home, just leave your concealed carry on your person and go about the rest of your day. If you build up this habit, it’ll become second nature and you will be able to unconsciously carry your firearm around the house at all times.
For the gun owners who like to get into comfortable clothes the moment they get home, fret not – like mentioned earlier, you can pocket carry or use a shoulder holster.
Your home carry doesn’t have to be a huge gun
Sure, defending your home with an AR-15 is great. But you don’t need to carry one on your back around the house all day long – even your smallest pistol packs enough punch to ward off a bath salt sniffing drug addict breaking into your home.
Shower with your gun
You’ve definitely heard this one before – and yes, it is a bit extreme. I myself don’t do this – if you’ve read my article on how to avoid having your guns rust, you’ll know why.
However, that isn’t to say that this shouldn’t be done. Think about it – when someone speaks to you while you’re showering, do you always hear them? And if you do, is it always easy to figure out what they’re saying? With water from your shower head crashing against your ears, it’s very hard to hear what’s going on outside of your bathroom.
That being said, if a burglar breaks in while you’re showering, you are very vulnerable as you probably won’t be able to hear him. If you have a gun at the ready while showering, you are much better poised to defend yourself rather than being just naked with a bar of soap and shampoo in your hair.
To protect his guns from rusting in his shower, a friend of mine actually leaves a vacuum sealed gun (like seen in the picture above) in his shower with a tear at the corner to rip open in case of emergency. You can do this as well.
Common fears/arguments against carrying a gun around the house
I don’t want to get house guests nervous
Fair point – all guests entering your home should feel welcome and safe. However, if you are a home carrier, and you are inviting them into your house – this is just how it is. Your home is your haven, and you have your rules.
Before they come over, let them know that you home carry – if they are opposed, they won’t show up. If they are okay with it (or can live with it), they’ll show up. And as I mentioned before, you don’t know what your friends and houseguests get themselves before entering your home. I home carry whenever we invite house guests over, because I don’t know what kind of trouble they may or may not bring into my home that I don’t know about.
My spouse doesn’t like me carrying a gun around the house
Another fair point. In such scenarios, educate your spouse and household about the dangers of home invasions and about importance of home carrying for the safety of your home.
I don’t want to have a gun on me when I drink at home
Believe it or not, this is a fear that has been confided in me by my more boisterous-when-drunk, gun owning friends. In these cases, there are a couple of things to do.
I don’t want to seem paranoid and on edge
You’re just home carrying – you aren’t building yourself a fallout shelter in the off-chance nuclear war breaks out between the United States and Canada. You’re not paranoid – you’re being prepared, and don’t let anyone say different.
As an example, if you conceal carry or open carry, a strong number of Americans already consider you paranoid. But as you know, those two things are perfectly normal and justified. Same thing with carrying a gun around the house.
I don’t need to home carry. I have guns all over the house
As I touched on earlier in this post, just because you have guns positioned all over your home (want to know how to hide your gun in your bedroom?), it doesn’t mean that you’ll always be able to get to them. Stay vigilant and carry a gun around the house.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, your choice to home carry really comes down to personal choice. Carrying a gun around the house is a difficult habit to develop. However, protecting your home and your family should be a no-brainer, and home carrying is just another layer of defense you can leverage against potential outside dangers and intruders.
With a mix of a security system, a rude dog, guns hidden around your house with gun magnets and other gun accessories, AND a home carry firearm strapped to your person, your home becomes exponentially safer.
What are your thoughts on carrying a gun around the house? Let us know in the comment section below or email us at support@gunmagnetworld.com. And if you want to see what your friends think about home carrying, share this article on Facebook or Twitter with the share buttons below!