If you’ve become comfortable carrying your handgun, congratulations! But there may a few minutes of each day you still find a tad awkward—situations like…using a public restroom. Women and men each face challenges in this part of their daily routines. How do you go to the bathroom when you carry a gun?
Carrie Lightfoot, founder and owner of The Well Armed Woman, says men have it easier than women—most of the time. In her opinion, the less you do, the better. You don’t want your firearm visible from outside the stall, and this advice holds true for women and men.
“Anytime your remove your firearm from its holster you create risk,” Lightfoot advises. “A well-made in-the-pants or on-the-waist holster should hold your firearm snug, even if you accidentally turn it upside down. If yours doesn’t, get a new one. Not everyone likes a thumb break, but here is a good place where they come in handy. Keep your hand on the holstered firearm as you carefully slide down your pants and keep your hand on it. Keep the top of your pants up off the floor and out of view from ‘neighbors.’ If you’re wearing a belt, this is even more important as once you undo your belt—the weight of whole package takes on a mind of its own.” (A thumb break or retaining strap is a safety device installed on many holsters and sheaths to prevent a weapon from being unintentionally drawn. The thumb break helps to prevent an unauthorized person from drawing a pistol or knife from another person’s body.)
It may be tempting to place your firearm somewhere in the stall, like, the back of the toilet or on the toilet paper dispenser or hanging it on the door’s hook. These are terrible ideas. It’s too easy for your gun to slip and slide out from under the stall, and it’s also possible to become distracted and leave your gun behind.
“Many women are wearing bra holsters and belly bands. With these holsters this challenge is eliminated,” says Lightfoot. “For those of you that carry in your purse, as awkward as it may be, place your purse on your lap or even hang it over your body cross-body style.”
Another option is to minimize exposure by using a corner stall or the family restroom. You still have to take the necessary precautions, but you may at least be able to relax a bit.
