CCW and the handicapped

[sm]

Excellent Thread!

dfariswheel,
My friend, you have posted some excellent information, thank you.

I have experiences with "physically limited" persons, but I will refrain from posting instead will re-read dfariswheel's posts and glean from the posts of the rest of you.

Steve

 

[Shadow 7D]

Steve, I appreciate that your approval of the thread, but I have the feeling that you could add more than a few finer points.

 

[browncoatdawn]

Interesting

You might be surprised as to the level of mobility some people can achieve. Still, it would be hard to keep up with anyone circling. The knife I have had on me has been merely stop gap. And I have been able to work on using it from the chair as well as the floor.

I have a small ammount of krav maga training, but I'm not sure how I would use it all in my current situation. Iowa is pretty limited as to the experience brought in for anything but main line, catch all stuff. I would like to see more offered, which would be part of what I would try to make happen in my business. I could easily say that my P-64 has proven reliable, but I am sure that I won't want to carry it for too long. 9x18 hard ball is not common, let alone self defense rounds.

I actually am rather fond of the 380, it seems to have come into its own with modern ammunition. There are also several pistols to choose from, and all of them seem to do what they intended to do, quite well.
I have an old FN, picked up at a pawn shop for $350. Some bluing wear, but it's the 32acp. I bought it as a curiosity, and would rather beat someone with it than attempt to shoot them with it. I think a 22lr would be better for punching holes in a bg.

M dad called last night, he had both spinal, and brain injury 12 years ago. his first day home from Mayo Clinic was watching the towers fall. He was happy to hear how things were going, and actually suggested the Walther PPS. I guess some of the officers back home are now using them as backup guns.

Well, I am about to head out to walmart and stock up on chili supplies, it looks like it's the beginning of the season, and since I live alone, I have no reason to blame the smell on the dog.

 

[sm]

I appreciate the kind words.

Seriously, anytime I assisted with physically limited persons, I learned a lot more from them, than they did from me.

As a whole person, I did use manual and powered wheelchairs of those assisting , and some brought in/loaned to get a feel of what they deal with everyday. Folks, this is something you MUST do. It opens your eyes to so many things we whole persons take for granted.

Talk about feeling vulnerable! Oh I felt so vulnerable getting out of and then back into a handicapped van with the power lift.

Well, at least we had plenty of padded mats, because after getting dumped off that lift...
At least I fell off with style points.

I personally chose two revolvers, one being a old Smith 042. The Model 3" Model 64 was in a shoulder rig, the snubby on weak side, about 1030-ish to 11 o'clock.

I took the suggestion of one of the ladies ( about 50 yrs old) and tried her method of carrying both revolvers near the front. The 042 in the same place before, the 64 about 1:30-ish to 2 o'clock. It worked for her, and it worked for me.

One young man, whom did not have the use of his weak side arm much, and used a powered "scooter" had rear view mirrors. He was difficult to sneak up on, as he watched "like a hawk" his surroundings.
He carried two guns,(revolvers) one in a fanny pack the other near the front as I shared earlier.

Shooting drills from all sorts of positions, with one "tangled up" with a chair/scooter, and on the ground.

Talk about "grit", these folks sure had it. The will to survive was that evident!

Just me, but I feel everyone should spend some time with physically limited folks.
One never knows that in the blink of an eye one could find themselves "limited" and need what these folks could offer.

Sending best,

Steve

 

[mclue]

There is a lot of good advice here. As a guy in a chair I disagree with some of it.
Martial art training can be a serious and useful tool if you have some upper body strength. I am a former power lifter and take private lessons in mixed martial art. This includes grappling, punches, elbows, defense from punches and kicks and grappling from the ground if I get dumped out. I also carry a knife. I would certainly not be effective in a knife fight, but if I am grabbed from behind and can't break loose, a knife to the groin would change the situation. I am also not able to carry a pistol everywhere, such as when I mentor kids at the local high school. I won't be helpless or defenseless anywhere I go.

When I first started carrying I carried cross draw. I found I needed to reach above my head a lot when grocery shopping or getting in and out of my truck. Unless I wore a mumu I was always flashing my pistol. I tried shoulder holsters and could not find one the was comfortable for me. They might be with one of the light weight pistols. I know one guy that sewed pockets into the lower leg part of his pants. His wallet and keys and pistol were very accessible.

Try different things, find what works for you. Keep the weapon on your person.
When practicing to shoot from the ground be aware of the muzzle blast, it can be over a sensitive area.

 

[browncoatdawn]

I didn't expect

I didn't expect this to end up as such a big thread. I am investigating options all over. It looks like I am more or less limited to belly bands, the afore mentioned bag, and those "tactical shirts". Now investigating the options for hand guns. Most of what I have are hunting or service size, and weight. I may have a decent budget, but I always look for the most bang for my buck.

I checked out a High Standard 1911, 4 inch Commander, but that seems like it might be a bit heavy after a while. Also looked at the Walther PPS and P99, Sig P238, the S&W Bodyguard duo of guns, and the various Ruger LCP, LCR and a few of the smith airweights.
Haven't really formed an opinion yet, but I do like the Bodyguards, and the P238.

 

[Jath]

The more on this thread I read, the more pain I feel for anyone in a chair. One would likely never think about this stuff until they are in that situation themselves. I agree with a lot of the stuff the other experienced wheelchair jockeys are saying. I think you should aim to end any standoff as quickly as possible. Perhaps sometimes it might be better in certain scenarios to go to the ground yourself in a controlled manner rather than to allow them to knock you over. That way you have a smaller window between falling and drawing, plus you can place your chair between yourself and the assailant. They would have to trip over the chair to get to you. you could even do something like line the seat of the chair with kevlar to enable to to have true cover in the event of an assailant carrying his own gun.

I wish you luck.

 

[Dnaltrop]

One nice thing we cranky, creaky, persnickety cusses have in common.

No wise DA is going to try and argue against our (legitimate) Disparity of Force defense!

I do like Jath's idea of up-armoring your wheels, a few trauma plates in the back and seat could give you a decent little cubbyhole that might give you the few seconds you need to get your gun clear.

I'm also a big fan of non-ranged electrical stun devices when you are legally allowed to carry one. I've scared a few unfriendly dogs off just by discharging the device into the air. The crackle is very attention getting, and the rest of the time people just see a flashlight.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200491140_200491140

Need to upgrade my plastic one.. only 1 LED and it's 950,000 volts.

Saw this one too, and it seemed to fit the "impaired mobility" theme, a full-fledged cane with a 250 lb weight limit.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...38?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top Sellers-_-Product Page

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

I carry in this "Fantasy bag" green fanny pack when I go biking or I'm in a vehicle and sitting down. It's the perfect size for a S&W 296, but would also fit a 442/642, a bulldog, or a number of other firearms. It has three pouches - a front pouch for reloads, a middle pouch for the firearm, and a back pouch for your ccw license, keys, and fruit rollups.

http://www.amazon.com/Fantasybag-3-...WGOE/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1318898845&sr=8-5

The color is really great for concealment. If I see a black fanny pack I think "gun!" If I see a teal fanny pack I think "snacks!"

For $4.99, this is officially my cheapest holster, yet it is well made and I have only positive things to report so far.

 

[rich642z]

I am also a BK amputee and also walk with a prosthetic and a rifle that is shaped as a walking cane. It's loaded with .357 ammo semi hardcast wadcutters and no one has messed with me yet.

 

[Jath]

I am also a BK amputee and also walk with a prosthetic and a rifle that is shaped as a walking cane. It's loaded with .357 ammo semi hardcast wadcutters and no one has messed with me yet.

Where in the world do you find such a weapon?

 

[NavyLCDR]

http://www.micksguns.com/special shotguns.htm

 

[rich642z]

No,it's not like those pics in the link it's a real extra wide cane,made mainly of wood and it has a barrel inside of it and,asmall lever action before the bend of the handgrip. It shoots just fine and all I have to do is remove the rubber protector up from the opening of the barrel.

 

[devildog4329]

Maxpedition makes quite a few options. They are a little more "cooler" than the fanny pack option.

http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/Versipacks-c4.htm

I have one of there messenger bags, Operator tactical attache, and I carry a G19 a extra mags, laptop, books, and other papers. So far only one complaint. The velcrofor the CCW compartment is a little tough to open one handed.