How do you carry your CCW permit?

grampajack said:

... I asked the cop why he had stopped me, and was promptly informed that he was the one asking the questions here and threatened to take me to jail if I didn't comply. ...

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That kind of attitude always brings out the best in me.

I have down sized my wallet and what I have on me in the last few years my wallet has id, my 2 carry permits, 3 cards and cash all the extras go in a back up wallet that sit in the truck.

I use this wallet.
www.magpul.com/products/magpul-daka-everyday-wallet

grampajack said:

I thought it was a valid question on my part. He approached me very aggressively, so I'm thinking crap, I must match the description of a suspect he's looking for. Obviously I want to know what's going on before I comply with any questioning. If I'm a murder suspect or something then I want to know right off the bat so I can clam up and call my lawyer. I thought for sure that a grave crime had just been committed.

He actually gave me several excuses before it was all over. When I shot down the graffiti excuse he goes oh well I saw you come out of your house and I had to make sure you lived there. Yep, sherlock, you caught me. I broke into a random house right at the time people are waking up, I stole nothing but their old mutt, and now I'm making my getaway on foot. Damn fine police work in this town.

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I wouldn't put up with that. I'm just not capable of it. I'm respectful to everyone until they lose it, then I get nasty. I sure as heck won't take disrespect from a public servant, and if it gets me in a bind, so be it. I had a similar confrontation with one at a "compliance checkpoint" who was convinced I was a lawbreaker because I was out on a Harley at 3 AM (coming home from work). He couldn't get past the idea I had done no wrong, and after he saw my "papers were in order" he continued to harass and interrogate me (1 block from home). I quit answering his questions because I told him he is a stranger and I didn't feel comfortable telling him things without knowing why he wanted to know. When he got loud, I told him to either allow me to pass or arrest me. Guess what? I went home. I spoke to my neighbor (deputy) about the incident, and she told me they put the jerks no one wants to work with on that detail

To try to steer this back on topic, I have, on a few occasions, carried ID in a sock. This was before I carried a firearm, though.

grampajack said:

Some of our routes are around 10 miles long, so we're not talking about just a stroll around the block. Minimalist shorts are what I wear, and there are good reasons for that. Chafing is one of them, breathability and moisture wicking are others. Khakis start chafing me in about two miles, they don't breath, and once they soak up the sweat they don't dry fast enough and therefore stop wicking moisture. I actually have no problem packing the snubbie in such shorts either. It's 100% stable and secure, and surprisingly comfortable. I can even run with it like that.

I despise hot weather, so I'm looking for the lightest, most minimalist clothing available. If it were legal, I would go naked with a sun umbrella.



Our local PD would have a fit, even though open carry is legal here as of last year. They're the kind of cops who would find something to charge you with, like disorderly conduct or some such nonsense. I was actually stopped one time and asked for my ID, well demanded actually. I asked the cop why he had stopped me, and was promptly informed that he was the one asking the questions here and threatened to take me to jail if I didn't comply. Little $%^$#% was acting like I had just approached a checkpoint in Fallujah. Papiere bitte!

Oh, and the best part, his reason for stopping me was that some kids had tagged a library, so stopping everyone in the vicinity was part of his "investigation." Yea, a guy walking his dog wearing reflective clothing, heading in the opposite direction of said library, during the morning rush hour when everyone is out on the roads...that's some good detective work there sherlock.

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You go for 10 mile hikes in the summer and don't take water? Rip stop cargo shorts will dry out faster than almost anything. I don't like stuff on my neck particularly when walking. I'd suggest a fanny pack or they make bicep and wrist wallets for running.

It's in a sealed glass box down in DC

just pick up an id lanyard from amazon/wallyworld/etc. etc. couple bucks and you can wear it around your neck.

grampajack said:

Trust me, cargo shorts are out. Too much friction. Basically anything with a crotch ain't gonna fly.

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What you need is a cargo kilt!

Choke/strangle hazard in an encounter with an attacker/mugger;

They have tons of small pouches for very small electronics online...check Amazon. You could even use a large luggage tag. And just attach it to a belt loop with small carabiner or other. Belt loops can break but I hang my phone in a pouch on them when I ride and do lots of activities...they've been holding up fine.

The answer for neck lanyard safety is an old one, dog tag chains. But, I agree, the issue remains just getting used to them. And even when you do, wearing them 24/7, I rarely see the practice once separation from service occurs. I only indulge when wearing a neck knife, and that's much more rarely these days. They simply aren't accessible enough.

As for any shorts being uncomfortable my answer wasn't to quit wearing them, propriety and such are one of those social intrusions in our lives. I figured out it was the underwear causing the issue in the first place, and synthetic stretch boxers solved all the problems. I found they were cooler and more breathable than traditional cotton and covered areas where doubled seams could cause issues.

The advantage came even more noticeable using a groin holster - the kind you wear deep cover inside the waistband lower than the belt line. Those can and will raise temps because they don't breathe well and create air circulation issues. The synthetic stretch boxers work well with them. One significant advantage if you use that method of carry is to get the shirt untucked in hot weather to increase air flow. But - at that point - you could just as well carry OWB on a belt.

There is another method which I have used, an ATA style fabric shoulder holster. Mine is convertible for that or groin carry. In the shoulder configuration it takes all the weight off the waist, belt, or pockets completely. And there is room to carry a CCW inside behind the insert which shapes the front flatter. Some question speed of draw but compared to pocket carry in basketball shorts I'd suggest awareness is the bigger issue.

As for synthetics as the first layer of wear, the DOD introduced me to it decades ago for hot weather wear and I found them a huge improvement, albeit they aren't as good as cotton when you need an expedient cloth for wiping down your rifle. The use of cotton as a first layer has been institutionalized in our garment industry since it was imported after WWI by soldiers returning from France. It's basically inexpensive and works ok in a controlled environment but winter or summer cotton knits aren't as functional as we have been led to believe by marketing. Take a walk down the mens underwear aisle and look - there has been a sea change in materials and styles over the last two decades.

Same as in wallets.

grampajack said:

This does have the same metal chain you see on dog tags, so I don't believe it's a big choking hazard.

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Ah, the ones I've seen have cords, and often have a toggle to make them adjustable.

grampajack said:

This is a lot more minimalist than those. I have one of those for my passport, but it would just be overkill for this application. This one will only hold an ID and a credit card.

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Like I said...large luggage tag on a belt loop

At the times my Gramps and Dad didn't/don't want to carry a wallet they would use a light weight belt and carry what they thought they would need in an ammunition belt pouch for M1 Carbine. They used them mainly for small parts or a wrench but if you cut the dividing seam one would be big enough for an ID & your permit.

I use this for ccw permits separate from my wallet.

https://www.shotgunsportsmagazine.com/shop/product/average-card-holder

My permit resides in my strong side wallet, in a plastic window just behind my driver's license. If an officer wants to see it, I will describe the location as, "In my wallet, strong side, near my pistol, what do you want me to do?" If the officer is comfortable with me retrieving it, fine. If he or she wants to retrieve it, my hands will go on top of my head, with my fingers interlaced, and the officer can retrieve it. If I am slighted, or insulted or the officer makes a mistake that I take issue with, I will take it up with his or her supervisor Monday morning. I won't get shot arguing with the officer or standing on a point of law.

grampajack said:

I take a bottle of water.

Trust me, cargo shorts are out. Too much friction. Basically anything with a crotch ain't gonna fly. The neck wallet works great for me, so I'm good there. The point I was trying to make is that there are other advantages to it, primarily that your hands stay in plain view when showing your CCW permit to a cop. So no more reaching behind my back to get my wallet. For this reason I'm thinking I might just go with the neck wallet year round.

Regarding the wrist and bicep wallets, those are a no go for the same reason I don't like those ipod bands. They give you the prickly heat.

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So your carrying a bottle of water but can't figure out how to carry a card?

I have had serious law enforcement encounters three times while carrying a firearm, with no permit on me, and all times the officer didn't particularly care. Its connected to your license number, your plate number, and your name, so they can tell if you have one, and while in WA your required to keep it at all times your carrying a firearm, I was never ticketed. I think they reserve that for people who fight, or officers with a tax collector attitude. What state are you in?