Which hand for groceries?

[Trunk Monkey]

Yes, really. What's the point in a courier being armed if the default response is to immediately give up the bag? I always assumed they were armed because they're supposed to protect the money from getting stolen. Is that not accurate?

No, that is not accurate. The money is insured if the guard shoots the wrong person the company is liable. My employer specifically requires guards to carry in condition 3 at all times

 

[Dog Soldier]

You evidently have not bought peanut butter lately. The days of peanut butter in GLASS jars are long gone. It's all plastic my friend.

Hey Deputy, maybe you should stop buying "Peter Pan" peanut butter and get some of the grown up stuff.

 

[TRX]

Left hand, cane. (because my left knee is wrecked)
Right hand, groceries. (that, or carry them in my teeth)
"In case of emergency", let go of cane, draw gun. (since I'm left-handed)
Re-holster, try to pick cane up without falling down.

 

[bearcreek]

No, that is not accurate. The money is insured if the guard shoots the wrong person the company is liable. My employer specifically requires guards to carry in condition 3 at all times

Huh, interesting. That sucks. I'd be rather upset at my employer if I were you.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Huh, interesting. That sucks. I'd be rather upset at my employer if I were you.

I don't carry a gun for my employer (and I won't). I'm assigned to a mental health facility where I carry no weapons at all.

 

[azrocks]

I think the best way to train is to teach yourself to drop whatever is in your hands. I created a drill for just that event.

Warning: Not to be used by expectant mothers, baby-sitters, or anyone delivering packages to my house.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Story from Louis Awerbuck class. We were practicing clearing homes. This started on the outside with guns in holsters. I am right handed and kept using my right hand to open the door out of habit. He reminded me once to use my left non dominate hand. Still did it. He then pulled someone from the class and asked them to repeat the following words because I must be having ear problems and not hearing Loius voice. So Louis said to the person who said to me "Joe, if you open that door with your right hand again, is am going to f$$$!!!ing cut it off." It was very funny and typical Louis character. I've gotten much better. To the OP question, I keep my dominate hand free.

 

[Rick McC.]

I never carry anything in my strong hand, or open/close doors, whatever.

I have no idea when I didn't do that...

 

[PegLegPeat]

I am now wishing I had made this a poll. Not saying I am going to change my tactics by committee vote. Just that the results would be interesting.

 

[MedWheeler]

Makes me kind of glad to be left-handed. In a world set up for right-handers, there is little opportunity for me to tie up my strong hand doing things like opening doors, working ATM keypads, gas pump panels, etc..

 

[jmf552]

Sorry if this is out of place, but when I think about guns and groceries, I can't help think of this scene:

 

[mokin]

^ I need to watch that again. Goes to show that not being afraid to drop the groceries is better than getting shot. A good partner is a plus too.

I habitually keep my right hand free, whether it is carrying a bag or walking the dog.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Nice discussion, thanks.

One prominent trainer I worked with explained that he survived a lot of gunfights, because his gun was already in his hand when things went pear shaped. Following his advice, I keep my right hand free so I can do likewise long before there may be a justification to draw. I think it wisest to be able to take evasive or defensive maneuvers that are more subtle than dropping the groceries. If they are intent on evil, they will take notice when the rh slips under the cover garment. If they are innocent, they will more likely think you are reaching for a cell phone or scratching an itch.

But situational awareness is the bigger key. Time. Distance. Cover. Lots of time it is wisest to wait or retreat to a safer location when people you don't know have arranged themselves in a potential ambush formation and taken away your advantages of time, distance, and cover if you keep moving in your original direction.

I also recall this prominent trainer's most important safety rules had nothing to do with firearms:
1. Don't go to stupid places
2. Don't do stupid things
3. Don't hang out with stupid people

Knowing which neighborhoods have higher crime rates and avoiding them is likely a safer option than which hand the groceries are in. Of course, best to take a layered approach and incorporate lots of best practices.

 

[Kleanbore]

What kind of neighborhood do you live in that the time it would take to drop a sack of groceries would be a factor in your survival?

I do not know how much time might be consumed, but the "kind of neighborhood" is irrelevant to tthe need for a rapid draw.

 

[PabloJ]

Since I started CCW'ing several years ago I have trained myself and my family to keep my right (strong side) hand free. If I am carrying groceries it is in my left (off-hand), If my wife of children are holding my hand to cross a street/ parking lot it is my left, etc. My thinking being that if I had to draw and fire with just my right it would be a little slower, but I could do it. If i had to do it all with my left it would be way slow because I wear my gun set up to draw from the right and my accuracy with my off hand is pretty poor. I also worry that in a bad situation my wife/ kids might tense up and death grip my hand so hard that I could not pull away and deal with the threat.
Last weekend I took a class (first in a series) from an instructor about the more tactical side of concealed carry. His teaching / advice was exactly the opposite. That if you could keep a hand free make it the off hand, because it is needed first to pull up / back a cover garment, and you will be forced to drop what is in your strong side hand to draw the weapon. He noted several instances of folks in self defense situations who when the smoke cleared were still hold something in their off hand that they were before things went bad (ticket book, groceries etc.)
What hand do the folks here keep open? or do you even worry about it?

I pay someone else to buy and bring my groceries for me, but if I had to do it myself I would shop in better good part of town and park close to store entrance.

 

[hdwhit]

strambo wrote:
Neighborhood doesn't matter. That merely speaks to the odds of a risk occurring, not the severity.

That was my point, exactly. What kind of neighborhood in the United States of the 21st Century does someone have to live in that such a risk is likely to occur?

 

[hdwhit]

kleenbore wrote:
I do not know how much time might be consumed, but the "kind of neighborhood" is irrelevant to tthe need for a rapid draw.

It is absolutely relevant. If someone lives in an open area where the distance between threats is fairly large, then the time to react to a perceived threat is much longer than if the threat is standing right next to you. The question remains relevant - and unanswered.

 

[hdwhit]

jmorris wrote:
...I am but I am going to have the best seat at the table to see the rest of the place.

What if that "best seat" is already taken?

Your answer seems to presume an empty dining room that allows you to pick the optimal table and seat for an imagined attack. The likely scenario is a dining room where 60% of the tables - including the table you would choose - are already occupied. How then, do you make your choice? I think that's the question and process that this entire thread is trying to address.

 

[Kleanbore]

If someone lives in an open area where the distance between threats is fairly large, then the time to react to a perceived threat is much longer than if the threat is standing right next to you.

Well, one may react to a perceived threat by moving one way or the other or maybe going indoors or getting into a car, but the existence of a perceived threat dos not justify the presentation of a firearm. The threat must have both the opportunity and ability to harm, the defender must have reason to believe that he or she is in jeopardy, the harm must be imminent, and there must be no safe alternative to the use of force.

There is no reason to expect that one would have more time to draw and fire in one kind of neighborhood vs. another.

 

[shafter]

I am frequently surprise to see armed couriers carrying their bag in their gun hand. Often wondered if they are carrying s second concealed piece. Seems unwise but they must have their reasons. Occasionally I see one with his weapon in hand and the other gripping the bag. That seems smarter. Anyone have experience with that?

A lot of those folks have it drilled into their heads that the company would rather have them get shot than ever draw their gun. At least that's what I'm told by the few people I've known in that line of work.

 

[Kleanbore]

Last weekend I took a class (first in a series) from an instructor about the more tactical side of concealed carry. His teaching / advice was exactly the opposite. That if you could keep a hand free make it the off hand, because it is needed first to pull up / back a cover garment, and you will be forced to drop what is in your strong side hand to draw the weapon. He noted several instances of folks in self defense situations who when the smoke cleared were still hold something in their off hand that they were before things went bad (ticket book, groceries etc.)
What hand do the folks here keep open? or do you even worry about it?

I keep my strong hand available by not using it to retrieve car keys or unlock the car.

That required changing to a left hand pocket for the keys.

I can get to the firearm without using the weak hand.

If I am carrying something, it will go to the ground should the need present itself.

The exception is my walking stick, which can be used to parry or poke as well as to keep me upright.

 

[strambo]

It is absolutely relevant. If someone lives in an open area where the distance between threats is fairly large, then the time to react to a perceived threat is much longer than if the threat is standing right next to you. The question remains relevant - and unanswered.

That sounds good...except they become a "threat" based on what they are trying to do to you. Typically, that is rob, assault, rape, or murder. For this, they have to get close (by ruse, ambush etc.) So, if they are far away, they probably aren't a "threat" and no response is required. If they are a "threat" then they are probably close by the time their intentions are known.