BULLET POINTS
CARRYING YOUR FIREARM ON YOUR BIKE By Scott High
C
arrying a Firearm on your motorcycle can be a task in itself. Some of the things to think of when considering whether to bring your firearm with you when you’re heading out are, am I heading to a bar, can I carry my pistol with me safely, will I drop my pistol while riding, and why do I feel I need to have my pistol on me? Even though TN is now a permitless carry state, it is still very important to go through the process of getting your permit before you carry either concealed in your jacket or belt, or mandatory if you want to carry openly. The first way to carry on a Scoot that comes to mind is a shoulder holster. This may be the most comfortable way to carry but not my personal favorite. If you like to carry in a shoulder holster, I recommend a lot of practice dry drawing your holster from its home. While your shoulder holster is probably the most comfortable it is probably the slowest and most easily defeated draw. If you choose to carry your pistol in your waist belt (which is my personal favorite) there are so many cool holsters out there to choose from. I am a fan of what is comfortable to you. That is most important, so that you actually carry your pistol. If you have a holster in mind, try it out before you buy it. This is one case you may want to make an in person purchase and not an online one. When you pick the holster you like, wear it for a few minutes. I am a fan of gun stores with ranges, like
Tennessee Gun Country in Clarksville has. With an indoor or outdoor range you can try the holster out, make sure it fits you correctly, and see how well it holds your pistol in place. If you pick a holster without active retention, make sure it is a holster that is specific to your gun and fits snugly and has good passive retention, the last thing you want to see is your gun hitting the highway and bouncing down the road. Last but not least, how do you lock your pistol up when you’re at a bar or posted business? I am not a fan of taking your gun into a bar. The last thing you want to do is get into any trouble with the management or law enforcement. It is important if you are going to carry in a bar, please be responsible and don’t drink and carry. So if you can’t or don’t carry in a bar what can you do with your pistol when you are enjoying your evening? I personally don’t leave my pistol in my Street Glide bags just behind the one lock. There are several options to lock your pistol up while you enjoy an evening with your friends and family. You can lock the trigger on your gun, or you can use a lock box in your bike. Simple things like a pelican case, small lock box, or Harley specific box can save you money and hassle. With a small lock box you will then have two locks keeping your firearm safe. There are no right or wrong ways to carry your gun as long as you are safe doing it. As motorcycle enthusiast, it is our responsibility to leave a good impression wherever we go. Shooting can be a great sport to connect with your young ones, spouse, or friends. Riding out to shoot makes a memorable day that will be a great memory for years to come.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Thunder Roads® Magazine Owners/Publishers. Any content provided by our authors are of their opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.
OCTOBER 2021 ThunderRoadsTennessee.com
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