How To Concealed Carry On Halloween

Concealed Carry On Halloween: Tips, Tricks And Costume Ideas

Some of you guys and ghouls (sorry) are going to be heading out either with the kiddos or for some adult revelry, but what exactly is the protocols as far as concealed carry on Halloween? The short answer is most of the stuff you already know applies, but there are a few things to know.

So, let's go ahead and dive in. We'll cover the dos and dont's, and while we're at it, some fantastic costume ideas that are great for concealing and carrying while being festive!

Concealed Carry While Trick-Or Treating

So, you're taking the kids trick-or-treating...concealed carry is a good idea. They need to be protected in case the worst should occur and so do you.

If you aren't dressing up, then conceal and carry as normal. You'll likely be wearing a jacket, so you'll want to observe all the same rules, tips, tricks, procedures and so on with carrying under layers such as when .

Additionally, there are a few tips beyond the obvious regarding gear and concealment.

Avoid any known bad neighborhoods and especially after dark. Places where drug and alcohol abuse are more common should be steered clear of if at all possible.

Carry a good flashlight. The more lumens, the better. The wider the beam, the better. A headlamp may make you look like a dork, but they are inscrutably practical.

Make sure that if you are accompanying your children, they stay relatively close to you. If at all possible, wear high-visibility clothing.

Make sure that your cell phone is charged before heading out the door. If your kids are old enough to have one, make sure they know how to call emergency services and when it's appropriate to do so. Believe it or not, one of the best tools for your personal safety is - in the end - your phone. You can call for help and even navigate urban areas if you have a good enough connection.

Home Security While Trick Or Treating

If you're heading out for the evening or staying in on Halloween, there are some home security tips to be aware of as well. Believe it or not, property crimes such as vandalism, theft and home invasions are more common on Halloween than on any other holiday (almost any other day of the year) and thus you should be prepared.

Some people wonder if they should leave the lights off, so as to deter any trick-or-treaters getting terribly disappointed. Nothing worse than the look on a little one's face when you tell them you don't have any candy for them when they took some time to look cool.

One of the best deterrents against potential thieves or vandals is a well-lit exterior. Trick-or-treaters can be deterred by a tasteful sign, just don't advertise that nobody's home if that's the case.

Make sure that doors and windows are securely locked, and any items like bicycles and so on are put away.

Concealed Carry And Halloween Parties

Just like any other time of year, you can imbibe in some adult beverages or you can concealed carry. Pick one.

Drinking and carrying, handling or otherwise being around firearms is inherently unsafe. Let's say a hypothetical person shoots and kills an attacker in self-defense after they'd had a few. Unless the evidence is so overwhelming that the shoot was perfectly justified under every single letter of the law - which is not as common as you'd think - a DA is going to get involved.

So, if you're going to attend any Halloween parties whilst carrying - in costume or otherwise - you're the DD or don't be packing.

Halloween Costumes and Concealed Carry

If you are going to CCW and won't be hitting the sauce, what about choosing a costume?

All the same rules of dressing normally apply when it comes to concealed carry under a costume. One-piece costumes aren't going to work very well, unless they go over normal clothing and you cut out a pocket so you can get to your carry gun if needs be.

Other than that, you need enough roominess for your garments to drape, and you'll need to wear a good gun belt. Really, so long as the costume covers it, you're good to go. You know how to make that work by now, so it shouldn't be too difficult to figure out what you need from a cover garment.

But...

Why settle for just concealment? Why not, instead, get a costume that INCORPORATES your carry gun?

6 Halloween Costumes For Concealed Carry

Why limit yourself to dressing around the carry gun when you can make your Halloween costume part and parcel to it? A Halloween costume for concealed carry - or open carry - that you can wear your gun with? That's pretty cool.

We aren't going to suggest (uniform) police officer. It's too obvious, and there's the risk of someone thinking you are one, even though you would never impersonate a police officer for reasons other than it being Halloween.

What, though, are some awesome Halloween costume ideas that incorporate concealed carry?

Secret Agent: put on a suit (or even a tux) and put on a shoulder holster underneath. If you have a PPK and a shoulder holster, so much the better, but any subcompact will do.

John Wick: It's a lot like secret agent, except you want an OWB and dual mag carriers (at least!) rather than a shoulder rig. This is a good excuse to carry that big tactical pistol. Hopefully you've got the long hair and can make the stubble beard look work, because not everyone can. You'll also need a black suit. The good thing about having one is that if you decide not to carry, you can shave, slick your hair back and go as Johnny Cash.

Cowboy and/or Outlaw: You need a single-action revolver for this one...or a double-action if you think no one's looking. With this costume, you're more open carrying than concealed carrying, but if you have the requisite gear, you can carry as part of your costume. Whether you keep it period correct and carry on an empty chamber...is up to you.

Tomb Raider: this one is more for the ladies. You'll need a drop leg holster or two (we happen to know where to get a good one) and hopefully you don't live anywhere that's too terribly cold.

Detective: basically the same as Secret Agent, except you want to wear khakis and a sport coat instead of a suit and you definitely need to add aviator shades and a mustache. It's just a must. If you're going to an 80s party, get a white linen suit, roll up the sleeves and presto - you're Sonny Crockett.

The Punisher: Marvel Comics' The Punisher is easily one of the best-known vigilante characters in pop culture, and thanks to Netflix, is also a decent TV series starring Jon Bernthal. If you have tactical gear (we don't judge) this is a good excuse to get it out. The problem will be finding a tactical vest with the skull emblem but we have a sneaking suspicion that won't be too hard to find. The Netflix series has him carrying a tactical model of 1911, in case you're curious.

There are plenty more, of course; these are just 6 ideas for a Halloween costume that incorporates concealed carry or at least a gun. If you think you can pull it off, awesome! Just remember to stay safe. Keep calm, and carry on.