Open Carry vs. Concealed Carry — Why Carrying Concealed Is the Safer Choice

Open Carry vs. Concealed Carry — Why Carrying Concealed Is the Safer Choice

Behind the Holster Episode 8 with Jody Picou and Matt Wheeler tackles the open carry vs. concealed carry debate. Concealed Coalition trains on concealed carry, and both hosts come into the conversation skeptical of open carry as a civilian choice. They also open the episode with a real invitation. If you carry open and have an argument they haven’t heard, you can come on the show as a guest to make the case directly with them. Matt builds the case for concealed carry across several angles. A visible firearm in a violent encounter does not deter a determined attacker, it identifies the carrier as the first threat. In the Walmart scenario he walks through, a shooter intent on maximum harm sees an open-carried firearm and targets that person first. Concealed carry preserves the element of surprise and lets the carrier choose the response rather than scramble in the moment. Both hosts push back on the idea that situational awareness can be sustained at 100%. Constant vigilance spikes cortisol and is not physiologically realistic over a lifetime. Concealed Coalition teaches baseline awareness instead, knowing what your environment normally looks like and reacting when something falls outside that baseline. Jody shares a story from Walmart where a friend pranking him with his hand in a gun shape showed exactly how the gap between expectation and surprise plays out in real life. The episode also covers holster retention. Many civilian open carry holsters lack retention features, and there are countless documented cases of people walking up behind an open carrier, pulling the firearm, and leaving. Concealed carry, done correctly without printing, eliminates this risk and aligns with what Concealed Coalition calls the “guardian always” mindset, where the carrier blends in with everyone else until action is needed. Matt then walks through the civilian use of force ladder, from open hand control to deadly force, and explains why law enforcement starts that ladder at officer presence. The principle applies to civilians too. By open carrying, a civilian is already executing a level of force in any public space, which can invite civilian complaints, police calls, and protocol-driven interactions that would not otherwise happen. A deeper dive on holster selection for both concealed and open carry lives in the Concealed Coalition members-only episode releasing the following week. Behind the Holster is educational, approachable, and judgment-free, focused on protection, not politics. Whether you’re brand new to firearms or have years of experience carrying, this podcast is here to help you better understand gun safety, personal protection, and the responsibilities that come with owning and carrying a firearm. For more information, as well as in-person and online training options and additional firearm safety resources, visit the Concealed Coalition website: https://www.concealedcoalition.com/?c=23186&s1=opencarryvsconcealedcarry YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConcealedCoalition Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConcealedCoalition IG: https://www.instagram.com/concealedcoalition LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/concealedcoalition TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@concealedcoalition X: https://x.com/TheCCCoalition Medium: https://medium.com/@concealedcoalition Substack: https://concealedcoalition.substack.com/ Trustpilot: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.concealedcoalition.com Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2562564/support]

Is the Legal Justice System Designed for the Good Guy?

In this episode of Behind the Holster, Jody Picou and Matt Wheeler take on one of the most consequential questions in concealed carry: is the legal justice system designed for the good guy? Matt — a former law enforcement officer with years of experience training concealed carriers — gives a direct answer: no. And the reasoning behind that answer is something every person who carries a firearm should understand long before they ever need to use it. Matt opens with Blackstone’s formulation, the foundational principle of American criminal law — that it is better for ten guilty people to go free than for one innocent person to suffer wrongly. This principle works well for most criminal defendants. But in a self-defense situation, it inverts. The moment you act in self-defense, you are committing a crime — homicide, assault, or attempted homicide, depending on the circumstances. The two elements the state needs to prosecute are both satisfied the moment you defend yourself and don’t deny it. As Matt puts it, you hand them their burden of proof on a silver platter. The episode covers jury selection, which Jody and Matt argue is one of the most underappreciated risks in any self-defense trial. Matt regularly polls his concealed carry students: who thinks it’s better to shoot someone in the leg rather than center mass? At least a quarter to half raise their hand — and those are people who believe in self-defense strongly enough to take a class. The broader jury pool is a different calculation entirely, and includes people who don’t think the defendant should have had a firearm in the first place. State law adds further complexity: the difference between duty to retreat and stand your ground can determine how much you need to prove and what a jury is instructed to consider. On the civil side, Jody notes that over 40 million civil lawsuits are filed in the United States every year, and argues that virtually every self-defense incident carries civil liability regardless of the criminal outcome. Matt adds a critical distinction: a civil lawsuit is not primarily designed to win — it’s designed to force a settlement. A not-guilty verdict on criminal charges does not prevent a civil judgment from being pursued, and a number of states have specifically had to pass laws to limit civil judgments against defendants found not guilty in self-defense cases. The episode closes with a practical recommendation: legal protection in place before you ever need it. Concealed Coalition offers legal protection through a partnership with Firearms Legal Protection, covering in-state, multi-state, and family situations. Behind the Holster is educational, approachable, and judgment-free — focused on protection, not politics. Whether you’re brand new to firearms or have years of experience carrying, this podcast is here to help you better understand gun safety, personal protection, and the responsibilities that come with owning and carrying a firearm. For more information, as well as in-person and online training options and additional firearm safety resources, visit the Concealed Coalition website: https://www.concealedcoalition.com/?c=23186&s1=legaljusticesystemgoodguy Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/ConcealedCoalition IG: https://www.instagram.com/concealedcoalition/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@concealedcoalition X: https://x.com/TheCCCoalition Trustpilot: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.concealedcoalition.com 00:00 Introduction & YouTube Membership 02:03 Is the Legal System Built for the Good Guy? 04:23 Burden of Proof in Self-Defense Cases 06:54 Handing the State Their Case on a Silver Platter 08:08 Jury Selection Realities 09:54 The “Shoot in the Leg” Misconception 12:06 Real-World Cases: When the System Fails the Good Guy 13:39 Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2562564/support]

Carrying with or without a Round in the Chamber: What You Need to Know

In episode 6 of Behind the Holster, Jody Picou and Yates Crawford — both Concealed Coalition trainers — tackle a common concealed carry question: should you carry with a round in the chamber? The hosts offer differing views, making for an engaging and candid discussion. This episode is sponsored by Kangaroo Carry Holsters, makers of U.S.-made shoulder holsters. The conversation begins with historical context. Israeli carry — no round in the chamber, or Condition Three — was adopted by the Israeli Defense Forces in the 20th century as a safety measure, given the range of handgun models in use. Yates points out that many handguns then weren't drop-safe by today's standards, adding a physical safety concern. While modern firearms don't share that issue, the practice persists in civilian carry culture. Yates advocates for chambered carry, citing real-world CCTV footage showing that defenders have little time or space when threats arise. He emphasizes that, under stress, actions like racking the slide are much less reliable without serious practice. Jody takes a more cautious stance for new shooters. Many concealed carry classes don’t teach holster draws or defensive scenarios, so insisting on chambered carry before foundational training may add risk. He shares how, early in his marriage, he carried unchambered as a compromise with his wife but trained specifically to make the draw-and-rack instinctive. He doesn’t recommend this long-term but emphasizes deliberate training for those who choose unchambered carry. Both trainers agree: carry decisions are risk tradeoffs. Chambered carry around kids presents risks, while unchambered carry leaves a defender vulnerable when a threat arises. Jody also mentions a surprising Louisiana law, requiring homeowner permission for concealed carry on private property — even he often declines, acknowledging the unpredictable variables. Ultimately, the hosts agree: whether to carry chambered is less about right or wrong and more about comfort level. The key is a solid training plan. Behind the Holster is educational, approachable, and judgment-free — focused on protection, not politics. Whether you're new to firearms or experienced, this podcast helps you understand gun safety, personal protection, and the responsibilities of firearm ownership. For more info, training options, and firearm safety resources, visit Concealed Coalition: https://www.concealedcoalition.com/?c=23186&s1=oneinthechamber Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/ConcealedCoalition IG: https://www.instagram.com/concealedcoalition/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@concealedcoalition X: https://x.com/TheCCCoalition Trustpilot: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.concealedcoalition.com 00:00 Introduction & Sponsor — Kangaroo Carry Holsters 01:09 Setting the Stage: Two Trainers, One Debate 02:04 The History of Israeli Carry (Condition Three) 02:58 New Shooters and the Question Every Trainer Gets 05:22 Yates's Answer: Why Chambered Carry Is the Standard 07:00 What CCTV Footage Shows About Real-Life Encounters 09:32 Jody's Take: Train for Whatever You Choose 12:11 It's Not a Question — It's a Statement About Comfort 14:26 Kids, Family Risk, and the Chamber Decision 17:14 The Compromise: Your Carry, Your Risk, Your Call 18:45 Closing: Never Stop Learning, Never Stop Training Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2562564/support]

Concealed Carry in New York: Permits, Legal Risks, and Why Gun Owners Need to Vote

In this episode of Behind the Holster, Jody Picou is joined by New York-based concealed carry instructor KC Brown — along with fellow trainers Matt Wheeler and Yates Crawford — to challenge one of the most common assumptions in the firearm community: that New York is impossible to navigate as a gun owner. KC Brown has trained hundreds of students across New York State, and he brings a grounded, experience-backed perspective on what the permit process actually looks like, what the legal risks are, and what responsible concealed carry requires in a state with some of the strictest firearm laws in the country. The conversation covers the legal landscape in depth — including why self-defense liability insurance is illegal under New York State law, why a self-defense shooting can cost upward of $1.5 million in legal fees, and why KC tells every student to have a defense attorney's number saved in their phone before they ever need it. The episode also gets into something KC is particularly passionate about: voting. He shares a striking statistic — over three million registered gun owners in New York chose not to vote in the last governor's election. The panel discusses why political engagement is just as much a part of responsible gun ownership as training, storage, and situational awareness. Speaking of training, KC makes the case that knowing how to draw and fire is only a small portion of what it means to truly protect yourself and your family. A 360-degree approach includes de-escalation, conflict management, child access prevention, and knowing when not to use a firearm at all. The 18-hour New York State requirement is a starting point — not a finish line. The group also tackles the unique challenges of teaching first-time gun owners in a state where many students have never touched a firearm before arriving in the classroom, and what instructors can do to build trust, change perceptions, and set students up for long-term success. Behind the Holster is educational, approachable, and judgment-free – focused on protection, not politics. Whether you're brand new to firearms or have years of experience carrying, this podcast is here to help you better understand gun safety, personal protection, and the responsibilities that come with owning and carrying a firearm. For more information, as well as in-person and online training options and additional firearm safety resources, visit the Concealed Coalition website: https://www.concealedcoalition.com/?c=23186&s1=newyorkconcealedcarry [https://www.concealedcoalition.com/?c=23186&s1=newyorkconcealedcarry] Connect with us on social media! Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/ConcealedCoalition IG: https://www.instagram.com/concealedcoalition/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@concealedcoalition X: https://x.com/TheCCCoalition  00:00  Introduction: Concealed Carry in New York  00:30  Overview of NY Gun Laws & Recent Changes  01:40  New York Concealed Carry Permit Requirements  03:10  Training Standards (18-Hour Requirement)  04:40  Permit Processing Times by County  06:10  Cost of Self-Defense Legal Defense in NY  07:40  Self-Defense Insurance Restrictions  09:10  Real Legal Risks for Gun Owners  10:40  360° Approach to Personal Protection  12:10  Training Beyond Permit Requirements  13:40  Gun Ownership Responsibility & Preparedness  15:10  Voting & Political Impact on Gun Laws  16:40  Reciprocity & Travel Considerations  18:10  Final Takeaways for NY Gun Owners  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2562564/support]

What Every Gun Owner Should Understand About Reciprocity and Permits

In this episode of Behind the Holster, Jody Picou, Matt Wheeler, and Yates Crawford break down one of the most misunderstood topics in firearm ownership: reciprocity. They explain what reciprocity means, how concealed carry permits are recognized across state lines, and why gun owners must stay informed about changing laws when traveling. The discussion also explores the differences between constitutional carry and permitless carry, and why obtaining a permit – even in states where it’s not required – can offer significant advantages. They’ll also highlight the value of non-resident permits, how training plays a critical role in responsible gun ownership, and why continued education helps firearm owners stay both legally compliant and properly prepared. Beyond permits and legal requirements, the episode examines the broader challenges gun owners face, including public perception, misleading headlines, and the importance of verifying firearm laws through official sources. The hosts emphasize that responsible concealed carry isn’t just about owning a firearm – it’s a lifestyle that requires awareness, education, and accountability. Whether you’re new to concealed carry or looking to better understand reciprocity and firearm laws, this episode provides practical insights to help you carry responsibly and confidently. Behind the Holster is educational, approachable, and judgment-free – focused on protection, not politics. Whether you’re brand new to firearms or have years of experience carrying, this podcast is here to help you better understand gun safety, personal protection, and the responsibilities that come with owning and carrying a firearm. For more information, as well as in-person and online training options and additional firearm safety resources, visit the Concealed Coalition website:  https://www.concealedcoalition.com/?c=23186&s1=reciprocityandpermits [https://www.concealedcoalition.com/?c=23186&s1=reciprocityandpermits]  Connect with us on social media! Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/ConcealedCoalition IG: https://www.instagram.com/concealedcoalition/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@concealedcoalition X: https://x.com/TheCCCoalition  00:00  Introduction: Concealed Carry Reciprocity  00:25  What Reciprocity Means for Gun Owners  01:40  Why Reciprocity Rules Change Frequently  03:10  Importance of Verifying Official State Laws  04:30  Constitutional Carry vs Permitless Carry  06:10  Why Carry Permits Still Matter  07:40  Benefits of Law Enforcement Recognition  09:10  Value of Non-Resident Permits  10:40  Popular States for Non-Resident Permits  12:10  Discussion on 50-State Reciprocity  13:40  Training Standards & State Differences  15:10  Media Misrepresentation of Gun Cases  16:40  Final Takeaways on Safe Travel Carry Law  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2562564/support]