Arming & disarming - best practices

[markshere2]

Hoping to find a consensus here for the safest daily arm/disarm routine. Tell me your process, or a way to improve on mine.

I rotate 3 setups for daily CC depending on dress, weather, mood, etc. G43 kydex IWB, Sig P938 Mitch Rosen OWB, or a 3"1911 in a Mitch Rosen OWB.

At the end of the day I remove the holstered gun, keeping it holstered, and place the loaded and holstered gun into the safe, muzzle always pointed in a safe direction. The three CC guns live that way on the top shelf in the safe: loaded, holstered, spaced apart, and pointed away towards the back of the safe. My house rule is that if a pistol is in a holster, it's loaded. I'm the only one with access to the safe.

The morning routine is the same but in reverse. The triggers never see daylight. Loaded pistols stay holstered. Am I doing this correctly?

I live my life by rules and guidelines I determine in advance, then vary by exception.

In my house, if a pistol is in a holster, it is loaded.
Long guns are empty except for homestead defense shotguns.
Safety is on in all cases, if available.

When I leave the house, Pistol goes with me, usually in my man purse (toolbag with all the crap I might need)

If I gotta get out of the car, it goes into appendix carry.

Urban destinations / Long distance - things may change.

I see nothing wrong with what you posted.

[STBear]

Everyone is going to have a different procedure based on their perceived needs.
What has worked for my wife and I for the last 40 years is that our EDC guns go on in the morning when we get dressed. They stay on until we get ready for bed, then they go on our respective nightstands (both go into holsters that stay on the nightstand throughout the day) alongside our handheld flashlights.

All other guns in the safe.

^^^^THIS^^^^

[Sgt.K]

When I get undressed at night I take it out of the holster and lay it on the nightstand. When I get dressed in the morning it goes back in the holster.

This^^^^

Note: no children or "oldtimers" sufferers in da house

[lager1829]

When I get undressed at night I take it out of the holster and lay it on the nightstand. When I get dressed in the morning it goes back in the holster.

This^^ Don't over think it.

[free]

When and if I carry, I go to the bathroom downstairs, close the door, and open the hidden wall safe.

First, I admire the contents of the wall safe for a brief period of time. I observe the pistol and holster are not stored "assembled" because it doesn't fit in the safe that way.

Second, I remove the holster and install it on my person.

Third, I remove the pistol and install it in the holster.

Fourth, I turn around exactly SIX times. On each turn, I recite a line from the following mantra:
a). Remember the Law!
b). Escape if possible, engage if required.
c). Don't shoot yourself in the fucking foot!
d). Don't road rage!
e). Ignore road ragers.
f). Lawyers are expensive.

Lastly, I close the wall safe and ensure it is locked, and then exit the bathroom.


When I get home, the process is mostly the same but in a different order. I go to the bathroom, close the door and open the wall safe.

First, I remove the pistol from the holster and put it in the wall safe.

Second, I remove the holster from my person and place it in the wall safe.

Third, I turn around exactly SIX times. On each turn, I recite a line from the following mantra:
a). I am glad I didn't have to shoot anyone today.
b). I am glad I didn't go to jail today.
c). Ignoring all the motherfuckers I encountered today was a good idea.
d). Saving money on lawyers is a good outcome.
e). I have lived another day.
f). I hope tomorrow will be uneventful too.

I then close the wall safe and ensure it is locked, and then exit the bathroom.

[JAKIII]

^^^^^^^^This sums it up right here...........

^^^^THIS^^^^

This^^^^

Note: no children or "oldtimers" sufferers in da house

This^^ Don't over think it.

You guys are all tied for most insightful post.

[JAKIII]

I then close the wall safe and ensure it is locked, and then exit the bathroom.

You found the key, eh?

[free]

You found the key, eh?

Found, lost and found again.

[Claminator]

Thanks for the insightful replies, folks. I'm aware I'm overthinking the process. Life was simpler before I had kids and could leave a pistol in a nightstand drawer. Now, I need to idiot-proof the system to the point that the process becomes 2nd nature.

Opening the safe to pack a bag for the range is a one-off task that demands my undivided attention. Alternatively, the daily on/off might happen when I'm tired, distracted, etc., and that's where mistakes are made.

[free]

Thanks for the insightful replies, folks. I'm aware I'm overthinking the process. Life was simpler before I had kids and could leave a pistol in a nightstand drawer. Now, I need to idiot-proof the system to the point that the process becomes 2nd nature.

I put in a wall safe in the bathroom right by the front door. This makes it easy and practical to arm/disarm, in private, with minimal opportunity to "get lazy" and risk unfortunate events.

It's helpful to have your bedroom gun be just that, your bedroom gun. You can keep it locked there in one of these:

https://www.deansafe.com/products/ft...SABEgJQcfD_BwE