BigBlueDodge
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 p.1 #6 · Bag for Camera & Gun - Wait, hear me out! | |
Craig Gillette wrote:
I wouldn't - carry in the camera bag. Although the "photographer's vest" is called the "Shoot me first!" vest in some circles due to the ease with which a vest can be used to conceal or contain a firearm..
First off, that means you can't put the bag down and walk away from it even a little - you've now made the bag even more valuable to a snatcher and you haven't got the weapon, can't pass it off to someone else for convenience, and depending on where you are may mean you might have to be rooting around in the bag with it open to other people's inspection unless you further conceal under flaps, in pockets, etc. Not that you aren't apt to pay attention to the bag but it greatly increases the difficulty in working with it.
The camera bags I've seen tend to be designed around keeping the contents secure. Most aren't designed for the kind of quick retrieval and presentation that you'd need in an emergency.
Depending on the laws in your state, there may be places that you can't take the concealed weapon but may need/want the camera gear. That may mean you have to leave the bag or consider the problems involved in transferring the weapon to another place discretely.
Another disadvantage of keeping it with the camera gear some times and not others is you move away from having a habitual place to draw from, you've got to start thinking about where is it this time, you may have trouble deciding when or if you can drop the "property" and avoid the physical confrontation, and you may be increasing the ease with which you can be disarmed.
So while it may be a possible place, it may not be the best choice. Obviously a lot depends on the locations, the kind of gear involved, etc. ...Show more →
Craig,
I guess I should have said this in the original post, but I rarely put my bag down (I have a backpack so at times I forget it's back there). Personally, when you are toting $4-5K worth of gear around, I don't feel comfortable setting it down while I'm shooting (regardless if I have a gun in there). If there is a situation where I think I will be disconnected from my bag, then I will resort to an IWB/OWB type holster and forego storing the firearm in the bag.
Your second point about camera bag design is exactly why I'm asking this. I realize that most bags are designed for quick access, but rather secure storage. I was wanting feedback to see which bags offered quick access to a compartment, if any.
In my state, ANY citizen can keep a loaded firearm in their vehicle, license or not (there are some restrictions, but the overwhelming majority can). This means that I can securely store the firearm in a locked box in my truck if I am going to a prohibited carry location.
One of my main concerns is that while I shoot, I tend to squat, bend over, lay on my stomach, etc to get a shot I'm looking for. While in those position, my shirt will often ride up and expose the gun. I do not want to intentionally advertise my firearm to the broader public, creating any sense of panic. My thoughts where that keeping the gun inside the camera case would prevent this.
Thanks for the feeback.
Edited on May 11, 2008 at 01:25 PM
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Being a canuck it's a bit more difficult for me to get permits to carry a hand gun on me. But in many areas I hike to shoot I wouldnt be caught out without my .22 rifle or a small shotgun. The main danger I come across is bears or wolves. Wolves usually aren't a problem (only once so far, it was rabid), but recently bears have become very dangerous as people feed them at the dumps and parks so they're getting very brave approaching humans.. especially if they smell my lunch in my pack. I've never had to actually shoot AT one but a few shots in the air generally get my point across. The time I came across a rabid wolf I would have been in serious danger if I hadn't been carrying a rifle.