What about your right (shooting) hand?

When I was a toddler, my father wanted me to be left-handed. Each time I picked something up with my right hand he would smack me, take it out of my right hand, then put it in my left hand. I quickly learned to pick things up with my left hand. I am a right oriented person who was trained to be left-handed. That was many years ago. I still write and eat with my left hand. While my writing is still poor at best, I manage to get the fork to my mouth without impaling myself.
 
After graduating from high school, I joined the military. I discovered a whole new world was obsessed with what I did with my right hand. The miliary conditions it’s member to always carry things in our left hands. We had to leave our right hands free to be able to render a salute when passing someone who is either due a salute or to respond to one.
 
If you have gotten this far you might be wondering how these two seemingly unrelated experiences in my life have anything to do with firearms training. First, thank you for sticking with me. I started thinking about this when I read an email from Jason Hanson’s Black Bag Confidential email list.
 
In that email Jason taught that concealed carriers should always keep their right (or shooting) hand free.
 
Enter the third experience…
 
My church had an U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) officer in the membership. He participated in some shooting activities with the youth. As a concealed carrier and instructor, we talked about concealed carry in church. My church has communicated to the church members that firearms are not allowed. In that notice they exempted the different types of law enforcement officers.
 
In our conversation he told me that he has a requirement to carry all the time. The state law concerning concealed carry for law enforcement states it is only allowed when performing official duties. This didn’t sway my OSI friend. He said he is always on duty and has no concern about the state’s perceptions. He also said that he and his wife both understand he carries, and she always stays on his support hand side.
 
This takes Jason’s counsel a little further. In his article he instructs that someone who is carrying concealed should always have their right (shooting) hand free and clothing configured to allow for easy access.
 
I teach that starting out each day should include draw and dry fire (no ammunition in the area and a cleared firearm) practice with whatever is being worn that day. I will add keeping your shooting hand free and your shooting side open.
 
When this is practiced enough neural pathway memory (AKA muscle memory) will allow you to be always prepared and capable to deploy your firearm if needed. My early experiences set me up for this mindset.