Cold Carry.

The nice thing about 20 degrees F is that a good cover garment is always handy and expected. You know what's been a pleasure for me to wear, the last couple of days? A Fobus kydex paddle holster with my stolen-from-Dad war-weary S&W Chief's Special Airweight .38 Special. Worn at 3:30 or 4:00 o'clock on my right hip outside the belt, it's admittedly astonishing at how poorly this rig conceals a little 5-shot J frame.

I put it on for an in-service class on Monday, where the attire was the typical "Cop Office Casual," which is usually a polo shirt tucked into khakis, with badge and gun on belt. I just put on a jacket over it for my blood spatter class, and then wore pretty much the same outfit to my Legal Issues class the next night. Comfy, and better armed than with my standard KelTec P3AT in the DeSantis pocket holster in my pocket. (Arguments that 7 rounds of .380 are better than 5 rounds of .38 Special will not be entertained.)

Truthfully, I could have better concealed my full-sized Kimber 1911 in an IWB holster like the Summer Special than this Chief in this rig. But it wouldn't have been as comfy.

I think about that shooting in Salt Lake City, and wonder how many off-duty officers and CCW licencees decided not to carry weapons under their cover garments on that briskly cold evening, and will regret that feeling of helplessness for the rest of their lives.

When you decide whether or not to go armed, consider that you are making the decision not just for yourself, but for those around you.