USA Carry
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Maps
  • State Guides
    • A-E
      • Alabama
      • Alaska
      • American Samoa
      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
    • F-J
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
    • K-M
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
    • N-O
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Northern Marianas
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
    • P-U
      • Pennsylvania
      • Puerto Rico
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
    • V-Z
      • Vermont
      • Virgin Islands
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington D.C.
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Maps
  • State Guides
    • A-E
      • Alabama
      • Alaska
      • American Samoa
      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
    • F-J
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
    • K-M
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
    • N-O
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Northern Marianas
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
    • P-U
      • Pennsylvania
      • Puerto Rico
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
    • V-Z
      • Vermont
      • Virgin Islands
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington D.C.
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
USA Carry
No Result
View All Result
  • DAILY GUNS & AMMO DEALS – CLICK HERE!
Home Articles

How To Deal With A Hug While Carrying Concealed

Luke McCoy by Luke McCoy
August 12, 2016 - Updated On November 15, 2016
in Articles, Concealed Carry
Reading Time: 2 mins read
How To Deal With A Hug While Carrying Concealed
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

How To Deal With A Hug While Carrying Concealed

This article topic comes in by special request from a Facebook reader who wanted to know how to handle a hug while carrying a concealed handgun.

Summer barbecues, family gatherings, church functions — these are all times people just walk up to us and give us a welcoming hug. It’s to be expected. And just because you’re a concealed carrier, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still have social interactions with people.

Lean in with the side opposite of where your handgun is holstered.

If the holster is located 2-5 o’clock on your body, just slightly lean into the hug with your left hip. Most people who aren’t your spouse or significant other won’t notice or mind and it keeps from having the outline of your handgun pressed up against them.

Or you can put your hand out for a handshake before they go in for a hug.

Here’s another thing: most people probably won’t notice even if you do hug them and the gun touches them at some point.

So long as the gun is properly holstered in a high retention holster, there’s nothing to worry about.

What about children?

Children of all ages love to run up and give people hugs. And, as we’ve discussed in previous articles, leaning down or reaching up can expose the hip line and show everyone who’s paying attention that you’re carrying a concealed handgun in your waistline.

Squat down to give a small child a hug so that the gun stays concealed and there’s less chance of them running into it.

And because people are rarely predictable, there’s always the chance that someone comes flying up and hugs you because they miss you or are just happy to see you. So long as the other person doesn’t appear to notice your handgun on the waistline, nothing further is required on your part.

Common excuses we’ve heard from some of our readers include:

  • “It’s a phone case.”
  • “Oh look, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…”
  • “Are those new shoes?”
  • “Man, those burgers on the grill smell amazing.”
  • “What’s that smell?”

Okay, all jokes aside, it just usually comes down to common sense and a bit of finesse. Between those two things, you should be able to get through most social interactions — let alone people hugging you — just fine.

The biggest thing we always need to be cognizant of is that the handgun is secure in its holster. A cheap Uncle Mike’s is probably not going to cut it. Get something with a bit of retention. The biggest threat to someone getting close is that he or she will accidentally knock the gun out of the holster. This is pretty much impossible if you use a decent holster.

And if it’s a person you don’t know — just stiff arm them and tell them they smell funny. This works in 99% of all the field tests I have my staff writers at USA Carry go through. They say it works with startlingly good efficiency.

And, when all else fails, just tell people you have a hug allergy, it’s severe, and any and all contact with other people will have to be restricted to a small list that probably includes your spouse, kids, and Taylor Swift.

Tags: concealed carrygreetinghugs
Luke McCoy

Luke McCoy

Luke McCoy is the founder of USA Carry. In 2007, he launched USA Carry to provide concealed carry information and a community for those with concealed carry permits and firearm enthusiasts.

Next Post
Myth Destroyed: .40 S&W Isn't Dead, It's Just Sleeping

Myth Destroyed: .40 S&W Isn't Dead, It's Just Sleeping

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Connect with
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Please login to comment
19 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Previous Post

Facebook’s Move Against Pro-Gun Groups

Next Post

Myth Destroyed: .40 S&W Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Sleeping

Related Posts

Paste Faster, Not Harder: My Review of the Paster Pooper Paster Gun
Gear Reviews

Paste Faster, Not Harder: My Review of the Paster Pooper Paster Gun

June 26, 2025
Armed Citizen Fires at Robbers After Woman Pistol-Whipped & Robbed in Chicago, Suspects Flee Unharmed
Defensive Gun Uses

Armed Citizen Fires at Robbers After Woman Pistol-Whipped & Robbed in Chicago, Suspects Flee Unharmed

June 25, 2025
Summer Concealed Carry: How to Stay Armed in the Heat
Concealed Carry

Summer Concealed Carry: How to Stay Armed in the Heat

June 24, 2025
Wayne Church Attacker Run Over by Member, Shot by Security
Defensive Gun Uses

Wayne Church Attacker Run Over by Member, Shot by Security

June 23, 2025

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

Navigate Site

  • State Guides
  • Maps
  • Articles
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Giveaway
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
  • Concealed Carry Permit Guides By State
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • American Samoa
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Guam
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Northern Marianas
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Puerto Rico
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virgin Islands
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington D.C.
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Daily Deals
  • Contact

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
  • Concealed Carry Permit Guides By State
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • American Samoa
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Guam
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Northern Marianas
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Puerto Rico
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virgin Islands
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington D.C.
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Daily Deals
  • Contact

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

wpDiscuz
19
0
Join the conversation, please comment.x
()
x
| Reply
You are going to send email to

Move Comment
Gun Deals
Gun.Deals