I learned to carry stuff with the left hand in the USN, kept the habit when I got out, and have been mindful of it since concealed carry became legal.

If at all possible my right hand is always free in a parking lot and anywhere else for that matter. A few years ago I was carrying a bag across a poorly lit parking lot with the bag in my right hand. It hit me then that I should probably keep that hand free and I have since. My truck unlocks when I grab the handle but I carry my keys in my left pocket anyway.

Keys in left hand, but sometimes you might have use both when carrying stuff. Next time at the range maybe practice dropping and drawing to develop muscle memory (can also do at home with an empty firearm.) Before I retired we used to practice dropping objects like ticket books and getting rounds off.

Agree that strong situational awareness will identify possible threats early and dictate the appropriate response.

Another situation to keep in mind is when you are out with your wife or girlfriend and they have a tendency to want to hold hands or hook their arm through yours. That's all fine and good, but just make sure it's not your gun hand they are holding.

quote:

Originally posted by oilpatch29:
I would suggest leaving your keys in your pocket until you get to your vehicle, have a good look around, then unlock.

This is me. Same for my wallet. Ive seen people pull out a wallet full of cash in places full of less than good people. I always stage some cash in a pocket so my wallet never comes out.

Left hand carry was taught to me as a cop, too. My car has a proximity key so no key carry needed now. I also keep my cash / credit cards separate from my wallet.

I have to continually remind myself to carry in my left hand too. I've also thought about what to do when pushing that shopping cart full of groceries. It takes two hands to keep it going straight.

I have not thought about it until now.
I suppose now that I think about it that I would just drop what's in my right hand and then draw but as you said, that could present more problems.
Since things like this get stuck in my head very easily, I'm going to have to devise a method for tomorrow morning when I get to work. It'll be dark and it's in a not so good neighborhood.

quote:

Originally posted by ggile:
Another situation to keep in mind is when you are out with your wife or girlfriend and they have a tendency to want to hold hands or hook their arm through yours. That's all fine and good, but just make sure it's not your gun hand they are holding.

^^^ This.

Like many others here - drilled in at boot camp.
Right hand is always free.
Whether for saluting or killing - right hand is free.

Not keys, because I do have a fob, but anything else I'm carrying I'll consciously shift it to my left hand, or if it's not possible to carry everything in my left hand I'll think about how easy it would be to drop or throw.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
I clip my keys to my belt the instant I am out of the car. Been a habit since I was 15 so I won't misplace my keys.

I do this as well, on my left side, and I only use my left hand for my keys. Grocery bags also go in the left hand.

Since I write with my left hand, (but do most other things right handed) my keys stay in my left pocket and hand until I open the door and sit. Just kinda comes naturally for some reason.
Since I started carrying, I've tried to focus more on my surroundings well before I approach my car or other areas of concern.

I always advise the chicks in my life that if they see me reaching for my artillery, to get far away from me, quick.
Could explain me being being single now.

My car has proximity key fobs and I have them set to automatically unlock when I grab the door handle. Also automatically lock when I walk away from the car.

So no need to have keys in hand. But prior to that I never really thought about it. I am left handed and keep my keys in my front left pocket and used them left handed. My phone is in my right front pocket. I hold my phone with my right hand and use left index finger on the touch screen. I can't do the two thumbs thing at all.

Always carry things with weak hand, I've got to start thinking about that...

Another lefty who shoots right-handed, so that particular problem is not an issue. But there's good advice here about situational awareness.

I'll just drop my keys while drawing my Pistol. If I draw my pistol, there are bigger problems to overcome than my truck keys now on the ground. So, while I habitually carry most things in my left hand, I don't give this much thought unless I'm in what I consider to be a sketchy place e.g., Home Depot, WalMart or downtown Seattle.

I try to keep everything in my left hand to keep my right free, but sometimes I’m carrying too much stuff. I’m those cases I’m very conscious of the fact that my right hand is full and am ready to drop anything to draw.

If my keys are out they are in my left hand, but I keep two sets on my at all times, one in each pocket. I don’t do that for any tactical reason, I do it to keep from being locked out of my car, but it does allow me to get keys with either hand if I have to.

In police school they beat it into us that nothing goes in your gun hand

I limit anything my right hand

ETA, I clip my keys to a left hip belt loop with a carabiner, I can hit the button to enter the truck and then immediately lock the truck.

If I’m walking with Mrs mike and she wants to hold my hand it’s always the left hand.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MikeinNC, March 12, 2023 09:54 PM

Our only car has an electronic proximity system that unlocks if I have the keys in my pocket and I touch the door handle. I do think about when I'm carrying something other than keys, like a bag of groceries.

I always always visually scan the area while walking to/from my car. The transition in and out of the car is a huge vulnerable moment, as is having the trunk lid open and handling things in there.