Accessible concealed carry

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Concealed carry can be challenging if you use a mobility device such as a wheelchair, walker or crutches. Where do you keep the gun so it's readily available? How do I access the gun if I have to keep one hand on a walker or crutches? Being a wheelchair user myself I've pondered these questions and have found a few things that have worked for me. Now I've never had to draw my gun in a crisis situation but I have practiced  drawing my gun (unloaded of course) from the means I've found to be beneficial. You have to figure out what works best for you but hopefully this will get you thinking about what makes the most sense.  Be sure to understand the laws in your state regarding ownership and carry. They can be vastly different from state to state. 

There are two general methods of concealed carry: on body and off body. On body is when the gun is close to your body such as in a holster. Off body is when the gun is in something you would carry such as some type of bag. Let's dive in to the  possibilities. 

On Body Carry

Most people carry their EDC (every day carry) in some type of holster. There are OWB (outside the waistband) and IWB (inside the waistband) holsters. OWBs would clip onto your belts loop or pants. IWBs would go between your pants and your body. These methods of carry would be the most difficult for wheelchair users since we don't necessarily have a lot of space between our bodies and the chair. People on walkers or crutches might fare better with this method of carry. 

A better option for on body carry for wheelchair users might be a shoulder holster but you have to make sure it sits right under your arm and doesn't inhibit your ability to wheel or that the motion of your arms don't dislodge the gun from the holster. 

Another option is a belly band. This is a method I use from time to time. You just have to make sure you place the band in the right location. People who have full leg mobility tend to wear belly bands around their waste. This might be difficult for wheelchair users since access to the gun might be tough and it could be uncomfortable. I wear my band under my chest with the holster part in the middle of my chest over my breast bone. You could position the gun to your left or right side depending on your dominate hand but that might cause the gun to be in the way if you bend over to one side or the other.

Women can try a bra clip that goes over the under wire and the gun is clipped up inside the bra clip. Accessing the gun simply requires you to pull the gun down out of the clip.  

Watch the videos below for examples of on-body carry suitable for wheelchair users. 

Off Body Carry

Off body carry is probably the least cumbersome way for a wheelchair user to carry. Be aware that it does have its pros and cons. The pros as previously stated is comfort but the cons are, you may have to remove it and reattach the holster each time you get in and out of a car and if you're ever knocked out of your chair your gun may no longer be accessible to you and could be accessible to the bad guy. 

I've researched many ways to carry off body. One way is with some type of a bag such as a fanny pack with a holster inside it: https://thegunzone.com/best-fanny-pack-holster-reviews This is sort of a happy medium of off body and on body as the fanny pack is usually wrapped around your waste but it doesn't need to be. You'll be making a very brave fashion statement when carrying this way but if it works for you  then that's the price for personal safety.   

There are some specific companies that make holsters either designed for wheelchair use or that lend themselves well to it. One is Scotworks: https://www.scotworksllc.com/products.html This system is a mount that attaches to the tubing of the chair with a cover. I can see this having its applications but I don't see it as a good method of EDC because depending on how you transport your chair while driving it could get in the way or have to be removed which would require you to expose the gun and that's not something you want to do. I do have one and use it when engaging in holster-drawn competitive shooting and it works great in that application and would also be a good method for in home carry. 

Another company called Sneaky Pete: https://www.sneakypeteholsters.com/ makes fully concealable holsters with heavy duty clips on the back that can be clipped to  a belt loop but can also be clipped to the seat sling of the wheelchair. In this method the gun is facing out the back of the chair and you have to turn the flap up towards you to access the gun as well as possibly remove it each time you transport your chair but I find it to be a convenient way to carry. I use it for in-home carry.
A simple online search for any of the general methods I mentioned will get you started on exploring the possibilities that are out there. 

Watch the videos below for some examples of off-body carry suitable for wheelchair users.