Garters that doubled as gunbelts, corsets that enabled cross-draw, and purses and purse conversion kits designed to carry concealed with comfort and confidence were in abundance in West Bend, Wisconsin this weekend. So too were non-printing pocket holsters and virtually any other type of inside/outside/both-side of the waist band holsters for the guys, as well as discrete digital locking systems to secure personal heaters when you weren't wearing them.
Honestly, I didn't really know what to expect when I agreed to attend, but I was curious as to what kind of crowds an event like this one would draw.
The answer? Good crowds. Very good crowds when you realize that West Bend isn't exactly midtown anywhere. But the exhibit center looked a lot like the aisles at SHOT or NRA shows at times during the three-day event -especially Saturday when hundreds of interested men and an equal-or larger- group of women wandered the aisles looking at the latest-and-greatest assortment of gear for concealed carry.
They also came for the many instructional/informational seminars that were also an integral part of the United States Concealed Carry Association's event. Information and instruction came from USCCA staffers as well as outside experts including SIG Academy co-founder and president/CEO of International Firearms Consultants, George Harris, well-known internet personality James Yeager and homemaker/instructor/writer Beth Alcazar, along with USCCA's Chief Instructor Michael Martin.
Training even included a pair of Wisconsin concealed carry permit classes- one free to Moms who wanted to take it on Mother's Day and use the $75 fee for an accessory or two at the Expo. Long lines of attendees also waited patiently for the chance to pay to try out some of the guns from Kahr, Boberg, FNH and other vendors at an outside live-fire range.
Training, I learned in conversations with USCCA founder Tim Schmidt, is a foundational part of the USCCA. In fact, USCCA members can participate in online training modules, but as is the case with all training -especially with this sort of equipment- nothing beats the chance to interact with instructors and other students.
Saturday evening, attendees, vendors and media types attended a hybrid event that was highlighted by a fashion show of the latest in concealed carry "fashion" for both men and women. That, however, was really upstaged by an appearance by home-grown celebrity and outspoken national voice, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke. Known for speaking his mind- which included calling the NAACP "an irrelevant propaganda tool for the political left" Clarke didn't disappoint during his occasionally disjointed remarks to the obviously hometown crowd.
"There are several things you need to know if you're going to carry a firearm," Clarke told the crowd, "if you're out and going to have a couple of 'pops' you need to leave that firearm somewhere else because there are some grave responsibilities you need to recognize -that takes a clear head."
He also did something more than usual for a law enforcement official- especially an elected one. He offered "suggestions" to be considered
before and after deadly force encounters. "Be mentally prepared for an encounter," he said, "that means considering what might happen before a self-defense situation. Consider the fact that pulling that gun means you may have to take another life. Don't wave a gun around and expect situations to de-escalate."
"And afterwards," he said, "don't do a lot of talking about what's happened because your brain has shut down in an extreme situation and needs time to process and get back to normal."
So what would you say after you found yourself in a deadly encounter? "It's nothing but a 'suggestion', Clarke said, "but 'I did what I had to do to save my life. I want to help your investigation, but I don't want to say any more right now' doesn't do anything except let the police know you're not going to make any statements that might come back and bite you when a prosecutor looks at the evidence and your statements later."
"Not recommending not cooperating -ever," he said, "but you're not thinking clearly after a deadly force encounter. Police don't and they're trained to handle it. Recognize that, and realize not everyone will process what's happened the same. But we all need time"
Time, however, wasn't something the blunt-talking Clarke thought appropriate when it came to the police handling of a law-abiding citizen's firearm after such an incident. "I'm pushing for a law here," he told the crowd, "that will establish a strict guideline for how long law enforcement can hang onto someone's personal-defense weapon."
"People," he told the crowd, "shouldn't have to get a lawyer and go to court to get their personal firearm back."
Clarke also encouraged the crowd to "get busy and go tell your legislators in Washington to get the national reciprocity bill (S.498) passed. The Second Amendment should not stop at any state line, but it's going to take all of us getting involved to get that accomplished."
With that, Clarke looked at his watch, smiled and said "I've been talking longer than I'd planned to, but you know that's a threat when you give an elected official a microphone" and left the stage.
Judging by the ovation, the crowd didn't seem to mind.
--Jim Shepherd