How to Safely Walk With an Unholstered Handgun

Smith & Wesson's GUNSMARTS video clarifies some gun-safety questions you may have been afraid to ask.

posted on July 28, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Smith & Wesson's Julie Golob is a competitive shooter with a list of accolades longer than she is tall, but she remembers as well as anyone what it's like to be a beginner. One of the questions that many new shooters have (but are afraid to ask) is about what to do if they need to hand-carry a pistol out of its holster. What does a "safe direction" mean when you're on the move? Is there a special way to hold the handgun to ensure that you're observing the Three Rules of Gun Safety

In this video from S&W's GUNSMARTS series, Golob walks you through what "moving with a gun" means for a beginner versus for a competitive shooter. She'll also demonstrate how to walk safely with your unholstered handgun while explaining exactly why you'll want to copy her moves. These gun-handling skills are the ones you're most likely to need in your day-to-day life, but they can't ever become "casual." 

Latest

Gross Browning A5 20 Gauge 1
Gross Browning A5 20 Gauge 1

Review: Browning A5 Hunter 20 Gauge Semi-automatic Shotgun

Is this Browning shotgun the ultimate compromise between a heavyweight and a lightweight?

Training Tip: The Single Shot

The first shot is the most important—it might even be the only shot you get. Train for making it count.

 

Remembering Former NRA President Robert Corbin

Robert Corbin, a former NRA president and Arizona attorney general, died of natural causes on Sept. 9, 2025, at 97 years old.

NRA Announces 2026 Golden Bullseye Award Winners

Golden Bullseye Awards are given not only for new, innovative products offered by the firearm, ammunition, and optics industries, but also for four awards recognizing individual contributions to freedom and the shooting sports.

The Incomparable, Inimitable Phil Schreier—1962-2025

A friend since childhood and NRA colleague for more than 30 years, Mark Keefe pays tribute to one of NRA's most memorable and important employees.

Blind Spots: Don’t Just Look for the Threat

Situational awareness is great, but hyper-focusing on it can create its own type of blind spot when it comes to personal safety.

Women's Interests



Get the best of NRA Women delivered to your inbox.