CCW is perfectly legal everywhere on Earth, I don't know what the fuss is about. Well, it is
until you get caught. Then the results can be traumatic.
Still, if things are dangerous enough around you -- like for instance people are being kidnapped off the street for the purpose of extorsion or worse and some of them never come back (especially if one actually witnesses what appears to be a kidnapping with the person down the street from you being zapped from behind with an electro-stunner and then thrown into a passing van that just happened to be approaching making it so fast one doubts one's own eyes) -- one might choose deliberately to CCW and damn the torpedos. I don't think Canada has devolved that badly yet, I should point out, and certainly not here where I live. I never have carried my handguns anywhere in Canada that I wasn't supposed to in any manner other than the law stipulates but there are other places where the law had to take second place to my own safety. Always remember that "the law" was written by the same fools that defend rainbow crosswalks, who are sitting at a desk in pretty much total safety and are surrounded usually by some armed law enforcement members between them and the people with the zappers and the vans with people inside ready to instantly inject you with a nice narcotic that will make you docile PDQ if it doesn't kill you.
Also remember: In Mexico, if your handgun is registered to you and you have a to-and-from-the-range transport permit (what is it? ATT in Canada? In Mexico it's PETA.) and yet you get caught doing the CCW schtick in the local Liverpool Department Store with the damned thing loaded but your PETA in your pocket -- it's essentially a misdemeanor. The first time. The second time, if there is one, you'll lose your guns. The stern talking-to that goes with getting caught the first time should not be ignored. I was never caught, and had plenty of fairly reliable excuses if I had been (ie: I was permitted to carry while working for the U.S. Consul and in his opinion it was 24/7, here's his card, give him a call: or, I had my own letter from some SEDENA General or other because I was teaching some Police or Military Group on behalf of the Army....).
Teaching the Rurales they sent to Chiappas to stand between the Mexican Military and the EZLN Revolutionaries of Commandante Marcos. I had a niftly letter from the General standing behind my outstretched hand with his arms crossed on nice Zona 16/A SEDENA Stationary that read basically: "If you have stopped this man, let him go. If he has weapons in his possession that are registered or unregistered, do not touch them or confiscate them. If you have questions, contact me at: Brigade General T###XX at PHONE NUMBER/EXTENSION." I showed that letter to everyone in the world that I knew, but when I had to turn it back in I told nobody. That's life. Digital photography still wasn't "a thing" back then and the letter clearly stated that copying or photocopying was a violation of the law punishable by prison. I took that seriously.
I did quite a few "jobs" teaching Mexican Military or Police as well as some kidnapping victims who didn't ever want to be victims again, or people who were in danger of being kidnapped, as well as some off-the-books bodyguarding for a couple of different high-priced individuals (bank balances that start with a number in front of a B, not just an M) for many years and still continue contact with them both today. I mean it when I say that to be a good bodyguard to that type of individual, you must be able to blend into their world but also sit up and drink with them when they feel a need to talk because often, it's lonely at the top and they really have nobody to talk to. Never ask them for money: that's what separates you from the multitude of people asking for exactly that all the time. Act like money is a concept that doesn't concern you and you will baffle them and they will relax around you and buy you a lot of dinners. And other things. It can be a gift that keeps giving.
A friend who was/is high-up in a lettered agency once told me that when new people come onto the job initially, they are offered a choice between a S&W 642 or a Browning Hi-Power. It is then explained to them that although they will have Diplomatic protection, if they are discovered by the host country walking around armed they will be sent back home once their release has been obtained through diplomatic channels and they will be riding a desk until they quit of their own volition. He said that initially as many as 80% choose the Hi-Power but after about a week of trying to conceal one adequately to avoid being detected at all -- because although they might walk free they will
never be excused -- they come to their friggin' senses and go for the snubby.
The .38 Snubby in a pocket holster is my choice no matter what the weather. It will fit in a pair of cut-off blue-jean shorts (although I've given up on the Daisy Duke lengths) and even works in dress pants with the correct type of pockets. The huge advantage is that when one is not perceptibly armed, one's opponents will get close to you. They will walk right up to you and be at sticky-knifey-point range. Yes, I've heard the stories about how fast they can stab you half a dozen times if they choose to, but just imagine how fast the draw and shot is if you're the one who looks like they're playing pocket pool with a snubby already in the fighting grip which as yet remains undetected to them. From that, the one shot/one second to the B-Zone at two yards is a nice exercise to play around with. Keep the finger outside of the trigger guard now, which any decent pocket holster will require.
Even with relatively big grips (which I would never use, I just put these on for the example)....
The Model 49 is undetectable in a deep enough pocket, Especially once a decent Miami Vice pink shirt or a nice Hawaiian shirt (the San Miguel Club indicator at social functions that "I'm armed" for other members who might be wondering).
I always used a smaller, more concealable grip. However, with a decent .38 Special LSWC leaving a 2-inch at 920 - 940 fps, there's a lot of pain involved. I have always coveted a set of Pachmayr Compac Pro grips for my snubby but have never actually been able to find a pair handy to pick up. If anyone reading this has a pair to sell for the S&W J-frame, let me know by PM, I'd be interested in getting a pair for my Model 49 to install when I get back down there early next year.
A proper pocket holster is both super comfortable (one forgets one is wearing a gun until one suddenly finds oneself in line in front of the City Hall metal detector en route to see the Mayor) and covers the trigger guard for safety doing your one-shot/one-second 2 yards exercises.
If your pants of the day don't have deep pockets, even the smallest of grips can be visible to the people standing behind you in the check-out line. This is not good, and something to be aware of.
Blousing the shirt-tail over the pants can add decently to the masquerade if need-be, but it's better to stick your hand into the pockets of prospective new jeans to determine if the pocket is decently deep enough or not before buying. Obviously, pants that your wife buys for you might let you down. We used "Miami Vice" colored shirts at first in the San Miguel Club to determine who had and who didn't have a gun on at social events, but we switched to the Hawaiian shirts after the Mega Commercial started blowing out nice 100% cotton Hawaiin print shirts for 50.00 pesos each -- so we all stocked up. These photos are from the before-times.
So anyway: whether you CCW with paperwork allowing it, or if you neglect the paperwork, it's best to not be detected. It just makes life that much easier, and in a country like Canada where they'll go full-Commie-retard on a citizen worrying about self-or family protection but slap the wrist of a gangbanger because they don't want to appear racist to the non-citizens, not being detected is critical.
Myself, I simply choose to be unarmed while inside Canadian borders. After all, it won't be much longer and I've still got my tactical pen. (Available at Canadian Tire next week I think in the pocket knife/tactical pen boxed set for 14.99/reg. 29.99 or so. Just ask at the gun desk.)
