Carrying a concealed handgun, whether in a permit-less state or with a permit, comes with immense responsibility. While most people who carry are diligent and highly responsible, mistakes can happen. Even the most careful gun owners can, in a rare moment of distraction, leave their firearm where it shouldn’t be. One of the most common places for this to happen is a public restroom.
It might sound like something only a careless person would do, but the reality is that even trained professionals have made this mistake. In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into this issue, share real-world examples, and offer practical tips to make sure it doesn’t happen to you. We’ll also cover why having self-defense legal protection, commonly known as “CCW insurance,” is so important if you carry concealed.
The Pattern: Real World Incidents
While it’s understandable to laugh at the idea of someone leaving a gun in a bathroom stall; it’s happened more times than we would care to admit. Here are just a few examples:
Colorado Legislature
In April 2024, Colorado State Representative Don Wilson negligently left a loaded 9mm Glock pistol in a Capitol building restroom. It was found about 23 minutes later by janitorial staff. Wilson took full responsibility, calling it a “humbling experience” and reaffirming his commitment to ensure gun responsibility.
Police Officer Leaves Gun in High School Bathroom
A Kent County Michigan Marine Officer left a firearm in a Kenowa Hills High School bathroom in April 2024. The officer was teaching boater safety to students at the school when the incident occurred. Students found the gun in the bathroom after school hours. They immediately told school staff of their finding and the staff secured the bathroom and called Kent County Sheriff’s Office to investigate.
Florida Deputy’s Gun Sold After Being Left in Bathroom
A Seminole County Florida deputy left his gun in the bathroom of a convenience store in September 2024. The deputy took off his gun belt and hung it on the railing inside the stall. While he did remember to put his gun belt back on, somehow the firearm got stuck in the toilet paper dispenser and was left behind. Two men found the firearm, took it and proceeded to sell it for $40 but were caught and charged with multiple crimes including grand theft of a firearm and one of them was charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Man Leaves Handgun on Toilet Paper Dispenser
A 78 year old man left a Kimber Micro 9 STG handgun on top of the toilet paper dispenser at Portillo’s Restaurant in Maple Grove, MN in April 2022. A worker found the handgun and management contacted the police who confiscated the firearm. When the man called the police to get it back, they charged him with gross misdemeanor negligent storage of a firearm.
Parkland Teacher Leaves Loaded Gun in Public Bathroom
In April 2018, Sean Simpson, a teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, left his loaded Glock 9mm in a public restroom at the Deerfield Beach Pier. Before he could retrieve it, a homeless man found the gun and fired a shot inside the bathroom, though fortunately no one was injured. Simpson, who had a valid concealed carry permit, was arrested and charged with a second-degree misdemeanor for failing to safely store a firearm. The incident drew national attention, especially coming just two months after the Parkland tragedy, and served as a serious reminder that even experienced gun owners can make costly mistakes.
While these few instances highlighted here may seem rare and coincidental, the reality is leaving a gun in a bathroom stall is unfortunately quite common. It may seem like a harmless mistake but if a young child finds it or it is stolen by a criminal, the person negligent could be charged with a crime or implicated in a lawsuit.
Why Does It Happen So Often?
Here are several reasons that might explain why people leave behind more than they intended when using a public restroom.
Increase in People Carrying
Today, 29 states allow permit-less carry, meaning that law-abiding, nonprohibited individuals can legally carry a handgun without needing a government-issued permit. This marks a significant shift over the past decade, as the number of permit-less carry states has grown rapidly in favor of strengthening Second Amendment rights.
In addition, the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen struck down “may-issue” concealed carry systems, making it unconstitutional for states to deny permits based on subjective criteria. This ruling has theoretically made it easier for law-abiding citizens to obtain concealed carry permits where they are still required. Coupled with broader access to firearms education and training, more Americans than ever are taking personal responsibility for their safety by lawfully carrying firearms outside the home.
Clothing/Accessory Adjustments
People carrying a handgun into a small stall may have to remove the belt or holster they are using to make sitting on a toilet more comfortable. This may be particularly true if you carrying with an inside the waistband holster or appendix carrying. By removing the firearm from their body, they inherently increase the risk they will forget the firearm after they have completed their business.
Distractions
Phone screen time while sitting on the commode has gone up exponentially. It’s something to do while you do your business. But it’s also a major distraction. Completing the job with proper hygiene is also a major distraction. Some people have to do their business while in a rush and are thinking about where they need to be and how they are late and will be distracted trying to rush their bowel movement. All of these potential distractions create an environment for forgetting about your firearm even if you a very responsible gun owner.
Lack of Secure Placement
Designers of public bathrooms certainly don’t have concealed carry in mind when they design the bathroom stalls. Sure, there may be hooks which would work for a belt, but the toilet paper dispenser is probably the only place in the stall to put your gun on while you sit on the crapper. Even then, they are often curved and not suitable either (the dispenser, that is). Thus, some people will put the gun on the sink counter, maybe on a baby changing table, on the paper towel disperser near the sink. Out of sight, out of mind and this is why it may be forgotten.
Consequences of Forgetting Your Firearm
Public Safety Risk
Unattended firearms may be found by children or even adults who have no firearm handling experience and may be curious and negligently pull the trigger leading to potential injury, death and certainly property damage.
Legal Consequences
Depending on local and state laws, forgetting a firearm in a public restroom could come with charges for failing to properly store a firearm, negligence, endangering public safety, etc. There are potential serious legal consequences for forgetfulness while visiting the toilet.
Professional Repercussions
As pointed out above, law enforcement officers certainly are not immune from negligently leaving a firearm in a bathroom stall and neither are public officials. These people that are caught leaving a gun where it doesn’t belong risk disciplinary action and even job loss.
Damage to Reputation
When the person who leaves a gun behind is more than just an average citizen — such as a police officer, political official, or employee of the location, it can cause public embarrassment and seriously erode trust in both the individual and their organization
Best Practices for Carrying In Public Restrooms
There are some techniques and things to consider that will help you avoid leaving your firearm behind in the bathroom.
Keep It On Your Person
Whenever possible, keep the firearm on your person. This obviously reduces the risk of leaving it behind substantially. Adjust clothing, move things around, do what is necessary to keep that firearm on your person the whole time.
Develop a Routine
Developing a routine to go to the bathroom seems silly but it may help you from forgetting your firearm in the bathroom stall. Plan how you will manage your firearm before you go into the stall. Be mindful of where your firearm is at all times. After you have done your duty, double check that you have your firearm secured before leaving the stall. Leave your waste behind, not your gun.
Avoid Unconventional Placements
Make it a habit of not placing your firearm on toilet paper dispensers, hooks, outside the stall on the bathroom sink counter or on a baby diaper changing table, etc.
Other Best Practices
It’s good practice to not put your firearm on the floor while sitting on the toilet, for several reasons.
- That’s just gross – the floor is probably not sanitary.
- Having to grab it from the floor may increase the risk of a negligent discharge.
- Others may see it as most public restroom stall walls do not go floor to ceiling.
- If for some reason you are in a hurry to finish and pull your pants up, you may inadvertently kick the firearm out of your reach.
- Putting a gun on a tile or concrete floor may damage the firearm.
Staying mindful, developing good habits, and keeping your firearm secured on your person at all times are essential to avoiding a mistake that could have serious, even tragic, consequences.
Conclusion
Carrying a firearm comes with real responsibility, even in the most ordinary and routine moments like a quick bathroom break. A careless mistake can lead to embarrassment, criminal charges, civil lawsuits, and a lifetime of regret.
You train to defend yourself; you should also prepare to defend your freedom if something goes wrong. Stay sharp, always keep your gun on you and remember: Leave your waste behind, not your weapon. Consider becoming a Member of Second Call Defense because you are human and fallible and if you ever do make a mistake while carrying, you will need self-defense legal protection like Second Call Defense standing behind you, after you’ve come out of the stall of course.
The Importance of Self Defense Legal Protection
Owning and carrying a firearm legally means more than just strapping it to your hip, it means keeping track of it everywhere, including the bathroom. Leaving your firearm behind in a public restroom, dressing room, locker room or some other public place isn’t just embarrassing; it can land you in serious legal trouble, including criminal charges, loss of your carry permit, a lawsuit that costs you your house, and maybe even jail time.
And the legal risks don’t end there. Not every cop or prosecutor will see you as a “good guy with a gun”, especially if your gun ends up in the wrong hands or causes an incident. Even if you dodge criminal charges, some lawyer might come after you civilly for every dollar you’ve got. These aren’t just horror stories; this stuff happens to real people who make one careless mistake.
Just like a good firearm can protect you when life goes sideways, having self-defense legal protection, sometimes called “CCW Insurance” even though it is not a regulated insurance product, can save your future when you screw up. Ask yourself:
- Do you have a defense attorney on speed dial who knows gun laws?
- Can you pay $100,000 in legal bills without selling your truck?
- Could you cover bail without a GoFundMe?
- Will you need counseling after being dragged through court?
- Are you protected from losing everything if someone sues you?
If you answered “no” to any of these, it’s time to get serious about self-defense legal coverage. Because one dumb mistake, like leaving your gun on the toilet paper dispenser, could flush your whole life down the drain.
Join Second Call Defense Today
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