Levels of Restraint
There are four levels of restraint or retention.
- Level 1 holsters keep the gun in the holster through friction only.
- Level 2 holsters use friction plus an additional restraint. This restraint could be a thumb strap, a flip-up strap, an automatic lock, or some other device.
- Level 3 holsters use friction plus two additional restraints.
- Level 4 holsters use friction plus three additional restraints. However, it is unlikely that a civilian would need this level of restraint.
![Example of Level 1 holster](https://ke-courses-production.s3.amazonaws.com/asset_files/production/1706/attachments/original/handgun-holster-level1.jpg?1516720860)
Level 1 holster