A holster, comprising: a holster body defining an at least partial cavity portion for receiving at least a portion of a handgun therein; a locking element having a longitudinal axis, wherein said locking element extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein said locking element comprises a substantially cylindrical portion of material extending from said proximal end to said distal end, wherein a first helical portion, defining a first helical ramp surface, begins at or proximate said proximal end and extends to a locking projection portion extending from at least a portion of said distal end of said locking element, wherein a second helical portion, defining a second helical ramp surface, begins at or proximate said proximal end and extends toward said distal end of said locking element, wherein said locking element is at least partially rotatable between a locking element engaged position and a locking element disengaged position, wherein at least said locking projection portion of said locking element retains said handgun in said holster in said locking element engaged position, via interaction between at least a portion of said locking projection portion and an inner surface of a trigger guard of said handgun, and permits release of said handgun when in said locking element disengaged position; an elongate pushrod, extending from a first end to a second end, wherein at least a portion of said pushrod is slidably positioned within at least a portion of said holster body, such that at least said first end of said pushrod may be urged within said at least partial cavity portion to contact said second helical ramp surface of said second helical portion of said locking element; and a release lever attached or coupled to said second end of said pushrod, wherein said release lever is slidable between a release lever engaged position and a release lever disengaged position, and wherein as said release lever is urged toward said locking element, interaction between said first end of said pushrod and said second helical ramp surface of said second helical portion causes said locking element to rotate toward the release lever disengaged position. a holster body defining an at least partial cavity portion for receiving at least a portion of a handgun therein; a locking element having a longitudinal axis, wherein said locking element extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein said locking element comprises a substantially cylindrical portion of material extending from said proximal end to said distal end, wherein a first helical portion, defining a first helical ramp surface, begins at or proximate said proximal end and extends to a locking projection portion extending from at least a portion of said distal end of said locking element, wherein a second helical portion, defining a second helical ramp surface, begins at or proximate said proximal end and extends toward said distal end of said locking element, wherein said locking element is at least partially rotatable between a locking element engaged position and a locking element disengaged position, wherein at least said locking projection portion of said locking element retains said handgun in said holster in said locking element engaged position, via interaction between at least a portion of said locking projection portion and an inner surface of a trigger guard of said handgun, and permits release of said handgun when in said locking element disengaged position; an elongate pushrod, extending from a first end to a second end, wherein at least a portion of said pushrod is slidably positioned within at least a portion of said holster body, such that at least said first end of said pushrod may be urged within said at least partial cavity portion to contact said second helical ramp surface of said second helical portion of said locking element; and a release lever attached or coupled to said second end of said pushrod, wherein said release lever is slidable between a release lever engaged position and a release lever disengaged position, and wherein as said release lever is urged toward said locking element, interaction between said first end of said pushrod and said second helical ramp surface of said second helical portion causes said locking element to rotate toward the release lever disengaged position.