While many in the firearms and preparedness community get fixated on rifles and plate carriers during times of heightened threat, I seek to draw the armed citizen back into this reality: you are most likely to face the monsters with your handgun, because the monsters strike in public locations where they anticipate little resistance. You will fight with what you are wearing, not with what is in the safe, or even in the car. As such, I suggest the consideration of adding a backup handgun and sling-bag to the person when in crowded locations to enhance capability.
Even several years ago I would generally dismiss the need for a backup gun for the civilian concealed carrier and would rarely carry one. While wearing a concealed backup pistol on-person has long made complete sense for law enforcement officers, as they face contact-distance struggles in which disarming is a pressing concern, the concealed carrier has the advantage of a non-visible primary gun in the first place, thus rendering that issue extremely low in probability most of the time. However, with the deterioration of the world, and the heightened threat profile in terms of the possibility of active killers and terrorists, I think carrying a BUG makes good sense in many circumstances for even the armed citizen these days.
The second item that makes a great deal of sense during our times of heightened threat is the use of an EDC sling bag. Most environments within the Continental United States embrace the carry of bags on-person, for both men and women, and it is entirely mundane to see many individuals in public places carrying them. Most ill-prepared suburbanites carry laptops or iPads in these bags, as well as other daily usefulness, but the prepared citizen can capitalize on the normalness of bag carry to bolster their defensive and survival toolset. While backpacks are also completely normal to see in public, and they prove superior for comfortably carrying heavy loads, the sling bag offers several advantages for this particular mission, as will be discussed.
Obviously, your home should be stocked with defensive long guns and all supporting accoutrement, but if facing violence in public, you will use the handgun that you are, hopefully, wearing. Even the heightened threat of active killers or terrorists are more likely to be encountered in public locations, not in your home. Focus on the gear that will matter.
Minimally, while in public where you are able to carry (avoid the places that disarm you at all times possible) you should be wearing a formidable defensive pistol, preferably a reload, and the other EDC items we routinely discuss (knife, light, medical, OC spray, etc…). However, when in crowded places with loved ones, consider adding the additional capability.
Add a BUG
Having a backup gun on person gives you ready access to a secondary weapon if you lose control of the primary, or if it fails catastrophically, but the most useful role for this second gun for a concealed carrier is the ability to arm a friendly. You likely spend a lot of time in public places with family. You are also likely the only gun carrier in your group. You might have a significant other, an adult child, or a close friend that is at least minimally trained, yet does not carry. Having a backup gun that you can hand off to this friendly during a crisis can be a game changer. This is the primary reason that I have come to utilize a BUG at least occasionally of late, and it is of great possible benefit in uncertain times.
Think through the level of training your circle of people have and consider what gun would prove best for handing off to the individual during a high-stress situation. This consideration is what leads me to always preferring a snub revolver as my BUG. It is the safest handgun you can hand to a less-than-optimally trained person, and it is immune to the operator errors that can disable an autoloader. It is also far safer in the event that the friendly needs to put it in a bag or pocket to move with it. A small-frame, light weight revolver also proves very easy to conceal in secondary carry locations, such as on the ankle or in a pocket. If violence erupts, being able to quickly arm your significant other, older child, or trusted friend, can prove a great asset.
Add a Sling Bag
Even a small, easy-to-carry, bag provides the ability to carry far more than you can in your pants pockets. The items to keep in the sling bag should be light and easy to carry for extended periods and should focus on what is immediately needed in case of emergency. This is not a bugout bag or get home bag that needs wilderness survival equipment. Rather, keep the things that are immediately needed to deal with life-threatening violence or accidents. I keep two spare magazines for my primary handgun in my sling bag, as well as a backup light and knife, and a full trauma kit. I also keep mundane and useful things in the pack, such as medicines, a phone charger, etc…, but it remains light enough to carry comfortably.
As long is it is kept light, a sling bag design is better than a backpack for a couple of reasons: first, it can be brought to the front of your body so that you can access the contents without taking the bag off. Thus, the main premise if a sling bag. Second, if you add armor to the bag, it can serve as quickly-donned ballistic protection. I have a soft armor panel that weighs only 1.25 pounds in my pack, and by slinging the bag to the front of my body, I cover vitals with armor that can stop any handgun round. While this armor is not the primary intended role of the bag, it is a potentially useful bonus. The bag can be simply drawn to the front of your body and will provide some coverage, but if there is time, it can be quickly taken off and re-slung in your front, providing significant coverage, depending on the bag. Thus, a well-designed sling bag not only facilitates carrying gear, but becomes a useful tool itself.
While long guns, body armor, night vision, and all of that higher level weaponry is important, your EDC items are still what you are most likely to employ to defend against even the heightened threat. Therefore, consider adding a BUG and a sling bag to your person when in public to greatly enhance your capabilities.
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