Security

This article was written by Brandon Smith and originally published at Alt Market and republished here by permission from the author. Note that the article was written several years ago but the information should still be useful…

Asymmetric tactics rely on the idea of fighting smarter, rather than fighting directly, against a larger or more technologically advanced aggressor. It means turning your opponent’s strengths into weaknesses.

For instance, if your opponent relies on the superiority of his tanks and armor, make him fight in the mountains where his armor is useless. If he relies on air superiority, make him sift through a thick canopy where his eye in the sky sees nothing, or make it dangerous for him to land and refuel such vehicles at all.

If he relies on body armor for safety, make him fight uphill so that the extra weight wears him down. If his surveillance and security techniques are a little too sensitive and effective, create constant false positives, until he can no longer trust his own alert systems.

And, if most of his weaponry and soldiers are heavily reliant on a particular piece of technology, make that technology useless in the field. Force your opponent to fight on fairer ground, where the man with the most skill and intelligence prevails rather than the man with the most million dollar toys.

There is no such thing as fool proof combat technology. There is a way to trick or defeat or survive ANY weapon and any enemy. Period.

Drones and thermal vision have been held up to the common citizenry for years as the end-all-be-all of combat and surveillance technology. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the claim that no one can hide from thermal imaging and that predator drones herald the end of free resistance to tyranny.

I find this assertion to be rather absurd, considering militaries across the globe have already developed their own thermal evasion suits (which means it IS possible to hide from thermal vision) and drones seem to kill more innocent bystanders than actual enemy combatants. I will admit that thermal vision use is skyrocketing amongst military and police across the board, and this is because it is indeed effective to a point.

Thermal imaging and drones in the hands of a corrupt establishment make a couple of things very difficult for any resistance – First, you might be able to hide, but you won’t be able to move freely without risk, especially in groups. Second, you might be able to act defensively, but never offensively.

Advancing on an objective protected by thermal surveillance would be extremely difficult. Constantly being on the defensive takes the initiative away from those who want to fight back against tyranny. Without the ability to go on the offensive, you will inevitably lose. Hiding in a hole in the mountains for the rest of your life is not an option if you want your children and their children to experience liberty.

Today’s combat reality is that of the digitized battlefield. All modern military units now rely on full spectrum surveillance, computer models, and real time data. Thermal vision is a cornerstone of this model because it is currently the best way to identify potential threats before they can act, rather than after they act. Unfortunately, there is no doubt this kind of surveillance power will be misused, and the spread of drones for domestic applications proves that the establishment’s intention is to utilize thermal against the population, rather than in defense of the population.

Therefore, thermal vision must be negated if people are to remain free. We might not be able to fight against misused drones directly, but we can make their primary advantage useless. Here is how it is possible to remove thermal vision as a threat, and thus nullify the primary strength of the drones (and other weapons) in our skies:

Thermal Vision And Drone Misconceptions

Now that you know it is more than possible for civilians to obtain thermal evasion, lets go over some of the most common misconceptions about thermal imaging and drone technology.

Building a suit that hides a person from thermal imaging is impossible?

Clearly, this is false, as we have shown in the video above. Add to this the fact that military units field their own thermal evasion suits (multi-spectral camouflage) for special purposes, and I think we’ve permanently buried the ludicrous assumption that a thermal evasion suit is a fruitless endeavor. Most existing suits, including those used by governments, boast a thermal reduction rating of 60% to 80%. It is important to recognize that there is currently no organization or company offering thermal evasion suits for widespread use by civilians. We have given the public free access to information on building their own suits if they wish, and we are offering professionally made suits for sale with a thermal reduction rating of 90% or more at Snakebite Tactical.

We made no attempt to hide “heat spots” within the tests in the above video. We want to make it clear that this is a 90% effective suit, which is more than enough for almost any application. Achieving 100% reduction at distances of 10 ft to 10 yards in a wearable suit is very difficult, and a person would still need to practice proper field craft in order to remain unseen. However, we believe our suit design more than meets the standards of currently issued military grade suits; suits which are not available to the public anyway.

Thermal imaging sees through walls?

This is movie-land nonsense. A thermal imager can see the heat you emit through a very thin wall if you are leaning against it, but remove your body from contact with the surface and the heat signature will disappear. Thermal imagers have a difficult time identifying stationary people through leaves and the branches of trees, let alone walls. As long as you are not in contact with the item, your heat will not be seen through the item.

Thermal vision sees through forests?

No. Not a chance. In fact, if your only goal is to hide, then a thick forest is the absolute best place to be if thermal surveillance is in use, even without a suit. If your plan is to advance on an objective, then the situation changes, but if you are a lone individual that just doesn’t want to be found, staying in the woods and dense terrain away from people who might rat you out is your best bet. Apply a thermal suit to the scenario and now your are fully mobile without fear of detection.

You will never see a drone coming, so having a suit is meaningless anyway?

Gotta love this kind of fuzzy logic. The claim apparently assumes that drones simply fly miles above the Earth silently raining hellfire missiles down on random heat signatures on the ground without identification. This is not how drones operate.

Drones are mainly used as OVERWATCH for teams of men already on the ground. A drone might see your signature when you are not wearing a suit, but a drone pilot will not waste ordinance on you until you are identified as a viable target. Most of the successful strikes you see in the news and on YouTube are targets that were already lazed by a team on the ground (this is something the DoD rarely mentions, because they want to retain the mystic surrounding drones).

The drone is then sent in to attack the target that the team identified. When a military unit comes into contact with an enemy, a drone may be sent in to observe and identify targets. This is a situation where thermal evasion is essential. If those targets throw on thermal evasion gear, the drone becomes a useless platform.

If you are under threat by drones and ground opponents, you can leave the area at will without being traced, or you can advance and attack your aggressor without being betrayed by your own heat signature. Your suit does not need to be worn at all times in order to be useful.

I don’t need a thermal evasion suit, I can just buy a thermal blanket or tarp at a fraction of the cost?

The first and most obvious advantage to a thermal evasion suit is that it CAN BE WORN. There is no existing tarp or thermal blanket system that can be worn against the human body and still hide that body from thermal imaging. All of these items conduct heat which can be seen almost as soon as you touch them.

If a heat reflecting tarp was a practical working solution to thermal imaging, then you would see hundreds if not thousands of videos on the web proving their effectiveness and governments would not be keeping their own suits such a secret. The reality is, these items are only useful if you plan to stretch them out above you without physical contact, and stay in one place without moving. They are highly defensive in nature and severely limited in their application.

We have developed the very first thermal evasion system available to the public that can be worn for long periods of time and that also provides effective visual camouflage. Our suit works as a ghillie as well as a thermal evasion tool, meaning, it works in thermal, and in visible light.

A thermal cloak offers near total 360 degree coverage against thermal imaging devices in the air and on the ground while the person is also mobile. Meaning, instead of constantly hiding from the enemy and being on the defensive (a losing strategy), you can advance on the enemy if you wish without detection. There is no comparison whatsoever in the level of application between a thermal blanket and a thermal suit.

This does not mean a suit solves all your problems. If you walk through an open field and start break-dancing, someone will see you. A thermal suit does not necessarily hide blatant movement by the wearer. You still need to follow proper field craft methods including the use of cover and concealment. Add to this the thermal reduction properties of the suit, and you are much less likely to be detected, even under heightened scrutiny.

I don’t need a thermal suit, I can just hide in the city amongst the crowds and blend in?

I’m sure there are situations when operating in a city might be called for, but frankly, the idea is extraordinarily ill conceived when one considers the surveillance grids being put in place in most major metropolitan areas.

Thermal is not your worst enemy in the city. Try CCTV networks with facial and biometric recognition. Try numerous possible collaborators and quislings in a city environment (known for more passive and subservient populations permanently attached to the establishment umbilical cord) who might point the finger at you. The city is a BAD place to be under almost any circumstance that results in crisis and lost liberty, and probably the worst place to be if you are trying to avoid observation and surveillance.

That said, watch almost any police chopper thermal footage in a city and tell me the person being chased was better off without a thermal suit. Imagine you are being chased for simply being a proponent of liberty. Imagine that one day you wake up in the middle of your home city a designated criminal. Would you rather have a thermal evasion suit, or, do you plan to outrun the chopper?

Mud will hide your heat signature?

No, it will not. At least not for more than a minute, and it better be some thick friggin’ mud. Despite what Arnold Schwarzenegger may have taught you, heat transfers through mud just as it does through most other materials.

Drones will find you with LIDAR if they can’t see you with thermal vision?

LIDAR is a form of laser based radar which is bounced off surfaces to create a 3D map of a large area. I’m not sure exactly where the idea came from that drones use LIDAR for personnel detection, but this is simply not so, at least not currently. LIDAR is being tested by the DoD and private contractors for personnel detection using GROUND based 360 degree units, and the effective range of these experimental units is rather limited. Aerial LIDAR is used for mapping of terrain.

The complexity of ground based objects (think in terms of millions of objects in any given field of view) makes personnel tracking from the air all but impossible. Ground based LIDAR also requires a recognizable human shape at close range in order to “alert” on an intruder, which means the ThermTac suit (which removes normal human shape) would only HELP in preventing detection. From my research as of 2015, LIDAR for surveillance often suffers from numerous false positives, which means it is a very weak system for tracking personnel. Thermal vision is a far greater threat than LIDAR.

Even if you have a suit that blocks your body heat, you can still be tracked by your footprints?

Under perfect conditions and the use of a sensitive thermal imager on the ground, your footprints MIGHT be visible using a ground based unit right after you imprint them, but it is still unlikely you will be found. Quick thermal imprints (caused by footsteps) disappear within seconds, and are difficult if not impossible to pick out from any distance beyond a few yards. Rubber and plastic soled shoes do not in most cases transfer very much heat into the ground, and the theory that crushed grass releases more heat in thermal imaging is utter nonsense.

Too many ideas about thermal imaging are drawn from television and movies, which greatly embellish the capabilities of such devices. If footprints were an effective way to track people using thermal, then Search and Rescue units (many have access to excellent thermal devices) would have numerous examples of this along with numerous success stories (these examples do not exist).

One legitimate danger involving footprints occurs when a very large number of people (small groups are not an issue) travel together in single file. This constant imprinting on the same path by multiple footfalls can indeed leave a residual trail that can be found several minutes later, enough time to be tracked by a thermal imager.

Thermal evasion suits will help terrorists?

As stated in the video, the world’s worst terrorist groups are often trained by our own governments and covert intelligence agencies. If covert agencies have access to thermal evasion techniques, then it only follows that so do the people they train. I have no doubt that we will be accused of aiding terrorists by releasing this information, because that is really the only recourse the establishment has to try to stop the use and spread of thermal cloaks (or they will claim that the suit is a scam and doesn’t actually work.

Of course, people will be able to test this for themselves). They will have to try to shame people into refusing to adopt thermal evasion as a means of defense. Trust me, I’ve seen this kind of propaganda used against people merely for talking about methods that MIGHT work. Read any military forum where someone discusses thermal evasion, and invariably a dozen henpecking statists will ask them if they are “with ISIS or Al-Qaeda” to shut them up.

Self-defense is an inborn right, not a privilege granted by arbitrary authority. You do not need permission to obtain means of defense against a threat, even if that threat has thermal imaging at his disposal and a license from the state to kill you. Our thermal suit design is a culmination of three years of tireless effort.

We believe the information belongs in the hands of the citizenry, not only in the hands of governments and those they train. The greater threat to the common good is a lack of knowledge that makes free people weak and vulnerable. The goal of this project is to remove a clear weakness in the American people. If you are not informed, and not prepared, then you will never be secure. Some people would have you believe that thermal imaging and drones are for your safety.

We say YOU are the only person that can be trusted to provide for your own safety. If anything, thermal eyes and lurking drones present a more intense danger to you and your freedom than any terrorists they are supposedly intended to fight against.

by Alice P

In a world where terrorist acts, cyber hacks, and violent threats are becoming ever imminent, the challenges faced by security teams are becoming increasingly complex and difficult. Security dogs, detection dogs, and their handlers and trainers play an increasingly vital role in the multitude of security issues, ranging from deterring criminals from large infrastructure sites to fighting organized crime and terrorist acts.

A security dog is vital to a team, as unlike any security camera or device, which can be disabled and cut off, a security dog is a constant physical presence, that can sense threats and act in real-time. In the security sector, there are currently over 5,000 dogs in service, here are 5 of the reasons why so many companies choose to include a dog on their security team.

1. Heightened Senses:

Security dogs can be extremely useful to any security team, as they are able to smell, see and hear a hidden intruder much quicker than any human. These K9s have around 200 million sensitive cells in their nose, which makes their sense roughly 40 times more sensitive than the human nose.

A little-known fact is that dogs can actually taste their smells, so professionally trained dogs can easily detect smells from the source of the intruder, or from residual smells of the area where an intruder once was. It is said that a security dog and its handler have the ability and strength equivalent to 8 security guards.

2. Rigorous Training:

In order to successfully train a security dog, the handler must tap into their ‘internal play drive’, which means that they must reward the animal for any successful completion of a task. Dogs respond well to positive reinforcement and this must remain a constant throughout the process to instill loyalty and obedience into their being.

Repetitive exercises between the dog and the handler may seem like a simple task to complete and may seem unnecessary when in reality, the dog is being trained on how to successfully sniff/ detect a bomb in an instant, which could potentially save hundreds of lives.

3. Deterrence:

Whether you own a shop, nightclub, infrastructure site or nightclub, some level of security is vital. For example, if you’re a nightclub owner, it is necessary to have a security guard at the door, drug detection dogs and potentially security guards dotted around the club.

For infrastructure sites, owners may have K9 protection units put into place. However effective these dogs may be in a real-time situation, it is believed that 74% of criminal acts can be prevented by the threat of the repercussion itself. So if a vandal tries to enter an infrastructure site, they are more likely to turn back if they see a guard dog at the gates. The appearance of threat is essentially just http://web.archive.org/web/20170606142647/http://www.global-support.org/what-we-do/protection-dogs/as effective as the actual threat.

4. Drug and Explosive Detection:

Canines are particularly useful for the detection of abnormal or illegal loads. Their heightened senses and the training they receive have resulted in the detection of illegal drugs, immigrants and other objects being transported either in the back of vans, in baggage at the airport or even across the border in cars.

When it comes to high-profile events, organizers need to conduct thorough explosive searches before during and after the event, which means that there can be no room for error or miscalculation.

Security dogs are essentially the initial contact or detection with bombs or illegal substances. The initial detection by a security dog is supplemented by an extensive confirmation process, but without them on a security team, many fatalities could have occurred.

5. Loyalty and Obedience:

Guard dogs get pleasure and positive reinforcement from patrolling and defending their territory. Their rigorous training means that they will be alert, quick, strong and highly territorial, but will not be aggressive until instructed to be so.

The standard for dog handling and training have recently been revised, on how dog handlers should professionally look after their dog on a day to day basis. This best practice and advice means that a security dog will have all of the correct training and obedience, to ensure safety and safe practice for the security team and those in the operating area.

Security dogs are a vital addition to any security team, they offer a new perspective and set of skills on the ongoing issues of the 21st century. The threat of violent acts and terrorism may never go away, so new solutions need to be added into the mix to ensure the safeguarding of businesses and of potential victims.

Recommended Resources

• The Koehler Method of Guard Dog Training; An Effective & Authoritative Guide for Selecting, Training & Maintaining Dogs in Home Protection, Plant Security, Police, & Military Work
• Manstopper!: Training a Canine Guardian
• U.S. Military Working Dog Training Handbook
•  M.D. Creekmore’s Defensive Strategies for Home and Retreat Defense after the SHTF

This is a question that all preppers should ask themselves and should prepare for. What will your local police do after a long-term SHTF grid-down situation? What will you do when they come for your supplies and gear?

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Tennessee has the ideal configuration to border numerous states. “The Volunteer State” shares borders with the following states located in the Midwest and Southeastern regions of the United States:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• North Carolina
• Virginia

Only one state (Missouri) touches as many states as Tennessee touches. Throw in neighboring states like Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, and South Carolina to increase the number of states to 12 that require short drives to reach Tennessee. The popularity of Memphis and Nashville for tourists begs one important question.

How does Tennessee handle concealed carry of firearms and do nearby states honor the same statutes followed by Tennessee residents that are on vacation, business trips, or simply passing through…

Tennessee Constitution and Gun Laws

The Tennessee Constitution makes the right to bear arms clear. “That the citizens of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.” Every gun statute enacted in Tennessee owes its legal language to the interpretation the Founding Fathers had of the inalienable right to bear arms.

What Does Concealed Carry Reciprocity Mean?

Reciprocity is the fancy word defining how other states treat conceal carry statutes for residents of Tennessee that visit their states. Anyone that possesses a legally authorized concealed carry permit issued by one state can travel to any other state and never worry about fines or arrest because another state has stricter gun laws. Not every state reciprocates on conceal carry laws. States with strict gun laws such as California, Massachusetts, and New York enforce the gun laws passed by state legislators, not the gun laws enacted by other states. According to many gun law experts, 43 states have implemented some form of concealed carry reciprocity.

Tennessee Preemption Statute

Preemption when it comes to gun laws covers how state lawmakers address local governments going beyond the legal scope of state laws. For example, some states have passed laws that allow for concealed carry of both handguns and long guns everywhere a gun owner travels. However, one or more cities in the state have added restrictions on the concealed carry of firearms, such as banning concealed weapons from vehicles.

Here is how the Tennessee preemption statute reads:

“(a) Except as provided in § 39-17-1311(d), which allows counties and municipalities to prohibit the possession of handguns while within or on a public park, natural area, historic park, nature trail, campground, forest, greenway, waterway or other similar public place that is owned or operated by a county, a municipality or instrumentality thereof, no city, county, or urban-county government shall occupy any part of the field of regulation of the transfer, ownership, possession or transportation of firearms, ammunition or components of firearms or combinations thereof; provided, that the provisions of this section shall be prospectively only and shall not affect the validity of any ordinance or resolution lawfully enacted before April 8, 1986.”

Reciprocal Concealed Carry in Tennessee

Under Tennessee law, the state recognizes another state’s concealed license to carry statute, if the state reciprocates by recognizing the Tennessee concealed carry statute when residents visit another state.

“(1) A facially valid handgun permit, firearms permit, weapons permit or license issued by another state shall be valid in this state according to its terms and shall be treated as if it is a handgun permit issued by this state; provided, however, the provisions of this subsection (r) shall not be construed to authorize the holder of any out-of-state permit or license to carry, in this state, any firearm or weapon other than a handgun. (2) For a person to lawfully carry a handgun in this state based upon a permit or license issued in another state, the person must be in possession of the permit or license at all times the person carries a handgun in this state.”

Anyone planning to visit Tennessee and conceal carry a firearm should become acquainted with how “The Volunteer State” reciprocates with border states and nearby neighbors. The same principle applies to Tennessee residents that travel on business or take family vacations out of state. Check with the Tennessee Commissioner of Safety to review the most recent list of states that promote concealed carry reciprocity with Tennessee.

Refer to the comprehensive reciprocity website to learn more about how Tennessee addresses the reciprocation of conceal carry and other gun laws. Remember changing political climates mean the possibility of rapidly changing reciprocity statutes. What you are allowed to conceal carry in Tennessee might suddenly become illegal by changes to a reciprocity statute in another state.

States Recognizing TN Permits

(Taken from TN Department Of Safety Website)

• Alabama
• Alaska*
• Arizona*
• Arkansas*
• Colorado – Does not honor 18-20-year-old permits or non-resident permits
• Delaware
• Florida* – Does not honor 18-20-year-old permits or non-resident permits
• Georgia*
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky*
• Louisiana*
• Maine
• Michigan*
• Mississippi*
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska – Does not honor 18-20-year-old permits
• Nevada
• New Hampshire*
• New Mexico*
• North Carolina*
• North Dakota – Does not honor 18-20-year-old permits
• Oklahoma
• Ohio*
• Pennsylvania* – Does not honor 18-20-year-old permits or non-resident permits
• South Carolina*
• South Dakota*
• Texas*
• Utah
• Virginia
• West Virginia* – Does not honor 18-20-year-old permits or non-resident permits
• Wisconsin – Does not honor 18-20-year-old permits
• Wyoming*

* Indicates the state has a formal reciprocity agreement with Tennessee

(NOTE: Persons with a valid Tennessee Handgun Carry permit should contact any state for information on carrying such handgun prior to entering the state.)

Tennessee law allows gun owners to keep loaded firearms in a vehicle

In Tennessee, gun owners may legally keep loaded firearms in their vehicles even if they don’t have a state-issued handgun carry permit as long as the firearm isn’t on your person i.e. in a holster on your hip or in your pocket. However, you’ll need a handgun-carry permit before you can legally carry concealed outside of your vehicle or on your person inside the vehicle. With that said, I’m not sure how or if that law applies to out of state visitors.

None of the material in this article should be interpreted as legal advice.  I am not a lawyer.  Never take any action with legal consequences without first consulting with a lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction.  This article should not be relied upon for making legal decisions.  This information is provided for scholarship and general information only.

 

IWB Holsters

When it comes to inside the waistband holders I have several favorites but if I had to narrow it down to just one IWB holster I’d have to choose the Alien Gear Holsters Cloak Tuck 3.0 IWB, Holster (check Amazon.com for current price and availability). As far as IWB holsters go this one is the most comfortable and well made of all the ones that I’ve tried and it’s available to fit a large number of different brands and models of concealed carry handguns.

My second choice for an IWB concealment holster is the Concealment Express IWB KYDEX Holster (click here to check current price and availability at Amazon.con). Fortunately, most brands of KYDEX IWB holsters are well made and to be honest it’s hard to find a meaningful difference in the majority of them.

And if you’re on a super-tight budget then the BLACKHAWK Inside-the-Pants Holster is a super low priced IWB holster that will serve you well (check current price on Amazon.com).

Belt Holsters

I seldom carry in a belt holster because I prefer to carry concealed, however, the exception being when I’m hiking the national park trails or riding my UTV in deep far-a-way back in the boondocks locations and for this, my favorite belt holster is the Model M12 Universal Military Holster. This holster offers protection while still leaving the sidearm easily assessable.

My second favorite belt holster is the Desantis Facilitator Holster (check current price and availability at Amazon.com). One of the downsides to open carry is the possibility that an attacker will try to take your handgun when starting their attack and the Redi-Lok system that comes with Desantis Facilitator Holster will make doing this successfully much more difficult for the attacker.

My third favorite belt holster is the Bianchi Accumold Holster Belt Slide (check Amazon.com for price and availability). It’s light-weight and offers some extra retention via the thumb-break, however, it’s not as secure from a grab-attack as the Desantis Facilitator Holster that I mentioned above.

Pocket Holsters

When carrying smaller handguns a good pocket holster is hard to beat. Need to run to the corner store or out to the mailbox? Don’t want to go through all of the trouble of putting on a belt and IWB or belt holster? Well, the pocket holster is your best option. Just slide it into your pocket and go…

I carry my Smith and Wesson Air-Weight in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster and love it (you can check it out on Amazon.com). I concealed carry the Smith and Wesson Air-Weight more than any other handgun and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Tactical Knives

Oh, wow, choosing my favorite concealed carry knives was very difficult, to say the least because there are so many great knives on the market today and I own so many, but then owning so many allows me to give knowledgeable suggestions from hands-on experience.

Once Tennessee changes the knife laws allowing legal ownership and carry of automatic (switchblade) knives, I went as fast as I could go and bought a Hogue automatic knife, and I’ve carried it every day for over two years and give it my highest recommendation.

My second favorite concealed carry knife is…. wait for it… the Columbia River Knife & Tool M16-Z! This is a very well made quality knife that’s also very reasonably priced. And the locking system is fantastic! If you’re looking for a concealed carry knife and automatic knives like the Hogue that I mentioned above aren’t legal in your state then this is a great alternative.

Okay, now on to my third favorite concealed carry knife and that’s the BLACKHAWK! Crucible II Folding Knife with a plain edge (check it out at Amazon.com). I’ve owned this knife for over five years and carried it a couple of those and have no complaints at all and at the current listed price on Amazon.com it’s hard to beat.

Please read my article on Tennessee Knife Laws if you’re interested in carrying a knife in Tennessee.

Tactical Lights

Like concealed carry knives, the mention of tactical knives gets folks looking straight and paying attention because most of the folks who are into such things as firearms and concealed carry have their own opinions as to what’s the best tactical light. Below are my current top picks…

My number one choice is the SureFire G2Z MV Combat Light, small, light-weight and easy to carry while putting out a blinding amount of light onto (you can check current price and availability at Amazon.com).

As for a general-purpose light, my top choice is the Duracell Durabeam Ultra 700 Heavy-Duty LED Flashlight (check current price and availability on Amazon.com). I have four of these with two in my house, one in each automobile and one in the garage. It’s hard (probably impossible) to beat these at the same or lower price.

Carry Belts

If you’re going to open carry and or concealed carry then you’ll need a good belt and my current favorite is the Relentless Tactical The Ultimate Concealed Carry CCW Gun Belt. It’s a little pricey, well, for me anyway, but it’s a belt that will last a lifetime and in fact, it has a lifetime warranty.

Non-Lethal Options

Okay, we all know that carrying a concealed handgun is a big responsibility because once you pull the trigger to defend yourself and the bullet is out of the barrel there isn’t any bringing it back and if it hits then death or grave bodily injury will be the result.

This is why I like to have a non-lethal alternative available, so I have a choice of lethal action or non-lethal action depending on the situation and what is warranted. My favorite and what I believe to be the best non-lethal alternative is OC or pepper spray.

My choice is from Fox Labs – Fox Labs Pepper Spray – Flip Top Cone (1.5 ounces) click here to check current prices and availability on Amazon.com.

My Favorite Watch

While having a watch isn’t really connected to concealed carry, every man should own a good watch and it’s not necessary to spend several hundred dollars to own a good functional watch that also looks great.

When it comes to watches I have a couple of favorites. My number one favorite is the Vincero Luxury Men’s Chrono S Wrist Watch in all black and my second favorite is the Victorinox Men’s  Original XL Swiss Quartz Watch.

By J. Robinson

During TEOTWAWKI, long-term survivability will depend upon more than adequate firepower from a diverse gun collection. Historically, men and women who faced violence, conflict, and war did so not just with arms of swords, but also with armor. In dire times of combat having the ability to protect oneself and loved ones from injury may make the difference between life and death. Many preppers have invested substantial sums of money into firearms; surprisingly most have not acquired body armor. This is partly because many believe body armor to be cumbersome to wear and difficult to acquire. Luckily today’s armor is technologically advanced, comfortable to wear and easily obtainable.

Since the rise of civilization warriors have wielded swords, axes, and spears while relying on armor for protection. King Arthur and his fellow knights wore infamous suits of shiny plate armor; Vikings and Romans wore quilted fabric and hardened leather into battle for protection. Today’s common man wields firearms, but it’s vital that he also bears armor.

Armor was widely used primarily because of its simple design of using a wearable hard dense material to stop the penetration of projectiles and edged weapons into the body, while also absorbing the impact of blunt force trauma. Primarily this hard material has traditionally been leather, iron or steel. Around the mid-twentieth century, synthetic materials such as woven Kevlar started to be used for protection against small-caliber munitions like handguns but remained ineffective against larger caliber firearms like military rifles. In more recent decades, the use of special formulated ceramic has been substituted for ballistic rated steel in some applications. This is especially the case in regards to armor plates, which are very effective against stopping military rifle fire. Both steel plates and ceramic plates share the same heavy cumbersome characteristics of medieval armor. Thanks to the ongoing scientific advancements of plastics in recent years, high-density polyethylene can effectively take the place of steel and ceramic plates.

There are many different grades of high-density polyethylene. It’s very likely that several plastic bottles in your home have an HDPE label on the bottom, which is an acronym for high-density polyethylene. The toughest HDPE is ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or UHMWPE.

UHMWPE offers several impressive innovative advantages, the first and most important being weight. A UHMWPE 10 by 12-inch level III NIJ rated ballistic plate weighs about 3 pounds! This is considerably less than a comparable level III rated steel or ceramic plate. Personally, I have 2 AR500 steel 10 by 12-inch curved plates with an anti-spall base coating. Each plate weighs slightly over 9 pounds. I am in relatively decent shape and wearing 2 separate 9-pound plates for any extended period of time is exhausting and running a full sprint while wearing them is near impossible.

Having owned AR500 steel plates for some time now, I’ve come to realize that I will hardly ever wear them even during TEOTWAWKI simply because they are way too heavy and body armor is only effective if you’re wearing it. It’s probable that every day during TEOTWAWKI will be physically demanding due to the increased amount of labor required around your home to keep a functioning homestead running. Never mind trying to accomplish that increased workload while having an extra 18 pounds strapped your torso. I see no need for the additional burden of heavy armor when a lightweight option is readily available.

Be honest in regards to your physical condition, TEOTWAWKI will not be a time to start going to the gym. If you can’t successfully accomplish yard work or walk a short patrol of your property now while wearing a heavy plate carrier how will you ever be able to do so during TEOTWAWKI? It’s also important to remember how precious calories will be during a TEOTWAWKI scenario. Wearing heavy armor plates that equate to wearing a weighted workout vest will surely work up an appetite.

Please keep in mind whether you have steel or ceramic plates in your plate carrier, you must also factor in the weight of additional gear that will be on your plate carrier as well, including loaded magazines, first aid materials, a 2-way radio, and a water bladder. That’s why you must consider UHMWPE armor plates. 2 standard sizes 10 by 12 inch UHMWPE plates will weigh about 6 pounds, which makes all the difference in the world. With only 6 pounds of armor in my plate carrier I can wear it all day if need be and walking a patrol around the property is a breeze. Another precious attribute that made me decide to switch to UHMWPE plates is because steel and ceramic plates sink in water like concrete blocks, UHMWPE plates on the other hand actually float!

UHMWPE is actually neutrally buoyant and even though a typical size plate weighs 3 pounds they are still light enough to float on the surface of the water. It’s important to note that UHMWPE is a hydrophobic material and does not absorb any water and plates will retain their original weight no matter how long the plates are exposed to moisture. This is a huge advantage if you plan on being anywhere near water. If you happen to take a plunge while you have 18 pounds of steel or ceramic strapped to your torso you better remove your armor quickly because you will be sinking like a boat anchor. This is why the U.S. Navy was one of the first military branches to start the shift from steel and ceramic plates to UHMWPE plates. The UHMWPE plates will partially act as a life preserver and help keep you afloat. As lightweight and buoyant as UHMWPE plates are they are also drop safe, prevent spall and are capable of sustaining multiple hits.

UHMWPE plates are tough, tough enough to be dropped on the ground and not be a cause for alarm that you just turned your plates into paperweights. It’s nice to know that if you have butter fingers on occasion and drop your plates on the ground when you attempt to correctly position them in your plate carrier that no damage will come to the plate. This is not the case with ceramic plates. Dropping a ceramic plate from waist height can cause cracks to form within the plate, which will significantly degrade the ballistic resistance of the plate. The only way to confirm if a ceramic plate has cracks in it after a drop is to pay the price and run it through an x-ray machine. This is not the case with steel plates, however, if you drop a 9-pound steel plate from waist height make sure your wearing steel toed shoes otherwise you might have to get an x-ray for a different reason.

Steel armor plates could be lighter if it wasn’t for the concern of spall and fragmentation. Spall and fragmentation happen when a bullet impacts an armor plate at high-speed causing the bullet to defect into a different direction or to break up into pieces. For this reason, steel armor plates must have some sort of a material that acts as a shield to catch the impacted bullet, without it, a bullet or piece of it could easily bounce off the armor plate into a vital part of your body like your neck.

This is a concern and the reason why an anti-spall base coat build up is necessary with AR500 steel plates, but this additional base coat build up can add up to an extra pound in weight to the already heavy steel. Even with a standard amount of anti-spall material applied to a steel plate, it’s possible to have some bullet fragmentation leave the safety of the base coat material and enter another part of your body that is not protected with armor. Spall and fragmentation are not a concern in regards to ceramic and UHMWPE plates. UHMWPE and ceramic plates are designed to expand and hold the impacting bullet within the armor plate. These plates will actually increase in thickness after taking rounds. Of course, UHMWPE can do it at a fraction of the weight compared to ceramic.

When researching armor plates also take into consideration the multi-hit capability of the plate. The manufacturers listed in the next paragraph are producing plates that are rated to take a minimum of 6 rounds from a .308 caliber rifle. Not that you would necessarily still be standing in the same position after taking just a few of those hits, but it’s nice to know the level of abuse the plates are capable of taking.

The National Institute of Justice or NIJ is the U.S. Department of Justice regulatory agency that has established what constitutes different levels of ballistic resistance. Never buy body armor that is not NIJ rated! Level III NIJ rated plates have the ballistic resistance to stop at least 1 rifle round of 7.62 x 51 mm (.308) full metal jacket with a specified mass of 147 grains traveling at a velocity of 2,780 feet per second. Level III armor will stop rounds from a vast majority of military rifles including M-4s and AK-47 type rifles.

With that said, keep in mind that level III plates will not stop armor piercing rounds; if you believe you will be facing the threat of armor-piercing rounds during TEOTWAWKI, you will have to opt for steel or ceramic level IV NIJ certified plates and cope with bringing the weight back up to 9-10 pounds per plate, there are no manufacturers that are offering 100% UHMWPE level IV plates. Weigh your priorities! Having the advantage of being able to wear your plates all day long and even run with them far outweighs the concern of armor piercing rounds. Again, it’s likely that even if I had level IV plates I would hardly ever wear them because they are so heavy.

Several different companies offer UHMWPE plates including Spartan Armor Systems, RMA Armament, and DKX Max Armor, all of which offer NIJ certified ballistic grade plates. After significant research, I decided on 2 DKX Max UHMWPE plates. One being a 10 by 12-inch curved shooters cut plate designed for protecting the front of your torso and the second being a 10 by 12-inch curved square cut plate designed for protecting your back. The shooters cut weighs only 2.9 pounds and the square cut weighs 3.2 pounds.

The shooters cut has the top corners removed so the plate doesn’t interfere when raising your side arm or shouldering your rifle. You don’t have to worry about the rear plate interfering with your movements so having a square cut plate, which offers greater coverage just makes sense. Both plates are curved to hug your torso, which significantly increases comfort and makes wearing a plate carrier with plates for an extended period of time much easier. DKX plates are constructed of a premium type of patented UHMWPE called Dyneema.

On a weight-by-weight comparison basis, Dyneema is 15 times stronger than steel. Given the fact that armor plates are used to save lives it’s necessary to consider where the plates were constructed and the source of the raw materials. I feel more comfortable knowing that if a life may be on the line the product was manufactured in the USA from material in the USA and this is the case with DKX plates. So consider picking up a pair for yourself!

Currently, the majority of all law-abiding citizens in the US can legally buy body armor as long as you don’t have a criminal record. The only state that does not allow its citizens to purchase body armor is Connecticut. That is until the house and senate pass a bill outlawing civilian ownership of body armor.

There have already been steps taken by elected officials to ban civilians from owning body armor. For several years Representative Michael Honda of California with 7 bill co-sponsors backing him have been attempting to push H.R.378 the Responsible Body Armor Possession Act through the house and senate.

If passed this act would prohibit the possession, ownership or purchase of enhanced body armor by civilians with a few exceptions. The exceptions consist of allowing those who have owned armor prior to the date of the act passing to maintain ownership, also known as being grandfathered in. Additional exceptions would be granted for civilian personnel who work under a federal or state agency where the possession of body armor is necessary. This proposed act should serve as proper motivation to acquire body armor plates now while you still have the legal opportunity to do so.

If you too are a prepper, who has invested money in firearms that may be used to defend the lives of your loved ones during TEOTWAWKI, I urge you to acquire light weight UHMWPE armor plates for your protection, one day they might make the difference between life and death. Please remember, a knight that walks onto the battlefield with a sword and no armor is not ready for the battlefield.