Everyday Carry for the Spook: Guest Blog Post

Everyday carry (EDC) is a collection of things you carry with you on a daily basis when you are outside your house. There can, and will, be some variation. However, there will be some items you always carry.

My everyday carry consists of:

• My wallet - do I need to explain this one?
• My cell phone
• A battery pack for my cell phone
• A firearm
• A knife
• $100 in cash (small bills, i.e., $20's)
• A multi tool
• A signal blocking bag
• A flashlight

Now that I have explained what I carry, please allow me to explain some of the items.

I'll skip the obvious ones. It should be common sense to carry your wallet when you leave the house, and I don't think anyone, no matter what industry you work in, leaves the house without a phone.

How many of you think of a battery backup for your phone? Well, I’ve been caught in more than one situation where there was no electricity available. (If I’m outside the US, I also carry a solar or hand crank charger for portable electronics.)

Now, onto some of the more unusual items.

A Signal Blocking Bag

Let’s start with the signal blocking bag and why I carry it.

Let’s face it, everything can be hacked. Cell phones can have the microphones and cameras turned on, and be used as a bug against unsuspecting people. This requires a signal from the outside.

Many cell phones no longer have easily removable batteries, like their older cousins.

Do I really need to tell you how much I value my privacy? Need I go into the geo-location services that most phones have automatically enabled? I guess I do.

Geo-Location Services Issues with Cell Phones

Cell phones can pinpoint your exact location. They aren’t the only device that can either. Your fitness tracker has to have a way to figure out how far your last run was or it wouldn’t be much good. (There was recently a situation where special forces operators from an allied nation had their location compromised by their government issued fitness bands.)

There are often times I don’t want anyone knowing where I am, never mind the why. If I meet you in a deli for a conversation over a sandwich, there’s no need for anyone to know where the deli is or who I was with. Your cell phone would join mine in the bag, so we can talk in privacy and with some level of security.

(Believe it or not, a noisy public place can be a great spot for a clandestine meeting.)

Firearms

I carry a firearm. Sometimes, it’s a full-sized Glock. Other times, it’s a more discrete firearm that has less magazine capacity, but no less lethal capability. The smaller the size, the easier I can hide it.

I feel the need to note a few firearms safety protocols here.

1. ALWAYS carry a firearm in a holster.
2. ALWAYS keep the firearm loaded with a round in the chamber.
3. ALWAYS be able to access the firearm easily.
4. NEVER put the firearm in a bag that’s not attached to your body. Ladies, this means don’t put them in purses. Guys, keep then out of your backpack.
5. ALWAYS make certain you’re not printing (you can’t see the outline of the gun).

Where do I hide my firearm? That depends on the circumstances. Let's discuss a few common ones.

If I’m jogging, it’s in a bellyband for running or in a fanny pack. If I’m in a suit, it’s in a shoulder holster under my weak hand (cross draw). If I’m in jeans, it could be in a paddle holster in the small of my back or the classic ankle holster. If I’m wearing pants with cargo pockets, it could be anywhere. I even have a small firearm holster combo designed to hang around my neck and be worn under my shirt. (This is often my backup gun, as it has a very reduced capacity of 5 rounds.)

Knives

Now, onto the knife. What kind? That again depends on the situation.

Let’s take a look. I prefer one I can clip inside the waistband of the pants, if I have that opportunity. I have one that’s part of a belt buckle if I need to be more discrete. For the ultimate in discretion, I will carry a ceramic knife that doesn’t set off  a metal detector.

Cash

There’s not always an ATM when and where you need one. Often a few bucks can save you a headache.

Please don’t try this with law enforcement.

I’m talking about the local bad guy you want to leave your vehicle alone, or the one you want information out of. What if you break down and want help changing that tire? So you don’t have to worry about someone sneaking up behind you... $20 is a great starter in many of these situations.

The Multi Tool

The multi tool, is much less threatening than a plain knife. You can fix that loose pot handle or that loose wire in the radio you dropped. You can bend wire or even smash a car windshield. The possibilities are endless.

Flashlight

Yes, an actual flashlight. Now, before you tell me you can use your cell phone for this, in a smoke-filled room, it won’t work. And there are times you need more than one light on a situation; since you have a flashlight, you can now pull out the cell phone as well.

My flashlight also has a strobe function that can be used to disorient attackers or wild animals. This can provide me with enough time to use Plan B, whatever that happens to be.

While all of this stuff sounds like a lot, it’s not. I carry a flashlight that’s about 2 inches in length and the size of a nickel. The bag folds up easily, or it can be placed inside a leather portfolio or any other item you happen to be carrying. You can even use it to store other items, such as a lock-pick set.

Oops, I forgot to mention I have a lock-pick set in credit card format in my wallet. The things I don’t even think about.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this introduction to EDC.

Welcome to our world... at least the sneak peek version.

 

P.S. I'd love to meet you on Twitter or Facebook.

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© Copyright, Judy L Mohr 2018