Concealed Carry: 5 Items to Include with Your Everyday Carry (EDC) Defensive Firearm Practice

You may have decided to obtain your Concealed Carry License for many reasons. The most popular is self-defense in an increasingly dangerous world. You are now a trained and responsible citizen. In our first blog post we discussed 5 tips for Everyday Carry (EDC). In that article, we wrote "Remember, you can decide whether to become a victim or you can decide to be prepared every day to defend yourself accordingly and within the law." Continuing in the EDC series, this second entry will discuss the Concealed Carry 5 items to include with your Everyday Carry (EDC) Defensive Firearm practice. Here are our recommendations.

Concealed Carry: 5 Items to Include with Your Everyday Carry (EDC) Defensive Firearm Practice

1. SPARE MAGAZINE

The everyday carry of a defensive firearm is a responsibility to be taken extremely seriously. You very well could be placed in a situation where you have to decide to defend your own life or the life of others. In many defensive shooting situations the gun fight will be between 5-7 yards and the situation may only take a few shots to stop the threat. One magazine just may do the trick. However, consider the following:

• A common reason for a firearm to malfunction is a bad magazine. This can occur over time due to the magazine springs getting weak or old, the follower being damaged, or the magazine being fouled and dirty from debris and use. All of these can cause your defensive firearm to malfunction when you need it the most. Having a spare magazine can quickly resolve the issue and could very well be the one piece of equipment that helps save your life.

• Even though most defensive shooting situations will be short range and over quickly, there are situation where that may not be the case. Consider the active killer scenario. Given the raise in this phenomenon nationally, your odds of one day being in an active killer situation is increased. These bad actors plan for their attacks by often bringing multiple firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition to the target they selected. While we cannot do the same, we can at least have a spare magazine or two for our everyday carry (EDC) defensive firearm will help us engage and protect innocent lives if we faced with a dreadful day such as this.

  
  

2. FLASHLIGHT

A solid flashlight should be included in the everyday carry (EDC) of a defensive firearm. There are many options on the market. At a minimum, a good flashlight will be able to fit in a pocket and be at least 60 lumens. A higher output of lumens over 120 is preferred. Not all defensive firearm use of force situations will be during the daylight. Criminals like to work under the cover of darkness. You may even be at events that occur at night. Having a flashlight on you can accomplish the following:

• Help illuminate a dark area which may reveal a potential threat hiding in the shadows before you enter a danger zone.

• The light can be used defensively by shining the bright light into the eyes of the attacker giving you time to escape a bad situation.

• Some flashlights come with a bevel ring that is notched or has teeth. These can be used as an impact or striking defensive weapon.

• Flashlight defensive techniques can be used to confuse your attacker of where you are. Using the FBI hold technique, or other techniques may cause your attacker to focus on the source of the light not knowing your actual body is elsewhere. Important if the attacker has a firearm and is trying to shoot at you.

  
  

3. POCKETKNIFE

A good pocketknife has many usages in an emergency situation. Purchasing a reputable brand with a sharp edge that can be easily carried in a pocket is worth considering for your everyday carry (EDC). Not all emergencies will require the use of your defensive firearm. Cutting a seatbelt loose after a vehicle crash is just such an example. In a post use of deadly force incident, a pocketknife could be used to cut away clothing to treat wounds with an Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK). Cutting open stubborn first aid supply packaging may also be of need of a pocket knife. Aside from these basic usages, a pocketknife is an extremely versatile tool that is light weight and handy for many common daily uses. Having one when you need it is like having the right tool when you are working on a vehicle. When you need it and time is of the essence, you are glad you have it.

4. INDIVIDUAL FIRST AID KIT (IFAK)

The use of force will without fail require some sort of first aid. Having an Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) immediately available can be lifesaving. If you are injured by gunfire in an extremity you may only have a few minutes before you lose enough blood to cause death. There may not be enough time for an ambulance to reach you or your attacker before you bleed out. Having a minimum IFAK with a tourniquet and knowing how to apply it quickly is crucial knowledge for everyday carry (EDC) defensive firearm practitioners. Other basic components in your IFAK should include:

• Pressure bandages: Used to apply direct pressure and to cover wounds to aid in stopping the bleed.

• Hemostatic gauze: Contains a blood clotting agent that aids in stopping the bleed when applied.

• Chest seals: Used for piercing wounds to the upper chest to seal the chest cavity and to prevent air from entering the cavity promoting easier breathing.

• Latex gloves: For a protective barrier to prevent blood borne disease from infecting you as you administer first aid to someone not known to you.

• Emergency "space blanket": Used to prevent hypothermia and to keep a patient warm after blood loss.

  
  

5. IDENTIFICATION AND INSURANCE CARDS

If you carry a defensive firearm every day, do not forget to leave your home without your concealed carry license and any concealed carry insurance you may use for legal defense. We recommend if you concealed carry you consider obtaining some form of legal defense insurance from one of the many companies that offer such a plan. Many of these plans provide you with:

• Access to an attorney that is versed in use of force legal issues.

• Coverage of legal expenses incurred during your use of force defense.

• Criminal and civil court representation by a plan attorney.

• Bail bond assistance if by chance you are arrested for using force by means of your defensive firearm.

CONCLUSION

These five items are tools we at Self Reliance Self Defense recommend our students carry in addition to their everyday carry (EDC) defensive firearm. We are advocates of having the tools you are most likely going to need on you when they are needed the most. As with using a defensive firearm for self-defense, seconds count. There may not be adequate time to retrieve these items from a vehicle or other storage location. Consider making a conscious decision to carry them daily as you develop your everyday carry (EDC) practices.