P – Primary Projectile A – Alternate Blade C – Contingency Less than lethal E – Emergency Bare Hands Let’s pull back the curtain and examine what this could mean with each. Primary. As for everything in the life saving equipment category, I recommend the best and most reliable and highest functioning gear within your budget. We discussed the idea of a baseline vs ideal. Or effective vs effective and efficient which varies with time/place but knowing what you should strive to carry for you and having matching skills is very important. Primary should always be the most “killy” (technical term) but it will depend on what you have with you, (Can’t always carry concealed handgun while traveling) and how proximate distance to threat(s). (I.e. if your at contact distance, I don’t recommend going for your gun when you have decent empty hand or knife skills) As a rough outline, for our purposes this will be a modern, magazine fed handgun of 9mm or higher caliber. (Personally not a fan of revolvers or the 380 cartridge or something similarly wimpy) Of course, you do you Boo, this is just my definition. Should include a reliable holster. Bonus points if it’s quick to draw from, concealable, able to deploy with both hands, from seated position, or lying on your back. (BTW the Inside the Waiste Band (IWB) appendix holster fits all of the above for most) Now as a baseline, this should be something that you can depend your life on, while carrying a round in the chamber, (AKA not a Sig P320 or High Point) Hopefully we’re all in agreement so far. When it comes to what is ideal in this category, I opt for a full frame (Not as easy to conceal, but better magazine capacity and easier to perform with) 9mm, with RMR, Weapon Light, threaded barrel for suppressor… insert your favorite add on here. Something that you can really perform with, even when the threats deserve an extra serving of lead, or you have to operate under less than ideal circumstances. Also a back up mag, both filled with quality hollow points, (this video was helpful comparison on that note. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgvrzHV73rI) I carry G9 but again, it’s your choice.

I’m that awkward turtle that some people befriend out of pity and/or guilt :) I’m interested in getting better at just about everything. I guess I’m a constant Boy Scout, always looking to earn more merit badges. My background covers quite a few fields. If you peeked into my toolbox and library, you would probably laugh and shake your head. I’ve done a lot over the years. Not sure what I can bring to the table, but I’ll letcha know :)

Here’s a funny locked car story… Just last week my toddler decided she would play in our family car. She’s climbing all around and pushing every button and turning every knob in sight. When she finally did come out and close the door, she of course managed to lock the key inside with the windows up. We had planned on visiting some friends that night, so thankfully about an hour before, I went to double check that the car wasn’t locked with our only key inside…but it was locked. I remembered we had a second key at one point, so I checked in with my wife for that first, but to no avail. So I knew what I had to do. In direct sun and 90+ degree heat I wrestled with the window, found and applied several different prying and inflating and reaching tools, and finally after 20-30 minutes of wrestling with it, got it opened. Here’s the funny part, remember the spare key I couldn’t find? Yeah, it was hanging up in my home office all along. Found it this morning. Made me reflect of the moral of the story. How many times do I struggle in my own strength, when God has the key to my problems right there, all along? Something to ponder.