Active Shooter Bag
Guest Post by Dan Vernon
** Disclaimer: It is illegal to use deadly force in the commission of a crime. Please check your local, state, and federal laws in regards to the use of lethal force. The contents of this kit is one opinion and is not a guarantee that you will win a lethal force encounter. This kit is meant to create an active thought process in the good law abiding citizens of this country. These items will not be affective unless you receive formal training and educate yourself into the proper use. **
General Description: A kit equipped with the gear needed to effectively combat an armed conflict and/or anytime lethal force is legally justified.
There are several tiers to an Armed Response Kit (ART).
However, today we will discuss the very first tier of an ART, the Active Shooter Bag (ASB).
The ASB is a small, lightweight bag that will provide the basic essential gear to assist a person in surviving an active shooter incident and/or a home invasion. This also applies to any armed attack from a person with the intent to kill or seriously injure you or others.
It should contain the following items: Bag, Handgun, Ammunition, Trauma First Aid, Flashlight, and a quality knife. Below is a breakdown and description of each item.
The Bag: The bag needs to be small but large enough to hold the contents adequately. I prefer a bag that is an ‘over the should’ type bag, this allows a person to throw the bag over the shoulder even if you jump from be in your underwear. A fanny pack would also work as well. The color of the bag should be subdued, but avoid camouflage bags, they can draw unwanted attention if deployed in public. A small bag of this style allows a person to have all of the basic items at all times (ex. hanging on a bed post, or in a desk drawer, or in your car).
The Handgun: I recommend a handgun simply due to the need to be concealable within your ASB bag. As big of a handgun as you can carry in the bag without effecting sensible carry of the bag. Whatever type of handgun a person chooses, they should be trained and proficient with that firearm. The firearm should have place inside of the bag that it is stored securely and cannot fall out during a drop. Also nothing else should be stored in that pocket. Many bags have a built in holster system that will fit your firearm.
The Ammunition: The amount of ammo is a difficult detail to provide, I prefer to have as much as possible. However, ammo will begin to add noticeable weight to the bag. In my personal bag I carry two spare 17 round magazines. If your handgun carries fewer rounds then you may decide to carry one more magazines. Those individuals that carry a revolver should have the ammo organized in the best way possible, like speed strip and speed loaders. Loose rounds in the bottom of the bag are not a good idea, they will not be easy to locate during the high stress of a lethal force encounter. Stock this bag with high quality defensive ammo, this stuff will be defending your life!
The Trauma First Aid: Think about the injuries associated with a lethal force encounter; stab wounds, gunshot wounds, and severe cuts. The most common cause of death during an event like this is a person bleeding to death before help arrives. During my years of tactical training we were taught that 80% of all gunshot victims survive, this is due to modern medicine. If the Paramedics are held up because the police have not yet cleared the entire building, many people could simply bleed out. Stock your bag with tourniquets, compression bandages, Israeli battle Dressings, gauze, gauze rolls, and tape. Please do not forget to place protective medical gloves, several sets, in your bag also. A couple of useful blood stopping items that are cheap and easy to acquire are tampons, maxi pads (the overnights), sports wrap tape, horse leg wrap (same stuff used for humans but half the price). The thing with this medical kit is it should be save for yourself until the incident is over and then you can help those in need. The reason for this is you will be equipped to stop the bad guy, if you don’t treat yourself, you will not be helping anyone.
The Flashlight and Knife: These two items are tools needed to fight, escape, and treat the injured. The flashlight should be a small quality light with a tail cap and a wrist lanyard. Learn how to fight with a light and learn how to have light discipline, which could also save your life and give you the upper hand. The knife is a great tool to cut your way through many obstacles, cut off clothing of the injured, and in a last resort fight! Buy knife that has the ability to open and close with one hand, I like medium to large folding knifes.
The most important thing about this bag is that you educate yourself on the proper techniques to use all of the items in the bag. Each person may find other tool to add to this list, which is okay, just keep it light as possible. Tools like extra medical items, a phone, extra batteries, a list of important phone numbers, thin gloves, small bottle of water, and energy bars could all be a viable addition. This bag is meant to give you a fighting chance. If you are not a gun person, then stock medical and escape/evasion gear, just give yourself the gear needed to overcome a lethal force encounter.
And one more thing, when the police do arrive do EXACTLY what they say! Drop the gun, and put your hands in the air, don’t argue, and don’t make any fast movements. This type of incident is stressful for even the most highly trained individuals, if you do not obey their commands you will get shot. This ASB allows you to take action or be a good witness, you do not have to run from a safe place to join the fight. I can guarantee that I will never get mugged in a dark alley, because I don’t walk down dark alleys. The best action is to stay as far away from danger as possible. However, when evil shows its face, this bag will give you options that you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Be safe, love your fellow man, and never stop learning.
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