Somewhere on social media, I responded to a post discussing the increased threats to my friends and neighbors who identify in the LGBTQ+ community.

I wasn't able to relocate that thread easily, and it may have been deleted.

But it got me to thinking about chest rigs.

I have some body armor, and recognize that THAT is a different topic. My current body armor is Level III (maybe IIIA), designed to be worn discreetly. I'm not totally averse to considering more overt armor, but I think of that as a somewhat-separate topic.

Of course, I would have to decide what I want to carry on a chest rig vs. what I want to carry on a belt, and in what likely scenario I would need any of that gear. I've spent some time in protest space (Summer of 2020, Louisville KY, over the LMPD murder of Breonna Taylor) and participated in a couple marches. I experienced some concern over the "security" at more than one march being Boogaloo Bois, and I have very low trust level for them. The idea of walking around during a march wearing a chest rig with six 30-round magazines and no trauma kit seems ludicrous to me, as does the Boog hangers-on wearing drop-leg holsters that flapped and rattled incessantly.

If I'm going to be "out there" with my rig helping my LGBTQ+ friends, I'd rather not look quite that much like "tactical Timmy," but I want to have necessary stuff close at hand.

So, ideas encouraged, and welcome.

My view is wear the covert armor and conceal carry. Don’t make your self a target, or give up the tactical advantage of surprise. I base this on assumption of risk and a process I’ll go into below When I go to marches, etc. I just being a handgun with more capacity and at least 1-3 extra mags, and sometimes a BUG. If I had under clothing armor I would wear that depending on what I thought the threat level was. I would not draw undo attention to myself by looking like a Jan 6th Cosplayer.

Even more than what gear you bring to me is is to do a little beforehand operational risk management (ORM). This is what we briefed in the operational navy before every risky evolution. This is where you rack & stack likely risks and cross matrix them based on likelihood of occurrence and severity. Plan for each contingency and decide what gear or what refresher training you might need.


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INVICTVS138 wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:11 pm My view is wear the covert armor and conceal carry. Don’t make your self a target, or give up the tactical advantage of surprise. I base this on assumption of risk and a process I’ll go into below When I go to marches, etc. I just being a handgun with more capacity and at least 1-3 extra mags, and sometimes a BUG. If I had under clothing armor I would wear that depending on what I thought the threat level was. I would not draw undo attention to myself by looking like a Jan 6th Cosplayer.

Even more than what gear you bring to me is is to do a little beforehand operational risk management (ORM). This is what we briefed in the operational navy before every risky evolution. This is where you rack & stack likely risks and cross matrix them based on likelihood of occurrence and severity. Plan for each contingency and decide what gear or what refresher training you might need.


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As usual, wise words. Thank you.

I like (and tend to prefer) the understated approach. It also saves money (don't have to buy the chest rig and accoutrements). One concern is dealing with opponents' long guns and long ranges, but I also lack the training you had. "Plan for and train for what's likely and within my abilities" seems realistic.

The acronym BUG is unfamiliar to me, though. Big Ugly Gun?

BUG-Back Up Gun

Somewhere on social media, I responded to a post discussing the increased threats to my friends and neighbors who identify in the LGBTQ+ community.

My next door neighbor is a very nice, member of this community. I have been 'gently' suggesting that I 'could' help her with personal protection but it hasn't worked yet. Even tho very blue and tolerant city..and state(colorado) generally..there are still hot spots of hate and intolerance(Colorado Springs) in Colorado.

If you ever do decide to wear a chest rig at a protest, may I suggest this patch:

https://www.abetterway2a.com/product-pa ... -cop-patch

BUG = back up gun.

Personally, as demonstrated here, I believe abbreviations and acronyms waste a lot more time (usually in misunderstanding or in explanations) than they ever save. And that's giving them a lot of credit they might not rate-- it's hard to see, except in extreme cases, where they actually save anything.

And they make you look like a poser.

I avoid them.

BearPaws wrote:

INVICTVS138 wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:11 pm My view is wear the covert armor and conceal carry. Don’t make your self a target, or give up the tactical advantage of surprise. I base this on assumption of risk and a process I’ll go into below When I go to marches, etc. I just being a handgun with more capacity and at least 1-3 extra mags, and sometimes a BUG. If I had under clothing armor I would wear that depending on what I thought the threat level was. I would not draw undo attention to myself by looking like a Jan 6th Cosplayer.

Even more than what gear you bring to me is is to do a little beforehand operational risk management (ORM). This is what we briefed in the operational navy before every risky evolution. This is where you rack & stack likely risks and cross matrix them based on likelihood of occurrence and severity. Plan for each contingency and decide what gear or what refresher training you might need.


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As usual, wise words. Thank you.

I like (and tend to prefer) the understated approach. It also saves money (don't have to buy the chest rig and accoutrements). One concern is dealing with opponents' long guns and long ranges, but I also lack the training you had. "Plan for and train for what's likely and within my abilities" seems realistic.

The acronym BUG is unfamiliar to me, though. Big Ugly Gun?

Haha - sorry about that - I’ve worked for DoD my entire adult life and we live by acronyms.

A long gun presents additional risk but it also gives you much greater capability. It also makes you an obvious target. For both negative interactions or at least attention with Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) and Right wing nut jobs. Personally, once a person has a long gun in an active shooter situation, the best thing to do; is evade and escape. Almost any pistol isn’t a counter for a long gun, even for an extremely well trained shooter. Using a long gun to return fire cannot likely guarantee clear lanes of fire, risking bystanders. If I see someone including a “friendly” (LEO, someone on “our” side) with a long gun; the situation is already escalated enough where I’m getting the hell out of there. I don’t know some randos level of training, etc. I know my level of training, and I cannot successfully engage a long gun armed opponent in a crowd.

I don’t want any extra attention from LE and therefore my options are almost always covert.

I know that the “opposition” uses tactical mall ninja Cosplay and open carry of long guns to intimidate “our” side. I’m not willing to test the sanity of those people; they believe a pile of lies & are angry and stupid.


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Ylatkit wrote: Thu Feb 09, 2023 1:11 pm BUG = back up gun.

Personally, as demonstrated here, I believe abbreviations and acronyms waste a lot more time (usually in misunderstanding or in explanations) than they ever save. And that's giving them a lot of credit they might not rate-- it's hard to see, except in extreme cases, where they actually save anything.

And they make you look like a poser.

I avoid them.

This.

Also, everything Invictus has to say. Unless your goal is to be a bigger target than the people you are there to protect, don't go wearing body armor and toting a long gun. Everything you ever post makes me think paramedic go-bag and covert defense/counter-offense is your jam. You will be too busy rendering aid to make a long gun relevant if you ever have to choose. Your goal is to preserve life more than stop a threat - and that's a GOOD THING. There are professionals there to stop a threat. Whether they're on the clock or not. You bring skills they don't.

If your going to demonstrations with a long gun and armor, as INVICTVS138 says your a big target. Don't do Dat. Be on outskirts.

A folder or bulpup at best under a jacket.

Backup gun is a daily thing for me. I've got new and a few "forgetmenots" potentual threats.
Constant situational awareness is a thing.