Every Day Carry You Can Carry Every Day

I know cops who never touch a gun when they’re off duty and others who go to bed wearing BDUs and a plate carrier with a pillow under their rifle.

Whichever way you lean, remember a wise man once said that it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Here’s what I carry:

• Gun
• Spare Magazine
• Flashlight
• Badge
• Credentials
• Johnny Tactical Apparel (obviously)

Pew Pew!

Guns kill bad guys. In order to fight fire with fire you will need some fire of your own. I carry a Sig Sauer P229 Elite Dark. It is almost a full frame pistol so it gives me a pretty good grip and is about as big a gun as I’d prefer to carry off duty and still be manageable. I sink it into my pants with a Crossbreed SuperTuck IWB holster. I’ve had the holster for years, it is comfortable, and has held up really well.

Malfunction!

Most malfunctions in firearms are induced by a problem with the magazine, so you will need a spare. Plus, it doubles the number of rounds you carry to increase the odds that you will be able to stop the threat. I keep mine in my pocket, but you can use an inside or outside the waistband pouch if you want.

Let There Be Light

Flashlights help you see in the dark and identify your target. You can’t shoot what you can’t see. Duh. The last thing you want to do is misidentify your target or waste ammunition shooting at shadows. And yes, you need one during the day because when the lights go out inside of a building it gets dark in there. Small flashlights with good output are inexpensive and easy to find these days. They are also handy for finding your keys in a movie theater — not that that’s ever happened to me.

It’s The Po-Po

Badges let the bad guys know you’re for real, add some legal authority to your verbal commands, and let the general public know you’re there to help. They also help you not to get shot by the good guys who hopefully are paying attention when they show up. I carry mine on a lanyard around my neck because I can get it out quickly and easily with one hand so my other hand can stay on my gun. I also adjust the lanyard so the badge hangs at my breastbone, which is pretty much center mass. Wallet badges are basically useless when the turds hit the fan, so I don’t recommend them.

Credentials are for the aftermath when everyone thinks your badge is fake. Keep your department ID in your wallet and make sure it’s updated and legible. That can come out later when the dust settles and there are no active threats.

Tactical And Practical

Johnny Tactical apparel shows that you support a mission greater than yourself and will make you feel equally tactical and comfortable. It’s low key and doesn’t punch people in the face with obnoxious graphics. I can’t think of better apparel to save the world in.

Sure, there are other accoutrements you can carry, but I find these to be manageable and a good balance. Aim to be the Gray Man and make sure you blend in as much as possible. Try to be selective with what you wear and carry. Don’t become a walking advertisement screaming all things police with a bulky waistline. It’s more obvious than you might think to the evil bad guys.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you carry a badge, carry a gun — if nothing else. It’s a bad idea to identify yourself as a police officer and have no way to defend yourself. I wrote about one of my screw-ups in this area and you can read about it here.

You have the basics, now get out there and live tactical!

• Do you carry off duty? Why or why not?
• What do you carry?
• Are you not carrying enough gear or too much?

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