To figure out what gear we need to survive a civil unrest scenario, we need to identify what that scenario is. Depending on where you live and commute, the threats for those areas will dictate the gear. This is going to be different from person to person.
The following is the gear I’m using for my area of operations. For my area, Northeast Ohio, we’ve had “street takeovers” that have turned violent in Cleveland and surrounding areas. With that, my mindset is, what do I need to safely escape and evade that area if I get caught up in one of these? If I have my wife and daughters with me, it becomes even more critical that I get them to safety.
Aside from that, you’ve likely seen gangs harassing small towns across the United States, breaking and entering apartment complexes, and carjacking.
Not all these scenarios are going to warrant lethal force unless you can, without a doubt, prove your life was in danger. For that reason, I will always have my concealed carry pistol on me, but I will likely be going for the other gear first.
Most of you have heard of the different gear levels, starting with the gear on your person, your belt and/or chest rig, and finally, a backpack. Keeping somewhat with those levels, we will adapt that to the everyday guy or gal. Let’s cover the minimum EDC you should have on your person and then the minimum items to have in a go-bag.
Live Inventory Price Checker
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Glock 48 Compact 9mm Luger Mos (2)10-Round Mag Black - Glock 48 Mos 9mm Luger 4.17'''' Bbl (2)10rd Mags Black | Brownells.com | $ 484.00 |
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Glock G48 MOS 9mm 4.17" 10rd Pistol, Cow Print Cerakote | Palmetto State Armory | $ 638.99 $ 574.99 |
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Glock G48 MOS Compact 9mm 4.17" 10+1 (Black/Polymer) | Ammunition Depot | $ 683.49 $ 569.49 |
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Glock 17 Gen 5 9mm Luger Mos (3)17-Round Magazines Black | Brownells.com | $ 620.00 |
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On Person EDC Gear List
- Handheld Flashlight. I have been carrying the Streamlight Protac 1L-1AAlight since it was released. I prefer it because its a dual-fuel light meaning I can use with a standard AA battery or a more powerful CR123.
- Knife and/or MultiTool. I’ve been through many EDC knives, expensive and cheap, and I always go back to the KA-BAR Dozier folding knife.
- Concealed Carry Pistol and spare mag. For me, that’s a Glock 17 carried in a Tier 1 Concealed IWB holster.
- Minimum of $100 cash with a recommended amount of $300.
- EDC Tourniquet in my back pocket. I’ve carried a SWAT-T Tourniquet for about a decade and, luckily, never used it.
Go-Bag Gear List
- Medical Trauma Kit. There are some great pre-made options to purchase. To keep things simple, I built my own kit with the four primary trauma items: tourniquet, hemostatic gauze, compact pressure dressing, and compact chest seal. In addition, I also carry a small pack of first aid items for smaller cuts and scrapes.
- Gas mask
- Smoke grenades
- Bear spray
- Water bottle with water
- Compact Rain Jacket
- Level 3a soft armor backpack insert
I have to give credit where credit is due for a few of my go-bag items. John ‘Shrek’ McPhee recently did a video on his go-bag. After watching that video and thinking about his mindset, I decided to add a gas mask, smoke grenades, and bear spray to my go-bag equipment list. Plus, it’s just cool to have a blacked-out gas mask and smokes. A little intimidation goes a long way. Check it out!
Some of you may have plate carriers with plates and/or chest rigs ready to go. While that may work for your area, it does not work for mine. The same goes for a truck gun. I’ve carried a rifle in my truck from time to time, but I don’t want the risk of someone breaking in and getting it, nor is it practical for the threats in my area. My civil unrest gear is not meant for a Red Dawn invasion but rather to escape and evade a bad situation.
Sound off in the comments with your preferred gear for civil unrest!
About Scott Witner
Scott Witner is a former Marine Corps Infantryman with 2ndBn/8th Marines. He completed training in desert warfare at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Mountain Warfare and survival at the Mountain Warfare Training Center, the South Korean Mountain Warfare School in Pohang, and the Jungle Warfare school in the jungles of Okinawa, Japan. He now enjoys recreational shooting, trail running, hiking, functional fitness, and working on his truck. Scott resides in Northeastern Ohio.
No go bag needed because I am not going anywhere and no gang members here in my area because it’s going to get well below zero this coming week and they will freeze to death outside because my Australian cattle dog and I are not letting them in and the fact that my bear spray comes in 10mm , .44 mag and 454 Casull is a bit more of a deterrent than pepper seasoning .
From the 1886 Haymarket riot’s to the most recent ones. They really have been limited in area.
Personal and area situational awareness then avoidance well soon get one away from the hot spots.
Instead of a panel of soft body armor why not a whole vest. Some type of head protection from flying objects.
A few energy bars and some water well help keep you going.
Hermetically sealed bags of water, dressings that adhere even on bloody skin, Quick Klot, and non-lethal rubber or bird shot would be my additions.
Common sense / Hide in plain site / Stay calm / Know when to walk away / Never tell anyone outside your immediate family what your thinking.
Your already failing by staying in lawlessness. Putting together go bags and items to assist you is fine but unless you address the problem your failing. Living with undesirables, walking on eggshells and wringing hands doesn’t get it done. Your thinking has been swayed, ingrained, peer pressured and brain washed with diversity at all costs, acceptance no matter what and allowance and excuses for behavior. There are two answers which are (the easy) remove yourself from the problem or (the hard) fix the problem. When SHTF becomes a daily or even an annual reality but only for some in certain… Read more »
Scott: You overlooked a cane that has a hook. Canes are versatile tools that can be absolutely in virtually all environments. FWIW, some of us (me included) actually use a medically necessary cane for mobility at times. Canes are useful for politely parting a crowd, intimidating aggressive people, cracking bones if necessary and so on. When used for self defense they are formidable… Bear spray is illegal to use on humans. It works on curious grizzly bears, though not reliably on aggressive or predatory grizzly bears, nor is reliable on predatory black bears. It might work on cougars, wolves, or… Read more »
First I will be 85 next month! I am an EDC wheel gun guy! I am not out & about after dark anymore so no lights for me.
In my truck I have a large can of Wasp Spray! The kind that shoots foam 25’ to take out a nest from a safe distance. The one with the large label that says,” IT IS AGINST FEDERAL LAW TO USE THIS PRODUCT ON HUMANS”!! You never know when you need to kill a wasp!! No other use is suggested or implied!! Get your can at Home Depot!
Escapee from NEO. One thing I learned was stay the heck out of Cleveland.
When society devolves into chaos and anarchy, I promise checking the legality of my means of defense won’t be in consideration. The only rule is to survive.
Either a sap or asp and some energy bars, lock pic set and shims to defeat handcuffs on your person. A tomahawk for intimidation purposes as well as practical…