Urban Survival Kit

[Bare Rib]

Stage 2
Look I'm not going to get in a pissing contest with you that's not why I come to BF.

So, I will say this and be done with it.
1st I never claimed to be a professional knife fighter or have professional knife fighting skills-I only said I competively fought and I never said I was some mall ninja master, I simply said its what I know so its what I carry.
2nd How would you feel if you inadvertantly shot some innocent bystander because somebody just wanted your wallet? If it would not greatly pain you (to put it simply and mildly) then that says alot about the type of person you are and that disregard for life IMO makes you just as bad as the thug that wanted your wallet, and that just shows a complete disregard for humanity.
3rd 82.5% of all statistics are made up
and 100% of forum pissing contests go nowhere, resolve nothing, and never change anybodies mind on anything.

Do what you will, but if your ever in Philly please don't accidentaly shoot me; now doing it intensionally is a different matter.

Cheers mate
-Ronan

 

[Ron53]

jackknife,

I have and do use my head in such situations...always have. Rule #1 for me is to avoid areas where this type of thing may occur. You especially don't take your loved ones into such an area...unless that is TOTALLY unavoidable. As for getting into a fight, of any type, over your wallet....well, that's just plain silly. Toss it to them and get away, if possible. The situations to which I referred are those where conflict is unavoidable. In those situations, inaction is deadly. Even there, disengagement is the key word...get away as quickly as possible. Although I do not live in an urban environment, I have spent a good amount of time in the "bad sections" of many cities around this world of ours, many in places where there is absolutely no law enforcement.

I am glad you and your loved ones have never been accosted in the area where you live!

Take care, my friend!
Ron

 

[bodhi_]

Coming back to the original question, why carry so much on yourself. I live in a car city and during the day I'm rarely more than 50 m away from my car. The best first aid kit is in the car (not the original that came with the car, I combined a couple of 4x4 & survival packs into one), no way you can carry that much without looking like a packhorse. Unless we have an earthquake getting to it shouldn't be too difficult.

On another subject, how do you keep batteries alive in a car, because of the temperature changes mine die after 4-5 weeks without being used.

 

[STAGE 2]

So, I will say this and be done with it.
1st I never claimed to be a professional knife fighter or have professional knife fighting skills-I only said I competively fought and I never said I was some mall ninja master, I simply said its what I know so its what I carry.

If thats what you feel comfortable with, thats fine. I'm not telling you to carry. However that isn't really what you said. You made the point that carrying will get you in serious trouble with the police, and that its so dangerous it shouldn't be done.

2nd How would you feel if you inadvertantly shot some innocent bystander because somebody just wanted your wallet? If it would not greatly pain you (to put it simply and mildly) then that says alot about the type of person you are and that disregard for life IMO makes you just as bad as the thug that wanted your wallet, and that just shows a complete disregard for humanity.

Thats kind of a cop out question. I don't think any person with a scintilla of humanity wouldn't feel bad if they caused harm or death of someone else. This, however, doesn't really have anything with getting assaulted or mugged, or using a gun.

If while being attacked, my bullet overpenetrates and hurts or kills someone, I can't help that. Its utterly beyond my power. To say that I shouldn't carry a gun because there is the potential for innocents to be harmed is as logically sound as saying that people shouldn't drive because car accidents kill people. As I said before, there are far far more people who defend themselves with firearms than are people who are injured by errant bullets. Those are just the facts.

3rd 82.5% of all statistics are made up
and 100% of forum pissing contests go nowhere, resolve nothing, and never change anybodies mind on anything.

Again, thats a cop out. You put forth your opinion and I refuted it with facts. Sitting there now and saying stats are bogus is just a way of ducking out.

As far as this being a pissing contest I don't buy that either. Survival in an urban environment is just as valid (more so considering its more likely people will be there than in the wilderness) as survival in the boonies. Talking about firearms is just as valid as knives, firestarters, water purification and anything else.

Because firearms make you skittish doesn't decrease their viability. Because you have made a personal choice doesn't mean others will come to the same conclusion.

While this may all be a huge lesson in theory to you, a simple look at the recent past can demonstrate how important adequate self defense can be. From the LA riots to katrina, the folks that were armed were the folks that managed to make it through relatively unscathed.

Feel free to do as you wish. However when the thug has to choose between me and my .45 and you and your leatherman, I'm confident I'll be more convincing.

 

[ras]

I have an urban kit, it's called a truck and is never more than a short walk away. In an earthquake it's parked in the open at work and in the garage at home. If I can't get to it, I carry a small kit which is intended to keep me going until I can get back to the truck. If we had a really bad earthquake I have a walking kit in the truck that's based on a Camelback Rim Runner, lots of water, a small stove/kettle and stuff to make an expedient shelter. Another option I have in the truck is a shoulder bag/man-purse which is predominantly a first aid kit and tools -- no water. In addition to the UL9 FAK, it carries an SAK, Leatherman Charge, a couple flashlights and Doug Ritter's PSP. I considered putting a compact Glock in there, but access to the firearm is too slow and it's illegal.

As for the tangent firearm topic: The idea of carrying a gun every day isn't because you think you'll need it every day, but because you might need it someday. You can throw your wallet at them, but what if they don't want your wallet -- they didn't go after Reginald Denny for his wallet. If a situation happens and you find yourself walking where you normally drive, others you don't expect or ever want to see may also be out for a walk. As for shooting an innocent, that's why we practice and why we stay aware; it's a BS reason to not carry. Police have that same problem and they carry.

I don't carry because I'm subject to CA carry laws and live in San Diego where the Chief of Police doesn't think citizens should carry without a really good everyday reason (such as being a prime candidate for armed robbery). That and I work on federal property where unauthorized firearms are a non-starter; they don't need a reason to search my truck, I have consented to a search by working there. That's why I don't carry.

If something happens while I'm at work, I stay there, the truck is secure and I can camp in the office. I may walk to a friend's home, that is one neighborhood in SOCAL where I feel very secure. There are others, but I know that area. Good luck in Philly.

 

[Don Rearic]

1st I never claimed to be a professional knife fighter or have professional knife fighting skills-I only said I competively fought and I never said I was some mall ninja master, I simply said its what I know so its what I carry.

What in the hell is a "professional knife fighter?" What are "professional knife fighting skills?"

Where does one use knives, trainers I assume, to "fight competively?"

There is some carryover, of course, but to be blunt, swords are not knives.

2nd How would you feel if you inadvertantly shot some innocent bystander because somebody just wanted your wallet?

I can answer this in two parts if you are willing to listen.

#1 I would obviously be distressed that another, innocent person, was shot that I had no intention of shooting.

I would temper my emotional distress, just as a law enforcement officer would if s/he were in fear for their life and fired and hit an innocent bystander, with the knowledge that I did not simply fire my weapon for no reason and it was not I that started the chain of events that led to someone innocent being shot. It was the criminal that started that chain of events by attempting to rob me. This leads me to my second point: People don't just ask for your wallet, you would tell them to go screw, wouldn't you?

If not, give me your wallet.

No, people threaten you with force and that is called "assault." Just in case you don't know.

ANY damage done through overpenetration or any legitimate claim should fall on the CRIMINAL and not the VICTIM of the CRIMINAL, period.

If it would not greatly pain you (to put it simply and mildly) then that says alot about the type of person you are and that disregard for life IMO makes you just as bad as the thug that wanted your wallet, and that just shows a complete disregard for humanity.

How I feel does not ultimately make me the responsible party when I am trying to save my own life or that of someone I love. It is the criminal that should be held responsible just as they are held responsible if they rob a bank or grocery store and an eldery person has a coronary because of it, they are usually charged with at least manslaughter. Look it up.

Do what you will, but if your ever in Philly please don't accidentaly shoot me; now doing it intensionally is a different matter.

Oh, please. Are you a fucking drama student?

 

[udtjim]

A trained pet grizzly bear.

 

[koyote]

Coming back to the original question, why carry so much on yourself. I live in a car city and during the day I'm rarely more than 50 m away from my car. The best first aid kit is in the car (not the original that came with the car, I combined a couple of 4x4 & survival packs into one), no way you can carry that much without looking like a packhorse. Unless we have an earthquake getting to it shouldn't be too difficult.

On another subject, how do you keep batteries alive in a car, because of the temperature changes mine die after 4-5 weeks without being used.

6 watt solar battery maintainer. $30 anywhere. West Marine often has them on sale. Not powerful enough to require a charge controller, they just plug into your lighter socket and work like a constant low amp charger- which is what lead acid batteries like anyway.

I do more tyhan I'd like with a car, and due to my work I often have camping and building gear in it, and it's pointless to HAVE a car and not have it stocked with some gear.

I have an urban kit, it's called a truck and is never more than a short walk away. In an earthquake it's parked in the open at work and in the garage at home. If I can't get to it, I carry a small kit which is intended to keep me going until I can get back to the truck. If we had a really bad earthquake I have a walking kit in the truck that's based on a Camelback Rim Runner, lots of water, a small stove/kettle and stuff to make an expedient shelter. Another option I have in the truck is a shoulder bag/man-purse which is predominantly a first aid kit and tools -- no water. In addition to the UL9 FAK, it carries an SAK, Leatherman Charge, a couple flashlights and Doug Ritter's PSP. I considered putting a compact Glock in there, but access to the firearm is too slow and it's illegal.

I do more than I'd like with a car, and due to my work I often have camping and building gear in it, and it's pointless to HAVE a car and not have it stocked with some gear.

And there was a time (before bikes and family and hiking) when the car was a big deal and I spent more time in (my scout, my vw van, my 510 wagon, my chevy pickup, etc) than in an apartment. I basically had my life stored in the car and kept the crap I *didn't* care about at home.

But- just like home, there are any number of reasons why you may not be able to get to your car (and unlike home, even a well secured car is easy to steal) and not carrying some basic kit because "my car is always nearby" seems silly.

I really don't know what "all that stuff" is. with a very few exceptions (space blankets and ponchos and a whistle) my USK gear gets *used*. keeping my first aid kit in a car when I am 50 meters away on a second story is going to suck balls if I nailgun my hand and have to climb down a ladder to go unlock a car to find it.

 

[ras]

I don't live or work in a highrise and the scenario that would stop me from getting to my truck hasn't crossed my mind. Maybe a bad earthquake collapses the house and buries the truck in 2x4 framing -- I'm in the house too, the truck is the least of my worries.

As the truck sits now I could take a drive into the desert and stay quite a few days, longer if I can find more water and put the filter to work. Conversely, I could drive into the Cascade foothills and go camping -- in the snow -- my winter kit is in there too. The bad earthquake scenario with me at work is worst case if the roads/bridge are shut down.

As for easy to steal, sure, if it was parked on a city street. Not so much where it does get parked. My only problem is passing through security to get to work -- keeps me from carrying a firearm, makes the truck safe to park.

 

[koyote]

I accept that, and don't deny that keeping stuff in the vehicle is a good idea. Just pointing out that I'd never leave my pocket kit or in my case daypack in the car.

 

[ras]

. . .I'd never leave my pocket kit or in my case daypack in the car.

Ahh, I have more than one kit. My EDC backpack is a catch-all flight bag, gym bag, book bag -- it carries water and other EDC gear that's always good to have. It's my primary EDC bag with room to carry whatever I need to carry through the day, the main compartment is predominantly empty so it has lots of room to carry stuff that I don't normally carry.

The walking kit is a smaller bag, but it's full and heavier with all the water and minimal camping gear. The EDC backpack carries one quart of water, the walking kit carries five quarts and an MSR filter to make more. The walking kit stays in the truck so it's always there when I'm away from home. It's primary purpose is for the unlikely scenario when I need to walk home or, when I'm out in the desert and go for a walk.

The shoulder bag is much smaller than the other two with limited options and no water, but it's good for what it carries -- just small, convenient and easy to shoulder. One of those three kits will be with me.