Picking up where we left off in part one, the defensive shooter arena is where things can really get expensive. The basic load out of the defensive shooter will be similar to that of the hunter but targets of the two legged variety can be somewhat unpredictable warranting some special considerations. In this arena, target characteristics can vary. In addition to moving, these targets can potentially shoot back and some may be armored.
The defensive shooter must always consider the operational environment. Will we be operating indoors, outdoors, from a vehicle, or all three? When working in confined spaces or in a low profile capacity, an AR pistol would serve us better than a rifle while still providing substantial firepower. The right tool for the job is important. Night vision and thermal capabilities will also prove very useful in this arena.
The equipment, tactics, techniques, procedures, and manpower of the threat will influence how sophisticated a load out the defensive shooter requires. There are certain considerations we must account for when operating at night. Darkness can be our friend if we have the proper equipment to seize the advantage. Again, night vision and thermal imaging capabilities will provide us greater situational awareness as well as bolster the element of surprise while hunting or providing security. They also grant an edge when engaging threats at night. Our enemies can’t shoot what they can’t see.
As with hunting, weather conditions are a consideration in the defensive shooting arena. Sometimes the best defenses is a good offense and if going on the offense what you need to so, inclement weather can provide unexpected benefits. Generally speaking, the best time for any kind of reconnaissance or offensive action against an enemy is during inclement weather because but the most disciplined security forces will be more focused on staying warm or out of the rain rather than watching their sector, that is the time to get in and out.
Regardless of how sophisticated a load-out we have, it’s never a good idea to engage a numerically superior force, or one with access to more resources. Every time we engage in conflict, we increase our chances of death or injury by 100 percent. Furthermore, as armed civilians, we have a responsibility to never be the aggressor. However, if we are attacked, we must be prepared to act swiftly and violently to neutralize the threat. We have no idea how sophisticated a threat we may face in the future but chances are we will be outnumbered, and outgunned.
I would recommend every that prepared minded person purchase, at a minimum, one AR style rifle, one shotgun, two pistols of the same caliber, body armor, night vision, thermal imaging, camping gear, non-perishable food, extra clothing, blankets, medical supplies, ammunition, alternative heating and cooking options, hand tools, a lensatic compass, paper maps, and a backup power sources. We should attempt obtain the best gear we can but still thank and move as if we’re unarmed and outnumbered…never taking unnecessary risk and never fighting fair fights.
The last point I want to address is training. The more supplies we have coupled with experience using them, the longer we can hold out in a non permissive environment. We’ll cover non permissive environments in another article. Having a bunch of equipment and not training with it is foolish. The issue many of us will encounter relative to training is that much of it is reserved for military and law enforcement. If you can find it for civilians, it will likely be quite expensive and require travel which can be difficult during the COVID 19 medical lockdowns. Living in an anti-gun state can add an additional layer of complexity. However, we cant let these challenges stop us from ramping up our operational capabilities. We enter the fight with the skills we have, not the skills we want. We must be able to learn from each other or teach ourselves. This means, be that guy that gets out in the woods at night and gets comfortable. Stealth camp and learn how to avoid being spotted. Find a place to run your weapons at night. The list goes on but I hope this helps to answer the question of how far you should go as far as equipping yourself. Get everything you can afford then get good with it.