Want to stop bullets with your backpack or purse? Take a look at the Ally One from Angel Armor. Limited only by your imagination, the 9-by-12-inch armored panel can slip into a briefcase, laptop bag or anything else to provide discreet protection. Keep your bag by the bed at night and carry it with you to work for safety whenever you’re away from home. The Ally One exceeds the NIJ 0108.01 Level IIIA standard for soft body armor yet weighs less than a pound.
Responsible parents who own firearms for protecting their families must balance speed of access with keeping the guns out of the hands of untrained children. BoomDock has a possible solution with its special locking rack for your rifle or shotgun. These lock boxes mount on a wall or other flat surface to secure the receiver of the weapon. A parent can access the gun with a four-digit pin or RFID card, but curious children will be kept safely away.
Pistols tend to be some of the top choices for home-defense firearms. Unfortunately, many people have problems loading the magazines—especially the last few rounds. Caldwell’s new Mag Charger Universal Pistol Loader elimin-ates this problem. It is fully adjustable to match nearly any single- or double-stack self-
defense pistol magazine. The Mag Charger Universal Pistol Loader makes fully loading a magazine a breeze, even if you don’t have steel thumbs.
Whether dealing with an intruder or a natural disaster, basic home safety suggests you need to have a high-quality flashlight on hand. Coast Products has a new flashlight that is good for the suburban family or the rancher with many acres of land. The HP314 is a USB-rechargeable flashlight that can also run on standard D-cell batteries during a long-term power outage. The light is rated at 1,132 lumens and has an adjustable focus with a beam distance of more than 900 yards.
A small tactical light is equally useful in defensive situations inside your residence and away from the home. EAGTAC’s new T25L-R is a rechargeable flashlight that offers 2,000 lumens from a CREE LED. The head of the light rotates to adjust the beam. A tail-cap switch is used to select the one of four different output levels that includes a strobe mode. To recharge the light, EAGTAC uses a USB Type-C connector that is not position dependent when being plugged in.
The AR-style carbine has become popular for home defense due to its handling characteristics and improved stopping power when compared to a handgun. Hornady developed the RAPiD Safe AR Gunlocker to securely store up to two carbines. The system uses a keypad and RFID technology to offer quick access to an authorized user of the guns. Hornady uses 16-gauge steel with four internal locking lugs to help to keep kids and criminals out. The Hornady RAPiD Safe AR Gunlocker can easily be mounted in a closet, under a bed or even in your vehicle.
Anyone keeping a handgun for self-defense should take reasonable steps to ensure the gun doesn’t wind up in the hands of a child or thief. The new Hornady RAPiD Safe 2700KP is one tool you can use to safety store your pistol. These tamper-resistant, 14-gauge steel boxes can be opened by a keypad or with an included RFID keyfob, wristband or sticker. Pre-drilled holes allow the box to be permanently mounted while a 1,500-pound-rated cable can be used wherever mounting the safe isn’t feasible.
Many people have recommended keeping a set of electronic earmuffs with your home-defense gun for hearing protection and the enhanced ability to hear quiet sounds.Howard Leight, a Honeywell company, takes things to the next level with the Sync Wireless earmuffs. This unit includes a boom mic and Bluetooth 4.1 technology that connects to your phone. This allows you to contact the police and protect your hearing without tying up your hands, which will need to hold your your flashlight and gun.
Having a spare magazine is important when facing a vicious criminal both inside and outside of the house. JM4 Tactical offers a magazine pouch that does not require a belt or pockets. This feature could make it perfect for keeping on your nightstand, since few people go to bed wearing jeans. The Magnetic Mag Pouch uses a leather flap with magnets the goes over the waistband of whatever you are wearing and securely holds the pouch. So, even in your jammies, you can make a tactical reload.
A tactical light that overwhelms you with different modes can be detrimental in a life-threatening situation. Klarus may have solved this problem with the dual tail switches on the XT11GT. A normal button gives you the full brightness mode while a raised lever-like switch takes you instantly to the blinding strobe setting. The light runs on a rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion battery or CR123A batteries. Recharging is handled through a Micro-USB port.
Keeping a charged light next to your bed makes a lot of sense. The rechargeable Klarus XT12GT has a magnetic charging cord. When you grab the light, the cord falls away without interfering with your movement. As a bonus, the magnetic charging head has its own built-in white light so it can be disconnected from the cable and used as a keychain light. The Klarus XT12GT is rated at 1,600 lumens with a peak beam distance of more than 650 yards.
Leupold & Stevens recently announced a new hunting product that has a direct application to home security. Called the LTO-Tracker (Leupold Thermal Optic Tracker), this compact monocular is a thermal-sensitive optic that allows you to see in the dark. A single CR123 battery will run the optic for more than 10 hours continuously. Small enough to drop into a pocket, the LTO-Tracker can help you can investigate any strange noises without giving away your position. Depending on the ambient temperatures in your home, you can even see where someone has been walking.
For a fast way to deploy a pistol in a late-night home invasion, Lockdown Vault Accessories offers the Night Guardian Low Profile Holster. This rig has a wide elastic band attached to a backer board. A pistol, extra magazine and flashlight are held in the band while the board slides between the bed mattress and boxsprings. This rig is not designed for security, but it puts a defensive gun immediately at hand when a sudden violent attack occurs.
Whether you are at home or in the office, sitting at a desk can be uncomfortable with some concealed-carry rigs. The Under Desk Holster allows you to move the pistol off of your body yet keep it at hand for immediate use. Lockdown Vault Accessories crafted this rig with an elastic band attached to a rigid backer. The backer can be screwed to the underside of a desk or table while the elastic will secure the pistol. With a little creativity, this holster could be installed in a variety of places around the home.
Sometimes the best security is simply not being noticed. Personal Security Products offers a new product called the Concealment Shelf. This 24-inch-long shelf is made of solid wood and mounts to the studs in your wall. A magnetic key releases the internal lock to smoothly drop a concealed compartment beneath the shelf. The compartment is large enough to hold a pair of pistols, spare ammunition, flashlights or other valuables as needed.
The QuickShelf is a weapon concealment system disguised as a normal wall shelf. QuickSafes designed the unit to function as a normal shelf, however, a hidden compartment along the bottom of the shelf will open when a RFID key unlocks it. The compartment is large enough for two handguns or other defensive tools. You can also use it to hide valuables such as jewelry or prescription medication. Four RFID keys are included with the shelf.
A locking metal box disguised as an HVAC vent is exactly what you get with the QuickVent Safe. Manufactured by QuickSafes, this ingenious lock box installs between a pair of studs in your home’s walls. An RFID lock keeps the unit secure until you purposefully open it with one of the four included RFID keys. Storage inside the QuickVent Safe is ample enough for at least one full-sized pistol and other valuables. The unit is easy to install and comes with the necessary mounting hardware.
Personal protection is so much more than just a firearm. Even when facing a criminal, deadly force is not always the legally or morally correct response. Sabre Security Equipment Corporation offers a range of intermediary force products like the new Personal Safety Kit. The kit includes a 120-decibel siren to draw attention if you are in danger. Backing this up is a canister of Sabre Red pepper spray. Unlike some of the cheap “one-shot” pepper sprays, the Sabre Red canister provides 25 bursts with an effective range of 10 feet.
Home security systems are a great investment. The downside of using one of the conventional companies is the monthly monitoring fee and contract that can lock you in for years. Sabre Security Equipment Corporation has an alternative: the Smart Home Security System. This product is a wireless system that is designed to be installed by you, and there are no monthly fees. The base system includes door and window sensors, a motion sensor, a control panel and a remote panic alarm. Additional sensors can be added to expand coverage.
Made for a homeowner that needs to secure just a few guns for personal protection, the new line of Home Defense Safes from Stack-On offer a small footprint and affordable pricing. These upright safes can be purchased with a backlit electronic lock or with a biometric lock. Both models have three live-action locking bolts and three deadbolts. Inside, the safe has a removable shelf that can be used to store handguns, loaded magazines or other self-defense tools.
Stack-On is now selling a metal locking box with a drawer that automatically opens when unlocked. Called the Quick Access Safe with Auto Open, these heavy-duty boxes can be had with either an electronic lock or a biometric lock. Inside, the foam-padded drawer has enough room for a full-sized handgun or similarly sized valuables. The Quick Access Safe can be mounted to virtually any hard surface, and the company includes mounting hardware with the security box.
Called a “dual fuel” flashlight by Streamlight, the 2L-X is a 500-lumen flashlight that can run for almost three hours on a pair of CR123A batteries or for 3.25 hours on a rechargeable 18650. This light is waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes, is drop rated at 2 meters onto cured concrete and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. It comes with a rugged pocket clip and an anti-roll head. The tail switch allows for momentary, constant and strobe modes.
The big brother of the 2L-X, this dual fuel flashlight throws 1,000 lumens for a run time of up to 1.5 hours. It shares the same water and impact resistance as the 2L-X. It is also backed by a limited lifetime warranty. The tail-mounted switch is part of the company’s TEN-TAP line that allows you to pre-program how the switch will work. This allows you to customize it to your needs. As any owner of Streamlight’s original ProTac HL light with the TEN-TAP switch will tell you, this is a very useful and well-thought-out design.
If you need to transport a handgun in a discreet manner from your home to your office or other location without carrying it on your body, Supertool might have the product you are looking for. The Magnetic Locking Case looks like a daily calendar or portfolio with a heavy-duty zipper closure. Inside is a soft lining that covers powerful rare earth magnets. When your pistol is placed in the case, the magnets keep the gun in place without shifting. Cases are available from Supertool with both full-grain leather and ballistic nylon covers.
If you are looking for a concealment solution for your long gun or handguns, you cannot go wrong with the Concealment Coffee Table from Tactical Walls. This company built a solid reputation for high-quality firearms concealment products, and this table is a perfect example of the craftsmanship Tactical Walls puts into its products. An RFID key unlocks the concealment drawer. When the lock is disengaged, a tray slides smoothly out with your home defense guns at the ready. You can cut the medium-density foam in the tray to custom-fit your firearms.
Vism is now selling a line of backpacks that come with a ballistic panel for defense against standard handgun rounds. The panel is made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and is rated as NIJ Level IIIA armor. This is the highest level of soft body armor protection available. While the packs come with a variety of pockets and PALS webbing, they can be had in a broad range of colors for a low-profile appearance.
Specialized purses with concealment pockets have become very popular with women needing a way to carry a firearm off-body outside of the home. Vism now has a line of more than 40 different gun purses, including stylish cover totes, satchels, shoulder bags and more. The company is also offering a wide range of color options on these as well as choices in faux leather and woven materials.
If there is one truth to safe buying, it is that after buying one, you always wish you had purchased a larger one. The Winchester Evolution 55 is the size that most people will wish they had bought. This 1,116-pound safe is more than 4 feet wide and can hold some 67 long guns. The door has multiple pouches for organization and PALS webbing for the addition of your own pouches. It includes an interior power outlet with USB and AC connections for dehumidifiers or data storage. The safe is also fire rated to withstand 1,400 degrees for 60 minutes.
Protecting yourself at home is a major priority for many people. The idea of someone crashing into your residence late at night is downright frightening. Likewise, you want to stay safe when you leave your home and head to work or elsewhere. The fundamentals of self-defense remain the same no matter the location. Being in your home allows for a certain amount of planning, but many of the same tools that will help you in one location will also serve you well in another. With the new year, a variety of new pieces of self defense gear are coming onto the market that may fill a gap in your preparedness planning.
