Post by BoW GaCAman on Aug 8, 2014 20:06:52 GMT -5
How Not To Blend In - Briefing Room
by Denny Hansen in the April 2014 SWAT issue
Recently I was watching one of my grandsons on the playground at the local mall when a man in full camouflage (MultiCam® pattern) walked by.
By full camo, I mean everything from his cap down to even his boots. He was wearing a Hi-Point pistol in a homemade thigh rig and sported a large patch on his right shoulder that read “OPERATOR.”
To digress from the purpose of this column for a minute, I should mention that he was about 5’ 8” and weighed between 350 and 400 pounds. The lady on his left arm was a few inches shorter, probably tipped the scales around 300—and was wearing yoga pants. I guess “operators” get all the hot chicks….
Back on point, the purpose of camouflage is to … wait for it … blend in.
On the day mentioned above, I was carrying two handguns, reloads, a flashlight, and a couple of knives—and nobody gave me a second look because I was wearing camouflage. You see, the camo I was wearing consisted of jeans, a loose-fitting polo shirt, and tennis shoes. In other words, I blended right in with every other adult male at the mall.
For reasons that should be obvious to anyone who has an IQ larger than their shoe size, the last thing you want to do is call attention to yourself in public. In the event of a dangerous situation, having surprise on your side is a good thing—a very good thing.
One common garment that I find almost comical is what I call “shoot me first” vests. Don’t get me wrong: a vest can be a very useful piece of apparel, but not if it doesn’t blend in with your environment. What I’m referring to is the so-called “tactical” vest with numerous pockets, including long pockets for M4 magazines, usually black or tan in color. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but even if your handgun is covered, you’re not fooling anyone.
The phrase “dressed to kill” should be reserved for someone who is stylishly dressed, not someone going into their local grocery store. If you go looking for trouble, you’ll probably find it.
Until next time, stay low and watch your back.
by Denny Hansen in the April 2014 SWAT issue
Recently I was watching one of my grandsons on the playground at the local mall when a man in full camouflage (MultiCam® pattern) walked by.
By full camo, I mean everything from his cap down to even his boots. He was wearing a Hi-Point pistol in a homemade thigh rig and sported a large patch on his right shoulder that read “OPERATOR.”
To digress from the purpose of this column for a minute, I should mention that he was about 5’ 8” and weighed between 350 and 400 pounds. The lady on his left arm was a few inches shorter, probably tipped the scales around 300—and was wearing yoga pants. I guess “operators” get all the hot chicks….
Back on point, the purpose of camouflage is to … wait for it … blend in.
On the day mentioned above, I was carrying two handguns, reloads, a flashlight, and a couple of knives—and nobody gave me a second look because I was wearing camouflage. You see, the camo I was wearing consisted of jeans, a loose-fitting polo shirt, and tennis shoes. In other words, I blended right in with every other adult male at the mall.
For reasons that should be obvious to anyone who has an IQ larger than their shoe size, the last thing you want to do is call attention to yourself in public. In the event of a dangerous situation, having surprise on your side is a good thing—a very good thing.
One common garment that I find almost comical is what I call “shoot me first” vests. Don’t get me wrong: a vest can be a very useful piece of apparel, but not if it doesn’t blend in with your environment. What I’m referring to is the so-called “tactical” vest with numerous pockets, including long pockets for M4 magazines, usually black or tan in color. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but even if your handgun is covered, you’re not fooling anyone.
The phrase “dressed to kill” should be reserved for someone who is stylishly dressed, not someone going into their local grocery store. If you go looking for trouble, you’ll probably find it.
Until next time, stay low and watch your back.