in light of all of this, another prepper gear thread. things that i would encourage most left-ish people to have. (list is non-exhaustive and not authoritative, just suggestions).

personal carry: pocketknife, multitool, flashlight, lighter

tiny survival bag i like for purse, backpack, or vehicle: water filtration pills, emergency blanket, floss (for sewing, cordage, teeth), sewing needles, mask, earplugs, tinder, folding toothbrush, travel toothpaste, p38 can opener, whistle, spork, butterfly bandages [continued]

bandaids, irrigation syringe, emergen-c packets, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, gauze roll, superglue, condoms, lube. pills (in blister packs for labeling): loperamide, diphenhydramine, acetamiophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, potassium iodide (this one is paranoia).

I like "tiny survival bag" more than "to go bag" because it's more portable and is full of tiny, light, cheap useful things.

Consider adding to your daily carry backpack etc: water bottle (single wall steel bottles can also boil water), backup phone battery, protein bars.

Paranoid shit for your home to consider: backup power source such as generator, especially if paired to a "solar generator" (AKA big lithium battery with inverter and power ports). I live off grid and like my propane generator for when solar fails.

water storage and filtration. I like Sawyer mini water filters personally. Some people swear by Berkeys. Store some water, in whatever size you can: empty milk jugs, 5 gallon jerry cans, 50 gallon drums outside.

food: buy extras when you can of nonperishable goods to slowly build a stockpile of things you actually eat. Auguson Farms is one of the only bulk suppliers of dried apocalypse food that isn't a ripoff financially. Consider having enough to mean you can stay inside for awhile.

Propane camp stoves. Using propane inside uncarefully is a major way people die in disasters. Use them outside if at all possible. Propane stores well and safely. Can be used also for heat (some heaters are rated for inside, but not most!) and generator. get CO2 detector.

Self protection: a 3A vest is a "bulletproof vest" and stops handgun and shotgun rounds from hitting your torso. Not cheap. Worth having. Used is fine, or way better than nothing.

A 3+ or 3 special threat set of plates in a plate carrier protects some parts of your torso from all handgun and shotgun and most rifle rounds. Ceramic plates are better for most purposes than steel.

In the US most people in most states who are not felons can own body armor without any license. Double check. Sometimes is illegal to wear at protests or can add charges if you are arrested for something else.

helmets are expensive. Most "ballistic" helmets are rated 3A (handgun/shotgun protection, no rifle protection). Cheaper ones are surplus or Chinese made, both of which seem better than nothing by most tests I've seen.

IFAK: a trauma kit for gunshot wounds and other major trauma. This is worth training with but also just worth having in case you're shot and someone else knows how to use it. Worth keeping in a separate pouch. Is not your basic everyday first aid kit, comes out in crisis.

Example IFAK includes: CAT 7 Tourniquet. No clones: real ones are around $30ish. Presure bandage. TWO vented chest seals. Roll of hemostatic gauze (celox, quikclot, etc). Sharpie (for writing on tourniquet). Two pairs nitrile gloves. Trauma shears.

Notice I haven't gotten to firearms or anything yet. Not everyone wants to carry weapons, for a million different reasons. People prioritize the sexy shit too much.

camping shit: for a larger bag in case you expect to move overland, a camping bag is good to add to survival kit. also works in urban environments. Consider: sleeping bag (0 degree or 20 degree depending on climate), sleeping pad, maybe hiking poles, fixed blade knife, [contd]

noncotton socks, wetwipes, ceramic water filter or more chemical purification pills, backup fire method (magnesium striker, waterproof matches, etc), warm underlayers, emergency radio, sunscreen, compass, 50' of paracord, monocular or binoculars, ace bandage, [contd]

poncho, hiking solar charger, tent/bivvy/tarp (you choose), plastic trowel (bury your shit), camping cook set, portable stove.

Masks: for chemical weapons, covid, particulates, etc.: a halfmask respirator with OV (organic vapors) and p100 filtration will protect from police chemicals. Pair with goggles or go full face gas mask with same filter. Military style filters on full masks work too.

expired military filters work for police chemical weapons. FOR REAL BAD SHIT you would need a full face gas mask with unexpired (not cheap) filters. Surplus masks are hit or miss but worth considering.

Note that respirators don't filter the exhale so you're not being nice re: covid. You can tape up the exhale valve and remove the gasket that keeps you from exhaling through the filter. Condensation does build up after several hours this way. Good for a covid mask.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO WANT TO GO ARMED which might make sense in the current political climate where us marginalized folks are at the center of a lot of right wing antagonism. Rifles are recommended for community defense over handguns.

Safer to handle, more effective at stopping most threats. Do not feel pressured into owning firearms. ALWAYS consider your mental health and your threat model as relates to weapons.

If you have a rifle (AR15s are popular for a reason, though ammo is scarce right now), you probably want a "reflex" or "red dot" sight for it for accuracy as well as a weapon light and a 2-point sling. Any accessories beyond that you only need if you're really into it.

You want something larger than a 22. A 22 is a very good survival hunting rifle and not a very good self- or community-defense tool. 22s are very good starter guns though, especially if you (understandably) have trauma around loud noises.

If you want a handgun for practical purposes, shy away from revolvers. A striker-fired handgun in 9mm is a good all-around weapon. If you get a handgun you need a GOOD holster with solid retention and ideally a weapon light. Possibly a reflex sight but not as vital.

Guerilla Tactical is a non-racist manufacturer of custom kydex holsters with good retention and decent prices. They also sell IFAKs. You can find them on instagram.

If you have a gun, you also need cleaning supplies (all-in-one cleaner/lube stuff works, plus a cleaning kit) and you need a SAFE means of storing the firearms where they will not be accessed by unintended people.

Guns make you LESS safe to have around unless you train with them, seek instruction, take them seriously, carry a tourniquet, and stay very aware of at all times. They are the main thing on this list to not gather "just because."

can you tell I have mixed feelings about the "everyone arm up!" sentiment? because I do. it's not a thing to be taken lightly.

I have no mixed feelings about telling everyone to carry tourniquets and water filtration pills.

best resources I know of are: crimethinc's "A Demonstrator's Guide" series that covers armor and helmets and gunshot wound care, and the @IAF__FAI's excellent "Skills for Revoutionary Survival" series that covers weapons, armor, radios, and field skills.

also i have a podcast called Live Like the World is Dying where I interview people about all this shit.