5 Reasons to Make a Flashlight Part of Your Everyday Carry
Terry Nelson 05.29.19
Do you hike, bike, travel, hunt, fish, or any other number of activities? Do you carry a handgun for self-defense? If so, carry a good flashlight. The statistics indicate approximately 60% of all confrontations occur in dim light conditions. That does not necessarily mean complete darkness, but rather diminished lighting to the point where your ability to identify the threat is jeopardized.
Even if you do not go armed daily, a flashlight has more uses than you might imagine. Just like a good blade, there are many other reasons defensive minded folks may want to carry a good light. High quality, lightweight pocket carry lights with variable brightness and strobe features are widely available today. No reason not to carry one. Let’s look at five good reasons to carry a handheld light on a daily basis:
Navigation
Finding your way in darkened conditions seems apparent, but yet few folks consider this scenario in their daily defensive living. Are you ever out after dark, or at the theater? Most will argue that there is always ambient light somewhere but in a chaotic situation where good light has been diminished, having a flashlight could be the difference between you getting out of harm’s way efficiently or not.
Identify
Here I am referring to knowing and identifying a threat. If you are someone who is armed on a daily basis then a flashlight is a must. This applies in the home as well. Do you have a home defense gun? Then a light should be part of that equation. Too many tragic accidents have occurred when a frightened homeowner has fired shots at a shadow and then discovered it was a family member. Learning to utilize a handgun and light together becomes important, more on this later.
Signal
Need to direct or get the attention of EMS or police in a dim light circumstance? A good flashlight is one method available to you. I can think of many circumstances where this situation could arise, vehicle accidents, power outages, rural areas where address markers may not be obvious are just a few. Search and rescue applications are also at the top of the list in this category.
Mental
If you have ever been in a situation or place where it is truly dark, you quickly realize how mentally comforting light can be. In the movie “Castaway” with Tom Hanks, a small flashlight became a great source of mental comfort during the early stages of his realization he was alone and on a deserted island. Yes that example is Hollywood but its application is based on a hard fact, most of us do not like to be in complete darkness for extended periods. Your mental well-being can become critical in a high stress event and is essential for long term survival.
Defensive
Volumes could be written on defensive use of flashlights. In short, a good handheld light can be used to blind/disorient, strike and identify your threat. Blinding and disorienting can give you time to escape and evade, if the assailant is too close a strike to the face with the front edge of your light can be utilized. Obviously as discussed earlier, identifying your threat if you must use deadly force can be critical. Also consider this; your flashlight can be carried with you on a plane or all other public transportation and in any location where a knife or a handgun cannot be carried. Need I say more?
For most, the thought of holding a light and shooting is a daunting thought. Yes, there are weapon mounted lights and lasers (lasers do not allow for identification), but there are some distinct advantages of a handheld light. One is that you can use a handheld light to search and identify independently without having to muzzle everyone as would be the case of a weapon mounted light. Weapon mounted lights have their place, but carry a handheld as well.
Keeping the above in mind, let’s examine some common methods for using a handheld light and shooting a pistol at the same time. My top two picks for hand held flashlight techniques are as follows;
Neck Index
This technique requires you to shoot one handed and utilize the light separately (train for this!). One benefit is that you can use the light to search and identify without muzzling unintentional targets, keeping your handgun in a low ready position. There are several variations of this method: jaw line index, ear index, and neck index. Use a rear pressure switch light in the support hand and utilize the neck, jaw line etc., to lightly rest and aim the light.
Harries Technique
Probably one of the better known techniques and used for years by police. The shooter holds a light with a rear or side pressure switch in the support hand, which moves under the gun hand as the weapon is aimed. Back of hands are then pressed together, creating “back of hand to back of hand” isometric tension.
This creates a stable platform for shooting.
A potential downside to this technique, though, is that the light is essentially attached to the gun – similar to a weapon mounted light. Thus, the shooter must be cognizant of muzzling anything they’re not willing to destroy while searching with light and gun together.
There are many other handheld flashlight techniques (Rogers, Chapman and FBI to mention but a few) available and they are easy to research and practice, or get with a competent trainer.
Likewise there are many high quality flashlight brands; Streamlight, Surefire and Fenix are some of the most well-known. Remember your goal is to carry the light on you every day. My choice for some years now has been the Streamlight ProTac 2L or one of its variants (https://www.streamlight.com/products/detail/index/protac-2l):
This is a rear pressure switch light, and has a clip for pocket carry with up to three settings; high (350 lumens, good to about 175yards), strobe and low (30 lumens). I have even used the strobe feature in a defensive encounter against a rather large – and intoxicated – individual, it was effective and allowed me to strike and then move away. There are lights with extreme high lumen ratings (over 4000 lumens) and I believe those a great to carry in your car or while camping.
As with any defensive firearm training method, I recommend the student obtain professional instruction from a credible instructor. Remember, carrying a light is like carrying a handgun, it must be comfortable and convenient, or you won’t carry it day to day.
