I think many readers are about the same as me when it comes to backups: It is not only guns, knives and first aid, but also things we use every day. From pens and notebooks to handkerchiefs to whatever small tool or artifact you need to carry your everyday duties at work.
As silly as it may seem, many people do not understand the idea of having a backup, even though they have experienced the problems of suddenly being without that object that is common but needed in the performance of their duties.
One of the hard lessons I learned is that you cannot be generous. More than once, I have helped a coworker with his loss by lending him my backup, only to never see it again or get remunerated for it. Add insult to injury when the same person comes to you later asking for another back up and you have to do your best to smile and say you are fresh out when in reality you want to comment on the possibility that his birth doctor dropped him half a dozen times on his head immediately after delivery.
So, my advice for the day is: Have backups & don’t tell anyone.
One is none, two is one. Have a backup for your backup.
Many years ago, at University, a campus cop took offense to the knife in my hip pocket. He got all threatening patted me down, took another 3 knives of me.
Ever the wiseass, I asked if he wanted the others. He told me I didn’t have any others. So I handed him two more.
He was not happy, told me one wasn’t a real knife.
I didn’t bother to tell him that I had two more that I had not shown him.
Backups can be fun.
Did you press charges against the thief?
I learned such in boy scouts, so many people would go camping rediculously unprepared. Only the socks they are wearing. No gloves or hat in the winter. Etc.
I like backups, and backups to the backups. That’s why I have 3 snow blowers, so I don’t have to fix one in the freezing cold if it breaks…
At one point lending pens etc got so bad I had to explicitly state I want it back when handing it over so they knew I was coming looking for it at the end of the day. Made a best friend that way; the death stare he gave me when I told him I wanted my pen back lol.
I backup stuff NASA style: three things.
Or the ultimate insult- they bring it back BROKEN..
I dont loan anything to anyone. I will loan me AND the whatever…. Back up the back up and yes, tell nobody.
They always bring it back broken. They don’t even have the common decency to get you a replacement.
I’m half guilty of this. I was needing a specific small tool on short notice and had to borrow one from a neighbor. I end up breaking it. I ended up buying three of the same kind after. One for him and two for me.
I know this guy, has a MSR in his vehicle, as a “fight my way home/Antifa repellant” gun.
Has MSR-style pistol, in same caliber, takes same magazines.
AND 6 (well, 8, if you include his EDC) extra pistol mags.
AND a “Get me home” bag.
Yep, he says, redundancy is good!
Never give anything to anyone with any expectation of getting it back. And if you do get it back expect it to be broken.
Never ‘borrow’ anything to a coworker ever. You will never see it again. Especially money. Because you will never see THEM again.