Becoming a master of self-defense isn’t just about knowing what to do in a dangerous situation — sometimes it’s about knowing what NOT to do to keep a bad situation from becoming worse…

I’m a firm believer that a gun is the best tool for self-defense, but it’s always wise to have a backup weapon. I strongly urge you to consider what other tools you could keep on hand that might save your life. Perhaps a baseball bat, a golf club, a knife or yes, even a machete. Meta-Description: I’m a firm believer that a gun is the best tool for self-defense, but it’s always wise to have a backup weapon. I strongly urge you to consider what other tools you could keep on hand that might save your life. Perhaps a baseball bat, a golf club, a knife or yes, even a machete.

As we get further into the holiday season, lots of people will be using hospitality websites like Airbnb — both as a host and as a guest. If you choose to welcome strangers into your home or stay at someone else’s, here are some extra security steps you should take.

This week’s selection of articles runs the gamut from avoiding online holiday shopping scams to preparing for a common deadly disaster that could strike anytime you leave the house. Let’s take a look.

There are many reasons a person may want to vanish and resume their life elsewhere — from escaping an abusive relationship to credibility-destroying identity theft. If you’re all out of options, this short video will show you how to stealthily relocate.

Check out this first piece in a three-part series from our friends over at 4Patriots about the pitfalls of martial law — and how you can survive it.

This week’s mailbag answers several questions related to maintaining your digital privacy as well as filtering and storing drinkable water. Also, included are the top two knife brands I recommend.

I want you to imagine a single day without battery-operated equipment. Could you even make it home without your car or your cellphone or any other electronics? Here’s what you need to know to survive if you ever wake up in a world without batteries.

After several stormy weeks, it seems like Mother Nature has calmed down a bit. But winter is coming, and the cold often brings with it its own brand of violent weather. Check out the following piece from our friends over at 4Patriots in which they offer the most sensible solution for a grid-down scenario — whatever the cause.

This week’s rundown of must-read articles examines looming threats from all over the globe. But first, I’d like to address a risk you could run into on any given day — right in your own home.

On June 12, 2016, Omar Mateen entered the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida and opened fire on innocent clubgoers in one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S history. As a result of this incident, the U.S. government updated its surveillance procedures. Here’s what you need to know.

Since many of you will be taking to the skies and hitting the roads next week, I figure it’s the perfect time to revisit some travel safety questions.

Self-defense has been a hot topic lately, so here’s some sage advice from my buddy Jeff Anderson over at Modern Combat & Survival on how to de-escalate a potentially violent situation.

You know I’m a gun guy. I always carry my firearm wherever I’m legally allowed to do so. However, I realize that not everyone is going to carry a gun like me, which is why I think it’s important to consider other options for self-defense.

What if I told you that for just a couple bucks, I could see everything you type on your wireless keyboard? Well, it’s true. But what can you do to protect yourself? In today’s article, I’ll share the key to protecting your privacy.

This week’s batch of must-read articles covers ways to protect yourself from privacy snatchers, unforeseen natural disasters, poor planning and more.

Today, Jason Hanson runs down four drills you can add to your dry-fire practice at home so you’re able to keep your calm if you ever find yourself in a high-stress shooting situation.

This week’s batch of reader mail addresses several threats that are currently top of mind in our country, from mass shootings to panicked crowds. In addition, you’ll discover several potent plants that provide home security, how to get your tactical pen through TSA and the best way to get all my lifesaving advice.

Today, Jeff Anderson raises a good point about the effectiveness of a gun in a close-quarters attack — especially if you haven’t trained for it. Luckily, he also has a solution — be sure to check it out.

Longtime reader Mark M. wrote in asking how to keep his young kids safe at school and when putting them in the car. Here’s my expert advice to help you protect your little ones when you’re not at home.

As we head into peak shopping season, public spaces will become more crowded. Throngs of people add an extra challenge to sustaining situational awareness. And as we’ve seen, mobs can be downright dangerous. Tom Lavin offers his advice on how to protect yourself in a crowd so you don’t become a victim of disastrous circumstances.​

A lot of scary stuff has happened in the last week, so let’s dive straight into this week’s batch of must-read articles, which include some valuable and lifesaving information. Be sure to give them a good read.

The No. 1 thing you can do to improve your odds of survival — in any situation — is to make sure you get an adequate amount of quality rest on a regular basis. Consequently, I recommend reading the following piece from our friends over at 4Patriots outlining one of the best ways to improve your sleep quality.

A nuclear attack could certainly affect millions of people, but a smallpox attack, for example, could be even more devastating because there’s no 100% effective way to stop the spread of such a contagious disease. With this in mind, here are a three simple things you should do to prepare for a potential bioterror attack to increase your chances of survival.