Steve S. is a former San Diego police officer.
Years ago, he was driving on the 805 freeway around midnight when he noticed a Honda sedan weaving in traffic.
Thinking it could be a drunk driver Steve pulled the car over near Mesa College.
He notified dispatch of the traffic stop and told them he didn’t need additional officers.
When Steve walked up to the driver the motorist said, “How can I help you?”
Steve informed the driver why he was pulled over and asked for his license, insurance, and registration paperwork.
When he returned to his patrol car Steve learned the driver had a warrant for his arrest.
When he informed the driver about the warrant the man became angry.
“It’s only a traffic warrant; we can work it out,” the driver said.
As the man exited his vehicle, he pulled a handgun from his waist and pointed it at Steve.
The officer knew the driver beat him to the draw, so he jumped for cover behind the guardrail as the driver opened fire.
Steve felt one round whiz by his head, then he was struck in the back three times as he rolled down the embankment.
By this point, Steve had drawn his gun, but the shooter climbed over the guardrail and tackled Steve.
During the struggle, Steve lost his service weapon, and the shooter was able to grab it.
But Steve didn’t give up.
“The officer was able to get up off the man, draw his concealed weapon, and fired the fatal shots,” according to a police report.
You see, Steve was carrying a backup weapon and was able to use it to shoot and kill the man who had shot him.
But his backup gun wasn’t on his hip or his ankle.
Rather, Steve carried a backup weapon behind his ballistic vest in a small chest holster.
“The officer was of great determination. He wanted to live through this,” said a police official.
A chest holster is not the most common way most gun owners carry their firearms.
But, there are circumstances where it could make sense.
For example, a chest rig can be useful in bug-out situations.
What is a chest rig?:
A chest rig is a system worn over the chest and shoulders, designed to allow the wearer to access items without being restricted or weighed down by the gear.
Chest rigs typically have pouches and attachments commonly secured to the chest rig with a MOLLE-compatible system (or similar system).
Benefits of chest rigs for bugging out:
The best thing about a chest rig is that it keeps essential gear easily within reach.
There is no need to draw a gun from the waist or to take a backpack off to grab whatever you need.
Since a chest rig is worn high on the chest it doesn’t get in the way of walking, climbing, or even driving.
It keeps things right in front of you but out of the way of tasks.
Another thing about chest rigs is that you can customize them in any way you want.
For instance, you can add a first aid kit, knife, map, radio, water bottle, or whatever you like.
Most chest rigs work with the MOLLE system so if you can find an item with a MOLLE holster it can attach.
A chest rig is a good way to distribute weight so all the gear you carry isn’t on your back, which can make a big difference if you have back problems.
In a bug out scenario, you might have a lot of gear to take with you, so you could combine a chest rig with a backpack to ensure you have all you need.
Drawbacks to chest rigs:
One problem with chest rigs is that they are usually smaller, not able to carry all your gear in a bug-out situation.
You will still need to have another bag to carry food, clothing, and shelter gear.
Another concern is that chest rigs aren’t ideal for running.
If you are going to exert a lot of effort you will breathe heavily, and having a ton of weight on your chest doesn’t make it easy to breathe.
Plus, having a bulky rig on your chest can make it hard to lie down for rest or to squeeze through tight spaces.
Lastly, a chest rig is not discreet.
You won’t be able to conceal your gear, and it will give you that tactical look.
But chest rigs might be worth checking out.
You can go to your local tactical shop and see if they have any you can try on for comfort.
Chest rigs from 5.11, Voodoo Tactical, and Condor are solid choices.