If you're wanting to be a real problem solver though, there are some items that, in most situations, are more useful than a firearm. Why not consider carrying them all, or at least have them handy?

Here are a few of my own everyday carry (EDC) add-ons, and how they fit into my life.

1. Tourniquet

Here's a lifesaver that virtually anyone can learn to use, including folks who want to be helpful in an emergency but dislike guns. Although there are still some stalwarts that preach against tourniquet use, there should be no controversy between the relatively small risk of losing a limb due to wearing one for many hours (we're talking two digits; opinions on time vary beyond that), versus death.

There are several different types of tourniquets. The one that lives on the back of my driver's seat headrest and either inside my front door or in a cargo pocket when I'm on the range is a SWAT brand. It's just a simple rubber strap, about four inches wide and four feet long. The name describes its application: stretch, wrap, and tuck.