What should my family do if a disaster strikes and we are all in different parts of the city? My wife and I both work and we have teenage children. How do I make sure everyone gets home safely?

-From Todd H.

Answer: Everyone should have a special meeting place not too far from their home in case there is an emergency. It should be a little off the beaten path and not a place that’s likely to be overrun, but it should be easy to get to and remember.

Also, have a backup meeting place in case the first one is inaccessible or too dangerous to get to.

So, you will want 2 different meeting places your family can go to during an emergency. And remember, you don’t want to follow the masses and be where everyone else is.

You and your wife should also have bug out bags in your office so you can grab and go if needed.

 

I’m about to buy a new gun and I have a dilemma. Which is better a Glock or Sig Sauer? I have loved shooting both of them and can’t decide which will be more reliable.

-From Austin I.

Answer: I own a lot of guns and end up swapping them around and using different ones at different times in my safe on my nightstand.

Both the Glock and Sig are quality built guns that I would bet my life on. (Other guns you might find me using include a Springfield 1911 and Smith & Wesson M&P.)

So, you can’t go wrong with either gun. But if I could only have one, I would go with Sig Sauer just because I like their grip angle and triggers better.

 

I’ve purchased a couple of power banks to add to my bug out bags. Do they lose power over time? How often should I check or recharge them?

-From Chris D.

Answer: A quality power bank can hold a charge for up to 6 months.

The thing is, most power banks will slowly lose charge over time depending on the temperature the power bank is stored at.

In addition, lithium-ion, and lithium-polymer batteries used in power banks eventually lose their capacity (typically between 200 up to 1000 cycles depending on the battery cell quality.)

The bigger the battery is, the less cycles you will need to charge it and the longer it will last. But, I would check them every 6 months if I were you.

 

I grew up shooting guns and it was a hobby I loved with my father. I’ve been in a wheelchair since I was 20. What is the best way to conceal carry with my wheelchair?

-From Floyd T.

Answer: If you’re looking to holster the gun to your wheelchair, I would consider some type of vehicle mount.

If you do a Google search for Vehicle Gun Mounts, you’ll see all sorts of contraptions that you can probably rig up underneath your wheel chair.

Some of these are as simple as using lots of Velcro.

Plus, if you’re going to carry a smaller gun you could also get one of those holsters that looks like a cell phone case and mount that under your wheelchair. (I know a fellow in a wheel chair who does mount his underneath.)

 

In my younger years I made a lot of mistakes. These life choices have prevented me from owning a gun. Now, I’m in my 50’s and wanting to protect my family from the dangers in this world. What is the best self-defense weapon for someone who can’t own a gun?

-From Bruce P.

Answer: Most people don’t realize it, but there are ways that a person convicted of a felony can still buy a gun. It depends on the type of crime.

What I mean is, if you were convicted of a violent crime such as robbery, then you will never be allowed to own a firearm.

However, if you are convicted of a non-violent felony, such as DUI, there may be a chance to have your right to bear arms reinstated by a court.

But, if owning a gun isn’t an option, I would look at things such as knives, tasers, and my favorite, a tactical pen. A tactical pen is a tool you can take with you everyday. It’s easy to use and won’t draw attention.

For home defense, I would recommend things like a giant machete or a tomahawk for the intimidation factor.

 

My family is making plans for the holidays. We are renting an AirBNB so all twenty of us can be together. Are renting through these websites safe? How do we know that the homeowner isn’t a criminal?

-From Paula R.

Answer: The problem with these places is that you really don’t know who the homeowner is or what they are doing.

Believe it or not, some of these rental companies allow homeowners to set up security cameras outside the home and inside common areas in the home (not in bedrooms or bathrooms.)

This is why I would be careful in these types of rentals. Who is really checking to make sure the homeowners are following the laws and guidelines?

The problem is, hidden cameras can be incredibly tiny and they can record over Wi-Fi, to a SD card or even to hard drive they are wired to.

My point is, someone could be invading your privacy and you would never know.