I go in and out of court several times a week, at a minimum.

Sharps are a no-no. Other metal stuff is subject to scrutiny, sometimes confiscation.

So, what kind of worthwhile EDC, FAK, pocket survival kit, etc. could be put together for the metal detector environment?

Is it a big city courthouse or small county seat?

Is your car parked close by on the street or blocks away?

Is there a nearby location that you can stash a small cache of tools?

How close is the nearest medical station (hospital/clinic/fire station)?

Are you up many stories or less than four stories?

How far away is sanctuary (home/office/friend's place)?

My recommendations:
1. Signaling - whistle, cell phone, flashlight, laser pointer, and orange bandana
2. Tools - ResQMe seatbelt cutter, flashlight (same as used for signaling), 10' metal tape measure, duct tape, zip ties, battery or crank powered cell phone charger, P38 army can opener, eyeglass repair kit, sewing kit
3. First aid - small kit with assorted guaze pads, bandaides, antiseptic wipes, ace-bandage, moleskin blister pads.
4. Person protective clothing - 95N dust mask, weather-appropriate hat, spare glasses, good shoes, small umbrella, and leather gloves. Sidenote: get your lenses made of polycarbonate material for extra protection.
5. Food/Water - 1 liter of bottled water (if allowed), otherwise scope out potential sources of water/juice/soda. For food some granola bars and beef jerky.
6. Self defense - car keys, aluminum briefcase, roll of quarters.

-Blast

How about some EMT-sheers?

Break your gear into a modular set up. What can go anywhere and what must stay out.

Blast has you fairly well covered with the carry into the building portion.

Since you are a regular get to know and make friends with the people at the door. They will usually be the same be the same people dsy after day. Since youhave taken the time to get to know them they might be willing to hold a package [your sharps and other metallic gear] for you.

If that is not possible. Leave the no go pack in your vehicle.

What you live in the city and use cabs instead of a car. Then the office.

Another option would be a rented storage locker at or near the courthouse. Then you could drop off what you carry normally. Or you could establish a cashe. Depending upon the size this could work a number of ways.

Something the size of a postal box would be a back up to a normal EDC set up. If you have to go with something much larger this could be up to a full BOB style rig.

Hi Blast,

I figured out the use of most of your Courthouse EDC list but have 2 questions.

-Laser Pointer, is this for signaling?
-10 foot metal Tape Measure - ???

Thanks,

Mike

SwampDonkey,

Yes, the lazer is for signaling though it might also be good for causing a diversion, scaring a gunman, or even blinding him if you are foolish enough to try.

The tape measure is one of those innocent looking items that gives you some raw material to improvise into other things. For instance, I once gave myself a nasty cut with a broken steel measuring tape.

-Blast

I would steer clear of plastic knives. While they might get you past the metal detector they could get you into a heap of trouble if you got caught with it on the inside.

The Honey Comb is interesting but do you really need a defensive stabbing weapon inside a courthouse? And what guy carries a round brush?

If you need a defensive weapon stick with the roll of quarters or something innocent.

For me, I'd make a pocket kit just for taking to court. Put it in a slim plastic case and don't put any metal in it. Glass, plastic, ceramic...you can't need that many things in a courthouse that you can't leave in your car.

Good stuff, Blast..

The courts are in small towns and big cities, ground floors and ten stories up. My vehicle is within easy walking distance and would be my cache and first bug-out target.

Good idea to locate and be sure I know how to get to nearest fire station, hospital, etc. I will add this to my database for each court; I carry a printout each time I go a courtroom just in case.

1. Signaling: Laser pointers are verboten, the rest manageable.
2. Tools: Seatbelt cutter and can opener probably not acceptable, the rest manageable.
3. First aid: all manageable.
4. Person protective: all manageable.
5. Food/water: all manageable.
6. Self-defense: Aluminum briefcase probably not acceptable, the rest manageable.

JRR – I am in California and the HoneyComb is illegal here.

JM – EMT shears ok in the vehicle kit, no-go in the courthouse.

Thanks to all!

Good Morning Blast,

I too have cut myself on a tape measure when I released a large contruction model then grabbed the moving tape, DUH.

At work I daily carry a small one metre tape but never thought of it at a survival tool. The coiled steel spring within a tape measure may even be more valuable than the measuring tape itself?

I frequent courthouses in my rural area and there are no metal detectors at all. Security is usually just the one local Police Officer assigned to court duty that day. The only real thing to limit what you carry in court are the signs posted at the courtroom door, and they mostly tell you to turn off your cell phone and remove your hat.

Mike

My DR's PSK and AMK FAK have gone through many a building and airport screeening without a problem. In those buildings where I have trusted access but no guards with guns I will carry a small SAK and sometimes a CRKT KISS money clip/knife.(technically that may be a violation but no one seems to mind) In buildings with guards with guns but where I have trusted access (I can skip the detectors)I may carry a small SAK. But to get into buildings where I don't have trusted access and therfore need to go thru the detectors I leave all the sharps home if I take public transport, or in my car if I drive.

My biggest fear is that I may get called to someplace in the middle of day that has detectors and I've got my non-detector day EDC with me. I'm thinking of buying a flat rate USPS Priority Mail envelope to carry with me so I can dump the forbidden stuff in that, drop it in the mail box before I go in the building. Since one of my rules to live by is to always be polite to people with guns and badges I don't try to fight the system.

The worst day is taking public transport to a building with detectors, guards with guns, and not having a knife or multi-tool with me. If an event occurs I'm left toolless. Most of these kinds of placess are 100+ miles from home.

I think a p-38 or p-51 can opener is not a problem walking into court. One had made it with me into some courts, and no one has looked twice at the thing on my key chain.

The knife is the thing I take out of my pocket. I leave keep the knives together and pull them from my bag. Since a few of our courthouses have cafeterias with plastic knives, I think you could bring one in.

the resq-me seat belt cutter does not look like any other cutter, and if attached to your key ring, would probably not gather any undue attention. imho - worth a try.

When I go to the post office downtown in Sac.. I have to go through a metal detector just to get in. My problem is I EDC a Leatherman micra and a genric SAK. and often i don't have anyone with me to hold my stuff so i can just run in. I'd be very leary of stashing my stuff in the bushes.. due to the fact that theft is common in that area.. Also you cannot bring in cameras, cellphones that can take pictures. So what should i do with my stuff? The public ibrary is across the street. They do have storage lockers, but aren't open early or on Mondays.

Also I am very surprised I haven't set them office just due to that fact i have metal rods, screws and a plate in me.