The Onion Field Syndrome is so-named after the true story novel and movie of the same title. As the story went, two police officers were disarmed of their service guns at gun point by two perps, hogtied, thrown in the back of a car, brought to a deserted onion field, where one was shot to death, while the other by some miracle was able to escape on foot. Since then, the incident has been studied lengthily by officer survivor instructors as to what happened, and how it could have been prevented.

The recent abductions and murders of the Lozano son and Venson Evangelista, two used car salesmen, by apparent car thieves, again raises this same issue.

Renowned gun instructor Masaad Ayoob, has long discussed this “Onion field syndrome”, and had recommended that as a precaution, back-up guns be carried. By definition, a back-up gun is not your main pistol. Rather it is a smaller, compact, more concealable pistol that could be hidden away on your body, such that in a body search by criminals if you are taken hostage, chances are they would miss the gun, and would leave the victim unknowingly armed.

The classic choice for a back-up gun is the .38 special snub nosed revolver. Small, light, and easily strapped to your ankle, this weapon could deliver five or six hard hitting .38 special +P slugs into assailants, enough to be able neutralize all attackers, or to gain the defender time to wrest a weapon from his attackers, or run away. With a revolver there is no need to rack a slide back or to do anything else but fire the gun. Moreover, the back-up weapon would ideally be hammerless making it easier and smoother to draw with no snags on the clothing. And without a hammer, the revolver could be held discretely from inside one’s pocket without having to draw it. Ideally, the rule is “have the gun in your hand before the gun fight starts”, which makes holding the gun inside your pocket sensible when dealing with and meeting suspicious and unknown characters or potential customers of dealers of cars or jewelry. A hammerless revolver can be fired from inside the pocket where it’s hidden, and can be pointed discreetly towards the person being dealt with, from the pocket, without undue alarm.

Also, a small discreet tactical folder knife, clipped to one’s pocket or shirt, could also be concealed, and would prove invaluable if there is a close struggle for a weapon or to cut through strings or ropes, which ties one’s hands.

The victims of the Lozano murders were versed in firearms. They possessed and knew how to use guns. The problem is, at the precise time that they did need their guns, they did not have them with them. Thus the oft repeated truism bears repeating: “A .38 or .380 in your pocket beats your .45 left at home.”

Stay safe.