strap
n.—Gloss: a firearm or a person carrying a firearm, i.e., a person who is “strapped,” which means carrying a concealed weapon. «A high-ranking gang member who was on life support after being shot, and whose sister was overheard talking on her cellphone in the hospital, urging someone to “get those straps together. Get loaded.”» —“Blocking the Transmission of Violence” by Alex Kotlowitz New York Times May 4, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Suppose you take off your sandals and then carry them while holding the straps in your hand. In that case, is it correct to call those straps handles? Phil in Omaha, Nebraska, has a longstanding dispute with a friend over that question. You might...
Cindy from Henderson, Kentucky, enjoys a wonderful relationship with her ex-husband’s new wife, and she’s looking for a word to indicate their special connection. The sister of your husband is your sister-in-law, of course, but what’s a good word...
So is a strap a gang member, or a relative, or a firearm, or what?
The quotation, though presumably helpfully authentic, doesn’t offer much guidance for those who don’t move in such circles.
Not sure. That’s why it’s an unresearched citation. If it had been researched, there’d be a full entry. It’s most likely either a firearm or a person who carries one (i.e., gunmen, hired killers, or gang soldiers).