A protective shield having an upper portion, which may be configured to provide ballistic protection to at least a head of a user, and a lower portion, which may be configured to provide ballistic protection to at least a torso of the user. The upper portion may have a width wider than the head of the user. The lower portion may have a width that is greater than the width of the upper portion, and therefore extends laterally beyond the upper portion (forming at least one weapon support region on the protective shield).