A foolish thing happened this morning.

[Wise_A]

"Perhaps more aware of my surroundings than usual, since my only option was to flee a threat."

This is good mind training on such an occasion. I do it often if "unarmed". I do scenario play outs and look for places of cover and potential weapons I may use against a potential threat.. I think of it as a defensive drill...and make sure the next time, I don't forget my handgun.

I actually feel as if this is indicative of a misconception.

Identifying threats starts long before disengage/de-escalate/flee/fight takes place. Aside from happenstance incidents like road rage and the ubiquitous "store robbery" mall ninjas fantasize about, when we think about self-defense from crime, we're thinking about predators.

These guys have a pattern, not so different from what we do: observe, select, approach, engage, escape. First, they're going to observe an area that has targets moving through it, and which offers the opportunity to attack and a route of escape. Then they're going to select a likely target, get close, do what they need to do, and GTFO.

Breaking the cycle is easiest the earlier we do it. We've got to disrupt the bad guy's plan. We can choose not to be near the convenience store or corner ATM at two in the morning. We can avoid being selected by not staring at our cell phones or digging through our wallets. Even something as simple as spotting a guy standing around doing nothing, and purposefully making eye contact with him sends a message: "I'm paying attention, I see you, I know what you're up to, I'm not scared, and you're not going to surprise me."

Then there's the approach phase, where we can (maybe) interrupt the bad guy's plan to get close. Say he approaches asking for a dollar, or a light, or whatever:

"Can't help you."

"Can't help you, back off."

"Back the **** up!"

Escalating, forceful language. No "please", no "sorry". There's no reason for a normal, reasonable person to keep approaching, so you're denying him his camouflage. Vulgarity communicates forcefulness in terms he can understand. Just don't slip into an insult, like "Back off, 'mf'."

Be fine with maybe being rude to strangers, or looking like a whack-job. Yes, "Don't talk to strangers" is excellent advice that we give to children and then ignore ourselves. The other day, some weirdo started to approach me to talk about the weather at a gas station. Now, 99%, he was just a weirdo. 1% he had some idiot plan in mind, and I was without my pistol because carry was illegal at my destination. Direct eye contact as he walked up was ineffective. So when he asked about the strange weather, I moved right to "I don't care. Back off." He stopped like he'd just been gut-punched, turned around, and shuffled off, looking over his shoulder.

Point is, if your self-defense mindset only identifies overt threats, you're ignoring your best opportunities for defense. Similarly, your gun is your least-effective tool.

 

[Duster340]

I too experienced brain fart recently. WI firearm deer season at our cabin week of thanksgiving. My wife and kids joined me up there Wed. When they get there, we run a little doe I took that morning to the butcher for processing. Later that day my wife and I decide to take a walk around the property. Since I still had 5 tags to fill, I decided to take my 4" 629 instead of my Bulldog 44spl Pug (it's always loaded and carried every day). In case we kick up a deer in the thick cedar wetlands. I swap holsters and revolvers and we head out, 20 minutes into our walk, I see movement and unholster the 629. Tell my wife to cover her ears and rest on a tree with the gun pointed at the spot I saw movement. Turns out to be a tree rat. As I reholster the 629 it hits me..... I never loaded it! In my haste to switch firearms I totally forgot. My wife of 28 years laughs at me and smacks me for being a dork. I told her that I'd just have to throw the 629 at any deer we might encounter lol. We figured now would be the time that 8 or 10 pointer captured on our trail cams would make an appearance! We had a good laugh, and she'll never let me live it down! For me, lesson learned.

Be well folks

 

[iPac]

I just read this somewhere, but can't remember where. It was about SD carry.

The narrator was explaining basically this "if you need a gun with you at all times to feel safe, then your mental thinking is not right."

He actually recommends you don't carry on occasion to help break that dependent thought. To get you thinking like you should be, due to being unarmed and vulnerable. Something you should already be doing, even with a gun.

Pretty much people rely too much on "having the gun" that they forget it's really ALL THE OTHER STUFF that's really important, and a gun is just a last resort.

Perhaps it's good you went without for a day, as it seems you were more aware and observant. There is so much more to SD than the gun aspect.

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

There are two shelf's by the door that leads from the house into the garage. On the top shelf is my "protection". All I have to do is grab it and place it either in my pocket or on the belt. When I come back home on the shelf it goes till the next time I need it.

 

[tops]

I just read this somewhere, but can't remember where. It was about SD carry.

The narrator was explaining basically this "if you need a gun with you at all times to feel safe, then your mental thinking is not right."

He THINKS I'm crazy. I KNOW he's crazy. Larry

 

[Doug M.]

1) One cannot make an appointment for an emergency.

2) A pistol is what one carries when there is no reason to expect a problem. If you have reason to expect a problem, don't go. If you HAVE to go (meaning that you are the police) - take a rifle.

Live by those.

 

[Steve912]

A fellow at the scene asked me where my revolver was. When I reached down to touch it, I went weak in the knees to find my duty holster empty.

A senior officer taught me "put your keys in with it", when securing the weapon--keep you from driving off without it.

Keeping car/house keys, wallet & license, etc alongside CCW
piece can help avoid the "oh #$%" effect in civilian life, too.

 

[Wise_A]

I just read this somewhere, but can't remember where. It was about SD carry.

The narrator was explaining basically this "if you need a gun with you at all times to feel safe, then your mental thinking is not right."

He actually recommends you don't carry on occasion to help break that dependent thought. To get you thinking like you should be, due to being unarmed and vulnerable. Something you should already be doing, even with a gun.

I know I've read that guy. I can't recall the name.

 

[16thVACav]

Every time I leave the house, I pat my pockets and count out loud for three important items: One - my carry gun; Two - my reload; Three - my wallet which contains my carry permit.

If I'm traveling directly to a no-carry destination, items One and Two are in a soft case which I place in the console of my vehicle.

 

[TomkinsSP]

I have been dressing myself for about 60 years, haven't forgotten my pants yet, wear them every time. I have been carrying a revolver for about 40, havent forgotten it yet either. I used to tell my children develop habits, it makes life easier.

I dont go anyplace terribly dangerous anymore, but I figure the ONE time you don't have IT will be the ONE time you wish you did.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Between age and chemo, if I forgot something only once in ten years I'd be thrilled.

What annoys me is being forced to leave my CC home when I travel to visit family in NY.

 

[ancient-one]

I have a firearm in my car console all of the time but I will have to admit I don't carry on my the time person at all times. I am stocky built(that is a word for not quite fat) and nothing is comfortable except an OWB rig and I don't like that when I can't wear a coat of some description.
My daughter is never without hers. The purse she carries must weigh twenty pounds without her revolver but it doesn't seem to bother her.

 

[tops]

Stepping out the door ... "Phone" - "Firearm" - "Keys" - "Wallet" - "Hat". Good to go.

When you get as old as I am it's also glasses, teeth and hearing aids. Larry

 

[Protected One]

I too experienced brain fart recently. WI firearm deer season at our cabin week of thanksgiving. My wife and kids joined me up there Wed. When they get there, we run a little doe I took that morning to the butcher for processing. Later that day my wife and I decide to take a walk around the property. Since I still had 5 tags to fill, I decided to take my 4" 629 instead of my Bulldog 44spl Pug (it's always loaded and carried every day). In case we kick up a deer in the thick cedar wetlands. I swap holsters and revolvers and we head out, 20 minutes into our walk, I see movement and unholster the 629. Tell my wife to cover her ears and rest on a tree with the gun pointed at the spot I saw movement. Turns out to be a tree rat. As I reholster the 629 it hits me..... I never loaded it! In my haste to switch firearms I totally forgot. My wife of 28 years laughs at me and smacks me for being a dork. I told her that I'd just have to throw the 629 at any deer we might encounter lol. We figured now would be the time that 8 or 10 pointer captured on our trail cams would make an appearance! We had a good laugh, and she'll never let me live it down! For me, lesson learned.

Be well folks

Neither will WE!!!

 

[jscott]

In all of the years that I worked Homicide in Miami-Dade, I don't think that any of the victims woke up that morning expecting to get murdered later in the day. Point being, evil is fluid and can be anywhere at anytime. Often, when you least expect.

 

[Smoke]

Agree.....Going to Walmart? Absolutely. Going for bike ride around my little neighborhood? Nope

If your local Walmart is so rough you won't go there unarmed why go there at all?

 

[crstrode]

Why does anyone carry their driver's license with them - are they expecting to get pulled over by the cops, or is it done "just in case"?

 

[Smoke]

I just read this somewhere, but can't remember where. It was about SD carry.

The narrator was explaining basically this "if you need a gun with you at all times to feel safe, then your mental thinking is not right."

He actually recommends you don't carry on occasion to help break that dependent thought. To get you thinking like you should be, due to being unarmed and vulnerable. Something you should already be doing, even with a gun.

Pretty much people rely too much on "having the gun" that they forget it's really ALL THE OTHER STUFF that's really important, and a gun is just a last resort.

Perhaps it's good you went without for a day, as it seems you were more aware and observant. There is so much more to SD than the gun aspect.

I read that too I don't remember who the author was but I THINK Claude Werner re-posted it. I don't leave my home unarmed but I'm not allowed to carry at work.

I consider myself lucky to have done 5 years as an unarmed security guard both in mental health facilities and in downtown Colorado Springs because I had to learn to use people skills and conflict resolution.

When I became an armed guard I relied far more on those skills than the power of The Mighty Boomstick.

 

[Duster340]

Neither will WE!!!

LMAO.... Ya, I know

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

No CCW here-New Jersey. Implying that if you carry all the time your thinking is not "right"-you are paranoid ! Is it "paranoid" to have a first aid kit in the car, flares, triangles, a flashlight, a safety vest, a plug-in spotlight. No, I call that Being Prepared (I was an Eagle Scout.) Carrying a cell phone so you can call the authorities or summon help ? Being alert and observant ? Are Secret Service agents on duty paranoid ? Your local LEOs ? Locking your door at night ? Checking to see if you have your wallet, driver's license, car and house keys. Walking around your car to see if anything is amiss. Jeff Cooper emphasized "Situational Awareness". I would simply call it being Wide Awake. And following well thought out SOPs and procedures.