Overcoming the "tactical" mindset

[Smoke]

I'm sure we have all noticed a certain type of poster that appears to approach life like a tactical exercise. Sometimes these guys are military or law enforcement and in their case I get it, they really may be in a firefight at some point in their careers and so they go to get the extra training and they go out and spend money on the best tactical gear or the best flash light and the best knife and Kevlar gloves and all that that they can afford and again, in their case I get it.

That said I've also ran into a few guys that treat going to Safeway to pick up a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread like a covert insertion into North Vietnam.

I remember reading posts from a guy who lived in Denver that actually said that if you walk out your door w/out 2 extra magazines and wearing a rigger belt and tactical pants and combat boots you aren't seriously read to defend yourself. He also wanted you to take every tactical pistol course and the fighting carbine classes and study every form of Martial Art known to man or you were just a sheep who was waiting to fall prey to a mugger.

When I first started legally carrying a handgun I went looking for information on the internet and I bought into the "tactical" mindset that I couldn't leave my home w/out a 500$ flashlight, 3 or 4 spare magazines, at least two tactical folders and a bayonet and a bug out bag and a carbine in my car at all times.

As I got older I began to wonder just how realistic that really was and if I'd left common sense behind at some point.

At one point I responded to a thread on another forum asking for a picture of my "EDC" I had a pistol, 2 magazines, a tactical folder, a maglight, a CPR shield, a multi tool and a bunch of other stuff I can't identify in the picture. I literally was carrying so much junk I had to wear suspenders (like an LBE) to hold my belt up.

Am I the only one that got caught up in that mindset when I first started carrying? Am I the only one that woke up one morning and asked myself do I really need to carry all this **** with me everywhere I go?

 

[arjay]

It's a growing industry,lots of product to sell.
Whenever I hear something dire,I look for a money trail.
Fear sells.Look at mass media in this country.

 

[66Park]

I never got into that at all. Of course, I started carrying pre internet. A good gun, a good holster, and a reload or two, and I was just fine. I trained privately with the best instructor in the state until he told me I should stop taking lessons from him and start shooting competition. I think some guys just enjoy the idea of being a commando. The idea of spending all my thought and money on keeping myself safe from threats either real or imagined is just not appealing to me.

 

[ColumbusJBR]

I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes carrying just the pistol alone seems like a bit of a burden, let alone all the other "gear" you can tack on. Right now I have my Shield, 1 extra mag, folder, maglight, wallet, keys. But its winter (close enough) and my dress makes that pretty manageable. In the summer that isn't so easy/convenient.

At the times where it's only convenient/practical to carry the pistol alone, I'm ok with that. I believe that just having a pistol and the knowledge/skills to use it already put you ahead of most. JMHO. If the day comes comes where I get pinned down by 4 bad guys in pitch black, and I need 35 rounds to hold them at bay plus my knife to slash the throat of the last attacker after my 4th mag is empty, BUT I find myself without all that equipment...well I guess my day has come.

I know others here will vehemently disagree with that mindset, and thats fine; everyone can live their life as they please. But sometimes you gotta weigh tactical vs practical.

 

[forrestinmathews]

I know a guy that has a WC 1911 under his steering wheel, a tactical shotgun in the trunk and an m4 in the trunk. Likable enough guy, but wow if he ever saw it coming...Katie bar the door!

There was one instance in my life where I carried 4 handguns, a vest and a lot of ammunition. Almost all of it concealed under a hooded sweatshirt. High risk fugitive recovery in an area where I was sure to be outgunned if things went south. I look back and laugh hard at myself about that now. Turned out they were much more afraid of me than I was of them and I had way too much ****! I figure I could have fired continuously for some five minutes if it had come to it.

Bottom line: Possibly two guns, spare ammo, flashlight and a small knife is about all you should need. Everybody should carry a knife and a flashlight, those are just good things to have. You need to see what you're doing always and it's hard to open a package safely with a gun. If it comes to more than that, well we're talking about something more than PERSONAL DEFENSE aren't we?

 

[Doug M.]

Pistol, reload, flashlight, phone (preferably with bluetooth earpiece for hands free use), and usually a knife. Pretty much all the time. BUT: first and foremost, pay attention, avoid dumb places unless you are paid to be there; avoid people who do dumb stuff; if you see something that looks like it is going sideways, leave. That's the part that really matters. If I have to use the other gear, something went wrong well before then.

 

[Bkreutz]

I wish I could forget some of my tactical training. I'm not "geared up" when I go out, just my 9c and couple of spare mags in the console, but the mindset is hard (if not impossible) to leave somewhere else. I suspect I will take the training with me when I check out. (or I forget who I am first)

 

[JJEH]

...but the mindset is hard (if not impossible) to leave somewhere else.

That's the most important point. What helps all your gear if you don't have the mindset?! Most unpleasant situations are avoidable if you pay attention. And if stuff really goes wrong you'll need your gun and your head. And maybe some luck.

Most mall ninja's make me smile a bit, b/c I love to watch people. They are all geared up but don't really pay attention to their surroundings...

 

[KKECK5]

I Left most that gear on my rig when i retired. It now occupies a place in my heart and a rubbermaid container down the basement. I still visit it once in a while. The knife i keep in my glove box, and cuffs are in my night stand draw.(no it's not for that). I always have a EDC in my possession when I go out. No extra mag, no speed loaders. The best weapon i have for self defense is my mind and sense awareness of not putting my wife and/or myself in a bad situation. Know your surroundings, lighting, foot traffic, and exits. They can be your best friends.

 

[S&W45Colt]

I carry 4 guns, 3 knives, a flashlight, a can of raid and a fire extinguisher, most of it on a belt. The 4th gun I carry under a cap, I rigged it up with a cord, kind of like a pull string light, that way I've always got it covered. I have a mirror on the inside of one of my raybans, so I can see behind me.

You guys are just under prepared.

 

[millisec]

I have most of the survival and tactical training and experience I need and the tools to do it but I don't get carried away doing it in everyday life. Break into my house and you've entered a hornets nest though. On the street light and casual I'm comfortable with just a Shield IWB and a spare mag. If I need to shoot more than 16rds I'm hauling *** anyway. Wearing shorts most of the year I just don't like my pants falling off I might be obsessed with gun's, shooting and competition in general but just not in being Tacticool. There's some that would be doing everyone a favor by just learning the concept of being discreet. When the zombies (or any enemy foreign or domestic) come over the hill that's a different story.

 

[shouldazagged]

It's mostly been said: my strategy is to stay away from dicey people, places and situations as far as possible. My tactics are based on staying aware and ready, if something starts to go sideways, to get the hell outta Dodge.

Gear is a J-frame, often but not always with a Speed Strip; cell phone; Swiss Army knife for tools and another knife for cutting stuff (implements, not weapons except as last resort); CCW and driver's licenses; medical dog tags; a micro-light on my key ring and a small LED flashlight if I'm out after dusk.

I'm old school. If someone wants to carry five handguns, an AR, 140 rounds of ammo, taser, 50,000 lumen flashlight, a sword cane and a LAW, go for it. I think most of us pack lighter, but whatever makes you feel secure is fine with me.

"Tactical" is a term so over-used and misused for marketing that it's practically meaningless.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Most of the tacs types I have met have never been in the military, LE or anything close. They haven't even been in the Boy Scouts!

 

[Mike McLellan]

At the local "Pioneers Home" recently, one of the residents began reliving his role in the charge up San Juan Hill, pretty much destroying his room and his room-mate's stamp collection. The AARP sent in their Tactical Response Unit, comprised of eager volunteers made up of other residents of the facility.
The clattering of their walkers, squeaking wheel-chairs, and caughing and wheezing, created a major uproar that spilled into the ceramics-appreciation meeting.
The administration called the local police for back-up, but everybody fell asleep before the responders had a chance to lob in a few flash-bangs, and storm the building.
You may skoff at the willingness of others to "be prepared", but you never know. You just never know.

 

[Smoke]

Maybe tactical wasn't the right word, what I'm looking at is this idea that I absolutely must have all the whiz bang gear and that I can not leave my home without it or I'm woefully unprepared.

 

[venomballistics]

I suppose the tacticool perspective is a legit entry point into the wild world of EDC.
In my case I began to determine my EDC gear long ago as a young punk, along with my friend.
We'd spend about every weekend with long arms, hoofing it from location to location finding stuff to shoot.
some days involved a few mile round trip, with long arms, ammo, and whatever else you thought was important at the time.
when your lugging gear for miles and miles, reality helps pare down the list in a hurry.
arms, ammo, decent folder, a lighter and some jerky.
if you cant solve an issue with one or more of the above, escaping is a higher priority than solving

 

[Old cop]

Early in my LEO training we were taught to "turn it off" when we were off-duty, at least to the extent possible. Going about your every day business full tilt will begin to wear you out before your time. IMHO some of these guys fall into the definition of the Inadequate Male (this term was coined by the FBI National Academy). Common sense should dictate how you prep yourself to go about your daily activities. For me, in retirement, my activities are relatively tame but my situational awareness is tuned in.

Be safe everyone but don't wear yourself out well before your expiration date. I'm hoping for 20 more good years.

 

[S&W45Colt]

In all seriousness, a man should be prepared, carry a few things and have the right mindset, but like almost anything in life, you can carry it too far. No amount of equipment makes up for bad judgement or lack of preparation.

 

[Protected One]

I suppose many of us have at least been tempted to fall into that mindset, but the reality is, there are just too many possible danger scenarios to adequately train and gear up for them all.

I love the phrase used by an earlier poster - "Tactical vs Practical. That gets to the meat of the matter. Each of us must decide what is tactically practical for us, and don't concern ourselves with the rest.

 

[SMSgt]

If my EDC with its one mag won't get me out of trouble, it's just going to be a bad day. I don't live in a world of "what if" but in a world of "what is" and have gotten along fine that way for many a year.