The first is awareness.
To meet with success, you also have to be willing to respond.
John Steinbeck nailed it many years ago when he said, The final weapon is the brain.
Knowing how you might lose a gunfight can help you survive one should it ever be forced upon you. Image: Adobe/wetzkaz
All else is supplemental.
Quite frankly, if your head isnt in the game, you will lose.
This is true both in armed and unarmed combat.
Situational awareness can keep you safe in most cases and inform you of when it is time to draw your defensive pistol in an unavoidable conflict.
At best, your firearm is an extension of your will.
I found that I had to take a somewhat different approach to my own in-house training with new recruits.
Switched On
As indicated earlier, awareness is the key to conflict resolution.
One of the first rules to street survival is awareness. Crime can happen at any time, like when you are grocery shopping.
But, it remains very relevant to any form of personal conflict.
Is it just a coincidence?
What do you do now?
Awareness when riding public transport is important. If you are waiting for a subway train, do you stand where you could be attacked?
The bottom line is, you had better have a plan.
Situational Awareness
A very popular model of situational awareness is the Color Code conceptualized byColonel Jeff Cooper.
A common notion is that we need to maintain a constant state of Condition Yellow.
Do you exercise caution when entering a convenience store? Signs can block visibility to the interior, making them attractive to criminals.
That would be nice, but Im afraid it is impossible.
Has a neighbor or acquaintance approached you unseen in the grocery store while you were checking out an item?
If so, you have slipped out of Condition Yellow.
A defensive handgun is simply a tool for personal protection. Your brain is the most important tool that can give you an edge if you are targeted for attack.
But what we can do is maintain a high degree of alertness in situations where it really matters.
The only exception was a young woman who was studying a medical journal equally intensely.
What would their reaction be if they had to respond to a fast-breaking threat?
When out in public, always know your location in case you have to call 911 for help.
I suspect they would be frozen in fear and unable to react.
Certainly, an environment with a higher probability of potential threats requires your full attention.
Suffice it to say, my mental focus is a little different in my backyard swimming pool.
Having a high-quality firearm like this Hellcat Pro 9mm with a Shield red dot optic and Streamlight weaponlight is important. Having the mindset to effectively employ it is even more so.
Quite simply, we have to be tuned in when it counts.
Prepared, or Paranoid?
I have carried a concealed firearm on my person for well over 40 years.
Does that mean Im expecting trouble?
Not really, because if I did I simply wouldnt go there.
Say you find yourself in a dangerous situation that could not be avoided.
Have a plan and stay tuned in.
If things were to get crazy in the next few seconds, what would you do?
Can you react, or escape?
Clearly, your chance of meeting with success is much greater when you are keenly aware of your surroundings.
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