July 3rd, 2019
4minute read
Managing an armed encounter successfully takes more than shooting skills.
Put yourself in a better defensive position with these essential verbal skills.
Verbal Strategy
Verbal skills tend to come in handy during an armed encounter.
Saying the right thing at the right timeand with the right deliverycan prompt a would-be assailant to back down.
or I have a gun!
If you come through the door, you will be shot!
While any of these directives could prompt a criminal to reconsider his plan, they could also backfire.
Rather than rely on these phrases, students of the gun must be trained to think before they speak.
Saying something like this might work well.
Ill do whatever you say.
Take my wallet, just like dont hurt me.
Another good strategy when an assailant has the drop on you is to ask questions.
If youre planning to counterattack, the time to make your move is when the assailant starts to answer.
Body Language
ensure your body language matches your spoken language.
So should you give verbal commands if youre in a position to do so?
Theres no right answer.
They would likely cause most criminals to either comply or flee.
Should you issue a forceful verbal command?
Will he run away?
Attack the person he was threatening?
If youve just barked orders at him, youre about to find out.
When an assailant is pointing a gun at someones head, that criteria has certainly been met.
Giving a verbal command alerts the intruder to your location.
Then, assuming he enters the room, he has an idea where you are.
Heck, he may even shoot through the wall toward the sound of your voice.
In personal and home-defense situations, verbal skills can be important.
But dont assume yelling forceful commands is always the answer.
Sometimes its better to speak softly or not at all.
Its up to you to gauge the situation and respond appropriately.
Youve got to think before you speak.
Originally appeared inHandguns Magazine.
