Your Firearm as Your Last Resort

First, a little about me.

My first handgun purchase occurred much later in life; in 2009 at the age of 56.

A wise woman and a good rule to follow.

In this photo, we see a man who carries a Springfield Armory semi-automatic pistol for self-defense. He sees the use of a firearm as a last resort. Using deadly force in self-defense is permissible under state and federal laws, but only in a specific set of circumstances. Avoiding confrontation with a gun is always the preferred option in ethical firearm use and lethal force as a final option.

Choosing to carry a firearm is a serious decision. Have you planned to learn everything you should to carry it?

I have over seventy pages of notes on file from that class that I review annually.

The optimal result would be to conduct my affairs in a way that would minimize that risk.

As the saying goes, the goal is not to make your home the most secure in the world.

In this photo, a man is deciding when to use a gun as a defensive tool. His situational awareness and self-defense go hand in hand as part of his self-defense firearm tactics.

A firearm needs to be viewed as a tool of last resort — not a first.

you might settle for having the most secure home on the block.

I had a road rage incident a few years ago.

I accidentally cut off a driver who was attempting to pass me on the right.

Shown is a Springfield Armory 1911 pistol chambered in .45 ACP. You should always try de-escalation before gun use if you have the ability to do so. Quality training on when to use a gun can help you should you ever be victimized in an attack.

Selecting a handgun is only part of the equation.

The guy went nuts.

He pulled up close to my rear bumper, honking the horn.

Fortunately, a police station was only a couple of blocks away and I proceeded in that direction.

In this photo a woman trains with a self-defense pistol. Personal protection with a gun or other weapon is part of your right to self-defense. Responsible gun ownership includes knowing the laws and getting quality training.

Getting range time with your firearm, as well as proper training, is a must.

Perhaps realizing this, the other driver turned off onto a side street.

I volunteer as a Safety Officer at my local club, helping to execute the matches.

Many of the members at my local club have law enforcement and/or military backgrounds.

Rob Leatham Training

Most of them are way better at shooting than me, but training with them helps my skill set.

I sometimes train with Hillsdales Action Shooting Team, which injects another dose of reality into my life.

It made me a stronger player and also more aware of my weaknesses.

Massad Ayoob Group

My two reasons to train?

To maintain or perhaps improve my skills and to be made aware of my limitations.

I plan to take a training class once a year.

International Defensive Pistol Association

Vogel has won several National and World IDPA Championships.

Rob was walking down the line and taking a few shots with each of our pistols.

It was not the gun.

XD-M® Series

The class I took from Greg Ellifritz and his Active Response Training group was Knife Skills for Concealed Carry.

It was an excellent class and he is an excellent instructor.

Greg served for thirteen years as the Full-time Tactical Training Officer for his central Ohio Police Department.

One of his missions in life is to deliver practical real-world self-defense training to civilians.

Treat it as your last resort, but be ready to use it effectively if you ever must.