The Skill of Self Defense

Given the chaotic and turbulent environment of late with which we're forced to contend, many folks have chosen to arm themselves by obtaining concealed carry permits.  Carrying a gun, or bearing arms, is a right that is not only God-given, but is protected and guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.  All but a few states now have "shall issue" concealed carry laws, and more and more citizens are taking advantage of this.  That's a good thing, because in this crazy world, being armed and able to defend oneself and one's family is a near necessity. Studies have shown armed citizens prevent over two million violent crimes every year.  One may never need to use deadly force, but it's comforting just to know that potential bad guys don't know for sure if one is armed.  An armed society is a polite society.  Deterrence and threat of force works . Si vis pacem, para bellum.

As a holder of a concealed carry permit, I have carried a gun every day for most of my adult life, both before and after passage of my state's concealed carry law in 1989.  In all that time, I have only had to present a firearm once.  And in that instance, I can tell you that all my training, all my marksmanship, and all my cool went right out the window, even though I de-escalated the situation before the shooting started.  Here's why:  faced with immanent bodily harm, the human brain reverts to three basic options.  Fight, flight or freeze.  In a dire situation where the use of a firearm may be needed, the upper brain with all that training, rationale and intellect flies right out the window, and it passes the ball to the animal part of the brain - the hippocampus -  to ensure survival.  Your skill and training is reduced and confusion, denial and inability to act kick in with a vengeance.  And that's why even highly trained police officers often miss their targets during a gunfight. But the best way to win a gunfight is to never be in a gun fight.  Survival consists of mindset, skills and tools.  OK, you strap on your new pistol, place your new carry permit ID card in your wallet, and you boldly step out into the world, all armed and bad.  Right?  Partially.  You have the tool, but do you have mindset and skill?  Skill is the ability to utilize the tool you're carrying, and that includes intimate familiarity with the workings of your particular weapon, as well as proficiency in marksmanship necessary to employ it properly. Despite danger lurking almost everywhere and anywhere, by employing the following five basic elements in one's daily behavior avoiding a deadly situation is not only possible, but likely.

Awareness

Situational awareness is being aware of your surroundings, and your presence in them.  Use that sixth sense to anticipate danger, and always be diligent in what you do and where you go.  When walking across a parking lot one should be aware of other pedestrians, backing vehicles, or any threat or danger.  That's just common sense, but apply it intellectually; that is, be consciously aware of what's going on around you.  Note things out of pattern:  a car idling by the curb perhaps, or a nervous acting person with darting eyes.  Awareness is the first step in developing mindset, because when you are aware of surroundings, there's less possibility of surprise, and when you're not surprised, you're closer to being prepared.

Avoidance

You're walking home from the convenience store one night, and you see a group of youths congregating  on the corner ahead.  You're armed, but there are several of them and one of you.  Do you continue on your way, as is your right, and brush by them and possibly engage in some manner of conflict?  Or do you change directions, and find a different way home?  That's not cowardice, that's smart.  You have the power to avoid a potential confrontation, so use it.  Remember, rule number one in winning a fight is never get in a fight.  

 De-escalation

 Let's say you're driving in heavy traffic and some clown rips around you, cuts in front, and then slams on his brakes to keep from rear-ending the car ahead.  You have to stand on the brakes to keep from hitting him.  He sticks his head out the window and in graphic detail questions your motives and heritage.  What to do?  His immaturity gained him maybe 25 feet in the traffic que, but endangered everyone around with his reckless behavior. You could match his rant epithet for epithet, after all you've got a gun on your hip, and you're not intimidated at all.  Or you could merely shrug it off as he was just having a bad day.  A simple "My bad!" or "Sorry!" could save the day, and the pride you may swallow is far less demeaning than the bile a machismo response may entice.  Discretion is the better part of valor.

Escape

Always have an escape plan.  In the example of walking home from the store at night, we talked about avoiding a potentially dangerous situation.  But if you can't avoid it, be prepared to escape it.  If you see four guys coming over to you with obvious malicious intent, it's better to escape than to try to present that firearm.  Even advanced gunfight training may not carry the day, and in most states, the law wouldn't support you either. They may have been Estonian tourists simply seeking directions.  Think twice before your ever pull that gun: because after you do, everything changes.

Deadly Force

Now to the end-of-all-options scenario: the one you never want to face. The wild-eyed crazed assailant has a knife, and he's charging you in a full run. An average man can cover twenty-one feet in just one-and-a-half seconds.  That's two car lengths, or a large living room, or the distance from the sidewalk to your front door.  All in just over one second.  There's no time to avoid, no time to de-escalate, no time to escape, and no time to analyze.   You have to shoot.  To stop the threat.  Not scare, not wound.  Kill.  To stop the threat.  It's his life, or you and your family's lives.   Can you fire?  Do you have the mindset?  Do you have the skill?

Carrying a weapon is a right.  It's also a huge responsibility.  Forget all that Hollywood nonsense.  Forget your buddies' machismo over beers.  There's no reset button when you pull your weapon.  You need to be smarter and more level-headed and mindful every day that gun is on your person.  Get your permit, exercise your rights, but be as the Zen Warrior.  Don't screw it up.