It has been a while. Snowstorms, matches, classes, and Guard commitments have leeched time away, but we’re back. Here we are with our last installment. Before we go on, let’s have a quick review.
Rule 2 = Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice
And our fifth and final rule:
(I would really like to know the backstory to this picture. As I’ve said, I didn’t make the memes, I just pirated them. What exactly the guy who is the focus of the picture is doing is beyond me. Is he falling back to provide overwatch for his teammates, or did he just say “Screw this, I’m outta here. You’re on your own guys.”?)
In any event, today we’re going to talk about putting distance between you and your assailant. Not just a little distance to gain tactical advantage, but a lot of distance. So much distance that you’re not even in the fight.
And that’s exactly where you want to be…out of the fight. The only way to guarantee you’ll come out of a gunfight unscathed is to not get in one in the first place. This is the cold, hard truth. No matter how well trained you are, no matter how good your tactics may be, there is always going to be someone out there faster, better, or luckier than you are. You want to avoid that meeting.
We realize that there is no way to completely eliminate the chance of encountering danger from our lives. It’s out there just waiting for us to stumble into it. That’s why we carry concealed, right? And we know that even staying in our homes and not venturing out into the world isn’t a guarantee, as danger can come to visit us in the form of a home invasion. So, what are we to do then?
We can wake up and interact with the world around us in a situationally aware manner. We need to understand that our daily routine is mundane and lulls us into a false sense of complacency. Simply by putting our heads into the world and being aware of what is taking place around us can allow us to recognize potential threats in advance enough for us to avoid them entirely or at the very least to plan a response.
When you start paying attention to what is taking place around you, you’ll quickly see how many people are oblivious to their surroundings. Walking and texting on their phone. Walking through a parking lot counting their money. Sleeping in their cars waiting for their wife/husband/girlfriend/boyfriend. Completely oblivious to what is taking place around them.
When I was in law enforcement, the most often heard phrases victims uttered were “He came out of nowhere.” And “I never saw him coming.” Who attacked these people, Gumby? They would have seen their assailants, if they’d only been looking.
So look! See who is around you and what they are up to. Make yourself a hard target. Criminals look for weakness. Don’t show any. Don’t give them the opportunity. There is a fine line between paranoia and preparedness. You can walk that line while living your life, and have a leg up on those who don’t
I strongly suggest attending an NRA Refuse To Be A Victim seminar. In it you’ll learn to recognize danger and develop a plan for your personal safety. You can’t just hope nothing bad ever happens to you. Hope is not a plan.
