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Preparing for the Potential of Violence
With our busy lives getting in the way (although I can’t for the life of me figure out why I feel so busy!) we have tried to maintain our shooting practices at the gun range at least every two weeks. I’ve been using a small Glock with an extended magazine, and for a while was practicing with the fake bullets at home, practicing my carrying in my specially designed purse. My husband carries a Ruger (because it’s small) but likes his Glock. (Yes, we do have a CCP here in FL). Recently he bought a Kel-Tec Sub 2000. We went to the range today, and practiced for about an hour; if we shoot much longer than that amount of time, we find that mental and physical fatigue catches up with us; accuracy begins to disappear.
But now I’m wondering about the months ahead. Even in Florida, there will be the potential for violent protests, particularly if a decision comes out on Roe v. Wade. As always, I try to be a realist, not planning on the worst but also not burying my head in the sand. It doesn’t do any harm to get in extra practice and continue to become more at ease with my weapon.
Yet I can’t help wondering if the mindset I’m developing is healthy. I don’t want to live my life with a siege mentality. I don’t want to wonder if I’m sitting in the least or most vulnerable seat in a restaurant. I dislike the guidance for situational awareness, even though it’s for my own good.
Not only are issues of arming myself arising, but are there other steps I should be taking? Will we have to track ammunition costs to be sure we don’t end up paying outrageous prices in the months ahead? Will we be plagued with more demands for ineffective gun control? Will we have to pay more attention to supply shortages of other kinds?
As these thoughts pass through my mind, I’m resolved not to let my life be compromised by the fears of others. I am going to continue to live a life of awareness, richness, and relationships to the fullest extent possible.
Then again, are you making any special preparations for the months ahead?
Published in Guns
Susan, I think you are doing the right thing in being prepared for self defense in general. I don’t think “violent protests” are an especially urgent threat, at least in Florida in my opinion. Just don’t confront any crazy protestors if they do appear and you should be fine. I do pay attention to where I sit when dining and things like that but that becomes something you do out of habit as part of knowing your surroundings. Again, not to be paranoid but just general preparedness.
It seems we will forever be plagued with “common sense” gun control diatribes by people with zero knowledge on the subject. My rule of thumb is, if the proposed action would have done nothing to actually prevent the event that prompted the proposal (nearly always the case) I totally write it off as disingenuous and unserious. If only the media would do the same..
Very good feedback, Concretevol. Unfortunately the media won’t meet their agenda if they use common sense.
No they definitely won’t. lol That’s why I just ignore them instead of getting worked up every time the spout nonsense. I do think you and your husband are doing things correctly and should be feeling more secure not less. Buy bulk ammo when prices are good and then price and supply fluctuations won’t effect you as much, calmly refute incorrect ant-2nd amendment arguments in cases where people will listen, take heart that even when the dems control every part of the government they don’t actually pass much in the way of gun control. I suspect they would rather scream about it as a fundraiser. lol
I don’t own a firearm. I opted for a Byrna pellet launcher
I just don’t want to kill anyone. I pray that I am fortunate enough to live my life fully without taking someone else’s.
I pray that is true for you, too, cdor. I’m glad that you are prepared, though. Thanks.
Always.
90% of those people in that restaurant, or church, or grocery store etc…have no idea what’s coming. Not to disparage them but most people truly are like the sheep, they just go about their lives and they never think about the wolves until it’s too late. They’ll be the first to die when the pack comes roaring in. But people like you and your husband are the sheepdogs, who are constantly vigilant and ready to meet a threat the others will never anticipate much less defend against. Some people are designed to wear that mantle, the constant situational awareness may be a stressor but it is a blessing to those you love and to your community. Exercise it. Someday someone is going to be very grateful that Susan spent so much time on the range.
Thanks, Vince. I try to take that role very seriously, and hope I never have to act on it.
I don’t think being prepared is paranoid. It’s a bit of an investment, but it ends up paying off in the end.
Bulk food is cheaper than buying as you go, and gives you a back stock for hard times.
Having a firearm you know how to use can feed and protect your family. So does a victory garden.
Saving a little cash at home prevents being caught off guard by a bank run or closure.
Learning practical, physical skills can get you through a layoff.
Being situationally aware can get you to a faster checkout lane, or the exits, before anyone else.
Having a first aid kit, jump box, and fire extinguisher in your car can save a life.
You’re doing the wise thing.
I must admit that I’ve already done a number of these things already; they just make sense. Now I just have to develop the mindset that it’s all practical and not paranoid. I have to say I resent that effort, although I want to be available to help others. Sigh.
You’re doing it just right. The most important thing is situational awareness, and your work on proficiency will put you in that mindset at the appropriate times.
And of course, having friends who are generous in keeping me in practice rounds helps a lot, too! I wish I had your background, Doug, to supplement my sincerity!
Which is why you practice so you can take care of business in only a few seconds.
The mindset is healthy. You realize the world has all kinds of people, and sometimes the worst people could show up at your doorstep – or in your kitchen. I carry around the house so I’m never more than a quick reach from a hypothetical weapon that I might own . . .
I asked in the OP if people were making other preparations for a hot and heated summer. Anyone?
Always prepared here . . .
You told me you lost it, so good luck with that.
Be optimistic, open, friendly…and be packing.
@susanquinn, you’re definitely on the right track. There’s a condition of awareness that we all should strive to develop – relaxed awareness. I think it’s best introduced in Colonel Jeff Cooper’s “Color Code.” This state of awareness is described as “Condition Yellow,” and it’s where we want to live all the time. And I find a great essay that covers the Color Code, in David Grossman’s “On Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs.” Here’s a link to a good copy:
http://learntocarry.com/files/On-Sheep-Wolves-And-Sheepdogs.pdf
Another great part of this Color Code system usually goes by the title, “Situational Awareness.” Here’s a great article, with an intriguing clip:
https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/behavior/how-to-develop-the-situational-awareness-of-jason-bourne/
Be sure to watch the clip.
Thanks so much for this information, Quietpi. I will study it carefully; I think my husband will appreciate it too, although he’s studied up on this more than I have.
Depending on where you are, sinkholes may pose a more significant risk than violence.
Firearms are like pets, horses and swimming pools. If you want them, you don’t really want to track how much it cost to have them.
I think the demands are mostly for show.
I thought everybody did this.
Nothing out of the ordinary. I own firearms but have none with me. Almost any place I will be, there will likely be several armed people who likely have better aim than I do anyway. You can assume this in almost any CCP state south of north and west of east. I think the stat is 1 in 15 people in the US has a concealed carry permit, 1 in 10 in Florida.
If you ever end up in a situation do not present yourself as a threat. Although, you should try to look menacing as you exit Mcdonald’s with a bag full of food. Years ago a woman was shot for her food as she was leaving a restaurant and when they asked why, the guy said, she was the only one that looked like she probably wasn’t carrying a gun.
This world has never been safe. Something like 115 people dies every minute. Yes, do what you think you need to do for the sake of your mind. That’s all any preparation is for anyway.
I don’t want to kill anyone, either. I know a lot of people who are always armed, and not a single one wants ever to harm, let alone kill, anyone. I read an interesting statistic a few years ago, showing that people who carried firearms were much less likely to become involved in any sort of altercation at all. Deeply connected with the knowledge that you have the ability to take a life, if necessary, comes the understanding of the possible outcome of becoming involved in any potential situation at all.
Similarly, the training that goes into responsible ownership of any form of deadly force, stresses, over and above the motor skills, developing awareness of dangerous situations, and how to avoid or escape them. See Post #18 above. Most of the time spent in any firearms training class, has nothing to do with actually running the firearm. It’s focused on how not to get into a situation where it might be required.
The ONLY time using deadly force of any sort is justified, is to save your own life, or the life of another. And you had better give a lot of thought, ahead of time, just who that “another” is.
Finally, the application of deadly force is NEVER intended to kill, only to stop. And the moment the threat ends, you MUST immediately stop using deadly force, whatever its form.
This is excellent – it helps to give me practical advice and what to look for. I am forwarding it to my daughter and her son who is off to college next year. Thank you @quietpi
You pull one of those out and some Cop will shoot you dead.
https://byrna.com/collections/non-lethal-self-defense-byrna-sd
I’m with you on that.
I respect people who are willing to go the extra mile. I do.
But I am not sure that I could kill someone.
I will look into your pellet launcher situation.
I think the world where we are headed, at least for all of us living in Calif, Illinois, NY state and possibly Oregon and Washington, is a world which will soon be totally in the crosshairs of the WHO and its militant force, the UN army.
Link: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/military#:~:text=United%20Nations%20military%20personnel%20are%20the%20Blue%20Helmets,contributed%20by%20national%20armies%20from%20across%20the%20globe
One thing that upsets me about gun owners is that in addition to their owning a gun, the need has never been greater to help out people in the states I just mentioned. But on most social media, I hear “Those people deserve what is coming.”
This reminds me of the late 1980’s refrain of: “Ya know, the stupid and ridiculously overpaid auto workers thought that they would always have jobs here in the US! The joke is on them. Hah! Hah!”
Slight pause. Then: “So their jobs went to Mexico, Belize, and other places – anyone could have predicted that outcome five years ago.”
Well predictably, that refrain was forgotten some few years later when computer jobs went overseas.
“Can you believe it! My good paying computer job is now being handled by some schmuck over in India. How could this have happened?”
If people don’t grok that after the above 5 states fall, then the forces of Evil let loose on us here will have the full throttle capability of arriving at the doorsteps of whatever location an individual believes to be safe. And good luck with taking out an army of militant UN “peace soldiers.”
Bill Gates recently remarked the importance of “stopping the next coming pandemic.” The host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” Trevor Noah, then asked of Gates how the next pandemic could be stopped.
Gates instantly replied that “what needs to happen is to ensure that every elderly senior individual who has not yet gotten their vaccines and boosters now gets them.” Gates has also been privy to talks in which cutting people’s Social Security checks occurs until there is proof of vaccinations.
The fact that the Davos crowd is busy implementing the absolute destruction of US sovereignty through the “WHO treaty” is not a minor affair. If you live in some “secure” location, maybe you have five more years than the rest of us. But five years would have been easier to convert into Never if people were concerned about the dire situation that is developing right now.
A good friend is a twice retired law enforcement (retired once, got bored, went to another agency for another 15 years) with cumulatively over 40 years of law enforcement service. “Situational awareness” is second nature for him, and it’s kinda funny to watch him in action. One of the more conspicuous items is that when we have breakfast at the local diner, he always chooses the seat with the best visibility of the entry door, and the most flexibility on escape routes. It’s just automatic for him. When I point it out, he says, “Huh? I wasn’t even thinking about that.”
As he’s taught me pistol shooting, he points out that if self-defense is the objective, I’d almost certainly be dealing with a target 6 – 10 feet away, so there’s not much point in practicing at greater distances. When others at the range are practicing at 20 or 25 feet, he notes that looks good, and shows good control, but is not particularly practical in most circumstances. (The White Settlement (TX) church shooting near me a couple of years ago was one of the rare exceptions in which the defender did neutralize the intruder from a distance of about 25 feet.)
For now, I am not planning to need to use my marksmanship, but I practice more as a skill-building exercise.
I have had a pistol for about 6 months and am very lucky to have a good range with training nearby. I view the range as the adult version of Montessori school – that is, learning where your mistakes and successes are immediately visible. It is also cheaper than a a set of clubs and paying for rounds of golf. Having said that, I need to get to the range next week. (This weeks budget was pretty much shot getting a new computer)
I have also been building up my supply of ammunition – I need to find a bulk source.
I have a feeling that the problems will at least start with shortages – gas, electricity and various food staples. I am lucky that we live in the country and there are lots of options for fresh food. I am using “mypatriotsupply.com” for other longer term foods and ideas
Good luck and lets hope we don’t need all of this.
Wow Doc, I didn’t know that. I guess if I trade it in for an AR-15 that Cop will give me a smiley-face thumbs up instead. Ha!
Carrying something that looks like a gun, but isn’t and doesn’t fully do what a gun does seems like a lot of risk for psychological comfort of knowing even though you feared dying and had the legal justification to defend yourself you chose not to be able to kill your attacker.
Just what I was saying. If you’re gonna carry something that looks like a pistol and may get you shot by a quick-acting officer, you might as well carry a pistol.
I have no compunction about killing an attacker. None. Zero. I watched my first wife die, and I likely killed a few patients as an intern (albeit slowly and unintentionally). Every person dies, and if some piece of ship is trying to make me that person that day, I would much rather it be him.
If we end up having to use our weapons, (other than defending ourselves from dangerous aggressors who don’t usually come to our neighborhoods) it’s going out with a blaze, but still going out. The folks in charge like the threat of chaos as it will ultimately justify their totalitarian grab which will fail with criminals but perhaps not with law abiding gun owners. The Chinese will help to keep the chaos unfolding because they know that we’ll fix ourselves if they can’t preserve the chaos. The Chinese understand what will unfold better than the clueless folks who run the giant falling cost companies and the bureaucrats who think they’ll take over or already have. So yes, get a gun, learn to use it and be very cautious.