September 29, 2008

This question, and others, is asked often as I talk to people who see me carrying a gun. After much thought, it seemed good to expand on and share my answers.

We read about home invasions, robberies, carjackings, rapes and murders all the time. Did any of those criminals make an appointment with the victim or give some "fair warning" of their intentions? Of course, not. What a silly idea.

So then, each and every victim was surprised, unprepared for the attack? Not all of them. We read many accounts (though not enough of them make it to the media circus) of people who fight off their attackers, often with deadly force. And, amazingly, many of them are successful in eliminating both the threat and the criminal.

Sadly, just as often we read about those who were overcome by the criminals, usually because they had no realistic way to defend themselves to start with, or were ineffective using whatever tools they did have.

You can prepare to meet any emergency or threat, and give yourself the greatest probablility of coming out alive and unhurt, but there is a price to pay for that probablility. You must take serious steps now to change at least some of your environment and lifestyle for effective safety and self defense.

I can hear some of you asking the other questions so often presented in this conversation, so let's deal with them now.

Aren't the police supposed to protect me? Isn't that what we pay them for?

In a word, NO. If you have not yet read Dial 911 and Die, stop right here and do so, please.

Of course, you might get lucky... but remember:

1. The police have NO constitutional or legal obligation to protect or defend any individual, ever. Shocking? It should be if you think the police somehow MUST protect you.

2. It is physically impossible for the police always to be present when that unannounced criminal decides to target you or your home. We'd each need three shifts of policemen to have one at arm's length night and day. I don't know about you, but that certainly doesn't appeal to me on any level, even if it were possible and they all had the most altruistic motives.

3. How long is the police response time where you live? If it's more than 3 seconds, it's not going to be fast enough to let them do much beyond clean up the mess and write the reports. Oh, and think about the fact that most crimes are never solved* either. Even if you survive, the chance of recovering your property is almost nil.

Emergencies happen fast. The average attack starts with only a few seconds warning, at best. That doesn't give YOU much time to respond, let alone expect the police to arrive. And in many cases there would not even be an opportunity to call until it's all over.

Several of the ladies I know have said their husband takes care of the defense in their home.

OK, fair enough - when he's there, and if he's armed. Does your husband hover at your elbow day and night? How does your husband defend you when you are at the grocery store and he's at work? Mine died 23 years ago, so that's not too handy for me or anyone else who lives alone. And isn't that a big burden to place on someone else anyway?

So, dear friends and precious sisters... just who IS responsible for your safety and defense?

YOU are. Ultimately, you are the only one who can be responsible for you.

Who is the one person with the greatest incentive to fight for their life, defend their children and prevent theft of property?

YOU. Each and every one of you, both alone and in voluntary cooperation with others for mutual aid.

Does this mean you must become a fearful, paranoid person who can never trust or be at ease again? Of course not.

It means that you must learn how to be aware of your surroundings, how to identify potential dangers and threats early, how to safely and effectively meet those dangers and take precautions to minimize being seen as a potential victim. If you learn these things, and PRACTICE them, you will vastly reduce the chances that a criminal will decide to target you in the first place. You will also then be able to help your family and neighbors learn how they can avoid being a victim as well.

You can reduce the potential, but a criminal could strike any time, anywhere. A lot depends on where you live, obviously. Large population centers, especially where self defense (and the necessary tools) are either discouraged or illegal, present criminals with a smorgasbord of available victims, mostly disarmed and helpless. See John Lott's "More Guns, Less Crime" for an excellent overview of this situation.

But, there isn't any real crime where I live! It can't happen to me.

There isn't a square inch on the planet, including all the oceans, where there is zero risk of being killed or hurt. The possibility exists everywhere that someone wants to end your life or take your property. What are the odds? They might be very low, but they will never be zero. The people who were killed in the recent mall mass shootings, or any of the school shootings didn't believe anyone could or would hurt them either... yet they died. And one of the reasons they died was because the criminals KNEW that there were few or none there prepared or able to stop them before they could carry out their evil plans. If just a few of the ordinary people in those situations had been armed and trained to defend themselves, the stories would be very different... or would never have happened at all.

What can you do, then?

1. Lock your doors! This seems like a very simple idea, but I'm constantly amazed to learn how many people fail to take this basic and important precaution. How many news stories have you read that state the criminal just walked in?

No lock will stop a determined criminal from breaking in, but it will slow them down at least. Criminals don't want to work very hard, obviously, so a locked door and windows might be enough to send them looking for easier prey. The sound of someone trying to break down the door would also give you time to prepare to defend yourself. Lock all of them, ALL the time - not just at night, especially if you are alone.

2. Don't open your doors to strangers! I'm always astonished to read that a home invasion started with the homeowner or one of their children opening the door to admit a total stranger. That's especially chilling when children are involved. Don't let anyone into your home without a very good reason, especially at night. If someone knocks and says they are in danger or need help, offer to call the police for THEM. Keep that door locked until they go away.

3. Be aware of your surroundings. Can you describe ALL of the major objects and people within 20 feet of you this moment, without looking again? Can you do that at all times when you are out of the house, on the street, driving, walking, in a store? You should be able to. That's the essence of being aware. You can't defend yourself against a threat you never saw until it hits you. The following will help you build your situational awareness:

Practice looking at your surroundings at all times when out of your home, getting into or out of your car. Describe people and things to yourself to build the habit of really seeing your surroundings.

Be aware at all times of the people around you, especially coming from (or around) cars or buildings. The usual “personal space” is between one to five feet diameter around you. This is the zone most people are aware of, if at all. It is important to extend that aware zone out to at least 20 feet. Measure off a 20 foot diameter circle and practice looking out to that distance frequently. Then, when you are out, practice being AWARE of who and what is inside that circle.

Notice their HANDS and faces. Both will tell you a great deal about their intentions and capacity to threaten you. Do not ignore women or older children! They can be criminals too. Listen to your guts.

Know exactly where you are going, how you plan to get there. Learn how to use a map or GPS.

Don't pick up hitch hikers! If you see a road hazard or people in trouble, call for help, but don't stop if you are unarmed and/or alone.

Move your head as well as your eyes. Scan your surroundings frequently. (Scan beyond your normal area to get “the big picture” just as you should when driving.) Look behind you!

Walk with a brisk stride, head up and strong posture. Avoid looking lost or confused, even if you are!! If you look like a victim, you may well be one. If you look like you are aware and in control, you will probably be left alone. Remember that criminals want HELPLESS, frightened victims.

Make a definite plan of action for each potential danger you identify. Most will be very simple, but without a plan you will be far less apt to react quickly enough to avoid trouble.

If you are out with children, you will need to divide your attention. Don’t forget to be aware of what is going on around you as well as what the kids are doing. Anticipating danger is even MORE important when children are present, of course.

Honestly assess your usual level of awareness, at home and when out. Do you think you need to change that? If not, why not?

[Exerpt from my Practical handbook, currently available to my handgun and self defense students]

4. And, last but not least, be prepared to buy, maintain and learn to use the most effective self defense tool - a gun. If you decide to do so, it is important that you understand not only how to use it, but when. You must understand the laws and customs where you live, and be prepared to suffer at least some inconvenience and possible discomfort from neighbors and the police if you ever do need to use it in self defense. But these problems are trivial compared to death or life changing injury that might result if you don't have any way to fight back.

The NRA isn't the best political organization, but they do have some of the most comprehensive training available at reasonable cost, nationwide. Sign up for a class, even if you have not yet made up your mind about buying a gun. The instructor will help you find one when you are ready, and further classes will help you become both safe and effective in using it, as well as learning about all the other ways you can increase your own safety and that of your family.

Only you can decide if you are going to develop the mindset and skills to defend yourself and family - or be a helpless victim.

* Latest data available here is from 2005. Not much chance things have improved.

[This is taken from a booklet which is currently only available to my handgun and self defense classes as a supplemental guide to practical and tactical exercises. It may become available otherwise if there is enough interest in it outside of my classes. Please do write to me if you have suggestions or would like to have a copy to review.]

Your comments and feedback are welcome!
Now PoL has its own forum at The Mental Militia! Check it out

Links from the previous articles:

Self ownership essay: http://www.mises.org/rothbard/ethics/eight.asp

The Ludwig von Mises Institute: http://www.mises.org/

What about the "poor?" - Reinventing America: http://www.mises.org/freemarket_detail.asp?control=289

Advocates for Self-government: http://www.self-gov.org/home.shtml

John Lott's "More Guns, Less Crime"

Dial 911 and Die

Second Amendment Sisters -- Self defense is a basic human right.

Jews For The Preservation Of Firearms Ownership -- Learn more about the real meaning of the Bill of Rights and the people who have fought to preserve it.

Keep And Bear Arms -- a grassroots movement of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is a call to action, a call for self-education, and a 21 gun salute to the many good men and women who fought and died to bring America into being.

Gun Owners of America -- "Gun Owners of America was instrumental in mobilizing the grassroots to fight the crime bill."
-Sen. Rod Grams (R-MN

Opencarry.org - Great forum for those who open carry.

The Cornered Cat
By Kathy Jackson

Death By Gun Control

Rosie vs. Reality: What Every Woman Must Know
By Richard W. Stevens

These will lead you to many others.

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WalMart Open Carry Resolved

What Are We Going To Do?

Land of the free and the home of the brave..

The Bill of Rights - Book Review

Open Letter to Ron Paul Supporters

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Would Crime Cease in a Gun Free World?

When Rights Collide

The Man I Might Have Killed

Complete Archives for The Editor

[Susan Callaway is a Certified NRA instructor for handguns and Personal Protection in The Home.

Classes are especially geared for the novice woman, especially those who are afraid of guns]