Do you have safeguards in place?
I’ve written quite a bit about preparing yourself for a self-defense encounter. As a gun owner who owns a firearm for self-defense, steps need to be taken in preparation for that possible encounter. Nothing I do or teach has anything to do with luck.
Part of my preparation is being a current member of the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) and having an active self-defense insurance policy. This prevents some of the mental and monetary stresses that occur after the incident. The membership also provides me with on-line training and an informative monthly magazine called Concealed Carry.
I’m writing this column after reading an article in the magazine titled “An Unhappy Couple,” subtitle reads “Michigan Woman Shoots Strangling Boyfriend.” The article outlines the events that occurred in May of 2022 and how an escalating argument led to the male being shot and killed by the female. The events show many decisions made by the victim might have put her in this bad situation. Regardless, she was still the victim in the case and the shooting was ruled to be justified by the Michigan State Police and the local prosecutor.
The main focus regarding that specific incident was that it was total luck that when the boyfriend began his life-threatening assault on her by choking her, that he did it in a location of her bedroom just feet from where she had her firearm inside a bedside table. If the assault occurred anywhere else inside the home, the victim would not have had the life-saving opportunity to retrieve her firearm. Absolute luck.
I commend her for taking the appropriate action that was needed to save her life. But luck should not be a part of your self-defense plan. I understand that we tend to lower our guard when dealing with family or significant others, but when the situation feels as if it might go in a bad direction, we need to take steps in preparation for self-defense.
It’s impossible to carry your firearm on your person every minute you’re inside your home, but there might be warning signs that signal you to get that firearm closer to you. I’ve mentioned gun magnets that I not only have in my vehicle, driver, and passenger side, but I also have them in my RV. In my RV one is near the dining room table and 1 on each side of the bed. This allows the firearm to be moved and placed in a location where it’s close to me and easily reachable.
Hoping that I can get to my firearm when I need it is not a self-defense plan. If you suspect any trouble, begin implementing your self-defense strategies. Always prepare for the unknown. The hardest thing to do in the heat of the moment is having the ability to think clearly. I’ve been in several life-threatening situations where I’ve had to repeatedly tell myself, slow down, look around, think. What am I missing, what have I missed and what am I not considering.
I know it’s hard to consider every scenario that you might be faced with. When you consider some and create a plan of action for that scenario, your brain becomes familiar with reacting to self-defense. You’re training your brain on how to think if something were to happen. So even if it’s something you’ve never considered, your brain has been through the planning process before, and will take less time creating a plan for this unexpected scenario.
If I train, it takes less thought which means it takes less time. Just like training with a firearm I want to make everything second nature and create muscle memory. During the incident, isn’t the best time to create an initial plan. Take time to have things in place. Remember the “what if” game. What if this were to happen? There are a lot of what ifs. Begin planning for some of them.
If you would like the USCCA guide to “Violent Attack Prevention” give us a call or send us email.
NEVER STOP TRAINING!
Oz Johnson/Lead Instructor, NRA Certified
Karin Johnson/Operations Manager
J-G-T.com
[email protected]
602-410-7355
TRAINING ADVISORY
Concealed Carry Permit Training planned at Ben Avery Shooting Facility. Public encouraged to learn Firearms Laws.
Cave Creek –Johnson Group Tactical will offer Concealed Carry Permit Training on Saturday, JULY 6thth from 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM for people interested in securing a Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) Permit. The class, which costs $79, will be held in the High-Power Building at Ben Avery Shooting Facility, which is located at 4044 W. Black Canyon Blvd, Phoenix. Discounts are available for military and first responders. The class does not include the $60 application fee to AZ DPS for the final permit.
“We believe in preparation and situational awareness. We teach tactical mindset,” says Oz Johnson, founder: “It’s the ability to have the thought process that comes with training and experience by using your cognitive thinking to quickly determine your next course of action.
Carrying a Concealed Weapon (CCW) is the practice of carrying a weapon in a public place, in a concealed matter, either on one’s person or in close proximity.
“If forced to draw your gun in self-defense, you must know exactly what to do next” says Karin Johnson. “It’s about making the right decisions.” This class meets the requirements for those who want to obtain their Concealed Carry Permit.”
[email protected] or by calling 602.410.7355.
