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Training and Use of Lethal Force...Lesson 8
RugerNiner
Member Posts: 12,636 ✭✭✭
LESSON #8
Detection of Danger
The best efforts of self-defense can be made ineffective if we fail to detect the danger. What is interesting and not noted in most gun magazines or pseudo-experts on the subject of self-defense is the scientific fact we have an internal timer that will decide how fast we see a threat and respond to it.
Did you ever notice that some people get a joke and some don't? It doesn't mean they are stupid. It means their internal "timer" to detect a joke isn't the same as yours. Some people find a joke in something you said that you may have missed.
Danger works the same way. Some people will detect a danger faster than others. Ask any police officer about that. They will tell you they find some officers are incredible at knowing when something is wrong and others seem to never have a clue as to a danger when it may be obvious to most others.
If you are in the average category which most of us are, then you will have a reasonable chance to protect yourself from harm. If you are one of those that some may call "clueless" about such things you have to make alterations in your self-defense plans to compensate for it.
It is vital you take a long hard look at your perception of dangers.
Do you catch that car that appears to be on the way to running a red light? Do you have strong opinions on strangers you meet if they are a threat to you? Are you an easy target for a scam at times? Do you react quickly to someone posing a threat?
At times we are also at the mercy of our past. If we have been raised in an environment to trust about anyone, we may have a strong history of not detecting danger.
At times you hear the term, "street smarts." If you are around perils you soon learn to pick up the signs of trouble and dangers. Such exposure to threats and dangers is priceless.
Even in such a higher risk environment some will not see a threat when it is rather obvious. I know a merchant who wears a ballistic vest when he works in his higher crime neighborhood store. He is a great merchant, but not very street smart or aware of dangers.
He admits he is far to trusting. He also has a pistol in his store, but wears it under his shop coat, knowing he just might let things go a little to far and he wouldn't be able to retrieve it.
He is compensating for his own short comings if you can call it that.
If you find yourself a little slow to spot a threat or danger then perhaps you need to take a long look at your environment and make some changes to compensate for that.
Sometimes you may have the label of being, "naive." If you have heard that word you also may be in need of serious evaluation of your self-defense plans.
Self-defense can also mean surrounding yourself with others to reinforce your safety. Having a spouse or children that are up on the topic can be a great advantage. Having neighbors that are not self-defense challenged is also wise. When it comes to protection and safety the concept that, "it takes a village" just may finally have some merit.
A few years ago one of my students had himself and four other neighbors attend and take one of our basic self-defense classes. They all had concerns about the safety of their family and found a common interest.
If you think just having a gun(s) or shooting a lot is enough, you are in for a major surprise. Self-defense is far more prevention and detection than about guns.
The entire concept of self-defense is NOT to shoot someone. A shooting results from a total collapse and failure of your self-defense program.
The opposite of not detecting a danger is the person that is over paranoid. They see fear and dangers in the most trivial activity. A stranger walking by the house may trigger a response, or hearing a car door late at night may cause them to go into a full blown alert.
Again, most of us will be in between one extreme or another. Basic precautions can become alarms of constant fear and constant fear can cause an over reaction that can lead to a disaster.
For the most part folks are realistic about threats and dangers. One common trap we all fall into at tone time or another is trusting others and just flat out liking people. We want to think the best of everyone. It is a shame that trust can be misplaced so easily.
Self-defense almost always involves someone we know. We have to plan our lives to avoid the perils such people present to us so we can avoid a violent confrontation.
It is a matter of control of our temper and emotions and ability to move about in our society and life in a manner that allows us to avoid the perils and dangers that await us.
One thing most people don't like to hear is this. You can do everything right and me far more safety oriented than most and not make a single mistake and you can still be a victim. It is important to understand that perfection is not a guarantee against peril.
Some of the finest police officers I know have been attacked and even killed. We are not Superman or Wonder Woman. We are human and vulnerable at one time or another.
Give it some very serious thought about your perception of perils and your ability to react and then put together your plans from there.
Failure to do so and clinging to machismo or vanity driven logic can be far deadlier than the bullets or weapons of the criminal.
Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
Detection of Danger
The best efforts of self-defense can be made ineffective if we fail to detect the danger. What is interesting and not noted in most gun magazines or pseudo-experts on the subject of self-defense is the scientific fact we have an internal timer that will decide how fast we see a threat and respond to it.
Did you ever notice that some people get a joke and some don't? It doesn't mean they are stupid. It means their internal "timer" to detect a joke isn't the same as yours. Some people find a joke in something you said that you may have missed.
Danger works the same way. Some people will detect a danger faster than others. Ask any police officer about that. They will tell you they find some officers are incredible at knowing when something is wrong and others seem to never have a clue as to a danger when it may be obvious to most others.
If you are in the average category which most of us are, then you will have a reasonable chance to protect yourself from harm. If you are one of those that some may call "clueless" about such things you have to make alterations in your self-defense plans to compensate for it.
It is vital you take a long hard look at your perception of dangers.
Do you catch that car that appears to be on the way to running a red light? Do you have strong opinions on strangers you meet if they are a threat to you? Are you an easy target for a scam at times? Do you react quickly to someone posing a threat?
At times we are also at the mercy of our past. If we have been raised in an environment to trust about anyone, we may have a strong history of not detecting danger.
At times you hear the term, "street smarts." If you are around perils you soon learn to pick up the signs of trouble and dangers. Such exposure to threats and dangers is priceless.
Even in such a higher risk environment some will not see a threat when it is rather obvious. I know a merchant who wears a ballistic vest when he works in his higher crime neighborhood store. He is a great merchant, but not very street smart or aware of dangers.
He admits he is far to trusting. He also has a pistol in his store, but wears it under his shop coat, knowing he just might let things go a little to far and he wouldn't be able to retrieve it.
He is compensating for his own short comings if you can call it that.
If you find yourself a little slow to spot a threat or danger then perhaps you need to take a long look at your environment and make some changes to compensate for that.
Sometimes you may have the label of being, "naive." If you have heard that word you also may be in need of serious evaluation of your self-defense plans.
Self-defense can also mean surrounding yourself with others to reinforce your safety. Having a spouse or children that are up on the topic can be a great advantage. Having neighbors that are not self-defense challenged is also wise. When it comes to protection and safety the concept that, "it takes a village" just may finally have some merit.
A few years ago one of my students had himself and four other neighbors attend and take one of our basic self-defense classes. They all had concerns about the safety of their family and found a common interest.
If you think just having a gun(s) or shooting a lot is enough, you are in for a major surprise. Self-defense is far more prevention and detection than about guns.
The entire concept of self-defense is NOT to shoot someone. A shooting results from a total collapse and failure of your self-defense program.
The opposite of not detecting a danger is the person that is over paranoid. They see fear and dangers in the most trivial activity. A stranger walking by the house may trigger a response, or hearing a car door late at night may cause them to go into a full blown alert.
Again, most of us will be in between one extreme or another. Basic precautions can become alarms of constant fear and constant fear can cause an over reaction that can lead to a disaster.
For the most part folks are realistic about threats and dangers. One common trap we all fall into at tone time or another is trusting others and just flat out liking people. We want to think the best of everyone. It is a shame that trust can be misplaced so easily.
Self-defense almost always involves someone we know. We have to plan our lives to avoid the perils such people present to us so we can avoid a violent confrontation.
It is a matter of control of our temper and emotions and ability to move about in our society and life in a manner that allows us to avoid the perils and dangers that await us.
One thing most people don't like to hear is this. You can do everything right and me far more safety oriented than most and not make a single mistake and you can still be a victim. It is important to understand that perfection is not a guarantee against peril.
Some of the finest police officers I know have been attacked and even killed. We are not Superman or Wonder Woman. We are human and vulnerable at one time or another.
Give it some very serious thought about your perception of perils and your ability to react and then put together your plans from there.
Failure to do so and clinging to machismo or vanity driven logic can be far deadlier than the bullets or weapons of the criminal.
Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
Keep your Powder dry and your Musket well oiled.
NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
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Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.