By David Freeman
Guns are great equalizers. You don’t have to be big, physically fit or trained in the Marshall Arts to defend yourself when you have a gun.
So much of the training I see about personal defense features young, physically fit, police or personal security-type individuals. You know what I mean, the ones with the ripped abs that run 10 miles before breakfast, rappel off the side of mountains and eat rattlesnakes for breakfast.
I’m not like that, but I can defend myself. I legally carry a concealed handgun and I’m relatively proficient with it. So while I’m not looking for a fight, if one comes my way I have a good chance of prevailing.
With a gun, a small woman can defend herself against a man the size of a defensive linebacker. An old guy like me can defend himself against a young, agressive street thug. A person in a wheelchair with a gun is no longer the easy victim an assailant might plan to rob.
While carrying a gun doesn’t require Olympic-like training, there are some things you should do to insure you’re prepared to use one effectively to defend yourself:
- Be mentally prepared. This involves always being aware of your surroundings and recognizing potential threats early enough to do something about it should the potential threat become an actual threat.
- Have the right gun. The gun should fit you, it should be reliable and comfortable for you to shoot. It should also be of a large enough caliber to actually stop an attacker.
- Have your gun accessible. It must be concealed, but if it’s hidden away where you can’t get to it quickly, it’s of no use.
- Be proficient with your gun.
- Practice, practice, practice!
- Mentally rehearse possible scenarios, including how you would react.
- Get involved in the gun community – read the magazines, participate in shooting sports, train when you can.
Bottom line: guns are great equalizers, but only if you know how to use them
David Freeman 