From: Michael S. Lorrey (retroman@turbont.net)
Date: Fri Sep 22 2000 - 13:41:55 MDT
David Lubkin wrote:
>
> There are six or seven gun axioms that are carved on the lining of my skull.
> One of them: never assume in a situation that if you are armed, you will
> remain armed. Important corollaries:
>
> Don't enter a situation armed that you wouldn't be comfortable entering
> unarmed.
>
> Have a fallback plan in case you are disarmed, your weapon fails, or you've
> run out of ammunition.
>
> A related axiom is never have a gun for self-defense unless you are ready,
> willing, and able emotionally and technically to kill someone. You *cannot*
> say "I'll just point it at them but I wouldn't really shoot" or "I'll just
> wound them." If you feel that way, don't get a gun. You're needlessly
> endangering yourself and others.
Just so. However, I don't think many people would be interested or able to face
an armed rapist or killer unarmed in any circumstances. Having a backup is
always good, even if you are not disarmed of your primary weapon by the perp,
there is always a matter of jams and misfires. There is also a matter of
circumstances. For example, I may normally carry a 9 mm autoloader under my arm,
however if I expect to take of my jacket, or don't expect it and have to (heat,
humidity, etc) I want to be able to lock that firearm securely in my vehicle,
office, or home and still be armed with my smaller more compact backups. As it
is, I can be in a swim suit and t-shirt and still be armed if I have to, with
nobody the wiser. Layering your weaponry is like layering clothing.
Any weapon you carry you MUST be willing to use. Visualize using in various
circumstances. Determine what are appropriate weapons for you, what you are
comfortable with, and under what circumstances. My own looks like this:
wilderness: .44 cap and ball revolver, or .44 magnum revolver, or 9mm
autoloader, open carry
general public: 9mm, .22 magnum backup, knife or mace/pepper secondary backup,
heavy duty zip ties, all concealed.
light clothing: .22 magnum, knife or mac/pepper backup, heavy duty zip ties, all
concealed typically, though .22 magnum may be open carry depending on model
used.
swimming: knife or fists, w/ pepper spray backup
NOTE: There are many circumstances where you will not feel the need to be armed
to these levels. Living here in northern NH, I typically don't feel like I need
to be armed, though I always do in the woods, as bear and moose can be
agressive.
What is with the zip ties, you ask? If you detain a perp, with or without
wounding them, you will need to detain them until help arrives. Sitting there
and watching them constantly can be difficult, especially if you are in a
dangerous area, you don't have eyes in the back of your head. Make your job
easer. Black heavy duty zip ties, at least 12-16" long, are excellent compact
devices for detaining a perp. Get them on the ground. Have them zip their own
legs up then roll over on their bellies with hands behind their back and have
them start the zip tie themselves until they cannot do any more, then grab the
end and pull quickly to cinch it up fast before they get a chance to try
anything (step or kneel on their back while you do this, use your weight to help
immobilize them, and keep the muzzle of your gun in contact with the core of
their body). Then check the tie on the feet. DO NOT feel sympathetic when they
whine about pain, circulation, etc. That is their problem they brought on
themselves, and they are typically just conning you, trying to gain the
advantage back.
These ties can be bought in most hardware stores, and they roll up nicely in a
compact bundle too. They are very popular with cops on big busts in place of
handcuffs.
This is really helpful when you are in a jurisdiction that frowns on private
citizens exercising their constitutional rights. Once they are detained, it is
much easier for you to dispose of any questionable weaponry you may not want
confiscated by overzealous cops. Its also good if you are in a situation where
you subdue two attackers. Unlikely, but it does happen.
I do NOT recommend mace or pepper spray as a primary weapon. It is only a backup
that is useful for regaining the advantage in a confrontation. When it is all
you have in hand, you better be prepared and able to use your bare hands or
knife effectively as your primary weapon. Use the spray to screw up the other
guys vision and ability to breath. Once that is done, drop it and use both
hands. His adrenaline rush will work to your advantage.
Do not count what I say here as 'training' of any sort. Actual practice in the
real world using your selected weapons cannot be substituted. Join a shooting
club, take self defense courses, etc. PRACTICE: Shooting, hand to hand, knife
fighting, as well as subduing and detaining.
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