Are you Ready to “Stand Your Ground”?
By Jerry Walch, 30th Jun 2012 | Follow this author
| RSS Feed | Short URL http://nut.bz/33qpi3eu/
Posted in WikinutNewsCrime
This article will not be about the “Stand Your Ground” Laws, which are now coming under attach by the likes of the Brady Fanatics and their cohorts in arms who would like to deprive us of our Second Amendment rights. This article is for those who have a gun and are ready to “Stand Your Ground”, but have never been in a life or death struggle. Being able to put them all in the “10-Ring” on a pistol range is different than being able to make a Kill-Shot in a real life encounter.
- Paper targets do not shoot back.
- Everyone is afraid.
- Is there a way to test your ability to control fear?
- Hesitation will get you killed.
- Related articles
Paper targets do not shoot back.
No matter how much range time you have, no matter how many times you have run a combat firing range, no matter how many perfect scores you rack up, nothing will prepare for the first encounter with a live target that shoots back. Paint ball and laser tag may come close, but it is still not the same thing because you know that your life really is not in danger. It is just a game where even if your opponent scores a heart shot, you will be able to laugh about it later and promise to return the favor the next time out. There is always that next time, except in a real shootout. In the real world there will never be a next time.
Everyone is afraid.
Contrary what some people may tell you, everyone experiences fear when they know that they may be seriously injured or even killed. Anyone that tells you that they have faced a man with a gun or knife and tells you that they were not afraid is either lying to you or is completely crazy. A little fear is a good thing because it keeps us sharp, it keeps us from making stupid mistakes. Being afraid is OK, as long as you control your fears and do not allow the fear to control you. Unfortunately, most people never have the opportunity to find out how they will react in a real, life or death struggle until their very life is on the line. Contrary to what watching shootouts on TV would lead one to believe, a shootout in real life will be over in a time frame of 10 to 60 seconds. There is no time to think, just react.
Is there a way to test your ability to control fear?
Perhaps the closest you will come to a real-life death struggle is the martial arts workout using real weapons like Samurai Swords, Kamas, Sais, and Butterfly Knives, or even Staffs and Nunchucks. When practicing with such weapons one always knows that one mistake could lead to serious injury or even death. Even Boxing is a good test, because it will allow you to test your fear of being hurt.
Hesitation will get you killed.
How often I have heard the argument, “criminals will take your gun away from you and use it on you.” Unfortunately, in many cases, it is a good argument against someone owning a defensive weapon. Anyone that cannot control their fear of being hurt should not carry a gun. Likewise, if you know that you would never be able to shoot another human being, do not carry a gun. If you do carry a gun, you need to know that you are ready to shoot it before you even consider drawing down on someone, because the criminal you are drawing down on will not hesitate to shoot you.
I speak from years of experience as a military police officer and as military security officer.
Related articles
Making Carrying Concealed Weapons Without a Permit Legal
The National Right to Carry Reciprocity Act of 2012
Give us Back our M1 Carbines, Obama
The Right-to-Carry Laws in 2012
Do American's Really Want Stronger Gun Control Laws?
Comments
30th Jun 2012 (#)
I love wikinut because even if the moderators don't necessarily agree with what is written, they provide us with the freedom to post as long as we do not violate the rules.
I am very pro arms simply because history has proven if one right is chipped away or taken from us it makes the next step easier and easier. I believe with you Jerry, we are safer as a nation when we have the right to bear arms. Criminals will always find a way to break the law and have firearms, don't take away my rights because of the few that abuse this privilege.
Reply to this comment
30th Jun 2012 (#)
Thank you Teila.
Reply to this comment
30th Jun 2012 (#)
With as much as you and your wife have in common with my husband and I, hopefully we will run into each other one of these days. Do you ever attend the Pikes Peak Writers meetings?
Reply to this comment
30th Jun 2012 (#)
I haven't as of yet...maybe one of these days.
Reply to this comment
1st Jul 2012 (#)
One has to have no qualms in using for self-defense purposes. That is the tough part for people like me. Then again, I have never lived in America to really understand the issues. It is always an interesting and controversial topic. Thanks for the share; Well reasoned out, Jerry - siva
Reply to this comment
1st Jul 2012 (#)
Thank you as always for reading and for your comments, Siva.
Reply to this comment