Walk away if you can

[welder516]

I realize that I may be called out but I need to sound off about carrying . Some have carried for a living and some have carried for self protection but what I have learned since 2013 is walk away if you can.
Take a deep breath and think about things.
Now some things you will have not have time. But try to de-escalate if it is a building argument please walk away.

I think as a member we should talk about what is important.

 

[Bertfish]

You absolutely must commit to avoid confrontation if at all possible while carrying.

I've thought about this a lot lately since I hope to carry soon. I'm a bit of a hot head and am not afraid to step in to an argument when appropriate. I need to revisit my feelings on this.

I've also thought a lot about how I will be carrying for the protection of myself and my family. The police are there to defend the greater public. I am not the police. Now I hope that I would have the courage to not let something horrid happen but if my first option is to run I'll take it

 

[teratos]

ESPECIALLY when carrying. That nice young man cut you off and gave you the finger?

Let it go, Elsa.

 

[foodpoison]

Spot on. I thought about starting this thread myself. When I carry I will become a big *****

 

[ezracer]

I realize that I may be called out but I need to sound off about carrying . Some have carried for a living and some have carried for self protection but what I have learned since 2013 is walk away if you can.
Take a deep breath and think about things.
Now some things you will have not have time. But try to de-escalate if it is a building argument please walk away.

I think as a member we should talk about what is important.

You are ABSOLUTELY right. This is a HUGE responsibility not to be taken lightly. Many, many
lives will be altered forever.

 

[Jim12]

 

[welder516]

ESPECIALLY when carrying. That nice young man cut you off and gave you the finger?

Let it go, Elsa.

Yep, I know this is basic thoughts but I want get people thinking different. I know I had to rethink my involvement in some things in my view.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

When you carry...you literally carry the power of life and death and that's not to be taken lightly. One of the best things anyone who carries can do is get a copy of Massad Ayoob's book "In the Gravest Extreme" and read it thoroughly...take it to heart and read it again. It may have been written some years ago but it's possibly the finest book on the subject written.

There's other good books on the subject...but that's the first one anyone should read.

 

[Boondock Saint]

We've all heard that an armed society is a polite society. Let us live those words.

"Choose civility" the way the Founders intended, not the cucks that (used to?) run Howard County's PR department.

 

[SkiPatrolDude]

I think the data shows that most folks who are legally carrying are actually more law abiding.

If you treat CCW as a means to confrontation, you’re doing it wrong. If anything, more steps should be taken to avoid confrontation as things could quickly turn into a deadly situation. Even if justifiable, I think all steps should be taken to avoid using deadly force.

For me, a gun is a means to escape harm when absolutely no other option is available to me or my family, that is all.

 

[welder516]

I am glad of the posts I read all spot on.

 

[Alea Jacta Est]

The object is to avoid confrontation. Escalation ain’t your friend. Intent and opportunity will be reviewed in detail and under a very different light after the fact.

Lady Justice is a blindfolded b1tch for a reason.
Great and timely thread Welder.

 

[KJackson]

I have talked to others about this situation. My wife is kind of convinced that there will now be all sorts of people out there carrying who aren't really responsible enough to safely do so. One scenario that I have talked with others about is being somewhere and two people start shooting at each other. How are you supposed to know who is the "good" guy and who is the "bad" guy? We came to the conclusion that our responsibility was to get out of the area safely and if someone starting shooting in our direction, they became the "bad" guy.

 

[308Scout]

ESPECIALLY when carrying. That nice young man cut you off and gave you the finger?

Let it go, Elsa.

Yep - I've been being very cognizant of my own mental state and reactions when out and about lately. Also been paying attention to make sure that I don't get to "condition white" on the other end of things.

 

[BartExp]

Totally agree. I was one, committed to have the last word in car to car communications. Now, I just let it go. Still isn't easy, but you're not in the right, if it escalates to gunfire.

 

[4g64loser]

There are some days where I know better than to interface with others. Only you know when to not carry or take isolationist action.

Remember that ANY confrontation is a gun fight in potentia when you are carrying.

 

[Bertfish]

This will necessitate a change in how I drive. I use my middle finger a lot. I'm not an aggressive driver but damn I hate the ones that are

 

[Speed3]

Good post for sure, I actually was having this convo with my parents last week.

 

[joppaj]

https://www.defensivecarry.com/threads/avoidance-deterrence-and-de-escalation.97038/

That link saves me a lot of typing:

Your number one philosophy for personal security should be a life long commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.

Avoidance: The act of avoiding or keeping away from (Three Stupid Rule.) If you can safely retreat from the encounter, by all means do so. For instance, if you are out for a walk and feel threatened or intimidated by an occupant of a car, you should retreat in the opposite direction that the car is traveling.

Deterrence: The act of discouraging someone from taking hostile action against you by being aware of them and their possible intent.

De-escalation: The act of decreasing in intensity. To not let your ego or emotions get the best of you, to refrain from escalating the problem into more than it already is. As a CCW you may need to back down from non-life threatening, argumentative encounters in order to not allow things to spiral out of control.
When these things do not work, then and only then may you need to show or use the gun. Just because we are carrying does not mean that we need to use the gun. You want to do whatever is reasonably possible to avoid using the gun. But when your well researched, well thought out “line in the sand” has been crossed you need to act without hesitation.

The “Three Stupid” Rule

“Do not go to stupid places, with stupid people, and do stupid things”

We all know that nobody wants thugs to dictate where they can or cannot go. Put there are simply some places, people, and things that you should avoid if you want to lower your risks. You can cut down on your risks by a good 95% if you just follow the three stupid rule.

 

[ToolAA]

I’ll say this. Carrying has made me much more interested in watching just about every violent encounter / DGU video that I come across. I watch, watch again slower, watch 3-5 more times. I’m looking for several things.

1) How aware were they of their surroundings, prior to the confrontation.

2) Did they have time to create substantial distance or otherwise avoid the confrontation.

3) Did they do anything to escalate the situation.

4) How did they get ready to defend themself in case it was necessary. Where did they draw from and how did they get the gun on target.

5) What was the precise point that the person defending himself had no other reasonable alternative to shooting.

6) How fast was either the attacker or the victim injured or died.

Usually my conclusion is that it’s way better to identify the threat at step 1 and never need to get to stage 2 if possible.