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Why Handguns?
People are interested in the use of
handguns for any number of the following reasons, in the listed
order of popularity: · Personal protection · Recreational shooting ·
Competition Shooting · Hunting · Collecting.
These days Men and
Women both tend to be overwhelmingly motivated by the first reason --- personal
protection. There is the recognition of the need to be self-reliant in taking
responsibility for the protection of self, family and home. And there is a
recognition that they can do more to protect themselves from the criminal
element that can potentially accost them when they are away from home in their
daily activities.
Pepper spray is a
worthy self-defense tool but it has its limitations.
Stun guns are often
ineffective. Knives and batons require an inordinate amount of training and
expertise to use effectively. Long guns can do the job but are impractical as
carry weapons. You can’t put these things in your purse or your pocket.
Shotguns are good
for home defense and certainly should be considered. However, handguns can be
effective as home weapons and have the added benefit of possible double duty as
a carry tool and the comparative ease of storage at home, which is important
especially if there are children living in the house.
Rules To
Live By:
Be Aware:
“Be truly aware of your
surroundings. Take note of people, unusual elements, changes in the norm and
anything that doesn’t seem right.”
Have A Plan:
“Consider what routes you could
take to get out of a place or situation. Consider what you would do if you are a
target of a “Home Invasion,” something went wrong in your office, on the
bus, in the parking lot. Consider what you would do in the worst of all
scenarios.”
Be Decisive:
“Don’t hesitate. Don’t
second-guess yourself. If you execute your plan, be decisive. A mediocre plan
executed assertively will serve you better than a perfect plan executed too
late.”
Be Prepared: “Be
certain your cell phone and flashlights are charged and ready to use, especially
at night. Keep these and other necessities together in one place. Always have
what you need when you need it, and know where to get it.”
Trust Your Intuition: “If
you have a feeling, that is, if your gut tells you something is not right, then
listen to yourself. You lose nothing by avoiding a potential conflict, for
instance, by crossing the street, taking the next elevator or getting off the
bus early.”
Be Smart:
“You don’t have to give
directions, change for a dollar, open the door or respond to a question from a
stranger. Be smart. Don’t worry about being polite or hurting somebody’s
feelings.”
Don’t Look Like
Food: “In
the great outdoors, predators go for the weak and fearful because they’re
usually not going to fight back. Don’t look like either.”
Leave: “If a
situation looks bad, do whatever you can to get out of it. Whenever possible,
prevent and avoid rather than confront. In other words, leave.”
Firearm
Fundamentals:
”Five Musts” For Firearm
Self-Defense
1. Safety—Live By It:
“Having a gun in your
hands is a tremendous responsibility. Recognize and accept that responsibility
in each moment.”
2. Learn To Shoot: Get
the best training you can afford: “Contrary to what we see on TV, shooting is
neither easy nor is it intuitive. Learning proper techniques, especially for
self-defense, is critical. Start with fundamentals. Then learn to shoot for your
specific real-world applications.”
3. Know Your Weapon: “Train
with your firearm. Beyond shooting, you’ll need to know how to handle gun jams
and malfunctions and other issues that could rear their ugly heads at critical
moments.” See Rule #5.
4. Keep Your Firearm In
Good Working Order: "Make sure that your firearm is clean, and that all
systems work properly. Have a gunsmith do a complete check every one or two
years. Replace your ammunition every few months.”
5. Understand that all mechanical things can
break. Take the time and learn about W.E.
Fairbairn. His teaching has been proven in war and has lasted the tests of time.
Shooting is not
a cheap activity, but
then your life has a very high value to you and your loved ones. If you are
lucky, you live in a state that allows law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed
firearm.
“Never
Rely On Someone Else To Provide Your Safety.”
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