1. Never squat with yer spurs on.
2. Dont tug on Superman's cape.
3. Don't spit in the wind.
Oh... this is a different topic....sorry....
1. Strap it on.
2. Cover it up.
3. Forget about it.
Seriously though, I don't think I could reduce it to just three things. There are lots and lots of foundational principles, but they are difficult to reduce to one sentence blurbs. Here are my three thoughts. These are not hard and fast rules. Consider them to be guidelines. There are more, but these three come to mind first....
#1:
C-dub's #4—"you had better think hard about where your line is and if someone crosses it do not hesitate or it could be the last thing you ever do"—is most excellent advice. A lot of the other stuff about what gun, or what clothes, or what holster, or what carry method all boils down to personal preferences and the individual's life situation. But the decision regarding whether or not one is willing to take another person's life if necessary to survive—
that one had better be made well in advance, before you ever walk out the door with a gun strapped on. This is no-kidding serious business. We do not shoot to kill. We shoot to stop the threat. And the fact is that about 80% or more of gunshot people actually survive their wounds to fight another day. But, that doesn't change the fact that the other 20%
won't survive, and that means that you have a roughly one in five chance of killing the person you shoot,
even if that was not your intention! Therefore, you have to decide in advance that this is something you can live with if it comes to that......because it might. As part of this decision, be sure exactly where your line is when it comes to the defense of a third party; and be sure that in arriving at that part of the decision, you are comfortable with knowing that defense of a third party may lead to your own demise. Some people on this board, myself included, tend to think of ourselves as sheepdogs. Others on this board pointedly do not.
Neither is a wrong answer. Just be sure in advance which you think
you are, and then live your life accordingly.
#2:
A gun is not a talisman, nor is it a death ray. Its presence on your hip does not make you invincible. Your bullets will not likely immediately incapacitate your opponent. They may, in fact, absorb your bullets and then beat you up. Your gun does
not give you any particular authority over the next guy. It does not make you special. It doesn't make you "almost a cop." You can still be killed; you can still be hurt. Worse yet, you might unintentionally kill or hurt someone innocent. Carrying that gun is a very,
very sobering thing—so
don't disrespect it. This means that you may have to make some grown-up decisions about modifying your own behavior, if you're at all inclined to behave irresponsibly or thoughtlessly. It means that you don't return road rage with a raised middle finger. It means that you might have to walk away from a verbal confrontation if at all possible,
even when you know your are right. Consider whether or not you
really need to go honkey-tonkin'. This leads to the next item......
#3:
One of the reasons our nation is in the trouble it is in is because somewhere back in the 1960s or so, the proverbial "we" decided that rights should be de-linked from responsibilities, but that is not what our founders intended. In their view, rights come with awesome responsibilities. The responsible exercise of our rights is called liberty. The irresponsible exercise of our rights leads to loss of liberty. When you carry a gun, that 1960s world-view is not something you can afford. Yes, you have a right, but that right comes with tremendous responsibilities. It is your
responsibility to know the law. You don't have to be a lawyer, but you do need to be familiar with the law under which you obtained your CHL. You need to know the difference between use of force and use of deadly force. You need to know when either is justified under the law. AND, you need to be a big enough man (or woman) to know what you
don't know and to take steps to find out the answers. I'm getting to be an old poop, and my memory for details isn't what it used to be. If you find yourself stumped for an answer, ask someone who knows. If you say something about the law and someone disputes it with you, listen. They might be right. Or not. But don't assume you are always right unless you really know the book forward and backward. Few do.
I could go on. Pick whichever group of three answers you like best.
).