Why Carry 24-7

[longtooth]

Very correct sir. I read his blogs ever now & then. They have all been good. He mey have stumped his toe sometime but I dont know it.

Occasionally inconvenient for me too but as you say, well worth it.

[Excaliber]

Thanks, gentlemen. Your kind comments are appreciated.

[03Lightningrocks]

I guess the question I am beginning to ponder is...at what point would I say get back? To act this way to soon might just be jumping the gun a bit. I will read some of those links you posted. Thanks again.

At the beginning. Parking lots, late night. ....... It is alright to say in a socially polite but firm voice. That is close enough friend, We dont know each other.

If at all possible you should never have to ask someone to get back. That is already too close.

LOL...they get too close and I will give em a smack...LOL. I am a fairly good sized fellow...and I am awnry looking enough that I don't get messed with very often. I don't know that two guys like that scare very easy.

[longtooth]

You are sooooo right sir.

[03Lightningrocks]

Thanks, gentlemen. Your kind comments are appreciated.

Yes..as the others said..thanks. I ordered the street safe video from there for my son and daughter to watch. My son willingly...my daughter will have to be tricked into watching it. She thinks the whole world is nice...LOL.

[Excaliber]

I know lots of people with CHLs who don't carry except occasionally, if ever. I kind of don't see the point in having a CHL if you aren't going to carry. Unfortunately there are circumstances that make it, at the very least, a pain for some people (like myself) to carry, like a major inconvenience. But it's still worth it.

Some folks still don't understand that it can happen to them, and, while some places are safer than others, anything can happen anywhere at any time.

Before my LE agency issued bullet resistant vests, I bought my own. I took some ribbing in the squad room from folks who pointed out that I was only assigned to traffic duty that day and asked why I bothered to wear it. My response was that I had no way of knowing when it would be needed, I wore it all the time since I preferred sweating over bleeding. One of the old sages then suggested that it would make better sense to wear it only when I was likely to need it. I told him that if I could figure out how to determine when those days might be coming up it would be smarter still to take a little leave time and just stay home.

When it comes to personal protective equipment, IMHO, better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

[bryang]

The two thugs probably never gave an indication of violence until it was too late for an appropriate response.

There's an excellent book on this "sixth sense" called "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin deBecker, who specializes in protective operations for high profile celebrities. It is an outstanding collection of excellent information about how people can use the senses they now ignore to protect themselves, and how to know when your fear is based in reality and when you're allowing yourself to be startled by shadows. You'll probably want to ignore his opinion that folks shouldn't consider the armed option for self defense. It doesn't make a lot of sense in the real world, but that opinion appears to be based on an emotional reaction to a devastating incident he witnessed as a child as described at the beginning of the book. Give him a charitable pass on that one. The rest of the book is outstanding.

Thanks, Excaliber, for the very informative posts. I can also recommend the excellent book "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin deBecker, I have read it a couple of times and it has help me to see things in a different light.

I have also sent the OP to my daughter. I have been talking to her for quite some time now about getting her CHL. I worry about her because she will trust anyone or anything and I have been trying to tell her that there really is evil out there and she must be prepared to deal with it.

Thanks for the post everyone, that is some very good information.

george

[Excaliber]

I am awnry looking enough that I don't get messed with very often. I don't know that two guys like that scare very easy.

Don't underestimate the value of being big and mean looking. Anybody who's had the pleasure of brawling with folks who are 6 inches taller and 125 pounds heavier usually develops a healthy aversion to doing that again if they can help it, and most street thugs have been through tha experience. They know that some folks deeply resent being robbed or assaulted and can explode on them like an IED. They also appreciate that the dustup that follows can hurt a lot, and even a gun in their hands is not a guarantee of getting out in one piece once they're in real close. They're not in their line of work for maximum suspense and challenge.

It won't scare all of them off every time, but I wouldn't lose any money if I bet that you'll get approached a lot less than someone who is physically unimposing and appears meek and self absorbed.

[SRizz21]

You just never know when something can happen...You might as well be as prepared as possible

[Paladin]

My prayers go out to Matthew Butler and Stephen Swan and their families.

Training and carrying your weapon(s) is critical. The BGs may even get the first shot... but the opportunity to return fire is priceless. Even a fatally wounded CHL can 'stop' a criminal from doing anymore crime.

One thing I would like to note is that I've seen the "ask for a cigarette, then rob them" ploy before. If anybody asks you for a cigarette on the street, especially if you are not smoking... I'd go to full alert. Check their hands.

[fm2]

Training and carrying your weapon(s) is critical. The BGs may even get the first shot... but the opportunity to return fire is priceless. Even a fatally wounded CHL can 'stop' a criminal from doing anymore crime.

One thing I would like to note is that I've seen the "ask for a cigarette, then rob them" ploy before. If anybody asks you for a cigarette on the street, especially if you are not smoking... I'd go to full alert. Check their hands.

Great points!

The BG usually employs a ruse (ie.... can you tell me the time, how do you get to....) to close the distance. They need to get close (conversation distance), to see if they chose the right victim and to take your stuff (wallet,money etc..) with their hands.

If you listen to & can understand what they are saying in the interviews these two tell you how they set up the crime. The BG's "interviewed" the victims, for 30 min. or so, walked away (making a decision to rob them & forming a plan), returned with the "I need a cigarette" ruse and ambushed the victims.


Spotting the approach and how to manage strangers at a distance is a very, very important self defense skill to learn & practice. It is probably the most practical self defense skill to learn. I mean, when you can convince unknowns ie..panhandlers, conmen, hustlers, BG's, etc... that you are not their mark, from a distance, thats a winning encounter. I have successfully used it multiple times to make strangers/unknowns break off their approach.

[Paladin]

You make excellent points as well fm2!

This may be helpful to folks in understanding the details of Victim and Predator Behavior:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... ur#p177163

[casingpoint]

xaviersthoughts blogspoT = FLAME

Pawn shops are financial institutions??? God forgive them, for they know not what they do, but they babel on anyway about anything. The scary part is some people take such tripe seriously.

[bigolbigun]

People just have no idea on how close they come to being a "victim" to people like this every day.
JL

It makes me feel weird after anytime I am approached by someone begging for change or whatever. I always try and evaluate my response and reaction after each encounter to make sure I am prepared. That being said I always feel a bit on edge when they are making their sales pitch. You never know how quickly it could turn bad. And I try to "shut them down" as soon as possible.

[Mike from Texas]

Which videos are you referring to?