Do you have a PLAN?

Have you and your family TRAINED?

Are you PREPARED?

What is your ‘State of Awareness?’  Awareness is an important skill that primarily acts as a deterrent that could provide to help you respond more efficiently to a ‘Dynamic Critical Incident’.

A ‘Dynamic Critical Incident’ can be described as an incident that occurs as a surprise, you did not know it was going to happen, an event out of the ordinary.  It can be threatening with the only means of resolving it is with a firearm.

Here is an example of the ‘Color Code of Awareness’ 

Black – You’re in the fight, stay focused!

Red – Fight trigger.  This is your mental trigger.  “If that person does “x” I will shoot them.”  Your pistol may, but not necessarily, be in your hand.

Orange – Specific alert.  Something not quite right has gotten your attention and you shift your primary focus to that thing.  Something is “wrong” with a person or object.  Something may happen.  Your mindset is that “I may have to shoot that person.”  Your pistol is usually holstered in this state.  You can maintain this state for several hours with ease, or a day or so with effort.

Yellow – Relaxed alertness.  No specific threat situation.  Your mindset is that “today could be the day I may have to defend myself.”  There is no specific threat but you are aware that the world is an unfriendly place and that you are prepared to do something if necessary.  You use your eyes and ears, and your carriage says “I am alert.”  You don’t have to be armed in this state but if you are armed you must be in yellow.  When confronted by something nasty your reaction will probably be, “I thought this might happen someday.”  You can live in this state indefinitely.

White – Relaxed, unaware, and unprepared.  If attacked in this state the only thing that may save you is the inadequacy and ineptitude of your attacker.  When confronted by something nasty your reaction will probably be, “Oh my God!  This can’t be happening to me.”

Avoidance – we are safer if we avoid violence, making good choices can lead to avoidance.  However, you can’t avoid all the time.  Criminals understand and exploit these boundaries.  Avoidance can come down to a morally and/or ethically boundary to avoid.

Safety – your safety and the safety of your family and friends is the primary concern.  Can the situation be de-escalated without the use of a firearm?  

Should vs Could: Should = Only use a firearm if you need to.

Communication – if you are involved in a dynamic critical incident outside of your home communications becomes much more difficult depending on the environment.  Open areas with lots of people around create confusion, distance between you and your family/friends also adds to the problem.  Contacting authorities can also be more complicated.

Unarmed Self-Defense – another consideration other than a firearm is having the ability to resolve a hostile problem with the use of a chemical defense spray (less than lethal).  

Are you prepared for a Home Invasion?

Do you have a plan?

What will you do if your home when someone is banging at your front door attempting to gain entry.  Or you’re awoken to  the sound of glass breaking and now you hear someone in your home?  Normally during a home invasion you’ll have a little bit of time to prepare if they have not made it into your residence yet.