Concealed Carry ADD

Honesty. It seems that honesty is a lost trait. Billy Joel said:
“Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you.”

Can you be honest with yourself and about yourself? Speaking honestly, answer these questions.
Do you have a quick temper?
Can you back down from a fight?
Do you have a big mouth?
Can you keep your emotions under control?
These are only a few questions you should ask yourself and honestly answer if you want to carry a gun. If you can answer these questions and you find you can control yourself and have the maturity to walk away, or maybe even run away, then maybe you could be a concealed carrier.

“How do you win a gunfight? Don’t be there.” John Farnam of Defense Training international

“Personal security is a life-long commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.” Andy Stanford, author, combat arms instructor

When faced with a fight that has not started get outta there! Why would you stay if you can see an eminent fight forming? You know that you are armed. Whether you think your opponent is or is not, matters not. You know you have a gun and you should stop before it starts. Walk away. We talk in gun defense about getting off the “X” all the time. Isn’t avoidance of a fight getting off the X?
It’s not a gun or none scenario. You have lots of options. These include:
Lethal Force
Less Lethal Force
Verbalize and/or communicate
Withdraw or Take Cover
Surrender (at least temporarily)
Search
Wait or Gather Information

Backing down is not the act of a coward, it is the act of a responsible, smart concealed carrier. If standing down is not in your nature listen carefully: Don’t. Carry. A Gun! You’re not ready. You don’t have the maturity or temperament. Take Karate. Of course that requires a LOT of discipline! So you’re probably not ready for that either.

Standing your ground is pretty misunderstood. That does not mean you can stand there and escalate, or exacerbate a situation. Stand your ground really is not a technique. It is a situation and a courtroom strategy. Don’t change it into an event you name or call out. If you are put into a situation where lethal force is the only way out, then us that force. If there is any, and I emphasize ANY, other way or a sliver of chance for you to escape, then you’d better take that opportunity. Stand your ground is nice but it’s not a strategy. If you think it is you may find yourself in jail. You also may take a life when you could have just escaped. Even if you kill someone legally, don’t think your troubles are over. Killing is not at all what entertainment shows it to be. If you have to do it then you will still have to suffer the consequences. Legal problems are the least of your worries. Mental problems will exist. I’m telling you it will be an issue. How big of an issue is yet to be seen. No matter how tough you are, or how together you think you are, taking a human life, no matter how justified, will affect you. Take it from someone who has dealt with PTSD and the guilt associated with it, you would rather not go down that road. It will change your life and not for the better. As famed gun instructor Claude Werner said:

“Defense and offense are two sides of the same coin. Whenever possible, we need to put that coin in our pocket and walk away with it.”

In combat, there is a moment, or several moments, when you know you have a choice to kill or not. Often it is kill or be killed. That is the heat of battle. But just as often is the opposite.
Here are some acronyms to remember:
DBAI – Don’t be an idiot
MYAB – Mind your own business
SYP – Swallow your pride
FSYG – Forget stand your ground.

DBAI
You can be an idiot in many ways as a concealed carrier. You can be an aggressor because you think that gun you carry makes you something that you’re not. Because of that gun you carry you may say and do things you’d never do if you didn’t have a weapon. Being a jerk or an idiot is not something you can afford to be when you carry a gun.
MYOB
Minding your own business is something that should be practiced by most of us. I’m not saying to let some guy beat up on his girlfriend, but often we need to let authority do their job. A store manager can call the police on a loud, obnoxious customer. It is not your job to take care of every problem and injustice. Use the utmost of judgement before you get involved with someone else’s business. Managers and law enforcement get paid to deal with these type problems.
SYP
Being meek does not mean you are weak. Backing down is not always comfortable. If other perceive you as a wimp or a coward it doesn’t really matter. Even if it is your wife or children. At least with your family you can explain why you avoided or walked away. I would rather lose face than go to jail or worse.
FSYG
As I said above, stand your ground is a legal ploy. Forget about it and it will serve you if you ever need it in the court room. Otherwise, use discretion in what you get involved with and how you get involved.

All of those who carry a gun should remember to have ADD. Avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.
Avoid those places: Bad neighborhoods, bars. Bad people: Biker types, “tough” guys, criminals.
Deterrence: Don’t look like a soft target. Use situational awareness and be alert.
De-escalation: If you get involved don’t let the situation get worse. Calm yourself and others. Control your temper and attempt to be a peacemaker.

Just walk away. Whatever it takes, walk away. If it means you look foolish be prepared for that. Fighting, especially with a gun, is not ever preferable. In a gunfight you must be responsible for every bullet. Even if you shoot the threat and kill them, you have to live with that. No, walking away is something you want to be able to do. In walking you have no legal problems and you get to go home. That is what living in the U.S. is all about.

Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn