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Defensive Options in Non-Permissive Enviroments

Tuesday, December 18, 2012 11:32

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(Before It's News)

First off, I am an academic, not some steely eyed warrior, and the purpose of this article is not about the best gear or the best tactics, but about mindset. However, both academically, and through personal experience, I know that mindset trumps tools in almost every scenario where force is utilized.

That being said, a good mindset with a good .45 acp will beat a better mindset armed with ball bat enough of the time that I want to hedge my bets and carry the best defensive tool I can, just in case…

Unfortunately my job is located in a building that federal law disallows my possession of a firearm. Not only is my personal carry of a firearm disallowed, I am not allowed to keep a firearm in my car. I understand those limitations, even if I don’t agree with them, and am used to it, because the same regulations applied when I worked at the prison. While some would change jobs over this (and I understand that), I have chosen to accept this limitation because I believe in the work that I do, and because I know that guns are not the source of my protection against assault.

You see, I believe that guns are tools, and while they are very powerful tools, they are not the only ones available to me. Before we get into what is available let me make it clear that the operative word in gunfight is not gun, but fight (hat tip to James Yeager).

As I sit at my desk and think of what I could use to defend myself if some active shooter stormed the building and my choice was fight or die. You see, I have made the choice that I will not kneel, submit, and allow anyone to murder me with an easy shot to the back of the head. If I am in a situation where death is imminent, I only hope that I fight well enough that my murder has to live with the scars I inflict on him before I die. It is only by the determination to fight to the death that I would have a chance to live.

Queue the “Gunfighter’s Prayer”

Lord, make me fast and accurate. Let my aim be true and my hand faster than those who would seek to destroy me. Grant me victory over my foes and those that wish to harm to me and mine. Let not my last thought be “If only I had my gun”; and Lord if today is truly the day that You call me home, let me die in a pile of brass.

That mindset makes me the weapon – and everything else are just tactical additions to increase my odds of surviving.

I personally carry a couple of knives at all times, one for opening boxes, the other is a rarely seen blade for dedicated defensive use. They are both small, to follow the law concerting blade size, as well as to be non-threatening in a location where “weapons” are forbidden.

But getting back to my desk, I have a letter opener, scissors, a bowl of ink pens for stabbing, a collection of office furniture for clubbing, a small fan with a power cord for swinging, and a nice swing line stapler that would make a handy sap if swung hard enough.

Lets get out of the tunnel vision mindset that only weapons can be used as weapons, and internalize the mantra of the best tool for the job is the best tool you have at hand. One combative skill innovator that I respect greatly, is Tony Blauer, of Blauer tactical systems teaches the concept of closest weapon closest target – meaning if you have to hit someone, hit them as hard as you can, as fast as you can, with the closest weapon you have available, at the closest vulnerable spot you can find.

The more you think on this, adopt it, and practice it, the better prepared you will be for that day when you have no good options – Believe me, I have had those days when I knew, no matter what I said or did, I was about to get hurt, and the only question was, how bad it would be. Sometime there is not a “best” solution, but a quick and dedicated response can carry the day.

Do not get caught up in gear, or what martial art is best – cultivate the proper mindset, and learn as much as you can, be flexible and learn from as many people as you can. All this will help you learn to think outside the box, react quickly, and recognize what you can use when what you wish you could use is not available.

Tags: flexible, Mindset & Academic, weapons