Posted by : Greg Burns

Self Defense for Real Life Situations

A Gun Permit and Target Practice Is NOT Good Enough

Many people who own firearms, particularly pistols, and have a permit to carry are not prepared to defend themselves in a real life harmful attack. Even if they are experienced shooters,(most are not), they do not have the thought preparation and have not practiced the necessary skills for close quarter self defense. Since most incidents where a firearm is used occurs in 12 feet or less, a different set of skills is necessary for self defense with totally different training in order to be effective to prevent serious harm or death. The critical difference is the distance from the attacker and yourself in most real-life circumstances involving violent attack. You are going to be close to your attacker or in direct contact before you know what is coming with little or no advance awareness of an attack. The time you will have to properly react will be quite limited to: 1.) recognize a harmful situation, 2.) get your hand on your firearm or other defensive weapon, 3.) draw and fire your firearm, 4.) while likely retreating or fighting off your attacker with your hands. With an attacker just feet from you within striking distance or actually upon you, this is not the same as target shooting. Targets do not move, do not threaten, do not beat on you, stab you or shoot you. It is not enough to just be able to know how to fire a gun and possibly hit a still target. You can be the best shot in the world at the range and it will not help you in an actual violent attack.

When you are attacked physically and violently you must be prepared to react immediately and effectively where every second counts. You need to be mentally prepared with a series of plan options for an attack, as well as have at least a few techniques for discouraging or delaying the attack to escape, or to create distance between yourself and your attacker (and time) so that you can get to your pistol or firearm as needed. If you do carry a pistol you should have it in a position where you can get to it quickly and get it out quickly. The pistol should be loaded and ready to fire or you are in big trouble if attacked. Lastly, in a violent attack you should be conscious of protecting your firearm so that it is not taken from you by your attacker. That is a critical part of defending yourself with a firearm.

A point made by many who question the carry of firearms for self protection is that most people are not trained or prepared to use them properly, effectively or safely in a violent attack. Unfortunately, that may often be true. The common pistol permit holder does not have the skills, knowledge or mental preparation to react if attacked with the use a firearm in his or her own defense. Many pistol permit holders are not even competent with firing or handling their pistols. Not necessarily because they never received training but because they never practiced what they were taught. Often people who legally carry firearms do not know the law on use of deadly force. This is dangerous for all concerned. Many people assume they will recognize a dangerous situation well in advance and just pull out their pistol, deter the attacker, make an escape or give a warning and fire as a last resort if an attacker continues. This simple situation is seldom the prevailing case (though not trivial) of most violent or threatening attacks, especially in the streets or outside the home.

So what can we do? Is self defense in real-life situations impossible or the effort fruitless by most people? Do we need to rely on the mercies of our attackers and not fight back? Hell NO! When you are violently attacked and may require a weapon to defend yourself, you are in a fight, actually a combat situation where serious harm or death may result, to you or other innocent persons around you. You need to be taught how to react and fight to defend yourself in a combat situation. If your attacker has a weapon or is capable of doing you serious harm and you intend to defend yourself, likely with a firearm --- YOU ARE IN A COMBAT SITUATION. When you are under violent attack, or likely to be, you need to know what to do and how to do it to minimize the threat to you and to create a means of escape if possible. If escape is not possible, you need to know how to put up an effective defense within seconds of being attacked. Close quarter self defense in real-life situations can be done by almost anyone, but you have to be trained to do it and you have to practice certain skills as well as develop the mental preparedness for self defense required for survival.  

As an infantry officer in the US Army for 12 years teaching base camp and personal self defense, I know it can be done. Police officers train to do it, but often less effectively than you may think. However, it is not necessary that you acquire the skills of a soldier or police officer. But you can be taught in one 4 to 8 hour class, most of the skills and knowledge needed to mount a credible defense against most attackers who would intend to harm you so that you could escape, discourage or stop the attack. Not everyone can teach such a class - combat training and experience is necessary. The class content is not gun drills or target practice. The instruction is centered on surprising your attacker with a fast, fearless and violent response to his attacking you. The best defense is a quick and fearless counter attack, if only verbal. The objective is to teach you how to defend immediately, creating time and opportunity to escape, discouraging further attack or get yourself in a better position to defend or use a weapon or firearm to stop the attack. In the most serious of attacks involving overwhelming force or with weapons involved, the objective is to create time so that you can get your hand on a firearm, draw it and fire. Lastly, you need to be taught how to effectively and quickly fire at attackers in close quarter situations involving little time with attackers right on you. You need also to be taught how to practice certain skills on your own, while at the same time mentally preparing yourself for the possible fight of your life some day, where you will have to do combat or die.  

 BONUS QUOTE: "If self defense is not a ‘conscious choice'   ---  your life is in the hands of whoever may cross your path." 
Greg Burns      www.gunsecurityCTMASS.com
Certified NRA Instructor
Certified NRA Range Safety Officer
Mass. State Police BFSC Certified Instructor
US Army Pistol&Rifle Self Defense Trainer 

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