What does a prepared citizen need in the way of security and defense skills? This can be like asking, what kind of vehicle do I need? Well, that depends on what you need it to do.
I have compiled a list of some common scenarios people talk about preparing for:
- The everyday carry that is stopping a potential deadly force threat they happen to run into?
- Protecting your property from intruders of either the two or four legged variety?
- How does this change as parts of the country slip further into WROL?
- Worst case scenerios where the USA faces a Ukraine/Russia type invasion?
These examples show threats in a tiered approach of training. Meaning if you master a basic set of skills someone doing EDC you can build upon it as you learn pushing the threats away from your homestead, and building on these basics as you move further down the list.
Why do I think EDC out in public is a lower on the training scale than protecting my homestead? Simply that when I am in public I have the ability to assess an area for potential danger and can choose to avoid the danger areas. Or if I find myself in situation getting dangerous I may be able to leave before it gets worse. Where as if someone breaks into my house or onto my property I can assume my presence doesn’t scare them and I with my family have no where to retreat to. The other possible concern I have is the grizzly bear that has been eating the neighborhood goats and pigs, is now going after mine and I have to go scare it away before it kills everything we have been trying to keep alive.
Our first training scenario is I care a pistol during my day to day activities. When defining training objectives we should identify both: the most likely course of action and the most deadly course of action.
I believe the most likely course of action will be stopping a deadly force encounter with someone intent on hurting you either because of intent to commit robbery or due to drug induced paranoia. The most deadly course of action is the active shooter scenario, which is actively killing innocent people. These active shooter incidents have been stopped repeatedly by citizens, though these success stories go under or unreported.
So you’ve made the decision to carry is there more to consider than which gun goes with which outfit? Yes! Things I consider in no particular order are:
- Am I prepared to use force justifiably?
- How do I identify when it is justified?
- How do maintain awareness to avoid a potential situation? Or de-esculate a situation before it gets worse?
- How do I remain calm so as to make sound decisions?
- What are my real capabilities with my tool of choice and where do I need improvement?
- Do I have the medical knowledge and tools to address potential wounds to myself, other victims, and the bad guy?
- Do I know when it’s safe to switch roles into that of the medical guy?
- How do I not get shot by other responding EDC citizens and law enforcement?
- What do I do after the event to keep myself sane afterwards?
- What does the law say?
- More importantly what does the Bible say?
So in starting this new series we are going to discuss some training points and methods I use when addressing EDC concerns.
In Luke 22:35-38 Jesus advised the apostles on being prepared, Luke 22:36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.
Jesus tells his followers the time to prepare is at hand, and one of those preparations for this time is to be armed. As the times have gotten stranger and violence across the nation has become an everyday occurance, I have decided to keep safety and security as a priority in my life. As I believe this is one of those times Jesus was speaking about when he told the apostles to be prepared.
-Joe
Outpost 95 