Seasoned Contributor for Minuteman Review and teaches over 100 shooting classes a year.
Are you truly ready to defend yourself, your family or your home against an armed attacker? Some people believe that because they bought a gun and have a concealed carry permit that they are ready to use it properly for self-defense. To be sure that you are ready, we have lined out 7 self-defense tactics that every citizen must know.
Tactic #1 Own the Right Weapon
It might sound cool to brag to your friends that your home and your family are protected by Smith and Wesson, or to be able to say that you own a Glock. The fact of the matter is that unless you have a weapon that you are comfortable with and know how to use properly, you are not much better off than having no gun at all. What is the right weapon?
The right weapon is the one which you are best able to handle with accuracy.
There are a number of factors to consider when it comes to selecting the right weapon; including:
• Physical build and strength
• Hand size
• Firearm experience
• How you intend to use it
Gun reviews can help you narrow down your choice, but ultimately you have to test different weapons before finding the one which fits you the best.
Tactic #2 Be Safe and Accurate
Once you have selected a weapon which you are comfortable with and which fits your needs, you shouldn’t just strap it on your hip, dump it in your purse or lock it in your gun safe until you need it.
Being safe and accurate are essentials when it comes to being a responsible gun owner.
A certification class can help establish the foundation for these things, but to stay fresh and continue to be accurate requires regular practice.
Tactic #3 Quick Access
When it comes to using a weapon for self defense, being able to get to it and be able to use it quickly is also important.
A self-defense firearm that is not loaded and ready to use is of no more use to you than a stick. Having quick and quiet access to your weapon is the difference between protecting yourself and those around you and being a victim who was almost able to defend himself or herself.
Obviously, with your weapon loaded and ready to use, you run the risk of accidents. The best way to avoid accidents is to have your weapons secured in a gun safe which is easy to get to in an emergency.
Biometric gun safes provide both the security and quick access to your firearm when you need it most.
Tactic #4 Don’t Rush In
Owning and carrying a gun does not make you invincible. Rushing into a situation without assessing it first is a good way to put yourself and others around you in harm’s way. A cool head, which tends to come with practice and a defensive rather than an aggressive attitude is much more effective when it comes to using a gun for self-defense; not to mention the fact that it puts you on more solid, legal ground.
Tactic #5 Don’t Be a Target
Your firearm becomes completely useless if you become a target.
Brandishing your weapon and standing right out in the open with your shoulders squared toward your antagonist makes you a target.
Make yourself as small of a target as you can while still being able to use your weapon.
Make use of whatever cover is available to you to avoid exposing yourself to the return fire of your antagonist.
Your best protection is to be behind cover that is as close to being perpendicular to your antagonist as possible. Because your cover is perpendicular, it forces your antagonist to expose himself or herself in order to attack you.
Tactic #6 Know Your Battlefield
Also related to being cool headed in a self-defense situation comes the important tactic of knowing your battlefield. Your need for self-defense is most often going to take place in a familiar place, like your home or other places which you frequent on a regular basis. Be aware of places where you will be most exposed to your antagonist and others where you can take cover.
Analyze your home and places you frequent, recognizing choke points which give you the advantage over your armed invader who does not know the area as well as you and will blindly stumble into your field of fire. Avoid backing yourself into a corner or a trap. Know where escape routes are and have one available to you at all times.
Tactic #7 Drill Regularly
There is an old saying that, “no battle plan survives contact with the enemy.” General Dwight Eisenhower added a phrase to that truth, “but planning is indispensible.”
In essence, you cannot expect yourself to remain cool headed and able to effectively and accurately take care of the situation at hand if you do not drill regularly.
Besides practicing firing your weapon (tactic #2), you need to practice meeting threats in as many of the various scenarios you can think of.
Running through drills keeps you focused and ready to react to a fluid situation. Besides practicing your own scenarios, consider scenarios which others have come up with or encountered as well. By doing this, you will be better able to stay cool headed and provide the best defense for yourself and your loved ones.
Wrapping It Up
The primary focus of being ready to defend yourself should go well beyond the purchase of a firearm.
Self-defense requires considerations of safety for yourself and those around you by being prepared to use your firearm in the right way. For this reason, you should:
1. Own the right weapon for you.
2. Be safe and accurate when you use it.
3. Have quick access to it when you need it.
4. Stay cool headed and not rush in.
5. Avoid making yourself a target.
6. Know your battlefield.
7. Drill and practice regularly in order to be ready.
Making use of these 7 tactics for self-defense is not a guarantee of being able to successfully defend yourself against a threat, but they can greatly enhance your odds of success. Above all, these tactics are far superior to purchasing a gun, tucking it away somewhere and assuming that you are ready to defend yourself and your loved ones.