This is not my first post on guns and the armed citizen, but this is the first in our brand new Firearms category. (Thanks, BR BullNav!)
Today, we contrast the results of being in Condition Yellow and being in Condition White. Those of you who are unfamiliar with the terms, please see my AAR on a defensive handgun course, and then follow the link to the Gunsite Color Code.)
In the first instance, a legally armed citizen– and retired Marine, I’m pleased to say– aced a pair of miscreants in south Florida when they held up a Subway and then tried to hold him up. Both were subsequently transported to the hospital where one assumed room temperature and the other might not be far behind him. Our Man was unhurt and it looks like he won’t be charged either. (Thank God; take a look at this case.) Teaching points– he is a long-time concealed carry permit holder, he clearly had a plan and had the skills and psychological conditioning to execute that plan. When he decided to act, he acted ruthlessly and decisively. Note his excellent diversionary tactics, which bought him time and distracted his adversary. It takes a cool mind and hand to do that. Well done, Marine, well done. (Note also that he apparently used a 1911 .45!)
In the second instance, there is nothing at all to be happy about. A young lady conducting a geological survey in a National Forest in Colorado met her end at the hands of a predator with a long criminal record. Given only the facts reported in the article, I think we can accept that she wasn’t armed, she wasn’t expecting anything bad to happen that day, and she wasn’t even expecting that something bad could happen to her at all. Thus, she was not prepared, she had no plan, and she had no means to defend herself. She was spotted, assessed and targeted by a fillthy piece of human excrement, and sadly he prevailed. Teaching points– today might not be the day that something bad happens, but you ought to conduct yourself as if it is; do not let any stranger get within striking distance of you, especially if you’re way out in the woods all alone. This poor girl was utterly defenseless against a determined attacker, and all she could do was cry for help. Awful. (Note also that he was a paroled murderer, and he was carrying a gun. A good advertisement for the death penalty, and we see how much he was deterred by gun control laws.)
Condition White is no way to live, and sometimes it’ll get you in very serious trouble. Better to recognize reality and get your mind and spirit in gear. The police, God Bless ‘Em, no matter how active and numerous and energetic, can’t be everywhere at once. The primary responsibility for your security is in your hands.
Unfortunately (in the Denver case) we have been brainwashed as a society into believing that justice “won” because the killer was caught.
Might I add…
If you’re going to carry concealed, you really need to regularly practice. Here in Arizona, the shooting skills required to get your permit are pretty pathetic, if you ask me, and what worse is that there is no requirement to shoot at all when renewing the permit…you just mail in your check.
Practicing at targets straight in front of you while at a range is great, but what is really needed, IMHO, is something with a practical angle to it. Personally, I try to get to an IDPA match once a month.
Shooting, like riding a bike, and flying an airplane, is a perishable skill. I believe that regular practice can make difference in a successful shooting as seen in Case 1 in this story.
AZ’s proficiency point is a sound one, I think.
A certain responsibility comes with the right to carry.
and of course, the armed robbers in Fl were just ‘misguided youths’ who were finally righting their lives…
and according to the pastor, Mr. Lovell as a good Christian should have just given his money and life away to these armed robbers, oh excuse me, ‘misguided youths’
and how in hell the convicted felon ended up with a firearm??
Always be in condition yellow and keep your focus on the front sight…
AZLib and John are right on the money– constant practice in the gross motor skills of shooting will ensure that you won’t be worrying about those things when the battle ensign is hoisted. Just like Olga says, you need to focus on the front sight (and the smooth press of the trigger).
it doesn’t hurt to get in a bit of time with the weak hand/eye either.
C
“Arrindell was struck twice — once in the head and once in the stomach — and collapsed”
Nice shooting right there.