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SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS
work, what’s your plan? How about your
significant other’s work place? Does he
or she have a plan in case the day all of
a sudden goes to hell in a hand basket?
What tools are available to fight with, ie;
fire extinguishers, impact instruments
etc. Do you have your concealed sidearm
with you or do you work for one of
the kinder, gentler companies that won’t
let you bring a firearm on the property
because of whatever lame reasoning
that they give. If you do have your gun,
could you make a shot from any location
in your work area if necessary to stop
the attack? What are the escape routes?
Is there a designated safe place to go to?
How do you communicate with the outside
world and what kind of information
do you provide for those on the way to
help the situation? I could go on, but the
bottom line is to get used to the fact that
it could happen to you, so be prepared
to respond, should you ever need to, by
planning your tactics to get through the
situation alive and uninjured.
In our “off time” we must be considerate
of where we choose to spend it, what
the potential dangers might be, as well
as what to do if the unexpected arises to
change our carefully laid out plans.
I have to believe that few if any who
visit our many malls that dot the country
go to the mall thinking that this is
the day that “it” is going to happen.
Hopefully, more people than not think
tactically about a plan of action should
they find themselves facing the unforeseen
while doing their shopping. All
of the considerations that we give to
escape and intact survival in the work
place should be employed at the mall,
plus a few additional considerations
as well. Try to stay away from choke
points where masses of people will collect
while trying to escape a critical incident.
This will slow your escape and potentially
put your destiny in the hands
of other people less prepared than you.
Locate the stores on the outer perimeter
that have a back door to the outside for
an escape route. Once outside, be aware
of your surroundings and continue
away from the scene. Just because you
are outside doesn’t mean that you are
out of danger. Keep going until you are
well out of the affected area. Call 911
during your escape if you can; give the
best concise information that you can,
and remember that your responsibility
is to you and your loved ones that you
may be protecting and leading to safety.
You don’t need to be a hero.
Some of us like to spend our off time
in the mountains, at the lake, or at some
other outdoor location. Some of these
places may be far off the beaten path,
which means that you are responsible
for your own safety and the cavalry is
a long way away even if you have the
ability to call them. Predators that will
harm you range from two legged to four
legged to no legged. Make sure that you
are aware of all of the natural dangers as
well as the human dangers. It should go
without saying that you should match
your armament to the anticipated dangers
that might be encountered. As always,
be aware of your surroundings.
Look for danger signs. Bear droppings
mean that a bear has been at that exact
spot sometime previously. Warm bear
droppings means that it wasn’t too long
ago and the bear is possibly eyeing you
to become raw material for his next contribution
to the landscape.
Our southern border with Mexico has
become a dangerous place to visit and or
recreate. All you have to do is look at the
news to see criminal activity (to include
murder) happening along the border in
every state that touches Mexico. Tactical
awareness is paramount for survival in
this situation. A prudent person would
avoid contact with others unless you
are sure that you know who they are.
Maintain the high ground if possible,
and avoid potential ambush points like
the plague. You never know who might
be laying in wait for their next victim
and what their intentions are. Trust your
gut! If something tells you that there
is danger near, pay attention to it and
leave the area.
The place where many of us tend
not to think in a tactical manner is our
home. Even though we think we know
the layout of our home, do we really?
The next time an overcast night occurs,
cut all of the lights off and try to work
your way into every room of your house
without tripping over something, running
into the furniture or making noise
during your movement. Where is your
cell phone or other communication device
located that you might use to call
for help? Have you designated a “safe
room” for your family to go to in the
case of a burglar or home invaders occupying
a portion of your living space?
Do you know the construction composition
of your house? What will absorb a
bullet if you have to shoot inside of the
house? Where is the rest of your family
located if not in the safe area? Can you
find flashlights, light switches, or secreted
weapons in a totally dark house?
How close are the neighboring houses
which might be occupied? These are
all things that must be thought about
prior to finding your home invaded by
unwanted visitors that you have to deal
with until help arrives.
These are but some of the questions
that need to be answered prior to finding
yourself in a potential life and death
situation.
It is called tactical planning. Having
a plan that has been tested with all individuals
who could be involved can
make the difference between being a
winner or enduring the ravages of being
a looser.
Tactics along with marksmanship
that can be put into play on demand is
the goal that we should strive to achieve
to ensure success in any lethal or potentially
lethal confrontation.
Simple is Good! H
George Harris has spent over 30 years
in the field of adult education with
more than 17 years at the SIG SAUER®
Academy. He has focused his efforts in
the arenas of small arms, small arms
training and combat skill development.
George has evolved from an infantry soldier,
small arms repair technician, and
drill instructor to become the coach and
firing member of the internationally
recognized United States Army Reserve
Combat Marksmanship Team. As a
competitive shooter, George has the coveted
distinction of being Distinguished
with both the service pistol and the service
rifle. As director of the SIG SAUER®
Academy, George is committed to the safe
and successful use of firearms by armed
professionals and responsible citizens
alike through using the SIG Principle of
Training: Simple Is Good!
MAY/JUNE 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM
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