Planning Your Holidays- Are YOU Safe?

That time of year is once again upon us! Excitement fills the air, as we plan our Thanksgiving feast and Christmas surprises. We can't wait to get away to see relatives and distant family and friends, and criminals can't wait for the easy crimes of opportunity. Take a look at today's tips and hints, and be sure you make plans to stay safe and secure during this wonderful season!

Most of what we need to do to stay secure any time of the year is based in common sense. However, it is all too easy to become complacent (and you all know what we say about complacency,) and allow things to slip. Take an extra moment or two, and just be aware. 
 

1) Don't leave items in your vehicle. This is one of the most basic and often repeated bits of advice out there. Police encourage people every year to remove items from their vehicles, and yet vehicular break ins are on the rise. As you shop, plan extra time to take things home or to a secure location for safe storage. It might aggravate you, but it will potentially save stress, heartbreak, damage and dealing with police and insurance companies.

2) Don't get separated from your kids! It is too easy for someone to target a small child and vanish with them. Keep the little ones close at all times. It amazes me how there are some folks who allow their toddlers to roam freely in crowded public places. It scares me to think of that innocent little one being swept away, and just how easy it would be for someone to walk off with a tot.

3) Keep your head on a swivel! Actively look around and look AT people. This does not mean you have to shoot everyone the Evil Eye. It means you need to take note of those around you. Pay attention to details. Put down your electronic gadget. Whatever you are doing can wait until later, I promise.

4) Listen to your gut! If, during your looking around, something *feels* wrong, it probably IS wrong. Listen to that inner voice, and make a change. Change direction, change destination, move closer to an exit- but LISTEN.

5) Watch for people who are moving into you. That slight bump, the seemingly innocent point of contact, those are liable to be not-so-innocent and result in you coming up short in the wallet or package department.

6) Know multiple exit points. As you enter a building, take a moment to look and identify exits. Being able to slip out a side door might come in handy, should someone in the crowd around you slip into madness.

7) Stop "checking in" on social media! Why would you do this? Why give someone extra information that they could potentially use against you? Don't argue about the alleged "security" of these social media sites, because there is none. If you don't want information known, then simply don't share it. Living in a delusional bubble, thinking no one will ever use information against you is downright foolish. No, not everyone is out to get you. But there are some who sure won't hesitate to make you an easy mark. Don't give them the upper hand.

8) Don't advertise your travel plans! Again, why would you advertise your plans to the entire world? By stating travel plans on the interwebz, you are essentially hanging a sign over your home, saying, "It's empty! Come get what you want!" Refer to number 7 as well, please.

9) Have a trust worthy neighbor collect your mail. A full mailbox is also an indicator of an empty abode. By having someone you trust collect your mail daily, or by having it held at the post office, you reduce the advertisement of an empty residence.

10) Get timers for lights. Having your lights go on and off at random times, as they would when you are home, can also help deter a break in. Having a neighbor park a car in your driveway, and move it around is also worth considering. Or, have someone actually house sit. Again- do yourself (and your potential house sitter) a favor, and don't advertise that you won't be home.

I get that posting pictures of your cool stuff, selfies of where you are, and sharing every thought that goes through people's heads is considered the norm now. Just because everyone else does it, does not mean it's a great idea. Like my Great Grandfather used to say, "If all your pals jumped off a cliff, does that mean you need to do it as well?" 

Think about it y'all. Stay aware, keep tabs on your kids, and don't over-share your plans. Know how to get out if something does happen as you are shopping. 

Stay safe out there, folks. 
Shannon

PLEASE- Don't Be "THAT GUY"...

It is unfortunate that this news is in the headlines in the firearms community today. This young man will not only be recovering from a painful wound, he will now never be forgotten for his poor decision making ability. 

Gunshot wound. Image from Concealed Nation article.

We are human. We all make mistakes. It is safe to say this young man learned a very valuable lesson- that utilizing a proper holster will save you grief. Sadly he will learn the lesson as he pays off large medical expenses, and watches his name and information become center stage for a while on the world wide interwebz.

We may all have our chance at fifteen minutes of fame. Rather than make a sensational splash such as a negligent discharge that turns your carry gun into a pocket rocket, strive to make a positive impact. From this young man's painful lesson, let us take away one of our own- that of safety. We've spoken often on here about proper holsters, fingers (and other objects) being kept away from triggers, muzzles being kept in safe directions, and avoiding the killer complacency. 

Stop and think for a moment of what could have happened here:
- His gun could have been in a proper holster, making carrying a non-event and saving him grief, money, time and from becoming a statistic.
- Or, going with the no holster theme, he could have shot his femoral artery.
- He could have shot the person beside him or in front of him.
- The result of a shot striking the person in front of or next to him could have been a fatality. 

Playing the woulda-shoulda-coulda game is not going to change the outcome of this regrettable decision that will undoubtedly haunt this fellow for the rest of his life. (Chicks may dig scars, but I'm not so sure admitting a colossal lapse in good judgement is going to work well in his favor.)

But WE can learn from it.
*WE can learn that the Four Rules of Gun Safety exist for a reason.
*WE can learn to always use a proper holster for whatever method we opt to carry.
*WE can learn to not adjust our gun in an improper setting, putting ourselves and others at risk.
*We can learn that treating gun shot wounds is painful not to mention expensive, and that there is now a permanent record of this incident (and not in a good way.) 
*We can learn that if (or WHEN) we screw up, own it. Don't blame the gun, don't blame the gear- own that we screwed the pooch and drive on. 

Be safe. Be smart. Avoid complacency. Utilize the proper gear for the situation. Keep your finger (and other objects) away from the trigger. Make your decisions count!

~Shannon


 


 

"I Don't Need To Shoot! I'll Just SHOW MY GUN And They Will RUN!"

 

Not what I want to see coming my way. Image from Google

Sounds like a great idea, right? You just show a potential Bad Guy that you're packin', he will quake with fear, void his bladder, and scramble off into the night, never to be seen again. 

While that might be a fantastic plot for a movie, it will by no means be effective in real life. I wish with all my heart that I could tell you this topic is a joke. That we staff in a rare moment of silence pulled this idea out of thin air, for a laugh. But we didn't- this sentiment has been heard by all of us behind the counter, on more than one occasion. 

What if the Bad Guy (or Bad Guys, since predators like to hunt in packs,) are on drugs? What if he or they are intoxicated? What if they know more about guns, how to use them, and how to take them away from people, than you do? What do you do then? 

Remember how I talk about complacency and over-confidence being killers? Believing that if you SHOW a potential threat your gun, they will run away is but another form of a false sense of confidence. I'd venture to guess in most cases, the thought might run through their mind that they are going to score big and get a decent pistol from the interaction they are planning with you.
 

Make a point- be ready to use your gun! Image from Google

Stop and think for a moment. This person, (male or female- men do not have a corner on the market and crime is an equal opportunity employer,) is not afraid of you. They are not worried about your gun. They are not worried about breaking any laws (if they were concerned about the legality of their actions, they would not be committing crimes). Their concern is you, as a soft, easy target, and what they can get from you. 

Your job? Have a plan - preferably multiple plans- in place to protect yourself. Think ahead. Understand that if you MUST draw your firearm, you must be mentally prepared to use it. Understand that your gun should not be your first line of defense. And by the love of the Gunpowder Gods above, please do not lull yourself into the false sense that simply showing an aggressor your gun will stop the incident from happening.

It might- but then again it might not. 

Are you willing to take that chance?

Y'all stay safe out there in this big, beautiful crazy world of ours. Plan, prepare, protect. Come practice. Come observe. Take another class. Never stop learning- knowledge is power that weighs nothing, and has the potential to save your life.

See you at the range-
Shannon
912-355-0205, option #1

5 Tips That Can Save Your Life

This is Part Two in our series directed towards our Ladies. 

Whether or not you choose to carry a firearm, there are some basic principles that can ensure your safety. These are simple steps, outlined below, that you can implement today and make a huge difference in your life.



1) MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS!

If you take a moment and do some people watching (which is exactly what potential aggressors do, to identify targets,) you might be shocked at what you observe. How many people out there wander around, completely absorbed in whatever little electronic gadget is in their hands? Too many. How many look up and observe what is going on around them? Hardly any of them. How many could offer information to law enforcement *if* a situation happens in front of them? Not many at all. 

Put. The. Gadgets. Down. This is Step One, a critical step. That phone call, text, email or selfie can wait. None of them are worth your life. Wait until you are in a safe setting to communicate. It wasn't all that long ago when people had no cell phones- we survived hours with out a bombardment of communication. I promise you- your survival does not depend on seeing what Susie thought of her Tuna Melt from Tuna Joe's Fish Shack. 

ACTION PLAN: Having a means of communication on you in case of an emergency is great. But it does not require constant attention. Check your gadgets later- I promise the messages will still be there.

2) ACTIVELY OBSERVE!

The world around us is filled with moments of stunning beauty, that pass by in the blink of an eye. It runs on a 360* platform, in bold vivid colors, with sounds, scents and feelings of awe and excitement. It is best observed in Real D- not on a 2" x 2" screen. 

Now that you have put down the gadget d'jour, look around you. Look your fellow humans directly in the eye. You don't have to smile, grimace, growl, or pull a Momma Bear face to chase people away. But just.. look. Take note if something looks odd or out of place. By looking those around you directly in the eye, you are indicating you are not easy pickings, trying to hide amongst the masses. Be nice about it. Smile a bit if you so choose. But keep looking around.

ACTION PLAN: Challenge yourself the next time you're out. Try to identify several different people and take note of what they are wearing, how they walk, and if they are watching the crowd or being watched. What you see might shock you.

3) IDENTIFY EXITS!

As you look around, take note of where exit points are and the best routes to get there. Are there stairs? Elevators? Escalators? Make it a game with your kids, and involve them in learning basic safety rules. You have to give kids credit- they are much more observant than you might suspect. Ask them for their ideas on how to get out of a building creatively- pretend they are Super Spies and see what they come up with. Prepare to be impressed- kids are insanely creative!

ACTION PLAN: See who can come up with the best alternative exit idea, should the main exit be blocked off. Walk through those plans and see if they work, and adjust accordingly. It's one thing to have an idea, and another to actually walk it through and learn how effective it is.


4) TRUST YOUR GUT!

For thousands of years, people have relied on "gut instinct". How many times have you found yourself hesitating a moment and questioning if something felt right? Probably more than you realize. Ask yourself this one question now, and see if you can provide an answer.
- What does a criminal look like? 
**Remember! Everyone said Ted Bundy looked like a "normal guy". 

The answer is simple- you have no way of knowing what a criminal looks like. It can be a man or a woman, young or old, well dressed or in rags, living in a mansion, or in their car. You can not tell if someone is willing to commit a crime against you by looking at them- but often times, your gut will know, and it will send you a signal. A shiver down your spine, cramping in your abdomen, a feeling of uneasiness, something that makes you pause a moment. 

Listen to your gut. If it feels wrong, get out. There is no shame in avoiding a potential situation- you can always go back another time, another way, another day. You aren't going to offend anyone by changing your direction of travel, and if you do, too bad! Your life is worth more than someone being "offended". 

ACTION PLAN: While you are observing the crowd, listen to your inner voice as well. Compare what you are seeing with your eyes, to what your instinct is trying to tell you. Remember- We Hide With Pride. There is no shame in leaving if a situation feels wrong.


5) AVOID ROUTINES!

It's an easy trap to fall into- the daily grind. Get up at a set time, make the coffee, get the kids ready, shuffle off to work/ school/ activities, day in and day out. Travel the same routes all the time. Walk the dog the same time every night, going the same direction. You feel secure in the knowledge that your world is safe, nothing will happen to you- it's always "The Other Guy", or maybe your neighborhood is "safe". If you do set down your gadget, you still don't bother to look much past your own nose and observe your surroundings.

STOP.

This is complacency.

Complacency Kills. 

If you set yourself up in a daily grind routine, you are predictable. Once you have established that predictability, it will be quite easy for the observant criminal element to take advantage of that fact, leaving you once again wide open as a target. (Notice I don't use the word victim here. You aren't a victim- you are a soft target.) 

ACTION PLAN: Make simple changes to your daily routine. Go a different way to work, go to a different grocery store, come home from a different direction, do things at different times. Change your path when walking the dog. Challenge the kids to come up with ideas for a min-adventure for your travel routes. Get them involved in observation and planning. They don't have to know it's in case of an emergency- you can keep it light and fun. 

These simple tips have the potential to save your life, and the lives of your loved ones. I hope you take the time to test them out, and adapt them to your situation. Should anyone ask, this is not paranoia. This is a small step in preparedness and being proactive for your safety.

Until next time, carry safe, shoot straight, and PUT DOWN THE GADGET D'JOUR! 

Shannon

Want to learn more? Give us a call at 912-355-0205 to set up a training appointment, or stop in and see us!