One may hear the words "know your target and what is behind it" and think primarily in terms of safety at the range or on the farm. But it is at least as important when we need to to defend ourselves with a firearm quickly and under duress, no matter where we are.
My first defensive gun use incident outside of the home occurred before I had had any defensive training whatsoever. I had entered the small grocery where we shopped most often.
There were clear signs of an impending robbery inside--the first being a nervous driver with his engine running worrying about me and maintaining eye contact with someone in the store. Imprudently, I ignored that and entered anyway. A man at the checkout was buying one 1L drink and looking alternatively out at the diver and at the office counter where the cash is kept. Uh oh! I was between the man and the manager, and under the circumstances, I could not leave. I had to prepare to intervene, should it become necessary to save lives. I was carrying a pocket revolver.
I moved quickly and discretely to make possible a clear shot. I immediately thought "backstop," and eyed the big freezer behind the man. I noted the position of everyone in the store who might move behind him and everyone who might move between us. I positioned myself accordingly.
I never drew. My movement spooked the man. He dropped his bottle and his change and bolted for the door. They raced away. Neither I nor anyone else could remember anything by which to describe him.
Would he have shot any of the staff in the store? Dunno. We do not employ deadly force to protect property. But there is a reason why robbery is not considered a property crime
Some years later, there were scenarios on The Best Defense TV that showed what can go wrong in terms of collateral damage, and how best to avoid it. The thoughts never leave my mind.
Now, if we are using a shotgun, we have to consider not only what is directly behind our target; we need to take also into account how the shot spreads out after it has passed the target.
This sobering police training video points that out quite effectively.
Y'all take care, hear?
My first defensive gun use incident outside of the home occurred before I had had any defensive training whatsoever. I had entered the small grocery where we shopped most often.
There were clear signs of an impending robbery inside--the first being a nervous driver with his engine running worrying about me and maintaining eye contact with someone in the store. Imprudently, I ignored that and entered anyway. A man at the checkout was buying one 1L drink and looking alternatively out at the diver and at the office counter where the cash is kept. Uh oh! I was between the man and the manager, and under the circumstances, I could not leave. I had to prepare to intervene, should it become necessary to save lives. I was carrying a pocket revolver.
I moved quickly and discretely to make possible a clear shot. I immediately thought "backstop," and eyed the big freezer behind the man. I noted the position of everyone in the store who might move behind him and everyone who might move between us. I positioned myself accordingly.
I never drew. My movement spooked the man. He dropped his bottle and his change and bolted for the door. They raced away. Neither I nor anyone else could remember anything by which to describe him.
Would he have shot any of the staff in the store? Dunno. We do not employ deadly force to protect property. But there is a reason why robbery is not considered a property crime
Some years later, there were scenarios on The Best Defense TV that showed what can go wrong in terms of collateral damage, and how best to avoid it. The thoughts never leave my mind.
Now, if we are using a shotgun, we have to consider not only what is directly behind our target; we need to take also into account how the shot spreads out after it has passed the target.
This sobering police training video points that out quite effectively.
Y'all take care, hear?
