RetiredUSNChief
Member
I recently ran across this phrase elsewhere in the forum and thought it was worth discussing here.
It's safe to say that the vast majority of us here are firearms enthusiasts of some sort. Duh, this is a firearms forum. Also safe to say that a significant percentage of us carry as well. And whatever our persuasion, there are opinions all over the place on a variety of subjects.
Well, here's my opinion on "If I'm going into a bad area..."
WHY ARE YOU GOING INTO A BAD AREA IN THE FIRST PLACE?
That isn't in caps because I necessarily think it's a "stupid thing to do". It's in caps because this is EXACTLY the question you should be asking yourself BEFORE going into a "bad area".
Are you going into a "bad area" because:
- It's convenient to you and you think the gun on your hip will provide for your safety?
- You live there and carrying in your response to the known/perceived dangers?
- You frequently drive through that area going to and from work and home?
- You're meeting someone whose vehicle has broken down there?
I bring this up because self-defense is MORE than just carrying a firearm. It's a holistic concept that starts with oneself and includes situational awareness, forethought, training, ability, dedication, and means. (And any number of other things one can think of.) It's NEVER "just" the means.
If you believe you have to adjust your defense posture because you intend to go into a known bad area, then a bit of additional forethought is warranted in order to assess and mitigate the risks BEFOREHAND. Such as:
- Do I REALLY need to go to that bad area?
- Would it be better if I just drove past here to the next available gas station in a better, more well lit and populated area?
- Should I maybe go to this other grocery store at this time of night?
- Can it wait until a better time?
- Can I call someone to meet me elsewhere?
- Should I have friends with me before I go?
Of course, these are not all inclusive considerations.
My point in all this is that there appears to be a not-insignificant-number of people who assess acceptable risks based on how well they're armed rather than in terms of a comprehensive risk management approach.
One's EDC is just that...one's every day carry. Your EDC isn't supposed to be a key to entry into dangerous places, a key which can be changed out to allow entry into more or less dangerous places. It's supposed to be ONE tool among many available to you with which you can defend yourself if needed. And while there are better (and worse) tools to be had, I submit if you find yourself assessing which tool to change out to based on places you perceive to be more (or less) dangerous, then maybe you're not effectively utilizing the most important tool you ALWAYS have with you: your brain.
If you GOTTA go there, you gotta go. But don't confuse "gotta go" with "like to go", "want to go", or "convenient to go".
I once related a story a brother of mine told me about having stopped at some convience store/gas station for something late one night. Part of the story was how dangerous it was and what he was carrying.
I don't remember who it was here, just that it was another THR brother whose postings tend to make people think. Paraphrasing, he asked "Why did your brother CHOOSE to stop there in the first place, knowing it to be a dangerous place?"
THAT, my friends, is thought provoking. Is that soda REALLY worth stopping in a place you perceive to be dangerous, just because you're armed? Do you REALLY need to stop there to get gas at that time of night, or can you just go on home and get some gas tomorrow?
Your firearm does NOT provide you with "safety". It provides you with a means of projecting deadly force in self-defense in the event that your safety has already gone out the window.
It's safe to say that the vast majority of us here are firearms enthusiasts of some sort. Duh, this is a firearms forum. Also safe to say that a significant percentage of us carry as well. And whatever our persuasion, there are opinions all over the place on a variety of subjects.
Well, here's my opinion on "If I'm going into a bad area..."
WHY ARE YOU GOING INTO A BAD AREA IN THE FIRST PLACE?
That isn't in caps because I necessarily think it's a "stupid thing to do". It's in caps because this is EXACTLY the question you should be asking yourself BEFORE going into a "bad area".
Are you going into a "bad area" because:
- It's convenient to you and you think the gun on your hip will provide for your safety?
- You live there and carrying in your response to the known/perceived dangers?
- You frequently drive through that area going to and from work and home?
- You're meeting someone whose vehicle has broken down there?
I bring this up because self-defense is MORE than just carrying a firearm. It's a holistic concept that starts with oneself and includes situational awareness, forethought, training, ability, dedication, and means. (And any number of other things one can think of.) It's NEVER "just" the means.
If you believe you have to adjust your defense posture because you intend to go into a known bad area, then a bit of additional forethought is warranted in order to assess and mitigate the risks BEFOREHAND. Such as:
- Do I REALLY need to go to that bad area?
- Would it be better if I just drove past here to the next available gas station in a better, more well lit and populated area?
- Should I maybe go to this other grocery store at this time of night?
- Can it wait until a better time?
- Can I call someone to meet me elsewhere?
- Should I have friends with me before I go?
Of course, these are not all inclusive considerations.
My point in all this is that there appears to be a not-insignificant-number of people who assess acceptable risks based on how well they're armed rather than in terms of a comprehensive risk management approach.
One's EDC is just that...one's every day carry. Your EDC isn't supposed to be a key to entry into dangerous places, a key which can be changed out to allow entry into more or less dangerous places. It's supposed to be ONE tool among many available to you with which you can defend yourself if needed. And while there are better (and worse) tools to be had, I submit if you find yourself assessing which tool to change out to based on places you perceive to be more (or less) dangerous, then maybe you're not effectively utilizing the most important tool you ALWAYS have with you: your brain.
If you GOTTA go there, you gotta go. But don't confuse "gotta go" with "like to go", "want to go", or "convenient to go".
I once related a story a brother of mine told me about having stopped at some convience store/gas station for something late one night. Part of the story was how dangerous it was and what he was carrying.
I don't remember who it was here, just that it was another THR brother whose postings tend to make people think. Paraphrasing, he asked "Why did your brother CHOOSE to stop there in the first place, knowing it to be a dangerous place?"
THAT, my friends, is thought provoking. Is that soda REALLY worth stopping in a place you perceive to be dangerous, just because you're armed? Do you REALLY need to stop there to get gas at that time of night, or can you just go on home and get some gas tomorrow?
Your firearm does NOT provide you with "safety". It provides you with a means of projecting deadly force in self-defense in the event that your safety has already gone out the window.