Carl Levitian
member
A recent exellent post by bikerdoc got me to thinking about personal strategys for some of us old farts. I've found out that as we age, our situation changes alot, and not for the best.
When you're young, strong, full of viniger, personal defense strategies are alot easier. If you are lucky enough to live in a CCW able area, better still. But very few young guys are going to have to defend themselves as much as an older person. The simple fact is, some 30 something in shape male walking down the street is not a easy target. Same steet, same time of evening, and make it a 60 plus senior citizen, and things change fast. Age, white hair, a cane that is sometimes needed, and you're like the old deer at the back of the herd when the wolves come. And for some odd reason, old folks are seen as having money. Being retired on social security, this is a fact I ponder.
So what to do?
As a senior citizen, I've found the overwhelming thing you need to do is look. Observation of all around you, to the point of paranoia. Yes, be paranoid, someplace along your day, you are being watched by the wolves.
I noticed that when I got past 60, the amount of close calls, or as they are known, street interviews, increased by a dramatic number. And in many locations. Parking lot of a grocery store, parking lots of malls, parking lot of the post office, parking lots of roadside rest area's on the interstate. Parking lots seem to be a favorite stalking place of the wolves for the senior citizen.
The first 60 years of my life, I had very little trouble. But I was just thinking of it recently, and it seems like the past few years, there has been more close calls than the rest of my life that came before. Okay, white beard, a cane or walking stick I use because of an old service injury, a slight limp, and I've become an attractive target.
I've come to the conclusion, there is no condition white ever for a senior citizen out in public. Ever. Condition yellow is now standard when out and about, with red when passing by or seeing young guys in the area. I've taken to planning moves at any one time when the young turks walk by just in case. How I'm going to utilize the blackthorn stick in my hand, can I keep this building on my right, can I make it to the two parked SUV's right there so as to back into the narrow space between them to limit how they can come at me. Checking the environment for any tactical high ground that can be used to back up to.
Paranoid? Yes, I admit to being so, but age has made it so. Things change on the street when the young wolves are younger than you, faster than you, stronger than you. In the end, all thats left is our mind, and how devious, tricky, and underhanded we can be. It's the one thing that sets us apart from the rest of the animals; the ability to plan future actions, and the concept of misleading your enemy. The senior citizen has to be like the old Q-ships.
Of course, it would be one answer to just move to a CCW state. But its hard to go someplace new when all your family and friends are here. Having lived most of my life in a non-firearm carry state, I'm used to it by now. I just plan things different. And watch everybody and everything.
As I've aged, I've found simple observation of everything around me to be the most important thing. Everytime I walk out the door of a store, office, or home, take a few seconds to pause and adjust your sunglasses or hat brim, and scan around you. Take stock of who's sitting in that car idling on the parking lot? Is that guy standing there smoking, waiting for his wife? If so, she's been a while as he has a couple butts on the ground.
It's amazing what you see around you if you look carefully.
When you're young, strong, full of viniger, personal defense strategies are alot easier. If you are lucky enough to live in a CCW able area, better still. But very few young guys are going to have to defend themselves as much as an older person. The simple fact is, some 30 something in shape male walking down the street is not a easy target. Same steet, same time of evening, and make it a 60 plus senior citizen, and things change fast. Age, white hair, a cane that is sometimes needed, and you're like the old deer at the back of the herd when the wolves come. And for some odd reason, old folks are seen as having money. Being retired on social security, this is a fact I ponder.
So what to do?
As a senior citizen, I've found the overwhelming thing you need to do is look. Observation of all around you, to the point of paranoia. Yes, be paranoid, someplace along your day, you are being watched by the wolves.
I noticed that when I got past 60, the amount of close calls, or as they are known, street interviews, increased by a dramatic number. And in many locations. Parking lot of a grocery store, parking lots of malls, parking lot of the post office, parking lots of roadside rest area's on the interstate. Parking lots seem to be a favorite stalking place of the wolves for the senior citizen.
The first 60 years of my life, I had very little trouble. But I was just thinking of it recently, and it seems like the past few years, there has been more close calls than the rest of my life that came before. Okay, white beard, a cane or walking stick I use because of an old service injury, a slight limp, and I've become an attractive target.
I've come to the conclusion, there is no condition white ever for a senior citizen out in public. Ever. Condition yellow is now standard when out and about, with red when passing by or seeing young guys in the area. I've taken to planning moves at any one time when the young turks walk by just in case. How I'm going to utilize the blackthorn stick in my hand, can I keep this building on my right, can I make it to the two parked SUV's right there so as to back into the narrow space between them to limit how they can come at me. Checking the environment for any tactical high ground that can be used to back up to.
Paranoid? Yes, I admit to being so, but age has made it so. Things change on the street when the young wolves are younger than you, faster than you, stronger than you. In the end, all thats left is our mind, and how devious, tricky, and underhanded we can be. It's the one thing that sets us apart from the rest of the animals; the ability to plan future actions, and the concept of misleading your enemy. The senior citizen has to be like the old Q-ships.
Of course, it would be one answer to just move to a CCW state. But its hard to go someplace new when all your family and friends are here. Having lived most of my life in a non-firearm carry state, I'm used to it by now. I just plan things different. And watch everybody and everything.
As I've aged, I've found simple observation of everything around me to be the most important thing. Everytime I walk out the door of a store, office, or home, take a few seconds to pause and adjust your sunglasses or hat brim, and scan around you. Take stock of who's sitting in that car idling on the parking lot? Is that guy standing there smoking, waiting for his wife? If so, she's been a while as he has a couple butts on the ground.
It's amazing what you see around you if you look carefully.
