Throughout the pandemic, I occasionally will swing by small gun shops to check out inventory. Last week I saw a couple of undereducated customers talking about what they would do if they were threatened by “these young punks in today’s society”. I barely contained my laughter and managed to eavesdrop on a decent amount of their conversation. Both men had a real macho stance of never backing down and always picking a fight with anyone that threatens them. This may seem like a great stance to take around your buddies, but realistically having a one solution plan is a really bad way to go. Let’s take a look at the ideas behind flight or fight possibilities in today’s world.

When To Flight

This may surprise people but trying to evade and get away from a harmful situation should be your number one priority. This is typically the path of least resistance and will save you from legal troubles as well as emotional trauma. Some individuals develop an odd bravado when they carry a concealed firearm, and this is a very poor choice. While you’re carrying a firearm, you should try to be as passive and friendly as you possibly can be. It’s important to try to be the very best version of yourself when in public carrying a firearm.

When you decide to take on the responsibility to carry a concealed firearm, it’s important to understand the consequences of defending yourself. Not only will there be legal fees but there will also be significant emotional and mental trauma. You will have to live with the consequences of your actions for the rest of your life. Some of you will scoff and say it wouldn’t bother you, but it always affects people in different ways. There may be guilt or even sadness associated with taking another person’s life.

One aspect of self-defense that most don’t take into account is the background of your attacker. This can have a tremendous effect on your chances of survival depending on their background. Whether it’s a street kid trying to rob you or an active shooter with prior training and experience. Both are still a valid threat but going up against someone with training will be even more of a life-threatening risk, so in certain situations, it may be a better option to wait for assistance or the police. Just like when you’re riding in a plane, a person should put their own oxygen mask on before helping others, and self-defense is no different especially in an active shooter situation. Worry about yourself and your loved ones’ safety first before trying to be a hero and potentially losing your life.

When To Fight

There will always be certain situations where running isn’t an option. Whether it’s being cornered by an attacker in an alley or having someone in your home, the option to flee isn’t always the safest bet. The simple fact is sometimes people do things that are unpredictable and just flat out crazy. Sometimes you’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time. When these situations occur, you may have to use a firearm for self-defense. The overwhelming majority of cases where someone had to use a handgun for self-defense were brief encounters with a low round count.

It’s important to understand it will be an extremely high-stress event.  Remaining calm will be extremely important once the threat is subdued and you’re waiting for the police to show up. Using lethal force is a last resort and all other options should be exhausted or impossible before you decide to pull your firearm. It’s also extremely important to minimize collateral damage. One of the easiest ways is to look at what’s behind the threat to make sure you won’t hit any innocent bystanders. This isn’t always going to be a top priority in the heat of the moment and I understand that completely. Understanding what you’re responsible for in a self-defense situation is definitely something to consider and be aware of when carrying.

Variables To Consider

One thing that may help protect you against legal fees is some sort of carrying insurance. There are a number of great companies out there that offer insurance for concealed carriers. Whether it’s US Law Shield, NRA Carry Guard, USCCA, or any of the other options, it’s always a good idea to cover your bases and get insurance so you’re prepared for what will come after a self-defense situation. I will dive deeper into the different insurance plans, but it’s important to at least consider it.

Photo Courtesy of US Law Shield

Overall Thoughts

Certain people will always talk tough but it’s important to be honest with yourself. The vast majority of situations can be avoided by removing yourself from the area but sometimes it’s not always possible. We don’t have a crystal ball to see what will happen. We can still practice skills and avoid unnecessary risks to minimize the chance of using our firearms. Taking training courses and being confident in your weapons handling is a great skill, but being able to defuse and evade is just as important. Let me know what you guys think about flight vs fight in the comments below. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there.

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