Self defense basics - Part 1

There is an old cliche that says "If all you have is a hammer then every problem looks like a nail". In the CCW world you may interpret this as "If all you have is a gun then every problem involves a shooting". Here are a few of my comments on this issue:

1. First, if you wouldn't go to a certain area or place without a gun, then you absolutely shouldn't go there with a gun. Think about it.
2. Many interactions with a potential bad guy do not necessitate pulling out your gun. Remember, you should never pull out a gun unless you feel justified in shooting. In Michigan this means that you are in fear of losing your life, or incurring grave bodily harm or forcible sexual penetration. Brandishing a firearm is a felony in most jurisdictions.
3. You may be in one of the many pistol free zones and therefore do not have access to a firearm.
   
4. Lastly, many assaults will happen so fast, or so close that you will not be able to draw your concealed firearm. At this point you must have a pretty firm grasp on how to handle the situation. At the very least you need to know how to create that time or distance that will allow you to employ your firearm. We'll explore this area in a future post.