As the George Zimmerman case fades away, there is a lesson
that everyone who carries a firearm should not forget. The decision to pull the trigger will change
your life forever. It is your responsibility
as a gun owner to ensure that the decision to take someone’s life is the
absolute last resort.
We will never know with certainty all the events that
happened that night with Zimmerman and Martin.
What is certain is that two lives were drastically altered. However, if Zimmerman doesn’t shoot, or was
unable to, the outcome could have been completely opposite.
The key thing to understand is that any situation that
demands the use deadly force is a loose – loose scenario. This isn’t a game either. Simply “not participating” when a person
decides to act violently against you doesn’t work. Contrary to what some believe, it’s not
possible to talk your way out of being shot, stabbed, or raped. A friend of mine always says, “I’d rather be
judged by twelve than carried by six.” So how do you win a loose – loose scenario?
The first key factor to remember is always be aware of your
surroundings and avoid situations that force you to confront a person. You don’t want to set the stage for bad
things to happen. You need to have the
foresight to realize when the chips are stacked against you, and remove
yourself from the situation. While this
won’t stop all attacks, there are thousands of shootings, assaults, and murders
that happen every year where you can say, “If they would have…”. Would
we even know George Zimmerman’s name if he would have stayed in his truck? Just because you have a pistol on your hip,
that doesn’t make you superman.
So, what happens when you’re minding your own business and
trouble finds you anyway? Retreat if you
can. While some hard heads hate this
idea, it’s actually required in many states.
Disengaging from a deadly situation is the smartest thing you can
do. Just remember, if you are willing to
use deadly force to defend yourself, the other person will do likewise.
However, those of us that do carry weapons carry them for
worst case scenarios. If escape is
impossible, it is imperative that you do three things. First, you have to understand everything that
is going on around you. Where are the
bad guys – the targets? Where are the
good guys – bystanders? How many targets
do you have? What are their
capabilities? What are your
capabilities? You must understand the
tactical situation. You must understand
this so you can effectively neutralize the threat and explain the justification
of your actions afterwards.
Second, make noise.
Yell repeatedly at the attackers to stop. Yell that you will shoot. Yell for help. The more you yell before you fire, the more
attention you will draw. As a victim,
you want as many witnesses as possible to back your story, and it gives the
attacker one last time to stop his attack.
Last, WIN. There is
no other way to say this. You carry a
firearm for a reason, to protect yourself and those around you. It is your responsibility to train to use
that firearm to do just that. I’m
reminded of a scene in “Saving Private Ryan” where an American Soldier and a
Nazi Soldier are fighting on the ground with a knife. The Nazi ends up on top of the American and
gains control of the knife. The American
pleads for his life as the knife is slid into his chest. Just like in that scene, there is no talking
down a person who is about to kill you.
Avoid, Retreat, WIN.
When it’s all over, everything you saw, thought, and did will be
scrutinized. The legal process will take
over and you will have to deal with possible criminal and civil action, but if you
are prepared and train, you will be alive.
If you used a justifiable amount of force, you will be free. That is why it is a good idea to get together
with others and train. Work on your
marksmanship and identifying targets.
Work on reloads, weapon malfunctions, and drawing your weapon. Have discussions and debates on certain
situations and how you would deal with them, and learn that laws in your state.
Remember, even if you do everything right, the moment will
be with you for the rest of your life.