Blue Sheepdog

Self-protection is a basic human right that exists for all of us. In the United States of America this concept is typically codified in state laws regarding the use of force, and is guaranteed at the federal level in the Second Amendment.

I wrote a bit about this a few days ago, and I encouraged officers to help teach their citizens how to defend themselves. My concept is simple and goes back to biblical times: Give a man a fish and you feed him for the day. Teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime.

I believe the same is true with self-defense. If I manage to get to someone in time to save them when they call 9-1-1, then great! I have rescued them from peril…tonight. But, what about the next night?

On the other hand, if I take the time and train someone how to lead a safer, more self-reliant life, then I may have helped to prevent them from becoming a victim every night.

Don’t think citizens are able to defend themselves with firearms? Think again. Gary Kleck, Criminology professor at Florida State University, has written a series of books, that quantify the number of times that citizens defend themselves from dirtbags with a firearm: millions each year. Most go unreported, and few ever result in an actual shooting, so we rarely hear about them.

Take, for example, one of my calls a few nights ago. A citizen calls 9-1-1 to report that a man is trying to kick in his door. The good guy, fearing for his life, tells the would-be intruder that he is calling the police. The intruder continues to try and make entry into the home. The good guy changes tactics, and retrieves his pistol. The good guy now yells that he has a gun and will shoot the intruder if he comes in. The bad guy immediately ceases his actions and runs away.

Clearly telling the criminal the police were coming was not a deterrent. However, telling the criminal that he would be shot if he insisted on continuing down this violent path…well, that got an immediate and desired reaction.

Score another one for the good guys.

Stay safe!