I love seeing the news reports of a citizen using a gun and fighting back against their assailants. However, I’m really sick of hearing in the same reports a department spokesperson discouraging people from exercising their right to self defense. Generally, it goes like this:
Tina Smith was attacked in the mall parking lot by a man who was wanted for a string of rapes. The man, on probation for armed robbery, picked the wrong victim because Tina had a gun. When the man produced a knife and tried to force Tina into his car, Tina managed to draw her licensed .45 and permanently end his reign of terror.
“We’re glad Tina is ok,” said the police department spokesman. “But, we don’t encourage anyone to fight back.”
I’m sick of law enforcement fostering the victim mentality in the public.
What’s even worse, though, are departments that offer self protection training to the public (or more often just to women), but teach them tools that do not work. This fosters a false sense of security with techniques that will fail when they are needed most.
There are some departments that are teaching women to use their car keys to scratch a violent attacker. Some agencies suggest a woman urinate or defacate on herself to discourage a rapist. Others actively discourage weapons, most frequently guns, based on the erronious belief that the gun is more likely to be used on the woman by the assailant.
The fact of the matter is citizens are attacked by the same prison-hardened gang-bangers and thugs that attack and kill police officers. The citizens need similar training and tools if they are to survive a violent encounter.
I encourage departments to evaluate the training they offer citizens, and make sure it is realistic and not politically driven.
I encourage everyone to take a look at Women of Caliber, a blog about women, guns, and self defense. The author put together a great two part article called “Are You Prey for a Rapist?” The first article covers some of the basics about being aware and a less inviting target. The second part covers realistic self defense, such as don’t kick them in the groin…strike their windpipe!
Remember, our sworn duty is to protect the citizens in our community. We will not be there to protect them when they are attacked, unless we have trained them to protect themselves!
Stay safe!
Related posts:
- Teaching Our Citizens To Protect Themselves, Part II
- Teaching Our Citizens to Protect Themselves
- In The Gravest Extreme by Massad Ayoob: Great Self Defense Book for Police and Private Citizens
- Armed Response: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Firearms for Self Defense by David Kenick
- Understanding the Citizens’ Right to Use Force
What a great blog post! Thank you for your mention of the Women of Caliber “Are You Prey for a Rapist” posts. It’s true – chances are that law enforcement won’t be there to help women defend themselves which is why it’s so important that women learn some skills to get out of sticky situations. Glad to hear you appreciated the information from Women of Caliber. http://tinyurl.com/7th2zp
I’d also suggest this article set at “No Nonsense Self Defense”: http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/rape.html
after reading the marine corps manual for basic hand to hand combat, here are they only things you have to know. Kick them in the groin then punch them in the throat. real self-defense is very simple, its everything that is against the rules in MMA.
Kicking a man in the groin is not a good defense. One, men are naturally very protective of this area, and will be, at least to some degree, ready for it. Try taking a playful swing at a friends’ genitals sometime. He will instinctively cover them, very quickly. A strike to the groin must also be on target, and clothing may obfuscate the actual target. Think about all those super-baggy pants. A swift kick to the upper thigh will not stop a determined attacker. Second, unless the strike is spot-on and forceful enough, a man could still retain enough “fight” to finish whatever he intends, and indeed be even more enraged. A strike to the throat is easier, usually not camouflaged by clothing, and if a man can’t breathe, he will stop fighting rationally, or at all, in almost every case. The quickest, dirtiest, and most destructive counter-attack is the best in a case where your life may be at risk.
I’ll try to be brief. My mom [barely] fought off a rapist in Fresno one night who grabbed her and tried to drag her into the alley. He almost succeeded, but my mom carried a CONCEALED WEAPON (this is illegal) and stabbed him 6 times. He ran away scared and bloody. My mom took quite a beating and a few cuts of her own from the attacker’s knife. My mom banged on several doors before anyone was willing to help. When the police arrived, their first question was, “What are you doing out this late at night?” Now I carry a CONCEALED WEAPON–illegally–and I have no qualms about using it. Almost did one night…saved my pregnant girlfriend and I from a group of about 6 or 7 drunk thugs. The next group of thugs will not be as lucky. TO HELL WITH THE POLICE, I’m going to shoot and then go home. I neither need nor want their help.
Ben, I learned basic hand to hand combat in the Marine Corps. I carry a CONCEALED WEAPON because you are not going to go Bruce Lee on a gang of thugs. “Real self-defense is very simple”? Yeah, OK. What do you do when that doesn’t work? Have a backup plan, my friend.
As the old saying goes, “God made all men, but Colt made all men equal”. Fancy defensive tactics moves are fine if you constantly train on them and have become proficient to the point of muscle memory. OC spray or other incapacitation devices may or may not work, so would you want your wife, mother, or daughter to rely on them? In the end the armed citizen (or sometimes cop) is the best way to win the battle against a determined aggressor, and go home victorious.
Eric from Sacramento,
Maybe you should move to a state that still upholds 2nd amendment rights for it’s citizens. Texas and Florida both have coat lines and reasonable temps. We will take you here in Missouri anytime. I advice against using your “illegal” concealed weapon unless you absolutely have to and avoid areas where you might have to use it like the plague. If you do use your weapon even in self defense you might not be holding you young wife and baby for a long time. Removing the probability of a threat may seem like an inconvenience but soon you will try to remember the appeal of that location. I would like to see someone develop a class on avoidance and how to remove yourself from possible harm before it could happen. Situational awareness is learned not inherent.
I’m a simple citizen; although Aaron above will disagree, and I carry everyday everywhere. I’m not macho or a tough guy, I’m just prepared. I don’t want to think of the day when it is too much of an inconvenience to carry and regret that I couldn’t stop the victimization of the innocent. It is a way of life now and so is good training. Without training you’re just armed and dangerous.
“Remember, our sworn duty is to protect the citizens in our community. We will not be there to protect them when they are attacked, unless we have trained them to protect themselves!”
I would like to see a police department be this proactive and engaged in the community. Just think how much more the cop might enjoy the job and the citizen might respect the cop if we get to know the police and not just dread the ticket. There are very few citizens who volunteer the time to be a reserve. Usually it take just as much academy training and is out of reach of most citizens. A department that trained the citizen to assist the police would see crime decrease and productive officer time removing the bad guys increase. They call that “win, win”
Great blog by the way Richard!
Thanks Don. Excellent comments.
Stay safe!
Richard