by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
There are a few important points to remember as to using a gun – or anything else for that matter – for personal defense.
First of all you must be prepared to use it. And this is the most important point.
If you do not have the power to pull it off and are not prepared to pull the trigger to, if necessary, kill you opponent then you will be the victim and someone will use the gun against you. And this is also true for another weapon you may be using in defense, though we are talking here specifically about a gun.
I have dealt with rookie military cops that did not have the power even to pull the trigger “in anger” (without ammo in the gun) and I was able to disarm them without hearing the clicks of the safety and the hammer. Anyone like that will be, as said, a victim in any confrontation, regardless whether he or she has all the firepower in the world at his or her disposal.
Without the will to use such deadly force even the possession of a battle tank would not swing the situation in that person's favor.
Aside from the skills to shoot straight and to know how to properly handle the gun you have to have the determination to use it against your opponent. If you don't have that mental strength then do not, under any circumstances, pull the gun.
While it is true that in many cases the pure presence of the gun having been drawn may stop what is happening, in most cases the opponent will have to see your iron resolve that you are prepared to use, as it is termed, “deadly force” in that you are prepared to pull that trigger.
If you are not prepared to pull the trigger it is a little like bringing a knife to a gun fight... it will be rather dangerous. If you are not prepared to use the weapon that you carry – and draw – for personal defense but hope that just flaunting it will change things, the very same weapon could and, probably, will be used against you. So, use it!
© 2011
