CCW Responsibility
Even though I may have sounded a little curt in the "CCW Mindset" message, I too believe as an armed CCW carrier, I also have a responsibility to avoid getting into situations that might "force the issue", if possible. As others have pointed out, this means "Situational Awareness" or being aware of your surroundings. In some cases it may been going back inside and even calling 911 for assistance rather than jumping headlong into a situation you may not understand.
About the worst thing you can get involved in is a "domestic dispute". It is also the most dangerous, because even though one party may be being abused by the other, jumping into the fray can sometimes end with both of the original parties turning on you as a "common enemy". Many times a law enforcement officer has had a spouse jump on his back and attack him because he was having to use "force" to arrest her husband who had just finished severely beating her.
If it means walking to the other side of the street to avoid walking into the middle of a group of loud or suspicious looking individuals, then do so. If it means going back into a store or restaurant until the situation improves or more people are present, then do so. If you have to walk to your vehicle in an empty or darkened parking area, have your keys in your weak side hand and access to your CCW clear, if needed. Get into the vehicle quickly and lock the doors immediately and leave the area as quickly as possible.... DO NOT LOITER.
Always carry yourself in an alert and confident manner. Even though you may not notice it, others do. Thugs want an "easy victim" and will often by-pass those who will LOOK DIRECTLY AT THEM when approaching them (it also means you know what they look like in case you have to identify them later). Be alert at all times when you are in strange or unfamiliar surroundings. If possible, retreat and try to get assistance. If this is not possible, immediately get that
CCW Mindset into gear and start to develop and implement a defensive strategy. Seek obstacles or other items to place between you and your potential attackers.... it may slow them down or hinder them to your advantage. If being approached by mulitiple persons try to determine which one might present the biggest threat to you or the closest individual. The main thing is TO BE DECISIVE IN YOUR ACTIONS. Don't hesitate, maintain your confidence and "be the one in charge of the situation", not them.
A lot of RESPONSIBILITY goes along with having a CCW. Having a gun with you at all times means that your decisions can be very critical and taking a person's life isn't something to take lightly. I say that because when you've made the decision to "draw and fire" your gun, whether in the home or on the street, you SHOULD NOT use "Warning Shots", or "Shoot to Wound".
If the situation DEMANDS THAT YOU TAKE ACTION AND FIRE, THEN YOU "SHOOT TO STOP".... THIS MEANS TO AIM FOR "CENTER MASS" (or the chest area). If the person is armed with a "lethal force" weapon, then you should continue to fire until the "threat" is stopped. You SHOULD NOT "shoot and evaluate" between shots (this might come back to haunt you later).
If you are FORCED TO SHOOT, you should not be "over talkitive" when the police arrive. If possible, try to defer any general comments until you can confer with a lawyer. ANYTHING YOU SAY can and will be used in court against you should you have an over-zealous prosecutor. (Much like the New Yorker who recently shot a burgler in his apartment that was entering his childs room when he confronted him after arming himself. The intruder then approached him and he fired on the intruder, killing him.) We can go into more detail on "after-the-fact" discussion later.
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