Review of Personal Security.

 It would be great if there weren't a lot of troublemakers in the world.  Unfortunately, there are people who if you mentioned their annoying texting and loud music will cop an attitude and start to swear at you.

In today’s society is not a good idea to tell anyone anything.  When I analyze the incidents in the theater and gas station that led to loss of life from gunfire, I see the first mistake to be commenting on another person’s bad behavior.

When I used to go to movie theaters, I used to wish that people would of left their children-who are running up and down the isle-at home.  I never said anything to any parent because I knew it was going to lead to a fight.  This is almost always the end result.

There are just a lot of bad attitude people who love to pick fights.  It is better to remain quiet and avoid trouble. 

I see no reason to shot anyone over texting and/or loud music.  I have the right to self-defense.  When a person approaches me in a threatening manner, I have the right use all force necessary to defend myself.

The people who were shot did not initially approach anyone.  They were approached by someone.  Granted they may have been pest with their technology.  They may even been people with very little respect and a hunger to attack members of society.

However, the rules of self-defense are simple. A person cannot antagonize a person into fighting and then shot that person. 

When a person breaks in to your home you have the right to use deadly force.  If a person is trying to open your car door against your will you have the right to use deadly force.  If a person is assaulting you, you can use deadly force. If the two individuals who shot someone had been minding their own business and then were approached in a threatening manner they would have had the right to use deadly force.

Trayvon Martin was not an innocent person.  There are too many people with a bad attitude against everyone because they think everyone else is responsible for the tragedies in their lives.

I am personally offended by all the parents of these troublemakers who try to claim that their children are innocent. Good people do not make a ruckus in the theater with their texting.  Good people do not pick a fight after someone makes comments about their loud music.  Good people do not knock a person down and start to slam their head into the concrete.

The law says that you have to “fear for your life” when you use deadly force.  I know that there are a lot of variances depending on municipality, county, state, and country. Texas allows use of deadly force in protecting private property and human life.

Therefore, we do have protection under the law to protect ourselves.  However, legal protection comes hand in hand with our mental strengths.  We have to know how to defend ourselves with common sense.

I know I have to be aware of who and what is around me.  While in public we cannot be distracted.  A good way to avoid becoming a victim is by be aware of the threat before it gets to you and avoiding it.

It is also good to know how to deal with a threat.  When I see people behaving stupidly, I take a defensive position and observe.  My focus is to find the fastest way out of the immediate area in case things become dangerous. 

I also monitor the people fighting in order to asses if they are escalating their verbal fight into a physical fight.  People escalate by raising their voices, making threats, and starting to grab and/or assault each other.

Now, I do not like making 911 calls in El Paso, Texas, USA.  Due to simple on job training many 911 operators in this city think they are behavioral experts and can tell when a person is making a false call. When I worked in security and had to make a 911 call all I had to state was “what” and “where”.  Today, I find myself having to answer the same questions over and over again.

Let me make this clear there are very few reasons to get involved when people are behaving stupid.  The most that you should ask of yourself is to make a 911 call and get yourself as far away from trouble as possible.  Of course no one will stay back and allow a child to be harmed.  If one person is harming another without being provoked, I believe most people would get involved.

A couple of weeks ago a person was leaving worked when a man approached the vehicle this person had just gotten into.  The person in the vehicle opened the door to see what the approaching person wanted.  The approaching person pulled out a gun and tried to rob the person in the car.

Never open your car door to someone you do not know.  If you are vigilant and not distracted with a cell phone or tablet, you will see any one approaching.  Put your seat belt on.  Drive away.  You should always lock your doors as soon as you get in to the car.

Know that showing a gun to certain people will motivate these people to try and take your gun from you.  A person reaching for some one else’s weapon is a threat. 

Some of the mistakes many people make are to never fire their weapon and to not stay calm in a dangerous situation.  If you do not fire your weapon how are you going to get familiar with the operational mechanics of your weapon?  

Quickly, when confronted, you have draw your weapon from the holster, clear the safety, aim, and prepare to shoot.  You also have to be aware of what the threatening person is doing while you are preparing to use your weapon.  I used to call these decisions one second decisions.  In a few seconds you have to assess the threat and perform the necessary deterrence.

A person who gets easily scared does not think clearly in dangerous situations. This is why a person has to have their gun-use-morality already worked out before they confront a threat.  You are not taking a life.  You are saving your life or the life of a person who is not harming anyone.

I believe in meditating on possible threats and having a plan of action.  The more we meditate the better prepared we will be to deal with threats.

We also have to practice.  There is nothing wrong with practicing drawing a weapon, clearing the safety, aiming, and preparing to shoot.  After our practices, it is good to review the laws that allow our use of lethal force.

The possibility exists that we will encounter a dangerous person who already has their weapon out. There is no need to panic.  Most criminals eventually drop their guard.  This is the time to draw your weapon and illuminate the threat.

You do not want to let the person tie you up.  As you are looking for your opportunity to act be aware that letting too much time pass is a bad decision. The first opportunity you get that is provided by the person being distracted you have to take it.

The reality is that you do not know this person who is threatening you.  They may appear as a nice person who only plans on taking your jewelry, TV, and stereo. However, you do not know  who they are and what they are capable of in life. Again, you are not taking a life.  You are saving your life and the life of an innocent person.