Viking6

Today’s discussion revolves around how the bad guy usually targets his potential victim and how you can likely avoid being his next target. Being present in your world and exercising just a little bit of vigilance while in public can make a world of difference.

First off, this discussion assumes we are discussing a “normal” predator. Anyone can be victimized by that “random crazy dude” who just happens to pop a bolt as you walk on by. Not much you can do to avoid that one other than respond quickly and decisively to limit the damage.

Second, there is very little difference between human predators and animal predators such as tigers (typically solitary, ambush attack) or wolves (typically pack, stalking attack). Both categories use the following tactics to succeed:

1. The attacker will identify the target as someone who they think they can victimize with minimal risk and maximum gain. They are looking for a “soft” target.

2. They will plan their attack, sometimes hastily as a target of opportunity or have a designed plan after doing some
reconnaissance. They will stalk and close with their target.

3. They will likely initiate the attack with suddenness, speed, and violence of action.

Because of this, you will likely be 2 ½ steps behind and at an initiative deficit. Your “GO Signal” will likely be as you see the attacker close the distance between you and them while they are taking obviously threatening actions, thereby “initiating” their attack.

These bad guys are typically “resource predators” in that they want your stuff (purse, wallet, phone…) and are willing to hurt you to get it.

OK, so how do we mitigate this? Well, if you don’t look like food, you might not be on the menu. Meaning, by being obviously aware (get your face out of that GD phone), moving with a confident and purposeful stride, meeting another’s gaze with a “I see you and I know something you don’t” look in your eye, carrying your gun, and being unconsciously competent in its use, will at least send the signal that you just might be more trouble than it's worth.

I will leave you with these facts:
• Approximately 25% of robbery victims are assaulted even if they are compliant…sometimes, fatally! By comparison, approximately 5% of those who respond with a firearm are assaulted.
• Women are 2.5 times more likely to be seriously harmed if they do NOT resist compared to women who resist with a firearm.*
• Women are 4 times less likely to be seriously harmed if they resist with a firearm versus those who resist without a firearm.*

* DOJ National Crime Victimization Survey

The moral of the story is that you need to aware in your world (what looks right/wrong in this place at this time) and you need to be prepared to be your own first responder because as the old saying goes, “When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.”

Please feel free to add your opinions, share your stories, or ask questions. Thanks, and as always, watch your six!

In past posts, I have covered the use of the three primary fi****ms options that people use for self-defense: Handguns, Shotguns, and AR Platforms. I am a tad remiss in the fact that I have left out another option…intrigued? I thought so.

I present to you, the Pistol Caliber Carbine or PCC for short. This one you see here is my MP-5, 9mm pistol to which I have attached a suppressor (make sure to be compliant with all federal and state regulations regarding ownership and use of suppressors if choosing to use one) as well as adding a collapsible stabilization brace to make it easier to handle.

This arrangement allows for the use of a 30 round, standard capacity magazine which provides double the capacity of a typical semi-automatic pistol. More bullets is more good in a self-defense situation because it is better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.

By using subsonic, quality self-defense ammunition, coupled with a suppressor, you can vastly lessen the felt recoil as well as reduce the sound signature (BIG BOOM) of your shots. This can make a difference when shooting indoors in a home defense situation.

Less felt recoil and a quieter sound signature can allow you quicker and more accurate follow-up shots if needed to neutralize a threat to you and your loved ones if a bad guy decides to pay your home a visit.

I have kept my PCC in “minimalistic mode” but if this were to be your primary home defense gun, I would add a quality weapon mounted light for target identification and a holographic sight (red dot) for target engagement.

Fully equipped, a PCC can be easier to maneuver than a shotgun or AR in a home due to its smaller size, it can be more stable than a pistol as it is held by the pistol grip and forend as it is bigger than a standard pistol, it has a robust 30 round magazine capacity, and it often has a very low recoil impulse which makes it easy to control.

The PCC is an often overlooked home defense option, just not by me! Perhaps it is the right one for you.

Please feel free to add your opinions, share your stories, or ask questions. Thanks, and as always, watch your six!