RUN! HIDE! FIGHT LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

My heart has been heavy for the last week because of criminal acts that have recently occurred in the area. Because of recent events I have thought about what I should be telling the people I care about to do if they are targeted as a victim. Last Friday morning a woman was kidnapped and killed then tonight a young man went on a shooting spree affecting three states and multiple large cities in our area. I have told my wife many times to never be a hostage. Be dead but don’t be a hostage. I know that is not always possible but that is the mindset I want her to have. I have worked in security ever since I was 21 years old. I have learned a lot over the years and one of the first places I worked had a no hostage policy. That basically meant that if I was taken hostage and they had to shoot through me to capture the person who was attempting escape, mayhem, or whatever then I needed to know that the bullet was coming. I have no doubt that the lady that was kidnapped last Friday fought her attacker because she left ample evidence to direct police to the animal who perpetrated the crime. I also know she was probably in better physical shape than me because she was out running, and I have not run since the last time I was being chased and it was probably by a wasp. I just hope someone told her to fight like her life depended on it, because it did. I also know that the woman kidnapped did nothing to deserve what happened to her. She was attacked by an animal who cared more for himself than her life. The animal tonight cared more for himself than anyone else even posting his evil on social media live. Things like this are more common now than ever. What do we do about it? Do you feel safe? You shouldn’t! It doesn’t matter where you live or even if you are sitting in your living room at your house you should not feel safe unless you are prepared to ensure your safety at all costs. The police are not going to protect you. No, they are going to come out and write a report and maybe protect the next person from the person that attacked you, robbed you, or committed a crime against you. Police do not carry guns to protect you, they carry guns to protect themselves from the people committing crimes against you.

Prepare yourself mentally, physically, and strategically to defend yourself. Mentally think through every scenario you can imagine and plan how you would respond. Physically prepare yourself to escape danger and/or to defend yourself with everything in your being. Strategically plan out an escape route everywhere you go. Identify items in your immediate area you could use if one of the scenario’s you mentally prepared for become a reality. Have you ever been in a fight with someone, but you held back out of fear of hurting them. Don’t! If your attacker is going to play by the rules, then there will be no need to fight so do not play by the rules. Fight dirty, claw their eyeballs out, bite their ear off, knee them so hard between their legs they have to swallow their you know what’s and when you can’t fight no more get mad and keep going. Use whatever means you have available to defend yourself and if your attacker winds up in a body bag and you are still breathing then good job. Do not be a hostage and if someone tries to take you somewhere against your will make sure they have to carry your lifeless body because dead weight weighs more. Think of it as it will be less grief on your family if your dead body is at the location where the person tried to kidnap you verses having to wait days, weeks, or months to have a proper funeral and not knowing where you are.

As soon as you start feeling uncomfortable get away from that area. If you are not getting away fast enough scream, make noise, and draw as much attention as possible. Yell out for help, people around you do not know you need help unless you tell them. Don’t be embarrassed. Make it so hard on your attacker that they will change their mind. If someone points a gun or knife at you and tells you to come with them make them shoot you or stab, you because you are not going to live if you go with them. Lock your doors and if someone comes to your door make sure you know who it is before you open the door. I have had to tell quite a few people to wait at my door while I put a weapon away before I let them in. One time if was a deputy that was knocking. Another time it was a person that was trying to get me to come outside so he could rob me. I think he changed his mind when he pushed on the door just hard enough, he could see the shiny nickel S&W I was holding.

Guns are not for everyone, and I respect that. If you are more comfortable with a butcher knife, golf club, or baseball bat then go with your weapon of choice but have it read to use if you need it. Pay attention to your surroundings, do not be so focused on your phone that you make an easy target. We are all creatures of habit. Stop it! Do things different. Park in a different area of the parking lot at the supermarket, work, or your driveway. Enter through a different door when you get home. Walk a different route in your neighborhood. Drive a different route to get home or to work. Shop at different stores. Do not create a routine and habits that will allow yourself to become comfortable and allow you to become an easy target.

Finally, take a self defense class. Reach out to your local police or sheriff’s department and inquire about a neighborhood watch program and if they can send someone out to speak to in your community. Get to know your neighbors. Practice with your weapon frequently. Get comfortable using it. Plan to protect yourself and not be a victim.