Some people believe they can avoid criminal activity by simply avoiding ‘bad’ areas. True, a person may be more likely to be attacked in certain locales, but people can be victimized virtually anywhere. The best way to avoid attacks when you are out and about is to recognize and address threats before they lead to dangerous conflict.
On the street, how does a criminal decide who to attack?
After a bad guy decides to commit a crime, he needs a victim—preferably someone oblivious to danger and who is likely to be afraid to fight back when attacked. Bad guys often ‘test’ their potential victim by asking for a match, the time or something similar, an action that reveals whether the individual will allow his or her personal space to be violated.
How can a gun owner avoid looking like a good target?
Guns do not magically keep criminals away, .Awareness is the best deterrent. The vast majority of criminals are opportunists who only strike when presented with a good opportunity. Remove the opportunity and you dramatically reduce the risk you face.
How does one learn how to effectively observe and detect risk?
On the street, we must mentally ‘shift gears’ to match the threat level we encounter. There is a sliding scale of readiness, starting with an oblivious, unprepared state and moving all the way to a condition of being ready to fight instantly and with lethal violence if forced.
Shouldn’t we simply live prepared to instantly fight back when required?
We can’t observe effectively if we are stuck at either end of this spectrum .At the bottom of the scale, we will fall victim to an accident or to a criminal, eventually. On the other hand, we can’t go through the day with our hand on our holstered pistol. Our threat response needs to move up and down the scale as both observation and circumstances change.
What are the psychological problems the average person must overcome when attacked?
Most of us face three psychological difficulties: recognizing the threat in time to react; understanding and accepting that severe harm or death is likely; and overcoming reluctance to respond to that threat by responding violently against another human being.
How can we overcome these three problems?
We overcome these problems by moving along the sliding threat scale. The lowest level on the scale allows us to be in an oblivious, daydreaming, preoccupied state.
The next level is that of general alertness—heads up and eyes searching. Still higher is identification of a specific threat. The final level is being psychologically prepared to fight.
What happens when we reach that final level—when we are prepared to fight?
When we believe a threat is real, we are waiting on a ‘mental trigger’ - a specific, predetermined action on a bad guy’s part that will result in our immediate, aggressive, defensive reaction. By having a ‘pre-made decision’ set up in our mind, we can move fast enough to deal with the problem and not waste time deciding what to do.
What is that trigger?
The mental trigger will differ depending on the circumstances .It could be, “I’ve told him to stop; if he moves one more step toward me with that tire iron, I’ll shoot .”Whatever the trigger is, once it is pulled, we must take immediate action against the bad guy.
Do criminals really fear gun-carrying citizens?
Yes. In fact, criminals fear the armed citizen more than the police—armed citizens are unpredictable. They resist attacks, and they shoot back. Most bad guys will avoid an attack on a random person they believe might be armed. The most common behavioral difference between the armed and unarmed citizen often is awareness.
Q: Do I need to take a refresher class to renew my CPL license?
A: No, on the CPL application there is a section for renewal. With a renewal you must certify that you have completed at least 3 hours of review and at least 1 hour of range time. There is no need to take a refresher course for a renewal, however for persons wanting a refresher
course to ensure they are up to date on the laws and for range time I do offer this service.
Q:
How much is the total cost to get my CPL?
A: Class is $100.00 / 110.00 and the County charges $115.00. CPL
is good for 5 years.
Q: I do not have a gun yet, can I still
take the class?
A:
Yes, Lapeer County CPL offers guns for for free. You must bring your own ammo. 22 or 9mm
Q: If I have a past OWI can I still get a CPL?
A Yes, as long as it was your first and was three years prior.
On the street, how does a criminal decide who to attack?
After a bad guy decides to commit a crime, he needs a victim—preferably someone oblivious to danger and who is likely to be afraid to fight back when attacked. Bad guys often ‘test’ their potential victim by asking for a match, the time or something similar, an action that reveals whether the individual will allow his or her personal space to be violated.
How can a gun owner avoid looking like a good target?
Guns do not magically keep criminals away, .Awareness is the best deterrent. The vast majority of criminals are opportunists who only strike when presented with a good opportunity. Remove the opportunity and you dramatically reduce the risk you face.
How does one learn how to effectively observe and detect risk?
On the street, we must mentally ‘shift gears’ to match the threat level we encounter. There is a sliding scale of readiness, starting with an oblivious, unprepared state and moving all the way to a condition of being ready to fight instantly and with lethal violence if forced.
Shouldn’t we simply live prepared to instantly fight back when required?
We can’t observe effectively if we are stuck at either end of this spectrum .At the bottom of the scale, we will fall victim to an accident or to a criminal, eventually. On the other hand, we can’t go through the day with our hand on our holstered pistol. Our threat response needs to move up and down the scale as both observation and circumstances change.
What are the psychological problems the average person must overcome when attacked?
Most of us face three psychological difficulties: recognizing the threat in time to react; understanding and accepting that severe harm or death is likely; and overcoming reluctance to respond to that threat by responding violently against another human being.
How can we overcome these three problems?
We overcome these problems by moving along the sliding threat scale. The lowest level on the scale allows us to be in an oblivious, daydreaming, preoccupied state.
The next level is that of general alertness—heads up and eyes searching. Still higher is identification of a specific threat. The final level is being psychologically prepared to fight.
What happens when we reach that final level—when we are prepared to fight?
When we believe a threat is real, we are waiting on a ‘mental trigger’ - a specific, predetermined action on a bad guy’s part that will result in our immediate, aggressive, defensive reaction. By having a ‘pre-made decision’ set up in our mind, we can move fast enough to deal with the problem and not waste time deciding what to do.
What is that trigger?
The mental trigger will differ depending on the circumstances .It could be, “I’ve told him to stop; if he moves one more step toward me with that tire iron, I’ll shoot .”Whatever the trigger is, once it is pulled, we must take immediate action against the bad guy.
Do criminals really fear gun-carrying citizens?
Yes. In fact, criminals fear the armed citizen more than the police—armed citizens are unpredictable. They resist attacks, and they shoot back. Most bad guys will avoid an attack on a random person they believe might be armed. The most common behavioral difference between the armed and unarmed citizen often is awareness.
Q: Do I need to take a refresher class to renew my CPL license?
A: No, on the CPL application there is a section for renewal. With a renewal you must certify that you have completed at least 3 hours of review and at least 1 hour of range time. There is no need to take a refresher course for a renewal, however for persons wanting a refresher
course to ensure they are up to date on the laws and for range time I do offer this service.
Q:
How much is the total cost to get my CPL?
A: Class is $100.00 / 110.00 and the County charges $115.00. CPL
is good for 5 years.
Q: I do not have a gun yet, can I still
take the class?
A:
Yes, Lapeer County CPL offers guns for for free. You must bring your own ammo. 22 or 9mm
Q: If I have a past OWI can I still get a CPL?
A Yes, as long as it was your first and was three years prior.
THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE
780.972.new Use of deadly force by individual not engaged in commission of crime; conditions
Sec. 2.
(1) An individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses deadly force may use deadly force against another individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat if either of the following applies:
(a) The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent death of or imminent great bodily harm to himself or herself or to another individual.
(b) The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent sexual assault of himself or herself or of another individual.
(2) An individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses force other than deadly force may use force other than deadly force against another individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat if he or she honestly and reasonably believes that the use of that force is necessary to defend himself or herself or another individual from the imminent unlawful use of force by another individual.
History: 2006, Act 309, Eff. Oct. 1, 2006
780.972.new Use of deadly force by individual not engaged in commission of crime; conditions
Sec. 2.
(1) An individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses deadly force may use deadly force against another individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat if either of the following applies:
(a) The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent death of or imminent great bodily harm to himself or herself or to another individual.
(b) The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent sexual assault of himself or herself or of another individual.
(2) An individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses force other than deadly force may use force other than deadly force against another individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat if he or she honestly and reasonably believes that the use of that force is necessary to defend himself or herself or another individual from the imminent unlawful use of force by another individual.
History: 2006, Act 309, Eff. Oct. 1, 2006
FBI Data Again Shows More Guns = Less Crime
Monday the FBI released crime statistics that should cause the applauding anti-gunners to sit on their hands. The statistics indicate that between 2008 and 2009, as gun sales soared, the number of murders in our country decreased 7.2 percent. That amounts to about an 8.2 percent decrease in the per capita murder rate, after the increase in our nation's legal and illegal population is taken into account. And it translates into about a 10.5 percent decrease in the murder rate between 2004, when the ban expired, and the end of 2009. And finally, it means that in 2009 our nation's murder rate fell to a 45-year low. The FBI's report was also bad news for anti-gunners elected to other offices. With the Supreme Court's decision in McDonald v. City of Chicago no more than a few weeks away, Mayors Bloomberg, of New York City, and Daley, of Chicago—who fear that it will require them to respect the Second Amendment for the first time—have continued to beat their drums for gun control. As we have noted, Bloomberg recently encouraged a Senate committee to support the Lautenberg-King terrorist watch list bills. And last week Daley told a Chicago Reader reporter, who expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of Chicago's handgun ban, "It's been very effective." Holding a bayonet-equipped rifle, Daley added, "If I put this up your butt, you find out how effective it is."
But, murders in big cities declined over 11 percent between 2008 and 2009, translating to over a 12 percent decrease in the big city murder per capita rate. We hope, but don't expect, that the indisputable fact that an increase in gun ownership does not necessarily correspond to an increase in crime, will reduce the frequency of Bloomberg's stunts aimed at gun shows, and Daley's periodic rants against the firearm industry.
But, murders in big cities declined over 11 percent between 2008 and 2009, translating to over a 12 percent decrease in the big city murder per capita rate. We hope, but don't expect, that the indisputable fact that an increase in gun ownership does not necessarily correspond to an increase in crime, will reduce the frequency of Bloomberg's stunts aimed at gun shows, and Daley's periodic rants against the firearm industry.
The Decision to Carry
...When you make the decision to carry a gun for personal defense, you must also come to terms with this fact: Your firearm may someday end the life of another person....
by Robert Childers; Though I've had a license to carry a concealed weapon for a number of years, I still remember my first training class as clearly as if it happened yesterday. Our two instructors were retired policemen and after explaining the class curriculum, they told us something about themselves. One man said that in his quarter century as a policeman, he had been fortunate in never having to use his weapon, though there were close calls. The other man explained that during his almost 30 years in law enforcement he had been forced to use his weapon twice, with one incident resulting in the death of the individual that was shot. He went on to say that despite having nearly 20 years experience in law enforcement at the time and being completely justified in his use of deadly force, it was still the most difficult thing he had ever done.
After he had finished telling us some of the details of that fatal shooting, our instructor made this statement to the class; "Kill another human being, for whatever reason or however justified, and your life as you know it is over forever." There was complete silence for over a minute when he finished, after which he said if anyone was having second thoughts about getting a carry permit, they were free to leave before the class continued. While nobody left, the class was extremely quiet for the remainder of the evening.
When you make the decision to carry a gun for personal defense, you must also come to terms with this fact: Your firearm may someday end the life of another person. Since receiving my concealed carry permit, I have become acutely aware that I carry something capable of forever changing not only someone else's life but my own, and there are times when it is a burden that is tougher to carry than the gun itself. Before you ever make that decision to carry a weapon for self-defense, you must first make the commitment to use that weapon - with potentially deadly consequences - if it ever becomes necessary. If you cannot make the conscious decision to shoot one human being in defense of another's life, if you aren't 100% sure you have the will to use it if the time comes, then you should not be carrying a weapon!
Most of us carry a weapon not because we realistically expect to ever use it, but to have it "just in case". With very few exceptions, the need to defend ourselves with deadly force is thrust upon us with almost no warning and with only moments to react. We are then required to make a life or death decision in less time than it took us to put on the socks we are wearing today. If I am ever forced to use my gun against another person it will be because (1), my life or the life of an innocent by-stander is in immediate danger and (2), another person has both the desire and the means to end my life, and I have no reasonable alternatives to prevent it other than the use of deadly force. This possibility, as remote as it may be, is the reason I own a firearm and have a concealed carry license. It's why I practice regularly at my local gun range and train myself how to react in a variety of scenarios. It's also why I read magazines like Concealed Carry Magazine and watch the many videos and television shows now available dealing with self-defense.
For what it's worth, I spent over twenty years in the military defending our country. When combined with the required classes I attended (both in the classroom and at the range) prior to receiving my license, and the training I do on a continuing basis, I believe I have both the knowledge and determination to use deadly force should it ever become necessary. However, irregardless of your age and experience, a license to carry a firearm is a serious responsibility and a responsibility NEVER to be taken lightly. The truth is that when I first started to carry a gun, I not only felt the huge responsibility that went with it but was almost overwhelmed by it. I actually had my concealed carry license for almost two years before I felt comfortable enough in both my abilities and judgment to carry a gun in public regularly. Maybe the knowledge that I possessed the power to end someone's life with a simple pull of my finger made me aware of my own mortality and how easily - and often needlessly - life can be lost.
In post 9/11 America, terrorism comes in many guises and has many faces. It can come in the form of a fanatic attempting to kill thousands by exploding a bomb in a crowded skyscraper. It may take the shape of a crazed killer walking through a shopping mall or college campus randomly shooting anyone he encounters. It could also assume the face of the burglar who breaks into your home in the pre-dawn hours and holds a knife to the throat of your son or daughter. Sadly, there are some very bad people in the world who won't hesitate to take both your property and your life if it serves their purpose. There are also people who take pleasure in seeing others suffer as well as imposing their will on those around them. often violently.
With any luck at all, my wife and I will spend the rest of our lives shooting at nothing more dangerous than the bull's-eye on a paper target. On the other hand, despite our best efforts there may come a time when we are forced to defend ourselves or a loved one with lethal force. It's for those times that both my wife and I carry a gun. Like the Boy Scouts, we believe in being prepared. If the unthinkable does happen and we are someday placed in the position of using deadly force, I'm confident we have the training, equipment and where-with-all to do it.
These days, you just never know when you may be required to protect yourself or someone close to you. Long ago I decided I'd rather carry a weapon I'll (hopefully) never use than someday need the weapon I decided not to carry. However, my advice to anyone who is considering the use of a firearm - or any potentially deadly weapon - is to be ABSOLUTELY certain you've made the mental commitment to use that weapon if and when the time comes. If you're not willing to use it, then you shouldn't be carrying it.
Bob Childers has a Degree in Theology and retired from the United States Navy in 1994. He's a member of the NRA, Texas State Rifle Association, the East Texas Rifle and Pistol Club and holds a Texas CCL. You can find out more about him at his website: http://vchilder.home.netcom.com
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN
Figures released in January show that during the six years since Michigan joined the American mainstream by offering citizens a shall-issue Right-to-Carry law, the number of firearm-related fatalities dropped--even though opponents predicted rampant mayhem.
More telling is the fact that criminal activity dwindled while the number of Michiganders legally licensed to carry a concealed handgun increased some six-fold.
Overall, the violent crime rate in Michigan during the years since passage of Right-to-Carry was significantly less than the rate during the six years prior to passage. At the same time, the number of firearm fatalities, including those stemming from suicide and accidents, also declined.
According to Michigan law enforcement officials, approximately one in 65 state citizens are now authorized to legally carry loaded firearms during their daily routine. This adds up to some 155,000 Michiganders, a number far exceeding the 25,000 or so authorized to carry guns before the concealed-carry system was broadened in 2001.
“I think the general consensus out there from law enforcement is that things are not as bad as we expected it could be,” said Woodhaven Police Chief Michael Martin, co-chair of the legislative committee for the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police. “What we anticipated didn’t happen, and I think we should breathe a sigh of relief.”
More telling is the fact that criminal activity dwindled while the number of Michiganders legally licensed to carry a concealed handgun increased some six-fold.
Overall, the violent crime rate in Michigan during the years since passage of Right-to-Carry was significantly less than the rate during the six years prior to passage. At the same time, the number of firearm fatalities, including those stemming from suicide and accidents, also declined.
According to Michigan law enforcement officials, approximately one in 65 state citizens are now authorized to legally carry loaded firearms during their daily routine. This adds up to some 155,000 Michiganders, a number far exceeding the 25,000 or so authorized to carry guns before the concealed-carry system was broadened in 2001.
“I think the general consensus out there from law enforcement is that things are not as bad as we expected it could be,” said Woodhaven Police Chief Michael Martin, co-chair of the legislative committee for the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police. “What we anticipated didn’t happen, and I think we should breathe a sigh of relief.”