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
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.”
