Archive | Why We Train

Building Your Mindset

Some jobs have side benefits that aren’t deducted from your paycheck. For instance, when I worked on a carpentry crew framing custom homes, instead of health insurance we received suntans, a great sense of balance, and all the strength training that could be handled during a work day. It seemed like a great deal at the time and I really enjoyed that line of work. Being a police officer is no different in this respect.

One of the largest “non deductible” benefits to this job is developing a strong sense of situational awareness. My work environment brings regular exposure to dangerous people, vehicle/foot pursuits, fights, robberies in progress, shootings, and more. This is what has become of most large American “inner” cities. Functioning well under these conditions will inevitably help build a strong mindset.

The average guy, who wants to be alert and prepared, most likely doesn’t have the opportunity to function often in these types of circumstances. That’s a good thing or we’d already be living “Mad Max.” However, without some real life experience and time/stress training it is difficult to fully develop your mindset. I want to start an occasional series of entries to share with the readers some of the things that I’ve learned along the way and hopefully help with that development.

Of course, I don’t even come close to knowing it all and I approach each new shift at work as a student of the harder side of life. Unfairness, sudden calamity, life changing mistakes, and a myriad of other dangers wait daily in the wings for the right opportunity to swallow the unwitting and the experienced alike. No man is ever able to rise above these facts and can only maintain his relationship with God and run the race of life to the best of his ability. I hope that in these following articles the readers will find at least a few nuggets to help guide the way should any treacherous situation come along.

Why We Train: Elderly Man Stops a Robbery

I always love to hear or read about common citizens who stop crimes in progress. These brave men and women take the initiative to prepare and equip themselves to defend the lives and property of themselves and others. Many good examples can be found in “The Armed Citizen” section of your monthly NRA magazine. The police can’t (and shouldn’t) be everywhere and, most of the time, we investigate the aftermath of a crime instead of preventing it.

Most likely the prepared citizen will rarely, if ever, be forced to use a firearm to stop the commission of a forcible felony. However, many hours of training and preparation can all of a sudden become one of the most important things in the world when called to put your skills into action for just a few seconds. This video is one of the best recordings I’ve seen of a regular Joe using his weapon to stop an armed robbery. We’ve all heard that, “God created man, but Sam Colt made them equal” and it’s never more true than right here.

Watch as two young thugs brazenly attempt to rob a Florida business but an elderly man, who likely appeared harmless to these brigands, sends them fleeing with some very discouraging fire from his pistol. I found a lot of satisfaction watching this man “equalize” and then conquer his opponents. America is in desperate need of more men like this who rise up and valiantly confront evil when called upon to do so!

Why We Train: Another Young Man Does Well

You may remember my recent post about an 11 year old who used a .22 to successfully defend his home. Recently, a 14 year old in Phoenix, AZ was forced into a similar situation while babysitting his three younger siblings. The home invaders tried the classic “if nobody answers the doorbell then burglarize the house” routine except it did not work out well for them this time. What I love about this story is not just that a young man used a firearm to save his young siblings from extreme danger, but the wise tactical manner in which he did so.

First, he moved the children to a safer part of the house and then he stood in the gap between them and the armed invader and took care of business. That kind of bravery and maturity demonstrated by such a young man is motivation for all of us. One of the best investments that can be made is in the proper upbringing of your children, and today this whole family is reaping the dividends. Situations like this are a stark reminder to help everyone you care about be prepared to do well during a terrifying event.

Why We Train: Moment of Truth

Those of us who take gun ownership and self defense seriously train very hard for the potential moment in time when life and all that is held dear hangs tenuously in the balance. Fortunately, many of us who prepare for this moment will never be faced with an actual test. Most of those who do face and pass this ultimate test will rarely be forced to have a repeat. Because so much is at stake, it is very important to prepare mentally and understand what you might go through. Doing so will soften the shock and leave you more capable as the after events unfold.

One of the most important parts of police and military training is receiving numerous “stress inoculations.” These are often best created through scenario/force on force simulation where the trainee’s performance is evaluated while under time and pressure. Successful completion of this training unquestionably helps and strengthens performance during real life incidents.

I want to introduce you to Jeff Dykehouse and encourage you to read his multi part story about the night he was forced to shoot a home invader in Grand Rapids, MI. The open way he shares his experience really resonated with me and I appreciate his willingness to offer the intimate details of his personal moment of truth. Fortunately, Mr. Dykehouse prevailed and has gone onto continued success in life. I hope that his story is highly beneficial to you and strengthens your mindset.

Why We Train: Legal Accountability

Action is always faster than reaction. This is never more true than in a high stress deadly force situation. It is important to properly tailor your training around this fact because anyone who is being victimized is forced to react from way behind to stop the threat. Unfortunately, you as the “good guy” will not have the advantage of being the first to act. This is why your best weapon is always your situational awareness.

Anyone who carries a firearm for protection should familiarize themselves with the important 1989 SCOTUS case, Graham vs. Connor. Here is a good summary if you don’t want to read the whole thing. While this case is directed towards use of force by police, the same principles are true for anyone who is lawfully armed. Knowing the standards by which you will be held legally accountable is paramount.

In short, the court held that any action used to protect yourself (and for the police to do their jobs) that is reasonable is legal. The court wisely recognized that these types of decisions made in a split second under extremely intense circumstances cannot be judged by the “20/20 vision of hindsight,” but only by the “facts and circumstances” known at the time. The severity of the crime and the differences in size and strength are also important considerations by which your actions will be judged.

With these facts in mind, consider the recent news story from Richmond, VA about a pizza delivery driver who recently shot a robber armed with a stun gun at around 2am. Is the crime of armed robbery pretty severe? Can anyone differentiate with certainty between a stun gun and a real gun in the dark? Were the robber’s actions inherently (and quite possibly verbally) communicating a threat likely to cause substantial bodily injury? The answers to these questions are clear and reasonable and so should the fate be of the pizza delivery driver in this case.

Disclaimer: This should not be construed as legal advice. Familiarize yourself with your local and state laws.

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