Firearms Part Three
Mindset and accountability if you are going to be armed in public
Welcome to my third and possibly final installment of introduction to firearms as a Survival Saturday post topic. To date, I have tried to impart a basic working knowledge of the types of small arms commonly available, how to determine the relative power of various ammunition types, and briefly discussed common reasons for purchasing arms. Today, we are going to cover minimum proficiencies for different tasks (Please note these are the minimum and one should always look to exceed them.) I will end with a discussion on doctrine as it relates to armed self-defense.
At this point, we are going to assume you have sought advice and training so that you have selected a suitable firearm for your purpose, understand firearms safety, and have an idea of what non-firearms gear and skills will be required, freeing us to move on to proficiency. The minimum required proficiency is going to change based on what you are doing or planning to do. For small game hunting with a small caliber rim fire, I would say the minimum proficiency would be the ability to put all rounds in a circle not bigger than 1.5 inches at 20 yards, consistently. I would think the minimum proficiency for bird or small game hunting with a shot gun would be the ability to hit 45-50% of all targets on a sporting clays range. For example, if it is a two-box range presenting 50 targets, the minimum required score would be 23-25 out of 50. The minimum for hunting larger game with a firearm capable of taking them without question (the minimum skill increases the more marginal the caliber for the game) would be the ability to consistently put rounds in a 6 inch circle at 100 yards. This brings us to self-defense. To carry a gun on your person with the intention of protecting yourself, and others, a minimum proficiency of consistently hitting a 8 inch circle at 10 yards with the weapon you intend to carry is a good standard. While I recognize these are not super tight marksmanship standards, and everyone should absolutely aim for better skills, they do represent a good place where you are not likely to injure game that isn’t recoverable and you are unlikely to accidently hit something you did not intend to shoot. I did leave out sport shooting because the minimum requirement there is going to be perfection if you want to win and, as you learn, the minimum standard will be better than last time.
There are libraries of books written on all the various firearms arts, countless hours of video training, and in person courses to help improve your skills directly. As such, I am not going to even try to go deeply into those things. I am going to focus on personal protection and things to consider when establishing your personal doctrine. The first question, and it requires some soul searching, is: Do you have it in you to kill another person to protect yourself, others, or your property? If you cannot honestly answer yes ideally to all three, but at least one, then stop now and don’t carry. I do realize that one never actually knows until the time is forced on them, but if you are one of those people who just feel you couldn’t, then don’t. Second, what are the laws of the state you live in? Does your state have a castle doctrine? Does your state have stand your ground laws or do you have a duty to retreat? You need to know all of these things before you decide to carry a firearm. You also need to know what your state’s laws on carrying are. Do you need a permit, is it constitutional permit-less carry, or do you live in one of the very few states it isn’t even allowed? Once you have answered those questions you can proceed to deciding what your personal doctrine is.
At this point, I will remind you that I am not a lawyer and I am offering no legal advice. I am just discussing my doctrine choices based on my understanding of the laws of my state and following any of it may wind you up in jail if it doesn’t align with the laws where you are at. I guess I will start with: What am I talking about when I say my doctrine? My doctrine is the set of rules I follow to hold myself accountable when carrying a firearm. By establishing a doctrine and working through it in your head, and as you live your life, it will help you to stay calm and react correctly to situations you may face.
1. Always follow the 4 rules of firearms safety.
2. Endeavor to always be aware of your surroundings and the other people there.
3. Never be the aggressor, but address aggression that poses an actual physical threat to person or property.
4. Never shoot to wound, never fire a warning shot, never brandish my arms. If a situation has arisen that requires I draw my firearm then it has escalated to the point where an aggressor has to die to save my life, the lives of my friends, or the lives of my family. That being the case, ideally the aggressor’s first indication that I am armed would be when his body is perforated by my fire.
5. Train. Shoot a minimum of one mag a week at 10 yards and every other week use carry ammunition to maintain skills. A minimum of once a month shoot at least two boxes of ammunition at varying ranges for 3 to 25 yards to maintain skill. At least one box should be carry ammunition.
6. Practice one handed and off handed from time to time, as you never know when you might need to shoot that way.
7. Avoid minor conflict in-person when possible, as all conflict has the potential to escalate. It doesn’t matter if a random person cuts you off, is rude, or aggressive. If they do not pose a credible threat to your person, property, or the person or property of those around you, they should be ignored and avoided. They are unworthy of your attention unless they persist and escalate.
8. Control your emotions and act from a rational mindset. Emotions are liars and carrying or not one must endeavor to tame them. This will give you control in situations where others are acting from their emotions.
9. When going about your business armed, your firearm should never be drawn unless your intention is to immediately make something dead.
10. When faced with multiple assailants, put one round in each first, Then reapply as needed.
11. Don’t stop shooting until the threat is eliminated.
12. Once the threat is eliminated, holster your firearm and call 911.
13. Do not speak to police after a shooting without a lawyer.
14. Buy carry insurance to cover the possible cost of lawyers and other expenses if you have to shoot someone.
15. Never act preemptively on a presumed threat. Always make sure there is a clear threat. This avoids accidents but also may cost you your life. So, be wise.
16. Clean you carry piece once a month no matter what.
17. Always carry if you are awake and not in a prohibited place. Doing so will make it natural and you will feel uncomfortable without your firearm.
18. Never open carry for self-defense, the element of surprise is your friend.
19. Never shoot a fleeing foe. Once they are actively retreating, they are no longer a threat, but watch them, as they may come back.
This is my doctrine the rules and practices I try to abide by as I carry for self-defense. Yours will probably be different based on who you are, the laws of your state, and other factors unique to you and your circumstances. If you are new or a novice to arms, I hope this series has assisted you in making more wise and informed choices about firearms, and if you are a more experienced reader, I hope you found something to at least ponder in this series.