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Do You Have EDC "Dead Eyes"?

Seems like a slightly reworded conversation we've had here before.

Last time I recounted the things that seared second sight/amazing powers of observation into me someone made light of it and said how they were sick of hearing about it or accused me of lying about it or some such shite, so I won't do that again. I'll just say two things.

Condition yellowish-orange.

Ooda Loop.
I had to go to a domestic long time ago ( pardon me if I am repeating ) When I pulled up the woman's face was bloody and the were stand on opposite side of car. I tried to com things down and told the woman there was a ambulance on the way.. The woman ook at the guy and said shoot the SOB . I could not see in the car, he had a shotgun and it was in his he pulled the trigger and it went click. Another time 2 men came to house and was going to force there way in. In the house was my wife and my 3 children the saving factor was my large German Shepherd and he solved problem. There have been some other things but no matter surroundings things happen. I walk the house yet today in night. There will always be those out there that want what you may have. My wife and I are both disabled and considered soft targets by law enforcement. My past could come to visit or newbies may try there luck. So I guess I'm paranoid or could be overly careful. Every one leads there life the way they want and I am all for that but I will continue to live mine and I want good people to be safe.
 
I carry every day. Situational awareness is the most important thing there is in concealed carry. I stay intentional with it as a practice. As the article says it is not really all that automatic, and a lot of distractions going about our day. Certainly was not all that automatic for me in the beginning of my licensing to carry. Been more than a year now. You can avoid the majority of things by being intently aware of what's going on and who is around you. And yes...I do no think anyone else is responsible for anything in my life, and certainly not my personal safety. The average assault is 7 seconds and average police response time is 14 minutes. Polymer tipped hollow points...

Good points...Some of the best advice I've come across:

Don't be in stupid places doing stupid things with stupid people (AKA don't be where you shouldn't be).

Have something between you and the gun...meaning, an intermediate type BOGA (back off, get away) device. Kubotan, OC Gel, a knife if you know how to use it. Essentially, you do NOT want the gun to be your only option in every scenario.

Learn de-escalation techniques (verbal judo)
 
I had to go to a domestic long time ago ( pardon me if I am repeating ) When I pulled up the woman's face was bloody and the were stand on opposite side of car. I tried to com things down and told the woman there was a ambulance on the way.. The woman ook at the guy and said shoot the SOB . I could not see in the car, he had a shotgun and it was in his he pulled the trigger and it went click. Another time 2 men came to house and was going to force there way in. In the house was my wife and my 3 children the saving factor was my large German Shepherd and he solved problem. There have been some other things but no matter surroundings things happen. I walk the house yet today in night. There will always be those out there that want what you may have. My wife and I are both disabled and considered soft targets by law enforcement. My past could come to visit or newbies may try there luck. So I guess I'm paranoid or could be overly careful. Every one leads there life the way they want and I am all for that but I will continue to live mine and I want good people to be safe.
One other minor detail. I have officially died 3 times and have all the facts on disc and my current heart doctor has copies of the events. So I guess one could say I have dead eyes. Stay alert and take care of your loved ones. There is more to the facts of yesteryears. Someday the rest may appear. Good morning.
 
Assume this is a troll account but will play ball. I don’t think you’ve lurked long enough because most of us are pretty reasonable and understand that fear is often used as a motivator.

Awareness as one of the members above mentioned isn’t just being ready to get someone with a pencil. Being aware of the world around you also important as common courtesy. Have you been to a shopping mall lately where a person has there head in their phone and walks into people? Someone that mashes the brakes because they missed a turn? That is awareness.

Anyhoo, don’t think you’ll be around long but welcome from NC
I agree that fear can absolutely be a good motivator, when fear is warranted. Walking around in a constant state of fear, however, is paralyzing and makes for an unpleasant life. I never said that we shouldn't be aware of the world around us. I said "keep your wits about you", by which I meant that everyone should be paying attention to what's going on around them and be able to identify danger when it's there. On that we agree. What I take issue with is when this stuff is taken to the extreme; and it's regularly taken to an extreme in many (not all) of the articles on this site because it moves merchandise.
 
Yea on this we agree to disagree, you’ve crossed into a territory that i don’t subscribe and won’t engage in discussion because it involves beliefs

To this i say you do you

Those that don’t follow this path aren’t necessary wrong
You're missing my point. I didn't post that for you to believe what I believe.

I posted that because that's the framework that I'm thinking about every time I walk out my front door.
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Even if that's almost guaranteed to be the most likely thing I run into on my front porch, I still put on a gun every day when I get dressed.

In fact because I believe the things I said is a big part of the reason that I moved 70 miles away from the nearest city.

I mean NGL we couldn't have done it without a lot of help from our daughter but what I believe is a big part of the reason that I was on board as soon as she brought it up.

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October 7th isn't going to happen out here bro.
 
I joined the forum after reading this thread, so am glad to be here as this subject is important in my day to day activities. I am retired military and wear grey hair/short white beard so am no spring chicken.

Like many others I was trained in situational awareness and have learned over my years to never be "Lilly white" when out in public. Those who shuffle around in malls or on city streets completely unaware of their surroundings are either sheep or unprepared targets at best. In public I am always "yellow" with a tinge of "orange" when walking through crowds (which I tend to avoid) or attending large venues. I am not paranoid - but simply believe that those who move and observe without purpose generally are the first ones separated from the herd by wolves.

Ok, I am 6'2" x 190 and wear my "don't fu*k with me" wrap around dark glasses and carry myself in a way that may influence someone with bad intention to find another target - but also feel my power of observation is most important. I always conceal carry away from home and am not afraid to deploy if required, but to be frank - I need to come up with a 2nd layer of non-lethal defense. I am too old (71) to want to scrap but not skilled with knives or baton.

What does everyone else use for non-lethal defense besides fists/feet and situational awareness?
 
I believe there's a mentality people have. For me, whenever I'm out and about, I know the type of environment I'm in. I know what I'm capable of physically, I don't worry about being a victim. Doesn't matter if I'm carrying a weapon or not. I've walked the streets of European cities, US cities and have never been bothered. Helps that I'm 6'3", 225, and would rather growl at people than talk to them. Yes, my usual carry weapon of choice is a 1911..
Kelly Turnbull, is that you? ;)
 
Another good writing by Steve. The effort is appreciated.

As we all know, our mind is our most valuable weapon. Utilizing the 5 senses gives the mind better information, and good information more often than not yields good inspiration.

I've said for years that the one thing most victims of violence have in common is that they "Never thought it would happen to me", or "I didn't think I was in an unsafe place, or with an unsafe person".

Col. Cooper's Color Levels of Awareness still carry the same value as when he coined them. Learn them, and ponder them as they apply to your daily routine.

Being able to think through conflict requires mental training and a bit of inoculation training, and most have done neither. And those that have done some still need more...and a day or two more at the gym. (Old doesn't make you exempt.)

Understanding your weaknesses, and being prepared to adapt around them is clearly another very important tenant, and may still not be enough; Thermopylae comes to mind.

I would additionally offer that the element of surprise is one of the greatest assets for anyone faced with "that moment". For those that project "what they've got" and "what they can do" you are divesting yourselves of that advantage. Carry concealed, leave the JuJitsu T-shirt at home, unclip the tactical flashlight & Emerson knife from your pockets, and FOR THE LOVE ditch the tell-tale fanny pack.

Thanks to the brave souls who are willing to put themselves in harms way at any moment to protect good people, our country, and the occasional booger-eater.
 
Col. Cooper's Color Levels of Awareness


Straight from the horse's mouth.

I would additionally offer that the element of surprise is one of the greatest assets for anyone faced with "that moment". For those that project "what they've got" and "what they can do" you are divesting yourselves of that advantage. Carry concealed, leave the JuJitsu T-shirt at home, unclip the tactical flashlight & Emerson knife from your pockets, and FOR THE LOVE ditch the tell-tale fanny pack.

I worked as a security guard for around 15 years. One thing that I was told over and over and over again in training was a security guard who was wearing a neat uniform and appeared to be paying attention to his surroundings and appeared, for lack of a better term, competent and engaged was much less likely to be attacked than a Paul Blart.

I don't walk around in JuJitsu shirts. I don't wear a fanny pack (except at the gym) and (now that I'm retired) I never openly display my gun. Not even out here where you have to "Turn off the paved road" to get to.

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I apparently have "The Look" because I've had almost panhandlers start walking up to me and they stop, they take a second look and they will find a different Target and I am not intimidating in appearance. I look like exactly what I am, a gimpy old man who does not want to be trifled with.

Maybe I look too poor:D
 
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Straight from the horse's mouth.



I worked as a security guard for around 15 years. One thing that I was told over and over and over again in training was a security guard who was wearing a neat uniform and appeared to be paying attention to his surroundings and appeared, for lack of a better term, competent and engaged was much less likely to be attacked than a Paul Blart.

I don't walk around in JuJitsu shirts. I don't wear a fanny pack (except at the gym) and (now that I'm retired) I never openly display my gun. Not even out here where you have to "Turn off the paved road" to get to.

View attachment 92840
I apparently have "The Look" because I've had almost panhandlers start walking up to me and they stop, they take a second look and they will find a different Target and I am not intimidating in appearance. I look like exactly what I am, a gimpy old man who does not want to be trifled with.

Maybe I look too poor:D

Smart plan and by the looks of the beautiful place where you live away from the sheeple, a smart man too.
 
I have been questioned by family regarding my "always yellow" habit. They worry that I will burn myself out or die with ulcers or severe stress. I just tell them I am aware and alert - not paranoid but they don't get it. Out walking in the city, I scan (casually) windows, doorways and roofs without being too obvious. I just act like a tourist taking in the sights.
 
Once it is habit, yellow is manageable. I would offer orange and above for extended periods will produce a lot of cortisol and that, and seed oils, are things we just don't need. Too much inflammation.
According to Cooper and actually stated verbatim in the video that I linked to Yellow is a general awareness that the world is not a safe place and that you may have to defend yourself today. Cooper says you can spend the rest of your life and condition yellow
 
End of times starts for each of us the day we are born. I learned as a child that if you touch something hot, it will burn you. I do the best I can to avoid confrontation that could lead me to take the ultimate action. While I am prepared, I do not think that my every move in public is a risk to my life. Get out there and enjoy the world as much as your comfort level will allow. Peace
 
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Like to got into it today at a red light, some dipstick was protesting the sending immigrants back, now let me tell you where i live he may not have made it home without getting hurt. anyway this fool has a mexican flag waving it with a sign on his front.

He was at an intersection, and when i pulled up to stop the idiot blared something at me, i just looked and smiled and gently gave him the number one sign. then this pure white cracker called me a hippy. lol this non hispanic dude has no idea. the loud rattlin diesel shoulda told him different.

Any way after i flipped him off he shouted i'll pull you outta that truck, again i just smiled big time and said come get some. he just stood there mouthing. the light turned green and i went on. he wasn't there 30 minutes later when i come back through. dude either got his butt kicked in front of god and everybody or somebody reported him and the police arrested his butt. idiot was almost in front of the police station doing this. i didn't see no blood on the sidewalk, and i did look. so guess nobody shot him or beat him too bad.
 
As my username implies, I won't be "John Wicking" anyone at the best of times. I carry (concealed) for many of the reasons highlighted in this thread (and although I'm not convinced we're squarely in the "end times" we are in some kind of time where many people seem to have lost their minds).

There are days when I want to run to the store in loose athletic shorts because it's easy, but then I think to myself 'What if today's the day?' and my EDC is sitting on the dresser instead of my belt? So I put my big boy pants on and do the necessary. Thankfully, the EDC has never left the holster except for training/range time/dry fire practice, etc.

I liken all of this to how I approach driving. My philosophy is, if there's a chance someone will do something stupid while they're driving (pull out in front of me, slam on brakes for no reason, change lanes without warning - I see you Mr. Truck Driver - or any other wild thing people who aren't paying attention will do when behind the wheel), they probably will.

Even accidental things, like what happened this week on the way home from work. Tooling along in rush hour traffic, the road is two lanes each way and is "kind of a highway" but not interstate, I'm in the left lane, surrounded by other vehicles. A good stretch of clear road opens up in front of me and I start to speed up a little. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a trailer begin to bounce a little, so I ease back. A flatbed commercial-style truck is pulling a trailer and that thing starts jumping around like a giant was kicking it from underneath. That trailer was bouncing and swerving into my lane, but I'd already started slowing down because I was aware of it - I could see it and I could hear it as it started to happen.

All I can think of is that the trailer must've come off the hitch (or the hitch broke) and the only thing holding it in place were back-up chains or something like that. If that trailer had come all the way loose at first instead of just jumping around, I still might've eaten it and be typing this from the hospital (assuming I survived).

But the thing is, I was paying attention, so I gave myself the best chance of surviving what could've been a really nasty situation. Bottom line: I always assume people are going to do crazy, stupid, dangerous, or violent things because nothing I'm seeing around me these days has convinced me otherwise. So I proceed accordingly.
 
I agree that fear can absolutely be a good motivator, when fear is warranted. Walking around in a constant state of fear, however, is paralyzing and makes for an unpleasant life. I never said that we shouldn't be aware of the world around us. I said "keep your wits about you", by which I meant that everyone should be paying attention to what's going on around them and be able to identify danger when it's there. On that we agree. What I take issue with is when this stuff is taken to the extreme; and it's regularly taken to an extreme in many (not all) of the articles on this site because it moves merchandise.
I didn’t see a “scare piece” in that article but we all interpret things differently. We have to remember it would be a boring article if it just said “pay attention” 😂. Yes they may use more descriptive verbiage in the “tactical” section of the article but again, just saying “take inventory of exists and path of egress” is kinda boring.
 
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