The Night Rider
Professional
I honestly feel like whoever wrote that article was trying to cram a book into a 10 minute read
Choose Your Weapon, Wisely
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
What's happening in that picture? Do you know for sure? Is the machete guy slowly backing away, or just standing still out of striking distance? Or is he advancing and issuing verbal threats? Only the last of these would constitute a situation in which the use of deadly force is reasonable and defensible in pretty much any state. In the other situations - ready pistol with you getting off the X may be most appropriate depending on what led up to this situation. While in your state you may have no duty to retreat before using deadly force, and may not be criminally charged in any of the above situations, you can still be sued and judged liable in civil court by the swashbuckler's family in some states, in some or all of those situations.
This is why your brain is your most powerful weapon.
KillerFord1977
SAINT
I can use a wine opener, a beer opener and pour a mighty fine glass of hooch.
All set for my job .
I just run with @SimonRL so I can hone some skill I forgot 20 yrs ago and teach him whiskey
SimonRL
Ronin
At the very least I am armed with a sharp tongue and a razor wit. Ask @KillerFord1977. I can cut deep. 
KillerFord1977
SAINT
At the very least I am armed with a sharp tongue and a razor wit. Ask @KillerFord1977. I can cut deep.
Bassbob
Emissary
Having a gun or knife or machete or baseball bat, pepper spray, tazer, whatever is all good and fine but it's far from being prepared/having your ass ( and your family's) covered. I think that's what the author was trying to convey and he is correct. Situational awareness and quickly formulating some sort of plan for likely ( or unlikely) situations ahead of time are far more valuable in my estimation.
Sld1959
Ronin
Have not read it completely yet, soaking in a nice hot tub this morning . But if the dude with a machete was that close and moving forward my initial instinct would be defensive and offensive strikes with the cane or blackthorn I carry more and more these days. This is why I have trained with a cane/stick. Got used to using one before multiple hip replacements and worked with them since, they cane be taken anywhere. If done right it should give space, to hopefully retreat, incapacate him,or aquire and use the handgun.
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Mr. Untactical
Master Class
Absolutely agree with the article from the standpoint of developing an action plan based on situational awareness and employing a protection mindset. My job is not to be an action film hero, it's to keep my family safe. And, if I follow the four rules of firearm safety, I won't be that Danny DeVito meme (So, anyways, I started blasting).
One last thought on the article: We are not at the top of the Planet Earth food chain. We can equip ourselves to overcome apex predators, but even with a firearm, there are some land-based predators out there that can still win that fight. And if you really want to realize we're not at the top of the food chain? Get in the ocean.
One last thought on the article: We are not at the top of the Planet Earth food chain. We can equip ourselves to overcome apex predators, but even with a firearm, there are some land-based predators out there that can still win that fight. And if you really want to realize we're not at the top of the food chain? Get in the ocean.
I have been in the Right Ocean and Bay... we are top of the food chain. We can't "fight" some of the food-chain... 5ish foot sharks/fish rubs against you, you learn their powerful in their enviroment but could be eaten by a human if a human wants them...
rcurtner
Professional
Welcome to the forum from South Texas.
Back in the 70's we were taught an improper technique for a Patrol Officer with the use of the baton, as it was better for a Correction Officer. It exposed the weapon and wasn't long before my fears were manifested with a punk hanging onto my service revolver, I did have the better grip. Point is, a bumper from a Dodge Diplomat was the weapon of the day as I wrapped up his long hair with my weak hand and directed his face there. Yeah, things go to crap real fast sometimes and although I would have saved the World some grieve, deadly force was not on my mind at the time...
SimonRL
Ronin
no gun needed for sharks. just rub their belly and they'll go to sleep.
Mr. Untactical
Master Class
Yes, we can outsmart things that would otherwise eat us (and eat them if we're successful), but stripped of all our modern paraphernalia, we aren't as "apex" as we think we are.
SimonRL
Ronin
You first…no gun needed for sharks. just rub their belly and they'll go to sleep.
NoYou first…
Smiledon#57
Operator
Over the past several years of being a lawfully gun owner, the MOST overlooked aspect of using deadly force is the legal fallout. Both criminality, and civilly ramifications. Knowing when to pull that trigger is just as important of know how to pull that trigger. And to a lesser extent, are local DA elections.Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Choose Your Weapon, Wisely” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/choose-your-weapon-wisely/.
Very good article on, Choose Your Weapon Wisely. Especially using your brain power first and being aware of your surroundings and not looking at your cell phone or having tunnel vision. In the academy they teach about Force Continuum. The steps you take before you get to lethal force. It should be taught to everyone carrying a firearm.
One night while doing radar, I pulled over a car for speeding through town. He pulled into his driveway, got out, and told me to F off. He tried this on another deputy a few weeks back and it worked for him. I said you’re going to get cited for speeding. I notified dispatch. He then went into his house and then came out with one hand behind his back. I drew my weapon and told him to show me his hands. It was a dark night but I had a flashlight on him. I knew that if he had a weapon behind his back I was going from the ready to on target. I told him again to show me his hands. At that moment he drew his hidden hand out to his front and produced his wife’s dildo. I’m not kidding. I found out latter the guy was on drugs. Sometimes you only have a split second to make a critical decision. This would be a long night. It took an hour to get him cuffed along with his wife who was on my back trying to get my weapon. Help finally came. One deputy had to be hospitalized for a sprained wrist in the fight. We had to hog tie the suspect because he was trying to break the windows out in one of the patrol cars.
Things can go from 0 to 60 in a heartbeat.
One night while doing radar, I pulled over a car for speeding through town. He pulled into his driveway, got out, and told me to F off. He tried this on another deputy a few weeks back and it worked for him. I said you’re going to get cited for speeding. I notified dispatch. He then went into his house and then came out with one hand behind his back. I drew my weapon and told him to show me his hands. It was a dark night but I had a flashlight on him. I knew that if he had a weapon behind his back I was going from the ready to on target. I told him again to show me his hands. At that moment he drew his hidden hand out to his front and produced his wife’s dildo. I’m not kidding. I found out latter the guy was on drugs. Sometimes you only have a split second to make a critical decision. This would be a long night. It took an hour to get him cuffed along with his wife who was on my back trying to get my weapon. Help finally came. One deputy had to be hospitalized for a sprained wrist in the fight. We had to hog tie the suspect because he was trying to break the windows out in one of the patrol cars.
Things can go from 0 to 60 in a heartbeat.
Career woodsman
Alpha
The article is correct that our intellect is a weapon. We use it for awareness, to think ahead, to listen, and perhaps to previously consider when we WILL deploy lethal force. I think the article is unhelpful with this crucial decision.Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Choose Your Weapon, Wisely” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/choose-your-weapon-wisely/.