If your family was hiring someone to protect them, would they choose you?
Lets discuss.
John
Lets discuss.
John
A question for you, the CSC member
J.Boyette
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Regarding prepping to leave the room.....
Keep all your kit together so you don't have to gather it. Maxpedition and others make some great grab and GTFO bags. I keep one bedside when we travel. I keep a bigger one by the bedroom door at home with duplicates in my car, the wife's car, and my shop. 2 is one, one is none, and five makes you a paranoid SOB whose family won't starve, freeze to death, or run out of ammo. Though they may collapse under the weight of the gear.....lol
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Keep all your kit together so you don't have to gather it. Maxpedition and others make some great grab and GTFO bags. I keep one bedside when we travel. I keep a bigger one by the bedroom door at home with duplicates in my car, the wife's car, and my shop. 2 is one, one is none, and five makes you a paranoid SOB whose family won't starve, freeze to death, or run out of ammo. Though they may collapse under the weight of the gear.....lol
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Mindset has never been an issue for me and many moons ago the physical stuff wasn't either. Then I went and got old and broke my back. But I'm on the mend and getting my groove back....
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Given your scenario from Concord I don't think you did anything wrong. I would have grabbed jump drives but left laptop...otherwise same-same.
I think my family would choose me. I'm fortunate that my wife and I are both LE and we have similar backgrounds. We have pre-planned just about everything when it comes to being out and about and at home. We each have duties to perform in both places should the need arise.
I keep all my stuff together in one specific area. I purchased a 'jump bag' that I carry at work that has, among other things, ammo, downed officer kit (tourniquets, quick clot, bandages, etc). When I am on vacay I have it with me as well...not so much when I'm just around the house.
As you mentioned, mindset, education (I read that as a combination of training and experience), and clear thinking under stress are the foremost components when it comes to reacting to threats. I've been through PSD training and while I learned a lot some of the stuff I was already doing as a habit of my job.
So as to the original question...I'm confident that I could do the job that someone may be paid to do. I always carry; I always carry a reload; I always have a flashlight and a knife; I always have my credentials. Maybe I'm the exception more so than the rule but that's how I roll.
I think my family would choose me. I'm fortunate that my wife and I are both LE and we have similar backgrounds. We have pre-planned just about everything when it comes to being out and about and at home. We each have duties to perform in both places should the need arise.
I keep all my stuff together in one specific area. I purchased a 'jump bag' that I carry at work that has, among other things, ammo, downed officer kit (tourniquets, quick clot, bandages, etc). When I am on vacay I have it with me as well...not so much when I'm just around the house.
As you mentioned, mindset, education (I read that as a combination of training and experience), and clear thinking under stress are the foremost components when it comes to reacting to threats. I've been through PSD training and while I learned a lot some of the stuff I was already doing as a habit of my job.
So as to the original question...I'm confident that I could do the job that someone may be paid to do. I always carry; I always carry a reload; I always have a flashlight and a knife; I always have my credentials. Maybe I'm the exception more so than the rule but that's how I roll.
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In the spirit of the original question, yes. However the question really defers to the reptilian brain and a persons ability to remain void of the fight, flight, freeze mechanism. The nature of having emotional attachment to what you are protecting can severely multiply or diminish ones ability to act within stress. Thusly, the real question is do you know your primary and secondary defense mechanisms? I happen to know mine, and I happen to be one of the guys you would want in the midst of needing to be aware and needing to act under stress.
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I'd like to think my family could trust me to provide for their security needs in most circumstances. This is a good way to evaluate what skills I have and how I could improve if I wouldn't make the cut
However in reality, an outside source may be preferable because sometimes people (like my wife) do better getting their info from someone else. Had a dog that had an allergic reaction (big welts formed on him out of no where) to something and I said to wife that he was fine since his breathing wasn't obstructed and that a vet visit the next day would be okay versus an emergency visit but she wasn't happy until she called the get and he told her the same thing. Makes me wonder if I tried to tell her something was a threat to us if she would think I am overreacting since she thinks things like having a Get Home Bag is overkill, but having an outside source declaring a threat might get her moving quicker
However in reality, an outside source may be preferable because sometimes people (like my wife) do better getting their info from someone else. Had a dog that had an allergic reaction (big welts formed on him out of no where) to something and I said to wife that he was fine since his breathing wasn't obstructed and that a vet visit the next day would be okay versus an emergency visit but she wasn't happy until she called the get and he told her the same thing. Makes me wonder if I tried to tell her something was a threat to us if she would think I am overreacting since she thinks things like having a Get Home Bag is overkill, but having an outside source declaring a threat might get her moving quicker
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If that's the criteria, then yes. I have a pretty large "take charge" gene. It tends to come out a bit at a time normally, but really comes out in a pinch. And folks tend to look to me for direction anyway, not just family. I've taken charge of accident scenes from first responders and injury from senior ski patrollers just by force of personality and knowing what I'm doing. So I've got a take charge mindset as well as a "nobodies messing with my family" mindset. Pretty well versed in and functional with the firearm I carry, first aid, and dealign with all sorts of pissed off people.
I'll retain the possibility of curling up in the fetal position and wetting myself, but to date I've never been at a loss for what to do in a bind.
Know, if I could pass my firearms skills to my wife and pick up her SA we could rule the world. lol. That women has near Jedi SA. It's freaky what she notices when we are out and about. I mean everything and everyone, particularly ANYBODY that is paying attention to her or us.
I will also say that the "hire me" part of it has one weakness. I would do things for my family that few people could pay me enough to do for them.
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John, your event at Great Wolf was a learning experience. Any event that has the potential for harm and you walk away from is an opportunity to assess what went right, what went wrong and how could it be done better. At least it should be. Some have an experience and learn nothing from it. Others, like yourself, have developed a plan for the future. I personally feel "lucky" when they happen to me. Real adrenaline, real failures in performance or decisions, but fortunately no real consequences in the end. Not that you knew that going in.
Assess it, work up a new plan, next time you get to fine tune some more.
Another thing about mindset. I hear a lot of "excuses" for not being a highly trained, young, athletic, ninja with spidey senses. Few (if any) of us are. Learn to adapt to what you have. If you can't solve the problem one way, find another. You can't give up the fight because you don't have the right tool(s).
Assess it, work up a new plan, next time you get to fine tune some more.
Another thing about mindset. I hear a lot of "excuses" for not being a highly trained, young, athletic, ninja with spidey senses. Few (if any) of us are. Learn to adapt to what you have. If you can't solve the problem one way, find another. You can't give up the fight because you don't have the right tool(s).
No matter how well trained, no one that my family or I could hire has my family's best interest and survival as deeply embedded as I do. Since any hired PSD will always be working for money, there is always some level of risk that he will decide to protect himself when the SHTF. Realistically, if things turn sour, who would be left alive to pay him? That and other similar thoughts will cross his mind.
I may not have all the latest and greatest go - fast training, but if things go to crap, my family knows I'll be out in front between them and the wolves. A hired gun does not have the Papa Bear switch that we, as family leaders, have.
Whether you agree or not, I suspect many of your families would rather have you protecting them than some hired gun.
I may not have all the latest and greatest go - fast training, but if things go to crap, my family knows I'll be out in front between them and the wolves. A hired gun does not have the Papa Bear switch that we, as family leaders, have.
Whether you agree or not, I suspect many of your families would rather have you protecting them than some hired gun.
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Ditto
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The most common part of security for the family is identifying risk & threats and trying to increase the time I have to react.
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A few years ago I was told that some pistol cartridges won't pass through a vehicle door. So I tried it myself. Assuming you have at least a 9mm you're fine unless you hit the anti-intrusion bar in the door. So, I opened up the door to my truck to see where the bar is located. Now if I have to shoot through the door I don't have to worry too much about a ricochet into my hip.
After a long night of catfishing I was driving home when a man stepped out into the middle of a dark country road to flag me down. It's 2:30 a.m. in the middle of nowhere and this guy who is on foot, is asking "which way to High Point". I rolled the window down about 2" and said "North, about 35 miles", then I left. I don't know what his intentions were or if he was just a drunk, but he'll never no just how close that muzzle was.
After a long night of catfishing I was driving home when a man stepped out into the middle of a dark country road to flag me down. It's 2:30 a.m. in the middle of nowhere and this guy who is on foot, is asking "which way to High Point". I rolled the window down about 2" and said "North, about 35 miles", then I left. I don't know what his intentions were or if he was just a drunk, but he'll never no just how close that muzzle was.
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Life is all about assessing risk, responses and probabilities. What's suitable for one may not be suitable for another. The trick is having balance so that it doesn't negatively impact the enjoyment of living life.
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My family wouldn't even hire me to drive them anywhere.
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That and it doesn't hurt to have a little bit of "crazy mo-fo" coursing through your vanes.
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What HE said. ^^ I think all of us would die for our loved ones. Twice.
I don't want to find out if a hired stranger would do likewise.
What's the old saying? "Blood is thicker than water."
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I think my family would trust me for their protection for the most part. If there was a specific threat and it was appropriate I think I would also consider hiring a professional as well. That being said, I would still be a part of my family's protection, because as said above no one would think that they are more important than I do.
On a similar topic, I had a interesting learning experience at home today. I had worked a night shift last night and was sleeping pretty soundly. My wife had taken my son to day care and she went to work. At about 1100, I heard my dogs suddenly going crazy, not the usual passing neighborhood dog or squirrel bark. I woke up cause it was different & then I heard a male voice downstairs. There shouldn't be anyone in my house & with the dogs acting the way they were it was concerning to say the least. As I was accessing my handgun, I finally heard my wife's (calm) voice downstairs talking with the guy. Listening, I realized she was talking to a contractor about some work we needed to have done around the house. She hadn't thought to tell me about this before she left. I love my wife to death, but she is the most naive person about a lot of things.
I ended up staying upstairs and not making an issue then with the contractor there. Later, I talked with my wife and explained how they were almost greeted by an angry armed guy in his underwear, lol. It had never occurred to her that it might be an issue till I asked her what she would have thought if I went to work at night and in the middle of the night she heard a strange voice and footsteps downstairs with the dogs going crazy? Then it clicked. She now realizes the importance of not doing something like that in the future without telling me about it.
I have always been a pretty sound sleeper & have always wondered if I had a break in/home invader type situation if I would even wake up and realize what was going on. I normally can sleep through my dogs barking and such, but today the bark was a bit different & I heard the unfamiliar male voice. It's refreshing to know that I did wake up and realize something not normal was going on. Thankfully it was just an ill-timed meeting with a contractor & not a home invasion, but good to know I woke up with the mental clarity to assess the situation.
On a similar topic, I had a interesting learning experience at home today. I had worked a night shift last night and was sleeping pretty soundly. My wife had taken my son to day care and she went to work. At about 1100, I heard my dogs suddenly going crazy, not the usual passing neighborhood dog or squirrel bark. I woke up cause it was different & then I heard a male voice downstairs. There shouldn't be anyone in my house & with the dogs acting the way they were it was concerning to say the least. As I was accessing my handgun, I finally heard my wife's (calm) voice downstairs talking with the guy. Listening, I realized she was talking to a contractor about some work we needed to have done around the house. She hadn't thought to tell me about this before she left. I love my wife to death, but she is the most naive person about a lot of things.
I ended up staying upstairs and not making an issue then with the contractor there. Later, I talked with my wife and explained how they were almost greeted by an angry armed guy in his underwear, lol. It had never occurred to her that it might be an issue till I asked her what she would have thought if I went to work at night and in the middle of the night she heard a strange voice and footsteps downstairs with the dogs going crazy? Then it clicked. She now realizes the importance of not doing something like that in the future without telling me about it.
I have always been a pretty sound sleeper & have always wondered if I had a break in/home invader type situation if I would even wake up and realize what was going on. I normally can sleep through my dogs barking and such, but today the bark was a bit different & I heard the unfamiliar male voice. It's refreshing to know that I did wake up and realize something not normal was going on. Thankfully it was just an ill-timed meeting with a contractor & not a home invasion, but good to know I woke up with the mental clarity to assess the situation.
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