Street robberies and you

[GreenStormCloud]

105. You have been lucky. Twice my wife wasn't lucky.

However, she was prepared.

A few years ago she held a job in a bad part of town. The building had been burglarized several times previously. She arrived at work early, being the first one to show up, before sunrise. She had the combination to the door. The parking area was always void of people as was the surrounding area. I had taught here to always drive the car in a tight circle just before parking so that the headlights swept the immediate area. There were only two areas that had trees that someone could hide behind. She would then get out of her car with her hand already in her gunny-pack, holding the gun, finger alongside (NOT on) the trigger. Twice, as she was walking to the entance a young male emerged from behind the tree and attempted to approach her from her rear.

The fact that he was hiding behind the tree waiting for her should not be lost on you that he was not a good guy.

I had taught her to watch her rear and she spotted each man, both times. She then put her back to the wall and commanded them to leave. They saw that she was both wearing a gunny-pack AND carrying a purse, and that she had her hand inside her pack. To the street-smart that screams GUN. She never had to actually draw the gun. They each took off running.

In the context of the article the escaltion of drawing the gun occurs after you have spotted the thugs trying to gain position on you, have already made a gun motion, and they still continue their approach. Then you draw but hold the gun pointed down, at the ready. Don't to say anything to them. If you do your mind will be on what you are saying and not what they are doing.

Situational awareness is an important part of being armed. If you are going to carry a gun and not take the effort to be constantly aware of what is happening around you then you haven't really helped youself that much. With situational awareness you can likely spot the attack coming and spot it in its early stages - before blood is shed.