Some thoughts on carrying in “Low Threat Areas”…

Taken from politesociety@yahoogroups.com .  

Recently I've noticed a number of unrelated threads on several of the discussion  forums, in which the posters referred to "low threat areas" or "low threat locations".  This caused me to ponder: exactly how do we evaluate the threat level of a given location?  

Obviously, it is fairly easy to identify potential "high threat" areas. Baghdad , right now, would certainly qualify.  A family farm on the frontier in South Africa certainly meets the criteria, just as a typical inner-city slum in a big US city would.  This part is easy.  The confusion comes in identifying these supposedly safe, secure "low threat" environments.  

For instance, you may be reading this in your den, assuming you are completely secure, in a classic "low threat environment".  At that very moment, however, three masked, armed intruders are gathering at your front door, preparing to kick it in and conduct a home invasion.  Likely?  No.  The point is, if it were happening you would not know until the actual moment the attack begins.  Thus, the actual reality of the moment and your perception of the moment are

drastically different.  I suggest this happens more often than you realize.  As you go through your daily routine, you are at times in close proximity to those who would cheerfully do you or your loved ones harm, the circumstances just did not, for whatever reason, result in violence, that time.

 My suggestion, then, is that when we are not in a "high threat environment", we consider ourselves to be in an "unknown threat environment", rather than in a "low threat environment".  The resulting shift in mindset will go a long way toward helping you detect, avoid, deter, or win any potential confrontation. Assuming one is in a "low threat" area leads to the relaxation, lack of

alertness, and hesitation that often leads to injury or death.  Instead, admit that you don't know what the exact threat level is most of the time, and remain alert, outwardly focused, adequately armed, and so forth. 

 The best example of the "low threat" mindset is that of leaving your primary sidearm at home and dropping a .25 or .32 in your pocket, because you're going to a "low threat" area. Before you do that, consider these little truths:

1.  If you get engaged in a confrontation at all, you will be 100% engaged,

not 50%, or 60%, but all the way.

2.  Your adversary (or adversaries) will not be any easier to hit, or to

incapacitate in a "low threat" location than in any other.

3.  If you get killed in a "low threat" area, you will be 100% dead.

Understand that violent crime is not location specific.  Career criminals, gang members, drunks, the mentally ill-all have complete mobility in modern society.  If you can be there, so can they.  

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One does not have to look far for examples of this catching up to people, even though in most cases we don't get to know the details.  In Kentucky shortly after the passage of the Concealed Deadly Weapon Permit, a gent who actually was a recreational shooter and knew better walked into a bank with one of those cute little NAA 4 shot revolvers in .22 magnum.  He ended up
in a running gun battle with 3 bank robbers!  Somehow he managed to hit one of them in the throat...which did not inconvenienced him immediately but later he had to seek medical attention and so was caught.  As for our intrepid hero, who at least gets points for guts and probably for
outstanding marksmanship considering his equipment, he declared he would never again leave his "real" gun in the truck! We don't always get the chance to mend the error of our ways :-)

Carry on.  

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I am a big believer in Mr. Murphy so my pistol stays with me or very close at all times if possible!  A real gun (rifle or shotgun) is also close at hand.

To paraphrase Clint Smith:  it won't happen when you expect, it won't be who you expect, it won't happen how you expect and you will never have practiced the scenario that you are about to enjoy!

Unfortunately you can't live your whole life in "condition yellow" so you best be prepared to reach "condition yellow" as quickly as possible when you absolutely must.  

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Taken from politesociety@yahoogroups.com .