Self Defense Commentary

In any defensive scenario; it is important to be aware of all that is around you as part of your 360 degree security plan.  You need to pay particular attention to anyone or anything which seems out of place.  Trust your instincts, do not ignore them as your first concern will be to stay alive.

You are your own first line of self defense.  Based on circumstances the course of action you choose needs to be carried through without hesitation.  When faced with violence, which cannot be avoided, you must have the will to act with ferocity and severity in order to save your life.

It is irrational in this day and age that a law abiding citizen would not carry some form of a weapon.  To choose not to carry a weapon intentionally renders yourself partially defenseless.  Violence is escalating and many attacks occur in fringe areas such as deserted parking lots, alleyways, public bathrooms, stairwells, ATM kiosks, etc., where no immediate help will be available.

The most reliable and powerful weapon will do you no good if a situation demands immediate, decisive action for your survival and you fail to take action.  While it is best to avoid violence; if you are in a life threatening situation you may need to react violently to save your life.  Never escalate a situation which could turn violent until you consider where it might lead.

Check out the following fiction books I’ve written which are all available at Amazon.com.  You can also get a free preview by clicking on the book cover images to the left of my blog posts on my blog page which will take you to the Amazon.com free preview area.  I write in a variety of different fiction generes including post apocalyptic, zombie and horror.  If you like what you see consider reading my books.

Post Apocalyptic Fiction Book I’ve Written

• American Rebellion Book 1 of the Revolution
• American Rebellion Book 2 of the Revolution
• American Rebellion Book 3 of the Revolution
• American Rebellion Book 4 of the Revolution
• American Rebellion Book 5 of the Revolution

Zombie Fiction Books I’ve Written

• Biohazard Redacted Book 1 of the Zombie Apocalypse
• Biohazard Redacted Book 2 of the Zombie Apocalypse

Horror Fiction Books I’ve Written 

• Anthology of Horror

 

Tactics For Survival

When it comes to survival tactics; many people seem to have preferred methods that they feel will work for them.  Here are the ones I consider will work for me.

• The more you know about survival and survival tactics; the better your chances for survival will be.
•  Knowledge and its proper application will reduce fear.  Remember fear and panic are  your biggest enemies in survival situations.
• Be well versed in using a variety of weapons types.  Make sure you are familiar with how to operate weapons which are commonly used and even those which are not quite so common.
• Your weapons must be available for instant use in a self defense and or family defense capacity.
• Have sufficient ammunition available to defend yourself and your family from whatever survival situation you are presented with.  A weapon without ammunition and vice versa is useless if it needes to be engaged to save lives.
• Training, the right attitude, and the proper mindset are valuable skills to acquire.
• Wear good quality boots.  Keep your feet healthy.  If you can’t walk or can’t move because of sore or damaged feet your chances for survival have just gone down dramatically.
• Life isn’t fair.  Don’t let that discourage you.  Use the talents and skills you do have to assist you with your survival endeavours.
• Blend into your surroundings.
• Trust must be earned; not freely given.  Be careful who you trust.
• Don’t believe everything you hear.  Verify first.

You can get a free preview of my first zombie fiction book or my first five post apocalyptic fiction survival books by clicking on the book cover images to the left of this blog post, on my blog page, which will take you to the Amazon.com website. Then you can click on the look inside option which will give you a free preview.  If my zombie or survival fiction books interest you; then consider purchasing them.  Book titles include Biohazard Redacted Book 1 of the Zombie Apocalypse, American Rebellion Book 1 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 2 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 3 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 4 of the Revolution and American Rebellion Book 5 of the Revolution.

Do You Have What It Takes To Survive

In a survival situation it is important to stay calm and avoid being careless or impatient.  You must learn to recognize and control your fear.  Remember that there is always something you can do to improve your situation.  Consider all of the facts then make effective decisions.

Formulate responses based on safety, security and survival.  Use all of your senses and trust that gut feeling that you get that tells you that something is wrong.  Use common sense to avoid situations and locations that increase your risk of danger.  Remember maximize your distance to a threat; minimize yourself as a target and keep your muzzle between you and the threat.

Your survival depends upon applying survival principles and adapting them to your situation.  You must take responsibility for your own survival and not rely on anyone else to save you.  Outside help may be coming, but there will be times when outside help is not available, so you must rely on yourself.

Develop the will to survive.  You must have the mindset that you will survive.  Attitude and determination are great allies just as doubt and fear are your enemies.  Stay calm and don’t worry about things that you can’t control.  Keep your eyes and ears focused on the task at hand and be aware of your surroundings.  You must think clearly and react accordingly.

You can get a free preview of my first five post apocalyptic fiction survival books by clicking on the book cover images to the left of this blog post, on my blog page, which will take you to the Amazon.com website. Then you can click on the look inside option which will give you a free preview.  If my survival fiction books interest you; then consider purchasing them.  Book titles include American Rebellion Book 1 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 2 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 3 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 4 of the Revolution and American Rebellion Book 5 of the Revolution.

Survival Strategy Tip Number 14

The better prepared you are and the more self reliant you become; the better your chances are for survival.  Avoid dangerous areas and especially avoid areas that are subject to martial law.  Stay informed with reliable, factual information and do not draw uneccessary attention to yourself or your family.  Never take someone’s word at face value if it involves your life, liberty and safety without carefully scrutinizing the information first.  

Your survival is more important than obeying dictates especially if those dictates are counter-productive to your survival chances.  Be adaptable; if your survival plan is not working to your satisfaction then switch plans.   Develop peace of mind as frustration leads to bad decision making.   Anything that you do should be designed to have a positive result or a positive change in your life.  Avoid taking actions that will have a negative consequence when it comes to your safety and survival.

You can get a free preview of my first five post apocalyptic fiction survival books by clicking on the book cover images to the left of this blog post, on my blog page, which will take you to the Amazon.com website. Then you can click on the look inside option which will give you a free preview.  If my survival fiction books interest you; then consider purchasing them.  Book titles include American Rebellion Book 1 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 2 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 3 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 4 of the Revolution and American Rebellion Book 5 of the Revolution.

 

Predatory Danger Signs

Be alert for predatory danger signs that usually signal an increased probability of attack.  These signs include excessive or prolonged eye contact; people who approach you deliberately or move with you as you move; predatory movements such as circling, splitting up, or trying to get behind you and people who try and herd you towards a low visibility, isolated ambush point.

Other signs include the use of distractions such as someone asking for directions, or for a light, or physically bumping into you; people who quickly enter your personal space; people who are deliberately following you and people who wear inappropriate clothes such as a heavy jacket in warm weather which can conceal a blunt force weapon.

Pay attention to your surroundings (situational awareness).  If something seems unusual, start to increase your defensive posture.  Your behaviors and actions should signal to a predator that you would be a hard target and that you pose such a hazard to them, that they will look elsewhere for an easier target.

Avoid dangerous people and dangerous situations.  If attacked you must be mentally prepared to incapacitate your attacker and win at all costs.  Your mindset and attitude can significantly effect the outcome.

You can get a free preview of my first four post apocalyptic fiction survival books by clicking on the book cover images to the left of this blog post, on my blog page, which will take you to the Amazon.com website. Then you can click on the look inside option which will give you a free preview.  If my survival fiction books interest you; then consider purchasing them.  Book titles include American Rebellion Book 1 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 2 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 3 of the Revolution and American Rebellion Book 4 of the Revolution.

 

The Tactical Mindset

With the escalation in crime, law enforcement becomes reactive rather than proactive.  People must assume a primary responsibility for their own safety and security.  It is important to realize that not everyone is a law abiding citizen.  There are predators out there who have no regard for your life, your family’s life or your possessions.  To them you are nothing more than an inconvenient obstacle to obtaining what they want.

You must be willing to defend yourself against anyone who would harm you or your family.  You must be mentally prepared to use your skills defensively.  You have a right and a responsibility to protect yourself against an attack.  Practice situational awareness and avoidance; know your escape routes; maintain physical boundries and use verbal diffusion when appropriate.  By staying situationally aware you remove the element of surprise from an enemy. 

Most threats to home and family will come at close range.  Never turn your back to an adversary.  If an enemy is within range than so are you.  Maintain a survivors attitude by doing all that is necessary to survive; refusing to become a victim and never ever giving up.

Learn to visualize conflict and response.  This simulates experiences within your mind and experiences will build confidence.  Your mindset, your attitude, your tactics and your gear are all crucial elements to stop an attack.  Remember any weapon in the hands of a coward is useless so develop a mindset of confidence and bravery.

You can get a free preview of my first four post apocalyptic fiction survival books by clicking on the book cover images to the left of this blog post, on my blog page, which will take you to the Amazon.com website. Then you can click on the look inside option which will give you a free preview.  If my survival fiction books interest you; then consider purchasing them.  Book titles include American Rebellion Book 1 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 2 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 3 of the Revolution and American Rebellion Book 4 of the Revolution.

Survival Tactics

Tactics are an important element when the SHTF.  Here are some tactics to consider as the need arises.  Move quietly, don’t travel in a straight line, avoid main roads, never go back the same way that you came, never use the same ambush site twice and remember if you can see the enemy the chances are that the enemy can see you too.

Avoid predictable patterns, watch carefully for trip wires and booby traps, do not step on twigs as the sound of a twig breaking will travel a considerable distance.  Avoid using or wearing shiny objects and stay away from locations which leave you vulnearable such as alleyways and dimly lit parking lots.

Pay attention to sounds.  Birds suddenly moving away from a location are an indicator of movement.  Know your enemy and keep your weapons within arms reach.  Your mission will dictate your weapons choices; there is no such thing as one correct weapon for all scenarios.  You must learn to become aggressive enough quickly enough.

Never submit to threats or allow an enemy to isolate you in a vehicle or abandoned building.  If you do get into a vehicle make sure the car door will open from the inside before closing that door, as some unscrupulous folks will disable the inside door handles to prevent them from working.  Never allow yourself to become incapacitated especially if bindings are produced such as rope, cord, duct tape, zip ties, wire or handcuffs.

Minimize your risk profile as most attacks are crimes of opportunity.  Pay attention to your gut instincts; if something feels wrong it probably is wrong.

You can get a free preview of my first four post apocalyptic fiction survival books by clicking on the book cover images to the left of this blog post, on my blog page, which will take you to the Amazon.com website. Then you can click on the look inside option which will give you a free preview.  If my survival fiction books interest you; then consider purchasing them.  Book titles include American Rebellion Book 1 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 2 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 3 of the Revolution and American Rebellion Book 4 of the Revolution.

Tactics Revisited

Tactics are an important element when the SHTF.  Here are some tactics to consider as the need arises.  Move quietly, don’t travel in a straight line, avoid main roads, never go back the same way that you came, never use the same ambush site twice and remember if you can see the enemy the chances are that the enemy can see you too.

Avoid predictable patterns, watch carefully for trip wires and booby traps, do not step on twigs as the sound of a twig breaking will travel a considerable distance.  Avoid using or wearing shiny objects and stay away from locations which leave you vulnearable such as alleyways and dimly lit parking lots.

Pay attention to sounds.  Birds suddenly moving away from a location are an indicator of movement.  Know your enemy and keep your weapons within arms reach.  Your mission will dictate your weapons choices; there is no such thing as one correct weapon for all scenarios.  You must learn to become aggressive enough quickly enough.

Never submit to threats or allow an enemy to isolate you in a vehicle or abandoned building.  If you do get into a vehicle make sure the car door will open from the inside before closing that door, as some unscrupulous folks will disable the inside door handles to prevent them from working.  Never allow yourself to become incapacitated especially if bindings are produced such as rope, cord, duct tape, zip ties, wire or handcuffs.

Minimize your risk profile as most attacks are crimes of opportunity.  Pay attention to your gut instincts; if something feels wrong it probably is wrong.

You can get a free preview of my first three post apocalyptic fiction books by clicking on the book cover images to the left of this blog post, on my blog page, which will take you to the Amazon.com website. Then you can click on the look inside option which will give you a free preview.  If my survival fiction books interest you; then consider purchasing them.  Book titles include American Rebellion Book 1 of the Revolution, American Rebellion Book 2 of the Revolution and American Rebellion Book 3 of the Revolution.

Over Penetration and Home Defense Ammo

What is over penetration when it comes to home defense ammunition?  Over penetration refers to where the bullet will end up regardless of whether it finds its target in your home or misses its target and hits the wall.  Where will the bullet then go!  The bullet needs to expend all of its energy before stopping.  This needs to be balanced with does your caliber or gauge have sufficient power to stop a threat while at the same time minimizing how much over penetration can be expected.

Sheet rock walls are not very good at stopping a bullet and almost any caliber or gauge has the potential to cause over penetration.  Important considerations when choosing a caliber or gauge for your home defense firearms are what is the layout of your home?  How thick are your interior and exterior walls and what are they made of?  What is your neighborhood like, what surrounds your home and how close together are other homes, apartments, condos, etc.?

Generally speaking and from a design perspective at close ranges,  rifles will penetrate more than handguns and handguns will penetrate more than shotguns due primarily to weapons design and ammo selection.  So whatever caliber or gauge you select it is extremely important to know who or what your target is, what is behind and around your target even if not in plain sight and the capabilities of your weapon and ammunition.

Spend time analyzing the layout of your home and carefully research whatever calibers or gauges you intend to use in your selected home defense firearms.  There are many websites available with specific data on various calibers and gauges and their testing results on penetration and over penetration.

For myself my first priority is keeping my family and myself safe and for home defense firearms I rely on my Smith & Wesson M&P 45 handgun and my Mossberg 590A1 12 gauge pump action shotgun.  It is my hope that having to shoot an intruder would be a last resort option and only undertaken if my life or my families life were in imminent danger, within my home from a home invasion.

Real World Survival

Very few of us will have to deal with surviving a plane crash or surviving a ship sinking…..however many of us may have to face more routine survival scenarios such as extended power outages due to storms, etc.  Are you prepared if you have no power for 10 to 20 days?  The following are some considerations for real world survival.

• Have a workable, realistic survival plan and follow that plan.
• Have a sufficient quantity of food and water on hand.  3 months worth per person set aside is a good target goal.  Don’t forget to have extra food available for your pets.
• Have a sufficient quantity of firearms, mags and ammo as needed for defensive purposes.
• Have a workable generator, proper wiring to run the whole house from the generator and sufficient quantities of safely stored fuel to run the generator.
• Keep a sufficient supply of firewood on hand for your fireplace and or woodstove.
• Keep charcoal safely stored and have a charcoal grill available if you need to grill any meals outside.
• Batteries, batteries, batteries in proper sizes for your equipment such as flashlights, etc., is a must.  You can never have too many batteries.
• Sanitation needs must be considered.  Have sufficient toilet paper stockpiled; pages of phone books can also be used as a toilet paper substitute.  If you have rainbarrels outside you can use the water from them to flush the toilet if you don’t have a generator running to provide power.
• Keep small denominations of spare cash available.  If the power is out and some businesses are open; they likely will not be able to take credit card transactions.  You will also not be able to use an ATM machine to get cash.