Informed Choices Before You Buy
There are a multitude of considerations when determining your Personal Defense plan. In this article I will be discussing an overview of some tools and personal defense planning suggestions. This isn’t a comprehensive list but is a good starting point. For a more complete discussion of the options and recommendations, attend the One Defense course entitled Informed Choices Before You Buy. This seminar is free for women.
Personal Defense Tools
There are many options for personal defense tools. I don’t have the space to cover them all here but suffice it to say, you have a lot of choices.
Non-Lethal
- Your cell phone! Never leave home without it and make sure it is sufficiently charged
- A good flashlight that has at least 120 lumens of light power
- Pepper spray
- Impact Weapon
- Pocket Knife
- A trauma kit to treat injuries
Most are easy to carry on your person, in your purse or in your backpack to have them handy when you need it.
Firearms
Choosing the correct hand gun and/or long gun. Try before you buy! There are a multitude of factors that will determine which pistol, shotgun or rifle feels best in your hands and will enable you to be the most accurate.
- Handgun – Size, Type, Caliber?
- Shotgun: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
- Sporting rifle or hunting rifle?
Most brands will suffice, but what would be ideal? –> The gun that enables you to hit the target most accurately, and can be relied upon to function without a stoppage.
When it comes to firearms, try as many different models you can before you make the decision which to buy. Then you can select what works best for you. There are ranges such as Bills Gun Range which has a multitude of firearms for rent. It’s a lot cheaper to rent than to buy a firearm only to discover you don’t like it very much. I am happy to assist you if you’d like to go to the range to try some out.
You don’t need the “coolest” or more expensive models. It’s better to spend more money on ammunition to practice!
Ammunition
There are different types of ammunition suited to practice versus personal defense. You don’t need to use expensive personal defense ammunition to practice, but it helps to try some to see how they perform in your gun. Most handgun ammunition performs equally well. In spite of that, many of us have our preferences for caliber and manufacturer 😉
Home Defense
Outside
- What do day time burglars look for?
- What do night time burglars look for?
- Yard sign and window stickers
- Beware of Dog sign, dog dish, dog mat; criminals list of things they fear #1 YOU, #2 Dog, #3 Police arrest
- Shrubs trimmed below window level
- Keep doors locked
- Good quality dead bolts on all doors
- Illumination: Motion detectors and static lighting
- Surveillance Cameras
- Alarm – something similar to Simpli-Safe
Inside
- You must have a Safe for firearms. At minimum a quick-access type near your bed for night-time storage
- Cell phone or land line near your bed and/or in your safe room to call 911, tell the dispatcher where you are in the house
- Alarm system. Early warning system for when you are home; what’s your plan when the alarm goes off?
- Firearms. Carry one on your person while awake or in an easily accessible location while sleeping
- Determine a “safe” room, a defendable position with limited access and reasonable cover, a place to retreat to a defensible position within your home
- Have a plan to gather all people in the room should there be a break-in while you’re home
- Don’t leave the room unless a family member requires “rescue”
- DO NOT “clear” your house. Let the police do it. Every time you leave a room it’s no longer clear, you don’t have a team to occupy every room
- If you leave your safe room, you give up your strong defensive position in the house
Make your home the least inviting in your neighborhood, it doesn’t need to be impenetrable. “I don’t have to outrun the bear, just outrun you.”
Out and About
- Where to park? Back in, Drive out
- Where to go? Do you REALLY need that jug of milk at 11pm?
- Nothing good happens after midnight 🙂
- Be alert and on guard for any suspicious activity
- Be polite but not friendly to people you don’t know, “I’m sorry sir, I can’t help you”
- If you feel you are being followed around the mall, don’t go to your car! Find a safe location and call 911 immediately
- In your car? Drive away! Leave yourself room to maneuver in heavier traffic should a Road-Rager make you his target. Call 911 with a vehicle description including the license plate number
Continuing Education
Whether an individual has no experience with defense tools or have acquired a permit to carry, it’s merely the beginning of the learning curve.
- Continuing Education is something people of all professions participate in to improve and refresh their skills
- A good training course will start with training your mind
- Training helps build the confidence you need to act decisively in a personal defense situation
- It’s imperative to your legal defense should you become involved in a Personal Defense incident
- Learn good techniques and mechanics, don’t practice bad techniques that you will have to un-learn
Practice
- Practice builds upon the good foundation you’ve learned
- Range Time: 100 rounds of practice per month will provide as much or more benefit than 500 rounds in a single training day
- You will build the muscle memory that will enable you to function well in a fight
- One Defense training courses will provide a broad range of information, a strong foundation, you can take home and practice
The beginning of a good Personal Defense Plan is becoming well informed. As you make the effort to learn and try out your options, you’ll be able to make the right choice when you’re ready to buy personal defense tools and firearms.
Be Safe. Be Prepared. Get Trained. – You are the One.
2016 Schedule
Click on an Event to view the course description or to Register:
February 2016
– 2/20 Defensive Handgun Fundamentals
March 2016
– 3/19 Informed Choices Before You Buy
April 2015
– 4/09 Defensive Handgun I
– 4/23 Defensive Rifle I
May 2015
– 5/07 Defensive Handgun II
– 5/21 Defensive Rifle II
June 2015
– 6/04 ALUMNI DAY
– 6/18 Defensive Shotgun
July 2015 – with John Farnam of Defense Training International
– 7/22 Tactical Treatment of Gunshot Wounds
– 7/23-24 Armed Response to a Terrorist Attack
September 2015
– 9/10 Defensive Handgun I
– 9/24 Defensive Rifle I
October 2015
– 10/08 Defensive Handgun II
– 10/22 Defensive Rifle II
Contact Me for an appointment to schedule a private session for any One Defense course.
Women can attend the following courses for FREE!
Discounts!
- $25 OFF – When you refer another student to the course you are attending
- $25 OFF – When you take another course in the same calendar year
- 50% OFF – When you take a course you have already attended
NEW GROUP RATE – When you register a group of 5 or more you can choose your date(s) and receive a %20 DISCOUNT!
NEW Private Training rates. We will come to you! Please Contact Me for more information