For me, it was my wife's idea to have and start carrying a firearm as I've had them long before we got together and we now have our conceal‑carry licenses.
The idea came about when our kids were still in diapers and I traveled for work. She explained to me that if there was a shoot‑out wherever she was at or was in a situation where she might be robbed or acr‑jacked, it would be extremely difficult to flee on foot with 2 babies in her arms while trying to hold our other child's hand. So having that equalizer to even out the playing field is nice to have and not relying on having to beg for your life because the bad guy is in full control of the situation.
We also discussed on having a plan, which is:
- Look for a rear exit. In many cases, shootings would be near the front of the building.
- If you can't escape, find a broom closet, maintenance closet, dressing room, etc. and, if possible, lock the door, have your firearm drawn and ready.
- If we're separated, meet at the car.
- Situational awareness; always look around your surroundings, what type of vehicles are parked near you, if someone is following you, etc.
- Training. Visit the gun range often. Get used to shooting the firearm that you own.
Also, I made sure my girls were used to seeing weapons and brought them to the range with me all of the time. I give them a once‑a‑month safety lesson, you know, the Never point your weapon unless you're ready to destroy what you're pointing at and Treat every weapon as if it is loaded just to name a couple, and I would empty the firearm and see if they can pull the trigger so I can see where their strength is at.
This is what we do and I'm sure many of you can add on and improve my list. I'm not claiming to be an expert but it's nice to have a discussion with like‑minded people.
Thanks for hearing me out.
