Self-Defense

That might sound like an oxymoron to many as who has time to put in a set of ear plugs before engaging in a life or death struggle. It just so happens that that the author writing this to you now is a United States Marine veteran of Iraq who can personally testify that, no, you do indeed not have time to put in earplugs before a firefight. For that matter, you wouldn’t want to anyway. 

A firearm is only as effective as the skill of the shooter.  Gear is only as good as you know how to use it.  But the same is true for your fists, elbows, knees and feet.  When it comes to self-defense, the options for protecting oneself are nearly limitless.  Still, every scenario must be judged circumstantially when it comes to the setting, the situation, the individual, and the items at hand.  The saying, "you can't bring a gun to a knife fight," is an analogy for a variety of potential self-defense situations.  Ultimately, it's more often than not that a person is unprepared or surprised when confronted with a situation that would require some degree of protection or self -defense.  When that happens, the best self-defense tools and tactics are the ones you have on hand when the moment strikes.

Whether you're an everyday man, a handyman, a policeman, or a military man – or woman – a high-quality light (or torch) should be a go-to part of your gear lineup.  Given the fact that darkness consumes between one-third and one-half of the entire day, having quick access to light can be crucial, even lifesaving.  Just think about how often you may use a flashlight at home for everyday tasks: power outages, scouring the attic, working in the garage, you name it.  These situations may not be life and death, but when it comes to tactical use a proper flashlight is more than just a tool for light.  Today, flashlights are more than a tool, but an extension to one's self-defense kit.  Hand-held lights have the capability to blind, break glass, pierce skin, maim, and otherwise deter a combatant.

There are times and situations where a flashlight just doesn't cut it.  Every time you're using a flashlight, you're multitasking.  That means you're using your free hand to do something else and you'd rather have both hands freed up to focus on the task at hand.  It could be the difference between life and death, on whether or not you can protect yourself, on finding your way or staying stuck, or just a matter of convenience.  There are situations where you just need both hands to deal with a perp, set up your gear, or manage the everyday tasks made more difficult under the cover of darkness, even if it's just fixing a flat.

Whenever you head out into the wilderness you should carry basic medical equipment, even on a daily basis I always have a case of band-aids in my pocket for minor cuts, and a more robust first aid kit in my bag which includes a large wound dressing, CAT tourniquet and extra band-aids and dressings for minor wounds. These items might save your life in the event of an accident.

As long as we have oxygen shelter and protection from the elements is our biggest priority in a survival situation. In extreme conditions; perhaps a fall into freezing water or being outside without proper winter clothing in very cold conditions, you have literally only minutes before you are incapacitated to the point of being unable to care for yourself. In these situations there is a very real possibility that you will die!

When we go on adventures out of doors we need to face it that we can’t carry all the water we need for days on end. We need to be able to find it and make it safe to drink. Also bear in mind that without water you will only survive for three days. Staying hydrated should be one of your highest priorities while you are outdoors and you should take every opportunity to top up your water supplies.

When we look the survival rule of three’s; three minutes without air, three hours without shelter in harsh conditions, three days without water, three weeks without food we have to face it that food is at the bottom of the list.

That doesn’t mean that we should ignore it though, having to forage, hunt and scavenge for food is a time and labour intensive activity so being prepared for emergencies with a well-stocked pantry or for outdoor adventures with well packed provisions if you’re headed out on an expedition is essential.

Sometimes being prepared requires you to have a light on you at all times, too often people rely on their mobile phones to light their way if they need to find something or do anything in the dark. Not only are mobile phone batteries drained very quickly by using the torch but in an emergency your phone is probably better preserved for contacting other members of your party and making emergency calls.

There are so many factors that are involved when we think and talk and read about "survival". We may think about being in the wilderness, or we may think about the jobs that some of us have in the world where use-of-force is regular and necessary, or we may think about civil unrest (a reality that is, sadly, growing more common in our country recently). And for each of these, there are various tasks and tools that come to mind as well ‑ everything from purifying water to binding a wound to defending against an attacker to staying warm and dry. What we all agree on is that surviving is serious business where the stakes couldn't be any higher and the price of failure couldn't be more severe.

EDC: Every Day Carry. This means so much more than simply a concealable firearm, though that is the extent of what many people think. There are so many tools that we need access to every day other than a gun; in fact, our gun is likely the tool that we will reach for the least. So what is it that we need to have with us at all times in addition to a weapon? We have talked before about the importance and utility of a knife and some type of multi-tool. What else do we carry? A light source. DNA Tactical is the place to find the equipment and the advice to help you find the hand held lights that you need.

Is there anything more foolish than hurting yourself while training to protect yourself? Whether we get hurt in the weight room or while going for a run or while otherwise protecting our health and wellbeing, it feels (and arguably, in preventable cases, is) absurd to sustain an injury in the pursuit of health and safety. 

I want to tell you a story about eyewear. It's a simple story that could have happened to any one of us (and, the more often I tell this story, the more often I have people reach out to me saying that they experienced the same or a similar set of circumstances.) But first a little background about me, so that you know that I am not just a foolish Johnny-come-lately who was ignoring some of the most basic safety rules that experienced people follow as a matter of course.

So you have committed to adopting a firearm, purchased your first gun for "Self-Defense", now what? Have you taken everything into consideration? Do you have the education, understanding, background, and respect to use your firearm; especially pertaining to a Self-Defense scenario? Are you familiar with all the influences that entail Firearm Safety? Did you take the time to familiarize yourself with all the variant aspects of ammunition and how they are traditionally utilized?