10 Ways to Keep Yourself Safe

[TexasT]

This is just my list of ways I like to remain safe when it comes to owning and operating guns. Feel free to add to the list, but I just thought this might be helpful to women (or men) who are new to guns and are browsing the site.

1. Know how to use your gun - Only range time will help you become acquainted with your gun. It will help you become a more accurate shooter because that's what you want to be if you want to stop your target.

2. Keep your gun clean - Clean the gun after every shooting session. This will help keep your gun functioning properly. Don't want your gun to jam or slam fire on you. And always make sure your gun is unloaded when you go to clean it.

3. Get your CCW and make it a habit of carrying your gun with you - It can be kind of weird at first carrying a gun around with you, but remember you have a great responsibility to protect yourself and others should the need arise.

4. Keep your gun loaded - What good is a gun as a safety device if you keep your ammo separate from the gun. I personally like to keep my magazine loaded to almost full capacity with one in the chamber, but that's just a personal preference of mine. I buy new magazines regularly since I do keep it loaded to capacity. The springs can wear out and have problems ejecting your cartridge to the chamber. Some states say while traveling you must keep your ammo in the trunk and your gun in the glove compartment. What good is that if somebody comes at you while you're in your car? Screw that! Keep the gun loaded! It's probably controversial about whether or not to keep one in the chamber, but depending on how easy it is for you to chamber a round you can work that out to your own preference. If you do have one in the chamber remember to keep the safety on or keep the gun in a holster so you don't shoot yourself.

5. Be aware of your surroundings -No discussion needed here.

6. Don't pull your gun out unless you plan on using it - Don't ever try to intimidate somebody by waving your gun around. Don't be a jackarse or bully. Use the gun only when you need it to protect yourself and others from dangerous situations.

7. Be knowledgeable about gun laws in your state - It is your constitutional right to be able to bear arms, but be within the law.

8. Shoot to kill vs shoot to disarm - This I will have to leave up to your own discretion. In no way do I ever want to take the life of another human being. In CCW class we learned to shoot to disarm as opposed to shoot to kill. But remember that you will appear in court anytime you fire your gun in public, and as I heard somebody once say - "One side of the story is better than two." Do what you have to do and nothing more.

9. Don't sleep with your firearm under your pillow - If it accidentally goes off while you are sleeping then you could lose your hearing or worse.

10. Never stare down the barrel of anyone's gun, including your own - lol

[jerry]

Cool, I especially like #10

[TexasT]

That picture gives me the heebie jeebies lol.

[jerry]

Cool thing about it is you can see the firing pin hole. Definitely not loaded. I wouldn't do that to my digital camera. Also, I foregot, but that was when I got hit in the head with the tool box. I remember the stitches now.

[TexasT]

I noticed there wasn't a cartridge in there lol.

I also think carrying around pepperspray might be beneficial as well. It's sometimes easier to get to before you can get to your gun because it can attach to your keys.

[jerry]

keys can make a fierce defensive tool as well.

[ezearln]

#8 Remains a point of controversy for me, few shooters even long time trained instructors would advocate a "Shoot to disarm" philosophy although we did practice precision combat shooting to that purpose. Our tactic was "Shoot to Stop" focusing fire on center of mass always pointing out to our students that the purpose was to stop our attacker ASAP not to kill, the USMC used to teach a PPC that also included a failure to stop drill as well as shooting while on the move. Both valuable skills.

#11. Get some professional training if you can afford it. I'm not talking about a CCW class either as they teach only the basics and only test (if at all) for basic marksmanship skills. More advanced training will teach use of cover and concealment, tactical reloads, speed reloads, clearing of stoppages, reduced light firing tactics amongst some. All valuable skills. Then practice them repeatedly until they become automatic in response to a threat.

[SueMe]

I sure believe in self-defense for women and children. A gun is not always available and can be easily taken away ,anyway ,in many instances. I don't plan on getting killed with my own gun. However, we do have other ways to protect ourselves. I sent both my girl and my boy to self-defense classes and to karate. I had self-defense from my father teaching me and the Navy also gave a class in self-defense, none of which taught to use a gun. They advise against it. It is better to be safe than sorry. Unfortunately, my daughter had to use her self-defense class. It worked.

1. always be alert
2. know your surroundings
3. expect the unexpected
4. if you must walk in the dark alone have those keys clearly fitted between each finger. They are great brass knuckles.
5. If you are physically restrained take evidence with you in mulitple forms: scratching,piece of hair,biting,etc.
6. A woman's strength is in their legs. Use them where it counts.
7. Never walk with your head down, walk proud and walk like you are in control.
8. there are more........add to this list.

[ezearln]

A gun cannot be taken away "easily" from someone with proper training, nor in many instances either and yes a set of keys placed between the fingers makes an excellent defensive weapon but is little comfort when you are confronted with an attacker wielding a knife or gun. One point many including myself here have made repeatedly is to obtain further training beyond a simple CCW class and practice practice practice those skills until they become instinctive. I TAUGHT Navy self defense courses both armed and unarmed for over 20 years. I'll tell you a wee secret. We never advised against being armed and Armed is much much better. Try taking my pistol from me.

[samuel]

#5,the most important part of self defence you dont even want to discuss???? # 10,Every time I plan on firing a firearm of any type except muzzle loaders which I check with the rod before loading. I open the action and look down the barrel.At the range this means I have to do it in the parking lot.If there is an obstruction I want to know before firing,not after.And yes I agree with ez.Get self defense training.I still go once a year.Its fun and I check me out. sam.

[ArkansasHunter]

Ladies may I ask a question...Be totaly honest.

Are women always on alert for attacks ? Say even at the Grocery store, Mall or while in your car.

Do women suspect the worst and are you on guard constantly to prevent a crime against you ?

Today I really feel compassion for women because of the very possible likely hood of a crime being committed against them because of the high percentage of crime today.

To take blame off me I will use a bible verse which says : A woman is the weaker vessel.
How confident are you to stop an attack and protect yourself from bodily harm or robbery ?

[TexasT]

Originally Posted by samuel

#5,the most important part of self defence you dont even want to discuss???? # 10,Every time I plan on firing a firearm of any type except muzzle loaders which I check with the rod before loading. I open the action and look down the barrel.At the range this means I have to do it in the parking lot.If there is an obstruction I want to know before firing,not after.And yes I agree with ez.Get self defense training.I still go once a year.Its fun and I check me out. sam.

It's not that I don't want to discuss it. It's that it's self explanatory. Be aware of what's going on around you. Don't be oblivious to everything.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by TexasT

It's not that I don't want to discuss it. It's that it's self explanatory. Be aware of what's going on around you. Don't be oblivious to everything.

It should be driven in at every defence class whether gun,martial arts,or how to drive.It sounds simple,but is the hardest thing to train yourself to do.And without awareness of your suroundings all other defence is null and void. sam.

[gunney_m]

Ruger p89 good self defence gun, and what would u say is best 124 or 147 jhp?

[TexasT]

Originally Posted by samuel

It should be driven in at every defence class whether gun,martial arts,or how to drive.It sounds simple,but is the hardest thing to train yourself to do.And without awareness of your suroundings all other defence is null and void. sam.

I totally agree with this. Self defense should start with yourself and not a firearm. Firearms are useless if you don't know when to pull it out.

[HEMI]

The lady is providing a valuable simple guide, she should be commended not picked apart. If more people followed her list there would be a lot less victims.
Sueme 's point #7 is important don't act like a victim.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by HEMI

The lady is providing a valuable simple guide, she should be commended not picked apart. If more people followed her list there would be a lot less victims.
Sueme 's point #7 is important don't act like a victim.

Dont think anyone was picking on anyone.I know I wasnt.I just saw two things that I felt warranted discussion the same as you did.The one I dissagreed with comes from years in the military looking down and allowing someone to look down the barrels of countless rifles at inspection. sam.

[HEMI]

Hey Sam your right of course didn't mean to come off so harsh,let me rephrase.
Thanks Texas T for bring up some important rules of survival you did a very good job on your 10. My 10 might be alittle differant but no better.
I carry a gun[s][legally and yes i live in Canada] because of the work I do.
My #1 rule is whatever happens on my shift me and my partner go home to our families god forbid I have to end anothers life to make that happen but I will if there is no other option. Stay safe.

[SuckLead]

Originally Posted by TexasT

T
8. Shoot to kill vs shoot to disarm - This I will have to leave up to your own discretion. In no way do I ever want to take the life of another human being. In CCW class we learned to shoot to disarm as opposed to shoot to kill. But remember that you will appear in court anytime you fire your gun in public, and as I heard somebody once say - "One side of the story is better than two." Do what you have to do and nothing more.
9. Don't sleep with your firearm under your pillow - If it accidentally goes off while you are sleeping then you could lose your hearing or worse.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I stress these two especially on a daily basis. As for sleeping with it under the pillow... I have to tell people not to so many times a day it is scary. And they don't understand why. I made the mistake one time. I had put my Sig under my pillow (not the one I sleep on, either) while I went to work (long story). It was unloaded, thank God. But I forgot when I got home 11 hours later. Well, I woke up in the middle of the night from a really weird dream and found I had rolled over onto that pillow and my hand somehow found the gun. I was now staring down the barrel of my own gun. It was not a pleasant way to wake up.

And the shoot to kill... we were trained through my last job to not shoot to wound or disarm but to shoot to kill. For several reasons many don't think about. One is, of course, the fact that they will sue you. The other is that if they don't sue you they won't thank you for sparing their life. I meet women daily who say, "I'll just shoot him in the package." While that sounds like a great plan, think about it. How many men would want to live without their package? This guy isn't going to thank you for sparing his life. If he ever gets out of jail, he's going to come looking for you.

Thanks for reminding everyone of these!

[NRAJOE]