We've looked into the remorseless eyes of a monster.
A weapon is nothing without the will and practiced skill to use it and the awareness to know when.
Many go about their routines oblivious to who is around them, that hungry eyes may be watching, and they freeze when confronted. They simply can't--or desperately don't want to--believe a predator is stalking for imminent attack. And when it springs, it's too late to save themselves.
The people we love are depending on us to know what to do. Men must be prepared and able to silence slavering beasts, or send them howling back into the darkness.
Xavier has some thoughts. As does Michael Bane.
To quote the George Brougham character in "The List of Adrian Messenger":
Evil is.It does, you know. Will you know what to do when it casts its eye on you? Will you even know you've been chosen?
[Via HZ from Grant Cunningham]
I try to be aware at all times. Sometimes things happen that make me realize I was not as aware as I should have been. I then scold myself and feel like a sheep and try to remember to stay more alert.
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ReplyDeleteMen must be prepared and able to silence slavering beasts, or send them howling back into the darkness.
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Absolutely! And women must be prepared and armed to do the same!
We are all responsible for our own safety, and that of those who look to us.
Kent, I know what you mean.
ReplyDeleteI dropped my wife off at the store once and waited outside for her. She beeped me on the phone to let me know she was coming out. As I pulled up and she walked out, I noticed a man follow her out of the store and approach her quickly from behind. We made eye contact as I threw the car in park and exited the vehicle. He turned around and literally ran away. To this day I have no doubt that his intentions were evil ... I saw his eyes. I had nothing to justify a chase other than what my gut had told me was happening. My wife was oblivious the entire time. It would have been ugly if she had been to the store alone. It was a lesson learned.
Lesson applied ... earlier this year, a man approached my wife at the grocery store parking lot (she just arrived alone). My wife made sure the door was locked and cracked the window to see what he wanted. He asked her to help him load his soda cases into his SUV since he had a bad back. My wife says everything inside of her tightened up. She started breathing hard but had the prescence of mind to stay in the vehicle and tell the "gentleman" that she would call someone to help him. She took her J-Frame out of her purse and held it in her lap in plain sight and started dialing 911. The man, who had originally limped over to her car, ran back and left in such a hurry he left the soda cases in the shopping cart. Did she scare off some poor old guy? Maybe ... maybe not. Who really cares? At least we can sit here together and laugh about it knowing she did exactly the right thing.
Personally, I dislike the "shoot to stop mantra". While it is what you must claim in order to not "scare the white people" it is dishonest and in my opinion dangerous.
ReplyDeleteYes, if I have to shoot someone I will shoot to stop them, by killing them. Anything less would leave me open to a potentially deadly counter-attack. If one employs deadly force, it is important that it be deadly. It is also vital that anyone contemplating utilizing such force comes to grips with the consequences of those actions. Think about it, work out various scenarios in your head, and then set your triggers so that you know, in the very fiber of your being that you did the right thing. That will help to diminish the resultant PTSD.
I live in a state of raised awareness. Not out of fear, but out of recognition of the fact that poop happens.
Thus far I have not needed to utilise any weapon in defense. My noticing predators and communicating my willingness to cause them grievous harm if they attack me or mine has done the trick thus far.