Axioms of Concealed Carry

 I've begun to compile principles of concealed carry (and personal protection in general) that I consider to be axiomatic.  I will expand upon each of these over time.  These are in no particular order.  This is a work in progress.

1. In any decision you make regarding personal protection, compromise is ALWAYS present, whether you are aware of the compromise or not.  It's better to be aware of them.

2. Never assume that luck will be on your side.  Luck comes in two forms:  good and bad.  Minimize your reliance on luck.

3. You are on your own.  Never expect someone to rescue you.

4. Reaction time is critical.  You must be able to defend with minimal delay.

5. There are no perfect solutions or answers.  (This is closely related to #1.)  Go with what works best for you.

6. Avoidance is (almost) always preferable to fighting.  You never lose a fight if you are not in it.

7. If you must fight, win as quickly as possible.  (Don't forget, "winning" includes escaping.)

8. Awareness if paramount.  The best gunfighting skills in the world will not save a person who is unware of the threat.  (Historical example:  James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok.)

9. The nature of your attack (or even that you will attack back at all) should come as a surprise to your enemy.  Your attacker(s) are likely to hold many advantages:  They may be younger, stronger, faster, outnumbering, and more experienced using violence.  They choose the time and place to ambush.  For that reason, your attack must be unexpected, swift, violent, and when appropriate, deadly.

10. Live in the real world.  Crime and violence are rarely depicted realistically in movies or on television.  Do not base your training or expectations from what is meant to be entertainment.

11.  Violence should be reserved as your last means of protection.  Use it only when there are no other options.

12. You must control your ego and not allow it to control your actions.  Your mission is to be safe and to protect yourself and those you care about.  You want to remain out of jail, out of the hospital and above all, out of the morgue.  

13.  Training should imitate how you want to perform in combat.  

14. Think and act as if you are a professional bodyguard.  Because you are your own bodyguard.  E.g., Do not allow yourself to be distracted. 

15.  If you are in a fair fight you are doing something wrong.  Rules to make it a fair fight are for sports:  E.g., equally matched size, no biting, no eye gouging, no hitting below the belt, time limits, a referee present and so on.  Protecting yourself is not a sport; therefore there are no rules of "fair play."  Your attacker is not going to be fair to you.

16. If you "feel naked without a gun" it is a sign that your have become psychologically dependent upon it.  Accept reality:  sometimes you will not have a gun.  At those times you are not defenseless, you are simply defending yourself using other tools.  Personal protection strategy and training should be broad, balanced and well-rounded.  Do not rely on just one way to protect yourself.

17.  Concealed carry is mostly a mental exercise.  The physical act of carrying a gun and shooting it is a small part of protection.  You may be carrying a couple extra pounds on your belt, but you should be carrying a TON of material inside your head.

Please comment as you wish.  What are the fundamental principles for you?