Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Concealed Carry!

Recently I took the North Carolina concealed carry handgun course. This is something that's been on my radar for years, and finally, I did it! This was an all day class, from 8am to 5pm, of classroom material, a test, and practice on a shooting range!


Ronnie Atwood is the man!!!!

I highly recommend this class for everyone. You'll learn a little bit of history about the Second Amendment, the rules of engagement, self defense tactics, and what rights you have depending on how things can play out on the battlefield, as Ronnie would say. Learning about guns too, even if you don't like them, is great knowledge to have. I want to share with you some of the interesting things I learned. In no way are these my political or military passions, I just learned a lot this day and am excited to share. :)

Every American has the right to bear arms, that's what the Second Amendment is all about - "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." This Amendment has been interpreted in many different ways, but essentially this Amendment makes sure the government works for the people, and not the other way around. That the ultimate authority resides in the people, and this Amendment protects the people so we do not end up in a tyrannical situation.

On average, it takes only 7-14 seconds to break into a home.
If someone was breaking into your home right now what would you do? Do you have a plan? Will you hide in a closet? Do you have time to grab your kids? Do you have a gun, nearby? Are you going to call 911? Do you have any weapons stored around your house to prepare for this type of situation? Pepper spray, anything? 14 seconds is not a long time. These are important questions you should have answered. You should also consider staging your house with barriers should an armed intruder enter your home. Putting locks on bedrooms doors will give you precious seconds to help you prepare for this battle, to call 911, to grab weapons, etc. Staging your house with objects that could stop bullets from moving through walls, too, is also important. For example, say your child's bedroom is across from yours. You hear someone breaking in and you don't have time to run and grab your kids, you're in your room and an armed intruder is charging you. You shoot at him, later realizing you are shooting into your child's bedroom. Having a bookshelf or piano on the walls between you and your loves ones is something to consider.

Routine habits will get you killed faster and make you an easier target.
If you're able to, switch things up. Take a different way to work. Take off on a Tuesday. How many times do you hear stories of a home being broken into and turns out a mother was home sick, etc. If you can't breakup your routine, make sure you have a plan.

Take time to talk to your spouse, or your kids, or if it's just you, HAVE A PLAN. Maglites, flashlights, and pepper spray are great to have strategically placed around your home. Take time to do pepper spray training. How many of you have pepper spray but have never used it? Do you know how far it will spray? Is it a stream, or a gel? Get familiar with what you're working with so you can quick and easily protect yourself.

Statistics show you are more likely to survive if you fight back versus giving in.
As a woman, I've heard many suggestions of what to do should I be attacked in a parking lot or while getting in my car. But one I had not yet heard was keeping a whistle on you. Not in your purse in a deep side pocket, but on a retractable string on the outside of your purse. Attackers do not like attention. Blowing on a whistle is a great way to call attention to yourself. Also, besides just screaming HELP, scream HELP RAPE! How many of us have seen a couple arguing and you just think, "Man, glad that's not me and my relationship."  It's quite sad, it's the world we live in these days. If you see a heated argument you almost think the two people know each other. But you never know how many women are just frozen in fear trying to talk their attackers out of what they're doing. Scream HELP RAPE, and blow that whistle, that will get someones attention should you need it.

SO - I know this was a lot. Some of you may already be familiar with this type information, but some may not be. This information is good to have!


Knowledge is so beautiful! 

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