I often tell people during concealed carry classes, “You can often stay out of trouble if you don’t do stupid things with stupid people in stupid places.”
The meaning of that catchy little line is to remind people to stay out of dangerous places. But I see now that’s all wrong.
You cannot guarantee safety by staying away from “bad” neighborhoods or “dangerous” places. Of course it helps if you stay away from those, but don’t let your nice suburban lifestyle and your white picket fence (if you have those things) give you a false sense of security. Criminals are mobile and they might be coming to a street near you. Maybe even your street.
The American love affair with the automobile means we have roads everywhere, and anywhere there is road, there is a means for a criminal to go from where he is to somewhere people are not ready for him. Remember, criminals are predators. They look for prey that is weak or unprepared. Criminals want soft targets. All they need to do is steal a car and head for your neighborhood. Will you be ready when they arrive?
Residential burglary is a pretty common suburban crime. While the hard-working folks living in the suburbs are away at their 9-to-5s, burglars can often work unnoticed. But it only takes one error in judgment for burglary to become a home invasion. If you have a family member home during the day when most other people in the neighborhood are gone to work, encourage that family member to develop a security plan. All of my security plans include a firearm. Some of those plans include two firearms.
I carry a gun pretty much every waking moment — from the time I get out of the shower to the time I retire in the evening. That’s because I never know who might show up at my house and, if I need my gun, I expect I will not be able to call “time out” while I go looking for that firearm. A firearm is typically only a good defensive tool if it is immediately accessible. If you are more than three seconds away from your gun, you are unarmed.
The doors at my house are only unlocked as I pass through them. I lock the door when I leave and I lock the door as I return home. No one needs to enter my home without my permission. Yes, it takes a couple extra seconds when my teenage son comes to the door and is too preoccupied to take out his key, but I don’t care in the least. The door is locked for a reason. Locks slow people down. If someone with ill intent comes to my door, I want more time to figure out what I’m going to do.
I live in a good neighborhood, but we still have drug dealers and burglars and wife beaters and drunks. And I tell people all the time, “You never know when someone will decide to do something stupid.”
If you are always ready, you don’t have to get ready when something happens. Stay ready.
