| Street smarts for the Common People | | | | OK, lets get down to what you as a citizen might |
| The Survival Mind Set. | | | | encounter. You are leaving work or shopping late at |
| Last week I talked about the advantages of | | | | night. As you walk to your car, you sense someone |
| carrying a Stun Gun. Some of them look like flash | | | | following you. Lets backup a second. How come you |
| lights, or pagers, some look like Stun Guns. Today I | | | | were able to sense someone? You have already |
| want to share with you a few of my thoughts about | | | | experienced this in your mind! As you came out the |
| what I call the Survival Mindset. Now when I was a | | | | door, you thought, its dark, its late, the parking lot is |
| training officer for the Lee County Sheriff's Office, I | | | | almost empty. There is a van parked near your car |
| always taught my trainees through actual or | | | | and you were the last one to leave. NOW, do NOT |
| simulated situations. BUT, there were some situations | | | | be the typical little ole lady stooped over and shy |
| that just were too difficult to simulate. Oh they could | | | | looking, as you shuffle along. Walk up right, head held |
| have been simulated, but time, and expense was | | | | high. Do not keep turning around to look, that shows |
| always a factor. | | | | fear. Keep walking at a normal pace, while being |
| Take a bank robbery in progress situation. NOW, I do | | | | aware through your peripheral vision, of who and |
| hope you as a citizen never walk in on a robbery in | | | | what is around you. |
| progress, but it has happened! The training process | | | | A Bad guy is just like a predator. Have you ever |
| here is to play out the situation in your mind. Lets call | | | | watched a cat stalk his prey? If the pry runs, the cat |
| it Roll Playing. The training can take place by your self | | | | will pounce! Already have your weapon in your hand, |
| or with another partner who may coach you. If you | | | | turned on. Have your car keys in the other hand. |
| do this often enough, in your mind, you will revert to | | | | What if as you walk outside, there are plenty of |
| it in a REAL situation. | | | | cars, plenty of light, plenty of other people around? |
| In my classic bank robbery scenario, a Patrol Officer | | | | BE JUST AS PREPARED! The practice will make you |
| would be pulling up to the front of a bank to cash a | | | | a survivor with a survival mindset. |
| check during a break before lunch. Three guys | | | | Being prepared will also play a BIG part in making you |
| wearing ski masks come running out. They are | | | | less of a target. Why don?t body builders get |
| carrying shotguns. Its not snowing and they are not | | | | mugged? They do not look like easy prey! If you |
| wearing skis! And its not hunting season! Is the | | | | can?t look like a body builder, at least act like one. |
| officer really going win in this scenario? NO WAY! He | | | | Again, work with a friend or partner and have them |
| is out gunned and out numbered. | | | | watch you, advise you if you look like a mouse or a |
| Throw the car in reverse and get the heck outa | | | | lion, as you walk towards your car. Now after |
| dodge, NOW! Use the radio, call it in, give descriptions | | | | practicing all this, do NOT let all this cause you to |
| of the bad guys and their get a way car. Follow at a | | | | LIVE IN FEAR! That will take you right back to |
| safe distance until more officers are close by. If this | | | | square one as you shuffle towards your car, glancing |
| is practiced in your mind, this is what you will do. Of | | | | around head bent low, shoulders rounded, all in FEAR. |
| course on TV, Dirty Harry Callahan would single | | | | NO! Get a survival MINDSET! As you practice your |
| handedly take out all three guys with his 44 mag. | | | | survival mindset, it will come naturally and you will not |
| Sure. | | | | live in fear. |
| Plan for the various situations you might encounter. | | | | PS: Actually there is a lot of the survival mindset that |
| Act them out with a friend or at least in your mind. If | | | | takes place BEFORE you ever park your car! Check |
| in the above situation what if the officer reacted just | | | | in next time to learn more about THE SURVIVAL |
| like he had seen his TV heroes do it? He would be | | | | MINDSET! Keep Happy thoughts! |
| DEAD. And the bad guys would escape. | | | | |