Phaedrus/69
Member
- The gun in your hand cannot deflect or stop incoming fire
This is so critical to understand yet so often ignored! For every discussion of body armor or trama/blow-out kits there are fifty threads devoted to carry guns or holsters. So many people expect to produce their gun and defeat the bad guy in the moment, with few thinking they might wind up taking hits in the process. It's absolutely possible for an opponent to kill you after you have fatally wounded them! And no matter how well trained and skilled you are there's always a chance you'll lose. The only fight you will always win is the one you don't take part in. I'm lucky to have never been in a gunfight but two of my best friends have been shot (accidents in both cases) and it's not like on TV- you don't rub some dirt on it. One was shot in the pelvis with a 9mm and spent the better part of next year in a body cast. Almost two decades later he still suffers some effects from the wound.
For home defense I think things are often a bit more clear cut, or at least the resident has a little more control of the situation. The law is often a bit more clear, and in most states if someone breaks into a structure they know to be occupied then bad intentions are presumed. Also, if one has done some work to harden the perimeter then the defender will likely have a bit more time to react. Therefore body armor is a part of my plan! True, the situation might unfold in a way that doesn't allow me to get to my armor but it offers at least some chance. Likewise I strive to make sure I'm not going to be "outgunned" in my own home. Given 20 seconds or so I can have my carbine and slip on my carrier, giving me rifle protection, a few spare mags and a TQ.