Opinion
“When possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” ~ The Apostle Paul’s advice to First Century Christians living in Rome (Romans, 12:18).
My long-time friend and colleague, Mas Ayoob, in a recent article, reminded us that, at least within this current civilization, the vast majority of lethal interactions in which we might find ourselves are probably avoidable when we stay alert, aware, informed, and don’t beg the question.
Mas’ advice is sage, as always!
My small addition:
Anger, like fear, is a natural emotion. With most of us, anger arrives suddenly and unbidden, gradually subsiding after we take a breath.
“Being angry,” or “becoming angry” because of a particular circumstance, is not a crime. If it were, we would all be felons, probably several times per day.
Acting impulsively (and inappropriately) when motivated by anger is a crime. Thus, a big part of “growing up” is learning to control anger-aggravated impulsiveness and act out only what is in our best interest, not what anger exhorts us to do.
This point is critical for those of us who go armed. With deadly force ever at our fingertips, we all need to think critically about the roles anger and fear play in our daily lives.
An immediate, lethal response may well be necessary, appropriate, reasonable, and thus within the law when we are motivated by a legitimate fear of an imminent, unavoidable, deadly threat.
Indeed, that is the rationale behind “going armed.”
In a desperate, threatening circumstance, fear and anger (both perfectly normal and probably inescapable emotions) will probably be mixed together in our minds, at least for a few moments.
However, the “appropriateness” of our actions will always be evaluated based on the degree to which we were genuinely frightened and whether or not our fear was legitimate and well-founded.
In short:
Shooting people because we’re frightened (assuming our fear is licit) is permitted by law.
Shooting people merely because we’re angry is not permitted.
So, as Mas reminded us, deliberately/angrily confronting dangerous people in dangerous places (whether we’re armed or not) is rarely in our best interest.
That’s what we pay police to do.
Accordingly, don’t expect much sympathy from our criminal justice system when you choose to “go to the fight” and a “bad outcome” results.
Conversely, when “the fight comes to you” (through no invitation on your part), a forceful, protective response will likely be judged “reasonable” and thus lawful.
It appears Paul’s advice to the Romans, like Mas’ to the rest of us, is benevolent and taken seriously by the wise!
/John
About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor, John Farnam will urge you, based on your beliefs, to make up your mind about what you would do when faced with an imminent lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance if any. Defense Training International wants to ensure that its students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or in-actions.
It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to Planet Earth. Mr. Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com
Nearly ALL democrat policies will piss you off and make you angry.
Name one that doesn’t.
But OTOH, I’ll bet you cannot name a republican policy that’s been passed in the last decade that you agree with either. That’s been passed, and not just proposed. Talk is cheap. Instead, let’s attempt to come up with one that hasn’t been killed off by however many bought and paid for RINOs that happened to be required.
I’m drawing a blank. Can you name one single thing Washington, DC has done in the last decade that you agree with?
NEVER vote for a democrat and choose your Conservatives wisely.
I think it was Thomas Jefferson who once stated…” The government that governs the least is the best.”
Please correct me if I’m in error.
Damn close though, Biker. I’d have thought that. It sounds like Jefferson.
Well, it’s been over a week and no one has been able to come up with even one thing that Washington DC does that’s useful, from any party or even from just one individual. Not even from the govt. trolls that are paid to say good things about their masters.
I can only conclude that DC has outgrown any usefulness it might once have had, and is therefore obsolete, dangerous, and should be done away with.
the police have been found to only solve crime ,not prevent it so the “that’s what we pay police to do” is not quite accurate. The presumed job is no longer the actual job. Most police will arrive late to not be involved ,but clean up. best example is the city of miami police being called by someone who arrived home to find people ransacking their detached garage called 911 5 minutes no police called 911 again they would get there when they could third call stating they could take their time shot the perps….cops were there in under a… Read more »
It has never been law enforcement’s job to prevent crime. Just like laws were never intended to prevent crime. Law enforcement’s job to to show up after the crime has been committed and deal with the situation. Most often paperwork and reports. Arrests if possible or dispatching of the criminal, if necessary. The purpose of laws is to prescribe a punishment for a crime(s) committed. The idea that either one will protect you from the Evil perpetrated by criminals has been a fallacy for centuries. The only person who can protect you from Evil,,,Is YOU. Believing otherwise will get you… Read more »
Yep, I learned at a young age, when you want the cops there now, you ask them to respond asap and if they baulk you tell them, “fine, you can come clean up the mess because I am going to shoot the bastard” and hang up. Worked twice for me but that was the days of no cell phone. I got tired of police telling me they could not do something because of physical threats and that a law had to have been broken in order for them to respond. Call after they have broken the law. Bovine Excrement. Sacramento… Read more »
It’s strange but now that I carry I am actually calmer under stressful situations and have a more relaxed demeanor and tone. In the past I would think if they jump I will beat the shit out of them and get fired up and fight so I would argue back. Now, I patiently wait knowing if they get aggressive, I will fight back enough to prevent myself from getting hurt but in the back of my mind I know they will not kill me because if I fear that they will not stop and are going to kill me, I… Read more »
I can totally agree with you there. However ( You knew that was coming, didn’t you) spending most of my days sitting or in a wheelchair, I couldn’t fight my way out of a wet paper bag if it was made out of toilet paper, any potential altercation will probably be deadly…To me. I therefore am prepared. I also spend most of my time at home or in church and therefore avoid potential problem areas, at least as much as possible.
I’m sorry that you are disabled but glad you choose to have a means to defend yourself. I myself have a similar situation but all of us, disabled or not, share the same problem which is sometimes the trouble comes to us while we try to avoid problem areas and never go looking for or welcome it.
Stay safe. BIC
There’s a lot of wisdom in the Bible, if only people would read it.
If you’re carrying and don’t pray (hope if you’re not religious) that you will never have to use your weapon, you don’t have the right mindset.
If you don’t train for the possibility you might have to use your weapon, you WON’T have the right mindset.
I pray every day for the Lord to guide my words, actions, and bullets if necessary.
I read the bible, found it to be poorly written, contradictory, and basically a bunch of garbage. Training for carry, etc., is absolutely necessary, but I don’t need a book of myths about a sky-father to tell me that.
The only answer to that bunch of bunk you just spat out is: We will pray for you and hope that God hears us. If He doesn’t hear our prayers it means He has already condemned you.
It should have taught you a whole lot more than nothing. If you read the “New Idiot Version” (NIV) get a different Bible!
Many of us spent years in the military. If we lacked trigger discipline, it would have showcased itself then.
knew a few boys from new yak that went through ammo like nothing could not hit the broadside of a barn ,one shot one kill
and yes I have violated the one shot rule…two to distract one in the head….street rule
in todays world it is no longer one shot one kill it’s spray and pray. I have seen a few shootings that were real on TV and they don’t aim squat. The other thing I have noticed is now the cops are holding their guns sideways like the brothers in the hood. I wonder if they shoot like that at the practice range. Looks cool, but how do you get a good aim at your target.
Right!!! As a Drill Sergeant in the US Army Retraining Brigade even the restorees had perfect trigger control. We spent one full week at the range and only had one problem and that did NOT concern firing loaded weapons.
We used to joke that we were the only jail in the world where the inmates had the weapons and the guards did not.
This article cuts right to the heart of life. Responsible citizens of good character have learned to control their emotions(esp. anger) and not to let their emotions control them. Like fire and government, emotions are a good servant but a fearful master. They are powerful, but without direction. Like fire and governments, when they escape their boundaries, destruction is the result. When the fire in your furnace escapes its box, it destroys your house. When government escapes the confines of its checks and balances, it becomes oppressive and tyrannical, and tries to destroy everything that it cannot control(which is most… Read more »
One should only shoot when in eminent danger and no other solution presents itself. Even when totally justified, killing another human, even in war, carries a lifetime, and often life changing, impact.
Lavey said it better:
Satanic Rule #11: When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.