When it comes to a concealed carry lifestyle, it’s not uncommon to hear the justification of “it makes me feel safe.” This is generally related to the purchase of a new handgun or other piece of personal protective equipment. Unfortunately, that’s where the thought typically stops. “I have X, so I’m safe.” This means that X is little more than a personal security blanket for the user
Finding Real Safety by Taking Personal Control
There are those who argue that the mere sense of feeling safe is sufficient. They feel it can result in the carrier walking taller, presenting an air of confidence, and other behaviors we associate with being deselected for victimization.
The problem lies with the fact that there tend not to be any actual capabilities to back up that confidence. So, it’s likely to crumble immediately if challenged. The types of people that will likely put us in situations that require using force have probably had guns pointed at them before. Likely more than once. They may have even been shot and/or stabbed before.
The entire reason you find yourself in a situation like that is expressly BECAUSE they’ve done the math, assessed the risks, and decided that you’re worth the time and effort.
This is why BEING safe is far more critical than FEELING safe. FEELING safe alone tends not to hold up to any resistance. However, actually BEING safe means you actually have an understanding of your own capabilities and limitations and can act accordingly.
