You’ve probably read about the OODA loop—a decision-making model that reminds you to observe, orient, decide and act. Whether a self-defense situation unfolds over several minutes or hits you suddenly with a jump-out-of-the-bushes-style surprise, you’ve got to run through this model (or a similar one) in your head to make smart decisions and react to what happens next. It happens very quickly, but anytime you’re in a bad situation you might need your gun to solve, there’s a single, very important question you must ask as part of your OODA loop.
As concealed carriers, we are in possession of an extremely effective threat-stopping tool: a firearm. If you’re not carrying a less-lethal tool like pepper spray, your firearm might be your only physical tool to get you out of a bad situation. However, it’s a last resort. Using a firearm in self-defense introduces all kinds of complexities and consequences into your life—you just really don’t want to have to use that gun if there’s another option to keep yourself safe.
And that leads us to the ultimate self-defense question. As mentioned, you might be making split-second decisions, but when you’re facing a dangerous situation, always take a second to ask yourself this:
What would I do in this situation if I didn’t have my gun?
Now, thank God that you do have a gun—if it’s needed, it might be the only thing that will stop the threat effectively and get you home safely tonight. It could very well save your life. But think about the question for a second, and imagine some scenarios in which you might ask and answer it.
If the answer to “What would I do if I didn’t have my gun?” leaves you unharmed, then DO THAT instead of going to the gun.
If you’re confronted by a mugger who seems like he just really wants your purse, maybe your answer is “I’d throw my purse past him and run in the opposite direction.” Great. Do that.
If you’re getting really weird, “danger” vibes from the Uber driver who’s picking you up and trying to explain why his license plate doesn’t match what it says on the app, the answer might be “I’d cancel the ride and get another Uber.” Do it!
If you witness a domestic incident and you’re thinking about charging in to save the day with your firearm, maybe your answer is “I’d call the police.” You should probably just do that and leave yourself and your gun out of it.
If you are tempted to take a shortcut down a dark, abandoned street and you think “It’ll be fine, after all, I’m armed,” ask yourself the question. And if the answer is, “I’d turn around and go the long way that’s less sketchy,” definitely do that. (Read up on the Gun as Talisman fallacy for more specifics on this situation.)
Now, this only works when it works. Sometimes the answer will be “If I didn’t have my gun, I’d try to fight him off with my bare hands, but I’d probably be killed or seriously injured.” In that case, when you can’t run away and you’re facing a superior physical force, yeah, it’s time to go to the gun. Every choice is fraught with consequences, and you must weigh your decisions carefully. The point is to consider all your options and pick the one that has the best chance of bringing you the least harm.
It’s easy to get so focused on a threat or dangerous situation that you immediately jump to your only tool (the gun) as the answer to everything. Asking yourself the question “What would I do if I didn’t have my gun?” will force you to think about all your options and might snap you out of your tunnel vision long enough to see a better choice that was right in front of you. And if the answer is that there are no good options, you’ll know that the gun really is your last and best resort.
