Do Not Look at the Finger or You Will Miss All That Heavenly Glory

For those of us that choose to carry defensive firearms, a little chat about the defensive mind frame.  The carrying of a firearm is an awesome responsibility, which is why there are all kinds of “house” rules regarding firearm safety. Those rules will be the topic of a later discussion. Call it what you like, be it “alert conditions”, “combat mindset”, ect.,  they are all the same. What we’re talking about is situational awareness. Situational awareness is the ability to take in all information regarding a developing situation and act upon that information in a calm and rational manner. We all have this ability, honing it is your responsibility. Now, Jeff Cooper invented the "Cooper Color Codes", It’s what I use, It’s what most CCW license holders use, If your occupation doesn’t require razor sharp awareness 27/7 I strongly suggest you start exercising the use of Coopers Color Codes. For those of us that DO require razor sharp awareness (as many of you know I’m an Air Traffic Controller), The paradigm shift to Coopers Color Codes should not be difficult, just a matter of adapting that awareness to a different use. There are MANY other writings on awareness and combat philosophy, among those I highly recommend are Bruce Lee’s The Tao of Jeet Kune Do, On Combat, The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, and Sharpening the Warriors Edge: The Psychology & Science of Training by Bruce K. Siddle.