Use of Force

Aaron Cowan recently wrote an article on the use of force for the every day citizen that is both interesting and thought-provoking. I think most people tend to think about the use of force as a LEO only topic (see the Ferguson mess), but the reality is, violent encounters aren’t limited to law enforcement.

Image via RECOILweb

Self-defense is not black and white.  The interactions that can lead to a violent encounter can be long conversations, chance encounters, crimes of opportunity or personal grudges.  The fact is that any given self-defense situation is going to have so many possible variables that hard and fast rules are impossible to define.  This may seem a bit counter-intuitive for a topic that encompasses a few million, even billion dollar industries.  From instructors to books to DVDs to pepper spray and firearms (those specifically marketed for self-defense especially) we have a great deal of product and an equal supply of knowledge available. Both are intended to make the security minded effective in the event they have to defend their life or that of someone else.  If that time comes, we all hope that the situation will present itself in a very clear and concise manner, i.e. a cliché lethal threat that leaves no room for questioning your decision to use force to defend yourself.

Unfortunately, it may not be that simple. It probably will not be that simple.

Read the rest of the article here.