Understanding Potential Threats

Too often when we think of assessing a potential threat (Condition Orange), we think in terms of people. And while this is certainly true, it is only part of the picture. We may condition ourselves to be alert for a potential threat due to the conditions that surround us when we may, or may not, have our attention focused on specific people.

For example, we leave a restaurant late at night. It is dark and the parking lot that we are going to is not well lit. In addition, there have been several armed robberies by groups of criminals in recent times. This should be enough, right there, to put us into Condition Orange. So, what do we do?

To begin with, we start scanning our surroundings, first, in close and then farther out. At the same time, we get our hands free and give some thought to clearing our covering garments. We can do all of these things while still smiling and chatting with the friend, or friends, who are with us.

If our defensive handgun is carried in deep concealment, a pocket or ankle holster, for instance, it might be a good time to get it out and make it more accessible, like moving it to a jacket pocket. Again, this should be done casually so as not to attract undue attention. When you are face to face with an actual threat, that is not a good time to be trying to get a gun out of an ankle holster. Trust me on that.

This scenario might also be a good time to put a flashlight to work. A reader of mine recently shared the time that he went outside in his pajamas, without gun or light, to see what his dog was upset about. He got to meet Mr. Black Bear.

And it is a good reminder that, when alert for a potential threat, we use all of our senses, not just our sight. We might hear scuffling noises in that dark parking lot, and my reader might have smelled that bear (Yes, they do have an odor).

Obviously, we will deal with numerous potential threats and yet never face an actual threat. That’s okay. That’s being prepared. It is simply that if we wait until we see something, we may have waited too late. Considering all of the circumstances and conditions around us, using all of our senses, gives us time to more effectively deal with a threat, or avoid it entirely.