Among preppers, the subject of self defense seems to be a regular topic of discussion.  Depending on who you listen to, tactics of self defense range from dialog to scorched earth, with an entire range in between.  This is article is sort of a primer on the subject, and I’ll be expanding on my thoughts on individual ideas brought up here in later articles.

Choices for self defense are highly personal and subjective.  There simply isn’t a method, tool, or process that is going to work for all people and all situations.  What will work for someone with a career in the armed services living on a ranch in Colorado isn’t going to work for a single mother with a two bedroom apartment in the suburbs.  You need to examine your home, place of work, you physical abilities, and those around you and who depend on you in order to come up with a good plan for self defense and preservation of your dependents.

One question I get asked all of the time is what firearms I use and suggest to others.  This is a mistake, from my point of view.  The firearms I prefer simply are not well suited to other folks for any number of reasons – weight, complexity, maintenance, etc.  When asked, I usually tell folks that they need to decide if firearms are even right for them to begin with, and only after they’ve decided they are, then should they commit themselves to the expense and training that goes along with them.  In some cases, firearms may not be the answer – though I have never actually spoken with anyone on the subject of self defense for whom that was the case.

Knives are another choice and are also highly personal, and are often even more highly regulated than firearms.  Such things as overall length, how they’re carried, whether they’re automatic knives (aka switchblades), can all come into play.  Folding knives with blades less than three inches long are usually the safest bet in most localities in the United States, but that’s not always a given.  Generally speaking, fixed blade knives tend to be the easiest to use since you don’t have to worry about a malfunction when opening it.  No matter what the choice, however, knives are usually a last resort.  If you’re close enough to use it, so is the bad guy, and things could get very messy.

Weaponry aside, your body is your first and last tool for self defense.  You brain, for one, is the primary tool that should be engaged.  Situational awareness is paramount, and no firearm on the planet can protect you if you’re not paying attention.  Mindset, also known as attitude, is also absolutely necessary.  You need to be able to commit to the act of injuring another person if they threaten you or your family.  Finally you need to physically be up to the task, and this is where fitness is extremely important.  If you’re the protector, you have to be strong and healthy to ensure you have the ability to provide safety for those that depend on you.

An integral part of self defense, believe it or not, is where you live.  Being able to secure yourself in your home when needed can be very important to survival.  Good, strong, lockable doors and windows can be 95% of your defense when at home, so be sure to invest well in these areas.  Some may opt for a “safe room”, but due to expense this is not always possible.  Depending how your house is constructed, you might be able to create a low budget safe room just by installing a strong door in a well-located room.  This room should also have ample supply stores to ensure you can ride out whatever threat there might be.

I plan to expand on these later, as well as other subjects, but hopefully this will give folks something to think about.  Feel free to use the comments section to make suggestions or share your thoughts.