Last week’s article about passing a firearm to a “trusted” person got a lot of feedback. Is there a time where circumstances might warrant it, absolutely…but.
Cattle rustling…sort of
Of all the comments, emails, messages and texts I got on the subject about the only one that made sense was a family member. I can see that for sure, I have even gone down that path myself and here is what we learned. First, there needs to be a little context. I had a young family, with toddlers when we first had this conversation. So, if you can image trying to herd wet cats you might get the picture. It seemed that my significant other’s primary job was the safety of the kids, which required both her arms and if she could have grown a third one without it being weird it would have been great.
The realities of life
The biggest reason the discussion took place was because she wasn’t going to carry on a consistent basis. Back then, options for women were even more scarce than they are today, so the only really option was off body. It really didn’t seem that practical considering the full loadout we had at the time for taking care of two young humans. Humans that pretty much doubled as a never ending source of energy. Why can we not capture that energy to power our homes…that would be so awesome.
Jack of all trades
So, back to the subject and where arming a family member is a good idea. On the one hand, absolutely. On the other hand, do they have enough hands to balance precision shooting with child corralling. That is the tough question to truthfully answer. I think it is great for families to discuss the subject, discuss the details and most importantly the responsibilities.
A night out in town
What are the duties and responsibilities of the traditional American family out to dinner when they deal with a critical incident. First off, the basic question to ask is are you the direct subject, part of a group or in the vicinity. If you are the direct subject then you will of course have to neutralize the threat with extreme prejudice. Now, that may sound a bit over the top, but my definition is quickly, surgically and without any distractions. The safety of your family is on the line, no quarter is given.
Run to the chopper
If you are part of a group, the first thing to determine is where is the closest exit and can you get to it. If you can make your way there unhindered then great and probably a good idea. If not, someone is going to have to stand fast and allow the others to exfil. That can be a tough job for sure and you will need to do some research on previous blogs I penned that talked about family emergency planning and communications, but that would be the time to implement. Keep in mind, setting a block is temporary and you will need a plan on where to rendezvous, whether it be the car or some known safe haven you agree to prior.
Down to brass tacks
The last situation might be if you are in close proximity or vicinity. The exfil to a safe haven is probably your number one goal and more than likely a little bit easier, since there is no immediate threat your ability to move and stay together is much higher. Which of these three scenarios makes the most sense to arm a family member when you have children or other precious cargo?
I’m sure there are plenty of other scenarios to consider, that wasn’t the point. The point was to get you to think it through and figure out what works best for you and your family.
"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other." Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States.
