The Teacher’s Guide To Concealed Carry, Part Three.
How To Be Ready For (Almost) Anything
One of my frustrations with the firearms training industry is that we’re focused on just firearms. I realize that sounds a little silly, but the fact is, a pistol solves just one problem: The imminent threat of lethal force at distances ranging from one inch out to 20 yards (or more, depending on the skill of the user).
The good news is, in the hands of a skilled user, a pistol is really, really good at solving that problem. The bad news is, that’s only one of the problems associated with an active shooter. There are other things to deal with, like defusing an aggressive, violent student who assaults their teacher or dealing with the after effects of a mass shooting or just doing something simple, like walking out to your car at night after a PTA meeting. This is why carrying more than a gun leads to a better, happier and safer life.
Light Up The Night
Fire is one of mankind’s oldest inventions, yet I am constantly amazed by how few people carry a flashlight with them every single day. I learned how handy a small but powerful flashlight was while I worked inside the studio as a professional photographer, and since then, I’ve carried one with me from Ecuador to Edmonton. For everyday use, I really like the Streamlight Stylus Pro flashlight. It doesn’t scream “TACTICAL!,” but it will still kick out an amazing 250 lumens worth of photons when loaded with lithium batteries, which is more than enough to light the way to your car or temporarily blind an attacker at night.
Stop The Bleed
Stopping an active killer is great. Limiting the damage caused by his (or her) madness with immediate trauma care is even better. If you’re a teacher who is looking into carrying a firearm with you inside classroom, considered having a few tourniquets with you as well, like the CAT or SOFT-T, both of which have been proven lifesavers overseas. Pack along a trauma kit with bandages and clotting agent, take a class to stop bleeding, and make sure your CPR is up to date, because saving lives means more than putting rounds downrange.
Mace In Your Face
I’m not a lawyer, and I’m not suggesting you do this, but small cans of pepper spray are not considered to be a weapon here in Florida, which may open up new opportunities to protect yourself and your students from bodily harm. I’ve recently done a 180 on the usefulness of pepper spray because I’ve realized that they offer a very viable alternative to punching someone in their face, as my friend John Corriea will now explain.
If you’re a teacher and you’ve made the decision to protect yourself and your students, congratulations, I applaud your decision. However, if you can’t arm yourself, or chose not to do so, that doesn’t mean you need to be defenseless. Stay alert, stay prepared and be ready to safe a life whenever the need arises.
If you’re an educator and you’ve liked this series, be sure to share it with others and help them make better-informed choices about protecting themselves and their students inside the classroom.
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