Sunday, December 20, 2009

Fear

Caleb did a post on Fear.

Read the whole thing, WRT how hoplophobes live in fear. Not just of guns, but with most everything.

But then read this entry by JayG, FEAR and road rage.


Jay is afraid too. But a different kind of fear. His is more, “oh please, otherwise normal nice innocent person, don’t snap and force me to have to defend myself.” Jay also has a fear of, “oh please, dirtbag criminal, don’t think I’m a potential victim and put me in the position where I defend myself and fill you full of holes.”

No one with a CCW WANTS to go out and shoot someone. Or find themselves in a place they went consciously or unconsciously or accidentally where they have to shoot someone. At least no one that has a CCW should want to, and if they are in it for the chance to air out another human being, no matter how justified the shoot, maybe they shouldn’t get the conceal carry permit. (It goes back to my whole Don’t Be a Vigilante theme)

It’s ok to be afraid the way Jay is afraid. In fact it should be required.

But when it goes beyond that, and you DO find yourself in the place you feared you’d be, and despite your best efforts to avoid it, that fear should turn to anger. Cooper said it, “How DARE this person endanger me” and the warrior side flips on. The FIGHT part of Fight-Or-Flight should kick in. And it should do that because that maximizes your chances of a desireable-to-you end to the confrontation. Jay even has a story for that, from his pre-armed days, when threatened by a knife wielding punk. Jay, internally, was incandescent with rage, at very high Code Orange, and just a hair away from going Code Red and ripping out the guys spine via his rectum* no matter how many times Jay got stuck with the switchblade.

Jay was justifiably scared (as I would have been) then he was justifiably enraged, as I hoped I would be. The only thing that kept the flag from coming down on that fight was the decision making of the punk when a part him detected that bubbling cauldron coming up. It was out of Jay’s hands at that point.


[ * rectum? damn near KILLED him... old joke. sorry.]


3 comments:

Jay G said...

Thanks for the kind words and the linky-love, T-bolt.

You nailed it, spot on. If I go to my grave never having drawn my weapon I will be a happy man, a very happy man indeed. I harbor no desire to take the life of another human being no matter how badly they deserve it.

But I will not let them harm me or mine, at least while there is still life left in this body.

In a way, the situation with the kid and the switchblade was good for me, in that it presented an opportunity to see what I would do when the ball dropped. I learned that the "fight" response kicked in right when it should have, and the response was of sufficient magnitude to know that if I ever had to, I could pull the trigger if needed.

It's a sickening feeling.

It's a necessary one, mind you - if you have any doubts as to whether you could drop the hammer, you need to reassess the concept of carrying a firearm - but it's still frightening. Hearing that voice in my head - KILL HIM - was a stark wake-up call that yes, I am capable of employing deadly violence in my own defense.

And having children has only heightened that response...

Old NFO said...

I'm the same way, I hope I NEVER have to use my CCW, but if I do, I WILL.

Mike W. said...

If I go to my grave never having drawn my weapon I will be a happy man, a very happy man indeed. I harbor no desire to take the life of another human being no matter how badly they deserve it.

I couldn't agree more. Sadly there are many, many people who cannot grasp this.