I am not a prepper, or one of those people who think the end is nigh and are preparing for a Mad Max, post-apocalyptic world with Tina Turner and cage fighting. Ironically, that doesn’t seem like such a crazy idea anymore, what with Mixed Martial Arts contests in octagons and idyllic campuses turned into pitched battlefields. Still, I do not believe that we are on the verge of complete destruction or nuclear annihilation. I come at this not from some Pollyana worldview but because limited warfare is much too profitable to end it all with a worldwide, lights-out nuclear strike.
And yet, my behavior might suggest otherwise. To wit, in the past year I have bought and trained on a pistol and shotgun, taken knife fighting (see Apache Knife Fighting), joined a university boxing club, and plan on learning grappling this summer. Add a motorcycle license into the mix, which I keep renewed even though it’s been years since I have ridden, and you might think you’ve got a secret prepper or Ernest Hemingway wannabe on your hands. In reality, though, I am not obsessed enough for the former and too fearful for the latter. I draw the line at bullfighting.
So, what in the world is going on with me? Or, as an astonished family friend put it to me recently, “Who are you?” She asked this without even knowing that I sleep at arm’s length of a 9mm handgun, machete, pocketknife, and thirty-one-ounce baseball bat made of ash. I also recently installed an alarm system with surveillance cameras. This might sound excessive, but it helps me sleep better. I wish I had thought of it living in the Bronx. Of course, it turned out that I didn’t need it then.
To answer the friend’s question, I am who I have always been, although more so. What has changed is that I now have time to do the things I want to do and have thought about but until recently have had neither the opportunity nor means. To be frank, I also worry less about what other people think or how they judge me. I am not insensitive. I just don’t explain myself or offer excuses anymore. I think of that as being considerate, since I respect people enough not to lie to them. Instead, I might stare back, shrug, or walk out of the room.
Admittedly, it also feels good to take some responsibility for my own protection so that I am more self-reliant and less of a victim. That kind of confidence doesn’t mean I act recklessly or look for trouble. For instance, I still drive in a courteous way in the slow lane and try to be aware of my surroundings at all times to avoid problems before they start.
Related to self-reliance and confidence is the feeling of being comfortable in my own skin, which means accepting who and what I am. This is important for everyone, and I can see it playing a role in gender, which is such a contentious topic right now that there are people claiming all sorts of things regarding gender identity and those who won’t even define what a man or woman is.
The majority of people I see at the firing range and the boxing gym are men. That’s not to say women aren’t involved. They are, just not in the numbers men are. But I think a more helpful way of looking at it is that people who take martial arts or are responsible gun owners want to be active rather than passive in their own defense, regardless of gender. No one wants to be a victim, and some people are willing to put in the work required to reduce their chances of being one.
Age is a factor, too. There aren’t many people my age in the ring. There are more at the range, but then both attract younger people. I wouldn’t let that get in the way, though, from becoming active in one’s own protection. There’s no need to sleep with a handgun nearby, but being aware and paying attention–not being a mark–is much more satisfying than simply relying on statistics. I’d also be lying if I said that target and clay shooting aren’t fun.
“Just don’t shoot anyone,” the friend said to me upon leaving. “No, I wouldn’t think of it,” I replied. “Unless I have to.”
Image credits: feature by David Levêque; target by Myko Makhlai. Want more? Go to Robert Brancatelli. The Brancatelli Blog is a member of The Free Media Alliance, which promotes “alternatives to software, culture, and hardware monopolies.”
My wife and I both got concealed carry permits in 2008. Crime was suddenly on the rise and out of the inner cities, with random mass shootings in schools, colleges, theaters, malls, churches and other public places. Obama was being sworn in, and we thought we probably should get the permits while we still could.
It turns out that neither of us ever purchased a gun, and since then we have moved to a place that has excellent security, so we let the permits lapse. But still, those theaters, malls…..
Robert, I understand exactly what you are doing, and why. A gun-owning friend of mine told me that, if you carry a gun legally, just remember that you have to be prepared to use it. I hope none of us are faced with that decision.
Amen, Vic. I don’t have a concealed carry permit and don’t expect ever to have one since I live in California. Still, at home at least, it is a good idea to be prepared to protect family, friends, etc.
Your blog this week leaves me a little unnerved! I oftentimes appreciate your insight but this week ….not so sure.
Appreciate the concern, but no need to feel unnerved. After grappling I’m doing ballroom dancing. Now, if I start writing about building an underground shelter, that’s a different story!