Imagine it’s a few weeks before Christmas you are out shopping with your family at Wally World. The parking lot full of cars and the store is packed full of people out shopping to fill their Christmas lists. When a group of people armed with rifles, handguns, and grenades or improvised explosives begin attacking the Store starting in the parking lot. Numerous people in the parking lot run for their lives towards the store hoping to take shelter inside, till law enforcement arrives on scene. The attackers converging on the main doors and then front cash registers with this move they have cut off the main exit. This is also where people were congregated waiting to pay for their stuff when the attack began. As this is unfolding you realize this is the same area you told everyone to meet if you became separated while shopping.
For those who are saying this could never happen here, and continue denying it could happen, “Stop!” This actually happened in September of this year known as the Westgate Shopping Mall Shooting although it was not in our country. The attack occurred on Friday and lasted about 4 days! Previously similar incidents have happened in 2008 Mumbi, India & 2004 Beslan Russia terrorists attacked a school taking parents, teachers, and students killing some in the initial assault, and others after being held hostage, tortured, then killed during the ensuing siege.
What makes this different from an active shooter incident we have seen in the past in our country? The terrorists attacking the shopping mall in Kenya, according to news reports they moved in tactical formations they were prepared with enough ammunition and explosives to defend against the arriving authorities. Surviving witnesses reported being questioned what religion they were. Terrorists let members of their own religion go free and held what they considered non-believers hostage to be tortured and killed. The group of terrorists who carried out this attack had members who were American citizens, British Citizens, and other European nations.
What the terrorists wanted is as much time as possible to carry out their attack. With this time they attempted to kill as many people as they could men, women, and children. The longer they had the more media attention they received this gave more exposure and attention to their cause.
Whether you’re in a big box store this holiday shopping season or your local mall, be vigilant of what is happening around you. Keep your “Personal Safety Plan” in the front of your mind in the event you may have to implement it. No matter what you’re daily concealed carry items are this plan will aid you in reacting to any incident you may encounter. Actions you may take are a personal choice, and each individual would have to make their own decisions.
Here in America we enjoy the right to bear arms, and the majority of the states in our country allow some level of concealed carry of handguns for personal protection of self and your family. This includes attending firearms classes where you can learn how to defend your self and others.
Whether your state requires a training course to obtain a concealed carry permit or not you should seek out self-defense training if you carry concealed. There are instructors who provide a wide range of courses on the use of handguns ranging from the NRA First Steps Pistol to Personal Protection inside and outside the Home. NRA classes average about 5 to 10 students. Don’t over look the advantages of these smaller classes, they allow more one on one time with your instructor. Beyond this there are schools and instructors who offer Non-NRA Classes in various self-defense disciplines with handguns, rifles & carbines, and shotguns. Remember every class you attend will only aid you in the development of your “Personal Safety Plan”.
How do you find a course in your area? Well the NRA has made it easy for us to find courses by going to their website and using the Find a Course option. This option will enable a person to find the closest NRA Class in the desired discipline to their location. The NRA has different handgun classes ranging from first steps and Basic to Advanced Personal Protection outside the Home. You can also find instructors in the USA Carry Firearm Instructor Directory as well as classes listing in the USA Carry Firearm Events by State Calendar.
