THE Most Important Element in Self-Defense?

If you had to choose, what is THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL element in self-defense?

  • Situational Awareness

    Votes: 159 88.3%
  • Gun/Caliber selection

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • Shooting skill

    Votes: 8 4.4%
  • Other

    Votes: 12 6.7%

  • Total voters
    180
I couldn't agree more with the statement about awareness while packing.:D Since I have been carrying I am way more alert to my surroundings. I guess it is the weight of the responsibility I have chosen to bear. And it is a heavy weight.:)
I think this alertness has me way more likely to see trouble coming and avoid it in the first place. This was not the case before I took on the responsibility of carrying a weapon.
 
Awareness. Knowing what's going on around you makes all the difference. It doesn't guarantee you won't ever be surprised; it does however, reduce the possibilities.
 
I voted other. I took a self defense class at college because i needed some extra credits and I was surprised to see that it was a pretty serious, and helpful class. It wasn't one of these arm bar/wrist lock, call the police classes. It WAS 1) run if you can, 2) Inflict as much pain and damage to the BG in a short amount of time(I.E. Gouge eyes, break a wind pipe, break an arm ect.) THEN run. I vote Running as most important in self defense, it should always be the #1 option if the situation allows it.
 
Better to be aware&have a Mouse.22 than to be unaware&have a Glock 26.

It applies to a lot of things ie. most of my first aid training always says to begin by 'surveying the scene'.

Also this makes the arguement for concealed carry rather than open carry.

When one 'open carries' one is helping everybody else<including the BG> be
aware...while maybe putting one's own self too confidently asleep.

There's also the tactical arguement that carrying a semiauto without a round in the chamber - is ironically better...because it forces one to be more tactically aware of situations, makes it harder for the BG to take away the gun and immediatly use it on you, and makes one focus on thinking more deliberatly about pulling out the gun.<ironically the way folks used to have to tactically think when carrying single action revolvers.>
 
HKfan, I agree there is a time and place for the nike defense, but if the lives of others is in danger, or your attacker has a gun and is determined to kill you, you may want to end the fight.
 
The most elemental factor in any shooting situation is: good tactics. Even if you are a mediocre shot, even if you have the biggest handgun or most powerful handgun around, if your tactics are poor then you die. You have GOT to have good tactics in order to make that good shot. All the other things involved in a shooting scenario are important too BUT the key is good tactics.
 
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