1. This is why I conceal carry. Don't want to make myself he/she/it's first target.
2. That's why I usually try to sit with my back to a wall so I can keep my eye's on things.
Unless I'm mad about something, I'm typically very easy going. My wife says I'm very "approachable". People are always coming up to me and talking about my height. Even little kids like to talk to me.
But when I've had enough, It's not difficult to read me either. Leave me alone and get out of my way.
You think EXACTLY like I do. I like having the option of open carry, but I prefer not to for the reason you suggest. I'd be the first target, no questions asked, just caught off-guard and snuffed before I had a chance to respond. Also, I prefer conceal carry for people like my mother. She's not one that should carry and she doesn't. My brothers try talking her into it, and I just won't allow it untill she feels comfortable and confident by doing so. If most carriers are concealed, there's a level of protection for those who don't carry too since bad guys have to guess, is she or isn't she???
I too prefer to be observant. If ever I get into a situation, I hope I have a way to step into a void or out of sight for a minute or two to be able to make a quick evaluation before I just pulled it out and went to work otherwise just hands up and act like all the other scared puppets until I seen right opportunity. Of course we can all play the, I'da, woudla, coulda, shoulda bullshit but in a real life situation we need to realize it's going to be very very different and much easier said than done. That easier said than done is exactly why I think everyone should do scenario training or thinking. This way if you ever do get into a situation, you may have already ran a scenario through your mind that is somewhat similar or even somewhat different and why you should handle it this way or that way instead of like that scenario.
In reality, we being the good guys, and IF WE'VE PRACTICED and continue to practice and train, we do and will have the advantage over an armed thug or 2. Most of them thugs are like a cheap camera. They just point and shoot. They don't practice, they don't tactical train. So long as we, the good guys, don't panic and keep ourself under control for the most part, we will have the advantage in all aspects. The mental advantage, the emotional advantage, and the tactical advantage. I think the hardest part if ever getting into one of these bad situations is going to be trying to keep all the good guys and innocent people safe. The thugs don't care who gets hurt, we do.
