Normally, I take the last seat at the bar at my local Sushi joint. It’s near the kitchen. I have an excellent view of the room and a chance of escape should worst come to worst. Why not? It doesn’t cost me anything to sit with my back to the wall. Unfortunately, my normal seat wasn’t available last night. So I sat in the middle of the bar with my back to the door. The tsuris came from two seats over. A wild-eyed woman who recognized me (but I not her) started lacing into me about guns. I said “I don’t think we should talk” and moved to a table at the corner. I kept a close eye on my antagonist—and decided I’d never make the same mistake again . . .
This threat had announced itself. What if I hadn’t seen it coming? Check this from yesterday’s foxnews.com report New security for US troops in Afghanistan to guard against Afghan insider threats . . .
In several Afghan ministries, Americans are now allowed to carry weapons. And they have been instructed to rearrange their office desks there to face the door, so they can see who is coming in, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the orders.
Two U.S. military officers working in the Afghan Interior Ministry, one of the most heavily guarded ministry buildings in Kabul, were gunned down at their desks on Feb. 25. While Allen did not detail the new measures in a briefing earlier this week, he acknowledged that changes had been made.
It’s common sense (especially in a war zone): position yourself for survival. But I know plenty of concealed carry guys who don’t think strategically when choosing where to sit or stand in a restaurant, bar, store, school or anywhere else, for that matter. Nor do they have an exit strategy.
Knowing that danger’s coming, seeing it coming, may provide life-saving seconds to get your self-defense decision process and habitual firearms manipulation skills started. By the same token, if you know where you need to go if you need to get the hell out of Dodge it saves you equally valuable time that would have to be spent searching for escape.
I reckon the best way to get this sorted is to form a habit. Check out the best place to sit or stand, and the best way to leave, as you enter a new space. Then silently tell yourself “I can relax now.” It’s not true, exactly. But it is kinda sorta. More importantly, the thought will provide the reward your mind needs to establish an important safety habit.