Low Threat Environment?

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In these trying and less than secure times, exactly how do we evaluate the threat level of a given location?

 

Obviously, it is fairly easy to identify potential “high threat” areas. Baghdad, right now, would certainly qualify. A family farm on the frontier in South Africa certainly meets the criteria, just as a typical inner-city slum in a big US city would. This part is easy. The confusion comes in identifying these supposedly safe, secure “low threat” environments.

 

For instance, you may be reading this in your home, assuming you are completely secure, in a classic “low threat environment”. At that very moment, however, three masked, armed intruders are gathering at your front door, preparing to kick it in and conduct a home invasion. Likely? No. The point is, if it were happening you would not know until the actual moment the attack begins. Thus, the actual reality of the moment and your perception of the moment are drastically different. I suggest this happens more often than you realize. As you go through your daily routine, you are at times in close proximity to those who would cheerfully do you or your loved ones harm, the circumstances just did not, for whatever reason, result in violence, that time.

 

My suggestion, then, is that when we are not in a “high threat environment”, we consider ourselves to be in an “unknown threat environment”, rather than in a “low threat environment”. The resulting shift in mindset will go a long way toward helping you detect, avoid, deter, or win any potential confrontation. Assuming one is in a “low threat” area leads to the relaxation, lack of alertness, and hesitation that often leads to injury or death. Instead, admit that you don’t know what the exact threat level is most of the time, and remain alert, outwardly focused, adequately armed, and so forth.

 

The best example of the “low threat” mindset is that of leaving your primary sidearm at home and dropping a .25 or .32 in your pocket, because you’re going to a “low threat” area. Before you do that, consider these little truths:

 

1. If you get engaged in a confrontation at all, you will be 100% engaged, not 50%, or 60%, but all the way.

2. Your adversary (or adversaries) will not be any easier to hit, or to incapacitate in a “low threat” location than in any other.

3. If you get killed in a “low threat” area, you will be 100% dead.

 

Understand that violent crime is not location specific. Career criminals, gang members, drunks, the mentally ill—all have complete mobility in modern society. If you can be there, so can they.

 

Watch your six!