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Originally Posted by Pami  ...It's difficult to take a Fighting Pistol course when you're afraid to even touch the gun in front of you. So how do you "train" to become unafraid of the tool? That is why there needs to be additional considerations. And I'll reiterate -- not all women need that half step. But some do, and it shouldn't be glossed over. |
I stepped away from this thread for a bit for perspective's sake. I think it may have worked, in that looking at my last post, I think I hit the answer you're looking for, Pami, or at least AN answer.
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Originally Posted by Bill of Rights ...address "nurture" situations emotionally and "logic" situations with reason, pragmatism, and a coldness that other women can only exhibit when that one core value comes into play: "Protect Child". |
I mentioned something to a co-worker once, before I was avidly interested in guns and self-defense, something about a violent reaction my wife had to something or other. Co-worker told me she couldn't imagine herself reacting that way, and I asked her, "What if ____ was threatening (her new daughter)?" And her face changed in the blink of an eye and with absolute assurance, her reply was, "I'd f***in' kill 'em!" There was a short pause and she realized what she'd said and was suddenly VERY embarrassed that she'd let something like that out to be heard by someone else. She covered her mouth in shock, as if to hide that it had actually come from her, but the fact is there, and I pointed it out to her: The killer instinct is not something we like to acknowledge, but it's present in most if not all of us.
Perhaps the answer you're seeking comes in part from that story and in part from a Clint Eastwood movie scene. I
think it was The Outlaw Josey Wales, where he took the settlers into a house and told them that in the upcoming fight, "You have to get mean. I mean plum mad-dog mean...."
When training with your pistol, you determine ahead of time that THAT person will not achieve their objective while you're still breathing. As you're determined to keep breathing, they WILL fall. If at the same time, you envision (in training) yourself protecting a child in danger, I'm going to guess that that emotional upbringing will serve you well. Sure, after you have dispatched the threat, you're going to likely cry, puke, scream, and second-guess yourself, you have to be alive to do any of that.
Successful training. Successful defense. You win.
I do not have data to back this up, I should say, and it's based solely on my thoughts and impressions of 40+ trips around the sun, but I don't think anyone will contradict it. If they do and can show me where I'm mistaken, I'll happily consider their angle on it.
Blessings,
B