Concealed Carry Corner: Importance Of Less Lethal Options

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about how less on your carry gun allows you to do more in everyday life. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I wanted to take a look at some of the options that you guys bring up when it comes to carrying less-than-lethal options. I plan on breaking this down into a two-part series where we look at some of the benefits of carrying less-than-lethal and why, legally, it may be better to have a less-than-lethal option rather than just solely relying on your gun. Some of the readers have talked about what they carry when it comes to less lethal options, and recently, I hopped on ASP to order some of the less lethal options on the market. Let’s take a look at the idea of carrying less-than-lethal options.

Why Carry Less Lethal Options?

When it comes to carrying less lethal options, some may be thinking how cumbersome these items can be, and it’s just another thing to carry on a daily basis. For a long time, I agreed with this idea because I’m already taking the extra steps to ensure my safety with a firearm. The concept of using your gun as a main tool is like using a hammer for every situation. The hard reality is that your firearm isn’t the first line of defense but a last resort. So many people just immediately go to their gun when that should be your absolute last-ditch tool when all other options have failed. Avoidance, less lethal, and if everything else fails, then your firearm is the last resort.

What most people don’t think about is that after the fact, when you’ve had to use your firearm in a self-defense situation, prosecutors are going to look at everything to determine if you did everything in your power to avoid using force and if it's justified. Having a less lethal option even on your person allows you to show you wanted to deescalate a situation and violence wasn’t your first choice. Having the ability to show you wanted to deter an attacker rather than go straight to life-ending violence really does help when looking at the case in court after the fact.

Picking A Less Lethal Option 

When it comes to picking a less lethal option, you have to look at the various kinds of tools out there and try to figure out what you want exactly. Stun guns and Tasers are the most common items to think about when thinking less lethal, but there’s so much more. Whether it's pepper or OC spray, batons or even a bright flashlight are all considered to be a less-than-lethal option for people who are considering carrying a less lethal option in addition to their concealed firearm.

Once you decide to carry a less lethal option, then you have to narrow down to what choice you want to haul around in addition to your firearm. Things like OC or pepper spray, you have multiple options like the Gel, Fog, or Stream, which each has their own uses, but depending on what you go with, these choices can also negatively impact the user as well. It's easy to just grab something and call it good, but these items do require extra training and practice. Companies like ASP and other protection agencies offer training to civilians to properly use less-than-lethal items. Just like handguns and firearms, less-than-lethal items are important to train to deescalate rather than escalate a situation.

Not All Less Lethal Options Are Great Choices

The toughest part of picking a less lethal option is understanding the risks that are associated with each option. There are a number of factors that can go wrong with less-than-lethal. Tasers and stun guns with prongs can often hit innocent bystanders or miss the target, depending on the distance. OC or pepper spray isn’t a safe option as well, with the stream version oftentimes coming back and hitting the user in the face as well. This can take out both the attacker and defender, creating a dangerous situation where you both are fighting while being heavily disorientated.

The point of less lethal options is to stop the attacker rather than hurting your abilities to fight as well. The other misconception has to do with collapsible batons as well. People think they are a less lethal option, but most versions, if you hit someone in the neck or head, will be almost 100% lethal, which defeats the purpose of having a less-than-lethal option. Batons should only be used for arms and legs to stop the attacker rather than attacking them in the face, neck or head area.

Overall Thoughts

There are pros and cons when talking about less lethal. On one hand, it’s another thing to deal with and carry on a daily basis, but if you ever find yourself in a self defense situation, it will be a positive impact on the outcome if you find yourself in court. Having the ability to show you aren’t looking to be aggressive or go straight to violence will really help you legally in court.

Let me know what you guys think about less lethal options in the comments below. If you have questions about less lethal options or firearms, be sure to reach out on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Next week we will be looking at the various type of less lethal options on the market today. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week.

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