Concealed Carry Corner: The Art Of Avoidance

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at some of the common mistakes people make when they conceal a handgun. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I wanted to look at one of the most important aspects of carrying concealed, which is to avoid any conflict altogether. It may seem silly, but there are certainly situations that are better to avoid entirely, and cues to look for that may help keep you safe in the long run. Let’s take a closer look at the art of avoidance and how to stay safe out in public.

The Most Important Step In Self-Defense

When it comes to carrying a concealed firearm, the actual firearm is a last resort. If you get to the point where you have to draw your firearm, you either have incredibly bad luck or, most likely, you’ve made a terrible mistake in judging the situation. One of the best phrases I have ever heard when it comes to carrying a concealed firearm is “ You win every gunfight you’re not in,” and that’s the absolute truth. Avoiding a potentially deadly confrontation not only saves you thousands in legal fees but also the trauma of living with what you had to do if you were lucky enough to make it out alive.

The realistic view is to avoid the situation so everyone goes home safe to their families. That may not always be possible, especially if you get cornered, but the hard truth is that you never lose a gunfight you don’t have. When we talked about less lethal or trying to deescalate a situation you may find yourself involved in, it’s after the concept of avoidance has already failed. If I had to break down what the most important factors of a self-defense situation are, I would say avoidance is roughly 85% of effectively getting away from the potential threat. The other aspects are de-escalation techniques, less lethal choices, with the final 5% being lethal force as a last resort.

Best Ways To Avoid Issues 

So we know avoiding potential situations is incredibly important, but just how do you effectively avoid situations before they happen? There’s no surefire way of avoiding conflicts, but there are certainly steps that help drastically minimize your chances of getting into a confrontation. One of the easiest ways to avoid situations is by implementing small tricks like keeping an eye on your surroundings and trying to disappear into the passing crowds.

Oftentimes, people fall into traps like keeping their head on a swivel and always being in a cautious state. While there are certain situations that will make someone watch their surroundings, it shouldn’t be your go-to baseline behavior. Even little tricks like avoiding low-traffic areas and only sticking to more crowded areas can minimize your probability of having a life-threatening conflict. People do not want to get into a confrontation if they are breaking the law in front of a crowd. They want as much power in a strong-arm situation for the victim to comply with their demands, and the more people around in a situation, the less power the attacker has, since the risk for the attacker is significantly higher. Avoiding darker or less-traveled walkways is always the best practice.

Trusting Your Gut

One of the best tools you have is your instincts or that “gut” feeling that tells you something is wrong. In today's society, people are less likely to listen to their gut feelings as a way of avoiding disrespecting or being rude to a stranger. Someone trying to lure a victim into a less populated area will offer the victim an opportunity and want to talk in private, asking them to come over. It sounds ridiculous, but your instincts have been created over generations and generations of evolution. Instead of your instincts keeping you safe from sabertooth tigers, it’s still telling you when you’re in danger and when to leave.

It’s a relatively new concept where people are actively ignoring their instincts at the risk of not offending the attacking party. If it doesn’t feel right to you and your brain is telling you to get out of the area, there’s certainly a reason for that, and I would listen to that gut feeling 100% of the time.

Looking out and looking for the safest route is the best way to go. Avoiding unfavorable characters and keeping a low profile always does better than looking overly alert as you walk down the street. There’s so much overthinking when you carry a concealed gun, but being the most respectful, passive, and well-behaved version of yourself should be a baseline way to be.

Overall Thoughts

As much fun as it is to talk about the latest and greatest handguns, holsters, and gear, these talks about avoiding situations entirely are significantly more important for practical use in the real world. This may seem like basic info to some, but you would be surprised how many people don’t think about the basics and what the first step to avoid conflict would be.

What do you guys do to avoid conflict, and do you agree that avoidance is the most important part of solving conflict? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there, and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.

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