When Not to Declare You Are Armed

I have heard several instructors tell their students, if a bad guy initiates an attack, you should first warn the attacker with something like “Stop!  I have a gun and I am prepared to defend myself”.  I have a real problem with this, and for many reasons.

First off, by announcing that you are armed, you are giving up your tactical advantage.  That tactical advantage is very important to you.  It may be your only ally in your fight to survive.  By telling the attacker in advance that you have a gun, that attacker may then decide to step up or rush his attack. Seeing that you have no gun in your hand at the time of your proclamation, maybe he will decide to rush you.  Maybe he is faster than you.  Oh wait.  He is faster than you.

Next, just how often in your day to day life are you being attacked by aggressors?  My guess is probably not very often.  Normally, CCW holders do not get very much practice at drawing against actual aggressors.  At most, CCW holders go out to the range every once-in-a-while and plink at harmless pieces of paper.  Without the instantaneous, unexpected, and altogether unpleasant infusion of adrenaline, engaging that piece of paper is not a problem.  But trying to engage a terrifying monster that is coming at you and not holding still, all while shaking with adrenaline, is a very different skill.

Most, but not all, CCW students tend to overestimate their skill and speed.  If you are going to be attacked by an aggressor, it will most likely be by surprise.  Very few crooks will warn you of an impending attack from far away.  You’re going to need all of the speed, skill, and mostly luck, that you can muster.  Proclaiming “Stop!  I have a gun and I am prepared to defend myself” takes valuable time away from your actual defense.

Go ahead, time yourself saying “Stop!  I have a gun and I am prepared to defend myself”.  It takes me about three seconds.  That’s three seconds you desperately need to evaluate the threat, evaluate the totality of the circumstances, arrive at the conclusion that you are in imminent danger of death or great bodily injury, then decide to fight or flea, and then take physical action by moving clothing out of the way, properly drawing and presenting your firearm, aligning the sights on center mass, and stopping the threat.

When I practice at the range, I yell “STOP” very loudly as I am drawing.  “Stop” does not come before I draw.  It comes as I draw.  It serves as both a warning to the bad guy, and as a proclamation to the world that I am the victim.  There is no legal requirement in California that a CCW holder warn an attacker.  Warning an attacker with a prolonged statement may just be the reason the CCW holder gets injured or killed.