Early last week I received an email message from one of the local ranges. It got my attention because it wasn’t their usual weekly sales flyer. Instead, it was an invitation to a free, two-hour event. Entitled “Eyes Up: Mastering Situational Awareness — Staying Safe in an Unpredictable World.” That resonated.
The event was put together by the range (OutPost Armory), Gun Owners of America, and the Right To Bear Association. If you are my age, that sounds reminiscent of one of the multiple weekly invitations to a “Free Dinner at the Luxury Steakhouse.” If you’re not familiar with those pitches, they offer a basic meal in exchange for a pitch from a financial planner who’s going to hard-sell you on using their services. I’ve never attended any of those, but I’ve watched people being herded into a private dining room where the planners are poised to pitch. Thanks, but I’ll pass.
The invitation to the Eyes Up even actually did a good job of laying out the points that everyone should make part of their everyday routines:
— Developing a proactive, alert mindset
— Identifying pre-incident warning signs
— Avoiding danger through situational awareness
— Effective response strategies in public and private spaces
— Real-world scenarios and key lessons learned
None of their points are trivial. And not everyone is paying attention.
Recent surveys say young people become measurably anxious if they can’t check their screens at least once every three minutes. That means they’re oblivious to the peril of looking down when they should be looking around. It’s worse if for teens. Apparently, they spend an average of 7.5 to 8.5 hours per day looking at their screens…excluding homework.
Today, you have a one-in-four chance of being in a traffic accident where at least one driver was distracted. With those kinds of statistics, situational awareness should be listed as an endangered species.
We’re not the only place with that level of addiction. In Germany recently, it was difficult to navigate the streets because of young people walking while staring at their screens. The fixation has moved from troublesome to potentially life-threatening. Living outside of a major tourist trap (Nashville), frequent news items report on pedestrians being injured– or worse — by actually walking into traffic while staring at their screens or taking selfies.
This isn’t a rant about screens. They make life easier. Until they don’t. You’ll never see me advocating for laws that restrict screens until certain ages. That’s a job for parents, not legislators.
Like it or not, we live in a world where bad things happen. Angry people do unspeakable things to innocents every day. Screens distract from the real world.
We can joke about people “doing stupid things and winning stupid prizes” as if it’s what people deserve because they’re not paying attention. Stubbed toes are one thing. Being killed by a would-be martyr, a mentally ill wacko or a drunken driver isn’t a joke. It is, however, a fact of the real world.
Our mantra should be “Heads up and eyes out.” When your senses tell you something’s off, you need to get “off the X.” The timeworn phrase most appropriate for today is simple: “If you don’t want to be eaten, don’t look like food.”
People are far more likely to be injured or killed while staring at their screens than noticing disturbances happening right in front of them. Walking into trouble doesn’t require intentionality. Walking away from it requires awareness. Anything less than aware can prove fatal.
I’ve found myself in plenty of bad situations, often on purpose. That was a product of my profession, nothing else. But having survived those situations, I know the necessity of staying alert. I’ve tried to pass that on to my family. Should I say “get on my left side” or “get behind me,” my family knows there’s a reason.
I’m putting myself between them and whatever’s on my right or in front of us. Not because I’m a superhero. I have the scars to prove I’m not. It’s only to demonstrate to whatever’s out there that we might not be the easiest target available.
Most often, that’s all that’s required. Preparedness doesn’t mean being combative or confrontational. It just means being present.
“Our mantra should be ‘Heads up and eyes out.’ When your senses tell you something’s off, you need to get ‘off the X.’ The timeworn phrase most appropriate for today is simple: ‘If you don’t want to be eaten, don’t look like food.’ ”
Exactly!
Being prepared and alert are paramount relative to a positive outcome should bad things happen.
Being void of either can lead to a disaster.
My golf friends use to say “I’ll take luck over skill any day”. In the world today anyone depending on luck alone is playing a dangerous game with their health and the health of others. When out and about with some good fellows I do all I can to cover their backs and hope they have mine via being prepared and alert to the surroundings for bad things can happen anywhere anytime.
Hello Mr Zimmerman.
I didn’t know you moved to TN. I shoot at the OutPost Armory in Franklin and Nashville. I missed this class. I guess I need to sign up to get their emails. I’ve trained at Royal Range. Check them out if you haven’t already. I believe their range 57 yards long. Its a converted movie theater.
My bad. Should have had Jim’s byline on this post. Fixed now!
Also, I’ve been to the Royal Range for a Beretta event. Nice facility.