HEADS UP!

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

Peggy Houchin is a jewelry designer and firearms instructor in Loveland. She teaches women how to shoot and when to shoot. She also sells shotguns. Syren shotguns that fit women. I asked Peggy what she taught. She handed me a pamphlet.

One of the most important things that anyone can do to ensure her safety is to establish personal boundairesand use stuational awarenes. This involves consciously, deliberately, and actively making decisions and purposefully moving about through deaily events and activities.

Of course, it’s almost impossible to talk about personal boundaries and situation awareness without mentioning Colonel Jeff Cooper’s Color Codes of Awareness. Col. Cooper, respectfully known as “the father of modern pistolcraft,” took the military’s codes and tweaked them so they could be easily adapted to regular folks in our everday lives. Here’s what the color codes mean and how they can apply to your everday life.

THE FOUR COLOR CODE

White: Unaware. Oblivious. The men and women we see every day stumbling down the street staring at their phones. Most attacks occur when you’re getting in and out of your car. Put your phone away and look around.

Yellow: You’re aware. You’re not staring at your phone. You scan your surroundings. You see who’s next to you. Who’s coming down the street.

Orange: Something doesn’t look right. A jumpy man, a nervous man. Wearing black or a hoodie. Walking toward you, attracting attention by looking like he’s not trying to attract attention. Think about an escape plan. If you’re carrying, unzip your bag and put your hand on the gun. Don’t pull it out. Don’t ever show it unless you have no other choice. Look for the closest door to a public space. Don’t allow yourself to be cornered.

Red: You need to act. Run. Seek cover—something a gun won’t penetrate. Not many things are bullet proof. A concrete wall. A refrigerator. If you’re in a public place like a supermarket or a convenience store remember that it’s not your job to save others. You don’t need to save strangers. You’re not responsible. It reminded me of that scene in Taxi Driver where Travis Bickle’s in a convenience store and hears a thug threatening the owner.

• The Setup: Travis stops at a local corner bodega late at night to buy some snacks. While he is browsing the shelves, a young man (played by Nat Grant) walks in with a gun and demands that the clerk, Melio, hand over all the cash.

• The Shooting: As Melio tries to comply and calm the nervous thief, Travis quietly draws his newly purchased .44 Magnum. He sneaks up behind the robber, calmly says “Hey,” and shoots him dead the moment the man turns around.

• The Aftermath: Travis immediately feels a brief moment of panic because he does not have a legal permit for the weapon. However, the shopkeeper tells Travis to flee before the police arrive, promising that he will “take care” of the situation.

• The Brutal Reality: Before Travis even walks out the door, the clerk takes a heavy metal pipe and fiercely beats the robber’s body out of pure anger. Travis simply walks away, unfazed, holding his groceries in one hand and his gun in the other.

Don’t be like Travis. Peggy advises women to carry pepper spray and a powerful flashlight, especially if they’re out at night. Know where they are so you can grab them quick. Avoid dark alleys. Turn around and leave if you can. Use your voice. Not like a kitten, like a tiger. Put up your hands in a placating manner, but get those hands up.

Don’t trust the gun clerk. Don’t take the gun your husband offers. You need hands-on experience, which Peggy provides. If you choose an automatic you must learn how to load and unload it before you start shooting. How to chamber a round. Know that it’s likely there’s a round in the chamber.

Always assume a weapon is loaded. Always check to see. Revolvers are a lot easier to check than automatics, and much easier to use. But revolvers are fat while automatics are slim. Peggy’s a big fan of twenty-twos. She’s also a hunting enthusiast and encourages women to hunt. It will reach you about shooting and put food on the table.

Peggy’s website: peggyhouchin.com