Kevin Barry Maguire

 

Self-defense can be a very tricky issue to deal with. While the law allows you to defend yourself, your family, and your property, you’re required to only exercise reasonable measures to secure your safety.

For example, if someone breaks into your house and you throw a heavy object at them causing injury, that is self-defense. However, if you stab the intruder repeatedly until they die, then it becomes murder.

There is a fine line here with no real right or wrong answers because panic may grip you and situations can be very fluid. Very often, it will be left to the courts to decide if you acted in self-defense or were unnecessarily violent.

• Know the law

This is the most important point. Laws vary from country to country and state to state. If you live in the US, using a firearm on a home intruder may still mean that you get arrested. An investigation will be conducted to determine if the use of a firearm was warranted.

Breaking into a home doesn’t necessarily give the homeowner a right to take the intruder/s life. It’s best to use the firearm as a warning to get them to leave rather than engage in a shootout.

If you discharge a firearm at an intruder, and they’re injured or dead, you’ll need to call 911 and give the briefest of details. Just say that there has been a shooting at your house and give the address. Never volunteer information. Remember, everything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.

Be Joe Friday: Just the facts. “He broke in. I saw a weapon. I shot him.”

Do not give more details than necessary. Store the firearm in a safe place and do not be holding it when law enforcement arrives, or you might end up getting shot yourself.

The police are NOT your friends. Give them as little details as possible. Call your lawyer and get good legal advice before speaking to any member of law enforcement.

• Cross your T’s and dot your I’s

Always make sure that your firearm is registered and legal. Discharging an unregistered firearm is a crime and will adversely affect your defense in the event you’re caught up in court.

If you’re carrying a pocket knife, it shouldn’t be more than 3 inches long. Blade length varies from state to state, however. For instance, in Colorado it’s 3 ½ inches. In NY, it’s 4 inches. Ohio is a measly 2 ½ inches. Know your local laws.

If you’re involved in a fist fight and you brandish a knife and accidentally stab your attacker to death, you could be in serious trouble with the law.

Escalating an attack is never a good idea… but if you’re being battered and really need an edge, the pocket knife may save your life. In this case, it could be considered self-defense.

This is what makes the whole self-defense issue so tricky. The judge or jury gets to decide if the weapon was an offensive weapon, or a tool for self-defense.

Your argument for self-defense will be weighed against your intentions at the time. A woman who is about to be raped can stab a man in the neck and get away with self-defense because of the heinous nature of the crime.

The general consensus is that if it’s property being stolen or the crime is non-violent, killing the criminal can land you in prison for murder or death by negligence. However, if the criminal is inflicting violence against you, such as trying to rape or kill you, then killing your attacker will be self-defense.

If someone breaks into your house and has a gun, shooting them is justified because they could just as easily shoot and kill you.

What matters is that you can show that your use of force was to prevent death or great bodily harm to yourself or your loved ones. If you can do that, charges against you may be dropped and your argument of self-defense will be valid.

Know the law well and do not overreact to situations. Owning a gun at home doesn’t give you the right to shoot anyone who breaks in. If the criminal is leaving your house with valuables, let him go.

Never chase a criminal outside your house and shoot them. The moment you do that, your argument for self-defense goes out the window and now you’ve gone from victim to perpetrator.

The best way to know when to use deadly force is when your own life or the ones you love are in danger. If you can avoid violence and get away with it, then do it. Violence is a last resort.

Lost valuables may be recovered, but the time you spend serving a prison sentence for killing a burglar cannot. Even during all the panic, do your best to assess the situation before reacting. A calm mind is the ultimate weapon when things go sideways.

It may seem like owning a pair of tactical boots is going overboard if you’re just planning on using it during a crisis. Women may find it even more unnecessary because they probably won’t be doing any activities that allows them to use it during times of peace.

However, by the end of this article, you’ll realize just how useful and important tactical boots can be in a survival situation. They’re not a waste of money. You can use them when going hiking or even while exercising to act as a form of resistance training.

Let’s look at some of the benefits of tactical boots.

 

• The “steel toe”

Most commonly known as a toecap, this is the tip of the boot and it’s usually hard and made of steel or hardened plastic. This toecap will be very useful for kicking heavy objects out of the way if you’re bugging out in the wilderness.

During a self-defense situation, kicking your attacker in the shins or the groin will leave them in severe pain, and they may drop to the ground to nurse their injury. The toecap can be brutal. You can’t achieve this level of damage with sneakers.

 

• Harder, coarser, tougher material

The outsoles, collar, eyelets, etc. and other parts of tactical boots are made out of durable and resilient material. During a crisis, for example, an earthquake, flood, etc. these boots will not wear out as fast as conventional dress shoes or sneakers.

You can walk without fear on sandy and rough terrain. If there’s lots of rubble lying around, and your boots accidentally rub against any rough surfaces, they’ll not tear or suffer much damage.

 

• Safety

Tactical boots are less likely to slip on smooth or oily surfaces. Most of these boots have soles that are slip-resistant. During floods or if there are oils spots, you’ll not slip and fall.

It’s very common to encounter branches that stick out in the wilderness, or metal shards that accidentally cut your feet when you’re walking through an area that’s been damaged during a crisis.

The injuries sustained can be severe. Tactical boots will prevent your feet from getting injured. A nail that sticks out of the ground could go right through a pair of sneakers or flip flops. It will be much less likely to do so if you’re wearing tactical boots, because the material used to construct the soles of tactical boots are much harder.

 

• Lightweight and breathable

While not as lightweight as sandals or sneakers, tactical boots are lightweight enough so that you don’t feel like your feet are weighed down. Despite being made of relatively rigid and strong material, most tactical boots are actually comfortable and well-ventilated so that your feet can breathe.

 

• Silent and deadly

Unlike heels or sneakers which may click or squeal, tactical boots are silent when you walk in them. This can be very useful when you wish to get from one point to another quietly.

This is one reason why soldiers and military contractors always use tactical boots. You’ll never see them in sports shoes or dress shoes. In a survival situation, things can get rough and hairy… and you really need footwear that’s designed to handle the tough times.

 

• Strong, yet flexible

The unique construction of tactical boots also ensures that while it’s strong and rigid, the boot still bends and is flexible enough to allow your feet a full range of motion, whether you’re running, climbing, squatting, etc.

There’s a common perception that the boots will slow you down and your feet will be constrained. Unlike normal work boots used by construction workers, tactical boots generally cost more and are far superior. They are made for survival and are highly reliable.

The key point to note about tactical boots is that they protect your feet and give you more stability when traversing rough terrains. They’re versatile and you’ll have no problem walking on ice or sand with them.

They’ll be just as useful whether you’re working in your backyard or bugging out in the wild. Accidentally stub your toe against the edge of a broken rock in the middle of the night? No worries. The steel toecap will ensure that you don’t feel a thing.

To conclude, tactical boots are footwear that are essential during times of crisis. Do get a pair and get used to walking around in them.

You may discover that you prefer wearing them to normal shoes. Anything is possible once you understand how versatile and comfortable they are. Give them a try today.