I recently wrote an article entitled ‘We are never safe once criminals have guns’. In it I highlighted the vulnerable issues that present themselves when you are entering your home. Since its publication I have received numerous e-mail asking a slew of questions about various types of attacks and the best ways to protect yourself when these scenarios occur.

Let me explain: Firstly, each situation is unique, and there is no single specific way to protect yourself. The best I can do is highlight some dos and don’ts and some possibilities that can present themselves.

There is, unfortunately, a significant distinction in relation to the risk assessment of individuals who live in the inner-city environment versus those who don’t. The distinction occurs due to many obvious factors.

Firstly, there is the lack of physical infrastructure that manifests itself when you analyse the degree of difficulty to enter your home.

Then there is the proximity to the threat, as in inner cities the attacker could possibly be a fellow resident of the community or one close by; and the volume of attackers are likely to be significant because there is no issue about transporting themselves if they live 100 feet from your door.

The degree of difficulty to get timely assistance from the police is also a factor that presents itself in inner-city communities, versus those that are not so described.

My experience with inner cities and ghettos on a whole is that your association largely determines your demise.

I remember a famous criminal in Naggo Head about 20 years ago who had many enemies, and was eventually killed by one of them. His brother, however, was a sportsman and rival gang members of his brother didn’t even notice him because he just wasn’t “inna di ting”.

So my first advice is: Stay away from gang members. Don’t party with them. Don’t ask them to do anything for you. And don’t get in the habit of giving them money. Association will get you killed in gangland communities.

As it relates to people who don’t have to navigate hardened ghettos, your issues are a bit different. Your home is actually your castle and it can protect you. But you have to ensure that there is a great degree of difficulty to enter that castle. Also, ensure there is a plan when you hear them breaking in: Don’t go out there to challenge them because they are stealing your car. You don’t know how many of them are out there and you don’t know their position. You also don’t know if they are armed, or what they are armed with. You can’t fire at them just because they are stealing your property. The law doesn’t allow, that and I’m pretty certain you have cameras that will record your crime scene. You can take cover from indoors and shout instructions at them. And if they fire at you, or if they point what appears to be a gun at you, and you feel that you are in immediate danger, and you are not able to take cover rather than fire, then you can defend yourself. Otherwise, it could be classified as murder. Again, you have to prepare. You have to know where your car is parked, and where you can engage from inside your home while still being able to take advantage of cover.

If you are not armed and you hear them breaking in, and you don’t believe that the police assistance is going to come in time, you could be in a lot of trouble if you don’t have a gun. If you can, boil a pot of water and as they breach douse them from above if you have the ability to do so and then take cover quickly.

Your home is your castle. The law allows you to take most reasonable steps to defend your castle.

You’re not a police officer who is held to a higher standard, because he is trained by the State. Once you are threatened in your castle, and can justify within reason, then you can do almost anything to defend yourself. So sharpen that cutlass if you don’t have a gun.

I mentioned the issues that can occur if you come under attack at your front gate. One of the ways to mitigate the risk is not to commit to the turn that places you in front of your gate until the gate is open. That way if you see the attack before the gate is open electronically, or before you get out yourself and open it manually, you can at least drive away. If you are driving away, and you are armed, do not drive and fire. Pick one, you can’t do both. I would suggest you go with the driving option.

While training some years ago in a desert I went through an exercise in which I was firing from a car and I missed the target all day. Now, I am no Andy Yap, but I usually hit the target. The reality is a gun is not really designed to be fired from a moving vehicle.

If you cannot drive and you plan to defend yourself with your firearm, get out of that vehicle to engage in that gunfight. The last place you want to be stuck is in a car whilst you are under fire.

If you are so unlucky that you simply can’t get out and have to remain in that car and are unarmed, fold your body under the dashboard, preferably on the passenger side. I have examined many cars that have been shot up. I have also been in a number of cars that have been shot up. I have never seen a round reach in that area under the dashboard of the passenger side of the vehicle. The engine blocks it, the ergonomics of the vehicle block it. It’s the safest part to be, especially if you’re not too big.

If when you are driving you notice you’re being followed, don’t speed up, just calmly drive into a police station and access the guard room quickly. Don’t stay in the car!

There have been individuals chased into police station yards and get shot in the parking lot while still in the car. Scream out what’s happening to the officers in the station as you enter that doorway, and get out the way.

Let’s say you have been abducted. The fact that they have you in a car doesn’t mean it’s over. Wait for your opportunity and try and get that gun. You have nothing to lose. They are likely going to kill you anyhow.

When fighting for your life, have no mercy. It’s not hit for hit. It’s about doing as much damage as you can to your opponent with an aim to stop him from hurting or killing you or your family, or an innocent person. Don’t stop hitting him, because you’re winning if he just attacked you with a deadly weapon, especially if that attack took place in your castle.

Prepare, train, think about the attack and where it would likely occur. Avoid it as much as possible, but if it comes, fight it with your life because you are fighting for your life.

Feedback: drjasonamckay@gmail.com