Hammer Syndrome
Hammer Syndrome as an Instructor and an owner of a retail firearms store I have noticed a trend with some concealed carriers. I like to call it hammer syndrome.
Hammer syndrome is where the person believes that the firearm they carry is the answer to all issues that they encounter. Some comments from the person that suffers from hammer syndrome would be something like, “Just shoot them”, “All I need is this gun for any situation”, “I would rather be judged by twelve than carried by six”, or “All I need to do after I shoot the person I feel was threatening me is say that I was in fear for my life”.
These statements could not be further from the truth. An analogy that could be thought of is the carpenter. If the only tool the carpenter has is a hammer then everything they encounter is a nail. Which, carrying only a firearm could be easily compared to. The amount of people encountered where the only defensive tool they have ever thought about carrying was a gun is astounding. In nearly every state there are multiple levels of force that could be used for self-defense. Adding in proportionality to the force that once faces the need for alternative tools that meet the proportionality aspect is a factor that most do not consider.
What tools could you use? Some common tools that could be deployed would be some form of defensive spray, knives, stun guns/tasers, Etc. Some aspects that you may want to consider for the tools you use would be cost, ease of deployment, and range of deployment. Every tool that you could use has advantages or disadvantages that must be considered before carrying the tool. For example a stun gun requires contact with the threat. Do you want the threat to get that close? Would you be able to use the stun gun before the threat could wrestle it from you? Tasers can be deployed from a greater distance but you only get one shot then it is a contact tool. How much does the Defensive spray/ pepper spray can be deployed from a greater distance but depending on the delivery mechanism and type of spray it can be blown back into your face. The cost of most quality defensive sprays is typically under twenty dollars. There is also pepper gel which mitigates the blow-back aspect but you are required to be much more accurate with it and it does not affect the respiratory system as much as a spray with tear gas in it. Legality of the tool is another concern. Some states do not allow carrying of stun guns, and some states do not allow the carry of sprays that contain tear gas. Researching what is allowed or not allowed where you are carrying is a requirement.
At times there are “No Gun” signs posted at businesses or other statutorily prohibited places where a defense spray would not be prohibited. Having it would mean you are not defenseless. Personally I carry defensive spray and on occasion I carry pepper gel depending on if I will be in a crowded area where overspray will need to be considered. I had not considered the over-spray aspect until I took my Sabre Civilian Instructor class.
In some situations having another tool at your disposal could make your case look better if you ever did need to use a firearm in self-defense. The situation escalated to the point that the firearm was the only recourse and appropriate to the amount of force that you were being presented with, but you were prepared to use something else and not rely on the firearm alone.
Please do not fall into "Hammer Syndrome"
Things to think about.
J
These statements could not be further from the truth. An analogy that could be thought of is the carpenter. If the only tool the carpenter has is a hammer then everything they encounter is a nail. Which, carrying only a firearm could be easily compared to. The amount of people encountered where the only defensive tool they have ever thought about carrying was a gun is astounding. In nearly every state there are multiple levels of force that could be used for self-defense. Adding in proportionality to the force that once faces the need for alternative tools that meet the proportionality aspect is a factor that most do not consider.
What tools could you use? Some common tools that could be deployed would be some form of defensive spray, knives, stun guns/tasers, Etc. Some aspects that you may want to consider for the tools you use would be cost, ease of deployment, and range of deployment. Every tool that you could use has advantages or disadvantages that must be considered before carrying the tool. For example a stun gun requires contact with the threat. Do you want the threat to get that close? Would you be able to use the stun gun before the threat could wrestle it from you? Tasers can be deployed from a greater distance but you only get one shot then it is a contact tool. How much does the Defensive spray/ pepper spray can be deployed from a greater distance but depending on the delivery mechanism and type of spray it can be blown back into your face. The cost of most quality defensive sprays is typically under twenty dollars. There is also pepper gel which mitigates the blow-back aspect but you are required to be much more accurate with it and it does not affect the respiratory system as much as a spray with tear gas in it. Legality of the tool is another concern. Some states do not allow carrying of stun guns, and some states do not allow the carry of sprays that contain tear gas. Researching what is allowed or not allowed where you are carrying is a requirement.
At times there are “No Gun” signs posted at businesses or other statutorily prohibited places where a defense spray would not be prohibited. Having it would mean you are not defenseless. Personally I carry defensive spray and on occasion I carry pepper gel depending on if I will be in a crowded area where overspray will need to be considered. I had not considered the over-spray aspect until I took my Sabre Civilian Instructor class.
In some situations having another tool at your disposal could make your case look better if you ever did need to use a firearm in self-defense. The situation escalated to the point that the firearm was the only recourse and appropriate to the amount of force that you were being presented with, but you were prepared to use something else and not rely on the firearm alone.
Please do not fall into "Hammer Syndrome"
Things to think about.
J
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