Yes, the NRA curriculum contains public awareness and self confidence as a necessary dynamic for your own self defense. It is NOT presented as a means of deterrence to criminals. Your attempt to solidify your point by comparing Mr. Highawareness with some slug listening to loud music, texting and tripping over his own shoelaces is disingenuous. Most people are somewhere in between those two guys, even those trained by the NRA. I fail to see a bg not robbing the stop and shop because the guy at the counter is standing up straight, looking the checker right in the eye and appearing very "deliberate". Now, I can certainly see the bg walking out if the guy at the counter is OCing.
Respectfully, I must disagree. The topic is covered extensively in the NRA curriculums for PPOTH and RTBAV. Refer to the NRA Guide to PPOTH Outside the Home. Chapter-6: Avoiding Confrontations Outside The Home, page-45,
"Avoid making Yourself A Target" advises avoiding behavoir that makes you a target. It specifically mentions
"behavoir that signifies weakness or vulnerability." Walking around in "head-up-ass" mode absolutely increases the chances of being a victim. Page-51 continues with the use of "posturing" as a reaction to a possible incident. Specifically, it states
"body language is a weapon used to dominate or intimidate another." Page-56 continues "maintain an awareness of everyone around you Try to ID potentially undesirable people, keep a safe distance from them... this may prevent an attack
as a criminal may see you as too difficult a target and turn attention elsewhere." Page I-20 in your instructors manual for PPOTH states the goal of the course is "to develop in the student , knowledge, skills and
attitude." Page II-4 of your instructors manual specifically states
"avoid making yourself a target by not behaving in a manner that causes you to stick-out or which may tempt others."
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Assuming that's not enough for you, let's move to the NRA RTBAV Instructors Manual. Page-26 advises
"maintain a confident mindset. Don't look like an easy target;walk tall and look others straight in their eyes... a confident, positive mindset is invaluable." Page-28,
"always walk confidently with your head up." But I'm not gonna give you a rehashing of what you should already know as an NRA instructor. This stuff just makes sense.
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Why don't I get victimized? Part of it is that I look and act with a deliberate purpose that naturally deters. Awareness, avoidance, deterrence, attitude, purpose, etc. I'm nice to all but will buy a one-way ticket to the everlasting for the fist perp to cross that threshold. And if you don't think it comes across in my demeanor you haven't met me. I think those on this site who know me or have taken my classes will agree. I'm no victim. This is all moot anyway. We're not talking about being present when the local 7-11 gets robbed. We're talking about someone attempting to harm you personally, and methods of deterring that encounter. Your 7-11 scenario is a gamble, an unknown, a hypothetical. A good instructor never answers or responds to hypothetical situations. No two events will ever be the same. And remember, Flaco isn't generally checking everyone's hip before he robs the joint. Flaco is usually buggin, nervous, high, drunk, etc. Often, Flaco doesn't know what planet he's on or what day it is. You expect him to act rationally or with tact? In fact, in advanced personal protection courses we instill a skill set in our students but we can never tell them how the events will unfold or provide statements of predictability during or before an encounter. Hypothetical situations? Never.
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In summary you are incorrect about the NRA curriculum for PPOTH and RTBAV. Did you not take an instructor's exam to be certified? The same topics are taught by Mas Ayoob's staff at LFI, Anthony Colandro's staff at Gun-For-Hire and by Clint Smith at Thunder Ranch. I've trained at all three. What are the chances we're all wrong?
