April 3, 2026 • 37 mins
In this timely episode of the Guns Podcast US, hosts Brent Wheat and Roy Huntington tackle the sobering reality of personal safety amidst unpredictable geopolitical climates. Drawing on their decades of experience as retired police officers, they discuss why everyday citizens are the true first responders and how localized violence impacts us on a daily basis. They break down the critical differences between the fight, flight, or freeze responses and emphasize the life-saving importance of situational awareness.
A core focus of this episode is the mental preparedness required to handle sudden threats. Roy introduces the concept of the 'What If' game, a mental exercise designed to train your brain to react swiftly rather than freezing during an emergency. The duo also touches upon the practicalities of being armed, highlighting that carrying a firearm is only step one; knowing how to use it safely and having a concrete plan with your family is what truly matters.
Whether you are a seasoned CCW carrier or new to the world of self-defense, this discussion offers grounded, non-paranoid advice on staying vigilant and enjoying life without fear. Tune in to learn actionable strategies for protecting yourself and your loved ones.
Key Takeaways
• You are the true first responder in any violent encounter, as incidents happen in seconds.
• Constant situational awareness is the key to spotting potential threats early.
• Playing the 'What If' game mentally prepares you to react swiftly and avoid the freeze response.
• Carrying a firearm requires active training, regular practice, and a clear understanding of your defensive role.
• Have a premeditated safety plan with your family so everyone knows how to react without hesitation.
• Real-world violence rarely looks like the movies; attackers may continue to pose a threat even after taking hits.
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The Guns Podcast is presented by EOTech. EOTECH is the leading manufacturer of electro-optics. Known for their world-famous holographic weapon sights, EOTECH also provides precision rifle scopes, ruggedized pistol optics, night-vision, thermal, and laser systems to professional and recreational users around the globe. Visit eotechinc.com
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-- The Guns Podcast is presented by EOTech. EOTECH is the leading manufacturer of electro-optics. Known for their world-famous holographic weapon sights, EOTECH also provides precision rifle scopes, ruggedized pistol optics, night-vision, thermal, and laser systems to professional and recreational users around the globe. Visit eotechinc.com --- Have a topic idea --
The Guns Podcast is presented by EOTech. EOTECH is the leading manufacturer of electro-optics. Known for their world-famous holographic weapon sights, EOTECH also provides precision rifle scopes, ruggedized pistol optics, night-vision, thermal, and laser systems to professional and recreational users around the globe. Visit eotechinc.com
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
In these times of global uncertainty, if you walk around staring at your phone instead ofwatching your surroundings, you're setting yourself up to be a volunteer victim.
Today we'll teach you the What If Game to help you build the everyday skills you need tostop freezing and start protecting your family.
(00:24):
Welcome to Guns Magazine presents the Guns Podcast US, one of the world's biggest gun talkprograms.
I'm your host Brent Wheat and in today's episode Roy Huntington and I discuss everydaypersonal safety during uncertain times, how to break away from smartphone distractions and
ways to train your brain to react fast in an emergency.
But before we get started, here's a quick word from our sponsor EOTech.
(00:47):
EOTech is the leading manufacturer of electro-optics known for their world famousholographic weapons sights.
EOTech also supplies high-performing precision rifle scopes for both the tactical andhunting markets, as well as ruggedized pistol optics for professional or recreational use.
A full line of night vision, thermal and laser systems are also available for military andlaw enforcement around the globe.
(01:11):
For more info, visit eotechinc.com.
Now let's get down to business.
Well, Roy, I always introduce you and then I say something to try and get a weird responseand I'm not going to do that today.
I'm kind of being monotone.
(01:32):
So how are you, Roy?
I'm happy because I have a new mug that I'm having my hot tea in.
know.
Shameless endorsement.
There you go.
Right there it is.
And it's nice.
Very cool.
Very cool.
Well, we were kind of casting around for a topic and I think, you know, it's hard toignore a national and international uh goings on right now.
(02:01):
We're obviously at least at the moment we record this, course, things can change minute byminute, but as it stands now, we're in a war with Iran and there's lots of uh thoughts and
opinions and ideas and
We're not gonna get into the right or wrong, all of that, but let's talk about uh how thataffects us.
(02:25):
John and Suzy Citizen, me and you, the great masses, and we're gonna talk about how thesecurrent events can actually affect what we're doing here in the good old US of A.
So if you weren't aware,
Roy and I are longtime retired police officers.
We've dealt with a lot of interesting and uh unusual situations.
(02:49):
We've been in on uh joint planning sessions.
We've received intel from state and federal partners.
And so we're kind of familiar with what your local cops are hearing.
And uh we're going to talk eventually about some of the things that we think folks oughtto be aware of and prepared for as things go forward.
(03:09):
Roy, I got to start out here.
One of the things that really inspired me was I saw another one of these federal warningsthat come out and go to all law enforcement that something may happen sometime, somewhere
by somebody.
So be ready.
What is the point of that?
I know you've you've seen many of those in your career.
I know the sky is falling.
(03:30):
uh Do you remember when the federal government used to do the terrorist alerts that today,oh, right, everyone should be in condition yellow.
Yeah.
Right.
And then, or condition orange, which means that we've heard that there might something ormight be something going to happen, but we might be wrong, but you never know.
So you should keep your eyes open.
You know, and I think that all, know, what that does is it fear mongers if you ask me.
(03:56):
That, it, and it desensitizes people, you know, if, they didn't put that stuff out everyday and then suddenly we're on condition orange, everybody's going to go, Whoa, okay.
Something's happening.
But if you do it, it's the boy that cried wolf.
And frankly, I blame it to the cowardice of civil servants.
And again, I've been on that side of it.
(04:18):
If they get uh any kind of intel, actionable, legitimate, or just some knucklehead postingon social media, they're afraid that if something does happen and they didn't share that,
that they're going to get in trouble and they might lose their job.
We're going to keep sending out alerts every single day of the year about any possiblething that could happen.
(04:41):
And I think all that does is desensitize all of us.
So, agree.
Yeah.
You know, the other thing though is people revert to training, right?
Okay.
Well, I'm sorry, but 99 % of the people out here have not ever had any training withanything like this.
And I mean, that's okay.
(05:01):
This is America.
I'm glad you haven't had to have it.
Right.
Yeah.
But.
I, it doesn't do anybody any good because if somebody says, be careful and be alert andwatch out.
Well, they don't know what to look for.
They wouldn't know what to do if they saw it.
You know, they wouldn't, they're not prepared to deal with it.
They're, you know, so I think that time would be better spent.
(05:23):
They should be saying things like, uh, we would like you to keep your eyes open.
Here are five things you should look for.
Yep.
If you encounter one of them, you should do this, you know, I mean,
Let's, let's give these people some tools to work with.
But, that's a perfect segue into where we're going with this episode, because I, I'm notsure how I'm going to title it when, once we actually get done and I'm going to post it,
(05:48):
but, but kind of my working title right now is you're the first responder.
And, you know, as, as retired cops, always prided ourselves on, we ran towards problemsand gunfire and,
I'm so happy that we have men and women in our country that are willing to do that.
But when you get right down to it, if anything happens, anything ranging from one crazyguy that is intent on harming people to some kind of literal foreign action, you know who
(06:18):
the people that are most affected is us.
And we're actually the first responders because if you're not taken out in the first waveof whatever happens, you're right there and
We always used to say as cops that, you know, when seconds count, we're only minutes away.
And, you know, we jokingly used to say, look, if you're going to be in a gunfight, us.
(06:40):
I'll come.
I'll bring my friends.
I'll bring a bunch of friends with a bunch of guns.
But you got to kind of handle things until we get there.
And that's, I think, in my opinion, that's kind of where I want this episode to go, iswe're going to talk about realistically,
what the world looks like right now and hopefully give you some actionable items to bethinking about.
(07:01):
We're not trying to fear monger.
We're not trying to scare anybody.
We're just kind of pointing out where we feel things are right now.
And again, kind of that things folks can do to make their world a little bit safer ifthings happen.
And we all hope they certainly don't.
So this goes back to preparedness, Roy.
It's a point we hammer all the time and...
(07:22):
uh
When somebody goes, well, what should we do, Roy?
That's the most open-ended question in the world, but how do you answer that for folks?
Well, first of all, I wouldn't worry about it too much.
Yeah.
Because really, mean, yes, there may be cells that are ready to be activated, who knows?
(07:42):
I think as we said before the show started, we need to worry more about the lone wolves,the radicalized.
25 year old, we've already had two or three of those happen.
Right.
So in my opinion, you know, if you live in more, the rural parts of America, if you livein more small town America, if you're out of the major big cities, know, dense urban
(08:10):
hysterica, you know, hysterical people, uh, if, if there's not a, uh, a Jewish temple nextdoor to you, right.
Let's just be honest.
And, uh, I don't think you have a lot to worry about any more than you would worry aboutany kind of daily events that could happen to you.
You now having said that, I also think it's wise to be prepared.
(08:34):
Uh, and so, you know, I live by Joplin.
What are the odds of something like that happening at jobs?
They're pretty remote, right?
But I pay attention.
look, I say, is that suspicious?
Why does he have a big back?
pack, you know, is he, is he looking at the church standing around outside, you know, Imean, and that's the kind of stuff I think you can do.
(08:59):
We can't change the war that's going on right now.
We can't, you know, become soldiers.
can't go to the front lines and fight, you know, I mean, let's be realistic.
I'm not going to waste any energy at that, but we certainly can affect what's in ourinfluence and control area.
Which means that, you know, if you're at the mall and you see somebody suspicious, thenit's really okay to pay attention to that.
(09:26):
And if somebody says, well, you're just being paranoid, smile and nod your head and gocontact the cop.
You know?
Yeah.
I mean, just take some action.
So well, in thinking about that, it's a good rule that I've heard it said before thatdon't let politeness get in the way of your safety and survival.
(09:46):
We've seen it so many times.
So many times.
I didn't want to, I didn't want anyone to think that I was just being worried.
And as, and then we hear her again and she's dead.
Well, and, go ahead.
Well, I was going to say, I mean, it's like, you would.
(10:07):
This happened to a case in San Diego where somebody smelled smoke in a theater and they,when they interviewed them later, because everything worked out, right?
But they were interviewing people later and say, wow, what'd you think about?
What was going on?
And they said, well, you know, I smelled smoke, but you know, I wasn't really sure.
(10:27):
And I didn't want really people to get worried if it was unnecessary.
Yeah.
Really?
Super.
Yeah.
And so don't be that person, you know?
And I want to say one more thing, if you don't mind.
I answer the vast majority of the comments on our website and on our YouTube channel.
And I want to acknowledge right in front.
(10:49):
Yes, we are two elderly gentlemen.
Okay.
You know, and don't think that we're just reliving the old days and, and, know, wanting tobe that today's experts and stuff like that.
Guys like us have decades of experience in the real world.
And so I've been to riots, I've been to terrorist attacks, I worked the Rodney King riots.
(11:12):
mean, we've, Brent and I have seen these things.
And so it's not inappropriate to pay attention when experience talks.
And so I just remember that, okay?
So, all right.
uh Good point, good point.
And you know, when you get right down to it, violence is violence.
And people, don't think we look at it that way.
(11:35):
It's, well, you know, it's, uh you know, he got attacked by a crazy guy walking down thestreet or he got attacked by a sleeper terrorist cell and they wiped him out.
You're still just as injured or dead.
So regardless of your, your viewpoints, your outlook, your preparedness level, all that,when you get right down to it, it's violence.
And I got to say who's more expert with day-to-day violence than cops.
(11:59):
So I think that's kind of our
bone of fide.
So, you know, if if if you're prepared for the crazy neighbor who kind of goes off andtries to hurt you or your neighbor, you're much better prepared if that one in a million
sleeper cell decides to attack the federal building that you're there, you know, answeringjury duty or whatever.
(12:20):
So when we're talking about violence, I think
The cause might be little different right now because there's geopolitical events goingon.
But when you get right down to it, somebody trying to hurt or kill you or a loved one or abystander, it doesn't matter what their motivation is.
What matters is they're trying to do something bad right now.
So I think we get kind of wrapped around the axle about that.
(12:44):
Don't you think?
uh Criminals are criminal.
Yeah.
You know, and, and I think I want two people to think about this.
I mean, we'll try to give you some actual skills before we're done here, but
Uh is the number one is that things happen fast And so you've probably seen you're drivingalong all of a sudden somebody pulls out in front of you And you hit him maybe have an
(13:04):
accident.
Well, you didn't want that to happen, you know Well, I mean were you training for it?
Were you paying attention?
Did you anticipate that it was going to happen?
Probably not, you know And so these other things happen the same way think of them as atraffic accident
That was you're strolling down the street, minding your own business with your family.
And somebody, some suddenly some one kid comes running up holding a stick of dynamite thathe just lit.
(13:29):
mean, it literally happens that fast.
And so now rather than standing there flat forwarded, you know, flat footed and saying,Whoa, I can't believe this is really happening.
You know, you, the biggest thing I want to get out there today is that you need to takeaction.
What, you know, and you, and if you take action, you need to have.
thought about what you were going to do beforehand.
(13:50):
Yeah.
And otherwise you'll stand there and you'll say, well, I want to take action, but Ireally, I'm not sure what I should do.
Yeah.
You know, well, you know, for years it was fight or flight.
And then we finally realized it's fight, flight or freeze.
And Roy, I'll give you a quiz in the face of violence or danger, either one, what do mostpeople do?
Fight, flight or freeze?
(14:11):
Freeze.
Absolutely.
Freeze.
It's the, didn't, I couldn't believe it was happening to me.
And by then it is over.
happened.
Yeah.
I mean, it's as simple as that.
So, so, so how do we combat that?
Another softball question.
How do you combat that whole idea of, my gosh, what do I do now?
(14:34):
This is terrible.
And I'll just stand here and scream and wring my hands.
And it's, it's too late by then, but how can folks be ready for that?
Well, you know, it's actually pretty darn easy.
Um, and I mean, if you're a certified operator or some, know, a former anti-terrorist unitand all that, you're so many leagues above what we're doing here right now that I'm not
(15:00):
even going to go there.
All right.
We need people like you.
We're glad you're out there.
but if you're just the regular person out there, there's a game you can play and it's notcorny and.
It's okay to talk out loud while you're doing it.
It truly, you have to just, you have to, uh, distance yourself from the perception ofpeople around you.
(15:23):
And that is the, to play the what if game.
And I'm sure Brent will know exactly what that is.
Cause when you're a policeman, you're working a beat car, you pretty much play the what ifgame all the time and the what if game is.
I'm driving up the street and I'm driving up the street now.
What would I do if that guy in the right lane suddenly swerved to the left?
Right.
(15:44):
And you stop and you think, okay, well, if he started to swear, I would, I would breakhard and move back, you know, or I would, whatever you decide you think you want to do.
And so now you drive on a little bit more and then you come to an intersection and there'sa pedestrian.
What would I do if that pedestrian suddenly ran in front of my car?
Right.
And now the next day you're in the mall.
(16:05):
And as you're walking down the mall, you're playing what if, right?
It just takes seconds.
You look up and you think, what would I do if somebody was on the escalator and I saw thathe had a gun in his hand?
What would I do?
You know, would I run, but I hide, would I draw my gun and engage him?
You know, but the beauty of all this is that if you think about these things, right,wrong, or otherwise, you will at least have given it some thought.
(16:33):
And so now when you look up someday and there's a guy on an escalator with a gun, you'vethought about that, you know, and you may be able to think, Oh, okay.
I've been here, you know, uh, and I'm going to run and hide and take my family with me or,but, you won't waste as much time going, uh cow.
(16:55):
What do I do now?
You know, I don't mean, do you agree?
I can't think of a stronger tool that.
anybody can do to make themselves safer.
the beauty of it is it doesn't matter if you're completely unarmed.
If you're a 98 pound weakling or you're 98 years old or you're a strapping, you know, aformer operator that just is on your day off and you're carrying three guns and a samurai
(17:22):
sword.
doesn't matter.
All those people can do the same thing and they should do the same thing of if thishappens, I'm going to do this.
What is and
Yeah, you're just, playing ball.
know, I, I drive my tractor around my property all the time here and I've got some steephills and I have a pond and I have some big trees with big boughs.
Well, I, I absolutely play what if when I drive my tractor, what if I'm driving on theburn by my pond and the tractor falls into the water?
(17:52):
What app, what am I going to do?
How, how am I going to get to my seatbelt?
do I have my pocket knife that I could use to cut the strap if I need to?
I mean, before I go in the woods, I always look up and I think, what would I do if thatbranch suddenly fell down in front of me?
Where would I run to?
So you can apply this across the board.
(18:13):
What would I do if my five-year-old didn't eat his green beans tonight?
As corny as that is, that's all you're doing.
Rather than beat that into the ground, I hope people understand that that to me is thelinchpin of being a prepared American is having kind of a plan in mind and being aware of
(18:40):
things.
Cause we didn't really talk about that, but just being aware of stuff going on around you.
Cause it all goes part and parcel.
You can't be making a plan about the guy carrying the gun if you're not aware of that.
look, that guy up there has a gun.
Don't be this all day.
Yeah.
Well, that's, know, yeah.
mean, it never ceases to amaze me.
People in public places.
(19:01):
Uh, and you'll see 25 people in public places sitting around a fountain or something.
Everybody is looking down at their phone, completely oblivious to what's going on aroundthem.
And I read a report just today and I've not verified this, but it was reported that thelatest, uh,
information from traffic accidents over the last two years.
(19:23):
25 % of are involving a phone or electronic device.
25 % of accidents now.
And thinking about it, I believe it.
I was on my phone.
I was texting.
Always, always.
I just read in a, because it might've been part of the same article.
And it said that the average, like say up to 25 year old spends seven hours a day
(19:49):
It was part of that story.
On their phone and it said not counting working or computer time.
Right.
So I mean, I'm sorry.
Yeah.
So that means that think about it for a minute.
Seven hours of their day, they're oblivious to what's going on around them, you know, butthey're not going to care.
(20:13):
well, that's as we've said before, that's being a volunteer victim.
Yeah.
Anyway, if you've gotten to the point you are aware and you're playing that what if gamethe next point that I would make is you've got to execute a plan and that goes back to
fight flight or freeze.
If you're going to fight, okay, have a plan to fight.
(20:34):
If you're going to to flee, that makes sense too, depending on the circumstance.
But the biggest thing is just avoid that freeze because uh rarely will freeze help you.
fighting may help you fleeing may help you, but freezing all you're hoping for is, is luckwill not send, uh, something your way.
(20:58):
Well, know, uh well, when Clint Smith used to teach sometimes he would talk, he would talkabout shoot and move, right.
And he would say, can you hit my hand?
Right.
And so it's like, yeah, yeah, we could hit that.
And he, and he would go.
Now hit it.
Yeah.
(21:19):
Right.
And it just wham, it hits you.
And so that's why what you say when you're, it's you and your family and you're walking upthe street in target or something, you know, and you see something happen, you see a guy
in the aisle and he's got a backpack and he reaches in, he pulls out a knife.
Well, move.
Go.
(21:39):
You know, mean, move now.
Don't stop.
Don't look at it.
Don't gock.
Don't be amazed.
Don't anything, you know, that's the best advice I can give.
Yeah.
And getting into, you know, the current geopolitical situation, one of the coolest thingsI ever got to do was go to a school in the Western United States.
(22:03):
It was kind of the precursor to bomb school.
And we actually got to make suicide vests and detonate them.
And first of all, if you ever see one, it's the most scary and horrifying thing there is,but
The point that they were trying to make was by the time you see the guy do the typical,I've got a, it's too late because it just takes a split second.
(22:24):
And what people never understand is you don't outrun a bomb or a shrapnel.
Once it happens, it's over.
It's moving at, you know, 20 to 40,000 feet per second.
You're not going to duck.
You're not going to get behind something.
So again, it's kind of that idea.
If you see a guy fiddling with
wires and batteries and something that looks like a road flare under his jacket.
(22:47):
Don't wait to see what happens.
That's time to leave.
So that's just one of those things where you've got to think through that.
If you think that you're in a situation where somebody might do something really bizarrelike that, then you got to kind of work that out that I can't stand around and watch or
I'll keep an eye on him.
Well, you may keep an eye on him to the point that it's too late.
(23:07):
So, you might want to bring that up.
You don't focus on that either because I frankly, think the odds of somebody wearing aexplosive vest in our country or, mean, it could happen.
Definitely.
I don't see it happening probably, but what you should be looking for are people armedwith knives.
(23:29):
People who pull out a gun in a situation where they shouldn't probably have a gun in theirhand, right.
Or.
You're with a group of people on a corner holding up signs, advertising the kids car wash,and you see somebody drive by five times.
Right.
And is he going to try to run into your crowd now the next time?
(23:50):
mean, you know, these are the kind of everyday things you need to be looking for.
mean, I agree with Brent.
Absolutely.
oh Yeah.
People see the movies where they see like a bomb goes off and then people like duck andrun.
It's like, no, you're way already dead.
Yeah.
If you don't believe me, go on YouTube, watch some, uh, high energy explosives go off.
(24:11):
it's like now there was one, a famous one from one of the Gulf Wars where some, and it wasmilitary guys, believe a United States army, they were watching a, I believe it was a
bombing of a big building.
But what I remember was they're like, wow, look at that.
And all of a sudden a.
Probably a fist size or bigger rock comes sailing right at the camera and again 500 milesper hour so fast that if if it had been coming toward anybody they wouldn't have got out
(24:42):
of the way it just happened to miss but if you can look that up, it's just amazing howfast they're here Yeah, I saw that you're right.
It's like everyone's laughing and talking all of sudden.
Yeah Yeah, right surprise like
They would have all been dead.
all right.
Well, look, I mean, yes, be prepared.
(25:02):
Yes, play what if, you know, there's nothing wrong with that.
Pay attention.
Don't be paranoid about it.
It's, know, you're not, is the odds of it going to happen are pretty darn remote, youknow, but I think if it does happen and you're prepared, that helps a lot.
So now do we talk about what does prepared mean when it comes to guns and stuff?
Sure.
(25:22):
That's, that's why people watch us.
So we're going to talk about that.
For me, the advice is pretty simple and it echoes what we've said all along.
Have a gun.
Have a gun.
I know that's not the answer you said a lot of people are seeking, but it comes down tohaving a gun or not having a gun and having a gun is a lot better, especially in a
(25:45):
circumstance where the other person has a gun.
So that's that's I'm being a bit facetious there, but truly that's that's what it's aboutfor me.
And we've talked about before, especially as you get to be a uh
A seasoned citizen.
It's, I don't mean I've made it this far.
I didn't need a gun.
Well, it only takes once.
So my big advice to folks have a gun, have a gun that you can shoot that you have shot insay the last few little wiles, because if you decide to pull that one out of the sock
(26:17):
drawer and blow the dust off since you bought it five years ago, and well, I'm going tostart carrying that.
You're not a gunfighter.
I'm sorry.
You're just not.
So anyway, Roy, you take it from there.
think the most important thing for you to do other than have a gun, if you decide to dothat, is decide what is your role going to be.
(26:41):
And so when you see that guy pull the machete out of his backpack, uh, in the aisle atWalmart and you're armed, what is your role?
And.
Are you, are you uh a pack leader?
Are you a protector dog?
(27:02):
You know, I mean, do you have the skills?
Do you have the training?
Do you have the experience to go toward the fight and engage and save people?
I hats off to you.
If you are, it would be hard for me to turn my back.
Right.
But we've had experience.
We've faced those situations before, you know, what to expect.
I've already made that decision.
(27:23):
What I would do.
But the other thing you need to do is you also have to weigh that with, I'm here with myfamily.
You know, where are my obligations?
ah I get my family to safety first.
Now then maybe if it's still going on, you can evaluate what you want to do after that.
You know, but I think it's, you know, it happens fast.
(27:44):
Usually it's not like on TV.
Chances are good.
If you shoot somebody with a handgun, they're not going to fall down right away.
You know,
which may surprise you, uh but I think for me, that's my, that's the important role.
I am firm believer of avoid as much as possible.
(28:04):
And so if I see somebody looking and acting suspicious, I want to get away from there.
And if appropriate, I'll notify authorities.
If it's, if I'm flat footed, and in other words, literally they're the guy ahead of me isnow pulling a knife out of his backpack.
Well, then I mean, I've already decided is that for me, my personal handgun is as Darrellsays, it's a get off me thing, you know?
(28:29):
And so I, you know, I'll pull my gun and I will try to get to safety in my own opinion.
I've already decided if he's trying to hurt somebody, I'm going to intervene.
So I mean, that's my decision.
think part of that is that I'm old and I don't have much time left.
And so I don't mind.
making that commitment if I can save some people's lives.
(28:50):
But really, if you're 30 years old, you have a wife and three kids with you, then maybeengaging isn't really the smartest thing for you to do.
Exactly.
So be thinking about that.
Yeah.
And you touched on something we've never really talked about, but the fact that even withmajor caliber handguns, people do a lot of stuff after taking what will be non-survivable
(29:15):
hits.
And I'm sure a lot of you do what we do, which is pass around these closed circuit TV uhfiles that you periodically get.
It's funny, a lot of them seem to be out of Brazil for whatever reason.
But if you have any question what a shooting looks like, go look at some of those.
And I think if you watch a few of them, you will be shocked and amazed at people takingreally multiple hits from big handguns.
(29:43):
and they still do a lot of stuff.
again, that TV movie thing of I'm gonna shoot him and he'll go through the saloon windowand then I'm a hero and it doesn't work that way.
They keep coming.
They don't even realize they're hit and they're still wanting to do to you or a bystanderor whatever.
So again, that factors into it that, well, I can take the shot and he'll drop his knifeand melt into a puddle of goo.
(30:10):
It don't work that way.
You need to be aware and you need to have the experience to at least understand how thingsreally do work like that.
So you're not uh constructing a false scenario in your head.
especially when you're dealing with somebody who fancies themselves uh a terrorist now,you know, when you get some lone wolf who suddenly decided it's time for him to activate.
(30:33):
Well, he's probably pretty motivated, you know, he's already decided he doesn't care if hedies.
Yep.
Right.
he, he'll have a gun or a knife or a bomb or something.
Right.
So you're already dealing with somebody who has made the commitment that he's going todie.
So he doesn't care.
Yeah.
Uh, and you know, remember, mean, you could shoot somebody right in the heart and blowtheir heart completely to part into pieces and their blood will still be oxygen or their
(31:01):
brain will still be oxygenated oxygenated for probably six to eight more seconds.
Right.
At least.
Well, okay.
Well, let's pretend for a second.
You ready?
Here you go.
Bang, I just got shot 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1008.
Okay.
I was still shooting.
(31:22):
Yeah.
Or stabbing or stabbing or reaching for the bomb button.
know?
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, mean, I don't want people to be hysterical about this and we're not the topic experts.
We do have some experience here.
have faced some serious situations and, uh, and I, I think if we, the people who arelistening, if they just keep it simple, uh, and like I said, play what if, if you have a
(31:48):
gun that you're comfortable with, then make sure as Brent says, it's not the dust Buffalocollector from the drawer, you know, get it out, shoot it, clean it, oil it, make sure
it's all right.
You know, talk to your family about these things.
Uh, and that's another very important thing.
Uh,
You know, my wife and I were retired cops used to work together.
(32:09):
Susie's covered me on traffic stops and I've covered her on stops and stuff.
And so we already know what we're going to do.
If something happens, we're going to cover each other and we're going to, know, mean,that's, I've got to laugh, right?
I'm sure Susie would be get behind me, Roy.
Oh, she has, always elbows me out of the way and moves it up front when anything's everhappened.
But, uh, if you have a wife, for instance, and you need to talk about this, you need tosay.
(32:34):
Especially if she's kind of a bit anti gun, maybe like she's not real happy that you havea gun you carry it.
Uh, but you need to come to terms and you need to say, listen, if we're ever in Walmartwith, you know, the, two children, I, and either one of us sees something and says, run
that our job is to run.
(32:54):
Our job is not to say what we haven't got the juice, uh, cool age yet.
You know, eh
Yeah, no, or if you are the armed husband and she's not, you know, when you put your armout and, tell them, get behind that counter, well, then they need to go get behind the
counter.
You know, they need to not engage you in a philosophical discussion of whether or notyou're mean.
(33:20):
Yeah.
So pay attention.
Talk to your loved ones.
This is all what if, right?
What if we were in dinner at the, favorite restaurant and someone walked in the front doorwith a machete and threatened us, what would we do?
You know, think about it.
then, and then like I said, like Brent said, if you have a gun, learn how to use it.
(33:43):
You keep your head screwed on.
And I will say in closing, you made a point that I wanted to expand on.
Again, this isn't paranoia.
uh A lot of this, I hope, is just a gut check or, you know, kind of a rehearsal, mentalrehearsal for a lot of folks.
If this is all new to you, I hope, you know, you've learned something that you can takeaway.
(34:07):
But the bottom line is I always feel better knowing I've got the gear, I've got thetraining, I've got the awareness, and now I can go about my day living life to the
fullest, having fun.
And yeah, if a tornado comes, if a car accident happens,
or some derka derka decides that it's time for him to go meet whoever and all the virginsor whatever.
(34:30):
I'm ready for whatever.
There's nothing guaranteeing you'll make it through, but you can at least put the oddsmuch more in your favor.
And that to me is very comforting.
Well, know, people have most people, or maybe many people today, have spare tires in theircar, right?
Or a tire inflation kit or something.
I know personally,
(34:51):
When I'm about to drive across the desert, I check my spare tire and make sure that it'sfull.
And now I can drive across the desert much more relaxed.
Yeah.
As you say, enjoy the scenery.
I'm not constantly saying, what if I get a flat?
What if I get a flat?
What if I get a flat?
And so if you're, if you're
(35:14):
prepared if you've thought about these things beforehand, if you and your family havediscussed it.
It's no different than talking about, which nobody ever does, they talk about, if I wakeup at nighttime and I smell smoke and I say fire, what should everyone do?
I most families I know have never talked about that.
So it's, but it's no different than that.
(35:34):
And so if you have those kinds of things, and if you decide to be armed and you'refamiliar with your gun and you have a good gun, have good ammunition, you know how to
shoot it.
Well, gosh, you know, you've got a spare tire with air in it.
Yep.
Yep.
And I was laughing because I bet I, well, I know for a fact, you're like me.
First of all, you do check the air and your spare because people don't got a tireinflator, probably got a can of fix a flat.
(35:57):
And I've also got a satellite communicator, which now our iPhones will serve thatfunction.
But yeah, there's multiple layers of redundancy.
And again, that's not a burden to me.
That's, that's peace of mind.
That's peace of mind.
Which is the good thing about all of this is if you participate in what we're talkingabout, that will give you peace of mind.
Yep.
Absolutely.
So, and then you can just enjoy life to the fullest like Roy Huntington does.
(36:22):
that guy certainly does.
I'll tell you what, I'll be damn if I'm going to let them scare me.
Exactly.
You know?
Yeah.
I dare you to try and scare me.
Just don't, don't go there.
That wraps up another episode of the Guns Podcast US.
(36:44):
I hope this motivated you to start practicing the what-if game to keep your skills sharpwhen it really counts.
Before we go, a big thanks to our amazing sponsor EOTech for making this show possible.
can check out their great reliable optics and other gear at EOTechinc.com.
Now on behalf of the team at Guns Magazine and my co-host Roy Huntington, I'm Brent Wheatreminding you, now get out there and get shooting.
In these times of global uncertainty, if you walk around staring at your phone instead ofwatching your surroundings, you're setting yourself up to be a volunteer victim.
Today we'll teach you the What If Game to help you build the everyday skills you need tostop freezing and start protecting your family.
(00:24):
Welcome to Guns Magazine presents the Guns Podcast US, one of the world's biggest gun talkprograms.
I'm your host Brent Wheat and in today's episode Roy Huntington and I discuss everydaypersonal safety during uncertain times, how to break away from smartphone distractions and
ways to train your brain to react fast in an emergency.
But before we get started, here's a quick word from our sponsor EOTech.
(00:47):
EOTech is the leading manufacturer of electro-optics known for their world famousholographic weapons sights.
EOTech also supplies high-performing precision rifle scopes for both the tactical andhunting markets, as well as ruggedized pistol optics for professional or recreational use.
A full line of night vision, thermal and laser systems are also available for military andlaw enforcement around the globe.
(01:11):
For more info, visit eotechinc.com.
Now let's get down to business.
Well, Roy, I always introduce you and then I say something to try and get a weird responseand I'm not going to do that today.
I'm kind of being monotone.
(01:32):
So how are you, Roy?
I'm happy because I have a new mug that I'm having my hot tea in.
know.
Shameless endorsement.
There you go.
Right there it is.
And it's nice.
Very cool.
Very cool.
Well, we were kind of casting around for a topic and I think, you know, it's hard toignore a national and international uh goings on right now.
(02:01):
We're obviously at least at the moment we record this, course, things can change minute byminute, but as it stands now, we're in a war with Iran and there's lots of uh thoughts and
opinions and ideas and
We're not gonna get into the right or wrong, all of that, but let's talk about uh how thataffects us.
(02:25):
John and Suzy Citizen, me and you, the great masses, and we're gonna talk about how thesecurrent events can actually affect what we're doing here in the good old US of A.
So if you weren't aware,
Roy and I are longtime retired police officers.
We've dealt with a lot of interesting and uh unusual situations.
(02:49):
We've been in on uh joint planning sessions.
We've received intel from state and federal partners.
And so we're kind of familiar with what your local cops are hearing.
And uh we're going to talk eventually about some of the things that we think folks oughtto be aware of and prepared for as things go forward.
(03:09):
Roy, I got to start out here.
One of the things that really inspired me was I saw another one of these federal warningsthat come out and go to all law enforcement that something may happen sometime, somewhere
by somebody.
So be ready.
What is the point of that?
I know you've you've seen many of those in your career.
I know the sky is falling.
(03:30):
uh Do you remember when the federal government used to do the terrorist alerts that today,oh, right, everyone should be in condition yellow.
Yeah.
Right.
And then, or condition orange, which means that we've heard that there might something ormight be something going to happen, but we might be wrong, but you never know.
So you should keep your eyes open.
You know, and I think that all, know, what that does is it fear mongers if you ask me.
(03:56):
That, it, and it desensitizes people, you know, if, they didn't put that stuff out everyday and then suddenly we're on condition orange, everybody's going to go, Whoa, okay.
Something's happening.
But if you do it, it's the boy that cried wolf.
And frankly, I blame it to the cowardice of civil servants.
And again, I've been on that side of it.
(04:18):
If they get uh any kind of intel, actionable, legitimate, or just some knucklehead postingon social media, they're afraid that if something does happen and they didn't share that,
that they're going to get in trouble and they might lose their job.
We're going to keep sending out alerts every single day of the year about any possiblething that could happen.
(04:41):
And I think all that does is desensitize all of us.
So, agree.
Yeah.
You know, the other thing though is people revert to training, right?
Okay.
Well, I'm sorry, but 99 % of the people out here have not ever had any training withanything like this.
And I mean, that's okay.
(05:01):
This is America.
I'm glad you haven't had to have it.
Right.
Yeah.
But.
I, it doesn't do anybody any good because if somebody says, be careful and be alert andwatch out.
Well, they don't know what to look for.
They wouldn't know what to do if they saw it.
You know, they wouldn't, they're not prepared to deal with it.
They're, you know, so I think that time would be better spent.
(05:23):
They should be saying things like, uh, we would like you to keep your eyes open.
Here are five things you should look for.
Yep.
If you encounter one of them, you should do this, you know, I mean,
Let's, let's give these people some tools to work with.
But, that's a perfect segue into where we're going with this episode, because I, I'm notsure how I'm going to title it when, once we actually get done and I'm going to post it,
(05:48):
but, but kind of my working title right now is you're the first responder.
And, you know, as, as retired cops, always prided ourselves on, we ran towards problemsand gunfire and,
I'm so happy that we have men and women in our country that are willing to do that.
But when you get right down to it, if anything happens, anything ranging from one crazyguy that is intent on harming people to some kind of literal foreign action, you know who
(06:18):
the people that are most affected is us.
And we're actually the first responders because if you're not taken out in the first waveof whatever happens, you're right there and
We always used to say as cops that, you know, when seconds count, we're only minutes away.
And, you know, we jokingly used to say, look, if you're going to be in a gunfight, us.
(06:40):
I'll come.
I'll bring my friends.
I'll bring a bunch of friends with a bunch of guns.
But you got to kind of handle things until we get there.
And that's, I think, in my opinion, that's kind of where I want this episode to go, iswe're going to talk about realistically,
what the world looks like right now and hopefully give you some actionable items to bethinking about.
(07:01):
We're not trying to fear monger.
We're not trying to scare anybody.
We're just kind of pointing out where we feel things are right now.
And again, kind of that things folks can do to make their world a little bit safer ifthings happen.
And we all hope they certainly don't.
So this goes back to preparedness, Roy.
It's a point we hammer all the time and...
(07:22):
uh
When somebody goes, well, what should we do, Roy?
That's the most open-ended question in the world, but how do you answer that for folks?
Well, first of all, I wouldn't worry about it too much.
Yeah.
Because really, mean, yes, there may be cells that are ready to be activated, who knows?
(07:42):
I think as we said before the show started, we need to worry more about the lone wolves,the radicalized.
25 year old, we've already had two or three of those happen.
Right.
So in my opinion, you know, if you live in more, the rural parts of America, if you livein more small town America, if you're out of the major big cities, know, dense urban
(08:10):
hysterica, you know, hysterical people, uh, if, if there's not a, uh, a Jewish temple nextdoor to you, right.
Let's just be honest.
And, uh, I don't think you have a lot to worry about any more than you would worry aboutany kind of daily events that could happen to you.
You now having said that, I also think it's wise to be prepared.
(08:34):
Uh, and so, you know, I live by Joplin.
What are the odds of something like that happening at jobs?
They're pretty remote, right?
But I pay attention.
look, I say, is that suspicious?
Why does he have a big back?
pack, you know, is he, is he looking at the church standing around outside, you know, Imean, and that's the kind of stuff I think you can do.
(08:59):
We can't change the war that's going on right now.
We can't, you know, become soldiers.
can't go to the front lines and fight, you know, I mean, let's be realistic.
I'm not going to waste any energy at that, but we certainly can affect what's in ourinfluence and control area.
Which means that, you know, if you're at the mall and you see somebody suspicious, thenit's really okay to pay attention to that.
(09:26):
And if somebody says, well, you're just being paranoid, smile and nod your head and gocontact the cop.
You know?
Yeah.
I mean, just take some action.
So well, in thinking about that, it's a good rule that I've heard it said before thatdon't let politeness get in the way of your safety and survival.
(09:46):
We've seen it so many times.
So many times.
I didn't want to, I didn't want anyone to think that I was just being worried.
And as, and then we hear her again and she's dead.
Well, and, go ahead.
Well, I was going to say, I mean, it's like, you would.
(10:07):
This happened to a case in San Diego where somebody smelled smoke in a theater and they,when they interviewed them later, because everything worked out, right?
But they were interviewing people later and say, wow, what'd you think about?
What was going on?
And they said, well, you know, I smelled smoke, but you know, I wasn't really sure.
(10:27):
And I didn't want really people to get worried if it was unnecessary.
Yeah.
Really?
Super.
Yeah.
And so don't be that person, you know?
And I want to say one more thing, if you don't mind.
I answer the vast majority of the comments on our website and on our YouTube channel.
And I want to acknowledge right in front.
(10:49):
Yes, we are two elderly gentlemen.
Okay.
You know, and don't think that we're just reliving the old days and, and, know, wanting tobe that today's experts and stuff like that.
Guys like us have decades of experience in the real world.
And so I've been to riots, I've been to terrorist attacks, I worked the Rodney King riots.
(11:12):
mean, we've, Brent and I have seen these things.
And so it's not inappropriate to pay attention when experience talks.
And so I just remember that, okay?
So, all right.
uh Good point, good point.
And you know, when you get right down to it, violence is violence.
And people, don't think we look at it that way.
(11:35):
It's, well, you know, it's, uh you know, he got attacked by a crazy guy walking down thestreet or he got attacked by a sleeper terrorist cell and they wiped him out.
You're still just as injured or dead.
So regardless of your, your viewpoints, your outlook, your preparedness level, all that,when you get right down to it, it's violence.
And I got to say who's more expert with day-to-day violence than cops.
(11:59):
So I think that's kind of our
bone of fide.
So, you know, if if if you're prepared for the crazy neighbor who kind of goes off andtries to hurt you or your neighbor, you're much better prepared if that one in a million
sleeper cell decides to attack the federal building that you're there, you know, answeringjury duty or whatever.
(12:20):
So when we're talking about violence, I think
The cause might be little different right now because there's geopolitical events goingon.
But when you get right down to it, somebody trying to hurt or kill you or a loved one or abystander, it doesn't matter what their motivation is.
What matters is they're trying to do something bad right now.
So I think we get kind of wrapped around the axle about that.
(12:44):
Don't you think?
uh Criminals are criminal.
Yeah.
You know, and, and I think I want two people to think about this.
I mean, we'll try to give you some actual skills before we're done here, but
Uh is the number one is that things happen fast And so you've probably seen you're drivingalong all of a sudden somebody pulls out in front of you And you hit him maybe have an
(13:04):
accident.
Well, you didn't want that to happen, you know Well, I mean were you training for it?
Were you paying attention?
Did you anticipate that it was going to happen?
Probably not, you know And so these other things happen the same way think of them as atraffic accident
That was you're strolling down the street, minding your own business with your family.
And somebody, some suddenly some one kid comes running up holding a stick of dynamite thathe just lit.
(13:29):
mean, it literally happens that fast.
And so now rather than standing there flat forwarded, you know, flat footed and saying,Whoa, I can't believe this is really happening.
You know, you, the biggest thing I want to get out there today is that you need to takeaction.
What, you know, and you, and if you take action, you need to have.
thought about what you were going to do beforehand.
(13:50):
Yeah.
And otherwise you'll stand there and you'll say, well, I want to take action, but Ireally, I'm not sure what I should do.
Yeah.
You know, well, you know, for years it was fight or flight.
And then we finally realized it's fight, flight or freeze.
And Roy, I'll give you a quiz in the face of violence or danger, either one, what do mostpeople do?
Fight, flight or freeze?
(14:11):
Freeze.
Absolutely.
Freeze.
It's the, didn't, I couldn't believe it was happening to me.
And by then it is over.
happened.
Yeah.
I mean, it's as simple as that.
So, so, so how do we combat that?
Another softball question.
How do you combat that whole idea of, my gosh, what do I do now?
(14:34):
This is terrible.
And I'll just stand here and scream and wring my hands.
And it's, it's too late by then, but how can folks be ready for that?
Well, you know, it's actually pretty darn easy.
Um, and I mean, if you're a certified operator or some, know, a former anti-terrorist unitand all that, you're so many leagues above what we're doing here right now that I'm not
(15:00):
even going to go there.
All right.
We need people like you.
We're glad you're out there.
but if you're just the regular person out there, there's a game you can play and it's notcorny and.
It's okay to talk out loud while you're doing it.
It truly, you have to just, you have to, uh, distance yourself from the perception ofpeople around you.
(15:23):
And that is the, to play the what if game.
And I'm sure Brent will know exactly what that is.
Cause when you're a policeman, you're working a beat car, you pretty much play the what ifgame all the time and the what if game is.
I'm driving up the street and I'm driving up the street now.
What would I do if that guy in the right lane suddenly swerved to the left?
Right.
(15:44):
And you stop and you think, okay, well, if he started to swear, I would, I would breakhard and move back, you know, or I would, whatever you decide you think you want to do.
And so now you drive on a little bit more and then you come to an intersection and there'sa pedestrian.
What would I do if that pedestrian suddenly ran in front of my car?
Right.
And now the next day you're in the mall.
(16:05):
And as you're walking down the mall, you're playing what if, right?
It just takes seconds.
You look up and you think, what would I do if somebody was on the escalator and I saw thathe had a gun in his hand?
What would I do?
You know, would I run, but I hide, would I draw my gun and engage him?
You know, but the beauty of all this is that if you think about these things, right,wrong, or otherwise, you will at least have given it some thought.
(16:33):
And so now when you look up someday and there's a guy on an escalator with a gun, you'vethought about that, you know, and you may be able to think, Oh, okay.
I've been here, you know, uh, and I'm going to run and hide and take my family with me or,but, you won't waste as much time going, uh cow.
(16:55):
What do I do now?
You know, I don't mean, do you agree?
I can't think of a stronger tool that.
anybody can do to make themselves safer.
the beauty of it is it doesn't matter if you're completely unarmed.
If you're a 98 pound weakling or you're 98 years old or you're a strapping, you know, aformer operator that just is on your day off and you're carrying three guns and a samurai
(17:22):
sword.
doesn't matter.
All those people can do the same thing and they should do the same thing of if thishappens, I'm going to do this.
What is and
Yeah, you're just, playing ball.
know, I, I drive my tractor around my property all the time here and I've got some steephills and I have a pond and I have some big trees with big boughs.
Well, I, I absolutely play what if when I drive my tractor, what if I'm driving on theburn by my pond and the tractor falls into the water?
(17:52):
What app, what am I going to do?
How, how am I going to get to my seatbelt?
do I have my pocket knife that I could use to cut the strap if I need to?
I mean, before I go in the woods, I always look up and I think, what would I do if thatbranch suddenly fell down in front of me?
Where would I run to?
So you can apply this across the board.
(18:13):
What would I do if my five-year-old didn't eat his green beans tonight?
As corny as that is, that's all you're doing.
Rather than beat that into the ground, I hope people understand that that to me is thelinchpin of being a prepared American is having kind of a plan in mind and being aware of
(18:40):
things.
Cause we didn't really talk about that, but just being aware of stuff going on around you.
Cause it all goes part and parcel.
You can't be making a plan about the guy carrying the gun if you're not aware of that.
look, that guy up there has a gun.
Don't be this all day.
Yeah.
Well, that's, know, yeah.
mean, it never ceases to amaze me.
People in public places.
(19:01):
Uh, and you'll see 25 people in public places sitting around a fountain or something.
Everybody is looking down at their phone, completely oblivious to what's going on aroundthem.
And I read a report just today and I've not verified this, but it was reported that thelatest, uh,
information from traffic accidents over the last two years.
(19:23):
25 % of are involving a phone or electronic device.
25 % of accidents now.
And thinking about it, I believe it.
I was on my phone.
I was texting.
Always, always.
I just read in a, because it might've been part of the same article.
And it said that the average, like say up to 25 year old spends seven hours a day
(19:49):
It was part of that story.
On their phone and it said not counting working or computer time.
Right.
So I mean, I'm sorry.
Yeah.
So that means that think about it for a minute.
Seven hours of their day, they're oblivious to what's going on around them, you know, butthey're not going to care.
(20:13):
well, that's as we've said before, that's being a volunteer victim.
Yeah.
Anyway, if you've gotten to the point you are aware and you're playing that what if gamethe next point that I would make is you've got to execute a plan and that goes back to
fight flight or freeze.
If you're going to fight, okay, have a plan to fight.
(20:34):
If you're going to to flee, that makes sense too, depending on the circumstance.
But the biggest thing is just avoid that freeze because uh rarely will freeze help you.
fighting may help you fleeing may help you, but freezing all you're hoping for is, is luckwill not send, uh, something your way.
(20:58):
Well, know, uh well, when Clint Smith used to teach sometimes he would talk, he would talkabout shoot and move, right.
And he would say, can you hit my hand?
Right.
And so it's like, yeah, yeah, we could hit that.
And he, and he would go.
Now hit it.
Yeah.
(21:19):
Right.
And it just wham, it hits you.
And so that's why what you say when you're, it's you and your family and you're walking upthe street in target or something, you know, and you see something happen, you see a guy
in the aisle and he's got a backpack and he reaches in, he pulls out a knife.
Well, move.
Go.
(21:39):
You know, mean, move now.
Don't stop.
Don't look at it.
Don't gock.
Don't be amazed.
Don't anything, you know, that's the best advice I can give.
Yeah.
And getting into, you know, the current geopolitical situation, one of the coolest thingsI ever got to do was go to a school in the Western United States.
(22:03):
It was kind of the precursor to bomb school.
And we actually got to make suicide vests and detonate them.
And first of all, if you ever see one, it's the most scary and horrifying thing there is,but
The point that they were trying to make was by the time you see the guy do the typical,I've got a, it's too late because it just takes a split second.
(22:24):
And what people never understand is you don't outrun a bomb or a shrapnel.
Once it happens, it's over.
It's moving at, you know, 20 to 40,000 feet per second.
You're not going to duck.
You're not going to get behind something.
So again, it's kind of that idea.
If you see a guy fiddling with
wires and batteries and something that looks like a road flare under his jacket.
(22:47):
Don't wait to see what happens.
That's time to leave.
So that's just one of those things where you've got to think through that.
If you think that you're in a situation where somebody might do something really bizarrelike that, then you got to kind of work that out that I can't stand around and watch or
I'll keep an eye on him.
Well, you may keep an eye on him to the point that it's too late.
(23:07):
So, you might want to bring that up.
You don't focus on that either because I frankly, think the odds of somebody wearing aexplosive vest in our country or, mean, it could happen.
Definitely.
I don't see it happening probably, but what you should be looking for are people armedwith knives.
(23:29):
People who pull out a gun in a situation where they shouldn't probably have a gun in theirhand, right.
Or.
You're with a group of people on a corner holding up signs, advertising the kids car wash,and you see somebody drive by five times.
Right.
And is he going to try to run into your crowd now the next time?
(23:50):
mean, you know, these are the kind of everyday things you need to be looking for.
mean, I agree with Brent.
Absolutely.
oh Yeah.
People see the movies where they see like a bomb goes off and then people like duck andrun.
It's like, no, you're way already dead.
Yeah.
If you don't believe me, go on YouTube, watch some, uh, high energy explosives go off.
(24:11):
it's like now there was one, a famous one from one of the Gulf Wars where some, and it wasmilitary guys, believe a United States army, they were watching a, I believe it was a
bombing of a big building.
But what I remember was they're like, wow, look at that.
And all of a sudden a.
Probably a fist size or bigger rock comes sailing right at the camera and again 500 milesper hour so fast that if if it had been coming toward anybody they wouldn't have got out
(24:42):
of the way it just happened to miss but if you can look that up, it's just amazing howfast they're here Yeah, I saw that you're right.
It's like everyone's laughing and talking all of sudden.
Yeah Yeah, right surprise like
They would have all been dead.
all right.
Well, look, I mean, yes, be prepared.
(25:02):
Yes, play what if, you know, there's nothing wrong with that.
Pay attention.
Don't be paranoid about it.
It's, know, you're not, is the odds of it going to happen are pretty darn remote, youknow, but I think if it does happen and you're prepared, that helps a lot.
So now do we talk about what does prepared mean when it comes to guns and stuff?
Sure.
(25:22):
That's, that's why people watch us.
So we're going to talk about that.
For me, the advice is pretty simple and it echoes what we've said all along.
Have a gun.
Have a gun.
I know that's not the answer you said a lot of people are seeking, but it comes down tohaving a gun or not having a gun and having a gun is a lot better, especially in a
(25:45):
circumstance where the other person has a gun.
So that's that's I'm being a bit facetious there, but truly that's that's what it's aboutfor me.
And we've talked about before, especially as you get to be a uh
A seasoned citizen.
It's, I don't mean I've made it this far.
I didn't need a gun.
Well, it only takes once.
So my big advice to folks have a gun, have a gun that you can shoot that you have shot insay the last few little wiles, because if you decide to pull that one out of the sock
(26:17):
drawer and blow the dust off since you bought it five years ago, and well, I'm going tostart carrying that.
You're not a gunfighter.
I'm sorry.
You're just not.
So anyway, Roy, you take it from there.
think the most important thing for you to do other than have a gun, if you decide to dothat, is decide what is your role going to be.
(26:41):
And so when you see that guy pull the machete out of his backpack, uh, in the aisle atWalmart and you're armed, what is your role?
And.
Are you, are you uh a pack leader?
Are you a protector dog?
(27:02):
You know, I mean, do you have the skills?
Do you have the training?
Do you have the experience to go toward the fight and engage and save people?
I hats off to you.
If you are, it would be hard for me to turn my back.
Right.
But we've had experience.
We've faced those situations before, you know, what to expect.
I've already made that decision.
(27:23):
What I would do.
But the other thing you need to do is you also have to weigh that with, I'm here with myfamily.
You know, where are my obligations?
ah I get my family to safety first.
Now then maybe if it's still going on, you can evaluate what you want to do after that.
You know, but I think it's, you know, it happens fast.
(27:44):
Usually it's not like on TV.
Chances are good.
If you shoot somebody with a handgun, they're not going to fall down right away.
You know,
which may surprise you, uh but I think for me, that's my, that's the important role.
I am firm believer of avoid as much as possible.
(28:04):
And so if I see somebody looking and acting suspicious, I want to get away from there.
And if appropriate, I'll notify authorities.
If it's, if I'm flat footed, and in other words, literally they're the guy ahead of me isnow pulling a knife out of his backpack.
Well, then I mean, I've already decided is that for me, my personal handgun is as Darrellsays, it's a get off me thing, you know?
(28:29):
And so I, you know, I'll pull my gun and I will try to get to safety in my own opinion.
I've already decided if he's trying to hurt somebody, I'm going to intervene.
So I mean, that's my decision.
think part of that is that I'm old and I don't have much time left.
And so I don't mind.
making that commitment if I can save some people's lives.
(28:50):
But really, if you're 30 years old, you have a wife and three kids with you, then maybeengaging isn't really the smartest thing for you to do.
Exactly.
So be thinking about that.
Yeah.
And you touched on something we've never really talked about, but the fact that even withmajor caliber handguns, people do a lot of stuff after taking what will be non-survivable
(29:15):
hits.
And I'm sure a lot of you do what we do, which is pass around these closed circuit TV uhfiles that you periodically get.
It's funny, a lot of them seem to be out of Brazil for whatever reason.
But if you have any question what a shooting looks like, go look at some of those.
And I think if you watch a few of them, you will be shocked and amazed at people takingreally multiple hits from big handguns.
(29:43):
and they still do a lot of stuff.
again, that TV movie thing of I'm gonna shoot him and he'll go through the saloon windowand then I'm a hero and it doesn't work that way.
They keep coming.
They don't even realize they're hit and they're still wanting to do to you or a bystanderor whatever.
So again, that factors into it that, well, I can take the shot and he'll drop his knifeand melt into a puddle of goo.
(30:10):
It don't work that way.
You need to be aware and you need to have the experience to at least understand how thingsreally do work like that.
So you're not uh constructing a false scenario in your head.
especially when you're dealing with somebody who fancies themselves uh a terrorist now,you know, when you get some lone wolf who suddenly decided it's time for him to activate.
(30:33):
Well, he's probably pretty motivated, you know, he's already decided he doesn't care if hedies.
Yep.
Right.
he, he'll have a gun or a knife or a bomb or something.
Right.
So you're already dealing with somebody who has made the commitment that he's going todie.
So he doesn't care.
Yeah.
Uh, and you know, remember, mean, you could shoot somebody right in the heart and blowtheir heart completely to part into pieces and their blood will still be oxygen or their
(31:01):
brain will still be oxygenated oxygenated for probably six to eight more seconds.
Right.
At least.
Well, okay.
Well, let's pretend for a second.
You ready?
Here you go.
Bang, I just got shot 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1008.
Okay.
I was still shooting.
(31:22):
Yeah.
Or stabbing or stabbing or reaching for the bomb button.
know?
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, mean, I don't want people to be hysterical about this and we're not the topic experts.
We do have some experience here.
have faced some serious situations and, uh, and I, I think if we, the people who arelistening, if they just keep it simple, uh, and like I said, play what if, if you have a
(31:48):
gun that you're comfortable with, then make sure as Brent says, it's not the dust Buffalocollector from the drawer, you know, get it out, shoot it, clean it, oil it, make sure
it's all right.
You know, talk to your family about these things.
Uh, and that's another very important thing.
Uh,
You know, my wife and I were retired cops used to work together.
(32:09):
Susie's covered me on traffic stops and I've covered her on stops and stuff.
And so we already know what we're going to do.
If something happens, we're going to cover each other and we're going to, know, mean,that's, I've got to laugh, right?
I'm sure Susie would be get behind me, Roy.
Oh, she has, always elbows me out of the way and moves it up front when anything's everhappened.
But, uh, if you have a wife, for instance, and you need to talk about this, you need tosay.
(32:34):
Especially if she's kind of a bit anti gun, maybe like she's not real happy that you havea gun you carry it.
Uh, but you need to come to terms and you need to say, listen, if we're ever in Walmartwith, you know, the, two children, I, and either one of us sees something and says, run
that our job is to run.
(32:54):
Our job is not to say what we haven't got the juice, uh, cool age yet.
You know, eh
Yeah, no, or if you are the armed husband and she's not, you know, when you put your armout and, tell them, get behind that counter, well, then they need to go get behind the
counter.
You know, they need to not engage you in a philosophical discussion of whether or notyou're mean.
(33:20):
Yeah.
So pay attention.
Talk to your loved ones.
This is all what if, right?
What if we were in dinner at the, favorite restaurant and someone walked in the front doorwith a machete and threatened us, what would we do?
You know, think about it.
then, and then like I said, like Brent said, if you have a gun, learn how to use it.
(33:43):
You keep your head screwed on.
And I will say in closing, you made a point that I wanted to expand on.
Again, this isn't paranoia.
uh A lot of this, I hope, is just a gut check or, you know, kind of a rehearsal, mentalrehearsal for a lot of folks.
If this is all new to you, I hope, you know, you've learned something that you can takeaway.
(34:07):
But the bottom line is I always feel better knowing I've got the gear, I've got thetraining, I've got the awareness, and now I can go about my day living life to the
fullest, having fun.
And yeah, if a tornado comes, if a car accident happens,
or some derka derka decides that it's time for him to go meet whoever and all the virginsor whatever.
(34:30):
I'm ready for whatever.
There's nothing guaranteeing you'll make it through, but you can at least put the oddsmuch more in your favor.
And that to me is very comforting.
Well, know, people have most people, or maybe many people today, have spare tires in theircar, right?
Or a tire inflation kit or something.
I know personally,
(34:51):
When I'm about to drive across the desert, I check my spare tire and make sure that it'sfull.
And now I can drive across the desert much more relaxed.
Yeah.
As you say, enjoy the scenery.
I'm not constantly saying, what if I get a flat?
What if I get a flat?
What if I get a flat?
And so if you're, if you're
(35:14):
prepared if you've thought about these things beforehand, if you and your family havediscussed it.
It's no different than talking about, which nobody ever does, they talk about, if I wakeup at nighttime and I smell smoke and I say fire, what should everyone do?
I most families I know have never talked about that.
So it's, but it's no different than that.
(35:34):
And so if you have those kinds of things, and if you decide to be armed and you'refamiliar with your gun and you have a good gun, have good ammunition, you know how to
shoot it.
Well, gosh, you know, you've got a spare tire with air in it.
Yep.
Yep.
And I was laughing because I bet I, well, I know for a fact, you're like me.
First of all, you do check the air and your spare because people don't got a tireinflator, probably got a can of fix a flat.
(35:57):
And I've also got a satellite communicator, which now our iPhones will serve thatfunction.
But yeah, there's multiple layers of redundancy.
And again, that's not a burden to me.
That's, that's peace of mind.
That's peace of mind.
Which is the good thing about all of this is if you participate in what we're talkingabout, that will give you peace of mind.
Yep.
Absolutely.
So, and then you can just enjoy life to the fullest like Roy Huntington does.
(36:22):
that guy certainly does.
I'll tell you what, I'll be damn if I'm going to let them scare me.
Exactly.
You know?
Yeah.
I dare you to try and scare me.
Just don't, don't go there.
That wraps up another episode of the Guns Podcast US.
(36:44):
I hope this motivated you to start practicing the what-if game to keep your skills sharpwhen it really counts.
Before we go, a big thanks to our amazing sponsor EOTech for making this show possible.
can check out their great reliable optics and other gear at EOTechinc.com.
Now on behalf of the team at Guns Magazine and my co-host Roy Huntington, I'm Brent Wheatreminding you, now get out there and get shooting.
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