Heightened Safety Concerns

by
posted on November 19, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
gsagi2015_fs-1.jpg (4)

The odds are good some of your friends or family have made the personal choice to never carry or own a gun, but after the tragedy in Paris, the odds are good when you see them this holiday season they’ll express safety concerns. That’s your opportunity to avoid the debate and simply recommend NRA’s "Refuse To Be A Victim" classes.

I know of no class on earth that could prevent someone from becoming the casualty of a well-orchestrated terrorist attack. Much like 9/11, they were in the wrong place, at the wrong time. It’s of little comfort, but our thoughts and prayers go out for the victims, families and friends of those killed or injured.

There are some simple steps, however, we can take to minimize the chances of common criminals terrorizing our lives. Most readers include a firearm in their self-defense plan, but some people are uncomfortable with that decision, and it’s not always workable—think about students heading off to a gun-free college dorm, seniors entering an assisted-care facility for the first time or those cities with restrictive ordinances.

NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim is, “…a personal safety program that teaches strategies you can use to avoid situations where self-defense is required.” How effective is the four-hour seminar? It’s now included in hundreds of  law enforcement agency public-outreach programs.

I attended and wrote about one years ago in Arizona, and the information and interaction with the instructor was impressive. Topics included home, vehicle, work and personal security, with the same kind of emphasis on situational awareness and avoidance that’s requisite in every firearm course. It’s open to men, women, youngsters, seniors and anyone concerned about personal safety.

The information won’t insulate someone from terrorist attack, but it does provide the kind of solid information that minimizes the chances of those much-more-common criminal encounters, which can also turn deadly.   

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.