To begin with, this is a win, nothing happened, no one got hurt, killed, or went to jail. Most of the feedback that we have received has been positive, praising what a great job she did, and that there was not much that she could have done differently. However, in keeping with our philosophy of teaching you how to think, not what to think, and always trying to do better, let’s take a closer look. Her awareness and observations before her exercise routine were great, she took the time to look around, saw the truck, made note of it, and went along with her day. When she saw the truck the second time, and it caused her some concern, is where this story should have ended. We tell women all the time to trust their “gut.” Why not turn around, walk back to your car, and exercise another day or in a different place? If you have time and distance, avoidance is usually the best, safest, easiest, and the first choice you should make. She decided to continue her walk and approach and pass the truck. Prior, she moved her safety gear to her dominate side (bear spray) and opened her coat so that she could access her firearm if she needed it. This implies that they were not in a spot where she would have been able to get to them as fast as necessary should a life-threatening situation arise. The sole purpose of carrying these items is to be able to use them as quickly as possible to save your life. If you cannot get to them in an emergency, they are useless. It would be prudent to start your walk with them in a place where you can get to them when needed without having to adjust or move them to make it easier when the threat appears. She did this “casually… Just like I’m going to unzip my coat, no big deal.” Bad guys, like bears, are usually looking for easy prey. Appearing “casual” while approaching a potential threat is the opposite of what you should be doing. You want to appear to be the hardest target possible. Hopefully it gives the attacker pause before deciding to take the risk of a fight and carry out the crime. This isn’t to say pull your gun out and point it at them as you walk by, but a least have your spray in your non-dominate hand to reduce the time it would take to use it, and leave your dominate hand free if you were forced to use your gun instead of the spray.

This video is a bit long, but well worth a watch. It happened to a woman who is a self-defense/firearms instructor while she was on a walk in a rural area of our home state. We're curious what everyone thinks about how she handled the situation? Comment below and give us your thoughts and what you would have done. Looking forward to hearing from everyone. S&J

Questions Worth Asking Yourself: - Are you in fighting shape? - Could you move fast if you had to? - Close the gap and stop an attack? - Create distance and get to safety? - Are you capable of overwhelming the threat with force and violence if the moment demands it? - Could you deliver a quick strike just to break contact and create distance before engaging further? - Do you have the speed, balance and enough gas in the tank to keep moving? Honest questions that require honest answers. According to the FBI's 2024 reported crime statistics there were approximately 1,980,149 recorded assaults involving "personal weapons" (hands, fists, feet). - You are 13.7 times more likely to be assaulted with personal weapons than with a handgun. - You are 15.5 times more likely to be assaulted with personal weapons than with a knife or cutting instrument. - You are 25.9 times more likely to be assaulted with personal weapons than with a blunt instrument.  Our first weapon system is the one we live in everyday, make sure it doesn't quit on you when you might need it most. S&J

We’re so glad you’re here. This space was built for families who refuse to leave their safety up to chance—or to algorithms that silence what matters. Here, you can learn, share, and connect freely with other parents, grandparents, and protectors who care about building stronger, safer families. Here’s how to get started: 1. Introduce yourself below. Tell us who you are, where you’re from, and what brought you here. 2. Ask questions. Big or small, your questions help everyone. 3. Share scenarios. “What would you do if…?” posts spark some of the best discussions. 4. Engage often. Comment, like, and add your voice. The more we all participate, the stronger this community becomes. What to expect here: - Training resources and lessons on awareness, self-defense, and family safety. - Live discussions and group challenges. - Real stories and solutions from families just like yours. - A community that supports—not censors—you. ⚡Remember: Confidence is contagious. By engaging here, you’re not only helping yourself—you’re equipping others to protect what matters most. Drop your intro below and let’s get this community moving! 👇 We Teach Confidence™ S & J The Vigilant Family™

The True Story of Thanksgiving - Rush H. Limbaugh III Have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone, S&J https://share.google/2ZXrw3wqpRobm39aI