This Segment Will Deal with a Situational Awareness.
In this segment, the first issue is to clarify is what exactly is meant by the often-heard and catchy phrase “Situational Awareness?”
The ever-popular Wikipedia addresses and defines situational awareness, or a situation awareness, as being “The perception of environmental elements and events with respect to time or space, the comprehension of their meaning and the projection of their future status.”
As a practical matter, most of us identify situational awareness as generally understanding what is going on around us at any particular time.
A simple example of everyday situational awareness occurs when we leave the house and decide whether to wear a winter jacket, or t-shirt and shorts.
Situational awareness is often taught to soldiers, law enforcement officers, and security personnel whose professions carry the obligation and duty to protect others.
Another example of individuals being trained in the concept of situational awareness are your football, basketball, or other coaches. This type of training helps with instances in which the coach determines the particulars of a situation in order to best advise his or her players on how to respond.
Situational awareness generally utilizes our senses to determine what we see, what we hear, and what we feel – even in terms of temperature and other environmental elements.
Various factors affect our assessment based upon our senses. Our evaluation of a situation may be hampered or affected by something as innocuous as wearing glasses, a hat, or earphones. Situational awareness also depends upon where we are located – whether we are in an urban, suburban, or country setting.
Some sources who teach situational awareness believe that is a skill or a talent upon which one can learn and build, along with being refined with experience.
The question you may be asking yourself at this point is, why is situational awareness important to me?
Once you have decided to carry a firearm, Massachusetts law has imposed upon you a certain duty and obligation to evaluate a situation prior to taking action. As addressed in other segments, the decision whether you use a deadly or non-deadly force depends upon the situation. Am I inside my house or in a parking lot? Is the person that I perceived a threat carrying a dangerous weapon? (The issue of dangerous weapon will be a subject of another segment) Do I know – or think I know – the person who is in front of me?
As covered in a prior segment, the issue as to whether you can use a deadly force inside your dwelling also depends upon the situation.
In the event that you need to draw that firearm for any reason, you will most likely face scrutiny from both police and lawyers’ and their questions concerning your awareness of the situation the moment you drew your firearm.
Your constitutional rights and protections under the Second Amendment may very well depend upon how you answer.
As you are aware, your situational awareness when carrying a firearm cannot be affected by alcohol or non-prescription drugs.
“Whoever, having in effect a license to carry firearms issued under section 131 or 131F of chapter 140, carries on his person, or has under his control in a vehicle, a loaded firearm, as defined in section 121 of said chapter 140, while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or marijuana, narcotic drugs, depressants or stimulant substances, all as defined in section 1 of chapter 94C, or from smelling or inhaling the fumes of any substance having the property of releasing toxic vapors as defined in section 18 of chapter 270 shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than two and one-half years, or by both such fine and imprisonment”. Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 269 § 10H
As always, the purpose of this segment is not to dissuade, scare or intimidate you from carrying any firearm for which you are appropriately licensed to carry, but only to educate and reinforce your obligations as a responsible firearm owner. It is through such education that we develop responsibility.
Many of us have seen the initials WWJD, which stands for, “What would Jesus do?”
Perhaps that is a question which you should consider every time you remove your firearm from its locked safe/box?
Ultimately, your decision may someday determine whether an individual lives or dies.
I hope this segment has given you sufficient information and direction in order to further educate yourself on the issue of situational awareness with the goal of being a more knowledgeable and responsible Massachusetts gun owner
One of the best protections for your Second Amendment rights is to be an educated, knowledgeable and responsible gun owner
DISCLAIMER: This and other segments posted on this website are offered for educational, informational and discussion purposes only and is not offered as legal advice.