Unarmed But Still Dangerous
Why I Refuse to be “Defenseless” (Even Without a Gun)
I’ve spent most of my life around firearms, and if you’re reading this, you probably have too. We talk a lot about the “hardware”—the newest subcompacts, the smoothest holsters, and the best optics. But lately, I’ve been thinking about a scenario we don’t like to admit: What happens when the hardware is gone?
I recently wrote a piece for GUNS Magazine called “Unarmed, But Still Dangerous,” and it came from a very personal place of frustration. I realized that for too many of us, our “readiness” has a literal off-switch—the moment we enter a gun-free zone or a permissive environment.
The Security Blanket Trap
In the article, I dig into what I call the “Hardware Trap.” It’s that psychological shift where we become “soft targets” the moment we’re disarmed. We stop scanning the room. We lose our predatory edge. We feel “naked.”
But here’s the truth I wanted to drive home: If you aren’t a weapon without your gun, you aren’t a weapon with one. You’re just a person carrying a tool.
My Three Pillars of “Weaponized Mindset”
When I sat down to write this, I wanted to provide a roadmap for staying dangerous regardless of what’s on your belt:
Awareness as the Primary Tool: If you see the threat coming from 30 feet away, you’ve already won the fight by choosing not to be there.
Environmental Force Multipliers: I look at a heavy flashlight or a sturdy pen differently now. In an airport or a boardroom, these are my primary tools.
The Psychological Pivot: This is the most important one. Survival is about the absolute refusal to be a victim. If things go sideways, your mindset has to flip from “defense” to “overwhelming offense” in a heartbeat.
The Bottom Line
I wrote this as a reminder—mostly to myself—that our “software” must always be more capable than our “hardware.” Whether I’m at the range or in a courthouse, I want to know that I am still the most prepared person in the room because I refuse to stop paying attention.
You can read the full column over at GUNS Magazine here: Unarmed, But Still Dangerous