by Phillip
Starr
Gunfights
in the American “Wild West” didn't really feature two iron-jawed
gunmen facing off on the main street of town. The only recorded
instance of such a “classical” fight occurred between a very
young Wyatt Earp and another gentleman who obviously didn't survive.
But there were certainly a large number of violent men who relied on
their guts and skill with a six-shooter (or whatever other weapons
they could get their hands on) to get what they wanted. Some were
lawmen, some were criminals, and some bounced back and forth between
the two. Men such as John Wesley Hardin, John Henry “Doc”
Holliday, Bat Masterson, and William “Billy the Kid” Bonnie, and
a host of others became legends in their own time. Of course, none
of them had ever heard of traditional martial arts, but there is
something we can learn from them.
None of
them would think twice when it came to killing an enemy. Were you to
face one of them with a “Peacemaker” strapped to your hip, you'd
be looking death in the face. And if you flinched, even for an
instant, you were dead. And herein lies the lesson.
Mind
you, I'm not saying that you should march out, try to find the
meanest thug in the city, and engage him in a life-and-death
conflict. Not hardly. But I want you to consider something; if and
when you were suddenly faced with an assailant who meant to take your
life, could you do what has to be done without hesitating? Would you
act instantly or would you stop and think about the implications of
what you're about to do? If you balk, you've already lost the
battle.
There
have been many martial arts enthusiasts who have written articles and
even some books on the subject of the law as it pertains to
self-defense. They warn about the legalities of using your martial
skills in violent confrontations and it is this kind of poppycock
that will cause many people to waver in the face of aggression. As a
former police officer, I will tell you what any other cop will tell
you; do whatever you must to defend yourself and your loved ones. If
the enemy threatens you with deadly force, you may respond with like
force. It's that simple.
The
question, however, is, could you? Would you? Would you do it
without the slightest stutter? Bear in mind that your foe won't
hesitate for a moment to accomplish his ends. You mustn't, either.
