This last week, while hunting, I managed to scratch my shooting eye. Now this is no big deal and, while painful at first, it will heal up in a few days of proper care. However, it is through little adventures like this that we find the weaknesses in our defensive plan. You see, I shoot handguns with either hand and have for years, but I have always used my master eye for sighting.
Dealing with all of this has caused me to consider how we continue to protect ourselves while dealing with the various injuries that life brings us. Consider also that obvious injuries—eye patches, casts, crutches—make us look more like a potential victim. While we are just trying to get over whatever little injury we have sustained, we look like a lot easier target to the criminal. It would be smart to find a way to deal with the situation.
Do you have a defensive handgun that would be compatible with support-hand use? Do you have holsters for support-side carry? How will your current defensive carry method work if you are forced to get around on crutches? Have you practiced shooting with your non-master eye?
In my case, I am wearing an eye patch over my master eye. I really haven't needed it since the first couple of days after the injury, but my vision is still blurry in that eye. Wearing the eye patch forces me to go immediately to the other eye for sighting. I have reinforced this by daily dry practice of pistol presentation and sight acquisition.
Obviously, we can't predict exactly what little bumps and bruises might befall us next. But we can give consideration to those injuries that will force us to alter our defensive plan. It is only when you don't have a Plan B or a Plan C that you get in trouble.
Of course, my editor might point out that if I had been home writing, as I should have been, instead of out goofing off, this wouldn't have happened. Between you and me, I'm pretty sure he's just jealous.
