Drawing From Concealment Part IV: Scan and Assess Surroundings

We have gone through several steps of the process of drawing from concealment. This includes clearing your clothing and gripping your gun, pulling and rotating it, and finally extending it forward to take a shot. The underlying principle of this entire series is that drawing your firearm is necessary to defend yourself against an attack.

Scan and Assess

Before discussing how to re-holster your gun, it is crucial to perform a complete scan and assess your surroundings after using deadly force against an attacker.
 
In a traumatic event like this, it’s natural to focus solely on the attacker and not be aware of other potential threats. This is known as tunnel vision. Is the danger over? Does the attacker still pose a threat in any way? Is he immobilized?
 
After ensuring that the attacker is no longer a threat, it’s important to visually scan and listen to ensure that there are no other attackers or threats in the area. It’s also crucial to identify the good guys.
 
This is essential to regain situational awareness and overcome tunnel vision. It’s not uncommon for there to be more than one attacker, so you must be alert and prepared. Your mind may be racing and your body may be trembling. Thus, it’s vital to train these techniques extensively so that your body and mind know what to do instinctively.
 

Techniques

There are various methods and viewpoints on how to perform a safe scan and assessment. The permitted techniques may vary when training at public shooting ranges. Some instructors suggest holding the gun in the low ready position and moving the head to scan the surroundings, while others prefer bringing the gun close to the chest with the muzzle pointed upwards during scanning. Some recommend pointing the muzzle downwards while scanning behind you using the “Sul” position. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages, and it is up to you to determine which one suits you best.

In the following section, I will be sharing the technique I personally prefer and use for scanning and assessing safely. However, it’s important to note that different shooting ranges may have varying rules and regulations regarding this practice. Therefore, it’s essential to inquire about their policies beforehand and adapt the tips accordingly to the technique you prefer.

This is not leagal advice

I am not qualified to provide legal advice on the best practices of a defensive shooting incident or the legal consequences of your actions. It is important to seek guidance from a trustworthy resource that is familiar with the laws in your locality. You may find reliable sources such as the NRA, USCCA, US Law Shield, and experts like Masad Ayoob who can provide you with the necessary information and resources to help you understand what you should or should not do in case of a real-life situation.

Technique of Assessing Your Surroundings

Please read the below in its entirety, before attempting these skills. Practice tips and guidelines will follow

Initial Scan

After you have dealt with the initial attacker, while keeping your arms extended, lower the gun slightly to gain a clear view over the top of the sights. Next, take a lateral step either to the right or left, and move your head, chest, and arms in both directions. This allows you to quickly scan the area around and beside the downed attacker. By moving laterally, you can avoid any incoming rounds and disrupt any potential attacks, and this initial scan helps you break free from tunnel vision while providing a sense of your immediate surroundings.

360 Scan

After scanning the immediate area and ensuring there are no other threats, it is important to bring the gun back towards you and adopt a defensive posture. This technique, called indexing, involves lowering the gun to your chest area and pointing the muzzle downward towards the ground in a position known as “Sul” (meaning “south” in Portuguese). It is essential to keep your feet out of the line of the muzzle to prevent any accidental discharge.
 
Indexing helps to maintain situational awareness, protect your possession of the gun, and enable you to engage any additional threats effectively. Additionally, it keeps innocent bystanders safe while you continue to scan the area in all directions to ensure your safety. Remember to practice this technique regularly to develop muscle memory and reflexive responses in case of a real-life situation.

Stay Nimble

While holding your indexed gun in the Sul position, rotate your waist to look behind you and complete a full 360-degree scan by bringing your head, chest, and gun around to each side. Take a few small lateral steps if needed to adjust your position, but avoid stepping backward to prevent tripping. It’s important to maintain your balance and be prepared to move if necessary.
 
After scanning the area, return to the downed attacker and verify that they are fully incapacitated if there are no other imminent threats. It’s essential to scan and assess everything around you as quickly as possible while paying attention to every detail. Be aware of your surroundings, both above and below you.
 
Following the use of your gun in self-defense, do not begin the process of slowly re-holstering your gun until you KNOW you are safe.
 

Practice Tips – Dry-fire Scan and Assess

With UNLOADED HOLSTERED GUN: Ensure that your gun is unloaded by checking it multiple times, including looking into the chamber through the top of the slide. Confirm that there is no ammunition in the barrel, no ammunition in the magazine, and none in the room. Double-check to be absolutely certain that the gun is safe and unloaded before proceeding with any handling or maintenance. 

You can use your phone to record yourself performing the technique and then review the footage to analyze your form. Alternatively, you can ask someone to observe your technique from the side without ever allowing the muzzle of your gun to point in their direction.

We will start by dividing the scan and assessment into separate sections and practice them slowly and individually. With consistent training and practice, this process will become a seamless and rapid motion. You will then have the capability to perceptively observe and comprehend your surroundings.

NOTE:

This practice can only be conducted using dry-fire exercises. Most shooting ranges do not permit this activity. However, it may be included as part of a defensive shooting course under the strict supervision of a qualified instructor on a closed range.

Tip 1

After achieving a full sight picture, smoothly press the trigger and immediately re-align your sights on the target. This ensures that you are ready to fire again if necessary. Remember that the attacker may still be a threat even if they are on the ground.
 
Take a lateral step to the side while lowering your gun slightly to gain a clear view over the sights. Scan the attacker to ensure that they are fully incapacitated.
 
Repeat this exercise for 10-20 repetitions.

Tip 2

Perform a thorough scan of the area surrounding the target, including the left, right, and behind it. Take note of the specific details you observe and vocalize them to yourself, such as “the curtain behind the target is blue” or “the lamp on the right is on, and the lampshade is crooked.”
 
Repeat this process a minimum of 10 times, making sure to identify different environmental elements each time.

Tip 3

To perform the “Index” technique, begin by bringing your firearm towards your chest and placing your extended trigger finger on the slide of your gun. As you do this, lower the muzzle downward and ensure that your feet are not in the line of your muzzle. At the same time, your non-dominant hand should be opened with the palm facing your stomach and the thumb pointing upward.
 
Once the gun is near your chest, lay it over the non-dominant hand, making sure that the muzzle is pointing downward and not towards your feet. Pull your elbows in close to your body. Repeat this process at least 10 times, or until it becomes more natural to you.

Tip 4

While in the Sul position with elbows tucked in, start rotating your body at the waist. Scan behind you on one side, then on the other. Don’t forget to return to scanning in front of you and checking on the attacker on the ground. If needed, take small lateral steps with your knees bent and ready to move. Always be aware of the direction your muzzle is pointing.

NOTE:

When practicing with one of the other techniques, DO NOT turn your body with the gun extended. This will prevent your gun from pointing at any family members or other innocents. Instead, scan approximately 90 degrees to both sides while keeping the gun pointed forward. Look over your shoulders to see behind you.

As you scan, be sure to tell yourself exactly what you see in detail. The goal is to truly see and understand what you need to know, not just glance at it.

Repeat this process 10-20 times to become more familiar with the technique.

NOTE:

If you are experiencing difficulty recognizing details of your surroundings, consider having a training partner stand behind you and slightly to the left or right. After demonstrating that your firearm is completely unloaded and safe, ask them to hold up fingers or an object while you perform your scan. However, if you are not using the Sul position, do not turn your body so that the gun passes 90 degrees. When you are done scanning, report how many fingers or what you saw to your partner. This exercise can help you focus on what you are seeing and improve your observation skills.