Avoiding the Fight – De-Escalation & Disengagement for Armed Citizens

Carrying a gun doesn’t give you permission to argue harder or take more risks. It raises the cost of every bad decision.


Our “Avoiding the Fight” manual teaches students how to recognize conflict early, control their own reactions, and exit situations before force is even on the table. This page is the public summary of that material.

Why Avoiding the Fight Is a Core Skill

In our CCW program we treat conflict avoidance as a primary skill, not an afterthought. Students learn that:

  • Legal self-defense is expensive and life-altering

  • Ego and pride are common triggers in bad shootings

  • Responsible carriers focus on staying out of trouble, not winning arguments

Key Themes From the Manual

1. Situational awareness and early warning signs
Recognizing anomalies, pre-incident behavior, and shifts in body language so you can leave early instead of reacting late.

2. Ego management
Understanding how feeling “disrespected” or “challenged” can push armed citizens into unnecessary confrontations—and how to override that impulse.

3. Verbal de-escalation
Using calm tone, short phrases, and non-threatening body language to give the other person a way to back down without losing face.

4. Disengagement and exit strategies
Pre-planning how to step away, change locations, or leave when a situation is going sideways, especially while carrying in public.

What Students Take Away

By the end of this block of training, our students understand:

  • How to spot trouble early in parking lots, gas stations, and public spaces

  • How to respond to road rage, insults, or provocations without escalating

  • How to align their behavior with legal standards like “reasonable person”

  • Why “I avoided the fight” is a win, not a loss

Where This Fits in the 2A Firearms Academy Curriculum

This material is reinforced in:

  • CCW initial and renewal classes

  • Advanced pistol courses

  • Church security and protective-team training

We teach students that safety and judgment are more important than speed or bravado.