If you are a member of USCCA, you have a wealth of information, at your fingertips, on personal protection.  Personal protection is not just about guns–you need to be aware!  In the USCCA article “Home Defense 101″, a reference is made to Jeff Cooper’s Color Codes of Awareness.  It is amazing how many references there are to this information. Â
Cooper's Color Code of Awareness
For information about the Jeff Cooper’s Color Codes of Awareness, read an article for the American Tactical Shooting Association, by Tom Givens.  Mr. Givens is a 25-year veteran of law enforcement and specialized security work; and, for over 35 years, he has been a firearms instructor.  A direct quote from this article is, “Most people stumble through life, blissfully unaware of the world around them. They remain preoccupied with thoughts of work, or personal problems, or how to get a date, or other trivialities, with no thought to their immediate environment. By not paying attention to their surroundings, they place themselves in needless jeopardy. † Is this you?
You can call it Personal Defense,  Situational Defense, or First Line of Defense.  Whatever you call it, your safety and the safety of your family is important.  Be aware! Be ready! Think!  Today, thanks to cell phones, dialing 911 is much easier.  But, unless you live next to the police department, you will need to deal with the situation at hand, until a police officer arrives.  Whatever the situation, be prepared.  You need to be mentally willing to fight for your life or the life of your loved ones!
Jeff Cooper’s First Line of Defense is to BE AWARE of your surroundings.  The following is a brief description of the Color Codes of Awareness.
Condition White (Pre-occupied, unaware of your surroundings, or feeling like they are in a safe place.)
Condition Yellow (A relax state of awareness, but you are aware! This should be the norm as you go through you day.)
Condition Orange (A heightened state of awareness, you might need to evaluate a potential problem.)
Condition Red (You are ready for action! You deal with the problem.  You must decide “Run away or Defendâ€, better known as “Fight or Flightâ€.)  This is information taught to law enforcement, security personnel, and in civilian firearms courses.
The video below is almost eleven minutes long, but it explains in detail Cooper’s Color Code of Awareness.  Questions to ask yourself:  Are you aware of people around you?  Are you aware of where you are?  Are you busy thinking about dinner, while you’re shopping or walking?  Pay attention and be aware, it could save your life!
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Photo Source: Â Compliments of spartancops.com on Google Images
Video Source: Â Compliments of Tang Soo Do Karate Club on www.youtube.com
