Rauch's Rules

1. All predators are always killers. When they attack, your options for
self-defense are very limited.

2. The predator is smarter than you. Act and react accordingly.

3. Predators will use all the force necessary (and then some) to achieve
their goals, without regard to consequences.

4. Predators evaluate their targets before attacking. If you are attacked,
the predator has determined he will succeed without a heavy cost to
himself.

5. If you are about to become a victim, you have already made serious
mistakes.

6. Believe what you see; don't go into denial. Your attacker won't.

7. In a lethal confrontation, you will only have time to choose one course
of action – and your life depends on making the right choice.

8. Predators rarely act alone, although the ones that do are the most
dangerous. (If there's one, look for two; if there are two, look for
three, etc.)

9. Fear is the predator’s friend and your enemy.

10. Talk and negotiation rarely work.

11. Predators do not have a conscience. Don't waste time and effort
appealing to any sense of mercy or kindness.

12. Some people cannot be frightened or intimidated. Displaying a weapon
may well not solve and, in some cases, may exacerbate the problem. Be
prepared for this.

13. "Bullets don't work." Gene Zink, Former H&K Law Enforcement
Trainer. No hand-held firearm fires a guaranteed "one-shot-stop"
round. Anticipate needing follow-up shots.

14. Firearms don't work all the time and may well not work when you need
them most.

15. Carry only the biggest-caliber gun you can control.

16. Don't be overly concerned about caliber. No one wants to "leak" or
have holes put in him.

17. Carry a reload

18. Carry a second gun.

19. Be able to get to both handguns with either hand

20. Don't assume you can prevail in the conflict due to your superior
tactics and training. The predator only has to be lucky once. Avoiding
him is still the best defense.

21. The honest citizen pitted against a predator is an unequal contest.
The predator is a professional. Most honest citizens are amateurs.

22. No competition or training, no matter how well learned or practiced,
can equal hands-on experience.

23. Predators constantly validate their training with hands-on experience.

24. Getting hands-on experience can be fatal, but survivors learn their
lessons well!