On November 26th, 2025, two West Virginia National Guardsmen were ambushed in Washington DC by an Afghan National. 

The Afghan had a .357 Magnum Revolver, shot Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, took her weapon, continued shooting her, and then began shooting Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe. 

Hearing the gunfire, an unnamed National Guard Major saw what was happening. Armed with only a folding knife, he crept up behind the Afghan, and began stabbing him until other Guardsmen and Police came to help!

Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom was slain, and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was grievously wounded.

The incident underscores a deadly reality that far too many people would like to ignore. 

Criminals, Jihadists, and Narco-Terrorists are a danger to Soldiers, Police, and Civilians alike all over the United States. 

But what can an average joe or jane do in the face of this rising tide of at-home aggression?

ENTER THE ATTORNEY  

While training in Combat Sports and gaining a Concealed Carry Permit is a great response to protect yourself, it’s not enough.

You’ve got to know the ins and outs of Laws regulating Self-Defense in the United States. 

That way, you can stay on the right side of the Law while you save your life and the lives of others. 

One of the best resources I have ever read on this topic is Andrew F. Barca’s 2020 masterpiece,  The Law of Self-Defense Principles. 

Barca is an Attorney whose speciality is Law relating to Self-Defense, and he’s been an internationally-known player in the game for a long time. 

And in his book, he introduces a concept governing self-defense called the AOJ Triad.

THE AOJ TRIAD 

Originating with the work of the legendary Police and Civilian use-of-force instructor Massad Ayoob, Barca explains that:

“The AOJ Triad…stands for ability, opportunity, and jeopardy.”[1]

Let’s take a look at what each one means in turn, and learn how it can help you if you are ever faced with a situation like the one that ambushed our National Guard Heroes. 

But before we start, know that this article does not in any way, shape, or form constitute legal advice. That’s what an Attorney is for, not me. 

With that out of the way, let’s begin! 

ABILITY

Barca defines Abily  as “‘Is my attacker able to hurt me?’”[2] 

This consists of Military Age Males. 

This is because they have the baseline athletic ability to do damage to you with their body.[3]

And that baseline danger factor can be scaled up big time if they have a weapon…knife, blunt object, gun, what have you!

OPPORTUNITY

Barca defines Opportunity as “‘Can their attack get to me?’”[4]

Essentially, this means: how close are they to you? 

Barca further explains that this involves both “obstacles” and “distance”.[5] 

The bottom line is: the closer they are, and the less obstacles are in their way, the more of a problem that it’s gonna be. 

And if they are getting closer, this is a serious indicator that there might be a problem…

Especially if it is paired with the final category below…

JEOPOARDY

Barca defines Jeopardy as “when the person with ability and the opportunity conducts themselves in such a way that it reasonably appears they intend to use them against an innocent person (e.g. you).”[6]  

The key word here is “conduct”. 

And what kind of conduct are we looking for here? 

The answer is in two words: 

Body Language. 

That’s the conduct we are looking for. 

And what’s more, this is something you can learn in a fast, teachable checklist system. 

LEFT OF BANG 

This checklist system comes from Capt. Patrick Van Horne, USMC (ret.) and Maj. Jason A. Riley, USMCR’s 2014 book, Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps’ Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life. 

It was taught to US Marines and Soldiers in Iraq…over there, the Insurgents didn’t wear uniforms, so they had to learn how to read body language to separate the hostile Insurgents from the innocent civilians.

And it was this program that taught them how to do it!

The three big categories to watch out for on the checklist are: 

• Dominant…

• Confident…

• Interested…

These three categories together mean hostile! 

If they’re Body Language is Dominant and Confident, then they are showing that they possess Ability. And that makes them the Predator. 

And if their Body Language shows that they are Interested in you…

Well then that makes you the Prey! 

THE BIG PICTURE

It’s important to note the big picture here. 

To do that, notice that Ability is about particular beings and their capability.

Opportunity is about physical location proximate to you. 

And Jeopardy is about particular actions that display intent toward you. 

So the key categories are: 

• Capability 
• Physical Location
• Intent 

You can tell capability if they are an athletic Military Age Male.

You can judge physical location if they are getting closer to you. 

And you can read intent by their exhibited Body Language of Dominance, Confidence, and Interest in you. 

THE BOTTOM LINE  

When it comes down to it, the bottom line is this: 

• If they are Athletic Military Age Males, then they have Ability to hurt you… 

• If they are getting closer to you, then they have the Opportunity to hurt you… 

• And are they exhibiting Dominant, Confident, and Interested body language toward you, then you are in Jeopardy!

It’s about to be go-time! 

What to do then is the topic of a whole other article…many articles, in fact!

Until then, understand the danger so you know what to look for…

Train so you can survive…

And know the Law so you can stay on the right side of it!

Pulp Fiction Power to you, my friends!

Sincerely,

Richard Barrett

12-07-2025

Written at 5:51 PM, somewhere in the USA… 

Sources Cited

Image 1. 

[1] Barca, Andrew F. The Law of Self-Defense Principles. Castle Rock, CO: Andrew F. Barca, 2020. Pgs. 90, 91. 

[2] Ibid. Pg. 91.

[3] I explain the basis of athletic ability in the following articles:

Barrett, Richard. “ABCs or Hieroglyphics: Who’s Teaching You Movement Literacy in Combat Sports?” Pulp Fiction Renaissance.com. September 27, 2024. https://pulpfictionrenaissance.com/2024/09/27/abcs-or-hieroglyphics-whos-teaching-you-movement-literacy-in-combat-sports/.

Barrett, Richard. “Apollo Slaying the Serpent: The Secret to Patterning the Fight, Flight, and Freeze Responses for Combat Sports”. Pulp Fiction Renaissance.com. November 19, 2024. https://pulpfictionrenaissance.com/2024/11/19/apollo-slaying-the-serpent-the-secret-to-patterning-the-fight-flight-and-freeze-responses-for-combat-sports/.

I furthermore explain how weapons usage can be force multiplied from this athletic ability basis in Barrett, Richard. “Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Tactical Training Secrets of the Strongman Revealed!” Pulp Fiction Renaissance.com. January 9, 2025. https://pulpfictionrenaissance.com/2025/01/09/where-the-rubber-meets-the-road-tactical-training-secrets-of-the-strongman-revealed/.

This understanding of athletic ability basis and subsequent weapons use is to be further developed in future articles. 

[4] Barca, Andrew F. The Law of Self-Defense Principles. Castle Rock, CO: Andrew F. Barca, 2020.  Pg. 92. 

[5] Ibid. Pgs. 92-93, 94-96. 

[6] Ibid. Pgs. 102.