Greetings Sheepdogs,
Table of Sections:
Prevention
Intervention
Postvention
Education
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Prevention ***** ***** *****
All the things you can do to avoid the lethal force incident.
Table of contents:
Mindset
Safety
Training [Yes, training and practice will put you in a position that alleviates the need
Practice to use force, especially lethal force. That's why we train and practice.
That's why training and practice are in the Prevention section.]
*************************************************************************
----- Mindset (figuring out the correct way to think) -----
‷If you look at someone bigger, faster, and stronger and immediately think,
‶I'm at a disadvantage″,
I have news for you: you are.
But that's only because you just put yourself there for no reason.
The truth is that anyone can do debilitating violence to anyone else.
Your size, your speed, your strength, your gender --
all the factors that untrained people think make
the difference when it comes to violence --
all matter far less than your mindset and your intent.‴
-- Tim Larkin
Email from Stavroula MacQuarrie. In the context of what to do when returning
home to find that your home has been broken into. The respondent says (in a very
macho way) words to the effect that he would go in and clear them out of his home.
Stav responds politely with -- (assuming there is no one in the home that you
care about)
1) If someone broke into your home, you don't know how many there are. You
could be outnumbered.
2) You are going into an uncontrolled environment . . . you don't know WHERE
they are, and they could ambush you.
3) What is inside that is worth you risking your life? If you get seriously injured
or killed, how will that affect those who love you and are counting on you to stay
alive?
4) If you end up hurting or killing someone, how will that affect you mentally,
when you didn't HAVE to go into that environment (you could've called the police)?
5) What if someone mentally ill or with Alzheimer's / dementia got confused and
is now in your home? Are you prepared to assess the situation before using force?
6) If you don't HAVE to, you shouldn't.
:) Stay safe and make good decisions!!
-- Stavroula MacQuarrie
‟We don’t decide what is necessary to survive a
lethal force encounter initiated by someone else.
That person decides what’s necessary for us to survive.”
– William Aprill
"My late friend Dr. William Aprill often said “they are not you.”
Would you run over a bicyclist for no reason at all, video record it,
and then post it on social media? If you can’t comprehend the
depraved thought processes in these teen criminals’ brains, you
have no way to adequately prepare for such violence."
-- Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/weekend-knowledge-dump-september-22-2023
‟Fear is an instinct. Courage is a choice.”
-- Rear Admiral Joseph Kernan, USN
"The Apostle’s Advice!" by John Farnam
https://defense-training.com/the-apostles-advice/
“Willingness is a state of mind. Readiness is a statement of fact!”
-- Lt. Gen. David M Shoup, USMC Commandant, 1960-1963
***** Situational Awareness *****
President Theodore Roosevelt put it this way:
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing,
the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”
"Situational Awareness" by Chris Bird
http://privateerpublications.com/situational-awareness/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
“You need to have the capacity for danger. You need to be ‘dangerous’.
Yet, you need to learn how to not use it except when necessary.
And, that is not the same thing as being harmless. . . .
There's nothing virtuous about harmlessness.
Harmless just means you’re ineffectual and useless.”
-- Jordan Peterson
*************************************************************************
----- Safety ----- (How to prevent the bad thing from happening in the first place.
How to avoid shooting yourself, friendlies, and innocent bystanders.)
Jeff Cooper′s Rules of Gun Safety
RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED.
RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER
ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY.
[Especially innocent bystanders when transitioning between bad guys.]
RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER
UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET.
[Keep your trigger finger in the register position until you've decided to shoot.
Return your trigger finger to the register position when your sights come off
the target.]
RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET.
"Precious Foreknowledge to Recognize Threats" by Ron Borsch
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/precious-foreknowledge-to-recognize-threats
‟If violent crime is to be curbed, it is only the intended victim who can do it.
The felon does not fear the police, and he fears neither judge nor jury.
Therefore what he must fear is his victim.”
-- Col. Jeff Cooper, "Principles of Personal Defense"
"DC Police Department Recruits from Puerto Rico Amidst Staffing Crisis"
by Our Patriot
https://ourpatriot.com/dc-police-department-recruits-from-puerto-rico-amidst-staffing-crisis/
The result of "defund the police" programs in urban areas. When you lower
the pay (in a high cost of living area) and lower the standards to fill the ranks
with warm bodies, what do you think the result will be?
"Shocking video shows girl, 3, shooting herself while relative watches football"
by Yaron Steinbuch
https://nypost.com/2023/09/27/florida-girl-shot-herself-while-relative-watched-football/
There are a lot of people in this world who are not like us. The truth is that
we are an extremely small minority, far more law abiding than the police, far more
aware of our surroundings (that's why we never get into auto collisions), far more
aware of the laws and the politics that generate the laws. We would never leave a
pistol unattended. We would never be so obsessed with anything that we neglect
a 3 year old girl in our care.
“Communism is perpetually ‘just one murder short’ of utopia”
-- Solzhenitsyn
"New Normal!" by John Farnam
https://defense-training.com/new-normal/
“The hardest thing to explain is the glaringly evident,
which everybody has decided not to see.”
-- Ayn Rand
---
Evil hides in the dark as nameless faceless bureaucrats.
Trace evil back to its source and name it.
"Party for Socialism and Liberation"
https://pslweb.org/
You won't find a single name of any person on any of the web pages.
Compare that to real patriots whose writings are always signed.
As my mother would say, "If it's not signed, it's just graffito."
"Killing Our Students" by Clint Smith
https://americancop.com/killing-our-students/
"The “long game” of self defense" by Grant Cunningham
https://www.grantcunningham.com/2018/09/the-long-game-of-self-defense/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Never fire warning shots. There is no safe place to aim them. Firing warning shots
is illegal everywhere in the U.S. It expends your ammunition without effect. Police
and armed citizens will mistake you for the bad guy and shoot you. I could go on, but
you get the idea.
John Farnam's rules to keep you out of trouble:
Don’t go to stupid places.
Don’t associate with stupid people.
Don’t do stupid things.
Be in bed by 10:00 PM. (Your own bed!)
Don’t look like a freak.
Don’t fail the attitude test.
Because as Claude Werner says,
it's easier to stay out of trouble than the get out of trouble.
*************************************************************************
----- Training (figuring out the correct tasks to practice) -----
You need training because:
You don't know what you don't know.
Much of what you know is false.
It's good to the have the answers before the criminal tests you.
-- Claude Werner (paraphrased)
"5 Way To Train More Efficiently" by Frank Melloni
https://www.ssusa.org/content/5-way-to-train-more-efficiently/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
"Assets of CCW" by Clint Smith
https://gunsmagazine.com/discover/concealed-carry/assets-of-ccw/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifrtiz.
Excerpts:
"If you deploy smoothly — not fast — . . . " [Truth. Deep truth. -- Jon Low]
"Most of all take some consolation in the fact that being aware of your
environment and who is in it, as well as being trained and armed, will take
you a long way down the road of never having to use the skills you have
acquired."
--- Classes ---
Table of Sections:
Prevention
Intervention
Postvention
Education
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Prevention ***** ***** *****
All the things you can do to avoid the lethal force incident.
Table of contents:
Mindset
Safety
Training [Yes, training and practice will put you in a position that alleviates the need
Practice to use force, especially lethal force. That's why we train and practice.
That's why training and practice are in the Prevention section.]
*************************************************************************
----- Mindset (figuring out the correct way to think) -----
‷If you look at someone bigger, faster, and stronger and immediately think,
‶I'm at a disadvantage″,
I have news for you: you are.
But that's only because you just put yourself there for no reason.
The truth is that anyone can do debilitating violence to anyone else.
Your size, your speed, your strength, your gender --
all the factors that untrained people think make
the difference when it comes to violence --
all matter far less than your mindset and your intent.‴
-- Tim Larkin
Email from Stavroula MacQuarrie. In the context of what to do when returning
home to find that your home has been broken into. The respondent says (in a very
macho way) words to the effect that he would go in and clear them out of his home.
Stav responds politely with -- (assuming there is no one in the home that you
care about)
1) If someone broke into your home, you don't know how many there are. You
could be outnumbered.
2) You are going into an uncontrolled environment . . . you don't know WHERE
they are, and they could ambush you.
3) What is inside that is worth you risking your life? If you get seriously injured
or killed, how will that affect those who love you and are counting on you to stay
alive?
4) If you end up hurting or killing someone, how will that affect you mentally,
when you didn't HAVE to go into that environment (you could've called the police)?
5) What if someone mentally ill or with Alzheimer's / dementia got confused and
is now in your home? Are you prepared to assess the situation before using force?
6) If you don't HAVE to, you shouldn't.
:) Stay safe and make good decisions!!
-- Stavroula MacQuarrie
‟We don’t decide what is necessary to survive a
lethal force encounter initiated by someone else.
That person decides what’s necessary for us to survive.”
– William Aprill
"My late friend Dr. William Aprill often said “they are not you.”
Would you run over a bicyclist for no reason at all, video record it,
and then post it on social media? If you can’t comprehend the
depraved thought processes in these teen criminals’ brains, you
have no way to adequately prepare for such violence."
-- Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/weekend-knowledge-dump-september-22-2023
‟Fear is an instinct. Courage is a choice.”
-- Rear Admiral Joseph Kernan, USN
"The Apostle’s Advice!" by John Farnam
https://defense-training.com/the-apostles-advice/
“Willingness is a state of mind. Readiness is a statement of fact!”
-- Lt. Gen. David M Shoup, USMC Commandant, 1960-1963
***** Situational Awareness *****
President Theodore Roosevelt put it this way:
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing,
the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”
"Situational Awareness" by Chris Bird
http://privateerpublications.com/situational-awareness/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
“You need to have the capacity for danger. You need to be ‘dangerous’.
Yet, you need to learn how to not use it except when necessary.
And, that is not the same thing as being harmless. . . .
There's nothing virtuous about harmlessness.
Harmless just means you’re ineffectual and useless.”
-- Jordan Peterson
*************************************************************************
----- Safety ----- (How to prevent the bad thing from happening in the first place.
How to avoid shooting yourself, friendlies, and innocent bystanders.)
Jeff Cooper′s Rules of Gun Safety
RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED.
RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER
ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY.
[Especially innocent bystanders when transitioning between bad guys.]
RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER
UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET.
[Keep your trigger finger in the register position until you've decided to shoot.
Return your trigger finger to the register position when your sights come off
the target.]
RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET.
"Precious Foreknowledge to Recognize Threats" by Ron Borsch
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/precious-foreknowledge-to-recognize-threats
‟If violent crime is to be curbed, it is only the intended victim who can do it.
The felon does not fear the police, and he fears neither judge nor jury.
Therefore what he must fear is his victim.”
-- Col. Jeff Cooper, "Principles of Personal Defense"
"DC Police Department Recruits from Puerto Rico Amidst Staffing Crisis"
by Our Patriot
https://ourpatriot.com/dc-police-department-recruits-from-puerto-rico-amidst-staffing-crisis/
The result of "defund the police" programs in urban areas. When you lower
the pay (in a high cost of living area) and lower the standards to fill the ranks
with warm bodies, what do you think the result will be?
"Shocking video shows girl, 3, shooting herself while relative watches football"
by Yaron Steinbuch
https://nypost.com/2023/09/27/florida-girl-shot-herself-while-relative-watched-football/
There are a lot of people in this world who are not like us. The truth is that
we are an extremely small minority, far more law abiding than the police, far more
aware of our surroundings (that's why we never get into auto collisions), far more
aware of the laws and the politics that generate the laws. We would never leave a
pistol unattended. We would never be so obsessed with anything that we neglect
a 3 year old girl in our care.
“Communism is perpetually ‘just one murder short’ of utopia”
-- Solzhenitsyn
"New Normal!" by John Farnam
https://defense-training.com/new-normal/
“The hardest thing to explain is the glaringly evident,
which everybody has decided not to see.”
-- Ayn Rand
---
Evil hides in the dark as nameless faceless bureaucrats.
Trace evil back to its source and name it.
"Party for Socialism and Liberation"
https://pslweb.org/
You won't find a single name of any person on any of the web pages.
Compare that to real patriots whose writings are always signed.
As my mother would say, "If it's not signed, it's just graffito."
"Killing Our Students" by Clint Smith
https://americancop.com/killing-our-students/
"The “long game” of self defense" by Grant Cunningham
https://www.grantcunningham.com/2018/09/the-long-game-of-self-defense/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Never fire warning shots. There is no safe place to aim them. Firing warning shots
is illegal everywhere in the U.S. It expends your ammunition without effect. Police
and armed citizens will mistake you for the bad guy and shoot you. I could go on, but
you get the idea.
John Farnam's rules to keep you out of trouble:
Don’t go to stupid places.
Don’t associate with stupid people.
Don’t do stupid things.
Be in bed by 10:00 PM. (Your own bed!)
Don’t look like a freak.
Don’t fail the attitude test.
Because as Claude Werner says,
it's easier to stay out of trouble than the get out of trouble.
*************************************************************************
----- Training (figuring out the correct tasks to practice) -----
You need training because:
You don't know what you don't know.
Much of what you know is false.
It's good to the have the answers before the criminal tests you.
-- Claude Werner (paraphrased)
"5 Way To Train More Efficiently" by Frank Melloni
https://www.ssusa.org/content/5-way-to-train-more-efficiently/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
"Assets of CCW" by Clint Smith
https://gunsmagazine.com/discover/concealed-carry/assets-of-ccw/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifrtiz.
Excerpts:
"If you deploy smoothly — not fast — . . . " [Truth. Deep truth. -- Jon Low]
"Most of all take some consolation in the fact that being aware of your
environment and who is in it, as well as being trained and armed, will take
you a long way down the road of never having to use the skills you have
acquired."
--- Classes ---
Law of Self Defense ADVANCED Live Online Course
Saturday, October 7, 2023
9AM-4PM Mountain time
https://lawofselfdefense.com/live-online-class-221001f/
After Action Report on the 2023 Guardian Conference in Oklahoma City, OK.
During this conference, there were lots of equipment malfunctions. Often it was
due to people not cleaning their pistols, or not lubricating their pistols. We also
saw malfunctions due to weak magazine springs, improperly installed after-market
trigger groups, and bringing a SIRT pistol to the line for a live fire exercise.
Ya, I know a lot of what I'm going to write will not make sense. Because
I don't have the space or inclination to explain the context. But it was very
cogent during the class. If you find my teasing interesting, you should take
the class. If you have questions, write to me and I will try to answer.
---
"Handgun Performance" by AJ Zito
https://www.practicalperformance.org/
With regards to the "surprise trigger break" as taught by Jeff Cooper --
AJ says it's not that the gun firing surprises you, it's that you don't care when
it fires. (Not caring about something is very difficult. Training to not care
is very difficult.) AJ is a deep thinker. I often had difficulty following the
nuanced trains of logic.
If you want to adjust your iron sights without machining the metal yourself,
buy sights from Dawson Precision.
https://dawsonprecision.com/
You can get any height front sight and any width rear sight notch you like.
AJ advocated a target focus with iron sights, with an awareness of the iron
sights (as opposed to a hard focus on the front sight).
Unlock your elbows when shooting to use your arms to absorb recoil
(as opposed to using your torso to absorb recoil).
Less pressure in your grip. (as opposed to those who advocate maximum
pressure in your grip, and grip exercises to increase your grip strength).
Shoulders down, elbows bent, allows you to shoot with less effort.
A lot of the lecture was to get you to shoot with less mental / psychological
effort. Less concentration on shooting to allow concentration on solving
tactical problems.
Structural analysis and practice should start with the gun and work through
the body to the ground, as opposed to starting with the feet and work through
the body to the gun.
Stance and breathing don't matter. So don't teach them. Don't pay attention
to them.
Structure over stance. Structure is determined by the upper torso to the gun.
Lower torso to the feet don't matter.
Shot calling is where you saw your dot or front sight lift from at ignition,
not where you guess the point of impact is. [Deep absolute truth! -- Jon Low]
Grip, call shot, do less work.
---
"Interactive Trigger Management" by Wayne Dobbs
https://waynedobbs.wordpress.com/
Grip is primary. The grip aligns the gun for you, not your sights. The sights
are used to refine the alignment.
Trigger. There are three trigger presses that you must master.
Crash, fast smooth trigger press used when the assailant is in touching distance.
Roll, careful smooth trigger press used when the assailant is out of touching distance.
Prep and press, take out the slack and then smoothly press trigger, used when the
distance is great or when the target is small or when the risk is high (hostage rescue).
Follow through. Watch the sights. You don't need to hard focus on them,
just be aware of where they go. Make sure to see the second sight picture on
the target after each shot. You should be resetting the trigger during the follow
through (as opposed to trapping the trigger to the rear and resetting after you
get the second sigh picture, a different follow through protocol).
Your reaction is to the report (the loud BANG!), not so much to the recoil.
Because pistols just don't recoil that much. Especially not the 9mm's that
everyone seems to be using.
Grip, aim, trigger, shoot, reset. These are stacked tasks. They may be learned
individually. But eventually, you need to practice them together, not as isolated
tasks. (Similarly for all of your training. Learn individually, then stack.)
Rear sight should be black and have a serrated surface to eliminate glare.
See the tip of the front sight. If necessary, paint a bright line of the top edge
of the front sight post.
Recency of practice is essential.
Isolate the trigger from the grip.
Support thumb on side of pistol.
If you are right-handed and grip with only your right hand,
your pistol will have a left bias. The left thumb supplies the force to counter this bias.
If you are left-handed and grip with only your left hand,
your pistol will have a right bias. The right thumb supplies the force to counter this bias.
Grip control is more important than trigger control. A proper grip will prevent
bad trigger control from throwing your shot off target. But good trigger control
will not compensate for a bad grip.
Training leads to skill. (Meaning expert training. Some people think they
can learn on their own or teach themselves. Not true.)
[ For instance, what is the secret of recurve archery ⟨ Olympic style archery⟩?
(Ya, I know modern Olympic Archery has been bastardized with the addition
of compound bows. But the rules for compound bows makes them effectively
trigger controlled projectile tools, identical in practice to firearms.)
Answer: continuous backward movement of the arrow relative to the riser until
release. The movement might be imperceptibly slow, but it is always backwards,
never stopped, never forward. The release is triggered by the clicker, which
ensures uniformity of draw length at release. The clicker is triggered by the
squeezing together of the scapulae (shoulder blades) using specific muscles,
Saturday, October 7, 2023
9AM-4PM Mountain time
https://lawofselfdefense.com/live-online-class-221001f/
After Action Report on the 2023 Guardian Conference in Oklahoma City, OK.
During this conference, there were lots of equipment malfunctions. Often it was
due to people not cleaning their pistols, or not lubricating their pistols. We also
saw malfunctions due to weak magazine springs, improperly installed after-market
trigger groups, and bringing a SIRT pistol to the line for a live fire exercise.
Ya, I know a lot of what I'm going to write will not make sense. Because
I don't have the space or inclination to explain the context. But it was very
cogent during the class. If you find my teasing interesting, you should take
the class. If you have questions, write to me and I will try to answer.
---
"Handgun Performance" by AJ Zito
https://www.practicalperformance.org/
With regards to the "surprise trigger break" as taught by Jeff Cooper --
AJ says it's not that the gun firing surprises you, it's that you don't care when
it fires. (Not caring about something is very difficult. Training to not care
is very difficult.) AJ is a deep thinker. I often had difficulty following the
nuanced trains of logic.
If you want to adjust your iron sights without machining the metal yourself,
buy sights from Dawson Precision.
https://dawsonprecision.com/
You can get any height front sight and any width rear sight notch you like.
AJ advocated a target focus with iron sights, with an awareness of the iron
sights (as opposed to a hard focus on the front sight).
Unlock your elbows when shooting to use your arms to absorb recoil
(as opposed to using your torso to absorb recoil).
Less pressure in your grip. (as opposed to those who advocate maximum
pressure in your grip, and grip exercises to increase your grip strength).
Shoulders down, elbows bent, allows you to shoot with less effort.
A lot of the lecture was to get you to shoot with less mental / psychological
effort. Less concentration on shooting to allow concentration on solving
tactical problems.
Structural analysis and practice should start with the gun and work through
the body to the ground, as opposed to starting with the feet and work through
the body to the gun.
Stance and breathing don't matter. So don't teach them. Don't pay attention
to them.
Structure over stance. Structure is determined by the upper torso to the gun.
Lower torso to the feet don't matter.
Shot calling is where you saw your dot or front sight lift from at ignition,
not where you guess the point of impact is. [Deep absolute truth! -- Jon Low]
Grip, call shot, do less work.
---
"Interactive Trigger Management" by Wayne Dobbs
https://waynedobbs.wordpress.com/
Grip is primary. The grip aligns the gun for you, not your sights. The sights
are used to refine the alignment.
Trigger. There are three trigger presses that you must master.
Crash, fast smooth trigger press used when the assailant is in touching distance.
Roll, careful smooth trigger press used when the assailant is out of touching distance.
Prep and press, take out the slack and then smoothly press trigger, used when the
distance is great or when the target is small or when the risk is high (hostage rescue).
Follow through. Watch the sights. You don't need to hard focus on them,
just be aware of where they go. Make sure to see the second sight picture on
the target after each shot. You should be resetting the trigger during the follow
through (as opposed to trapping the trigger to the rear and resetting after you
get the second sigh picture, a different follow through protocol).
Your reaction is to the report (the loud BANG!), not so much to the recoil.
Because pistols just don't recoil that much. Especially not the 9mm's that
everyone seems to be using.
Grip, aim, trigger, shoot, reset. These are stacked tasks. They may be learned
individually. But eventually, you need to practice them together, not as isolated
tasks. (Similarly for all of your training. Learn individually, then stack.)
Rear sight should be black and have a serrated surface to eliminate glare.
See the tip of the front sight. If necessary, paint a bright line of the top edge
of the front sight post.
Recency of practice is essential.
Isolate the trigger from the grip.
Support thumb on side of pistol.
If you are right-handed and grip with only your right hand,
your pistol will have a left bias. The left thumb supplies the force to counter this bias.
If you are left-handed and grip with only your left hand,
your pistol will have a right bias. The right thumb supplies the force to counter this bias.
Grip control is more important than trigger control. A proper grip will prevent
bad trigger control from throwing your shot off target. But good trigger control
will not compensate for a bad grip.
Training leads to skill. (Meaning expert training. Some people think they
can learn on their own or teach themselves. Not true.)
[ For instance, what is the secret of recurve archery ⟨ Olympic style archery⟩?
(Ya, I know modern Olympic Archery has been bastardized with the addition
of compound bows. But the rules for compound bows makes them effectively
trigger controlled projectile tools, identical in practice to firearms.)
Answer: continuous backward movement of the arrow relative to the riser until
release. The movement might be imperceptibly slow, but it is always backwards,
never stopped, never forward. The release is triggered by the clicker, which
ensures uniformity of draw length at release. The clicker is triggered by the
squeezing together of the scapulae (shoulder blades) using specific muscles,
lats (latissimus dorsi muscles), between the shoulder blades.
Is it possible to discover that without expert training? How?
]
Eliminate inefficiencies. That's how you get speed. Not by pushing yourself
to go faster. Not by rushing. [We were doing drills on the firing line one at a time
so that we could watch each other and learn by watching. Wayne says, "Was he
fast or slow?" Just about everyone said slow. "Yes, it looked very slow. But this
was the time (reading the timer to us)." The time was very short. "Why did it
look slow? Because he (the student) was efficient. So he wasn't snapping his
muscles to move fast. He wasn't rushing. He felt he was moving slowly."
Highly competent practitioners make the task look easy. Efficient practitioners
make the task look slow. (I am paraphrasing from memory.)]
Repetitions will cause myelination of the neural pathways, regardless of the
quality of the repetition. So strive for perfection in every repetition.
Larry Mudget's interactive trigger drills from 1985 --
(First, make sure pistols are zeroed.) [The following are from my memory.
Wayne sent me the drills via email, but they were a little different from what
we did. Which is always the case. The instructor has to adapt to his students.]
1. Instructor presses the trigger. Live fire, at 10 yards, sights on target.
Instructor has one hand behind the shooter's firing side shoulder to balance
the force of pressing the trigger, or the instructor has his index finger
between the shooter's hands to balance the force of pressing the trigger.
2. Instructor presses the student's finger. Dry fire, at 10 yards. Instructor's
finger is on top of student's finger. Slack out, press, reset on recoil.
The student is just along for the ride.
3. Instructor presses the student's finger. Live fire, at 10 yards. Slack out,
press, and reset. 5 shot group.
4. Quality control test. Live fire. Instructor's little finger on student's
trigger. Student's index finger on to of instructor's finger. 5 shot group.
5. 12 yards. Live fire. First round inserted into magazine is live, followed
by randomly mixed dummy rounds and one live round. Start with an empty
chamber. Instructor or partner watches. On a shot where startle response
is detected (pistol dips), remove magazine and execute 5 perfect presses,
then continue the drill.
6. Load 5 live rounds and then fill with dummies. At speed. Work out
the press.
7. 8 inch plate rack at 50 yards. Slack out and press.
---
Handheld & Weapon Light Manipulations" by Erick Gelhaus
https://cougarmountainsolutions.com/
Weapon mounted lights (WML) are essential on shotguns and rifles, because you
don't have a free hand to manipulate the hand held flashlight.
Walk around at night. Notice the street lights. What can you see. Do you need
a flashlight? If the bad guy has enough light to mug you, you have enough light to
positively identify him, and if necessary shoot him. So you don't need a light for
self-defense.
You must have a light! It must be bright enough to blind the bad guy. If you can
blind him, you disrupt his plan. Then you might not have to shoot him. The light
should be white. Press on, release off. Anything more complicated than that is
wrong. The modern LED lights give a blueish tint. The older incandescent lights
give a yellowish tint. The LED lights don't make shadows (you need the context
to understand that statement. You need to take the class to understand the
context.) Yellow incandescent light is better for penetrating fog and smoke.
There are 4 light conditions:
Day time.
Full darkness. Night time with no moon, no stars, overcast outdoors, or indoors.
Dusk and dawn.
Night with light.
You only need a flashlight in full darkness.
20/20 is normal vision. 20/200 is legally blind. 20/400 is how you probably see
in low light conditions.
Your eyes have a dead spot where the optic nerve connects to your eyeball.
Find your blind spot for each eye. You must know where they are. Blind spots
are places where you don't now you can't see. Once you know where the blind
spot is, you will automatically compensate for it, and you will no longer have a
blind spot.
In the center of your field of vision, you have cones. They give you color
vision. They require normal light.
Off center in your field of vision, you have rods. They give you black and
white vision. They operate in low light conditions. So if you look directly
at something, you might not be able to see it in low light conditions. So,
look to the side of the object, and you will see it. Pay attention to what is not
in the center of your field of vision in low light conditions.
Head lamps are good for meals. They are hands free. (One of the students
[LEO] in the class commented that he does not carry his blue [ultra violent]
light with him, as he is always tempted to view the hotel sheets, and he would
rather not know.) Blue light will turn blood black. Green light is easier to
see. If you're going to wear gloves, they should be blue so blood will show
up on them.
Lumens 1200. To light up a room.
Candela 60,000. To see that thing 100 yards away.
Lux.
Where should you hold your light?
FBI technique, 46% get hit when the bad guy shoots at them.
Harries technique, 67% get hit when the bad guy shoots at them.
Temple or cheek index, 71% get hit when the bad guy shoots at them.
You might want to use the FBI technique so you can see behind a fence or a wall.
The shadow behind such objects is a hiding place for bad guys.
---
"Extreme Precision Pistol for the Guardian Citizen" by Kaery Dudenhofer
https://www.kaeryconcealed.com/
Your precision shooting should not be slow. It should be deliberate.
Where do criminals get their guns? From people who leave their guns in their
cars to be stolen by criminals. Or from other criminals who had stolen the gun
from a car.
Sight alignment. If you look carefully, you will see the front sight moving
in the rear sight notch. [In a manner akin to a strange attractor. -- Jon Low]
[Some people don't see this. They are not looking closely enough. -- Jon Low]
When it moves away from center, it moves back toward center. The front sight
never moves off into never never land. You don't have to concentrate on
moving the front sight to the center of the notch. You will do it automatically.
Trust yourself to do it. Don't worry about it.
Sight movie. Not sight picture, because humans wobble. The only way
to avoid the wobble is a machine rest. Here again, the sights will not wobble
out to infinity. They will always automatically correct and attempt to move
toward the center of your intended target. Know that that will always happen
and don't worry about it. [Another strange attractor. -- Jon Low]
[Some people don't see this. They are not looking closely enough. -- Jon Low]
Just let the sights wobble around. (With practice the wobble will decrease,
but it will always be there.)
"Watch it to keep it." "It" refers to the sight alignment and sight movie.
You don't have to force it. You don't have to exert any effort to achieve it.
Just "Watch it to keep it."
What is your flinch? It is you bracing for impact. Can't avoid it. Can't
train yourself not to do it. Only way to avoid it is to be dead. Our training is
to not let it bother you.
This is a startle response. As women get older, their startle response
increases. As men get older, their startle response decreases.
There was a wonderful experiment that Kaery had us perform. Get a piece
of lined paper. Write your signature (as you would to sign a legal document).
Now, in cursive, write your signature correctly on the lined paper. As if you
were in elementary school penmanship class. Touch the lines, but do not cross them.
If you do not touch the line, you fail. Try again. If you cross the line, you fail.
Try again. No one was able to do it. Kaery told us that the fastest she has ever
seen anyone accomplish the task is 45 minutes. Some people took days to do
it.
Writing your signature as you normally do is how you normally shoot.
Writing your signature perfectly is how you shoot with precision. You must
DECIDE to do it. Then you must do it. Which takes a great deal of
CONCENTRATION. It is exhausting. It's frustrating.
[The reason a lot of hostage shots are not taken is because the good guy lacks
the confidence to take the shot. Having the skill to make the shot, gives you
the confidence to take the shot. -- Jon Low]
"Bridge of decision." Decide to concentrate. Control.
Automatic motor program. Once started, nearly impossible to stop or
modify until finished. It takes about ¼ of a second to react to an unknown stimulus.
This is much more time than events occur in a combat situation. So your inability
to change or stop an automatic motor program is a real problem in combat.
Precision motor program. Can be stopped and corrected at any time.
Precision motor programs are not necessarily slower than automatic motor programs.
The shots are not slow. The shots are deliberate.
It takes about 60 pounds of grip strength to handle the 9mm cartridge.
Average woman has 37 lbs. of grip strength. The average man has 90 to 180
lbs. of grip strength. [I, Jon Low, have 85 lbs. in my right hand and 80 in
my left hand. (Yes, there are pickle jars that I have not been able to open.)
-- Jon Low]
"Keep pressing. Keep pressing. Keep pressing. Keep pressing. . . . "
Say it out loud to keep focus and concentration.
"Keep pressing." Rhythm, out loud.
Your subconscious mind can process 40 million bits of information per second.
Your conscious mind can process 12 bits of information per second. But probably
is only processes 7±2 bits of information per second. [A bit of information is
defined as the amount of information that allows you to make a decision between
two options. Yes, I have studied Information Theory and occasionally read the
IEEE Journal on Information Theory. -- Jon Low]
Choose to perform the shot processes perfectly or not at all. If you are
satisfied with an imperfect shot, you will get an imperfect shot (and kill the
hostage). You will also be teaching yourself to accept imperfect shots.
So, better to stop, and start the shot process over from the beginning.
[That is what shooters at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO
are taught, in riflery, archery, and pistol. I know because I have taken coaching
classes and have helped with the training of resident athletes. -- Jon Low]
"Every shot is a one round drill."
Precision shooting for the hostage rescue shot or the small target or the
distant target is part of combat shooting. But very different from close quarter
combat shooting. So you have to think to know when to use it. You must be
able to shift gears mentally to use it. You cannot shoot a precision shot the way
you would shoot a robber at arms length at the gas station.
[This class was a deep dive into psychology. Having studied psychology in
college, it all made sense to me and was believable. The instructor was often
concerned that her students would not believe what she was saying. Which I
understand, because much of popular culture conflicts with science. When
media idiots scream, "Follow the science!", what they mean is "Believe what
the elites are saying.", which conflicts with real science.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, for instance, is not a scientist. He is a politician.
-- Jon Low]
---
"Rule 4 Defensive Pistol" by Wayne Dobbs (who is left handed)
Wayne told me, "You're not going to like this, but you need to dump that
45 [ACP] and get a 9mm that you can shoot accurately." This was because
he felt that I was not handling the recoil adequately. Which was true.
The gentleman to the right of me on the firing line was huge and muscular.
He was shooting a 9mm in his full police gear. He smiled and nodded at me,
and tilted his head toward our targets. He was indicating that by switching to
a 9mm he had greatly improved accuracy.
Be sure of your target, surroundings, back stop, and what may come between
you and your target.
Where will you be attacked? Wal Mart parking lot. Gas station. Home.
Street. Alley way. Parking lots. There will be people in the surroundings.
Opaque down range hazard. There is an innocent bystander behind the dry
wall. There is an innocent bystander in the dressing room behind the bad guy.
Many situations have no back stop. So you must insure that bad guy acts as
the back stop. Otherwise, your bullet will travel miles down range searching
for a target.
You will run out of time. You probably won't run out of ammo. Missing
is your problem. If you hit, you will win.
How is your NASCAR training going to help your driving in rush hour
traffic? Make sure your training is appropriate to your mission.
The triangle is not Speed, Accuracy, Power. The triangle is Speed, Accuracy,
Assessment. (Power, you can't control in real time. Your cartridge is what it is.)
Assessment is the thinking; whether or not to shoot, where to move, etc.
How do you immediately stop the attack? Central nervous system (brain,
spinal column) hit. Blood pressure, aortic arch hit, not the heart in general.
People have survived getting shot in the heart. People have continued fighting
after getting shot in the heart. (The aortic arch is immediately above the heart.)
Training. Strive to improve efficiency, by eliminating inefficiencies.
Skill is biological. Repetition causes myelination of neural pathways.
Your biological brain can't tell the difference between quality repetitions
and garbage repetitions. They both get myelinated.
In the firearms training industry there are 7 or more shooting fundamentals.
Only 3 are important:
Grip.
Trigger control.
Follow through.
"If the cops show up. Leave."
"Grip, aim, trigger, reset (follow through)" (The aiming will happen
automatically and will proceed as appropriate for the target.)
---
"Ready Positions & Better Outcomes" by Erick Gelhaus (who is left handed)
Law enforcement officers point guns at suspects all the time for good reason.
We only point our pistols at bad guys when we have made the decision to shoot
the bad guy. We never threaten or attempt to intimidate. We are stopping the
threat immediately.
In ready positions, strive for resilience. You should not be pointing at meat
in your ready position.
Expect defiant behavior from the bad guy. He's been shot many times before.
You don't scare him. He's going to take your pistol and shove it up your ass.
Your reaction time to an unknown stimulus is 0.35 to 0.45 seconds. [If you're
old like me and have had a nerve conduction test recently, you might be double
that, as I am. -- Jon Low]
The mechanical limit of your semi-auto pistol is around 0.2 second split times.
That's 6 rounds per second. Can you shoot that fast accurately? If so, you are
shooting faster than you can think. Faster than you can react to a changing situation.
The bad guy turns. The bad guy drops his gun. The bad guy put his hands up to
surrender. You may have shot him 2 or 3 times after his action. If you're a dumb
ass, you may have emptied your magazine into his back as he was running away.
How is the jury going to view that?
Your low ready position should allow you to see the ground in front of you.
The lower your ready position the more of the bad guy you can see. If you
think it takes too much time to come up from a lower ready position, you are
wrong. We did an experiment to confirm this to ourselves.
IPSC is training you to shoot excessively.
---
"Never Let / Be Sure - Practical Application of Rules #2 & #4" by Erick Gelhaus
I mushed together my notes from this class with the previous class above.
I'm only writing excerpts from my notes.
---
"Square Dancing in a Minefield: The Anatomy of a Self-Defense Prosecution"
by Don West, Shawn Vincent, and Jennifer Chance
https://donwestlaw.com/
The police did not arrest Zimmerman because it was obviously self-defense.
The prosecuting attorney for the jurisdiction would not prosecute Zimmerman
because all evidence was consistent with self-defense. So the then-Governor
Rick Scott (Richard Lynn Scott), a Republican, appointed another prosecutor
from another district to railroad Zimmerman. So U.S. Senator Rick Scott is
responsible for the false prosecution of Zimmerman. [It's important to trace evil
to its source and name it. -- Jon Low] Zimmerman was arrested 45 days after
the incident.
Don West said the Zimmerman defense case cost more than $2 million.
George Zimmerman did not have that kind of money, so Zimmerman did not
pay all of the legal expenses, and in fact still owes West quite a bit. West
would not say who paid. But did mention that the legal team, including many
experts, donated some of their time.
The multitude of examples they gave us of prosecutorial misconduct during
the Zimmerman case was astounding.
The defense could not get DNA evidence off of Trayvon Martin's clothes
because the "forensic scientists" put the clothes in plastic bags, causing mold
and mildew to grow, and destroy the evidence. Any competent forensic scientist
would have put the clothes into paper bags.
The prosecution refused to turn over the original picture that the police had
taken of Zimmerman at the scene of the incident, because it clearly showed
blood and a broken nose. The defense team of attorneys had to fight to get the
original picture and then had to fight to enter it into evidence. The picture that
the prosecution initially gave the defense (and entered into evidence) was
doctored to the point that no blood is visible and no broken nose is apparent.
One usually thinks that the prosecution has effectively unlimited resources
and so can crush the defendant. But West was so aggressive that at one point
the prosecutors were complaining to the judge, "But your honor, we have other
cases."
Don West went over the criminal justice sequence of events:
1. 911 call.
2. Responding officer.
3. Investigating officer, detective. (Never talk to this guy.)
4. Bail hearing. (You might not be able to get out on bail.)
5. Charging decision. (What are you being charged with?)
6. Grand jury. (Indicted or no bill. Even if not indicted, the prosecutor can sign
an information and prosecute you anyway.)
7. Arraignment. (Plead not guilty. If you plead guilty, you are convicted and go to prison.)
8. Schedule for trial. (Has to fit everyone's schedule. Not yours, everyone else.)
9. Investigation. (Could take 2 years. If you demand a speedy trial, as is your
Constitutional right, you're a dumb ass. Give your defense team time to win
for you. Expert witness reports, depositions, etc. take time. Ya, sitting in jail is a bitch,
but living in prison for the rest of your life is much worse.)
10. Discovery. The prosecution must turn over copies of all evidence to the defense.
Gross prosecutorial misconduct in the Zimmerman case. You can expect the prosecution
to withhold exculpatory evidence. Your defense team will have to fight to get the
evidence.
11. Motion practice. (The pretrial motions are fought. What evidence will be allowed
at trial, what won't. What arguments will be allowed, which won't. What legal theories
will be allowed, which won't.) If your state has pretrial self-defense immunity hearings,
you might ask for one if your legal team thinks it's a good idea. It might not be. This
business is very complicated. [You will be offered a plea deal to confess to committing
a crime in order to avoid a long prison sentence. Remember, lying is a sin. In the end,
you will have to explain your actions to God. Death Before Dishonor!
I'm not a hypocrite. I have never accepted a plea deal on either my state (New Jersey)
or my federal charges. -- Jon Low]
12. Jury selection. Which is a misnomer, because you don't get to select your jury.
You might be able to dismiss a juror for cause, if you have the money for private
investigators to research the background of the jurors. You might be able to dismiss
a juror without cause, because you know something about the juror, but don't have
any evidence that you can present in court.
13. The prosecution presents their case first.
14. The defense moves for dismissal because the prosecution failed to make a
prima facie case. The motion is almost always denied. But must be made anyway.
You're always thinking about what you need to preserve in the record for appeal.
15. The defense presents their case. Where the defendant usually testifies. Bad guys
never testify. But this is a good guy self-defense case, which is very different. Only
the defendant can testify as to what he was thinking.
16. The defense moves for dismissal because they have overcome the prosecution's
case.
17. The judge almost always denies the motion. But it must be made anyway.
You're always thinking about what you need to preserve in the record for appeal.
18. Charge conference. The charges are fought about.
19. Jury instructions. Jury instructions are fought about.
20. Closing arguments. The prosecution goes first. The defense gives their closing
arguments. The prosecution gets a rebuttal.
21. The case goes to the jury. They deliberate. If they get a unanimous decision,
they report out a verdict.
Verdict, guilty or not guilty, must be unanimous. Usually 12 persons.
In Florida it is 6 persons. If not unanimous, the judge will declare a mistrial and you
start over from scratch. Including all court costs. So this is very expensive. But not as
bad as getting convicted. The jury must be convinced of your guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt, which is a very high standard.
22. If acquitted, the defendant is free to go home. The prosecution cannot appeal,
because that would be double jeopardy, which is unconstitutional.
23. If no unanimous verdict, the judge declares a mistrial, and the prosecution
decides if they will try the case again. The second time around, the defendant
will have no resources, so it will be much easier to get a conviction.
24. If convicted, sentencing hearing.
25. Appeal. (while you are in prison) If there is anything to appeal on. Rarely is
anything won on appeal. At best the trial court is ordered to rehear the case.
But you already spent all of your money on the first trial.
---
"Rule 1 Guns and Gear" by
Bryan Eastridge
https://edcbeltco.com/
and Chuck Haggard
https://agiletactical.com/
A deep dive into pocket guns, pocket holsters, ankle holsters, minimalist
belt holsters, with live fire demonstrations (as in the students fired the various
pistols and revolvers using the instructor's ammo). Some .22 caliber revolvers
have recessed chambers allowing for safe dry fire. Some don't, in which case
dry fire will result in the firing pin hitting the chamber face, resulting in broken
firing pins and marred chamber faces.
People buy small guns to carry, but practice with full size guns. Not a smart
thing to do.
Hammerless revolvers is a good idea.
You will be attacked at a watering hole (gas station, grocery store, etc.). The
predator will be looking for the disabled (slow walk, limp, overloaded with
groceries, overloaded with children, etc.).
Consider using the same handgun in various holsters. On your hip when you're
walking around. On your ankle when you seated, as when driving your car. Under
your arm pit when at work in a coat and tie. In your pocket, in a pocket holster,
when in shorts at the beach. Etc.
---
One of the instructors (I can't remember who, dementia progressing) at the
Guardian Conference demonstrated how if the sun is at the right angle, you can
get 2 red dots in your window. Not a reflection of the sun or anything like that.
I don't understand the physics / optics. But it's a real effect. I saw it. I don't
know if it's an artifact of the make or model. He demonstrated it on a Trijicon
and a Holosun. I don't have any red dots on my pistols, so I was not able to
replicate the experiment at home.
Sep 30 TN/GA/AL Training Group, Harris Combative Strategies (Randy Harris)
$87.21
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sep-30-tngaal-training-group-tickets-722026720357
Saturday, September 30 · 9am - 3pm CDT
763 County Road 332 Pisgah, AL 35765
--- End of Classes ---
“Take training from different instructors.
We are all wrong about something.”
-- John Farnam
“The secret of success is this.
Train like it means everything when it means nothing –
so you can fight like it means nothing when it means everything.”
-- Lofty Wiseman
I'm coaching a 10th grade girl from Harpeth Hall high school in air pistol shooting.
The coach of the rifle team at her school referred her to me because they do not have
a pistol team. So, I thought to share what I am teaching her with you all.
Don't worry about sight alignment. Don't worry about sight movie.
(Sight picture is a misnomer. A picture is static. Your sights and the
target are never static. It's always moving around, your wobble. The
only way to eliminate wobble is to fix the pistol in a machine rest or
to be dead. A moving picture is a movie.) They will take care of
themselves automatically with practice. Ask me to explain when next
we see each other. "Just watch it (sight alignment and sight movie)
to keep it."
"Just watch it to keep it."
Remind me to go over the breathing exercises with you. 4 second
inhale, 4 second hold, 4 second exhale, 4 seconds at the respiratory
pause (between exhale and inhale). Repeat as necessary to lower pulse
rate, blood pressure, improve judgment and such.
Never hold your breath for more than 7 seconds. The partial pressure
of oxygen in your blood stream will decrease causing loss of fine vision
acuity. You'll never notice it at a conscious level, but it's real.
With practice, you will release your shot during the respiratory pause
between your exhale and inhale. With dedicated practice, you will
release your shot between heart beats. This will happen automatically
with practice. You don't have to train to do this. The U.S. Army
Marksmanship Training Unit at Fort Benning, GA did the experiments
and verified this back in the 1970's. [The Department of Defense may
change the names of bases to be politically correct, but I will continue
to call them by their original names.]
When you stretch, don't bounce. Bouncing causes micro tears in
your muscles. Slow smooth steady pressure, increasing the stretch
on your exhale.
Check your tooth paste for ingredients. If there are any artificial
sweeteners, STOP using it. Get a toothpaste that does not have
artificial sweeteners. The FAA sent out a warning to all pilots telling
them not to drink artificial sweeteners because it causes all kinds of
vision problems. The pilots were not seeing passing aircraft and such.
Coach Ray Harvey will explain this to you.
Coach Harvey called Connie Petracek (who shot pistol in a couple
of Olympic games) who lives here in Nashville to come and observe
you. She might come to a dry practice at your home. Or, she might
observe you without you knowing, so as not to prejudice the observation.
Cheers,
Coach Low
"Those motivated by a desire to improve their
gunfighting skills as opposed to a quest for trophies,
must be willing to bleed ego on the match results
to avoid shedding blood in combat."
-- Andy Stanford
Justin Dyal. I couldn't find his web site. He does have an Instagram.com page at
https://www.instagram.com/dialed_in_training/
He writes articles for various magazines and does guest appearances on various
pod casts.
"Dialed in Training | Higher Line Podcast #143" by CarryTrainer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA4GnSeNHDo
"The MSP Podcast #45: Justin Dyal of Dialed In Training" by Modern Samurai Project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qkiK-ZWZzc
There was an article on him at Pistol-Training.com
https://pistol-training.com/dialed-in-training/
But the article did not give his contact information.
He has been highly recommended to me. If you know how to find his schedule
of classes or what the address of his web site is, please let me know.
I was at a church security conference a few months ago. An instructor was giving
us a lecture on how important it was for us to charge in to immediately stop the attack,
as opposed to taking cover and waiting for back up. He gave us an example where a
police officer encountered a bad guy armed with an Uzi submachinegun. The officers
statement afterwards was to the effect, I was out gunned so I took cover and waited
for back up. Lots of people died.
I was thinking about an Uzi vs. a standard issued service pistol. Both were 9mm.
In a class at the Guardian Conference, we were taught that our semi-auto pistols
had a mechanical limit of 0.2 second split times. That's 5 rounds per second. That's
300 rounds per minute. The Uzi's rate of fire is listed in the literature as
Cyclic rate of fire: 600 rpm (which is completely uncontrollable)
Practical rate of fire: 40 – 120 rpm
But in reality it's 300 rounds per minute. That's why it is possible to modulate the
trigger, shooting single rounds, 2 round bursts, 3 round bursts, etc. [Ya, I know,
cause I've done it.]
The police officer's pistol's barrel was longer than the barrel of the Uzi.
So the police officer was not out gunned. He just thought he was out gunned.
Or he was a coward and didn't want to confront the bad guy.
‟Training is NOT an event, but a process.
Training is the preparation FOR practice.”
-- Claude Werner
*************************************************************************
----- Practice (how to get competent at that task) -----
“Train, Practice, Compete
are the key elements in the development of humans.”
-- John M. Buol, Jr.
"I’m Almost Out!: Low-Round-Count Training" by Dick Jones
https://gundigest.com/more/how-to/firearm-training/low-round-count
Excerpt:
"While the use of the support hand in a defensive encounter is relatively low,
this part of the drill generally surprises shooters when they shoot almost as fast
and—sometimes—more accurately with their support hand."
[Deep truth! Do you understand why?
Using the other hemisphere of the brain to shoot.
Aiming with the other eye. Etc.
"Your left and right sides are sisters. They are not twins." -- Yogini Kristen Frick
Depending on the person, they may be half sisters, step sisters, or not related at all.
There are still people walking around today who have had the connection between
their left and right hemispheres severed to stop their epileptic grand mals.
-- Jon Low]
‶Practice is the small deposits you make over time,
so that in an emergency, you can make that big withdrawal.″
-- Chesley Burnett Sullenberger, III
"5 Great Pistol Drills For New Shooters" by Frank Melloni
https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/5-great-pistol-drills-for-new-shooters/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
“Perfection is not attainable.
But if we chase perfection,
we can catch excellence.”
– Vince Lombardi
Why practice?
“To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment
when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and
offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique
to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if
that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that
which could have been their finest hour.”
-- Winston Churchill
I have had people (and students) tell me that they don't want to practice long
distance shots because they will never have to make such a shot in real life. So,
it's a waste of time. I disagree. You may have to make that 72 yard shot to
stop the bad guy from immediately murdering others, as Andy Brown did.
"Warnings Unheeded: Twin Tragedies at Fairchild Air Force Base"
by Staff Sergeant Andy Brown (Author), Massad Ayoob (Foreword)
Publisher : WU Press; 1st edition (November 2, 2016)
ISBN-10 : 0997863404
ISBN-13 : 978-0997863406
"Thank you for supporting my effort to share these stories and the lessons within."
-- Andy Brown
[He was able to make the shot, because he had practiced the shot. He practiced
the shot, because he believed that he would need to make the shot in the future.
It's your beliefs that drive your actions.
Because he had the skill, he had the confidence. Because he had the confidence,
he took the shot.
A lot of guys never take the shot, because they fear killing the hostage or killing
innocent bystanders down range. So you have to know in your heart that the target
will be the back stop.
-- Jon Low]
‟Be careful what you practice.
Because you will do in combat whatever you have practiced,
no matter how ridiculous.”
-- ‶Shooting in Self-Defense″ by Sara Ahrens
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Intervention ***** ***** *****
Suggestions on how to deal with the incident that you failed to avoid.
Table of contents:
Strategy
Tactics
Techniques
*************************************************************************
----- Strategy (deciding on the end state and how to achieve it,
which tactics to use, which includes walking away) -----
How do you win a gunfight?
Don't be there.
-- John Farnam
"You win gunfights by not getting shot."
-- John Holschen
*************************************************************************
----- Tactics (maneuver and fire in support of your strategy) -----
"The Reality of Modern Criminal Attacks" by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/the-reality-of-modern-criminal-attacks
Excerpts:
"The attacks most people face are no longer from a lone drug user.
In the attacks I’m researching, three attackers seem to be the bare minimum
along with larger groups of 10 or more criminals working together on occasion.
These criminals are organized and they have a plan to handle any resistance in
the areas they are robbing. They also have lookouts and people assigned to
confront witnesses and store security staff to ensure their robberies are unimpeded."
"They want your stuff, but they also take an obscene amount of pleasure in
hurting you during the act of taking it."
"The group demands violence for its amusement. You likely won’t be able
to prevent that violence no matter what magic words you utter."
"How would you feel about shooting or striking a 12-year old kid?"
---
[You must understand that these criminals are animals in human form.
They are not civilized. They do not think as we do. If you consider them
human or children of God, you will hesitate; and they will use the time
that you've wasted to kill you and your loved ones. The correct behavior
is to immediately stop the attack, as you would swat that mosquito on your
arm that is carrying West Nile virus. Otherwise, it will bite and infect
your child. -- Jon Low]
---
"Lots of people plan to comply when facing armed robbers.
You may not get the chance to do so."
-- Greg Ellifritz
"Real fights are short."
-- Bruce Lee
"Parrying In A Gunfight? (like a sword)" by Mike Ox
https://dryfiretrainingcards.com/blog/parrying-in-a-gunfight-like-a-sword/
This is reality. Are you training for reality?
“Fortuitous outcomes reinforce poor tactics.”
-- Chuck Haggard
"The Science of CQB [Cose Quarter Battle], Gunfighting, and Not Getting Shot" by Jake
https://www.tierthreetactical.com/the-science-of-cqb-gunfighting-and-not-getting-shot/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Cited book,
"Evaluating Police Tactics:
An Empirical Assessment of Room Entry Techniques
(Real-world Criminology)", 1st Edition,
by J. Pete Blair (Author) and M. Hunter Martaindale (Contributor)
Publisher : Anderson; 1st edition (October 23, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0323280668
ISBN-13: 978-0323280662
Awareness, Avoidance, De-Escalation, Escape
"Many years ago, although I did not recognize it as such right away,
I was the victim of an attempted bump-and-rob carjacking, at a major
Los Angeles intersection, in broad daylight. Before exiting my vehicle
to check damage, I switched off the engine and visibly placed the
ignition key in my pocket as I stepped put of the vehicle and locked
the door. While walking to the rear of the vehicle to check damage,
I made and maintained eye contact with the driver and took note of
his front-seat passenger. After a quick glance to ensure that there was
only minor damage to the inexpensive step bumper, I resumed eye
contact with the driver and remarked, “I think it's time to wake up”,
then walked back to the cab of my pickup, unlocked the door and
got back in. One carjacking thwarted."
-- Stephen P. Wenger
"The shorter the fight, the less hurt you get."
-- John Holschen
*************************************************************************
----- Techniques (ways to execute a given task in support of your tactics,
especially when disabled or under stress) -----
"Use only that which works,
and take it from any place you can find it."
-- Bruce Lee
"Learn to Draw and Shoot from A Seated Position" by Richard Nance
https://www.handgunsmag.com/editorial/draw-and-shoot-from-a-seated-position/481876
"Follow through – Practical Application" by tacticalprofessor
https://thetacticalprofessor.net/2023/09/15/follow-through-practical-application/
Cited articles,
"Head Down, Follow-Through
Resist the urge to stick your head up: You’re a shooter, not a prairie dog."
by Steve Adelmann
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/head-down-follow-through/
"West Valley Area OIS 07/25/2023 (NRF032-23)" by Los Angeles Police Department
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zydZUuqQahI
"Tips & Tricks to Shoot Faster with a Red Dot" by Ryan Domke
https://www.guns.com/news/2023/09/14/tips-shoot-faster-with-red-dot
"Indexing: The Foundation of Rapid and Accurate Pistol Shooting"
by Steve Tarani
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/indexing-the-foundation-of-rapid-and-accurate-pistol-shooting/
Excerpt:
“Aiming should be a process of confirmation and not a cause for action.”
-- Rob Leatham
[The concept of natural point of aim was around long before Ron Avery. -- Jon Low]
"3 Ultimate Training Secrets from Champions" by Tim Larkin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyEz5FkMkvE
"Timing beats speed. Precision beats power." -- Conor McGregor
"Aiming." -- Bas Rutten [Striking the exact same place multiple times
to cause injury, as opposed to striking anywhere just to get a hit. Applies
in shooting too. Multiple shots to the aortic arch. Multiple shots to the
center of the triangle formed by the eyes and bottom of the nose.
Because one might miss.
-- Jon Low]
"The Right Tools for the Job: A Personal Journey into Appendix Carry"
by Mitch Goerdt
https://www.concealedcarry.com/gear/appendix-carry-right-tools-for-the-job/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Mr. Goerdt points out the pros of AIWB carry. The two primary cons
are:
You have to practice enough so that you never muzzle yourself or
anyone else, when presenting or holstering in a seated position. (If you
think it's easy, you need to try it with your finger gun at a dinner party.
It's actually very difficult.)
You have to accept the fact that you will not be able to access your
pistol by reaching around behind your back with your support side hand.
I teach this support-hand-only presentation by reaching behind your back
to a holster on your firing side hip, because I had to do it. Instructors
won't teach things they have never done, or don't understand how to do,
or don't believe that it will ever be needed. And it may never be needed
in the student's life time. But that's a bad reason for not teaching it.
A lot of instructors teach support-hand-only shooting, but neglect
teaching support-hand-only presentation from the holster. The pistol
is not going to magically appear in your support-side-hand. Instructors
have told me that the assumption is that the injury to the
]
Eliminate inefficiencies. That's how you get speed. Not by pushing yourself
to go faster. Not by rushing. [We were doing drills on the firing line one at a time
so that we could watch each other and learn by watching. Wayne says, "Was he
fast or slow?" Just about everyone said slow. "Yes, it looked very slow. But this
was the time (reading the timer to us)." The time was very short. "Why did it
look slow? Because he (the student) was efficient. So he wasn't snapping his
muscles to move fast. He wasn't rushing. He felt he was moving slowly."
Highly competent practitioners make the task look easy. Efficient practitioners
make the task look slow. (I am paraphrasing from memory.)]
Repetitions will cause myelination of the neural pathways, regardless of the
quality of the repetition. So strive for perfection in every repetition.
Larry Mudget's interactive trigger drills from 1985 --
(First, make sure pistols are zeroed.) [The following are from my memory.
Wayne sent me the drills via email, but they were a little different from what
we did. Which is always the case. The instructor has to adapt to his students.]
1. Instructor presses the trigger. Live fire, at 10 yards, sights on target.
Instructor has one hand behind the shooter's firing side shoulder to balance
the force of pressing the trigger, or the instructor has his index finger
between the shooter's hands to balance the force of pressing the trigger.
2. Instructor presses the student's finger. Dry fire, at 10 yards. Instructor's
finger is on top of student's finger. Slack out, press, reset on recoil.
The student is just along for the ride.
3. Instructor presses the student's finger. Live fire, at 10 yards. Slack out,
press, and reset. 5 shot group.
4. Quality control test. Live fire. Instructor's little finger on student's
trigger. Student's index finger on to of instructor's finger. 5 shot group.
5. 12 yards. Live fire. First round inserted into magazine is live, followed
by randomly mixed dummy rounds and one live round. Start with an empty
chamber. Instructor or partner watches. On a shot where startle response
is detected (pistol dips), remove magazine and execute 5 perfect presses,
then continue the drill.
6. Load 5 live rounds and then fill with dummies. At speed. Work out
the press.
7. 8 inch plate rack at 50 yards. Slack out and press.
---
Handheld & Weapon Light Manipulations" by Erick Gelhaus
https://cougarmountainsolutions.com/
Weapon mounted lights (WML) are essential on shotguns and rifles, because you
don't have a free hand to manipulate the hand held flashlight.
Walk around at night. Notice the street lights. What can you see. Do you need
a flashlight? If the bad guy has enough light to mug you, you have enough light to
positively identify him, and if necessary shoot him. So you don't need a light for
self-defense.
You must have a light! It must be bright enough to blind the bad guy. If you can
blind him, you disrupt his plan. Then you might not have to shoot him. The light
should be white. Press on, release off. Anything more complicated than that is
wrong. The modern LED lights give a blueish tint. The older incandescent lights
give a yellowish tint. The LED lights don't make shadows (you need the context
to understand that statement. You need to take the class to understand the
context.) Yellow incandescent light is better for penetrating fog and smoke.
There are 4 light conditions:
Day time.
Full darkness. Night time with no moon, no stars, overcast outdoors, or indoors.
Dusk and dawn.
Night with light.
You only need a flashlight in full darkness.
20/20 is normal vision. 20/200 is legally blind. 20/400 is how you probably see
in low light conditions.
Your eyes have a dead spot where the optic nerve connects to your eyeball.
Find your blind spot for each eye. You must know where they are. Blind spots
are places where you don't now you can't see. Once you know where the blind
spot is, you will automatically compensate for it, and you will no longer have a
blind spot.
In the center of your field of vision, you have cones. They give you color
vision. They require normal light.
Off center in your field of vision, you have rods. They give you black and
white vision. They operate in low light conditions. So if you look directly
at something, you might not be able to see it in low light conditions. So,
look to the side of the object, and you will see it. Pay attention to what is not
in the center of your field of vision in low light conditions.
Head lamps are good for meals. They are hands free. (One of the students
[LEO] in the class commented that he does not carry his blue [ultra violent]
light with him, as he is always tempted to view the hotel sheets, and he would
rather not know.) Blue light will turn blood black. Green light is easier to
see. If you're going to wear gloves, they should be blue so blood will show
up on them.
Lumens 1200. To light up a room.
Candela 60,000. To see that thing 100 yards away.
Lux.
Where should you hold your light?
FBI technique, 46% get hit when the bad guy shoots at them.
Harries technique, 67% get hit when the bad guy shoots at them.
Temple or cheek index, 71% get hit when the bad guy shoots at them.
You might want to use the FBI technique so you can see behind a fence or a wall.
The shadow behind such objects is a hiding place for bad guys.
---
"Extreme Precision Pistol for the Guardian Citizen" by Kaery Dudenhofer
https://www.kaeryconcealed.com/
Your precision shooting should not be slow. It should be deliberate.
Where do criminals get their guns? From people who leave their guns in their
cars to be stolen by criminals. Or from other criminals who had stolen the gun
from a car.
Sight alignment. If you look carefully, you will see the front sight moving
in the rear sight notch. [In a manner akin to a strange attractor. -- Jon Low]
[Some people don't see this. They are not looking closely enough. -- Jon Low]
When it moves away from center, it moves back toward center. The front sight
never moves off into never never land. You don't have to concentrate on
moving the front sight to the center of the notch. You will do it automatically.
Trust yourself to do it. Don't worry about it.
Sight movie. Not sight picture, because humans wobble. The only way
to avoid the wobble is a machine rest. Here again, the sights will not wobble
out to infinity. They will always automatically correct and attempt to move
toward the center of your intended target. Know that that will always happen
and don't worry about it. [Another strange attractor. -- Jon Low]
[Some people don't see this. They are not looking closely enough. -- Jon Low]
Just let the sights wobble around. (With practice the wobble will decrease,
but it will always be there.)
"Watch it to keep it." "It" refers to the sight alignment and sight movie.
You don't have to force it. You don't have to exert any effort to achieve it.
Just "Watch it to keep it."
What is your flinch? It is you bracing for impact. Can't avoid it. Can't
train yourself not to do it. Only way to avoid it is to be dead. Our training is
to not let it bother you.
This is a startle response. As women get older, their startle response
increases. As men get older, their startle response decreases.
There was a wonderful experiment that Kaery had us perform. Get a piece
of lined paper. Write your signature (as you would to sign a legal document).
Now, in cursive, write your signature correctly on the lined paper. As if you
were in elementary school penmanship class. Touch the lines, but do not cross them.
If you do not touch the line, you fail. Try again. If you cross the line, you fail.
Try again. No one was able to do it. Kaery told us that the fastest she has ever
seen anyone accomplish the task is 45 minutes. Some people took days to do
it.
Writing your signature as you normally do is how you normally shoot.
Writing your signature perfectly is how you shoot with precision. You must
DECIDE to do it. Then you must do it. Which takes a great deal of
CONCENTRATION. It is exhausting. It's frustrating.
[The reason a lot of hostage shots are not taken is because the good guy lacks
the confidence to take the shot. Having the skill to make the shot, gives you
the confidence to take the shot. -- Jon Low]
"Bridge of decision." Decide to concentrate. Control.
Automatic motor program. Once started, nearly impossible to stop or
modify until finished. It takes about ¼ of a second to react to an unknown stimulus.
This is much more time than events occur in a combat situation. So your inability
to change or stop an automatic motor program is a real problem in combat.
Precision motor program. Can be stopped and corrected at any time.
Precision motor programs are not necessarily slower than automatic motor programs.
The shots are not slow. The shots are deliberate.
It takes about 60 pounds of grip strength to handle the 9mm cartridge.
Average woman has 37 lbs. of grip strength. The average man has 90 to 180
lbs. of grip strength. [I, Jon Low, have 85 lbs. in my right hand and 80 in
my left hand. (Yes, there are pickle jars that I have not been able to open.)
-- Jon Low]
"Keep pressing. Keep pressing. Keep pressing. Keep pressing. . . . "
Say it out loud to keep focus and concentration.
"Keep pressing." Rhythm, out loud.
Your subconscious mind can process 40 million bits of information per second.
Your conscious mind can process 12 bits of information per second. But probably
is only processes 7±2 bits of information per second. [A bit of information is
defined as the amount of information that allows you to make a decision between
two options. Yes, I have studied Information Theory and occasionally read the
IEEE Journal on Information Theory. -- Jon Low]
Choose to perform the shot processes perfectly or not at all. If you are
satisfied with an imperfect shot, you will get an imperfect shot (and kill the
hostage). You will also be teaching yourself to accept imperfect shots.
So, better to stop, and start the shot process over from the beginning.
[That is what shooters at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO
are taught, in riflery, archery, and pistol. I know because I have taken coaching
classes and have helped with the training of resident athletes. -- Jon Low]
"Every shot is a one round drill."
Precision shooting for the hostage rescue shot or the small target or the
distant target is part of combat shooting. But very different from close quarter
combat shooting. So you have to think to know when to use it. You must be
able to shift gears mentally to use it. You cannot shoot a precision shot the way
you would shoot a robber at arms length at the gas station.
[This class was a deep dive into psychology. Having studied psychology in
college, it all made sense to me and was believable. The instructor was often
concerned that her students would not believe what she was saying. Which I
understand, because much of popular culture conflicts with science. When
media idiots scream, "Follow the science!", what they mean is "Believe what
the elites are saying.", which conflicts with real science.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, for instance, is not a scientist. He is a politician.
-- Jon Low]
---
"Rule 4 Defensive Pistol" by Wayne Dobbs (who is left handed)
Wayne told me, "You're not going to like this, but you need to dump that
45 [ACP] and get a 9mm that you can shoot accurately." This was because
he felt that I was not handling the recoil adequately. Which was true.
The gentleman to the right of me on the firing line was huge and muscular.
He was shooting a 9mm in his full police gear. He smiled and nodded at me,
and tilted his head toward our targets. He was indicating that by switching to
a 9mm he had greatly improved accuracy.
Be sure of your target, surroundings, back stop, and what may come between
you and your target.
Where will you be attacked? Wal Mart parking lot. Gas station. Home.
Street. Alley way. Parking lots. There will be people in the surroundings.
Opaque down range hazard. There is an innocent bystander behind the dry
wall. There is an innocent bystander in the dressing room behind the bad guy.
Many situations have no back stop. So you must insure that bad guy acts as
the back stop. Otherwise, your bullet will travel miles down range searching
for a target.
You will run out of time. You probably won't run out of ammo. Missing
is your problem. If you hit, you will win.
How is your NASCAR training going to help your driving in rush hour
traffic? Make sure your training is appropriate to your mission.
The triangle is not Speed, Accuracy, Power. The triangle is Speed, Accuracy,
Assessment. (Power, you can't control in real time. Your cartridge is what it is.)
Assessment is the thinking; whether or not to shoot, where to move, etc.
How do you immediately stop the attack? Central nervous system (brain,
spinal column) hit. Blood pressure, aortic arch hit, not the heart in general.
People have survived getting shot in the heart. People have continued fighting
after getting shot in the heart. (The aortic arch is immediately above the heart.)
Training. Strive to improve efficiency, by eliminating inefficiencies.
Skill is biological. Repetition causes myelination of neural pathways.
Your biological brain can't tell the difference between quality repetitions
and garbage repetitions. They both get myelinated.
In the firearms training industry there are 7 or more shooting fundamentals.
Only 3 are important:
Grip.
Trigger control.
Follow through.
"If the cops show up. Leave."
"Grip, aim, trigger, reset (follow through)" (The aiming will happen
automatically and will proceed as appropriate for the target.)
---
"Ready Positions & Better Outcomes" by Erick Gelhaus (who is left handed)
Law enforcement officers point guns at suspects all the time for good reason.
We only point our pistols at bad guys when we have made the decision to shoot
the bad guy. We never threaten or attempt to intimidate. We are stopping the
threat immediately.
In ready positions, strive for resilience. You should not be pointing at meat
in your ready position.
Expect defiant behavior from the bad guy. He's been shot many times before.
You don't scare him. He's going to take your pistol and shove it up your ass.
Your reaction time to an unknown stimulus is 0.35 to 0.45 seconds. [If you're
old like me and have had a nerve conduction test recently, you might be double
that, as I am. -- Jon Low]
The mechanical limit of your semi-auto pistol is around 0.2 second split times.
That's 6 rounds per second. Can you shoot that fast accurately? If so, you are
shooting faster than you can think. Faster than you can react to a changing situation.
The bad guy turns. The bad guy drops his gun. The bad guy put his hands up to
surrender. You may have shot him 2 or 3 times after his action. If you're a dumb
ass, you may have emptied your magazine into his back as he was running away.
How is the jury going to view that?
Your low ready position should allow you to see the ground in front of you.
The lower your ready position the more of the bad guy you can see. If you
think it takes too much time to come up from a lower ready position, you are
wrong. We did an experiment to confirm this to ourselves.
IPSC is training you to shoot excessively.
---
"Never Let / Be Sure - Practical Application of Rules #2 & #4" by Erick Gelhaus
I mushed together my notes from this class with the previous class above.
I'm only writing excerpts from my notes.
---
"Square Dancing in a Minefield: The Anatomy of a Self-Defense Prosecution"
by Don West, Shawn Vincent, and Jennifer Chance
https://donwestlaw.com/
The police did not arrest Zimmerman because it was obviously self-defense.
The prosecuting attorney for the jurisdiction would not prosecute Zimmerman
because all evidence was consistent with self-defense. So the then-Governor
Rick Scott (Richard Lynn Scott), a Republican, appointed another prosecutor
from another district to railroad Zimmerman. So U.S. Senator Rick Scott is
responsible for the false prosecution of Zimmerman. [It's important to trace evil
to its source and name it. -- Jon Low] Zimmerman was arrested 45 days after
the incident.
Don West said the Zimmerman defense case cost more than $2 million.
George Zimmerman did not have that kind of money, so Zimmerman did not
pay all of the legal expenses, and in fact still owes West quite a bit. West
would not say who paid. But did mention that the legal team, including many
experts, donated some of their time.
The multitude of examples they gave us of prosecutorial misconduct during
the Zimmerman case was astounding.
The defense could not get DNA evidence off of Trayvon Martin's clothes
because the "forensic scientists" put the clothes in plastic bags, causing mold
and mildew to grow, and destroy the evidence. Any competent forensic scientist
would have put the clothes into paper bags.
The prosecution refused to turn over the original picture that the police had
taken of Zimmerman at the scene of the incident, because it clearly showed
blood and a broken nose. The defense team of attorneys had to fight to get the
original picture and then had to fight to enter it into evidence. The picture that
the prosecution initially gave the defense (and entered into evidence) was
doctored to the point that no blood is visible and no broken nose is apparent.
One usually thinks that the prosecution has effectively unlimited resources
and so can crush the defendant. But West was so aggressive that at one point
the prosecutors were complaining to the judge, "But your honor, we have other
cases."
Don West went over the criminal justice sequence of events:
1. 911 call.
2. Responding officer.
3. Investigating officer, detective. (Never talk to this guy.)
4. Bail hearing. (You might not be able to get out on bail.)
5. Charging decision. (What are you being charged with?)
6. Grand jury. (Indicted or no bill. Even if not indicted, the prosecutor can sign
an information and prosecute you anyway.)
7. Arraignment. (Plead not guilty. If you plead guilty, you are convicted and go to prison.)
8. Schedule for trial. (Has to fit everyone's schedule. Not yours, everyone else.)
9. Investigation. (Could take 2 years. If you demand a speedy trial, as is your
Constitutional right, you're a dumb ass. Give your defense team time to win
for you. Expert witness reports, depositions, etc. take time. Ya, sitting in jail is a bitch,
but living in prison for the rest of your life is much worse.)
10. Discovery. The prosecution must turn over copies of all evidence to the defense.
Gross prosecutorial misconduct in the Zimmerman case. You can expect the prosecution
to withhold exculpatory evidence. Your defense team will have to fight to get the
evidence.
11. Motion practice. (The pretrial motions are fought. What evidence will be allowed
at trial, what won't. What arguments will be allowed, which won't. What legal theories
will be allowed, which won't.) If your state has pretrial self-defense immunity hearings,
you might ask for one if your legal team thinks it's a good idea. It might not be. This
business is very complicated. [You will be offered a plea deal to confess to committing
a crime in order to avoid a long prison sentence. Remember, lying is a sin. In the end,
you will have to explain your actions to God. Death Before Dishonor!
I'm not a hypocrite. I have never accepted a plea deal on either my state (New Jersey)
or my federal charges. -- Jon Low]
12. Jury selection. Which is a misnomer, because you don't get to select your jury.
You might be able to dismiss a juror for cause, if you have the money for private
investigators to research the background of the jurors. You might be able to dismiss
a juror without cause, because you know something about the juror, but don't have
any evidence that you can present in court.
13. The prosecution presents their case first.
14. The defense moves for dismissal because the prosecution failed to make a
prima facie case. The motion is almost always denied. But must be made anyway.
You're always thinking about what you need to preserve in the record for appeal.
15. The defense presents their case. Where the defendant usually testifies. Bad guys
never testify. But this is a good guy self-defense case, which is very different. Only
the defendant can testify as to what he was thinking.
16. The defense moves for dismissal because they have overcome the prosecution's
case.
17. The judge almost always denies the motion. But it must be made anyway.
You're always thinking about what you need to preserve in the record for appeal.
18. Charge conference. The charges are fought about.
19. Jury instructions. Jury instructions are fought about.
20. Closing arguments. The prosecution goes first. The defense gives their closing
arguments. The prosecution gets a rebuttal.
21. The case goes to the jury. They deliberate. If they get a unanimous decision,
they report out a verdict.
Verdict, guilty or not guilty, must be unanimous. Usually 12 persons.
In Florida it is 6 persons. If not unanimous, the judge will declare a mistrial and you
start over from scratch. Including all court costs. So this is very expensive. But not as
bad as getting convicted. The jury must be convinced of your guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt, which is a very high standard.
22. If acquitted, the defendant is free to go home. The prosecution cannot appeal,
because that would be double jeopardy, which is unconstitutional.
23. If no unanimous verdict, the judge declares a mistrial, and the prosecution
decides if they will try the case again. The second time around, the defendant
will have no resources, so it will be much easier to get a conviction.
24. If convicted, sentencing hearing.
25. Appeal. (while you are in prison) If there is anything to appeal on. Rarely is
anything won on appeal. At best the trial court is ordered to rehear the case.
But you already spent all of your money on the first trial.
---
"Rule 1 Guns and Gear" by
Bryan Eastridge
https://edcbeltco.com/
and Chuck Haggard
https://agiletactical.com/
A deep dive into pocket guns, pocket holsters, ankle holsters, minimalist
belt holsters, with live fire demonstrations (as in the students fired the various
pistols and revolvers using the instructor's ammo). Some .22 caliber revolvers
have recessed chambers allowing for safe dry fire. Some don't, in which case
dry fire will result in the firing pin hitting the chamber face, resulting in broken
firing pins and marred chamber faces.
People buy small guns to carry, but practice with full size guns. Not a smart
thing to do.
Hammerless revolvers is a good idea.
You will be attacked at a watering hole (gas station, grocery store, etc.). The
predator will be looking for the disabled (slow walk, limp, overloaded with
groceries, overloaded with children, etc.).
Consider using the same handgun in various holsters. On your hip when you're
walking around. On your ankle when you seated, as when driving your car. Under
your arm pit when at work in a coat and tie. In your pocket, in a pocket holster,
when in shorts at the beach. Etc.
---
One of the instructors (I can't remember who, dementia progressing) at the
Guardian Conference demonstrated how if the sun is at the right angle, you can
get 2 red dots in your window. Not a reflection of the sun or anything like that.
I don't understand the physics / optics. But it's a real effect. I saw it. I don't
know if it's an artifact of the make or model. He demonstrated it on a Trijicon
and a Holosun. I don't have any red dots on my pistols, so I was not able to
replicate the experiment at home.
Sep 30 TN/GA/AL Training Group, Harris Combative Strategies (Randy Harris)
$87.21
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sep-30-tngaal-training-group-tickets-722026720357
Saturday, September 30 · 9am - 3pm CDT
763 County Road 332 Pisgah, AL 35765
--- End of Classes ---
“Take training from different instructors.
We are all wrong about something.”
-- John Farnam
“The secret of success is this.
Train like it means everything when it means nothing –
so you can fight like it means nothing when it means everything.”
-- Lofty Wiseman
I'm coaching a 10th grade girl from Harpeth Hall high school in air pistol shooting.
The coach of the rifle team at her school referred her to me because they do not have
a pistol team. So, I thought to share what I am teaching her with you all.
Don't worry about sight alignment. Don't worry about sight movie.
(Sight picture is a misnomer. A picture is static. Your sights and the
target are never static. It's always moving around, your wobble. The
only way to eliminate wobble is to fix the pistol in a machine rest or
to be dead. A moving picture is a movie.) They will take care of
themselves automatically with practice. Ask me to explain when next
we see each other. "Just watch it (sight alignment and sight movie)
to keep it."
"Just watch it to keep it."
Remind me to go over the breathing exercises with you. 4 second
inhale, 4 second hold, 4 second exhale, 4 seconds at the respiratory
pause (between exhale and inhale). Repeat as necessary to lower pulse
rate, blood pressure, improve judgment and such.
Never hold your breath for more than 7 seconds. The partial pressure
of oxygen in your blood stream will decrease causing loss of fine vision
acuity. You'll never notice it at a conscious level, but it's real.
With practice, you will release your shot during the respiratory pause
between your exhale and inhale. With dedicated practice, you will
release your shot between heart beats. This will happen automatically
with practice. You don't have to train to do this. The U.S. Army
Marksmanship Training Unit at Fort Benning, GA did the experiments
and verified this back in the 1970's. [The Department of Defense may
change the names of bases to be politically correct, but I will continue
to call them by their original names.]
When you stretch, don't bounce. Bouncing causes micro tears in
your muscles. Slow smooth steady pressure, increasing the stretch
on your exhale.
Check your tooth paste for ingredients. If there are any artificial
sweeteners, STOP using it. Get a toothpaste that does not have
artificial sweeteners. The FAA sent out a warning to all pilots telling
them not to drink artificial sweeteners because it causes all kinds of
vision problems. The pilots were not seeing passing aircraft and such.
Coach Ray Harvey will explain this to you.
Coach Harvey called Connie Petracek (who shot pistol in a couple
of Olympic games) who lives here in Nashville to come and observe
you. She might come to a dry practice at your home. Or, she might
observe you without you knowing, so as not to prejudice the observation.
Cheers,
Coach Low
"Those motivated by a desire to improve their
gunfighting skills as opposed to a quest for trophies,
must be willing to bleed ego on the match results
to avoid shedding blood in combat."
-- Andy Stanford
Justin Dyal. I couldn't find his web site. He does have an Instagram.com page at
https://www.instagram.com/dialed_in_training/
He writes articles for various magazines and does guest appearances on various
pod casts.
"Dialed in Training | Higher Line Podcast #143" by CarryTrainer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA4GnSeNHDo
"The MSP Podcast #45: Justin Dyal of Dialed In Training" by Modern Samurai Project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qkiK-ZWZzc
There was an article on him at Pistol-Training.com
https://pistol-training.com/dialed-in-training/
But the article did not give his contact information.
He has been highly recommended to me. If you know how to find his schedule
of classes or what the address of his web site is, please let me know.
I was at a church security conference a few months ago. An instructor was giving
us a lecture on how important it was for us to charge in to immediately stop the attack,
as opposed to taking cover and waiting for back up. He gave us an example where a
police officer encountered a bad guy armed with an Uzi submachinegun. The officers
statement afterwards was to the effect, I was out gunned so I took cover and waited
for back up. Lots of people died.
I was thinking about an Uzi vs. a standard issued service pistol. Both were 9mm.
In a class at the Guardian Conference, we were taught that our semi-auto pistols
had a mechanical limit of 0.2 second split times. That's 5 rounds per second. That's
300 rounds per minute. The Uzi's rate of fire is listed in the literature as
Cyclic rate of fire: 600 rpm (which is completely uncontrollable)
Practical rate of fire: 40 – 120 rpm
But in reality it's 300 rounds per minute. That's why it is possible to modulate the
trigger, shooting single rounds, 2 round bursts, 3 round bursts, etc. [Ya, I know,
cause I've done it.]
The police officer's pistol's barrel was longer than the barrel of the Uzi.
So the police officer was not out gunned. He just thought he was out gunned.
Or he was a coward and didn't want to confront the bad guy.
‟Training is NOT an event, but a process.
Training is the preparation FOR practice.”
-- Claude Werner
*************************************************************************
----- Practice (how to get competent at that task) -----
“Train, Practice, Compete
are the key elements in the development of humans.”
-- John M. Buol, Jr.
"I’m Almost Out!: Low-Round-Count Training" by Dick Jones
https://gundigest.com/more/how-to/firearm-training/low-round-count
Excerpt:
"While the use of the support hand in a defensive encounter is relatively low,
this part of the drill generally surprises shooters when they shoot almost as fast
and—sometimes—more accurately with their support hand."
[Deep truth! Do you understand why?
Using the other hemisphere of the brain to shoot.
Aiming with the other eye. Etc.
"Your left and right sides are sisters. They are not twins." -- Yogini Kristen Frick
Depending on the person, they may be half sisters, step sisters, or not related at all.
There are still people walking around today who have had the connection between
their left and right hemispheres severed to stop their epileptic grand mals.
-- Jon Low]
‶Practice is the small deposits you make over time,
so that in an emergency, you can make that big withdrawal.″
-- Chesley Burnett Sullenberger, III
"5 Great Pistol Drills For New Shooters" by Frank Melloni
https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/5-great-pistol-drills-for-new-shooters/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
“Perfection is not attainable.
But if we chase perfection,
we can catch excellence.”
– Vince Lombardi
Why practice?
“To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment
when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and
offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique
to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if
that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that
which could have been their finest hour.”
-- Winston Churchill
I have had people (and students) tell me that they don't want to practice long
distance shots because they will never have to make such a shot in real life. So,
it's a waste of time. I disagree. You may have to make that 72 yard shot to
stop the bad guy from immediately murdering others, as Andy Brown did.
"Warnings Unheeded: Twin Tragedies at Fairchild Air Force Base"
by Staff Sergeant Andy Brown (Author), Massad Ayoob (Foreword)
Publisher : WU Press; 1st edition (November 2, 2016)
ISBN-10 : 0997863404
ISBN-13 : 978-0997863406
"Thank you for supporting my effort to share these stories and the lessons within."
-- Andy Brown
[He was able to make the shot, because he had practiced the shot. He practiced
the shot, because he believed that he would need to make the shot in the future.
It's your beliefs that drive your actions.
Because he had the skill, he had the confidence. Because he had the confidence,
he took the shot.
A lot of guys never take the shot, because they fear killing the hostage or killing
innocent bystanders down range. So you have to know in your heart that the target
will be the back stop.
-- Jon Low]
‟Be careful what you practice.
Because you will do in combat whatever you have practiced,
no matter how ridiculous.”
-- ‶Shooting in Self-Defense″ by Sara Ahrens
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Intervention ***** ***** *****
Suggestions on how to deal with the incident that you failed to avoid.
Table of contents:
Strategy
Tactics
Techniques
*************************************************************************
----- Strategy (deciding on the end state and how to achieve it,
which tactics to use, which includes walking away) -----
How do you win a gunfight?
Don't be there.
-- John Farnam
"You win gunfights by not getting shot."
-- John Holschen
*************************************************************************
----- Tactics (maneuver and fire in support of your strategy) -----
"The Reality of Modern Criminal Attacks" by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/the-reality-of-modern-criminal-attacks
Excerpts:
"The attacks most people face are no longer from a lone drug user.
In the attacks I’m researching, three attackers seem to be the bare minimum
along with larger groups of 10 or more criminals working together on occasion.
These criminals are organized and they have a plan to handle any resistance in
the areas they are robbing. They also have lookouts and people assigned to
confront witnesses and store security staff to ensure their robberies are unimpeded."
"They want your stuff, but they also take an obscene amount of pleasure in
hurting you during the act of taking it."
"The group demands violence for its amusement. You likely won’t be able
to prevent that violence no matter what magic words you utter."
"How would you feel about shooting or striking a 12-year old kid?"
---
[You must understand that these criminals are animals in human form.
They are not civilized. They do not think as we do. If you consider them
human or children of God, you will hesitate; and they will use the time
that you've wasted to kill you and your loved ones. The correct behavior
is to immediately stop the attack, as you would swat that mosquito on your
arm that is carrying West Nile virus. Otherwise, it will bite and infect
your child. -- Jon Low]
---
"Lots of people plan to comply when facing armed robbers.
You may not get the chance to do so."
-- Greg Ellifritz
"Real fights are short."
-- Bruce Lee
"Parrying In A Gunfight? (like a sword)" by Mike Ox
https://dryfiretrainingcards.com/blog/parrying-in-a-gunfight-like-a-sword/
This is reality. Are you training for reality?
“Fortuitous outcomes reinforce poor tactics.”
-- Chuck Haggard
"The Science of CQB [Cose Quarter Battle], Gunfighting, and Not Getting Shot" by Jake
https://www.tierthreetactical.com/the-science-of-cqb-gunfighting-and-not-getting-shot/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Cited book,
"Evaluating Police Tactics:
An Empirical Assessment of Room Entry Techniques
(Real-world Criminology)", 1st Edition,
by J. Pete Blair (Author) and M. Hunter Martaindale (Contributor)
Publisher : Anderson; 1st edition (October 23, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0323280668
ISBN-13: 978-0323280662
Awareness, Avoidance, De-Escalation, Escape
"Many years ago, although I did not recognize it as such right away,
I was the victim of an attempted bump-and-rob carjacking, at a major
Los Angeles intersection, in broad daylight. Before exiting my vehicle
to check damage, I switched off the engine and visibly placed the
ignition key in my pocket as I stepped put of the vehicle and locked
the door. While walking to the rear of the vehicle to check damage,
I made and maintained eye contact with the driver and took note of
his front-seat passenger. After a quick glance to ensure that there was
only minor damage to the inexpensive step bumper, I resumed eye
contact with the driver and remarked, “I think it's time to wake up”,
then walked back to the cab of my pickup, unlocked the door and
got back in. One carjacking thwarted."
-- Stephen P. Wenger
"The shorter the fight, the less hurt you get."
-- John Holschen
*************************************************************************
----- Techniques (ways to execute a given task in support of your tactics,
especially when disabled or under stress) -----
"Use only that which works,
and take it from any place you can find it."
-- Bruce Lee
"Learn to Draw and Shoot from A Seated Position" by Richard Nance
https://www.handgunsmag.com/editorial/draw-and-shoot-from-a-seated-position/481876
"Follow through – Practical Application" by tacticalprofessor
https://thetacticalprofessor.net/2023/09/15/follow-through-practical-application/
Cited articles,
"Head Down, Follow-Through
Resist the urge to stick your head up: You’re a shooter, not a prairie dog."
by Steve Adelmann
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/head-down-follow-through/
"West Valley Area OIS 07/25/2023 (NRF032-23)" by Los Angeles Police Department
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zydZUuqQahI
"Tips & Tricks to Shoot Faster with a Red Dot" by Ryan Domke
https://www.guns.com/news/2023/09/14/tips-shoot-faster-with-red-dot
"Indexing: The Foundation of Rapid and Accurate Pistol Shooting"
by Steve Tarani
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/indexing-the-foundation-of-rapid-and-accurate-pistol-shooting/
Excerpt:
“Aiming should be a process of confirmation and not a cause for action.”
-- Rob Leatham
[The concept of natural point of aim was around long before Ron Avery. -- Jon Low]
"3 Ultimate Training Secrets from Champions" by Tim Larkin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyEz5FkMkvE
"Timing beats speed. Precision beats power." -- Conor McGregor
"Aiming." -- Bas Rutten [Striking the exact same place multiple times
to cause injury, as opposed to striking anywhere just to get a hit. Applies
in shooting too. Multiple shots to the aortic arch. Multiple shots to the
center of the triangle formed by the eyes and bottom of the nose.
Because one might miss.
-- Jon Low]
"The Right Tools for the Job: A Personal Journey into Appendix Carry"
by Mitch Goerdt
https://www.concealedcarry.com/gear/appendix-carry-right-tools-for-the-job/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Mr. Goerdt points out the pros of AIWB carry. The two primary cons
are:
You have to practice enough so that you never muzzle yourself or
anyone else, when presenting or holstering in a seated position. (If you
think it's easy, you need to try it with your finger gun at a dinner party.
It's actually very difficult.)
You have to accept the fact that you will not be able to access your
pistol by reaching around behind your back with your support side hand.
I teach this support-hand-only presentation by reaching behind your back
to a holster on your firing side hip, because I had to do it. Instructors
won't teach things they have never done, or don't understand how to do,
or don't believe that it will ever be needed. And it may never be needed
in the student's life time. But that's a bad reason for not teaching it.
A lot of instructors teach support-hand-only shooting, but neglect
teaching support-hand-only presentation from the holster. The pistol
is not going to magically appear in your support-side-hand. Instructors
have told me that the assumption is that the injury to the
firing-side-hand occurred after the shooter had drawn the
pistol out of his holster.
Not a reasonable assumption.
"Just Another Lousy Gunfight" by Louis Awerbuck
https://www.swatmag.com/article/just-another-lousy-gunfight/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Another reason to NOT shoot with both eyes open is that it is real easy to
aim with the wrong image (target image or sight image).
If you don't understand this, hold your thumb up at arms length. (Your
thumb is your front sight.) Look at a distant target, you will see two thumbs.
Look at your thumb, you will see two targets.
You think you can sort this out under the debilitating stress of combat?
Good luck.
With the non-aiming eye closed, you get one image; no confusion.
Ya, a red-dot-sight alleviates some of this. But in a chaotic combat
situation, you still might get visual confusion. If you've been there,
you know what I mean. If you've never been there, trust me, combat
is confusing; even when you're the initiator; especially when you're not.
It's not going to be easy to pick out the bad guy from the good guys.
Everyone is dressed the same (especially in countries as Saudi Arabia
where they have a national uniform; men thobe and gutra, women abya).
Everyone is moving in similar fashion.
Not a reasonable assumption.
"Just Another Lousy Gunfight" by Louis Awerbuck
https://www.swatmag.com/article/just-another-lousy-gunfight/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Another reason to NOT shoot with both eyes open is that it is real easy to
aim with the wrong image (target image or sight image).
If you don't understand this, hold your thumb up at arms length. (Your
thumb is your front sight.) Look at a distant target, you will see two thumbs.
Look at your thumb, you will see two targets.
You think you can sort this out under the debilitating stress of combat?
Good luck.
With the non-aiming eye closed, you get one image; no confusion.
Ya, a red-dot-sight alleviates some of this. But in a chaotic combat
situation, you still might get visual confusion. If you've been there,
you know what I mean. If you've never been there, trust me, combat
is confusing; even when you're the initiator; especially when you're not.
It's not going to be easy to pick out the bad guy from the good guys.
Everyone is dressed the same (especially in countries as Saudi Arabia
where they have a national uniform; men thobe and gutra, women abya).
Everyone is moving in similar fashion.
So close your non-aiming eye, eliminate some visual confusion,
and win.
"Sneaky Draw" by Jeff Gonzales
https://tridentconcepts.com/2018/11/10/sneaky-draw/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Excerpt:
"Here is where some will run into trouble, not practicing a one handed
drawstroke from concealment. Most who are interested in a super fast
drawstroke fail to put the time into practicing their one handed technique.
It is assumed it is no big deal or they don’t need to practice. Big mistake.
You do need to practice, in fact as our default technique we teach a one
handed technique. Not only does it work well for a sneaky draw, but it
allows you to use your weak hand for other tasks. It is much easier to sell
the movement of only one extremity, versus two. Moving one hand slowly
and even using the free hand as a distraction will go a long way."
---
Yes, distraction and misdirection, as we learned in magic class.
It is also essential to be able to do your sneaky draw with your
support-side-hand only. Especially if you are right-handed. Can you
draw while shaking hands? while saluting? while holding your grandchild?
while smoking a cigarette? while adjusting your glasses? while digging
your nose? (Scratching your nose will not draw attention. Digging deep
into your nose will draw attention to your nose and away from your other
hand. We do whatever is necessary to accomplish our mission.)
If you practice, you will be able to. If you are able to, you will have the
confidence to do it. If you are confident, you will execute without hesitation,
and WIN!
"It's not daily increase but daily decrease - hack away at the inessentials!"
-- Bruce Lee
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Postvention ***** ***** *****
Suggestions on how to treat your wounds; avoid prosecution, conviction, and prison time.
Table of contents:
Aftermath
Medical
Survival
*************************************************************************
----- Aftermath (You must be alive to have these problems: criminal and civil liability.) -----
"Should I Leave the Scene of a Defensive Shooting?"
by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/should-i-leave-the-scene-of-a-defensive-shooting
Well, let's think about this.
In Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Nashville, TN;
Ferguson, MO; et al
if in completely justified self-defense, you shoot and kill someone (especially
someone of a politically favored minority group) and you stay at the scene to
direct police to the bad guys, you will be arrested (especially if you are White).
The legal system will leave you unemployed and destitute. The stress on your
family will cause your spouse to divorce you and take your children. You will
be sodomized and beaten in jail while awaiting your bond hearing. I could go
on, but you get the idea. (The Red Cross won't let you donate blood ever again.
They know what goes on in prison.)
On the other hand, if you go home, the probability of ever getting arrested
is less than 50%, much less getting prosecuted (as long as you make yourself
hard to convict; prosecutors are not stupid, they want easy, they don't want hard
work), much less getting convicted (Andrew Branca says that if you are innocent
and you get prosecuted, there is a 10% that you will be convicted. That's just
the noise in the system. Remember, juries are made up of persons too stupid
to get off jury duty. Or, worse those wanting to play God and trying to advance
their political agenda.).
Here we are talking about known gang bangers, known drug dealers, and known
violent criminals with long violent records. For decent law abiding citizens
without criminal records, the probability is way less than 50%. Because, how
would the police find you? They don't have any file on you. They don't have
a mug shot of you. They don't have any reason to suspect you. Unless you run
your mouth or post on social media.
As long as you keep your mouth shut and get a competent attorney. Never talk
to the police or prosecutors. Never consent to a search of anything. Never talk
to anyone (except your attorney) or post anything on social media, or anywhere
else for that matter.
With all the bad guys committing crimes, do you think the police will spend
any time or resources tracking down a good guy? With all the scum bags
overflowing the dockets, do you think the prosecutors want to spend any time
or resources prosecuting an upstanding citizen? Of course, there is the
exception for political reasons. That's your fault for being born White (or
close enough for CNN to claim you are a "White Hispanic", as they did with
George Zimmerman) or voting for liberals.
It might make sense to stay at the scene in Florida and other free states,
as you will probably not be arrested, unless you run your mouth, in which case
you can easily talk yourself into an arrest and conviction (no matter how smart
or innocent you think you are). In states with self-defense immunity hearings,
it might make sense to stay at the scene to direct the police to the bad guys.
But, do you really want to give the other gang members time to get to you?
You've killed their buddies. If you think the police will protect you, you're a
damn fool.
If you stay at the scene, the police will get your information. The family or
estate of the bad guys that you killed will sue you. The police and prosecutor
will turn over all of your information to the attorneys for the bad guys. (They
are required to by law. It's called "discovery".) Then the bad guys will go to
your house, where your family lives, and do their best to stop you from living,
and your family of course. Can't leave witnesses. And they will take sadistic
pleasure in doing so.
Did the other "instructors" neglect to tell you this? Do you think I'm lying
to you?
In the right hand column, click on the link labeled "Self Defense Insurance".
Or, the direct link is,
http://defensivepistolcraft.blogspot.com/p/self-defense-insurance.html
Read this before you buy insurance. You need to make an informed decision.
The various policies are drastically different.
"You need to read the fine print." -- Massad Ayoob
"Kayla Giles and USCCA Case Analyzed"
by Attorneys Marc J. Victor and Andy Marcantel, Attorneys On Retainer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sKtAVOfSG8
This is a real problem. I have talked to many USCCA reps who showed up
at my classes to sell their policies. I've never gotten a cogent answer from
any of them.
"Attorneys On Retainer"
https://attorneysonretainer.us/
Attorneys for Freedom Law Firm
https://attorneysforfreedom.com/
Endorsed by Liberty Doll.
---
"Attorneys Marc J. Victor and Andy Marcantel Review the
5 Misleading Claims About USCCA Membership"
by Attorneys Marc J. Victor and Andy Marcantel, Attorneys On Retainer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_etWaCHq4D8
---
Some are insurance companies, some are not, some are law firms. They are all
very different. That's why Massad Ayoob says, you must read the fine print.
"CCW Safe Self-Defense Policy Review (2023)" by Attorney Marc J. Victor,
Attorneys On Retainer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6qS0eCcdpY
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him,
but because he loves what is behind him.”
― G.K. Chesterton
In the right hand column of this web page, click on "Never Talk To The Police"
or use the direct address
https://defensivepistolcraft.blogspot.com/p/never-talk-to-police.html
“Your understanding and consent are not required
for someone to take your life, kill your loved ones,
and destroy all you hold dear.”
-- William Aprill
*************************************************************************
----- Medical -----
"If you prepare for the emergency,
the emergency ceases to exist!"
-- Sherman House
*************************************************************************
----- Survival -----
"If you stay fit, you do not have to get fit.
If you stay trained, you do not have to get trained.
If you stay prepared, you do not have to get prepared."
-- Robert Margulies
Three things to carry.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CVFakKEDgwk
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Education ***** ***** *****
Table of contents:
Legal
Instruction
Gear
*************************************************************************
"You will never get smarter or broaden your horizons
if you're unwilling to learn from others and read."
-- Becca Martin
Cumberland University's Fall Speaker Series Presents (Free of charge!)
https://www.forcescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fall-Speaker-Series.pdf
We're thrilled to be part of Cumberland University's Fall Speaker Series on
October 25 - 26 in Lebanon, Tennessee. Don't miss the insightful presentation on
"The Good, the Bad, and the Reasonable: The Reality of Police Violence"
by Von Kliem and Nicole Florisi.
Additionally, DEA agents Javier Pena and Steve Murphy will discuss their pursuit
of Pablo Escobar, the story behind Netflix's NARCOS.
Experience firsthand the advanced use-of-force training with the
VirTra V-100 Simulator.
No registration is needed – just arrive ready to learn and engage.
We can't wait to see you there!
"It's a Tactical Problem" by Sheriff Jim Wilson
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/it-s-a-tactical-problem/
Excerpt:
"Simply put, being a good shot does not make one a gunfighter."
"Microstamping – Myth Vs. Reality" by John Richardson
https://onlygunsandmoney.com/2023/09/26/microstamping-myth-vs-reality.html
Hat tip to Stephen P. Wenger.
I read "The Way is in Training" by Matthew Little, 2022.
ISBN: 9798412779645
https://greybeardactual.com/
I highly recommend the book to you. Some of the things I learned or learned in a
different way or thought were important to convey to you. (The book is long, as it
is actually 6 books mushed together into one large tome. So, I will only cover the
first half of my readings in this blog posting.)
"Your mind needs to be right in advance of a deadly force incident. When the incident
occurs is too late for that thought process to happen. It needs to be part of your worldview
well in advance."
“You had your whole life to prepare for this moment. Why aren't you ready?”
-- David Mamet (as spoken in the movie "Spartan" staring Val Kilmer, one of my favorites)
". . . the willingness to embrace challenge is a catalyst for growth and accomplishment."
". . . if you focus on the desired outcome, you set yourself up for failure. If instead
you focus on the process you need to follow to prevail, you'll let the subconscious skill
you've developed in training take over and carry you through."
"Be aware and observe every aspect of every repetition you do in training. Over
time you will have developed a subconscious ‶program″ to play when you need a
particular skill. No one can create these for you."
"Another mental affirmation technique we can use is silently repeating to yourself
a simple phrase whenever you are preparing to perform." [At the Olympic Training
Center we referred to them as key words. -- Jon Low]
". . . strength is best developed by performing three to five sets of one to five
repetitions at 80% or better of your one repetition maximum."
"The body has three distinct energy systems used to fuel exercise, the anaerobic
alactic or phosphagen, the anaerobic lactic or glycolytic, and the aerobic or oxidative.
Each needs to be trained properly, and with different protocols than the others."
"Aggressive massage is the best treatment to break up these adhesions and regain
free movement." [Ya, competent massage is expensive. More expensive than
prostitutes, because it's at a much higher skill level. Yes, it is painful. We're not
going to a fru fru spa. We're going to a massage therapist. (This ain't the same as
a physical therapist. I think physical therapists are great. I have used them many
times in my life. But they are different from massage therapists.) -- Jon Low]
"Seek out a good provider and use their services on a regular basis." [I have been
able to avoid back surgery and addictive pain killing drugs by massage and
stretching exercises (as Yoga and such). -- Jon Low]
"Make it a priority to get seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep daily whenever
possible and you will notice a difference, especially as you get older."
"Never forget that capability comes from skill and knowledge, not gear."
"What is most important to remember, though, is that kit is useless without skill,
and both are useless without awareness."
"Relaxed, fluid, and adaptable movement is the hallmark of mastery."
"Proper pace is a byproduct of correctly applied technique."
"Working against a determined adversary is the only way to understand the timing
of conflict."
"Waiting until the other side initiates a gunfight is not a way to live until retirement."
The section on "Aiming" should be considered required reading for those who
are training to shoot in combat.
[to be continued in the next blog posting]
"Where Are They Taking My Gun? — Post-Shooting Forensics"
by Michael Haag
https://americancop.com/where-are-they-taking-my-gun-post-shooting-forensics/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
"Weekend Knowledge Dump- September 22, 2023" by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/weekend-knowledge-dump-september-22-2023
"Weekend Knowledge Dump- September 29, 2023"
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/weekend-knowledge-dump-september-29-2023
"As Biden Defunds Hunter Education In Schools, Wyoming Expands Programs
Wyoming will go ahead with plans to expand hunter education and
archery programs in public schools, despite the Biden administration’s
stance they are “dangerous weapons training” for students."
by Mark Heinz
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/09/18/as-biden-defunds-hunter-education-in-schools-wyoming-expands-programs/
Hat tip to Stephen P. Wenger.
Stephen P. Wenger
http://spw-duf.info
FAVORITE QUOTATIONS
https://spw-duf.info/quotes.html
Excerpts:
There is nothing reasonable about "reasonable regulation"
of the right to keep and bear arms.
It's all about eventual abolition of the right.
Not allowing law-abiding citizens to carry guns on the pretext of public
safety makes as much sense not allowing sober people to drive cars in order
to protect them from drunk drivers.
"A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow
the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy."
- Samuel Adams, February 12, 1779
"Eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty."
- Andrew Jackson, Farewell Address, March 4, 1837
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.
And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."
- Barry M. Goldwater, July 16, 1964
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
(«Aquellos que no pueden recordar el pasado están condenados a repetirlo.»)
- George Santayana, The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress
"Who controls the past control the future; who controls the present controls the past."
- Party slogan in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four
THE NAKED EMPEROR
https://spw-duf.info/emperor.html
The Car-Gun Conundrum
https://spw-duf.info/emperor.html#car%20gun
[Don't leave your pistol in your car. It will get stolen out of your car, or your car
will get stolen. Either way, the criminal now has your pistol. The criminal will
then use your pistol to commit crimes, maybe killing your loved ones. -- Jon Low]
Armed Lifestyle Magazine
https://www.armedlifestylemagazine.com/read/issue-9
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
"Cogito, ergo armatum sum." (I think, therefore armed am I.)
-- John Farnam
*************************************************************************
----- Legal -----
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.
It is wholly inadequate for the governance of any other.
-- John Adams, October 11, 1798
"BREAKING!
Huge 2A Decision Circumvents Supreme Court's 5-4 Emergency Order!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMX8P9kSsmk
---
"Supreme Court 2A Decision Brings An End To California's Magazine Ban!!!
Duncan v. Bonta Ruling!" by Armed Scholar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnyss-VZd5s
---
"Ban on Standard Capacity Magazines: UNCONSTITUTIONAL! (Part 1)"
by Andrew Branca
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qCxkD6vu94
Excerpt:
"Last week US District Court (Federal) Judge Roger Benitez handed
down a ruling that California's ban on standard capacity magazines for
firearms is unconstitutional.
While this conclusion is simply obvious common sense, Judge Benitez
was kind enough to explain the underlying constitutional reasoning behind
this conclusion in a wonderfully-written 75-page decision that's loaded to
the gills with citation to recent US Supreme Court Second Amendment
jurisprudence--thus greatly strengthening this ruling from rational reversal."
---
"9th Circuit Violates US Constitution & OWN RULES on 2A AGAIN!"
by Law of Self Defense (Andrew Branca)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX0uKOFFgus
Ninth Circuit Court is taking standard capacity magazine case en banc
without a 9th Circuit Court 3 Judge panel ruling. The dissents are scathing.
Revealing the corruption in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
"District Court Strikes Down 50-Year-Old Gun Law as Unconstitutional"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMfally7JaA
The age of juvenile competency is 10. The age of criminal responsibility
for adults is 17. So saying a person has to be 21 to buy a pistol is legally weak.
"Fraser v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives"
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63354855/47/fraser-v-bureau-of-alcohol-tobacco-firearms-and-explosives/
"Sneaky Draw" by Jeff Gonzales
https://tridentconcepts.com/2018/11/10/sneaky-draw/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Excerpt:
"Here is where some will run into trouble, not practicing a one handed
drawstroke from concealment. Most who are interested in a super fast
drawstroke fail to put the time into practicing their one handed technique.
It is assumed it is no big deal or they don’t need to practice. Big mistake.
You do need to practice, in fact as our default technique we teach a one
handed technique. Not only does it work well for a sneaky draw, but it
allows you to use your weak hand for other tasks. It is much easier to sell
the movement of only one extremity, versus two. Moving one hand slowly
and even using the free hand as a distraction will go a long way."
---
Yes, distraction and misdirection, as we learned in magic class.
It is also essential to be able to do your sneaky draw with your
support-side-hand only. Especially if you are right-handed. Can you
draw while shaking hands? while saluting? while holding your grandchild?
while smoking a cigarette? while adjusting your glasses? while digging
your nose? (Scratching your nose will not draw attention. Digging deep
into your nose will draw attention to your nose and away from your other
hand. We do whatever is necessary to accomplish our mission.)
If you practice, you will be able to. If you are able to, you will have the
confidence to do it. If you are confident, you will execute without hesitation,
and WIN!
"It's not daily increase but daily decrease - hack away at the inessentials!"
-- Bruce Lee
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Postvention ***** ***** *****
Suggestions on how to treat your wounds; avoid prosecution, conviction, and prison time.
Table of contents:
Aftermath
Medical
Survival
*************************************************************************
----- Aftermath (You must be alive to have these problems: criminal and civil liability.) -----
"Should I Leave the Scene of a Defensive Shooting?"
by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/should-i-leave-the-scene-of-a-defensive-shooting
Well, let's think about this.
In Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Nashville, TN;
Ferguson, MO; et al
if in completely justified self-defense, you shoot and kill someone (especially
someone of a politically favored minority group) and you stay at the scene to
direct police to the bad guys, you will be arrested (especially if you are White).
The legal system will leave you unemployed and destitute. The stress on your
family will cause your spouse to divorce you and take your children. You will
be sodomized and beaten in jail while awaiting your bond hearing. I could go
on, but you get the idea. (The Red Cross won't let you donate blood ever again.
They know what goes on in prison.)
On the other hand, if you go home, the probability of ever getting arrested
is less than 50%, much less getting prosecuted (as long as you make yourself
hard to convict; prosecutors are not stupid, they want easy, they don't want hard
work), much less getting convicted (Andrew Branca says that if you are innocent
and you get prosecuted, there is a 10% that you will be convicted. That's just
the noise in the system. Remember, juries are made up of persons too stupid
to get off jury duty. Or, worse those wanting to play God and trying to advance
their political agenda.).
Here we are talking about known gang bangers, known drug dealers, and known
violent criminals with long violent records. For decent law abiding citizens
without criminal records, the probability is way less than 50%. Because, how
would the police find you? They don't have any file on you. They don't have
a mug shot of you. They don't have any reason to suspect you. Unless you run
your mouth or post on social media.
As long as you keep your mouth shut and get a competent attorney. Never talk
to the police or prosecutors. Never consent to a search of anything. Never talk
to anyone (except your attorney) or post anything on social media, or anywhere
else for that matter.
With all the bad guys committing crimes, do you think the police will spend
any time or resources tracking down a good guy? With all the scum bags
overflowing the dockets, do you think the prosecutors want to spend any time
or resources prosecuting an upstanding citizen? Of course, there is the
exception for political reasons. That's your fault for being born White (or
close enough for CNN to claim you are a "White Hispanic", as they did with
George Zimmerman) or voting for liberals.
It might make sense to stay at the scene in Florida and other free states,
as you will probably not be arrested, unless you run your mouth, in which case
you can easily talk yourself into an arrest and conviction (no matter how smart
or innocent you think you are). In states with self-defense immunity hearings,
it might make sense to stay at the scene to direct the police to the bad guys.
But, do you really want to give the other gang members time to get to you?
You've killed their buddies. If you think the police will protect you, you're a
damn fool.
If you stay at the scene, the police will get your information. The family or
estate of the bad guys that you killed will sue you. The police and prosecutor
will turn over all of your information to the attorneys for the bad guys. (They
are required to by law. It's called "discovery".) Then the bad guys will go to
your house, where your family lives, and do their best to stop you from living,
and your family of course. Can't leave witnesses. And they will take sadistic
pleasure in doing so.
Did the other "instructors" neglect to tell you this? Do you think I'm lying
to you?
In the right hand column, click on the link labeled "Self Defense Insurance".
Or, the direct link is,
http://defensivepistolcraft.blogspot.com/p/self-defense-insurance.html
Read this before you buy insurance. You need to make an informed decision.
The various policies are drastically different.
"You need to read the fine print." -- Massad Ayoob
"Kayla Giles and USCCA Case Analyzed"
by Attorneys Marc J. Victor and Andy Marcantel, Attorneys On Retainer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sKtAVOfSG8
This is a real problem. I have talked to many USCCA reps who showed up
at my classes to sell their policies. I've never gotten a cogent answer from
any of them.
"Attorneys On Retainer"
https://attorneysonretainer.us/
Attorneys for Freedom Law Firm
https://attorneysforfreedom.com/
Endorsed by Liberty Doll.
---
"Attorneys Marc J. Victor and Andy Marcantel Review the
5 Misleading Claims About USCCA Membership"
by Attorneys Marc J. Victor and Andy Marcantel, Attorneys On Retainer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_etWaCHq4D8
---
Some are insurance companies, some are not, some are law firms. They are all
very different. That's why Massad Ayoob says, you must read the fine print.
"CCW Safe Self-Defense Policy Review (2023)" by Attorney Marc J. Victor,
Attorneys On Retainer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6qS0eCcdpY
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him,
but because he loves what is behind him.”
― G.K. Chesterton
In the right hand column of this web page, click on "Never Talk To The Police"
or use the direct address
https://defensivepistolcraft.blogspot.com/p/never-talk-to-police.html
“Your understanding and consent are not required
for someone to take your life, kill your loved ones,
and destroy all you hold dear.”
-- William Aprill
*************************************************************************
----- Medical -----
"If you prepare for the emergency,
the emergency ceases to exist!"
-- Sherman House
*************************************************************************
----- Survival -----
"If you stay fit, you do not have to get fit.
If you stay trained, you do not have to get trained.
If you stay prepared, you do not have to get prepared."
-- Robert Margulies
Three things to carry.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CVFakKEDgwk
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Education ***** ***** *****
Table of contents:
Legal
Instruction
Gear
*************************************************************************
"You will never get smarter or broaden your horizons
if you're unwilling to learn from others and read."
-- Becca Martin
Cumberland University's Fall Speaker Series Presents (Free of charge!)
https://www.forcescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fall-Speaker-Series.pdf
We're thrilled to be part of Cumberland University's Fall Speaker Series on
October 25 - 26 in Lebanon, Tennessee. Don't miss the insightful presentation on
"The Good, the Bad, and the Reasonable: The Reality of Police Violence"
by Von Kliem and Nicole Florisi.
Additionally, DEA agents Javier Pena and Steve Murphy will discuss their pursuit
of Pablo Escobar, the story behind Netflix's NARCOS.
Experience firsthand the advanced use-of-force training with the
VirTra V-100 Simulator.
No registration is needed – just arrive ready to learn and engage.
We can't wait to see you there!
"It's a Tactical Problem" by Sheriff Jim Wilson
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/it-s-a-tactical-problem/
Excerpt:
"Simply put, being a good shot does not make one a gunfighter."
"Microstamping – Myth Vs. Reality" by John Richardson
https://onlygunsandmoney.com/2023/09/26/microstamping-myth-vs-reality.html
Hat tip to Stephen P. Wenger.
I read "The Way is in Training" by Matthew Little, 2022.
ISBN: 9798412779645
https://greybeardactual.com/
I highly recommend the book to you. Some of the things I learned or learned in a
different way or thought were important to convey to you. (The book is long, as it
is actually 6 books mushed together into one large tome. So, I will only cover the
first half of my readings in this blog posting.)
"Your mind needs to be right in advance of a deadly force incident. When the incident
occurs is too late for that thought process to happen. It needs to be part of your worldview
well in advance."
“You had your whole life to prepare for this moment. Why aren't you ready?”
-- David Mamet (as spoken in the movie "Spartan" staring Val Kilmer, one of my favorites)
". . . the willingness to embrace challenge is a catalyst for growth and accomplishment."
". . . if you focus on the desired outcome, you set yourself up for failure. If instead
you focus on the process you need to follow to prevail, you'll let the subconscious skill
you've developed in training take over and carry you through."
"Be aware and observe every aspect of every repetition you do in training. Over
time you will have developed a subconscious ‶program″ to play when you need a
particular skill. No one can create these for you."
"Another mental affirmation technique we can use is silently repeating to yourself
a simple phrase whenever you are preparing to perform." [At the Olympic Training
Center we referred to them as key words. -- Jon Low]
". . . strength is best developed by performing three to five sets of one to five
repetitions at 80% or better of your one repetition maximum."
"The body has three distinct energy systems used to fuel exercise, the anaerobic
alactic or phosphagen, the anaerobic lactic or glycolytic, and the aerobic or oxidative.
Each needs to be trained properly, and with different protocols than the others."
"Aggressive massage is the best treatment to break up these adhesions and regain
free movement." [Ya, competent massage is expensive. More expensive than
prostitutes, because it's at a much higher skill level. Yes, it is painful. We're not
going to a fru fru spa. We're going to a massage therapist. (This ain't the same as
a physical therapist. I think physical therapists are great. I have used them many
times in my life. But they are different from massage therapists.) -- Jon Low]
"Seek out a good provider and use their services on a regular basis." [I have been
able to avoid back surgery and addictive pain killing drugs by massage and
stretching exercises (as Yoga and such). -- Jon Low]
"Make it a priority to get seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep daily whenever
possible and you will notice a difference, especially as you get older."
"Never forget that capability comes from skill and knowledge, not gear."
"What is most important to remember, though, is that kit is useless without skill,
and both are useless without awareness."
"Relaxed, fluid, and adaptable movement is the hallmark of mastery."
"Proper pace is a byproduct of correctly applied technique."
"Working against a determined adversary is the only way to understand the timing
of conflict."
"Waiting until the other side initiates a gunfight is not a way to live until retirement."
The section on "Aiming" should be considered required reading for those who
are training to shoot in combat.
[to be continued in the next blog posting]
"Where Are They Taking My Gun? — Post-Shooting Forensics"
by Michael Haag
https://americancop.com/where-are-they-taking-my-gun-post-shooting-forensics/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
"Weekend Knowledge Dump- September 22, 2023" by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/weekend-knowledge-dump-september-22-2023
"Weekend Knowledge Dump- September 29, 2023"
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/weekend-knowledge-dump-september-29-2023
"As Biden Defunds Hunter Education In Schools, Wyoming Expands Programs
Wyoming will go ahead with plans to expand hunter education and
archery programs in public schools, despite the Biden administration’s
stance they are “dangerous weapons training” for students."
by Mark Heinz
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/09/18/as-biden-defunds-hunter-education-in-schools-wyoming-expands-programs/
Hat tip to Stephen P. Wenger.
Stephen P. Wenger
http://spw-duf.info
FAVORITE QUOTATIONS
https://spw-duf.info/quotes.html
Excerpts:
There is nothing reasonable about "reasonable regulation"
of the right to keep and bear arms.
It's all about eventual abolition of the right.
Not allowing law-abiding citizens to carry guns on the pretext of public
safety makes as much sense not allowing sober people to drive cars in order
to protect them from drunk drivers.
"A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow
the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy."
- Samuel Adams, February 12, 1779
"Eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty."
- Andrew Jackson, Farewell Address, March 4, 1837
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.
And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."
- Barry M. Goldwater, July 16, 1964
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
(«Aquellos que no pueden recordar el pasado están condenados a repetirlo.»)
- George Santayana, The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress
"Who controls the past control the future; who controls the present controls the past."
- Party slogan in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four
THE NAKED EMPEROR
https://spw-duf.info/emperor.html
The Car-Gun Conundrum
https://spw-duf.info/emperor.html#car%20gun
[Don't leave your pistol in your car. It will get stolen out of your car, or your car
will get stolen. Either way, the criminal now has your pistol. The criminal will
then use your pistol to commit crimes, maybe killing your loved ones. -- Jon Low]
Armed Lifestyle Magazine
https://www.armedlifestylemagazine.com/read/issue-9
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
"Cogito, ergo armatum sum." (I think, therefore armed am I.)
-- John Farnam
*************************************************************************
----- Legal -----
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.
It is wholly inadequate for the governance of any other.
-- John Adams, October 11, 1798
"BREAKING!
Huge 2A Decision Circumvents Supreme Court's 5-4 Emergency Order!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMX8P9kSsmk
---
"Supreme Court 2A Decision Brings An End To California's Magazine Ban!!!
Duncan v. Bonta Ruling!" by Armed Scholar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnyss-VZd5s
---
"Ban on Standard Capacity Magazines: UNCONSTITUTIONAL! (Part 1)"
by Andrew Branca
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qCxkD6vu94
Excerpt:
"Last week US District Court (Federal) Judge Roger Benitez handed
down a ruling that California's ban on standard capacity magazines for
firearms is unconstitutional.
While this conclusion is simply obvious common sense, Judge Benitez
was kind enough to explain the underlying constitutional reasoning behind
this conclusion in a wonderfully-written 75-page decision that's loaded to
the gills with citation to recent US Supreme Court Second Amendment
jurisprudence--thus greatly strengthening this ruling from rational reversal."
---
"9th Circuit Violates US Constitution & OWN RULES on 2A AGAIN!"
by Law of Self Defense (Andrew Branca)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX0uKOFFgus
Ninth Circuit Court is taking standard capacity magazine case en banc
without a 9th Circuit Court 3 Judge panel ruling. The dissents are scathing.
Revealing the corruption in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
"District Court Strikes Down 50-Year-Old Gun Law as Unconstitutional"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMfally7JaA
The age of juvenile competency is 10. The age of criminal responsibility
for adults is 17. So saying a person has to be 21 to buy a pistol is legally weak.
"Fraser v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives"
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63354855/47/fraser-v-bureau-of-alcohol-tobacco-firearms-and-explosives/
Law of Self Defense by Andrew Branca (free book, just pay shipping)
http://lawofselfdefense.com/freebook
"The 5 Elements of Self Defense" by Andrew Branca (free of charge)
lawofselfdefense.com/elements/
"Federal 'Gun Agency' Makes Shocking New Rule"
by Facts Matter with Roman Balmakov
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWeR-wWR5Ds
Sold a gun to anyone? Then you are a "Firearms Dealer".
Don't have a Federal Firearms License? Then you're a felon.
ATF will arrest you.
The rule,
https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/docs/rulemaking/atf-eib-nprm-engaged-business-dealer-firearms/download
Tell the U.S. government that this rule is unconstitutional because it will
chill the transfer of arms between law abiding citizens which infringes on the
right to keep and bear arms. (I submitted a comment to that effect.)
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/09/08/2023-19177/definition-of-engaged-in-the-business-as-a-dealer-in-firearms
"Biden is moving to define virtually everyone selling a gun as a gun dealer
simultaneously, putting thousands of gun dealers out of business."
-- Dr. John R. Lott, Jr.
http://crimeresearch.org
"Hawaii Desperate to Overturn Butterfly Knife Ruling That Threatens Gun Control Laws"
by TTAG Contributor
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/hawaii-desperate-to-overturn-butterfly-knife-ruling-that-threatens-gun-control-laws/
Hat tip to Stephen P. Wenger.
The structure of this pro-arms ruling will be used nation wide to overturn state,
county, and municipal arms-control laws and ordinances. That's why, not just the
Hawaii state government (Democrat since statehood in September of 1959), but
many gun-control groups are filing amicus briefs. [Well, okay there was one RINO
Republican Governor, Linda Lingle. But she was a Hawaii Republican, similar to
the Yale Republicans, think Bush et al. No one could mistakes them for conservatives.]
The U.S. Supreme Court makes rulings, but it is up to the lower courts to interpret
and apply the rulings. And then it's up to the Circuit Courts to make case law. Which
is just as binding as statute law passed by the legislature and signed by the chief executive.
Of course, the SCOTUS can overrule the lower courts, but that's an expensive, long,
and difficult process. That's why putting conservatives on the lower court benches is
so important. That's why Brandon has appointed so many judges to the lower courts;
more than any previous President (if news reports are to be believed). He hasn't had
an opportunity to appoint anyone to the SCOTUS. Thank God.
God willing, Trump will become POTUS, a liberal Justice will resign (think
Souter, appointed by Bush, resigned during Obama's administration to allow
a Democrat President to appoint his replacement on the SCOTUS, treason!) or die
(think Ginsberg, refused to retire during Obama's first term when the Democrats
controlled the U.S. Senate, allowing Trump to appoint her replacement upon her
death).
You think those were accidents? Personal hatred and racism is emotionally far more
powerful than political ideology.
Think it couldn't happen?
"Trump scores eye-popping 10-point lead over Biden in new poll"
by Ryan King
https://nypost.com/2023/09/24/trump-scores-10-point-lead-over-biden-poll/
"MAGIC: Senate Dems SUDDENLY up in arms against new Gun Control law . . .
What could cause this shift . . . ?
by Langley Outdoors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JToU-VWoURE
Primary source article,
"Bows, arrows and Biden: Rural Dems angry with the White House over gun bill"
by Jennifer Haberkorn
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/15/biden-gun-safety-democrats-school-education-00116303
USA Archery (the National Governing Organization for archery in the U.S. [think
Olympics, World Games, etc.]) sent me a letter.
Dear Jonathan,
We need your help!
On June 25, 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) was signed,
with the aim being to protect children and reduce threats of violence following tragic
events in Texas and New York.
Since the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, schools
across the country have provided archery and hunter education classes with funding
authorized by the ESEA. The U.S. Department of Education has recently made these
very programs ineligible for federal education funding, impacting millions of children,
because of what we strongly feel is a misinterpretation of the BSCA.
The BSCA was never intended to impact enrichment programs like those involving
archery and hunter education and yet despite a public outcry from those in our
community and those within Congress, the U.S. Department of Education has not
reconsidered its stance.
We are therefore asking you to help in our fight to pass legislation, by sending
a message to your U.S. Representative urging them to back H.R. 5110, which is
the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act. This would amend ESEA and
allow schools to, once again, use federal education funds for archery classes and
hunter education.
We sincerely thank you for your support,
USA Archery
---
"House approves bill striking down Biden's crackdown on
hunting and archery in overwhelmingly bipartisan vote
Biden admin interpreted 2022 gun control bill to strip funding
from schools with hunting and archery programs"
by Thomas Catenacci
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-approves-bill-striking-down-bidens-crackdown-hunting-archery-overwhelmingly-bipartisan-vote
Hat tip to Stephen P. Wenger.
Excerpt:
"The House voted late Tuesday [9/26/2023] evening in favor of legislation
striking down the Biden administration's decision to block federal funding for
school shooting sports courses. In a 424-1 vote, the House approved the
ʽProtecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act’ with
216 Republicans and 208 Democrats voting in favor, and just one lawmaker,
Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, voting against.
(Trace evil to its source and name it, Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas.)
"Nice:
Cop Has Ex-Girlfriend Involuntarily Committed To Mental Hospital
After They Broke Up"
by Docent
https://practicaleschatology.blogspot.com/2023/09/nice-cop-has-ex-girlfriend.html
As Docent says, " . . . but how did he get the involuntary commitment so easily?
And if it is so easy to obtain an involuntary commitment order, imagine how
much easier it is to get a red-flag order."
Cited article,
"Married Pennsylvania cop Ronald Davis is charged
after being filmed forcibly arresting mistress then
having her committed after telling he'd 'make her look crazy'
when they broke up"
by Mackenzie Tatananni
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12556677/Married-Pennsylvania-cop-faces-false-imprisonment-charges-improperly-committing-ex-mental-health-facility-shocking-12-minute-arrest-video-allegedly-saying-Ill-paint-crazy.html
Davis did it because he thought he could get away with it. Because he had gotten
away with other similar things in the past. His superiors covered for him, which taught
him a very bad lesson, that he would be able to get away with such behavior in the
future. This litany of charges is not indicative of a first offense.
"UPDATE: Federal School Zone Charges for Shotgun at Home" by Liberty Doll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xogOjm9n0hY
"Federal School Zone Charges for Shotgun at Home" by Liberty Doll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJUWWMo_cSE
Elections matter because they determine the federal judges in your jurisdiction.
Any competent judge would have dismissed all charges.
Thank God humans are mortal.
"While mayor of San Francisco, Feinstein made a show of turning in an
inexpensive Charter Arms revolver as part of a program to encourage residents
to surrender their own handguns. Someone subsequently gained access to the
records of her rare San Francisco CWP and discovered that she had kept her
S&W revolver. Then, on election to the US Senate, she allegedly requested
appointment as a Special Deputy US Marshal – a credential that would have
allowed her discreet carry across the nation. The US DOJ issued a formal
opinion stating that such deputization of members of Congress would violate
the principle of separation of powers. Among her infringement efforts, she
actively opposed all bills mandating interstate recognition of carry licenses.
In the movie “The Wizard of Oz”, there is a song
ʽDing Dong! The Witch Is Dead’."
-- Stephen P. Wenger
“Is there no virtue among us?
If there is not, we are without hope!
No form of government, existing nor theoretical, will keep us from harm.
To think that any government, in any form, will insure liberty and happiness
for a dishonorable population represents the height of self-deception.”
-- James Madison, 1788
*************************************************************************
----- Instruction -----
Colonel Robert Lindsey to his fellow trainers:
"We are not God's gift to our students.
Our students are God's gift to us."
----- Instructors -----
"Remember,
the students who require the extra effort
are the ones who need us the most!"
-- John Farnam
"Developing an Emergency Response Plan for the Training Environment"
by Klint Macro
https://www.personaldefensenetwork.com/article/developing-emergency-response-plan-training-environment/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
"If you don’t have a solid plan for medical emergencies while training
on your own or teaching classes, you are not engaging in industry best
practices. Educated students will avoid you and your classes."
-- Greg Ellifritz
This FREE webinar for shooting range owners and operators,
“Boost Participation on Your Range and Save Money,” by NSSF
will be held on October 11, 2023.
https://www.nssf.org/event/boost-participation-on-your-range-and-save-money/
Register at
https://webinar.ringcentral.com/webinar/register/8216956728249/WN_i6X2rs8gRG2W4iygtut4MQ
"Join Ann Gamauf and Zach Snow to learn how this turnkey program
will help you introduce or reintroduce people to the shooting sports!
Even if you already have an introductory program, First Shots can save
you money on marketing. During this session, they will give you a
run-down of the program including the FREE support resources provided
to ranges that become hosts. They will highlight different ways host
ranges effectively use First Shots to generate business and tactics for
you to consider to help make your First Shots events a success."
Be careful what you teach.
Because your students will do in combat
whatever you have trained them to do,
no matter how ridiculous.
-- "Shooting in Self-Defense" by Sara Ahrens
----- Andragogy -----
‟An instructor should not expect any learning to take
place the first time new information is presented.”
-- ‶Building Shooters″ by Dustin Salomon
"Learning (reading written articles, watching videos, live online classes etc.)
is convenient, low cost, low value.
Training (in person classes; conferences: Guardian Conference, Tac Con,
Active Self Protection National Conference, etc.) is inconvenient (4 to 5 days
for most people), high cost (time off from work, travel, hotel, car rental, etc.),
high value (if you make a good faith effort to learn, pay attention, take notes,
review, introspect, etc., not just party with your friends as if on destination
vacation, if you're up late drinking instead of organizing your notes and doing
your homework . . . ).
Practice is convenient (done when you schedule it), low cost (dry practice, etc.),
high value (if done deliberately, if you are practicing the things you learned in
training and not nonsense you saw on YouTube.com).
The training and practice lead to skill.
Skill is perishable. And so training and practice must be continuous and recent."
-- Jacob Paulsen (paraphrased)
President of ConcealedCarry.com
"Tips For Teaching Family To Shoot" by Justin Dyal
https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/tips-for-teaching-family-to-shoot/
Col. Dyal is worth reading.
“The most valuable resource that all teachers have is each other.
Without collaboration, our growth is limited to our own perspectives.”
-- Robert John Meehan
*************************************************************************
----- Gear -----
“Mission drives the gear train.”
-- Pat Rogers
"Don’t Use FMJ Ammo for Self-Defense" by Justin
https://swiftsilentdeadly.com/dont-use-fmj-ammo-for-self-defense/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Excerpts:
"No matter what, it MUST be reliable."
[That means it must feed, chamber, fire, and eject every time. -- Jon Low]
"More importantly, though, care is taken to seal the case mouth against moisture.
. . . The primers on premium ammo are also sealed to make them waterproof."
[You can seal your ammo if it is not. Take a fine brush and lacquer, and run a
thin bead along the seam between the bullet and case, and the seam between
the primer and case. Lacquer is used by the manufacturers of military ammo
because it is cheap and doesn't leave residue that will gum up the firearm.
(But mainly because it's cheap.)
-- Jon Low]
[Well, if premium ammo won't feed reliably in your pistol, you ought to take
your pistol to a gunsmith and get it fixed. -- Jon Low]
"How Much Ammo Is Enough?" Lt. Frank Borelli (ret)
https://www.officer.com/blogs/blog/53069609/how-much-ammo-is-enough
Excerpt:
Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
Two is one, one is none.
"Everything You Need to Know About Pistol Concealment"
byMassad Ayoob
https://www.athlonoutdoors.com/article/pistol-concealment-tips/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Excerpt:
"Revolvers are simpler to load and unload than a semi-automatic pistol,
and less dependent on maintenance, lubrication and ammo type."
[I disagree. -- Jon Low]
"Zeroing Your Dot" by Erick Gelhaus
https://americancop.com/zeroing-your-dot/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Take a class from Erick. I've taken a couple. I highly recommend.
Mika pocket holsters.
https://mikaspocketholsters.com/
Mika will call you within hours of you placing your order.
To ensure a meeting of the minds. Customer service on a higher level.
Place your order soon, as Mika is old and might die or
close his business any day. When Chuck Haggard and Bryan Eastridge
told their students about Mika and showed them his work, one of their
students placed an order on his smart phone. Mika called the student
back before the end of the day.
DCC clips to hold your holster to your belt. By far the best clips on the market.
It's obvious once you look at them.
https://discreetcarryconcepts.com/
https://discreetcarryconcepts.com/HLR-Discreet-Gear-Clips%E2%84%A2-c26960683
https://discreetcarryconcepts.com/DCC-Monoblock-Gear-Clips%E2%84%A2-c44562125
https://harrysholsters.com/discreet-carry-concepts-clips-are-they-really-worth-it/
Dummy pistols with dummy magazines.
https://ghostinternational.com/product/training-gun/
Note the pop up warning:
"For purchasing Training Gun in Saudi Arabia, Holland and Australia,
gun license is needed."
Like shooting plates and poppers, but don't like the back splash of lead and sharp
copper jackets? Well, here's the answer,
https://throomtargets.com/
"Are you having fun?" -- Pat Rogers (spoken with an Irish accent)
[Meaning we're done with you. We are not going to expend any more effort
training you. Because you have demonstrated a bad attitude.]
"Ammo Explained: What's a Primer?" by NRA Staff
https://www.nrafamily.org/content/ammo-explained-what-s-a-primer/
"How Guns Work: Firing Sequence" by NRA Staff
https://www.nrafamily.org/content/how-guns-work-firing-sequence/
"What Are Bullets Made Of?" by Richard Mann
https://www.fieldandstream.com/guns/what-are-bullets-made-of/
“You are no more armed because you are wearing a pistol
than you are a musician because you own a guitar.”
from ‶Principles of Personal Defense″ by Col. Jeff Cooper,
USMC, (1920 – 2006 A.D.)
Numrich Gun Parts Corporation
226 Williams Ln.
Kingston, NY 12401
866.686.7424
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/
I have confirmed that with my Springfield Armory XD Tactical 5" barrel in 45 ACP,
my right-handed point of impact (POI) is 1" to the left of my left-handed POI at 10 yards.
I am sure of this because Wyane Dobbs and Erick Gelhaus have pulled the trigger while
I was aiming. Both Wayne and Erick are left handed. And I am also sure of this because
I am able to shoot tight groups, as in the bullet holes are touching. I have the pistol
zeroed for my left-handed two hand grip, as that is the way I normally carry and shoot.
When I shoot with my Springfield Armory XD 4" barrel in 45 ACP, my right-handed
and left-handed points of impact are exactly the same at 10 yards.
If you have an explanation, I would love to hear it.
Clark Armory
Magtech 9mm Luger 115 gr Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
https://clarkarmory.com/products/magtech-9mm-luger-115-gr-full-metal-jacket-fmj-50-per-box?_kx=cIDy8yJsM_bJCm9h9JHRNlEzZWBb2W12nI28JizV70o%3D.V8i4bR
1000 rounds (20 boxes of 50 rounds each)
use code MAGCASE at checkout
Total $259.80
I have used WD-40 and recommended it because it is effective and cheap
compared to other specialized gun products.
"21 Strange and Ingenious Uses for WD40" by Bill Heavey
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/21-strange-and-ingenious-uses-for-wd40
Excerpt:
"The story of WD40 begins in 1953, when the fledgling
Rocket Chemical Company, Inc. of San Diego, California
— all three employees — set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and
degreasers for the aerospace industry. Working out of a tiny lab in San Diego,
it took them 40 attempts to perfect a water-displacement formula. And so
Water Displacement 40 came to be."
[I have heard people say that if you let it sit for a few years, it gums up.
I have never found that to be the case. -- Jon Low]
I once had an instructor tell me, "If you're going to get in a fight, you might as
well throw the biggest rock that you can accurately throw."
---
To accurately throw means to minimize recoil. Recoil is the momentum.
Momentum is conserved. [Conservation of momentum is not a first principle.
You can derive it from isotropic space, and smooth and continuous time.
Quantum mechanics says time is not continuous, so that's a problem.]
Momentum = (bullet mass X bullet velocity at the muzzle)
= (pistol mass X pistol speed when the bullet exists the muzzle).
Kinetic energy (movement of the pistol, movement of the bullet, etc.)
is not conserved, heat energy (friction of the bullet against the bore,
chemical reaction of the propellant, etc.) is not conserved, potential energy
(compression and expansion of springs, flexing of the plastic frame, etc.)
is not conserved. Only total energy is theoretically conserved. So analyzing
energy is really useless.
Which self-defense pistol cartridge has the least momentum (recoil)?
Multiply the bullet mass by the muzzle velocity, that's the momentum.
But "felt recoil" generally refers to the velocity of your pistol moving in
your hand. So, divide the momentum by the mass of your pistol to get the
velocity of your pistol in your hand, the "felt recoil".
---
Biggest rock means most massive bullet. Because bullet mass is directly
proportional to penetration. Bullet energy is not directly related to penetration.
Sorry, that's just physics. (Yes, as a matter of fact, I am a physics professor.)
---
So the engineering problem is to
maximize the bullet mass, while
minimizing the bullet velocity, while
maximizing the pistol mass;
with the goal of
maximizing the bullet penetration (a function of mass, shape, speed, etc.) and
minimizing the felt recoil (pistol velocity when the bullet exits the muzzle).
Oooooohhh, a multi-variable calculus problem.
I'm not the first one to do these calculations. John Browning did them.
And he concluded 230 grains, 850 feet per second, (45 ACP). He made the
pistol as heavy as he could while still being small enough for just about
any soldier to grip and manipulate (model 1911 with steel frame).
The 1911 magazine is designed to hold 7 rounds, intentionally!
When you make 8 (or more) round magazines, you have effectively
gone outside Browning's engineering boundaries. You can't get the angle
correct for reliable feeding, so you have to "adjust" the feed ramp,
which causes a cascade of engineering problems. I admit the problems
have been solved in modern pistols, but all engineering is compromise.
If you've ever seen an original 1911, and carefully watched as the
slide moves forward as it was intended to, you will see the cartridge
jump out of the magazine and into the chamber ahead of the slide.
It truly is an engineering marvel. Don't expect to see it in any modern
variation. All kinds of changes have been made to "improve" the design.
“Your car is not a holster.”
-- Pat Rogers
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Cryptology ***** ***** *****
"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe,
and preserve order in the world as well as property.
Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of their use."
-- Thomas Paine
[Cryptosystems are considered "arms" by federal law.
ITAR, International Traffic in Arms Regulations]
Wewok, Seminole
"Computer science has nothing to do with computers or science."
-- Donald Knuth
A ten lecture series on modular forms. YouTube.com allows you to speed up the
playback. Click on the gear shaped icon, settings, at the bottom right of the screen
to increase playback speed.
https://www.youtube.com/@ajitb3457/videos
---
"Introduction to Modular Forms" by Keith Conrad
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJUSzeW191Qx_rdAS8sd4nTNlSyLt97Q4
The next video in the series will play automatically. Ya, the video is bad. What
do you expect for free? The important thing is that everything he says is correct.
---
The enemy is using this. So you better know how to use it too.
There is nothing new under the sun. But many things are new to you.
Do mathematicians create things? Or do they just discover things that always were?
“Your character is what you do when no one is looking.”
-- Thomas Jefferson
"Linus Torvalds on why desktop Linux sucks"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzl1B7nB9Kc
"If it's a bug that everyone relies on, it's not a bug; it's a feature."
-- Linus
It doesn't matter what the standard says.
Statically linked, as opposed to dynamically linked. Linked at compile time, as
opposed to linked at run time. Statically linked for the life of the program,
as opposed to unlinked at run time when no longer needed.
Ubuntu. Running live off a flash drive in a USB port on my laptop.
Nightly builds. Fond memories. At BAE Systems we did nightly builds.
The automated testing was fantastic.
"Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.
Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have
perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must
believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing
must be attained."
-- Marie Curie
"Climbing past the complex numbers." by Michael Penn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3Tbf-d9sE4
At 6:43 he says "Integer" instead of "Real number". He means Real number.
Sedenion. I had never heard this term. Wikipedia seems to have a
description at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedenion
Though some of the references are sketchy. "complex sedenions", what does that
mean? As opposed to "real sedenions"?
"Algorithms You Should Know Before System Design Interviews"
by ByteByteGo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbgzl2maQUU
"The surprising reason behind electron ‘spin’! (They don’t REALLY spin)"
by FloatHeadPhysics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdN1mweN2ds
Do you get the point?
Evgeniia Korchagina wishes you pleasant dreams.
"Premature optimization is the root of all evil."
-- Donald Knuth
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Intelligence ***** ***** *****
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
-- Second Amendment, U.S. Constitution
"A Game Changer . . . If We Can Develop It" by Docent
https://practicaleschatology.blogspot.com/2023/09/a-game-changer-if-we-can-develop-it.html
"Scientists have discovered a huge deposit of lithium – a metal used in batteries – in
a volcanic crater along the Nevada-Oregon border. The deposit lies in the southern
portion of McDermitt Caldera at Thacker Pass and is larger than the previous record
holder in Bolivia. It could entirely change the global market and geopolitics of lithium,
which is a major ingredient in the batteries used in electric vehicles. The lithium is
found in a rare clay mineral that was formed by a combination of volcanic and
hydrothermal processes. However, the mining project faces opposition from Native
Americans who consider the area sacred and historical."
-- Sabine Hossenfelder
Magazine article,
"Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found"
by Anthony King
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/lithium-discovery-in-us-volcano-could-be-biggest-deposit-ever-found/4018032.article
Primary source paper,
"Hydrothermal enrichment of lithium in intracaldera illite-bearing claystones"
by Thomas R. Benson, Matthew A. Coble, and John H. Dilles
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adh8183
"Good habits and skill beat luck every time."
-- Sheriff Jim Wilson
"The Economics of Artillery Shells in the Russo-Ukrainian War"
by Not What You Think
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDoiqH66DLM
I loved artillery. I loved being a forward observer. I loved being a cannoneer.
Fond memories.
"Global cooling" was a hoax. "Global warming" was a hoax. And now "Climate change"
is a hoax. You can tell a lot about a person by what he believes and how he justifies his
beliefs. Not what he says he believes. His true beliefs are betrayed by his behavior, what
he does, where he invests his money, where he chooses to live, etc.
"Gravitas:
China exports faulty war machines, countries complain about
defective jets, radar & ships" by WION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHJGDDpTLQ4
Did you hear that? It was very short. "Chinese private security contractors."
Do you understand? Think Wagner, Blackwater, Executive Outcomes, etc.
Ya, it's Indian propaganda, but that doesn't mean it's not true.
"If you ever buy an AK-47, definitely do not buy a Chinese made one.
Those things are pieces of junk." -- Jason Hanson
"Ukraine War: Russia's Black Sea ships will take 'very long time to repair' "
by Sky News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28-JOPfvQQo
Confirmed by a Naval Surface Warfare Officer, Lt. Cmd. type, who was
aboard these ships.
https://www.propublica.org/article/how-navy-spent-billions-littoral-combat-ship
https://www.propublica.org/article/navy-littoral-combat-ship-takeaways
Jon Low: Did you ever suffer a break down at sea or a weapon systems failure?
O-4: We did, we were stuck in port in Singapore for a long time.
"Missile Strikes Russian Naval Headquarters in Crimea | VOA News"
by Voice of America
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBMzdlYqNfU
Good Intel. The flags were all present during the attack. (Flag grade officers
are the various ranks of admirals, as the general grade officers are the various
ranks of generals.)
"Ukraine War: Kyiv claims breaking through Western Zaporizhzhia"
by Sky News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1slmufKrrV4
Phillip Ingram, now where have we heard that name before?
"The Steel Giant that is Turning the Russian Offensive into Rubble"
by Dark Tech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9wkJyYIoVo
Ah, so what has leaked out here?
"Spotify will use AI to replicate podcasters’ voices and translate them to other languages"
https://ground.news/article/spotify-is-testing-ai-powered-podcast-language-translation-which-mimics-the-podcasters-own-voice
When I was working on the Joint Tactical Radio System, one of the requirements
was fidelity / bit rate high enough to recognize the persons voice. Because operators,
pilots especially, used voice recognition as their method of authentication in combat.
In combat, one rarely has time to execute protocols to authenticate. We SigInt types
are really spoiled in that sense. So, you see the problem.
"Hey, Staff, if the comm channel is encrypted, the authentication is baked in."
Systems can be hacked or jammed. We don't always have encrypted comms.
If the couriers fail to get today's crypto keys to us, we go unencrypted. Using
yesterday's keys is forbidden, for good reason. Voice recognition at the human level,
up until recently, has been an additional layer of authentication. If you received
orders to attack a target from a call sign that you recognized as a superior in your
chain of command, but did not recognize the voice, would you attack the target?
As an artillery forward observer, I once received orders, over a PRC 77,
instructing me to call an artillery fire mission on a target. It was supposed to be
Lt. Jasek (spelling is wrong, it was a long polish name that I can't remember)
talking to me, but I couldn't recognize his voice. So I asked, "Who got caught
cheating in last week's PFT (physical fitness test) run (3 mile run)?" I expected
the Lt. to say, "Corporal Yeck". But that's not what he said. I didn't call the
mission. Later, the Lt. said he never called me. [Ya, it was a little suspicious
that someone was calling a forward observer instead of the Fire Direction Center.
But, you can't always reach the unit that you're trying to talk to. So calling
someone else in the unit was not unreasonable. If I had recognized Lt. Jasek's
voice, I would have called the mission. I didn't know what was at that location.
Could have been the head shed (battalion headquarters) for all I knew.]
"Artillery Operations"
https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCWP%203-16.1%20Artillery%20Operations.pdf
Only 20 years old. So it's probably all still correct.
"What is the significance of the Abrams tanks arriving in Ukraine?" by DW News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFUIX1zrAWc
Excellent intelligence. Attack the HQ when all the flags are there.
Bradley Bowman is wrong, of course, but he mouths the party line.
Government shut downs are an excellent thing. Less government, more freedom.
"Surviving as a Hostage" by Dave Young
https://www.policemag.com/training/article/15346228/surviving-as-a-hostage
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
When I went through the school, we were taught to tell the enemy whatever
they wanted to know. No sense getting yourself tortured, maimed, injured, etc.
"Your mission is to survive." You're not going to get any medical aid. The enemy
is not going to take you to a hospital emergency room. So even the smallest
cut will get infected and kill you.
If you divulge sensitive stuff, that's your superior's fault for giving you that
information. That's why all sensitive information is compartmentalized.
So if any individual is captured, they cannot compromise the mission.
Each Code Talker had two bodyguards. Ya, they were there to protect the
Code Talker, but they were also there to ensure the Code Talker was never
captured.
The Code of Conduct is all good and fine, until the enemy starts cutting
on you and crushing parts of your body.
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-10631-code-conduct-for-members-the-armed-forces-the-united-states
If captured, your mission is to survive.
At Intel School, the instructors told us, "If you don't want to be tortured,
don't get captured. If you don't want to get captured, don't surrender."
Article II, "I will never surrender of my own free will.
If in command I will never surrender my men while they still have the means to resist."
“If you are reading this and can’t put your hand on your defensive firearm,
all of your training is wasted.” -- Col. Jeff Cooper
*************************************************************************
http://lawofselfdefense.com/freebook
"The 5 Elements of Self Defense" by Andrew Branca (free of charge)
lawofselfdefense.com/elements/
"Federal 'Gun Agency' Makes Shocking New Rule"
by Facts Matter with Roman Balmakov
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWeR-wWR5Ds
Sold a gun to anyone? Then you are a "Firearms Dealer".
Don't have a Federal Firearms License? Then you're a felon.
ATF will arrest you.
The rule,
https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/docs/rulemaking/atf-eib-nprm-engaged-business-dealer-firearms/download
Tell the U.S. government that this rule is unconstitutional because it will
chill the transfer of arms between law abiding citizens which infringes on the
right to keep and bear arms. (I submitted a comment to that effect.)
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/09/08/2023-19177/definition-of-engaged-in-the-business-as-a-dealer-in-firearms
"Biden is moving to define virtually everyone selling a gun as a gun dealer
simultaneously, putting thousands of gun dealers out of business."
-- Dr. John R. Lott, Jr.
http://crimeresearch.org
"Hawaii Desperate to Overturn Butterfly Knife Ruling That Threatens Gun Control Laws"
by TTAG Contributor
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/hawaii-desperate-to-overturn-butterfly-knife-ruling-that-threatens-gun-control-laws/
Hat tip to Stephen P. Wenger.
The structure of this pro-arms ruling will be used nation wide to overturn state,
county, and municipal arms-control laws and ordinances. That's why, not just the
Hawaii state government (Democrat since statehood in September of 1959), but
many gun-control groups are filing amicus briefs. [Well, okay there was one RINO
Republican Governor, Linda Lingle. But she was a Hawaii Republican, similar to
the Yale Republicans, think Bush et al. No one could mistakes them for conservatives.]
The U.S. Supreme Court makes rulings, but it is up to the lower courts to interpret
and apply the rulings. And then it's up to the Circuit Courts to make case law. Which
is just as binding as statute law passed by the legislature and signed by the chief executive.
Of course, the SCOTUS can overrule the lower courts, but that's an expensive, long,
and difficult process. That's why putting conservatives on the lower court benches is
so important. That's why Brandon has appointed so many judges to the lower courts;
more than any previous President (if news reports are to be believed). He hasn't had
an opportunity to appoint anyone to the SCOTUS. Thank God.
God willing, Trump will become POTUS, a liberal Justice will resign (think
Souter, appointed by Bush, resigned during Obama's administration to allow
a Democrat President to appoint his replacement on the SCOTUS, treason!) or die
(think Ginsberg, refused to retire during Obama's first term when the Democrats
controlled the U.S. Senate, allowing Trump to appoint her replacement upon her
death).
You think those were accidents? Personal hatred and racism is emotionally far more
powerful than political ideology.
Think it couldn't happen?
"Trump scores eye-popping 10-point lead over Biden in new poll"
by Ryan King
https://nypost.com/2023/09/24/trump-scores-10-point-lead-over-biden-poll/
"MAGIC: Senate Dems SUDDENLY up in arms against new Gun Control law . . .
What could cause this shift . . . ?
by Langley Outdoors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JToU-VWoURE
Primary source article,
"Bows, arrows and Biden: Rural Dems angry with the White House over gun bill"
by Jennifer Haberkorn
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/15/biden-gun-safety-democrats-school-education-00116303
USA Archery (the National Governing Organization for archery in the U.S. [think
Olympics, World Games, etc.]) sent me a letter.
Dear Jonathan,
We need your help!
On June 25, 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) was signed,
with the aim being to protect children and reduce threats of violence following tragic
events in Texas and New York.
Since the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, schools
across the country have provided archery and hunter education classes with funding
authorized by the ESEA. The U.S. Department of Education has recently made these
very programs ineligible for federal education funding, impacting millions of children,
because of what we strongly feel is a misinterpretation of the BSCA.
The BSCA was never intended to impact enrichment programs like those involving
archery and hunter education and yet despite a public outcry from those in our
community and those within Congress, the U.S. Department of Education has not
reconsidered its stance.
We are therefore asking you to help in our fight to pass legislation, by sending
a message to your U.S. Representative urging them to back H.R. 5110, which is
the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act. This would amend ESEA and
allow schools to, once again, use federal education funds for archery classes and
hunter education.
We sincerely thank you for your support,
USA Archery
---
"House approves bill striking down Biden's crackdown on
hunting and archery in overwhelmingly bipartisan vote
Biden admin interpreted 2022 gun control bill to strip funding
from schools with hunting and archery programs"
by Thomas Catenacci
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-approves-bill-striking-down-bidens-crackdown-hunting-archery-overwhelmingly-bipartisan-vote
Hat tip to Stephen P. Wenger.
Excerpt:
"The House voted late Tuesday [9/26/2023] evening in favor of legislation
striking down the Biden administration's decision to block federal funding for
school shooting sports courses. In a 424-1 vote, the House approved the
ʽProtecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act’ with
216 Republicans and 208 Democrats voting in favor, and just one lawmaker,
Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, voting against.
(Trace evil to its source and name it, Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas.)
"Nice:
Cop Has Ex-Girlfriend Involuntarily Committed To Mental Hospital
After They Broke Up"
by Docent
https://practicaleschatology.blogspot.com/2023/09/nice-cop-has-ex-girlfriend.html
As Docent says, " . . . but how did he get the involuntary commitment so easily?
And if it is so easy to obtain an involuntary commitment order, imagine how
much easier it is to get a red-flag order."
Cited article,
"Married Pennsylvania cop Ronald Davis is charged
after being filmed forcibly arresting mistress then
having her committed after telling he'd 'make her look crazy'
when they broke up"
by Mackenzie Tatananni
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12556677/Married-Pennsylvania-cop-faces-false-imprisonment-charges-improperly-committing-ex-mental-health-facility-shocking-12-minute-arrest-video-allegedly-saying-Ill-paint-crazy.html
Davis did it because he thought he could get away with it. Because he had gotten
away with other similar things in the past. His superiors covered for him, which taught
him a very bad lesson, that he would be able to get away with such behavior in the
future. This litany of charges is not indicative of a first offense.
"UPDATE: Federal School Zone Charges for Shotgun at Home" by Liberty Doll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xogOjm9n0hY
"Federal School Zone Charges for Shotgun at Home" by Liberty Doll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJUWWMo_cSE
Elections matter because they determine the federal judges in your jurisdiction.
Any competent judge would have dismissed all charges.
Thank God humans are mortal.
"While mayor of San Francisco, Feinstein made a show of turning in an
inexpensive Charter Arms revolver as part of a program to encourage residents
to surrender their own handguns. Someone subsequently gained access to the
records of her rare San Francisco CWP and discovered that she had kept her
S&W revolver. Then, on election to the US Senate, she allegedly requested
appointment as a Special Deputy US Marshal – a credential that would have
allowed her discreet carry across the nation. The US DOJ issued a formal
opinion stating that such deputization of members of Congress would violate
the principle of separation of powers. Among her infringement efforts, she
actively opposed all bills mandating interstate recognition of carry licenses.
In the movie “The Wizard of Oz”, there is a song
ʽDing Dong! The Witch Is Dead’."
-- Stephen P. Wenger
“Is there no virtue among us?
If there is not, we are without hope!
No form of government, existing nor theoretical, will keep us from harm.
To think that any government, in any form, will insure liberty and happiness
for a dishonorable population represents the height of self-deception.”
-- James Madison, 1788
*************************************************************************
----- Instruction -----
Colonel Robert Lindsey to his fellow trainers:
"We are not God's gift to our students.
Our students are God's gift to us."
----- Instructors -----
"Remember,
the students who require the extra effort
are the ones who need us the most!"
-- John Farnam
"Developing an Emergency Response Plan for the Training Environment"
by Klint Macro
https://www.personaldefensenetwork.com/article/developing-emergency-response-plan-training-environment/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
"If you don’t have a solid plan for medical emergencies while training
on your own or teaching classes, you are not engaging in industry best
practices. Educated students will avoid you and your classes."
-- Greg Ellifritz
This FREE webinar for shooting range owners and operators,
“Boost Participation on Your Range and Save Money,” by NSSF
will be held on October 11, 2023.
https://www.nssf.org/event/boost-participation-on-your-range-and-save-money/
Register at
https://webinar.ringcentral.com/webinar/register/8216956728249/WN_i6X2rs8gRG2W4iygtut4MQ
"Join Ann Gamauf and Zach Snow to learn how this turnkey program
will help you introduce or reintroduce people to the shooting sports!
Even if you already have an introductory program, First Shots can save
you money on marketing. During this session, they will give you a
run-down of the program including the FREE support resources provided
to ranges that become hosts. They will highlight different ways host
ranges effectively use First Shots to generate business and tactics for
you to consider to help make your First Shots events a success."
Be careful what you teach.
Because your students will do in combat
whatever you have trained them to do,
no matter how ridiculous.
-- "Shooting in Self-Defense" by Sara Ahrens
----- Andragogy -----
‟An instructor should not expect any learning to take
place the first time new information is presented.”
-- ‶Building Shooters″ by Dustin Salomon
"Learning (reading written articles, watching videos, live online classes etc.)
is convenient, low cost, low value.
Training (in person classes; conferences: Guardian Conference, Tac Con,
Active Self Protection National Conference, etc.) is inconvenient (4 to 5 days
for most people), high cost (time off from work, travel, hotel, car rental, etc.),
high value (if you make a good faith effort to learn, pay attention, take notes,
review, introspect, etc., not just party with your friends as if on destination
vacation, if you're up late drinking instead of organizing your notes and doing
your homework . . . ).
Practice is convenient (done when you schedule it), low cost (dry practice, etc.),
high value (if done deliberately, if you are practicing the things you learned in
training and not nonsense you saw on YouTube.com).
The training and practice lead to skill.
Skill is perishable. And so training and practice must be continuous and recent."
-- Jacob Paulsen (paraphrased)
President of ConcealedCarry.com
"Tips For Teaching Family To Shoot" by Justin Dyal
https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/tips-for-teaching-family-to-shoot/
Col. Dyal is worth reading.
“The most valuable resource that all teachers have is each other.
Without collaboration, our growth is limited to our own perspectives.”
-- Robert John Meehan
*************************************************************************
----- Gear -----
“Mission drives the gear train.”
-- Pat Rogers
"Don’t Use FMJ Ammo for Self-Defense" by Justin
https://swiftsilentdeadly.com/dont-use-fmj-ammo-for-self-defense/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Excerpts:
"No matter what, it MUST be reliable."
[That means it must feed, chamber, fire, and eject every time. -- Jon Low]
"More importantly, though, care is taken to seal the case mouth against moisture.
. . . The primers on premium ammo are also sealed to make them waterproof."
[You can seal your ammo if it is not. Take a fine brush and lacquer, and run a
thin bead along the seam between the bullet and case, and the seam between
the primer and case. Lacquer is used by the manufacturers of military ammo
because it is cheap and doesn't leave residue that will gum up the firearm.
(But mainly because it's cheap.)
-- Jon Low]
[Well, if premium ammo won't feed reliably in your pistol, you ought to take
your pistol to a gunsmith and get it fixed. -- Jon Low]
"How Much Ammo Is Enough?" Lt. Frank Borelli (ret)
https://www.officer.com/blogs/blog/53069609/how-much-ammo-is-enough
Excerpt:
Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
Two is one, one is none.
"Everything You Need to Know About Pistol Concealment"
byMassad Ayoob
https://www.athlonoutdoors.com/article/pistol-concealment-tips/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Excerpt:
"Revolvers are simpler to load and unload than a semi-automatic pistol,
and less dependent on maintenance, lubrication and ammo type."
[I disagree. -- Jon Low]
"Zeroing Your Dot" by Erick Gelhaus
https://americancop.com/zeroing-your-dot/
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Take a class from Erick. I've taken a couple. I highly recommend.
Mika pocket holsters.
https://mikaspocketholsters.com/
Mika will call you within hours of you placing your order.
To ensure a meeting of the minds. Customer service on a higher level.
Place your order soon, as Mika is old and might die or
close his business any day. When Chuck Haggard and Bryan Eastridge
told their students about Mika and showed them his work, one of their
students placed an order on his smart phone. Mika called the student
back before the end of the day.
DCC clips to hold your holster to your belt. By far the best clips on the market.
It's obvious once you look at them.
https://discreetcarryconcepts.com/
https://discreetcarryconcepts.com/HLR-Discreet-Gear-Clips%E2%84%A2-c26960683
https://discreetcarryconcepts.com/DCC-Monoblock-Gear-Clips%E2%84%A2-c44562125
https://harrysholsters.com/discreet-carry-concepts-clips-are-they-really-worth-it/
Dummy pistols with dummy magazines.
https://ghostinternational.com/product/training-gun/
Note the pop up warning:
"For purchasing Training Gun in Saudi Arabia, Holland and Australia,
gun license is needed."
Like shooting plates and poppers, but don't like the back splash of lead and sharp
copper jackets? Well, here's the answer,
https://throomtargets.com/
"Are you having fun?" -- Pat Rogers (spoken with an Irish accent)
[Meaning we're done with you. We are not going to expend any more effort
training you. Because you have demonstrated a bad attitude.]
"Ammo Explained: What's a Primer?" by NRA Staff
https://www.nrafamily.org/content/ammo-explained-what-s-a-primer/
"How Guns Work: Firing Sequence" by NRA Staff
https://www.nrafamily.org/content/how-guns-work-firing-sequence/
"What Are Bullets Made Of?" by Richard Mann
https://www.fieldandstream.com/guns/what-are-bullets-made-of/
“You are no more armed because you are wearing a pistol
than you are a musician because you own a guitar.”
from ‶Principles of Personal Defense″ by Col. Jeff Cooper,
USMC, (1920 – 2006 A.D.)
Numrich Gun Parts Corporation
226 Williams Ln.
Kingston, NY 12401
866.686.7424
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/
I have confirmed that with my Springfield Armory XD Tactical 5" barrel in 45 ACP,
my right-handed point of impact (POI) is 1" to the left of my left-handed POI at 10 yards.
I am sure of this because Wyane Dobbs and Erick Gelhaus have pulled the trigger while
I was aiming. Both Wayne and Erick are left handed. And I am also sure of this because
I am able to shoot tight groups, as in the bullet holes are touching. I have the pistol
zeroed for my left-handed two hand grip, as that is the way I normally carry and shoot.
When I shoot with my Springfield Armory XD 4" barrel in 45 ACP, my right-handed
and left-handed points of impact are exactly the same at 10 yards.
If you have an explanation, I would love to hear it.
Clark Armory
Magtech 9mm Luger 115 gr Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
https://clarkarmory.com/products/magtech-9mm-luger-115-gr-full-metal-jacket-fmj-50-per-box?_kx=cIDy8yJsM_bJCm9h9JHRNlEzZWBb2W12nI28JizV70o%3D.V8i4bR
1000 rounds (20 boxes of 50 rounds each)
use code MAGCASE at checkout
Total $259.80
I have used WD-40 and recommended it because it is effective and cheap
compared to other specialized gun products.
"21 Strange and Ingenious Uses for WD40" by Bill Heavey
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/21-strange-and-ingenious-uses-for-wd40
Excerpt:
"The story of WD40 begins in 1953, when the fledgling
Rocket Chemical Company, Inc. of San Diego, California
— all three employees — set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and
degreasers for the aerospace industry. Working out of a tiny lab in San Diego,
it took them 40 attempts to perfect a water-displacement formula. And so
Water Displacement 40 came to be."
[I have heard people say that if you let it sit for a few years, it gums up.
I have never found that to be the case. -- Jon Low]
I once had an instructor tell me, "If you're going to get in a fight, you might as
well throw the biggest rock that you can accurately throw."
---
To accurately throw means to minimize recoil. Recoil is the momentum.
Momentum is conserved. [Conservation of momentum is not a first principle.
You can derive it from isotropic space, and smooth and continuous time.
Quantum mechanics says time is not continuous, so that's a problem.]
Momentum = (bullet mass X bullet velocity at the muzzle)
= (pistol mass X pistol speed when the bullet exists the muzzle).
Kinetic energy (movement of the pistol, movement of the bullet, etc.)
is not conserved, heat energy (friction of the bullet against the bore,
chemical reaction of the propellant, etc.) is not conserved, potential energy
(compression and expansion of springs, flexing of the plastic frame, etc.)
is not conserved. Only total energy is theoretically conserved. So analyzing
energy is really useless.
Which self-defense pistol cartridge has the least momentum (recoil)?
Multiply the bullet mass by the muzzle velocity, that's the momentum.
But "felt recoil" generally refers to the velocity of your pistol moving in
your hand. So, divide the momentum by the mass of your pistol to get the
velocity of your pistol in your hand, the "felt recoil".
---
Biggest rock means most massive bullet. Because bullet mass is directly
proportional to penetration. Bullet energy is not directly related to penetration.
Sorry, that's just physics. (Yes, as a matter of fact, I am a physics professor.)
---
So the engineering problem is to
maximize the bullet mass, while
minimizing the bullet velocity, while
maximizing the pistol mass;
with the goal of
maximizing the bullet penetration (a function of mass, shape, speed, etc.) and
minimizing the felt recoil (pistol velocity when the bullet exits the muzzle).
Oooooohhh, a multi-variable calculus problem.
I'm not the first one to do these calculations. John Browning did them.
And he concluded 230 grains, 850 feet per second, (45 ACP). He made the
pistol as heavy as he could while still being small enough for just about
any soldier to grip and manipulate (model 1911 with steel frame).
The 1911 magazine is designed to hold 7 rounds, intentionally!
When you make 8 (or more) round magazines, you have effectively
gone outside Browning's engineering boundaries. You can't get the angle
correct for reliable feeding, so you have to "adjust" the feed ramp,
which causes a cascade of engineering problems. I admit the problems
have been solved in modern pistols, but all engineering is compromise.
If you've ever seen an original 1911, and carefully watched as the
slide moves forward as it was intended to, you will see the cartridge
jump out of the magazine and into the chamber ahead of the slide.
It truly is an engineering marvel. Don't expect to see it in any modern
variation. All kinds of changes have been made to "improve" the design.
“Your car is not a holster.”
-- Pat Rogers
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Cryptology ***** ***** *****
"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe,
and preserve order in the world as well as property.
Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of their use."
-- Thomas Paine
[Cryptosystems are considered "arms" by federal law.
ITAR, International Traffic in Arms Regulations]
Wewok, Seminole
"Computer science has nothing to do with computers or science."
-- Donald Knuth
A ten lecture series on modular forms. YouTube.com allows you to speed up the
playback. Click on the gear shaped icon, settings, at the bottom right of the screen
to increase playback speed.
https://www.youtube.com/@ajitb3457/videos
---
"Introduction to Modular Forms" by Keith Conrad
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJUSzeW191Qx_rdAS8sd4nTNlSyLt97Q4
The next video in the series will play automatically. Ya, the video is bad. What
do you expect for free? The important thing is that everything he says is correct.
---
The enemy is using this. So you better know how to use it too.
There is nothing new under the sun. But many things are new to you.
Do mathematicians create things? Or do they just discover things that always were?
“Your character is what you do when no one is looking.”
-- Thomas Jefferson
"Linus Torvalds on why desktop Linux sucks"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzl1B7nB9Kc
"If it's a bug that everyone relies on, it's not a bug; it's a feature."
-- Linus
It doesn't matter what the standard says.
Statically linked, as opposed to dynamically linked. Linked at compile time, as
opposed to linked at run time. Statically linked for the life of the program,
as opposed to unlinked at run time when no longer needed.
Ubuntu. Running live off a flash drive in a USB port on my laptop.
Nightly builds. Fond memories. At BAE Systems we did nightly builds.
The automated testing was fantastic.
"Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.
Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have
perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must
believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing
must be attained."
-- Marie Curie
"Climbing past the complex numbers." by Michael Penn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3Tbf-d9sE4
At 6:43 he says "Integer" instead of "Real number". He means Real number.
Sedenion. I had never heard this term. Wikipedia seems to have a
description at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedenion
Though some of the references are sketchy. "complex sedenions", what does that
mean? As opposed to "real sedenions"?
"Algorithms You Should Know Before System Design Interviews"
by ByteByteGo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbgzl2maQUU
"The surprising reason behind electron ‘spin’! (They don’t REALLY spin)"
by FloatHeadPhysics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdN1mweN2ds
Do you get the point?
Evgeniia Korchagina wishes you pleasant dreams.
"Premature optimization is the root of all evil."
-- Donald Knuth
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Intelligence ***** ***** *****
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
-- Second Amendment, U.S. Constitution
"A Game Changer . . . If We Can Develop It" by Docent
https://practicaleschatology.blogspot.com/2023/09/a-game-changer-if-we-can-develop-it.html
"Scientists have discovered a huge deposit of lithium – a metal used in batteries – in
a volcanic crater along the Nevada-Oregon border. The deposit lies in the southern
portion of McDermitt Caldera at Thacker Pass and is larger than the previous record
holder in Bolivia. It could entirely change the global market and geopolitics of lithium,
which is a major ingredient in the batteries used in electric vehicles. The lithium is
found in a rare clay mineral that was formed by a combination of volcanic and
hydrothermal processes. However, the mining project faces opposition from Native
Americans who consider the area sacred and historical."
-- Sabine Hossenfelder
Magazine article,
"Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found"
by Anthony King
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/lithium-discovery-in-us-volcano-could-be-biggest-deposit-ever-found/4018032.article
Primary source paper,
"Hydrothermal enrichment of lithium in intracaldera illite-bearing claystones"
by Thomas R. Benson, Matthew A. Coble, and John H. Dilles
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adh8183
"Good habits and skill beat luck every time."
-- Sheriff Jim Wilson
"The Economics of Artillery Shells in the Russo-Ukrainian War"
by Not What You Think
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDoiqH66DLM
I loved artillery. I loved being a forward observer. I loved being a cannoneer.
Fond memories.
"Global cooling" was a hoax. "Global warming" was a hoax. And now "Climate change"
is a hoax. You can tell a lot about a person by what he believes and how he justifies his
beliefs. Not what he says he believes. His true beliefs are betrayed by his behavior, what
he does, where he invests his money, where he chooses to live, etc.
"Gravitas:
China exports faulty war machines, countries complain about
defective jets, radar & ships" by WION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHJGDDpTLQ4
Did you hear that? It was very short. "Chinese private security contractors."
Do you understand? Think Wagner, Blackwater, Executive Outcomes, etc.
Ya, it's Indian propaganda, but that doesn't mean it's not true.
"If you ever buy an AK-47, definitely do not buy a Chinese made one.
Those things are pieces of junk." -- Jason Hanson
"Ukraine War: Russia's Black Sea ships will take 'very long time to repair' "
by Sky News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28-JOPfvQQo
Confirmed by a Naval Surface Warfare Officer, Lt. Cmd. type, who was
aboard these ships.
https://www.propublica.org/article/how-navy-spent-billions-littoral-combat-ship
https://www.propublica.org/article/navy-littoral-combat-ship-takeaways
Jon Low: Did you ever suffer a break down at sea or a weapon systems failure?
O-4: We did, we were stuck in port in Singapore for a long time.
"Missile Strikes Russian Naval Headquarters in Crimea | VOA News"
by Voice of America
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBMzdlYqNfU
Good Intel. The flags were all present during the attack. (Flag grade officers
are the various ranks of admirals, as the general grade officers are the various
ranks of generals.)
"Ukraine War: Kyiv claims breaking through Western Zaporizhzhia"
by Sky News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1slmufKrrV4
Phillip Ingram, now where have we heard that name before?
"The Steel Giant that is Turning the Russian Offensive into Rubble"
by Dark Tech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9wkJyYIoVo
Ah, so what has leaked out here?
"Spotify will use AI to replicate podcasters’ voices and translate them to other languages"
https://ground.news/article/spotify-is-testing-ai-powered-podcast-language-translation-which-mimics-the-podcasters-own-voice
When I was working on the Joint Tactical Radio System, one of the requirements
was fidelity / bit rate high enough to recognize the persons voice. Because operators,
pilots especially, used voice recognition as their method of authentication in combat.
In combat, one rarely has time to execute protocols to authenticate. We SigInt types
are really spoiled in that sense. So, you see the problem.
"Hey, Staff, if the comm channel is encrypted, the authentication is baked in."
Systems can be hacked or jammed. We don't always have encrypted comms.
If the couriers fail to get today's crypto keys to us, we go unencrypted. Using
yesterday's keys is forbidden, for good reason. Voice recognition at the human level,
up until recently, has been an additional layer of authentication. If you received
orders to attack a target from a call sign that you recognized as a superior in your
chain of command, but did not recognize the voice, would you attack the target?
As an artillery forward observer, I once received orders, over a PRC 77,
instructing me to call an artillery fire mission on a target. It was supposed to be
Lt. Jasek (spelling is wrong, it was a long polish name that I can't remember)
talking to me, but I couldn't recognize his voice. So I asked, "Who got caught
cheating in last week's PFT (physical fitness test) run (3 mile run)?" I expected
the Lt. to say, "Corporal Yeck". But that's not what he said. I didn't call the
mission. Later, the Lt. said he never called me. [Ya, it was a little suspicious
that someone was calling a forward observer instead of the Fire Direction Center.
But, you can't always reach the unit that you're trying to talk to. So calling
someone else in the unit was not unreasonable. If I had recognized Lt. Jasek's
voice, I would have called the mission. I didn't know what was at that location.
Could have been the head shed (battalion headquarters) for all I knew.]
"Artillery Operations"
https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCWP%203-16.1%20Artillery%20Operations.pdf
Only 20 years old. So it's probably all still correct.
"What is the significance of the Abrams tanks arriving in Ukraine?" by DW News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFUIX1zrAWc
Excellent intelligence. Attack the HQ when all the flags are there.
Bradley Bowman is wrong, of course, but he mouths the party line.
Government shut downs are an excellent thing. Less government, more freedom.
"Surviving as a Hostage" by Dave Young
https://www.policemag.com/training/article/15346228/surviving-as-a-hostage
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
When I went through the school, we were taught to tell the enemy whatever
they wanted to know. No sense getting yourself tortured, maimed, injured, etc.
"Your mission is to survive." You're not going to get any medical aid. The enemy
is not going to take you to a hospital emergency room. So even the smallest
cut will get infected and kill you.
If you divulge sensitive stuff, that's your superior's fault for giving you that
information. That's why all sensitive information is compartmentalized.
So if any individual is captured, they cannot compromise the mission.
Each Code Talker had two bodyguards. Ya, they were there to protect the
Code Talker, but they were also there to ensure the Code Talker was never
captured.
The Code of Conduct is all good and fine, until the enemy starts cutting
on you and crushing parts of your body.
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-10631-code-conduct-for-members-the-armed-forces-the-united-states
If captured, your mission is to survive.
At Intel School, the instructors told us, "If you don't want to be tortured,
don't get captured. If you don't want to get captured, don't surrender."
Article II, "I will never surrender of my own free will.
If in command I will never surrender my men while they still have the means to resist."
“If you are reading this and can’t put your hand on your defensive firearm,
all of your training is wasted.” -- Col. Jeff Cooper
*************************************************************************
"Honesty saves lives!"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VdtWYO42Glg
When you lie to your wife about how much you spent on your guns.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VdtWYO42Glg
When you lie to your wife about how much you spent on your guns.
In the Garden of Eden.
"Iron Butterfly - 1971-04-16 - In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Josh R.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McJZqnzy6Vs
The drum solo in the middle. Fond memories.
“You can’t truly call yourself ‘peaceful’
unless you are capable of great violence.
If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful,
you’re harmless. Important distinction.”
-- Stef Starkgaryen
Semper Fidelis,
Jonathan D. Low
Email: Jon_Low@yahoo.com
Radio: KI4SDN
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