Hi Sheepdogs,
***** ***** ***** Software ***** ***** *****
"Fear is an instinct. Courage is a choice."
-- Rear Admiral Joseph Kernan, USN
----- Mindset -----
"Panic is simply the lack of preprogrammed responses."
-- Tom Givens
Should I Provide First Aid to the Attacker I Just Shot? by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/should-i-provide-first-aid-to-the-attacker-i-just-shot
If you don't understand this, STOP, and think about it.
If you are thinking the Good Samaritan laws in your state will
protect you from liability, STOP, your perspective is wrong.
I put this article is in the mindset section, not the medical/survival section.
If your mindset is wrong, you're not doing self-defense; you're vying for
organ donor.
If you approach the downed criminal, he will attack you,
his accomplices will attack you, the police will shoot you to prevent
you from continuing your attack on the helpless victim, a civilian
will shoot you to defend the guy lying on the ground that you just shot.
As a civilian self-defender, your primary mission is to escape.
You should be moving away from the criminal.
Approaching the criminal is not escape. Approaching the downed
criminal is your continuation of your attack on the helpless person.
No one can read your mind. No one will attempt to read your mind.
They are just going to shoot, because it is a very high stress situation.
“Choice, not chance, determines your destiny.”
-- Aristotle
10 Cases Where An Armed Citizen Took Down An Active Shooter
An armed “good guy or gal” who is at ground zero of an attack can stop the carnage sooner.
by Massad Ayoob
https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2015/03/10-cases-where-an-armed-citizen-took-down-an-active-shooter/
I put this in the mindset section because your beliefs control
your actions. If you don't believe that you can do good, you won't
carry consistently, religiously. If you don't believe that only you
can stop the carnage, you won't take action. If you haven't made
peace with your God in your decision to use lethal force to protect
the innocent beforehand, you will hesitate at the crucial moment.
And as we saw in the White Settlement church incident, hesitation
of a second is enough to get yourself killed.
“Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems
is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that
you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.”
-- Colin Powell
Cases where concealed handgun permit holders have stopped mass shootings by John Lott
http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2015/04/this-past-friday-uber-driver-with.html
On Her Own: You Are Worth Defending
Even if you are not in current danger,
or you have no child to keep safe . . . you,
on your own, are worth defending.
by Annette Evans
https://www.nrawomen.com/content/on-her-own-you-are-worth-defending/
Please share this with your female loved ones and friends.
Some ladies need these words of truth spoken to them. And will
appreciate your effort in the future.
Avoidance, Deterrence, and De-escalation
-- John Farnam
----- Safety -----
Don't go to stupid places.
Don't do stupid things.
Don't hang out with stupid people.
Be in bed by 10 PM. Your own bed.
Don't look like a freak.
Don't fail the attitude test.
-- John Farnam
Store guns out of sight and inaccessible by the Tactical Professor
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/2020/04/17/store-guns-out-of-sight-and-inaccessible/
If the good guy had been wearing his pistol in a concealed holster
while taking his nap, the outcome would probably have been different.
Yes, as a matter of fact, I do nap with my pistol on; don't you?
When I was in Riyadh, the CIA field agent at the U.S. Embassy told
me that the enemy was aware of my presence and that I should take
precautions. I took that warning seriously and still do.
Let me give you the warning.
"The enemy knows of your presence. Take precautions."
Muzzleloader Explodes Like Grenade, Takes Off Shooter’s Fingers
https://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2014/12/16/muzzleloader-explodes-like-grenade-takes-shooters-fingers/
That's why shooters must read and follow the instructions in
the manual that comes with the firearm. All manufacturers have
web sites from which you may download the manuals.
If you are reloading or muzzle loading, you have to use the correct
propellant, you have to use the correct amount of propellant.
Teaching children about guns by the Tactical Professor (Claude Werner)
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/2020/04/22/teaching-children-about-guns/
Julie Golob’s book
"Toys, Tools, Guns & Rules: A Children’s Book About Gun Safety"
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078TB9RJB
Free downloads at
https://www.juliegolob.com/books/kids-gun-safety-book
"Knowing When Something's Wrong" with Vince Harrison
https://www.cv-ministries.com/podcast.html?mc_cid=ea41f05f51&mc_eid=3081363eff
Church Security Through Prevention
All kinds of good stuff at CV Ministries, check out the web site.
https://www.cv-ministries.com/
"The fast and/or emphatic reholster is an awesome way to shoot yourself."
-- Chuck Haggard
----- Training -----
"Reasons for training:
1. You don't know what you don't know.
2. Much of what you know is wrong.
3. It's good to have some of the answers to the test before taking it."
-- Claude Werner the Tactical Professor
John Farnam has posted all of his DTI Operator Series Videos,
including his series on Tactical Treatment of Gunshot Wounds, on the
DTI Web Page at defense-training.com, as a service to all his Students,
Instructors, and Operators.
https://defense-training.com/videos
"The Good flashlight technique is named after Ken Good.
Ken used to work for Surefire. Now, I believe he is out consulting on his own."
-- John Farnam
Plans are folly. Planning is essential.
-- Dwight Eisenhower
"Experiential Learning Laboratory with Craig “SouthNarc” Douglas –
The stuff you don’t learn in gun school" by Tim
https://www.gunnuts.net/2015/03/19/experiential-learning-laboratory-with-craig-southnarc-douglas-the-stuff-you-dont-learn-in-gun-school/
Excerpts:
. . . Under stress and experiencing the mental lockup described earlier,
they simply had no idea what they had actually done.
Imperfect recall while under the effects of adrenaline and stress
is one of the reasons those with experience in the criminal justice system
advise you not to be too chatty in the aftermath of a shooting. You can
very easily say something that is inaccurate and that can dramatically
complicate your life.
. . . People experiencing extreme stress often do strange things
because normal thought processes simply aren’t available to them.
. . . I like having a high level of shooting skill but even world-class
skill is no substitute for being a competent tactician when the chips are down.
Craig’s approach to instruction has a better shot at giving you the tools
to become that competent tactician than most of the other options on the market.
“There’s a huge training myth out there.
That MYTH is that Information = Something of Value.
FACT: Information = 0, unless people are inspired to act.”
-- Valerie Van Brocklin
-------------------------------------------------------------------
An email to the junior rifle shooters that I have coached --
Hi Team,
The following articles are recommended by USA Archery.
---
Motor Learning: Block vs Random Practice by Trevor Ragan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_5nWKyRzKM
Excerpt:
"The most important thing is reading."
What would random practice be?
Every shot in a match or practice session or
combat is similar, but not the same.
---
Growth Mindset Introduction:
What it is, How it Works, and Why it Matters by Trevor Ragan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75GFzikmRY0
Coaches, herein is presented a list of things
you need to cause your athletes to believe. Because
all behavior springs from one's belief system.
---
Cheers,Coach Jon
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Strength Of The Concealed Carry Family by Matthew Maruster
https://www.concealedcarry.com/safety/the-strength-of-the-concealed-carry-family/
Excerpt:
It may sound cliche, but the family that trains together stays together.
Or better yet, survives together! Stay safe out there and God bless.
Pistol Shooting With Physical Challenges by Sheriff Jim Wilson
https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2020/4/20/pistol-shooting-with-physical-challenges/
Personal preferences based on esthetics and sentimental attachments
to certain types of pistols have no place in combat. Self-defense is combat.
I shot a qualification course that was part of a job application.
The interesting thing about this test was that they issued all equipment,
ensuring that you've probably never used this equipment before.
And if you have, they change the equipment to ensure you haven't.
So, I was using a rather wide nylon duty belt with two magazine pouches
on the left side (I'm right handed) with flaps over the top that snapped
into place and a level 2 retention holster at 3 o'clock. In order to get
the Glock 22 (40 caliber) out of the holster, I had to push one lever
down with my firing side thumb and then push another lever to the right
(toward the pistol) with my firing side thumb. They gave us several
minutes to practice with the holsters to figure out how they worked and
to get a smooth presentation. The course of fire was a total of 50 rounds
at varying distances (If you didn't know that with a pistol you have
to aim low at long range, you would have missed several targets.),
varying number of rounds fired in each string, and varying time limits.
[If you didn't already know the counts for timing your rate of fire,
you would have had a hard time with the time limits. Fortunately,
I had learned from a class at the Citizens Safety Academy that
"1 front sight, 2 front sight, . . . " will give you one shot per second;
"1 and, 2 and, 3 and, . . . " will give you two shots per second; and
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . . " will give you four shots per second.]
The course of fire was not described before hand, no walk through.
The range officer explained the course of fire immediately before
you shot it, and then gave the command to fire. There was some slow
fire (no time limit), rapid fire (very short time limit), support hand only,
firing hand only, forced (because the magazine is empty) reloads, etc.
I think the 50 round boxes of ammunition that they gave us had dead
cartridges mix in, because everyone was getting malfunctions that they
were expected you to clear automatically and continue firing to finish
the course of fire. But, nothing was said about there being dead rounds
in the boxes of ammo. Very little instruction was given. No help with
clearing malfunctions was given.
I had to do the qualification twice because the Tennessee Armed Guard
license specifies the pistol that you are carrying down to the make, model,
and caliber. And I wanted to be able to carry another type of pistol.
The test was not the same the second time I did it. I'm sure that's because
they know that the people who have finished the test, walk out into the
waiting room and talk to the people waiting to take the test.
This test induced a bit of stress, causing several persons to fail,
as in they didn't qualify, so they didn't get the job or lost their job,
a BIG DEAL. Can you imagine getting fired because you couldn't pass a
shooting test? That took it to a new level mentally for me.
Ya, I know in self-defense classes we talk about shooting to save
your life or the life of a loved one, which would of course be high stress.
But, it's theoretical. Shooting to get a job or keep your job is real.
[Yes, I passed with a 93% and 96%.]
"Training is NOT an event, but a process.
Training is the preparation FOR practice".
-- Claude Werner
----- Practice -----
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
"Skill Set: What I Practice" by Tiger McKee
https://www.thetacticalwire.com/features/e0ece7db-301c-4de9-96e2-4bb321d6f20f
Measurements and Standards for Pistol Shooting by Tamara Keel
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2020/4/13/measurements-and-standards-for-pistol-shooting/
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
----- Techniques -----
"Use only that which works,
and take it from any place you can find it."
-- Bruce Lee
How to Spot a Bad Guy -
A Comprehensive Look at Body Language and Pre-Assault Indicators
by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/how-to-spot-a-bad-guy-a-comprehensive-look-at-body-language-and-pre-assault-indicators
REFINING THE DRAW STROKE FOR THE CONCEALED CARRIER PT.2
https://ccwsafe.com/blog/32090
[It appears that someone has hijacked this web site. I hope they get it fixed
by the time you read this. -- Jon Low]
Where Should You Carry Your Reload? by Chris Christian
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2020/4/16/where-should-you-carry-your-reload/
It's always better to have and not need than to need and not have.
Stickfighting Angles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhAHH84_d9s&feature=youtu.be
Combative Knife
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZH4XP8DPr8
Combative Knife II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xUB5K_Jkpo
Combative Knife III
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62sttt9Ohb8
Verbal Judo principles:
1. Everyone needs to be respected.
2. People would rather be asked than told.
3. People would like to know why they are being asked to do something.
4. People would prefer to have options over threats.
5. People want to have a second chance.
"It's not daily increase but daily decrease - hack away at the inessentials!"
-- Bruce Lee
----- Tactics -----
How do you win a gunfight?
Don't be there.
-- John Farnam
Question from Marcus Wynne: what is the current doctrine about tracking from one
target (active shooter) to the next target (second active shooter) when the muzzle
will cross non-shoots in between?
Back in the Dinosaur Days, I was taught, practiced and taught in a crowded
scenario to retract the pistol to a center chest or high ready when moving my
shooting platform to position to a place where I could then extend and shoot the
second or third shooters. Rationale was to retract the gun close to maintain
control with a number of uncontrolled panicked people and hostile shooters until
I had a clean line of fire on my next target. And that was considered to be a
better solution instead of tracking across non-shoots, or shifting to a low
extended ready.
What is the current doctrine and what are the thoughts about it?
[There were many responses from much more experienced and competent instructors than I.
But, I am not at liberty to display their responses.]
Jon Low's response:
I think it is a bad idea to muzzle friendlies and innocent bystanders.
So, I train my students never to do it. Because Murphy's Law says,
anything that can go wrong, will go wrong, at the worst possible time. Unlike
the military and police, who have a tolerance for collateral damage, my civilian
students cannot tolerate the civil (reckless endangerment) and criminal
(aggravated assault with a deadly weapon) liability of muzzling an innocent person.
[How I implement my philosophy in training. Actually, only the last
paragraph is pertinent to our conversation. But, I included the whole section
for context.]
In my Defensive Pistol course, we use IDPA or IPSC matches for the tactical
scenarios. We used to set up the scenarios on our range, but that was just too
much work for the assistant instructors. The IDPA clubs do a better job than
we ever could. But, we always shoot the matches in a tactically correct manner:
Moving slowly, not racing to win the game. We will go very slowly to
ensure we positively identify every shoot-target and every no-shoot-target.
It is common for the Safety Officer to inform the shooter that he failed to
engage several targets, because the competitor just ran past them without seeing them.
Staying back away from corners, not crowding cover. We will stay back
away from corners, windows, and doors, because we understand that there is
someone hiding there who will grab our pistol.
Staying away from walls, as bullets do not ricochet off walls as light
reflects off a mirror. We know that when a bullet hits a surface most of the
momentum perpendicular to the surface is absorbed by the surface,
while most of the momentum parallel to the surface is retained by the bullet.
So, bullets tend to skim along surfaces that they hit.
We will shoot at the first part of the enemy that comes into view,
because we can do so without exposing our bodies. We can always get the
A-zone hit later as we come around the corner. But, we understand that
whoever gets the first hit will usually win the encounter.
We will not muzzle no-shoot targets. We will not sweep across no-shoot
targets when transitioning from one shoot-target to another shoot-target.
Because unlike the other competitors, we are not playing a game.
We are training for combat. Self-defense is combat.
Considerations for Home Defense by Varg Freeborn
https://gunmagwarehouse.com/blog/considerations-for-home-defense/
Excerpts:
You may be surprised to find out that based on FBI over-penetration testing,
the .223/5.56 shot by common AR-15 rifles can be the safest caliber over shotgun
and pistol rounds in this situation.
If you really want to take home defense seriously, it is advisable to take
some quality CQB training from reputable instructors who have experience in
dealing with domestic structures in the U.S. and criminal threats. Not just one,
but a few teachers.
You win gunfights by not getting shot.
-- John Holschen
----- Education -----
"You will never get smarter or broaden your horizons
if you're unwilling to learn from others and read."
-- Becca Martin
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Every book or lecture or class has at least a few gold nuggets that you
will find if you have a good attitude and want to learn. Ralph's books have
many polished diamonds embedded in the text.
Ralph Mroz's books - They are a compilation of his blog posts and articles
from 1994 to 2019, and a few before then.
Street Focused Handgun Training, Volume 1 — Equipment; ASIN: B086P6F9J3
Street Focused Handgun Training, Volume 2 - Training; ASIN: B086Q7F4DJ
Street Focused Handgun Training - Volume 3, Tactics; ASIN: B086RWNMPM
https://www.amazon.com/Street-Focused-Handgun-Training-Equipment-ebook/dp/B086P6F9J3/
I offer you my glossary of the acronyms that he uses, in order of appearance --
[The following is what I think the acronyms mean.
I may not have gotten the correct meaning.]
ND = negligent discharge
COM = center of mass
AIWB = appendix (on the belt between the point of the hip and the navel) inside the waist band
CT pros = counter terrorism professionals
b/u or bug = back up gun
case of ammo = 1000 rounds of factory new ammo, not reloads, not remanufactured,
not a box of 50 or a big box of 100
BTW = by the way
HD = home defense
BG = bad guy
ear pro = hearing protection
PALS = pouch attachment ladder system
DSS = Department of State Security (The secret service of the State Dept. --
unlike the Secret Service of the Treasury Department,
they get into gun fights regularly. -- Ralph Mroz)
MIPS = million instructions per second
PC = personal computer
YMMV = your mileage may vary
EDC = every day carry
NV = night vision
NVG = night vision goggles
HDPE = high density polyethylene
OTC = over the counter (drugs)
CC = concealed carry (bag)
SBR = short barreled rifle
AOR = area of responsibility
FS = full size
CQC = close quarter combat
1st SFOD-D = 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta (US Army)
POA = point of aim, as opposed to POI = point of impact
MRDS = mini red dot sight
IPSC = International Practical Shooting Confederation,
United States Practical Shooting Association in the United States of America
IDPA = International Defensive Pistol Association
GSSF = Glock Sport Shooting Foundation
DERP = foolishness; stupidity. I can't belive this appeared in the
Random House dictionary without etymology. Random House used to be
a scholarly dictionary.
DQ’ing = disqualifying
po’ed = pissed off (I think.)
CT = counter terrorism (I think.)
PO = police officer
F-o-F = force on force training (Simunitions, Air Soft, etc.)
OODA = observe, orient, decide, act
FIs = firearms instructors
LE = law enforcement
LEO = law enforcement officer
AG = attorney general (politician)
DA = district attorney (prosecutor, also a politician)
Atty. = attorney (defense counsel)
2A = second amendment to the U.S. Constitution (the one we swore to uphold and defend)
GSW = gun shot wound
PR = public relations
PC = probable cause (or maybe person computer?)
FWIW = for what it's worth
AT = anti-terrorist (I think?)
WTF = what the fuck (I think?)
Ralph says to zero your pistol at 25 yards, because you'll be on at
25 yards in case you need to make that long distance shot, and you'll only be
an inch low at 2 yards, which is well within the margin of error. But,
if you are zeroed at 2 yards (as pistols from the factory are) you will be
5 inches high at 25 yards, which is outside an acceptable margin of error (in
the sense that if you are aiming at the center of an 8 inch diameter disk,
being 5 inches high will be a miss, 8" diameter = 4" radius).
Ralph says, "Very few people know how to run a force-on-force simulation properly."
Proper, specific training is not obtained by shooting an IDPA match on weekends, BTW.
[Ralph lists 25 things with which you need to be competent in order to prevail
in a lethal force encounter.]
And yet, almost all American training focuses only on element 13. 13. If you have to shoot, you have to hit the BG (bad guy), preferably COM (center of mass).
That is, one out of 25+ things you need to be competent at to truly survive a violent
encounter.
Competence with speed and accuracy at 7 yards doesn’t necessarily translate
into an easy day at 3 yards, IF YOU MAKE THE EXERCISE REALISTIC, and not just a
shooting exercise. At those close distances you have to deal with an attacker
who can reach you before your draw is completed, thus you have to integrate empty
hands skills with drawing and shooting, which is a much harder thing to do
correctly than simply drawing and shooting. I emphasize “correctly” because,
as the technique (there’s really one that works*) for dealing with that situation
has diffused throughout the training community over the last 10-15 years, it has
gotten watered down and feeble, quite often by instructors who don’t really know
what they are doing. Of course that makes it easy to teach, and too easy for the
unwitting students to perform well.
". . . you can start to concentrate on what has always been a better
survival strategy than improving your technique — improving your tactics."
"Get physical therapy if you need it."
[If your shoulder does not have the range of motion that it should. Suffer
through the pain of physical therapy and get it working properly. -- Jon Low]
". . . if the BG “shoots you” through a wall, you lose. Very few shoot
house exercises that I’ve been through enforced that real-world rule that has,
unfortunately, resulted in cops killed. Drywall and wood walls don’t stop
bullets and a BG has no ethical compunctions about shooting through them,
while you mostly can’t (because: target discrimination).
. . . Problems we ran into over the years were that we taught
people to shoot faster than they could discriminate and see.
This caused many problems with fratricide and friendly fire.
-- MSgt. Paul Howe
Teaching clearing techniques and tactical medical skills is of far less
value than showing you how to not have to use those skills to begin with
as the situation presents itself.
Five habits of responsible gun owners:
They get training.
They know the law.
They are unconsciously obsessive about safety.
They don’t mix alcohol and guns.
They are discreet.
MSGT Howe’s position is that you get a sight picture for every shot.
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Webinar: Site Emergency Plans 04_16_2020 by Michael Mann
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMBNp2RgIKI&feature=youtu.be
Dynamics of Police Shootings by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/dynamics-of-police-shootings
Search for the term “Trigger Affirmation” about 3/4ths down the
web page. Check out all the reasons that a person will touch their
trigger in violation of our safety rule. And in these situations,
the person doesn't know that he's touching his trigger and doesn't
believe that he's touching his trigger. This should concern you and
cause you to video record your training in high stress scenarios to
see if you are doing this.
"Cogito, ergo armatum sum." (I think, therefore armed am I.)
-- John Farnam
***** ***** ***** Hardware (which includes you) ***** ***** *****
"I would like to see every
woman know how to handle
guns as naturally as they
know how to handle babies."
-- Annie Oakley
----- Gear -----
“Mission drives the gear train.”
-- Pat Rogers
Ambidextrous Controls by Bryan McKean
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/ambidextrous-controls
The following are truly ambidextrous --
The latest FN pistols are ambidextrous, but they are expensive, FN 509
retails for around $900. They're good out of the box, but the grip
doesn't fit my hand. Herstal Group includes FN Herstal, Browning, and Winchester.
The latest H&K pistols are ambidextrous. They have the magazine
release lever, as opposed to the button. The VP9 retails for around $600.00.
It's good out of the box and the grip fits my hand nicely.
The Ruger American pistols are ambidextrous. They retail for
around $500. But, they take a bit of gunsmithing to make them reliable.
For me it was worth it because the grip fit my hand and the angle fit my wrist.
The Honor Defense, Honor Guard pistols are ambidextrous.
They retail for around $300. I've never groped one, so I can't say anything.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following have ambidextrous slide locks --
The latest Glocks (shown in the article) have ambidextrous slide locks.
But their magazine release is reversible, which means you can make it right
handed or left handed. That's not the same as ambidextrous.
The latest Walthers have ambidextrous slide locks. But their magazine
release is reversible, not ambidextrous.
The S&W M&P's have a slide lock on both sides and a reversible mag release.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following has an ambidextrous magazine release --
The Springfield Armory XD has an ambidextrous magazine release.
You can press it from either side to release the magazine. But the slide
lock is only on the left hand side of the pistol.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I neglect DA/SA pistols because I believe a pistol should have the
same trigger pull on every shot.
I neglect revolvers, because I haven't found any that allow the
cylinder to swing out on both sides.
All of those that I have mentioned can be purchased without thumb safeties.
I have read too many reports of persons being unable to fire the pistol because
they forgot to defeat the safety. Yes, it is of course a lack of training and
practice. But, why make the weapon system more complex than it needs to be?
"Top 5 Cleaning Tips To Keep Your Pistol Pristine" by Brad Miller, Ph.D.
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2020/4/21/top-5-cleaning-tips-to-keep-your-pistol-pristine/
Buying Holsters for Dummies: A Guide to Choosing a Proper Holster by Luke C.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/04/14/buying-holsters-for-dummies/
Excerpt:
. . . I find that holsters that leave the muzzle of the gun exposed
at the bottom of the holster are not so great as they increase the
likelihood that you’ll bump the muzzle and unholster the gun – try to
avoid these styles of holsters. [Also, exposing the leather of a holster
doesn't scream "GUN!" as exposing the muzzle would. -- Jon Low]
. . . remember that the holster is an extension of the gun.
Your holster is part of your life-saving equipment that you’ll likely
be carrying with you every day. Buy a high-quality, functional rig
and maintain it and it will serve you when the time comes.
[I agree with the author. When I was an armed guard, I used the
Safariland ALS and found it to be effective. I found that you can
unscrew the ALS holster from the plastic belt attachment that it comes
with and bolt it onto the leather portion of an Alien Gear or
Crossbreed holster for an inside the waistband ALS holster. -- Jon Low]
Tatiana Whitlock talks gear
https://www.facebook.com/TriggerTimeTV/videos/1090994444594506/
Excerpt:
Red dot sights are effective for people suffering from aging eyes.
As John Farnam so insightfully puts it,
“You are far more likely to run out of time than rounds”.
10 Great Defense Loads
Factory ammo with proven performance
by Eric Conn
https://americanhandgunner.com/gear/10-great-defense-loads/
“Your car is not a holster.” – Pat Rogers
Wear it or lock it up.
----- Technical -----
"Real fights are short."
-- Bruce Lee
Guniversity: AMMO 101 - Naming Conventions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzG5XVRvhzo
A Primer On Buying Used Handguns by Patrick Sweeney
https://gundigest.com/more/classic-guns/a-primer-on-buying-used-handguns
This is actually a detailed protocol for inspecting various
types of handguns by a master gunsmith.
Stuff You Don’t Read, The Back-Beat Story On Connor-Style T&E’s by John Connor
https://americanhandgunner.com/guncrank-diaries/stuff-you-dont-read/
A list of things you ought to check on your pistol.
The 4 Things to Look for in a Folding Knife by Justin White
https://madsciencedefense.com/4-things-folding-knife/
Ask Yourself These 5 Questions Before Choosing a Knife by Terry Trahan
https://www.theorganicprepper.com/choosing-a-knife/
Terry Trahan's article didn't have any pictures. So, I couldn't
figure out how the lock types worked. So, Terry referred me to the
web pages below.
KNIFE LOCK TYPES GUIDE by Andrew Hamilton and Logan Rainey
https://www.bladehq.com/cat--Knife-Lock-Types-Guide--3511
KNIFE BLADE SHAPES GUIDE by Andrew Hamilton
https://www.bladehq.com/cat--Knife-Blade-Shapes-Guide--3429
BEST KNIFE STEEL COMPARISON AND CHARTS by Trevor Brown and Andrew Hamilton
https://www.bladehq.com/cat--Best-Knife-Steel-Guide--3368
Locking Mechanisms
https://www.spyderco.com/edge-u-cation/knife-anatomy/locking-mechanisms/
[ARFCOM News] NEW 3D Printed FGC-9 + Gunshops Essential + NRA Layoffs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3Y_Z8KR12Q
This article in in the Technical Gear section because they report
on a 3 dimensional printed 9mm pistol that is effective and reliable,
as in combat worthy. This not a zip gun. It has a rifled bore.
Electronically rifled, not machined.
"The shorter the fight, the less hurt you get."
-- John Holschen
***** ***** ***** 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
Contrary to rumors, Lockton Affinity Outdoor is still insuring NRA instructors.
I just renewed my policy for
$500,000 Bodily Injury & Property Damage Each Occurrence Limit
$500,000 Professional Liability Each Occurrence Limit (this is in case you get
sued for something you taught)
$1,000,000 General Aggregate Limit
$1,000,000 Products-Completed Operations Aggregate Limit
$500,000 Personal and Advertising Injury Limit - Any One Person or Organization
$100,000 Fire Damage Limit- Any One Fire
$5,000 Medical Expense Limit - Any One Person
Deductible $0.00
and would recommend you carry at least this much coverage. We live in a litigious society.
Note that teaching the real stuff, like a 360 degree scan , violates NRA
safety rules, IDPA safety rules, IPSC safety rules, and the range safety
rules of just about all of the commercial ranges. So, be careful.
"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
In the armed security training that I went through over
the past two weeks, one of the things they stressed was to maintain
a high level of personal hygiene.
Floss your teeth (because you have to remove the plaque
below the gum line, or else it will become tarter, destroy your
teeth, and stink), brush your teeth (to remove all stains
(as in from the tobacco you've been chewing), plaque, and such),
and brush all surfaces in your mouth (especially the tongue,
which has a lot of hair, which means lots of surface area).
Scrub all surfaces of your body before going out in public
(especially before meeting the client or customers) so as not
to have any offensive odors.
All hair should be neatly groomed. No beards or mustaches,
as they are extremely difficult to keep clean, especially after eating.
And they generally stink. You may not notice it, but others do.
After washing your clothes, dry them immediately.
Otherwise, they will stink of mildew. It doesn't matter
that you can't smell it, others can.
If you keep yourself and your uniforms clean, you won't
need to cover the stink with obnoxious perfumes, and no one
will have to tell you to leave work to wash off the perfume.
We never have a second chance to make a good first
impression. Attempting to repair a bad first impression is
very difficult.
I recommend that you wear an undershirt, so as
not to show skin when demonstrating presentation from concealment.
At one end of the spectrum, a hairy flabby belly is not pretty.
At the other end of the spectrum, a svelte abdomen may be
sexually provocative. Either way, it's inappropriate for a
professional setting.
----- Pedagogy -----
"Train, Practice, Compete
are the key elements in the development of humans."
-- John M. Buol, Jr.
Teach positive. Teach what to do. Don't talk about what not to do.
-- John Farnam
An instructor should not expect any learning to take
place the first time new information is presented.
-- "Building Shooters" by Dustin Solomon
***** ***** ***** Legal, Political, and Philosophical ***** ***** *****
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
Defensive Gun Uses By Those Legally Carrying Guns:
Dramatic cases from the middle of August to the middle of September 2019
by John Lott
https://crimeresearch.org/2020/04/defensive-gun-uses-by-those-legally-carrying-guns-dramatic-cases-from-the-middle-of-august-to-the-middle-of-september-2019/
"Propaganda" is what the mass media choose not to show you.
Defense of Last Resort Part 2: Crossing the Threshold
https://ccwsafe.com/blog/32051
Excerpt:
Andrew Branca says, “going to the fight never looks like self-defense.”
Charles Dorsey made a decision that he would not use his firearm unless
or until Espinoza got through the front door. He had established a threshold,
and he waited for the perceived intruder to cross that threshold before
deploying deadly force. It very likely saved him from prosecution and
potential conviction.
[Note that the Dorsey incident went on for 13 minutes. That's a long time.
The police did not arrive within that 13 minutes.
Dorsey was patient and won. Wafer was impatient, advanced through the
front door, and encountered a stranger. WHY? Just stay inside and hunker down.
-- Jon Low]
In Self Defense - Episode 57: with Don West and Shawn Vincent
Defense of Last Resort Part 2:
Non-legal Consequences and the Trouble with Video
https://ccwsafe.com/blog/32072
The transcript of the pod cast is below the audio player,
so you don't have to listen to the pod cast. I find it much
faster and easier to read the transcript.
After Action Analysis: April 22, 2020 by Andrew Branca
https://www.facebook.com/LawofSelfDefense/videos/246480630059678/
This is really important. You can shoot the armed robber
when he is attempting to rob you. But, you can't shoot him when
he's running away.
"Korematsu!" by John Farnam
https://defense-training.com/archives/4902
When the duly elected Nazis (National Socialists) controlled Germany,
they arrested the Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, mentally retarded, and other
undesirables, put them in concentration camps, and killed them.
When the duly elected Democrats controlled the United States, they arrested
U.S. citizens of Japanese ancestry and put them in concentration camps.
And the Democrat controlled U.S. Supreme Court said it was Constitutional.
I pray you would never order your subordinates to carry out such
"legal" and "Constitutional" orders. Especially, if you are a field grade officer.
[I emailed the above words to every field grade officer and flag grade
officer that I know well enough to ask a personal favor of. Exactly one
half of them assured me that they would never obey such orders and would
never issue such orders. The other half told me things like "It's
sometimes difficult to tell right from wrong when you are very close
to it." I suggest that it is very difficult to do what's right, but
it's fairly easy to decide what's right.]
The following is from Tom Givens.
There are still some among us who are so naïve they believe the system
will somehow protect them. One of the hardest things for a lot of modern
people to accept and internalize is the fact that no one is coming to save
you and that you alone are responsible for your safety and security.
Here is a perfect example. Gary Ridgway was convicted as the
“Green River Killer”, one of the most prolific serial murderers in US history.
When captured, to avoid the death penalty, he agreed to lead authorities to
many unrecovered bodies of his victims. He was convicted of 49 (yes, 49)
murders and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Last week
a committee voted 5 to 4 against releasing him from prison so he wouldn’t be at
risk to catch the Corona virus.
There is no doubt that he killed more than 49 people and he likely would
re-offend if released. Only one vote kept him from being released. The
people who voted to release him don’t give a rat’s ass about you.
District Judge Halts California’s Ammunition Background Checks
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/04/24/district-judge-halts-californias-ammunition-background-checks/
This is why you have to vote for pro-gun politicians, because they
appoint pro-gun judges.
Lynchburg, VA Circuit Judge F. Patrick Yeatts rules Virginia gun range can open amid virus closures
https://www.nbc12.com/2020/04/27/judge-rules-virginia-gun-range-can-open-amid-virus-closures/
Did Illinois just ban or at least strictly limit concealed carry? by John Lott
https://crimeresearch.org/2020/04/did-illinois-just-ban-or-at-least-strictly-limit-concealed-carry/
After Action Analysis: April 29, 2020 by Andrew Branca
https://www.facebook.com/LawofSelfDefense/videos/520170728649398/
As Andrew says, all of the anti-police activists were demanding that the
police wear body cameras, anticipating that it would expose excessive use of
force by the police. But, such is not the case. The body cameras, in the
vast majority of cases, provides evidence to justify the police actions.
". . . the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
-- Second Amendment, U.S. Constitution (the one we swore to
uphold and defend against all enemies)
***** ***** ***** Survival, Medical, and such ***** ***** *****
"If you prepare for the emergency,
the emergency ceases to exist!"
-- Sherman House
Troxler Effect And Instability Of Our Sight Picture by Norman H. Wong, O.D.
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2020/4/14/troxler-effect-and-instability-of-our-sight-picture/
Winning Vision, Revisited by Norman H. Wong O.D.
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2018/8/15/winning-vision-revisited
If you think you can do precision position rifle shooting with
regular prescription eye glasses, you are WRONG! It is physically
impossible to look through the center of the ground prescription
while in a correct shooting position. So, you are looking at a bad
angle, probably over the bridge of your nose or through the top of
the lens. This creates a huge amount of distortion.
Coaches, don't let your athletes wear their regular glasses.
Get their parents to get them contact lenses or get them shooting
glasses. Accurate and precise shooting is impossible with distorted
vision.
At the level 3 coaches course at the Olympic Training Center
in Colorado Springs, CO, the instructors taught us that holding
one's breath for 8 seconds would cause the partial pressure of oxygen
in the blood stream to decrease to the point where the athlete would
lose fine vision resolution. The immature shooter will never notice
this, so you must teach this.
The athlete with good cardio vascular conditioning has to hold
his breath for 1 to 2 minutes before the carbon dioxide build up will
cause discomfort. Note that a lack of oxygen will not cause discomfort.
As long as the carbon dioxide is removed from the respiratory system,
the oxygen can be depleted until the person dies without any discomfort.
This is why so many aircraft pilots crash, and why so many SCUBA divers
die. So, the athlete must be taught to breath continuously, and not
hold his breath.
With practice, the shooter will automatically release the shot
at the respiratory pause after the exhale and before the inhale. With
significant dedicated practice, the shooter will automatically release
the shot between heart beats. (I learned this in the late 1970s in
a lecture from personnel from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Training Unit.)
The athlete who has been training, as in a real training program,
will have a low pulse rate ~60 beats per minute, a low blood pressure
~60/90 mm Hg, and a low respiratory rate which the shooter will adjust
automatically to the environment (elevation / barometric pressure,
temperature, humidity, clothing being worn, etc.). So, the trained
athlete will not notice the loss of fine visual acuity unless you
bring it to his attention. And maybe not even then. So, you have
to train the shooter to breath continuously and not hold his breath
for more than 8 seconds. Because he will easily be able to do it and
want to because he is distracted by the shot process, especially the
sight movie.
High Tensile Strength Increases Multifunctional Use of Survival Blankets in Wilderness Emergencies
https://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1080-6032(20)30011-9/fulltext?rss=yes
Excerpt:
Conclusions
Both brands of survival blankets show impressive tensile strength,
indicating that they have the potential to serve as temporary
pelvic binders or even as makeshift tourniquets when urgent
bleeding control is needed.
Willingness is a state of mind. Preparedness (or lack thereof)
is a fact.
***** ***** ***** Basics ***** ***** *****
Guns 101 – Loading a magazine by the Tactical Professor
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/guns-101-loading-a-magazine/
Using the term "load" as in loading the magazine, overloads the word "load".
That's why John Farnam teaches we charge and void magazines. We load and unload
pistols.
Guns 101 - Locking the Slide to the Rear by the Tactical Professor
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/2020/04/13/guns-101-next-episode/
Some pistols don't have a slide lock lever. Some pistol slides won't lock
back on an empty magazine.
"Personal Defense on a Budget" by Sheriff Jim Wilson
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2020/4/24/personal-defense-on-a-budget/
Beginners:
Understanding The Difference Between JHP, FMJ, +P And Other Types Of Ammo
by Brandon Curtis
https://concealednation.org/2020/03/beginners-understanding-the-difference-between-jhp-fmj-p-and-other-types-of-ammo/
A picture is worth a thousand words.
All kinds of good stuff at
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/
Polite Society Podcast, Guns 101
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEZ1iwbKuzg&list=PL89tFFATrvZfDOJWBSGn4JCufXk7r9s2u
A series of introductory presentations of about 10 minutes each.
10 Common Concealed Carry Mistakes To Avoid by Brandon Curtis
https://concealednation.org/2020/04/10-common-concealed-carry-mistakes-to-avoid/
Tips For New Pistol Shooters by John Parker (actually Brian Zins)
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2020/4/14/watch-tips-for-new-pistol-shooters/
***** ***** ***** Miscellany ***** ***** *****
When it's least expected, you're selected.
-- John Farnam
Gathering of Gun Geezers
Understanding the roots of today’s handgun training and competition
by Massad Ayoob
https://americanhandgunner.com/discover/gathering-of-gun-geezers/
I had the privilege of interacting with Jim McClary when I was
a Concealed Weapons Permit instructor in South Carolina. I didn't
know he had retired from SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division).
Good to see Mas is still alive and well.
We're all getting old. Better get your training before the wisemen pass.
I haven't been able to find the oral histories on Wilson Combat's
YouTube.com channel. Hoping they appear soon.
Tressa Joubert (Wilson Combat Support) says, "We have not released those
just yet, we hope to have them available soon however."
They will appear on
https://www.youtube.com/user/gowilsoncombat
All kinds of interesting stuff at
Practical Eschatology
https://practicaleschatology.blogspot.com/
List of headlines,
https://practicaleschatology.blogspot.com/?m=1
All kinds of neat stuff at
Gun Nuts Media
https://www.gunnuts.net/
************************************************************************
The epilogue to the written test in my Defensive Pistol course --
. . .
In case you didn't notice, this is an attitude test.
If your answers (not the ones you marked because you
thought they were acceptable, but the ones you thought
because that is your true nature) indicate that you
have a bad attitude, please refrain from carrying a
gun for self-defense, until you have an appropriate
level of maturity. With rights come responsibilities.
Carrying a gun does not make you a sheepdog.
Your maturity, mental preparation, and attitude make
you a sheepdog. If you are a sheepdog, always carry.
Because Murphy's Law says that anything that can go wrong,
will go wrong, at the worst possible time. That time is
when you are not carrying.
My son and I had a hobby. We often had battery problems.
So, we started carrying extra batteries. Then we never had
battery problems. That's how life works.
Dr. Ignatius Piazza says, it's better to have a gun and
not need one, than to need one and not have one. By having one,
the confidence and attitude (displayed in body language and
manner because of your training) may well cause you not to
need one. That's how life works.
"Being willing to do violence means you probably
won't have to do violence." -- Marc MacYoung
This is deep truth. This is how life really works.
May God keep you and bless you.
************************************************************************
Life is very short. If you waste time watching TV or playing
video games, you are a damn fool.
/* Random data from the HotBits radioactive random number generator */
unsigned char hotBits[55] = {
202, 13, 100, 190, 109, 219, 212, 142, 174, 174, 165, 151, 78, 107, 146,
219, 218, 123, 186, 196, 22, 159, 160, 160, 113, 11, 19, 119, 227, 92,
102, 229, 104, 118, 61, 215, 44, 223, 145, 155, 159, 122, 114, 197, 118,
123, 32, 93, 208, 84, 43, 59, 65, 143, 236
};
Semper Fidelis,
Jonathan D. Low
Jon_Low@yahoo.com
Friday, May 1, 2020
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
CWP, 15 April MMXX Anno Domini
Hi Sheepdogs,
***** ***** ***** Software ***** ***** *****
"Fear is an instinct. Courage is a choice."
-- Rear Admiral Joseph Kernan, USN
----- Mindset -----
"Panic is simply the lack of preprogrammed responses."
-- Tom Givens
Situational Awareness 101 by Tom Marlowe
https://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/training-situational-awareness-dying-prefer/
Why You Need to Stay Alert in a Crisis Situation by Sheriff Jim Wilson
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2020/4/10/why-you-need-to-stay-alert-in-a-crisis-situation/
Top 10 Tips For Urban Survival
Increasing Your Situational Awareness
by Tom McHale
https://americanhandgunner.com/discover/top-10-tips-for-urban-survival/
“Choice, not chance, determines your destiny.”
-- Aristotle
The Super Ego, or Why Men are Afraid to Train by Paul Markel
http://globalcounterterror.com/the-super-ego-or-why-men-are-afraid-to-train/
Excerpt:
In the end, the self-taught shooter is much like the self-taught
motorcycle rider. They are an accident waiting to happen. The self-taught
rider and shooter can get by on nominal instruction and luck as long as
they maintain low speeds and never face a challenge. However, if forced
to accelerate and negotiate the obstacles fate sometimes puts in their
path, both are doomed to injury and failure.
9 Things To Avoid When Shooting Outdoors by NRA Staff
https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2020/4/13/9-things-to-avoid-when-shooting-outdoors/
Such is courtesy.
Avoidance, Deterrence, and De-escalation
-- John Farnam
----- Safety -----
Don't go to stupid places.
Don't do stupid things.
Don't hang out with stupid people.
Be in bed by 10 PM. Your own bed.
Don't look like a freak.
Don't fail the attitude test.
-- John Farnam
Firearms Accidents Have Reached and All-Time Low by Luke C.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/03/31/nssf-report-firearms-accidents/
"The fast and / or emphatic reholster is an awesome way to shoot yourself."
-- Chuck Haggard
----- Training -----
"Reasons for training:
1. You don't know what you don't know.
2. Much of what you know is wrong.
3. It's good to have some of the answers to the test before taking it."
-- Claude Werner the Tactical Professor
I took Tatiana Whitlock's "Carry with Confidence" class. One of
the things I learned was,
"You do not train to pass the class. You train to prepare for
the day when you are the only thing between life and the grave."
-- Tatiana Whitlock
Other things I learned: [I paraphrase from my notes. All errors
are mine. -- Jon Low]
Fitting a pistol to a person's hand correctly requires understanding
of the person's hand.
Hyperdolichocheir hands have very long fingers and a narrow smaller palm.
Dolichocheir hands have long fingers and a narrow small palm.
Mesocheir hands have long fingers but short small palm.
Brachycheri hands have short fingers and a long large palm.
Hyperbrachycheir hands have short fingers with broader large palm.
Hand length is measured as a straight distance from interstylion to
dactylion of the middlefinger.
Hand breadth is measured as straight distance from metacarpal radialis
to metacarpal ulnare.
Some persons have a deep indentation in their palms. So, a palm
swell will fit them and they will feel comfortable. Other have no
indentation. So, a palm swell grip is wrong for them.
Female hands are different from male hands, not necessarily smaller
or thinner. Juvenile hands are different from adult hands, not
necessarily smaller.
Is the shooter double jointed? Does the shooter have medical
conditions? arthritis? gout? injuries that have healed and had an
affect on range of motion? hypermobility?
Can the shooter access the controls?
How does the hand fold around the pistol?
Right hand and left hand may not be the same hand type. May
not have the same range of motion. The pistol must work in both
hands.
[Ever wonder why Olympic trap shooters are able to shoot so
many targets without getting fatigued? It's because their shotgun
fits their anatomy. Similarly, the pistol has to fit the shooter's
anatomy. -- Jon Low]
Can the trigger finger press the trigger correctly? If not,
can we move the trigger on this particular pistol?
Visual concerns - Can the shooter use iron sights? If not,
will a red dot sight work? Color sensitivity? Should the shooter
be using a green dot instead?
If you don't consider all these things, you are doing your
student a disservice.
Holster - Consider placement first, then choose an appropriate
holster for that placement on the body. Consider body type. (She
gave an in depth presentation of human body types.) You have to
be able to get a correct grip on the pistol while it is in the
holster and your spine is straight and your shoulders are down
and relaxed. You may have to cant the holster to avoid printing
and banging the back of the chair when you sit. The holster
must fit on the body. Must not hit any bone. Consider the
shooter's range of motion.
The gun must be supported as in holster, belt, pant combo.
The width of the belt must match the size of the holster's belt
attachment devices. Consider the rise of the pants, that is
the distance from the pelvic crease to the top of the pants.
This distance effectively determines the maximum barrel length.
Belts should be continuously adjustable. Having a few
holes for the belt buckle is not sufficient. The free end of
your belt should be away from your gun.
[There was a whole long section on off body carry that I
will not recount, because I have a real problem with off body
carry. -- Jon Low]
There was a whole section on appropriate clothing for
concealed carry; drawing attention away from your waist line,
avoiding clothing that may foul your draw, choosing clothing
that conceals by camouflage or optical illusion, and such.
You have to test drive your gear and clothing before taking
it out in public.
When all is done correctly, the pistol will disappear under
the concealment garment. For those who were skeptical, she showed
a series of pictures of Melody Lauer (Limatunes), a petite woman,
concealing a full size pistol, extra magazine, and knife.
Consistency is key. Always carry in the same place. You
are training your body and mind to go for the gun in that place.
Don't confuse yourself.
Train with gloves (the ones you wear in the winter to avoid
frost bite).
There was a lot of other stuff in the class. I enthusiastically
recommend the class.
https://tatianawhitlock.com/
I see a lot of NRA and YouTube.com videos teaching breath control.
I do not teach breath control to my defensive pistol students, nor do
I teach it to my junior rifle team athletes. (I am a level 3 rifle coach,
certified by the NRA, CMP, and USA Shooting.)
I believe that breath control in a combat situation will happen
automatically, as an autonomic nervous system function. So, I don't
waste time teaching it.
Studies by USA Shooting at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado
Springs, CO and the United States Army Marksmanship Training Unit
demonstrate that with practice, the shooter will automatically (without
instruction) release the shot at the respiratory pause, after the exhale
and before the inhale. After significant training and practice the
shooter will automatically release the shot between heart beats.
By automatically, I mean without training to do so, without
conscious effort to do so. So, teaching something that will happen
automatically with practice is unnecessary, and perhaps counter productive.
You have to keep your finger in contact with the trigger when shooting.
If your finger is flying off the trigger after a shot, you're wrong.
This truth is not obvious, nor is this information easy to get. You have
to have someone watch your trigger finger when you shoot or you have to
video record yourself shooting.
If you have this problem, the solution is to dry practice multiple
shots while transitioning between targets at different distances and
varying angular displacements. And then to SLOWLY live fire multiple
shots while transitioning between targets at different distances and
varying angular displacements.
At a meeting of the Tennessee Firearms Association, a Metro Nashville, TN
police officer told us of a gunfight he was in in which he fired 14 rounds
at a suspect. None of his rounds hit the suspect. Fortunately (not
intentionally), a wooden fence caught all of his bullets. He said he
never saw his pistol's sights.
A Lebanon, TN police officer told me of shooting a suspect. He fired
one round that struck the high thoracic cavity and killed the suspect
immediately. The officer said, his front sight was as big as a basketball.
I hope that when you shoot, you will be focused on your front sight.
Because that is the guarantee that you will hit your intended target.
Which means you will not be hitting the innocent bystanders in the background.
The ‘Real World’ Bachelor’s of Tactical Science by Graveyard
https://swiftsilentdeadly.com/the-real-world-bachelors-of-tactical-science/
Recommendations for training.
In person training --
Tactical Confernce 2021 ($465)
https://taccon.info/
To register,
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tactical-conference-2021-dallas-tickets-100629329032
Fri, Mar 26, 2021, 8:00 AM – Sun, Mar 28, 2021, 6:00 PM CDT
Dallas Pistol Club
1830 W. Beltline Road
Carrollton, TX 75006
"You train for the people who love you."
-- Tatiana Whitlock
Paladin Training Inc., Steve Cooper
https://paladintraining.com/
Tactical Professor, Claude Werner
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/
Rangemaster Firearms Training Services, Tom and Lynn Givens
https://rangemaster.com/
Defense Training International, Inc., John and Vicki Farnam
https://defense-training.com/
John Holschen
https://www.youtube.com/user/tacticalmoment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBFNuIPr5Sw
Excerpts:
Shooting isn't what it's all about. Thinking is what it's all about.
You don't win gunfights by shooting the other guy. You win gunfights
by not getting shot.
You can shoot the other guy without exposing any of you. It just
takes a change in thinking. You don't have to get a center of mass shot.
Shoot an elbow or foot. The first person to get a hit will usually win.
Tatiana Whitlock, Training in Context
https://tatianawhitlock.com/
Active Response Training, Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/upcoming-classes
Handgun Combatives Training, Dave Spaulding
https://handguncombatives.com/
"The real value of training and practice isn't gaining technical competence,
it's achieving confidence in your abilities."
-- Claude Werner the Tactical Professor
Ralph Mroz has several books for sale. I use a lot of his material
in my classes, including showing a couple of his DVDs.
https://www.amazon.com/Ralph-Mroz/e/B001K88VQQ/
“There’s a huge training myth out there.
That MYTH is that Information = Something of Value.
FACT: Information = 0, unless people are inspired to act.”
-- Valerie Van Brocklin
Online training --
Free Handgun and Rifle Instructional Training Series
by Shooting-Performance Firearms Training
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDZWQcWLqkQYhzMmn8twnmVWiH9AEm-Kj
You May be DESTROYING Your Glock! by James Yeager
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs088AQOc8Y
James describes three errors that operators commit that
damage the semi-auto pistol (not just Glocks). Incorrect
loading technique, incorrect pistol assembly, and incorrect
lubrication.
"Training is NOT an event, but a process.
Training is the preparation FOR practice".
-- Claude Werner
The Blind Swordsman Drill w/ Massad Ayoob and Ken Hackathorn - Master Class Ep. 16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GBZsFP1DsY
I will try this on the range the next time I do live fire,
and perhaps add it to my Defensive Pistol course.
Live Fire CQB Drills: Going Tactical with Mike Seeklander Ep. 18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo2T12cERx4
I will try this dry at home and then live at the range,
and perhaps add them to my Defensive Pistol course.
----- Practice -----
Primary - visualization. (10 visualizations of a perfect shot for every dry shot)
Secondary - dry practice. (10 dry shots for every live round fired)
Tertiary - live fire. (Only needed to confirm what you have learned or to
adjust your sights.)
Practice is the small deposits you make over time,
so that in an emergency, you can make that big withdrawal.
-- Chesley Burnett Sullenberger, III
Train Like a S.E.A.L. (Safe Effective Ammoless Learning) by Chris Sajnog
https://www.itstactical.com/warcom/firearms/train-like-a-s-e-a-l-safe-effective-ammoless-learning/
Excerpts:
There are no articles or YouTube videos that can replace professional instruction.
I make my students dry fire every day at the range before we go hot
because it’s a great way to get warmed-up.
Before you get tired of training or start losing concentration – stop.
If you are ever interrupted, do all your safety checks again.
Come up with a plan of what you’re going to practice.
This should be written down in your range book as well
so you can review what you need to work on.
Visualize yourself doing the techniques perfectly before you begin.
If you’ve loaded your gun, make sure you say, “My gun is loaded.”
at least three times out loud so there is no chance you’ll forget
you’re done dry firing.
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
The Tactical Professor
Better to stay out of trouble than to get out of trouble.
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/
All kinds of interesting posts on this blog.
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
----- Techniques -----
"Use only that which works,
and take it from any place you can find it."
-- Bruce Lee
Trigger Control for Silhouette Rifle by the late Col. Lones Wigger
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2020/4/5/rifle-trigger-control-tips/
One of my heroes. I got a chance to see him at the Olympic
Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO and at the NRA Annual Meeting
in Nashville, TN before his passing.
Yes, this technique is useful for us. When you need to take
that high accuracy shot to avoid hitting the hostage, cover, or
innocent bystanders.
Mental Techniques for Shooting by John Rost
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2020/4/6/mental-techniques-for-shooting-cognitive-rehearsal-and-progressive-relaxation/
Follow-Through: A Shooting Fundamental by Larry Quandahl
https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2020/4/6/follow-through-a-shooting-fundamental/
Shooting Tips: The Importance of Balance by Larry Quandahl
https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2020/4/3/shooting-tips-the-importance-of-balance/
"It's not daily increase but daily decrease - hack away at the inessentials!"
-- Bruce Lee
----- Tactics -----
How do you win a gunfight?
Don't be there.
-- John Farnam
Tactical Pocket Pistol Tips -- De-Bussing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YbJK8ZgKCo
How to get away from a vehicle that is under fire.
You have to be the first to call the police.
You win gunfights by not getting shot.
-- John Holschen
"The shorter the fight, the less hurt you get."
-- John Holschen
----- Education -----
"You will never get smarter or broaden your horizons
if you're unwilling to learn from others and read."
-- Becca Martin
Wilson Combat
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDflFPjGCn5pi1zoJcGqCdA
Lots of fascinating videos. Check out the Master Class
series. You have to click on "Play All" to see all of
the episodes.
"Cogito, ergo armatum sum." (I think, therefore armed am I.)
-- John Farnam
***** ***** ***** Hardware (which includes you) ***** ***** *****
"I would like to see every
woman know how to handle
guns as naturally as they
know how to handle babies."
-- Annie Oakley
----- Gear -----
“Mission drives the gear train.”
-- Pat Rogers
Three Confusions!
https://defense-training.com/archives/4857
John Farnam explains why our small arms are the way they are.
If you are left handed and the ejected brass hits your thumb (either one),
you can solve this problem by adjusting (or replacing) the ejector and the
extractor claw, to get the casing to eject up instead of back and to the right.
If you can't figure out how to do it, ask your gunsmith to do it for you. Even
if the brass doesn't bruise the shooter's thumb, it can be irritating for your
students (and cause training scars).
Guns 101 on Polite Society Podcast, Claude Werner
How to store a gun in your car.
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/2020/04/11/guns-101-on-polite-society-podcast/
Why Do We Recommend You Carry Extra Ammo? by Joshua Gillem
https://www.concealedcarry.com/firearms-ownership/why-do-we-recommend-you-carry-extra-ammo/
Concealed Carry Corner:
Top 4 Things Worth Paying Extra For Carrying Concealed by Matt E.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/04/02/concealed-carry-corner-top-4-things-worth-paying-extra-for-carrying-concealed/
Your Clothing Adjustments Are Giving Away Your Concealed Carry Gun by Matthew Maruster
https://www.concealedcarry.com/training-2/your-clothing-adjustments-are-giving-away-your-concealed-carry-gun/
Pepper Spray - How to Choose it and How to Use it by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/pepper-spray-how-to-choose-it-and-how-to-use-it
What some professional instructors choose to use.
2020 KR Training staff gear survey part 1 – carry guns
https://blog.krtraining.com/2020-kr-training-staff-gear-survey-part-1-carry-guns/
2020 KR Training staff gear survey part 2 – holsters, mag carriers and ammo
https://blog.krtraining.com/2020-kr-training-staff-gear-survey-part-2-holsters-ammo/
2020 KR Training staff gear survey part 3 – flashlights, pepper spray, medical gear
https://blog.krtraining.com/2020-kr-training-staff-gear-survey-part-3-lights-oc-medical/
2020 KR Training staff gear survey part 4 – home defense, training and competition guns
https://blog.krtraining.com/2020-kr-training-staff-gear-survey-part-4/
How to Master Shooting a Red-Dot Sight on Your Handgun by Chris Mudgett
https://www.outdoorlife.com/story/guns/how-to-master-red-dot-sights-on-handgun/
“Your car is not a holster.” – Pat Rogers
Wear it or lock it up.
----- Technical -----
Bullets before and after penetration
https://www.facebook.com/RMATrainhardShootstraight/photos/a.203062520245770/605629763322375/?type=3&theater&ifg=1
The picture is a little deceptive because some of the
bullets that did not expand or deform are designed to cause
cavitation by other means. Also, the picture does not
indicate the depth of penetration. Penetration through
clothing, bone (skull for instance), body armor, car doors,
etc. is necessary for reaching a vital organ.
Making an Avenger Style Holster, Kimber Micro 9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfr30hs0Kxg
The actually time to make the holster is about 2 hours
spread over several days. All of the special tools used
are listed below the video.
"Real fights are short."
-- Bruce Lee
***** ***** ***** 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
Stephen Obregon --
. . . as a new instructor, I've been told that only experienced Military
and LEOs are really qualified to teach Gunfighting/Tactics (advanced
classes dealing with force on force, building clearing, CQB, cover and
concealment, decision making, etc.) and as a civilian with none of that
in my background and who has never been in a gunfight, I am not qualified
to teach that kind of stuff, regardless of how much good training I
receive from reputable instructors who do have that experience.
Jon Low's response --
The civilian self-defender or protector-of-others has the primary
duty to escape or facilitate the escape of others.
The law enforcement officer has a duty to pursue and arrest.
What does that have to do with escape? Nothing.
The Armed Forces combatant has a duty to kill the enemy by fire,
maneuver, and close combat. What does that have to do with escaping?
Nothing.
Also note that the vast majority of veterans have no small arms
training. They may have familiarization, but not training.
So, why would military or law enforcement experience have anything
to do with civilian self-defense training?
Lessons Learned As A Professional Instructor (could not find the instructor's name)
https://swiftsilentdeadly.com/lessons-learned-as-a-professional-instructor/
Be aware of the training junkie in your classes. Those who
are there to pass your class (whatever that means). Those who are
there to set a record in the qualification course of fire of your
class.
If you are teaching pistolcraft for the purpose of self-defense,
you have a duty to cause your students to answer the philosophical
questions. Do you always carry? (If not, why?) Why do you carry?
Are you willing to take a human life? Multiple lives? Under what
conditions would you be willing to take a human life?
Thanks to Tatiana Whitlock.
"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
----- Pedagogy -----
"Train, Practice, Compete
are the key elements in the development of humans."
-- John M. Buol, Jr.
Why The Fitz? by Darryl Bolke
https://revolverguy.com/why-the-fitz/
Excerpt:
"Like most of the cops trained in the revolver era,
I was taught to always have a finger resting on the trigger
of a drawn revolver . . . and that was a mere 32 years ago in 1988.
We really didn’t figure out how important trigger finger
discipline was until the popularity of the Glock pistol."
[It is a error of youth to think that the way things
are is the way they have always been. When I went through
boot camp in 1981, we were not taught to keep our trigger
fingers in the register position. -- Jon Low]
Teach positive. Teach what to do. Don't talk about what not to do.
-- John Farnam
An instructor should not expect any learning to take
place the first time new information is presented.
-- "Building Shooters" by Dustin Solomon
***** ***** ***** Legal, Political, and Philosophical ***** ***** *****
"The only law is the actual law folks: the relevant statutes,
jury instructions, and court decisions, and it’s prudent to check
all three to make sure they’re consistent with each other. Judges
make errors all the time, and it is the statute, not the case law,
that has priority." -- Andrew Branca
" A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined,
but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to
maintain a status of independence from any who might
attempt to abuse them, which would include their own
government".
-- George Washington
Jack Wilson’s Story
https://www.uslawshield.com/voice-of-a-hero-jack-wilson/
The aftermath of a self defense shooting.
"Just because you do not take an interest in politics
doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you."
-- Pericles, circa 450 B.C.
A Knock in the Night
Part Three: Endless Prosecution by Shawn Vincent
https://ccwsafe.com/blog/32023
This shooting would have been fine in a military combat
context. But, in a civilian self-defense context, the home
owner should not have shot the home invader without first
positively identifying the enemy. This is a violation of
our safety rule.
RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET
If you shoot through a closed door, who knows how many
innocent persons you could kill.
The door was still locked and holding. So, by doing
nothing, the home owner WINS. This is a big win, because
you don't have to shoot the invader. But, you have to get
the training to know that this is the correct tactical
maneuver. (Just as blinding the bad guy with your
1000 lumen tactical flashlight is a big win, because then
you don't have to shoot him. But, you have to get the
training to know to have the flashlight and how to use it
correctly.)
"I wasn't going to wait for the intruder to break down
the door."
Why not? The door was lock and holding. The intruder
might not have been able to breach the door. And if the
intruder did breach the door, you would then have a clear
shot at a positively identified enemy.
So, what's the underlying problem? The home owner
went into fear and panic. Panic is when you shoot someone
who does not pose a imminent threat. Why? Lack of sufficient
self-defense training and practice. Being an Army veteran
of Iraq and Afghanistan doesn't imply self-defense small arms
training or practice. I'm a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom
23 Nov. 2002 to 31 Dec. 2003, and I never got any self-defense
small-arms training or practice; before, during, or after.
Military combat training is entirely different from civilian
self-defense training.
I was discussing this incident with a friend and he told
me of his experience. In the middle of the night his wife
wakes him up and tells him someone is banging on their front
door. My friend grabs his pistol and goes to the front door.
[First mistake - You have to call 911 or tell someone to call 911.
That gets the cavalry on the way to rescue you. Well, at
least it establishes a record that you can use to establish
your justification for use of lethal force, if you need to.
My friend told me that it never occurred to him to call the
Sheriff before, during, or after the incident. They live out
in the country, but still, you have to call 911 to establish
that you were the good guy. Second mistake - never go
to the fight. Escape! Barricade in place! But, don't close
with the bad guy.]
My friend yells through the closed and locked front
door telling the guy to go away. The jerking on the door
knob continues. My friend yells that he has a gun and will
shoot through the door. The banging continues. My friend
says, I'm going to shoot. The person outside screams don't
shoot and identifies himself as my friend's uncle. At which
point the incident is resolved.
Common sense is a flower that does not grow in everyone's
garden. So you, dear reader, must bend over backwards to
compensate for the stupidity of others.
The 2-3-4 Rule by J. Lee Weems
https://thatweemsguy.com/2010/08/03/the-2-3-4-rule-2/
I have taken classes from Lee and recommend you do too.
https://firstpersonsafety.com/
ATF letter to FFLs
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/open-letter/atf-business-premises-guidance-letter-4-10-2020/download
You may make gun sales at a drive up window. You may
make gun sales at a table in your parking lot. As long as
they are on the FFL's property.
If you want someone to read and expalin it to you,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKhqKXi5KC4
". . . the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
-- Second Amendment, U.S. Constitution (the one you swore to
uphold and defend against all enemies)
***** ***** ***** Survival, Medical, and such ***** ***** *****
"If you prepare for the emergency,
the emergency ceases to exist!"
-- Sherman House
The chances of you getting into car collision are much greater than you
getting into a lethal force confrontation. So, you need to take a defensive
driving class. If you are not motivated to do so, do it for your children
or grand children. Telling yourself, it wasn't my fault, is a poor excuse
for preventable death and mutilation.
You Can’t Always Be There, or “Situational Awareness Skills For Kids” by Marcus Wynne
https://marcuswynne.wordpress.com/2015/03/13/you-cant-always-be-there-or-situational-awareness-skills-for-kids/
Excerpt:
. . . It’s a good first step to help protect children
from sick cowards . . . though sometimes the best way to
protect young lambs is to simply kill the Wolf.
Range Medic | First Aid Kit
https://mymedic.com/collections/first-aid-kits/products/range-medic
This looks fairly useful.
You’re prepared, or you’re not!
-- John Farnam
Willingness is a state of mind. Preparedness (or lack thereof)
is a fact.
***** ***** ***** Basics ***** ***** *****
What Are the Basic Parts of Ammunition? by Ammunition Depot
https://www.ammunitiondepot.com/blog/what-are-the-basic-parts-of-ammunition
How to Use a Semi-Automatic Pistol: Part 1 by Chris Baker
https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/use-semi-automatic-pistol-part-1/
How to Use a Semi-Automatic Pistol: Part 2 by Chris Baker
https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/use-semi-automatic-pistol-part-2/
Shooting 101 series by Chris Baker
https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/category/shooting-101/
How to Use a Pump-Action Shotgun by Chris Baker
https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/how-to-use-a-pump-action-shotgun/
Student of the Gun
https://www.studentofthegun.com/
offers a free online course for newbies that covers:
1. The Fundamentals
2. The 4 Universal Safety Rules
3. The Importance of Dry-Practice
4. The 4-Step Draw Process
5. Using Your Workspace
6. F.A.S.T. (Fight, Assess, Scan, Top Off)
7. Dealing with Stoppages
It's geared to take the beginner about 30 minutes to complete.
They issue a nice certificate upon completion. Just have to
give them your email address and your name. They email a link
to you to take the class.
Firearm Safety + Handgun Fundamentals 101 | Safer At Home Episode 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MUPcmQsJ6s
For newbies.
Tactical Reload with a Pistol by Il Ling New
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DuMVr8YOC8
With an explanation of when and why to do this type of reload.
I JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST GUN. NOW WHAT DO I DO?
https://ccwsafe.com/blog/32034
Please share this with your newbie friends.
***** ***** ***** Miscellany ***** ***** *****
When it's least expected, you're selected.
-- John Farnam
10 Ways for Shooters to Pass the Time in Quarantine by Jay Grazio
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2020/4/3/10-ways-for-shooters-to-pass-the-time-in-quarantine/
During the pandemic, my car died. So, I traded my Kimber Pro Carry (with accessories:
Kramer holster, Kentucky Amish belt, Don Hume double mag pouch, Streamlight flashlight,
and three Wilson Combat magazines) for a 1988 Volvo 740 in good running condition. So,
now I can take advantage of the cheap gas. Hey, barter works.
I've got to get one of these.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/04/08/potd-m270-mlrs-fires-a-guided-multiple-launch-rocket-system-rocket/
". . . the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
The Founding Fathers were referring to cannon / artillery.
This is modern day cannon / artillery. Cannon is what the
British were attempting to seize and had seized when the
American Revolutionary War started. Amazing what you learn
when you actually read the original primary source documents.
6 Reasons To Visit the NRA Whittington Center This Summer by Wendy LaFever
https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2020/3/30/6-reasons-to-visit-the-nra-whittington-center-this-summer/
Thunder Rants, Ep. 1: Gun + Life Wisdom from Clint Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=192&v=uXGnq1iKrUU&feature=emb_logo
Starts at 3:13.
Fingers Vs. Cylinder Gap ***DESTRUCTION!!!*** by Jerry Miculek
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6vMkk8VYzc
Yet another reason not to use a revolver.
May I invite your attention to
"Can we build AI without losing control over it?" by Sam Harris
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nt3edWLgIg
I have always appreciated Sam's work.
I use one of his essays in my Defensive Pistol course,
"The Truth about Violence 3 Principles of Self-Defense"
https://samharris.org/the-truth-about-violence/
He is ever the pessimist.
/* Random data from the HotBits radioactive random number generator */
unsigned char hotBits[128] = {
39, 30, 120, 182, 206, 29, 200, 142, 235, 65, 127, 247, 148, 173, 66,
50, 199, 65, 44, 73, 200, 166, 82, 10, 13, 66, 230, 166, 190, 141, 55,
76, 114, 97, 76, 118, 170, 35, 181, 210, 23, 17, 220, 71, 241, 121, 122,
219, 147, 143, 33, 184, 244, 136, 25, 192, 8, 167, 154, 159, 231, 122,
119, 220, 112, 7, 108, 233, 120, 59, 170, 201, 29, 86, 215, 163, 242,
84, 216, 69, 65, 87, 63, 4, 243, 123, 205, 247, 19, 68, 72, 91, 86, 117,
231, 151, 135, 25, 29, 23, 156, 211, 36, 196, 79, 230, 249, 54, 73, 55,
178, 68, 173, 95, 138, 134, 200, 6, 146, 180, 236, 247, 51, 198, 159,
209, 74, 169
};
These are random numbers in the range of 0 to 255, not
algorithmically generated pseudo-random numbers. You may use them
as you wish. They are unique. If you believe that radioactive
decay is random. If you believe in the theory of general relativity.
Because, after all, it's just a theory.
The author of the web site, HotBits, at
https://www.fourmilab.ch/hotbits/
mistakenly says that the randomness of radioactive decay is based on
"the quantum mechanical laws of nature". But he is wrong. One can
neither create nor destroy particles under the Schrodinger equation.
Radioactive decay is a relativistic event, not a quantum mechanical
event.
Semper Fidelis,
Jonathan D. Low
Jon_Low@yahoo.com
***** ***** ***** Software ***** ***** *****
"Fear is an instinct. Courage is a choice."
-- Rear Admiral Joseph Kernan, USN
----- Mindset -----
"Panic is simply the lack of preprogrammed responses."
-- Tom Givens
Situational Awareness 101 by Tom Marlowe
https://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/training-situational-awareness-dying-prefer/
Why You Need to Stay Alert in a Crisis Situation by Sheriff Jim Wilson
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2020/4/10/why-you-need-to-stay-alert-in-a-crisis-situation/
Top 10 Tips For Urban Survival
Increasing Your Situational Awareness
by Tom McHale
https://americanhandgunner.com/discover/top-10-tips-for-urban-survival/
“Choice, not chance, determines your destiny.”
-- Aristotle
The Super Ego, or Why Men are Afraid to Train by Paul Markel
http://globalcounterterror.com/the-super-ego-or-why-men-are-afraid-to-train/
Excerpt:
In the end, the self-taught shooter is much like the self-taught
motorcycle rider. They are an accident waiting to happen. The self-taught
rider and shooter can get by on nominal instruction and luck as long as
they maintain low speeds and never face a challenge. However, if forced
to accelerate and negotiate the obstacles fate sometimes puts in their
path, both are doomed to injury and failure.
9 Things To Avoid When Shooting Outdoors by NRA Staff
https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2020/4/13/9-things-to-avoid-when-shooting-outdoors/
Such is courtesy.
Avoidance, Deterrence, and De-escalation
-- John Farnam
----- Safety -----
Don't go to stupid places.
Don't do stupid things.
Don't hang out with stupid people.
Be in bed by 10 PM. Your own bed.
Don't look like a freak.
Don't fail the attitude test.
-- John Farnam
Firearms Accidents Have Reached and All-Time Low by Luke C.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/03/31/nssf-report-firearms-accidents/
"The fast and / or emphatic reholster is an awesome way to shoot yourself."
-- Chuck Haggard
----- Training -----
"Reasons for training:
1. You don't know what you don't know.
2. Much of what you know is wrong.
3. It's good to have some of the answers to the test before taking it."
-- Claude Werner the Tactical Professor
I took Tatiana Whitlock's "Carry with Confidence" class. One of
the things I learned was,
"You do not train to pass the class. You train to prepare for
the day when you are the only thing between life and the grave."
-- Tatiana Whitlock
Other things I learned: [I paraphrase from my notes. All errors
are mine. -- Jon Low]
Fitting a pistol to a person's hand correctly requires understanding
of the person's hand.
Hyperdolichocheir hands have very long fingers and a narrow smaller palm.
Dolichocheir hands have long fingers and a narrow small palm.
Mesocheir hands have long fingers but short small palm.
Brachycheri hands have short fingers and a long large palm.
Hyperbrachycheir hands have short fingers with broader large palm.
Hand length is measured as a straight distance from interstylion to
dactylion of the middlefinger.
Hand breadth is measured as straight distance from metacarpal radialis
to metacarpal ulnare.
Some persons have a deep indentation in their palms. So, a palm
swell will fit them and they will feel comfortable. Other have no
indentation. So, a palm swell grip is wrong for them.
Female hands are different from male hands, not necessarily smaller
or thinner. Juvenile hands are different from adult hands, not
necessarily smaller.
Is the shooter double jointed? Does the shooter have medical
conditions? arthritis? gout? injuries that have healed and had an
affect on range of motion? hypermobility?
Can the shooter access the controls?
How does the hand fold around the pistol?
Right hand and left hand may not be the same hand type. May
not have the same range of motion. The pistol must work in both
hands.
[Ever wonder why Olympic trap shooters are able to shoot so
many targets without getting fatigued? It's because their shotgun
fits their anatomy. Similarly, the pistol has to fit the shooter's
anatomy. -- Jon Low]
Can the trigger finger press the trigger correctly? If not,
can we move the trigger on this particular pistol?
Visual concerns - Can the shooter use iron sights? If not,
will a red dot sight work? Color sensitivity? Should the shooter
be using a green dot instead?
If you don't consider all these things, you are doing your
student a disservice.
Holster - Consider placement first, then choose an appropriate
holster for that placement on the body. Consider body type. (She
gave an in depth presentation of human body types.) You have to
be able to get a correct grip on the pistol while it is in the
holster and your spine is straight and your shoulders are down
and relaxed. You may have to cant the holster to avoid printing
and banging the back of the chair when you sit. The holster
must fit on the body. Must not hit any bone. Consider the
shooter's range of motion.
The gun must be supported as in holster, belt, pant combo.
The width of the belt must match the size of the holster's belt
attachment devices. Consider the rise of the pants, that is
the distance from the pelvic crease to the top of the pants.
This distance effectively determines the maximum barrel length.
Belts should be continuously adjustable. Having a few
holes for the belt buckle is not sufficient. The free end of
your belt should be away from your gun.
[There was a whole long section on off body carry that I
will not recount, because I have a real problem with off body
carry. -- Jon Low]
There was a whole section on appropriate clothing for
concealed carry; drawing attention away from your waist line,
avoiding clothing that may foul your draw, choosing clothing
that conceals by camouflage or optical illusion, and such.
You have to test drive your gear and clothing before taking
it out in public.
When all is done correctly, the pistol will disappear under
the concealment garment. For those who were skeptical, she showed
a series of pictures of Melody Lauer (Limatunes), a petite woman,
concealing a full size pistol, extra magazine, and knife.
Consistency is key. Always carry in the same place. You
are training your body and mind to go for the gun in that place.
Don't confuse yourself.
Train with gloves (the ones you wear in the winter to avoid
frost bite).
There was a lot of other stuff in the class. I enthusiastically
recommend the class.
https://tatianawhitlock.com/
I see a lot of NRA and YouTube.com videos teaching breath control.
I do not teach breath control to my defensive pistol students, nor do
I teach it to my junior rifle team athletes. (I am a level 3 rifle coach,
certified by the NRA, CMP, and USA Shooting.)
I believe that breath control in a combat situation will happen
automatically, as an autonomic nervous system function. So, I don't
waste time teaching it.
Studies by USA Shooting at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado
Springs, CO and the United States Army Marksmanship Training Unit
demonstrate that with practice, the shooter will automatically (without
instruction) release the shot at the respiratory pause, after the exhale
and before the inhale. After significant training and practice the
shooter will automatically release the shot between heart beats.
By automatically, I mean without training to do so, without
conscious effort to do so. So, teaching something that will happen
automatically with practice is unnecessary, and perhaps counter productive.
You have to keep your finger in contact with the trigger when shooting.
If your finger is flying off the trigger after a shot, you're wrong.
This truth is not obvious, nor is this information easy to get. You have
to have someone watch your trigger finger when you shoot or you have to
video record yourself shooting.
If you have this problem, the solution is to dry practice multiple
shots while transitioning between targets at different distances and
varying angular displacements. And then to SLOWLY live fire multiple
shots while transitioning between targets at different distances and
varying angular displacements.
At a meeting of the Tennessee Firearms Association, a Metro Nashville, TN
police officer told us of a gunfight he was in in which he fired 14 rounds
at a suspect. None of his rounds hit the suspect. Fortunately (not
intentionally), a wooden fence caught all of his bullets. He said he
never saw his pistol's sights.
A Lebanon, TN police officer told me of shooting a suspect. He fired
one round that struck the high thoracic cavity and killed the suspect
immediately. The officer said, his front sight was as big as a basketball.
I hope that when you shoot, you will be focused on your front sight.
Because that is the guarantee that you will hit your intended target.
Which means you will not be hitting the innocent bystanders in the background.
The ‘Real World’ Bachelor’s of Tactical Science by Graveyard
https://swiftsilentdeadly.com/the-real-world-bachelors-of-tactical-science/
Recommendations for training.
In person training --
Tactical Confernce 2021 ($465)
https://taccon.info/
To register,
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tactical-conference-2021-dallas-tickets-100629329032
Fri, Mar 26, 2021, 8:00 AM – Sun, Mar 28, 2021, 6:00 PM CDT
Dallas Pistol Club
1830 W. Beltline Road
Carrollton, TX 75006
"You train for the people who love you."
-- Tatiana Whitlock
Paladin Training Inc., Steve Cooper
https://paladintraining.com/
Tactical Professor, Claude Werner
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/
Rangemaster Firearms Training Services, Tom and Lynn Givens
https://rangemaster.com/
Defense Training International, Inc., John and Vicki Farnam
https://defense-training.com/
John Holschen
https://www.youtube.com/user/tacticalmoment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBFNuIPr5Sw
Excerpts:
Shooting isn't what it's all about. Thinking is what it's all about.
You don't win gunfights by shooting the other guy. You win gunfights
by not getting shot.
You can shoot the other guy without exposing any of you. It just
takes a change in thinking. You don't have to get a center of mass shot.
Shoot an elbow or foot. The first person to get a hit will usually win.
Tatiana Whitlock, Training in Context
https://tatianawhitlock.com/
Active Response Training, Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/upcoming-classes
Handgun Combatives Training, Dave Spaulding
https://handguncombatives.com/
"The real value of training and practice isn't gaining technical competence,
it's achieving confidence in your abilities."
-- Claude Werner the Tactical Professor
Ralph Mroz has several books for sale. I use a lot of his material
in my classes, including showing a couple of his DVDs.
https://www.amazon.com/Ralph-Mroz/e/B001K88VQQ/
“There’s a huge training myth out there.
That MYTH is that Information = Something of Value.
FACT: Information = 0, unless people are inspired to act.”
-- Valerie Van Brocklin
Online training --
Free Handgun and Rifle Instructional Training Series
by Shooting-Performance Firearms Training
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDZWQcWLqkQYhzMmn8twnmVWiH9AEm-Kj
You May be DESTROYING Your Glock! by James Yeager
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs088AQOc8Y
James describes three errors that operators commit that
damage the semi-auto pistol (not just Glocks). Incorrect
loading technique, incorrect pistol assembly, and incorrect
lubrication.
"Training is NOT an event, but a process.
Training is the preparation FOR practice".
-- Claude Werner
The Blind Swordsman Drill w/ Massad Ayoob and Ken Hackathorn - Master Class Ep. 16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GBZsFP1DsY
I will try this on the range the next time I do live fire,
and perhaps add it to my Defensive Pistol course.
Live Fire CQB Drills: Going Tactical with Mike Seeklander Ep. 18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo2T12cERx4
I will try this dry at home and then live at the range,
and perhaps add them to my Defensive Pistol course.
----- Practice -----
Primary - visualization. (10 visualizations of a perfect shot for every dry shot)
Secondary - dry practice. (10 dry shots for every live round fired)
Tertiary - live fire. (Only needed to confirm what you have learned or to
adjust your sights.)
Practice is the small deposits you make over time,
so that in an emergency, you can make that big withdrawal.
-- Chesley Burnett Sullenberger, III
Train Like a S.E.A.L. (Safe Effective Ammoless Learning) by Chris Sajnog
https://www.itstactical.com/warcom/firearms/train-like-a-s-e-a-l-safe-effective-ammoless-learning/
Excerpts:
There are no articles or YouTube videos that can replace professional instruction.
I make my students dry fire every day at the range before we go hot
because it’s a great way to get warmed-up.
Before you get tired of training or start losing concentration – stop.
If you are ever interrupted, do all your safety checks again.
Come up with a plan of what you’re going to practice.
This should be written down in your range book as well
so you can review what you need to work on.
Visualize yourself doing the techniques perfectly before you begin.
If you’ve loaded your gun, make sure you say, “My gun is loaded.”
at least three times out loud so there is no chance you’ll forget
you’re done dry firing.
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
The Tactical Professor
Better to stay out of trouble than to get out of trouble.
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/
All kinds of interesting posts on this blog.
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
----- Techniques -----
"Use only that which works,
and take it from any place you can find it."
-- Bruce Lee
Trigger Control for Silhouette Rifle by the late Col. Lones Wigger
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2020/4/5/rifle-trigger-control-tips/
One of my heroes. I got a chance to see him at the Olympic
Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO and at the NRA Annual Meeting
in Nashville, TN before his passing.
Yes, this technique is useful for us. When you need to take
that high accuracy shot to avoid hitting the hostage, cover, or
innocent bystanders.
Mental Techniques for Shooting by John Rost
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2020/4/6/mental-techniques-for-shooting-cognitive-rehearsal-and-progressive-relaxation/
Follow-Through: A Shooting Fundamental by Larry Quandahl
https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2020/4/6/follow-through-a-shooting-fundamental/
Shooting Tips: The Importance of Balance by Larry Quandahl
https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2020/4/3/shooting-tips-the-importance-of-balance/
"It's not daily increase but daily decrease - hack away at the inessentials!"
-- Bruce Lee
----- Tactics -----
How do you win a gunfight?
Don't be there.
-- John Farnam
Tactical Pocket Pistol Tips -- De-Bussing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YbJK8ZgKCo
How to get away from a vehicle that is under fire.
You have to be the first to call the police.
You win gunfights by not getting shot.
-- John Holschen
"The shorter the fight, the less hurt you get."
-- John Holschen
----- Education -----
"You will never get smarter or broaden your horizons
if you're unwilling to learn from others and read."
-- Becca Martin
Wilson Combat
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDflFPjGCn5pi1zoJcGqCdA
Lots of fascinating videos. Check out the Master Class
series. You have to click on "Play All" to see all of
the episodes.
"Cogito, ergo armatum sum." (I think, therefore armed am I.)
-- John Farnam
***** ***** ***** Hardware (which includes you) ***** ***** *****
"I would like to see every
woman know how to handle
guns as naturally as they
know how to handle babies."
-- Annie Oakley
----- Gear -----
“Mission drives the gear train.”
-- Pat Rogers
Three Confusions!
https://defense-training.com/archives/4857
John Farnam explains why our small arms are the way they are.
If you are left handed and the ejected brass hits your thumb (either one),
you can solve this problem by adjusting (or replacing) the ejector and the
extractor claw, to get the casing to eject up instead of back and to the right.
If you can't figure out how to do it, ask your gunsmith to do it for you. Even
if the brass doesn't bruise the shooter's thumb, it can be irritating for your
students (and cause training scars).
Guns 101 on Polite Society Podcast, Claude Werner
How to store a gun in your car.
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/2020/04/11/guns-101-on-polite-society-podcast/
Why Do We Recommend You Carry Extra Ammo? by Joshua Gillem
https://www.concealedcarry.com/firearms-ownership/why-do-we-recommend-you-carry-extra-ammo/
Concealed Carry Corner:
Top 4 Things Worth Paying Extra For Carrying Concealed by Matt E.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/04/02/concealed-carry-corner-top-4-things-worth-paying-extra-for-carrying-concealed/
Your Clothing Adjustments Are Giving Away Your Concealed Carry Gun by Matthew Maruster
https://www.concealedcarry.com/training-2/your-clothing-adjustments-are-giving-away-your-concealed-carry-gun/
Pepper Spray - How to Choose it and How to Use it by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/pepper-spray-how-to-choose-it-and-how-to-use-it
What some professional instructors choose to use.
2020 KR Training staff gear survey part 1 – carry guns
https://blog.krtraining.com/2020-kr-training-staff-gear-survey-part-1-carry-guns/
2020 KR Training staff gear survey part 2 – holsters, mag carriers and ammo
https://blog.krtraining.com/2020-kr-training-staff-gear-survey-part-2-holsters-ammo/
2020 KR Training staff gear survey part 3 – flashlights, pepper spray, medical gear
https://blog.krtraining.com/2020-kr-training-staff-gear-survey-part-3-lights-oc-medical/
2020 KR Training staff gear survey part 4 – home defense, training and competition guns
https://blog.krtraining.com/2020-kr-training-staff-gear-survey-part-4/
How to Master Shooting a Red-Dot Sight on Your Handgun by Chris Mudgett
https://www.outdoorlife.com/story/guns/how-to-master-red-dot-sights-on-handgun/
“Your car is not a holster.” – Pat Rogers
Wear it or lock it up.
----- Technical -----
Bullets before and after penetration
https://www.facebook.com/RMATrainhardShootstraight/photos/a.203062520245770/605629763322375/?type=3&theater&ifg=1
The picture is a little deceptive because some of the
bullets that did not expand or deform are designed to cause
cavitation by other means. Also, the picture does not
indicate the depth of penetration. Penetration through
clothing, bone (skull for instance), body armor, car doors,
etc. is necessary for reaching a vital organ.
Making an Avenger Style Holster, Kimber Micro 9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfr30hs0Kxg
The actually time to make the holster is about 2 hours
spread over several days. All of the special tools used
are listed below the video.
"Real fights are short."
-- Bruce Lee
***** ***** ***** 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
Stephen Obregon --
. . . as a new instructor, I've been told that only experienced Military
and LEOs are really qualified to teach Gunfighting/Tactics (advanced
classes dealing with force on force, building clearing, CQB, cover and
concealment, decision making, etc.) and as a civilian with none of that
in my background and who has never been in a gunfight, I am not qualified
to teach that kind of stuff, regardless of how much good training I
receive from reputable instructors who do have that experience.
Jon Low's response --
The civilian self-defender or protector-of-others has the primary
duty to escape or facilitate the escape of others.
The law enforcement officer has a duty to pursue and arrest.
What does that have to do with escape? Nothing.
The Armed Forces combatant has a duty to kill the enemy by fire,
maneuver, and close combat. What does that have to do with escaping?
Nothing.
Also note that the vast majority of veterans have no small arms
training. They may have familiarization, but not training.
So, why would military or law enforcement experience have anything
to do with civilian self-defense training?
Lessons Learned As A Professional Instructor (could not find the instructor's name)
https://swiftsilentdeadly.com/lessons-learned-as-a-professional-instructor/
Be aware of the training junkie in your classes. Those who
are there to pass your class (whatever that means). Those who are
there to set a record in the qualification course of fire of your
class.
If you are teaching pistolcraft for the purpose of self-defense,
you have a duty to cause your students to answer the philosophical
questions. Do you always carry? (If not, why?) Why do you carry?
Are you willing to take a human life? Multiple lives? Under what
conditions would you be willing to take a human life?
Thanks to Tatiana Whitlock.
"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
----- Pedagogy -----
"Train, Practice, Compete
are the key elements in the development of humans."
-- John M. Buol, Jr.
Why The Fitz? by Darryl Bolke
https://revolverguy.com/why-the-fitz/
Excerpt:
"Like most of the cops trained in the revolver era,
I was taught to always have a finger resting on the trigger
of a drawn revolver . . . and that was a mere 32 years ago in 1988.
We really didn’t figure out how important trigger finger
discipline was until the popularity of the Glock pistol."
[It is a error of youth to think that the way things
are is the way they have always been. When I went through
boot camp in 1981, we were not taught to keep our trigger
fingers in the register position. -- Jon Low]
Teach positive. Teach what to do. Don't talk about what not to do.
-- John Farnam
An instructor should not expect any learning to take
place the first time new information is presented.
-- "Building Shooters" by Dustin Solomon
***** ***** ***** Legal, Political, and Philosophical ***** ***** *****
"The only law is the actual law folks: the relevant statutes,
jury instructions, and court decisions, and it’s prudent to check
all three to make sure they’re consistent with each other. Judges
make errors all the time, and it is the statute, not the case law,
that has priority." -- Andrew Branca
" A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined,
but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to
maintain a status of independence from any who might
attempt to abuse them, which would include their own
government".
-- George Washington
Jack Wilson’s Story
https://www.uslawshield.com/voice-of-a-hero-jack-wilson/
The aftermath of a self defense shooting.
"Just because you do not take an interest in politics
doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you."
-- Pericles, circa 450 B.C.
A Knock in the Night
Part Three: Endless Prosecution by Shawn Vincent
https://ccwsafe.com/blog/32023
This shooting would have been fine in a military combat
context. But, in a civilian self-defense context, the home
owner should not have shot the home invader without first
positively identifying the enemy. This is a violation of
our safety rule.
RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET
If you shoot through a closed door, who knows how many
innocent persons you could kill.
The door was still locked and holding. So, by doing
nothing, the home owner WINS. This is a big win, because
you don't have to shoot the invader. But, you have to get
the training to know that this is the correct tactical
maneuver. (Just as blinding the bad guy with your
1000 lumen tactical flashlight is a big win, because then
you don't have to shoot him. But, you have to get the
training to know to have the flashlight and how to use it
correctly.)
"I wasn't going to wait for the intruder to break down
the door."
Why not? The door was lock and holding. The intruder
might not have been able to breach the door. And if the
intruder did breach the door, you would then have a clear
shot at a positively identified enemy.
So, what's the underlying problem? The home owner
went into fear and panic. Panic is when you shoot someone
who does not pose a imminent threat. Why? Lack of sufficient
self-defense training and practice. Being an Army veteran
of Iraq and Afghanistan doesn't imply self-defense small arms
training or practice. I'm a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom
23 Nov. 2002 to 31 Dec. 2003, and I never got any self-defense
small-arms training or practice; before, during, or after.
Military combat training is entirely different from civilian
self-defense training.
I was discussing this incident with a friend and he told
me of his experience. In the middle of the night his wife
wakes him up and tells him someone is banging on their front
door. My friend grabs his pistol and goes to the front door.
[First mistake - You have to call 911 or tell someone to call 911.
That gets the cavalry on the way to rescue you. Well, at
least it establishes a record that you can use to establish
your justification for use of lethal force, if you need to.
My friend told me that it never occurred to him to call the
Sheriff before, during, or after the incident. They live out
in the country, but still, you have to call 911 to establish
that you were the good guy. Second mistake - never go
to the fight. Escape! Barricade in place! But, don't close
with the bad guy.]
My friend yells through the closed and locked front
door telling the guy to go away. The jerking on the door
knob continues. My friend yells that he has a gun and will
shoot through the door. The banging continues. My friend
says, I'm going to shoot. The person outside screams don't
shoot and identifies himself as my friend's uncle. At which
point the incident is resolved.
Common sense is a flower that does not grow in everyone's
garden. So you, dear reader, must bend over backwards to
compensate for the stupidity of others.
The 2-3-4 Rule by J. Lee Weems
https://thatweemsguy.com/2010/08/03/the-2-3-4-rule-2/
I have taken classes from Lee and recommend you do too.
https://firstpersonsafety.com/
ATF letter to FFLs
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/open-letter/atf-business-premises-guidance-letter-4-10-2020/download
You may make gun sales at a drive up window. You may
make gun sales at a table in your parking lot. As long as
they are on the FFL's property.
If you want someone to read and expalin it to you,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKhqKXi5KC4
". . . the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
-- Second Amendment, U.S. Constitution (the one you swore to
uphold and defend against all enemies)
***** ***** ***** Survival, Medical, and such ***** ***** *****
"If you prepare for the emergency,
the emergency ceases to exist!"
-- Sherman House
The chances of you getting into car collision are much greater than you
getting into a lethal force confrontation. So, you need to take a defensive
driving class. If you are not motivated to do so, do it for your children
or grand children. Telling yourself, it wasn't my fault, is a poor excuse
for preventable death and mutilation.
You Can’t Always Be There, or “Situational Awareness Skills For Kids” by Marcus Wynne
https://marcuswynne.wordpress.com/2015/03/13/you-cant-always-be-there-or-situational-awareness-skills-for-kids/
Excerpt:
. . . It’s a good first step to help protect children
from sick cowards . . . though sometimes the best way to
protect young lambs is to simply kill the Wolf.
Range Medic | First Aid Kit
https://mymedic.com/collections/first-aid-kits/products/range-medic
This looks fairly useful.
You’re prepared, or you’re not!
-- John Farnam
Willingness is a state of mind. Preparedness (or lack thereof)
is a fact.
***** ***** ***** Basics ***** ***** *****
What Are the Basic Parts of Ammunition? by Ammunition Depot
https://www.ammunitiondepot.com/blog/what-are-the-basic-parts-of-ammunition
How to Use a Semi-Automatic Pistol: Part 1 by Chris Baker
https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/use-semi-automatic-pistol-part-1/
How to Use a Semi-Automatic Pistol: Part 2 by Chris Baker
https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/use-semi-automatic-pistol-part-2/
Shooting 101 series by Chris Baker
https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/category/shooting-101/
How to Use a Pump-Action Shotgun by Chris Baker
https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/how-to-use-a-pump-action-shotgun/
Student of the Gun
https://www.studentofthegun.com/
offers a free online course for newbies that covers:
1. The Fundamentals
2. The 4 Universal Safety Rules
3. The Importance of Dry-Practice
4. The 4-Step Draw Process
5. Using Your Workspace
6. F.A.S.T. (Fight, Assess, Scan, Top Off)
7. Dealing with Stoppages
It's geared to take the beginner about 30 minutes to complete.
They issue a nice certificate upon completion. Just have to
give them your email address and your name. They email a link
to you to take the class.
Firearm Safety + Handgun Fundamentals 101 | Safer At Home Episode 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MUPcmQsJ6s
For newbies.
Tactical Reload with a Pistol by Il Ling New
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DuMVr8YOC8
With an explanation of when and why to do this type of reload.
I JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST GUN. NOW WHAT DO I DO?
https://ccwsafe.com/blog/32034
Please share this with your newbie friends.
***** ***** ***** Miscellany ***** ***** *****
When it's least expected, you're selected.
-- John Farnam
10 Ways for Shooters to Pass the Time in Quarantine by Jay Grazio
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2020/4/3/10-ways-for-shooters-to-pass-the-time-in-quarantine/
During the pandemic, my car died. So, I traded my Kimber Pro Carry (with accessories:
Kramer holster, Kentucky Amish belt, Don Hume double mag pouch, Streamlight flashlight,
and three Wilson Combat magazines) for a 1988 Volvo 740 in good running condition. So,
now I can take advantage of the cheap gas. Hey, barter works.
I've got to get one of these.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/04/08/potd-m270-mlrs-fires-a-guided-multiple-launch-rocket-system-rocket/
". . . the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
The Founding Fathers were referring to cannon / artillery.
This is modern day cannon / artillery. Cannon is what the
British were attempting to seize and had seized when the
American Revolutionary War started. Amazing what you learn
when you actually read the original primary source documents.
6 Reasons To Visit the NRA Whittington Center This Summer by Wendy LaFever
https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2020/3/30/6-reasons-to-visit-the-nra-whittington-center-this-summer/
Thunder Rants, Ep. 1: Gun + Life Wisdom from Clint Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=192&v=uXGnq1iKrUU&feature=emb_logo
Starts at 3:13.
Fingers Vs. Cylinder Gap ***DESTRUCTION!!!*** by Jerry Miculek
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6vMkk8VYzc
Yet another reason not to use a revolver.
May I invite your attention to
"Can we build AI without losing control over it?" by Sam Harris
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nt3edWLgIg
I have always appreciated Sam's work.
I use one of his essays in my Defensive Pistol course,
"The Truth about Violence 3 Principles of Self-Defense"
https://samharris.org/the-truth-about-violence/
He is ever the pessimist.
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50, 199, 65, 44, 73, 200, 166, 82, 10, 13, 66, 230, 166, 190, 141, 55,
76, 114, 97, 76, 118, 170, 35, 181, 210, 23, 17, 220, 71, 241, 121, 122,
219, 147, 143, 33, 184, 244, 136, 25, 192, 8, 167, 154, 159, 231, 122,
119, 220, 112, 7, 108, 233, 120, 59, 170, 201, 29, 86, 215, 163, 242,
84, 216, 69, 65, 87, 63, 4, 243, 123, 205, 247, 19, 68, 72, 91, 86, 117,
231, 151, 135, 25, 29, 23, 156, 211, 36, 196, 79, 230, 249, 54, 73, 55,
178, 68, 173, 95, 138, 134, 200, 6, 146, 180, 236, 247, 51, 198, 159,
209, 74, 169
};
These are random numbers in the range of 0 to 255, not
algorithmically generated pseudo-random numbers. You may use them
as you wish. They are unique. If you believe that radioactive
decay is random. If you believe in the theory of general relativity.
Because, after all, it's just a theory.
The author of the web site, HotBits, at
https://www.fourmilab.ch/hotbits/
mistakenly says that the randomness of radioactive decay is based on
"the quantum mechanical laws of nature". But he is wrong. One can
neither create nor destroy particles under the Schrodinger equation.
Radioactive decay is a relativistic event, not a quantum mechanical
event.
Semper Fidelis,
Jonathan D. Low
Jon_Low@yahoo.com
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