Hi Sheepdogs,
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
-- Second Amendment, U.S. Constitution
***** ***** ***** Software ***** ***** *****
"Fear is an instinct. Courage is a choice."
-- Rear Admiral Joseph Kernan, USN
----- Mindset -----
It’s about prevention, not response.
-- Michael Mann
GET HER COMFORTABLE WITH GUNS
How to get your girlfriend/wife/sister etc. to learn about guns!
by Stavroula Avramidis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c55XbT48Nzs
This is truth. You have to listen to your female friend. This takes time.
(Maybe that's why I don't have a girlfriend?) I cite this video because
hearing it from a lady is entirely different from hearing it in a lecture from
a male instructor (as most instructors are). If you don't have the diplomacy
to do this, do our culture a favor and let someone else do it.
The Mental Training of Chuck Norris by Marcus Wynne
https://marcuswynne.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/The-Mental-Training-of-Chuck-Norris.pdf
Chuck Norris is the voice and face of Glock now that Lee Ermey has passed.
The enemy mindset --
“I Saw an Opportunity and I Took It.” by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/i-saw-an-opportunity-and-i-took-it
Excerpt:
"This is what most folks don’t understand about serious criminals.
The fact that the victim of the crime would be affected in a negative
manner is not even an afterthought. Your feelings and concerns mean
absolutely NOTHING to the criminal. He doesn’t care if you live or die,
let alone how “inconvenienced” you will be if he takes all of your stuff
or beats you within an inch of your life. . . ."
"Panic is simply the lack of preprogrammed responses."
-- Tom Givens
----- Safety -----
Jeff Cooper's Rules of Gun Safety
RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY
RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET
The Hidden Dangers Of Shooting Your Firearm by Matthew Maruster
https://www.concealedcarry.com/safety/the-hidden-dangers-of-shooting-your-firearm/
Practice good hygiene to prevent lead poisoning.
"The fast and/or emphatic reholster is an awesome way to shoot yourself."
-- Chuck Haggard
Aggressive drives eventually get into collisions with other vehicles
or with stationary objects. Or, they get shot in road rage incidents.
Defensive drivers don't get into collisions. And so generally
survive their road travel. If you pay attention, you can avoid the
drunk or distracted driver. But, you have to make the decision to
pay attention. Because it doesn't matter whose at fault, you're
going to get hurt.
Courteous drivers, as we are, never get into collisions, have low
insurance rates, and are joyous people.
Of course there is no substitute for attending a driving course
taught by experts. But, I understand how expensive such courses are.
I had to sign a 4 year enlistment and go through recruit training to
get my driving courses. All you have to do is pay money. And as my
father said, "Any problem that can be solved with money, is not a
real problem."
My grandmother died peacefully in her sleep, unlike the passengers in her car.
Words are powerful. Use your words.
"Texas Concerned Citizen Delays Gunman Armed With AK-47" by Personal Defense World
https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2020/08/texas-walmart-marco-antonio-sigala-shooting/
Concerned citizen, John Allen, talks to bad guy, Marco Antonio Sigala Jr.
to delay Sigala to allow police time to arrive and engage Sigala.
Allen was the first responder, not the police. Allen was operating by himself,
unarmed. A true hero.
"It’s not enough to shoot a guy until you think he’s dead.
You gotta shoot him until he thinks he’s dead."
-- The Tao of Connor (John Connor)
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
----- Training -----
“You are no more armed because you are wearing a pistol
than you are a musician because you own a guitar.”
from Principles of Personal Defense by
Col. Jeff Cooper, USMC, (1920 – 2006 A.D.)
When Response Becomes Necessary - A Case Study in Civil Unrest - Michael Mann Security Services
https://youtu.be/uNCnPlc6K_k
Michael presents a webinar on church security every Wednesday at 16:00 Central Time
on his Facebook page "Safe With Mann". The video shows up on YouTube.com a few days
later. I have found these to be very useful.
Pistol Essentials is The Complete Combatant's 1 day "basic pistol class".
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hosted-oct-2020-pistol-essentials-at-citizens-safety-academy-tickets-78531244065
Your Tactical Training Scenario . . . Do you have a light? by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/your-tactical-training-scenario-do-you-have-a-light
No, this is not about flashlights or weapon mounted lights. It's about
the bad guy getting close enough to you to initiate and attack.
7 CONCEALED CARRY TIPS | Important to know if you carry (or want to carry) a gun!
by Stavroula Avramidis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp8iTlFuyn8
I love first person experience videos and commentary, sharing experiences.
The Role that Hearing Plays in Awareness by Sheriff Jim Wilson
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2020/8/14/the-role-that-hearing-plays-in-awareness/
I took a class (The instructor asked me not to mention the details as he does
not teach open enrollment classes and did not want people contacting him. Let me
clarify, he's not worried about you, my students and instructors. He's worried about
internet trolls, and people who would waste his time.) in which the instructor put
an aluminum and foam splint on the student's trigger finger and then let the student
execute the scenario (from concealment to calling 911).
I had remembered reading an article in which the author, a medical doctor,
said that losing the index finger is not that big a deal, because the person will
automatically use the middle finger and automatically compensate for the missing
finger. Having a finger in a splint is not the same as missing the finger, it's
much worse. The splinted finger gets in the way of operations.
I recommend you try this yourself before trying it with your students. It can
be dangerous.
When I was coaching the Punahou high school rifle team, there was an athlete
who used his middle finger to press the trigger of his smallbore target rifle.
I tried to get him to use his index finger. But, that was very awkward for him.
The middle finger was comfortable and natural for him. So, that's how he shot.
As an instructor/teacher/coach try not to be dogmatic. Everyone is different.
Not just physically, but mentally also. The student may not be able to perform
an operation because of some past mental trauma. Be aware. Be understanding.
The Jedi Project
An Investigation into the Mental and Physical Aspects of Handgun Mastery
by Major Richard Groller
https://marcuswynne.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/The-Jedi-Project.pdf
Note the investigation of belief systems that limit performance.
10 non-verbal signs all officers should be able to recognize and interpret by Dan Marcou
https://www.police1.com/officer-safety/articles/10-non-verbal-signs-all-officers-should-be-able-to-recognize-and-interpret-Xj0bx7nVn0PRlDne/
A non-exhaustive list of attack precursors.
Street Survival by Dan Marcou
https://www.police1.com/street-survival-dan-marcou/
It's a series of articles you may find useful.
You may have to sign up to get access. But, it's fairly painless.
"Training is NOT an event, but a process.
Training is the preparation FOR practice".
-- Claude Werner
----- Practice -----
Practice is the small deposits you make over time,
so that in an emergency, you can make that big withdrawal.
-- Chesley Burnett Sullenberger, III
Dry Practice Safety by the Tactical Professor (Claude Werner)
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/2020/08/19/dry-practice-safety/
The primary source document,
http://lapd-assets.lapdonline.org/assets/pdf/040-19%20PR%20(NTUD).pdf
Dry Practice Safety – Part II by the Tactical Professor
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/2020/08/21/dry-practice-safety-part-ii/
It can happen to the best of us. Ask Massad Ayoob.
The best, and really only, defense is religious practice of the safety rules.
RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED, period, no exceptions!
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
Skills Check: Concealed Carry Practice Session at the Range by Ed Head
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2020/8/17/skills-check-concealed-carry-practice-session-at-the-range/
This drill has some long range (25 yard, 50 yard) shots.
I remember studying an incident in which an Air Force security officer
shot a bad guy at 75 yards with his issued pistol, 9mm Beretta.
He aimed for center of mass of the torso and got a good head impact.
Which one would expect based on the trajectory of that cartridge
pistol combination. So, such necessary shots do occur. And are
therefore worth practicing.
RangemasterFirearms Training Services 2020 Newsletter
https://secureservercdn.net/166.62.115.254/d74.722.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-09_RFTS-Newsletter.pdf
Excerpt:
"Make time to practice, both in dry practice and live-fire sessions.
Thousands of repetitions build skill that can be retained at a useful level
when circumstances force us to drop out of training for some length of time."
"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
Off Body Carry Incident by the Tactical Professor
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/2020/08/14/off-body-carry-incident/
Excerpt:
I’m not much in favor of keeping guns in glove boxes, door pockets, etc.
but the idea that doing so will certainly lead to your demise is not true either.
[Parks had the situational awareness and presence of mind to get the pistol
out of the glove box before exiting his car. Maybe it would have been better
to stay in the car, maybe not. Martin had Parks' car trapped in the parking lot.
It's always a judgment call as to what is the best tactical maneuver. -- Jon Low]
Driving 401: Immobilized Vehicle by Aaron
https://www.integratedskillsgroup.com/blog/driving-401-immobilized-vehicle
The Will to Drive On: Emergency Driving Skills
https://www.offgridweb.com/transportation/the-will-to-drive-on-emergency-driving-skills/
I've been to a lot of training over the decades, and in almost all of the
classes that I have taken, the instructor has taught to grip the pistol as tight
as you can. Some teach to squeeze until you start trembling and then back off
until you don't.
I don't think this is a good technique. If you grip your pistol real tight
for any extended period, your firing side hand is going to get cramps. Then
you're going to have to break your grip to stretch out your muscles.
Don't believe me? Try shooting an IDPA match with your support side hand.
All you need is a new holster. All of your other gear should still work.
The first time I did this experiment several years ago, my left hand was cramping
after the second stage; to the point that I had to holster and stretch out my
left hand.
High stress and a death grip will cause cramping in your hands.
Any exercise regimen should strive for symmetry around all joints to
avoid joint problems. So, may I suggest immersing your hands in wet sand
up to your forearms. Expand your hands all the way. Clench your hands
into fists. Repeat until fatigued. Wet sand too much? Try dry sand.
Still too much? Try dry rice.
The rice you buy at the store may have a powder in it to keep it dry.
(The rice you buy at the store probably has a powder in it to keep it dry.
Isn't that interesting how the verb form changes? Yes, it's the little
things in life that keep me amused.)
Shooting with the Mind's Eye
How to Think "Front Sight!"
by Marcus Wynne
https://marcuswynne.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Minds-Eye.pdf
Visualization! the key to success. I learned this technique in my high school
rifle team, and perfected it while training at the Olympic Training Center in
Colorado Springs, and it has served me well in all things in life.
Those who teach aiming techniques without a hard focus on the front sight
are WRONG! This is actually a good way to sort out the incompetent instructors.
Do not punch with your fist. You will break your knuckles, fingers, hand,
and wrist. Use open hand techniques. Strike with the base of your palm to
the nose. If you have to clench your fist, hammer with the side of your fist.
Best to gouge the eyes with all fingers spread out. If the enemy is wearing
goggles, gouge up and under the eye protection.
Strike with elbows and knees. Strike hard with intent to break the enemy's
bones. If you are not confident that you can break his bones when the time comes,
practice.
May I invite your attention to
Léa Kyle, Penn and Teller Fool Us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iVWOyfg6p8
If after some distraction, you were to produce a pistol at compressed
ready pointing at your enemy, do you think you would be inside his OODA loop?
The techniques that she executed were no more difficult than you doing a
one handed reload or malfunction clearing. Yes, she performed the operations
under stress; live audience, thousands watching on TV and YouTube. Her
preparation (magic technical term) was no more than you would do to put on
your everyday carry gear. The gimmicks (magic technical term) would take no
more space than a tourniquet. You are ahead (magic technical term) before
you walk out the door of your house. Miss Kyle had to perform flawlessly
for Penn and Teller, but you could be sloppy and still get the desired effect.
No, I do not teach this sort of thing to my students. I stay within
my lane. But, there are many professional magicians who would be happy to
teach you for fair price. I have met many at the House of Cards in Nashville, TN
who were delighted to teach.
In the kind of combat we are concerned with, you have to get ahead by
1.00 seconds to beat the enemy's reaction time of 0.75 seconds to an
unanticipated stimulus. (0.75 seconds is from unanticipated stimulus to
physical response, add to that the lock time of the pistol and the flight
time of the bullet.)
Of course, you have to press the trigger, otherwise all is for nought.
(Pressing the trigger on a living organism that looks human is difficult;
no matter how evil and depraved it is. The only way to overcome this
instinctive reluctance to shoot a human is realistic training and practice,
especially visualization.)
"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
Lessons Learned Presentation In Spokane (Part 7):
First To Put Shots On Target by John Correia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtTetqZm2KQ
Excerpt:
"The first person to put a shot in the other guy almost always wins.
The speed of your draw to first hit is the most important skill in a
gunfight."
National average for civilian concealed carriers, 2.0 seconds. For trained
professionals, 1.5 seconds. For highly trained people who practice a lot, 1.0 seconds.
If you can get a shot on target in 1.0 seconds from stimulus, you can beat the
other guy's reaction time.
The Shoot Down Drill: A Fairy Tale by John Connor
https://americanhandgunner.com/guncrank-diaries/the-shoot-down-drill-a-fairy-tale/
Many of our friends write fiction, novels, fairy tales, parables, and such.
Because writing non-fiction would cause all kinds of problems (for some).
Edward Snowden is a hero to some. I think he needs to be summarily
executed for treason. He has already confessed publicly many times.
But, diplomacy is a fine art. So, the Trump administration has declined
all offers for body extraction or termination.
There was a joke in conservative circles that Trump's enemies are playing
checkers, while Trump is playing chess. But, there are many very intelligent
persons playing chess on the world stage. Few of them understand that Trump
is playing go and using the latest artificial (and real) intelligence to help
him make the best decisions. Previous CinCs were not capable of doing this,
because they could not understand the technology. The Roman Consuls could not
guide their legions by satellite data, even if they had satellites because
they would not have been able to understand satellites, so they would not trust satellite data.
Welcome to the real world. Some people are just dumb as rocks, even those
in high political office (especially those in high political office,
consider the 2012 Benghazi attack).
Decades ago, I was part of a team giving an intel briefing to flag
officers at Marine Forces Pacific headquarters at Camp Smith in Hawaii.
The questions from the flag officers indicated that they were brain dead.
The G-2, a Marine Colonel, assured them that what we were saying was true.
But, the flag officers believed the propaganda that they had heard in the
American liberal media (ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR, etc.). This is why there are
so many rogue operations carried out by O-6's and below. (Some people
believe the police killed George Floyd, even though the autopsy cites the
cause of death as drug overdose. There were no bruises on Floyd's neck.
Mayor Rudy Giuliani said that the police murdered George Floyd in his
speech at the Republican National Convention in 2020. Some people are
just rock solid stupid, in the sense that they choose to believe the
liberal media in spite of all facts.)
In the fairy tale above, do you think the Israeli bureaucracy every
changed their training curriculum? Have you ever heard of Israeli Carry?
It means carrying with an empty chamber. You will never have enough
time to chamber a round in a self defense scenario. You may not be able
to chamber a round in a self defense situation. Think about that and
decide. Because it is a matter of life and death.
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
All kinds of interesting stuff at
Practical Eschatology
https://practicaleschatology.blogspot.com/
Shot in the Back! How does it happen? by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/shot-in-the-back-how-does-it-happen
Please note the reaction times that Greg cites.
- On average it takes 0.25 seconds to react to a threat cue and begin to act.
– If that reaction to a threat cue involves a decision
(i.e. “Is the thing in his hand a gun or a cell phone?”)
the reaction time time is increased to an average of 0.56 seconds.
– The average officer takes 0.35 seconds to process the fact
that a threat no longer exists and to stop shooting.
– The average officer fires one bullet every 0.25 seconds after he begins to fire
Excerpt:
"Do you see the problem? Let’s say the bad guy is facing the officer
and begins shooting. The officer starts shooting back and hits the bad guy.
Bad guy drops the gun and spins away as the bullets hit him. It takes the
officer 0.35 seconds to recognize that the bad guy is no longer a threat.
He is firing a bullet every 0.25 seconds. That means the officer will
generally fire one to two rounds AFTER making the decision to stop shooting.
It’s very easy for those bullets to end up in the criminal’s back."
"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
One of my adult female students has small hands. She could correctly grip a
model 1911 type pistol with single stack magazine, but her trigger finger could not
correctly reach the trigger. The trigger was too far forward. So, I took the
pistol to Rich Modzelewski of Echo 3 Armory.
He installed a new trigger. The old trigger jutted out 0.500 inches in front
of the frame. The new trigger juts out 0.250 inches in front of the frame.
The trigger moves 0.125 inches from reset to break-dawn when the slack is out of the
trigger. From break-dawn to break is 0.010 inches. So, the trigger is
jutting well out in front of the frame when the pistol fires (for reliability).
(Rich did not change the weight of the trigger, which is 5 pounds.)
By moving the trigger a quarter of an inch back, the lady was able to
execute correct trigger control, i.e. able to press the trigger straight to
the rear without any lateral force.
Trigger terms:
slack = trigger movement without sear movement (necessary for combat pistols)
break-dawn = the hard stop at the end of slack and the start of sear movement
creep = the movement of the sear before the break (there shouldn't be any creep)
break = when the sear releases the firing pin / striker
over-travel = movement of the trigger after the break (this should be minimized)
reset = releasing the trigger until you hear or feel the click of the trigger reset
Rich Modzelewski of Echo 3 Armory
214 N Horton Pkwy, Chapel Hill, TN 37034
https://www.facebook.com/echo3armory/
(931) 364-5486
echo3armory@gmail.com
I highly recommend Rich. He builds and does gunsmithing on a lot of the long
range precision rifles for the members of the Strategic Edge Gun Range.
He is school trained and experienced in the Marine Corps and elsewhere.
How to Choose the Right Concealed Handgun Carry Position by Brad Fitzpatrick
https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2020/8/19/how-to-choose-the-right-concealed-handgun-carry-position/
1. Is The Gun Safe and Secure?
2. Does the Holster Position Allow You to Comfortably Sit, Stand and Kneel?
3. Is the Firearm Accessible?
4. Is The Firearm Concealable?
5. Will a Single Carry Position/Style Work for You?
NRA Youth Ambassador Review: Girls With Guns Eclipse Leggings by Kali Thompson
https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2020/8/17/nra-youth-ambassador-review-girls-with-guns-eclipse-leggings/
Summertime Gear Update by Rich Grassi
https://www.thetacticalwire.com/features/0d9073bf-d55e-47b5-9069-48f0206bf94f
The significant information is the review of the Streamlight flashlight
at the end of the article.
The Firearms Manifesto Part One: Your First Gun by Greg Ellifritz
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/the-firearms-manifesto-part-one-your-first-gun
I don't think revolvers take less training and practice than semi-autos.
Loading, unloading, and reloading a revolver takes training and practice. Doing
it one handed takes serious training and practice, especially support side hand
only. I never carry a revolver, but I practice regularly so that I can demonstrate
for my students. I don't think it is any easier than similar operations on a
semi-auto.
I don't think a 45 ACP is harder to shoot than a 9mm in terms of recoil and
report (blast). Pistol shooting is technique, not strength. The cost of ammunition
should not be the determining factor. The probability of stopping the attack
should be the determining factor. So, you should want to throw the biggest piece
of lead you can, accurately.
Every shot you fire has a non-zero probability of missing your target, i.e.
damaging property, injuring or killing innocent persons. So, you should be striving
to shoot the minimum number of bullets. (It's like golf.) So, you should be
shooting the bullet that gives you the highest probability of stopping the attack.
Bullet size is directly correlated to probability of stopping the attack. (Citation:
Stopping Power lecture at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute.)
Corrections and Special Applications Unit (CSAU-1)
STL (senior team leader) Joseph Garcia and the Guns He Uses During a Prison Riot
https://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/stl-joseph-garcia-guns-prison-riot/
Notice his right handed technique for going around the left side of a corner.
Excerpt:
“We primarily use the KelTec KSG shotguns,” Garcia said.
“The reason we went with the KSG is its high capacity and the ability to switch
the type of rounds we need on the fly. . . . ”
Downloadable Targets for FREE!
http://targetz.com/
Louis Charles Candell gives you access to a Linux (Unix/Posix) file system of
documents containing firearms manuals, firearms catalogs, and such.
http://www.louiscandell.com/pdf/
A huge repository of downloadable targets and record keeping documents,
http://www.louiscandell.com/pdf/targets/
“Your car is not a holster.”
– Pat Rogers
----- Technical -----
"Real fights are short."
-- Bruce Lee
Why Revolvers Are NOT More Reliable Than Semi-Auto Pistols by Caleb
http://preparedgunowners.com/2015/07/30/why-revolvers-are-not-more-reliable-than-semi-auto-pistols/
Biometrics, for unlocking gun safes or unlocking guns for use, won't work
when your hands are cut, bloody, dirty, etc. So, using them is an act of
criminal stupidity.
When I was assisting the Royal Saudi Air Force at their headquarters in
Riyadh (2003 A.D., Operation Iraqi Freedom), they installed an iris
reader for access into a certain area. The enemy tapped the communication
channel and stole the digital signal of a colonel's iris. So, the IT
department locked that signal out of the system. The colonel couldn't
change his iris, so he was locked out. I could go on, giving you many more
examples, but you get the idea. Biometrics is really stupid.
"Biometrics is just like a password (something you know)."
No, it's not. You can change your password. You can't change any of your
body biometrics.
"Biometrics is just like a token (something you have)."
No, it's not. A token (e.g. a random number generating fob) is constantly
and pseudo-randomly changing in synch with the verifying system. There is
nothing in any system that is changing in synch with any of your body's system
biometrics.
"Biometrics is just like a key (in the sense of a logic key used to verify
zero knowledge proofs, not a crypto key). [Here we are talking about using the
person's memories/experiences.]"
No, it's not. The human interface of reading questions and answering them,
where the questions change based on the previous answer (and who the system
thinks you are) repeated 32 times would take way too long to be practical in
any scenario. (This is basically the Israeli Security Method, used at their
airports, in computer science form.)
[Here is a way to tell if your computer security guy has any cryptologic
training or is an idiot. Passwords (real passwords, good passwords, not stupid
passwords) never go stale. So, if your IT guy insists on you changing your
password every so often, he's an idiot. Good passwords are not hard to remember,
they are hard for a human to guess. Real passwords are not hard to remember,
they are hard for a computer to find. Generating real good passwords is easy.
Using a computer program or any algorithm to generate your passwords for you
is wrong. Because your imagination is orders of magnitude more complex than
characters or forbidding you from using certain characters is wrong, because it
reduces the space in which the enemy has to search.]
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2019/8/25/cocked-locked-the-best-way-to-carry-a-1911/
A single-action semi-auto pistol should always be carried with a round
in the chamber, the hammer cocked, and the thumb safety on. Any other
configuration is wrong because:
If there is no round in the chamber, the pistol won't fire.
You won't have time to chamber a round. You may not be capable of chambering
a round. Every attempt to rack the slide with one hand only, while engaged
in close quarter combat? I bet you can't even imagine how to do it in a
thought experiment.
If there is a round in the chamber with the hammer down, the pistol
won't fire. You won't have time to cock the hammer. You may not be
capable of cocking the hammer. Every attempt to cock the hammer with
one hand only, while engaged in close quarter combat? Remember, with the
hammer down, the safety cannot be on. So, when you cock the hammer, the
safety is not on.
Making any kind of modification to defeat the grip safety is
criminal stupidity. Because, you are not using the pistol as designed.
You are outside of common custom and practice.
"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
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 -----
Teach positive. Teach what to do. Don't talk about what not to do.
-- John Farnam
Last issue, 15 August 2020, I talked about a female student who had no hands
and suggested the USA Shooting National Paralympic coach as a source for help.
As another source, may I invite your attention to,
Adaptive Shooting Sports Offers Free Training for Shooters with Physical Challenges by Luke C.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/08/19/adaptive-shooting-sports-training/
Register at Adaptive Shooting Sports Tulsa,
https://www.adaptiveshootingsportstulsa.com/
Not just for paralyzed veterans, non-veterans may register and are welcome.
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Another off body carry incident, with a twist" by the Tactical Professor
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/2020/08/16/another-off-body-carry-incident-with-a-twist/
The Professor lists this incident as an off body carry situation. But, what I
find interesting about it, is that at trial, the judge (remember it was a bench trial,
no jury [The public defender was pressured into accepting a bench trial to save costs
to the government.]) convicted the defendant, even though the prosecution had not
disproved the defendant's claim of self defense beyond a reasonable doubt.
Indicative of an incompetent or corrupt judge. The judge also convicted the defendant
of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon based on failure to have an Illinois firearm
owner’s identification card, even though the judge knew that the defendant had a
valid gun permit from Indiana, his state of residence, when the offense occurred.
Thank God the Appellate Court was not as incompetent or corrupt as this trial
judge.
In the Specially Concurring opinion by Justice Wright, the Justice notes
that the OSAD (Office of the State Appellate Defender) took over a year to file
the appeal (breaking 8 deadlines to file the appeal).
So, the defendant sat in jail for 4 years awaiting his acquittal.
Basically because the defedant violated Farnam's rule:
"Be in bed by 10 PM. Your own bed."
From the Appellate Court ruling --
https://courts.illinois.gov/R23_Orders/AppellateCourt/2020/3rdDistrict/3180189_R23.pdf
Excerpt:
In an appeal in a criminal case, the appellate court found that:
(1) defendant was not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of aggravated battery
with a firearm because the State failed to negate defendant’s claim of self-defense; and
(2) defendant’s conviction for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, which was based,
in part, upon defendant’s failure to have an Illinois firearm owner’s identification
card at the time of the offense, could not stand because defendant had a valid gun
permit from Indiana, his state of residence, when the offense 2 occurred.
The appellate court, therefore, reversed defendant’s convictions for aggravated
battery with a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Reversed the conviction! Not ordered a new hearing on sentencing.
Not set for a new trial (on the same charges). Not set aside the conviction
(allowing for new charges to be filed). But, reversed. This is as rare as a unicorn.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Self Defense: When A Trigger Upgrade Becomes A “Hair Trigger” by Massad Ayoob
https://gundigest.com/handguns/personal-defense/self-defense-when-a-trigger-upgrade-becomes-a-hair-trigger
--------------------- Blog post on self defense insurance ------------------------
Pre-paid legal services: (I keep re-posting and updating this because things keep changing.)
Do you Need Carry Insurance? Lawyer Andrew Branca shoots us straight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wilf_R5wlNQ
Most people are not at zero knowledge. They are at negative 20, because
they know so much stuff that is false. So, to get them to 100% knowledge is
very difficult. You have to educate them out of all of their deeply held
misconceptions.
You have to get the money up front. You have to be able to choose your
attorney. The insurance company has to have enough money to actually give it to you.
------------------- Articles comparing carriers -----------------------------
CCW Insurance – Protecting Yourself After You Protect Yourself by Ryan Cleckner
https://www.recoilweb.com/protecting-yourself-after-you-protect-yourself-136637.html
Virginia Citizens Defense League
https://www.vcdl.org/
VCDL legal-plans comparison chart
https://www.vcdl.org/Legal-Plans
You have to scroll down through the web page, or you can download the PDF file at
https://vcdl.org/resources/pdf/Legal_Plan_Comparison.pdf
The numbers to the right of the questions refer to the page numbers, which
are only visible in the PDF document.
This is a very comprehensive comparison. It's a little dated, as it still has
the NRA Carry Guard listed. But, they obviously surveyed every company and got detailed
answers.
6 Concealed Carry Insurance Options To Protect Your Six (comparison in text)
by Gun Digest Editors
https://gundigest.com/handguns/concealed-carry/4-self-defense-insurance-options
Self-Defense Gun Owner Insurance Programs Compared (comparison chart)
https://www.concealedcarry.com/self-defense-gun-owner-insurance-programs-compared/
This web page, the chart, and the PDF file are updated on a regular basis.
------------------- End articles comparing carriers -------------------------
CCW Safe (Recommended by Andrew Branca)
https://ccwsafe.com/
USCCA (Recommened by Andrew Branca. You need to read Andrew Branca's review
before buying this plan. They don't seem to pay if they don't think it was self defense.)
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/
Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network (Recommended by Andrew Branca.
They only pay out if their board thinks it was self defense.)
https://armedcitizensnetwork.org/
Firearms Legal Protection
https://firearmslegal.com/
US Law Shield
https://www.uslawshield.com/
State licensed private armed guards buy this policy, because they will cover private
security. The others won't. I have talked to many attorneys that handle self-defense
cases in the Metro Nashville area, and they tell me the vast majority of their cases are
private security guards shooting bar and night club patrons who got thrown out of the
establishment, go to their car, get a gun, and come back to shoot the bouncers. Oh ya,
you just don't hear about it because they are not cops, so it doesn't fit the liberal
media narrative. In our country, there are more state licensed armed security officers
than sworn law enforcement officers, by an order of magnitude. Remember the stories
of Pinkerton in the Old West? Wells Fargo? They were all private.
The police self-defense case is rare, but highly publicized. So, it seems more
common than it really is.
The private citizen self-defense case is extremely rare. (I'm not counting
criminal acts where the criminal falsely claims self-defense. Because that happens
all the time. Fortunately, the judge usually denies the self-defense claim
because it is not supported by any evidence. This is not at trial, so the bad guy's
long violent criminal history may be considered. Which is good for the good guys.)
Second Call Defense
https://www.secondcalldefense.org/
CWI Agency (probably dead)
concealedweaponsins.com
redirects to Sycamore Insurance Company at
https://www.sycamore-insurance.com/
But, they don't seem to carry self defense insurance.
United Self Defense Law Firm (probably dead)
GunDefenseLaw.com
This web address does not work.
The Facebook.com web page is still up at
https://www.facebook.com/USDLawFirm
The email address is
support@gundefenselaw.com
I did not get an error message when I sent an email to this address.
But, I didn't get a reply either.
NRA Carry Guard (definitely dead)
------------------- End list of carriers -------------------------------------
You have to do your own comparison to see what works best for you,
because these plans have significant differences. Check out which states
they are not valid in. Check out all the things they exclude.
Check out all the caps. Some of the carriers will only pay if they think
it was self-defense. (This is a real problem, because there is no
such thing as a perfect combat operation. No matter how justified you
think your actions were, there is a perspective from which what you did
was murder.) The devil is in the details.
Most of these plans won't cover domestic disputes. We never consider
having to shoot our spouse, lover, etc. But, ask any detective, "Who is
the prime suspect in any non-gang-related homicide?" They will tell
you, the spouse, the girlfriend/boyfriend, the lover; because statistically,
that is the person who did it. (No, really, I was a cop.)
Yes, there are lots of other insurance plans, but if I thought it was
stupid (like Lockton), I did not list it above. I did not list any of the plans
that reimburse upon acquittal, because they have a huge financial incentive
to see you convicted. And you need the money up front to pay for bail,
attorneys, private investigators, expert witnesses, consulting experts, etc.
So, buying a reimbursement plan is an act of criminal stupidity.
--------------------- End blog post on self defense insurance --------------------
Great American Outdoors Act Signed Into Law
https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2020/8/4/great-american-outdoors-act-signed-into-law/
A small step in the right direction.
"Air Force Base to Allow Personal Firearms for CCW Permit Holders" by Luke C.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/08/19/air-force-base-personal-firearms/
In case you don't understand the significance of this. When President Trump took
office, he asked all base commanders to review their policies and consider allowing
their subordinates to carry concealed on base. Several did, quietly, to ingratiate
themselves with their CinC (Commander in Chief), to be considered fit for promotion
in the eyes of the new administration. This more public announcement is tacit
acknowledgement that the base commander (and many others) thinks that the next
president will set the same policies as the present administration.
These senior field grade officers and flag/general grade officers ain't stupid.
If there is a coup d'etat, will you be able to correctly choose which side
to back? If not, please read the U.S. Constitution. It's written in plain
English and is easy to read. [If you are considering siding with the political
party that advocates open borders and amnesty for illegal aliens, stop and think.
If you are considering siding with the political party that will infringe on your
right to keep and bear arms, stop and think.]
"Thinking is the hardest thing a person can do. That's why so few people do it."
-- Henry Ford
If there is another civil war, will you be able to choose wisely as to which
side to be on? If not, please read our Declaration of Independence. It's written
in plain English and is easy to read. [If you are considering siding with the
political party that has as part of its party platform the murder of babies from
conception to immediately after birth, you might want to slap your head and reconsider.]
If there is another world war, will you be able to choose which side to be
on? If not, please read the Bible (and Apocrypha). You'll probably only be able
to read a translation of a translation that has been changed many times over the
2000 years since the New Testament events or 5000 years since the Old Testament
events due to political correctness and corruption. But, it's all we have.
[If you are considering siding with the culture that advocates immorality, you
might want to slap your head and reconsider. Just because the communists say that
capitalism is immoral, does not make it immoral. Murdering babies and forced
sterilization of men and women is immoral, even if the communists say it is moral;
e.g. Chinese Communist Party in China, Planned Parenthood, Democrat political party
in the United States, National Socialists in German, etc.]
Free Stuff! by John Farnam
https://defense-training.com/free-stuff/
Remember, Fidel Castro overthrew Cuba with 50 comrades.
The first king of Saudi Arabia, conquered the Arabian peninsula
with 32 of his friends. Any company commander will have that many
subordinates at his command (and many platoon commanders will
have that many subordinates). Kamehameha conquered the Hawaiian Islands
without any troop maneuvers. He just used the shipboard cannon
that the haoles ("foreigners", in modern usage "caucasians") sold him.
(Ya, I know it depends on whose history you read. Which depends on
which school your parents sent you to.)
When John Farnam says, "The other historical point you’ll notice is that
you can vote your way into socialism, but you’ll have to shoot your way out!",
you have to remember that Adolf Hitler of the National Socialist party (Nazi)
was the duly elected Chancellor of Germany.
The Beer Hall Putsch failed. The Germans elected Hitler. (It's not
that the Germans were stupid, it's just that they were desperate as a result
of the conditions forced on them by the loss of World War I.)
There were several attempted coup d'etats (or coups d'etat) to kill
Hitler and remove the Nazi regime. The Oster Conspiracy of 1938 was a
proposed plan to overthrow German Führer, Adolf Hitler, and the Nazi regime.
Operation Valkyrie, was the failed July 20, 1944, attempt to assassinate
Adolf Hitler and overthrow the Nazi regime. And many others. Not to mention
all the ones we don't know about.
Once the socialist get into power, they are extremely difficult to
remove. If you haven't actually participated in such an operation (at the
operational level) it would be really hard for you to imagine the logistics
involved. I assure you, that if you have only participated at the tactical
level as a trigger puller, you cannot speak intelligently about how to
execute a coup d'etat.
"Amateurs talk tactics. Professionals talk logistics." -- Napoleon
When Burglars Attack: The Stiffler Case by Massad Ayoob
https://americanhandgunner.com/discover/when-burglars-attack-the-stiffler-case/
Excerpt:
"Studies show while reaction to anticipated stimulus runs an average
of about 0.25 of one second, it takes about three quarters [0.75] of a
second — or more — for a shooter to cognitively process the unanticipated
stimulus of the attacker unexpectedly breaking off the assault. The shooter
goes through the whole OODA loop of Col. John Boyd.
Observe (the eyes see) what is happening,
Orient (the brain figures out what the visual input means),
Decide what to do now (stop pulling the trigger), and
Act (physically stop shooting).
I stated honestly what the State was asking of Stiffler was not humanly possible."
". . . Quentin Rhoades had meticulously selected jurors who all said they
could render a not guilty verdict in a self-defense case. It turned out the
two jurors who insisted on conviction told the rest of the panel shooting
someone in self-defense was wrong; Rhoades learned this after debriefing most
of the other jurors subsequent to trial. The two holdouts for conviction
wouldn’t talk to him."
"When you’re in such a situation, get the best lawyers for the job.
The job in this case was not criminal defense, but affirmative defense.
The best criminal defense lawyers got their reputation by getting off guilty
people. The strategy for defending the rights of the guilty is almost
180 degrees opposite from the strategy needed in an affirmative defense
case like this, where you need to show the jury while you did the act,
you were absolutely correct in doing so. Rhoades and Siefert accomplished
exactly that and gave Jim Stiffler and his wife their lives back."
[Mas estimates the real cost of the legal defense would have been $360,000.
Do you have that much money? If not, better get insurance. Because if it
could happen to these nice law abiding people, it could happen to you.
-- Jon Low]
What Do NRA Lawsuits Mean Ahead Of November? by Dave Workman
https://americanhandgunner.com/discover/what-do-nra-lawsuits-mean-ahead-of-november/
The article has links to the primary source documents.
https://oag.dc.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/NRA-Foundation-Complaint-Redacted.pdf
But, note that the case filed by the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
against the NRA Foundation [the organization that holds the Friends of the NRA
banquets in just about every county in the country and is a 501 (c) 3 charity
(all donations are tax deductible) ] is redacted. Reading the complaint makes
one wonder just who is being protected by the redactions.
Also, note that the New York state filing is signed by the Charities Bureau
Chief, James Sheehan.
https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/final_nra_summons_complaint_08.06.20.pdf
The filings are intended to portray the mismanagement of a charity for personal
gain, which to many would be an unforgivable crime of moral turpitude. I remember
when a friend of mine in the Rotary Club took over the Goodwill in the region
(New Jersey) after the previous president had been indicted for embezzlement,
malfeasance, and such. It was difficult to rebuild the organization's
good name in the region. I'm sure this is what the plaintiff's attorneys in
the NRA case are striving for. My friend invited me to his office to discuss
Goodwill's PR campaign. Very expensive. Very involved.
"Comparing the Global Rate of Mass Public Shootings to the U.S.’s Rate and
Comparing their Changes Over time" by John R. Lott
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3671740
Abstract
The U.S. is well below the world average in terms of the number of
mass public shootings, and the global increase over time has been much
bigger than for the United States.
Over the 20 years from 1998 to 2017, our list contains 2,772 attacks
and at least 5,764 shooters outside the United States and 62 attacks and
66 shooters within our country. By our count, the US makes up less than
1.13% of the mass public shooters, 1.77% of their murders, and 2.19% of
their attacks. All these are much less than the US’s 4.6% share of the
world population. Attacks in the US are not only less frequent than
other countries, they are also much less deadly on average.
Out of the 101 countries where we have identified mass public shootings
occurring, the United States ranks 66th in the per capita frequency of
these attacks and 56th in the murder rate.
Not only have these attacks been much more common outside the US,
the US’s share of these attacks has declined over time. There has been
a much bigger increase over time in the number of mass shootings in
the rest of the world compared to the US.
A Landmark Win for Self-Defense Rights: The Ninth Circuit Sets a Precedent . . .
https://www.uslawshield.com/landmark-win-ninth-circuit/
The 9th Circuit used to be radical liberal. But, President Trump has been
appointing Federal Circuit Court Judges at a phenomenal pace. Now, 50% of the
judges on the 9th Circuit are Bush or Trump appointments. We are winning!
Weapons in the Zone: Gun Owners and Schools | Tennessee
https://www.uslawshield.com/pandemic-school-zones-tn/
Excerpt:
". . . under federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(q)(2), an individual who possesses
an Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit issued by the State of Tennessee would be
permitted to possess a firearm in a school zone located in Tennessee.
Additionally, under the Gun-Free School Zones Act, a person without a license
issued by the state in which the school zone is located who is not otherwise
prohibited from possessing a firearm may possess a firearm in a school zone so
long as the firearm is unloaded and either locked in a container or locked in
a firearm rack inside a vehicle, similar to the Tennessee State law exception.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1309(c)(1)(B)."
Attorney War Stories: 3 Lessons For Every Gun Owner
https://www.uslawshield.com/3-lessons-from-the-attorneys/
Excerpt:
"The police must know why you used your weapon before you admit to using your weapon."
Remember Michael Drejka. The responding officers declined to arrest, because
it was self defense. The Sheriff declined to press charges, because it was self defense.
This should have been the end of the story. But then, Drejka talks to the police without
an attorney and talks himself into a manslaughter conviction. Learn from the mistakes
of others. Keep your mouth shut. Let your attorney talk for you.
Bolshevik Brilliance! by John Farnam
https://defense-training.com/bolshevik-brilliance/
Excerpts:
“I won't insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.”
-- William F Buckley Jr.
First they say: “You don’t need guns, because police are there to protect you”
Then they say: “We're defunding the police!”
Afterward they say: “. . . but you still can’t have guns!”
“Is there no virtue among us?
If there is not, we are without hope!
No form of government, existing nor theoretical, will keep us from harm.
To think that any government, in any form,
will insure liberty and happiness for an dishonorable population
represents the height of self-deception.”
-- James Madison, 1788
***** ***** ***** Survival, Medical, Security, and such ***** ***** *****
"If you prepare for the emergency,
the emergency ceases to exist!"
-- Dr. Sherman House
The Effects a Criminal Attack Can Have on the Heart by Sheriff Jim Wilson
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2020/8/21/the-effects-a-criminal-attack-can-have-on-the-heart/
Living in Condition Yellow by Marcus Wynne
https://marcuswynne.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Condition-Yellow.pdf
When I first learned Col. Cooper's color code of mental awareness at Frong Sight
in 1996, they taught condition black. I notice a lot of schools (and police academies)
have dropped condition black. Politically incorrect, I guess.
As Col. Boyd said, whoever can cycle through their OODA loop faster will win.
Feedback on the HAC (HEMORRHAGE ARREST COURSE) 8 Hour Course (author not cited)
https://civiliandefender.com/2020/06/02/feedback-on-the-hac-8-hour-course/
All kinds of other good stuff on Sherman's web site at
https://civiliandefender.com/
A course on how to stop the bleeding, get the heart beating, and get the diaphram
breathing should be on your to do list. Because you're going to need these skills.
Yes, as a matter of fact, I can predict the future. It's not that hard. I spent
five years studying healthcare data at TennCare, the Tennessee bureau responsible
for Medicare and Medicaid.
Willingness is a state of mind. Preparedness (or lack thereof) is a fact.
***** ***** ***** Basics ***** ***** *****
“Often, it’s what you don’t know that kills you!”
-- Carr
"Train, Practice, Compete
are the key elements in the development of humans."
-- John M. Buol, Jr.
***** ***** ***** Miscellany ***** ***** *****
"Good habits and skill beat luck every time."
-- Sheriff Jim Wilson
Bumper sticker:
"Guns don't kill people.
It's mostly the bullets."
Hat tip to Kirk Christy Peavy.
Omar Martinez, the Graphic Designer of EAA Corp, asked me to review an advertisement
that will be coming out in the Shooting Illustrated November issue. How flattering.
(I had complained about how their model was gripping a pistol in one of their advertisements.)
Good to see EEA developing another striker action pistol, MC28 SA-TV. Comes from the
factory with a red dot sight. www.EEACorp.com
New Shooting Sport: Flying Carp Hunting With Shotguns by Doug E.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/08/19/flying-carp-hunting-shotguns/
Better than shooting fish in a barrel. And they are yummy.
I was talking to a lady police officer in the emergency room. They have to watch
the guys they bring in. She is 40 and a rookie. So, there are still those who feel the
calling, even in this political environment. She told me that she had signed up for
MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) classes and had taken her first class this morning. On her
own time, on her own dime.
She understands that the incident is going to start in close. So, she's not going
to have time or space to access a weapon. So, she needs the empty hand skills to make
the time and space to access a weapon.
When I was on duty talking to persons, I always tried to have a pen in my right
hand and a bullet proof clipboard in my left (held between the person's right hand
and my high thoracic cavity). Hey, I was taking notes, because what the person was
saying was really important to me.
Advice from my mother --
Please tell your drug addicted friend that he is not a functional recreational
drug user. He is in fact a drug addict and everyone can see it. They don't
mention it to his face because they are too polite to confront him about it. Everyone
talks about his addiction and bad behavior behind his back. If this truth disturbs
him, he may stop doing the drugs. If he doesn't care about this truth, well, he's
a drug addict. So, you have to make a decision; disassociate with him, or let him
drag you down with him; and he will, because that is what drug addicts do.
Half a century ago, my mother told me that drugs and alcohol don't make anyone
do anything. They just let the person do what he wants to do. So, if a person is
a nasty drunk, he is in fact a nasty person. He just maintains a facade due to
social inhibitions. I am disappointed by many parents I meet today who do not tell
their children the truth. "Oh, it's a disease. He can't help himself." No, it's
a choice. Nobody forced him to start taking drugs. When he chose to take drugs,
he chose to be an addict. He chose to live a life on welfare and regular visits
to the emergency rooms. If he didn't know that was the choice he was making,
shame on his parents for not explaining that to him.
“In the long-run, there is no such thing as ‘luck’.
However, the short-run is longer than many individual lifetimes!”
-- Anon
Semper Fidelis,
Jonathan D. Low
Jon_Low@yahoo.com
