Greetings Sheepdogs,
"I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery."
-- Thomas Jefferson
Deep truth.
Table of Contents:
Prevention
Mindset
Situational Awareness
Safety
Training
Practice
Intervention
Strategy
Tactics
Techniques
Postvention
Aftermath
Medical
Survival
Education
Legal
Instruction
Gear
"The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie."
-- Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Prevention ***** ***** *****
Things you can do to avoid the lethal force incident.
Table of contents:
Mindset
Safety
Training
Practice
*************************************************************************
----- Mindset -----
Figuring out the correct way to think.
‟We don’t decide what is necessary to survive a
lethal force encounter initiated by someone else.
That person decides what’s necessary for us to survive.”
– William Aprill
"Defensive Gun Uses By People Legally Carrying Guns: 28 Cases During February 2024"
by John Lott
Carrying a gun is good. Using a gun to defend against criminal attack, including dog
attacks, is good. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.
Please subscribe to the Crime Prevention Research Center,
‟Fear is an instinct. Courage is a choice.”
-- Rear Admiral Joseph Kernan, USN
"Home Invasion 101
Your home is your castle. Act like it."
by Sheriff Jim Wilson
Excerpt:
"The worst mistake to make is to take the attitude that home invasions just haven’t
occurred in your neighborhood and so it's not really necessary to get all tactical about
the whole thing. That’s a recipe for disaster. Get realistic and develop some defensive
habits that will make you, your family, and your home a harder target."
"You brought a gun to the fight. That doesn’t mean it’s YOUR gun.
The gun belongs to whomever can keep it. Think about that before intervening
in other folks’ problems. When is the last time you practiced your in-hand weapon
retention skills?"
-- Greg Ellifritz
[When was the last time you practiced your holstered weapon retention skills?
Have you had any training in how to retain your pistol? It's technique, not strength.
If you know how to do it, you can do it.
-- Jon Low]
In the American Journal of Men's Health,
"Size Matters? Penis Dissatisfaction and Gun Ownership in America"
by Terrence D. Hill, Liwen Zeng, Amy M. Burdette, Benjamin Dowd-Arrow,
John P. Bartkowski, and Christopher G. Ellison
These authors really know statistics. I can't speak to the data, because I have
not requested it, so I have not reviewed it. I can't speak to the conclusions,
because it's outside my field of expertise. But, the statistical analysis appears
to be correct in my opinion.
---
Docent's analysis of the above paper.
"A Feminist Lie About Men and Gun Ownership Exposed" by Docent
---
Note that there is no data on penis size. The data is on satisfaction or dissatisfaction
with one's penis size.
‷If you look at someone bigger, faster, and stronger and immediately think,
‶I'm at a disadvantage″,
I have news for you: you are.
But that's only because you just put yourself there for no reason.
The truth is that anyone can do debilitating violence to anyone else.
Your size, your speed, your strength, your gender --
all the factors that untrained people think make the difference when it comes to violence --
all matter far less than your mindset and your intent.‴
-- Tim Larkin
“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.)
***** Situational Awareness *****
How to avoid being taken by surprise.
"Jeff Cooper's Color Code exists to help you get your head
around the need to kill someone in the immediate future."
-- John Hearne
---
Jeff Cooper's Color Code of Mental Awareness
UNAWARE - of what's going on around you. (White)
AWARE - of who is around you and what they are doing. (Yellow)
ALERT - to a potential threat and taking action to avoid the threat. (Orange)
ALARM - by a real threat and taking action to escape the threat,
which might include shooting to PREVENT the attack. (Red)
COMBAT - front sight, press. Shooting to STOP the attack. (Black)
When there is no longer a threat, your shooting must stop.
Shooting when there is no longer a threat cannot be justified as self-defense.
“You need to have the capacity for danger. You need to be ‘dangerous’.
Yet, you need to learn how to not use it except when necessary.
And, that is not the same thing as being harmless.
There's nothing virtuous about harmlessness.
Harmless just means you’re ineffectual and useless.”
-- Jordan Peterson
*************************************************************************
----- Safety -----
How to prevent the bad thing from happening in the first place.
How to avoid shooting yourself, friendlies, and innocent bystanders.
Don't DOX your family.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/r-9DcyCucMk
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.
[You probably also want to avoid pointing at anything
that the bullet may ricochet off of. -- Jon Low]
RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER
UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET.
RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET.
"What is the most dangerous threat?
It’s the one you may “see,” but erroneously discount,
not recognizing the danger that is present, until it’s too late!"
-- John Farnam
"Dogs!" by John Farnam
"More Dogs!" by John Farnam
"Editor’s Notebook: Rule 3 No More?"
by Rich Grassi
Grassi does not cite the article that he refers to. Bad journalism. Good training
theory, as he doesn't want that nonsense spread.
"It's easier to stay out of trouble than to get out of trouble."
-- Claude Werner
"AIWB: A Frank Discussion on Carrying Forward of the Hip" by Dave Spaulding
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Excerpt:
"Some, maybe many, will argue that this is a training issue. I have to disagree.
I’ve seen very well-trained shooters make these mistakes. The root cause is inattention,
thus everyone is susceptible."
“Random,” the fraudulent modifier by John Farnam
Pre-assault clue.
“Good Old Days” by John Farnam
“Be prepared to be unprepared” -- J.V. Jones
"Man shot, killed after holding 3 at gunpoint at Hartsville park, police say"
by Dylan Leatherwood and WMBF News Staff
Excerpt:
". . . the police also offered safety tips when buying and selling items on the internet.
Don’t give out personal information.
Look for verified users with strong ratings.
Meet at a well-lit, populated location like a grocery store, shopping mall, or police station.
Preferably in daylight hours.
Bring someone with you.
Keep your cell phone in your hand and be prepared to call 911 immediately if necessary.
If something does not feel right, leave the area and report any illegal or suspicious activity
to the police."
"The Girl With A Knife" by Greg Ellifritz
Thinking about what you would do if X happens, before anything happens,
is much better than trying to figure out what to do in real time.
John Farnam's rules to keep you out of trouble:
Don’t go to stupid places.
Don’t associate with stupid people.
Don’t do stupid things.
Have a “normal” appearance.
Be in bed by 10:00 PM (your own bed).
Don’t fail the attitude test.
*************************************************************************
----- Training -----
Figuring out the correct tasks to practice.
"I was once talking to a mentor who has vast experience killing lots of our country’s
enemies over a very long period of time. I asked him what he thought the single most
useful thing to practice if one wanted to increase one’s chances of surviving a gunfight.
His answer was “20 yard sprints.” Being able to quickly escape a bad scene or move to
cover is far more useful in combat than a sub-second draw."
-- Greg Ellifritz
"9 Week Sprinting Program for Functional Fitness [with PDF]" by Jake
Rangemaster-Certified Instructors
"Navigating the Streets: Essential Encounter Skills with John Murphy"
by USA Carry
How to filtering through the ambiguity.
There is no "shooter ready" command in the real world.
There is no audio "Beep" in the real world. There is no unambiguous "Beep" outdoors,
as there is indoors. Outdoors with other shooters and range safety officers in adjoining
pistol bays, there are shot noises obscuring your Beep and other beeps to confuse you.
Indoors, it usually just one person shooting at a time.
"Never memorize anything. Rather, study it until it becomes obvious."
-- Prof. Norman Christ, Physics Department, Columbia University (the one in New York,
formerly King's College until the American Revolution, to make clear their loyalty to
the United State of America, not the British monarchy)
Applies directly to all self-defense theory and practice.
You may think that God gave you your little finger to clean your nostrils and ear canals.
But the truth is that God gave you your pinkies to control muzzle flip (a part of recoil).
Not to prevent or eliminate muzzle flip, control it.
Your modern semi-auto combat (self-defense is combat) pistol is designed to pivot
about the tang (where the web between your thumb and index finger is jammed up high
and tight) on recoil. [If the pistol did not dissipate impulse (force X time) by rotating,
the jerk (3rd derivative of displacement with respect to time) could cause medical
problems in your wrists.] Recoil is just conservation of momentum. It is neither good
nor bad. It's just reality. We accept reality and accommodate it. The tang (deepest
indentation of the backstrap) is the fulcrum. The lever arm is the distance from the
fulcrum to the force perpendicular to the lever arm. The longest lever arm you have is
the force from your support-side-hand little finger against your grip. So your grip must
be long enough to allow your support-side-hand little finger to press the grip.
You will not pull with the little fingers to prevent muzzle flip. That would be WRONG!
You simply grip tight, aware that the little fingers are active (because they usually are
not in untrained persons), and allow the pistol to recoil.
Pushing with the firing side hand and pulling with the support side hand (which
is difficult with an isosceles arm position, that's why Chapman, advocated the Chapman
version of the Weaver arm position) will minimize movement of the pistol upon recoil.
Actively gripping with the little fingers will minimize muzzle flip.
Of course, this is assuming you always strive for and have achieved a surprise trigger
break. It is the surprise break that will defeat all of your autonomic nervous system
responses to the report and recoil by allowing the bullet to exit the muzzle before you
jerk, flinch, push, freeze, etc.
Actually, you can train yourself not to blink when something approaches your eye.
But, it's a stupid thing to do. That's why your optometrist surprises you to get your
eyeball pressure.
“Train, Practice, Compete
are the key elements in the development of humans.”
-- John M. Buol, Jr.
"The Exception to the Rule
When dealing with armed encounters,
the law of averages is more of a suggestion than a law."
by SHERIFF JIM WILSON
As Prof. David Yamane says, the average American has one testicle and one ovary.
No such average American exists.
I know training can be difficult. Let me share some words of encouragement that
my teacher told me, that I believe apply to all training regimens.
"Keep in mind that this is some seriously next level material. It is totally normal
that the first time you see this stuff, you find it confusing. You find it difficult to
understand. So, confusion should not discourage you. It does not represent any
intellectual failing on your part. Rather, keep in mind that it represents an opportunity
to get even smarter." – Tim Roughgarden, Professor of Computer Science
and other stuff at Stanford University
"Trigger Control" by SLG (Simon Golob)
Excerpt:
"The goal is for the shot to break just as the pistol gets to its final firing position,
much like a runner sliding into home."
[I disagree. I think you need to have your sights on the target and decide to fire
before you move your finger to the trigger. Otherwise, you will not have time to
not fire, if what you see causes you to decide not to fire. Reaction takes much
longer than action. -- Jon Low]
You need training because:
You don't know what you don't know.
Much of what you know is false.
It's good to the have the answers before the criminal tests you.
-- Claude Werner (paraphrased)
"Training Course Prerequisites & Why They Are Important" by Trident Concepts
1. You safely handle your pistol. (Otherwise, you need to take a beginner safety class.)
2. You are in a good position to learn. (You are at an experience level where you won't
get overwhelmed.)
3. You are able to have a good experience in the class, and you allow the other students
to have a good experience. Because you are at or above the appropriate skill level for
the class (e.g. beginner, intermediate, advanced).
“The secret of success is this.
Train like it means everything when it means nothing –
so you can fight like it means nothing when it means everything.”
-- Lofty Wiseman
"The Dangers of Warning Shots in Church Security
Why warning shots are a bad idea (#1, it's considered deadly force)"
by KEITH GRAVES
---
Never fire warning shots. You will not be on a multi-million dollar
range with soft dirt berms to catch your bullets. Any bullet fired down
will hit the concrete floor, the asphalt pavement, or a rock and
ricochet injuring someone (maybe killing him), maybe you.
Any bullet fired up will come down with equal speed (gravity
on Earth is a conservational field) on someone's head probably killing him.
Never shoot to wound. Shooting in combat is a low probability
event. So you must always shoot to the center of mass of whatever
your intended target is to get a significant probability of hitting your
intended target. Shooting for an arm or leg just about guarantees
you will hit an unintended target. There are no misses. There are
only unintended hits, which destroy property and injure innocent
persons (maybe killing them).
"Safe gun handling and knowing how to operate the gun competently is one thing.
How to fight with the gun is a whole other plane of knowledge."
-- Tiger McKee
"Those motivated by a desire to improve their
gunfighting skills as opposed to a quest for trophies,
must be willing to bleed ego on the match results
to avoid shedding blood in combat."
-- Andy Stanford
“If you are reading this and can’t put your hand on your defensive firearm,
all of your training is wasted.” -- Col. Jeff Cooper
"You don't need to memorize theorems, because you can always derive them
from first principles."
-- Prof. Sven Hartman, Physics Department, Columbia University (in the 1970's,
not present day, 2024 A.D.)
Similarly with all self-defense theory and practice.
It's important to understand differences.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DlVqkVeuKH4
--- Classes and Conferences ---
BULLETS & BIBLES CONFERENCE, $600 including lodging and food,
donation to a charity so no refund.
September 6-8, 2024 A.D.
Active Self Protection National Conference, Manhattan, KS
". . . every single penny from this event goes to support the summer camp program at
Flint Hills Foster Teen Camp. Your registration fee pays the way for one teen in the
foster care system to have a memorable camp experience and possibly one of the few
positive experiences they may have in their young lives."
Guardian Conference, $800
Oklahoma City Gun Club
12465 NE 234th St, Arcadia, OK 73007
September 20th - 22nd, 2024
Thursday, September 19th; 18:00 register
Friday, September 20th, 2024; 7:15 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday, September 21st, 2024; 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday, September 22nd, 2024; 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Spray your socks, shoes, pants, and concealment garment with
Sawyer Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent
https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-SP6572-Permethrin-Repellent/dp/B07CD9NFB4/ref=sr_1_4_sspa?th=1
We had fleas, chiggers, and ticks last year. But don't let that prevent you from going.
https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-SP6572-Permethrin-Repellent/dp/B07CD9NFB4/ref=sr_1_4_sspa?th=1
We had fleas, chiggers, and ticks last year. But don't let that prevent you from going.
It really is a great conference.
The Annual Summit of Faith-Based Safety and Security Operators, $199.00
The Annual Summit of Faith-Based Safety and Security Operators, $199.00
July 25-27, 2024 A.D.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Agenda,
Schedule of classes,
Registration,
[I attended this conference when they held it in Lebanon, TN.
I highly recommend. -- Jon Low]
Apache Solutions
Pistol-Training.Com
2024 Schedule (including prelim)
Contact person - Bill Armstrong,
Pistol-Training.com – Simon Golob – Bring the Heat: On Demand Performance – 8-9Jun24
(Sold Out)
Lone Star Medics – Caleb Causey – TacMed EDC – 29Jun2024
Sentinel Concepts – Steve Fisher – 2 day Handgun – 28-29Sept2024
RangeMaster – Tom Givens – Master Instructor Development – 4-6Oct2024
Agile Training and Consulting – Chuck Haggard – 19-20Oct2024 (waiting on date confirm)
19Oct Pocket Rockets
20Oct OC Instructor
Tim Herron Shooting – Practical Performance – 26-27Oct2024
Citizens Defense Research – Melody Lauer and Chris Cypert – 8-11Nov2024
8-9Oct The Armed Parent/Guardian
10-11Oct Contextual Handgun: Public Encounters
John Holschen – Applied Defensive Handgun Skills – 16-17Nov2024
Cougar Mountain Solutions – Erick Gelhaus – 6-8 Dec 2024
Red Dot Instructor Course
‟Training is NOT an event, but a process.
Training is the preparation FOR practice.”
-- Claude Werner
*************************************************************************
----- Practice -----
How to get proficient at that task.
Why practice?
“To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively
tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them
and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or
unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.”
-- Winston Churchill
I tried Mike Ox's suggestion to practice in the dark. Then I did it with tritium glow
in the dark sights. Try it. You'll learn a lot.
‟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
“Willingness is a state of mind. Readiness is a statement of fact!”
-- Lt. Gen. David M Shoup, USMC Commandant 1960-1963
"People rust faster than equipment."
-- John Hearne
‶Practice is the small deposits you make over time,
so that in an emergency, you can make that big withdrawal.″
-- Chesley Burnett Sullenberger, III
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Intervention ***** ***** *****
Suggestions on how to deal with the incident that you failed to avoid.
Awareness, Avoidance, De-Escalation, Escape
Table of contents:
Strategy
Tactics
Techniques
*************************************************************************
----- Strategy -----
Deciding on the end state and how to achieve it,
which tactics to use, which includes walking away.
“How do you win a gunfight?
Don't be there.”
-- John Farnam
"Evolution In Action: German Police Officer Dies After Tackling Man Restraining Terrorist"
by Docent
If you choose the side of evil, expect to be stabbed in the back by the evil. That's how
evil works. Says so in the Bible. Says so in every ancient religious text (Lao Tzu).
Says so in every classical military (Sun Tzu) and political (Niccolò Machiavelli) tome.
"Private Citizen Helps Stop Active Killers But Pays Dearly" by John Correia
Combat is extremely ambiguous. Distinguishing good guys from bad guys is difficult.
"You win gunfights by not getting shot."
-- John Holschen
*************************************************************************
----- Tactics -----
Maneuver and fire in support of your strategy.
"Real fights are short."
-- Bruce Lee
" ‘Good Samaritan’ holds attempted carjacker at gunpoint in Ormond Beach, police say"
by Molly Reed
I love such stories.
“Fortuitous outcomes reinforce poor tactics.”
-- Chuck Haggard
"How to Use Cover, Lessons from the Special Operations Community"
by Dan Brokos
https://www.recoilweb.com/how-to-use-cover-lessons-from-the-special-operations-community-150133.html
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Excerpts:
". . . but the reality is that there’s no telling where that bullet will go."
"Never walk rounds across the windshield;
you won’t make the positive contact you need to eliminate the threat."
"Also don’t forget common sense, one of the principles of patrolling.
If it works at night, in the rain and cold, when you’re exhausted or injured,
then you’re on the right track."
"You often don't know where the bad guy is who is shooting at you."
-- Phillip Groff
"I'll just shoot randomly. God will guide my bullets." -- Nitwit
That is not Biblical. That ensures unintended hits that will damage property,
injure innocent bystanders, maybe kill them. (I remember a Shell TV commercial
that was almost this stupid. I wouldn't have mentioned this except that it appeared
on a forum and had responders agreeing with it.)
"Surviving Mob Attacks on Your Vehicle" by Greg Ellifritz
Excerpt:
"Don’t get out [of your car] and shoot."
"Windows that are down approximately 1/2″ are actually harder to break
than windows that are tightly closed."
"Carry your gun on your person, not in the car."
Your handgun is a better option than a long gun. (paraphrase)
"Sniper Shoots Bank Robber Holding Hostages Through A Computer Screen"
by Colion Noir
"The shorter the fight, the less hurt you get."
-- John Holschen
*************************************************************************
----- Techniques -----
Ways to execute a given task in support of your tactics,
especially when disabled or under stress.
"Use only that which works,
and take it from any place you can find it."
-- Bruce Lee
A former student asked about appendix inside the waistband (AIWB) carry.
My response follows.
Hi Ted,
Everyone's body is different. So I can only speak for my body proportions
and where I choose to wear my belt line.
I cannot wear an appendix inside the waistband holster, because no matter
where I place the holster, it hits my thigh when I sit. Since in the Western
World we sit, rather than squat, when eating, conversing, driving, and such;
I can't get an AIWB holster to work for me. In Oriental countries where they
squat when eating and conversing, it's even worse for me.
If I cannot demonstrate a technique for my students, or set a good example
for them, I cannot teach or advocate the technique.
I have taken many courses in how to use and adjust an AIWB holster.
For instance from Spencer Keepers and Philster.
So I feel that I have made a good faith effort to learn and practice the technique.
I've also spent a lot of money buying equipment to experiment to find a
configuration that works for me. I just can't get it to work for me.
Concerning safety, when holstering, the person must push his hips forward
and lean back to avoid pointing the muzzle at his body. Otherwise, he is
violating Safety Rule II, never let the muzzle cover anything you are not
willing to destroy. While this is taught by many instructors, it is not taught
by many others. And I think it is a real danger.
I don't think it is possible to draw from a seated position without
muzzling your body. At least I can't. Theoretically, you can get the holster
into any orientation that you wish with the correct wedges and wings. But,
in practice I have never been able to.
Concerning tactics, I think a person should be able to draw his pistol
with support side hand only. Wearing at 3 to 4 o'clock allows you to reach
around your front or your back. AIWB does not allow you to reach behind
your back to get your pistol. Maybe the need will never arise, but maybe it will.
Cheers,
Jon
"The foundations of your grip are established
before you even draw the pistol from the holster."
-- Tanner Denton
"SHOOTING 101: A Carbine Reload Drill to Get Back in the Fight"
by Kenzie Fitzpatrick
I've noticed a lot of rifle shooters in matches shooting with a straight support side arm.
I imagine they are attempting to replicate their isosceles pistol structure. Which I think
is wrong for low recoil rifles. Because unlike high recoil long guns where you are pushing
the long gun away from you with the support side arm as Ralph Mroz et al teach, with a
low recoil rifle or pistol caliber carbine, you should be pulling the long gun tight into your
clavicle (next to your neck, inboard of your shoulder). You can't pull with your bicep if
your arm is straight. I know it looks cool and different, but the structure / physics is wrong.
"Grip first, then press."
-- Mike Seeklander
"Suarez Tactics: Staging The TDA (Traditional Double Action) Trigger" by Gabe Suarez
I don't think you should use a double action in the first place, because I believe every
trigger press should be the same. Why have two different trigger presses? This would
require you to train to two different trigger presses. Consistency is accuracy. Every
trigger press should be the same.
What's the point of decocking the hammer to half-cock? Shorten the trigger travel.
Wouldn't it make more sense to use a single-action or striker-action to minimize the
trigger travel?
Notice how Gabe's shoulders come up as he pushes the pistol out to the target.
I think that is wrong. I think you should keep your shoulders down and relaxed.
Tense muscles are slow. Relaxed muscles are quick.
Are you going to have the presence of mind to cock the hammer for precision shots?
That complicates the manual of arms and is another branch in the flow chart requiring
a decision. You really want to minimize thinking / decision making in combat. You're
never going to have enough time to make such decisions.
In his video, "Adaptive Handgun", Travis Haley says to disengage the thumb safety
while moving the pistol from holster to target. I disagree. In the modern theory, your
holster is your safety. The thumb safety is redundant. If used, the thumb safety should
be defeated when the pistol is drawn from the holster. Because you may need to shoot
from the close contact position.
I think that pushing with the firing-side hand and pulling with the support-side hand
is fundamental to control recoil which includes minimizing muzzle flip. In the Chapman
version of the Weaver arm position, the firing-side arm is locked out straight, as the stock
of a long gun, and the support-side arm is bent at the elbow and the elbow is down, not
sticking out to the side. This allows the bicep of the support-side arm to pull the pistol
grip in towards you.
It's hard to get this push-pull tension with an isosceles arm position. And most instructors
of the isosceles position don't teach the push-pull tension. But note that the support-side
hand is in front of the grip, so can only pull. (Ya, the support side hand can squeeze the
grip, but that's only the grip strength pressure. Maybe 100 pounds for a man, maybe 70
pounds for a woman. It's nothing compared to the force due to the larger muscle groups
closer to the spine and of course the bones used in skeletal structural support of the pistol.)
"BASIC TWO-HANDED SHOOTING STANCES" by Massad Ayoob
My reasons for recommending and teaching the Chapman version of the Weaver arm
position:
1. It places your support side arm in front of the vital organs in your torso, making
it more difficult for the enemy to strike your heart and lungs. (For those of us who
do not regularly wear body armor. If you are wearing body armor, it makes sense
to present the front of your armor to the enemy and not expose the side of your
armor. That's why police are taught the isosceles position.)
2. It is the same stance for pistol and long gun. So, transitioning between the two
is easier than with other positions. We expect to transition. ["The purpose of the
pistol is to give you time to get to your rifle." – Jeff Cooper
If the forest is too dense to maneuver a long gun, or the building's passages are too
narrow for a long gun, or the tunnels are too small for a long gun, we will
transition to our pistol.]
3. It allows the shooter to pull with the support side arm bicep. If the support side
arm is locked out straight (as in the isosceles stance), you can't pull with the
support side arm. You must pull with the support side arm to prevent the muzzle
from flipping up on recoil. If the muzzle flips up on recoil, it takes longer and is
harder to get the sights on the target for the subsequent shots.
4. It looks more aggressive to the enemy (a significant psychological advantage)
because it is a fighting stance like a boxing stance. The body language says, “I am
ready and willing to fight.”
5. It reduces the width of the target that you present to the enemy. This has a
strong psychological affect on the enemy as it makes his target smaller and thus
reduces his confidence in hitting his target.
6. It gives the shooter a supported position when the shooter transitions to the
kneeling position or the squatting position.
7. The Harries flashlight technique uses the Weaver stance.
8. It flows naturally from the interview position that you assumed, because you
were aware of the situation, because you were aware when the enemy started the
incident.
"Got a Light? Weaponlights, Handhelds, and Concealed Carry"
by Chris Cypert
"It's not daily increase but daily decrease - hack away at the inessentials!"
-- Bruce Lee
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Postvention ***** ***** *****
Suggestions on how to treat your wounds or the wounds of your loved ones.
Suggestions on how to avoid prosecution, conviction, and prison time.
Suggestions on how to avoid the civil law suit and judgment.
Table of contents:
Aftermath
Medical
Survival
*************************************************************************
----- Aftermath -----
You must be alive to have these problems: criminal and civil liability.
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him,
but because he loves what is behind him.”
― G.K. Chesterton
In the right hand column of this web page, click on "Never Talk To The Police"
or use the direct address
In the right hand column, click on the link labeled "Self Defense Insurance".
Or, the direct link is,
Read this before you buy insurance. You need to make an informed decision.
The various policies are drastically different.
"You need to read the fine print." -- Massad Ayoob
“Your understanding and consent are not required
for someone to take your life, kill your loved ones,
and destroy all you hold dear.”
-- William Aprill
*************************************************************************
----- Medical -----
"If you prepare for the emergency,
the emergency ceases to exist!"
-- Sherman House
You must always generate large volumes of clear urine. If you think urine is yellow,
you are WRONG! and chronically dehydrated, which is the norm for Americans.
Dehydration will lead to all kinds of medical problems including kidney stones.
DRINK MORE WATER!
You must wake naturally. Using an alarm clock to wake you up is WRONG! and
will lead to chronic sleep depravation, which is the norm for Americans. Sleep
depravation will lead to all kinds of medical problems including hallucinations.
Not necessarily wild psychedelic hallucinations. It could be as simple as miss judging
the distance, time, or mass. Which is enough to cause you to miss the target, when
you thought everything was correct and that you should have hit the target. Yes, it
is that subtle. GO TO BED EARLIER! (Stop watching TV. TV has no value.)
The purpose of alcohol is to kill biologics. Hospitals use alcohol to sterilize their
equipment, because it eventually kills all living things. When you get pleasantly buzzed,
it is because you are killing brain cells. Similarly for just about every other type of
addictive drug. You need your brain cells to hit your target.
STOP CONSUMING ALL ADDICTIVE DRUGS: SUGAR, NARCOTICS,
NICOTINE, ALCOHOL, ETC. (Look up nicotine in the dictionary. You will find,
highly toxic alkaloid.)
I could go on for pages, but you get the idea.
*************************************************************************
----- Survival -----
You must know how to stop the bleeding and start the breathing.
Tourniquets for arms and legs, placed as close as possible to the torso, regardless of where
the wound is.
Chest seals on the entry and exit wounds to stop the lungs from collapsing.
Hemostatic gauze to pack wounds at junctures. NEVER pack any wound between the
neck and the navel, because you will prevent the lungs from expanding.
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation.
If you don't know how, take a class. Saving a life is satisfying. Living with regret is
devastating.
"If you stay fit, you do not have to get fit.
If you stay trained, you do not have to get trained.
If you stay prepared, you do not have to get prepared."
-- Robert Margulies
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Education ***** ***** *****
Table of contents:
Legal
Instruction
Gear
*************************************************************************
"You will never get smarter or broaden your horizons
if you're unwilling to learn from others and read."
-- Becca Martin
Historical stuff --
"Can You Outshoot an FBI Agent? [Part 1: 1940s]" by Chris Baker
"Can You Outshoot an FBI Agent? [Part 2: 1980s]" by Chris Baker
In case you're not familiar with the "roll over prone" -
"Tiger McKee explains the rollover prone shooting position" by Tennessee-Carry
Ya, Tiger is teaching a guy with a long gun, but you get the idea.
Greg's newsletter --
"IN SELF-DEFENSE
ARMED CITIZENS ARE FIGHTING BACK"
by Dave Workman
Excerpt:
"If your gun is stolen, report it immediately. There’s a possibility you might get
that gun back if it is recovered, and you certainly don’t want to be linked to any crime
that gun might later be part of. Thefts from private citizens account for almost 96%
of stolen guns during the 2017-2021 time period."
[I gave a pistol to a friend's mother in Statesville, TN. It got stolen from her house.
About 20 years later, the pistol was used in a crime in Chicago, IL; recovered at the
crime scene; and returned to my friend's mother. So reporting the pistol stolen is a
good idea. You might get it back. -- Jon Low]
"Cogito, ergo armatum sum." (I think, therefore armed am I.)
-- John Farnam
*************************************************************************
----- Legal -----
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.
It is wholly inadequate for the governance of any other.
-- John Adams, October 11, 1798
"Law of Self Defense" by Andrew Branca
(free book, just pay for shipping so you don't have to go to Colorado to pick it up)
"The 5 Elements of Self Defense" by Andrew Branca (free of charge)
"Self-Defense and the Law: Don’t Let a Bad Lawyer Fumble the Defense"
by Massad Ayoob
Excerpts:
"Lesson: never trust an attorney who tells you to break the law!"
"Insist That Your Defense Lawyer Has Back Up"
". . . he panicked, fled (“flight equals guilt”),
threw the death weapon away (alteration of evidence “indicative of guilt”), and
lied about it thereafter (“lie once, you’re a liar forever”)."
"Have An Attorney Who Knows How to Do a Self-Defense Case and
Doesn’t Hate People Like You."
---
I've used a lot of attorneys in my life. Mas is correct. You must shop around and find
a competent attorney who is morally and psychologically on your side. Who actually
wants to win, not just plea the case out. So you've got to have lots and lots of money.
Otherwise, you're screwed. In America, you get as much justice as you can afford.
You want a powerful politically connected attorney who will invite the prosecuting
attorney to have lunch with him at his country club, convince the prosecutor that the
prosecutor can't possibly get a conviction, and cause the prosecutor to drop the case.
You don't want to accept a plea deal, because that means you confess and are found
guilty by the court. You don't want to go to trial, because as Andrew Branca says, even
if you are completely innocent, there is a 10% that you will be convicted. That's just
the noise in the system.
"How Does Concealed Carrying of Weapons Affect Violent Crime?"
by John R. Lott and Carlisle E. Moody
"An op-ed that I had in the Washington Times that pointed out the message from
New York City is clear: don’t try defending yourself or anyone else from violence.
If you do, the city’s District Attorneys will prosecute you." -- John Lott
"Oklahoma gun dealer raided by ATF takes plea, but serious questions remain"
by Lee Williams
Hat tip to Stephen P. Wenger.
Why would the ATF raid the home of a Baptist minister and his family? Because they
can get hurt arresting criminals. This is why people vote to defund the police.
"Government Will Appeal Unconstitutional Gun Ban in Post Offices"
by Dean Weingarten
"For those who don't recall Bonidy, Bonidy lived in a rural area of Colorado where,
instead of providing home delivery of mail, the local post office provides free PO boxes.
While Bonidy sued over both issues, he initially won not over the ban on carry inside
the post office but over the fact that the ban on carry on postal property criminalized
him for simply having a firearm inside his vehicle if he drove onto the parking lot to
pick up his mail." -- Stephen P. Wenger
"Masse Questions ATF Director on Requesting FFLs to Notify the ATF on Cash Sales"
by John Crump
Hat tip to Stephen P. Wenger.
"Massachusetts Permit to Purchase Firearms Case Ends in Favor of Plaintiff"
by Dean Weingarten
Hat tip to Stephen P. Wenger.
"In Self Defense Podcast 119: Legacy of the Zimmerman Verdict – Part 1"
Transcript included, so you don't have to listen to audio.
"FBI Plays In-Your-Face-Game with FOIA Request on NICS/NY Ammunition Checks"
by David Codrea
Corruption in the FBI and DoJ runs rampant.
Oakland, CA gun buy back program, 2008.
"Supreme Court Issues ANOTHER 9-0 Ruling" by Roman Balmakov
A First Amendment, not a 2nd Amendment, case.
Primary source,
"NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA v. VULLO"
Note how the ACLU sides with the NRA.
Gun control laws yesterday, today, and into the future.
"Federal Court issues preliminary injunction against ATF to prohibit its enforcement
of the "engaged in business" rule against members of TFA, GOA, GOF, VCDL and others."
by John Harris, Tennessee Firearms Association
I'm listed as one of the affected persons to give Tennessee Firearms Association
standing in the case.
Bad laws destroy good people, including good police officers.
"WA police sergeant fired after intervening in sick man’s life.
Was he in the wrong?" by Shea Johnson
"New Case On Outdoor Training" by Armed Attorneys
"If Only USCCA Had Done It Right: Part 1" by Andrew Branca
You don't have a right to claim self-defense. The judge is not obligated to give the
jury a self-defense instruction. As in this case, the New Mexico Supreme court agreed
that there was no evidence of self-defense, so the defendant could not claim self-defense.
Many attorneys have told me that their clients would complain to them, "I can't
believe I'm being prosecuted. It was self-defense." So the attorney had to explain to
the defendant why it was not self-defense.
Law is complex. That's why competent attorneys are paid $500 per hour. If you've
never taken a law of self-defense class, you don't know what you don't know and much
of what you know is FALSE!
"If Only USCCA Had Done It Right: Part 2 + New USCCA Policies" by Andrew Branca
Email from Firearms Policy Coalition --
Jonathan,
Today, Firearms Policy Coalition announced a major legal victory in its Mock v. Garland
lawsuit challenging the Biden Administration’s “pistol brace” ban rule issued by the Bureau
of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
In the decision, United States District Court Judge Reed O’Connor granted summary
judgment in favor of FPC and its co-plaintiffs and issued a final judgment and order
vacating the ATF’s rule.
The case and opinion can be found here.
“The Biden Administration’s ATF hates us so much that it lawlessly acted to turn
millions of gun owners into felons, but FPC and our members ran towards the fire and
defeated this evil,” said FPC President Brandon Combs.
“Today’s order shows that our community can take on an immoral government and win.
FPC members should be proud of what was accomplished today. We look forward to
defending this victory on appeal and up to the Supreme Court, just as we have in other cases.”
Today’s victory is one in a line of FPC community successes against the Biden
Administration. Indeed, the United States Supreme Court recently agreed to hear one of
FPC’s cases in which it prevailed in the courts below.
The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Cody Wisniewski of FPC Action Foundation,
Bradley Benbrook and Stephen Duvernay of the Benbrook Law Group, and R. Brent Cooper
and Benjamin Passey of Cooper & Scully. Plaintiffs in this case are two individual FPC
members, Maxim Defense, and FPC. FPC Action Foundation represented the Plaintiffs,
alongside Benbrook Law.
FPC expects the Mock decision and remedy to be appealed by the U.S. Department
of Justice (DOJ).
Stay free,
The FPC Legal Team
“Federal Court declares ATF's "pistol brace" rule void.” by Tennessee Firearms Association
(MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER is on the web page.)
Synopsis by John Harris:
On June 13, 2024, Federal District Judge Reed O’Connor, of the Northern District of Texas,
held that the ATF’s “pistol brace” rule is void. Although it did not address the constitutional
challenges to the ATF’s actions, the Court found that it did not need to reach the constitutional
issues since the ATF’s conduct violated “[Administrative Procedures Act]’s procedural
requirements because it was arbitrary and capricious and was not a logical outgrowth of the
Proposed Rule…” See, Mock, et al., v. Merrick Garland, et al, No: 4:23CV00095-O,
Northern District Texas, June 13, 2024, at p. 12. (a copy of the opinion is included on the
TFA's website version of this report)
The ruling vacates the ATF’s pistol-brace rule entirely thus have nationwide effect.
It is a certainty that the Biden administration rogue ATF will appeal the decision.
In finding that the ATF’s rule violated the Administrative Procedures Act and was
therefore void, Judge O’Connor first concluded that “the Final Rule violated the APA’s
procedural requirements because it was not a logical outgrowth of the Proposed Rule.”
Id., at p. 6. This aspect of the ruling considered whether the final rule was a logical
extension of the ATF’s initial proposed rule. Judge O’Connor spent no effort rejecting
the ATF’s argument on this point because the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals had already
ruled in a prior appeal in this same case that “that the Final Rule is ‶properly characterized
as a legislative rule,″ and ‶it is relatively straightforward that the Final Rule was not a
logical outgrowth of the Proposed Rule, . . . therefore [the Final Rule] must be set aside
as unlawful or other-wise remanded for appropriate remediation.″ ” Id.
The second issue addressed by Judge O’Connor was whether the ATF’s conduct in
adopting the rule was arbitrary and capricious. The court found that the ATF’s conduct
in adopting this rule was arbitrary and capricious. “The Court finds that the adaptation
of the Final Rule was arbitrary and capricious for two reasons. First, the Defendants did
not provide a detailed justification for their reversal of the agency’s longstanding position.
And second, the Final Rule’s standards are impermissibly vague.” Id., 7.
"UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN ATF’S “BUMP STOCK” RULE."
by Tennessee Firearms Association
Synopsis:
On June 14, 2024, the United States Supreme Court in its decision in
Cargill v. Merrick Garland, et al, 22-976 struck down the ATF’s bump stock rule in a
6-3 decision written by Justice Thomas. Tennessee Firearms Association and the
Tennessee Firearms Foundation joined Gun Owners of American and
Gun Owners Foundation by submitting an amicus brief that urged the Court strike down
the ATF’s bump stock rule.
Justice Thomas started the decision as follows:
Congress has long restricted access to “ ‘machinegun[s],’ ”a category of firearms defined
by the ability to “shoot, automatically more than one shot . . . by a single function of the
trigger.” 26 U. S. C. §5845(b); see also 18 U. S. C. §922(o). Semiautomatic firearms,
which require shooters to reengage the trigger for every shot, are not machineguns.
This case asks whether a bump stock—an accessory for a semiautomatic rifle that allows
the shooter to rapidly reengage the trigger (and therefore achieve a high rate of fire) —
converts the rifle into a “machinegun.” We hold that it does not and therefore affirm.
Cargill, p. 5.
The Court’s opinion notes, without calling it such, that ATF once again acted in an
arbitrary and capricious manner when it had ruled for decades that these bump stock
accessories did not convert semiautomatic firearms into statutory machineguns and then,
as a result of an incident involving the possession of bump stocks by a murderer,
the ATF reversed course and changed its mind.
The question in this case is whether a bump stock transforms a semiautomatic rifle
into a “machinegun,” as defined by §5845(b). For many years, the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) took the position that semiautomatic rifles
equipped with bump stocks were not machineguns under the statute. On more than 10
separate occasions over several administrations, ATF consistently concluded that rifles
equipped with bump stocks cannot “automatically” fire more than one shot “by a single
function of the trigger.” See App. 16–68. In April 2017, for example, ATF explained
that a rifle equipped with a bump stock does not “operat[e] automatically” because
“forward pressure must be applied with the support hand to the forward handguard.”
Id., at 66. And, because the shooter slides the rifle forward in the stock “to fire each
shot, each succeeding shot fir[es] with a single trigger function.” Id., at 67.
ATF abruptly reversed course in response to a mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. …
Cargill, p. 7.
When compared with other Second Amendment decisions that the Court had issued
in Heller (2008), McDonald (2010) and Bruen (2022), one aspect of this case that is
noteworthy is that the Court here relies on no prior decisions for its ruling. Indeed, the
Court’s ruling is almost entirely a fact-based analysis of how a semiautomatic firearm
that has a bumpstock functions. Ultimately, the Supreme Court agreed with the en banc
decision of the 5th Circuit Court of appeals when the Supreme Court concluded that the
ATF exceeding its authority by reversing course and attempting to rewrite (something
that the ATF refers to as “clarifying”) the statutory definition of a machinegun:
Section 5845(b) defines a “machinegun” as any weapon capable of firing “automatically
more than one shot . . . by a single function of the trigger.” We hold that a semiautomatic
rifle equipped with a bump stock is not a “machinegun” because it cannot fire more than
one shot “by a single function of the trigger.” And, even if it could, it would not do so
“automatically.” ATF therefore exceeded its statutory authority by issuing a Rule that
classifies bump stocks as machineguns. Cargill, p. 10.
In the context of Colorado's new gun laws,
"In my experience teaching, 50 rounds in a one-day training course may be burdensome
for some students, including the elderly and those with arthritis and other infirmities;
I find it a ridiculous requirement for a “qualification” test for a private citizen."
-- Stephen P. Wenger
“Is there no virtue among us?
If there is not, we are without hope!
No form of government, existing nor theoretical, will keep us from harm.
To think that any government, in any form, will insure liberty and happiness
for a dishonorable population represents the height of self-deception.”
-- James Madison, 1788
*************************************************************************
----- Instruction -----
Colonel Robert Lindsey to his fellow trainers:
"We are not God's gift to our students.
Our students are God's gift to us."
----- Instructors -----
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
I had a student, 55 years of age, female, no experience. She had small hands, so I removed
the backstrap of the Ruger American that she was using and taped it with tennis racket grip tape.
By the end of 20 hours of dry training, she was telling me that the grip felt too small. So, we
replaced the tape with the medium backstrap. She said that was more comfortable and felt
more stable. Things change with training. Be prepared to change. Your student might not
know enough to make the changes.
She was getting a lot of malfunctions at the start of live fire training. By the end of 20 hours
of live fire training, she wasn't getting anymore malfunctions. She asked me how I had made
the pistol malfunction, because she thought that I was doing it to give her practice clearing
malfunctions. I explained to her that she was causing the malfunctions by not gripping the
pistol correctly. Intellectually understanding that she needed a tight consistent grip is not the
same as experientially understanding what a tight consistent grip is. Things change with
training. Be prepared to explain the changes. Your student might not understand the changes.
"Teach them diligently . . . "
-- Deuteronomy 6:7
Trust is required to change anyone's behavior.
"Remember,
the students who require the extra effort
are the ones who need us the most!"
-- John Farnam
"Instructional Tools for Modern Sight Alignment Training" by Jeremy Stafford
"You must teach skill sustainment as part of training."
-- John Hearne
Don't say "You know", "I mean", "I have a question", "Um", "Ah", "Duh", etc.
It makes you sound stupid.
If you're going to open your mouth, immediately make your point and then
shut up or move on. Beating a dead horse is an act of criminal stupidity.
Of course, if your students have questions, you are required to explain, using
different words, using a different perspective. Repeating what you just said,
is in fact beating the dead horse. If the student didn't understand what you said
the first time, there is no reason to believe that he will understand your repeated
words.
If you can't explain it in a different way, you are lacking as a teacher and
need to work on this.
----- Students -----
----- Andragogy -----
‟An instructor should not expect any learning to take
place the first time new information is presented.”
-- ‶Building Shooters″ by Dustin Salomon
“The most valuable resource that all teachers have is each other.
Without collaboration, our growth is limited to our own perspectives.”
-- Robert John Meehan
*************************************************************************
----- Gear -----
And the safe storage thereof.
"SHOOTING 101: Understanding How to Buy a Gun for the First Time"
by Mark Chesnut
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
A description of the process of buying a firearm from an FFL (Federal Firearm Licensee)
and how to fill out the Form 4473. Which you should read over, so you're not surprised
when you have to fill it out for real.
“Mission drives the gear train.”
-- Pat Rogers
"Skillset - Citizens with Pistol Mounted Optics: How to Make Ready"
by Rich Grassi
Hat tip to Stephen P. Wenger.
With information from Erick Gelhaus.
"What's The Purpose Of Your Carry Pistol?
Which is more important to your EDC selection: specialization or versatility?"
by TAMARA KEEL
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
"SILENCER SATURDAY #331: Sound Science For Suppressor Lovers"
by Pete
Hat tip to Stephen P. Wenger.
Nerd out!
"Concealed Carry Firearm Maintenance: How Often Should You Clean It?"
by Brandon Curtis
Hat tip to Docent.
Excerpt:
"Maintaining a clean firearm is a fundamental aspect of responsible gun ownership."
---
I think you should clean before first use from the factory or from storage.
After every use. Monthly, if carried with no use.
(USED, law enforcement trade in)
TRIJICON RMR® TYPE 2 RED DOT SIGHT 3.25 MOA RED DOT,
ADJUSTABLE LED, $399.99 (ORIGINAL PRICE WAS: $742.00)
Dry fire targets from Memphis Beach. Scaled down for your shorter living room ranges.
Galco Holsters
Use code: DAD25 for a 25% discount sitewide.
Alien Gear Holsters
Clark Armory, 45 ACP practice ammo for 47¢ per round (plus shipping, tax, etc.).
Docent at Practical Eschatology posted about,
"$5,000 REWARD
FOR INFORMATION PERTAINING TO STOLEN M17 PISTOLS"
by DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
What's wrong with this picture?
I went to the gun show in Columbia, TN at the National Guard Armory this past
Saturday. A gentleman approached me and offered to sell me his SIG Sauer P320.
I said, no thank you, because I had standardized on pistols chambered for 45 Auto so
that I could stock only one caliber of ammo. He gave a quizzical look. So I explained
that his SIG Sauer P320 is chambered in 9mm (9mm Luger, 9mm Parabellum,
9x19mm NATO, etc.). He said that he would sell it to me for $100. I assumed he
had no knowledge of guns. So I told him that he should be asking about $470.
And negotiate from there. Typical price on the internet is $467.99 for new in the box.
Used in good condition, $400 to $450. He said, he knew, but didn't care and was trying
to get rid of it so he could go home and watch some game on TV. He said it would be
a personal sale and in the state of Tennessee there would be no paperwork. I said yes
that is true. He then asked me for some ID because he didn't want to sell to a prohibited
person (like an ATF agent). I showed him my TN Handgun Permit. I asked to see the
pistol. There were a lot of empty tables around the hall. So he took the boxed pistol
out of his backpack and laid it on a table. I opened it and said, Oh, it's a M-17.
He said, what's that? I said, that was the military designation for the pistol. I field stripped
it and examined it. It appeared to be new in the box. I told him that I was sure he could
get full asking price for this pistol if he just walked around and asked a few people. He
said he didn't care. I asked him if he would mind if I called the wife just to make sure I
could purchase the pistol. He smiled and said sure.
So I called U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, Southern Field Office at
(706) 577-4074 and asked for the serial numbers for the stolen pistols. The lady who
answered took my name, phone number, and email address. I asked that she email me the
serial numbers. She said that she would have to check with her supervisor, and call me
back on Monday. I told her that would be too late. She said that they had been reported
stolen, so if I ran a check they would turn up stolen. I told her that I was not law
enforcement. I was civilian, even with an FFL, law enforcement will not cooperate.
Law enforcement will not run a serial number for a civilian FFL. She couldn't believe me.
Truth is often hard to believe.
I told him, sorry the wife won't let me buy it. He said he could sweeten the deal.
He could sell me a whole bunch at $90 a piece. I said really? How many? He said he
had about 200 in the trunk of his car out in the parking lot. I said that is a sweet deal,
but I don't have that much cash and the ATM machines have a $300 limit. I asked,
you have 200 pistols like this one? He said no, most were black. He got them from a
police department that was trading in their pistols to buy new ones. I said, oh ya, a lot
of police departments are scared of using the Sig P320 because of all the law suits about
the pistols firing when dropped and firing for no reason at all. He said that only about
30 were this brown color.
I was thinking, this guy who does not have an FFL and doesn't know much about the
pistols that he is trying to sell, is claiming that he acquired 200 pistols from a police
department, 30 of which are M-17's. What's wrong with this picture?
On Monday, I did not receive a return call from ARMY CID. So I called, and they
told me that they would not release the serial numbers. What's wrong with this picture?
Wanted posters for fugitives (10 Most Wanted) always display a photograph of the fugitive.
How else is someone supposed to recognize the fugitive? What would be the purpose of a
$5,000 REWARD
FOR INFORMATION PERTAINING TO STOLEN M17 PISTOLS
when the serial numbers of the pistol will not be given out. There is no web site
that displays the serial numbers. Anytime a gun manufacturer does a recall, they
list the serial numbers that are being recalled. Same with ammunition and lot
numbers.
You can't make an insurance claim (or cover your ass) unless you file a police
report. Do you see what's going on? If they released the serial numbers and the pistols
turned up, the cover up would be blown.
You never have to sharpen the blade. Just replace it.
“Your car is not a holster.”
-- Pat Rogers
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Cryptology ***** ***** *****
Look, Ma, no graphics.
Laplacian of φ in Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z),
ᐁ²φ = (∂²φ / ∂x²) + (∂²φ / ∂y²) + (∂²φ / ∂z²)
"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe,
and preserve order in the world as well as property.
Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of their use."
-- Thomas Paine
Cryptosystems are considered "arms" by federal law, ITAR,
International Traffic in Arms Regulations. That means cryptosystems are
covered by the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Never let the
government infringe on your right to keep and bear cryptosystems, to
include home made cryptosystems.
"Computer science has nothing to do with computers or science."
-- Donald Knuth
"Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.
Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have
perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must
believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing
must be attained."
-- Marie Curie
"Premature optimization is the root of all evil."
-- Donald Knuth
***** Signals Intelligence and Ground Electronic Warfare, Cyber Security,
(sometimes Air Electronic Warfare too) *****
“Your character is what you do when no one is looking.”
-- Thomas Jefferson
Absolute truth.
Just like forcing users to change passwords. Good passwords never go stale.
Bad passwords are not improved by regular change.
Oh, the list is very long. I could go on for pages. But you get the idea.
Don't let other people's stupidity affect you. Make them disappear, but never
let them interfere with your programs.
‟If violent crime is to be curbed, it is only the intended victim who can do it.
The felon does not fear the police, and he fears neither judge nor jury.
Therefore what he must fear is his victim.”
-- Col. Jeff Cooper, "Principles of Personal Defense"
"BAE Secures $95M Navy P-8A Electronic Warfare Pod Integration Contract"
by Naomi Cooper
Oh, guys I worked with at BAE Systems in Wayne, NJ; now in Austin, TX.
How cool is that. I got to check in on them the next time I visit my sister.
What do you notice?
Large audience, crowd anonymity. Simplex.
"Microsoft Recall got Recalled - ThreatWire" by Hak5
"Women's High Jump • Athletics Week"
by bluetvsports
High Jump Highlights • Moscow Athletics Week, June 9, 2024.
Breaking Defense has a weekly newsletter, "Networks & Digital Warfare" at
Crypto-Gram by Bruce Schneier
June 15, 2024
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Intelligence ***** ***** *****
Gathering, Analyzing, Disseminating
"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
The art and practice of Intelligence is an arm protected by the 2nd Amendment
to the U.S. Constitution. Never let anyone infringe upon your God given right
to keep and bear intelligence. (The enemy will try to dumb you down. Resist!)
"High Power Microwave Weapons" by The Merge
Epirus
Unfortunately, the Epirus CEO is not a physicists. So a lot of the stuff he says is
nonsense. But, he's an executive, not a scientist. It's just irritating to listen to him
after a while.
Physics works in war.
"Incompetent Unaccountable Mismanagement of the Constellation Frigate" by Sub Brief
"Hiding in the sun, launching mini satellites and radar absorbent materials are
just some of the tricks nations are using to hide their military satellites in orbit."
by Theresa Hitchens
Excerpt:
". . . Agatha looks at parameters such as the location of satellites, their maneuvers,
and how they use their communications links to find patterns of behavior that indicate
if some are not doing the same mission as the others in the constellation."
[Can you say Traffic Analysis? -- Jon Low]
---
Communication satellites orbit West to East to take advantage of the Earth's rotation
to help boost the satellite into orbit (it's the cheapest way to go), and rarely East to West
(takes way more fuel to put a satellite into this orbit, though we did when I worked at
Lockheed Martin [for comms, not killer satellites]).
Reconnaissance satellites orbit North to South because it's easier to move them over
any particular location on the surface quickly.
Navigational satellites are part of a constellation, and so orbit in various circular paths
so as to cover the entire surface in a way that allows at least 4 satellites to be visible
from any given point on the surface at any given time. Stop and think about that.
High Earth orbit means far away, so it's hard to see much and the time delay is
significant (information travels at the speed of light in a vacuum at best, often much
slower [Do you know why?]). Think MilStar. Geosynchronous satellites are far away,
so have significant delays. They are not armored. Everyone knows exactly where they
are and they never move relative to the Earth. But we all make engineering compromises.
Low Earth orbit means just outside of the atmosphere (low air friction). So they move
fast relative to the surface of the Earth. Negligible time delay.
You can see them with your hobby telescope. Lots of online charts telling you exactly
where they are.
Lots more, but you get the idea.
Intelligence failure.
"Good habits and skill beat luck every time."
-- Sheriff Jim Wilson
"The Merge"
Breaking Defense
Intrigue
The following is a open source opinion piece by Mr. Tom Holsinger, not one of
our intel reports.
From Jim Dunnigans' Strategy Page --
"Logistics: Corruption Defeats China" by Tom Holsinger
June 10, 2024: China’s 75 year-old Communist government has failed to overcome
the corruption baked into Chinese culture during the previous three thousand years of
contending states and occasional empires. Corruption only seemed to disappear during
the early and middle periods of communist rule, and instead embedded itself in the
new government institutions, notably the military services. It reappeared full-bore
after the revival of China’s economy by leader Deng Xiaoping, notably with the
“Ten Thousand Princes”, aka the openly corrupt progeny of aging communist leaders.
Chinese military corruption is so bad that China is presently incapable of invading
Taiwan. President Xi made the appalling discovery last year that China’s navy and
air force were so bereft of spare parts as to be mission incapable, and particularly so
for several months of constant combat. Plus most of the several hundred newly
constructed ICBMs and silos of its Strategic Missile Force had missile fuel tanks
filled with water rather than fuel, silo lids that couldn’t open and silo concrete not
much more protective than beach sandcastles.
It will take years to produce the aircraft and ship spare parts necessary to make
China’s existing armed forces capable of even an attempted an invasion of Taiwan,
and longer to produce the additional combat forces capable of winning (assuming
the required spare parts for those are produced). The earliest China might mount
an invasion is probably about 2026 – 2027. Even then there will be major
uncertainties about the serviceability, reliability and effectiveness of China’s military
hardware plus the operational capability of its senior officers to conduct a corps level
amphibious assault with no combat experience in any of its military services.
And the inherent Chinese culture of corruption. Military incompetence and military
corruption go hand in hand.
Worse, President Xi and China’s senior Communist Party officials know that
China’s senior military leaders lie to them and know that a failed attempt to conquer
Taiwan will result in their immediate loss of power with some risk that the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP) itself might lose power. China’s aspirations of great power
status will die then too.
The Chinese government’s 2023 discovery of the disastrous degree to which
corruption crippled China’s military capability may have led it to abandon its
objective of conquering Taiwan. The government is acutely aware that its imminent
disastrous demographic collapse allows it only a relatively short window of
opportunity to conquer Taiwan and achieve great power status. Abandonment of
the Taiwan conquest objective might have also entailed a more realistic assessment
of other matters, notably blockade by the US Navy.
China’s prior opinion of an American blockade was that it would last only a few
months before ending at an international peace conference following China’s short
victorious suppression of dissidents on Taiwan. Because the alternative was too
horrible to contemplate.
The Chinese government seems to have begun a public relations campaign about
its purported effort to prepare China for an American blockade lasting several years.
The timing of this is odd as it comes 6-9 months after the 2023 discovery of China’s
military inability to even attempt to invade Taiwan. Perhaps the PR campaign is an
attempt to cover up the latter by providing an alternate explanation for further delay.
Or it might be to educate the Communist Party and Chinese people about the fatal
consequences of an American naval blockade before calling off the Taiwan invasion.
A blockade of China by the US Navy lasting several years would be fatal for the
CCP and China’s unity as a country. China’s Ponzi-scheme economy exists primarily
to create full employment to keep the CCP in power. 40-50 percent of China’s GDP
and employment is based on exports, 40 percent of its fuel and 35 percent of its food
is imported, and 99 percent of all that goes by sea because the capacity of Russia’s
Trans-Siberian Railroad is so limited – equivalent to ten or less super-tankers or
mega-cargo ships.
China’s most critical problems in the event of a US blockade will be unemployment,
food and potash, especially the latter as it is an absolutely critical fertilizer with China
lacking most of what it needs. The Russians can produce and deliver all the potash
China needs by the Trans-Siberian Railroad provided the two governments are on good
terms. If the Russians don’t send China any potash, there will be mass starvation after
about a year.
China will have a direct conflict between fuel needs and keeping employment up.
If they accept 40-50 percent unemployment, they’ll have enough fuel because fuel
needs will go down that much due to idle factories, mines and construction. But they
won’t have the fuel to shift production of export goods to other products, even useless
ones, to keep almost half their labor force employed.
So a US blockade means the Chinese Communist Party will suffer its most feared
calamity – mass unemployment for the duration of the blockade. The CCP has acted
as though that would be a regime-ending event, and we’ll find out if they’re right.
China’s loss of the imported 35 percent of its food supply will not be immediately
calamitous as most of that is used to improve their peoples’ diets, not to keep them
alive. But loss of their entire meat supply, especially their treasured pork, will make
them very unhappy. It’s also possible that there won’t be enough fuel to supply the
wholly extravagant amounts of fertilizer China uses to increase food production to
the maximum.
The CCP appears to concede that a US blockade would be effective. The US Navy
could conduct it from several thousand miles away if it wished, far out of range of
even intermediate range ballistic missiles. China’s navy and air force just don’t have
the range to project power that far, and its navy couldn’t survive American submarines
if they try.
China’s new Taiwan plan assumes that, after a few years of a US blockade, enough
nations suffering from loss of trade with China would successfully insist that the US
end it. This has many issues, but it assumes that the by-then POTENTIAL renewed
trade with China would be that important. Instead things would have changed
enormously during the blockade.
First, the mere start of a Chinese attack on Taiwan would bring on an immediate
worldwide depression from two different causes, loss of all trade with China, and
destruction of Taiwan’s high-tech industry. Taiwan plans to destroy the latter when
China invades. China buys most of the world’s fungible raw materials – iron, copper,
aluminum, coal, oil, soybeans, etc. The economy of every country dependent on
selling things to China, and every country dependent on raw materials and goods
from China, will immediately crater. The economy of every country dependent on
Taiwan for advanced computer chips, notably CPU’s, will dive.
The two together will be the world’s worst economic disaster since the
Great Depression.
The world will quickly start adjusting to the loss of trade with China and Taiwan.
Recovery from loss of Taiwan’s high tech industry will take the longest, about five
years, due to the very long lead-time required to build such complicated and expensive
chip fabrication plants. India, Indonesia and Vietnam will quickly increase production
of low-end consumer products. US and Mexico-based 3D manufacturing will be
obviously revolutionizing trade after about two years, even if production is only then
starting to ramp up. Things will be looking up two years after the Chinese-caused
Depression starts, and noticeably improving after three years.
But by then things will be looking pretty bad in China. Its factories and infrastructure
will be significantly run down after 2-3 years of lack of maintenance and general
disinvestment, as will the shipping formerly carrying Chinese imports and exports.
China’s hard currency stocks will be depleted by several years of drawdowns to feed,
clothe and house the unemployed 40% of its population. Plus the Chinese people
will be incredibly upset and unruly, assuming that the CCP still exists. China’s central
coastal area will have broken off by then just to survive as they need fuel and food
which can only come by sea. And everyone, including Chinese, will know that their
suffering and monetary losses of the past few years were caused by the Chinese
Communist Party.
After several years of blockade, the least which can be said about China is that
it will be unattractive for foreign investment and have difficulty in obtaining the
foreign lines of credit to restart necessary raw materials imports. Because those
will be necessary to restart production of exports. Overseas supply chains take
years to form. Overseas supply chains with unreliable customers take longer.
If the CCP survives that long, it will almost certainly control only the North China Plain
while China’s major export-producing areas are concentrated on its central coast.
So several years of a US blockade will effectively end China as we know it,
end the CCP, and end China’s attempt to achieve great power status. China lacks the
means to survive a long war with the US and its leaders are dreaming if they think
they can. If they’re not dreaming, their recently announced plans to survive a blockade
are really PR for educating the Party and masses that an invasion of Taiwan is not
feasible. If they are dreaming and attack Taiwan, the world will suffer another
Great Depression while the Chinese Communist Party will be destroyed and
replaced by several successor states.
--Tom Holsinger
What's wrong with this picture?
"Retired Navy Admiral and Business Executives Arrested for Bribery Scheme"
"Company A" is Next Jump.
Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger,
Admiral Robert Burke,
Do you understand what's going on? Trump is correct when he says, it's not just him,
they will come after you too.
They may kill you by shooting you in the head as Bryan Malinowski.
They may take your money. They may imprison you. It's the Democrat way.
(Branch Dividians in Waco, TX; Vicki and Samuel Weaver in Ruby Ridge, ID;
Bryan Malinowski in Little Rock, AR; etc. all under Democrat administrations)
Remember, it's also the American way to shoot back, and has been ever since the American
Revolutionary War. Ya, you may be killed or be imprisoned or be impoverished. But, that's
what you signed up for when you swore the oath to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution
against all enemies foreign and DOMESTIC.
It's not just in the U.S. Consider Oleg Tinkov.
“If you’re outside the national security community, especially the security part
of the national security community, and if you’re outside of the defense-industrial base,
do you know who we are? I don’t think so. And that’s a real shame because taxpayers
are paying $2.8 billion for it this fiscal year. I take this very seriously. You’re paying
15,000 people to do the work.”
— David Cattler, Director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA),
raising awareness of what DCSA is and what it does—protecting the nation’s industrial base
[How many spies have you found and killed recently? -- Jon Low]
"Marine Wargaming Center, Allowing High-Tech Prep for War, Unveiled at Quantico"
by Drew F. Lawrence
Excerpt:
". . . Marine Corps is five years into an ambitious reorganization plan called Force Design . . ."
[Eliminate all tanks, eliminate all Scout Snipers (the school is gone), drastically reduce
artillery (my beloved Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment,
Fourth Marine Division, Marine Corps Forces Reserve is gone), drastically
reduce helicopters (my beloved MAG-49, Willow Grove Naval Air Station is gone),
my beloved 1st Radio Battalion, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Fleet Marine
Force Pacific, Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station is gone (1st MEB was disbanded
and then 1st Rag Bag got moved to California)
-- Jon Low]
We don't need this anymore, because THE MARINE CORPS HAS NO TANKS !
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** After Thoughts ***** ***** *****
Photo-molecular effect. Analogous to photo-electric effect.
"New MIT Discovery Just Solved one of Physics BIGGEST Mysteries!"
by Two Bit da Vinci
Calcium crystals are birefringent.
"Twist beam by 90%" should be "rotate polarization by 90 degrees".
Cited MIT News article,
Cited MIT News article,
Primary source,
"Plausible photomolecular effect leading to water evaporation exceeding the thermal limit"
by Yaodong Tu, Jiawei Zhou, Shaoting Lin, Mohammed Alshrah, Xuanhe Zhao, and Gang Chen
"Is there a massive change in whether both blacks and whites believe
Republicans or Democrats have done the most for blacks?"
by John Lott
"The Rate that Police Officers are Murdered with their Own Weapon"
by John Lott
In case you don't understand gender equality.
In case you don't understand how your tax dollars are spent.
In case you don't understand the 45,000 person shortfall in U.S. military recruiting.
In case you're wondering why Africans are poor.
In case you don't understand the importance of travel and exploration.
Some people vote to defund the police. Some people take direct action.
In case you don't understand American politics.
"Trump Gets $200M Windfall of Cash After Verdict;
Secret Service Issues Statement"
by Roman Balmakov
In case you don't understand the American two tiered justice system.
It's not strength. It's balance.
In case you don't understand Hawaii.
In case you don't understand the ATF.
The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
Capitalism triumphs over political correctness.
In case you don't understand the U.S. Department of Defense.
Trumps campaign promises (recited by a woke Democrat in order to demonstrate
why Trump is bad).
Do you see why this works for both parties?
In case you don't understand "climate change" which used to be "global warming"
which used to be "global cooling" which used to be . . .
"Only alarmism is published." -- Prof. William Happer, Physics Department,
Princeton University
WORD!
This is supposed to be parody and sarcasm.
"Ilhan Omar Calls For Day Of Mourning Over Hostages Rescued"
by the BabylonBee.com
C-40 Consortium
TRUTH!
Gloria Alvarez
Did you ever notice how conservative capitalists are smoking hot?
An 8 year old with a 1650 rating.
A 10 year old with a 1836 rating.
At the elementary school (K to 5th grade) that I guard, they have a chess club
(heavily populated by Kindergarteners). I didn't play at the club level until
high school.
"Colleges Are Closing At An ALARMING Rate" by Brett Cooper
"In shocking litmus test,
FBI security inquiry tried to unmask employee’s Trump support,
memos show" by John Solomon
Yup, pulling security clearances is how bureaucrats fuck with worker bees.
Yup, that's redacted.
Only in South Carolina.
Capitalism is moral.
In case you don't understand women who voted for Biden.
In case you don't understand public schools.
In case you don't understand Brandon.
It's science.
Language is powerful.
Every heard of the YouTube.com algorithm? It is trainable. Choose the correct
videos and you can bring one account into synch with another account. Remember
what Gunny Wheeler (Cryptologic Communications School, Naval Technical
Training Center, Cory Station, Pensacola, Florida) said? If you synchronize systems,
you can make a cyrptosystem.
“You can’t truly call yourself ‘peaceful’
unless you are capable of great violence.
If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful,
you’re harmless. Important distinction.”
-- Stef Starkgaryen
"NENA - Amour Candide [2024] (Offizielles Musikvideo)"
"The former president, Donald Trump, handpicked three members of the
United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the
protections of Roe v. Wade. ... I mean, look at the Dred Scott decision.
This is not the first time that we know the Court can make decisions that violate
the civil rights of the people." —Kamala Harris
("In 1857's Scott v. Sanford case, the Supreme Court ruled that one group of
human beings were the legal property of a preferred group of human beings. ...
In 1973's Roe v. Wade case, the Supreme Court ruled that one group of human
beings were the legal property of a preferred group of human beings." —Peter Heck)
"Thinking is the hardest thing a person can do.
That's why so few people do it." -- Henry Ford
Semper Fidelis,
Jonathan D. Low
Email: Jon_Low@yahoo.com
Radio: KI4SDN
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