Greetings Sheepdogs,
"A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined,
but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain
a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them,
which would include their own government."
--George Washington
Table of Contents:
Prevention
Mindset
Situational Awareness
Safety
Training
Practice
Intervention
Strategy
Tactics
Techniques
Postvention
Aftermath
Medical
Survival
Education
Legal
Instruction
Gear
*************************************************************************
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Prevention ***** ***** *****
Things you can do to avoid the lethal force incident.
Table of sections:
Mindset
Safety
Training
Practice
*************************************************************************
----- Mindset -----
Figuring out the correct way to think.
"Survival is a mindset, not a skill set."
-- Greg Shaffer
‷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
"Adversarial Mindset: Understand Criminals and Their Motivations
Former law enforcement officer, John Hearne, shares invaluable insights
into the minds and motivations behind criminals."
by John Hearne
“Willingness is a state of mind. Readiness is a statement of fact!”
-- Lt. Gen. David M Shoup, USMC Commandant 1960-1963
"Right Now, Someone Somewhere in the World is Training to Kill You"
by Paul Markel
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Excerpt:
"If you’re trained and carry a gun, you need to make the mental commitment to
never allow cowards to disarm you. I should not need to tell you that plastic signs
and policy statements do not stop killers. Israel paid a horrific price on October 7th of 2023
for their restrictive gun laws. Disarmed citizens and “gun-free” zones are killing
fields for monsters."
"When people tell you that you must be disarmed for “safety” what they’re saying
is “we don’t care if you are killed or maimed, what we care about is virtue signaling.”
If cowards attempt to force you into being disarmed, make the choice not to go there."
"Your gunfights will always be anomalies.
So are those of all the instructors you venerate.
It’s useful to keep those facts in mind."
-- Greg Ellifritz
Deep truth.
‟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
From an email from Tim Larkin --
Ever seen someone get stabbed? It's not pretty. Blood everywhere. Screaming. Chaos.
Most people freeze. They think, "How do I stop this?"
Wrong question . . . The right question? "How do I shut him down before he can hurt me?"
Big difference.
Here's the truth . . . You can't prevent violence once it starts.
You can only do violence better than the other guy. Scary thought right?
But here's the good news . . .
You can prevent violence before it starts.
How?
1. Don't be there. Best defense? Good legs. Run. Seriously. No shame in it.
See a sketchy situation? Walk away. Hear raised voices? Go the other way.
Your ego isn't worth your life.
2. Be nice. Defuse. De-escalate. Give up that parking space. Let the jerk have
the last word. Swallow your pride. It tastes better than blood. Remember . . . kind
words cost nothing. Hospital bills? They're steep.
3. If shit hits the fan? Be ready to act. Hard. No half measures. No fancy moves.
Just pure, brutal efficiency. Eyes, throat, legs. Shut them down. Fast.
It's you or them . . . choose you.
Most people get this wrong. They try to look tough. Big mistake.
That scares away normal folks. But it attracts the real monsters.
Want to stay safe?
Focus on what happens before violence.
Use your words. Walk away. Run if you have to.
But if things go south? Be ready. Not to block. Not to counter.
But to end it. Quick and dirty. It's ugly. But it works.
Remember . . .
Violence doesn't prevent violence.
It only stops the other guy from hurting you.
Stay safe,
Tim Larkin
"An Important Lesson About Intent" by Docent
Cited article,
Related article,
"Ayoob on Amber Guyger" by Docent
Cited articles,
---
NEVER say anything to the responding officers, investigating officers, or prosecutors.
Let your attorney deliver your written statement saying that you were attempting "to stop
the attack". Killing the bad guy never entered your mind. You weren't trying to kill
anybody. You were just trying to "stop the attack". Intent matters!
If you're so stupid that you say that you intended to kill the bad guy, you will end up
convicted, imprisoned, and denied parole. Be smart, keep your mouth shut.
If you're on the witness stand testifying under oath, your statement should be " I shot
him to stop his attack." There is no other reason to shoot. There is no other desired
outcome. There is no other intent. Guyger's attorneys did not explain this to Guyger.
So she ran her mouth about intending to kill Jean and got convicted, imprisoned, and
denied parole.
There are lots of incompetent attorneys. When the John A. Burns (former governor
of Hawaii) School of Law opened at the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii State Bar
Association understood that it would be an extreme embarrassment to the University
and the Democrat government administration for just about all of the Law School
graduates to fail the Bar exam. So, they all passed. My father, who has a single digit
bar association membership number, was outraged, because it flooded the small
(no competition) legal community with incompetent attorneys (lots of competition).
As my sister, another attorney, would say, they never practiced law, they just cut deals
in back rooms (country club golf course, country club dinning room).
---
In the United States, it is extremely difficult to convict a suspect. The charged crime
must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. An extremely high standard. The only time
a prosecutor will take a case to trial is when the prosecutor is certain of winning a
conviction. (That's why prosecutors have near 100% conviction rates.) How can they
be certain? Usually, it's the defendant's statements. Without those statements, it's very
difficult to convict. Prosecutor won't even attempt it, because they love their high
conviction rates. If you keep your mouth shut and refuse a plea deal, there is a very
good chance the charges will eventually be dropped. After all, you're the good guy, and
you have effectively unlimited financial resources (because you have a decent self-defense
insurance policy), and you haven't made any mistakes (you've kept your mouth shut,
especially while in jail). You don't have to be rich. You don't have to be sophisticated.
You just need to keep your mouth shut and have a good self-defense insurance policy.
‟Fear is an instinct. Courage is a choice.”
-- Rear Admiral Joseph Kernan, U.S. Navy
***** Situational Awareness *****
How to avoid being taken by surprise.
“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
“40% of homicides go unsolved. It’s not a good record.
95% of ‘convictions’ come from plea bargaining, which is often coerced.
It’s as if we have the worst of both worlds:
We don’t convict the guilty enough, and we coerce the innocent too much!”
-- Bill Maher
"Sudden Attacks!" by John Farnam
“Through readiness and discipline, we are the masters of our fate.”
-- Bill Paxton
[The latest stats from Chicago that I saw (open source) indicate that 50% of
homicides are unsolved after one year. To the best of my knowledge all big cities
run at about this rate. Of course, many jurisdictions in the U.S. don't report their
stats. -- Jon Low]
"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)
*************************************************************************
----- Safety -----
How to prevent the bad thing from happening in the first place.
How to avoid shooting yourself, friendlies, and innocent bystanders.
How to prevent unauthorized persons from using your guns.
Jeff Cooper′s Rules of Gun Safety
RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED.
RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING
THAT 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.
---
Safety RULE V: Maintain control of your gun. -- Stephen P. Wenger
"Safe Firearm Storage Tips" by Lockton Affinity
"It's easier to stay out of trouble than to get out of trouble."
-- Claude Werner
"The Most Common Types of Negligent Discharge" by Paul Harrell
Advice from Steve Cooper.
"Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts"
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.
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)
"Commonly used terms and acronyms in defensive shooting training." by Tom Givens
Note that "Double Action" means Double Action on the first shot from the holster
and Single Action on subsequent shots. Sometimes referred to as DA/SA. Which means
you have to train to 2 different trigger presses. Which is a bad idea. You want every
trigger press to be exactly the same.
“Training deals not with an object,
but with the human spirit and human emotions.”
--Bruce Lee
"The Secret to Mastering the Handgun (complete video)" by Silverado Shooting Academy
Reactive interference.
1. Learn the physical skills without reactive interference.
(dry fire, air guns, lasers, etc; no report, no recoil)
2. Learn the mental skills to overcome reactive interference with firearms.
(Controlling the trigger without bracing. Meditation with a loaded gun.)
---
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always
possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Richard Henry Lee
Signer, Declaration of Independence
---
The second part of the video at 18:54 is well worth watching.
It's all about teaching teenage girls.
---
"A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined,
but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain
a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them,
which would include their own government."
--George Washington
---
"No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
-- Thomas Jefferson
---
"The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword;
because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force
superior to any bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense,
raised in the United States."
-- Noah Webster
---
"We should not forget that the spark which ignited the American Revolution
was caused by the British attempt to confiscate the firearms of the colonists."
-- Patrick Henry
---
Notice the pistols that are used in the video?
Silverado Shooting Academy
“Train, Practice, Compete
are the key elements in the development of humans.”
-- John M. Buol, Jr.
"After action review of red dot transition and instructor courses." by Paul Howe
Wow, notice all the problems with the red dots?
Six months and 3000 rounds to transition from iron sights to red dots.
Must have ability to clean the optic sight.
Suppressor height sights to allow co-witnessing with the red dot.
Use one brightness setting. [I disagree. Differences in environmental lighting demand
changing the brightness of the reticle. -- Jon Low]
“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
"How to Build Your Self-Defense & CCW Skills"
by Jeff Gonzales
"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
“ Target Shooting vs. ‘Combat’ ” by Rich Grassi
"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
"Trained Vs. Untrained
Skill improvement doesn't happen in a vacuum."
by Steve Tarani
Excerpts:
"One of the most significant benefits of consistent firearms training is an enhanced
focus on safety."
"Training conditions shooters to remain calm and composed under pressure."
"Training enhances a shooter’s ability to solve complex problems in dynamic
situations."
"Regular training cultivates a disciplined mindset that extends beyond
the shooting range."
"Untrained shooters may overestimate their abilities, believing that owning a firearm
is enough to protect themselves or others. This false sense of confidence can lead to
reckless behavior, poor decision-making and avoidable negligence. Untrained shooters
are often unprepared for the realities of a defensive encounter. They may struggle to
operate their firearm effectively under stress, make critical mistakes or fail to follow
requisite legal and ethical guidelines."
"The commitment to ongoing skill development is what separates the proficient
shooter from the novice. In the end, training is not an option—it is a necessity and
ultimately the path to mastery."
"Train and practice so that you can stay in your rational mind,
and force your enemy into his emotional mind. The emotional
mind makes bad judgments which will allow you to win."
-- John Hearne
"Economical Shooting
Effective practice doesn't always require a trip to the range."
by Sheriff Jim Wilson
Excerpts:
"It is not a good idea to get into the habit of shooting every time you get on target."
". . . don’t try to shoot as many rounds as possible, try to shoot a few rounds correctly."
“A "Surplus of Skill" . . . . Really?” by Jim Shanahan (Advanced Performance Shooting)
---
Remember what Dustin Salomon says (I paraphrase), you need 24 to 48 hours
away from the material and REM sleep to move the skill from short term memory
into long term declarative memory (the stuff you can only consciously recall on demand).
You then need thousands of repetitions to move the skill from declarative memory
into procedural memory (the stuff that you execute subconsciously, automatically).
---
"Over learned", "Surplus of Skill", etc. Lots of terms of art in the industry.
Be careful. Know what you're talking about. Ask the instructor what he means.
Can he explain? Or, does he give you a word salad?
“If you are reading this and can’t put your hand on your defensive firearm,
all of your training is wasted.” -- Col. Jeff Cooper
"Don't be 'that guy.'
Don't get remembered for all the wrong reasons"
by Ken P. Campbell
Excerpt:
"Never try to teach a family member or spouse to drive a stick shift,
paddle a canoe, or shoot. Further, men should never try to purchase their
lady’s gun purse, holster, or firearm without them present. Find a suitable
trainer and let them do it. Trust me on this . . . "
"Shot Placement: Simple But Realistic Targeting" by Dave Spaulding
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
As I was driving to the Guardian Conference (September 19th, 2024 at about 14:00)
on I-40 by the 178 mile marker. A red exotic sports car whizzes by me. (I don't know
cars, but the entire sports car was below the bottom of my driver side window on my
1985 Volvo 4-door sedan. So it had a very low profile.) A few seconds later a Highway
Patrol SUV whizzes by with lights and sirens on. I'm sure the driver of the sports car
thought he knew how to drive the sports car. And maybe he did, but not in extreme
conditions at high speed.
A few minutes later I passed the scene of the "stop". The State Troopers were putting
away the spike strips. The fire department was hosing down the wreckage.
Upon hitting the spikes, which probably blew out his tires, the driver of the sports
car lost control and ended up off the road to the right in a fiery crumpled wreck.
If you're going to speed in a high performance car and survive spikes blowing out
your tires, you've got to have taken the training and practiced. Otherwise, you're dead.
Similarly for self-defense. Shooting tight groups on the range, ain't the same as
fighting for your life to make space and time to get to your pistol. Or, fighting to take
the other guy's pistol. Or, gouging his eyes and hanging on to his skull to crack his
skull on the ground. As Tim Larkin says, the ground is the best impact weapon and it
is always available. [and gravity is always helping you -- Jon Low]
[Gouging the enemy's eye and immediately pulling your fingers out of his eye sockets
is sub-optimal. Rather, you should gouge deep through his eyes into his brain and grab
hold of his skull from the inside. (Ya, his bones might cut your fingers, but so what?
Remember the context.) Control his head and his body will follow. This is a much
better grip than grabbing his hair, which might not be there. -- Jon Low]
------------------------------ Classes and Conferences --------------------------------
Rangemaster Certified Instructors
Map of Rangemaster Certified Instructors
Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Course - NAEMT Certified
$495.00
"Evidence Based Pistol" $500.00
March 15 and 16, 2025 A.D.
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Cohutta Pines
367 Old Highway 2
Cisco, GA 30708
If you have any questions, contact Support@ActiveSelfProtection.com
---
Active Self Protection
---
Bullets & Bibles Conference (I will be attending this conference in 2025.)
(The registration should be at this web site after the first of the new year.)
Friday, September ?, 2025 – Sunday, September ?, 2025
(Probably the last weekend in September.)
Living Water Ranch, north of Manhattan, KS
For more information about lodging on site or
if you have any questions regarding the event,
contact our Bullets & Bibles Conference Coordinator,
Vonda Copeland
director@fhftc.org
or call 785-293-2449.
"Law of Self Defense" class by Andrew Branca, $149
Live Online Course
Saturday, October 19, 2024
9AM - 4PM Mountain time
"Crime & Criminals: Risks & Mitigations 2024" by John Hearne
Monday, December 30, 2024
7 - 9pm CST
Location: Online
Other classes by John Hearne,
Paladin Training, Inc.
Training schedule --
Course descriptions --
FPF Training
Defensive Training International
Rangemaster
Trident Concepts
Mead Hall Range & Tactics
Apache Solutions
Harris Combative Strategies
Carry Trainer
Several persons have told me that the S12 course is great.
$2495 (includes room & board), by board, they mean they bring in
chefs to cook for you. I hear it's really nice. Lots of high end training
in Nashville, TN.
"The Disneyworld of Shooting Sports!!!! | Prairie Fire" by KICK-EEZ
Nice to see what Prairie Fire is doing with the old Front Sight range facility.
Cheaper to stay in Pahrump than Las Vegas. Only 4 miles from Pahrump.
Prostitution is legal in Pahrump, not in Las Vegas. [Just like prostitution is
legal in Sparks, but not in Reno. Notice the big gun distributors are in Sparks,
not Reno. Ya, I used to buy from them when I had an FFL.]
Looks like they are trying to be like the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in
Phoenix, Arizona. I often shot there when I lived in Mesa, worked in Scottsdale,
and drilled in Phoenix.
‟Training is NOT an event, but a process.
Training is the preparation FOR practice.”
-- Claude Werner
*************************************************************************
Tom Givens says Springfield Armory XD magazine springs are junk,
replace with Wolff springs.
The above photos show malfunctions with a Springfield Armory XD in 45 ACP, 4" barrel.
I asked Tom Givens for help. Tom said the SA magazine springs are junk and to replace them
with Wolff spring. Now the pistol works reliably.
Old SA spring on left of photo. New Wolff spring on right of photo. So, why did the magazines work flawlessly in an XD Tactical 5" barrel and fail completely
in an XD 4" barrel? The longer barrel has a longer slide, which is more massive, and has a
single 18.5 pound spring. The shorter barrel has a shorter slide, which is less massive, and has
a much stiffer double spring (one spring wound clockwise around another spring wound
counterclockwise). So the shorter barreled pistol cycles much faster. So, the weak magazine
springs could not push the cartridge up into the correct position for chambering the round
before the slide started pushing the cartridge forward. Therefore, instead of going into the
chamber, the cartridge dove down into the front of the magazine body. Or, the cartridge was
coming up into position in the magazine when the leading edge of the slide caught the side
of the shell casing (instead of the rear of the shell casing).
*************************************************************************
----- 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
Dry practice should be fun and exciting. You should be anxious to get home to do
your dry practice.
If not, you're WRONG! Stop! Ask for help.
Your dry practice should have lots of decision making in it, not just rote repetitions
of movements or behaviors.
My last dry practice session --
After stringing my pistol (running bright colored paracord through the barrel and
down the magazine well, and then tying the ends into a knot), I planned to start at
my front door and clear my bedroom.
How do I determine if there are any friendlies in the apartment? (Shooting the
female friend would require moving and disposing of her body.)
Do I hit the light switch to turn the lights on? Do I remove my shoes to move
more quietly over the floor? Do I deploy my flashlight (which would occupy one
hand) or do I proceed with the ambient light (which would allow a two handed grip
on my pistol)?
Do I look behind the Lazy-Boy-Recliner? Do I clear the kitchen? or bypass it?
Do I clear the outside balcony, or bypass it? Do I look under the living room table
(there is a poncho liner acting as a table cloth over the table)? [When Charles Manson
was found, he was hiding in a cabinet under the kitchen sink. So assuming that there
is no one hiding there must be balanced against the need to reach your destination.
You will rarely have all the time in the world. You wouldn't be in this situation in
the first place unless you heard glass breaking in the middle of the night and your
daughter screaming from her bedroom down the hall.]
Upon reaching the bedroom door, do I slice the pie (to know what's in the room)?
or do I charge in (so as not to give the bad guy time to react)?
Once in the bed room, which wall do I get my back against? Do I scan the room
or do I immediately go for cover behind the bed?
Were you planning as you were moving? Or, did you have your plan before you
started moving? How much time did that take / waste? Was it worth it?
If you find your daughter with her throat slit and bleeding out and the bad guy
grinning at you with a knife in his hand, what do you do? Do you look around for
the other bad guys in the room? Do you shoot the bad guy and immediately stop
your daughter's bleeding? Do you know how to stop the arterial bleeding?
Are you capable of making the hostage rescue shot? Are you confident enough to
actually take the shot? (Or, are you afraid to take the shot because you might hit
your daughter?) Bet you wish you had taken that Tactical Emergency Casualty
Care Course. If you take your hands off of your daughter to make the 911 call,
will she bleed to death? Can you make the call with your hands covered in blood?
You always want your first time to be in training, not in combat. You've never
done these things in training? Well, that's a problem, don't you think?
Creating such dry practice is well within your ability. You have a marvelous
imagination. Try it.
"A man who cannot think of seven ways to spell a word has no imagination."
-- Thomas Jefferson
"People rust faster than equipment."
-- John Hearne
"Skills Check: A Hot Time
Failing to plan is planning to fail."
by Tatiana Whitlock
---
Talking is a high order intellectual activity.
For most people, shooting while talking is impossible. That's why disarming
techniques and hostage rescue techniques teach to engage the bad guy in conversation,
ask a question, and when the bad guy starts to answer the question, STRIKE!
Singing a memorized song is not as mentally taxing as an interactive conversation.
If you memorized the song in childhood, it is much less taxing. Remember SERE
school?
‶Practice is the small deposits you make over time,
so that in an emergency, you can make that big withdrawal.″
-- Chesley Burnett Sullenberger, III
‟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
"You’re Going To Be In A Gunfight Tomorrow!"
by Mike Seeklander
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
*************************************************************************
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Intervention ***** ***** *****
Suggestions on how to deal with the incident that you failed to avoid.
Awareness, Avoidance, De-Escalation, Escape
From an email from Gabe Suarez --
AVOIDANCE AND DE-ESCALATION
This is the new phrase in not only police but CCW circles. Not a bad policy,
seeking to avoid and de-escalate, but like many concepts and ideas, it is never an
always thing. Sadly for many trainers, both in and out of uniform, it becomes
something they teach as an "always" to extremes. That perspective gives rise to
the ineffective and the fear-driven gunman. And by the way, I am going to use
the term gunman collectively to include gun men and gun women, uniformed
and civilian gun people because in reality there is no distinction the moments
before a potential confrontation.
A&D begins with what the adversary perceives about you. Few people are going
to want to pick a fight with a Brock Lesnar type, but size is not the only factor.
How you dress, you apparent level of physical fitness, and that ever elusive command
presence is also a factor. I laugh when I see an overweight dude with the grooming of
a homeless person talking about de-escalation on Youtube.com. I want to scream at the screen,
"Put down the doughnuts, get to the gym, and shave that stupid beard and you will look
tougher." If you are deselected because you look like a dangerous opponent, you are in
effect de-escalating in a very passive manner. Bruce Lee would say de-escalating without
de-escalating.
A&D is facilitated by not being an emotional asshole. It used to be that self control
was a thing men had. Not so much it seems these days. It is difficult to make wise
tactical decisions when you are emotional. The entire "emotion movement" for men is
bullshit. Stay cool. As Kipling wrote - "If you can keep your head when all about you
are losing theirs and blaming it on you" . . .
That was common at one time. Now it seems to be a super power. But it is a super
power anyone can develop. How do you do it? Practice! Everyday there are little
frustrations that in a bygone age would have us splitting skulls with our axes. Recognize
the beginning of anger and frustration and then choose a different option. Like anything
else, the more you do it, the better you get at doing that.
The result is that under duress your decisions will be analytical and not emotional.
A&D is simplified by having confidence in your abilities. Now that doesn't mean
false confidence. Perhaps a better phrase is self knowledge. This is the stuff Sun Tsu
wrote about when he termed it "Know yourself". For example, I know a little bit of
ground fighting. I am not good at it because I came to that aspect of the fight later in
life. I know enough to avoid going to the ground and how to get back up, and failing
that, how to get my weapons in play. I don't train it all the time, and I am very careful
when I do. In my mid sixties I am not going to get hurt by being "dojo foolish".
I know myself.
I have no illusions about rolling with Royce Gracie, but I know that should
someone attempt to take me to the ground on the street, I am going to do my
utmost to kill them. I will sacrifice a broken bone for a burst of 9mm under their
chin, into their asshole, or under their arm. If you know yourself, you know where
the limit line is and the closer you get to it the closer you get to deadly force.
Easy choices make for easy decisions.
A&D is made clear when the limits of your desire to avoid are understood.
It is not an incessant back pedal and humbling of yourself to avoid a fight.
There is a point that must be understood, that when it is reached you shift from
desiring to avoid to attack mode. What is that line for you? Will you fight someone
for honor? Don't say you won't because sometimes that is important. A drunk calling
me a name across a bar is not a call to break his nose or knock him out. But that same
drunk disrespectfully grabbing your wife's ass, most certainly is.
I recently videoed [a] traffic stop, noting that it was a good way to answer the door.
Some people noted they never answer the door. That is fear driven thinking. I do
answer because I want the caller, if he is an unwanted visitor to know full well what
is inside, rather than choose a time when someone weaker is there. Project strength
and exude danger, rather than project caution and exude fear.
A&D is easier from a position of strength than from one of fear. That doesn't come
from skirting around life like a coyote. It comes from what came before this in the post.
If you develop those traits, you do not need to be fear driven, overly emotional, nor
exhibit false posturing. You have a mission to accomplish, and know where the limit
line is. And you have the ability and confidence to escalate when the limit line is
reached as well as the wisdom to justify it to the listener.
Easy peasy.
-- Gabe Suarez
Table of sections:
Strategy
Tactics
Techniques
*************************************************************************
*************************************************************************
----- Strategy -----
Deciding on the end state and how to achieve it,
which tactics to use, which includes walking away.
“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.)
"Have your affairs in order."
-- John Hearne
“How do you win a gunfight?
Don't be there.”
-- John Farnam
"Having a gun is important. But knowing WHEN to use it is even more important."
-- Greg Ellifritz
"You win gunfights by not getting shot."
-- John Holschen
*************************************************************************
----- Tactics -----
Maneuver and fire in support of your strategy.
"Real fights are short."
-- Bruce Lee
WHY STUDENTS SHOULD LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVEMENT
by Steve Moses
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
"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
---
". . . if the assailant has a gun, it may actually be the easiest gun for you to access,
if you know how to take it from him."
-- Stephen P. Wenger
---
When was last time you practiced your in-holster weapon retention skills?
“Fortuitous outcomes reinforce poor tactics.”
-- Chuck Haggard
"You often don't know where the bad guy is who is shooting at you."
-- Phillip Groff
So taking cover is a good idea.
"Immobile!" by John Farnam
“Caution comes too late when we are in the midst of evils.”
-- Walter Scott
“When you’re in the dark, stay in the dark;
when you’re in the light, light up the dark.”
-- Stephen P. Wenger
"The shorter the fight, the less hurt you get."
-- John Holschen
*************************************************************************
----- Techniques -----
Ways to execute a given task in support of your tactics,
especially when disabled or under stress.
"Use only that which works,
and take it from any place you can find it."
-- Bruce Lee
"Recoil Control Secrets" by CarryTrainer (Mickey Schuch)
CarryTrainer
"The foundations of your grip are established
before you even draw the pistol from the holster."
-- Tanner Denton
"Shooting One-Handed: Critical Skills You Need To Know
While it may feel awkward, being able to shoot one-handed is a necessary skill."
by Richard Nance
Excerpt:
"The closer your gun is worn to your centerline,
the easier it will be to draw with your non-dominant hand."
[I disagree. Try it. Can you reach behind your back to reach your appendix carry?
Can you reach around your front to reach your small of the back or behind the hip
carry?
-- Jon Low]
What is a locked wrist? How does one lock his wrist? The wrist is a universal joint.
It doesn't lock. It should never lock.
"Grip first, then press."
-- Mike Seeklander
"ADAPTIVE DEFENSIVE PISTOL SHOOTING SKILLS" by Steve Moses
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Shooting from a close contact position.
"Drop It! What’s in YOUR Gun Hand?" by Hock Hochheim
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Excerpt:
"Always use your off-hand to run the cell phone."
"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.
"How To Choose A Self-Defense Attorney" by Alex Ooley
“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
"Self-Defense and the Law: Common Mistakes that Make a Good Shoot Look Bad"
by Massad Ayoob
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
In the right hand column of this web page, click on "Never Talk To The Police"
or use the address,
This is what happens when you don't have insurance.
“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
"This Church Member Stopped an Active Shooter" by U.S. Law Shield
Ya, it's an advertisement. But it's also informative.
In the right hand column, click on the link labeled "Self Defense Insurance".
Or, the 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
*************************************************************************
----- Medical -----
Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Course - NAEMT Certified
$495.00
Drink enough water based beverages to generate large volumes of clear urine.
Soda pop is not water based, it is sugar based (by mass). Soda pop is the primary
cause of childhood obesity. My nutritionist at WIC (Women Infants and Children)
told me so. Never drink soda pop. Never allow your children to drink soda pop.
Never drink alcohol. Alcohol is toxic to all biologics. The user (for he is a
drug user) gets high because the alcohol is killing brain cells. Similarly for every
other drug.
Never use nicotine. Look up nicotine in the dictionary. It is a toxic alkaloid.
Intelligent persons do not use toxic drugs.
Read the labels on the food you consume. Never consume anything with
artificial sweeteners. They will disturb your body chemistry. In particular, they
will disturb your vision. You won't see things. Aircraft pilots have missed seeing
other aircraft fly by. You need your vision for combat. Never consume artificial
sweeteners.
"If you prepare for the emergency,
the emergency ceases to exist!"
-- Sherman House
*************************************************************************
----- Survival -----
"If you stay fit, you do not have to get fit.
If you stay trained, you do not have to get trained.
If you stay prepared, you do not have to get prepared."
-- Robert Margulies
Hat tip to Phil Steen.
Sumner County, Tennessee -- Radio Comms
Sumner frequencies
Emergency Alert System broadcast stations
East Tennessee
WJCW, WJXB-FM
Middle Tennessee, southwest Indiana
WSM
West Tennessee
WREC
Loop on the ground antenna
# primary, alternate, contingent, emergency (PACE) communications
Gary English 2024-09-26
# act, move, communicate
Two peop le two rooms apart. Ten people 100 miles apart.
# primary - late picking up the nephew from school Cellular call or text messaging.
Send as SMS if there is trouble afoot or you are in a crowd. Don't make Dallas airport
shooting videos.
# alternate - spouse went into the store and you stayed in the car
From here to the school across the street. Hills and trees matter. Two for $30
Higher power, some cases better antenna and sometimes a repeater.
Hills and trees still matter. Two for $4 0 and needs a clerical license
Reliable range is line-of-sight about one or two miles. Mobile unit slightly farther
range antenna mounted on car roof. GMRS repeater can extend the usable range
to 20 miles.
# contingent - internet and phones are down from the ice storm
Need to check on your mom in Murfreesboro. $160
$50
Much better antennas compared to GMRS, FRS. Much better repeaters compared
to GMRS. Amateur Radio operators with emergency radio traffic sensibilities.
Needs a Technician license for $35 and one Saturday. The No-Nonsense
Technician-Class License Study Guide (free book)
No Morse Code required
Need to check on your son in Dallas. $1000
plus antenna (I am using a 41 foot wire in a tree)
Parks on the Air (POTA)
Near Vertical Incident Skywave (NVIS) Antennas two 33 foot wires,
six foot off the ground 500 mile communications radius
Needs a General license and a couple of Saturdays.
The No-Nonsense General-Class License Study Guide
# emergency - comms are poor since that massive solar storm last month
Cell sites are down. Internet and phones hardly work. The few radio stations on the air
are playing loops of music or recorded shows you will always listen lots more than you
will send nobody is coming from Cheyenne, Wyoming because a stranger asked them to
High frequency HF/Shortwave International broadcasting news Amateur radio news
# Mutual Assistance Teams Neighborhood Watch or even simpler
Three houses on the block. Three farms on the road.
# maybe
# practice and charge your batteries
# 73 (best regards) W5WYQ Gary English
Hendersonville, TN
W5WYQ@arrl.net grid ! ! ! .
EM66QI Hendersonville / Nashville Tennessee
SCARA . Sumner County Amateur Radio Association ARES ! .
Sumner County Amateur Radio Emergency Service EC ! ! ! .
ARES Sumner County Emergency Coordinator
Invisible airwaves crackle with life
Bright antenna bristle with the energy
- The Spirit of Radio - Peart, Lee, Lifeson
"Staying Safe In Open Space Gatherings — What You Need to Know"
by Glenn Norling
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
"Survival is a mindset, not a skill set."
-- Greg Shaffer
*************************************************************************
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** 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
"FlexCCarry℠ Solutions: A Positive Guide to Off-Body Carry" by Vicki Farnam
ISBN-13 : 979-8991672405
---
FlexCCarry℠ Solutions
Active Response Training
The Tactical Professor
ConcealedCarry.com articles
Concealed Carry Corner
"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
"Can you protect your property?
Surveillance video shows a gun pointed at a Memphis woman through her
Ring camera. Leading some to ask, would the homeowner be breaking the
law if she opened fire on the suspect?"
by Fox 13
Is the life of the looter / robber / thief worth more
than the property being stolen or destroyed?
Short sighted people would answer yes.
Far sighted people would realize that the crimes will result in their grandchildren
starving, getting seriously injured, or killed. So they would answer no.
If you can't connect the cause with the effect over long periods of time,
your cognitive ability ain't too good. Sort of like not being able to connect sexual
intercourse with child birth, because the events happen 9 months apart. (Or not
being able to connect the events, because she can't remember who she had sex
with 9 month ago.) You think I'm joking. I've worked in the Family Courts as a
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in Wilson County, TN.
Statistically speaking, the criminal will cause on average $800,000 of damage
(including pain and suffering and death [oh yes, the insurance companies put a
dollar value on a person's life]) in his career. So preventing the criminal from
committing further crimes is a great community service.
The reason you haven't suffered more crime is because some vigilante group
eliminated the cause of the crime. If you think it was because of your local police,
you're wrong. Government law enforcement is grossly incompetent. Because they
are improperly trained, under educated, under paid (resulting in inferior recruits,
and inability to retain qualified personnel), and demoralized by Diversity, Equity,
and Inclusiveness policies. Nashville Police for instance has a policy of attaining
and maintaining 30% of their personnel as female (or those who identify as female).
Stupid policies have consequences. The only way to achieve their goal is to lower
standards for recruits and retention. There is no longer a physical fitness test. There
is now an agility test. You're laughing. You think I'm joking. You should be crying.
The police have no duty to serve or protect you. Several U.S. Supreme Court
rulings on this. Getting a raise, getting promoted, and keeping their job is contingent
on writing traffic tickets (which is just government extortion) and making arrests
(the vast majority of which do not result in anything, but that's okay it still counts;
it's extremely expensive to pursue a false arrest case).
"Tennessee’s “Castle Doctrine” does not protect your castle."
by John Harris
"5 Counties Go ‘Constitutional’: Join Growing Move to Protect 2nd Amendment"
by Roman Balmakov
70% of counties in the U.S. are de facto 2nd Amendment sanctuary counties.
"Law of Self Defense" class by Andrew Branca, $149
Live Online Course
Saturday, October 19, 2024
9AM - 4PM Mountain time
"Build A Reciprocity Map:" by Concealed Carry Inc.
"Rep. John DeBerry speaks with the audience at the TFALAC 2024 Annual Event"
"Concealed Carry Laws in America" by CCW Safe
"Hawaii Will Fine Gun Owners For MOVING?" by Guns & Gadgets
"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)
"Federal court case decided in Wichita could impact future regulation of machine guns"
by 12 News
"In Self Defense Podcast 124: George Alan Kelly Self-Defense Mistrial"
Never fire warning shots! It's an act of criminal stupidity.
Never talk to the police! It's an act of criminal stupidity. Let your attorney talk to the
police for you. Let your attorney deliver your statement to the police or prosecutor for
you. Keep your mouth shut and stay away from government agents.
The entire case against Kelly was based on Kelly's statements. Remain Silent!
"California Supreme Court Rules 7-0, Puts More Restrictions on Cops"
by Roman Balmakov
"Jordan Peterson on Guns and 2nd Amendment" by Tom Grieve
"Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)."
-- Jordan Peterson
"DeSantis suspends Orlando state attorney: Full Press Conference"
by FOX 13 Tampa Bay
Governor Ron DeSantis has suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell
saying she is incompetent and neglected her duty.
I wish Gov. Bill Lee had the balls to do likewise. Prosecutor Glenn Funk
needs to be removed. Funk prosecutes heroic police officers and refuses to
prosecute Black Lives Matter and Antifa rioters. (Because they are his biggest
political backers.)
"Can you really trust the advice from a Tennessee legislator on the use of deadly force?"
by John Harris
"But my state senator told me that it was legal."
You think that's going to have any standing in any court?
The senator is going to say, "I didn't say that. The legal department said that."
Do you think that you will ever be able to identify a person in the legal department
to subpoena to testify for you? Do you think that his opinion will have any legal
standing?
"SCOTUS Highlights: Oral Arguments ATF Ghost Gun Ban or Frame and Receiver Rule"
by Guns, Guns, Gear, and Guns with Geary Gunderson
Playing games with semantics. Playing games with words.
“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."
"The limited time you spend with students may be the only training they ever receive!"
-- John Farnam
----- 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
A student shot a two-hand-span sized group with a two-handed grip in a normal
standing position at 10 yards. Then from the same distance, shot with a one-handed
grip and got a group only one-hand-span in size. Such things happen. Everyone is
different.
"Remember,
the students who require the extra effort
are the ones who need us the most!"
-- John Farnam
Instructors, it's very important that you understand this.
---
"50 REAL Differences Between Men & Women" by BraveTheWorld
---
"The Difference Between Men and Women" by Jordan Peterson
---
If you ignore the differences or worse deny them, you're going to have a hard
time teaching. In the sense that your teaching isn't going to be very good,
whether you notice it or not.
All leadership is by example.
"That hypocrite smokes two packs a day."
-- Beastie Boys
Never wear or use equipment that you teach against. E.g.
I teach that the holster must cover the muzzle of the pistol. Otherwise, something
can bump the muzzle and force the pistol out of the holster. So, I would never use
such a holster. Especially not in a class that I was teaching.
I teach that the holster must completely cover the trigger guard. Otherwise,
something (pen, pencil, draw string from your windbreaker, children's fingers,
women's fingers, etc.) can get into the holster and fire the pistol. Lots of documented
cases. See Craig Douglas' video,
"STOP Wearing your duty rig until you do this test!" by ShivWorks
So, I would never use such a holster. Especially not in a class that I was teaching.
Your children will copy you. Similarly, your students will copy you. Doesn't matter
what you say. They will copy what you do. It's not enough to never smoke or vape
around your kids. You must never smoke and never vape. That's part of being a
responsible parent. You must set the example.
"You must teach skill sustainment as part of training."
-- John Hearne
----- Students -----
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
"Selecting An Instructor" by John Correia
Excerpts from a longer email --
. . . how do you know if the instructor you have selected is a quality instructor who
will help you advance? After all, training is expensive and often must be carefully
worked into the budget. How can you trust you will receive valuable and evidence-based
information when you haven’t met the instructor?
Asking your friends or instructors you know or have trained with is an excellent way
to vet an unknown instructor. Ask what their experiences were. Ask if they would take
the class again. Often you can find an after-action report (AAR) posted online by a
student sharing how the class was taught, what was learned, and the overall impression
of the class.
However, your research will be more effective if you can recognize what defines a
good instructor. It is important to note that having extensive gun knowledge, a flashy
website, or a huge following on social media does not automatically guarantee a great
instructor – having the knowledge doesn’t mean there is an ability to transfer that
knowledge.
Following are some guidelines you can use to determine if an instructor is for you.
A good instructor must have teaching abilities reinforced by good communication
skills. Look for an instructor who has the ability to relay information in a multitude
of ways, the ability to read their students and recognize when they may have reached
their limit, or be flexible enough to see the plan isn’t working and switching on the fly
to plan B. If the instructor has some knowledge of adult learning theories that is a bonus.
A good instructor communicates prior to the class to provide you the information on
gear, facilities, etc. so you can be fully prepared and get the most out of the class. Your
pre-class questions should be welcomed and answered to your satisfaction.
A good instructor is prepared when you arrive. This is a must so your time is not
wasted waiting on class or range set-up, etc.
A good instructor is one who continues to train as a student rather than resting on
their laurels and previously earned credentials. Ongoing learning will prepare your
instructor to teach the latest and greatest.
A good instructor has listening skills and the ability to interpret body language
messages. The instructor has the responsibility to keep you safe during the class and
to spot safety concerns or when someone may have reached the limit of their abilities.
A good instructor will meet you where you are in your training journey and will strive
to help you learn and improve without shortchanging the rest of the class. It’s important
the class has an adequate number of assistant instructors to help oversee safety and when
necessary answer questions thereby allowing the instructor to give attention to all students.
A good instructor will treat you with respect and not cross social or personal boundaries
you have set.
While this list is not comprehensive, it is a good starting point for things to consider
when choosing a class or instructor.
Kaery Dudenhofer of Kaery Koncealed has trained with some of the firearm
community’s absolute best instructors and being an A+ instructor herself, knows the
right questions to ask. Kaery regularly interviews instructors giving us a peek into
who they are, what they teach, and where they are located. Find her interviews on
the Active Self Protection Extra Channel on YouTube or in the ASP Unlimited App.
Check out a couple of Kaery’s recent interviews:
Instructor Adam Winch
Instructor Heather Reeves
In fencing, there are theatrical fencing schools (for stage and screen), there are
sport fencing schools (for high school and college teams, and the Olympics),
and there are dueling schools. Because man's governments have never been able
to stop criminal behavior (prostitution, drugs, gambling, dueling, etc.).
Similarly, there are theatrical firearms schools (Jon Wick), sport firearms schools
(IDPA, IPSC), and combat firearms schools. Because man's laws have never been
able to stop criminal behavior.
The combat firearms schools are (generally speaking) divided into law enforcement,
military, and self-defense. They have different rules of engagement. If the instructor
is teaching you how to minimize liability for your agency (whether it is said explicitly
or not), you're not in a self-defense school. If the instructor is teaching you how to hunt
humans, you're not in a self-defense school. The goal of the civilian defender is to
escape. The firearm is an emergency escape tool. Because, the sooner you and
yours escape, the less hurt you and yours get.
"It's better to be wrong than to be vague." -- Freeman Dyson
If you are wrong, the instructor can correct you.
If you are vague, no one can help you.
----- Andragogy -----
‟An instructor should not expect any learning to take
place the first time new information is presented.”
-- ‶Building Shooters″ by Dustin Salomon
That is why we must do priming. Send the documents to the students before the class
with sufficient time to allow them to read the material before you present it in class.
Beware, because they have been exposed to the material previously, they will have
intelligent questions for you. Be prepared.
“The most valuable resource that all teachers have is each other.
Without collaboration, our growth is limited to our own perspectives.”
-- Robert John Meehan
That is why attending different (not the same one year after year) conferences is
essential. You must expose yourself to different instructors. As Brian Hill says,
"Good instructors agree on 80%. Great instructors agree on 90%." But, 10% is
still a huge amount to disagree on. If you don't find that 80% to 90%, if you don't
understand why they disagree, you're really missing the boat. Dave Spaulding is
a prime example. He disagrees with a lot of the main stream teaching in the
industry; to the extent that he actually refers to them as myths.
*************************************************************************
*************************************************************************
----- Gear -----
And the safe storage thereof.
“Mission drives the gear train.”
-- Pat Rogers
"Elements Of Concealed Carry"
by Clint Smith
Hat tip to Greg Ellifritz.
Excerpt:
"There’s always a possibility the gun is so well concealed you can’t get at it,
which is probably a bad idea."
"For carrying, none are too small — for fighting, none are too big."
"Without exception, you should be able to draw and re-holster with one hand,
preferably either hand."
"It’s imperative you be aware a very large percentage of people who lose their
handguns in struggles are often shot by those same handguns."
"FlexCCarry℠ Solutions: A Positive Guide to Off-Body Carry" by Vicki Farnam
ISBN-13 : 979-8991672405
---
FlexCCarry℠ Solutions
"The Perfect General Purpose Rifle Does Exist" by Jeff L. Gonzales
The Range at Austin is really nice. He's the director of training (or at least was).
Notice it's a two point sling.
"Co-witnessing" by Gabe Suarez
"The Asymmetric Dot Concept" by Suarez Tactics
"FBI: the 9mm is as good as a .45?" by Lock & Load with Dick Fairburn
"I call B.S. on that." -- Dick Fairburn
Recoil is a mental problem not a physical problem. [You have to have a certain
level of training and education to understand this. Grip and stance mitigate recoil.
So it's a matter of technique, not strength. -- Jon Low]
Controlling the pistol is a matter of grip, not recoil. [So attempting to reduce
recoil by going to a weaker cartridge is WRONG! Controlling the pistol is a matter
of technique, not strength. -- Jon Low]
45 Auto is better at penetrating car windshields and car doors than the 9mm.
So, if barrier penetration is a thing for you . . .
Range USA is having a sale on Glocks.
https://rangeusa.com/product-tag/glocktober?dev_rangeusa_products%5Bquery%5D=
I recommend against buying a Ruger American pistol, because they refuse to sell
replacement magazine springs, and prevent other spring makers from selling replacement
springs for their magazines. Ruger says that when the spring wears out, you have to buy
a new magazine. Outrageous. (By the way, the original mag springs are junk.)
I keep two such pistols for students to use, because they are ambidextrous and are
adjustable for very small to large hands (for very large hands, I let the student use the
Glock 21).
My solution is to use Wolff springs from other pistol magazines (H&K VP 40 / P30)
and bend them with pliers to fit the Ruger American magazines. (Thanks to Robert Forbus,
master machinist.) The Ruger American magazines are not double stack, nor are they single
stack. Sort of 1.5 stack. So other double stack mag springs from other pistols are too fat.
“Your car is not a holster.”
-- Pat Rogers
*************************************************************************
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** Cryptology ***** ***** *****
"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe,
and preserve order in the world as well as property.
Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of their use."
-- Thomas Paine
Cryptosystems are considered "arms" by federal law, ITAR,
International Traffic in Arms Regulations. That means cryptosystems are
protected 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, to include sharing cryptosystems with
others.
Allow me to correct a misstatement. GySgt. Wheeler said that any set of systems
that are synchronized may be used as a communications channel. I extended that
and said that any set of synchronized systems may be used as a cryptosystem. Of
course, it takes much more work to turn your communications channel into a crypto-
system.
"Never memorize anything. Rather, study it until it becomes obvious."
-- Norman Christ
"Why I Don't Like Singletons" by The Cherno
There is no garbage collector in C++ (as in Java et al) because C++ is for software
engineers, not script kiddies. Garbage collectors will delete an object (free memory)
when the garbage collector can't see any reference to the object, even if the reference
to the object is on some remote machine.
Cherno says, "I wouldn't recommend that unless you know what you're doing."
Where have we heard that before?
"Visual Studio"? The poor fellow is trapped in the Microsoft world.
Cherno uses the word "architecting", which says much about him. "Architect"
is a noun. There is no verb form of the word "architect". He means "designing".
But he doesn't know what he doesn't know. Though he does use the word
"architecture" correctly. Poor thing.
Java is a crippled language because you can't touch the hardware and you can't
free memory. C# is crippled because it is proprietary to Microsoft and hence has
no standard (as in ANSI or ISO).
Remember, C++ is just a pre-processor for C.
"Computer science has nothing to do with computers or science."
-- Donald Knuth
"How 1 Software Engineer Outperforms 138 - Lichess Case Study" by Tom Delalande
Do you understand? Why was Elon Musk able to fire 80% of the Twitter employees?
"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
"Roger Penrose Thinks Quantum Mechanics is Dead Wrong"
So did Herr Professor Doktor Albert Einstein.
"Premature optimization is the root of all evil."
-- Donald Knuth
Let's do physics!
"Holographic Optics Break My Brain" by The Thought Emporium
In focus at any distance. Do you see how you can use this in your communication
channel?
"You don't need to memorize theorems,
because you can always derive them from first principles."
-- Sven Hartman
An exercise in technique.
"the COOLEST limit on YouTube!" by blackpenredpen
The cited paper has not been peer reviewed. I couldn't follow the proof, so I have
no opinion.
"Math News: The Bunkbed conjecture was just debunked!!!!!!!"
by Dr. Trefor Bazett
Cited paper,
"The bunkbed conjecture is false"
by Nikita Gladkov, Igor Pak, and Aleksandr Zimin
Dr. Bazett has a four semester calculus course, a one semester discrete math course,
a one semester linear algebra course, and a lot of other stuff on his YouTube.com site.
"Prime factorization of 1007021035035021007001"
by Prime Newtons
Did you step back and see the 7th level of Pascal's triangle? I certainly didn't.
***** 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
"How do QR codes work? (I built one myself to find out)" by Veritasium
Hamming distance is the simplest binary metric.
How's your Japanese?
Encrypted QR codes.
This is why Error Correcting Coding is a big part of Cryptology; as are Data Compression
algorithms.
“There's a heck of a lot you can do networking phones together
as one big distributed antenna.”
— Sean Gorman, co-founder & CEO of Zephr, on how they’re using software
on cellphones strapped to drones to sniff out and avoid GPS jammers on the
battlefield in Ukraine
Hat tip to the Merge.
When I started at Lockheed Martin, one of my managers told me that my job was to
tell the client what he wanted. Because the client rarely knows what he wants. The
client rarely knows what's possible and what's impossible. The client rarely knows
what's practical and what's impractical. So you have to tell him.
You have to tell the client what features he needs to accomplish his mission, which
features should be included because they will be useful in the future, which of his
desired features are bugs. Because he doesn't know. That's your job, because you know.
A manager, named Pinkham, told me that I appeared to be an honorable person and
that I had better lose that character trait if I expected to last in the industry. Honorable
persons always end up resigning, because they can't bend to the expediencies of business.
There is never enough time. There is never enough budget. So corners are cut. Idiots
in the bureaucracy make bad decisions. You either go along (Aye Aye Sir, three bags full)
or resign. He had seen a lot of engineers resign over the years.
It didn't happen to me for a couple of decades (because I was able to stay in research
and development). I was working at BAE Systems. There was a document that the
National Security Agency published, called the InfoSec (Information Security) Criteria.
We called it the red book. It had been written by bureaucrats sitting in their air
conditioned offices, not operators in the field. It contained a requirement that would
obviously cause massive friendly deaths (not just casualties) in the field. I passed my
concern up my chain of command. It took several months for my concern to work its
way up the chain of command to someone who didn't consider it above his pay grade.
And then many months for it to work its way back to me. My manager told me,
"Implement as per the red book. That's the way the client wants it." So I resigned.
Big salary. Comfortable working conditions. Comfortable living conditions. Happy
family. But I couldn't do it. [New Jersey has many very small independent school
districts. So the teachers and staff are very responsive to the parents. The opposite
of Hawaii that has a single school system for the entire state. And teachers that are
tenured after working for two years. Can't fire the dead wood.]
As far as I know, the red book is still classified. So I can't mention the requirement.
But you may have heard that some system administrators require users to change their
passwords on a regular period. This is cryptologically wrong because good passwords
never become stale. And bad passwords are not mitigated by regularly changing them.
Forcing the users to change their passwords makes it impossible for the users to remember
their passwords. So the users resort to other methods to keep their passwords. (All
such methods are insecure, no matter what the advertisements say.) The system
administrators have no cryptologic training, so they don't know how wrong they are.
Imagine a requirement ten times as stupid as changing your password every month.
What happens when you can't remember your password?
To the best of my knowledge the requirement is still in the red book.
There is a saying, "In a bureaucracy, people rise to their level of incompetence." I know
from first hand experience that people rise far above their level of competence.
"🔷 Here’s the DDIL" by The Merge (Denied, Degraded, Intermittent, and Limited)
Shoot-Move-Communicate: the essence of maneuver warfare.
---
Bureaucratic stupidity incarnate.
Crypto-Gram
October 15, 2024
by Bruce Schneier
Breaking Defense has a weekly newsletter, "Networks & Digital Warfare" at
Crypto-Gram by Bruce Schneier
2600
‟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"
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** 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, foreign and domestic, will try to dumb
you down. Resist!) Gather, analyze, disseminate. Security clearances are for
consumers. We are producers. If you plan to achieve zero friendly casualties,
you must strike pre-emptively. Prevention, not reaction. The bad guy must die
peacefully in his sleep, not shot in your church building.
I was showing a student how to disassemble an XD to clean the striker mechanism.
As I removed the Striker Safety, the Striker Safety Spring sprung out and flew into
Never Never Land. It is very small, 1cm X 1mm. No problem, I have several of
those pistols. I got a spring out of one of my other pistols and replaced it in my
student's pistol.
I wasn't worried because I would just order another one from Numrich or Springfield
Armory. Numrich was out of stock. SA told me that it was a safety part, so they would
not send me the spring. I had to ship the pistol to them (at their expense) and they
would install the spring.
My student, a Navy submariner, told me to keep a positive outlook. He told me of
a subordinate of his who was attempting to open a bottle with his teeth, and pulled a
tooth out. They were on the beach at the time. They rushed the sailor to the corpsman
on the ship (submarines are ships). The corpsman said, no problem, where is the tooth?
So they went back to the beach to look for the tooth. In the mean time, the other sailors
had been building a sand mermaid on the beach in the area of the incident. So they
tore the mermaid apart looking for the tooth. And sure enough, they found the tooth.
The sailor put the tooth in his mouth to keep it wet as instructed by the corpsman, and
the Navy dentist was able to put it back in his mouth and get it to heal properly. A year
later the sailor showed my student that the tooth was still in his mouth and healthy.
After my student has left my apartment, I'm cleaning up (in bare feet) and I step on
something. Sure enough, it's the spring. I never would have felt it, if I were wearing
shoes.
"What's the point, Staff?"
It's a parable. The moral of the story is that if you search the haystack long enough,
you will find the needle. What allows you to search long enough? A positive attitude.
Whether you believe you can do it or believe that you cannot do it, you are correct.
“If you survey 2,000 fighter pilots, 1,999 would tell you that the adversary forces
in the sim [computer simulations] are terrible.”
— Shield AI’s Mike Benitez, on the current state of live virtual constructive (LVC)
training in the US military
Hat tip to the Merge.
POSTMAN: An acronym for a DIA program called
Primary Open Source Tasking Management Aggregation Network
So What: POSTMAN is a tool for OSINT—open source intelligence—and will
be used by industry partners to help the military collect intel via public sources.
Hat tip to the Merge.
[What could go wrong? -- Jon Low]
"Retired general warns Iran's situation is 'much more fragile' than people realize"
by Fox News
"PAGERS AND WALKIE TALKIES –
ISRAEL CONDUCTS HISTORIC ATTACK ON HEZBOLLAH"
by Off Leash with Erik Prince
RDX is what we use in handgrenades.
CIA is a risk averse culture. A nice euphemism for cowards.
China owns our supply chain.
Can you believe there are still person in the U.S. who own and carry smart phones
that were made in China. Sad. [I'm not a hypocrite. I own and carry a Japanese flip phone.
No GPS, no internet connection. When I turn it off, it doesn't receive nor transmit
anything. I can take the battery out. Can you? I mean take all the batteries out.
You probably can't.]
"America's New Slave Trade" by PragerU
Do you understand the dollar amounts?
What organizations help the cartels? Catholic Charities,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition,
et al. You think I'm joking?
"Israel Invades Lebanon and is hit by Irans Missile Attack" by Task & Purpose
Note the open sources.
💥 If you’re having a bad weekend, just be thankful you're not Russia—they shot
down their massive flying wing (stealth?) drone over Ukraine, in broad daylight,
in the cons, for the whole internet to see. Alternative headline:
Congratulations to Russia's SU-57 Felon for its first air-to-air kill…but there is a catch. 🙃
They lost control of it, so they shot it down. Why did they lose control of it?
Because the enemy jammed its communications. How was the enemy able to
jam the communications? Who made the communications package? You have
to ask the right question to get a useful answer. Wait a minute, aren't those the same
guys who made the pagers?
---
🔷 Jammin’
“There’s a lot of lip-flapping about national security resilience manufacturing.
But there is no money for us to do this.”
— Scott Colosimo, founder & CEO of LAND, an electric mobility startup with
some defense backing, explaining the dynamics of on-shoring battery tech and
other manufacturing.
Hat tip to the Merge.
"In a year of war since Oct. 7, Israel introduced new battlefield tech, honed its organization
A year ago today, Hamas attacked Israel, catching Jerusalem off guard. Since, the
Israel Defense Forces have worked to adapt."
by Seth J. Frantzman
"Northrop Grumman has a nozzle problem" by BPS.space
Having "worked" at Lockheed Martin Astronautics (the one in Colorado),
I have a fondness for solid fuel rockets. [They make great bombs.]
"Russia ATTEMPTS To Assassinate Chechen Ramzan Kadyrov;
MAJOR Airbase Strike" by Breaking Enforcer News
"Chinese nuclear attack submarine sank during construction, US official says"
By Associated Press
I assume VOA vetted the article before publishing it, because AP is notoriously
unreliable. Notice none of the persons are named. A sketchy article at best.
"Former Israeli Undercover Agent Breaks Down Tactics Used in Palestine"
by The Wall Street Journal
Well, she doesn't describe tactics, unless you read between the lines.
But you all are good at that.
"BREAKING: Civil War Starts in Russia" by Business Basics
"Good habits and skill beat luck every time."
-- Sheriff Jim Wilson
"The Merge"
Breaking Defense
Intrigue
1440
*************************************************************************
*************************************************************************
***** ***** ***** After Thoughts, Politics, and such ***** ***** *****
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always
possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Richard Henry Lee
Signer of the Declaration of Independence
"U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Commissioner Peter Kirsanow
talks about the Hostility of Progressives Towards Dr. Lott"
"Georgia Supreme Court Issues Surprise 6–1 Ruling" by Roman Balmakov
The State of Georgia upholds the heartbeat law. A detectable heartbeat prevents
abortion.
"21 Casualties In ANOTHER Invisible Mass Shooting . . .
Gun Controllers & Media COMPLETELY Silent . . . "
by Langley Outdoors Academy
---
"4 dead and 17 injured after gunfire erupts at popular nightlife
area in Birmingham, Alabama, police say"
by Paradise Afshar, Lauren Mascarenhas and Raja Razek
New York's corruption case against the NRA will not destroy the NRA. It will excise
the cancerous corruption in the NRA. Hopefully leaving the NRA better. Say thank you
to the New York Attorney General. None of the NRA members could have done this, as
evidenced by the fact that none of the NRA members did it.
When Democrats wanted to get rid of Brandon, they had a coup (some consider it
bloodless, we'll see in a few years when the skeletons are discovered in the closets).
When the NRA members wanted to get rid of Uncle Wayne, Oliver North got kicked
out. Do you understand?
"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."
-- (Mary) Flannery O'Connor
"Who is Kamala’s Father? | Candace Ep 76" by Candace Owens
The mother is East Indian. The father is Irish and Hindu. So how is Kamala Black?
"This Is Why You Should Never Trust The Government" by Brett Cooper
Actually, there is a difference.
I could speak Korean.
Did you see this?
"Federal Judge Hands Win to Texas AG" by Roman Balmakov
Ruling,
"Laura Ingraham: This is devastating" by Fox News
FEMA is blocking and seizing aid shipments? I wonder who gave that order?
---
"Lefties losing it: Rita Panahi applauds SNL skit mocking Tim Walz"
by Sky News Australia
FEMA blocking Glen Beck's charity from delivering aid to hurricane victims.
---
"Elon Musk Has Harsh Words for FEMA’s Interfering w/ Starlink"
by The Rubin Report
---
Government officials at their best.
"SC pilot's rescue mission thwarted due to arrest threat" by Queen City News
"Elon Musk Passionately Defends The Second Amendment At Trump Rally"
by Colion Noir
At the 11:17 mark in the video, the police officer physically removes the citizen
from the city counsel meeting. The police officer knows that he is violating her
1st Amendment rights. But all the police officer cares about is his job and his pension.
That's the result of "defund the police", low quality, compliant officers.
Deep truth.
"5 Steps To Know She’s The One" by Nick Freitas
I met Nick at the Gun Owners of America conference in Knoxville, TN.
Great guy.
"Supercentenarian and remarkable age records exhibit
patterns indicative of clerical errors and pension fraud"
by Saul Justin Newman
"Most Super-Old People are Probably Younger"
The lifestyle of people who live longer than 100 years has attracted a lot of
research attention. Is it nutrition? Genes? Good friendships? Mental health?
Saul Newman from the University of Oxford, U.K., says that much of it is a lack
of birth certificates.
His analysis reveals that the number of people above the age of 100 dropped
with the introduction of birth registrations in the USA, strongly suggesting that
many peoples’ ages were simply overestimated. He also noted that their birth
dates tend to be divisible by five, a statistical anomaly that suggests the dates
were invented. Only about 18% of the allegedly super-old have reasonably reliable
birth certificates. None of them live in the USA.
Joe Biden’s Revenge (remember the coup?)
"Is This Joe Biden’s Revenge?" by The Comments Section (Brett Cooper)
"These new scientific fraud cases worry me: Now also in material science"
by Sabine Hossenfelder
Never buy a new car. They depreciate too fast. There is a huge and thriving market
of used cars (real cars, not electric cars). Buying a new car is pure vanity. Vanity is a sin.
Never take a loan to buy anything that depreciates. Never take a loan to buy a car.
Save up your money, and pay in full, up front, in cash (you should be able to negotiate
the price way down by doing so). Taking a loan to buy land or a house is okay, if you're
in an area where land and housing prices are going up.
Never buy a warranty for your car. Never take your car to a dealership for repairs
or regular maintenance. Their prices are much higher than independent small businesses.
Because most people don't know any better. Ignorance runs rampant in our society.
Find yourself a good mechanic who runs his shop as a small business. (It doesn't have
to be a small shop. It has to be a small business.) Pay as you go, what you can afford.
If the heat is not life threatening, you don't need air conditioning (roll down your
windows). You don't need an audio system, pay attention to your driving instead.
Playing your music (noise) real loud will incite road rage. The road rager might kill you.
[No, as a matter of fact, you don't have a right to play your music as loud as you want,
whenever you want, where ever you want. Just like the other guy doesn't have the
right to shoot you in the head for doing so. But the other guy doesn't need the right to
kill you, to kill you.]
If you buy a car that prevents you from hitting other cars (by automatically applying
the brakes), you won't be able to ram other cars. Knowing how (30 mph) and where
(non-engine end of the car) to ram a car that is blocking you is an essential skill for
escaping car jackings, mobs, riots, etc. It's the difference between being a victim
(and maybe dead) and having an interesting dinner conversation.
Charlie: "How was your drive home darling?"
Randy: "Ran into a flash mob on 8th and Main. Had to ram a road block to escape."
Charlie: "You didn't let little Johnny get hurt or set a bad example for him, did you?"
Randy: "No, little Johnny slept through it in his car seat. A little damage on the front
bumper. I'll make an appointment with the mechanic and get it fixed."
Charlie: "How's the meatloaf?"
Randy: "Fine."
Charlie is the husband. Randy is the wife. They both thought it was very funny in
hindsight. As related to me by students during the lunch and lecture of a class.
[Context - Seattle, WA during the riots.]
There are no conservatives in universities.
Pay back is a bitch.
Thought experiment.
Economics.
"How the P320 Cost Sig Millions (the Untold Story of Sig Sauer)"
by Protraband
SpaceX success on first try. If you're not an engineer,
you might not realize how impressive this is.
There is an entire industry dedicated to convincing people that masculinity is toxic.
Behold the consequences.
"Most Embarrassing Ad Ever" by Decoy Voice
"Tim Walz Struggles With Shotgun At Pheasant Hunt, Gets Mocked"
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/tim-walz-struggles-with-shotgun-at-pheasant-hunt-gets-mocked-6778246
---
As noted elsewhere, this is the same Tim Walz who falsely claimed to have
“carried weapons of war” in combat.” Since he was apparently unable to bring
down any pheasants anyway, he might have saved himself some of the initial
embarrassment by carrying a politically correct, Biden-endorsed, double-barreled
shotgun on his pretend hunt. Unlike some other states, Minnesota does not mirror
the federal three-shell limit for hunting migratory birds in its rules for hunting
pheasants. I note that the political cartoon for the day at Fox News depicts Walz
wearing a blaze-orange vest and a blaze-orange cap marked “pandering,” holding
a shotgun; the legend reads, “All hat... no pheasants,” a take-off on the Western
expression, “All hat, no cattle.”
-- Stephen P. Wenger
“You can’t truly call yourself ‘peaceful’ unless you are capable of great violence.
If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful, you’re harmless.
Important distinction.”
-- Stef Starkgaryen
Semper Fidelis, (Always Faithful to God, Family, and the U.S. Constitution)
Jonathan D. Low
Email: Jon_Low@yahoo.com
Radio: KI4SDN
"When You Say Nothing At All (cover) - Florida College Friends"
by Jbchorus
Do you notice the names?
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