Yesterday was the 215th birthday of Orrin Porter Rockwell. There are many thing written about Port but I prefer the positive things.
How did Porter get so good with a gun? The guns of the time were not necessarily the most accurate, but porter managed to be deadly. In Missouri he found his young wife crying on the rubble that used to be their honeymoon cottage he vowed he would never get caught without a gun. Their cottage was burned to the ground by a mob.
Porter had integrity. After the Saints were expelled from Missouri, Porter was offered money and an early release from prison if he lured Joseph back into Missouri, but he declined. In return, Joseph blessed Porter that bullet and blade could not harm him, so long as Porter stayed true to his covenants and never cut his hair or his beard. Unfortunately, outlaws attempted to disprove the blessing by killing him; however, no one ever succeeded in gunning him down.
Porter never relished taking a man’s life. Despite unfounded rumors that he killed hundreds of men, his great-great-grandson points out that the true number is closer to 12. Porter enjoyed the blessing’s protection his entire life and eventually died of natural causes. He had a temple recommend in his possession when he passed, which leaves no doubt concerning how his ecclesiastical leaders felt about Porter.
Chancy Higbee again while in Nauvoo was being harassed by Rockwell and continually threatening his life. Nauvoo Sheriff Backenstos assured Higbee that he would be protected until it became apparent that Backenstos could not; whereupon Rockwell was arrested. When the militiamen disarmed Rockwell they found weapons enough in his stronghold to fire seventy-one rounds without reloading, plus an array of knives. The Sheriff finally convinced Higbee to leave town since Rockwell hadn’t actually committed any harm and had to be released.
Considering the autoloader did not yet exist, having many guns to be able to shoot 71 times tells me he was wise. He understood that 5 or 6 shots would not get you through a fight.
When the time came to go to California, Porter reached Sam Brannan's saloon in Sacramento to collect tithes, a great deal of which was gold which Brannan had levied against LDS miners for tithing. When Brannan flatly refused to surrender a single ounce of dust, Rockwell produced a hogleg as a persuader. "Sam, we come for the Lord's money." Upon hearing of Porter's success, one journal recorded, "When the fear of God has left a mans heart, that is when you send men like Porter Rockwell to drive the fear back in again."
As a body guard of two prophets Porter was a loyal member of the Church. At his funeral Joseph F. Smith, then an Apostle and future prophet, said this:
"They say he was a murderer; if he was he was the friend of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and he was faithful to them, and to his covenants, and he has gone to Heaven and apostates can go to Hell… Porter Rockwell was yesterday afternoon ushered into Heaven clothed with immortality and eternal life, and crowned with all glory which belongs to a departed saint. He has his little faults but Porter's life on earth, taken altogether, was one worthy of example, and reflected honor upon the church. Through all his trials he had never once forgotten his obligations to his brethren and his God."
I pay homage to a body guard of a prophet. There were several that deserve the distinction of offering their lives for the prophet. I am the Great (4) Grandson of one of these body guards and I am proud of this heritage. Remember Porter, defender of the faith.
(I’d like to include these body guard’s names with Porters. Allen Joseph Stout, Jerome Bonaparte Kempton, Oliver Huntington, Stephen Markham, Levi Hancock, William Somerville, Thomas Grover, Noah Thomas Guymon, Alpheus Cutler, Capt. John Snyder, Ira Ames, John Lowe Butler, Amos C. Hodge, Christian Kreymer, James Naylor Jones, James Allred, Lewis D. Wilson, James Emmet, Shadrach Roundy, John S. Butler, Samuel H. Smith, Edward Hunter, Return Jackson Redden, Larry Mullins and many others.)
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Friday, June 29, 2018
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Don't Raise Offensensitive Kids
In all the fluff of school safety debates I’ve read some disturbing things. Some parents, teachers, or faculty start talking about active shooter drills scaring kids or adults. My reaction to this is mixed.
My initial reaction is our family saying, “Suck it up cupcake!” Then I think about it a minute and realize not everyone is my family. I’ve spent my entire adult life working on military installations. I spent a decade in the military. I have several kids and half of them were born on a military base. They grew up with base-wide exercises being played. Not only that, my wife and I have been into preparedness our entire over 30 years of marriage. We’ve done family fire and bug-out drills. Also being a weapons instructor I taught my kids from the age of 8 how to handle and shoot guns safely. They know what gun shots sound like. We’ve also taught them other self-defense techniques and weapons most of their lives. We also talk to them clearly about scenarios and what to do in them. So they have had a different upbringing. I forget that.
We live in the United States of America. The strongest, safest country on the earth. We can walk most streets without worry about being bothered. But there are some individuals who want to change that. They want to do as they please or to disrupt this way of life with crime and terrorism. So because of these few, we must live a certain way. We must be prepared and vigilant.
Sometimes I’m not very nice. Sometimes I forget to be Christ-like. I have a problem with people who are scared by everything. I know that is an exaggeration. But I just think we need to have a little thicker skins if we’re going to live in this world. Understand that the whole world does not believe the way we believe and the whole world does not think the way we think. I do feel that, generally speaking, most humans are kind. We understand when we see a fellow human in distress because we’ve been there ourselves. There are many things to be aware of and to try to defend against. Learning the reality of that is not a bad thing, because I believe God wants us to defend ourselves against evil in every way. Spiritually, physically, and socially. To do this we must become more than a quivering ball of Jell-o hiding in a corner. One of the problems of the left, or liberal, thinker is that they generally, honestly want to change the world for the better. There is nothing inherently wrong with this. But it can make you care so much that you’re useless against evil. I believe reality dictates that we reserve the right to judge a little before accepting someone at face value. Usually you can see what a person intends within a few minutes, but until then, have a plan to kill them. This is the advice of retired General, and our Secretary of Defense James Mattis:
"Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet."
He did not say “Kill every person that you meet.” But have a plan… In other words, don’t open up and be vulnerable or show your vulnerability until you have a better idea if they can be trusted. This is where “progressives” miss the mark. In the process they teach their children the same. I’m not advocating scaring the living daylights out of your children, but help them to see that evil is out there, and you must defend against evil. If they have a small understanding of this, they won’t cry because of a loud noise. They will understand why active shooter drills are important. Just as fire drills are important. Fires can kill like an active shooter and are much more common. Yet we may not see a child upset by a fire drill. As adults we must educate, comfort, and prepare our children to be safe through whatever problem that may arise that may bring them harm. I’ve had people tell me that this kind of thinking is sad. Yes, it is sad. But it is the reality that we live in. I work on a federal installation. Security is high and only gets higher. Yet I understand the environment I am working in and that there are real threats to this nation. I’ve come to grips with this and know that we must be prepared and must safeguard this country. So I go along with the security protocols that accompany working on a federal installation. Kids should not be coddled. Being straight with them (maybe not blunt) is a truth they deserve. Shielding them is not the best if they can have some understanding. Most kids understand more than we give them credit for.
I am not saying don’t teach your children your beliefs. I am a conservative but not a Republican. And most of my kids have gone in that direction, but not all. The adults are influenced by what all of us are influenced by. They know how I feel, but they also know that I will not fight with them or cut them off from the family just because I may not agree with them. They have read and learned and made a choice for themselves. If you are a Democrat I may call you names. But in reality, I respect anyone who stands up for their convictions. I would also expect reciprocal treatment. You may call me names too because I won’t be offended and cower in the corner. But if you want your children to learn to give and be charitable, then please do so. If you want them to embrace progressive values then teach them. But whatever you do, don’t teach them to be a wimp. Kids are resilient and they can handle it. Do them, and yourself, a favor and teach them what they need to know to be safer than they are.
In the 1980’s there was a comic strip that was my favorite. It was Bloom County by Berkley Breathead. I love his humor with a political edge.
The star of the comic is Opus, a penguin. He is sitting at a bus stop with several people. One of them says to him, “Ya know…you penguin types offend me.” Then another guy reading a newspaper says, “Hey…I’ll tell ya what offends me…dirty words, that’s what.” The next panels have others telling each other what offends them. Then they all say at once, “My gosh…LIFE is offensive!!” and all run off screaming. The last panel has Opus looking at you and saying, “Offensensitivity.” This is a humorous way of saying all of us can be overly sensitive and offended. One of my favorite quotes applies to offensensitivity. It’s from Elenor Roosevelt and she said, “No one can offend you without your permission.”
There are some that live day to day being offended. Their view seems to be that everyone is out to offend them and so they are offended. Don’t be that sensitive. Don’t think that every statement made is about race. I’ve gotten to the point where when I talk to liberals I can be assured of being labeled a “racist”. I’ve finally decided that I will just tell them, “I am whatever you think I am.” I won’t be able to change their minds so I just “Embrace the suck.” I learn to live with the label. I will continue to believe as I do and I will try my best to be Christ-like. If that is perceived to be a racist or a homo-phobe or xenophobe so be it. You will probably not change my mind in a minute as I won’t change yours. So I say, I won’t be offended or defensive. I will do my best to not call you a yellow commie weenie. To be honest, I wish somebody would just tell me what they feel and not be so darn politically correct.
Having honest discourse would be a refreshing thing. I have an old missionary companion who seems to be quite liberal. I say he seems to be because my only real exposure to him is Facebook. I know Facebook is not always reality. But because I don’t want to damage what relationship we do have I have to hide his posts. I’ve tried to have some real conversation and dialogue but it’s Facebook. Internet arguments are a waste of time. But some real debate would be good.
The problem with being a snowflake is that they’re too delicate. If it were me and I were left leaning and someone called me a snowflake, I would just smile and show them I am not delicate. Being offended distracts from my point. It moves us away from my beliefs. I won’t let it so I am not offended. Can’t we all just get along? No, I believe we can be civil, but we don’t have to “get along”.
The whole point of this long rant is that I would hope that we can get away from this idea of not being tough. I said tough, not rude and idiotic. We should teach our kids that being prepared for this world and life is not being afraid. And can we stop having offensensitivity?
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
My initial reaction is our family saying, “Suck it up cupcake!” Then I think about it a minute and realize not everyone is my family. I’ve spent my entire adult life working on military installations. I spent a decade in the military. I have several kids and half of them were born on a military base. They grew up with base-wide exercises being played. Not only that, my wife and I have been into preparedness our entire over 30 years of marriage. We’ve done family fire and bug-out drills. Also being a weapons instructor I taught my kids from the age of 8 how to handle and shoot guns safely. They know what gun shots sound like. We’ve also taught them other self-defense techniques and weapons most of their lives. We also talk to them clearly about scenarios and what to do in them. So they have had a different upbringing. I forget that.
We live in the United States of America. The strongest, safest country on the earth. We can walk most streets without worry about being bothered. But there are some individuals who want to change that. They want to do as they please or to disrupt this way of life with crime and terrorism. So because of these few, we must live a certain way. We must be prepared and vigilant.
Sometimes I’m not very nice. Sometimes I forget to be Christ-like. I have a problem with people who are scared by everything. I know that is an exaggeration. But I just think we need to have a little thicker skins if we’re going to live in this world. Understand that the whole world does not believe the way we believe and the whole world does not think the way we think. I do feel that, generally speaking, most humans are kind. We understand when we see a fellow human in distress because we’ve been there ourselves. There are many things to be aware of and to try to defend against. Learning the reality of that is not a bad thing, because I believe God wants us to defend ourselves against evil in every way. Spiritually, physically, and socially. To do this we must become more than a quivering ball of Jell-o hiding in a corner. One of the problems of the left, or liberal, thinker is that they generally, honestly want to change the world for the better. There is nothing inherently wrong with this. But it can make you care so much that you’re useless against evil. I believe reality dictates that we reserve the right to judge a little before accepting someone at face value. Usually you can see what a person intends within a few minutes, but until then, have a plan to kill them. This is the advice of retired General, and our Secretary of Defense James Mattis:
"Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet."
He did not say “Kill every person that you meet.” But have a plan… In other words, don’t open up and be vulnerable or show your vulnerability until you have a better idea if they can be trusted. This is where “progressives” miss the mark. In the process they teach their children the same. I’m not advocating scaring the living daylights out of your children, but help them to see that evil is out there, and you must defend against evil. If they have a small understanding of this, they won’t cry because of a loud noise. They will understand why active shooter drills are important. Just as fire drills are important. Fires can kill like an active shooter and are much more common. Yet we may not see a child upset by a fire drill. As adults we must educate, comfort, and prepare our children to be safe through whatever problem that may arise that may bring them harm. I’ve had people tell me that this kind of thinking is sad. Yes, it is sad. But it is the reality that we live in. I work on a federal installation. Security is high and only gets higher. Yet I understand the environment I am working in and that there are real threats to this nation. I’ve come to grips with this and know that we must be prepared and must safeguard this country. So I go along with the security protocols that accompany working on a federal installation. Kids should not be coddled. Being straight with them (maybe not blunt) is a truth they deserve. Shielding them is not the best if they can have some understanding. Most kids understand more than we give them credit for.
I am not saying don’t teach your children your beliefs. I am a conservative but not a Republican. And most of my kids have gone in that direction, but not all. The adults are influenced by what all of us are influenced by. They know how I feel, but they also know that I will not fight with them or cut them off from the family just because I may not agree with them. They have read and learned and made a choice for themselves. If you are a Democrat I may call you names. But in reality, I respect anyone who stands up for their convictions. I would also expect reciprocal treatment. You may call me names too because I won’t be offended and cower in the corner. But if you want your children to learn to give and be charitable, then please do so. If you want them to embrace progressive values then teach them. But whatever you do, don’t teach them to be a wimp. Kids are resilient and they can handle it. Do them, and yourself, a favor and teach them what they need to know to be safer than they are.
In the 1980’s there was a comic strip that was my favorite. It was Bloom County by Berkley Breathead. I love his humor with a political edge.
The star of the comic is Opus, a penguin. He is sitting at a bus stop with several people. One of them says to him, “Ya know…you penguin types offend me.” Then another guy reading a newspaper says, “Hey…I’ll tell ya what offends me…dirty words, that’s what.” The next panels have others telling each other what offends them. Then they all say at once, “My gosh…LIFE is offensive!!” and all run off screaming. The last panel has Opus looking at you and saying, “Offensensitivity.” This is a humorous way of saying all of us can be overly sensitive and offended. One of my favorite quotes applies to offensensitivity. It’s from Elenor Roosevelt and she said, “No one can offend you without your permission.”
There are some that live day to day being offended. Their view seems to be that everyone is out to offend them and so they are offended. Don’t be that sensitive. Don’t think that every statement made is about race. I’ve gotten to the point where when I talk to liberals I can be assured of being labeled a “racist”. I’ve finally decided that I will just tell them, “I am whatever you think I am.” I won’t be able to change their minds so I just “Embrace the suck.” I learn to live with the label. I will continue to believe as I do and I will try my best to be Christ-like. If that is perceived to be a racist or a homo-phobe or xenophobe so be it. You will probably not change my mind in a minute as I won’t change yours. So I say, I won’t be offended or defensive. I will do my best to not call you a yellow commie weenie. To be honest, I wish somebody would just tell me what they feel and not be so darn politically correct.
Having honest discourse would be a refreshing thing. I have an old missionary companion who seems to be quite liberal. I say he seems to be because my only real exposure to him is Facebook. I know Facebook is not always reality. But because I don’t want to damage what relationship we do have I have to hide his posts. I’ve tried to have some real conversation and dialogue but it’s Facebook. Internet arguments are a waste of time. But some real debate would be good.
The problem with being a snowflake is that they’re too delicate. If it were me and I were left leaning and someone called me a snowflake, I would just smile and show them I am not delicate. Being offended distracts from my point. It moves us away from my beliefs. I won’t let it so I am not offended. Can’t we all just get along? No, I believe we can be civil, but we don’t have to “get along”.
The whole point of this long rant is that I would hope that we can get away from this idea of not being tough. I said tough, not rude and idiotic. We should teach our kids that being prepared for this world and life is not being afraid. And can we stop having offensensitivity?
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Changing Out Your Carry Ammo
I was asked the other day if I carried a gun. I’m always a little apprehensive about answering this question. My standard answer is “If I was, you wouldn’t know it.” But this was at the shooting range where I feel a little more comfortable talking about my relationship with guns. I said, “Yes. For the last 25 years.” Then they asked, “How often do you change out your carry ammo?”
This is a good question. As in all answers it depends.
First, are you carrying a semi-auto pistol or a revolver? This might sound like an arbitrary distinction, but in an attempt to isolate every variable, we need to answer this question. With a revolver, your rounds are dropped smoothly into the chamber. Every surface of the ammunition, save the face of the bullet, is protected, and there is no high-impact insertion into the chamber. Additionally, the process of “press-checking” a revolver (swinging the cylinder open to verify its condition) imparts no additional stress on individual cartridges.
On the other hand, autoloading pistols have a tendency to beat the daylights out of the first couple of rounds in the magazine. When the gun is loaded, the first round is slammed rather violently into the chamber. The second round is subject to the slide’s movement over its case, and if you load and unload frequently, these two probably get cycled in and out of the chamber more than once.
The “revolver or auto” question also pertains to any spare ammunition you carry. With extra mags for a semi-auto, all of the ammunition in the magazine is protected by the magazine body with the exception of the first round. I have carried a revolver in the past and things are a bit different. I carried spare rounds in a Bianchi Speed Strip in my back pocket. After a month or two, the rounds on this strip are discolored and usually one or two of the cases is at least a little dented. If you carry speedloaders in belt holders (or magazines in magazine pouches), the ammo will probably not age as quickly, but can still eventually encounter issues from exposure moisture and debris.
The next question you should be asking is, “How do you use the gun?” Is the gun a nightstand pistol that rarely leaves the bedside table? Is it a daily carry gun? Do you load and unload it daily? Do you check the ammo frequently? Your answers here may dictate how often you should rotate your ammunition. If the gun never leaves the bedside, the ammunition could probably last pretty much indefinitely. Because it is not exposed to sweat, humidity, temperature fluctuation, and daily handling, the ammunition should last much longer than ammunition in a carry gun. If you are like me and you check the condition of your firearm every time you put it into the holster, the ammunition in it can become a little worn and should be replaced more frequently.
You should inspect your ammunition occasionally. When I pull the rounds out of my gun, I am looking for some specific indicators that it should be replaced. First, I’m going to look at the bullet itself. Some discoloration from handling is normal, but alterations in the shape of the bullet are not. Did it get slammed into the feed ramp and is now misshapen as a result? This is probably a good indicator that the whole cartridge has suffered some abuse, and the change in shape may impact the bullet’s performance. If the bullet is deformed, replace those rounds.
Next, you should look at the position of the bullet in the case. A condition called “bullet setback” can occur when pressure is repeatedly applied to the bullet, from chambering and rechambering, and forces it backward into the case. This can compress the powder and create dangerously high chamber pressures, and ammunition exhibiting bullet setback should not be fired under any circumstances (please note the scary bold type). Because a few 1000ths of an inch can make a difference, this inspection shouldn’t be eyeballed. Instead, use calipers. Measure the first couple of rounds in the gun for overall length. Compare this length with a measured overall length from an unhandled cartridge directly from the box. You can also compare your results with manufacturer specs online if you can find them. If the bullet is set back, replace those rounds, and do not fire them.
Next, you should inspect the case. Non-nickel plated brass cases may be discolored. Some mild discoloration isn’t reason to remove them from duty, but corrosion is. Ensure there is no corrosion or rust. Exposure to extreme temperatures can wreck havoc on ammo. Moisture is also ammo’s enemy. Carrying ammunition in or out of a gun exposes it to all of these things and more.
Next, I inspect for deformities, especially the kind that would prevent the round from feeding reliably. These include dents or slight bulges in the case or deformities around the case mouth. I find this to be most common with revolver cartridges carried in reloading strips. I have carried these in a back pocket, so each time I sat they were liable to impact with whatever I was sitting on. If cases are badly corroded or deformed, get rid of them.
Ammunition may also experience extraordinary trauma that disqualifies it from carry suitability. On the extreme end of the spectrum, I have seen a Speed Strip and four rounds ran through the washer and dryer. This wasn’t some ammo torture test, just the result of forgetfulness in cleaning out pockets before doing laundry. The ammo came out looking squeaky clean (and it worked just fine), but there’s no way I would trust my life to it. As a less extreme example, I’ve fallen into a lake and briefly submerged my auto loader. Most high-quality ammunition is manufactured to be waterproof. If I have plenty of carry ammunition in reserve, I may change it out just to be safe, but if I’m also comfortable carrying those same rounds for a while longer. If your ammunition has experienced some extreme trauma, swap it out.
Also consider your environment, lifestyle, and your body. If you live in hot climate, carry your gun during workouts or strenuous outdoor activities, or just sweat heavily, take note! You expose your gun and ammunition to more moisture and salt more often than someone who works in an air-conditioned office, drives home in an air-conditioned car, and then hangs out in their air-conditioned home. You might want to think about rotating your ammunition a little more often.
Most ammunition manufacturers recommend that you should rotate your duty ammunition every six months. I think this is a great guideline, but it’s still only a guideline. If you handle your gun a lot and load/unload often, you should change your ammunition more often. If your gun is a pure home-defense tool that doesn’t get cycled that much and rarely leaves a climate-controlled environment, you can safely extend that number to a year or more.
I rotate my self-defense ammunition every 6 months. This is because I shoot a lot. I shoot it and dry fire often which means my guns get unloaded and reloaded frequently. My guns also get cleaned regularly which means my carry ammunition is in constant contact with oil, a notoriously effective primer-killer. Do your own assessment and consider your own use. When in doubt, inspect your ammunition and see if it’s time to change it out. Be honest in assessment and diligent in your cleaning and handling regime. If you decide you want to switch your ammo every 3 months then be consistent in it. Don’t “let it slide”.
What do I do with the ammunition that comes out of the rotation? I shoot it. If I don’t shoot the ammo right away I mark it with a sharpie. When I get a box of marked ammo I shoot it up. This, to me, is very important. Firing in my exact carry setup, including ammunition, gives me a really good indicator that my setup is actually working for me. It also gives me confidence in my ammunition.
I admit this does cost a little money. I buy carry ammo often enough that it is not a big deal for me. I always seem to have some marked ammo to shoot. I have not kept track, but it seems I shoot carry ammo every month. It may be less at times. It may be expensive but it’s worth it for the peace of mind in knowing that my ammunition will work when it has to. I shoot weekly and it gives me comfort knowing that what I’m doing with me EDC works for me.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
This is a good question. As in all answers it depends.
First, are you carrying a semi-auto pistol or a revolver? This might sound like an arbitrary distinction, but in an attempt to isolate every variable, we need to answer this question. With a revolver, your rounds are dropped smoothly into the chamber. Every surface of the ammunition, save the face of the bullet, is protected, and there is no high-impact insertion into the chamber. Additionally, the process of “press-checking” a revolver (swinging the cylinder open to verify its condition) imparts no additional stress on individual cartridges.
On the other hand, autoloading pistols have a tendency to beat the daylights out of the first couple of rounds in the magazine. When the gun is loaded, the first round is slammed rather violently into the chamber. The second round is subject to the slide’s movement over its case, and if you load and unload frequently, these two probably get cycled in and out of the chamber more than once.
The “revolver or auto” question also pertains to any spare ammunition you carry. With extra mags for a semi-auto, all of the ammunition in the magazine is protected by the magazine body with the exception of the first round. I have carried a revolver in the past and things are a bit different. I carried spare rounds in a Bianchi Speed Strip in my back pocket. After a month or two, the rounds on this strip are discolored and usually one or two of the cases is at least a little dented. If you carry speedloaders in belt holders (or magazines in magazine pouches), the ammo will probably not age as quickly, but can still eventually encounter issues from exposure moisture and debris.
The next question you should be asking is, “How do you use the gun?” Is the gun a nightstand pistol that rarely leaves the bedside table? Is it a daily carry gun? Do you load and unload it daily? Do you check the ammo frequently? Your answers here may dictate how often you should rotate your ammunition. If the gun never leaves the bedside, the ammunition could probably last pretty much indefinitely. Because it is not exposed to sweat, humidity, temperature fluctuation, and daily handling, the ammunition should last much longer than ammunition in a carry gun. If you are like me and you check the condition of your firearm every time you put it into the holster, the ammunition in it can become a little worn and should be replaced more frequently.
You should inspect your ammunition occasionally. When I pull the rounds out of my gun, I am looking for some specific indicators that it should be replaced. First, I’m going to look at the bullet itself. Some discoloration from handling is normal, but alterations in the shape of the bullet are not. Did it get slammed into the feed ramp and is now misshapen as a result? This is probably a good indicator that the whole cartridge has suffered some abuse, and the change in shape may impact the bullet’s performance. If the bullet is deformed, replace those rounds.
Next, you should look at the position of the bullet in the case. A condition called “bullet setback” can occur when pressure is repeatedly applied to the bullet, from chambering and rechambering, and forces it backward into the case. This can compress the powder and create dangerously high chamber pressures, and ammunition exhibiting bullet setback should not be fired under any circumstances (please note the scary bold type). Because a few 1000ths of an inch can make a difference, this inspection shouldn’t be eyeballed. Instead, use calipers. Measure the first couple of rounds in the gun for overall length. Compare this length with a measured overall length from an unhandled cartridge directly from the box. You can also compare your results with manufacturer specs online if you can find them. If the bullet is set back, replace those rounds, and do not fire them.
Next, you should inspect the case. Non-nickel plated brass cases may be discolored. Some mild discoloration isn’t reason to remove them from duty, but corrosion is. Ensure there is no corrosion or rust. Exposure to extreme temperatures can wreck havoc on ammo. Moisture is also ammo’s enemy. Carrying ammunition in or out of a gun exposes it to all of these things and more.
Next, I inspect for deformities, especially the kind that would prevent the round from feeding reliably. These include dents or slight bulges in the case or deformities around the case mouth. I find this to be most common with revolver cartridges carried in reloading strips. I have carried these in a back pocket, so each time I sat they were liable to impact with whatever I was sitting on. If cases are badly corroded or deformed, get rid of them.
Ammunition may also experience extraordinary trauma that disqualifies it from carry suitability. On the extreme end of the spectrum, I have seen a Speed Strip and four rounds ran through the washer and dryer. This wasn’t some ammo torture test, just the result of forgetfulness in cleaning out pockets before doing laundry. The ammo came out looking squeaky clean (and it worked just fine), but there’s no way I would trust my life to it. As a less extreme example, I’ve fallen into a lake and briefly submerged my auto loader. Most high-quality ammunition is manufactured to be waterproof. If I have plenty of carry ammunition in reserve, I may change it out just to be safe, but if I’m also comfortable carrying those same rounds for a while longer. If your ammunition has experienced some extreme trauma, swap it out.
Also consider your environment, lifestyle, and your body. If you live in hot climate, carry your gun during workouts or strenuous outdoor activities, or just sweat heavily, take note! You expose your gun and ammunition to more moisture and salt more often than someone who works in an air-conditioned office, drives home in an air-conditioned car, and then hangs out in their air-conditioned home. You might want to think about rotating your ammunition a little more often.
Most ammunition manufacturers recommend that you should rotate your duty ammunition every six months. I think this is a great guideline, but it’s still only a guideline. If you handle your gun a lot and load/unload often, you should change your ammunition more often. If your gun is a pure home-defense tool that doesn’t get cycled that much and rarely leaves a climate-controlled environment, you can safely extend that number to a year or more.
I rotate my self-defense ammunition every 6 months. This is because I shoot a lot. I shoot it and dry fire often which means my guns get unloaded and reloaded frequently. My guns also get cleaned regularly which means my carry ammunition is in constant contact with oil, a notoriously effective primer-killer. Do your own assessment and consider your own use. When in doubt, inspect your ammunition and see if it’s time to change it out. Be honest in assessment and diligent in your cleaning and handling regime. If you decide you want to switch your ammo every 3 months then be consistent in it. Don’t “let it slide”.
What do I do with the ammunition that comes out of the rotation? I shoot it. If I don’t shoot the ammo right away I mark it with a sharpie. When I get a box of marked ammo I shoot it up. This, to me, is very important. Firing in my exact carry setup, including ammunition, gives me a really good indicator that my setup is actually working for me. It also gives me confidence in my ammunition.
I admit this does cost a little money. I buy carry ammo often enough that it is not a big deal for me. I always seem to have some marked ammo to shoot. I have not kept track, but it seems I shoot carry ammo every month. It may be less at times. It may be expensive but it’s worth it for the peace of mind in knowing that my ammunition will work when it has to. I shoot weekly and it gives me comfort knowing that what I’m doing with me EDC works for me.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Friday, June 15, 2018
Recognizing Cover
Someone asked me one time what my favorite bullet protection was? I think they thought I’d give them some AR500 plate carrier or some Level IIIA type of material. My answer has always been and will always be… sand.
There were about 3 feet of sand bags between me and the enemy and that sand stopped 50 caliber rounds and everything else they threw at it. That will always be my material of choice for cover because of my experience with it. I have seen tests on sand where 6 inches did the trick for most hand gun rounds and many rifle rounds. My minimum choice would be 8 inches of sand.
The ultimate goal of any fight is to win. In a critical incident, one way to increase your odds of survival is to use effective cover. Here are some considerations:
Identify Cover
Identifying your closest cover and concealment where you are will prepare you for quickly moving towards it. This may be something you must do quickly so you need to be sure about what you consider cover.
Know the difference between concealment and cover. Concealment will hide you from the view of an attacker but will not stop their weapon. Cover is whatever will stop your opponent’s weapon. Remember, cover doesn’t just apply to gunfire, it applies to anything you can be attacked with, which leads us to our next consideration…
Your opponent’s weapon will determine appropriate cover. Trees may stop handgun and rifle rounds, depending on the type of tree, the distance to the shooter and where on the tree the bullet strikes. Remember that the edges of the tree will be thinner and thus less bullet resistant. The only part of a vehicle that will consistently stop gunfire — pistol or rifle — is the engine block. The rest of the vehicle is dependent on the caliber of the weapon and whatever intermediate objects it may strike on its way towards you.
The average house provides little cover. Sheet rock construction can be punched through with your fist and will do little to stop a bullet. Keep this in mind and practice shooting through concealment in your training sessions at the shooting range.
Limit your exposure. You should be showing no more of your body than is necessary to return fire when using cover. If you rest your hands on a wall, it will provide a good brace for distance shooting, but it will also force more of your head and chest around the end of your cover or concealment.
Maintain a minimum of three feet off of your cover. By maintaining a three-foot distance, you avoid the problem of projecting out around your hiding place. Sticking a gun around or over cover gives your position away. The distance also helps protect you from ricochets and back splatter if you accidently shoot your own cover. Three feet also enables you to have a better view of your surroundings versus being hugged up against a wall two inches from your face. There is an important exception to this rule. If your attacker has a height advantage, you want to get as close to your cover as possible in hand to hand combat.
A vertical line of cover is better than a horizontal line of cover. If you have a choice, a vertical line allows you to lean out while exposing as little of yourself as possible — think eyeball and gun barrel. When using a horizontal line of cover, your head has to come into view before you can see your threat. Tilting the head back and looking down your nose can reduce that profile, but keep in mind that profile is your brain exposed to potentially incoming bullets.
Practice, practice, practice. Using cover is a skill just like anything else. When you start tilting your head and body it can affect your concentration and work against your shooting habits. Make shooting from cover one of your primary positions of practice.
Using cover can save your life, it has mine, so you owe it to yourself to be well-trained in its use. The goal of every fight is to win. Cover can turn the tables in your favor.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
There were about 3 feet of sand bags between me and the enemy and that sand stopped 50 caliber rounds and everything else they threw at it. That will always be my material of choice for cover because of my experience with it. I have seen tests on sand where 6 inches did the trick for most hand gun rounds and many rifle rounds. My minimum choice would be 8 inches of sand.
The ultimate goal of any fight is to win. In a critical incident, one way to increase your odds of survival is to use effective cover. Here are some considerations:
Identify Cover
Identifying your closest cover and concealment where you are will prepare you for quickly moving towards it. This may be something you must do quickly so you need to be sure about what you consider cover.
Know the difference between concealment and cover. Concealment will hide you from the view of an attacker but will not stop their weapon. Cover is whatever will stop your opponent’s weapon. Remember, cover doesn’t just apply to gunfire, it applies to anything you can be attacked with, which leads us to our next consideration…
Your opponent’s weapon will determine appropriate cover. Trees may stop handgun and rifle rounds, depending on the type of tree, the distance to the shooter and where on the tree the bullet strikes. Remember that the edges of the tree will be thinner and thus less bullet resistant. The only part of a vehicle that will consistently stop gunfire — pistol or rifle — is the engine block. The rest of the vehicle is dependent on the caliber of the weapon and whatever intermediate objects it may strike on its way towards you.
The average house provides little cover. Sheet rock construction can be punched through with your fist and will do little to stop a bullet. Keep this in mind and practice shooting through concealment in your training sessions at the shooting range.
Limit your exposure. You should be showing no more of your body than is necessary to return fire when using cover. If you rest your hands on a wall, it will provide a good brace for distance shooting, but it will also force more of your head and chest around the end of your cover or concealment.
Maintain a minimum of three feet off of your cover. By maintaining a three-foot distance, you avoid the problem of projecting out around your hiding place. Sticking a gun around or over cover gives your position away. The distance also helps protect you from ricochets and back splatter if you accidently shoot your own cover. Three feet also enables you to have a better view of your surroundings versus being hugged up against a wall two inches from your face. There is an important exception to this rule. If your attacker has a height advantage, you want to get as close to your cover as possible in hand to hand combat.
A vertical line of cover is better than a horizontal line of cover. If you have a choice, a vertical line allows you to lean out while exposing as little of yourself as possible — think eyeball and gun barrel. When using a horizontal line of cover, your head has to come into view before you can see your threat. Tilting the head back and looking down your nose can reduce that profile, but keep in mind that profile is your brain exposed to potentially incoming bullets.
Practice, practice, practice. Using cover is a skill just like anything else. When you start tilting your head and body it can affect your concentration and work against your shooting habits. Make shooting from cover one of your primary positions of practice.
Using cover can save your life, it has mine, so you owe it to yourself to be well-trained in its use. The goal of every fight is to win. Cover can turn the tables in your favor.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Flag Day
Yesterday was Flag Day in the U.S. On Jun 14th, 1777 Old Glory became our official flag. This is also the birthday of the U.S. Army. Flag Day became official in 1916.
Flags have been used as common symbols in history for over 5,000 years, dating as far back as 3000 BC with a metal Iranian flag and flag representation in Egyptian tomb carvings.
Vexillology, or the study of flags, takes its literal meaning from the Latin word for “guide,” a meaning which continues to carry weight in the use of flags today. The word was created by Dr. Whitney Smith in 1957.
Flags have been used in battle for symbolizing wins and defeats, or to send signals to allies and enemies. In today’s society, every country in the world flies a representative flag, as well most states and territories within. Many families, organizations, and sports teams have also designed characteristic flags. Regardless of the venue or reason, a flag’s design is created under careful consideration, and the colors used in its foundation represent far greater ideals than what is found on a simple color wheel.
Color Symbolism in Flags
Colors within flags differ from country to country and state to state; the colors presented hold deep-seeded meaning and representation.
• Black: Often used to represent determination, ethnic heritage and/or the defeat of enemies. It can also be used as a symbol of death or mourning.
• White: Seen as a symbol of peace, purity and harmony, and has also been used to represent surrender in times of battle.
• Red: Stands for power, revolution, vibrancy and war (symbolic of bloodshed). Other meanings include courage and domination, while it can also be viewed as an alert of danger.
• Blue: Signifies determination, liberation, alertness and good fortune.
• Green: Often seen as a symbol of agricultural influence, as well as prosperity and fertility. It can also be viewed as youthfulness and hope.
• Yellow (or Gold): Has long been viewed as a symbol of wealth and energy, as in the sun. It can also be used to represent happiness.
• Orange: Viewed as representation of courage and sacrifice.
I think a reverence toward the U.S. flag starts with your parent’s perspective. Each generation is a little different. My parents went through the 2nd World War. They knew the sacrifice made to fight that war. Their patriotism was very high as they fought against what was a ruthless enemy. I learned my reverence for the flag from my parents. They did not fly the flag every day but always on appropriate holidays. My Dad was in the Navy in WWII as his Dad was in the Navy during WWI. They both served honorably. I’d like to think that I served similarly as them.
People that burn the flag because they don’t like some of what our government does makes no sense to me. I guess it is because the flag represents this country. That’s just the thing, it represents the United States of America not the government. The USA is the people including those that burn flags. I feel like it’s just a stunt to try and bring some attention to whatever they are upset about. I understand their right to protest, you can’t do that in some other countries without fearing for your life.
18 U.S. Code 700 says: “Whoever knowingly casts contempt upon any flag of the United States by publicly mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, or trampling upon it shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.”
This was in 1968.
Then the Supreme Court in its “infinite wisdom” came up with this 1989 ruling.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing a regular concurrence, spelled out his reasoning succinctly.
“The hard fact is that sometimes we must make decisions we do not like. We make them because they are right, right in the sense that the law and the Constitution, as we see them, compel the result,” Kennedy said. “And so great is our commitment to the process that, except in the rare case, we do not pause to express distaste for the result, perhaps for fear of undermining a valued principle that dictates the decision. This is one of those rare cases.
“Though symbols often are what we ourselves make of them, the flag is constant in expressing beliefs Americans share, beliefs in law and peace and that freedom which sustains the human spirit. The case here today forces recognition of the costs to which those beliefs commit us. It is poignant but fundamental that the flag protects those who hold it in contempt,” he said.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist, in his dissent said that, “the flag is not simply another ‘idea’ or ‘point of view’ competing for recognition in the marketplace of ideas.”
“I cannot agree that the First Amendment invalidates the Act of Congress, and the laws of 48 of the 50 States, which make criminal the public burning of the flag,” he said.
In reaction to the Johnson decision, which only applied to the state of Texas, Congress passed an anti-flag burning law called the Flag Protection Act of 1989.
But in 1990, the Court struck down that law as unconstitutional.
The case remains controversial to the present day, and Congress has, as recently as 2006, attempted to amend the Constitution to prohibit flag desecration, with the effort failing by one vote in the Senate.
My thoughts are this. We go to war over many things. We’ve been attacked and went to war. All wars are crimes. They should not exist. But there are some things we should defend and fight for. There are exceptions to the ideas the Constitution brings. We have “amended” the 2nd amendment because of machine guns. Why can we not “amend” the 1st amendment for our flag? I agree we should do very little to change our Constitution. But there are always small exceptions.
If you must protest consider other citizens. I know this is not usually what protestors consider.
My flag means a lot to me. It was a flag I served under and lost friends under. It was a flag I pledged my allegiance to as a child. I swore an oath under that flag as a Boy Scout to do my duty as an American. I swore an oath to defend this nation from all enemies, foreign and domestic under that flag. Please show it reverence even you have the right to free speech.
Having a right does not mean you can’t make a choice.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Flags have been used as common symbols in history for over 5,000 years, dating as far back as 3000 BC with a metal Iranian flag and flag representation in Egyptian tomb carvings.
Vexillology, or the study of flags, takes its literal meaning from the Latin word for “guide,” a meaning which continues to carry weight in the use of flags today. The word was created by Dr. Whitney Smith in 1957.
Flags have been used in battle for symbolizing wins and defeats, or to send signals to allies and enemies. In today’s society, every country in the world flies a representative flag, as well most states and territories within. Many families, organizations, and sports teams have also designed characteristic flags. Regardless of the venue or reason, a flag’s design is created under careful consideration, and the colors used in its foundation represent far greater ideals than what is found on a simple color wheel.
Color Symbolism in Flags
Colors within flags differ from country to country and state to state; the colors presented hold deep-seeded meaning and representation.
• Black: Often used to represent determination, ethnic heritage and/or the defeat of enemies. It can also be used as a symbol of death or mourning.
• White: Seen as a symbol of peace, purity and harmony, and has also been used to represent surrender in times of battle.
• Red: Stands for power, revolution, vibrancy and war (symbolic of bloodshed). Other meanings include courage and domination, while it can also be viewed as an alert of danger.
• Blue: Signifies determination, liberation, alertness and good fortune.
• Green: Often seen as a symbol of agricultural influence, as well as prosperity and fertility. It can also be viewed as youthfulness and hope.
• Yellow (or Gold): Has long been viewed as a symbol of wealth and energy, as in the sun. It can also be used to represent happiness.
• Orange: Viewed as representation of courage and sacrifice.
I think a reverence toward the U.S. flag starts with your parent’s perspective. Each generation is a little different. My parents went through the 2nd World War. They knew the sacrifice made to fight that war. Their patriotism was very high as they fought against what was a ruthless enemy. I learned my reverence for the flag from my parents. They did not fly the flag every day but always on appropriate holidays. My Dad was in the Navy in WWII as his Dad was in the Navy during WWI. They both served honorably. I’d like to think that I served similarly as them.
People that burn the flag because they don’t like some of what our government does makes no sense to me. I guess it is because the flag represents this country. That’s just the thing, it represents the United States of America not the government. The USA is the people including those that burn flags. I feel like it’s just a stunt to try and bring some attention to whatever they are upset about. I understand their right to protest, you can’t do that in some other countries without fearing for your life.
18 U.S. Code 700 says: “Whoever knowingly casts contempt upon any flag of the United States by publicly mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, or trampling upon it shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.”
This was in 1968.
Then the Supreme Court in its “infinite wisdom” came up with this 1989 ruling.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing a regular concurrence, spelled out his reasoning succinctly.
“The hard fact is that sometimes we must make decisions we do not like. We make them because they are right, right in the sense that the law and the Constitution, as we see them, compel the result,” Kennedy said. “And so great is our commitment to the process that, except in the rare case, we do not pause to express distaste for the result, perhaps for fear of undermining a valued principle that dictates the decision. This is one of those rare cases.
“Though symbols often are what we ourselves make of them, the flag is constant in expressing beliefs Americans share, beliefs in law and peace and that freedom which sustains the human spirit. The case here today forces recognition of the costs to which those beliefs commit us. It is poignant but fundamental that the flag protects those who hold it in contempt,” he said.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist, in his dissent said that, “the flag is not simply another ‘idea’ or ‘point of view’ competing for recognition in the marketplace of ideas.”
“I cannot agree that the First Amendment invalidates the Act of Congress, and the laws of 48 of the 50 States, which make criminal the public burning of the flag,” he said.
In reaction to the Johnson decision, which only applied to the state of Texas, Congress passed an anti-flag burning law called the Flag Protection Act of 1989.
But in 1990, the Court struck down that law as unconstitutional.
The case remains controversial to the present day, and Congress has, as recently as 2006, attempted to amend the Constitution to prohibit flag desecration, with the effort failing by one vote in the Senate.
My thoughts are this. We go to war over many things. We’ve been attacked and went to war. All wars are crimes. They should not exist. But there are some things we should defend and fight for. There are exceptions to the ideas the Constitution brings. We have “amended” the 2nd amendment because of machine guns. Why can we not “amend” the 1st amendment for our flag? I agree we should do very little to change our Constitution. But there are always small exceptions.
If you must protest consider other citizens. I know this is not usually what protestors consider.
My flag means a lot to me. It was a flag I served under and lost friends under. It was a flag I pledged my allegiance to as a child. I swore an oath under that flag as a Boy Scout to do my duty as an American. I swore an oath to defend this nation from all enemies, foreign and domestic under that flag. Please show it reverence even you have the right to free speech.
Having a right does not mean you can’t make a choice.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Looking Like A Hard Target
The way you present yourself makes a difference. Sounds like an article on job interviews doesn’t it? Well this is about personal security and preventing being a victim. How can your looks do this? I’m going to explain.
Several years ago we had two dogs. One was a Pit Bull. She was good sized and not loud. She was a horrible watch dog. But she was one of the most gentle dogs I’ve ever seen. She would be patient with children and loving to anyone. But she was a big Pit Bull! At the same time we also had a Border Collie. These are one of the breeds you see running around the back of a ranch pick-up barking their head off. One thing about Borders is that they are fiercely loyal and protective of their owners and families. When people would drive up to our house they would see the Collie barking her head off. But they were afraid of the tail-wagging Pit Bull! The UPS guy was told over and over again that the Pit Bull only wanted her head scratched and to beware of the Border Collie. She was not mean, but a great watch dog and very protective. But looks seem to be everything. Everyone was afraid of the Pit Bull.
The same goes for personal defense. You don’t have to be in perfect shape, be 6 foot 4 and look like an operator, but you can do things to look like a hard target.
Knowledge is Power. Knowledge reduces fear and builds confidence. Confidence is a non-victim quality. Read books and articles about self-defense. Do what you can to clarify your mindset of how confrontations happen, how to avoid them, and how to respond if you can't. The most dangerous attitude in a confrontation is the, "It will never happen to me Syndrome." The fact that you are reading this article already puts you well ahead in the "non-victim game."
Work On Yourself From the Inside Out. This article is more the straight forward aspects of reducing your victim potential. There are many other aspects associated to personality and psychology that impact your victim potential and your ability to deal effectively with a confrontation. This just scratches the surface of what we need to study and learn. We should do what we can to increase our self-esteem, mental toughness, motivation, etc.
Your potential of becoming a victim is influenced, in large part, to the unconscious signals you project to an assailant. Predators, whether deliberately or intuitively, form an opinion about you and how easy you will be to dominate and control. They are looking for a weak, submissive and unaware target that won't (or can't) fight back.
You can control the non-verbal signals you project by investing time in the study and practice of self-defense. Your projected body language will take care of itself. You can't fake it. You must earn it. This is not as difficult as you might think. If you really want to prevent or dramatically reduce the probability of becoming a victim, prepare yourself. Preparation equals prevention!
I suggest giving people a split-second glance so that you have put them on notice that you know they are there. You are talking with your body and telling them, “I see you. If you’re up to no good I know it, and I am not an easy target.” When a predator knows that you have seen him, he may look for another target because the element of surprise is lost.
If you get the feeling that you’re being watched or checked out, cast a casual glance in the direction of the person watching you. After looking at someone people have a tendency to look down or away. It signals intimidation. Once you glance at that person return your head to the forward position keeping your head on the level.
As you look around, your subconscious brain will be picking up details and information and transferring that knowledge to your conscious mind as feelings or to locations on your body as physical sensations. In other words, your intuition will be actively giving you feedback. If it picks up something unusual, you will definitely get an alert. Train yourself to hear it no matter how softly it may initially caution you.
Situational awareness is a notch up from simply noticing things, since it involves trying to anticipate what will occur. For instance, if you see a man who appears under the influence of a substance, consider crossing to the other side of the street as a precaution. You have not merely seen him but you have also taken steps to prevent a worse situation.
You have taken a critical step toward staying safe by being cognizant of the way you walk, by putting people around you on notice that you are aware of them and not scared (by maintaining your head on the level) and by trusting your gut instincts and taking precautionary steps through the use of situational awareness. These behaviors, interpreted by predators, send a strong message that you are not vulnerable. You are a hard target.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Several years ago we had two dogs. One was a Pit Bull. She was good sized and not loud. She was a horrible watch dog. But she was one of the most gentle dogs I’ve ever seen. She would be patient with children and loving to anyone. But she was a big Pit Bull! At the same time we also had a Border Collie. These are one of the breeds you see running around the back of a ranch pick-up barking their head off. One thing about Borders is that they are fiercely loyal and protective of their owners and families. When people would drive up to our house they would see the Collie barking her head off. But they were afraid of the tail-wagging Pit Bull! The UPS guy was told over and over again that the Pit Bull only wanted her head scratched and to beware of the Border Collie. She was not mean, but a great watch dog and very protective. But looks seem to be everything. Everyone was afraid of the Pit Bull.
The same goes for personal defense. You don’t have to be in perfect shape, be 6 foot 4 and look like an operator, but you can do things to look like a hard target.
Knowledge is Power. Knowledge reduces fear and builds confidence. Confidence is a non-victim quality. Read books and articles about self-defense. Do what you can to clarify your mindset of how confrontations happen, how to avoid them, and how to respond if you can't. The most dangerous attitude in a confrontation is the, "It will never happen to me Syndrome." The fact that you are reading this article already puts you well ahead in the "non-victim game."
Work On Yourself From the Inside Out. This article is more the straight forward aspects of reducing your victim potential. There are many other aspects associated to personality and psychology that impact your victim potential and your ability to deal effectively with a confrontation. This just scratches the surface of what we need to study and learn. We should do what we can to increase our self-esteem, mental toughness, motivation, etc.
Your potential of becoming a victim is influenced, in large part, to the unconscious signals you project to an assailant. Predators, whether deliberately or intuitively, form an opinion about you and how easy you will be to dominate and control. They are looking for a weak, submissive and unaware target that won't (or can't) fight back.
You can control the non-verbal signals you project by investing time in the study and practice of self-defense. Your projected body language will take care of itself. You can't fake it. You must earn it. This is not as difficult as you might think. If you really want to prevent or dramatically reduce the probability of becoming a victim, prepare yourself. Preparation equals prevention!
I suggest giving people a split-second glance so that you have put them on notice that you know they are there. You are talking with your body and telling them, “I see you. If you’re up to no good I know it, and I am not an easy target.” When a predator knows that you have seen him, he may look for another target because the element of surprise is lost.
If you get the feeling that you’re being watched or checked out, cast a casual glance in the direction of the person watching you. After looking at someone people have a tendency to look down or away. It signals intimidation. Once you glance at that person return your head to the forward position keeping your head on the level.
As you look around, your subconscious brain will be picking up details and information and transferring that knowledge to your conscious mind as feelings or to locations on your body as physical sensations. In other words, your intuition will be actively giving you feedback. If it picks up something unusual, you will definitely get an alert. Train yourself to hear it no matter how softly it may initially caution you.
Situational awareness is a notch up from simply noticing things, since it involves trying to anticipate what will occur. For instance, if you see a man who appears under the influence of a substance, consider crossing to the other side of the street as a precaution. You have not merely seen him but you have also taken steps to prevent a worse situation.
You have taken a critical step toward staying safe by being cognizant of the way you walk, by putting people around you on notice that you are aware of them and not scared (by maintaining your head on the level) and by trusting your gut instincts and taking precautionary steps through the use of situational awareness. These behaviors, interpreted by predators, send a strong message that you are not vulnerable. You are a hard target.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Complacancy and Concealed Carry
Today’s modern weapons are better built, with superior materials. I know I may get a lot of flak for this, but I’ve gotten a bit lazy when it comes to cleaning my guns. I shoot so often and so much that it’s been crazy to find time to do the “housekeeping” I should with my guns. I have noticed that they don’t seem to have the problem I’ve experienced years ago with older guns and cheaper ammo. Even some of the cheap ammunition is not very dirty. I’m not advocating NOT cleaning your guns, but I know that I don’t clean like I used to due to better gun materials and cleaner ammo.
As a concealed carrier there are many things I must do to keep myself in check. I know that when you do something every day you can become complacent. Working on federal installations my entire adult life I’ve come to see that complacency first hand. After month at certain level of security, people start to get complacent. Things need to be changed up. As a CC holder you too need to do things different to remain vigilant.
Here are some things to help you to “Change it up.”
Accessibility
If you ever have to defend yourself, there’s a really good chance you won’t see the danger coming, and will have literally just one or two seconds to react. What happens if you’re taken off guard, and need to draw your gun while quickly backing away from an attacker, pushed up against a wall, knocked to the ground, or sitting in a cramped booth at a restaurant? Does the draw stroke that you practice at the range from a relaxed standing position still work in these scenarios? How accessible would your gun be if an attacker’s first move was to step out from behind a parked car and shove you to the ground while you’re carrying an armful of grocery bags? These are the kind of situations when we’re most vulnerable and look like easy targets, so they’re the first kind of situations to consider when contemplating the viability of a given concealed carry method.
One of the best ways to counter the disadvantage of this kind of vulnerability is through practicing the draw stroke from various unconventional positions on a regular basis, both at the range and through dry-fire drills. But even if that’s too time consuming for you, at the very least you can spend some mental energy on contemplating the different body positions you might end up in when you have to draw.
I’m not suggesting you allow your everyday life to be consumed by contemplating every possible “what if” that comes to mind, because you’ll never be able to plan for every contingency. On the other hand, if you spend the majority of the day sitting down, for example, and your carry gun is in a holster behind your hip that you can’t reach when you’re in a chair, maybe it’s time to think about how you might work around that. Oftentimes, a solution is as simple as changing the direction you face your chair, but it could also mean a complete re-thinking of your carry method and gear. It just depends on your specific situation.
The important point is to at least give a little thought to the “what ifs” to uncover the most obvious flaws in your self-defense plans. There’s always more you can do to become better prepared, but this mental exercise requires very little effort compared to the potential benefits of the “I never thought of that!” moments.
I went through a shoot house once with this very drill. There were many scenarios presented and I had to draw and shoot from all kinds of situations. It was eye opening!
Maximize Capacity
Most people I talk to who carry every day seem to favor carrying a small gun the majority of the time. They may occasionally pack something like a Glock 19 or a 1911, but more common are sub-compact, single-stack semi-autos. With such limited capacity available in these guns, it’s really surprising to hear that many of these folks don’t top off their magazines after loading their gun for carry. If you’re stuck with only seven or eight rounds in the magazine, it just makes sense to endure the few extra seconds it takes to eject the magazine after you load the chamber, and fill the mag back up to full capacity to give you that +1 in your low-capacity pistol.
The best stats we have available suggest that, regardless of caliber, an average of 2-3 handgun rounds to a vital area are required to incapacitate an attacker. On top of that, it’s estimated that most people are only about 50% as accurate under the stress of combat as they are on the range. And that’s one of the more optimistic figures you’ll run into. So let’s suppose the magazine in your pistol has a six-round capacity and you don’t bother topping it off after you chamber a round. If you’re attacked and It takes three shots to stop the bad guy, you’re leaving exactly zero room for a “below average” kind of day for marksmanship. Oh yeah, and what if there are two bad guys?
I know not everyone can or will always carry a gun with higher capacity. I personally carry small guns sometimes myself. But it’s a calculated risk, and I know I’m making a compromise by doing so in order to carry a gun I can effectively and comfortably conceal. I certainly don’t want to compromise any further by failing to load the one extra round my gun can hold just because I couldn’t spare the extra second or two. Loading the extra round doesn’t cost anything in comfort or concealability — all I lose is a little time. There is simply no logic to the mentality that says, “I can’t conceal a gun with a 15 round mag, so I might as well just stick this 7-rounder in my gun and be done with it”. Eight is still a lot less than 15, but it might be the one extra round that makes all the difference in the world.
One quick word of caution: This is all assuming that your gun does not exhibit any reliability issues when loaded to +1 capacity. Make sure you test this at the range, and don’t carry +1 if it causes your pistol to experience any malfunctions that it would not have otherwise.
Weekly Inspection and Function Check
I try to do a quick function check of my carry gun every week, but just in case you’re wondering “is this really necessary?” I knew someone who was an experienced carrier but the revolver he had been carrying around for days was completely non-functional. The problem was internal, and would only have been made apparent by attempting to fire or dry-fire the gun. There are also plenty of reported cases of carry guns with corrosion damage from sweat, or pocket lint that could obstruct the action or barrel of a carry gun.
Even if your gun handles the neglect with no ill effects, what about the holster? A worn out holster may not hold the gun securely, or could even cause an accidental discharge. Ammo isn’t safe from wear and tear, either. A round that is repeatedly chambered and cleared day after day will start to exhibit problems, too. Check for bullet setback and deformity of the rim and case body.
There are plenty of resources online if you need a checklist for inspecting your carry gun’s basic mechanical function. Add to any of these lists a simple visual inspection of the firearm’s exterior to spot-check for dirt, debris, corrosion, or broken parts. It doesn’t take much to develop a fairly quick but comprehensive inspection routine. Performing this check regularly will reveal the vast majority of issues that could potentially disable your gun at the worst possible moment.
Besides, you really should shoot your carry gun. I shoot weekly my range gun, and my carry gun. Both fit the same holster and are easy to interchange. My carry gun is a sub-compact and my range gun is a compact. The sub is a little shorter on both ends but the same double stack as my range gun. I carry a sub-compact with a double stack capacity of 12 +1.
Carrying a lethal weapon is a great responsibility. We need to rise to that responsibility and act appropriately. Making sure you are safe and prepared to meet the threat is what concealed carry is all about.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
As a concealed carrier there are many things I must do to keep myself in check. I know that when you do something every day you can become complacent. Working on federal installations my entire adult life I’ve come to see that complacency first hand. After month at certain level of security, people start to get complacent. Things need to be changed up. As a CC holder you too need to do things different to remain vigilant.
Here are some things to help you to “Change it up.”
Accessibility
If you ever have to defend yourself, there’s a really good chance you won’t see the danger coming, and will have literally just one or two seconds to react. What happens if you’re taken off guard, and need to draw your gun while quickly backing away from an attacker, pushed up against a wall, knocked to the ground, or sitting in a cramped booth at a restaurant? Does the draw stroke that you practice at the range from a relaxed standing position still work in these scenarios? How accessible would your gun be if an attacker’s first move was to step out from behind a parked car and shove you to the ground while you’re carrying an armful of grocery bags? These are the kind of situations when we’re most vulnerable and look like easy targets, so they’re the first kind of situations to consider when contemplating the viability of a given concealed carry method.
One of the best ways to counter the disadvantage of this kind of vulnerability is through practicing the draw stroke from various unconventional positions on a regular basis, both at the range and through dry-fire drills. But even if that’s too time consuming for you, at the very least you can spend some mental energy on contemplating the different body positions you might end up in when you have to draw.
I’m not suggesting you allow your everyday life to be consumed by contemplating every possible “what if” that comes to mind, because you’ll never be able to plan for every contingency. On the other hand, if you spend the majority of the day sitting down, for example, and your carry gun is in a holster behind your hip that you can’t reach when you’re in a chair, maybe it’s time to think about how you might work around that. Oftentimes, a solution is as simple as changing the direction you face your chair, but it could also mean a complete re-thinking of your carry method and gear. It just depends on your specific situation.
The important point is to at least give a little thought to the “what ifs” to uncover the most obvious flaws in your self-defense plans. There’s always more you can do to become better prepared, but this mental exercise requires very little effort compared to the potential benefits of the “I never thought of that!” moments.
I went through a shoot house once with this very drill. There were many scenarios presented and I had to draw and shoot from all kinds of situations. It was eye opening!
Maximize Capacity
Most people I talk to who carry every day seem to favor carrying a small gun the majority of the time. They may occasionally pack something like a Glock 19 or a 1911, but more common are sub-compact, single-stack semi-autos. With such limited capacity available in these guns, it’s really surprising to hear that many of these folks don’t top off their magazines after loading their gun for carry. If you’re stuck with only seven or eight rounds in the magazine, it just makes sense to endure the few extra seconds it takes to eject the magazine after you load the chamber, and fill the mag back up to full capacity to give you that +1 in your low-capacity pistol.
The best stats we have available suggest that, regardless of caliber, an average of 2-3 handgun rounds to a vital area are required to incapacitate an attacker. On top of that, it’s estimated that most people are only about 50% as accurate under the stress of combat as they are on the range. And that’s one of the more optimistic figures you’ll run into. So let’s suppose the magazine in your pistol has a six-round capacity and you don’t bother topping it off after you chamber a round. If you’re attacked and It takes three shots to stop the bad guy, you’re leaving exactly zero room for a “below average” kind of day for marksmanship. Oh yeah, and what if there are two bad guys?
I know not everyone can or will always carry a gun with higher capacity. I personally carry small guns sometimes myself. But it’s a calculated risk, and I know I’m making a compromise by doing so in order to carry a gun I can effectively and comfortably conceal. I certainly don’t want to compromise any further by failing to load the one extra round my gun can hold just because I couldn’t spare the extra second or two. Loading the extra round doesn’t cost anything in comfort or concealability — all I lose is a little time. There is simply no logic to the mentality that says, “I can’t conceal a gun with a 15 round mag, so I might as well just stick this 7-rounder in my gun and be done with it”. Eight is still a lot less than 15, but it might be the one extra round that makes all the difference in the world.
One quick word of caution: This is all assuming that your gun does not exhibit any reliability issues when loaded to +1 capacity. Make sure you test this at the range, and don’t carry +1 if it causes your pistol to experience any malfunctions that it would not have otherwise.
Weekly Inspection and Function Check
I try to do a quick function check of my carry gun every week, but just in case you’re wondering “is this really necessary?” I knew someone who was an experienced carrier but the revolver he had been carrying around for days was completely non-functional. The problem was internal, and would only have been made apparent by attempting to fire or dry-fire the gun. There are also plenty of reported cases of carry guns with corrosion damage from sweat, or pocket lint that could obstruct the action or barrel of a carry gun.
Even if your gun handles the neglect with no ill effects, what about the holster? A worn out holster may not hold the gun securely, or could even cause an accidental discharge. Ammo isn’t safe from wear and tear, either. A round that is repeatedly chambered and cleared day after day will start to exhibit problems, too. Check for bullet setback and deformity of the rim and case body.
There are plenty of resources online if you need a checklist for inspecting your carry gun’s basic mechanical function. Add to any of these lists a simple visual inspection of the firearm’s exterior to spot-check for dirt, debris, corrosion, or broken parts. It doesn’t take much to develop a fairly quick but comprehensive inspection routine. Performing this check regularly will reveal the vast majority of issues that could potentially disable your gun at the worst possible moment.
Besides, you really should shoot your carry gun. I shoot weekly my range gun, and my carry gun. Both fit the same holster and are easy to interchange. My carry gun is a sub-compact and my range gun is a compact. The sub is a little shorter on both ends but the same double stack as my range gun. I carry a sub-compact with a double stack capacity of 12 +1.
Carrying a lethal weapon is a great responsibility. We need to rise to that responsibility and act appropriately. Making sure you are safe and prepared to meet the threat is what concealed carry is all about.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Friday, June 8, 2018
Your D Day: Preparation and Situational Awareness
What is your D Day? A few days ago it was the 74th anniversary of D Day, the invasion to liberate Europe. This was the biggest seaborne invasion in history. This was the beginning of the end of World War II. This invasion was planned in 1943 to be carried out in 1944. So much planning, secrecy, mis-information given to the enemy, went into this that many things could have gone wrong but did not. What about you D Day? What are you planning for?
There was a popular show on the National Geographic Society’s cable channel called “Doomsday Preppers.” This show coined the phrase “doomsday prepper” because the producers had no idea what being prepared is. All they wanted was entertainment. And entertain they did. I watched every episode. I was caught up in the preparedness. Some of the people they spot lighted looked like idiots and some were just normal people preparing. The way to know what a joke this show is, is from the preppers themselves. For instance, Christopher Nyerges. On the show they said Chris is,
"…prepping for a killer earthquake that could completely flatten the city of L.A." Every real prepper knows that’s not all Chris does. He is a true expert in primitive living. Most of what he does is because he’s made his skills his life. He has a lifestyle that fits his “prepping” skills. None of the people, well maybe most of the people, are not nuts who are prepping for a zombie apocalypse. They are just regular people who feel they should prepare in certain areas. If you live in California you may feel you need to prepare for earthquakes. If you live on the Mississippi river you may want to prepare for a flood. This preparation is reasonable and even encouraged by government agencies. Who knows? There is also the training aide that I’ve used many times. I call it the Titanic chamber theory.
The Titanic was perceived to be “unsinkable”. It was 25 stories high, 900 feet long, and weighed 46,000 tons. It had 16 chambers to keep it afloat. It could stay afloat if 4 chambers were breeched. As the Titanic hit the iceberg the Captain was trying to miss it. But by doing so, 5 chambers were breeched. Nearly 300 feet of the hull was punctured. It was that 5th chamber that did in the Titanic.
In preparedness there is a 5th chamber, something that you feel you can’t live without. That is what you need to take extra care to prepare for. One of my 5th chambers (sometimes you may have more than 1) is a shower every day. So I have provided for that in my preparation. I have solar showers, extra water storage, and a two years supply of soap. I’ve also built an outdoor shower to accommodate a summer shower. You have to decide what you can’t live without. Is it chocolate? Small chocolate bars can be canned in canning jars and kept for several years. Whatever you decide you would not have in an emergency or extreme situation, you should prepare for. Planning is key to your D Day. The invasion of Normandy was planned to extract Germany from Europe. It was successful but it had a large cost.
You must plan on not only your preparations but your safety. Last Memorial I reflected on a battle I was involved in that was intense at times, but one that we were well prepared for. We did lose a few brothers, but considering being outnumbered, we were ready to defeat the enemy. We had been attacked by surprise but because of plans in place and practiced, when the surprise came it was much less of a problem. For you it may be a robbery, or maybe a home invasion. Being surprised does not mean you will lose. It only means that the timing is a surprise.
On occasion I work late. I find myself needing gas or stopping at a convenience store at an early hour of the morning. This happened the other night. As I walked into the convenience store I looked through the window to assess what was going on inside the store. I couldn’t see the clerk because of the signs in the window. As I got closer to the door I had an uneasy feeling. I stopped and quickly returned to my vehicle and decided on a different store. The second store was well lit, I could see the clerk clearly and even the other customers in the store. As I walked into the store I did not have the same uneasy feeling as before and completed my purpose for stopping. I’m not here to debate my instincts, or even divine intervention on my part. I’m only referring to this experience because there are many people who walk into a store or even a bank in the middle of a robbery. Had they used a little situational awareness, or even listened to their gut feeling, they could have avoided putting themselves in danger. I don’t live in a big city, or a high crime area. Stores don’t get robbed very often where I live. But many people live in a large metropolitan area that may not have high crime all the time, but at 2 in the morning the chances for crime may increase. Being aware of your surroundings is very important. Most people walk through a parking lot with their nose in a cell phone not paying much attention to what is going on around them. They make themselves prime targets. Unless you are Chuck Norris or you are an experienced concealed weapon license holder you may need to pay better attention. To be honest with you, Chuck Norris or an experienced CW holder would not be oblivious to their surroundings. We must train ourselves to be more like them. How many stories have you read where someone was robbed “in broad daylight”? It happens if the victim lets it happen. Most criminals are not hardened. They commit crimes of opportunity. Who would they rather stick up, the person engrossed in their cell phone in a deserted parking garage? Or instead would they think twice about approaching an alert person in a busy part of the mall parking lot? Do you put across someone ready for anything and confident in their posture and stride or someone so timid that a car alarm would scare the daylights out of them? The way we look to others may determine whether we look like “an easy mark” or not. Also, avoiding drawing a weapon is always at the top of my list. Like the “strange feeling” convenience store, I try to avoid places or people that may be a problem for me. But if thrust into a situation I try to have a plan in place. Something like, “If he does this, I’ll do that.” Most of us won’t be a victim of crime, but the more careful we are, the better our chances of never being a statistic. Thinking it will never happen to us is a recipe for disaster.
I was trained to be careful of the decoy, the distraction. One time I was with my family and we witnessed a car wreck almost right in front of us. As the officer was getting reports from other family members who watched the accident he came to me. I had no idea what happened. I was right next to everyone else but when I heard the loud noise I looked behind me. By the time I looked at the accident it had already happened. I was not a witness. I seem to do that a lot especially in parking lots. A car alarm goes off and I’m looking everywhere but the direction of the alarm. Someday that may not be a good thing because I’ll need to see something coming! But when I hear a loud noise I instantly think it’s a distraction and I want to see what is really coming. You should develop something like this but probably a more happy medium.
Your D Day could be anytime. Preparedness is important in many aspects of our lives. But very important in our security plan.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
There was a popular show on the National Geographic Society’s cable channel called “Doomsday Preppers.” This show coined the phrase “doomsday prepper” because the producers had no idea what being prepared is. All they wanted was entertainment. And entertain they did. I watched every episode. I was caught up in the preparedness. Some of the people they spot lighted looked like idiots and some were just normal people preparing. The way to know what a joke this show is, is from the preppers themselves. For instance, Christopher Nyerges. On the show they said Chris is,
"…prepping for a killer earthquake that could completely flatten the city of L.A." Every real prepper knows that’s not all Chris does. He is a true expert in primitive living. Most of what he does is because he’s made his skills his life. He has a lifestyle that fits his “prepping” skills. None of the people, well maybe most of the people, are not nuts who are prepping for a zombie apocalypse. They are just regular people who feel they should prepare in certain areas. If you live in California you may feel you need to prepare for earthquakes. If you live on the Mississippi river you may want to prepare for a flood. This preparation is reasonable and even encouraged by government agencies. Who knows? There is also the training aide that I’ve used many times. I call it the Titanic chamber theory.
The Titanic was perceived to be “unsinkable”. It was 25 stories high, 900 feet long, and weighed 46,000 tons. It had 16 chambers to keep it afloat. It could stay afloat if 4 chambers were breeched. As the Titanic hit the iceberg the Captain was trying to miss it. But by doing so, 5 chambers were breeched. Nearly 300 feet of the hull was punctured. It was that 5th chamber that did in the Titanic.
In preparedness there is a 5th chamber, something that you feel you can’t live without. That is what you need to take extra care to prepare for. One of my 5th chambers (sometimes you may have more than 1) is a shower every day. So I have provided for that in my preparation. I have solar showers, extra water storage, and a two years supply of soap. I’ve also built an outdoor shower to accommodate a summer shower. You have to decide what you can’t live without. Is it chocolate? Small chocolate bars can be canned in canning jars and kept for several years. Whatever you decide you would not have in an emergency or extreme situation, you should prepare for. Planning is key to your D Day. The invasion of Normandy was planned to extract Germany from Europe. It was successful but it had a large cost.
You must plan on not only your preparations but your safety. Last Memorial I reflected on a battle I was involved in that was intense at times, but one that we were well prepared for. We did lose a few brothers, but considering being outnumbered, we were ready to defeat the enemy. We had been attacked by surprise but because of plans in place and practiced, when the surprise came it was much less of a problem. For you it may be a robbery, or maybe a home invasion. Being surprised does not mean you will lose. It only means that the timing is a surprise.
On occasion I work late. I find myself needing gas or stopping at a convenience store at an early hour of the morning. This happened the other night. As I walked into the convenience store I looked through the window to assess what was going on inside the store. I couldn’t see the clerk because of the signs in the window. As I got closer to the door I had an uneasy feeling. I stopped and quickly returned to my vehicle and decided on a different store. The second store was well lit, I could see the clerk clearly and even the other customers in the store. As I walked into the store I did not have the same uneasy feeling as before and completed my purpose for stopping. I’m not here to debate my instincts, or even divine intervention on my part. I’m only referring to this experience because there are many people who walk into a store or even a bank in the middle of a robbery. Had they used a little situational awareness, or even listened to their gut feeling, they could have avoided putting themselves in danger. I don’t live in a big city, or a high crime area. Stores don’t get robbed very often where I live. But many people live in a large metropolitan area that may not have high crime all the time, but at 2 in the morning the chances for crime may increase. Being aware of your surroundings is very important. Most people walk through a parking lot with their nose in a cell phone not paying much attention to what is going on around them. They make themselves prime targets. Unless you are Chuck Norris or you are an experienced concealed weapon license holder you may need to pay better attention. To be honest with you, Chuck Norris or an experienced CW holder would not be oblivious to their surroundings. We must train ourselves to be more like them. How many stories have you read where someone was robbed “in broad daylight”? It happens if the victim lets it happen. Most criminals are not hardened. They commit crimes of opportunity. Who would they rather stick up, the person engrossed in their cell phone in a deserted parking garage? Or instead would they think twice about approaching an alert person in a busy part of the mall parking lot? Do you put across someone ready for anything and confident in their posture and stride or someone so timid that a car alarm would scare the daylights out of them? The way we look to others may determine whether we look like “an easy mark” or not. Also, avoiding drawing a weapon is always at the top of my list. Like the “strange feeling” convenience store, I try to avoid places or people that may be a problem for me. But if thrust into a situation I try to have a plan in place. Something like, “If he does this, I’ll do that.” Most of us won’t be a victim of crime, but the more careful we are, the better our chances of never being a statistic. Thinking it will never happen to us is a recipe for disaster.
I was trained to be careful of the decoy, the distraction. One time I was with my family and we witnessed a car wreck almost right in front of us. As the officer was getting reports from other family members who watched the accident he came to me. I had no idea what happened. I was right next to everyone else but when I heard the loud noise I looked behind me. By the time I looked at the accident it had already happened. I was not a witness. I seem to do that a lot especially in parking lots. A car alarm goes off and I’m looking everywhere but the direction of the alarm. Someday that may not be a good thing because I’ll need to see something coming! But when I hear a loud noise I instantly think it’s a distraction and I want to see what is really coming. You should develop something like this but probably a more happy medium.
Your D Day could be anytime. Preparedness is important in many aspects of our lives. But very important in our security plan.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Overwatch: Drill of the Month (Firedrill)
Fire Plan
One of the most important (they’re ALL important!) things you can do is to have a family fire plan. How to get out of your house on fire. Who is responsible for what? Here are some thoughts to get you going on your own plan.
Think about how you will escape from every room, starting with bedrooms
If possible, plan two escape routes from each room.
Your second route may be to go out a window, or stand at a window where firefighters can see you.
Decide where you will meet outside
Plan everyone’s role. Who will make sure children get out?
Plan for special needs. Do you have:
Young children?
Older adults?
People with temporary or permanent disabilities?
Do you ever have overnight guests?
Share your plan with babysitters and frequent visitors.
Keep your floors, hallways and stairs clear of clutter.
Fire extinguishers require planning too.
Practice your home fire drill.
Plan It
You can come up with a plan over dinner. Ask your spouse or oldest kid where they think the family should meet outside if you ever have to run out. A tree? Mailbox? Neighbor's porch? Pick a designated meeting spot. Then talk, in front of the kids, about the best doors (plural) to leave from. Maybe out the front door is best, but tell them that if it doesn't look safe, try the back door or garage door next. Ideally you should have two ways to escape from every room of your home. Are you the kind of mom who likes to draw things out? Draw out a worksheet to use while you discuss the best routes.
Practice It
It's important to actually practice a household fire drill to make sure you can all get out in 120 seconds flat. Hit the test on the smoke alarm so kids hear how it sounds. (Scary and awful, but there you go.) Show kids how to crawl low if there's smoke, and have them practice unlatching a door and going out. Visit the designated meeting spot, together. Remind kids that firemen may look crazy with all their gear on but that they are helpers.
Prepare for It
Remember "stop, drop, and roll" from your childhood? It's still fun to practice and important for every family member to know in case clothes accidentally catch fire. If you have a baby, they're exempt from these drills, of course. But you and your spouse should discuss who is in charge of grabbing the baby in the event that there's a fire and you're both home.
Practice, in most things, keeps you current and realistic in what you are preparing for. I would suggest a fire drill every 6 months. I would also suggest fire extinguisher training annually. Being safe from fire is something everyone can get behind.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
One of the most important (they’re ALL important!) things you can do is to have a family fire plan. How to get out of your house on fire. Who is responsible for what? Here are some thoughts to get you going on your own plan.
Think about how you will escape from every room, starting with bedrooms
If possible, plan two escape routes from each room.
Your second route may be to go out a window, or stand at a window where firefighters can see you.
Decide where you will meet outside
Plan everyone’s role. Who will make sure children get out?
Plan for special needs. Do you have:
Young children?
Older adults?
People with temporary or permanent disabilities?
Do you ever have overnight guests?
Share your plan with babysitters and frequent visitors.
Keep your floors, hallways and stairs clear of clutter.
Fire extinguishers require planning too.
Practice your home fire drill.
Plan It
You can come up with a plan over dinner. Ask your spouse or oldest kid where they think the family should meet outside if you ever have to run out. A tree? Mailbox? Neighbor's porch? Pick a designated meeting spot. Then talk, in front of the kids, about the best doors (plural) to leave from. Maybe out the front door is best, but tell them that if it doesn't look safe, try the back door or garage door next. Ideally you should have two ways to escape from every room of your home. Are you the kind of mom who likes to draw things out? Draw out a worksheet to use while you discuss the best routes.
Practice It
It's important to actually practice a household fire drill to make sure you can all get out in 120 seconds flat. Hit the test on the smoke alarm so kids hear how it sounds. (Scary and awful, but there you go.) Show kids how to crawl low if there's smoke, and have them practice unlatching a door and going out. Visit the designated meeting spot, together. Remind kids that firemen may look crazy with all their gear on but that they are helpers.
Prepare for It
Remember "stop, drop, and roll" from your childhood? It's still fun to practice and important for every family member to know in case clothes accidentally catch fire. If you have a baby, they're exempt from these drills, of course. But you and your spouse should discuss who is in charge of grabbing the baby in the event that there's a fire and you're both home.
Practice, in most things, keeps you current and realistic in what you are preparing for. I would suggest a fire drill every 6 months. I would also suggest fire extinguisher training annually. Being safe from fire is something everyone can get behind.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
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