Concealed Carry: 7 Ways

 

According to Pew Pew Tactical there are 7 ways to carry a pistol. (“7 Ways to Carry Concealed for Every Type of Handgun” by Brandon Harville, December 14, 2017)

I think he is right.  I’d like to mention these 7 ways for you to consider.  Refer to Pew Pew Tactical for more details.  I just want to comment, from my opinion and experience, on each one. 

I started to carry in the 80’s.  I’ve tried just about every type of holster and am open to more ideas or technology.  In 1988 I experienced a combat situation.  I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD and experience hyper vigilance.  Sometimes, I worry that it will become paranoia.  But because of this hyper vigilance I’ve felt the need to carry a weapon everywhere I go.  So, I am interested in the 7 ways to conceal carry.

Inside the waistband holster. (IWB)

This of course is retaining the gun on a holster inside the waistband of pants.  I did this when I had a waist.  Since I’ve aged some, I need to work harder to keep a waistband.  This keeps your gun close for easy access.  This way also is easier in hot weather where you wear less clothing.

Outside the waistband (OWB)

I used to love this method because I could carry a full-size gun.  I like 1911’s but haven’t carried (or owned) one in some time.  This method challenges ways to conceal.

 

Bellyband (BB)

This is worn under a shirt next to the belly as the title suggests.  It is an extremely concealable method.  Access and versatility are all built into a band.  It carries your gun close to your body so a draw may be more difficult.  There are usually extra pockets for magazines or a flashlight or even a cellphone.  If you’re a runner this can be a good choice.  A belly band is very versatile.  You can put it in any position around your body.

 

Shoulder harness (SH)

If you watched TV-cop shows from the 70’s and 80’s you would be very aware of these holsters.  Every detective carried his gun this way.  This holster is great for bigger or full-sized guns.  Dirty Harry wore one of these holsters when he carried “a 44 Magnum and will blow your head clean off.”

Shoulder holsters come in three styles named after the way the gun rests in the holster:

• Angled – muzzle is angled upwards, making it relatively quick to draw.
• Horizontal – gun is drawn by pulling it straight across the body.  While it’s faster than the vertical, it works best with guns with short barrels.
• Vertical – muzzle is pointed down.  Generally, it is the slowest way to draw but is the most accommodating for large-sized guns.

Pouch Carry

How do you feel about fanny-packs?  That’s what these are.  You can carry a lot more than a gun and magazine, but you’ll have to deal with jerks like me teasing you! 

Alos, you are basically open carrying.  Most people would not think that you have a gun in your pouch, but there is always the chance.  Fanny-packs are just unusual enough to bring unwanted attention to you.  If you do use one of these make sure any holster or gun name is not visible  This is a giveaway.

Ankle carry

Lots of law enforcement carry a backup gun in an ankle holster.  It is very concealable. As long as you wear the right loose-fitting pants with a leg loose enough to lift quickly to get to the weapon.

 

Pocket carry

I like this mode of concealed carry.  It is not conducive to tight fitting clothing.  It is great for smaller calibers like .25, .32, or .380’s.  I do have a 9mm that is a sub-compact and fits into a pocket holster really well.  Make sure you use an actual holster.  Don’t just put it in your pocket.  It will move around enough to not be oriented to draw.  I also make it a point to only carry my pocket holster in that particular pocket and nothing else.

 

There are many options for concealed carry and these are a few.

Find a technique and holster that works for you.  Carry.  Carry everywhere you can legally carry.

 

Semper Paratus

Check 6

Burn

Becoming A Small Arms Instructor

 Lately I’ve had questions about becoming and being an instructor.  I wrote this post many years ago but it answers many of the questions I’ve been asked.

So here it is:

 

16 AUG 2016

Many years ago, I had an opportunity to train military pilots in how to shoot a pistol. After going to a gun show last weekend, I was reminded of some of my experiences training pilots.
I love to teach about guns and shooting. I love to learn about guns and shooting. Regardless of my years of experience and age I know that there are many, many, many things I don’t know. Shooting is very personal. You can teach basics of grip, stance, breathing, trigger control, etc. but it really can come down to personal style. I’ve seen people shoot well in ways that if it was me, I could never hit the broad side of a barn with those techniques. When I was younger, I played a lot of basketball. I was an adequate player. I remember watching Rick Barry shoot free throws underhanded. Underhanded in the NBA! We called that “granny” style when I was a kid. He led the NBA in scoring for many seasons and when he retired in 1980 held the record for free throw percentage with .900. Learning the basics and finding a successful way of doing things is not wrong or bad, it’s just what works for you!
As I was at this gun show looking at guns I ran into many personalities. Some were very friendly and did not talk down to anyone. Others were know-it-alls with a narrow view of what is and is not. As I was talking with a particular guy we did not agree on a particular point. I tried to explain that this particular shooting style has been adopted successfully by many young shooters. He insisted it was wrong and that with his “experience and vast knowledge” of shooting that he knew this particular point. I told him I disagreed and as we talked, we realized that many years before he and I competed against each other. We figured out a particular match that I used the style we were disputing and beat him and won the match. We should always be careful about “what we know.”
Anyway, in teaching pilots to shoot I ran into some real hot shot go-getters who were arrogant and overconfident. They thought they knew best in how to shoot without yet mastering the basics. Often, they would fail their qualifications, which would stop them from flying. Flying was their lives, and I was the cause of their not being able to fly. It wasn’t until they had been humbled a little, would acknowledge some weakness, accept constructive criticism, and make the corrections that would re-qualify them.
There are few jobs in the world as influential as a firearms or combat instructor.
Unlike any other subject, the teaching of dangerous or even lethal force carries a responsibility like no other topic. Add to that the fact that students in these courses could be called on to use the information provided within hours. This is a serious dose of reality and a reminder that lives can be at stake.
Teaching can appear to be an easy gig. You just stand there and tell people how to do things. While this is an oversimplification of the attitude, it is essentially true. Few will see the methodology used to pass on this critical information in a relatively short amount of time. While the core of this section could fill an encyclopedia, there are certain areas we can focus on, and they are known as the three “P’s.”
The Three P’s
Presentation of the given material must follow a logical and methodic path. Skills and principles should build successively on each other until the student has been exposed to
multiple layers of information. A great way of putting it: Make the pieces of information bite sized so they are easily taken in.
Professionalism has become a cliché in much of life, but it is a cornerstone to building solid shooters. Unless it is a military course, boot camp is over. Yelling and screaming accomplishes nothing other than boosting your ego. Treating students as professionals is the best way to develop a solid product. Be firm, consistent and develop a strong rapport with students.
Performance is the final part of this trilogy. As a professional instructor, you should be able to do anything you ask your students to do cold. This means that, without any warm-up, you should be able to walk to the line and perfectly execute whatever it is that you are teaching. This is a standard that I hold myself to, as does every other serious professional in the training business.
Keep Your Edge
The refinement of technique and philosophy should be at the forefront of every instructor’s mind. Times change, weapons improve, and society evolves. What was very good information 20 years ago can in many cases now be antiquated. It is important to make sure you are teaching students the most current and relevant information available. To do that, you must continue to train yourself. We need to park our egos and put our “student hats” on as much as possible. Seek out training by a variety of respected instructors around the country. While there are many big names on this list, do not be quick to dismiss smaller instructors who quietly provide world-class training. In many cases these instructors will be much more current in related techniques and tactics.
These skills are perishable and must be maintained. Even beyond taking part in other courses, master instructors need to practice the craft that they are teaching. Once again, we will look at one of the “P” principles: performance. This does not happen magically. It can only be managed through serious training and repetition. Holding yourself to a high standard will not only put you in elite company, but it will also make you a strong role model for students in your classes.
Be Constructive
There are many schools of thought on teaching methodologies. Regardless of what style is being used, it is essential to provide the students with feedback. If your students are professionals to begin with, you will rarely gain any ground with them by being demeaning and loud. These people have already been through their basics and should be treated as such. As you work the class through drills, you must provide students with feedback on their performance and how it rates in comparison to what you require of them. Make corrections and keep them on track for success. Be quick to praise and slow to punish. The mistake you just saw a student make may have been the only one they made up to that point, but you happened to be there to witness it. If it becomes a pattern, make corrections. Students undeniably respond better to positive contact than negative. Do not confuse this with coddling students, which is equally destructive and builds a false sense of confidence. But, in simple terms, let them know when they are doing it right. Set high expectations and show the students how to meet those expectations.
Run It Right
When you run a training course, you must be serious about what you are doing. Having set beginning and end times as well as lunch breaks is essential to building a sense of professionalism in the class. Once again, you are setting the standards that many of these students will emulate. Being late to class, having extended lunches or running late is simply unacceptable. A phrase I consistently live by is, “If you are five minutes early, then you are ten minutes late.” Instructors need to be in the class long before the first student arrives. This not only sets a good example, but it also allows the instructor time to get everything set up for the class. It can also prove to be a very useful time to get your head in the game. While some will just “wing it,” you will be better served by taking time to review the curriculum and revisit your game plan to get it covered.
Follow Up
Take time to follow up with your students when possible. More importantly, make yourself available for questions after your students move out into the training field. You can be an exceptional resource for them in dealing with challenging students and situations. By offering this assistance, you once again put yourself at a level of professionalism that can be rare in today’s world. More importantly, you could end up helping an instructor teach a student that may have never succeeded without you.
What you say as an instructor matters. While you may think it is an off-the-cuff remark, people will remember it. The standards that instructors are held to are much higher than anyone, and rightly so. The consequences for poor instruction can cost someone their life. Be thoughtful and humble about your techniques. Always remember that a student might be called on to fight for their life with your training. This should never be forgotten.
Last but not least is safety. This is what I do. I have a chart with the safety rules that I go over when I start the class. I have the students repeat the rules several times. These are the rules I use:
1. All guns are always loaded. Act accordingly with them.
2. Never let the muzzle cover (point at) anything which you are not willing to destroy
3. Keep your finger OFF the trigger and out of the trigger guard until ready to shoot
4. Always know your target and beyond
I talk about those rules a little. I explain that rule 1 is the most important. The other 3 rules are in support of rule 1:
“Why do you keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot?” “Because rule 1.”
“Why do you keep rule 2?” “Because of rule 1.”
Then randomly through the class I “quiz” students on the rules. I make sure that during that class they know, and follow, all 4 rules. Some instructors add rules to this. I do not. I want to keep it as simple as possible so they can actually remember and apply these rules. I have certain policies that I emphasize. Use the proper ammo. Maintain your guns. Never shoot and drink. Use eye and ear protection always. These are some of the policies I use, and some can be linked to the safety rules. “Always keep your weapon pointed downrange because of what rule?...”
“Rule 1 and 4.”
To help them to understand the seriousness of the rules I give what I call the “3 Strikes plus.” I will give you 3 infractions of the rules, after the 3rd you’re out of the class. The plus is up to the range safety officer or instructor. If I deem your violation to be of such serious disregard or negligence, you may be asked to leave right away without discussion. Generally, rules 2 and 3 are the ones that are broken, which of course breaks rule 1. If I see someone breaking a rule with total disregard for their or their fellow students, I will expel. I’m not a jerk about it, and I’m not crazy strict, but sometimes you see people who are adults, and I know they know better, being stupid and dangerous. In my time of instructing, I’ve only ousted two people for not being safe. Only a few more have received 2 strikes, and many have received 1 strike. Of the 2 expelled, 1 thought they knew it all and the other just didn’t care. I was actually caught once breaking rule 3. In my defense I had been handed a gun unsafely and was trying to manipulate it to be safe.
I try to inject as much humor as I can into the class. I’m serious when it is serious but having a professional humor puts people at ease and makes them want to stay.
Being an instructor of something that enables others to take care of themselves is very fulfilling.
If you're interested in becoming an instructor contact the NRA. They have a very thorough training program for instructors.

Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn

Complacency Kills!

 This is a past post (yes, I'm THAT lazy).  But I wanted to remind you that being armed does not mean you are safe.  It does not mean you will not be attacked.  It only means you have a means of defense.  Being complacent is a state of mind.  Maybe it's arrogance.  Maybe it's over confidence.  But it's always, always foolish.  Complacency kills!  

From a 7/30/2018 post

At approximately 6:30 pm on May 25, 1983, Schaufelberger was assassinated on the grounds of the Central American University in San Salvador.
Lieutenant Commander Schaufelberger was picking up his girlfriend and had established a predictable pattern. Although his vehicle was armored, the air-conditioning was not functional, and he had removed the driver’s side window. There was speculation that the A/C had been sabotaged. As he waited in his car for his girlfriend, three men exited a Volkswagen Microbus and approached his car. One stopped his girlfriend from approaching, one established security for the ambush, and one ran to the driver’s side window. He then shot Schaufelberger in the head four times with a revolver, killing him instantly. The assassination team then got back in their VW and left. RIP Lieutenant Commander Schaufelberger.
The victims of the 2012 Aurora Theater shooting were attending a screening of a highly-anticipated action film at an upscale suburban mall. The victims of the 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino were gunned down while attending a work-related Christmas luncheon. In September 2017, congregants in Antioch, TN, found themselves under fire while leaving a church service. In November 2017, eight people enjoying a beautiful fall day on a well-traveled public bike path in New York City were murdered by an Islamic terrorist who ran them over with a truck.
Complacency kills.
Statistically speaking, the majority of concealed carriers will never need to display, much less discharge, their defensive firearms. That is a good thing. This is as it should be. What is not good is how often knowledge of this leads many to complacency. The normalcy bias whispers how uncomfortable concealed carry can be; how we have to change our clothes or actions to prevent printing; how foolishly paranoid we might feel, carrying at mundane events or performing simple chores.
Here are some common sayings:
"I stay out of bad neighborhoods and don't associate with criminals. I'll be fine." "I'm just making a quick stop, I'll be back in five minutes." "I've been there a hundred times, and nothing's ever happened." We get complacent.

In November 2017 there was another senseless act of murder, but with a slightly different twist. In Thornton, CO, a man walked into a Wal-Mart and, by present accounts, randomly gunned down three shoppers in close proximity, then abruptly fled. It soon came to light that many patrons – some of whom were undoubtedly "just making a quick, five-minute stop" – that drew their own firearms at the sound of the gunshots, prepared to defend themselves and others. No one knows if that is the reason the attacker fled, but I imagine those that were armed were grateful.
Don’t be complacent.
I had a track coach in Junior High who used to have us run two miles as a warm-up before practice. We did not run on the track, but around the whole property where the stadium was, on the fence line. He used to tell us, “I know when you’re way at the far corner you’ll be tempted to cut across making your run a little easier. I can’t see you over there but I know you will be tempted. Don’t do it. It’s a little thing, but don’t do it.” I don’t think I can remember any of us cutting our run down in any form.
This is my plea to you. Carry always. Don’t get complacent. Be alert. Have situational awareness. When you are tempted to be lax or not carry or you think “Nothing has ever happened at this place,” don’t get complacent.
I work on a federal installation. We have been in the same Force Protection for a few years now. It would be easy to get lax, to not be vigilant or thorough. That’s when the unthinkable happens.
Be vigilant. Fight complacency. It kills.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn

A Realistic and Effective Training Program For You!

 I have developed a plan for my shooting training. Over the years this plan has changed but for the most part it covers the areas I know I need to work in. It looks strange to the onlooker because if I ever get into a civilian firefight, I'm convinced I will be shooting from odd angles and different cover. I'm also convinced I probably won't ever be in a firefight as a civilian, but it is always possible. If you ever defend yourself with a gun, there's a good chance you won't see it coming. You may have only a few seconds to react. What will happen if you're attacked off guard and need to draw and shoot backing away from someone? Or maybe you're against a wall, on the ground, or in a restaurant booth? Having some experience in drawing under these and other circumstances would be wise to practice. One of the best ways to counter this disadvantage is through practice. This practice does not have to be all live fire. Dry firing is also a good training tool. Even if this type of training is not possible for you in terms of time or a place where you can do more than just stand in a lane and shoot at paper. Playing the "what if" game is mentally preparing you for crazy defense scenarios. Dry fire is a very good way to create the muscle memory needed to practice and develop a versatile shooting style. Remember that you will more than likely not shoot the first shot in any fight. The criminal or terrorist will start the fight. 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 must 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 most 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.

When you train concentrate on the dangerous things.  Understanding and finding real cover can be lifesaving.  Bullets will go through all but the solid things.  Car doors, furniture, counters are some things that will not stop a bullet.  A vehicle engine blocks, solid brick walls, and trees will stop a bullet.  But you must be able to access this quickly and move to it.

Reloading is also a vulnerable time. Practice using dummy rounds off range.  Always keep your gun up and in the line of sight when you reload.

Also, off range you can practice drawing from concealment.  However, you carry, practice until it is natural, and muscle memory takes over.  It doesn’t take long to develop this, but it must be practiced over and over.  If you take 15 minutes a day this will come naturally.

Practice drawing from concealment, moving while shooting, and engaging multiple targets.

 

These are just a few ideas that most of us can work on.  The problem with writing this post is the word “personal.”  Your training is very individual and personal.  There are a few ways to approach this.  You can record yourself shooting and then critically review the recording to see your problems and to correct them.  But then you would have to have enough training to recognize the problems.  Most people should go to a competent instructor.  This is what I recommend as you go to a training session.

Before training: review fundamental concepts, practice movements dry, prepare and write down questions for your instructor, ensure all your equipment functions correctly.

During training: take detailed notes, record video if allowed, ask for clarification, focus on understanding principles taught.

After training: review your notes within a day of your training, practice skills dry before live fire, incorporate anything new into your current training, plan follow-up training if needed.

With these ideas you should be able to find drills that fit what you want to train on.

I will let you know what I do generally on a weekly basis.

 

1.      10 minutes on fundamentals (20 rounds)

2.      25 minutes on what I feel I need work in (30 rounds)

3.      20-30 minutes working what I just worked on.  This could be anything.  I would use this time to implement what I just worked on in drills.  I do this from a variety of stances, on the ground, on my side, on my back, 2 foot from target to 20 ft, around barriers, etc. (20 rounds)

All of this is preceded by dry fire throughout the week.

Sometimes I work on number 2 longer.  Often the round count will be adjusted.  I try to keep my rounds down to 50 per session.  I’ll shoot more because I like it.  So, it would be easy to blow through 150 rounds and still want more.  By limiting my rounds, I use the rounds for training rather than recreation.

 Developing our training is very important if we are to be competent and effective as a shooter.  Competing is a good way to keep skills sharp.  But always know that competition is not defense shooting.  Practice as much as you can to be skilled at arms.  It can mean the difference between life or death.

 

Semper Paratus

Check 6

Burn

Moving Toward the Gunfire

Several years ago, I was in an unnamed city.  As my wife and I walked down a busy sidewalk going into stores and shops we heard gunfire.  Others heard it and said, “That’s just construction going on down there.”  I said, “That is small caliber gunfire!”  I have heard this type of gunfire for over 40 years.  I know what it sounds like.  I told my wife to go in the opposite direction toward our car.  She knows not to argue.  I gave her the keys and she e-gressed toward our parking lot down the street and around the corner.  I started walking toward the sound. As I got closer the gunfire stopped.  I met many scared people running away from the short gun fight that just occurred between some criminal and two policemen.  When I peeked around the corner, I saw two LEO’s standing over a handcuffed criminal and I heard sirens in the distance.  Probably EMS.  Once I saw the threat on the ground with what looked like a shoulder wound, I turned around and texted my wife, “It’s over, do you want to finish shopping?”  She didn’t.

I am not a law enforcement officer.  But I am convinced I could outshoot the average LEO on a range.  I don’t know what I would have done had the firefight continued, but I had to see it to assess whether I could do any good or not.  I know what you’re thinking, “What if the LEO’s think you’re with the bad guy?”  I wouldn’t even draw my weapon if I didn’t think I had a better angle on the skumbag.  There’s something in me where I can’t keep away from gunfire.  Thank goodness it’s usually at a shooting range.  I’m like a moth to a light.  My wife does not appreciate my tendencies.  Luckily, it rarely happens.  I am not, nor ever have been, any type of hero.  I’m not looking to “save” the world or anyone else.  If I felt there was a threat to my wife on that street, I would have retreated with her.  As for myself, I won’t put myself in harms-way if it is at all possible.  When I shoot, I want it to be from cover. I also don’t want to do the LEO’s job.  But if I can make their job easier or possibly make it so they go home to their families tonight, I will.  It’s something that is in me.  My father taught it to me, and his before him.  These great men knew the danger being WWI and WWII veterans.  I’m confident around gunfire.  It doesn’t rattle me or scare me.  I want to help anyone I can. 

Having told this unhumble story, I want to repeat my thoughts on what I call the “OP Rockwell Philosophy” or “OPR” philosophy. 

The philosophy basically is that there are 3 types of people. They are described as Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs. The sheep are mostly people that you know and see. They are good, productive members of society who would not hurt anyone or anything. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a sheep. Then there are wolves. Wolves are evil, selfish near-humans intent on taking what they want. They are not interested in who they hurt in this process. They are a large minority and many are locked up. Then there are sheepdogs. Sheepdogs care about the sheep even though sometimes the sheep don’t appreciate them. The sheepdogs want the sheep to be safe and to be rid of the wolves. I’ve read so many writers who don’t believe that sheepdogs exist. They think that those who believe themselves to be sheepdogs are camo wearing wanna-bes. I’m sure some Rambo camo wearers do exist. (After all, my favorite color is camo) But I know enough people who, when confronted with violence, go toward it.  They have trained and had experience of warding off violence.  Many are in law enforcement and the military already.  But many were, or lean toward, these sheepdog traits.  I’m not bringing this up to recruit, but to let some closet sheepdogs know that we are out there.  We are everywhere.  One of the problems of those who would subvert our freedoms is that we are there, and they know we are there.  President Biden said we cannot fight F-15’s and tanks.  He is mistaken.  What happened in Viet Nam and Afghanistan?  The former President does not understand.  I believe one of the reasons the Japanese did not invade the U.S. is there is a sheepdog behind every blade of grass.  Now more than ever.

Sheepdogs defend the weak and fight against evil. Sheepdogs in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should also defend the church.  I’m not saying pick up a weapon and stand a post but fight against those that would disparage and destroy the church.  As of now, I don’t think we need to worry about someone attacking the Church physically.  But there are those Zarahemna’s out there.  They are ex members who have “intimate knowledge” of what it’s like to be an oppressed member of this Church.  They are usually the same as most exmos I’ve seen since the 70’s.  The Tanner’s, the Dehlin’s, the Kelly’s.  They all have an axe to grind and think they can get their whining way by pulling, oh sorry, “saving” those trying to get out of the Church.  I wonder what they would do if the Church went away?  They would stop making all the money they make from fighting against the Church.  Then they would have to get real jobs.  As you can see, I’m not very charitable to these lowlifes.  I have a hard time dealing with people who leave the church but can’t leave the church alone.  Or those who are more enamored with their cause than the truth.  It’s easy to be an exmo.  Just whine and the woke of the world will follow.  Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about those who honestly leave the Church and move on with their lives.  I’m talking about those activists who don’t believe anymore but are so offended by those who do.

How can these warriors defend the Church?  One way is here online.  I’m not suggesting that we fight podcasts and all the drivel that comes from exmos, I’m suggesting that we refute their baloney.  There are plenty of lies and twisted history out there that we can correct.  Telling the truth is how we can support the Church and fight the detractors.  Some of these people think their experience in the Church gives them license to destroy.  Or others feel their education is the thing that will bring the Church down.  They don’t understand that “no unhallowed hand” can destroy this work.

I also think that the OPR philosophy applies to fathers and heads of homes.  The Family: A Proclamation To The World reminds us that we have a responsibility to protect our family.  I’m sure there are some out there that believe law enforcement will protect their family.  I have a couple problems with that.  One, it is not the police department’s responsibility to protect your family.  Someone even took that question to the Supreme Court.  They ruled it’s not the obligation of LEO’s to protect every person in their jurisdiction.  How would they do that?  I know that they would if they could, but they can’t.  Two, It is our responsibility.  So, if you think that flimsy lock on your front door is going to stop a home intrusion, I think you would be surprised.

Protecting covers many things. Spiritual and emotional protection is extremely important. What about physical protection? A home with locks is a start. But that is very little. Teaching your children to protect themselves with situational awareness is a big part of this too. If you don’t actually have physical protection for your family, then you’re fooling yourself that they will be safe. I’m not trying to scare anyone, but the reality is that we are all vulnerable. I know that guns are not for everyone. But it should be a consideration. If you feel this route is what will work for you, don’t buy a gun and shoot it twice a year. Be serious and get training and go out and practice.

We have all seen the devastation that seems to be increasing from active killer events. We are not safe at:

home: home invasions
school: schools are very vulnerable
work: workplace violence is increasing even on military bases
or church: these shootings are on the rise.

A way to fight this is preparedness.  With training we can change the odds of survival.  We can harden our targets.  Our home does not need to be a fortress but there are ways that we can harden that target.

Schools are finally getting the picture.  They are drastically changing how they protect the kids they teach.  It took many years.  Columbine was their wake-up call and that was in 1999 in the middle of an assault rifle ban.

Many workplaces are starting to understand and put policies and programs in place to mitigate workplace violence. 

Being active in your own protection and that of your family must be recognized as a responsibility that is personal and needed.  Don’t give in to the normalcy bias of “It will never happen to me.”  It doesn’t until it does.

The bible even gives us direction in this.

1 Timothy 5:8
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

We need to defend our liberty. Crime and terrorism take away that liberty. Sometimes laws and politicians do too.

Orrin Porter Rockwell philosophy is being vigilant and trained.

Find a way to defend our freedom and our families. Fathers protect your families. Don’t forget to include defending the Church if need be.
All of us need to be reminded occasionally. 

Semper Paratus
Check 6
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Mystery Solved!

 I have several children.  I know that I’ve mentioned that before, but I guess I’m trying to convince you that I have an idea about bringing up children.  I think that I do but after this article you may think different.

I’ve been a gun guy for a long time.  When I was first married, I wasn’t so concerned about storing my guns. I was young and stupid.  But as my kids got older, I ensured that the mystery of guns was no longer a mystery.  My kids can tell you of random times when I threw a gun on a bed and said to them, “Make it safe.”  They would roll their eyes and proceed to make the gun safe.  It could be a handgun, a rifle, or a shotgun.  When one of my daughters was first married, she and her husband were at a friend’s house.  The conversation somehow turned to guns, and they brought her a handgun to look at.  As she was handed the gun, she dropped the magazine and pulled back the slide and stuck her pinky finger in the chamber while pointing the gun in a safe direction.  She did it pretty fast and this impressed her friends and her husband.  They all looked at her and she explained “It’s like muscle memory.  My Dad is an instructor, and he pounded safety into our heads.”  She hadn’t touched a gun in years.

In our home everyone, boys or girls, were introduced to safe gun handling and shooting at the age of 8.  We started with them shooting .22 rifles and as the years went by larger caliber and handguns.  This was something my wife let me handle from the beginning.  At first, they loved it.  Then as they became teen-agers the novelty of a gun, and the mystery of them, was gone.  They no longer wanted to look at guns.  If they ever did, they would ask and every time I would bring them out.  It got to a point where only a few of them wanted to go with me to the range.  I told them I wanted them to go about every other month.  But I only had my oldest sons who wanted to go every time.  The reason I picked the age of 8 was that was when the boys had become Cub Scouts.  In the Cub program they were exposed to shooting air rifles.  I figured if they could shoot air rifles safely then that’s not a stretch to shooting .22 rifles safely. You should decide what you feel your kids can handle.  I think an 8-year-old can handle learning about guns.  You may feel you want to wait until 10 or 12.  I would encourage the younger the better.  When they get that training that young it tends to stay with them longer.  We started off light with a training gun for safety training.  Then as they got older, we moved to real guns.  As far as shooting we didn’t “graduate” to higher caliber than .22 until they were proved safe and competent. 

In Arkansas laws have been enacted to develop a curriculum for gun safety for elementary and secondary education students starting in 2026.  Even politicians have learned that education is important for everyone.

Although the NRA takes safety rules a little further with 7 rules, I’ve always taught the 4 rules.

1.      All guns are always loaded.  Some will teach this as treat all guns as if they are loaded.  I don’t like that.  I prefer the definitive all guns and always loaded.  It takes the guess work out of it.

2.      Don’t let the muzzle cover anything you don’t want to destroy.  In other words, don’t point the gun at anything you don’t want to shoot.

3.      Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target.   Guns don’t discharge until the trigger is pulled regardless of what Alec Baldwin says.

4.      Know your target and what is beyond your target.  By knowing your target, you should know how your target will react to bullets.  You also need to be aware of what’s behind your target in case the bullet goes through your target.

These are the rules I taught my kids and what I teach my students.

Kids are very smart.  They can learn things at a fast rate at an early age.  Just think if you taught your children gun safety and how to shoot how experienced and knowledgeable they would be at 18 with 9 years under their belt!  By demystifying the gun, you can control the curiosity that surrounds guns.  I did not lock up my guns when I was younger.  I must have felt their knowledge was enough.  I think that was foolish and would never teach that or do that now.  Nothing ever happened but what a chance I took.  I did not ever store loaded guns, and the ammo was inaccessible but there’s a big risk.  How many people have been shot with an “unloaded” gun?

There are so many safes and lock boxes out there you don’t have an excuse for not locking up your guns.  Even a cheap Harbor Freight safe will keep guns safe from kids.

Remember a few things about teaching kids about gun safety.

More exposure can remove the mystery of guns.  But make sure that kids know the dangers that are involved with guns.  No child (or adult, for that matter) should touch a firearm that is not there’s. I would not dream of touching someone else’s gun that was sitting on a shooting bench at a range without permission.  Kids should not touch guns either unless given permission by an adult.  If kids come across an unattended gun, they should not touch it and tell an adult.  Guns are tools, not toys.  Kids can learn and understand that.

Teaching gun safety is never a one-time thing with kids or adults.  It is an ongoing thing that reviews over and over until it is second nature.  By teaching the rules, why we have them, and how they support one another you create a culture of safety.  As kids become adults this training will carry over into adult training, competing, and gun ownership.

Solve the mystery, train your kids!

Semper Paratus

Check 6

Burn