Here, for your listening and dancing pleasure, are 25 “rules” of a gunfight.
1. Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns.
2. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap – life is expensive.
3. Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.
4. If your shooting stance is good, you’re probably not moving fast enough or using cover correctly.
5. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral and diagonal movement are preferred.)
6. If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a long gun and a friend with a long gun.
7. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.
8. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading, and running.
9. Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be more dependent on “pucker factor” than the inherent accuracy of the gun. Use a gun that works EVERY TIME. “All skill is in vain when an Angel blows the powder from the flintlock of your musket.”
10. Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.
11. Always cheat, always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.
12. Have a plan.
13. Have a back-up plan, because the first one won’t work.
14. Use cover or concealment as much as possible.
15. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.
16. Don’t drop your guard.
17. Always tactical load and threat scan 360 degrees.
18. Watch their hands. Hands kill. (In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them.)
19. Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.
20. The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.
21. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
22. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.
23. Your number one option for personal security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.
24. Do not attend a gun fight with a handgun, the caliber of which does not start with anything smaller than “4”. (So that means 9mm is good…)
25. You can’t miss fast enough to win.
Some of these are given in humor but they are actually true. Ask someone who has actually been in firefight and they will tell you that these “rules” do apply.
We will go through these 25 number by number in future posts.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
The Steps Of A Draw
How do I draw? I was asked that the other day. I used to teach this but haven’t for some time. When it comes to defensive shooting there are many answers to this question. It depends a lot on how you carry. But there are some basics. I like and teach these 5.
Clear
Grip
Set
Punch/Push
Trigger Press
If you end up in a close encounter you may not get through these steps or you may have to modify them. These steps can be easily modified into a close quarter situation. Remember that most encounters are within 20 feet (CQB) and in low-light.
Clear
Clear all gear and clothing. Put your support hand on or near your chest to be prepared for compressed ready. During this and all steps you should be moving, even if it is a step sideways or back. Get off the “X” and reset your opponents OODA Loop. (See The OODA Loop and You-John Boyd's Birthday 1/22/2016)
Grip
This is where practice and training will pay off. Support hand is clearing and is near the center of the chest ready to grip at compressed ready. Gun hand breaks the holster retention and grabs the grip in a positive, high in the web of the hand grip, with trigger finger indexed along the side of the gun. Movement is still occurring.
Set
Weapon is set at compressed ready with a positive two hand grip that can shoot immediately if in a CQB or preparing to punch out.
Punch/Push
Punch weapon out from set position toward the threat while acquiring sights. This should be a straight, forward motion like a punch, where the sights will naturally be at eye level. You should not have to move your head or cock to one side. Your movement should be done for the moment and you should prepare to fire the gun.
Trigger press
Target should be acquired and in sights. This happens in the fluid punch out motion. You are ready to assess whether to press the trigger or not.
As you train these movements will become faster and more fluid. You won’t have to think about them. These steps are just so that you can train until they become all one motion.
For CQB you can feasibly shoot from the set position. You can definitely shoot through the punch position. If you train this way you should be ready for engagement at several distances.
Concealed carry as a civilian often does not have emphasis on the draw. Even some basic classes don’t cover this. I believe it is something that needs to be addressed and put into your training program. The better you are at presenting your gun, the better you will be prepared to defend yourself.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Clear
Grip
Set
Punch/Push
Trigger Press
If you end up in a close encounter you may not get through these steps or you may have to modify them. These steps can be easily modified into a close quarter situation. Remember that most encounters are within 20 feet (CQB) and in low-light.
Clear
Clear all gear and clothing. Put your support hand on or near your chest to be prepared for compressed ready. During this and all steps you should be moving, even if it is a step sideways or back. Get off the “X” and reset your opponents OODA Loop. (See The OODA Loop and You-John Boyd's Birthday 1/22/2016)
Grip
This is where practice and training will pay off. Support hand is clearing and is near the center of the chest ready to grip at compressed ready. Gun hand breaks the holster retention and grabs the grip in a positive, high in the web of the hand grip, with trigger finger indexed along the side of the gun. Movement is still occurring.
Set
Weapon is set at compressed ready with a positive two hand grip that can shoot immediately if in a CQB or preparing to punch out.
Punch/Push
Punch weapon out from set position toward the threat while acquiring sights. This should be a straight, forward motion like a punch, where the sights will naturally be at eye level. You should not have to move your head or cock to one side. Your movement should be done for the moment and you should prepare to fire the gun.
Trigger press
Target should be acquired and in sights. This happens in the fluid punch out motion. You are ready to assess whether to press the trigger or not.
As you train these movements will become faster and more fluid. You won’t have to think about them. These steps are just so that you can train until they become all one motion.
For CQB you can feasibly shoot from the set position. You can definitely shoot through the punch position. If you train this way you should be ready for engagement at several distances.
Concealed carry as a civilian often does not have emphasis on the draw. Even some basic classes don’t cover this. I believe it is something that needs to be addressed and put into your training program. The better you are at presenting your gun, the better you will be prepared to defend yourself.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Monday, September 26, 2016
Vehicle Backing Off The "X"
Years ago I took a course in the military called “Combat Driving”. It was run mostly by the State Department (code for CIA). I asked one of the instructors about his background, he said “Military”. I said “Really, I know a lot of operators where did you serve?” He said “My military days were long ago.” He looked about 32. Later he mentioned he had worked for State for 2 years. I said privately to him later, working for “The Company” long enough to get a teaching job I see…” He just smiled. Anyway, it was a great class.
Backing up fast is hard and, if not done correctly, dangerous. Cars are designed to go forward, not backward. Automobile suspensions possess a quality known as caster, the force that gives the car stability going forward and helps to straighten out the front wheels after turning a corner. Unfortunately, this same force destabilizes the car in reverse, and the tires won't straighten themselves out.
Once you loosen your grip, the steering wheel stays in its last position. There is nothing you can do about caster. You need to understand that it's there, live with it and learn to control it.
So, before you find yourself in a dangerous place needing to leave very fast, practice backing up, paying attention to the following tips.
1. Disarm the governor. Some European vehicles have a device called a governor that limits reverse speed. Find out if you have one before you're in the stuff. As a test, put the vehicle in reverse and accelerate; if the engine misfires at around 10 mph, it's got a governor. Don't use this vehicle in a high-risk zone.
2. Tape the steering wheel. With the front wheels pointed straight, put a piece of tape on the top of the steering wheel. When it's time to back up, put your hand on the tape and lock your arm. The tape will provide a reference point for straight if you start to lose control. (Nascar drivers do this.)
3. Practice throwing blind. Take time to practice moving the gear lever from drive to reverse and reverse to drive without looking. It may seem trivial, but not having to look buys you precious time and helps you avoid accidentally shifting into park, neutral or a low gear.
It may seem trivial, but not having to look buys you precious time.
4. Practice with heavy loads. Why? Because vehicles in high-risk zones are often heavily loaded in the back or laden with armor, which makes them less stable when backing up.
Once you're in the stuff and you need to back up out of a high-risk zone, use the following techniques.
1. Just go. Put as much distance between you and the kill zone as possible by backing up straight as fast as you can and as far as you can. Backing up at 30 mph creates 45 feet of distance between you and the enemy every second. Three seconds takes you 135 feet away from the problem. But if you hesitate for 1.5 seconds, you have given up about 68 feet of space. Even if there is an opportunity to turn in a short distance, don't. Turning slows you down and exposes your broadside.
2. Slow down for obstacles. Eventually, something will be in your way, and you must slow down for it. Because of caster, it doesn't take much to flip a vehicle moving in reverse. A vehicle that can drive around an obstacle at 60 mph going forward will lose control at 20 mph in reverse.
3. Left is best. When you have to turn, turn to the left, or driver's side, if you can. Turning to the right, the passenger side is more difficult spatially. If you must turn right, use your side mirrors to guide you. But remember, the increased energy pushing on the vehicle is double the increase in speed during a turn. Accelerating from 20 mph to 25 mph means 50 percent more energy pushing on the vehicle.
4. Modify your three-point turn or “J” turn. The police version of the three-point turn won't work in a high-risk environment because it requires the driver to drive forward—toward the kill zone—then back up. Instead, learn a “J” turn. Let me say on the outset, this is dangerous driving. When I learned it we were on a closed course and the turn area had water on it to help the turn go smooth. I’ve done it on dry pavement and it’s quite different. You can flip your vehicle or do damage to it. In other words, DO NOT try this at home! There are classes you can and should take to teach this properly and in a much safer environment. The following are not instructions, but give you an idea how the turn is executed.
Come to a complete stop and shift to reverse.
1. Look over your shoulder out the rear window.
2. Reverse aggressively for 2-3 seconds in a straight line to build necessary momentum.
3. Lift off gas abruptly and quickly turn wheel 180 degrees (from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock).
*WARNING: Turning the steering wheel while in reverse is VERY exaggerated. The faster you are moving the more sensitive the steering gets, small inputs to steering will create big movements in the vehicle.*
4. The car will begin to spin. Keep looking where you want the vehicle to go as the vehicle spins.
5. When the car gets about halfway around (90 degrees), engage forward gear.
6. As the vehicle finishes the spin, straighten the wheel out and accelerate.
This will get you off the “X” and out of harms’ way. You must learn this and practice this under competent instruction. I have learned this turn, practiced this turn, and been successful at its execution several times, yet I do not feel I could teach it. I don’t think I have enough experience or training in this area. So be very careful with this information and know that it is for educational purposes only, NOT meant to be instructive!
Backing up out of the kill zone fast is serious business. But it’s a skill that may save your life one day.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Backing up fast is hard and, if not done correctly, dangerous. Cars are designed to go forward, not backward. Automobile suspensions possess a quality known as caster, the force that gives the car stability going forward and helps to straighten out the front wheels after turning a corner. Unfortunately, this same force destabilizes the car in reverse, and the tires won't straighten themselves out.
Once you loosen your grip, the steering wheel stays in its last position. There is nothing you can do about caster. You need to understand that it's there, live with it and learn to control it.
So, before you find yourself in a dangerous place needing to leave very fast, practice backing up, paying attention to the following tips.
1. Disarm the governor. Some European vehicles have a device called a governor that limits reverse speed. Find out if you have one before you're in the stuff. As a test, put the vehicle in reverse and accelerate; if the engine misfires at around 10 mph, it's got a governor. Don't use this vehicle in a high-risk zone.
2. Tape the steering wheel. With the front wheels pointed straight, put a piece of tape on the top of the steering wheel. When it's time to back up, put your hand on the tape and lock your arm. The tape will provide a reference point for straight if you start to lose control. (Nascar drivers do this.)
3. Practice throwing blind. Take time to practice moving the gear lever from drive to reverse and reverse to drive without looking. It may seem trivial, but not having to look buys you precious time and helps you avoid accidentally shifting into park, neutral or a low gear.
It may seem trivial, but not having to look buys you precious time.
4. Practice with heavy loads. Why? Because vehicles in high-risk zones are often heavily loaded in the back or laden with armor, which makes them less stable when backing up.
Once you're in the stuff and you need to back up out of a high-risk zone, use the following techniques.
1. Just go. Put as much distance between you and the kill zone as possible by backing up straight as fast as you can and as far as you can. Backing up at 30 mph creates 45 feet of distance between you and the enemy every second. Three seconds takes you 135 feet away from the problem. But if you hesitate for 1.5 seconds, you have given up about 68 feet of space. Even if there is an opportunity to turn in a short distance, don't. Turning slows you down and exposes your broadside.
2. Slow down for obstacles. Eventually, something will be in your way, and you must slow down for it. Because of caster, it doesn't take much to flip a vehicle moving in reverse. A vehicle that can drive around an obstacle at 60 mph going forward will lose control at 20 mph in reverse.
3. Left is best. When you have to turn, turn to the left, or driver's side, if you can. Turning to the right, the passenger side is more difficult spatially. If you must turn right, use your side mirrors to guide you. But remember, the increased energy pushing on the vehicle is double the increase in speed during a turn. Accelerating from 20 mph to 25 mph means 50 percent more energy pushing on the vehicle.
4. Modify your three-point turn or “J” turn. The police version of the three-point turn won't work in a high-risk environment because it requires the driver to drive forward—toward the kill zone—then back up. Instead, learn a “J” turn. Let me say on the outset, this is dangerous driving. When I learned it we were on a closed course and the turn area had water on it to help the turn go smooth. I’ve done it on dry pavement and it’s quite different. You can flip your vehicle or do damage to it. In other words, DO NOT try this at home! There are classes you can and should take to teach this properly and in a much safer environment. The following are not instructions, but give you an idea how the turn is executed.
Come to a complete stop and shift to reverse.
1. Look over your shoulder out the rear window.
2. Reverse aggressively for 2-3 seconds in a straight line to build necessary momentum.
3. Lift off gas abruptly and quickly turn wheel 180 degrees (from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock).
*WARNING: Turning the steering wheel while in reverse is VERY exaggerated. The faster you are moving the more sensitive the steering gets, small inputs to steering will create big movements in the vehicle.*
4. The car will begin to spin. Keep looking where you want the vehicle to go as the vehicle spins.
5. When the car gets about halfway around (90 degrees), engage forward gear.
6. As the vehicle finishes the spin, straighten the wheel out and accelerate.
This will get you off the “X” and out of harms’ way. You must learn this and practice this under competent instruction. I have learned this turn, practiced this turn, and been successful at its execution several times, yet I do not feel I could teach it. I don’t think I have enough experience or training in this area. So be very careful with this information and know that it is for educational purposes only, NOT meant to be instructive!
Backing up out of the kill zone fast is serious business. But it’s a skill that may save your life one day.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Happy Situational Awareness Day!
Today is Situational Awareness Day. How will you celebrate? I celebrate by reminding my family what situational awareness is and how to have it.
Situational awareness is nothing more than being aware of one’s surroundings and identifying potential and eminent threats. In other words, keeping your head up. This is more of a mindset than an actual skill to be practiced. It can and should be practiced, but it’s more like muscle memory with shooting, it’s something you learn and do all the time. It’s always there. It can be exercised by anyone with the will and the discipline to do so. Situational awareness is not only important for recognizing terrorist threats, but it also serves to identify criminal behavior and other dangerous situations.
The primary element in establishing this mindset is first to recognize that threats exist. Ignorance or denial of a threat make a person's chances of quickly recognizing an emerging threat and avoiding it highly unlikely. Bad things do happen. Apathy, denial and complacency can be deadly.
A second important element of the proper mindset is understanding the need to take responsibility for one's own security. The resources of any government are finite and the authorities simply cannot be everywhere and cannot stop every potential terrorist attack or other criminal action. The same principle applies to private security at businesses, schools, or other institutions, like places of worship. Therefore, people need to look out for themselves and their neighbors.
Another important facet of this mindset is learning to trust your "gut" or intuition. Often in the LDS church we refer to this as the Spirit guiding you. You should do all that you can to ensure you have the Spirit to guide your everyday lives. Many times a person's subconscious can notice subtle signs of danger that the conscious mind has difficulty quantifying or articulating. Ever see an interview with a victims who experienced such feelings of danger prior to an incident but who chose to ignore them? Trusting your “gut” and avoiding a potentially dangerous situation may cause you a bit of inconvenience, but ignoring such feelings can lead to serious trouble.
People typically operate on four distinct levels of awareness. There are many ways to describe these levels. Cooper explains a simple system to differentiate states of mindset:
• White - Relaxed, unaware, and unprepared. If attacked in this state the only thing that may save you is the inadequacy and ineptitude of your attacker. When confronted by something nasty your reaction will probably be, "Oh my gosh! This can't be happening to me."
• Yellow - Relaxed alertness. No specific threat situation. Your mindset is that "today could be the day I may have to defend myself." There is no specific threat but you are aware that the world is an unfriendly place and that you are prepared to do something if necessary. You use your eyes and ears, and your carriage says "I am alert." You don't have to be armed in this state but if you are armed you should be in yellow. When confronted by something nasty your reaction will probably be, "I thought this might happen someday." You cannot live in this state indefinitely, sleep and concentrating on specific tasks (reading a good book) reset you to White.
• Orange - Specific alert. Something not quite right has gotten your attention and you shift your primary focus to that thing. Something is "wrong" with a person or object. Your mindset is that "I may have to shoot that person." In orange you set a fight trigger: "If that goblin does "x", I will need to "stop" them." You check that you are prepared for action. Your pistol is usually holstered in this state.
• Red - The fight trigger has happened. You are now in action.
Some non-Cooper sources list a "Condition Black" as actively engaged in combat but this is an unnecessary step and is not in keeping with the mindset definitions.
It is critical to stress here that situational awareness does not mean being paranoid or obsessively concerned about security. In fact, people simply cannot operate in Orange for extended periods, and Red can be maintained only for very brief periods before exhaustion sets in. The "fight-or-flight" response can be very helpful if it can be controlled. When it gets out of control, however, a constant stream of adrenaline and stress is simply not healthy for the body and mind, and this also hampers security. Therefore, operating constantly in a state of high alert is not the answer, nor is operating for prolonged periods in a state of focused alert, which can also be demanding and completely exhausting. The human body was simply not designed to operate under constant stress. All people, even highly skilled operators, require time to rest and recover.
Yellow is a good, reasonable place to be. I can remember having little kids and if you weren’t in yellow with them they could be away from you in a second headed for danger or hiding in a clothes rack at Walmart scaring you to death! If it can be done with children, then it should be a small step to your own security.
On this Situational Awareness Day I remind you again about the importance of staying in Yellow and providing your own security. When seconds count, the police are minutes away. Have a plan. Work this plan and practice this plan. Code words and preconceived actions will keep you and your family safe.
Happy SA Day!
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Situational awareness is nothing more than being aware of one’s surroundings and identifying potential and eminent threats. In other words, keeping your head up. This is more of a mindset than an actual skill to be practiced. It can and should be practiced, but it’s more like muscle memory with shooting, it’s something you learn and do all the time. It’s always there. It can be exercised by anyone with the will and the discipline to do so. Situational awareness is not only important for recognizing terrorist threats, but it also serves to identify criminal behavior and other dangerous situations.
The primary element in establishing this mindset is first to recognize that threats exist. Ignorance or denial of a threat make a person's chances of quickly recognizing an emerging threat and avoiding it highly unlikely. Bad things do happen. Apathy, denial and complacency can be deadly.
A second important element of the proper mindset is understanding the need to take responsibility for one's own security. The resources of any government are finite and the authorities simply cannot be everywhere and cannot stop every potential terrorist attack or other criminal action. The same principle applies to private security at businesses, schools, or other institutions, like places of worship. Therefore, people need to look out for themselves and their neighbors.
Another important facet of this mindset is learning to trust your "gut" or intuition. Often in the LDS church we refer to this as the Spirit guiding you. You should do all that you can to ensure you have the Spirit to guide your everyday lives. Many times a person's subconscious can notice subtle signs of danger that the conscious mind has difficulty quantifying or articulating. Ever see an interview with a victims who experienced such feelings of danger prior to an incident but who chose to ignore them? Trusting your “gut” and avoiding a potentially dangerous situation may cause you a bit of inconvenience, but ignoring such feelings can lead to serious trouble.
People typically operate on four distinct levels of awareness. There are many ways to describe these levels. Cooper explains a simple system to differentiate states of mindset:
• White - Relaxed, unaware, and unprepared. If attacked in this state the only thing that may save you is the inadequacy and ineptitude of your attacker. When confronted by something nasty your reaction will probably be, "Oh my gosh! This can't be happening to me."
• Yellow - Relaxed alertness. No specific threat situation. Your mindset is that "today could be the day I may have to defend myself." There is no specific threat but you are aware that the world is an unfriendly place and that you are prepared to do something if necessary. You use your eyes and ears, and your carriage says "I am alert." You don't have to be armed in this state but if you are armed you should be in yellow. When confronted by something nasty your reaction will probably be, "I thought this might happen someday." You cannot live in this state indefinitely, sleep and concentrating on specific tasks (reading a good book) reset you to White.
• Orange - Specific alert. Something not quite right has gotten your attention and you shift your primary focus to that thing. Something is "wrong" with a person or object. Your mindset is that "I may have to shoot that person." In orange you set a fight trigger: "If that goblin does "x", I will need to "stop" them." You check that you are prepared for action. Your pistol is usually holstered in this state.
• Red - The fight trigger has happened. You are now in action.
Some non-Cooper sources list a "Condition Black" as actively engaged in combat but this is an unnecessary step and is not in keeping with the mindset definitions.
It is critical to stress here that situational awareness does not mean being paranoid or obsessively concerned about security. In fact, people simply cannot operate in Orange for extended periods, and Red can be maintained only for very brief periods before exhaustion sets in. The "fight-or-flight" response can be very helpful if it can be controlled. When it gets out of control, however, a constant stream of adrenaline and stress is simply not healthy for the body and mind, and this also hampers security. Therefore, operating constantly in a state of high alert is not the answer, nor is operating for prolonged periods in a state of focused alert, which can also be demanding and completely exhausting. The human body was simply not designed to operate under constant stress. All people, even highly skilled operators, require time to rest and recover.
Yellow is a good, reasonable place to be. I can remember having little kids and if you weren’t in yellow with them they could be away from you in a second headed for danger or hiding in a clothes rack at Walmart scaring you to death! If it can be done with children, then it should be a small step to your own security.
On this Situational Awareness Day I remind you again about the importance of staying in Yellow and providing your own security. When seconds count, the police are minutes away. Have a plan. Work this plan and practice this plan. Code words and preconceived actions will keep you and your family safe.
Happy SA Day!
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Friday, September 23, 2016
Gunfighting Advice From Gunfighters
I had a serious talk with and ex-operator friend of mine. We got on the subject of a gunfight. He has been through several, though they were military oriented. I was asking him questions and I compiled a list of Things You Need To Know BEFORE You get In A Gunfight.
1. Ever hear the saying “He who hesitates is lost?” This is a reality in a gun fight. It’s hard to think of going as just an average guy/gal to a violent person with the flip of a switch. It is possible and needs to be dealt with now, before it is needed. Violence of action is something you need to be willing to commit to. This is the hesitation from the saying. This decision will determine the outcome of the fight.
2. Remain calm. It’s hard to know how you will react to lethal force before it actually happens. But like a violent mindset, comes a calm mindset. Calmness gives you room to reason and act even though it may be seconds. Tactical decisions will come easier
3. Wyatt Earp Had these tips for gunfighting:
“Hours upon hours of practice and wide experience in actualities supported their arguments over style. The most important lesson I learned from those proficient gunfighters was the winner of a gunplay usually was the man who took his time. The second was that, if I hoped to live long on the frontier, I would shun flashy trick-shooting—grandstand play—as I would poison.”
Basically, he was saying training and developing an accurate shot. Developing muscle memory.
4. The Army would teach “Shoot, Move, Communicate” for combat. This good advice for a gun fight. Always keep moving. Being able to shoot while moving is something not very many people have developed. If you want an advantage on your enemy, learn to move and shoot.
5. Heads up is important in anything that we do whether you’re mowing a lawn or in a gunfight. Sometimes people (including my kids) accuse me of being too “old school”. They say I need to embrace technology. I have a cell-phone and I actually text. I have an i-pad and even a Pintrest and Instagram account. But I also believe in moderation in all things. I don’t think there are very many people who have to be on an electronic device 24-7. Not even 22/7! Pull your head out of your phone and look around. Keeping your head on a swivel can not only keep you safer, but can actually keep you from getting into a gun fight in the first place. Situational awareness should be practiced always.
Wyatt had some other good gun fighting ideas.
“When I say that I learned to take my time in a gunfight, I do not wish to be misunderstood, for the time to be taken was only that split fraction of a second that means the difference between deadly accuracy with a sixgun and a miss. It is hard to make this clear to a man who has never been in a gunfight. Perhaps I can best describe such time taking as going into action with the greatest speed of which a man's muscles are capable, but mentally unflustered by an urge to hurry or the need for complicated nervous and muscular actions which trick-shooting involves. Mentally deliberate, but muscularly faster than thought, is what I mean.”
This is a way of saying to practice until you shoot by muscle memory. Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.
“In the days of which I am talking, among men whom I have in mind, when a man went after his guns, he did so with a single, serious purpose. There was no such thing as a bluff; when a gunfighter reached for his forty-five, every faculty he owned was keyed to shooting as speedily and as accurately as possible, to making his first shot the last of the fight. He just had to think of his gun solely as something with which to kill another before he himself could be killed. The possibility of intimidating an antagonist was remote, although the 'drop' was thoroughly respected, and few men in the West would draw against it. I have seen men so fast and so sure of themselves that they did go after their guns while men who intended to kill them had them covered, and what is more win out in the play. They were rare. It is safe to say, for all general purposes, that anything in gun fighting that smacked of show-off or bluff was left to braggarts who were ignorant or careless of their lives.”
This is a way of saying you can’t out draw a drawn gun. And also that to be a good gun fighter you learn the basics and become proficient and fast with them. The fundamentals won’t fail you.
“I have often been asked why five shots without reloading were all a top-notch gunfighter fired, when his guns were chambered for six cartridges. The answer is, merely, safety. To ensure against accidental discharge of the gun while in the holster, due to hair-trigger adjustment, the hammer rested upon an empty chamber. As widely as this was known and practiced, the number of cartridges a man carried in his six-gun may be taken as an indication of a man's rank with the gunfighters of the old school. Practiced gun-wielders had too much respect for their weapons to take unnecessary chances with them; it was only with tyros and would-bes that you heard of accidental discharges or didn't-know-it-was-loaded injuries in the country where carrying a Colt's was a man's prerogative."
I find it interesting that these men experienced with firearms held safety in such high regard. “Accidents” could hurt or kill and not only that, they wasted good ammo. It also speaks to a professionalism not found in criminals.
These are real ideas for winning a gunfight from real gunfighters.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
1. Ever hear the saying “He who hesitates is lost?” This is a reality in a gun fight. It’s hard to think of going as just an average guy/gal to a violent person with the flip of a switch. It is possible and needs to be dealt with now, before it is needed. Violence of action is something you need to be willing to commit to. This is the hesitation from the saying. This decision will determine the outcome of the fight.
2. Remain calm. It’s hard to know how you will react to lethal force before it actually happens. But like a violent mindset, comes a calm mindset. Calmness gives you room to reason and act even though it may be seconds. Tactical decisions will come easier
3. Wyatt Earp Had these tips for gunfighting:
“Hours upon hours of practice and wide experience in actualities supported their arguments over style. The most important lesson I learned from those proficient gunfighters was the winner of a gunplay usually was the man who took his time. The second was that, if I hoped to live long on the frontier, I would shun flashy trick-shooting—grandstand play—as I would poison.”
Basically, he was saying training and developing an accurate shot. Developing muscle memory.
4. The Army would teach “Shoot, Move, Communicate” for combat. This good advice for a gun fight. Always keep moving. Being able to shoot while moving is something not very many people have developed. If you want an advantage on your enemy, learn to move and shoot.
5. Heads up is important in anything that we do whether you’re mowing a lawn or in a gunfight. Sometimes people (including my kids) accuse me of being too “old school”. They say I need to embrace technology. I have a cell-phone and I actually text. I have an i-pad and even a Pintrest and Instagram account. But I also believe in moderation in all things. I don’t think there are very many people who have to be on an electronic device 24-7. Not even 22/7! Pull your head out of your phone and look around. Keeping your head on a swivel can not only keep you safer, but can actually keep you from getting into a gun fight in the first place. Situational awareness should be practiced always.
Wyatt had some other good gun fighting ideas.
“When I say that I learned to take my time in a gunfight, I do not wish to be misunderstood, for the time to be taken was only that split fraction of a second that means the difference between deadly accuracy with a sixgun and a miss. It is hard to make this clear to a man who has never been in a gunfight. Perhaps I can best describe such time taking as going into action with the greatest speed of which a man's muscles are capable, but mentally unflustered by an urge to hurry or the need for complicated nervous and muscular actions which trick-shooting involves. Mentally deliberate, but muscularly faster than thought, is what I mean.”
This is a way of saying to practice until you shoot by muscle memory. Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.
“In the days of which I am talking, among men whom I have in mind, when a man went after his guns, he did so with a single, serious purpose. There was no such thing as a bluff; when a gunfighter reached for his forty-five, every faculty he owned was keyed to shooting as speedily and as accurately as possible, to making his first shot the last of the fight. He just had to think of his gun solely as something with which to kill another before he himself could be killed. The possibility of intimidating an antagonist was remote, although the 'drop' was thoroughly respected, and few men in the West would draw against it. I have seen men so fast and so sure of themselves that they did go after their guns while men who intended to kill them had them covered, and what is more win out in the play. They were rare. It is safe to say, for all general purposes, that anything in gun fighting that smacked of show-off or bluff was left to braggarts who were ignorant or careless of their lives.”
This is a way of saying you can’t out draw a drawn gun. And also that to be a good gun fighter you learn the basics and become proficient and fast with them. The fundamentals won’t fail you.
“I have often been asked why five shots without reloading were all a top-notch gunfighter fired, when his guns were chambered for six cartridges. The answer is, merely, safety. To ensure against accidental discharge of the gun while in the holster, due to hair-trigger adjustment, the hammer rested upon an empty chamber. As widely as this was known and practiced, the number of cartridges a man carried in his six-gun may be taken as an indication of a man's rank with the gunfighters of the old school. Practiced gun-wielders had too much respect for their weapons to take unnecessary chances with them; it was only with tyros and would-bes that you heard of accidental discharges or didn't-know-it-was-loaded injuries in the country where carrying a Colt's was a man's prerogative."
I find it interesting that these men experienced with firearms held safety in such high regard. “Accidents” could hurt or kill and not only that, they wasted good ammo. It also speaks to a professionalism not found in criminals.
These are real ideas for winning a gunfight from real gunfighters.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Do It Yourself Gunsmithing
"Owning a handgun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician."
Jeff Cooper
I am a DIYer. I have built my house, shed and chicken coop. I have fixed my lawn mower, my generator, my tiller and numerous cars. I like to save money and fix my guns too. But the Jeff Cooper quote above applies to gunsmith work too. Be careful because guns are dangerous exploding fire sticks!
There’s another quote that applies here, it’s from a Clint Eastwood movie “Magnum Force”:
“A man’s got to know his limitations.”
Harry Callihan
So the questions is, do you feel lucky? Well do ya punk? Sorry, that’s a reference to the movie before Magum. But it is true, you have to know your gunsmith limitations.
Are you attempting to change out a part that has torque values and several springs? Maybe that would be beyond your “limitations” as a gunsmith.
Many modern firearms are simple to work on. Just because it seems simple does not mean fool proof. Make sure you know what you are doing when you work on your firearms, and if you are not sure, get an experts help.
At-home gunsmith projects are great. Working on your own gun creates a deeper familiarity and connection with your firearm. But if you make a mistake, the task can easily turn from a quick fix to an expensive project.
Ask any professional gunsmith, and he or she will tell you countless stories of customers sheepishly walking in with a disassembled gun-in-a-bag. These do-it-yourself projects gone bad end up costing a pretty penny. When the parts are all mixed together, it can end up taking a couple hours for a gunsmith to figure out what springs belong where, resulting in a higher bill.
We all make mistakes. But some are easy to avoid.
Read the Manual
Do your homework. Start by reading your gun's owner's manual. If you don't have one for the gun, many manufacturers have owner's manuals available for free on their website.
There are also many great reference manuals available to aid in the disassembly and assembly process. There are many other good books and manuals for nearly every make and model of firearm. Some are easier to read and understand than others, but many have pictures to help get the job done right, including hints and tips for difficult steps.
Stick to Simple Assignments
Don't jump into a big project first. Start with a simple job, like fixing minor surface rust on a blued finish. This little task can make a huge difference in a gun's appearance and function, and rust can often be cleaned up using steel wool and a healthy dose of gun oil, followed by a bit of cold bluing.
Other projects like refreshing the paint on your sight, mounting a scope or a detailed gun cleaning are great DIY projects. Instructions for detailed gun cleaning, including the disassembly of the component systems of your firearm, are often listed in your owner's manual or reference books. Once you are familiar with this type of work, ease yourself into more complex tasks.
Get Some White Space
A clean work space is important when you are dealing with the small parts of a gun. Having to locate a small spring or pin in a dark, cluttered work space can be a real pain. So, the first thing you have to do is clean and brighten your work bench by painting it white, laying down a clean painter's drop cloth or taping down some white poster board. Also, only keep the tools and parts that you need for the immediate job in the area, and put everything else aside. You can use double-sided tape to secure small screws, pins and other parts to your workspace so they don't disappear, and a rotating reading light puts light where it's needed. I sometimes use a magnetic tray that is used for vehicle mechanic work.
Be Overly Organized
Since, a missing part almost always means a trip to a professional gunsmith, you can never have enough containers to keep your parts from being lost. When disassembling, use one of those clear tackle boxes for parts. By having a compartmentalized box, you can put your parts away in the order they came out, saving you the headaches of figuring out which part belongs where. If you get stuck along the way, you can easily re-trace your steps.
When dealing with captive springs, you can also work inside a two gallon Ziploc bag. This way, if you lose control of a spring, it stays inside the bag, instead flying across the room.
Tools
You've heard it a hundred times and now you'll hear it again: Use the right tool for the right job. Using the wrong size screwdriver can very easily damage screws and the finish on your gun if you slip. You should also have a couple of brass punches for visible areas, and a good hardened-steel punch set for really tight-fitting pins.
There are many good, affordable gunsmith screwdriver kits available on the market. Wheeler and Brownell’s tool sets are what the pros use, and they are a wise investment for the long run.
If you are replacing parts, always compare your new parts to what came out of the gun. Subtle changes in the manufacturing process can mean minor part variances. Check any springs or parts you replace to ensure they are similar in length and diameter.
Remember that if a new part does not fit properly, you should just reinstall the original. A poorly fitted or wrong part can make your gun malfunction and make it dangerous. Most aftermarket parts come with directions, but if you get stuck, call the manufacturer and ask its Technical Service Department how to proceed.
When working on your gun, don't force it when taking something apart or putting it together. Take your time and make sure your parts are lined up properly. If you are frustrated, take a break. Many times, parts will easily come apart or fit back together when you are rested and relaxed.
Often overlooked, a gunsmith's torque driver is a valuable addition to your workbench. With scopes running into the thousands of dollars, no one can afford to kink or dent an expensive scope. Hitting your inch-pounds specifications is critical to properly mounting a scope. A torque driver will also prevent you from stripping your mounting screws, which would need to be drilled out and replaced if damaged.
As Dirty Harry said, know your limitations. Thorough cleaning, fixing loose parts, replacement of worn pins and adding accessories are all fine do-it-yourself firearm projects, but some things are best left to the professionals. Especially working with things like triggers, safeties, or hot-salt bluing. If you are interested in doing more advanced work, be sure to buy some advanced books or take a class. The NRA offers several classes with some of the best gunsmith schools in the country.
Doing something yourself can save money, time, and give you a connection to your gun. Always remember safety is the watch-word. Learn as much as you can and never stop learning.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Jeff Cooper
I am a DIYer. I have built my house, shed and chicken coop. I have fixed my lawn mower, my generator, my tiller and numerous cars. I like to save money and fix my guns too. But the Jeff Cooper quote above applies to gunsmith work too. Be careful because guns are dangerous exploding fire sticks!
There’s another quote that applies here, it’s from a Clint Eastwood movie “Magnum Force”:
“A man’s got to know his limitations.”
Harry Callihan
So the questions is, do you feel lucky? Well do ya punk? Sorry, that’s a reference to the movie before Magum. But it is true, you have to know your gunsmith limitations.
Are you attempting to change out a part that has torque values and several springs? Maybe that would be beyond your “limitations” as a gunsmith.
Many modern firearms are simple to work on. Just because it seems simple does not mean fool proof. Make sure you know what you are doing when you work on your firearms, and if you are not sure, get an experts help.
At-home gunsmith projects are great. Working on your own gun creates a deeper familiarity and connection with your firearm. But if you make a mistake, the task can easily turn from a quick fix to an expensive project.
Ask any professional gunsmith, and he or she will tell you countless stories of customers sheepishly walking in with a disassembled gun-in-a-bag. These do-it-yourself projects gone bad end up costing a pretty penny. When the parts are all mixed together, it can end up taking a couple hours for a gunsmith to figure out what springs belong where, resulting in a higher bill.
We all make mistakes. But some are easy to avoid.
Read the Manual
Do your homework. Start by reading your gun's owner's manual. If you don't have one for the gun, many manufacturers have owner's manuals available for free on their website.
There are also many great reference manuals available to aid in the disassembly and assembly process. There are many other good books and manuals for nearly every make and model of firearm. Some are easier to read and understand than others, but many have pictures to help get the job done right, including hints and tips for difficult steps.
Stick to Simple Assignments
Don't jump into a big project first. Start with a simple job, like fixing minor surface rust on a blued finish. This little task can make a huge difference in a gun's appearance and function, and rust can often be cleaned up using steel wool and a healthy dose of gun oil, followed by a bit of cold bluing.
Other projects like refreshing the paint on your sight, mounting a scope or a detailed gun cleaning are great DIY projects. Instructions for detailed gun cleaning, including the disassembly of the component systems of your firearm, are often listed in your owner's manual or reference books. Once you are familiar with this type of work, ease yourself into more complex tasks.
Get Some White Space
A clean work space is important when you are dealing with the small parts of a gun. Having to locate a small spring or pin in a dark, cluttered work space can be a real pain. So, the first thing you have to do is clean and brighten your work bench by painting it white, laying down a clean painter's drop cloth or taping down some white poster board. Also, only keep the tools and parts that you need for the immediate job in the area, and put everything else aside. You can use double-sided tape to secure small screws, pins and other parts to your workspace so they don't disappear, and a rotating reading light puts light where it's needed. I sometimes use a magnetic tray that is used for vehicle mechanic work.
Be Overly Organized
Since, a missing part almost always means a trip to a professional gunsmith, you can never have enough containers to keep your parts from being lost. When disassembling, use one of those clear tackle boxes for parts. By having a compartmentalized box, you can put your parts away in the order they came out, saving you the headaches of figuring out which part belongs where. If you get stuck along the way, you can easily re-trace your steps.
When dealing with captive springs, you can also work inside a two gallon Ziploc bag. This way, if you lose control of a spring, it stays inside the bag, instead flying across the room.
Tools
You've heard it a hundred times and now you'll hear it again: Use the right tool for the right job. Using the wrong size screwdriver can very easily damage screws and the finish on your gun if you slip. You should also have a couple of brass punches for visible areas, and a good hardened-steel punch set for really tight-fitting pins.
There are many good, affordable gunsmith screwdriver kits available on the market. Wheeler and Brownell’s tool sets are what the pros use, and they are a wise investment for the long run.
If you are replacing parts, always compare your new parts to what came out of the gun. Subtle changes in the manufacturing process can mean minor part variances. Check any springs or parts you replace to ensure they are similar in length and diameter.
Remember that if a new part does not fit properly, you should just reinstall the original. A poorly fitted or wrong part can make your gun malfunction and make it dangerous. Most aftermarket parts come with directions, but if you get stuck, call the manufacturer and ask its Technical Service Department how to proceed.
When working on your gun, don't force it when taking something apart or putting it together. Take your time and make sure your parts are lined up properly. If you are frustrated, take a break. Many times, parts will easily come apart or fit back together when you are rested and relaxed.
Often overlooked, a gunsmith's torque driver is a valuable addition to your workbench. With scopes running into the thousands of dollars, no one can afford to kink or dent an expensive scope. Hitting your inch-pounds specifications is critical to properly mounting a scope. A torque driver will also prevent you from stripping your mounting screws, which would need to be drilled out and replaced if damaged.
As Dirty Harry said, know your limitations. Thorough cleaning, fixing loose parts, replacement of worn pins and adding accessories are all fine do-it-yourself firearm projects, but some things are best left to the professionals. Especially working with things like triggers, safeties, or hot-salt bluing. If you are interested in doing more advanced work, be sure to buy some advanced books or take a class. The NRA offers several classes with some of the best gunsmith schools in the country.
Doing something yourself can save money, time, and give you a connection to your gun. Always remember safety is the watch-word. Learn as much as you can and never stop learning.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Riot Avoidance And Safety
We have a wood stove in our living room. It can get pretty hot, which is the intent. It heats the entire house in the winter time. When our children were little they had to be taught to stay away from the stove. Often they would listen. Sometimes telling them was not enough, they had to feel for themselves. Anyway, if you know the stove is hot, don’t touch it! If you have an idea there will be a problem, don’t go to that place! Try to avoid these places where a riot can erupt. Sometimes you can’t. For those times you cannot avoid a hot spot or you find yourself in a riot here are some tactics. These tactics will work if a brawl breaks out in a club or inside with a large group of people too.
Situational Awareness
Know where the heck you are! Know where the freeway is. Know where the nearest police precinct is. Understand how you can get out of where you are, in case it all goes backward.
Be aware of what is going on around you. Know where the police are. You should be one of the first persons to notice that someone threw a bottle.
Blend
I know this sounds a little crazy, but if you work downtown carry a pillow case in your bag or briefcase. If you find yourself in a mess, someone with a pillow case does not scream “the man” like a briefcase or even a purse. Change your image. Pull off that tie and untuck that shirt and take off that Rolex. Try to blend in. Grab a sign. Change your look and look like everyone else. You may want to keep a casual change of clothes in your desk or locker at work. Don’t forget details like shoes.
Most people are not interested in being violent. They may even help to find a way to exit the area. They may even want to come with you.
Don’t wear a mask, a bandana, or a hoodie. This will only identify you as a rioter to law enforcement. Rubber bullets hurt!
Move Away
Try to get to the edge of the room or area. When you see “daylight”, or a way out, don’t run to it. You could be mistaken for several things or even start to be chased. Move deliberately toward your exit. Try to move in the same direction as the crowd. Angle toward your exit. Put as much distance as you can between you and the rioters. Don’t think that once you get out of the main body that you’re safe. These things can shift and move.
As you’re moving to an exit stay out of the main body as much as possible. Stay out of sight if possible in doorways, behind obstacles, in the shadows.
As was mentioned above, move deliberately. Move quickly without drawing attention to yourself. Don’t waste any time.
As you're moving through the riot, you need to avoid eye contact at all costs. Stare at them for more than a second and they'll want to get to know you better and figure out if you're part of the "establishment".
It's just human nature to feel challenged when someone maintains eye contact, especially when they feel in charge and are looking for someone to hate right at that moment.
If they stop you, this doesn't mean you have to look away when they're screaming at you. You don't want to look scared and you don't want to appear cocky either. The rule of thumb is to look at them when you're talking and look away when you're not. The key is to look natural.
You're on their side. You agree with them. Don't fight unless you have no other choice. Don't join the fights either and don't get mad at what the protesters are doing or saying. I don't care if you agree with them or not, it's more important that you get to see your family again.
If you can see no way out and you happen to see an open door, go in. How do you know which door is open? You don't, you just have to try them one by one. You might be seconds away from that mob noticing you're trying to escape.
Be Careful With A Car
You know who doesn’t like to be ran over by a car? Everyone. Keep that in mind if you’re unfortunate enough to be stuck in a vehicle during a riot.
Driving toward a police line might prompt them to use force to make you stop. Rioters, on the other hand, can’t seem to tolerate upright cars. This is a judgement call. Don’t drive in a way that irks anyone, but be stern enough to let people know “I want to get out of here.”
In any case, the car isn’t worth your life. If you need to abandon it, do it without thinking twice.
Specific tips for women
Have clothing to change into that doesn't show any curves.
Don't just wear dress shoes to work -- have some good, dark colored running shoes handy.
Be ready to wash off your make-up (if any) in a hurry.
One danger with having long hair (specifically, women) is that an attacker can really inflict pain and control the direction of the conflict if he gets a firm hand full of hair and starts yanking you around by it. Keeping your hair up or (in the worst of riots) hiding somewhere and cutting off your long locks can greatly assist in you escaping danger. Plus, your hair will grow back. Better yet, pull your hair up into an old ball cap and have something to cinch it with so that it stays hidden in your cap.
Worst Case Scenario
A city-wide riot, as Los Angeles 1992, would be considered the worst case scenario. Faced with nowhere to run and uninhibited violence, no survival tip can prepare you. How you survive is up to your best judgement.
It’s not worth getting worked up about, though. Determine the most likely disaster to hit your area. Adjust survival plans accordingly. Chances are Mother Nature is a greater threat than a city-leveling riot.
A riot is a serious thing. People have been seriously hurt or killed during a riot. Take it seriously and do your best to avoid one.
My opinion is that the “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) started as a legitimate organization. The problem with protest is it doesn’t take much for it to turn into a mob and a riot. BLM should consider a different way of protesting because violence follows their movement like a plague. If BLM really believes in peace, they will get their movement under control.
Charlotte is a glaring example:
Thugs burned down a city because a black cop shot someone, yet meanwhile the mainstream media spun it, or at least tried, as "peaceful protest." There is just one problem: violent criminals looting, attacking bystanders, attacking journalists, setting fires, smashing up cars, smashing up businesses and shooting at each other is not the a "peaceful protest."
What it looks like is an excuse, any excuse, to riot and pillage. If you live in a city, even if it’s not a large LA or NY type city, you are in danger of “protestors.” Be aware, be alert, and stay alive. By the way BLM, ALL lives matter.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Situational Awareness
Know where the heck you are! Know where the freeway is. Know where the nearest police precinct is. Understand how you can get out of where you are, in case it all goes backward.
Be aware of what is going on around you. Know where the police are. You should be one of the first persons to notice that someone threw a bottle.
Blend
I know this sounds a little crazy, but if you work downtown carry a pillow case in your bag or briefcase. If you find yourself in a mess, someone with a pillow case does not scream “the man” like a briefcase or even a purse. Change your image. Pull off that tie and untuck that shirt and take off that Rolex. Try to blend in. Grab a sign. Change your look and look like everyone else. You may want to keep a casual change of clothes in your desk or locker at work. Don’t forget details like shoes.
Most people are not interested in being violent. They may even help to find a way to exit the area. They may even want to come with you.
Don’t wear a mask, a bandana, or a hoodie. This will only identify you as a rioter to law enforcement. Rubber bullets hurt!
Move Away
Try to get to the edge of the room or area. When you see “daylight”, or a way out, don’t run to it. You could be mistaken for several things or even start to be chased. Move deliberately toward your exit. Try to move in the same direction as the crowd. Angle toward your exit. Put as much distance as you can between you and the rioters. Don’t think that once you get out of the main body that you’re safe. These things can shift and move.
As you’re moving to an exit stay out of the main body as much as possible. Stay out of sight if possible in doorways, behind obstacles, in the shadows.
As was mentioned above, move deliberately. Move quickly without drawing attention to yourself. Don’t waste any time.
As you're moving through the riot, you need to avoid eye contact at all costs. Stare at them for more than a second and they'll want to get to know you better and figure out if you're part of the "establishment".
It's just human nature to feel challenged when someone maintains eye contact, especially when they feel in charge and are looking for someone to hate right at that moment.
If they stop you, this doesn't mean you have to look away when they're screaming at you. You don't want to look scared and you don't want to appear cocky either. The rule of thumb is to look at them when you're talking and look away when you're not. The key is to look natural.
You're on their side. You agree with them. Don't fight unless you have no other choice. Don't join the fights either and don't get mad at what the protesters are doing or saying. I don't care if you agree with them or not, it's more important that you get to see your family again.
If you can see no way out and you happen to see an open door, go in. How do you know which door is open? You don't, you just have to try them one by one. You might be seconds away from that mob noticing you're trying to escape.
Be Careful With A Car
You know who doesn’t like to be ran over by a car? Everyone. Keep that in mind if you’re unfortunate enough to be stuck in a vehicle during a riot.
Driving toward a police line might prompt them to use force to make you stop. Rioters, on the other hand, can’t seem to tolerate upright cars. This is a judgement call. Don’t drive in a way that irks anyone, but be stern enough to let people know “I want to get out of here.”
In any case, the car isn’t worth your life. If you need to abandon it, do it without thinking twice.
Specific tips for women
Have clothing to change into that doesn't show any curves.
Don't just wear dress shoes to work -- have some good, dark colored running shoes handy.
Be ready to wash off your make-up (if any) in a hurry.
One danger with having long hair (specifically, women) is that an attacker can really inflict pain and control the direction of the conflict if he gets a firm hand full of hair and starts yanking you around by it. Keeping your hair up or (in the worst of riots) hiding somewhere and cutting off your long locks can greatly assist in you escaping danger. Plus, your hair will grow back. Better yet, pull your hair up into an old ball cap and have something to cinch it with so that it stays hidden in your cap.
Worst Case Scenario
A city-wide riot, as Los Angeles 1992, would be considered the worst case scenario. Faced with nowhere to run and uninhibited violence, no survival tip can prepare you. How you survive is up to your best judgement.
It’s not worth getting worked up about, though. Determine the most likely disaster to hit your area. Adjust survival plans accordingly. Chances are Mother Nature is a greater threat than a city-leveling riot.
A riot is a serious thing. People have been seriously hurt or killed during a riot. Take it seriously and do your best to avoid one.
My opinion is that the “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) started as a legitimate organization. The problem with protest is it doesn’t take much for it to turn into a mob and a riot. BLM should consider a different way of protesting because violence follows their movement like a plague. If BLM really believes in peace, they will get their movement under control.
Charlotte is a glaring example:
Thugs burned down a city because a black cop shot someone, yet meanwhile the mainstream media spun it, or at least tried, as "peaceful protest." There is just one problem: violent criminals looting, attacking bystanders, attacking journalists, setting fires, smashing up cars, smashing up businesses and shooting at each other is not the a "peaceful protest."
What it looks like is an excuse, any excuse, to riot and pillage. If you live in a city, even if it’s not a large LA or NY type city, you are in danger of “protestors.” Be aware, be alert, and stay alive. By the way BLM, ALL lives matter.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Monday, September 19, 2016
Body Armor And Plate Carriers
I’ve had several people ask me about body armor. I know very little about it but I know some about plate carriers. This article is from howtosurviveit.com. Melanie has more experience with armor than I do. I appreciate her words and hope that we can all learn from this informative article. I liked the way she expressed herself and agree with her words.
“Everybody knows about the existence of the so called bulletproof vest. It is a somewhat magical cloak that protects the wearer from any type of injury and bodily harm. In fact, while that may be true in some instances, this myth about body armor is of course nothing more than just that. Body armor, with its different properties and levels of protection based on the type that is worn will increase the chances of surviving an attack with a firearm and many more weapons, however, the effectiveness of the vest really depends on the weapon used and the strength of the vest itself. Simply putting on any vest for any scenario is not a good idea. That is why beginners need to learn to assess their situation and learn a thing or two about the properties that the different kinds of body armors have, all while resisting the temptation of believing in the most common myths related to body armor.
Myth: Body Armor Equally Protects Against Bullets and Stabbing Weapons
Bullet proof vests are made from Kevlar. They are comprised of many individual layers that are constructed to keep out bullets and protect the wearer from being penetrated by potentially lethal rounds. Knives on the other hand are a different thing. The tips of knives are generally smaller than bullets and capable of penetrating some vests. In the end, however, it depends on the force that a knife attack is carried out with. Attacks carried out with more force require a higher level of stab protection. Every vest has one of three stab proof levels, with level 3 being the highest.
Myth: Body Armor Absorbs All Energy From the Bullet
In the minds of those who like to succumb to Hollywood myths, the one about body armor absorbing all of the force transmitted by bullets is certainly one of the favorites. In movies all over the place, the heroes will continue running at an equal pace, despite being shot by firearms of many kinds and calibers. In reality, however, being shot while wearing a vest is no walk in the park. When body armor is hit by a bullet, basically of any caliber, there will be some bruising and potentially internal injuries. While it is still exceptionally better to suffer a large bruise, a broken rib or even minor internal bleeding than being penetrated by a projectile, it will definitely have an effect on the wearer. He may not be knocked out by the force of the bullet, but he also won’t be able to continue at the same pace, completely unfazed.
Myth: Body Armor Can Easily Be Worn Under Any Type of Clothing
Body armor comes in two varieties. There are overt and then there are covert vests. While the myth states that it practically makes no difference what kind of armor is worn when hiding it is the objective, in reality there is. Covert vests, as the name suggests, can be worn underneath clothing. As covert vests are much lighter and thinner, they are only available up to Level IIIA. Any vest of a level higher than IIIA is considered overt as hiding it underneath regular everyday clothing is hardly, if at all, possible. Now, there sure is always the possibility of buying 4XL shirts to hide high level vests underneath, however, fooling anybody may be harder than anticipated.
The Truth About Body Armor
As the previous paragraphs of this article have revealed there are both myths and truths surrounding the infamous “bulletproof-vest” or as it is more professionally known, body armor. Factually, body armor is a very specialized item that protects against severe bodily harm or even death caused by blunt force trauma, glass, shots fired from firearms and stab wounds caused by knives and other pointy and sharp objects. Nevertheless, body armor is so versatile that one model does not fit all scenarios. With the different levels of protection, weight, water resistance and other special features, one needs to assess his threat level and personal needs and pick his body armor based on that.
For lighter threat scenarios, level IIA to IIIA body armor is likely the best pick. These protective vests can fairly easily be hidden underneath everyday clothing and resist 9mm rounds fired at a velocity of up to 1090 feet per second in the case of level IIA and 9mm rounds fired at a velocity of up to 1400 feet per second in the case of Level IIIA body armor.
In scenarios where the wearer is threatened by large caliber firearms, level III or IV body armor may be appropriate. While body armor of these levels protects against larger calibers fired at a higher velocity, they are also much heavier, more uncomfortable and almost impossible to conceal. Level III body armor protects against up to 6 .308 Winchester Full Metal Jacket rounds fired at 2750 feet per second, as well as smaller caliber rounds (also covered by lower level vests); while level IV body armor even protects against a .3006 Armor-Piercing round fired at up to 2850 feet per second and smaller calibers (also covered by lower level vests).”
Melanie Swick
http://howtosurviveit.com/body-armor-myths/
How To Survive It.com
The categories of body armor and plates are: Level I: .22 LR; Level IIA: 9mm to .40 S&W; Level II: 9mm to .357 Magnum; Level IIIA: .357 SIG to .44 Magnum; Level III: 7.62mm rifle rounds; Level IV: Armor-piercing .30-06.
While soft armor is a solid performer at resisting handgun rounds, those who may face rifle threats turn to plates. Armor plates are generally designed to supplement soft armor with a few that can be standalone. As with soft armor, plates are rated for the rounds that they can resist. There are two main categories in plates: As we said above Level III, which protect against rifle rounds, and Level IV, which resist armor-piercing rifle rounds.
There are some general things to always remember about body armor and carriers. First, the carrier offers no protection at all. Without armor, that well-made carrier becomes an expensive shirt. Keep your armor in the carrier. The only type of armor guaranteed to fail is the one left in the trunk.
It is important to take care of both your carrier and your armor. Follow the manufactures’ instructions to help keep it in good working order. On that note, realize that most armor is only rated to last for five years. This is based on environmental issues, projected wear and tear, and general use. If your armor is ever shot, it must be replaced. The point of impact weakens the armor and could potentially lead it to fail if hit in the same area again. Lastly, body armor is bullet resistant—not knife resistant. If you will be working in an arena where edged weapons are a real issue, you need to acquire stab-resistant armor.
The arena of body armor and carriers is diverse and sometimes confusing. Educate yourself on what your real needs are and dress to meet those needs. Never take shortcuts, and be diligent about wearing your armor. Making an educated decision will allow you to secure a long-lasting, comfortable and effective rig to help keep you alive.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
“Everybody knows about the existence of the so called bulletproof vest. It is a somewhat magical cloak that protects the wearer from any type of injury and bodily harm. In fact, while that may be true in some instances, this myth about body armor is of course nothing more than just that. Body armor, with its different properties and levels of protection based on the type that is worn will increase the chances of surviving an attack with a firearm and many more weapons, however, the effectiveness of the vest really depends on the weapon used and the strength of the vest itself. Simply putting on any vest for any scenario is not a good idea. That is why beginners need to learn to assess their situation and learn a thing or two about the properties that the different kinds of body armors have, all while resisting the temptation of believing in the most common myths related to body armor.
Myth: Body Armor Equally Protects Against Bullets and Stabbing Weapons
Bullet proof vests are made from Kevlar. They are comprised of many individual layers that are constructed to keep out bullets and protect the wearer from being penetrated by potentially lethal rounds. Knives on the other hand are a different thing. The tips of knives are generally smaller than bullets and capable of penetrating some vests. In the end, however, it depends on the force that a knife attack is carried out with. Attacks carried out with more force require a higher level of stab protection. Every vest has one of three stab proof levels, with level 3 being the highest.
Myth: Body Armor Absorbs All Energy From the Bullet
In the minds of those who like to succumb to Hollywood myths, the one about body armor absorbing all of the force transmitted by bullets is certainly one of the favorites. In movies all over the place, the heroes will continue running at an equal pace, despite being shot by firearms of many kinds and calibers. In reality, however, being shot while wearing a vest is no walk in the park. When body armor is hit by a bullet, basically of any caliber, there will be some bruising and potentially internal injuries. While it is still exceptionally better to suffer a large bruise, a broken rib or even minor internal bleeding than being penetrated by a projectile, it will definitely have an effect on the wearer. He may not be knocked out by the force of the bullet, but he also won’t be able to continue at the same pace, completely unfazed.
Myth: Body Armor Can Easily Be Worn Under Any Type of Clothing
Body armor comes in two varieties. There are overt and then there are covert vests. While the myth states that it practically makes no difference what kind of armor is worn when hiding it is the objective, in reality there is. Covert vests, as the name suggests, can be worn underneath clothing. As covert vests are much lighter and thinner, they are only available up to Level IIIA. Any vest of a level higher than IIIA is considered overt as hiding it underneath regular everyday clothing is hardly, if at all, possible. Now, there sure is always the possibility of buying 4XL shirts to hide high level vests underneath, however, fooling anybody may be harder than anticipated.
The Truth About Body Armor
As the previous paragraphs of this article have revealed there are both myths and truths surrounding the infamous “bulletproof-vest” or as it is more professionally known, body armor. Factually, body armor is a very specialized item that protects against severe bodily harm or even death caused by blunt force trauma, glass, shots fired from firearms and stab wounds caused by knives and other pointy and sharp objects. Nevertheless, body armor is so versatile that one model does not fit all scenarios. With the different levels of protection, weight, water resistance and other special features, one needs to assess his threat level and personal needs and pick his body armor based on that.
For lighter threat scenarios, level IIA to IIIA body armor is likely the best pick. These protective vests can fairly easily be hidden underneath everyday clothing and resist 9mm rounds fired at a velocity of up to 1090 feet per second in the case of level IIA and 9mm rounds fired at a velocity of up to 1400 feet per second in the case of Level IIIA body armor.
In scenarios where the wearer is threatened by large caliber firearms, level III or IV body armor may be appropriate. While body armor of these levels protects against larger calibers fired at a higher velocity, they are also much heavier, more uncomfortable and almost impossible to conceal. Level III body armor protects against up to 6 .308 Winchester Full Metal Jacket rounds fired at 2750 feet per second, as well as smaller caliber rounds (also covered by lower level vests); while level IV body armor even protects against a .3006 Armor-Piercing round fired at up to 2850 feet per second and smaller calibers (also covered by lower level vests).”
Melanie Swick
http://howtosurviveit.com/body-armor-myths/
How To Survive It.com
The categories of body armor and plates are: Level I: .22 LR; Level IIA: 9mm to .40 S&W; Level II: 9mm to .357 Magnum; Level IIIA: .357 SIG to .44 Magnum; Level III: 7.62mm rifle rounds; Level IV: Armor-piercing .30-06.
While soft armor is a solid performer at resisting handgun rounds, those who may face rifle threats turn to plates. Armor plates are generally designed to supplement soft armor with a few that can be standalone. As with soft armor, plates are rated for the rounds that they can resist. There are two main categories in plates: As we said above Level III, which protect against rifle rounds, and Level IV, which resist armor-piercing rifle rounds.
There are some general things to always remember about body armor and carriers. First, the carrier offers no protection at all. Without armor, that well-made carrier becomes an expensive shirt. Keep your armor in the carrier. The only type of armor guaranteed to fail is the one left in the trunk.
It is important to take care of both your carrier and your armor. Follow the manufactures’ instructions to help keep it in good working order. On that note, realize that most armor is only rated to last for five years. This is based on environmental issues, projected wear and tear, and general use. If your armor is ever shot, it must be replaced. The point of impact weakens the armor and could potentially lead it to fail if hit in the same area again. Lastly, body armor is bullet resistant—not knife resistant. If you will be working in an arena where edged weapons are a real issue, you need to acquire stab-resistant armor.
The arena of body armor and carriers is diverse and sometimes confusing. Educate yourself on what your real needs are and dress to meet those needs. Never take shortcuts, and be diligent about wearing your armor. Making an educated decision will allow you to secure a long-lasting, comfortable and effective rig to help keep you alive.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Friday, September 16, 2016
Trampling Other's Sacred Symbols
It was during Reagan’s America that I joined the military. It was a good time to be in the military I think. A lot of things have changed since then. I make no bones about serving and was happy to do so. The military gave me a lot, and I gave a lot to the military. I feel I’m a pretty patriotic guy. I stand for the National Anthem and I salute or put my hand over my heart for the flag. I like others to do the same but realize some do not. That’s their right. That’s why I served so that they have the freedom to not show reverence for this country if they so choose. What I don’t appreciate is not respecting those that choose to show reverence for our country. If you are a NFL Quarterback and you went to college I think you’ve been given a few things. You had to work very hard to get to that point I think and I applaud that. I take issue with the fact that there are few countries you could do that in. There are even fewer countries you could protest in. Not showing a respect for my country does rub me the wrong way, even though I understand anyone’s right to do so. Black people and people of color can get a raw deal in this country. But I can tell you what, if you were to visit some African, Asian, and South American countries you will see what oppression really looks like! I’m sorry that this world is not as it should be. I’m sorry black people are still oppressed in this country. But black people and people of color have great privilege in this country too. We have a black President. There are black people in every in every job you can think of in this country. There are many opportunities for people of every color in this country. Some do not think so. Colin Kaepernick signed a 6 year, $114,000,000 contract with the San Francisco 49ers, including a $12,328,766 signing bonus, $61,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $19,000,000. Those numbers are staggering! Now I’m not knocking Colin. He may be a very generous guy who gives his time and money to charity, I don’t know. But I’m not sure oppression is something Colin is real familiar with, but I may be wrong. Here is his statement:
"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder", referencing a series of events that led to the “Black Lives Matter” movement and adding that he would continue to protest until he feels like "[the American flag] represents what it’s supposed to represent”.
No offense Colin, but I’m not sure you know what that flag is “supposed to represent.” I gues we could change that to what HE thinks it should represent. This, to me, makes little sense. I guess Colin is going to be sitting the rest of his life. I hope that’s not ALL he’s doing. Because if that’s the extent of his “protest”, I’m not sure his cause will get very far. The same goes for any other Yahoo that sits rather than stands. I’m sure my “Yahoo” reference has tipped my hand that I’m not too impressed with a guy who is brought up well, gets a good education and then uses his talent to make LOTS of money, and THEN protests. Hey Colin, your Superbowl ring is showing! You could probably feed a small country on what that ring would bring in on e-bay. But I digress. Having money and being worth a lot is not a bad thing. It also does not mean you can’t protest or have an opinion. Sometimes it’s not the protest but the way they protest. Burning the flag is quite an ironic thing to me. What that flag represents is why you CAN burn the flag! Protesting is OK but actually doing something to make a difference in this country is what is impressive. I don’t care if I agree with what you want to do, if you’re doing it in a civilized, respectful of others type of protest, you might even persuade others to join you. Doing something that offends may get you recognized and grab headlines, but it’s not very smart. I don’t like when others fail to show respect to the symbols that represent this great country. I took an oath to defend this country and others have died to protect it. Don’t show your disrespect of the symbols others fought and died for. It makes it look like you don’t appreciate what they died for, even though that may not be true. Making real change in this country will only happen when you win hearts and minds. Those who were against the Viet Nam war won the hearts and minds of Americans. It wasn’t the sit-ins and marches that did it. It was changing the way people feel, which changed the way they voted and what they supported. That’s how real change happens. So Colin, go ahead and sit all you want. Until you start some real debate and help others to change the way they think, only then will you see change. If you think the American flag doesn’t represent what you think it should, not standing for the National Anthem is not going to change that. That flag still represents what it always has represented. No amount of oppression will change what Old Glory stands for. You just show your ignorance by thinking that if Black Lives Matters gets all the things they want, that then will the flag represent truth, freedom, and liberty. There will always be something wrong with this country and every other country. There is no utopia or perfect country and there never will be. Because imperfect humans are involved.
But this country is still the great experiment. This country has lit the world on fire for two centuries and it is because some gave what Lincoln called “the last full measure of devotion” to its idea that privileged quarterbacks who make $114,000,000 in 6 years get to whine about what they find wrong with a nation that allows them that $114,000,000 privilege! Protesting is one thing but putting down a symbol that represents something that people long for and risk everything for is plain stupid. How do problems and things that need to be changed in this country have any bearing on the flag, and the anthem? If the 49ers lose a game does that mean the logo no longer means anything to their fans? No! These symbols represent freedom or they don’t. The symbols don’t change. I, for one, think that sitting during the National Anthem only reflects on your manners more than anything else! I know that other athletes support this action, and even some vets. It doesn’t make much sense to me. But I also think that these symbols mean something different to those who have served in the military. I’m not saying that those who have never served are not patriotic but your understanding of freedom changes when they put a gun in your hand and say “defend this against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” It also means something different to watch your friends give all for those symbols and what they represent. I don’t like war. I especially do not like war for no reason. But really, when you get down to it, have any of the wars we’ve been in been for a good reason save the revolutionary war? There may be some who thought the revolutionary war was not for a good cause.
Until you put all on the line don’t tell me it’s not worth it. Luckily, privileged quarterbacks don’t set policy in this country. Be careful what you support. Don’t get taken in by the “protest” hype. Work for change where change is needed. Protest if you must but if you want to get anywhere but the front of the Sports section, give an argument that is logical and passionate.
And please, leave my sacred symbols alone if you want to change my mind.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder", referencing a series of events that led to the “Black Lives Matter” movement and adding that he would continue to protest until he feels like "[the American flag] represents what it’s supposed to represent”.
No offense Colin, but I’m not sure you know what that flag is “supposed to represent.” I gues we could change that to what HE thinks it should represent. This, to me, makes little sense. I guess Colin is going to be sitting the rest of his life. I hope that’s not ALL he’s doing. Because if that’s the extent of his “protest”, I’m not sure his cause will get very far. The same goes for any other Yahoo that sits rather than stands. I’m sure my “Yahoo” reference has tipped my hand that I’m not too impressed with a guy who is brought up well, gets a good education and then uses his talent to make LOTS of money, and THEN protests. Hey Colin, your Superbowl ring is showing! You could probably feed a small country on what that ring would bring in on e-bay. But I digress. Having money and being worth a lot is not a bad thing. It also does not mean you can’t protest or have an opinion. Sometimes it’s not the protest but the way they protest. Burning the flag is quite an ironic thing to me. What that flag represents is why you CAN burn the flag! Protesting is OK but actually doing something to make a difference in this country is what is impressive. I don’t care if I agree with what you want to do, if you’re doing it in a civilized, respectful of others type of protest, you might even persuade others to join you. Doing something that offends may get you recognized and grab headlines, but it’s not very smart. I don’t like when others fail to show respect to the symbols that represent this great country. I took an oath to defend this country and others have died to protect it. Don’t show your disrespect of the symbols others fought and died for. It makes it look like you don’t appreciate what they died for, even though that may not be true. Making real change in this country will only happen when you win hearts and minds. Those who were against the Viet Nam war won the hearts and minds of Americans. It wasn’t the sit-ins and marches that did it. It was changing the way people feel, which changed the way they voted and what they supported. That’s how real change happens. So Colin, go ahead and sit all you want. Until you start some real debate and help others to change the way they think, only then will you see change. If you think the American flag doesn’t represent what you think it should, not standing for the National Anthem is not going to change that. That flag still represents what it always has represented. No amount of oppression will change what Old Glory stands for. You just show your ignorance by thinking that if Black Lives Matters gets all the things they want, that then will the flag represent truth, freedom, and liberty. There will always be something wrong with this country and every other country. There is no utopia or perfect country and there never will be. Because imperfect humans are involved.
But this country is still the great experiment. This country has lit the world on fire for two centuries and it is because some gave what Lincoln called “the last full measure of devotion” to its idea that privileged quarterbacks who make $114,000,000 in 6 years get to whine about what they find wrong with a nation that allows them that $114,000,000 privilege! Protesting is one thing but putting down a symbol that represents something that people long for and risk everything for is plain stupid. How do problems and things that need to be changed in this country have any bearing on the flag, and the anthem? If the 49ers lose a game does that mean the logo no longer means anything to their fans? No! These symbols represent freedom or they don’t. The symbols don’t change. I, for one, think that sitting during the National Anthem only reflects on your manners more than anything else! I know that other athletes support this action, and even some vets. It doesn’t make much sense to me. But I also think that these symbols mean something different to those who have served in the military. I’m not saying that those who have never served are not patriotic but your understanding of freedom changes when they put a gun in your hand and say “defend this against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” It also means something different to watch your friends give all for those symbols and what they represent. I don’t like war. I especially do not like war for no reason. But really, when you get down to it, have any of the wars we’ve been in been for a good reason save the revolutionary war? There may be some who thought the revolutionary war was not for a good cause.
Until you put all on the line don’t tell me it’s not worth it. Luckily, privileged quarterbacks don’t set policy in this country. Be careful what you support. Don’t get taken in by the “protest” hype. Work for change where change is needed. Protest if you must but if you want to get anywhere but the front of the Sports section, give an argument that is logical and passionate.
And please, leave my sacred symbols alone if you want to change my mind.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Thursday, September 15, 2016
9-11 After a Few Days Of Thought
It is a few days after 9-11. I was going to write this on the 11th but thought I needed more time to think about that horrid day and the days that have passed in those 15 years after. Lots of things have happened as a result of that attack. We’ve had wars, brave people have given their lives in the name of fighting the threat that came from it. We have changed the world. The world has also changed on its own. The USA has less privacy because of this one day. Our government has become bigger, which is never a good thing. I have a daughter who is now a missionary. She was born in 1996. She was only 5 when our beloved country was attacked. She doesn’t remember it. All she knows is the post-911-world and nothing of the pre-9-11 world. For her it is natural to stand in line to go through security at an airport. She doesn’t understand what it’s like to live when the United States is not involved in a war.
The events of 9-11 caused America to promise, “We will never forget.” This meant to never forget the 3,000 victims of mass murder. To never forget the heroic actions of emergency personnel and average citizens. To never forget how that day felt, to ensure a similar event would never happen again.
President George W. Bush set the tone for “remembering” on the evening of September 11 in a speech from the Oval Office: “This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time.
“None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.”
And in the wake of a collective tragedy, Americans did unite, for a while. Then 2008 gave us recession. I don’t think we got the “hope and change” we were promised.
America is thick with nostalgia and deep in mourning, remembering the poor, innocent souls who were lost 15 years ago.
In the intervening time, scores have been settled and the guilty have been vanquished only to see them replaced by threats more urgent, more organized and more aggressive. It is important that we all remember 9-11, but not for its own sake; we must remember so that we may hopefully prevent it or anything like it from ever happening again.
That we will be able to do so is a false proposition. Rather than united in opposition to terror the world is fragmented, with many of the nations who bore the cost in blood of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan skittish about the need for continued action. The Islamic State group runs rampant through portions of Iraq and has helped to destabilize Syria, sending countless refugees, mostly men but some women and children, west to sanctuary in Eastern Europe because those nation's closest to them will not take them in. Most alarmingly, it has taken just 15 years for America to go from united in the fight against global terror and the leadership of a president who saw terrorists for what they are and sought to eradicate them, to a divided nation. We are led by a president who now negotiates with them and whose party would easily throw off the government's responsibility to preserve our collective safety and security.
The deal with Iran, which President Barack Obama and the Democrats now own, lock, stock and barrel will not keep the peace. It will in fact embolden the Iranian government to see a nuclear future, one which imperils us all, as it is simply not to be trusted. Not by us, not by our European allies who helped negotiate the P5+1 agreement, and not by Israel, whom Ayatollah Ali Khamenei predicted just as the U.S. Congress was prepared to begin debate on the deal, would not exist a quarter century from now. How many times do the fanatics who control Iran have to make their intentions clear before everyone will believe them?
Where does this leave us now? In a world awash with uncertainty and violence and insecurity. We must depend on ourselves for our own security. I love our military but often think they are led by politicians in uniform. I still think it is the best in the world. Our Law Enforcement also. The majority of those people are upstanding lovers of our Constitution. They love their job of serving us. But with all of their great intentions, they all can’t control the world or be everywhere. We must take our security into our own hands. That is the intent of this web site. To assist and give some insight into our performance of our own safety and security.
I think I’ve been fairly successful at trying to bring many avenues of thought and ideas for you to provide your own personal and family security. I hope to continue. If you have any ideas or needs that you want addressed here then please feel free to give me suggestions.
I love this country. I have sworn to uphold the Constitution against “all enemies, foreign and domestic.” I hope that you too will remember 9-11 with reverence and as a wake-up call for us as citizens to care for ourselves. I also love the LDS Church. Mostly I love the gospel of Christ and continue to testify of Him and of His gospel.
May we be valiant and vigilant. May we commit now to being prepared and insuring the security of our country and our family.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
The events of 9-11 caused America to promise, “We will never forget.” This meant to never forget the 3,000 victims of mass murder. To never forget the heroic actions of emergency personnel and average citizens. To never forget how that day felt, to ensure a similar event would never happen again.
President George W. Bush set the tone for “remembering” on the evening of September 11 in a speech from the Oval Office: “This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time.
“None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.”
And in the wake of a collective tragedy, Americans did unite, for a while. Then 2008 gave us recession. I don’t think we got the “hope and change” we were promised.
America is thick with nostalgia and deep in mourning, remembering the poor, innocent souls who were lost 15 years ago.
In the intervening time, scores have been settled and the guilty have been vanquished only to see them replaced by threats more urgent, more organized and more aggressive. It is important that we all remember 9-11, but not for its own sake; we must remember so that we may hopefully prevent it or anything like it from ever happening again.
That we will be able to do so is a false proposition. Rather than united in opposition to terror the world is fragmented, with many of the nations who bore the cost in blood of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan skittish about the need for continued action. The Islamic State group runs rampant through portions of Iraq and has helped to destabilize Syria, sending countless refugees, mostly men but some women and children, west to sanctuary in Eastern Europe because those nation's closest to them will not take them in. Most alarmingly, it has taken just 15 years for America to go from united in the fight against global terror and the leadership of a president who saw terrorists for what they are and sought to eradicate them, to a divided nation. We are led by a president who now negotiates with them and whose party would easily throw off the government's responsibility to preserve our collective safety and security.
The deal with Iran, which President Barack Obama and the Democrats now own, lock, stock and barrel will not keep the peace. It will in fact embolden the Iranian government to see a nuclear future, one which imperils us all, as it is simply not to be trusted. Not by us, not by our European allies who helped negotiate the P5+1 agreement, and not by Israel, whom Ayatollah Ali Khamenei predicted just as the U.S. Congress was prepared to begin debate on the deal, would not exist a quarter century from now. How many times do the fanatics who control Iran have to make their intentions clear before everyone will believe them?
Where does this leave us now? In a world awash with uncertainty and violence and insecurity. We must depend on ourselves for our own security. I love our military but often think they are led by politicians in uniform. I still think it is the best in the world. Our Law Enforcement also. The majority of those people are upstanding lovers of our Constitution. They love their job of serving us. But with all of their great intentions, they all can’t control the world or be everywhere. We must take our security into our own hands. That is the intent of this web site. To assist and give some insight into our performance of our own safety and security.
I think I’ve been fairly successful at trying to bring many avenues of thought and ideas for you to provide your own personal and family security. I hope to continue. If you have any ideas or needs that you want addressed here then please feel free to give me suggestions.
I love this country. I have sworn to uphold the Constitution against “all enemies, foreign and domestic.” I hope that you too will remember 9-11 with reverence and as a wake-up call for us as citizens to care for ourselves. I also love the LDS Church. Mostly I love the gospel of Christ and continue to testify of Him and of His gospel.
May we be valiant and vigilant. May we commit now to being prepared and insuring the security of our country and our family.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Brigham Young's Colt .31
In May of 2016 on behalf of the direct descendants of Brigham Young and in association with Michael Simens a personal friend of the Young Family, Brigham Young’s Colt pistol was put up for auction. It was said to have sold for between $550,000 and $850,000.
This is a factory engraved Colt Model 1849 Pocket percussion revolver manufactured in 1854 and presented to Brigham Young, by H.E. Dimick & Co., a major St. Louis firearms dealer. Brigham Young was Prophet at the martyrdom of Joseph Smith from 1844 until his death in 1877. This revolver was presented to the Prophet by H.E. Dimick & Company while he served as Governor of the Utah Territory (1851-1858).
Founded in 1849 in St. Louis, H.E. Dimick quickly became the largest firearms dealer west of the Mississippi and attracted a large share of public attention on account of the splendid assortment of firearms that composed their stock. Dimick was popular among mountain men, scouts, fur traders, buffalo hunters and pioneers migrating west in need of firearms and related supplies. It must be assumed that President Young, as the Governor of the Utah Territory, would have had specific dealings with Dimick in the supplying of firearms to the Utah Territory.
The revolver has deluxe factory floral scroll engraving with punch-dot background and floral accents. It was a .31 caliber percussion pistol with a 4inch octagon barrel. Due to its exquisite quality, it is believed the engraving was executed by Master Engraver Gustave Young himself, and this gun is consecutively numbered to a gun listed on one of his two existing work-shop sheets from September 1854. The flawlessly executed scrollwork covers the lug and rear two thirds of the barrel, the loading lever flats, the frame, the trigger guard bow and the bottom and upper third of the back strap. The back strap is unquestionably factory, special order inscribed as follows; "Presented to Gov. Young/by H.E. Dimick & Co." The top and sides of the hammer are decorated with Gustave Young's characteristic wolf head motif with beautifully executed additional dog heads on the left side of the frame and barrel. The hammer exhibits deluxe knurling and the screw heads are also engraved. The top barrel flat is presentation style scroll engraved "Saml Colt" surrounded by simple decorative line engraving and the left side of the frame is engraved "COLT'S/PATENT". The serial number (97326) is marked on all major parts, and the correct partial serial number (7326) is on the barrel wedge. The cylinder is roll engraved with the stagecoach holdup scene and marked "COLTS PATENT" over the serial number. The barrel and cylinder are blue. The loading lever, frame and hammer are casehardened, and the trigger guard and back strap are silver plated brass. It is fitted with a smooth one-piece antique ivory grip. The partitioned deluxe rosewood case is lined in red wine velvet and is presentation inscribed to Young. The top of the lid has a brass inscription plaque that reads, "Gov. Young/G.S.L.C./Utah Ter." Interestingly, the city was named by Young himself, “Great Salt lake City” upon Young’s arrival to the valley, hence the decorated initials “G.S.L.C.” on the plaque. The name was later shortened to its current title. The case has brass hardware including the corner protectors on the lid. The case holds the revolver, silver or German silver powder flask, two cavity "COLTS/PATENT" brass bullet mold, combination screwdriver and nipple wrench, Eley percussion cap tin, nipple pick, cleaning rod and a small knife blade from a dress knife and file often used as a watch fob marked “G. Wostenholm, I.X.L.” The gun is accompanied with an un-impeachable letter of provenance from the great grandson of Brigham Young and a period ID card that was displayed with the set in the Young household on special occasions. This is the personal Colt revolver that Brigham Young received as a gift; that he personally cleaned, loaded and kept at-the-ready and would undoubtedly have used when necessary to protect himself, his family and those who might need it from nefarious persons as was his Constitutional right.
Brigham Young’s Colt was similar to one carried by Porter Rockwell, who was the prophet Joseph Smith’s bodyguard as well as President Young’s. He carried a Colt Navy .36 caliber with a sawed off barrel.
The Colt Navy pistol seems to play a big role in early years of the Church.
There are some who wonder why the Church has not come out against what is commonly called “gun violence”. I think that followers of Christ are against ALL violence, not just that which comes from a gun. I believe there are some Mormon Liberals that like to think they hold the moral high ground and that guns could not possibly be any good. My feeling is that they feel that way until an criminal attacker/terrorist/madman starts shooting at them. Then they call 911 for someone to save them…with a gun.
Brigham Young knew the importance of self-defense.
“…do as I do—keep some person awake in your house all night long, and be ready, at the least tap of the foot, to offer a stout resistance, if it is required. Be ready at any moment to kill twenty of your enemies at least. Let every house be a fort. … I am my own policeman, and have slept, scores of nights, with my gun and sword by my side, that is, if I slept at all. I am still a policeman. Now is the day to watch. It is as important for me to watch now, as well as pray, as it ever has been since I came into this kingdom. It requires watching, as well as praying men; take turns at it, let some watch while others pray, and then change round, but never let any time pass without a watcher, lest you be overtaken in an hour when you think not;
Brigham Young -JD 1:171-172
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
This is a factory engraved Colt Model 1849 Pocket percussion revolver manufactured in 1854 and presented to Brigham Young, by H.E. Dimick & Co., a major St. Louis firearms dealer. Brigham Young was Prophet at the martyrdom of Joseph Smith from 1844 until his death in 1877. This revolver was presented to the Prophet by H.E. Dimick & Company while he served as Governor of the Utah Territory (1851-1858).
Founded in 1849 in St. Louis, H.E. Dimick quickly became the largest firearms dealer west of the Mississippi and attracted a large share of public attention on account of the splendid assortment of firearms that composed their stock. Dimick was popular among mountain men, scouts, fur traders, buffalo hunters and pioneers migrating west in need of firearms and related supplies. It must be assumed that President Young, as the Governor of the Utah Territory, would have had specific dealings with Dimick in the supplying of firearms to the Utah Territory.
The revolver has deluxe factory floral scroll engraving with punch-dot background and floral accents. It was a .31 caliber percussion pistol with a 4inch octagon barrel. Due to its exquisite quality, it is believed the engraving was executed by Master Engraver Gustave Young himself, and this gun is consecutively numbered to a gun listed on one of his two existing work-shop sheets from September 1854. The flawlessly executed scrollwork covers the lug and rear two thirds of the barrel, the loading lever flats, the frame, the trigger guard bow and the bottom and upper third of the back strap. The back strap is unquestionably factory, special order inscribed as follows; "Presented to Gov. Young/by H.E. Dimick & Co." The top and sides of the hammer are decorated with Gustave Young's characteristic wolf head motif with beautifully executed additional dog heads on the left side of the frame and barrel. The hammer exhibits deluxe knurling and the screw heads are also engraved. The top barrel flat is presentation style scroll engraved "Saml Colt" surrounded by simple decorative line engraving and the left side of the frame is engraved "COLT'S/PATENT". The serial number (97326) is marked on all major parts, and the correct partial serial number (7326) is on the barrel wedge. The cylinder is roll engraved with the stagecoach holdup scene and marked "COLTS PATENT" over the serial number. The barrel and cylinder are blue. The loading lever, frame and hammer are casehardened, and the trigger guard and back strap are silver plated brass. It is fitted with a smooth one-piece antique ivory grip. The partitioned deluxe rosewood case is lined in red wine velvet and is presentation inscribed to Young. The top of the lid has a brass inscription plaque that reads, "Gov. Young/G.S.L.C./Utah Ter." Interestingly, the city was named by Young himself, “Great Salt lake City” upon Young’s arrival to the valley, hence the decorated initials “G.S.L.C.” on the plaque. The name was later shortened to its current title. The case has brass hardware including the corner protectors on the lid. The case holds the revolver, silver or German silver powder flask, two cavity "COLTS/PATENT" brass bullet mold, combination screwdriver and nipple wrench, Eley percussion cap tin, nipple pick, cleaning rod and a small knife blade from a dress knife and file often used as a watch fob marked “G. Wostenholm, I.X.L.” The gun is accompanied with an un-impeachable letter of provenance from the great grandson of Brigham Young and a period ID card that was displayed with the set in the Young household on special occasions. This is the personal Colt revolver that Brigham Young received as a gift; that he personally cleaned, loaded and kept at-the-ready and would undoubtedly have used when necessary to protect himself, his family and those who might need it from nefarious persons as was his Constitutional right.
Brigham Young’s Colt was similar to one carried by Porter Rockwell, who was the prophet Joseph Smith’s bodyguard as well as President Young’s. He carried a Colt Navy .36 caliber with a sawed off barrel.
The Colt Navy pistol seems to play a big role in early years of the Church.
There are some who wonder why the Church has not come out against what is commonly called “gun violence”. I think that followers of Christ are against ALL violence, not just that which comes from a gun. I believe there are some Mormon Liberals that like to think they hold the moral high ground and that guns could not possibly be any good. My feeling is that they feel that way until an criminal attacker/terrorist/madman starts shooting at them. Then they call 911 for someone to save them…with a gun.
Brigham Young knew the importance of self-defense.
“…do as I do—keep some person awake in your house all night long, and be ready, at the least tap of the foot, to offer a stout resistance, if it is required. Be ready at any moment to kill twenty of your enemies at least. Let every house be a fort. … I am my own policeman, and have slept, scores of nights, with my gun and sword by my side, that is, if I slept at all. I am still a policeman. Now is the day to watch. It is as important for me to watch now, as well as pray, as it ever has been since I came into this kingdom. It requires watching, as well as praying men; take turns at it, let some watch while others pray, and then change round, but never let any time pass without a watcher, lest you be overtaken in an hour when you think not;
Brigham Young -JD 1:171-172
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Making Intelligence Work For Your Family
In the past I’ve written about privacy and keeping your personal information out of the hands of anyone else. I’ve talked about operations security (what and how you do things), communications security (not talking about or talking “around” sensitive information), and even not giving away information with your trash and stickers on the back of your vehicle. All of this is denying the “enemy” intelligence (intel). The enemy may be criminals, nosey people or relatives, or actual terrorists. Regardless of who, it’s to our advantage to know about intelligence and how it works.
This information is based on military ideas and tactics. You can tailor these things to work for you and your family.
1-Identify Your AO
You first must define your AO (area of operations). That’s a fancy term that just means your immediate situation and the various areas that comprise your daily routines and interactions. This could be your backyard, your neighbors, your street, the entire neighborhood and all the way out to your community and city. Where do you spend the majority of your time? What areas do you travel through, visit frequently, or work in most often? What information about these areas is available?
The objective here is to identify the major areas you interact with, in order to refine your analysis and focus later. Take into account any characteristics in your area that could affect the way you interact with the environment. By defining your AO, a geographical boundary is established; this boundary sets the stage for the next steps, when an analysis of how the environment affects you is conducted.
Characteristics to Consider:
• Geography
• Terrain
• Weather
• Ethnic, religious, income, & age groups
• Political and socio-economic factors
• Transportation systems and other infrastructures
2-Explore Your AO Environment and Its Effects
Next you must determine how the various characteristics of your AO affect you and your family. Identify any limitations or opportunities that your home, neighborhood and city offer. Where is the local police station? What’s the neighborhood like? Is it a safe area or does it offer freedom of movement to criminals and other nefarious activity? Where are the bad parts of the city and do you travel through them or work in them at all?
The key here is to identify and explore any factors that could affect you and your family in the neighborhood, city, etc. Research the characteristics you just identified in Step 1 to determine their effect on you. Is there any correlation to certain weather that usually leads to an uptick in crime in certain neighborhoods (i.e. the summer months when everyone’s outside)? Is there an imbalance in income distribution that creates a more targetable area for concentrated crime? Is the public transportation safe and reliable and can you use it in the event of car failure or an emergency?
Depending on your attention to detail, desire for situational awareness and resources, this step can be as brief or in-depth as you like. At the tactical level, there are even methods that can be applied to perform this analysis on various locations you deem appropriate, i.e. your house or place of work.
Terrain Analysis Aspects (military):
• Observation points (what can you see, what can they see)
• Fields of Fire
• Cover
• Concealment
• Obstacles (barriers, other buildings, vehicles, etc.)
• Key Terrain (nearby high-rises, choke points, bridges, major intersections)
• Avenues of Approach (main roads, side streets, sidewalks, etc.)
3-Understand the Threat Environment
Once you have defined your primary AO (the areas that most frequently define where you live, work and travel0 you must identify threats in those areas. What type of threats exists, what are the activity levels and in which areas are threats prevalent? Is it organized crime? Violent crime? Narcotics? This is the step in which you identify what threats exist and which ones are the most critical to your daily life and that of your family. This can be something as simple as railroad tracks. If you are near tracks there can always be a chemical spill from a train wreck. So consider simple things as well.
Know Your Enemy, Know Yourself
In Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, there is a major emphasis on understanding as much as possible about one’s enemy. The old phrase “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” represents this relationship perfectly. It is up to you to understand your enemy (threats) in order to best counter them and properly apply your skills effectively.
There are many tools available to you that can be used to gauge and understand the threats to you, your loved ones, or community; chief among these tools is the power of information and the easy access to it. A large part of this is found through the Internet. This is also a place for dis-information so be careful. There is no cut and dry method for preparing yourself for any and every emergency, life-threatening situation, or traumatic experience. There is also not enough time to allow you to master all of the skills needed to successfully defeat these situations. But you can attempt to predict what skills are most likely to be useful to you.
Some resources are:
Online resources. Find website you can trust because you’ve observed that their information is sound.
Human intel. Coworkers, neighbors, friends or business owners, etc.
Community intel. Local law enforcement agencies, community networks, local clubs.
Local news media. Like all media remember to have a skeptical eye.
Personal intel. Map reconnaissance of immediate area, site reconnaissance (walking the streets, driving to and from work, running errands, etc.) Situational awareness is important in this.
Once you’ve gathered as much research as applicable, outline the various threats in your area, how they operate (their tactics, techniques and procedures), who the major players are and whether or not they are actually a threat to you. A few baseline items to consider are listed below.
Analyzing a Threat:
Composition. What is it made up of? Loose gangs, organized criminal activity, etc.
Disposition. How does the threat look at you and your family?
Strength. Is the threat large or small? How worried should you be?
Recent Activity. What has happened recently? In the last month, year?
Effectiveness. How much damage has the threat done?
4-Anticipate the Threats
Finally, you must determine the possibility, plausibility and actuality of becoming a victim or attempted victim of any of these threats. Analyze information to predict what your enemy will do next. Have they only robbed banks in the past? Have they targeted innocent bystanders or targets of opportunity? What is their capability and intent? Based on whatever information is available, analyze it to determine possible courses of action they could take and act accordingly to counter it (developing your tactical skills).
Be sure to identify the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How factors when analyzing a threat. This will aid in finding a specific way to defeat the threat successfully.
Through these four basic steps you can make intelligence work for you. The four steps are by no means all-inclusive and only scrape the surface of the level of detail that goes into ensuring that you are as prepared as possible to counter threats in your AO.
Treat analysis and intelligence as a skill set that can be used to better understand the threats you’re trying to counter. As stated above, the majority of this is already being done whether you realize it or not. Intelligence need not be a complicated thing. It is usually simple and easy to analyze. The description in this article is much more than it really is on the level of you and your family. As I have said numerous times, security and safety are mindsets and become part of your everyday living. That’s how you want it to become, so you don’t need to devote a lot of study and discussion in trying to figure out how to stay safe and secure. It will become a natural part of everyday living.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
This information is based on military ideas and tactics. You can tailor these things to work for you and your family.
1-Identify Your AO
You first must define your AO (area of operations). That’s a fancy term that just means your immediate situation and the various areas that comprise your daily routines and interactions. This could be your backyard, your neighbors, your street, the entire neighborhood and all the way out to your community and city. Where do you spend the majority of your time? What areas do you travel through, visit frequently, or work in most often? What information about these areas is available?
The objective here is to identify the major areas you interact with, in order to refine your analysis and focus later. Take into account any characteristics in your area that could affect the way you interact with the environment. By defining your AO, a geographical boundary is established; this boundary sets the stage for the next steps, when an analysis of how the environment affects you is conducted.
Characteristics to Consider:
• Geography
• Terrain
• Weather
• Ethnic, religious, income, & age groups
• Political and socio-economic factors
• Transportation systems and other infrastructures
2-Explore Your AO Environment and Its Effects
Next you must determine how the various characteristics of your AO affect you and your family. Identify any limitations or opportunities that your home, neighborhood and city offer. Where is the local police station? What’s the neighborhood like? Is it a safe area or does it offer freedom of movement to criminals and other nefarious activity? Where are the bad parts of the city and do you travel through them or work in them at all?
The key here is to identify and explore any factors that could affect you and your family in the neighborhood, city, etc. Research the characteristics you just identified in Step 1 to determine their effect on you. Is there any correlation to certain weather that usually leads to an uptick in crime in certain neighborhoods (i.e. the summer months when everyone’s outside)? Is there an imbalance in income distribution that creates a more targetable area for concentrated crime? Is the public transportation safe and reliable and can you use it in the event of car failure or an emergency?
Depending on your attention to detail, desire for situational awareness and resources, this step can be as brief or in-depth as you like. At the tactical level, there are even methods that can be applied to perform this analysis on various locations you deem appropriate, i.e. your house or place of work.
Terrain Analysis Aspects (military):
• Observation points (what can you see, what can they see)
• Fields of Fire
• Cover
• Concealment
• Obstacles (barriers, other buildings, vehicles, etc.)
• Key Terrain (nearby high-rises, choke points, bridges, major intersections)
• Avenues of Approach (main roads, side streets, sidewalks, etc.)
3-Understand the Threat Environment
Once you have defined your primary AO (the areas that most frequently define where you live, work and travel0 you must identify threats in those areas. What type of threats exists, what are the activity levels and in which areas are threats prevalent? Is it organized crime? Violent crime? Narcotics? This is the step in which you identify what threats exist and which ones are the most critical to your daily life and that of your family. This can be something as simple as railroad tracks. If you are near tracks there can always be a chemical spill from a train wreck. So consider simple things as well.
Know Your Enemy, Know Yourself
In Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, there is a major emphasis on understanding as much as possible about one’s enemy. The old phrase “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” represents this relationship perfectly. It is up to you to understand your enemy (threats) in order to best counter them and properly apply your skills effectively.
There are many tools available to you that can be used to gauge and understand the threats to you, your loved ones, or community; chief among these tools is the power of information and the easy access to it. A large part of this is found through the Internet. This is also a place for dis-information so be careful. There is no cut and dry method for preparing yourself for any and every emergency, life-threatening situation, or traumatic experience. There is also not enough time to allow you to master all of the skills needed to successfully defeat these situations. But you can attempt to predict what skills are most likely to be useful to you.
Some resources are:
Online resources. Find website you can trust because you’ve observed that their information is sound.
Human intel. Coworkers, neighbors, friends or business owners, etc.
Community intel. Local law enforcement agencies, community networks, local clubs.
Local news media. Like all media remember to have a skeptical eye.
Personal intel. Map reconnaissance of immediate area, site reconnaissance (walking the streets, driving to and from work, running errands, etc.) Situational awareness is important in this.
Once you’ve gathered as much research as applicable, outline the various threats in your area, how they operate (their tactics, techniques and procedures), who the major players are and whether or not they are actually a threat to you. A few baseline items to consider are listed below.
Analyzing a Threat:
Composition. What is it made up of? Loose gangs, organized criminal activity, etc.
Disposition. How does the threat look at you and your family?
Strength. Is the threat large or small? How worried should you be?
Recent Activity. What has happened recently? In the last month, year?
Effectiveness. How much damage has the threat done?
4-Anticipate the Threats
Finally, you must determine the possibility, plausibility and actuality of becoming a victim or attempted victim of any of these threats. Analyze information to predict what your enemy will do next. Have they only robbed banks in the past? Have they targeted innocent bystanders or targets of opportunity? What is their capability and intent? Based on whatever information is available, analyze it to determine possible courses of action they could take and act accordingly to counter it (developing your tactical skills).
Be sure to identify the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How factors when analyzing a threat. This will aid in finding a specific way to defeat the threat successfully.
Through these four basic steps you can make intelligence work for you. The four steps are by no means all-inclusive and only scrape the surface of the level of detail that goes into ensuring that you are as prepared as possible to counter threats in your AO.
Treat analysis and intelligence as a skill set that can be used to better understand the threats you’re trying to counter. As stated above, the majority of this is already being done whether you realize it or not. Intelligence need not be a complicated thing. It is usually simple and easy to analyze. The description in this article is much more than it really is on the level of you and your family. As I have said numerous times, security and safety are mindsets and become part of your everyday living. That’s how you want it to become, so you don’t need to devote a lot of study and discussion in trying to figure out how to stay safe and secure. It will become a natural part of everyday living.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Friday, September 9, 2016
Parking Lot and Parking Garage Secruity
Parking Lot and Garage Secruity
Parking lots and garages are vulnerable places to be, but we must go to them. They range from spooky caves to well lit, camera laden, patrolled places to leave your vehicle.
Most are not the safest place to be. But if you are smart, you can be safe and secure.
If you have a choice:
Choose well-lit areas near your destination or the elevators
Don’t go to that destination alone
Do your business/shopping in the day time
Don’t go to sketchy stores that allow people to sleep overnight in their cars in the parking lot since this is an obvious area where many transients will be. An example: Walmart.
Park closest to the store since video cameras will record you and criminals know this. There is a lot of foot traffic with others around as well. In a parking garage, park as close to the elevators as you can.
Always keep your doors locked when driving and when you are parked until you are ready to get out. Many later model vehicles have this as a programmable option.
Assess your environment before you exit the car and remind yourself to have situational awareness on your mind. Have your purse or belongings in your hand with keys ready to lock the door. Don’t be fumbling around in your car looking for things.
Lock your door immediately after exiting your car and have your head up, scanning your environment. Question everything with “does that look normal?” Don’t walk too close to parked cars because this is a perfect spot for an attacker to hide. Distance is your friend.
When walking back to your car look ahead and make sure no one is just hanging out by your car. If there is someone, go back into the store and get an escort to walk you to your car. Remember, when there is two or more people you are less of a target.
Don’t be an easy target for a predator. The following examples are what predators look for:
Someone looking friendly, timid, lost, absent-minded, distracted or intoxicated, more easily manipulated
Someone wearing earphones or distracted with a phone. Unaware of surroundings.
Someone unaware he or she is being followed until he or she is isolated and face-to-face.
Someone parking close to trucks or vans that prevent witnesses from seeing you – predators seek that kind of cover.
Someone preoccupied by having both arms loaded with packages or a child.
Also, beware of Good Samaritans. Let’s be real here. No one has the time to hang out and just help people in parking lots
ALWAYS keep scanning 360 degrees around you when loading your groceries or children in the car.
If a stranger is coming at you and at a distance where you feel threatened, put both hands out in front of you because it’s the universal sign for STOP and there’s no translation necessary. An appropriate response if they question you would be “I’m sorry sir, I can’t help you!”, even before they finish their question. It’s polite, strong, and responds to about every question they could ask you. Give your “command response” while creating distance from this person (remember, distance and time are your friends). Try and keep a car, a door, a pole, anything between you and whoever is approaching. Your response and body language to move signals that you are aware and you are a fighter. Remember, predators want a weak and easy target. Lastly, do not worry about offending the feelings of a stranger.
Have your self-defense “tools” ready and not at the bottom of your purse or pocket or worse in the vehicle. Remember to practice with whatever “tool” you have and know it well and be competent with it.
To protect yourself or your family in this setting the best defense is awareness. Awareness will allow you to anticipate the potential danger and plan ahead for the next time you go to a parking lot. Families should be trained to look around their vehicle before approaching and retreat if anyone suspicious is loitering in the area. They should be trained to return quickly to the shopping center and alert mall security or call the police. This all becomes second nature after a while. A little awareness (educated-paranoia) is healthy and can keep your family safe.
You are most vulnerable when entering and exiting your vehicle. If it feels wrong leave. If it looks suspicious leave. Keep your head on a swivel. Don’t get distracted by where you’re going or what’s in your car, keep an eye out.
As we move into the holiday season remember the importance of locking your car, hiding your purchases, and taking extra care of your situational awareness. As we move into Halloween, Thanksgiving, and finally Christmas sometimes our minds are on other things. We must be vigilant.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Parking lots and garages are vulnerable places to be, but we must go to them. They range from spooky caves to well lit, camera laden, patrolled places to leave your vehicle.
Most are not the safest place to be. But if you are smart, you can be safe and secure.
If you have a choice:
Choose well-lit areas near your destination or the elevators
Don’t go to that destination alone
Do your business/shopping in the day time
Don’t go to sketchy stores that allow people to sleep overnight in their cars in the parking lot since this is an obvious area where many transients will be. An example: Walmart.
Park closest to the store since video cameras will record you and criminals know this. There is a lot of foot traffic with others around as well. In a parking garage, park as close to the elevators as you can.
Always keep your doors locked when driving and when you are parked until you are ready to get out. Many later model vehicles have this as a programmable option.
Assess your environment before you exit the car and remind yourself to have situational awareness on your mind. Have your purse or belongings in your hand with keys ready to lock the door. Don’t be fumbling around in your car looking for things.
Lock your door immediately after exiting your car and have your head up, scanning your environment. Question everything with “does that look normal?” Don’t walk too close to parked cars because this is a perfect spot for an attacker to hide. Distance is your friend.
When walking back to your car look ahead and make sure no one is just hanging out by your car. If there is someone, go back into the store and get an escort to walk you to your car. Remember, when there is two or more people you are less of a target.
Don’t be an easy target for a predator. The following examples are what predators look for:
Someone looking friendly, timid, lost, absent-minded, distracted or intoxicated, more easily manipulated
Someone wearing earphones or distracted with a phone. Unaware of surroundings.
Someone unaware he or she is being followed until he or she is isolated and face-to-face.
Someone parking close to trucks or vans that prevent witnesses from seeing you – predators seek that kind of cover.
Someone preoccupied by having both arms loaded with packages or a child.
Also, beware of Good Samaritans. Let’s be real here. No one has the time to hang out and just help people in parking lots
ALWAYS keep scanning 360 degrees around you when loading your groceries or children in the car.
If a stranger is coming at you and at a distance where you feel threatened, put both hands out in front of you because it’s the universal sign for STOP and there’s no translation necessary. An appropriate response if they question you would be “I’m sorry sir, I can’t help you!”, even before they finish their question. It’s polite, strong, and responds to about every question they could ask you. Give your “command response” while creating distance from this person (remember, distance and time are your friends). Try and keep a car, a door, a pole, anything between you and whoever is approaching. Your response and body language to move signals that you are aware and you are a fighter. Remember, predators want a weak and easy target. Lastly, do not worry about offending the feelings of a stranger.
Have your self-defense “tools” ready and not at the bottom of your purse or pocket or worse in the vehicle. Remember to practice with whatever “tool” you have and know it well and be competent with it.
To protect yourself or your family in this setting the best defense is awareness. Awareness will allow you to anticipate the potential danger and plan ahead for the next time you go to a parking lot. Families should be trained to look around their vehicle before approaching and retreat if anyone suspicious is loitering in the area. They should be trained to return quickly to the shopping center and alert mall security or call the police. This all becomes second nature after a while. A little awareness (educated-paranoia) is healthy and can keep your family safe.
You are most vulnerable when entering and exiting your vehicle. If it feels wrong leave. If it looks suspicious leave. Keep your head on a swivel. Don’t get distracted by where you’re going or what’s in your car, keep an eye out.
As we move into the holiday season remember the importance of locking your car, hiding your purchases, and taking extra care of your situational awareness. As we move into Halloween, Thanksgiving, and finally Christmas sometimes our minds are on other things. We must be vigilant.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Drone Survival
The reality of this day and age is that we can be watched by our government or others just about anywhere, day or night. Between cameras everywhere, satellites, and everyone with a phone, drones are a natural for these NSA watching days. When I was kid they called these things RC or radio controlled, and they were considered toys even though you could spend a lot of money on one. It wasn’t until after 9-11 that the military beefed up their use of drones and started arming them.
One of the first recorded usages of drones was by Austrians on August 22, 1849. They launched some 200 pilotless balloons mounted with bombs against the city of Venice. Less than two decades later in the U.S. Civil War, Confederate and Union forces both flew balloons for reconnaissance missions. In 1896 Samuel P. Langley developed a range of steam-powered aerodromes, unpiloted aircraft that were flown successfully along the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. In those ninety-second flights, a glimpse of the future could be seen in the hovering aerodrome. The practice of aerial surveillance later emerged in the 1898 Spanish–American War when the U.S. military fitted a camera to a kite, producing the first ever aerial reconnaissance photos. In World War I, aerial surveillance was used extensively. Analysts used stereoscopes to hunt for visual clues about enemy movements on photos that were stitched together to form mosaic maps.
With this history why wouldn’t the military, and others, use drones? Drones are used to monitor pipelines, and to find livestock, besides delivering Amazon packages. There are many applications that I’m sure have not been thought of yet. Either way, drones are here to stay.
My privacy is important to me. What would I do if I was constantly being harassed by a drone? Probably blow it out of the sky out of the owners view.
A Kentucky man became a local celebrity of sorts after he was arrested for shooting down with a shotgun a drone hovering over his property.
William Merideth of Hillview, Kentucky believed the drone was spying on his 16 year old daughter while she sunbathed in their garden.
The drone's operator claimed he was in fact taking pictures of a friend's home.
But a Bullitt County judge later ruled that Merideth was right and dismissed all charges.
Others have not fared so well. There’s even a drone shooting shot gun shell. I’m not sure why you need a specialized shell to do the job. I mean if it’s a toy 3 pound RC I think bird shot would take it out.
The FAA Rules as of June 21, 2016 say this:
“Small unmanned aircraft may not operate over any persons not directly participating in the operation, not under a covered structure, and not inside a covered stationary vehicle.”
A summary of those rules can be found here:
https://www.faa.gov/uas/media/Part_107_Summary.pdf
So to operate a drone weighing less than 55 pounds over your neighbor’s backyard without the participation of your neighbor is against the FAA rules. Is this law? No. The FAA does not make laws, but a judge may look at the FAA’s rules as law. Does this mean you can blow it out of the sky? No. I would not recommend a shot gun blast in a place where you cannot shoot a gun because that would be against the law. I live in the country where I can shoot so the issue might be me destroying someone else’s property rather than discharging a firearm in a certain jurisdiction.
Yet I like the idea of having options for defending against drones, legal or not. As I said before, this is for informational purposes only. Do not break the law. If things ever got bad enough laws would not matter. Keep up with the FAA “rules” because they seem to be fluid.
Here are some ideas from the “Drone Survival Guide”:
Hiding from Drones
Drones are equipped with extremely powerful cameras which can detect people and vehicles at an altitude of several kilometers. Most drones are equipped with night vision, and/or infrared vision cameras, so-called FLIR sensors. These can see human heat signatures from far away, day or night. However there are ways to hide from drones.
1. Day camouflage: Hide in the shadows of buildings or trees.
Use thick forests as natural camouflage or use camouflage nets.
2. Night camouflage: Hide inside buildings or under protection of trees or foliage. Do not use flashlights or vehicle spot lights, even at long distances. Drones can easily spot these during night missions.
3. Heat camouflage: Emergency blankets (so-called space blankets) made of Mylar can block infrared rays. Wearing a space blanket as a poncho at night will hide your heat signature from infrared detection. Also in summer when the temperature is between 36°C and 40°C, infrared cameras cannot distinguish between body and its surroundings.
4. Wait for bad weather. Drones cannot operate in high winds, smoke, rainstorms, or heavy weather conditions.
5. No wireless communication. Using mobile phones or GPS-based communication will compromise your location.
6. Spreading reflective pieces of glass or mirrored material on a car on a roof will confuse the drone’s camera.
7. Decoys. Use mannequins or human-sized dolls to mislead the drone’s reconnaissance.
Hacking Drones
Drones are remote controlled. The pilots operating the drone can be thousands of kilometers away at ground control stations. The control link is the satellite transmitted datalink by which the pilot controls the plane. By jamming or intercepting the datalink, one can interfere with the drone’s controls. The data link is sometimes encrypted but not always.
1. Interception. A complicated technique is to use sky grabber software with a satellite dish and a TV tuner to intercept the drone’s frequencies. Communication from and to the drone can be intercepted.
2. Interference. By broadcasting on different frequencies or pack of frequencies the link between the drone pilot and the drone can be disconnected.
3. GPS spoofing. Small, portable GPS transmitters can send fake GPS signals and disrupt the drones’ navigation systems. This can be used, for example, to steer drones into self-destruction flight paths or even hijack them and land them on a runway.
http://dronesurvivalguide.org/
These are viable ideas and safer than shooting the drone from the sky. If the drone is sophisticated enough you couldn’t shoot it down with small arms anyway.
The above website offers for sale a drone survival guide to ID common drones used by countries throughout the world. It shows silhouettes of these drones printed on aluminum paper so the guide itself can be used as a reflective devise against drones. It does give you the guide and more information to download for free. I think it’s a good guide although I don’t think I’ll ever need it. I like options.
Drones are a real concern these days as more and more our privacy is being invaded.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
One of the first recorded usages of drones was by Austrians on August 22, 1849. They launched some 200 pilotless balloons mounted with bombs against the city of Venice. Less than two decades later in the U.S. Civil War, Confederate and Union forces both flew balloons for reconnaissance missions. In 1896 Samuel P. Langley developed a range of steam-powered aerodromes, unpiloted aircraft that were flown successfully along the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. In those ninety-second flights, a glimpse of the future could be seen in the hovering aerodrome. The practice of aerial surveillance later emerged in the 1898 Spanish–American War when the U.S. military fitted a camera to a kite, producing the first ever aerial reconnaissance photos. In World War I, aerial surveillance was used extensively. Analysts used stereoscopes to hunt for visual clues about enemy movements on photos that were stitched together to form mosaic maps.
With this history why wouldn’t the military, and others, use drones? Drones are used to monitor pipelines, and to find livestock, besides delivering Amazon packages. There are many applications that I’m sure have not been thought of yet. Either way, drones are here to stay.
My privacy is important to me. What would I do if I was constantly being harassed by a drone? Probably blow it out of the sky out of the owners view.
A Kentucky man became a local celebrity of sorts after he was arrested for shooting down with a shotgun a drone hovering over his property.
William Merideth of Hillview, Kentucky believed the drone was spying on his 16 year old daughter while she sunbathed in their garden.
The drone's operator claimed he was in fact taking pictures of a friend's home.
But a Bullitt County judge later ruled that Merideth was right and dismissed all charges.
Others have not fared so well. There’s even a drone shooting shot gun shell. I’m not sure why you need a specialized shell to do the job. I mean if it’s a toy 3 pound RC I think bird shot would take it out.
The FAA Rules as of June 21, 2016 say this:
“Small unmanned aircraft may not operate over any persons not directly participating in the operation, not under a covered structure, and not inside a covered stationary vehicle.”
A summary of those rules can be found here:
https://www.faa.gov/uas/media/Part_107_Summary.pdf
So to operate a drone weighing less than 55 pounds over your neighbor’s backyard without the participation of your neighbor is against the FAA rules. Is this law? No. The FAA does not make laws, but a judge may look at the FAA’s rules as law. Does this mean you can blow it out of the sky? No. I would not recommend a shot gun blast in a place where you cannot shoot a gun because that would be against the law. I live in the country where I can shoot so the issue might be me destroying someone else’s property rather than discharging a firearm in a certain jurisdiction.
Yet I like the idea of having options for defending against drones, legal or not. As I said before, this is for informational purposes only. Do not break the law. If things ever got bad enough laws would not matter. Keep up with the FAA “rules” because they seem to be fluid.
Here are some ideas from the “Drone Survival Guide”:
Hiding from Drones
Drones are equipped with extremely powerful cameras which can detect people and vehicles at an altitude of several kilometers. Most drones are equipped with night vision, and/or infrared vision cameras, so-called FLIR sensors. These can see human heat signatures from far away, day or night. However there are ways to hide from drones.
1. Day camouflage: Hide in the shadows of buildings or trees.
Use thick forests as natural camouflage or use camouflage nets.
2. Night camouflage: Hide inside buildings or under protection of trees or foliage. Do not use flashlights or vehicle spot lights, even at long distances. Drones can easily spot these during night missions.
3. Heat camouflage: Emergency blankets (so-called space blankets) made of Mylar can block infrared rays. Wearing a space blanket as a poncho at night will hide your heat signature from infrared detection. Also in summer when the temperature is between 36°C and 40°C, infrared cameras cannot distinguish between body and its surroundings.
4. Wait for bad weather. Drones cannot operate in high winds, smoke, rainstorms, or heavy weather conditions.
5. No wireless communication. Using mobile phones or GPS-based communication will compromise your location.
6. Spreading reflective pieces of glass or mirrored material on a car on a roof will confuse the drone’s camera.
7. Decoys. Use mannequins or human-sized dolls to mislead the drone’s reconnaissance.
Hacking Drones
Drones are remote controlled. The pilots operating the drone can be thousands of kilometers away at ground control stations. The control link is the satellite transmitted datalink by which the pilot controls the plane. By jamming or intercepting the datalink, one can interfere with the drone’s controls. The data link is sometimes encrypted but not always.
1. Interception. A complicated technique is to use sky grabber software with a satellite dish and a TV tuner to intercept the drone’s frequencies. Communication from and to the drone can be intercepted.
2. Interference. By broadcasting on different frequencies or pack of frequencies the link between the drone pilot and the drone can be disconnected.
3. GPS spoofing. Small, portable GPS transmitters can send fake GPS signals and disrupt the drones’ navigation systems. This can be used, for example, to steer drones into self-destruction flight paths or even hijack them and land them on a runway.
http://dronesurvivalguide.org/
These are viable ideas and safer than shooting the drone from the sky. If the drone is sophisticated enough you couldn’t shoot it down with small arms anyway.
The above website offers for sale a drone survival guide to ID common drones used by countries throughout the world. It shows silhouettes of these drones printed on aluminum paper so the guide itself can be used as a reflective devise against drones. It does give you the guide and more information to download for free. I think it’s a good guide although I don’t think I’ll ever need it. I like options.
Drones are a real concern these days as more and more our privacy is being invaded.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Negligent Discharges Are No Accident
We throw around a lot of acronyms in the gun world but one I want to focus on is an ND or negligent discharge. I am aware that accidents happen. But a gun going off when you don’t want it to is not just and accident. Even if you have an 1861 shooting iron and drop it loaded and the jolt sets it off is that an accident? It’s still negligent to drop a loaded gun. If a gun goes off, especially a modern firearm, it goes off because someone, or something, pulled or pressed the trigger. This breaks a few gun safety rules. These mistakes can be avoided because they can be tragic.
Why do negligent discharges happen?
The reason negligent discharges happen is almost always because someone or something pulled the trigger when it shouldn’t have been. They are easily preventable and here are some easy ways to keep from ever experiencing one.
Keeping guns in a safe place or in a holster.
If a person is going to carry on their person, it has to be in a holster. Even if it is a pocket gun. There are many in-pocket holsters out there. I’ve carried in my pocket for years. You must always use a holster and make sure the holster covers the trigger guard. When I place the gun in my pocket is the time I am most careful. One habit I have is sticking my hands in my pocket. Sometimes I will touch the back of the gun. I am trying to break that habit because it can turn into a dangerous practice. When I carry in the pocket I make sure it is the same pocket and that nothing else is in that pocket. I don’t need a coin or keys getting into the trigger guard.
A big source of unintentional discharges is off-body carry, especially an area of concern for people with small children. There have been a number of incidents that have made national headlines where a gun was stored in a purse, messenger bag or briefcase that was accessed by a child and fired. These could have been easily prevented by the persons carrying storing their guns properly.
Likewise, a number of tragic accidents have taken place because a loaded firearm was improperly stored, accessed by a child and then fired. A gun safe, even a cheap lockbox put out of a child’s reach, can easily prevent these incidents from occurring.
One of the best ways to ensure that nothing like that happens? If your gun isn’t in your hand, put it in a safe or in a holster on your person.
Guard that guard!
One of the most common sources of negligent or accidental discharges is something entering the trigger guard.
There is a story from ITS Tactical that’s made the rounds for the past few years is a good example. The man involved was wearing a leather belt loop holster (the Yaqui Slide variety) and went about his business as normal when his gun discharged, seemingly randomly. The reason was that the leather had worn to the point of developing a fold, which entered the trigger guard and caused the discharge. Luckily, he only had a superficial wound.
There is another story of a Police Chief in Fayetteville, Ind., where he shot himself in the leg re-holstering his pistol, according to the IndyStar. His fleece jacket had dropped down into the holster, and the trigger was pulled by the garment. Luckily, all he suffered was a minor wound. That and hospital nurses laughing at him.
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2014/01/20/indiana-police-chief-accidentally-shoots-self-at-gun-shop/4666967/
What could have been done differently? They could have made sure that nothing came close to entered or otherwise interfered with the trigger guard. It’s really a matter of paying attention to detail and buying a decent holster.
Respecting your carry gun.
Some may say the example above are proof for not carrying with a round in the chamber and buying a gun with a safety and always using it. That is pure bunk. With a gun that has the precautions built in, and a little sense, you can carry safely. If you rely on a safety then you are foolish. If the safety is forgotten or somehow in the “fire” position then you can have the same problems. And it has been my experience that some safeties fail.
In this time of the polymer striker gun with no manual safety and heavier trigger pull the need to keep the trigger safe cannot be understated. This means Glock pistols, and all guns with a similar design (S&W M&P, Sig P320, Walther PPQ, Ruger SR series, etc.) that have no other safety features must likewise be respected.
That said, having a manual safety doesn’t mean a person is absolved of having to observe proper gun safety either. A person who safely handles firearms can do so with any make and model.
Firearm handling.
I love my guns. I love the feel of a good grip in my hand and the “caress of steel” or polymer as the case may be. I like to look at the beauty of design and function, but I must remember safety every time all the time. The other day I was changing around some ammo in my and my wife’s guns and magazines. I can remember pointing one of them in a safe direction and pressing the trigger. It was not loaded and I remember thinking to myself “There was not need to press that trigger.” There was no reason and had I missed a round or not cleared the weapon, it would have discharged as it was so beautifully designed to do. It did not “go off” because of my habits of gun safety that I have developed over years. I’m not patting myself on the back, I should not have pressed the trigger. All the safety rules were followed but I still need to pay better attention to what I’m doing and why.
If there is no reason to handle the gun, don’t. If there is no reason to handle the gun DO NOT. I repeated that because it bears remembering. I’m not saying you cannot pick up a weapon and admire it, but for the most part, if there is no reason, don’t! If you lay a gun down it will not spontaneously start shooting, but the minute someone picks it up the risk starts.
A reason why a number of concealed carriers have an accident discharge is because they were handling their pistol when they didn’t need to. The usual culprit is adjusting a pistol, and often enough due to discomfort from not carrying in a proper holster.
There are many incidents where someone is adjusting their gun and it discharges. Don’t let it happen. Be vigilant. Always be thinking about safety and the rules. “Am I breaking any safety rules?” needs to be always in our minds. The rules are:
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
When I teach shooting I always start with reading aloud the 4 safety rules. I then talk about each one and inform my students that they will be quizzed at any time during the course on these rules. I have them write the rules down (this helps to commit to memory.) 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 of 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.
If you are serious about carrying a gun do it legally. Get trained and live and breath the safety rules. You are responsible for every round that leaves your gun even if it is a negligent discharge. You owe it to yourself and everyone around you to not let ND’s happen.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Why do negligent discharges happen?
The reason negligent discharges happen is almost always because someone or something pulled the trigger when it shouldn’t have been. They are easily preventable and here are some easy ways to keep from ever experiencing one.
Keeping guns in a safe place or in a holster.
If a person is going to carry on their person, it has to be in a holster. Even if it is a pocket gun. There are many in-pocket holsters out there. I’ve carried in my pocket for years. You must always use a holster and make sure the holster covers the trigger guard. When I place the gun in my pocket is the time I am most careful. One habit I have is sticking my hands in my pocket. Sometimes I will touch the back of the gun. I am trying to break that habit because it can turn into a dangerous practice. When I carry in the pocket I make sure it is the same pocket and that nothing else is in that pocket. I don’t need a coin or keys getting into the trigger guard.
A big source of unintentional discharges is off-body carry, especially an area of concern for people with small children. There have been a number of incidents that have made national headlines where a gun was stored in a purse, messenger bag or briefcase that was accessed by a child and fired. These could have been easily prevented by the persons carrying storing their guns properly.
Likewise, a number of tragic accidents have taken place because a loaded firearm was improperly stored, accessed by a child and then fired. A gun safe, even a cheap lockbox put out of a child’s reach, can easily prevent these incidents from occurring.
One of the best ways to ensure that nothing like that happens? If your gun isn’t in your hand, put it in a safe or in a holster on your person.
Guard that guard!
One of the most common sources of negligent or accidental discharges is something entering the trigger guard.
There is a story from ITS Tactical that’s made the rounds for the past few years is a good example. The man involved was wearing a leather belt loop holster (the Yaqui Slide variety) and went about his business as normal when his gun discharged, seemingly randomly. The reason was that the leather had worn to the point of developing a fold, which entered the trigger guard and caused the discharge. Luckily, he only had a superficial wound.
There is another story of a Police Chief in Fayetteville, Ind., where he shot himself in the leg re-holstering his pistol, according to the IndyStar. His fleece jacket had dropped down into the holster, and the trigger was pulled by the garment. Luckily, all he suffered was a minor wound. That and hospital nurses laughing at him.
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2014/01/20/indiana-police-chief-accidentally-shoots-self-at-gun-shop/4666967/
What could have been done differently? They could have made sure that nothing came close to entered or otherwise interfered with the trigger guard. It’s really a matter of paying attention to detail and buying a decent holster.
Respecting your carry gun.
Some may say the example above are proof for not carrying with a round in the chamber and buying a gun with a safety and always using it. That is pure bunk. With a gun that has the precautions built in, and a little sense, you can carry safely. If you rely on a safety then you are foolish. If the safety is forgotten or somehow in the “fire” position then you can have the same problems. And it has been my experience that some safeties fail.
In this time of the polymer striker gun with no manual safety and heavier trigger pull the need to keep the trigger safe cannot be understated. This means Glock pistols, and all guns with a similar design (S&W M&P, Sig P320, Walther PPQ, Ruger SR series, etc.) that have no other safety features must likewise be respected.
That said, having a manual safety doesn’t mean a person is absolved of having to observe proper gun safety either. A person who safely handles firearms can do so with any make and model.
Firearm handling.
I love my guns. I love the feel of a good grip in my hand and the “caress of steel” or polymer as the case may be. I like to look at the beauty of design and function, but I must remember safety every time all the time. The other day I was changing around some ammo in my and my wife’s guns and magazines. I can remember pointing one of them in a safe direction and pressing the trigger. It was not loaded and I remember thinking to myself “There was not need to press that trigger.” There was no reason and had I missed a round or not cleared the weapon, it would have discharged as it was so beautifully designed to do. It did not “go off” because of my habits of gun safety that I have developed over years. I’m not patting myself on the back, I should not have pressed the trigger. All the safety rules were followed but I still need to pay better attention to what I’m doing and why.
If there is no reason to handle the gun, don’t. If there is no reason to handle the gun DO NOT. I repeated that because it bears remembering. I’m not saying you cannot pick up a weapon and admire it, but for the most part, if there is no reason, don’t! If you lay a gun down it will not spontaneously start shooting, but the minute someone picks it up the risk starts.
A reason why a number of concealed carriers have an accident discharge is because they were handling their pistol when they didn’t need to. The usual culprit is adjusting a pistol, and often enough due to discomfort from not carrying in a proper holster.
There are many incidents where someone is adjusting their gun and it discharges. Don’t let it happen. Be vigilant. Always be thinking about safety and the rules. “Am I breaking any safety rules?” needs to be always in our minds. The rules are:
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
When I teach shooting I always start with reading aloud the 4 safety rules. I then talk about each one and inform my students that they will be quizzed at any time during the course on these rules. I have them write the rules down (this helps to commit to memory.) 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 of 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.
If you are serious about carrying a gun do it legally. Get trained and live and breath the safety rules. You are responsible for every round that leaves your gun even if it is a negligent discharge. You owe it to yourself and everyone around you to not let ND’s happen.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Family Safety and Security Is A Mindset
Many years ago, while in a grocery store alone with our then 4 kids, my wife was trying to get one of the kids out of a bathroom. The child could not unlock the door so my wife left our 5 year old daughter with our 7 year old son. A lady grabbed our 5 year old and was walking her away by the hand. My 7 year wasn’t sure what to do (lack of training on our part) so he followed the woman. In the mean time, a moment later my wife came back to find both her kids gone and immediately told an employee who shut down the store. To the stores credit they locked the doors! By this time the lady panicked, let go of our daughter, and left the store before the lock down. My son grabbed his sister and was on his way back to Mom. I was at work when this happened and it shook my wife up enough to call me away from work. We talked to the police and it scared our daughter a little so that for a few years after this incident she was very leery of anyone she didn’t know. We then did some training for these kids and all the others that followed. My daughter is on a mission for the Mormon Church right now and she was telling us she and other missionaries are having nerf gun wars on preparation day. She is kicking everyone’s butt because she has been taught some basic tactical skills in shooting. It’s good to know your training of your kids is being used isn’t it?
Anyway, we should train our children anti-abduction skills so they will not be put in a bad position someday. I never called it anti-abduction skills, but that’s really what it is. The truth is, about 300 kids are taken annually. About 50 to 150 are killed.
Teach kids to get help if anything seems unsafe.
Help kids learn to interrupt you and other adults if they think something might not be safe. They can practice saying, “I see you are busy, but this is about safety. Please listen.” Adults can practice saying, “Thank you for interrupting me. Safety comes first.” Remember that children are most likely to be harmed by someone they know rather than by a stranger. Helping them build the habit of talking with you about problems will help keep them safe.
Use the word ‘stranger’ calmly and accurately so kids understand more and worry less.
A stranger is just a person you don’t know well. Everyone is a stranger to almost everyone else. Point out strangers on the sidewalk, at a park, and in magazines so kids learn a stranger can be a man, woman, or child of any age or ability. Teach children that most people are good and this means that most strangers are good. Although a few strangers might bother you, you don’t need to worry – you just need to use your stranger safety habits.
Make and practice safety plans for getting help.
Talk with kids about who they could get help from everywhere they go. Practice how to interrupt busy adults like storekeepers, librarians, or cashiers. Remind kids that these people are strangers, too, and you believe they will help in an emergency. Practicing helps kids take charge of their safety with confidence if you get separated at a park, fair, store, and other public places.
Teach kids the difference between being ‘together’ and ‘on your own.’
The safety rules are different when you are together and when you are on your own. For younger kids, ‘together’ means being very close by their own adults who are paying attention to what they are doing. A child sitting on the front porch while Mom goes inside, even just for a minute, is on his own. A teen in a crowded store is together with people who can help her. A teen in an empty part of a mall is on her own.
Teach kids about personal information.
Personal information is any information about you, ways to contact you, or where you live or go to school or work. This includes your name, phone number, address, family members’ names, the name of your school, friends’ names, etc. The truth is, sometimes we do give personal information to strangers: we give personal information to the strangers working at our doctor’s office, and a child might give a home number to someone working in a store if they are getting help in an emergency. The safety rule is that children should never give personal information to a stranger without checking first with the adults who are responsible for their safety. Teach children to walk away with awareness and confidence and without talking if a stranger starts asking about their personal information.
Help younger kids practice how to ‘Move Away and Check First.’
Stranger safety habits for young kids who are on their own, even just for a minute, include: (1) Move Away and Check First before talking to a stranger; (2) Move Away and Check First before taking things from a stranger, and (3) Move Away and Check First before going anywhere with a stranger, unless you are having an emergency and can’t Check First.
Help older kids and teens practice how to ‘Think First.’
Older kids, teens, and adults are safer when they think first before talking to a stranger when they are on their own. They don’t have to talk. Help them practice what to do If they choose to talk: keep responses short (“I don’t know,”, “Over there,” or “It’s two o’clock”), keep walking, and don’t give personal information.
Practice yelling and running to get help.
Teach children to use their voices and bodies to get away when someone is acting in a scary way. Explain that your voice can get the attention of people who can help you. Have children practice yelling “NO! STOP!” using a voice that is loud and strong. Have them practice yelling, “I NEED HELP” while running to a person who can help them.
Teach kids how to use physical self-defense in an emergency.
Strong resistance can stop most assaults. Young people often fear getting in trouble for fighting, or they don’t know how to use their bodies to resist. They need to know when and how to fight to protect themselves. Explore the option of age-appropriate self-defense training. Explain that fighting is a last resort for getting away from a dangerous situation, and not to be used just because you are upset with someone. However, if someone is about to harm you and you cannot leave or get help at first, your safety plan is to hit, kick, bite, pinch, and yell until you can get away and get help.
Teach these Golden Rules
RULE 1: Let grown-ups help other grown-ups.
RULE 2: Always draw attention.
RULE 3: Get away and always tell an adult what has happened.
Other things to remember are:
Never leave home without your permission. Very small children should play only in areas away from the street, such as a backyard, or in a play area supervised by a responsible adult.
Never wander off, to avoid lonely places, and to avoid shortcuts through alleys or deserted areas. They are safer walking or playing with friends.
Come straight home from school or play unless you have made other arrangements.
Never enter anyone's home without your parent’s approval.
Again, scream, run away and tell your parents or a trusted adult if anyone attempts to touch or grab you, of if a stranger offers you a ride.
Never give any information over the telephone including your name and address, or indicate you are alone.
Keep doors locked and admit only authorized people into the house.
Have a secret code word that someone can give so you will know they are safe.
Teaching your children and family how to be safe and secure is as important as teaching self-defense. If these things are presented in the right way, and often, your family will be confident in their security and better prepared for the world. This information is not just for small children but older kids, pre-teens, teenagers, and young adults.
Teaching your family to be a hard target will give a defensive mindset that will serve them throughout their lives.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Anyway, we should train our children anti-abduction skills so they will not be put in a bad position someday. I never called it anti-abduction skills, but that’s really what it is. The truth is, about 300 kids are taken annually. About 50 to 150 are killed.
Teach kids to get help if anything seems unsafe.
Help kids learn to interrupt you and other adults if they think something might not be safe. They can practice saying, “I see you are busy, but this is about safety. Please listen.” Adults can practice saying, “Thank you for interrupting me. Safety comes first.” Remember that children are most likely to be harmed by someone they know rather than by a stranger. Helping them build the habit of talking with you about problems will help keep them safe.
Use the word ‘stranger’ calmly and accurately so kids understand more and worry less.
A stranger is just a person you don’t know well. Everyone is a stranger to almost everyone else. Point out strangers on the sidewalk, at a park, and in magazines so kids learn a stranger can be a man, woman, or child of any age or ability. Teach children that most people are good and this means that most strangers are good. Although a few strangers might bother you, you don’t need to worry – you just need to use your stranger safety habits.
Make and practice safety plans for getting help.
Talk with kids about who they could get help from everywhere they go. Practice how to interrupt busy adults like storekeepers, librarians, or cashiers. Remind kids that these people are strangers, too, and you believe they will help in an emergency. Practicing helps kids take charge of their safety with confidence if you get separated at a park, fair, store, and other public places.
Teach kids the difference between being ‘together’ and ‘on your own.’
The safety rules are different when you are together and when you are on your own. For younger kids, ‘together’ means being very close by their own adults who are paying attention to what they are doing. A child sitting on the front porch while Mom goes inside, even just for a minute, is on his own. A teen in a crowded store is together with people who can help her. A teen in an empty part of a mall is on her own.
Teach kids about personal information.
Personal information is any information about you, ways to contact you, or where you live or go to school or work. This includes your name, phone number, address, family members’ names, the name of your school, friends’ names, etc. The truth is, sometimes we do give personal information to strangers: we give personal information to the strangers working at our doctor’s office, and a child might give a home number to someone working in a store if they are getting help in an emergency. The safety rule is that children should never give personal information to a stranger without checking first with the adults who are responsible for their safety. Teach children to walk away with awareness and confidence and without talking if a stranger starts asking about their personal information.
Help younger kids practice how to ‘Move Away and Check First.’
Stranger safety habits for young kids who are on their own, even just for a minute, include: (1) Move Away and Check First before talking to a stranger; (2) Move Away and Check First before taking things from a stranger, and (3) Move Away and Check First before going anywhere with a stranger, unless you are having an emergency and can’t Check First.
Help older kids and teens practice how to ‘Think First.’
Older kids, teens, and adults are safer when they think first before talking to a stranger when they are on their own. They don’t have to talk. Help them practice what to do If they choose to talk: keep responses short (“I don’t know,”, “Over there,” or “It’s two o’clock”), keep walking, and don’t give personal information.
Practice yelling and running to get help.
Teach children to use their voices and bodies to get away when someone is acting in a scary way. Explain that your voice can get the attention of people who can help you. Have children practice yelling “NO! STOP!” using a voice that is loud and strong. Have them practice yelling, “I NEED HELP” while running to a person who can help them.
Teach kids how to use physical self-defense in an emergency.
Strong resistance can stop most assaults. Young people often fear getting in trouble for fighting, or they don’t know how to use their bodies to resist. They need to know when and how to fight to protect themselves. Explore the option of age-appropriate self-defense training. Explain that fighting is a last resort for getting away from a dangerous situation, and not to be used just because you are upset with someone. However, if someone is about to harm you and you cannot leave or get help at first, your safety plan is to hit, kick, bite, pinch, and yell until you can get away and get help.
Teach these Golden Rules
RULE 1: Let grown-ups help other grown-ups.
RULE 2: Always draw attention.
RULE 3: Get away and always tell an adult what has happened.
Other things to remember are:
Never leave home without your permission. Very small children should play only in areas away from the street, such as a backyard, or in a play area supervised by a responsible adult.
Never wander off, to avoid lonely places, and to avoid shortcuts through alleys or deserted areas. They are safer walking or playing with friends.
Come straight home from school or play unless you have made other arrangements.
Never enter anyone's home without your parent’s approval.
Again, scream, run away and tell your parents or a trusted adult if anyone attempts to touch or grab you, of if a stranger offers you a ride.
Never give any information over the telephone including your name and address, or indicate you are alone.
Keep doors locked and admit only authorized people into the house.
Have a secret code word that someone can give so you will know they are safe.
Teaching your children and family how to be safe and secure is as important as teaching self-defense. If these things are presented in the right way, and often, your family will be confident in their security and better prepared for the world. This information is not just for small children but older kids, pre-teens, teenagers, and young adults.
Teaching your family to be a hard target will give a defensive mindset that will serve them throughout their lives.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
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