These are turbulent times and as we watch disasters unfold we try to anticipate how to be prepared. If you are prepared you won’t fear. So we should strive to be prepared. If you want to be there to help others, you must first be prepared yourself.
I’ve experienced a few disasters in my time. I was in an earthquake in California. I experienced tornados in Arizona and Texas. I also went through a flood. I learned a lot going through these things and hopefully, we can all learn without having to experience them.
A flood can be devastating. Water is one of those most powerful and potentially destructive things on earth. After a flood it takes some time to rebuild lives. So what if you have taken care of everything else and you have ammo that went through a flood?
SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute) is an association of the nation's leading manufacturers of firearms, ammunition and components. SAAMI was founded in 1926 at the request of the federal government and tasked with:
1. Creating and publishing industry standards for safety, interchangeability, reliability and quality
2. Coordinating technical data
3. Promoting safe and responsible firearms use
They have put out information of how to deal with ammo that have been exposed to a lot of water. They give good and sound information on how to deal with it:
Guidance on Ammunition That Has Been Submerged In Water
Torrential rains and storms surges that can result in flooding in areas of the United States bring
about several interesting questions. Is it possible to salvage ammunition that has been exposed to water? Can ammunition that has been submerged in water for a period of time be salvaged?
Should one set it out and attempt to dry it? What are the potential hazards?
To supply answers to these questions, one should look at the situation from two perspectives: First, ammunition that has been exposed to rain or moisture as could be normally encountered when hunting or shooting; and, secondly, ammunition that has been, for whatever reason, totally submerged for any length of time.
Centerfire rifle, handgun and shotshell ammunition is reasonably tolerant of exposure to light rain or dropping in the snow or on damp ground as long as the exposure is limited and the cartridges are wiped dry immediately. Ammunition should not be carried or stored in any manner that may collect and trap water, further increasing the exposure of the ammunition to moisture.
Rimfire ammunition is much more susceptible than other ammunition types to moisture damage from exposure to the elements due to the unique construction of the cartridges. Every effort should be made to prevent rimfire ammunition from being exposed to rain or dropped in the snow or on water‐soaked ground.
Regarding ammunition that has been submerged in water for any period of time, there are too many variables that would need to be considered such as the cartridge type (e.g., rimfire, shotshell, centerfire rifle, centerfire handgun); depth of the water; length of time the cartridges were submerged; are the primers on the cartridges sealed providing some degree of water resistance? What contaminates may have been in the water that might affect the powder charge or priming compound? and many others.
Some of the potential hazards of attempting to salvage or use the previously submerged ammunition include, but are not limited to:
1. Potential safety hazard in attempting to “dry out” the cartridges.
2. Possible further deterioration or damage of the loaded cartridge or its components due to drying methods.
3. Failure of the cartridge to fire, which could have life-threatening ramifications.
4. Initiation of only the priming compound or ignition of only a proportion of the propellant powder charge. This may result in insufficient pressure to push the projectile clear of the barrel resulting in the projectile stopping part way down the barrel and creating a bore obstruction. Firing a subsequent round through an obstructed barrel could result in serious bodily injury, death and property damage.
It would be impossible to ascertain for certain the extent of the deteriorating effect, if any, the
water may have had on each individual cartridge.
Therefore, the safe answer is that no attempt be made to salvage or use previously submerged ammunition.
The ammunition should be disposed of in a safe and responsible manner. Do not ship the ammunition back to the manufacturer. Contact your local law enforcement agency for disposal instructions in your area.
Let me say right now that I am pretty much an idiot. I’m a cheap idiot. I have used ammunition that went through a flood. I’m not sure what I was thinking but I did use it. It worked. There were a few that would not work, but most of it was fine after I cleaned it up. It was 9mm ammo. I didn’t really think about a potential danger (the idiot part). It had been dried for about two years in desiccant. I don’t think I’d do that now nor do I recommend it.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
National Situational Awareness Day
Today is National Situational Awareness (SA) Day. What is SA you ask? Well I’m gonna tell you. It is one of my most favorite subjects. Situational Awareness is the ability to identify, process, and comprehend the critical elements of information about what is happening to the team with regards to the mission. More simply, it's knowing what is going on around you.
In honor of this day I give you 5 ways to improve your SA.
Understand the baseline.
What is normal? When I was 12 I was taken on a hunting trip for the first time. We were hunting deer in Southern Utah. We were in a forest and I had never done this before so I didn’t quite understand the baseline. My cousin told me to listen and tell me what I heard. When that sound changes you need to know why. I learned what the forest sounded like when predators were near, when others humans were near, and when the deer were near.
Sometimes you can establish a baseline quick. Paying close attention you can tell if what you’re seeing is a baseline, or something else.
There are 3 things that may prevent awareness.
1. Not recognizing or understanding the baseline
2. Normacy bias
3. False focus
Not Understanding the Baseline. If you are not monitoring the baseline, you will not recognize the presence of predators that cause a disturbance. Other events can cause this too. Any unusual occurrence from a car accident to a street fight can create a concentric ring. One of the keys to personal security is learning to look for and recognize these disturbances. Some disturbances are dangerous, some are just entertaining.
Normalcy Bias. Even though we may sense a problem that could be alerting us of danger, many times we will ignore the alert due because of our desire for it NOT to be a danger. We want things to be OK, so we don’t accept that the stimulus we’re receiving represents a threat. We have a bias towards the status quo. Nothing has ever happened when I do this, so nothing is likely to happen.
False Focus. This is some form of distraction that is so engaging, that it focuses all of our awareness on one thing and by default, blocks all the other stimulus in our environment. This is when someone is texting and walks into a pole. The smart phone is the single most effective false focus ever invented. It robs us of our awareness in times and places where it’s needed most. Put it away.
Here are 3 things that promote awareness
1. Monitor the baseline
2. Fight the Normalcy Bias
3. Avoid the False Focus
Monitor the Baseline. At first, this will require conscious effort. But after a while, you’ll find that you can monitor the baseline subconsciously.
Fight Normalcy Bias. This requires you to be paranoid for a while as you develop your ability. Look at every disturbance to the baseline as a potential threat. This will allow you to stop ignoring or discounting disturbances and begin making assessments of the actual risk. But as you learn, people will think you are jumpy or paranoid. That’s OK. It’s a skill that will save your life.
Avoid using the Fake focus. It is ok to text while you are sitting at your desk or laying in bed. But it’s NOT ok to text as you walk from your office to the parking garage.
Any time you go into a new area, do a quick assessment of that area, then stop looking at it (the situation) and scan the rest of your environment to see what you’re missing.
Developing awareness is a skill. At first it will seem very awkward and self-conscious, but with practice, it will become seamless and subconscious. You will start to pick up on more and more subtle areas of disturbance and more complex stimuli. Eventually, people may think you are psychic as they notice how you seem to sense events before they unfold.
Jeff Cooper taught this same concept in his book “The Seven Principles of Self-Defense”. It is his first principle.
#1 ALERTNESS
Always know the answers to these two questions: (1) Who’s around me? (2) What are they doing? Situational awareness.
"A commander may be forgiven for being defeated, but never for being surprised."
Practicing situational awareness is most of the battle in self-defense. Not being surprised will give you the tactical advantage.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
In honor of this day I give you 5 ways to improve your SA.
Understand the baseline.
What is normal? When I was 12 I was taken on a hunting trip for the first time. We were hunting deer in Southern Utah. We were in a forest and I had never done this before so I didn’t quite understand the baseline. My cousin told me to listen and tell me what I heard. When that sound changes you need to know why. I learned what the forest sounded like when predators were near, when others humans were near, and when the deer were near.
Sometimes you can establish a baseline quick. Paying close attention you can tell if what you’re seeing is a baseline, or something else.
There are 3 things that may prevent awareness.
1. Not recognizing or understanding the baseline
2. Normacy bias
3. False focus
Not Understanding the Baseline. If you are not monitoring the baseline, you will not recognize the presence of predators that cause a disturbance. Other events can cause this too. Any unusual occurrence from a car accident to a street fight can create a concentric ring. One of the keys to personal security is learning to look for and recognize these disturbances. Some disturbances are dangerous, some are just entertaining.
Normalcy Bias. Even though we may sense a problem that could be alerting us of danger, many times we will ignore the alert due because of our desire for it NOT to be a danger. We want things to be OK, so we don’t accept that the stimulus we’re receiving represents a threat. We have a bias towards the status quo. Nothing has ever happened when I do this, so nothing is likely to happen.
False Focus. This is some form of distraction that is so engaging, that it focuses all of our awareness on one thing and by default, blocks all the other stimulus in our environment. This is when someone is texting and walks into a pole. The smart phone is the single most effective false focus ever invented. It robs us of our awareness in times and places where it’s needed most. Put it away.
Here are 3 things that promote awareness
1. Monitor the baseline
2. Fight the Normalcy Bias
3. Avoid the False Focus
Monitor the Baseline. At first, this will require conscious effort. But after a while, you’ll find that you can monitor the baseline subconsciously.
Fight Normalcy Bias. This requires you to be paranoid for a while as you develop your ability. Look at every disturbance to the baseline as a potential threat. This will allow you to stop ignoring or discounting disturbances and begin making assessments of the actual risk. But as you learn, people will think you are jumpy or paranoid. That’s OK. It’s a skill that will save your life.
Avoid using the Fake focus. It is ok to text while you are sitting at your desk or laying in bed. But it’s NOT ok to text as you walk from your office to the parking garage.
Any time you go into a new area, do a quick assessment of that area, then stop looking at it (the situation) and scan the rest of your environment to see what you’re missing.
Developing awareness is a skill. At first it will seem very awkward and self-conscious, but with practice, it will become seamless and subconscious. You will start to pick up on more and more subtle areas of disturbance and more complex stimuli. Eventually, people may think you are psychic as they notice how you seem to sense events before they unfold.
Jeff Cooper taught this same concept in his book “The Seven Principles of Self-Defense”. It is his first principle.
#1 ALERTNESS
Always know the answers to these two questions: (1) Who’s around me? (2) What are they doing? Situational awareness.
"A commander may be forgiven for being defeated, but never for being surprised."
Practicing situational awareness is most of the battle in self-defense. Not being surprised will give you the tactical advantage.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Friday, September 22, 2017
Saving Water Damaged Guns
These are turbulent times and as we watch disasters unfold we try to anticipate how to be prepared. If you are prepared you won’t fear. So we should strive to be prepared. If you want to be there to help others, you must first be prepared yourself.
I’ve experienced a few disasters in my time. I was in an earthquake in California. I experienced tornados in Arizona and Texas. I also went through a flood. I learned a lot going through these things and hopefully, we can all learn without having to experience them.
A flood can be devastating. Water is one of those most powerful and potentially destructive things on earth. After a flood it takes some time to rebuild lives. So what if you have taken care of everything else and you have guns that went through a flood?
SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute) is an association of the nation's leading manufacturers of firearms, ammunition and components. SAAMI was founded in 1926 at the request of the federal government and tasked with:
1. Creating and publishing industry standards for safety, interchangeability, reliability and quality
2. Coordinating technical data
3. Promoting safe and responsible firearms use
They have put out information of how to deal with guns that have been exposed to a lot of water. They give good and sound information on how to save your guns:
Guidance on Firearms That Have Been Submerged or Exposed To Extensive Amounts of Water
Natural and man-made disasters may result in firearms being exposed to or completely submerged in rain or flood waters. The questions that arise are how best to preserve recovered firearms from further damage and will the firearm ultimately be safe to use again.
There are two distinct concerns regarding firearms that have been exposed to water: parts susceptible to moisture and rust damage such as metal parts, wood stocks and grips, and optics; and, secondly, infiltration of the action, barrel, and safety systems by grit, silt, and other foreign debris.
Traditionally firearms have incorporated wood stocks, grips, and metal parts that are highly susceptible to damage from short-term exposure or total submersion in water. Many firearms now incorporate corrosion-resistant metals and polymer stocks and frames that are less susceptible to damage from rain or flood waters; however, firearms owners should be aware that these newer materials are still susceptible to and/or will propagate moisture damage unless properly attended to.
When a firearm has been exposed or submerged in water, the first and foremost concern is to limit moisture/corrosion damage to the component parts of the firearm.
• The first order of business is safety: insure the firearm is unloaded and always wear safety glasses when disassembling, assembling or otherwise working on the firearm.
• When at all possible remove the stock or grips from the firearm. Whether wood or synthetic, the stock or grips may trap and hold moisture against corrodible metal parts.
• If possible, disassemble the firearm to the extent described in the user’s manual. If unsure of this operation, enlist the services of knowledgeable persons or a qualified gunsmith.
• Dry the metal, synthetic parts, and optics with available dry towels or cloths.
• Be particularly careful when drying off optics, as grit or silt that has been deposited on the lens may scratch the lens. Any optics should then be removed from the firearm at this point and returned to the manufacturer to insure that the hermetic sealing is intact and the lens coating not damaged.
• Very Important Note! Some moisture-displacing lubricants can cause damage to plastic/synthetic parts, aluminum anodized parts, wood finishes, and painted surfaces. Read the directions on the can and be aware of warnings.
• Flood all the metal parts and inside of the barrel with a moisture-displacing lubricant. Firearm-specific moisture-displacing lubricants such as but not limited to Birchwood-Casey Barricade™ (formerly marketed as Sheath™), Hoppes #9 MDL™ , Mil-Tec 1™, and Brownells LP-2™ are very good and available at many gun shops and sporting goods stores. Products such as WD-40™, Liquid Wrench™, CRC™, Blaster Corrosion Stop™, and similar products will do the job and are widely available at home improvement stores, hardware stores, and automotive supply stores. Boeshield T-9™ is an excellent product having been used by the Coast Guard for many years and available at many gun, sporting goods, bicycle, automotive, hardware, and home improvement stores.
• Work the moisture-displacing lubricant into every nook and cranny possible, as well as down the barrel.
• Using dry clothes or rags wipe off the initial application of moisture-displacing lubricant to remove as much contamination as possible. Reapply a second coat of moisture-displacing lubricant.
• Special attention should be paid to wood stocks and grips. Exposure or submersion in water may also result in damage to the wood finish. Wood stocks and grips in particular will hold moisture against metal parts for a long time and if not removed in a timely manner will greatly increase the probability of corrosion of metal parts they remain in contact with. Wood stocks and grips should be allowed to air-dry and not be force dried by exposure to heat. Allowing the wood to naturally air-dry will greatly aid in preventing the stock or grips from cracking or checking.
The above steps will go a long way toward stabilizing the condition of the firearm and limiting the damage caused by exposure to water.
Once the firearm has been thoroughly dried, consideration must be given to having the firearm
inspected and serviced by either the manufacturer, an authorized service center, or a qualified gunsmith for reasons not limited to the following, prior to being put back into service:
• Exposure to or submersion in flood waters may result in the water depositing silt and other
foreign debris in the action and safety mechanisms, which can impede or even disable their
proper function, or which may lead to an obstruction of the barrel which could result in a
catastrophic failure.
• Exposure or submersion in water may cause wood stocks and grips to swell and in some cases
impede or even disable the mechanical function of the action and/or safety mechanisms.
• The moisture-displacing type products referred to as a class of product in this document are
indicated for the intent and purpose of moisture displacement in the situations related
therein. Some products in this class may not be ideally suited for use in conjunction with a
firearm under normal circumstance. Individual products may have unique characteristics that
result in gelling, coagulation, or become so viscus as to prevent or impede the proper function
of any mechanical system within the firearm. It is therefore imperative that the firearm be
serviced by qualified persons prior to being put back into service.
• Depending upon the time the firearm has been submerged and the extent of exposure to sea
salt and industrial and naturally occurring chemical substances that may be in the water
source, it is impossible to ascertain with certainty the extent of the deteriorating effect, if any,
the water may have had on individual component parts without a compete and thorough
inspection and assessment of each individual firearm by qualified persons.
Failure to follow these recommendations can result in property damage, personal injury and death.
Recovering from a flood and hurricane can be overwhelming. But you should have something you can do to recover those guns that you have worked hard to purchase and maintain. SAAMI gives you that option.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
I’ve experienced a few disasters in my time. I was in an earthquake in California. I experienced tornados in Arizona and Texas. I also went through a flood. I learned a lot going through these things and hopefully, we can all learn without having to experience them.
A flood can be devastating. Water is one of those most powerful and potentially destructive things on earth. After a flood it takes some time to rebuild lives. So what if you have taken care of everything else and you have guns that went through a flood?
SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute) is an association of the nation's leading manufacturers of firearms, ammunition and components. SAAMI was founded in 1926 at the request of the federal government and tasked with:
1. Creating and publishing industry standards for safety, interchangeability, reliability and quality
2. Coordinating technical data
3. Promoting safe and responsible firearms use
They have put out information of how to deal with guns that have been exposed to a lot of water. They give good and sound information on how to save your guns:
Guidance on Firearms That Have Been Submerged or Exposed To Extensive Amounts of Water
Natural and man-made disasters may result in firearms being exposed to or completely submerged in rain or flood waters. The questions that arise are how best to preserve recovered firearms from further damage and will the firearm ultimately be safe to use again.
There are two distinct concerns regarding firearms that have been exposed to water: parts susceptible to moisture and rust damage such as metal parts, wood stocks and grips, and optics; and, secondly, infiltration of the action, barrel, and safety systems by grit, silt, and other foreign debris.
Traditionally firearms have incorporated wood stocks, grips, and metal parts that are highly susceptible to damage from short-term exposure or total submersion in water. Many firearms now incorporate corrosion-resistant metals and polymer stocks and frames that are less susceptible to damage from rain or flood waters; however, firearms owners should be aware that these newer materials are still susceptible to and/or will propagate moisture damage unless properly attended to.
When a firearm has been exposed or submerged in water, the first and foremost concern is to limit moisture/corrosion damage to the component parts of the firearm.
• The first order of business is safety: insure the firearm is unloaded and always wear safety glasses when disassembling, assembling or otherwise working on the firearm.
• When at all possible remove the stock or grips from the firearm. Whether wood or synthetic, the stock or grips may trap and hold moisture against corrodible metal parts.
• If possible, disassemble the firearm to the extent described in the user’s manual. If unsure of this operation, enlist the services of knowledgeable persons or a qualified gunsmith.
• Dry the metal, synthetic parts, and optics with available dry towels or cloths.
• Be particularly careful when drying off optics, as grit or silt that has been deposited on the lens may scratch the lens. Any optics should then be removed from the firearm at this point and returned to the manufacturer to insure that the hermetic sealing is intact and the lens coating not damaged.
• Very Important Note! Some moisture-displacing lubricants can cause damage to plastic/synthetic parts, aluminum anodized parts, wood finishes, and painted surfaces. Read the directions on the can and be aware of warnings.
• Flood all the metal parts and inside of the barrel with a moisture-displacing lubricant. Firearm-specific moisture-displacing lubricants such as but not limited to Birchwood-Casey Barricade™ (formerly marketed as Sheath™), Hoppes #9 MDL™ , Mil-Tec 1™, and Brownells LP-2™ are very good and available at many gun shops and sporting goods stores. Products such as WD-40™, Liquid Wrench™, CRC™, Blaster Corrosion Stop™, and similar products will do the job and are widely available at home improvement stores, hardware stores, and automotive supply stores. Boeshield T-9™ is an excellent product having been used by the Coast Guard for many years and available at many gun, sporting goods, bicycle, automotive, hardware, and home improvement stores.
• Work the moisture-displacing lubricant into every nook and cranny possible, as well as down the barrel.
• Using dry clothes or rags wipe off the initial application of moisture-displacing lubricant to remove as much contamination as possible. Reapply a second coat of moisture-displacing lubricant.
• Special attention should be paid to wood stocks and grips. Exposure or submersion in water may also result in damage to the wood finish. Wood stocks and grips in particular will hold moisture against metal parts for a long time and if not removed in a timely manner will greatly increase the probability of corrosion of metal parts they remain in contact with. Wood stocks and grips should be allowed to air-dry and not be force dried by exposure to heat. Allowing the wood to naturally air-dry will greatly aid in preventing the stock or grips from cracking or checking.
The above steps will go a long way toward stabilizing the condition of the firearm and limiting the damage caused by exposure to water.
Once the firearm has been thoroughly dried, consideration must be given to having the firearm
inspected and serviced by either the manufacturer, an authorized service center, or a qualified gunsmith for reasons not limited to the following, prior to being put back into service:
• Exposure to or submersion in flood waters may result in the water depositing silt and other
foreign debris in the action and safety mechanisms, which can impede or even disable their
proper function, or which may lead to an obstruction of the barrel which could result in a
catastrophic failure.
• Exposure or submersion in water may cause wood stocks and grips to swell and in some cases
impede or even disable the mechanical function of the action and/or safety mechanisms.
• The moisture-displacing type products referred to as a class of product in this document are
indicated for the intent and purpose of moisture displacement in the situations related
therein. Some products in this class may not be ideally suited for use in conjunction with a
firearm under normal circumstance. Individual products may have unique characteristics that
result in gelling, coagulation, or become so viscus as to prevent or impede the proper function
of any mechanical system within the firearm. It is therefore imperative that the firearm be
serviced by qualified persons prior to being put back into service.
• Depending upon the time the firearm has been submerged and the extent of exposure to sea
salt and industrial and naturally occurring chemical substances that may be in the water
source, it is impossible to ascertain with certainty the extent of the deteriorating effect, if any,
the water may have had on individual component parts without a compete and thorough
inspection and assessment of each individual firearm by qualified persons.
Failure to follow these recommendations can result in property damage, personal injury and death.
Recovering from a flood and hurricane can be overwhelming. But you should have something you can do to recover those guns that you have worked hard to purchase and maintain. SAAMI gives you that option.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Basic Privacy: Big Brother Is Out There
Privacy is something that is slowly going away. Especially in this internet, computer driven world. Try Googling your name. It’s amazing what you may find. I try it once a month and then try to change that footprint.
I like Facebook. It’s a way that works for me to stay in touch with my kids and others. I don’t like the openness of Facebook. I check my settings often and my profile is very limited. I do post a few pictures, but really very few. I have Twitter and Instagram accounts and will use them occasionally. I’m very careful what I post and who can see it. You can’t see much on my Facebook profile except who I’m married to and who I am. You can’t find my birthdate, my location, or even where I work. Those pieces of information are not available. I look at my security info on my e-mail accounts and other accounts quite often. You should too. I block websites that don’t give a choice to receive their spam mail. There is some info I want sent to me. I’d recommend getting the sale circular from Impact Guns in Utah
https://www.impactguns.com/. They have stores in Ogden and SLC, Utah. Plus one in Boise, ID.
Or Gunnies in Orem, Utah. http://gunnies.com/ I subscribe to their pages and so I get info from them all the time. I don’t live in Utah but I have relatives near there that pick things up for me occasionally. Or I have it shipped. Anyway, the point is, there is some advertising that I want to have sent to me regularly. But most I do not. I am constantly “unsubscribing” to stuff that is sent to me. It’s a pain, but I want to keep my e-mail as clean as I can. Sometimes you can be paranoid and think that big brother is always watching. Well big brother IS watching. Make sure you do things with discretion.
Google Earth is a wonderful tool but I don’t really want to be found by everyone with 4G and a cell phone. I can’t change the fact that satellites can see me but I do what I can to maintain a low profile. With Google earth you can blur out your house and cars on the street view. Here’s how:
How to get your property blurred:
* Go to Google Maps and type in your address
* Bring up the street view of your property
* Look to the bottom right hand corner of the screen you should see an Icon Labeled:
“report a problem.”
* Click on “report a problem.”
* You will get a page labeled “report inappropriate street view.”
* Adjust the image so your house is inside the red box.
* Fill out the form
* Type the verification code at the bottom of the page into the box provided and click
“submit”
* Check back in a few days to see if the image has been blurred.
You can also get license plates and faces blurred. For example, if you want a picture of your business on Google Maps but don’t want the license plate number of your vehicle parked in front on Google, you can get that blurred. You can also get your car blurred out as well if you want.
Technology is wonderful. I love the communication opportunities. Growing up I remember one rotary phone in our hallway. Now I hold in my hand the equivalent of my PC at home. It’s amazing what you can do with it, and it is constantly evolving.
We have an internet foot print but what about everywhere else?
Everyone knows that our Social Security number is like gold to a thief. So how do you safeguard it? Who needs it? Your Doctor? Radio Shack?
One of the best ways to get out of giving your Social Security number to someone is to simply overlook it on your paperwork. You may get by without a confrontation. If you're questioned, however, be proactive. The most basic thing you can do is ask the person or organization why they need it. One of the most powerful things you can say is, “Is there a law or requirement that I must provide it to you, and can you tell me what it is?” You can also ask the person requesting your Social what will happen if you don't disclose it.
You aren't legally required to provide your SSN to businesses unless one of the following is true:
You'll be engaging in a transaction that requires notification to the Internal Revenue Service; or
You're initiating a financial transaction subject to federal Customer Identification Program rules.
That would be Insurance companies, Credit card companies, the 3 main credit agencies: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian.
Any company that sells products or services that require reporting to the IRS.
Any purchases over $10,000. That would be real estate, homes, and vehicles included.
Once a company has your number they are restricted by law with what they can do with it.
What about other little things in our lives?
How about your mail? Your snail mail that is. Should that be private? I get a lot of credit card requests. I also get a crazy amount of mail from the NRA. (They could save a lot of money by not mailing so much!) All of this should be safeguarded. Even the junk. You can tell a lot about someone from their junk mail.
What about your trash? Once it’s on the street it is pretty much public isn’t it? Yes it is. Once you roll your trash can to the curb or place your garbage bags on the sidewalk for pickup, you no longer have an expectation of privacy. In fact, it can even be searched by the police without a warrant. Simple thrown away packaging can speak volumes to the right person. Do you want burglars knowing you just bought a big screen T.V. or a computer? The same goes for guns or even preparation items. Be careful what you put in your trash outside your home. Get a shredder and use it on personal information.
Being private takes a little more effort and it takes a certain mindset. Do you tell others about yourself from the bumper stickers on your vehicle? Be mindful of what you let the public see in detail about your life.
Keep it private!
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
I like Facebook. It’s a way that works for me to stay in touch with my kids and others. I don’t like the openness of Facebook. I check my settings often and my profile is very limited. I do post a few pictures, but really very few. I have Twitter and Instagram accounts and will use them occasionally. I’m very careful what I post and who can see it. You can’t see much on my Facebook profile except who I’m married to and who I am. You can’t find my birthdate, my location, or even where I work. Those pieces of information are not available. I look at my security info on my e-mail accounts and other accounts quite often. You should too. I block websites that don’t give a choice to receive their spam mail. There is some info I want sent to me. I’d recommend getting the sale circular from Impact Guns in Utah
https://www.impactguns.com/. They have stores in Ogden and SLC, Utah. Plus one in Boise, ID.
Or Gunnies in Orem, Utah. http://gunnies.com/ I subscribe to their pages and so I get info from them all the time. I don’t live in Utah but I have relatives near there that pick things up for me occasionally. Or I have it shipped. Anyway, the point is, there is some advertising that I want to have sent to me regularly. But most I do not. I am constantly “unsubscribing” to stuff that is sent to me. It’s a pain, but I want to keep my e-mail as clean as I can. Sometimes you can be paranoid and think that big brother is always watching. Well big brother IS watching. Make sure you do things with discretion.
Google Earth is a wonderful tool but I don’t really want to be found by everyone with 4G and a cell phone. I can’t change the fact that satellites can see me but I do what I can to maintain a low profile. With Google earth you can blur out your house and cars on the street view. Here’s how:
How to get your property blurred:
* Go to Google Maps and type in your address
* Bring up the street view of your property
* Look to the bottom right hand corner of the screen you should see an Icon Labeled:
“report a problem.”
* Click on “report a problem.”
* You will get a page labeled “report inappropriate street view.”
* Adjust the image so your house is inside the red box.
* Fill out the form
* Type the verification code at the bottom of the page into the box provided and click
“submit”
* Check back in a few days to see if the image has been blurred.
You can also get license plates and faces blurred. For example, if you want a picture of your business on Google Maps but don’t want the license plate number of your vehicle parked in front on Google, you can get that blurred. You can also get your car blurred out as well if you want.
Technology is wonderful. I love the communication opportunities. Growing up I remember one rotary phone in our hallway. Now I hold in my hand the equivalent of my PC at home. It’s amazing what you can do with it, and it is constantly evolving.
We have an internet foot print but what about everywhere else?
Everyone knows that our Social Security number is like gold to a thief. So how do you safeguard it? Who needs it? Your Doctor? Radio Shack?
One of the best ways to get out of giving your Social Security number to someone is to simply overlook it on your paperwork. You may get by without a confrontation. If you're questioned, however, be proactive. The most basic thing you can do is ask the person or organization why they need it. One of the most powerful things you can say is, “Is there a law or requirement that I must provide it to you, and can you tell me what it is?” You can also ask the person requesting your Social what will happen if you don't disclose it.
You aren't legally required to provide your SSN to businesses unless one of the following is true:
You'll be engaging in a transaction that requires notification to the Internal Revenue Service; or
You're initiating a financial transaction subject to federal Customer Identification Program rules.
That would be Insurance companies, Credit card companies, the 3 main credit agencies: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian.
Any company that sells products or services that require reporting to the IRS.
Any purchases over $10,000. That would be real estate, homes, and vehicles included.
Once a company has your number they are restricted by law with what they can do with it.
What about other little things in our lives?
How about your mail? Your snail mail that is. Should that be private? I get a lot of credit card requests. I also get a crazy amount of mail from the NRA. (They could save a lot of money by not mailing so much!) All of this should be safeguarded. Even the junk. You can tell a lot about someone from their junk mail.
What about your trash? Once it’s on the street it is pretty much public isn’t it? Yes it is. Once you roll your trash can to the curb or place your garbage bags on the sidewalk for pickup, you no longer have an expectation of privacy. In fact, it can even be searched by the police without a warrant. Simple thrown away packaging can speak volumes to the right person. Do you want burglars knowing you just bought a big screen T.V. or a computer? The same goes for guns or even preparation items. Be careful what you put in your trash outside your home. Get a shredder and use it on personal information.
Being private takes a little more effort and it takes a certain mindset. Do you tell others about yourself from the bumper stickers on your vehicle? Be mindful of what you let the public see in detail about your life.
Keep it private!
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Reality Based Training
I know several fighter pilots. In particular I talked with an A-10 Warthog, “tank killer”, pilot. He’s a great guy and a great father and husband. To meet him and get to know him away from his aircraft you would probably not guess that he was a pilot. He and I talked about controlling that fear and adrenaline dump that comes with a combat situation. He and I did some shooting together and I asked him how he kept control? He said because he had done it before. Training. Reality based training.
It’s been said that you never want to run into something for the first time in combat.
I’ve talked about the OODA loop (OODA=observe, orient, decide, act) and also the Fight or Flight survival trigger and its various components. I also talked about how it is necessary to go through those mechanisms as quickly as possible in order to go from a reactive to an active response to the attacker, and that it is a key factor in upping the odds in favor of your survival.
I will assume that those of you who are reading this that have had firearms instruction or combat training have heard of the effects that a spontaneous, unexpected threat stimulus has on the body. And I’m sure that we all were taught and all agree that one of the effects is that our fine motor skills go to heck in a hand basket in a high stress environment. In addition to tunnel vision, auditory exclusion, increased heart rate, the adrenaline and cortisol hormone cocktail totally negate your ability to execute fine motor skills in a gross motor skills environment. It is often described as wearing gloves or oven mitts. We’ve all been taught that. We all agree on that, right?
Tell that to a Fighter Pilot. Here you have an individual flying at Mach II in the cockpit of a $55 million dollar machine, 20,000 feet in the air, directing flight control over a bank of controls and instruments, both heads up displays and dash mounted, in charge of fire control, cognizant of the rest of his squadron and in contact with them, tracking radar both for position and possible enemy birds or radar lock on his position. In addition the pilot is following his mission directives and reporting status back to command. That is a pretty high stress environment if you ask me. And it sounds like the pilot is using some pretty fine motor skills.
Yet, it is true that all of the effects of adrenaline and cortisol that I mentioned previously are real and they do take place. So how is this possible? How can a fighter pilot use all of these finite motor skills in a high stress, gross motor skills environment? Because he has done it before. Why is it often bad guys win?” The answer is, because they’ve done it before. It’s the same answer here concerning the fighter pilot. Actually it’s the same principle. Funny thing about Principles and Concepts. They are completely objective. They don’t take sides. They don’t change. They are universal and they apply equally as well for bad guys as they do for good guys. How do we make them work for us? Reality based training. This is the game changer. This is what separates the traditional rote memorization of skills and techniques from the evolutionary, adaptive ability to effectively apply learned skills and decision making processes in the fluid, dynamic environment of actual combat. You may ask, just what the heck is he talking about? We’re going to take a brief historical look at the evolution of Reality Based Training. The goal of reality based training is to identify and analyze the combat environment and to reproduce it as closely as possible in training.
Enter Colonel John Boyd, aka 40 second Boyd, a nickname he earned as a fighter pilot in combat training because of his ability to gain the superior position on opponents in 40 seconds or less. John Boyd was a fighter pilot but was also one of the most influential and important Military analysts and strategists of modern times, also known for the concept of the OODA Loop. Boyd was in part responsible for the modernization of fighter pilot combat training and architect of the Air Force Fighter Pilot Training program which was also the model used to create the Air Force Red Flag Training and the US Navy Top Gun fighter pilot training program.
How does this relate to our discussion? I will ask another question. When do most fighter pilots get shot down? On their very first mission. Boyd and others looked at the data from decades of armed combat and were made aware of a very important statistic. Statistically it is most likely that a fighter pilot would be shot down on his first or initial combat engagements. However, if they survived their first 10 or 12 missions their survivability jumped dramatically. In fact so dramatically that statistically those pilots were almost never shot down in combat. As a result of this discovery many things were learned. One of which was that the environment of air combat did produce all of the damning effects of high stress, high threat physiological and psychological responses that we discussed earlier. This was not good for a pilot engaged in aerial combat. Oven mitts and tunnel vision do not enhance your survival skills at 17,000 feet.
By looking at this phenomena (the spike of survivability after a dozen or so sorties), much was learned about the human’s ability to adapt and prevail in spite of the effects of high stress in a combat environment. The most obvious is simply the benefit of “Combat Experience,” the more you engage in combat the better you are at it. As this was analyzed it was deduced that the more an individual faced these high stress environments, the more he was able to maintain both physical and psychological self- control in spite of the effects of large amounts of adrenaline, and cortisol, the increased heart rate and all the other stress responses and their resulting influences. And the more times he faced these environments the more he manipulated the environment and the less the environment manipulated him.
So in terms of Fighter Pilots it was proposed that if you could get a pilot through his first 12 Combat missions in training before engaging a real enemy in real combat then perhaps the survival rate would increase. And it worked. By creating as close a combat environment as possible in training and putting the pilot through that stress again and again you are in essence inoculating the individual to the stress of combat before he is actually exposed to it. Hence the term, stress inoculation that is now commonly used to describe this process.
Again, the question is; How does this relate to personal or individual combat? Well, principles don’t change, they don’t care where and how they are applied and they don’t care if you are a good guy or a bad guy.
Combat is combat. It doesn’t matter if you are engaged in a dog fight with an Iranian Mig or a bad guy who’s slinging lead or fists in your direction. You will experience all of the deleterious effects of a high threat, high stress event. A large part of your ability to prevail and survive will depend on whether the event controls you or if you control the event.
In terms of hand-to-hand combat the “Top Gun” training principle applies equally as well. The more experience you have had in gun fights or street fights the less you are “infected” by the stress of that action.
In terms of most people, they do not have the “privilege” or “misfortune” of actual combat experience and just as with fighter pilots you must in some way prepare yourself for it.
Reality based training is one of the best ways to gain at least an approximation of that experience. How do we accomplish that?
Welcome to a new ammo called Simunition. It enables the use of real guns firing wax bullets in gunfight simulations. It has become one of the standard training evolutions for almost all operators, agencies and departments around the world. Using Simunition, you could put operators into active force on force scenarios and run them through time and time again to give them their version of Top Gun training. And it works. Air soft training is a legitimate alternative to sims training, much easier and cheaper to use. I’ll admit it’s not quite as “real” but it also produces dramatic experiential results.
In terms of hand-to-hand combat there is of course no substitute for training. The key is taking the standard forms of training from the mat or ring to reality based training. Once again the need is to analyze the combat environment and reproduce it as closely as possible in training.
You must develop your own reality based training.
What are the basics of what you do or what you think you’ll be doing, in a defense situation?
Will you be sitting down? Maybe at a desk or in a vehicle? Will it be night or day? Would you ever have to fight with one arm? Would you be in a bathroom stall? Walking? Running? With someone? Will you be in a confined are or in the open? These are just some of the ideas you need to consider if your own situation. If you’ve got training partners you can get even more creative with multiple attacks, surprise attacks, attacks from behind, in a car, backed into a corner and any number of various scenarios.
You can introduce weapons, for example, fighting your way of a surprise weapons attack. A sock with a couple of whiffle balls stuffed into it works really well and it stings like hell. It’s very important to bring pain into the training as this really ups the stress level. Always wear eye protection.
These are just a few examples of how to start introducing some reality training into your conventional program.
Now mind you, you don’t have to practice these skills at the expense or exclusion of your other/current training. Remember, the first time you want to get attacked between two parked cars isn’t when a bad guy is really trying to kill you. You want it to have been two dozen times before in training.
We haven’t even touched kicking, grappling or ground fighting skills in regard to this subject, but I think you can see that any basic skill set you possess can be enhanced to reflect a more reality based, “Top Gun” approach.
So, what if you are someone who can not participate in active physical training for whatever reason. What can you do? Remember how real a dream feels? Do you have an imagination?
A few years ago a Arizona Highway Patrol officer spoke of this experience. Another officer radioed in that he was making a stop on a highway in the Arizona desert. He did not know that he was stopping a wanted felon. When the officer exited his unit, the bad guy wheeled out of his car with a nickel plated .357 magnum and fired off a round striking the officer directly in the belly. The officer went down and the bad guy took off. The officer crawled to his car and radioed “I’m shot, I’m shot” and fell back onto the pavement. The officer telling me the story arrived on scene about 5 minutes after the call. The downed officer was dying right in front of him and going into deep shock. Officer #2 tore open the downed officers clothes looking for a way to stop the bleeding. Funny thing though, there was no blood. He turned him over looking for an exit or entry bound and couldn’t find one. The officer in his hands was slipping away. There was no wound. The bullet had struck his belt, traveled around his side and out into the weeds. When the ambulance arrived they told officer #2 that 5 more minutes and the first officer would have been a goner. As you know, shock will kill you dead. So what is there to be learned from this? When the officer was shot, his thoughts were, “I’m shot. I’m dying.” The most important point here is, “If the mind truly believes something, the body follows suit. In effect the officer was willing himself to die and the body was following suit, shutting down the system.
So how can you develop training for yourself? You can use creative visualization to train. You can imagine the attack scenarios. But this has to be a vivid, HD quality movie that you watch. Imagine the sounds, the smells, the details of the attacker and the attack. Create your response, your vicious, ferocious response and your survival. The more real you make this waking dream the more “experience” you garner from the exercise. And you can let your imagination run wild. I hope that you realize that this also is as valuable as a training aid to anyone who is actively training in any form of combat, not just for those who are unable to train. There are certainly other aspects that go into the process of hardening the target including physical fitness, research and education. But, remember the Highway Patrol Officer? If you can imagine yourself dying, you can imagine an attack, your response, your survival and your experience. The use of creative visualization is not the real thing, but it can be the next best thing and in the game of life and death I will stack the deck with everything I can in my favor and so should you.
I watch a You Tube channel called Nutnfancy. In his testing and shooting guns he runs what he calls a “Run and gun”. This a course he sets up out in the Utah desert where you run and have several shooting scenarios and targets. He times them so some stress is added. You can see him at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbT5ssxEDZHNyz28N4Ov7Wg.
You can devise your own training program. Make it simple. Part of my “workout” is shooting from different positions. From behind something, looking through something, angles, you get the idea. People watching me think I’m nuts. But standing and facing a paper target only teaches you technique. It’s important to practice good technique but there comes a time when you know how to hold a gun, aim a gun, and trigger control.
I’ve shot with air soft and I like this training. I’ve shot in a shoot house and I like that too. I’ve never used Simunitions but would love to.
Find a program you can use to give you that reality edge over your attacker. Make yourself a hardened target.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
It’s been said that you never want to run into something for the first time in combat.
I’ve talked about the OODA loop (OODA=observe, orient, decide, act) and also the Fight or Flight survival trigger and its various components. I also talked about how it is necessary to go through those mechanisms as quickly as possible in order to go from a reactive to an active response to the attacker, and that it is a key factor in upping the odds in favor of your survival.
I will assume that those of you who are reading this that have had firearms instruction or combat training have heard of the effects that a spontaneous, unexpected threat stimulus has on the body. And I’m sure that we all were taught and all agree that one of the effects is that our fine motor skills go to heck in a hand basket in a high stress environment. In addition to tunnel vision, auditory exclusion, increased heart rate, the adrenaline and cortisol hormone cocktail totally negate your ability to execute fine motor skills in a gross motor skills environment. It is often described as wearing gloves or oven mitts. We’ve all been taught that. We all agree on that, right?
Tell that to a Fighter Pilot. Here you have an individual flying at Mach II in the cockpit of a $55 million dollar machine, 20,000 feet in the air, directing flight control over a bank of controls and instruments, both heads up displays and dash mounted, in charge of fire control, cognizant of the rest of his squadron and in contact with them, tracking radar both for position and possible enemy birds or radar lock on his position. In addition the pilot is following his mission directives and reporting status back to command. That is a pretty high stress environment if you ask me. And it sounds like the pilot is using some pretty fine motor skills.
Yet, it is true that all of the effects of adrenaline and cortisol that I mentioned previously are real and they do take place. So how is this possible? How can a fighter pilot use all of these finite motor skills in a high stress, gross motor skills environment? Because he has done it before. Why is it often bad guys win?” The answer is, because they’ve done it before. It’s the same answer here concerning the fighter pilot. Actually it’s the same principle. Funny thing about Principles and Concepts. They are completely objective. They don’t take sides. They don’t change. They are universal and they apply equally as well for bad guys as they do for good guys. How do we make them work for us? Reality based training. This is the game changer. This is what separates the traditional rote memorization of skills and techniques from the evolutionary, adaptive ability to effectively apply learned skills and decision making processes in the fluid, dynamic environment of actual combat. You may ask, just what the heck is he talking about? We’re going to take a brief historical look at the evolution of Reality Based Training. The goal of reality based training is to identify and analyze the combat environment and to reproduce it as closely as possible in training.
Enter Colonel John Boyd, aka 40 second Boyd, a nickname he earned as a fighter pilot in combat training because of his ability to gain the superior position on opponents in 40 seconds or less. John Boyd was a fighter pilot but was also one of the most influential and important Military analysts and strategists of modern times, also known for the concept of the OODA Loop. Boyd was in part responsible for the modernization of fighter pilot combat training and architect of the Air Force Fighter Pilot Training program which was also the model used to create the Air Force Red Flag Training and the US Navy Top Gun fighter pilot training program.
How does this relate to our discussion? I will ask another question. When do most fighter pilots get shot down? On their very first mission. Boyd and others looked at the data from decades of armed combat and were made aware of a very important statistic. Statistically it is most likely that a fighter pilot would be shot down on his first or initial combat engagements. However, if they survived their first 10 or 12 missions their survivability jumped dramatically. In fact so dramatically that statistically those pilots were almost never shot down in combat. As a result of this discovery many things were learned. One of which was that the environment of air combat did produce all of the damning effects of high stress, high threat physiological and psychological responses that we discussed earlier. This was not good for a pilot engaged in aerial combat. Oven mitts and tunnel vision do not enhance your survival skills at 17,000 feet.
By looking at this phenomena (the spike of survivability after a dozen or so sorties), much was learned about the human’s ability to adapt and prevail in spite of the effects of high stress in a combat environment. The most obvious is simply the benefit of “Combat Experience,” the more you engage in combat the better you are at it. As this was analyzed it was deduced that the more an individual faced these high stress environments, the more he was able to maintain both physical and psychological self- control in spite of the effects of large amounts of adrenaline, and cortisol, the increased heart rate and all the other stress responses and their resulting influences. And the more times he faced these environments the more he manipulated the environment and the less the environment manipulated him.
So in terms of Fighter Pilots it was proposed that if you could get a pilot through his first 12 Combat missions in training before engaging a real enemy in real combat then perhaps the survival rate would increase. And it worked. By creating as close a combat environment as possible in training and putting the pilot through that stress again and again you are in essence inoculating the individual to the stress of combat before he is actually exposed to it. Hence the term, stress inoculation that is now commonly used to describe this process.
Again, the question is; How does this relate to personal or individual combat? Well, principles don’t change, they don’t care where and how they are applied and they don’t care if you are a good guy or a bad guy.
Combat is combat. It doesn’t matter if you are engaged in a dog fight with an Iranian Mig or a bad guy who’s slinging lead or fists in your direction. You will experience all of the deleterious effects of a high threat, high stress event. A large part of your ability to prevail and survive will depend on whether the event controls you or if you control the event.
In terms of hand-to-hand combat the “Top Gun” training principle applies equally as well. The more experience you have had in gun fights or street fights the less you are “infected” by the stress of that action.
In terms of most people, they do not have the “privilege” or “misfortune” of actual combat experience and just as with fighter pilots you must in some way prepare yourself for it.
Reality based training is one of the best ways to gain at least an approximation of that experience. How do we accomplish that?
Welcome to a new ammo called Simunition. It enables the use of real guns firing wax bullets in gunfight simulations. It has become one of the standard training evolutions for almost all operators, agencies and departments around the world. Using Simunition, you could put operators into active force on force scenarios and run them through time and time again to give them their version of Top Gun training. And it works. Air soft training is a legitimate alternative to sims training, much easier and cheaper to use. I’ll admit it’s not quite as “real” but it also produces dramatic experiential results.
In terms of hand-to-hand combat there is of course no substitute for training. The key is taking the standard forms of training from the mat or ring to reality based training. Once again the need is to analyze the combat environment and reproduce it as closely as possible in training.
You must develop your own reality based training.
What are the basics of what you do or what you think you’ll be doing, in a defense situation?
Will you be sitting down? Maybe at a desk or in a vehicle? Will it be night or day? Would you ever have to fight with one arm? Would you be in a bathroom stall? Walking? Running? With someone? Will you be in a confined are or in the open? These are just some of the ideas you need to consider if your own situation. If you’ve got training partners you can get even more creative with multiple attacks, surprise attacks, attacks from behind, in a car, backed into a corner and any number of various scenarios.
You can introduce weapons, for example, fighting your way of a surprise weapons attack. A sock with a couple of whiffle balls stuffed into it works really well and it stings like hell. It’s very important to bring pain into the training as this really ups the stress level. Always wear eye protection.
These are just a few examples of how to start introducing some reality training into your conventional program.
Now mind you, you don’t have to practice these skills at the expense or exclusion of your other/current training. Remember, the first time you want to get attacked between two parked cars isn’t when a bad guy is really trying to kill you. You want it to have been two dozen times before in training.
We haven’t even touched kicking, grappling or ground fighting skills in regard to this subject, but I think you can see that any basic skill set you possess can be enhanced to reflect a more reality based, “Top Gun” approach.
So, what if you are someone who can not participate in active physical training for whatever reason. What can you do? Remember how real a dream feels? Do you have an imagination?
A few years ago a Arizona Highway Patrol officer spoke of this experience. Another officer radioed in that he was making a stop on a highway in the Arizona desert. He did not know that he was stopping a wanted felon. When the officer exited his unit, the bad guy wheeled out of his car with a nickel plated .357 magnum and fired off a round striking the officer directly in the belly. The officer went down and the bad guy took off. The officer crawled to his car and radioed “I’m shot, I’m shot” and fell back onto the pavement. The officer telling me the story arrived on scene about 5 minutes after the call. The downed officer was dying right in front of him and going into deep shock. Officer #2 tore open the downed officers clothes looking for a way to stop the bleeding. Funny thing though, there was no blood. He turned him over looking for an exit or entry bound and couldn’t find one. The officer in his hands was slipping away. There was no wound. The bullet had struck his belt, traveled around his side and out into the weeds. When the ambulance arrived they told officer #2 that 5 more minutes and the first officer would have been a goner. As you know, shock will kill you dead. So what is there to be learned from this? When the officer was shot, his thoughts were, “I’m shot. I’m dying.” The most important point here is, “If the mind truly believes something, the body follows suit. In effect the officer was willing himself to die and the body was following suit, shutting down the system.
So how can you develop training for yourself? You can use creative visualization to train. You can imagine the attack scenarios. But this has to be a vivid, HD quality movie that you watch. Imagine the sounds, the smells, the details of the attacker and the attack. Create your response, your vicious, ferocious response and your survival. The more real you make this waking dream the more “experience” you garner from the exercise. And you can let your imagination run wild. I hope that you realize that this also is as valuable as a training aid to anyone who is actively training in any form of combat, not just for those who are unable to train. There are certainly other aspects that go into the process of hardening the target including physical fitness, research and education. But, remember the Highway Patrol Officer? If you can imagine yourself dying, you can imagine an attack, your response, your survival and your experience. The use of creative visualization is not the real thing, but it can be the next best thing and in the game of life and death I will stack the deck with everything I can in my favor and so should you.
I watch a You Tube channel called Nutnfancy. In his testing and shooting guns he runs what he calls a “Run and gun”. This a course he sets up out in the Utah desert where you run and have several shooting scenarios and targets. He times them so some stress is added. You can see him at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbT5ssxEDZHNyz28N4Ov7Wg.
You can devise your own training program. Make it simple. Part of my “workout” is shooting from different positions. From behind something, looking through something, angles, you get the idea. People watching me think I’m nuts. But standing and facing a paper target only teaches you technique. It’s important to practice good technique but there comes a time when you know how to hold a gun, aim a gun, and trigger control.
I’ve shot with air soft and I like this training. I’ve shot in a shoot house and I like that too. I’ve never used Simunitions but would love to.
Find a program you can use to give you that reality edge over your attacker. Make yourself a hardened target.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Safe Water: Boiling
How long do you really have to boil water before it's safe to drink? The answer might surprise you!
So how long do you really have to boil water before it's safe to drink?
5 minutes?
10 minutes?
20 minutes?
30 minutes?
The correct answer: If you actually saw through our trick question and guessed 0 minutes, you would be correct!!
Now you might be thinking “Wait a minute... how is that possible?? That’s not what I learned on Survivorman or Man vs. Wild!” Well, as you are about to learn... it’s absolutely, positively & definitively 100% possible… with just a little knowledge!
There’s a lot of conflicting information out there regarding how to “purify” water to make it safe to drink, and it can get pretty confusing. There are chemical treatments, filters and of course the “old faithful” boiling of your water to make it safe to drink. Most of these treatments are completely viable for making water drinkable as long as you know the limitations of each method.
For this article we are going to stay away from the chemical and filtration methods of water purification and focus primarily on using heat to treat water and make it drinkable. Heat is an effective method for treating water because it eliminates (kills) the microscopic organisms that are living in that water that can make you very sick.
So how much heat? And for how long?
Great questions! Depending on your source, “conventional wisdom” has told us for decades that bringing water to a rolling boil at the very minimum and holding it there for a period of time is what is required to kill these microscopic pathogens.
For example, let’s take a look at what the Boy Scouts of America say about treating water:
“The surest means of making your drinking water safe is to heat it to a rolling boil—when bubbles a half inch in diameter rise from the bottom of the pot. While this is a simple method, it does require time and fuel.”
Now let’s take a look at what the United States Marine Corp. recommends for treating water:
“Purify all water obtained from natural sources by using iodine tablets, bleach, or boiling for 5 minutes.”
So are the Boy Scouts of America and the Marines wrong? No. Bringing your water to a full boil will absolutely kill all common pathogens that we have all learned to take so seriously because can make us sick with illnesses like Giardia, Cryptosporidium, E. coli and the rest. The problem with bringing your water to a boil, as you are about to learn, is that doing so is actually complete overkill when it comes to treating water for harmful microbes! Boiling your water, while completely safe and will absolutely kill those nasty pathogens, is actually a waste of precious fuel/firewood resources in a survival situation!
OK, so how much fuel are you wasting exactly?
Did you know that heating your water from 200° F to 212° F… just that last extra 12° to get your water to its boiling point… actually uses TWICE as much fuel as it does just to get your water to that initial 200°?? Well... it does. TWICE as much fuel! That is nothing to scoff at!
So now that we know what the Boy Scouts of America and the Marines say about purifying water (and we love both of these organizations!), let’s see what science tells us about using heat to purify water.
Important Temperatures to Factor In to this Equation:
212° F = Temperature at which water boils
160° F = Temperature at which milk is generally pasteurized
149° F = Temperature at which Hepatitis A is quickly killed
140° F = Temperature at which bacteria (V. cholerae, E. coli and Salmonella typhi) and Rotavirus are quickly killed
131° F = Temperature at which worms & protazoa cysts (Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba) are quickly killed
As you can see from the temperatures listed above, the pathogens that we are primarily concerned about when it comes to safe drinking water are ALL killed (quickly) at temperatures much lower than 212°, the temperature at which water boils. That being the case... why would you unnecessarily waste any more fuel than you need to heating up your water those additional 63°?
Now let’s take another look at that milk pasteurization temperature above: 160° F.
Pasteurization is a process invented by French scientist Louis Pasteur during the early nineteenth century. Pasteur discovered that the pasteurization process made it possible to heat the milk to high enough temperature to kill all harmful microorganisms without “cooking” the milk causing it to curdle.
Now of course you never have to worry about your water curdling, but an important lesson can be gleaned from this milk pasteurization process that can be extremely beneficial: Water, like milk, does not have to be boiled to be safe to drink!
Temperature + Time = Pasteurization
Pasteurization is a process that occurs based on two variables: temperature and time. You see... you can actually pasteurize water at lower temps if you do it for a longer duration. This is extremely helpful in situations where A) you aren’t able to effect fire for heating your water, or B) you can make fire but you do not have a suitable container for boiling that can withstand the intense heat of your fire. Lower temperature/longer duration pasteurization can actually be done with discarded plastic 2 liter bottles set in the sunlight for longer periods of time (typically 6 hours). This method of disinfecting water is known as the SODIS (Solar Water Disinfection) method. You can even put something black or reflective behind your bottle to speed up the process!
So Why Do So Many Advocate Boiling Your Water?
The answer is simple: When those bubbles start to roll in your container of water, that is nothing more than a clear VISUAL INDICATOR that your water has become hot enough (actually MORE than enough) to have killed all of those little nasties. It works. It’s effective. But is it ideal? Or can we do better?
So if the bubbles from boiling water gives us that terrific visual indicator to let us know that our water has reached 212° F... but now we know that boiling our water to make it safe to drink is actually a waste of precious fuel resources (fuel, wood, candles, etc.)… how can we then determine if our water has gotten hot enough to have been properly pasteurized without those rolling bubbles? We could certainly use a thermometer... but most of these are glass and very fragile. Too fragile to keep from breaking inside your kit. We need something small, light, compact, durable and can be used over and over again to let us know that our water has reached that effective pasteurization temperature. SOLUTION: A tiny inexpensive device known as a Water Pasteurization Indicator (WAPI)!
WAPI’s are incredibly simple little devices. They are nothing more than a tiny sealed clear tube with a special brightly colored (easy to see) green wax inside of them. This wax (known as Myverol 18-06) is formulated to melt at just the right temperature for pasteurization (156° F or 69° C.). In most WAPI designs the tube typically slides up and down a thin cable with a tiny weight on each end allowing you to flip the tube so that the wax inside can be easily positioned at the top of the tube again.
To use your WAPI simply slide the little tube down to the bottom of the wire so that the wax-heavy end of the tube is oriented toward the top of the tube. Place your WAPI tube into your container of water draping the weight at the opposite end of your WAPI tube over the lip of your container so that it is easy to grab. Once your water has reached pasteurization temperature of 156°, the wax in your WAPI tube will start to melt allowing it to fall from the top of your clear tube to the bottom of your tube with a little help from gravity. This is your visual indicator that your water has been pasteurized!
While WAPI’s are extremely inexpensive to purchase (typically $5 to $8), it is possible to make your own WAPI! We have even seen versions made from drinking straws and glue sticks for hot glue guns. While you can make your own WAPI, they are so inexpensive that we recommend purchasing one. “Quality control” can be an issue with DIY WAPI’s causing inconsistent results… even when purchasing DIY kits made with genuine parts. Sometimes it’s just best to leave work like this to the experts… especially when a piece of kit like this is so inexpensive to begin with.
TRAVEL TIP!:
When traveling to countries that are known to have a questionable water supply (due to harmful pathogens remaining in the water supply), one little known trick when you cannot access bottled water is to pour yourself a glass of HOT water from the tap instead of cold. Water from the hot water heater has actually been pasteurized! Water from hot water heaters is typically between 120° F and 140° which is slightly below ideal pasteurization temperatures… but remember that heat + time = pasteurization! 99.999% of water borne pathogens are killed instantly when water is brought to 149° F. The same result can be accomplished with lower temperatures if you simply allow the water to remain at that temperature for a longer period of time. For example, water can be pasteurized at 130° F if simply held at that temperature for 2 hours.
WARNING:
As with anything else, use common sense when treating water. Your health and potentially your life are on the line. When in doubt, heat your water a little hotter or for a little longer. It can’t hurt unless fuel is at an absolute premium.
Just like with boiling, pasteurizing is not a panacea for making any water drinkable. For example, pasteurizing sea water will not make it drinkable as pasteurization does not remove the salts from sea water. Just like boiling, pasteurization only kills microorganisms that can make you sick. It does not remove chemicals, metals, pollutants or other toxins that could harm you from your water for you.
One example in particular that comes to mind where both boiling and pasteurizing water can make matters worse for you instead of better is in the case of the recent algae blooms in the Toledo area. Water of this type contains the toxin known as microcystis aeruginosa. Microcystis aeruginose is a species of freshwater cyanobacteria which can form harmful algae blooms (HABs) in fresh bodies of water. Boiling or pasteurizing water of this type actually INCREASES the presence of the toxins and makes your water more toxic to drink!
So when it comes to treating water to make it drinkable, be smart. Be careful. Play it safe. Use your head!
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
So how long do you really have to boil water before it's safe to drink?
5 minutes?
10 minutes?
20 minutes?
30 minutes?
The correct answer: If you actually saw through our trick question and guessed 0 minutes, you would be correct!!
Now you might be thinking “Wait a minute... how is that possible?? That’s not what I learned on Survivorman or Man vs. Wild!” Well, as you are about to learn... it’s absolutely, positively & definitively 100% possible… with just a little knowledge!
There’s a lot of conflicting information out there regarding how to “purify” water to make it safe to drink, and it can get pretty confusing. There are chemical treatments, filters and of course the “old faithful” boiling of your water to make it safe to drink. Most of these treatments are completely viable for making water drinkable as long as you know the limitations of each method.
For this article we are going to stay away from the chemical and filtration methods of water purification and focus primarily on using heat to treat water and make it drinkable. Heat is an effective method for treating water because it eliminates (kills) the microscopic organisms that are living in that water that can make you very sick.
So how much heat? And for how long?
Great questions! Depending on your source, “conventional wisdom” has told us for decades that bringing water to a rolling boil at the very minimum and holding it there for a period of time is what is required to kill these microscopic pathogens.
For example, let’s take a look at what the Boy Scouts of America say about treating water:
“The surest means of making your drinking water safe is to heat it to a rolling boil—when bubbles a half inch in diameter rise from the bottom of the pot. While this is a simple method, it does require time and fuel.”
Now let’s take a look at what the United States Marine Corp. recommends for treating water:
“Purify all water obtained from natural sources by using iodine tablets, bleach, or boiling for 5 minutes.”
So are the Boy Scouts of America and the Marines wrong? No. Bringing your water to a full boil will absolutely kill all common pathogens that we have all learned to take so seriously because can make us sick with illnesses like Giardia, Cryptosporidium, E. coli and the rest. The problem with bringing your water to a boil, as you are about to learn, is that doing so is actually complete overkill when it comes to treating water for harmful microbes! Boiling your water, while completely safe and will absolutely kill those nasty pathogens, is actually a waste of precious fuel/firewood resources in a survival situation!
OK, so how much fuel are you wasting exactly?
Did you know that heating your water from 200° F to 212° F… just that last extra 12° to get your water to its boiling point… actually uses TWICE as much fuel as it does just to get your water to that initial 200°?? Well... it does. TWICE as much fuel! That is nothing to scoff at!
So now that we know what the Boy Scouts of America and the Marines say about purifying water (and we love both of these organizations!), let’s see what science tells us about using heat to purify water.
Important Temperatures to Factor In to this Equation:
212° F = Temperature at which water boils
160° F = Temperature at which milk is generally pasteurized
149° F = Temperature at which Hepatitis A is quickly killed
140° F = Temperature at which bacteria (V. cholerae, E. coli and Salmonella typhi) and Rotavirus are quickly killed
131° F = Temperature at which worms & protazoa cysts (Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba) are quickly killed
As you can see from the temperatures listed above, the pathogens that we are primarily concerned about when it comes to safe drinking water are ALL killed (quickly) at temperatures much lower than 212°, the temperature at which water boils. That being the case... why would you unnecessarily waste any more fuel than you need to heating up your water those additional 63°?
Now let’s take another look at that milk pasteurization temperature above: 160° F.
Pasteurization is a process invented by French scientist Louis Pasteur during the early nineteenth century. Pasteur discovered that the pasteurization process made it possible to heat the milk to high enough temperature to kill all harmful microorganisms without “cooking” the milk causing it to curdle.
Now of course you never have to worry about your water curdling, but an important lesson can be gleaned from this milk pasteurization process that can be extremely beneficial: Water, like milk, does not have to be boiled to be safe to drink!
Temperature + Time = Pasteurization
Pasteurization is a process that occurs based on two variables: temperature and time. You see... you can actually pasteurize water at lower temps if you do it for a longer duration. This is extremely helpful in situations where A) you aren’t able to effect fire for heating your water, or B) you can make fire but you do not have a suitable container for boiling that can withstand the intense heat of your fire. Lower temperature/longer duration pasteurization can actually be done with discarded plastic 2 liter bottles set in the sunlight for longer periods of time (typically 6 hours). This method of disinfecting water is known as the SODIS (Solar Water Disinfection) method. You can even put something black or reflective behind your bottle to speed up the process!
So Why Do So Many Advocate Boiling Your Water?
The answer is simple: When those bubbles start to roll in your container of water, that is nothing more than a clear VISUAL INDICATOR that your water has become hot enough (actually MORE than enough) to have killed all of those little nasties. It works. It’s effective. But is it ideal? Or can we do better?
So if the bubbles from boiling water gives us that terrific visual indicator to let us know that our water has reached 212° F... but now we know that boiling our water to make it safe to drink is actually a waste of precious fuel resources (fuel, wood, candles, etc.)… how can we then determine if our water has gotten hot enough to have been properly pasteurized without those rolling bubbles? We could certainly use a thermometer... but most of these are glass and very fragile. Too fragile to keep from breaking inside your kit. We need something small, light, compact, durable and can be used over and over again to let us know that our water has reached that effective pasteurization temperature. SOLUTION: A tiny inexpensive device known as a Water Pasteurization Indicator (WAPI)!
WAPI’s are incredibly simple little devices. They are nothing more than a tiny sealed clear tube with a special brightly colored (easy to see) green wax inside of them. This wax (known as Myverol 18-06) is formulated to melt at just the right temperature for pasteurization (156° F or 69° C.). In most WAPI designs the tube typically slides up and down a thin cable with a tiny weight on each end allowing you to flip the tube so that the wax inside can be easily positioned at the top of the tube again.
To use your WAPI simply slide the little tube down to the bottom of the wire so that the wax-heavy end of the tube is oriented toward the top of the tube. Place your WAPI tube into your container of water draping the weight at the opposite end of your WAPI tube over the lip of your container so that it is easy to grab. Once your water has reached pasteurization temperature of 156°, the wax in your WAPI tube will start to melt allowing it to fall from the top of your clear tube to the bottom of your tube with a little help from gravity. This is your visual indicator that your water has been pasteurized!
While WAPI’s are extremely inexpensive to purchase (typically $5 to $8), it is possible to make your own WAPI! We have even seen versions made from drinking straws and glue sticks for hot glue guns. While you can make your own WAPI, they are so inexpensive that we recommend purchasing one. “Quality control” can be an issue with DIY WAPI’s causing inconsistent results… even when purchasing DIY kits made with genuine parts. Sometimes it’s just best to leave work like this to the experts… especially when a piece of kit like this is so inexpensive to begin with.
TRAVEL TIP!:
When traveling to countries that are known to have a questionable water supply (due to harmful pathogens remaining in the water supply), one little known trick when you cannot access bottled water is to pour yourself a glass of HOT water from the tap instead of cold. Water from the hot water heater has actually been pasteurized! Water from hot water heaters is typically between 120° F and 140° which is slightly below ideal pasteurization temperatures… but remember that heat + time = pasteurization! 99.999% of water borne pathogens are killed instantly when water is brought to 149° F. The same result can be accomplished with lower temperatures if you simply allow the water to remain at that temperature for a longer period of time. For example, water can be pasteurized at 130° F if simply held at that temperature for 2 hours.
WARNING:
As with anything else, use common sense when treating water. Your health and potentially your life are on the line. When in doubt, heat your water a little hotter or for a little longer. It can’t hurt unless fuel is at an absolute premium.
Just like with boiling, pasteurizing is not a panacea for making any water drinkable. For example, pasteurizing sea water will not make it drinkable as pasteurization does not remove the salts from sea water. Just like boiling, pasteurization only kills microorganisms that can make you sick. It does not remove chemicals, metals, pollutants or other toxins that could harm you from your water for you.
One example in particular that comes to mind where both boiling and pasteurizing water can make matters worse for you instead of better is in the case of the recent algae blooms in the Toledo area. Water of this type contains the toxin known as microcystis aeruginosa. Microcystis aeruginose is a species of freshwater cyanobacteria which can form harmful algae blooms (HABs) in fresh bodies of water. Boiling or pasteurizing water of this type actually INCREASES the presence of the toxins and makes your water more toxic to drink!
So when it comes to treating water to make it drinkable, be smart. Be careful. Play it safe. Use your head!
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Overwatch: Drill Of The Month for September
How to Have a Bug Out Drill
Training in the military can actually be fun. I can remember having a lot of fun on exercises.
Its important that when a disaster scenario happens, you and your family are ready to react.
Here are your goals:
• Get to safety as quick as possible
• Make sure you have everything you need to sustain life. (My acronym is ASWiFFS or air, shelter, water, food, fire, and security.)
Your family is probably going to think you’re a little weird for asking them to have a bug out drill (unless they have come to expect this sort of thing, like mine) but someday, it might just save their lives. That said, here are a couple bug out drills to practice with just you or the entire family.
Bug Out Drill #1: Evacuation
This scenario is not as likely as other bug out scenarios, but here’s one to practice your speed and coordination in a stressful situation.
Imagine you get a knock on your door. It’s the fire department, EMTs, police, or whoever. They give you 10 minutes to pack what you need and evacuate.
Time yourself. Anything you can carry after 10:00 minutes will be taken, all else left. Take your family out to eat and discuss the items they brought. Get your family thinking about the essentials of your bug out.
Bug Out Drill #2: Bug Out Weekend
Bugging out can be fun – plan with your wife to bug out, but if you have kids, don’t mention it to them until 5 or 10 minutes before you leave. Give your children 5 minutes notice that you’ll be spending the weekend camping, hiking, or whatever your budget can afford. That will really give you an idea of how well your bug out bag is prepared.
Bug Out Drill #3: Bug-out/Bug-in Weekend
Plan a bug in weekend. A weekend where you shut off the power and water to your house and spend the entire weekend with the power out and the water off. This will also give you a good idea of how you would cope in a grid-down scenario.
Before you have a bug out/in weekend, make sure you have a security plan, a plan for food and water, and a simple schedule of activities to keep your family having fun.
If you are not bugging out alone, then everyone in your family/party will need to have an idea of what they need to bring. A bug out bag packed with all of your survival gear prepared for each person is a must for any person preparing.
Bug in Weekends Can be Fun and Affordable!
Keep your bug out bag in an accessible location that is personalized for each individual. This is important because men and woman may have different needs as would a child or adult.
These items should be placed somewhere convenient and someplace easily accessible. Everyone in the family should know where to find these items and what it is they are responsible for. The goal is to have this accomplished in under 10 minutes. Essentially a grab and go.
Practice the Bug Out Drill
The military trains by repetition and so should you. Practice this drill every so often and time yourself to see how quickly you can respond to a scenario where you need to move you and your loved ones fast. You will also be able to determine the most ideal locations for your backpacks as well as the space you have in your vehicle.
See “Overwatch: Drill of the Month” page for more drills
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Training in the military can actually be fun. I can remember having a lot of fun on exercises.
Its important that when a disaster scenario happens, you and your family are ready to react.
Here are your goals:
• Get to safety as quick as possible
• Make sure you have everything you need to sustain life. (My acronym is ASWiFFS or air, shelter, water, food, fire, and security.)
Your family is probably going to think you’re a little weird for asking them to have a bug out drill (unless they have come to expect this sort of thing, like mine) but someday, it might just save their lives. That said, here are a couple bug out drills to practice with just you or the entire family.
Bug Out Drill #1: Evacuation
This scenario is not as likely as other bug out scenarios, but here’s one to practice your speed and coordination in a stressful situation.
Imagine you get a knock on your door. It’s the fire department, EMTs, police, or whoever. They give you 10 minutes to pack what you need and evacuate.
Time yourself. Anything you can carry after 10:00 minutes will be taken, all else left. Take your family out to eat and discuss the items they brought. Get your family thinking about the essentials of your bug out.
Bug Out Drill #2: Bug Out Weekend
Bugging out can be fun – plan with your wife to bug out, but if you have kids, don’t mention it to them until 5 or 10 minutes before you leave. Give your children 5 minutes notice that you’ll be spending the weekend camping, hiking, or whatever your budget can afford. That will really give you an idea of how well your bug out bag is prepared.
Bug Out Drill #3: Bug-out/Bug-in Weekend
Plan a bug in weekend. A weekend where you shut off the power and water to your house and spend the entire weekend with the power out and the water off. This will also give you a good idea of how you would cope in a grid-down scenario.
Before you have a bug out/in weekend, make sure you have a security plan, a plan for food and water, and a simple schedule of activities to keep your family having fun.
If you are not bugging out alone, then everyone in your family/party will need to have an idea of what they need to bring. A bug out bag packed with all of your survival gear prepared for each person is a must for any person preparing.
Bug in Weekends Can be Fun and Affordable!
Keep your bug out bag in an accessible location that is personalized for each individual. This is important because men and woman may have different needs as would a child or adult.
These items should be placed somewhere convenient and someplace easily accessible. Everyone in the family should know where to find these items and what it is they are responsible for. The goal is to have this accomplished in under 10 minutes. Essentially a grab and go.
Practice the Bug Out Drill
The military trains by repetition and so should you. Practice this drill every so often and time yourself to see how quickly you can respond to a scenario where you need to move you and your loved ones fast. You will also be able to determine the most ideal locations for your backpacks as well as the space you have in your vehicle.
See “Overwatch: Drill of the Month” page for more drills
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Monthly Read: Book Review For September
Monthly Read
Once a month I will review and recommend a book. I know in this digital world that paper books are a little out dated. Most hard copy books are now in digital form, often in PDF. I would recommend a good well rounded hard copy library in your home. Some of the best books are old and out of print. There are certain publishers and authors I really like. This will be books I like and really only my opinion. If you’d like to recommend a book for me to review e-mail me and we can make it happen. The subjects will be varied but will have to do with the theme of this website, LDS Gunsite. Guns, preparedness, LDS History, security, self-defense, and patriotism are just a few examples. I have a big library of mostly reference books so I will draw heavily from that. Some books may be old and out of print. But most will be books you can find on Amazon.
Septembers Monthly Read is: The Gift Of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence by Gavin de Becker
Publishers review
In this empowering book, Gavin de Becker, a leading expert on violent behavior, shows you how to spot even subtle signs of danger before it's too late. Shattering the myth that most violent acts are unpredictable, de Becker, whose clients include top Hollywood stars and government agencies, offers specific ways to protect yourself and those you love, including: how to act when approached by a stranger; when you should fear someone close to you; what to do if you are being stalked; how to uncover the source of anonymous threats or phone calls; the biggest mistake you can make with a threatening person; and more. Learn to spot the danger signals others miss. It might just save your life.
My review
I’ll be honest, I never actually read this book. I got it as an audio book. I love the information and the science behind his research and writing. The central message of this book is that in just about every case of seemingly 'random' extreme violence, whether it be attack from a co-worker or a spouse, the violence could have been predicted hours, days, months and even years in advance. De Becker says violence is predictable, when we learn to trust the fear instinct and read the signals of incipient aggression. Fear is not the same as anxiety or neurosis. It is an instinct of the mind, not a distortion, and de Becker claims you can develop your instinct for fear. I quite agree.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Once a month I will review and recommend a book. I know in this digital world that paper books are a little out dated. Most hard copy books are now in digital form, often in PDF. I would recommend a good well rounded hard copy library in your home. Some of the best books are old and out of print. There are certain publishers and authors I really like. This will be books I like and really only my opinion. If you’d like to recommend a book for me to review e-mail me and we can make it happen. The subjects will be varied but will have to do with the theme of this website, LDS Gunsite. Guns, preparedness, LDS History, security, self-defense, and patriotism are just a few examples. I have a big library of mostly reference books so I will draw heavily from that. Some books may be old and out of print. But most will be books you can find on Amazon.
Septembers Monthly Read is: The Gift Of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence by Gavin de Becker
Publishers review
In this empowering book, Gavin de Becker, a leading expert on violent behavior, shows you how to spot even subtle signs of danger before it's too late. Shattering the myth that most violent acts are unpredictable, de Becker, whose clients include top Hollywood stars and government agencies, offers specific ways to protect yourself and those you love, including: how to act when approached by a stranger; when you should fear someone close to you; what to do if you are being stalked; how to uncover the source of anonymous threats or phone calls; the biggest mistake you can make with a threatening person; and more. Learn to spot the danger signals others miss. It might just save your life.
My review
I’ll be honest, I never actually read this book. I got it as an audio book. I love the information and the science behind his research and writing. The central message of this book is that in just about every case of seemingly 'random' extreme violence, whether it be attack from a co-worker or a spouse, the violence could have been predicted hours, days, months and even years in advance. De Becker says violence is predictable, when we learn to trust the fear instinct and read the signals of incipient aggression. Fear is not the same as anxiety or neurosis. It is an instinct of the mind, not a distortion, and de Becker claims you can develop your instinct for fear. I quite agree.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
LDS Missionary Fights Back After Attack In Brazil
I came across this video of two missionaries in Brazil street contacting.
Here's part of the article:
"They are frisked by the man with the gun as two other men hand over their possessions to the bike-rider.
But the armed robber was in for a shock, as the burlier of the Mormons grabs him and twists the gun out his grasp.
The bike-rider steps in but finds his friend's gun pointed in his face.
The Mormon then tosses the gun over a high fence and goes to town on the biker, knocking him across the street with a flurry of left and right jabs.
The gunman flees as a cop arrives, but the missionary is lost in a fist-fighting frenzy.
Even when the officer intervenes he continues landing blows on the criminal.
The robber eventually breaks free and flees, leaving the missionary standing, arms at his side, looking like he could go another few rounds.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed to The Salt-Lake Tribune that the two shirt-wearing men in the video were attached to the Manaus mission.
It said that they were in good health, but declined to release their identities."
I'm sure the Church is not that happy about this video because it doesn't depict the Church in the best light. But it does show that not everyone is a helpless victim. I had a gun pulled on me at a door once on my mission and it was no fun. I didn't, however, have someone try to rob me. Had that happened I fear I would have been like this missionary.
I'm proud of the guy! Defending yourself id something that is bred into Americans and he acted appropriately in my opinion.
Good job Elder! No one should cower to a threat when you can defend yourself. His situation awareness and quick thinking might have saved someone's life.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Monday, September 11, 2017
Remembering 9-11
Today marks the 16th anniversary of an unprecedented attack on our country. I’m not sure how this made any difference to the radical Islamic who seem to hate us just because we exist. I’m also not sure how much rationalizing you need to do convince yourself that killing people just because they are there, will further your cause, but I guess it was done.
I was pretty young when President Kennedy was assassinated but I do remember it. My sister dumped her plate of waffles or pancakes on the floor. It’s funny the details you remember. I’m sure most of you can remember where you were on 9-11. I was working on an Air Force base with an active runway. There were many aircraft in the air doing their training. I’ve never been in in Force Protection Delta in a “real world” situation. Many times I’ve been in it during an exercise, but never in real world. I’ve never seen Air Force aircraft land and recover so fast! During FP Delta no one is supposed to be outside unless performing duties. I was outside briefly and there was an eerie silence over the base. Anyway, that’s my little memory. If you’re interested, share your memory in the comments.
One of my children was a toddler when 9-11 happened and it’s hard to describe to him the way this country, and the world, was before 9-11. In a way, the terrorists have won because they made us change the way we look at security. Obviously it was needed. There were clear problems that hopefully we have solved. The real problem is that you can never be perfectly safe. Especially from an ideology that is hell-bent on killing. That is somewhat the reason for this website. Taking on protection, security, and safety of yourself, your family and friends. You are responsible for your own security. I love law enforcement. I love the military. These men and women are professional and brave. They are the best of the best. I feel they are better trained, disciplined, and determined to care for the safety and security of us as citizens than any other country. They should be commended and lauded as heroes. We, the people, should be forever in their debt! The problem is, they cannot be everywhere. I would love to have my own personal police officer to care for me and look out for me. I would feel safe. But that is impossible. There are approximately 2.3 million law enforcement officers in this country. Many of them are prison guards and so they are not out on the street with us. The military has over 2,250,000 members. Many of them are support troops to keep it all going. But with over 325 million people in this country those 4 to 5 million can hardly keep up with their work load. We do need more and we need to care for them better, pay them better, and acknowledge them better. But to be honest, there will never be enough to keep us safe. If we can take up the slack we can make their job easier and maybe a little safer.
Learn to use a gun. It’s not for everyone, but everyone should know how to be safe with a gun. I’m not saying you should be Jerry Miculek, but each of us should know or way, generally, around a gun. Guns shouldn’t be a scary thing or something to fear holding. There are only four basic rules to learn to be safe. But these must be repeated over and over, and practiced. If you’re not a gun person, find someone who is. Even if you have to go to an instructor. If you own a gun, or there is a gun in your home, every person, even kids, should be safety trained.
Consider your own safety and security. If you won’t, who will?
Remember those who perished on this day 16 years ago. All were innocent, some were just doing their job.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
I was pretty young when President Kennedy was assassinated but I do remember it. My sister dumped her plate of waffles or pancakes on the floor. It’s funny the details you remember. I’m sure most of you can remember where you were on 9-11. I was working on an Air Force base with an active runway. There were many aircraft in the air doing their training. I’ve never been in in Force Protection Delta in a “real world” situation. Many times I’ve been in it during an exercise, but never in real world. I’ve never seen Air Force aircraft land and recover so fast! During FP Delta no one is supposed to be outside unless performing duties. I was outside briefly and there was an eerie silence over the base. Anyway, that’s my little memory. If you’re interested, share your memory in the comments.
One of my children was a toddler when 9-11 happened and it’s hard to describe to him the way this country, and the world, was before 9-11. In a way, the terrorists have won because they made us change the way we look at security. Obviously it was needed. There were clear problems that hopefully we have solved. The real problem is that you can never be perfectly safe. Especially from an ideology that is hell-bent on killing. That is somewhat the reason for this website. Taking on protection, security, and safety of yourself, your family and friends. You are responsible for your own security. I love law enforcement. I love the military. These men and women are professional and brave. They are the best of the best. I feel they are better trained, disciplined, and determined to care for the safety and security of us as citizens than any other country. They should be commended and lauded as heroes. We, the people, should be forever in their debt! The problem is, they cannot be everywhere. I would love to have my own personal police officer to care for me and look out for me. I would feel safe. But that is impossible. There are approximately 2.3 million law enforcement officers in this country. Many of them are prison guards and so they are not out on the street with us. The military has over 2,250,000 members. Many of them are support troops to keep it all going. But with over 325 million people in this country those 4 to 5 million can hardly keep up with their work load. We do need more and we need to care for them better, pay them better, and acknowledge them better. But to be honest, there will never be enough to keep us safe. If we can take up the slack we can make their job easier and maybe a little safer.
Learn to use a gun. It’s not for everyone, but everyone should know how to be safe with a gun. I’m not saying you should be Jerry Miculek, but each of us should know or way, generally, around a gun. Guns shouldn’t be a scary thing or something to fear holding. There are only four basic rules to learn to be safe. But these must be repeated over and over, and practiced. If you’re not a gun person, find someone who is. Even if you have to go to an instructor. If you own a gun, or there is a gun in your home, every person, even kids, should be safety trained.
Consider your own safety and security. If you won’t, who will?
Remember those who perished on this day 16 years ago. All were innocent, some were just doing their job.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Monday, September 4, 2017
Emergency Preparedness Security
In the wake of hurricane Harvey and its devastation I am thinking about emergency preparedness.
We all know that emergency preparedness means stockpiling long term food storage, water, and other survival supplies, but your planning should also include having a self defense strategy. This may be an uncomfortable topic for some, but that discomfort could prove dangerous for you without preparation.
Tension quickly escalates in the aftermath of a disaster. There is often confusion and disorder that follows, leading to looting and other criminal activities. The point is not to become paralyzed by fear, but to be aware of your surroundings and how you would react if confronted by an aggressor. Multiple choices for self defense exist, and you should pursue several. You should have training on all of these by a competent instructor.
Self Defense Options
Self defense classes: You may not always have access to a weapon, so learning how to protect yourself with just your body is the best place to start. Search the internet for classes in your area. Check with your local community college or university, as they often hold self defense classes, or the police department will be able to point you toward classes. Practice the techniques once the class has ended to stay ready.
Pepper Spray/Mace: You may need to protect yourself from other people, dogs, or wild animals. The spray comes in a variety of sizes, from small containers that attach to your key chain to large canisters that spray bigger volume at greater distances. Practice using the spray so that you are able to trigger and aim it if needed.
Baton: Compact and light, batons can be carried in a purse or in a pocket. Some are expandable with the flick of a wrist, and some contain an electrical charge to stun the attacker. Batons require some technique that should be taught by an expert.
Knife: Also compact and light, and you already know how to use it.
Taser/stun gun: Devices that stop the aggressor with an electrical charge, these are potentially lethal and require training and practice. Check local laws that regulate these weapons. Be sure to stock extra batteries, and in the case of a taser, carry extra cartridges.
Firearm: With the ability to inflict substantial bodily harm, not everyone is willing to carry a firearm. Concealed weapons permits are required, along with training and practice. Schools exist to teach tactical firearms use for protection. Gun safety courses are strongly recommended. Do not advertise the fact that you are carrying a firearm, and remember to stock extra ammunition.
Steps You Can Take
You never know when you may have to protect yourself, so keep some method of self defense in your car, your home, and in your emergency preparedness kit. Try to place them so that they are always within reach.
There are some simple ways you can alert others and call for help if you are attacked. Carry a whistle or an alarm on your key chain so it is always close at hand. Some alarms even have an LED light to help draw attention or use as a flashlight. Of course hitting, kicking and screaming are always effective deterrents as well.
Secure your home. Check the reliability of locks at each entry point. Make sure that you have both dead bolts and handle locks on each door, and that the doors themselves are either sturdy metal or solid wood. Place inexpensive intruder alarms on doors and windows that alert you if motion is detected. Keep a self defense device close at hand in case your home is breached.
Kid proof your self defense devices. Be sure that your children are educated on the safe handling, or not handling, of each device. Curiosity often leads to accidents, so explain the dangers, and then secure the items. It is important that their safety education is part of your emergency preparedness.
Conclusion
There are laws surrounding what you can or cannot do to protect yourself. Learn the restrictions in your city and state and operate within the law. There may be legal ramifications to the methods you choose to employ. Practice your chosen techniques so that you are always ready to protect yourself and your family. Being educated and prepared will give you the confidence to handle aggressive situations effectively.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
We all know that emergency preparedness means stockpiling long term food storage, water, and other survival supplies, but your planning should also include having a self defense strategy. This may be an uncomfortable topic for some, but that discomfort could prove dangerous for you without preparation.
Tension quickly escalates in the aftermath of a disaster. There is often confusion and disorder that follows, leading to looting and other criminal activities. The point is not to become paralyzed by fear, but to be aware of your surroundings and how you would react if confronted by an aggressor. Multiple choices for self defense exist, and you should pursue several. You should have training on all of these by a competent instructor.
Self Defense Options
Self defense classes: You may not always have access to a weapon, so learning how to protect yourself with just your body is the best place to start. Search the internet for classes in your area. Check with your local community college or university, as they often hold self defense classes, or the police department will be able to point you toward classes. Practice the techniques once the class has ended to stay ready.
Pepper Spray/Mace: You may need to protect yourself from other people, dogs, or wild animals. The spray comes in a variety of sizes, from small containers that attach to your key chain to large canisters that spray bigger volume at greater distances. Practice using the spray so that you are able to trigger and aim it if needed.
Baton: Compact and light, batons can be carried in a purse or in a pocket. Some are expandable with the flick of a wrist, and some contain an electrical charge to stun the attacker. Batons require some technique that should be taught by an expert.
Knife: Also compact and light, and you already know how to use it.
Taser/stun gun: Devices that stop the aggressor with an electrical charge, these are potentially lethal and require training and practice. Check local laws that regulate these weapons. Be sure to stock extra batteries, and in the case of a taser, carry extra cartridges.
Firearm: With the ability to inflict substantial bodily harm, not everyone is willing to carry a firearm. Concealed weapons permits are required, along with training and practice. Schools exist to teach tactical firearms use for protection. Gun safety courses are strongly recommended. Do not advertise the fact that you are carrying a firearm, and remember to stock extra ammunition.
Steps You Can Take
You never know when you may have to protect yourself, so keep some method of self defense in your car, your home, and in your emergency preparedness kit. Try to place them so that they are always within reach.
There are some simple ways you can alert others and call for help if you are attacked. Carry a whistle or an alarm on your key chain so it is always close at hand. Some alarms even have an LED light to help draw attention or use as a flashlight. Of course hitting, kicking and screaming are always effective deterrents as well.
Secure your home. Check the reliability of locks at each entry point. Make sure that you have both dead bolts and handle locks on each door, and that the doors themselves are either sturdy metal or solid wood. Place inexpensive intruder alarms on doors and windows that alert you if motion is detected. Keep a self defense device close at hand in case your home is breached.
Kid proof your self defense devices. Be sure that your children are educated on the safe handling, or not handling, of each device. Curiosity often leads to accidents, so explain the dangers, and then secure the items. It is important that their safety education is part of your emergency preparedness.
Conclusion
There are laws surrounding what you can or cannot do to protect yourself. Learn the restrictions in your city and state and operate within the law. There may be legal ramifications to the methods you choose to employ. Practice your chosen techniques so that you are always ready to protect yourself and your family. Being educated and prepared will give you the confidence to handle aggressive situations effectively.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Friday, September 1, 2017
Strike First to Survive
“He who strikes first usually wins” – Ernest Emerson
Stop before it starts.
If you never walk down a path, you’ll never get to the paths end. If you never smoke a cigarette, you’ll never get addicted to cigarettes.
Decide now what you will do in the future. Now I know this sounds simplistic but you can decide some things. You can decide you will never be a victim.
There are several components or evolutions of pre-emptive self-defense. Some of which are so obvious they could be called just plain common sense. Others are much more subtle and require an ability to read a situation and people. Then adjust or modify your role in the interaction and/or manipulate the behavior of attackers or bad guys to your advantage.
The military teaches Detect-Deny-Destroy as a way of defending against terrorism.
These three words precisely sum up the essential objectives of what the concept of pre-emptive self-defense is all about. They are as effective for personal self-protection as they are when used in protecting our country.
There are several steps you can take to make them work just as effectively for you.
I’ve talked a lot about mental preparedness as defined by Colonel Jeff Cooper, perhaps the greatest influence on modern gun fighting and the teaching of shooting skills of the 20th century. Many people attribute this color code to Jeff but he actually never claimed to invent it. He just used it so much it took on his name.
The color code; White, Yellow, Orange and Red are used to describe the escalating states of self-preparedness.
In the Colonel’s own words:
1. White – You are unprepared and unready to take lethal action. If you are attacked in white you will probably die unless your adversary is totally inept.
2. Yellow – You bring yourself to the understanding that your life may be in danger and you may have to do something about it.
3. Orange – You have determined upon a specific adversary and are prepared to take action, which may result in his death, but you are not in a lethal mode.
4. Red – You are in a lethal mode and will shoot if circumstances warrant it.
By identifying these different conditions as differing states of readiness and becoming consciously aware of them you can assess what condition you are in at any given moment and decide if it is appropriate for any situation you may find yourself in. It also gives you the ability to make a conscious decision to step to the next rung of readiness if the situation warrants it so.
So, let’s start with the most obvious ways to protect yourself from an attack and hopefully, pre-empt an attack before it happens.
Common Sense Rules Your Safety
Don’t go to an ATM at 2:00 in the morning. Don’t flash cash in a bar, or anywhere else for that matter. Lock the doors of your house. Don’t wear expensive jewelry while you’re on vacation. Don’t stop for a couple of beers in a biker bar. If a stranger asks you what time it is, tell him to get a watch. And don’t ever, ever, wear your ipod and earphones while you’re out in public. I could go on for pages with these seemingly foolish examples, but I think you get the point.
Unfortunately people do all of the above and more. As it is always said, maybe common sense isn’t all that common.
The point is this; if you want to stay safe you can start by not doing stupid things.
Now, I know that sounds simplistic, but you’d be surprised at how many times people blindly walk straight into dangerous situations without even realizing it. People that do these things are definitely in condition White, the most dangerous and vulnerable of all states of situational awareness.
I’ve seen it in civilian life, and it even happens in combat. In Viet Nam they would call it “Diddy Boppin”. You must pay attention.
Detect
If you wander about in condition White how are you ever going to detect a threat to your safety?
If you are awake then you better well be in condition Yellow.
How do you detect a threat? Well first you have to assume that the predatory attack, just as in nature, predicates its success on the element of surprise. An ambush is always better than a heads up, “in plain sight” confrontation. Just ask any alligator or tiger. So, the first method of Detection is simply this; Don’t go places where the conditions are perfect for an ambush. And if you do go there, get your radar up and running. Check your surroundings check your avenues of escape, be aware of obvious ambush points and of course, check six.
In crowds in the general population, who are the only two people that will look you in the eye? The answer is, Cops and Bad Guys. Everyone else just goes about his or her business (in condition White). Let’s go into a little more detail about this phenomenon. Sociopaths, sociopathic criminals, and predatory criminals in particular, are all masters at picking out their potential victims. They are so good at it in fact that they are rarely, if ever, wrong in “messing with the wrong guy.”
Most criminals are so adept at a process called “scanning” that they can look over a crowd of people and ID and separate potential victims and non-victims in mere seconds. How is it that they are this good at it? Remember it’s what they do for a living and after a lifetime of practicing their craft they’re way better than you or I. What are they looking for? All of the obvious of course, the weak, the old, the infirm and the distracted. Most of all they are looking for the victim that they can “hit and split, with the least amount of danger to themselves, by choosing the easiest, softest, target. Remember the principle that, “a wounded predator becomes prey?” The principle is the same here, so the bad guy is looking for surprise and opportunity, the necessary components for the perfect ambush. He doesn’t want to have to fight it out, thereby creating the chance for injury or being caught.
So, what is your role in taking yourself out of this equation?
Here is one basic principle that is vitally important and perhaps the most important component of Pre-Emptive Self Defense.
If it doesn’t feel right, it’s not right.
You need to listen to your gut. Your gut feeling is your very first line of self-defense. In religious circles it’s called listening to the Spirit. It never lies. It is never wrong. One of its reasons for existence is to protect you. Unfortunately our brain gets in the way and convinces us to do something when our gut feeling is telling us not to. Listen to it and always heed its warning. It will never let you down. For more on this by a man considered the World’s foremost authority on this subject, Gavin DeBecker, I highly recommend his book “The Gift of Fear.”
If you see him before he sees you then you can simply avoid him and the opportunity. If a guy looks suspicious or “feels” suspicious it is for good reason. Remember your gut feeling? There is also something else I live by; "Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, three times is enemy action." Some say there are no coincidences. If I see someone more than once, then I’m being tailed, and if I do, I take action. Sound paranoid? Sometimes I may have been wrong, but I guess I’ll just never know. Anyway what action do I take? The first and simplest step is eye contact. No stare down, no hard look challenge, just a quick, I know you’re there pass. Definitely directly in the eyes but just long enough to say that I see you. I know you’re there. If you live in a small town seeing someone more than once, especially in high traffic areas like Wal-mart and malls, or maybe one of two or three restaurants in town, doesn’t usually mean a problem. Tailor this to your situation.
This same tactic works just as well in a crowd that’s being scanned. The, “I know you’re there”look, completely removes you as a target, at least to the majority of predatory criminals. Looking them in the eyes says loudly, I’m not an obvious victim, in fact I may even be a cop. Remember the two guys who look you in the eyes? Bad guys just don’t want to take that chance.
Is this true in every case? Of course not. When dealing with human beings there are no absolutes. But it is true enough of the time to validate its use as a first line deterrent. If you are out for a walk, look around, be observant be alert. Whether you’ve detected a threat or not, never present yourself as an obvious, unwitting, target.
If you enter into a building, restaurant, bar or store, look around. You be the scanner. See those who are inside and listen to your gut. Look for all possible entrances and exits. Never turn your back toward an entrance for more than a brief moment. And if you sit down for dinner, never ever sit with your back to the entrance or doorway into the room. Always try to place yourself in the “gunfighters chair”. Try to face entrances and be close to an exit.
There are three forms or stages that an attack may be in when detected. First is the potential attack. This is the one that we’ve covered a little already. Three thugs leaning on your car in the parking lot would fit this description pretty well.
Second would be called the imminent attack. One that hasn’t happened yet but is about it. This may be something like seeing the bad guy(s) getting into position or creating a distraction, such as the cliché but often used “Hey buddy, what time is it?” Or the more obvious, “I’m going to beat your butt!” In this second form, if you have detected this one, you have identified a threat and you better be taking active countermeasures.
This is the hardest to master and it takes a conscious effort of awareness, vigilance and discipline to be successful. But it is the safest and most successful way of ensuring your safe way out of a potentially dangerous situation. Just remember condition yellow.
The third way that an attack is detected is when it is already in progress. When it is actually happening to you. Unfortunately, if an attack is already in progress this would be “the attack you never saw coming” and it may be, the last attack you never saw coming. Don’t let it happen to you.
Deny
Have you ever heard of the Grey Man? It is one of the cornerstones of spook tradecraft and is a vital, invaluable tool, to anyone wanting to stay under the radar. It is easy to understand yet difficult to master and it can be the deciding factor between your safety and a very bad day. When I was in basic training I adopted this philosophy. I was called into the intructors office for a admin thing and he said “You keep a pretty low profile, don’t you? “Sir, Yes Sir!” Being invisible has its advantages.
What is the Grey man? Grey is a neutral color, it’s not black, it’s not white and it plays the role of filling in and becoming in essence, the background for all other colors. It is neither here nor there and goes completely unnoticed against all the bright colors and the sharp contrasts between light and dark. What does this mean in terms of you, the human element?
It means that often your best defense is to just simply become part of that grey background where you become completely unremarkable, unnoticed and unseen. It can start by being as simple as adjusting your choice of wardrobe colors. In fact grey really does work. It is not just an analogy. For example, if you are in a foreign country and don’t want to be “American,” don’t wear your “I Love New York” T-shirt. Look like a local, don’t talk loudly, laugh loudly, or do things that draw attention to yourself. Having a book, or better a local newspaper, (even if you can’t read it) is always good. Don’t pull out your map and look around trying to figure out where you are. Remember condition white? If you are in a foreign country some of your, “must learn” words should be, please, thank you, excuse me, good morning, good evening, hello and goodbye. Many times that is all you have to say, and nothing more, to pretend you’re just not in a talkative mood.
Learn to improvise. You have to think like you’re a human chameleon, mentally, physically and socially, if you want to “fade into the mist.”
The point is if you are not noticed you can’t be a target.
Destroy
Condition Red
Now, let’s take a look at possible actions. What does Pre-empt mean? My simple definition is this; the act of stopping something before it happens.
That definition denotes that there must be some action or interaction on your part.
Remember when I said that surprise was a necessary component of a predatory attack, the ambush? Well, nothing shakes up a bad guy more than a loud voice, shouting “Hey, what the crap do you think you’re doing?” I’ve seen them pick up and run with just this action alone. Not all the time mind you, but what happens is this. The first thing from the bad guys view, is that you are announcing to all, that the bad guy has been discovered. You’ve broken his train of thought, his attention to his action and thirdly, you’ve asked a question, a process so powerful that the human mind internally always pauses to answer. In a case like this others may look at you like “What is up with that guy?” But even if there were 100 people present, I guarantee to you that even if no one figures it out, the bad guy knows you’re talking directly to him. Funny how that works. It’s almost like the “hey, your fly is down.” scenario. It is awfully hard to avoid looking down (if you’re a man). It's the power of suggestion.
So, back to pre-empting the attack. Remember we’re at the moment of no return, no way to escape and without question, facing a “clear and present danger.”
I will tell you this, I’m pretty good at reading people and situations and if I know (gut feel) that something is about to go south, I’m firing first. Not necessarily a gun but maybe a punch, kick, rock, bottle, or club and maybe a bullet. The question is, now, how can you be sure? Well, I don’t know if you can ever be sure 100% of the time. That will be between you, them and the situation. There are a lot of components involved in the dynamics of every scenario involving human interaction and there are a lot of split second decisions to be made but I will tell you this; When you’re there, really there, you’ll know. And you’ll know what decision you have to make. I learned that a long time ago.
Let’s look at this in one context. You are in a hostage takeover situation. The bad guy has just told your co-worker to get down on her knees and then shoots her in the back of the head. You’re next. Sometimes it’s this easy. Most of the time it is not. Yet even in this black and white situation there are still people who will stand in line on their knees waiting for their turn.
In regard to a hostage takeover situation, when is the best time to escape? Answer; As soon as possible. In any hostage situation the most opportune time to escape is before the bad guys have taken full control of the situation. In the beginning moment’s confusion is still working on both sides of the equation and no one is in control. It’s not the only time you might have to escape but it’s when the odds are best in your favor. A successful hostage scenario, looked at from the bad guys point of view, is a series or sequence of stages beginning with the initial attacks, designed to initiate shock and awe in the victims, then adding threats or violent acts to instill fear, “anyone move and I’ll kill you,” Next they move to an assessment of who, what and how many hostages do we have, to a gathering or rounding up of the hostages, for better control. Once rounded up, there is a further assessment of exactly who the hostages are, (sometimes the most likely to pose a threat to the bad guys are killed on the spot). This progresses to a furtherance of more violence, threats, degradations, and further control, restraints, such as tying up, duct tape and gags, etc. all of which are designed to effect terror upon the hostages and to keep any attempts or even thoughts of resistance or escape from being an option. So you see in cases like this, especially if dealing with terrorists the best time to escape may be at the very beginning of this sequence. Remember Fight or Flight? Sometimes flight is the right choice.
Or, there’s the confrontation where the aggressor has just stated, “I’m going to beat your butt!” Now, mind you, I’m not necessarily thinking, “I’m going to kill this guy.” But I guarantee that I’m going to be the one to strike first and I’m not going to hesitate for even a split second until he is no longer a threat. Remember the subheading of this article is “He who strikes first usually wins.” That statement is oh so true. I’ve seen it, I’ve felt it. I’ve done it. You never want to let the bad guy get the first shot or punch off if you know ones coming. And that is a golden rule. Hesitation shootings are where police officers are killed. You don’t want that to happen to you. In a case where your life is on the line, it is definitely way better to give than receive. And remember to be generous.
Remember the 3 Ds: Detect. Deny. Destroy.
Also, using deadly force is serious business. Know the laws where you live. Avoiding any problem to begin with is the step you want to stop at.
But if it comes down to it, strike first to stop the threat and survive!
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
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