tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87393654752015765532024-03-12T12:49:24.428-04:00Tactical TalkIf your world is “one is none and two is one” but 12 might be too many, this is the right tactical blog for you.knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.comBlogger327125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-59224266865540866122024-03-12T12:45:00.002-04:002024-03-12T12:48:52.797-04:00Shoot Like the FBI<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I’d suggest you shoot the 2019
revised FBI qualifier.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">There are a
variety of good reasons.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The FBI
qualification represents a national and international standard of performance
that you can use to benchmark your skill set.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jBrBRP53Tf4aIetl4ysm6OYcz6JGJk1JmRXopHtEZFwyCYt7UtgbPvQLekNGnvXzwak6F5Q3qIF8F0rwYh-UUIR1NPQ0Wq972oHLl5wnCJBPjsKb3sYk7knh4pk9FQfMJOvaxrrON6EzfWNr7E_cVTIYQlh4TyDoaZp-Sxh864xZe7TwrY9uasHpDRpC/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jBrBRP53Tf4aIetl4ysm6OYcz6JGJk1JmRXopHtEZFwyCYt7UtgbPvQLekNGnvXzwak6F5Q3qIF8F0rwYh-UUIR1NPQ0Wq972oHLl5wnCJBPjsKb3sYk7knh4pk9FQfMJOvaxrrON6EzfWNr7E_cVTIYQlh4TyDoaZp-Sxh864xZe7TwrY9uasHpDRpC/w300-h400/IMG_1522.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's my target. Since I wasn't being videod, I checked the target after every string to determine where I missed. The three off the scoring area are marked with the stage The notation is 3 misses 6 pt. </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a rather narrow skill
demonstration, but they are all done on the clock. Let me list them:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Strong hand only followed by a
transition to weak hand,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shooting fast and accurate at
varying distances;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Slide lock reload;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Drawing from concealment;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Standing transitioning to
kneeling.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's not an impossible list.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The FBI's target is the QIT
silhouette, but after consulting with several people and a bit of calculation,
I decided to use an IDPA target and take off the bottom 2 inches of the 1
zone. Everything in the 0 and 1 zone is
scored a hit. Everything outside is a
miss. Each hit was worth 2 points. To pass, you need 80 points. If you want to pass at the instructor level,
you need 90 points.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's the Course of Fire (CoF)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 1 At 3 yards Draw and fire 3 rds strong hand only, switch <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>hands
and fire 3 rds support hand only, all in 6 seconds,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 2 At 5 yards Draw and fire 3 rds in 3 seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 3 At 5 yards From the Ready, fire 3 rds in 2 seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 4 At 5 yards From the Ready, fire 6 rds in 4 seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 5 At 7 yards Draw and fire 5 rds in 5 seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 6 At 7 yards From the
Ready, fire 4 rounds, conduct an <span> </span><span> </span>empty gun reload, and fire 4 more rds, all in
8 seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 7 At 7 yards From the Ready, fire 5 rounds in 4 seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 8 At 15 yards draw and fire 3 rds in 6 seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 9 At 15 yards from the Ready, fire 3 rds in 5 seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 10 At 25 yards draw and fire 4 rds from Standing, drop to a
Kneeling Position, and fire 4 more rds from Kneeling, all in 20 seconds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Any rounds over the time are
scored as misses. You can use your timer
to determine that. The CoF is a total of
50 rounds with a possible 100 points.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMYoXlRqjvf4w9Nq7EohKltNJMArUFvQUrtbCh8NPmBnb5vK2PNrO_iY28-WKze8JawTKwMq4NPwoSEg4ZGHHMQnt_k-SHuRzq9GmfwtCAL2WMfZ50zeUA46tcBkpkiP8p8Sgm9v1DESBeT5l__7cjvWer1tRRCKYsTm_iPXzGaOl87FT1KgtgQPG0fOZ/s1600/IMG_1523.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMYoXlRqjvf4w9Nq7EohKltNJMArUFvQUrtbCh8NPmBnb5vK2PNrO_iY28-WKze8JawTKwMq4NPwoSEg4ZGHHMQnt_k-SHuRzq9GmfwtCAL2WMfZ50zeUA46tcBkpkiP8p8Sgm9v1DESBeT5l__7cjvWer1tRRCKYsTm_iPXzGaOl87FT1KgtgQPG0fOZ/w300-h400/IMG_1523.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">25 yard to the target. That is a long shot! Just stay focused and snipe 'em in.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">When you shoot this, pay
attention to the stages you found difficult.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">These are the skill sets that would benefit from work.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Collect the time on all the stages.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">As you practice, you need to find a balance
between group size and time.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">If you need
this score to qualify, work on using most of the available time to shoot the smallest
group possible.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shoot this CoF concealed; that's
more reflective of the armed citizen condition.
The CoF specified 'ready position', and I'm discovering that means
different things to different people. I
used the ready position of a drawn gun pointed down range 10 feet in front of
me. It's slightly more challenging than
the high tuck, where the weapon is already indexed on the target. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">What's the tactical point of
shooting this qualifier? After all, the
actual CoF doesn't require any tactics, only basic gun handling skills. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Good tactics cover the three
phases of your self-defense shooting.
Shooting a nationally recognized qualifier has ramifications for the
last phase, survival in court.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">You may be asked why the jury
should accept the statement that you are a competent shooter and didn’t just throw
rounds down range hoping to hit the right target. In a civil case, you may be painted as a
careless, indifferent-to-human suffering boob.
And as such, you should be held liable for the pain and suffering you
caused. It may be suggested that you
accidentally shot someone; it was your poor gun handling skills and
marksmanship that caused the injury and possible death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Passing the FBI Qualification
demonstrates you are a competent shooter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have some insights into
preserving that documentation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">First, practice that until you
can't fail. That is what professionals
do. They don't practice until they pass;
they practice until they can't fail. You
always want to pass with a score higher than the minimum. Excellence is always defensible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">After you shoot the qualification
and pass, sign and date the target, have a witness sign and date it. To turn it up to 11, videotape yourself
shooting and passing the qualification. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are a few more caveats.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The video should be one
continuous taping, with no breaks for reloading or changing batteries. You want the videographer to be able to
testify in court that the video is a complete, continuous, and accurate record
of the event.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Work with a videographer who
understands what you are attempting to document. The videographer may need to position the camera
and zoom in or out to capture the action.
Let them do their job.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make sure they video you signing
and dating the target after you finish.
Taking a few stills is a good idea, too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Set up your magazines to match
the CoF. You shouldn’t be counting shots
and wondering when to reload. This is
not the time to ask Dirty Harry, “Did I fire three times or four?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">If something goes wrong, the gun
fails, the wind blows the target over, kill and erase the video, and start over
with a fresh target. You want the jury
to see your performance, not a blooper reel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">How did I do? I fired the CoF cold with no practice for the
first time. I saw areas I need to
improve, especially getting my dot on target.
I shot a 94 out of 100. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">My times? This isn't for bragging; this is to show the
CoF isn't as daunting as it sounds. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 1 6 second limit 4.9
seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 2 3 second limit 2.7
seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 3 2 second limit 1.45
seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 4 4 second limit 2.3seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 5 5 second limit 3.7
seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 6 8 second limit 7.0 seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 7 4 second limit 2.4 seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 8 6 second limit 4.0 seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 9 5 second limit 2.9 seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">String 10 20 second limit 19.4 seconds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As it was, I dropped three rounds
outside the scoring area. I am happy
with the outcome. </span></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-66623910760964738792024-02-25T16:47:00.000-05:002024-02-25T16:47:53.180-05:00First Aid<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Most professional trainers will bring
up first aid during any tactical firearms training course.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Each shooter and instructor is a momentary
brain fart from being involved with a life-threatening injury.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Any activity that deals with potentially
lethal force has the potential for injury.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, you say, I’m just bow
hunting on private land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just bulls-eye
shooting with other people on the line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I'm just…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was present when a nationally
sponsored team competitor discharge their weapon sideways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The round went through the gun box next to
them and passed behind the backside of another shooter before burrowing into
the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen a highly trained
shooter accidentally discharge their AK-47 into the ground 16 inches in front
of their partner's foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So don't think
of telling me accidents can't happen to you.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLFWSfbWC7RDEKohu1hVrgutFNgbnGxugmdoml3Jnc55_ljACtbcIlf5IkQx_2jmpqB-mRno8JSAIqK1vKywWVFRy9nl5B461QAIwyYp0I2c-Y4Mujf3wATVVyrgOtHub4scL_VDhhAIvxt-RSQse9hwA7aTmY_G1UgiaaAJzu-sCP_5aLGgmL5IWHM1_/s999/FirstAid.007-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="999" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLFWSfbWC7RDEKohu1hVrgutFNgbnGxugmdoml3Jnc55_ljACtbcIlf5IkQx_2jmpqB-mRno8JSAIqK1vKywWVFRy9nl5B461QAIwyYp0I2c-Y4Mujf3wATVVyrgOtHub4scL_VDhhAIvxt-RSQse9hwA7aTmY_G1UgiaaAJzu-sCP_5aLGgmL5IWHM1_/w400-h400/FirstAid.007-1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shit happens, to you, to the guy next to you...What are you going to do?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">You need a first aid kit, but
what?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">ANSI (American National Standards
Institute) defines class A and B first aid kits for industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Class A is defined as the treatment of common
injuries in the home, office, or church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These would be minor cuts, scrapes, small burns, or splinters, essentially
an ‘ouchie!’ kit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Class B is defined as for
activities with a higher risk of serious injuries, life-threating injuries in environments
where damage to the physical kit is likely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Class B is divided into four
levels based on location, potential kit damage, and portability.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Level IV is the highest for harsh,
dangerous environments with a high potential for physical damage to the kit and
is fully portable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's the kit you
want, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked one up and found it contained three
amputated parts bags but no tourniquets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You should think about that implication.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The January/February issue of ‘Hunting’
suggests a list of preparedness products for first aid emergencies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Communication: Radio, signal
flares, flashlight, whistle/foghorn.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Medical Items: Medical kit,
tourniquets, chest seals, pressure and gauze bandages, cravat, splinting
device, emergency Mylar blanket, trauma shears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Survival Items: Shelter systems
(tarps, poncho), waterproof fire starter/tinder, water container, food,
protective clothing, knife, cordage (511 cord), headlamp.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many items are an excellent idea,
but all of it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't know the value of
a foghorn at my local range.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But ‘Hunting’
is a sales promotional magazine for the industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That puts that lot in perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are an assortment of
websites and organizations, some more useful than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I liked <a href="https://www.emergencyprepgear.com/first-aid">https://www.emergencyprepgear.com/first-aid</a>
and have liberally stolen form them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a friend whose relative
was able to send him an emergency first aid kit used by military contractors
in Afghanistan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People were leaving
and simply discarding the heavy packs and equipment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His relative took out the drugs and mailed
the pack and equipment home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got to
see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was terrific.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The question then becomes, do you
know how to use an airway?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about a
cervical collar?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know how to
reinflate a collapsed lung?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does
blood pressure tell the first aider?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you don't know, then what is the value of having?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">One school of thought says only
carry what you are trained for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
other school says to know what you are trained for, but carry more in the hope
of finding someone who is trained to use it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know basic first aid, CPR,
bleeding, shock, so should I carry airways in the hope of finding someone
trained?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect you'll find someone
in downtown Cleveland, but significantly less likely to find that resource at
your cousin's unofficial shooting range.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJEJsewUoNifD2nRlXy-mrgWr41sTsQGJUdILgjV3sHcHuVRy-5l1mh6i0VO9hw2Ck-lS-YRHNwiNP94H7SVPHRKg6ta_Klh8sj3760szkA9R4LBsH9eJMwYQd9nDBfl-osX8pxd15VFDh6hVLBvd5I8N0MtaldSyVLSoiecgn3PsSxsH3MwmLjpuayeK/s3872/_DSC1387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJEJsewUoNifD2nRlXy-mrgWr41sTsQGJUdILgjV3sHcHuVRy-5l1mh6i0VO9hw2Ck-lS-YRHNwiNP94H7SVPHRKg6ta_Klh8sj3760szkA9R4LBsH9eJMwYQd9nDBfl-osX8pxd15VFDh6hVLBvd5I8N0MtaldSyVLSoiecgn3PsSxsH3MwmLjpuayeK/w400-h268/_DSC1387.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basics Do you know how to use them?</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It isn’t likely you could buy a
prepackaged kit with the tools you need without getting scads of less useful
items.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The better option would be to
develop your own kit.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">How do you choose
how to equip your kit?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">1.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Location - Consider where you'll be and what resources are
available there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is perhaps the
most important consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">2.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>People and activity - Who are you responsible for? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are they doing? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">3.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Training - How much first aid training do you have? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does anyone in your group have advanced
first-aid training?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">4.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mobility - Is your first aid kit with you? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or is it in your car or mounted to a wall
somewhere?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Example:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">A river guide in West Virginia
told me what happened to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At lunch,
one of the rafters built a sandwich that had a bee in it and was stung in the
mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rafter went into anaphylactic
shock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rafting company's first aid
kit had an epinephrine injection pen, but it wasn't enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, one of the rafts had several
nurses carrying Benadryl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They took over
care and kept his airway open while waiting for a life flight helicopter to arrive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things worked out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a case where fortune smiled
on them, but on a different day, it would have been a different outcome.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Emergency Prep Gear's website
suggests,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"If in doubt, buy a first
aid kit with more supplies than you know how to use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you receive the kit, do some research or
ask a medical professional to get additional training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More preparedness is always better.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Choose your First Aid gear based
on your level of training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a few levels.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Level 0 - First Aid Rookie:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may know how to apply a Band-Aid to a
simple cut, recommend asprin for a headache, or clean a scrape.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Level 1 - Boy and Girl Scouts: Scouts
are trained with basic to standard first aid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They can deal with mild to moderate bleeding, know CPR, and can prepare
a splint or sling for a broken limb or sprained joint. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have life-essential skills and can administer
the appropriate aid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Level 2 - Military/Police: Military
basic training adds skills focused on the traumas experienced in the field,
like gunshot wounds, concussion injuries, explosion injuries, and such.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Level 3 - Doctors/EMTs: Medical
professionals are the elite in first aid training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They go to school for years to learn how to
repair the human body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will only get
to this level of first aid skill with advanced schooling.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">What level are you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What level do you want to be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can obtain specialized
training, learn to utilize an Israeli bandage, AKA a hemorrhage control
bandage, a tourniquet, quick clot gauze, how to stuff a wound and splint a
limb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learn CPR and treatment for shock
and recognize the signs of diabetes problems. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, build your personnel kit
and the one for your home, car, and Götterdämmerung go-bag kit.</span><o:p></o:p></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-8473819472474336112024-01-21T11:41:00.004-05:002024-01-21T11:41:45.456-05:00DIY Tactical Lights<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I wanted to add a rubber ring to
several of my tactical flashlights to improve my grip.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">For myself, I’m find that gripping the light
like a cigar or syringe gives me more control and points better.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are many flashlights that
have this feature, but in a DIY spirit I thought I’d try it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had three self-imposed conditions: the
light had to be still useable if I didn’t like the outcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to use commercially available parts and
any alteration had to be done with the simple tools I have at home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I selected two lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was diode Cyclops with a metal
housing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>old Surefire plastic body light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had ground down the surface some time ago
to fit in a scope ring and used it as a weapon light on my rifle.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtxFKkLvJSrVelVBfVqVO0T1uIbIeYltg5L5WpTT8jD0ASJZBTazfuPrBimRFO5fzSbL6DJkKAEL1Cm4NdP4gBZ8dCqNTcJCMgADVXzjpW1DvX-CagrFFbbmwHDGB2NEqmllPv0Qojo1VmFU7g71XH4chNztpdOavHHTkdNNhoaEFc4U0fHseTDemfqWL/s3872/DSC_1264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtxFKkLvJSrVelVBfVqVO0T1uIbIeYltg5L5WpTT8jD0ASJZBTazfuPrBimRFO5fzSbL6DJkKAEL1Cm4NdP4gBZ8dCqNTcJCMgADVXzjpW1DvX-CagrFFbbmwHDGB2NEqmllPv0Qojo1VmFU7g71XH4chNztpdOavHHTkdNNhoaEFc4U0fHseTDemfqWL/w400-h268/DSC_1264.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite hand held lights. The button on the tail cap extends past the metal for easy access</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">After looking at the options, I
decided my answer would lie in O-rings. O-rings come in a variety of material,
sizes, and thickness.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I first search my
stack of plumbing related components, but didn’t find anything.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">When in doubt, DYIers turn to the internet.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I found a manufacturer who provided an easy-to-understand
chart and I was off to the races.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I
measured the locations on each flashlight where I wanted to position the O-ring.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1RVX5OOcskWcByQXoYshRaTTKyRr2xvqcxf26e0p8T9yRTp7i2MuYGwskj0v4r25okcA0RIrWycFJZyhPKPuOU4yyEK-rL8pUg0I5A8KypKoA5VqMs4h_qBNZ3XVlF37wwj8-L6u1DZNNim6RGg-Zpig24o6tw4pSSi82q32laUsGOxyyoDQyoePDGcN/s800/oring%20sizing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1RVX5OOcskWcByQXoYshRaTTKyRr2xvqcxf26e0p8T9yRTp7i2MuYGwskj0v4r25okcA0RIrWycFJZyhPKPuOU4yyEK-rL8pUg0I5A8KypKoA5VqMs4h_qBNZ3XVlF37wwj8-L6u1DZNNim6RGg-Zpig24o6tw4pSSi82q32laUsGOxyyoDQyoePDGcN/w400-h400/oring%20sizing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O-Rings are more complicated than you might suspect and we'll will not go into the compounding aspect of O-Rings.</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Armed with that information I
found a manufacturer’s chart and determined the best fit possible.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are amazing polymers for
ultra rigorous and corrosive conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Polymers that will stand up to extremes in temperature and
pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I’m just holding the
lights in my hand, I decided either neoprene or nitrile rubber would work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both materials are resistant to oil and ozone
cracking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both retain some measure of
flexibility at low temperatures.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIzimwjF2bIxOmtPAC7BCX6W0E4hMsjkPK3l1BXaK-oqTKb1YsN2C4Kupqd380VrgT7aWmAYCfmW5np5Yrj4g-6t3QsgqiaStV4v_OVziO34XsgTL_u6nI_b0hP65lrT_fhylv0_QBE_Vmlbog4rofc9noCPyN05Y47uoNvDCsU4GZDlzg-_zINRpi2Fs/s3872/DSC_1269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIzimwjF2bIxOmtPAC7BCX6W0E4hMsjkPK3l1BXaK-oqTKb1YsN2C4Kupqd380VrgT7aWmAYCfmW5np5Yrj4g-6t3QsgqiaStV4v_OVziO34XsgTL_u6nI_b0hP65lrT_fhylv0_QBE_Vmlbog4rofc9noCPyN05Y47uoNvDCsU4GZDlzg-_zINRpi2Fs/w400-h268/DSC_1269.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I ground the body for a previous application using 25 mm scope rings.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">When the rings arrived, I removed
the tail caps and installed the rings.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">It isn’t rocket science.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDF13Uoq4r4wRQZ23njz9QO4eNUwtQvKX7lCAIeYq0OZ9smy4MfUbq-JC6lZoCkwAS7b9n8fycamNUReddwuH52WVrEvKQAmxIyMTxo0ajEr9wVk2VtRbN3q6nttMCeWHyUcREPCrsX6Iqejj9ZxcdiicwiTyML3RrNfdEv954BYtbUykLM7lLbm7e1RT/s3872/DSC_1270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDF13Uoq4r4wRQZ23njz9QO4eNUwtQvKX7lCAIeYq0OZ9smy4MfUbq-JC6lZoCkwAS7b9n8fycamNUReddwuH52WVrEvKQAmxIyMTxo0ajEr9wVk2VtRbN3q6nttMCeWHyUcREPCrsX6Iqejj9ZxcdiicwiTyML3RrNfdEv954BYtbUykLM7lLbm7e1RT/w400-h268/DSC_1270.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheaper by the dozen?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegPFEk3mViaDoCUBZfcFGHWgMiQoo7QKfpwGOYKxJxEKhvimqfNZuMpxyTq5UgZQDMYjKT7vO4qLrw9O3Yj4Um9YH8lnGXNuf6z3UKldk06g89GewFIroFHPoxsp4AatYPtV6pLUAsIEfkTl12j2Vxn-KNaHR2WDx2Mq12x4qoqta6wRGqTtvt_fVf6Mi/s3872/DSC_1272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegPFEk3mViaDoCUBZfcFGHWgMiQoo7QKfpwGOYKxJxEKhvimqfNZuMpxyTq5UgZQDMYjKT7vO4qLrw9O3Yj4Um9YH8lnGXNuf6z3UKldk06g89GewFIroFHPoxsp4AatYPtV6pLUAsIEfkTl12j2Vxn-KNaHR2WDx2Mq12x4qoqta6wRGqTtvt_fVf6Mi/w400-h268/DSC_1272.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took several measurements before I ordered the O-Rings. </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">After a little experimentation, I
slipped a second O-ring on the Cyclops and that drastically improved the
performance.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, why am I doing this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t everyone using a weapon light slung
under their gun?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPrHgEh93CpsytdYpWoYlvVctVGjFt1q_I_fyXv0-l7PJHQE_WdyOhDM4xC2jZwVgY5EPbMiQ8RDoshxlyQAeDwka3zN5pU1Yy7YTAfl_wGvizmn203MehnMLe2NL3iuG49-A4ZyCeKjRJY6TkuZ3sMoKCJe2_5o9lfs2OnnnQfi4UIY7mHR7uRLPtBq-/s3872/DSC_1280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPrHgEh93CpsytdYpWoYlvVctVGjFt1q_I_fyXv0-l7PJHQE_WdyOhDM4xC2jZwVgY5EPbMiQ8RDoshxlyQAeDwka3zN5pU1Yy7YTAfl_wGvizmn203MehnMLe2NL3iuG49-A4ZyCeKjRJY6TkuZ3sMoKCJe2_5o9lfs2OnnnQfi4UIY7mHR7uRLPtBq-/w400-h268/DSC_1280.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got a excellent fit for my Surefire. </td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I could suggest that one is none
and two is one.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><a href="https://knifesearch.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-edgean-adventure.html" style="font-size: x-large;">https://knifesearch.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-edgean-adventure.html</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are two complications to weapon
lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first is obvious, you point
your gun at everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your children,
spouse, good guys, bad guys, your dog and fish tank, everything has the
potential to be an accidental backstop. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp26BJq4fOnNJzXrCoYvPc3Bi9Qlin2uk5XwVqueLpxSfoERsE0InhfN3ahbzWLTJW7Ip3ucmGMDYGI76-vzRglxJi8TwQpG_Yymwl6xFp9tc-ZyO29naYdY2xtPpgmEZ0NCSBEgCc15soq5wUUBu4qKiPO-qAuITQYImmxMIwiDpMj7P1gMAvkis75qo/s3872/DSC_1274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp26BJq4fOnNJzXrCoYvPc3Bi9Qlin2uk5XwVqueLpxSfoERsE0InhfN3ahbzWLTJW7Ip3ucmGMDYGI76-vzRglxJi8TwQpG_Yymwl6xFp9tc-ZyO29naYdY2xtPpgmEZ0NCSBEgCc15soq5wUUBu4qKiPO-qAuITQYImmxMIwiDpMj7P1gMAvkis75qo/w400-h268/DSC_1274.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fit, while useable is a little slop, but I later slipped a second ring next to the first and it works fine.</td></tr></tbody></table></span><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are ways to manage this
problem, one of which is professional training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The second is more complex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many weapon
lights are too big for older compact pocket guns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of these guns don’t have a rail or a
dust cover suitable to mount a rail. Then there the problem of finding a
holster for the modified gun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
problems will solve themselves over time as manufacturers see the market
potential.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But do you want to wait for
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Flashlights are a amazing tool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all have advantages and disadvantages
which are defined by their intended us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have a blog that covers that in more depth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://tactical-talk.blogspot.com/2022/02/do-you-see.html">https://tactical-talk.blogspot.com/2022/02/do-you-see.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, Ernest Langdon has a
nice, if slightly dated, video on handheld lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nice thing about flashlight training is
you can evaluate all these techniques and any you might think of with an empty,
dark rooms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlJqULcTb9Y">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlJqULcTb9Y</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-10452696024321275102023-12-29T10:31:00.001-05:002024-01-21T11:43:39.491-05:00Toy Gun<p><span style="font-size: large;">ABC New 5 in Cleveland, Ohio, posted
the police camera recording of the police shooting of Zachary Fornash on December
5, 2023.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">A police officer was flagged down
by the residents of the 900 block of Alan Page Drive regarding a man who
brandished a gun during an argument.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That man was 24-year old Zachary.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7T_0xC8NPbdFBzUq6O5hBI9D4Nglpw9V2tPmQRuSgZKEnLpPkSit-hnrLL-ux6eZqT1xEIwScq_k0qnK4MFGRz5L0wrjqgJ-IYnoepiB75UXRHntqS5KEhUla0U7_FB-YLyMkB33Kkbe9JIpWP7Gmf0jPHsBr46adKKvnuHe3QE46Dl1NzUjBy1EgTkJ/s309/6574bea7a6cfb.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="309" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7T_0xC8NPbdFBzUq6O5hBI9D4Nglpw9V2tPmQRuSgZKEnLpPkSit-hnrLL-ux6eZqT1xEIwScq_k0qnK4MFGRz5L0wrjqgJ-IYnoepiB75UXRHntqS5KEhUla0U7_FB-YLyMkB33Kkbe9JIpWP7Gmf0jPHsBr46adKKvnuHe3QE46Dl1NzUjBy1EgTkJ/w400-h395/6574bea7a6cfb.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zachary Fornash</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Channel 5 parsed through the
video, noting time and action.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">You can
find it at:</span><span style="font-size: x-large; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/oh-stark/canton-body-camera-footage-shows-man-with-pellet-gun-fatally-shot-by-police" style="font-size: x-large;">https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/oh-stark/canton-body-camera-footage-shows-man-with-pellet-gun-fatally-shot-by-police</a><span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">After the shooting, the police recovered
a realistic-looking semi-auto that was actually a BB gun.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is this a fluke?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sadly, no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A publication in 1991 from the Bureau of
Justice Statistics dealt with this problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Toy Guns: Involvement in Crime" resulted from a nationwide survey
of police incidents involving toy guns.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Between 1985 and 1989, almost
8130 assaults were committed with what was later confirmed to be a toy
gun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this same period, 31,650 toy
guns were seized due to a crime or incident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This problem isn’t new.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'll let you do your own
homework.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reasonable belief that you
are in imminent, unavoidable, deadly danger are the components that justify the
use of lethal force.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being threatened
with a gun is a reasonable belief that these conditions exist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">While the Federal Government and
local states have attempted to control the sale of replica guns, they haven’t
been too successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick check of
Temu (a Chinese marketing site) shows pages of toy guns that look identical to
real guns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only visual difference I
saw was the inside of the muzzle was orange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUixbEeiGtMwDq9d_esQZjQRreXoPBfviScGMObkLbyvbH8jsHs5DeRonK4LiVRUTe6WY4bmKR9MgGv5JrB0Y5tUAJALaY5wobJombB8BWYSRIlaXF2wpYXM9ZG_XUTphFHR94jbheTavMWOWNTLK1WVCJwlIJQ6R-7Cn6-VpH4jhreM5bpAjUzIzNj8ur/s1280/toy%20gun.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUixbEeiGtMwDq9d_esQZjQRreXoPBfviScGMObkLbyvbH8jsHs5DeRonK4LiVRUTe6WY4bmKR9MgGv5JrB0Y5tUAJALaY5wobJombB8BWYSRIlaXF2wpYXM9ZG_XUTphFHR94jbheTavMWOWNTLK1WVCJwlIJQ6R-7Cn6-VpH4jhreM5bpAjUzIzNj8ur/w640-h426/toy%20gun.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'll never know why Zachary thought carrying and flashing a toy gun was a good idea. We damn sure will never know why he didn't follow police instructions.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many manufacturers put an orange
end on the gun barrel to indicate it is a toy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is easily removed with a can of black paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Criminals will paint their gun
muzzles orange because of the momentary confusion that results from this flash
of orange. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">You don't believe me, do you?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I saw a gun painted that way, an
orange muzzle on an actual weapon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
man with the gun, not necessarily the owner, was purchasing a high-capacity
magazine and wanted to be sure it fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have my own conclusions as to why it was painted that way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why carry a toy?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some of it is the mistaken notion
that the toy gun gives you power without invoking sterner punishment should you
be caught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In ‘Raising Arizona,’ the
character, played by Nicolas Cage, tells the judge he never carries a loaded
gun when he commits a robbery because the penalties are less.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then too, it's a cost
problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An airsoft Beretta 92F look alike
costs $11 plus shipping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The actual Beretta
92F runs around $700.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then there is
also the pesky ATF background check.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many people believe that having a
gun makes them important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gives them
power and makes them supermen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least
until they run into a real gun.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps a citizen might feel the
need for protection and believe a toy gun will provide a mantle of protection
without needing to make the terrible decision of taking a life to protect their
own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here too, there is a fatal
logical flaw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Criminals have guns
pointed at them all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Police do
it, their sweethearts do it, other criminals do it, maybe their grandmother
does it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, they are afraid of the
person holding the gun, not the gun.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do I have any advice about toy
guns?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep them as toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use them as training aids, but leave them at
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I have one more piece of
advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If by some brain fart, some hiccup
in the synapses, you do carry a toy gun, do precisely what the police tell
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don't hesitate, don't didder, don't
wonder if they mean you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just do
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Save your argument for court, and
maybe you'll live to regret that mistake.</span><o:p></o:p></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-58802287692180077672023-12-13T17:35:00.000-05:002023-12-13T17:35:00.084-05:00The AR at Home<p><span style="font-size: large;">Is </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">the AR-15 a viable home defense
weapon?</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">There are a lot of pros and some
significant cons to this.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGY8cH47kiFI5xbzF6u0gKimdm0PKEC9zGABAYOK8cgvJLmLfMg8usNhOHmM6NhNTEWrfnkNtkTTqLrTNfCd96xrrxQ5SFL2pBcIjsdRQRZxG0qkdDSYUJSvOGx87xKKmWPNTXGz9FNzsRZtjnPxGWyUFVfr1G7G0CcoOv9LGDZhzyjnXT9EAE16mol5_I/s1434/me%20and%20AR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGY8cH47kiFI5xbzF6u0gKimdm0PKEC9zGABAYOK8cgvJLmLfMg8usNhOHmM6NhNTEWrfnkNtkTTqLrTNfCd96xrrxQ5SFL2pBcIjsdRQRZxG0qkdDSYUJSvOGx87xKKmWPNTXGz9FNzsRZtjnPxGWyUFVfr1G7G0CcoOv9LGDZhzyjnXT9EAE16mol5_I/w301-h400/me%20and%20AR.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My AR weights 12 pounds and I'm utilizing the 'death-grip' so I can hold it in the ready position for an extended period</td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Understand that in today’s social
climate, self-defense shootings, especially with an AR, will attract media
attention and will bring pressure on the prosecutor to take you to trial.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">In these cases, it may be in your best
interest to CYA.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">That is, Can You
Articulate your reasons for selecting the weapon?</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">A study published by Meyer in
"The Jury Expert" Sept. 2009 suggests that the assault rifle tag and
military appearance of the AR can lead to heavier sentencing and a bias against
its user.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I find it ironic the Ruger
Mini-14 ranch rifle with a wood stock (<a href="https://ruger.com/products/mini14RanchRifle/models.html">https://ruger.com/products/mini14RanchRifle/models.html</a>)
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">has the same functionality as the
AR but is perceived as less dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This could be a significant factor in your decision-making process.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The AR has many advantages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perceived problems from defending yourself
with the AR have easy solutions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The AR-15, when set up correctly,
is a relatively light rifle with mild recoil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The role of the home defense weapon is significantly different from your
personal weapon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The home defense weapon
must meet the physical limitations of a pool of authorized users.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rifle size and adjustable butt stock
means that your teenage daughter, your son the football player, your
grandmother and yourself can utilize the rifle with high levels of success.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyW9gYNs_kYNlo5KU5zxGD9gMOkX-lQL2TwLbvPNT640ljE3u4LBOCtYRoIg2Amu8LVmwFAhW0p3Qo6n2MsrQh6xTTq1_9IdAxkLVEjk0XiLO2d0ON9uOyx8CeL0OBNdUYKmGA-kWPkNH2jCq5-BB6MY59oAi19RV0YrxPIy0rUqgK4HJ3fr8DSm1_VsJ2/s1024/dont-mess-1024x587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1024" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyW9gYNs_kYNlo5KU5zxGD9gMOkX-lQL2TwLbvPNT640ljE3u4LBOCtYRoIg2Amu8LVmwFAhW0p3Qo6n2MsrQh6xTTq1_9IdAxkLVEjk0XiLO2d0ON9uOyx8CeL0OBNdUYKmGA-kWPkNH2jCq5-BB6MY59oAi19RV0YrxPIy0rUqgK4HJ3fr8DSm1_VsJ2/w640-h366/dont-mess-1024x587.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can every authorized user handle the home self-defence AR?</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Concerns about over penetration
are significant factors.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Will the round
leave the room?</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Leave the house?</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Penetrate my neighbor’s house?</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Various police departments like the FBI and
the Detroit PD have shown that using the right round will prevent these
problems.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">A 55gr jacket soft or hollow
point with standard velocity usually stays within the human body.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Less reassuring than you would
like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Move to 40gr plastic tip varmint
loads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These rounds are very effective
and are safer loads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
significantly more likely to be retained in your walls, making it safer for
your neighbors while still providing stopping power. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your rifle should be fitted with
a light and a reflex dot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ability to
confirm your target's identity before engaging is priceless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dot greatly simplifies aiming the rifle and
retains high accuracy for all experienced users.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using a dot or reflex sight in total darkness
doesn't work—the light output of the red dot blinds you in darkness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put a weapon light on anything with a dot.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Massad Ayoob considers the home defense
rifle as artillery, a weapon utilized from a fixed position, usually guarding
the room you have selected to gather your family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This room should be pre-selected to reflect
the physical limitations of your family, the layout of your house, and pinch
points of control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Invest your time and
do this in advance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you need 28 rounds?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today’s
home invaders are more vicious and are graduates of the prison training system.
<a href="https://www.athlonoutdoors.com/article/hawaii-ar-15-rifle-home-invasion/">https://www.athlonoutdoors.com/article/hawaii-ar-15-rifle-home-invasion/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Experience has shown us multiple
intruders are common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will move
rapidly, may use cover, and advance on you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They will have no trouble or concerns about having multiple reloads or
guns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faced with such an environment, it
is prudent to have more ammunition without reloading. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffB1sOGsFKqxWw8KozGuJEpTmnHzRawSuuh8jEoC1KwWRfXgM3mBNszqt0EUNLfpSoa6ZBBLkE3Z1q0eLoth97twvBIZEr6Q9lEcmcxjHkHZWeCxeKiQUNGxybjjdE6x6SDXZaFYjcTc4LRlWYy3GagAkTLQZDHaOV7HFcH2sfqdA6H1QwLwfQREyHeWg/s600/Ruger-AR-556-used-to-stop-Home-Invasion-600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffB1sOGsFKqxWw8KozGuJEpTmnHzRawSuuh8jEoC1KwWRfXgM3mBNszqt0EUNLfpSoa6ZBBLkE3Z1q0eLoth97twvBIZEr6Q9lEcmcxjHkHZWeCxeKiQUNGxybjjdE6x6SDXZaFYjcTc4LRlWYy3GagAkTLQZDHaOV7HFcH2sfqdA6H1QwLwfQREyHeWg/w400-h226/Ruger-AR-556-used-to-stop-Home-Invasion-600.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actual image from home security. How many invaders do you count?</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A magazine can be prefilled and
quickly loaded.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Preventing unauthorized
access to the weapon and retaining fast access during an emergency remains a
problem.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">You can ameliorate this problem
by improving the security precautions in your house, giving you more time to
gather family and ready the rifle.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">This
also gives you time to get the professionals moving.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">There are many videos and websites which can
guide you through the application of thin reinforcing films on glass, longer
screws in hinges and door locks, solid doors, door chains, alarms, and other security
steps.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">All of this, all your preparations,
and the money spent only have value if you practice or understand your weapon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The person with the least training, the least
experience can be your weakest link.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ensure that everyone knows how to load, fire the AR, and hit their
target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Batteries in both the dot and
light should be changed at regular intervals and after heavy training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep your AR mechanically sound and utilize
components from trusted manufacturers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both your ammunition and rifle must be reliable and work every time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your ability to articulate why
you selected this tool, components, and weapon setup can make a difference in
court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your ability to use your weapon
system effectively at O Dark Thirty will be the difference between life and
death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-22968444990221291462023-11-23T09:38:00.001-05:002023-11-23T09:38:11.583-05:00Match That<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I recently shot a no-light pistol
match and learned a lot, which is always a good outcome. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">First, let me acknowledge that organizing
a shooting match is, without a doubt, a lot of work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if you use a published Course of Fire (CoF),
you must get the staff/volunteers to set it up, adapt it for your range, and provide
for tear down and clean up—all problematic chores.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greenport Tactical Association
hosted this match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started at sunset,
and as we progressed through the match, each CoF changed from low to no
light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn't take long to discover
the plot complication.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The complication?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smokeless powder isn't smokeless.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z3L5Sm-ZSjhQ1kgCpyOudI6YL4fwumnIzE6I8S10U_2sAeUDTdeC9St-w99tvIDUZnivYUrbicWerT0I2iGT_yzbMSIxHr5kUZRIoeFcUCcsY1RtYKp0pw68Nk_7i_toj6E_BKBx_a-hFiVbEf-XTFA4k4qLi0tXWEPi45CkkdlqxMqrib4qdsnRjBVg/s4032/7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z3L5Sm-ZSjhQ1kgCpyOudI6YL4fwumnIzE6I8S10U_2sAeUDTdeC9St-w99tvIDUZnivYUrbicWerT0I2iGT_yzbMSIxHr5kUZRIoeFcUCcsY1RtYKp0pw68Nk_7i_toj6E_BKBx_a-hFiVbEf-XTFA4k4qLi0tXWEPi45CkkdlqxMqrib4qdsnRjBVg/w400-h225/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just after sunset, even in the relatively bright environment the gun light illuminates the cloud of smokeless powder. Note the rave glow sticks, I found them insufficient for safety in darkness.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The shoot house was a fun and
easy stage.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The brown cardboard IDPA
targets stood out well, and the surroundings reflected enough light to see as
you moved through the stage.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tactically
pieing corners takes time.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">This tactic
quickly separates the shooters into those interested in shooting games and
those using it for training.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23lgr0PqJhr5Hr9wsZqSD0cLh7GXWn8wXr8bwiN3WqJqP0Vh69FNsAZB6yKQyOrTjY43g5hVAcHy7jr4QMdLZdkHf05WHU-aebvfdmbi2hOZewHdI5FVephWK88WMo28jYC0C4UCQa5D66Hf9gzznCB4hL3eEKjIEVpGdma4GrlS1E0Ge67g5Mo1ofsEB/s4032/5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23lgr0PqJhr5Hr9wsZqSD0cLh7GXWn8wXr8bwiN3WqJqP0Vh69FNsAZB6yKQyOrTjY43g5hVAcHy7jr4QMdLZdkHf05WHU-aebvfdmbi2hOZewHdI5FVephWK88WMo28jYC0C4UCQa5D66Hf9gzznCB4hL3eEKjIEVpGdma4GrlS1E0Ge67g5Mo1ofsEB/w400-h225/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The IDPA targets stood out and reflections from the shoot house provided sufficient illumination. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXQdtugdAI9KeZwVQkQwYt3bd8Zr0_ILsU6XhuD_l1bV3jdE7p1W988wF4ysU0z_8bG2nk4qUXQVueAcuV1q_pogauUIal1A384JFacG7wZ2_vkdxuIRHOCdXU54xmH9laB5J90-ajGN0t4w_BFi-FnVnBWEn31WOfnz_hSmYn99sWXG3XB4xoRKXnOM_/s4032/6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXQdtugdAI9KeZwVQkQwYt3bd8Zr0_ILsU6XhuD_l1bV3jdE7p1W988wF4ysU0z_8bG2nk4qUXQVueAcuV1q_pogauUIal1A384JFacG7wZ2_vkdxuIRHOCdXU54xmH9laB5J90-ajGN0t4w_BFi-FnVnBWEn31WOfnz_hSmYn99sWXG3XB4xoRKXnOM_/w400-h225/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Several shooters wore head lamps for navigation the darkness after each stage.<br />They were very effective in both scoring targets and keeping tack of shooters.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is an artificial nature to
training with static targets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can't
believe that anyone waiting in an ambush doesn't react by moving to a different
location after hearing gunshots in the immediate area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Static targets are precisely that: static.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another stage started with
engaging two IDPA-style steel targets at 50 yards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s a long distance for a pistol light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The second thing most of us
noticed was while most pistol lights illuminated the targets, many shooters
found the reticle in their reflex sight too bright and were blinded by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was especially true with manual
brightness adjustment, but auto-brightness was also affected. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXePtt0XmGCl0mkDqZWDyZOEWJg5-cxKN8rvhhUJg3d75VhiOTAw5Wy9irEyneo9E91iuEoMCqw7Lf4-xevCQdd6aIdW5Gmp99KIEzKYywv-AfSqos0ZZkvTjbaaAn9L-3Ne4EB2B5NDDb4P3yWRs5Fz1SFWabEk3zWSmicd-gN_aP9wKLKBmxuq11QS7a/s4032/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXePtt0XmGCl0mkDqZWDyZOEWJg5-cxKN8rvhhUJg3d75VhiOTAw5Wy9irEyneo9E91iuEoMCqw7Lf4-xevCQdd6aIdW5Gmp99KIEzKYywv-AfSqos0ZZkvTjbaaAn9L-3Ne4EB2B5NDDb4P3yWRs5Fz1SFWabEk3zWSmicd-gN_aP9wKLKBmxuq11QS7a/w400-h225/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shooting from the V-Tac barricade </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The cloud of microscopic
particles produced by smokeless powder further blinded the shooter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cloud reflected the light at you, making
for fantastic photos but completely obscuring the targets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On windy days, this problem will be minimized,
but in static or calm air, it becomes a problem. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a test, I reshot the targets during
daylight with no complications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRw1q8bVFUdjjJ-Q5EVBmMeaqvXvvVJaqs_j61UeTZUjJPizqeTXYhSB4ub3nrn3FbpLIYOHCnW0WhB3lLc7ZYIk06VhpXMsOsWGerFOM2zKjqpQPJUej6KGmXlneFAW09GBo8ol5VrjOx7aEne7E0C2J_7NrlguQstt2r4X1910GbvcW4kUndhIcgPuI4/s1600/daylight%201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRw1q8bVFUdjjJ-Q5EVBmMeaqvXvvVJaqs_j61UeTZUjJPizqeTXYhSB4ub3nrn3FbpLIYOHCnW0WhB3lLc7ZYIk06VhpXMsOsWGerFOM2zKjqpQPJUej6KGmXlneFAW09GBo8ol5VrjOx7aEne7E0C2J_7NrlguQstt2r4X1910GbvcW4kUndhIcgPuI4/w300-h400/daylight%201.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daylight. Subtract the vision problem and shooting from the barricade's square, ledge or slant wasn't a problem. </td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Many stages had move and shoot
components at 8-inch steel targets just over 10 yards.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I suggest repainting the targets between
squads, maybe even shooters.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Everyone
should have the same targets.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the last stages I shot
required going prone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many shooters went
to a roll over prone to get as flat as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a good tactic, but a pistol position
not practiced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many shooters, back,
shoulder, and neck problems make this position challenging, if not
impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I went to roll over prone and
discovered the gun light nicely illuminated the ground and grass but not the
target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I attempted to correct this with
my auxiliary flashlight, but that left me shooting strong hand only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was not the optimal position for
stability for 8-inch steel targets at thirty yards.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">This position also created a
problem for some safety officers, who did not know how to safely facilitate
moving a loaded shooter from prone to kneeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The easiest way is to put the gun on safe, place it on the mat pointing
down range, and allow the now unarmed shooter to perform the necessary
gyrations to get to an upright kneel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
that point, the shooter can retrieve his pistol, clear it, and complete the safety
check.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">All CoF designers have a bias.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A common one is the belief shooters demand a
high round/target count.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One way to
produce this is to shoot the same target several times from multiple positions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can be achieved with the shooting barricade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Bianchi barricade can be used, but the V-Tac
barricade offers the most options with ledges, openings, and heights.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://fa15989f-b43a-4c89-aae6-1d95bb78d494.usrfiles.com/ugd/fa1598_c547f6538ef148a89e6eb89b70e23b87.pdf">https://fa15989f-b43a-4c89-aae6-1d95bb78d494.usrfiles.com/ugd/fa1598_c547f6538ef148a89e6eb89b70e23b87.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">That stage was also the least
popular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One set of targets was 30
yards, while the other was 21 yards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
shot these the following day and discovered the slanted ports did not
significantly alter the point of impact compared to shooting from a ledge or
open square.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qli-9J30kCTjbfuSuBz7Spnv01aPEVdnCQG_OoZsNiOnCb6itk2d4_8PQpqtzPfmROZSaxHHiRk0kQPpol2Az7i86ODivVYZBuxjq7SSVJsLNHrdengs5m96gEi-dSmp6LDicqWOuEtGp_QWfAdUGihF7UC_r6aDqqfVLPN93YVus-IprUV24zyoiHUN/s4032/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qli-9J30kCTjbfuSuBz7Spnv01aPEVdnCQG_OoZsNiOnCb6itk2d4_8PQpqtzPfmROZSaxHHiRk0kQPpol2Az7i86ODivVYZBuxjq7SSVJsLNHrdengs5m96gEi-dSmp6LDicqWOuEtGp_QWfAdUGihF7UC_r6aDqqfVLPN93YVus-IprUV24zyoiHUN/w400-h225/unnamed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Improper light technique will result in illuminating yourself, losing what advantage you had in darkness</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you get a chance to shoot a
no-light match, do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me further
urge you to reshoot the problematic stages, if possible, in the daylight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You'll be surprised what a handicap darkness
is.</span><o:p></o:p></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-73353711180588621692023-10-11T10:51:00.000-04:002023-10-11T10:51:13.199-04:00Editorial: Unarmed Population<p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Summarized from the New York Times<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Hamas,
the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched one of
the broadest invasions on Israeli territory for 50 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hamas
began firing thousands of rockets on Saturday morning, striking targets as far
away as Tel Aviv and the outskirts of Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About
an hour after the first rocket attacks, Hamas militants crossed into Israel by
land, sea, and air, leading to pitched battles between Israeli and Arab forces
on Israeli soil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
militants infiltrated 22 Israeli towns and army bases and took civilians and
soldiers hostages, many of whom they brought back to Gaza."</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC2LGxX_0NE5LG1kRgkNWBdhbs13beg0GPcT0eCmBN_dRZ_9Ev6uMLDLajuorQtdp5aZudQ4QOv_MQMAqtNnB14yd9rmdBJQ8ulN7GwWsAKJI3x50nsoex2PGc5qonk5aU26-hj822neCNd6yUsQfa4HT7YI2bfhzyjsefzvKN0TEmZeuk414BKQ-_dPe/s770/AP23280400744514-1696974941.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="770" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC2LGxX_0NE5LG1kRgkNWBdhbs13beg0GPcT0eCmBN_dRZ_9Ev6uMLDLajuorQtdp5aZudQ4QOv_MQMAqtNnB14yd9rmdBJQ8ulN7GwWsAKJI3x50nsoex2PGc5qonk5aU26-hj822neCNd6yUsQfa4HT7YI2bfhzyjsefzvKN0TEmZeuk414BKQ-_dPe/w400-h266/AP23280400744514-1696974941.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Neither the failure of Israel's intelligence services nor
their military not being ready, surprises me. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Intelligence gathering is a separate function
from interpretation, and we'll skip the topic of bureaucratic inertial. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">It doesn’t surprise me that Hamas could cross the borders
into Israel; most borders in any country resembling a democracy are porous. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">What surprises me is the apparent ease with which Hamas took
hostages and was able to kidnap them in what appears to be complete freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was always under the impression that Israel was a highly
trained and armed society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I assumed
that over 50% of the population had ready access to firearms and had been
trained in their use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This situation
was, I thought, a side effect of living in a hostile environment surrounded by
people who want to wipe you from the face of the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is their goal different from the death
camps in Nazi Germany?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Where did I go wrong?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The US Department of Justice reported in 1992 that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Israel Has a Successful Gun Control
Policy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The report goes on:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“In
Israel, guns are strictly regulated yet widely available to law-abiding
citizens who hold gun permits; gun control and tough punishment have made it
difficult for criminals to acquire guns.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Abstract<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Franklin Gothic Medium, sans-serif;">There
is no clear right </span><i><span style="font-family: Franklin Gothic Medium, sans-serif;">(</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">our Second Amendment – my comment</span><span style="font-family: Franklin Gothic Medium, sans-serif;">)</span></i><span style="font-family: Franklin Gothic Medium, sans-serif;"> to carry a gun in
Israel. </span><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Franklin Gothic Medium, sans-serif;">In theory, the policy is very
strict. </span><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Franklin Gothic Medium, sans-serif;">No one may own or carry a gun
without showing a reason to do so.</span><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Franklin Gothic Medium, sans-serif;">A
special permit by the Interior Ministry is then required. </span><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Franklin Gothic Medium, sans-serif;">The permit must have the approval of the
police and includes information about the owner and the gun type. </span><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Franklin Gothic Medium, sans-serif;">It is easy for a law-abiding citizen (with no
criminal record) to get a permit for a handgun. </span><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium", sans-serif;"> </span><u style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium", sans-serif;">There is no distinction between carrying a
gun and possessing it</u><i style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium", sans-serif;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Franklin Gothic Medium, sans-serif;">The
strict limitation of gun ownership to law-abiding citizens combined with strict
enforcement against those who have guns without a permit apparently works well
in Israel to keep the homicide rate low; there are 40-60 murders a year in a
population of four and one-half million.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The BBC reported in March 2023,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium",sans-serif;">"Israeli
gun ownership is low at about 2% of the population.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It compares to about 30% of the population
owning a gun in the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually,
citizens are allowed to hold a pistol and a limit of 50 bullets.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Say what?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Did you catch the part about not having a distinction
between owning vs carrying a gun?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems
governmental permission is needed to own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In light of this recent attack,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel has loosening the straps on the permit
system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, that horse is out
of the barn.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The same thing applies to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we don't expect an attack by either Canada
or Mexico, we will sooner or later (much later, I hope) see armed conflict at
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be internal struggles or a non-atomic
war, but we cannot count on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to isolate us from
armies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Will we be ready? </span><o:p></o:p></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-68140116640674409442023-09-14T11:47:00.000-04:002023-09-14T11:47:41.039-04:00AR DIY <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">A recent plot complication with
my AR gave me pause to do a little thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was double feeding with a variety of magazines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having eliminated the most likely cause of
feeding problems, (deformed and damaged magazines), I went to the next best
option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nope, not my reloads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both cheap and expensive factory rounds
contributed to my problem.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next step, clean the gun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t that dirty.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpg8f0mQjBIjqkOYDDO4t-WNVr4VntXd8Leo_ph6vH-li_GKBfV19aXQLfMaR5vq_5HMJeRLp4m55KKzhEDZXtBAAPPFJDuiwN_vept--HxG5NAEIQSb6WJiOguTe0v8w1V75CcnpHF7xks8UHcceHLu1BftSDasLrjYYZgRsEiUanB3jJ-cBiYl5vrwz2/s3355/buffer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2466" data-original-width="3355" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpg8f0mQjBIjqkOYDDO4t-WNVr4VntXd8Leo_ph6vH-li_GKBfV19aXQLfMaR5vq_5HMJeRLp4m55KKzhEDZXtBAAPPFJDuiwN_vept--HxG5NAEIQSb6WJiOguTe0v8w1V75CcnpHF7xks8UHcceHLu1BftSDasLrjYYZgRsEiUanB3jJ-cBiYl5vrwz2/w640-h470/buffer.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> You see more about my folding stock alteration at <br />http://tactical-talk.blogspot.com/2021/12/silvan-arms-ar-folding-adapter.html<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;">I replaced my recoil spring with
a factory stock spring from Wolff Gunsprings (</span><a href="https://www.gunsprings.com/" style="font-size: x-large;">https://www.gunsprings.com/</a><span style="font-size: x-large;">).</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I didn't see any significant difference in
spring size; the Wolff spring was about 3/8 inch shorter than the one in my
gun.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">In any case, the gun now runs
fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's about the extent of my
kitchen table gunsmithing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not
believe in alterations like B.A.D. levers from Magpul, but they can make the
gun a little more friendly for the left-handed shooter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://magpul.com/bad-lever-battery-assist-device-ar15-m4.html?mp_global_color=118">(https://magpul.com/bad-lever-battery-assist-device-ar15-m4.html?mp_global_color=118</a>.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Changing out safeties, releases, springs, or
altering its guts all seem like a bad idea.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdVAt8G9ypVehRP4V5ecmGzqjRkjr_OxADVJaFgaf789tXPzHOMObcEL5rAgQF6TSeS7A-E5ziIUv_BaU_Fv_dTEFg0V8euBgQwvNH8OSEVuOjbBKwbDkCdh-8DP0ZuMbqmu_SKMA-HdtY07mppkkHeAGDYZ0rv30M5D8xOzm_FzAiiiHwepaZoEZMVL1/s584/mag980-blk_magpul_bad_lever_battery_assist_device_ar15_m4_02_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="584" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdVAt8G9ypVehRP4V5ecmGzqjRkjr_OxADVJaFgaf789tXPzHOMObcEL5rAgQF6TSeS7A-E5ziIUv_BaU_Fv_dTEFg0V8euBgQwvNH8OSEVuOjbBKwbDkCdh-8DP0ZuMbqmu_SKMA-HdtY07mppkkHeAGDYZ0rv30M5D8xOzm_FzAiiiHwepaZoEZMVL1/w400-h400/mag980-blk_magpul_bad_lever_battery_assist_device_ar15_m4_02_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe a better modification is an expanded trigger guard for gloved fingers.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Much of my resistance comes from
my belief that I may be unable to get to my customized weapon.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Are you capable of smoothly functioning with
a stock gun?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">You may find yourself accused of
altering the weapon in court to make it more deadly, more punishing, and easier
to kill with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making the gun more
reliable is a safety feature and safety is always defensible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiDF5w_cEnIQ5VNE17eqclrMNGA1DVMN_lS7RqVfu-uR_3LyJwQEJ4wcTci1bb57xqXxfrJFTQfo7Pt6V2xk_btUg_Ne3iV-m2C-ydZI1hjttabBzeiNuN6-8mYzAIGQLipnHoj5xLgNdmrj4baMp5mAXpzi0alcxw2rxQfQc_3TfoRitrbWVXYKaiXSD/s1683/OS-ABS-2T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1683" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiDF5w_cEnIQ5VNE17eqclrMNGA1DVMN_lS7RqVfu-uR_3LyJwQEJ4wcTci1bb57xqXxfrJFTQfo7Pt6V2xk_btUg_Ne3iV-m2C-ydZI1hjttabBzeiNuN6-8mYzAIGQLipnHoj5xLgNdmrj4baMp5mAXpzi0alcxw2rxQfQc_3TfoRitrbWVXYKaiXSD/w356-h400/OS-ABS-2T.jpg" width="356" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gives you options to change the weight of the recoil buffer and begs the question will the restraining set screw fail?</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Find William </span><a name="_Hlk145583256" style="font-size: x-large;">Starnes</a><span style="font-size: x-large;">'s "Selection AR Buffers" article in
the Aug. 23 edition of "Shooting Sports Retailer."</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The publication is geared to market products
to dealers and help them sell.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Starnes explains
how the AR system works and how modifications affect the performance.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">One modification is an adjustable
gas block for the AR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many shooters
believe they can better tune their AR for their bullet weight, powder charge,
barrel length, and other factors to reach an optimal, reliable cycle rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can, but they may end up on the road of
unreliable function.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The better option is changing the
buffer weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shoot an H3, the most
common heavy-weight buffer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It slows the
cycle rate down (it still cycles faster than I can reset the trigger and fire a
second round.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than one gunsmith
has told me that a slower cycle rate makes for a more reliable weapon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSz0z9aCq7cpj-GYejdwdEqlnZ-tdPYojOzXZRMfUycx21nGLy6gsArLFc7P1_FRsv3zLOpSbvCxzMLH2-TmOThINUx-OKRjIDS5N4u_sWoW4dwaOLHPgGI1jAFrLhLlWZaouNNjji6vP9bMIqjVSOk0uLHcM9ZWJ99bzvp0vB50J4B1IINpCl26hkycgq/s800/OS-ABS-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSz0z9aCq7cpj-GYejdwdEqlnZ-tdPYojOzXZRMfUycx21nGLy6gsArLFc7P1_FRsv3zLOpSbvCxzMLH2-TmOThINUx-OKRjIDS5N4u_sWoW4dwaOLHPgGI1jAFrLhLlWZaouNNjji6vP9bMIqjVSOk0uLHcM9ZWJ99bzvp0vB50J4B1IINpCl26hkycgq/w400-h266/OS-ABS-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd make sure I had removable tread lock before I started experimenting.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But for those who want to
experiment, Starnes has a reasonable solution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Odin Works and other companies make a buffer weight you can alter in the
field to give you H, H1, H2, and H3 weights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the least invasive kitchen table gunsmithing you can do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More importantly, it is easily reversible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But he has a word of warning and
advice for the retailer you should heed:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>"If the customer uses their gun as a duty weapon or as one for
critical situations, they should stick with factory combinations to ensure
reliability."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enough said!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-36977481079878418562023-08-17T20:45:00.002-04:002023-08-19T09:47:02.018-04:00Room Searches<p><span style="font-size: large;">Models.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They surround us, often without our knowledge. The weather forecast is the result of several models meteorologists use. Not feeling well? Your doctor will treat you based on a model. If that doesn't work, he'll try a different one. Even the news reported fits a model.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Models describe all sort of training. No matter the type of training, weight, physical, self-defense, skill development, or tactics, the activities proceed according to a model. Understanding the model gives you insights into the training.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It is also important to realize that all models are flawed. No model is perfect. Often a model illustrates one specific feature well and falls down on the rest.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Room searches take a lot of work to successfully model. Most rooms are physically different; the circumstances and available tools will vary. The most significant difference is the lack of furniture in the room and the amount of time available to set up an ambush for the searchers.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It is an ambush we are concerned about. The person in the room doesn't want to be found and will kill to prevent capture. (That's one model.) The searcher wants to find the person or persons, capture them, and if necessary, shoot them. (That's another model.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To be clear, this is about room searches that are well illuminated by natural light or the building’s artificial light. Room searches with weapon lights in the dark, well that’s for another day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve drawn diagrams on paper, whiteboards, and in the dust. But in the absence of a quality shoot house, explanations are limited. A good shoot house takes planning and a lot of effort to be successful.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I’m trying something different. I’m using physical models of simple rooms and replacing you with a small light bulb.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TKb_fZB631V8mpX9FEsdZx1TIq7fY-wK3fp7EhLG10hazLhNSm5VW0IHGjjSrCgMx_G7qDBxzJ4v-mxS8zQU9UkG0dt6n5HRycKzPkng4qqODsVNybd2WxYIyJ0xu3vkCOfhJ9yDhZ_1rKAVAEisuHi-0dtiOOAxv4KbuyycRDGBmRU_CF9DCt-7pT0y/s3872/DSC_1161.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TKb_fZB631V8mpX9FEsdZx1TIq7fY-wK3fp7EhLG10hazLhNSm5VW0IHGjjSrCgMx_G7qDBxzJ4v-mxS8zQU9UkG0dt6n5HRycKzPkng4qqODsVNybd2WxYIyJ0xu3vkCOfhJ9yDhZ_1rKAVAEisuHi-0dtiOOAxv4KbuyycRDGBmRU_CF9DCt-7pT0y/w400-h268/DSC_1161.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The left is end-weighted while the right is center-weighted.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rooms are classified as center-weighted or end-weighted. A room is center-weighted if the entrance opens more or less into the middle of the room. An end weighted room has the entrance close to one end. Most of the rooms I am familiar with are end-weighted. Both types have danger corners. Danger corners are those corners you can’t see into without entering the room.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Let's start with a center-weighted room. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">From the outside of the room, the doorway limits what you can see of the room. The little lamp illuminates only the portion you would see. If the empty .308 cartridge was hiding from you, you would never see it in the two dark danger corners. To clear the room, you must push in past the door's threshold, check one corner, then quickly pivot to check the other.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFF46HjWzjkXY4tepFftDhnO6qoyalvdW5wIQwM37By5P4qqZLfGZpjQMAOxVclyGw6tFeHwb_6LRoL3S9j2rVN9ZAFrvRgiNY2qR9xtkxSzb5lnwK8snx5VrERjblrbKGiRhy0dpJ0LeA9PAnOxDzUpY3ymYYNduPY_YwenPKdbw4jaD5LT2aJ0iTrac/s3872/DSC_1172.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFF46HjWzjkXY4tepFftDhnO6qoyalvdW5wIQwM37By5P4qqZLfGZpjQMAOxVclyGw6tFeHwb_6LRoL3S9j2rVN9ZAFrvRgiNY2qR9xtkxSzb5lnwK8snx5VrERjblrbKGiRhy0dpJ0LeA9PAnOxDzUpY3ymYYNduPY_YwenPKdbw4jaD5LT2aJ0iTrac/w400-h268/DSC_1172.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure 1 The strongly lit area is all you see. Both corners are dark and the .308 is hiding in the right corner.</td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZiHHVIjrBJrom_nh6KAwRHWt8hBCLcQBpXpMfuqI1z6kZDDRfE7WvKG8ipiYQXkla5FinJLYFfK2eqGjqtOpzMdgcCXKSVIuUZruhyPC_MReSjbo3l0lWf_ihIWr9OEa17Rs6ysGZ_TxIvd-dJ4n7UWCkjFLxXFVwGaCfOBztPexkiitO_ofrGWWA2KF/s3872/DSC_1170.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZiHHVIjrBJrom_nh6KAwRHWt8hBCLcQBpXpMfuqI1z6kZDDRfE7WvKG8ipiYQXkla5FinJLYFfK2eqGjqtOpzMdgcCXKSVIuUZruhyPC_MReSjbo3l0lWf_ihIWr9OEa17Rs6ysGZ_TxIvd-dJ4n7UWCkjFLxXFVwGaCfOBztPexkiitO_ofrGWWA2KF/w400-h268/DSC_1170.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure 2 The searcher has pied his way to the middle of the door, but can still only see parts of the room.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hhMFLB50wEb-L5S6_ko0pFwcUjIq0qgxXDb1A6iPeB8ONtpYmGu-zSpvfSebpl_onDz1F8stFpbwtQyxUZVwOda4vsJbDAWS9lr2dvIfBeoFSyRgk23qnOWLhcF2OxgL_cuHnxFvGpXc_5piPzQfRbbdLs-Pw8ZnjDf0CF3rGXea1rF2usYBtLO5yQ5-/s3872/DSC_1167.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hhMFLB50wEb-L5S6_ko0pFwcUjIq0qgxXDb1A6iPeB8ONtpYmGu-zSpvfSebpl_onDz1F8stFpbwtQyxUZVwOda4vsJbDAWS9lr2dvIfBeoFSyRgk23qnOWLhcF2OxgL_cuHnxFvGpXc_5piPzQfRbbdLs-Pw8ZnjDf0CF3rGXea1rF2usYBtLO5yQ5-/w400-h268/DSC_1167.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure 3 The searcher has pied to the other side of the door, but hasn't seen the .308. Both corners are mysteries to him. </td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">One possible solution, for the solo searcher, is to go deeper into the room, simultaneously turning to check the second danger corner. This model is based on the premise that a moving target is harder to hit, and it is an unexpected move. The model concludes that you have the advantage since action beats reaction. There might be a flaw in that model.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The end-weighted room is a little easier. One corner will be deep and dark while the other is too shallow to hide in. In Figure 4, we can see the side and shoulder of the brass cartridge illuminated, but not where the eyes would be. In theory, we would know someone was in that corner before they saw us. The other corner is farther away as compared to the center-weighted room. The danger corner is even larger and darker and may require a significantly larger push into the room.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB2btfK1_Bperr7LjFkeC4dEQcvRavdFkgZTrMyMMxE0AbhFTCf12hggga-de2me6jYTNQk35PWbRM3wpujKiYY5Iy88auLddCPq5Zv3XfgHqT1ZDtK2iSjkNmxpniZ96KXU7LJpOZAlHdVb2USmxD16u3eAldC0B9QIw-MZEy2W9xrH_lGe3epeZ5dDe/s3872/DSC_1173.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB2btfK1_Bperr7LjFkeC4dEQcvRavdFkgZTrMyMMxE0AbhFTCf12hggga-de2me6jYTNQk35PWbRM3wpujKiYY5Iy88auLddCPq5Zv3XfgHqT1ZDtK2iSjkNmxpniZ96KXU7LJpOZAlHdVb2USmxD16u3eAldC0B9QIw-MZEy2W9xrH_lGe3epeZ5dDe/w400-h268/DSC_1173.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure 4 The side and shoulder of the .308 can't hide in the narrow shallow corner. The searcher sees part of the case and knows what is there.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NBrt9vWKmS7eaonEhwMINY4D7nzmSkvsVnP0Xk7CCM3SoOhYDqJ0-G8-MQFFPY53EvYppJcruxM3vX_0HzKl9QGv0Q4JXeWrk2uzrS_ky5AuDUXJGqjJYoe8zC7vioo0Qoindha5ZYcH2PrdSvHgVzoAR12Es4IFlsroBzP7QRiENluoOBl9BaKhnI-t/s3872/DSC_1175.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NBrt9vWKmS7eaonEhwMINY4D7nzmSkvsVnP0Xk7CCM3SoOhYDqJ0-G8-MQFFPY53EvYppJcruxM3vX_0HzKl9QGv0Q4JXeWrk2uzrS_ky5AuDUXJGqjJYoe8zC7vioo0Qoindha5ZYcH2PrdSvHgVzoAR12Es4IFlsroBzP7QRiENluoOBl9BaKhnI-t/w400-h268/DSC_1175.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure 5 The far corner of the end weighted room is larger. Our .308 could be closer to the door and still be invisible to the searcher.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">If our technique is correct and there is a single person in the room, the model implies we should see part of them before they see any of us. As an exercise, I’ll let you find the possible assumption errors.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, or perhaps mostly lastly, in these searches, we are not looking for a person but a part of a person: a shoe sticking out, a hand or arm, part of a gun. These are all indicators. Game hunters will tell you they often initially see some of the animal. You'll see an ear twitch or a leg shift, and you'll slowly come to identify the animal. These are dangerous games, both big game hunting and room clearance.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, use this information to fill the deep shadow corners of your house. Place a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, a massive piece of furniture an intruder can't get behind without significant room disturbance. Place a mirror that sees into that corner, anything that effectively thins the danger zone. </span></p><p> </p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-88468400737297715312023-07-09T15:05:00.003-04:002023-07-09T15:26:24.061-04:00Tueller Drill Revisited<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">A child might ask a parent, “How
do I tell if someone is trying to just frighten or really harm me?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is an excellent question and
one not simply answered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are many excellent articles
on pre-attack behavior, concealed weapon indicators, verbal judo to
de-escalate, and tactics to give you the ‘higher ground’ advantage, effectively
giving you a greater disparity of force.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The list goes on and on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But none of them actually address
the question, "How do I distinguish between someone trying to frighten me
and someone attempting to harm me?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Making yourself seem more
dangerous is a common strategy in nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So much so that cartoonist Gary Larson makes fun of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-T-qLBSoHTRHRzUyOOWwdgzCgdBi-qCXdUoLY-7ZAgwIIx7HyBLym3eBvPL7ecsY9OUwB3uP0CYK9ZokR4FO-o7_GzHkiEwQbxod1cRzMFK4nhiWjkBdNXZoRCZCi_5oIX0AXpMiFriCJHaxU51nHKEw8CFGxgE-1c7w4yrlh8hc6PYzAFAILj-ttxfU/s259/farside%20cartoon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="195" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-T-qLBSoHTRHRzUyOOWwdgzCgdBi-qCXdUoLY-7ZAgwIIx7HyBLym3eBvPL7ecsY9OUwB3uP0CYK9ZokR4FO-o7_GzHkiEwQbxod1cRzMFK4nhiWjkBdNXZoRCZCi_5oIX0AXpMiFriCJHaxU51nHKEw8CFGxgE-1c7w4yrlh8hc6PYzAFAILj-ttxfU/w301-h400/farside%20cartoon.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>One way to answer this question
is to break it down into a flow sheet of questions with either a yes or no
answer.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">One could imagine a flow sheet:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does he have a weapon?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No – go to line 56<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Is it
effective across a distance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, go to
line 23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Is it
a contact weapon?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, go to line 31<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Is he
at least 10% bigger or 10 years younger? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, go to line 78<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Are there more than one of them….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">You're likely to get mugged
before you complete the remaining 153 questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let's look at how close is too close.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">(I have a couple short videos
that help explain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mover starts at
zero and the orange line, where the shooter stands is 21 feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note the condition of the shooter and his
sidearm at the start of each.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dennis Tueller published the
concept of ‘Danger Zone’ (<a href="http://www.theppsc.org/Staff_Views/Tueller/How.Close.htm">http://www.theppsc.org/Staff_Views/Tueller/How.Close.htm</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was an offshoot of his search to
visually illustrate the 'reactionary gap.'<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">It has been long known that
action beats reaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure the
Roman Legion trainers drummed it into recruits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Get your shield up when you’re in striking distance of the barbarian’s
weapon, rookie!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='318' height='265' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxo1D8D2EtnAtVST-PVPbeBJBQDV2dCvKDatgRMHxkOFbD95FURKbV-5rArU5nGB9MeC6fLmIbZP4uKt84Hag' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The shooter starts with an aggressive stance and a concealed weapon The attacker makes it to the 21 ft line before a shot is fired. It is only moving back quickly that the defender preserves his life.</i></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Reactionary gap is not a simple
subject in itself.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">It has its roots in
the OODA loop.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">That's a topic for
another day.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tueller proposed a concept of
time and distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This concept is still
being taught (wisely, I might add) that an average person can run 21 feet in
the 1.5 seconds, it takes for a <i>trained</i> officer with an <i>exposed</i>
gun to draw and fire two rounds center of mass.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dys9YfH8lz00jH79T-dQ4YjkpIgo_UnzKKJ0JZnK1qkxqzNMYnG-qgOCFbf-3nKxRe4cpCNkKIZpQNhYhguSA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The shooter starts with his hand on the weapon and is able to get a round off before the attacker reaches 21 ft. Again, moving back helps preserves the defender's life</i></span>.<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So, if a person with a contact
weapon indicates he/she will use it on us and they are within 21ft, we are in
Tueller’s danger zone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">True or False?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you in danger?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the answer is:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>maybe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I ran 21 feet at different speeds
on different surfaces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grass, loose
stone, and concrete all had a little different time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t take too much imagination to
realize deep snow, tall weeds, or sand would have a more significant
effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, are you ‘safe’ if your assailant
is 21 feet away, standing on sand?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The conservative answer, the
correct answer, is no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember you're
on the same surface, and your attempts to increase distance will also be
hampered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzhj0PzkOOpB4UNt1ox9_CtqJOlKuAVyYBejaxgam-7gSewgQqzE1oAZXNWwunNlqulHTMOI6_rkCM7GQGl0Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The shooter starts with the gun drawn and pointed between the attacker and himself. The shooter is able to get several rounds off before the attacker closes the distance. </i></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But maybe more importantly,
Tueller's 'Danger Zone" is defined by your skill with your sidearm.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I checked my records.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Four years ago, I drew and fired one round to
the center of mass in 1.8 seconds.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Last
month I clocked in at 2.1 seconds for the same shot.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">My reactionary gap has increased.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The distance doesn't change in a
linear method.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speed, endurance, and
acceleration mean a runner starts slow, reaches peak speed, and at some
distance, begins to slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of these
depend on the physical condition of your attacker.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The tactical defender has taken
all this into account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He constantly attempts
to increase distance while keeping the best possible backstop behind his
attacker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He makes his weapon more
assessable; he attempts to get objects between him and the attacker and uses
verbal judo to de-escalate the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He does all this while paying attention to her surroundings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does this guarantee a good
outcome?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know an electrical engineer who
tells me ‘You can do everything right and still have a negative outcome.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But doing all the right things
gives you a significantly better chance at a good (define it any way you want)
outcome.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-22691953900105846002023-05-16T19:40:00.000-04:002023-05-16T19:40:34.051-04:00The J-Frame<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">With the arrival of spring many of us go through a change. I do.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">During the winter I could carry a larger gun in public because I wore vest, coats, sweaters, and the rest of winter wear. But with the warm days of summer arriving, that must change.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ohio has open carry, which I think is dead dick stupid, with a side of numbnuts. I don’t want to be noticed. I don’t want to attract attention, I want to be the classic victim selection question mark, “Does he, or doesn’t he?”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFNajoeXXFfDlpj_2fkw9EVAIFmw4oU4ZPMD3LMR1NObzF-9j9rXfpUbYvP0xfygcg0iIjvFHFAbHGtqm7UkaDSbQPErRVpBmUiRAkxBX2_c7n_eMqMOBugDcvGXa6Uh031r4qJ7quS3nlolo3HxhAW1WqT-Y1QBPNKy20HweD8NJmlbHdx0Vps-USQ/s1080/thumbnail%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1080" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFNajoeXXFfDlpj_2fkw9EVAIFmw4oU4ZPMD3LMR1NObzF-9j9rXfpUbYvP0xfygcg0iIjvFHFAbHGtqm7UkaDSbQPErRVpBmUiRAkxBX2_c7n_eMqMOBugDcvGXa6Uh031r4qJ7quS3nlolo3HxhAW1WqT-Y1QBPNKy20HweD8NJmlbHdx0Vps-USQ/w640-h482/thumbnail%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've carried a J-Frame for years</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">One solution to summer carry is the J-frame carried in an ankle holster. Five rounds of .38 Special tucked into a hard to shoot package. Stings your hand? Yes, but not as much on the receiving side. Small sights? Yes, it takes practice to shoot it well. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Only a .38 Special? Nobody shot with a modern .38 Special with hollow points has complained they weren’t shot enough.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I work with 8 X 10-inch steel targets at 15 yards. Success, for me, is defined as dumping all five rounds on to the steel in as short of a time as I can. It is still a work in progress.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0r9BMrpfBNLy7k5DiSXqmNO8qNqRtDzQ3U-OkaD2f_eH4pZ-20fYiwnyr1MVhi-hTLRDAjvgCK5Rjq3z-ZHwcA24Wb78ZRdOdZsbcLZn_aBvTLEFQwZzUsWWnp3mwtj8H8xf07G1nMXLYbbQ0WDTctMv8rAyYk8dZlxb8h4WpM68u-nCI1R9F8ERsA/s869/thumbnail%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="869" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0r9BMrpfBNLy7k5DiSXqmNO8qNqRtDzQ3U-OkaD2f_eH4pZ-20fYiwnyr1MVhi-hTLRDAjvgCK5Rjq3z-ZHwcA24Wb78ZRdOdZsbcLZn_aBvTLEFQwZzUsWWnp3mwtj8H8xf07G1nMXLYbbQ0WDTctMv8rAyYk8dZlxb8h4WpM68u-nCI1R9F8ERsA/w400-h328/thumbnail%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's 15 yards or 45 feet. If you can rapidly hit a 8X10 target at that distance you are doing okay!</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">All we can do is fall back on police studies; they are after all, the people who collect this information. The FBI/NYPD/Cleveland PD/ and others indicate the majority of fights are at spitting distances and a limited number of exchanges.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Only five rounds? Yup. I don’t anticipate a protracted gun battle. Every video I’ve seen of an armed encounter has everyone disappears with the first shot, including the shooter. I don’t have to arrest him, just stop the carnage. But I still practice speed strip reloads.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Slow draws? Yes. There are procedures to cut the time down. You can shoot from the kneeling position, saving the time required to stand up. The more important one is getting your hand on the gun in anticipation of trouble. This rule applies to all guns.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Practice makes for improved performance. Get out and get to the range.</span></p><div><br /></div>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-59338847046078084322023-04-20T13:21:00.000-04:002023-04-20T13:21:49.715-04:00Jayland Walker<p><span style="font-size: large;">What is a four-syllable
expression for tragedy?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jayland Walker. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7ARpatn3eeEQ4yKaXl9s8PpO_Hz-x5Ifyqj00f_-C6b_NH7lyyuqYa-wZW0H3QyR2EU1_ibAJdp7u3SK4fBX0CMklmRp75iC5kV_7y2GZqhJL3zwZu0KQOn4d1a5G1HsZo2h9kpKHs6oy6-1Otb77PlztBoaNOZNMVHBL5XHu6JmYfXAkfqghXCufg/s677/230405-jayland-walker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="677" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7ARpatn3eeEQ4yKaXl9s8PpO_Hz-x5Ifyqj00f_-C6b_NH7lyyuqYa-wZW0H3QyR2EU1_ibAJdp7u3SK4fBX0CMklmRp75iC5kV_7y2GZqhJL3zwZu0KQOn4d1a5G1HsZo2h9kpKHs6oy6-1Otb77PlztBoaNOZNMVHBL5XHu6JmYfXAkfqghXCufg/w400-h266/230405-jayland-walker.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tragedy in many parts</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">You can research him and the
tragedy that follows the accidental death of his fiancée.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Shakespeare could use this as a basis for one
of his tragedies.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">For a cast of
characters, we have a melancholy, depressed young man, traumatized police
officers, a family and friends asking why they did not see the warning signs, a
polarized city disrupted by protest, and a chorus of millions.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we can learn from this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The loss of loved a one is always
a traumatic, life-changing event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
family/friends, we need to do everything we can to seek professional counseling
for ourselves and the victims of the tragedy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t take no for an answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bribe, convince, cajole but get them and yourself help.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The investigation of the shooting
by the Ohio Criminal Bureau of Investigation was much more comprehensive than I
expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there are a few gems for
the CCW community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The key to remember is you can
only tell the jury what you knew at the moment you pulled the trigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question then becomes, when did you know
this, and how do you prove it?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Having acknowledged experts
published in the community newspaper is about as good as it gets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The quotes are from the Akron
Beacon Journal published 20 April 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“Some officers…thought Walker
fired first – not from his vehicle during the car chase but when officers
caught up to him in the parking lot… They thought they were returning fire…”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the chaos of battle, valid information
becomes scarce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gunfire from the
police made other police think they were being fired on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For us civilians, it points out that in the
explosion of violence in a restaurant, shopping mall or church, you will likely
not know who is shooting who.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before you
insert yourself, make sure you understand what is happening and who the actors
are. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shooting your gun because others
are, can and most likely will result in a long and costly trial and years of
incarceration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Topping off a gun, that is, loading
the gun, removing the magazine, and replacing the round used to load the gun is
a common practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may find yourself
challenged that topping off shows you had malice, wanted to punish, or were looking
for a conflict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not so, said <u>Charles
P. Stephenson, former police officer and FBI firearm instructor.</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>“That’s not unusual…That’s the way it’s
carried, one round in the chamber.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Court is very much like
theatre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lawyers present their view
of reality and what happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The jury
picks the version they like more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
jury’s job is to decide what the truth is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In blog "Dead End Street" <a href="http://tactical-talk.blogspot.com/2018/04/dead-end-street.html">http://tactical-talk.blogspot.com/2018/04/dead-end-street.html</a>,
the prosecutor stated Knight (Accused) “tactically” parked his truck a few
doors down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The use of "tactically parked" is
stage dressing for her version of reality. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have not gotten anyone who can explain what “tactically
parked” means.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your ability to demonstrate the
falsehood of a statement can keep you out of the Graybar Hotel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Two of the eight
officers…Could not recall how many shots they fired."</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We perceive that police are better trained
than the average CCW holder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If police
cannot remember how many times they fired their gun, how could you be expected
to know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer to that question
should always be<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"I don’t
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shot until the threat was
removed.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The question or implication you
fired too much and should have stopped sooner can be addressed with<i> “Stephenson
also explained that standard officer training calls for the forceful
neutralization of threats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And 1 to 2
seconds can pass before the human mind acknowledges that the threat has
passed…"</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key here is if it
takes trained officers one to two seconds to realize the imminent threat has
passed, what can you expect from the civilian CCW community?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not engaging in gunfire, if you
can safely avoid it, is clearly beneficial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your training and tactics should reflect the three phases of any armed
encounter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are, Pre-conflict,
Conflict, and Post-conflict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us train
for the conflict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gun ranges are filled
with people practicing shot placement, barricade work, reloading and such.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some will study the pre-conflict phase, learn
what to watch for, recognize the escalating situation, and understand how to
defuse it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But if you don’t study and
prepare for the post-conflict, it will not end well for you and your loved
ones.</span><o:p></o:p></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-39688316567234065632023-04-06T18:47:00.001-04:002023-05-16T19:43:03.269-04:00More Tales Of The Damned<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4vpYBzI44DHUC8SBIl8Xhp23vubHRtDIGh78kUXRavXGTeeQhHv4k8A5TO0Fyd20fQSkcpBMwUpq-hBPpewgJT_K1YvMrc0L76-2qVUD0PObisJ9kpTU5yUIrayZnO6uWnLhX2_frSYlyKuX1U6C-QqEh1gVCWgjeEh7M3_RdDhjR-Tpb9MtfqQ4aw/s711/smoking%20gun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4vpYBzI44DHUC8SBIl8Xhp23vubHRtDIGh78kUXRavXGTeeQhHv4k8A5TO0Fyd20fQSkcpBMwUpq-hBPpewgJT_K1YvMrc0L76-2qVUD0PObisJ9kpTU5yUIrayZnO6uWnLhX2_frSYlyKuX1U6C-QqEh1gVCWgjeEh7M3_RdDhjR-Tpb9MtfqQ4aw/w281-h400/smoking%20gun.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The Akron police responded on Jan. 30, 2021, to a call
of shots fired from the 800 block of Thornton Street.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">They found Lacey Claxton, dead from a gunshot
wound, lying in his driveway. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Work-up of
the body indicated he was shot under his left armpit from 3 to 5 feet.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The police determined that Princess
Fitzgerald was a person of interest and that Lacey's car had also been stolen.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Feb. 5, the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Princess
in Columbus, OH, and recovered Lacey's car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Princess was transported to the Summit County Jail and charged with
murder, having weapons under disability, motor vehicle theft, and tampering
with evidence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s the fact picture and start of our lesson
plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All this information can be found
online at the Akron Beacon Journal and other media sources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's important to note that there are facts
and inferences we will never have due to the nature of journalism.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Princess’s original story claimed a masked stranger
entered the home and was challenged by Lacey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the ensuing struggle the gun went off resulting in his death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the classic SODDI defense:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some Other Dude Done It.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Later she claimed the gun went off by accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure there is some additional baggage
that went with that story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, Princess claimed she shot Lacey as he
assaulted her, making a self-defense claim.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is well established that the affirmative defense is
the best and perhaps only viable defense following a self-defense shooting and
resulting death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is, I fired in
self-defense to save my life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">If the jury believes you shot solely to defend yourself,
they must find you innocent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
downside is you have, by this claim, admitted to shooting and potentially
killing another human being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the
prosecutor can find one untrue fact, your claim can and will unravel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a defense only for the truly innocent. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the trial, she was represented by Attorney Jeff
Laybourne, a criminal defense attorney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I suspect she did not ask for a lawyer initially, as no lawyer would
allow her to change her story three times before taking a plea bargain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Attorney Laybourne later said if the case had gone to
trial, Princess would have claimed self-defense and had two witnesses to
corroborate her account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But despite
this, it appears Attorney Laybourne suggested that Princess accept a plea
bargain to avoid a life sentence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Princess pleaded to a reduced charge of voluntary
manslaughter with a three-year gun specification, tampering with evidence, and
having a weapon under disability.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Judge O'Brien sentenced Princess to 17 to 22.5 years. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few points to remember.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">If the surroundings seem dangerous, please go
somewhere safe and call the police.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I
need to tell you to wait there for the police?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In general, the American culture views people who run away as
guilty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some place safe doesn’t mean a
city 125 miles away from the incident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, stealing a car doesn’t add to your credibility.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">You want to cooperate with the police in the presence
of your lawyer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a lawyer should
prevent you from changing your story three times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is conceivable you might lie to the police.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might even lie to yourself after
surviving the horrific experience of a self-defense shooting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But eventually you and your lawyer must
explain that to the jury.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Still, why did Princess take a plea if it was self-defense
and she had two witnesses?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps the
judge would not allow her to enter a plea of self-defense due to her history of
lying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe her witnesses had no
credibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then too, shooting someone during a struggle isn't
consistent with being shot from 3-5 feet away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s been said nothing good comes out of the barrel of
a gun. That is a true statement. It doesn’t appear firing that shot did
anything good for Princess.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-26320982484969500772023-02-27T18:09:00.002-05:002023-02-27T18:40:28.382-05:00Walk On The Dark Side<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Which is better? A mounted gun light or a handheld tactical light? What is right and what is wrong?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Some tactics are wrong. Jumping out from cover to expose yourself to income rounds is undoubtedly wrong. Excluding that level of stupidity, the situation defines your tactics. Here success determines what is good or bad. For example:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A shooting school instructor spoke about a previous student who trained to make entry and kneel in the center of the room, checking for hidden corners and furniture placement. During a training scenario, he was second of a five-man train. They made entry, he took a knee, and the train knocked him down and stepped on him as they moved to their locations. That might have been a good technique misused.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The second thing you need to know is that no national, approved, certified standard of tactics exists. Not the FBI, the Marines, the CIA, or the NYPD ESU. And every instructor has their perspective based on their needs. Indeed, my views are formed by my training and experience, just as everyone else’s.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s set one thing aside right now. A long gun requires a mounted light for serious work. Some techniques allow you to use a handheld light and fire your rifle. These are emergency-use applications that give up some control of the gun and limit your options.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let's talk handguns</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The classic fencing stance with the weak hand thrown back and elevated was designed as much for balance as holding a lantern. Many nations outlawed dueling, and men resolved their affairs of honor under the cover of darkness. Hence the need for a lantern carried not to blind yourself. Illumination and weapons have a long relationship.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The current ‘Modern Pistolcraft’ evolved around the heavy steel Maglite. The best summary of its tactics and uses is found in <b>"Defensive Tactics with Flashlights</b>" by John Peters. Published in 1982, it still provides many useable techniques. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It obviously doesn't cover the advent of diode lights and the evolution of small tactical lights and gun lights.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">All lights used in a tactical situation have one primary purpose: to provide illumination to determine if another person is present and most importantly, are they armed? Determination of danger is left to the defender.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Should you replace your weapon light with a tactical flashlight? </b> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A theory proposed by some instructors acknowledges searching with the weapon light could result in you pointing your weapon at people you don't want to shoot. Like your children or other persons present but not involved. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Example: A late evening church sleepover event goes bad, the lights flicker out, and you hear gunshots. While searching for danger, will you point your gun at children? I hope you remembered the NRA's three rules of safety and kept your finger off the trigger.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The upside of a handheld light is you aren’t pointing the gun at anyone until you determine they are a hazard. The handheld lets you aim the light into their face, hopefully blinding them and giving you more control over the situation. You can, if necessary, give your flashlight to someone.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Down Side</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The downside is despite all the classic flashlight gun techniques, including the elevated FBI and Temple Index, you have only one hand on the gun. Shoot a match one-handed and see the results of that. There is also a tendency to spend time aiming the light when you should be shooting. Reloads are complicated. Where do you place the flashlight? How do I hold one or more persons at gunpoint and call the police? Even if others call the police, you should want to be on the line to the dispatcher explaining who you are, where you are, and where the police are, so you can place your gun down. Remember, there are no good-guy citizen markers in these encounters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let’s move to the weapon light.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's advantageous to lead with the light and gun when pieing corners. Illuminating areas does not require you to shine the light in their face to blind them. While useful, but not required. Weapon lights are typically easier to use. Most have an ambidextrous paddle you push down to activate and a single illumination mode. Many flashlights have a difficult activation button to reach (to prevent accidental activation) or a complicated system of multiple illumination levels. The weapon light leaves the weak hand unincumbered for weapon retention, reloading, and using your phone.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My gun is in my right hand as I approach the left side of a doorway. When approaching the right side of a doorway, I can efficiently and safely transfer my gun from right to left. How do I accomplish that while holding a flashlight?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Disadvantages of weapon light</b>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You can’t hand your light to someone else who needs it. Searching in a parking lot for dropped keys, looking at directions/instructions in the dark, or seeing the stairs in a darkened movie theater all require using your weapon. For your safety, following the grounding of the criminals, it is advisable to reholster and keep one hand on the gun. You can't do this with a weapon light. Placing potentially armed people in the dark gives them a significant advantage over you.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let’s look at the tactics</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The notation LH stands for Light In Hand and the illuminated area is in orange. GH stands for Gun Light Hand and the blue represents the area illuminated. This is for a right handed shooter, flip the illustrations over if you are left handed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just a reminder, the map is not the territory nor the menu and food. Okay? Figures and photos are just for illustration.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrt9jFUf6B4yalWf-q54rQrvXSlWJCOXjqorXH0iqlTdw4pNP4noaSqCymGtHheBdTIu3YfH1MDyfzDKs4tCAIfhGL47tNIqL1tFJWIMhhTIfmYv3NU6a1bPlq7L10yCR3nJzVM65hKopkOyUjAmFYPZ4VMAeg3WEYVkk6RcZ2-cpecBxD8Jfd3jpD8Q/s1600/figure%201001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrt9jFUf6B4yalWf-q54rQrvXSlWJCOXjqorXH0iqlTdw4pNP4noaSqCymGtHheBdTIu3YfH1MDyfzDKs4tCAIfhGL47tNIqL1tFJWIMhhTIfmYv3NU6a1bPlq7L10yCR3nJzVM65hKopkOyUjAmFYPZ4VMAeg3WEYVkk6RcZ2-cpecBxD8Jfd3jpD8Q/w428-h640/figure%201001.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure One</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Figure One: You are pieing the door to a kitchen from the left side, at the door edge. The door frame acts as a barrier to your light entering the room. The gun light, shown in blue, illuminates more of the room. The handheld light on is left of the gun hand and obscured by more of the wall and door frame.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKgeTOhpZnAW1L0xIx6Ve4EXgRDkp5gxg6EuIbNCelU95dsNX4h1hFJ_b7F8Ve7OIQBaIwrrGBjJUdP8rdYNqLVPKGxQE2-WlG-A-mKzlnih2Sj817mnsE_HBVZweXEJst6shu4pBIVTsmg3hKxc9nLVaX17cM-hG42OKva3KkdQV0H8tKeH4heWcEQ/s1600/figure%202002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKgeTOhpZnAW1L0xIx6Ve4EXgRDkp5gxg6EuIbNCelU95dsNX4h1hFJ_b7F8Ve7OIQBaIwrrGBjJUdP8rdYNqLVPKGxQE2-WlG-A-mKzlnih2Sj817mnsE_HBVZweXEJst6shu4pBIVTsmg3hKxc9nLVaX17cM-hG42OKva3KkdQV0H8tKeH4heWcEQ/w400-h640/figure%202002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure Two</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Figure Two is your drop-out from Figure One. LH still isn't illuminating the majority of the kitchen. I estimate that more than half the kitchen is still in darkness. But how dark?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The light projected into the area will bounce around and add illumination to the dark corners. Will it be enough to see and correctly evaluate the criminal? I don't know.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Also, remember some of the light from either source is being reflected and returned to the defender. You will not be as dark-adjusted as before turning on the flashlight. I suspect the shadows will be dark enough to hide an armed person.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One last observation about Figure Two. Note how what could be a dishwasher on the left creates a small, waist-high pocket of shadow. A tall object will create a larger area. In either case, you must clear those out. Remember, the drawing is 2-D, but things are 3-D with a clock running on the situation.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPnJ9aDptoSg3QnuQsbl5lJuZqp79tRPE-EnuY6qkmP3iYN7QtqGCP7XEymFVJvt8WB6azOkLt2Va2P2X-3Zx8ZAylK05dA2pd3Mdd88VcXBVC8uZWdLW5aK9c6TJu58E0qXn_ToqEr_nqn-8UVhD739U4oLxpiih27Ouscs1_kqcUUJbUNAihrxivg/s2189/figure%203003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2189" data-original-width="1331" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPnJ9aDptoSg3QnuQsbl5lJuZqp79tRPE-EnuY6qkmP3iYN7QtqGCP7XEymFVJvt8WB6azOkLt2Va2P2X-3Zx8ZAylK05dA2pd3Mdd88VcXBVC8uZWdLW5aK9c6TJu58E0qXn_ToqEr_nqn-8UVhD739U4oLxpiih27Ouscs1_kqcUUJbUNAihrxivg/w390-h640/figure%203003.jpg" width="390" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure Three</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Figure Three</b></span><span style="font-size: large;">: S</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">ome of these problems can be reduced by moving the flashlight to the right side of the hand gun. One method is the Harries Technique. Figure Three shows the area covered by the weapon light and the flashlight are the same.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Harries Technique moves the flashlight hand to the right side of the gun hand and essentially converts the flashlight to a weapon light. You still have recoil issues and the tendency to waste time aiming the flashlight when you should be shooting.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are other techniques: The Cirillo, the Chapman, the Ayoob, all of which bring the flashlight into close contact with the handgun. All attempt to make the flashlight a weapon mounted light.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This still doesn’t give you the extra hand to retain a weapon, call 911 or reload.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">One tactic with a flashlight or gun light is to light the floor or ceiling. I recommend shining a gun light on the floor as the weapon can be held at the bottom of your sight and does not obscure the target. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Photo One</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT4k9Bxgzn_dBy26lgAXeUrLKCeOO2prg0ccqFksZpPu9s6Enruv8HwFQwTHuTyqsatfPwoeDk0P4pH-Ye5S_8GC1Bpwdt3r_nixYEgnOT-WTdQtFg8Ec31272t6PdtGsPwifV4yycObz6DY4dV-iRx20lu4JV_vsVYjx3-ju88akGSgJxoE4DAMydA/s3872/DSC_0411.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3872" data-original-width="2592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT4k9Bxgzn_dBy26lgAXeUrLKCeOO2prg0ccqFksZpPu9s6Enruv8HwFQwTHuTyqsatfPwoeDk0P4pH-Ye5S_8GC1Bpwdt3r_nixYEgnOT-WTdQtFg8Ec31272t6PdtGsPwifV4yycObz6DY4dV-iRx20lu4JV_vsVYjx3-ju88akGSgJxoE4DAMydA/w428-h640/DSC_0411.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo One</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here’s my coat standing in as a bad guy illuminated only by the dining room light. I wasn’t able to find a floor plan and kitchen that matched.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Photo Two</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6ygNf7Ollm--2LntVwBVPRVnBzVHVDqzhWuRMHxQ8Sfnv5ts6J_aPIzbuqgoU1recTWU6Tyfzd5Vi7HEXWaX4DcCkE8NA57VIOUaZ5dNIwf82xymwhwZkCUU1RUkD8QATHuYc-bG2PsR2vEEsCazo7gVscyzvCiyhoYLVJLOs2MZCpB4YjXSOcnRoQ/s3872/no%20light.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3872" data-original-width="2592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6ygNf7Ollm--2LntVwBVPRVnBzVHVDqzhWuRMHxQ8Sfnv5ts6J_aPIzbuqgoU1recTWU6Tyfzd5Vi7HEXWaX4DcCkE8NA57VIOUaZ5dNIwf82xymwhwZkCUU1RUkD8QATHuYc-bG2PsR2vEEsCazo7gVscyzvCiyhoYLVJLOs2MZCpB4YjXSOcnRoQ/w429-h640/no%20light.JPG" width="429" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Two Can you see the target? How about floor tiles?</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">With the light off, using only the ambient, low-level light from windows and outdoor lights, look into the kitchen. What do you see?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Photo Three</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggW4TtzxqaNEj4JBSRDYE5B48Z79LOb7TRzbaCoI5oWYcfj-fQ-SFUhxCedZTv3mtFBdIJk06wCI2f-2QzzRINSwORqhftlG0dtzdUIs0KfUT1zOR0DwoiHYQusoDQ-28xOQD5bWzfTsBSnJH1YEsGl4LpqE_y5ZVa-JuD_E0n4NB04nbbxiK4nf5vZw/s3872/fl%20in%20left%20hand.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3872" data-original-width="2592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggW4TtzxqaNEj4JBSRDYE5B48Z79LOb7TRzbaCoI5oWYcfj-fQ-SFUhxCedZTv3mtFBdIJk06wCI2f-2QzzRINSwORqhftlG0dtzdUIs0KfUT1zOR0DwoiHYQusoDQ-28xOQD5bWzfTsBSnJH1YEsGl4LpqE_y5ZVa-JuD_E0n4NB04nbbxiK4nf5vZw/w428-h640/fl%20in%20left%20hand.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Three Flashlight in non-shooting hand</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm illuminating the kitchen with a tactical light left non-gun hand. The bright spot on the woodwork isn't from the center of the beam; it is just closer to the camera and returning a hot spot. What do you see in there? Most people can see the maroon coat. Is there a weapon present? What you can see is from the narrow beam of light in Figure One bouncing around.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Photo Four</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oEDnnmR93Fdv7FaRjlKc0E8ozu3EhDNiyv_HBMFPm0WnRLmNSKKAlO1FErgtw0zVJaECvlq3aHTiPYcmOebwFS5JX-bTzRdPETA0YFBMxfXZLhp9GSQQjjOrzgYf5EdoGN-94_L8DLegQl6WzMYD3WOkOWfi6IF7Fir0b9B7T_FQS-sjacURoO3QSw/s3872/DSC_0418.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3872" data-original-width="2592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oEDnnmR93Fdv7FaRjlKc0E8ozu3EhDNiyv_HBMFPm0WnRLmNSKKAlO1FErgtw0zVJaECvlq3aHTiPYcmOebwFS5JX-bTzRdPETA0YFBMxfXZLhp9GSQQjjOrzgYf5EdoGN-94_L8DLegQl6WzMYD3WOkOWfi6IF7Fir0b9B7T_FQS-sjacURoO3QSw/w429-h640/DSC_0418.JPG" width="429" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo 4 gun light illuminating floor, not pointed at target</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is the weapon light illumination on the floor. There is significant light bounce to show the jacket and both ends of the sleeves where hands and weapons would be.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Photo Five.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxGqniBXnyYP6oL3QEHEu9IOrM_U_BKLysrWc_dO5puMrcO42X4ls5mbnIF5uzToAeoG70xS1EZlGDTvtaT9nDhNMDFa24QBURzQ9prK6-5t76RncxDDjEuROkufDQypuBpGLSWSfgQ4dMb-bnhG9iLreRwZ_UlbtQvb0ZPYED2LwSfHkjzKmH_v1-A/s3872/DSC_0422.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3872" data-original-width="2592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxGqniBXnyYP6oL3QEHEu9IOrM_U_BKLysrWc_dO5puMrcO42X4ls5mbnIF5uzToAeoG70xS1EZlGDTvtaT9nDhNMDFa24QBURzQ9prK6-5t76RncxDDjEuROkufDQypuBpGLSWSfgQ4dMb-bnhG9iLreRwZ_UlbtQvb0ZPYED2LwSfHkjzKmH_v1-A/w428-h640/DSC_0422.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Five Defender snaps gun on target</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">From Photo Four the shooter only needs to determine if it is a shoot situation and snap the gun on to target (Yes, it’s out of focus. The camera thought the shadow shooter was the subject.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Summary</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After weighing these images and considering my experience shooting in the dark, I want a gun light. But having an alternate light source is a powerful tool, if you can devise ways of freeing your hand for other chores like weapon retention. You need to be able to release the flashlight while retaining it. The best solution I’ve found is the lanyard.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take the time before you rush into harm’s way to ensure the proper set-up of your rescue equipment. Getting shot or killed will not help the people you mean to save.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It’s that simple.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-25535827048035367982022-12-16T11:59:00.001-05:002022-12-21T14:13:51.799-05:00St. Swizzle<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">As
we approach the end of the year we need to pause and remember the true meaning
of St. Swizzle’s feast day. Many of you
don’t know this story, a hole in your education that can be plugged quite
easily.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">It
was in the early days of Christianity, a time when Christianity was still novel
enough to be trending among the kings of what would someday be Europe. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">As
kings would have it, a disagreement between the nations we now know as England,
Spain, and France broke out over the correct way, that is to say, their way of
mixing drinks. This controversy lock
stepped Europe to the edge of war. The
Pope, in an effort to calm the waters, issued a decree that the rulers of these
three kingdoms would come together at a small monastery in the Swiss Alps to
resolve their difference or face ex-communication. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">It
comes to the last day of the year, and the three remain deadlocked and jointly announce
that having met the Pope's decree, on the morrow, they would return to their
kingdoms unable to find a solution.
Everyone knew this would be followed by royal heralds declaring war, plunging
Europe into years of death, destruction, and despair. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Abbot
Swizzle, hearing the news, was beside himself.
Why fight over peasants, he thought?
One bunch of peasants was just as stinky as another and just as
useless. When informed by the monks it
was over the proper way to mix drinks, he was outraged.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Barging
into the Kings' last late-night dinner, he demanded to know the cause of this
conflict. After all, in times of war, monasteries
became shelters and morgues to the displaced, wounded and dead, mostly the dead. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
three Kings explained that each had decided, after much prayer and meditation,
that there was only one proper way to mix drinks to proclaim glory to God and
shun the Devil. With a sneer, each told
Swizzle that any other way, pausing only to glance at the other two, would be
to open the door to evil and sever the noble link kings had with God. That link severed meant the king could no
longer be worthy of ruling. Such lands
needed to be protected by a God-fearing king, hence the necessity of war. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Each
king demonstrated his method of mixing drinks, much to the universal disgust of
the other two. It is then that blessed
Swizzle took a cup and with his badge of office, a long gold crucifix, plunged
the long end into the vessel and mixed the contents.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
kings were amazed. They declared “Pax de
Swizzle” and returned to their kingdoms to find a different cause to go to war
over.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">This
is why on the last day of the year, at the very end of the day, we place a
Swizzle stick in our glass and proclaim a year of goodwill. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">All thanks to St. Swizzle!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTsshEvzMizSBl2Eh1KJgPM_CRCxHjdAhX4yegU9TzaMN0Atd9T-jVUnIs4ObgmFQVvJWop2iunImZlvnGeCHFSP7vOy6tDHREgDiuYnV36cegiRoqqJSDFYPA-0Ecw3RJu4z7fyAHyjgaNMIEoVOSFvItSLzX9EyfPs2lTcfk302kAxnx45qaCs6Cg/s2340/Article-History-Tiki-Drink-Swizzle-Sticks-Modern-Classic-Cocktail-Bartending.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1316" data-original-width="2340" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTsshEvzMizSBl2Eh1KJgPM_CRCxHjdAhX4yegU9TzaMN0Atd9T-jVUnIs4ObgmFQVvJWop2iunImZlvnGeCHFSP7vOy6tDHREgDiuYnV36cegiRoqqJSDFYPA-0Ecw3RJu4z7fyAHyjgaNMIEoVOSFvItSLzX9EyfPs2lTcfk302kAxnx45qaCs6Cg/w640-h360/Article-History-Tiki-Drink-Swizzle-Sticks-Modern-Classic-Cocktail-Bartending.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holy Relics Thanks to Punchdrink.com</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-16430942141548902372022-12-12T20:25:00.004-05:002022-12-14T11:58:22.959-05:00 Tactical Stocking Stuffers<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a
few suggestions for that tactical stocking you need to stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are
things, many common, that make life comfortable and user-friendly for the
tactical guy or gal on your list. Here
are a few.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcesXkrgRRdM9RBbYC5msycF3Zfm09kNqOZqrECYKfqjrEN6WNkTD4SMEBrf4mhKbgtPnQgOKQS3aqds6pdbM13W2w_HZKwevO9ncPVFYPaJksuZAHH7c1Y9wu9fmkz2tG806S7U_Mzne_qRtIAJVVjLdoI0Kmq0YJTYalCTS9BTgVOOmnsEJjd0_jg/s3872/DSC_0303.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3872" data-original-width="2592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcesXkrgRRdM9RBbYC5msycF3Zfm09kNqOZqrECYKfqjrEN6WNkTD4SMEBrf4mhKbgtPnQgOKQS3aqds6pdbM13W2w_HZKwevO9ncPVFYPaJksuZAHH7c1Y9wu9fmkz2tG806S7U_Mzne_qRtIAJVVjLdoI0Kmq0YJTYalCTS9BTgVOOmnsEJjd0_jg/w429-h640/DSC_0303.JPG" width="429" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe you'll want to fill your own Tactical Stocking for Christmas</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Everyone
needs spare magazines.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">They are the weak
point in any weapon system.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Even
military science fiction pays homage to the inability to get
ammunition/energy/missiles into the weapon system fast enough.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">A defective magazine turns your favorite
blaster into a slow, single-shot tool at best.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Next to ammo and spare springs, magazines are welcome.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOKQH6DUqB0lmaxlpmOOnjP_mCJwKRSy4kTANc8adInOlOyJVc8-Lcm_d2Yd_KUeET6GnERKo32AtU1HoPmT3qMNcCeLS17jsn-K5ZOQLfskA7NEGGvrNMiOvhNAK63AkHnocEs4b9OXCj_lb-ESHQNuGewo45VP08_mlQojhpWpeyDXGngYsERlI_A/s3443/DSC_0317.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2411" data-original-width="3443" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOKQH6DUqB0lmaxlpmOOnjP_mCJwKRSy4kTANc8adInOlOyJVc8-Lcm_d2Yd_KUeET6GnERKo32AtU1HoPmT3qMNcCeLS17jsn-K5ZOQLfskA7NEGGvrNMiOvhNAK63AkHnocEs4b9OXCj_lb-ESHQNuGewo45VP08_mlQojhpWpeyDXGngYsERlI_A/w400-h280/DSC_0317.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Three Wise Gifts: an extra magazine, a Bic Lighter and a Rain Poncho</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Speaking of
ammo, let me suggest the plastic tip varmint round.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">This one is Hornady Varmint Express.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">The bullet is designed to practically explode
in small mammals.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">These rounds have the
potential to be extremely useful to limit over penetration in an urban
environment, like your house and your neighbors 20 feet away.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In any case,
things that go pew-pew are always welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JIvdvIQQK0KO4lglAe-McwDY2lCdpOd6kt0uHhsag1oEMmDc2MMb5viNaBjZAJ4vAq1zregc6F11RTL_58odLKVeQCQMGW89mneARgg9rgZmdEkQC-5IyeKCubmtVspM1vhOxOi_xp-hgHIyLGaWXt5oVp01XDaV4cIMqm7ACbNRNiZJCuomq-_i2Q/s2885/DSC_0309.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2078" data-original-width="2885" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JIvdvIQQK0KO4lglAe-McwDY2lCdpOd6kt0uHhsag1oEMmDc2MMb5viNaBjZAJ4vAq1zregc6F11RTL_58odLKVeQCQMGW89mneARgg9rgZmdEkQC-5IyeKCubmtVspM1vhOxOi_xp-hgHIyLGaWXt5oVp01XDaV4cIMqm7ACbNRNiZJCuomq-_i2Q/w400-h288/DSC_0309.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">55gr V-max traveling at 3240fps</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Who doesn't
need a knife?</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Look at CRKT's new Taco
Viper with Veff serrations.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">It's
assisted opening with a flipper.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">It's a
long folding knife that is designed for gloved hands.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">You can buy a molle-ready pouch with a lanyard
cord to keep your Taco Viper safe.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">If
you work over water or deep snow, it's a must.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Even tall weeds have stolen more knives than we can imagine.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkgzNdxHrdoCLZnElryg_L6qhlDFNg_uhN7bopPYQTkKxZIUa9gjQ0U2ZBWxVB_jOvNbrybHQcVqXR6Geh-ioIoy1cNH2K_tGpx-PRdclg30DwNRPz-ngV1JxFfJryzVfhuSIB-w9eyYWdE1xwsyO7l3p3fgG7nRd8aOBIdEf_NLsTbZ8r9N-kjSkxQ/s3431/DSC_0312.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3431" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkgzNdxHrdoCLZnElryg_L6qhlDFNg_uhN7bopPYQTkKxZIUa9gjQ0U2ZBWxVB_jOvNbrybHQcVqXR6Geh-ioIoy1cNH2K_tGpx-PRdclg30DwNRPz-ngV1JxFfJryzVfhuSIB-w9eyYWdE1xwsyO7l3p3fgG7nRd8aOBIdEf_NLsTbZ8r9N-kjSkxQ/w640-h432/DSC_0312.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taco Viper and Veff Serations</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Maxpedition
makes Legacy Attachment Straps so you can connect pouches to vests, packs, and
other molle-comparable stuff.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">I used
straps at a three-day rifle course and was pleased with the result.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">There are videos to help explain everything,
including how to use these straps.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKA7X1inncNYXO-YXWsWt1pKYdAf_ZFgzXkYZI7MCx3k8iFFjsu9tAFCXTsdiBA810XUnqxDP-l2wh3iTuN-YR82qWD2oc5i6frH7Wa0zAV5vbJAuv2mKqjRm6TVBlMPGwTbL0_gm-LkLeGnCmvqPzlznWPOdWmeKvydOLBhfqQg4ALJ6-WiXTWFdB7Q/s3872/DSC_0306.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKA7X1inncNYXO-YXWsWt1pKYdAf_ZFgzXkYZI7MCx3k8iFFjsu9tAFCXTsdiBA810XUnqxDP-l2wh3iTuN-YR82qWD2oc5i6frH7Wa0zAV5vbJAuv2mKqjRm6TVBlMPGwTbL0_gm-LkLeGnCmvqPzlznWPOdWmeKvydOLBhfqQg4ALJ6-WiXTWFdB7Q/w640-h428/DSC_0306.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dry warm feet, the end to a perfect day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Boker has a
line of knife socks.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">They are perfect
for those formal knife events.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">They come
in a three-pack, size 9.5 to 11.5, so they should fit me.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Clean, dry socks; this must be heaven.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Disposable
plastic ponchos have found their way into golf, gun, and survival bags. You can use them to upgrade an emergency
shelter, keep you dry and warm, and they have many other uses. Drop them in a coat pocket and you are good
to go. Always welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t
know what professionals will tell you, but experienced outdoor adventurers will
recommend having more than one way to make a fire when you are off the
pavement. Fire is one of our oldest
tools and a key element to surviving in adverse environments. After all, sh*t happens and remember one is
none. (<a href="https://knifesearch.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-edgean-adventure.html">https://knifesearch.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-edgean-adventure.html</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The best
advice I’ve gotten was to have three different ways to make fire. One of the most common is the disposable
butane lighter. But get a Bic. It’s the best. Well made, functional and dependable, what
more could you want?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So have a Merry
Christmas and a safe and healthy Happy New Year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">To be on
the up and up, I'm not compensated by these companies. I just like them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-23655707499628255062022-11-09T14:51:00.001-05:002023-04-03T13:49:03.152-04:00 Lessons From The Darkness<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Weapon lights are the rage and very
justifiable.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Having a light to
illuminate targets in low and no-light situations is exceptionally useful. If
you have any suspicion, even as a sport shooter, that you could be attempting
to illuminate a darkened area, weapon lights are mandatory.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, there are techniques that
allow you to use a hand-held tactical light and fire your rifle, but these
procedures come with complications. How
do you reload while holding a tactical light?
How do you hold several people at gunpoint in the dark while calling the
police or guiding them to your location using a handheld light? It is these situations that make mounted weapon
lights so powerful. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me remind everyone that gun
fighting is dangerous. The repercussions
go far beyond the event. You can lose
your life, your freedom and your family.
We only do this as the alternative to dying or seeing someone we love
die. Knowing you could have prevented this
is a burden you can never put down.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcozuooU_3OBtTzwI7TivubQ_lbj73Ga_aN0RK-suaIsDbdn080MXbdUXm28G01H0XaWrXOwt0Daf0PshhoOiYX2JhXSDAo5fQ165_Vx9mMaQPUErbMhVKO-qs8YIkB-uD6OyfcUSkNx_E_4QRJSMibp68VIM6Pdv1rFMnSxu9jTKytIa6K-l1DenN_Q/s3264/IMG_0008.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcozuooU_3OBtTzwI7TivubQ_lbj73Ga_aN0RK-suaIsDbdn080MXbdUXm28G01H0XaWrXOwt0Daf0PshhoOiYX2JhXSDAo5fQ165_Vx9mMaQPUErbMhVKO-qs8YIkB-uD6OyfcUSkNx_E_4QRJSMibp68VIM6Pdv1rFMnSxu9jTKytIa6K-l1DenN_Q/w640-h480/IMG_0008.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just past dusk, you can see people/targets but can you see what they hold? Answer: Weapon lights</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lights have been promoted by
various units of energy and output.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The
current unit in vogue is the lumen.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Let
me define it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">A lumen (symbol: lm) is the unit
of light output. It is the measure of
the total quantity of visible light emitted by a source per unit of time. The key is visible light and per unit of
time. Heat or IR illumination and UV
light do not qualify under this definition.
It is the total amount of light as measured in an instant in time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">This isn’t the amount that falls
on your objective, but all the visible light produced.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">In total darkness you will be
surprised at how little light is actually needed to illuminate a person and
determine if a weapon is present. I
found the original 60 lumen tactical lights perform adequately out to 30 yards
in total darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">As ambient light levels increase,
the eye changes how it processes the incoming light. If the target is in a shaded area and you are
in a brighter area, you need more illumination even at shorter ranges. This is true at dusk or high noon and all
times between.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Very distant targets, say 150
yards, needs significantly more illumination at any time. It may not be possible with current
technology to have a portable illumination system that lets you identify a
target deep in an interior shaded structure, like a barn, at 150 yards during
daylight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The reflex dot technology is
changing how we sight weapons. From a
tactical perspective you want a bright dot as it is easier to find in high
light environment. As it become darker,
the dot will blind the shooting eye and blank out the target as seen through
the device. You can turn the dot
intensity down, but at some point, the dot will be too bright and blind you to
your surroundings. I find when it is too
dark to read a book, it’s too dark to use a dot by itself. Manual sights have the same problem: at some
point it becomes too dark to see them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The solution is the gun
light. But in close quarters, the
reflected light from the weapon light will appear to wash your low intensity dot
out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-aS14EMTztU9R_tpH4G-FxCR5pdg6JvvKZ_bXjWYCf-r2kgTUIAp41bPvICmW0ZXfl_LCjIqAcyemUSxfO7zZNZFXuWBM0IV02gkd5E7B91R2xe07ZnDSiex4TkoMuHL5xaMnEQ5XGmCq-kD-7kkGr2_dSyJhseH911nCHdtv9tgvrbzj-YSUGggcw/s3264/IMG_0011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-aS14EMTztU9R_tpH4G-FxCR5pdg6JvvKZ_bXjWYCf-r2kgTUIAp41bPvICmW0ZXfl_LCjIqAcyemUSxfO7zZNZFXuWBM0IV02gkd5E7B91R2xe07ZnDSiex4TkoMuHL5xaMnEQ5XGmCq-kD-7kkGr2_dSyJhseH911nCHdtv9tgvrbzj-YSUGggcw/w400-h300/IMG_0011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you suspect you will be
entering a darkened area, turn your dot up before entering. The battery savings between bright and low
illumination of a dot is insignificant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Current propellent technology is
called ‘smokeless’ but it still produces a significant level of tiny
particles. Firing multiple rounds while
illuminating your target causes a shield effect. The particles scatter your light back at
you. The science of light scattering is
complex, but simply increasing lumens only cause more light to be reflected
back to you. The same applies to return
fire. His or her return fire creates a
light scattering affecting them and yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Frankly, it’s not a cloak of
invisibility, but if you need to identify shooters from non-shooter, it’s a
problem. The solution seems to be
twofold: wait for the particles to thin out or move to a different position
where the haze is less.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjPan20LBcFA8lvpiV1G0QLe8uXmr_2xCAiVMCCTtoXtFjsN-VnK_91cQMmc-zx5ynzv2dSwGWqpQOFHsQzP5FCKWGem4Lw1zc3hQ652TLPZB0bYuwLXdhRaJtC7ExG5LO-gL4EjYNidy_na4T8s0hd1UC_g95Y89-4GcZQZC3MmfZ1EqLUY3PFw38A/s3264/IMG_0014.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjPan20LBcFA8lvpiV1G0QLe8uXmr_2xCAiVMCCTtoXtFjsN-VnK_91cQMmc-zx5ynzv2dSwGWqpQOFHsQzP5FCKWGem4Lw1zc3hQ652TLPZB0bYuwLXdhRaJtC7ExG5LO-gL4EjYNidy_na4T8s0hd1UC_g95Y89-4GcZQZC3MmfZ1EqLUY3PFw38A/w640-h480/IMG_0014.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The muzzle blast creates a cloud of particles reflecting light back at you</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I like to run the last set of
drills by road flares. The brilliant
flickering light is a distraction and changes the complexity of the
activity. I want to simulate confusion
and adverse situations. Could you have
flashing lights about you? Could there
be a fire, your house, a neighbor’s outbuilding, a burning car?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The complication of smoke has been
discussed. The shadows cast by the
bright flames can mask or partially obscure targets. A weapon could be completely hidden in the
shadows and a non-shooter could be confused as a target. This could be a case where additional lumens are
to your advantage.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrJfDd28BJfRlZHoqV0kNMCQl2TIh_nPwvu-_BFbe5syqjn-Hwrsm07IOk8OqtCSNClhs3KpGDvklPH-M1QS3l2c1JdYnlz3z2sAMnU3-E5AGWUSB9xgW1MT1xB_qSmpfcq4F4-RxrpC3bMKbSycTxGcYZVIGHYfkPiP48oLLk105x5YswxntEXh7-w/s3264/IMG_0013.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrJfDd28BJfRlZHoqV0kNMCQl2TIh_nPwvu-_BFbe5syqjn-Hwrsm07IOk8OqtCSNClhs3KpGDvklPH-M1QS3l2c1JdYnlz3z2sAMnU3-E5AGWUSB9xgW1MT1xB_qSmpfcq4F4-RxrpC3bMKbSycTxGcYZVIGHYfkPiP48oLLk105x5YswxntEXh7-w/w640-h480/IMG_0013.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flare illuminates some targets and cast others into shadows. Can you see if the blackened target has a gun or a no-shoot sign? </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lastly, we train with stationary
targets.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">A truly sophisticated range
would have RC targets that could move silently in the darkness to new
locations.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">When your light goes off,
people have the opportunity to move to a new location, to produce weapons not previously
seen.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Turning off your light to move in
what appears to be impenetrable darkness also allows your opponent to move and
act.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, you train, if you are
serious about it, consider how you would counter your techniques if the tables
were reversed. Then, make your techniques evolve.</span><o:p></o:p></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-50425529197540012642022-10-19T12:23:00.000-04:002022-10-19T12:23:26.574-04:00Teaching<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">You're ready to instruct. But are you?
Here's a reality check based on my 20-plus years of teaching courses
involving an introduction to firearms, CCW, IDPA, and carbine skill sets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you have something to teach? Having five years in the Marines, ten years
as a cop or years of bulls-eye competition doesn't mean you have the material
for your target audience. Perhaps you've
developed your own tactical skill set.
Great, you’re not the first to do so.
Good luck.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlfeq6p4nRpHyqI8H0JtWwG_LSTKhvpMWqsNpBVZkwRxedQ2e2mi1w_AF5Un1WJzC8XE7xbcOw_-yG-56-22fCNZiGB1Ck6ehbUyJVEyu5jwmfnYF4nDw4O1Fdg6kyzC2-ymjv37LpvGC7DJZTeVLvHLs30_mdOf6Xk2BoCkPAqSLnO-hD3JpiFoSHw/s4032/Photo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlfeq6p4nRpHyqI8H0JtWwG_LSTKhvpMWqsNpBVZkwRxedQ2e2mi1w_AF5Un1WJzC8XE7xbcOw_-yG-56-22fCNZiGB1Ck6ehbUyJVEyu5jwmfnYF4nDw4O1Fdg6kyzC2-ymjv37LpvGC7DJZTeVLvHLs30_mdOf6Xk2BoCkPAqSLnO-hD3JpiFoSHw/w640-h480/Photo2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've set up both targets the students are going to use and marked off the firing line.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But you’ve done the homework to explore your tactical doctrine,
right? You can do your reload in the
darkness with your eyes closed, right?
Does your draw stroke work when seated at a table? Do your reloads run smoothly and efficiently
for left or right-handed shooters? Have
you played it out allowing your fictional targets to make a move for every move
you make, and your concepts remain valid? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are your tactics civilian-based or police/military
based? Are they appropriate for solo individuals
or just for teams? If your ideas depend
on stunning everyone in a room with a flash bang, you may want to think it
over.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, are you able to communicate your ideas on
several different media? We don’t all
learn the same way. We lecture, but
students may also need diagrams and demonstrations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, you are ready.
You've got a range, a date, and students are signing up and sending you
deposits. Congratulations! Your course is going to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s the advice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make sure you have speed dial for the local EMS or medical
help. Who else do you need to notify
immediately if there is an injury? Is a
first aid kit available and accessible in under 30 seconds?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Get the firing line set up in advance. Put the targets in place before the students
show up. Mark out the distances you plan
to shoot from. Directions of travel should
be marked by cones at the start and stop locations. Have spare targets, bases, and supports
available on site. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you have enough help for the shooting portion of
the class? Are you walking each student
through a drill while the others wait?
This can create problems. The
size of the class is a significant factor in this concern. The students are there to shoot, not watch
everyone else shoot.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">At least 20% of your students will not listen to your
drill instructions. All of your students
will have some level of difficulty in performing the drills to your
expectations. Expect this. If they could do what you are teaching, they
wouldn’t be in your class.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Build your skill sets on each other. If your goal is to reload with an injured
hand, make sure they know how to reload with both hands first. Group like concepts together. Pistol shooting stances, Weaver, Chapman, and
Isosceles, benefit from grouping, unlike the diverse tactical reload, urban
prone, and weak hand shooting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some groups flow into each other beneficially. I teach rifle jam clearance, followed by
transition from rifle to handgun. There
is a logical flow to this. Engagement by
tactical order fits well with pieing corners, but pieing corners and jam
clearance need a full stop between them.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Expect that some students will not have all the
equipment you specified. The
participants were told to bring a tactical-type flashlight on a recent
low-light fun shoot. A number showed up
with a simple flashlight the Energizer Bunny would use to check the fuse
box. Have the resources to help them
overcome these deficits. Very often, you
can share tools among students.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Expect at least 10% will show up with new equipment
and not fully understand the operating controls. The proprietary nature of these systems may
make it difficult, if not impossible, to assist them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some students will be unable to accomplish a specific
goal. Transitioning to weak-side
barricade shooting is an example. Some
students will not pick up that skill in the allotted time. Do you have an alternative path for them? Or do you ignore that student’s problem?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3lBuM15TzIcaLuZ_fdkLZQkvEifNzAYg-VAgm2w-501L7ROaZpkBzclMQfp1FIsYJcAfAm872XdbERbZk4Sv4Yo4cJlGg46CWKjcbRcl3e9ZyMjuLtJXyafnHXoHf7MpvPCkSJEaNcY0UvOUrs1NVEGxh5Sjrowa3IcsQf2EL0chLFQOSXEZFVpItA/s4032/Photo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3lBuM15TzIcaLuZ_fdkLZQkvEifNzAYg-VAgm2w-501L7ROaZpkBzclMQfp1FIsYJcAfAm872XdbERbZk4Sv4Yo4cJlGg46CWKjcbRcl3e9ZyMjuLtJXyafnHXoHf7MpvPCkSJEaNcY0UvOUrs1NVEGxh5Sjrowa3IcsQf2EL0chLFQOSXEZFVpItA/w640-h480/Photo3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always ask students to try, but to respect their own physical limits. After going prone several students wants to sit out sitting and kneeling. Fine with me. I'm here to help students not hurt them.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Just a couple more points.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Be flexible in your program and skip over
some aspects of your training due to time and stamina considerations.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Students often take longer than you
anticipated and simply run out of gas towards the end of class.</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Better to take a break or end the class than
to promote poor gun handling.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stay upbeat, encourage and congratulate your students
as they accomplish skill sets. You have
no idea what internal battles they are struggling with. Encourage them to work on skill sets and to
enjoy their milestones.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the end, you should also have gained insights about
teaching your concepts. You've polished
your teaching skills and seen problems and limitations of which you were
unaware. I had a shooter whose green
laser stopped working below 40 F. It was
an icy cold, snowy day, around 20F. Neither
of us expected that problem.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkvqaAnE2EWZk8j6R1JnvLRoYbOj6sH4vyOjToqREuRggqZkzu1u6eG5WcSJevM86yq9jNpKfe3_EsIZwqys6H3GK1y2APl30CZtrk_c2pNzdlJhXA5JcHvZeqoy7q7AHb2h4U7B7MdLwLeCYFPYhOrQp5YQ0VDXsqoDH4wOs0oen3eK4IGO4VpYEGA/s4032/Photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkvqaAnE2EWZk8j6R1JnvLRoYbOj6sH4vyOjToqREuRggqZkzu1u6eG5WcSJevM86yq9jNpKfe3_EsIZwqys6H3GK1y2APl30CZtrk_c2pNzdlJhXA5JcHvZeqoy7q7AHb2h4U7B7MdLwLeCYFPYhOrQp5YQ0VDXsqoDH4wOs0oen3eK4IGO4VpYEGA/w400-h300/Photo1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I typically tell students what I want and then demo the skill</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, you're helping train people with skills that
can help keep them alive. Good job! Be proud of that.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-3930366890955436852022-09-02T13:53:00.001-04:002024-02-25T16:53:43.071-05:00Recognize it?<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Recognize
it?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUreBC_luRcZtZZOj2PSbaEIG-NGS6dYMg2n0DLUTI8b0jtEsfgjv7gHdz3tlmc4Ivss409juwCBlT0SyGHiGHj14w6NMjvV1BTBA3DXLaEIRbGpVYBTj7xHpTNm8HbszdOZaB67FX7LNxK54EmMQoXM_-r1GhKVAHCbKvAYZxBCAZiHbLBdRBJ3DTA/s1440/thumbnail%204a.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUreBC_luRcZtZZOj2PSbaEIG-NGS6dYMg2n0DLUTI8b0jtEsfgjv7gHdz3tlmc4Ivss409juwCBlT0SyGHiGHj14w6NMjvV1BTBA3DXLaEIRbGpVYBTj7xHpTNm8HbszdOZaB67FX7LNxK54EmMQoXM_-r1GhKVAHCbKvAYZxBCAZiHbLBdRBJ3DTA/w300-h400/thumbnail%204a.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found it lying on the street like a drunk curled up to a signpost</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I
found it on August 27 on Akron's High Street.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I was a</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">t the library researching shoe knives, and I decided to walk down to a
local brewery, Akronym.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
first thought it was a crumpled piece of copper-colored foil. But a second glance told me differently.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">This
is a 9mm — a damaged 9mm from striking a hard object. I didn't think it was a prank from somebody
with a slingshot or a great pitching arm who launched the round against one of
the brick structures.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
could see lands and grooves. It could
have only been fired from a gun.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ5bWTN3TTrIWUw8UBRaPT1lZBF-kUkVPENdLnpgjOOP3PNZhTDwV8soGY3GrDHJImFmuACG_fwpsFJy09w7Lh1-wxgKoBWsevuG3Jx8q1veHL-UOWdhwCaSV5S6N91xIi62keCNG08AeQdeP39HSPOHpog9rlbWSWVyt0k4ppOtxrunQ97v-bCET9w/s1080/thumbnail%205a.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ5bWTN3TTrIWUw8UBRaPT1lZBF-kUkVPENdLnpgjOOP3PNZhTDwV8soGY3GrDHJImFmuACG_fwpsFJy09w7Lh1-wxgKoBWsevuG3Jx8q1veHL-UOWdhwCaSV5S6N91xIi62keCNG08AeQdeP39HSPOHpog9rlbWSWVyt0k4ppOtxrunQ97v-bCET9w/w640-h480/thumbnail%205a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A damaged 9mm FMJ</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So
how did it end up on a sidewalk in downtown Akron?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
think it is an up-and-down. Someone
shooting their gun into the sky for some less than intelligent reason. A celebration, a warning shot, just showing
off, who knows?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let
me remind you of the Law of Gravity:
what goes up must come down. When
you shoot a gun into the air, the bullet doesn't go into orbit, hit the moon,
or get teleported by aliens. The round lands somewhere. We have always understood that. I know you know the much-bowdlerized version
of Longfellow’s “The Arrow and the Song”:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I
shot an arrow into the air,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">It
fell to earth, I knew not where.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Firing
a warning shot is almost universally considered a bad idea. It is a waste of effort, time, and
potentially needed ammunition. A jury
could consider it an act of aggression or simple indifference to human life and
suffering, as the returning bullet has killing force. You don't want either one associated with
your claim of self-defense.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Firing
a gun skyward is an out-and-out violation of the top five NRA rules. You may not like the NRA, but their rules are
the gold standard. Rounds skyward are
simply a violation of:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rule
1 Always point the gun in a safe direction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rule
4 Know your target and what is beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since
you are reading this, you should know that, so take this as a reminder. You may be with people who shoot at the
weather or think firing a gun makes them somehow extraordinary. Tell them this is a bad idea and why. If they don't care, finding new friends might
be in your best interest. You don't want
to find yourself in court because of the group's actions.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-36267355446326376642022-08-24T15:53:00.001-04:002022-08-24T15:53:08.370-04:00Attack!<p><span style="font-size: large;"> A</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">round
2001 Massad Ayoob designed a folding knife for Spyderco to fit between the ribs,
the intercostal space, and lacerate the heart and lungs.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Who is Massad Ayoob, and why should his ideas
be put into production?</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Google his name,
will you?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9NqYmfoFa5Kyc3QI51MMvSF6On6bz22gFdzRkOVdvt8R3nBlMD_-N3fXL2fvDmUneHAnhV_CNjAPa9bm_5NzKMLoiDvxWIxpDh5i0iBcMySOrE4SaseCG2HnMpgNz2VoIAYf1Mr3vVP1B_lifRN1EQ1C1jo4r5p-mKpfD2jmwuHiyKDmTnLUEhKiFQ/s3872/bone%20and%20knife.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9NqYmfoFa5Kyc3QI51MMvSF6On6bz22gFdzRkOVdvt8R3nBlMD_-N3fXL2fvDmUneHAnhV_CNjAPa9bm_5NzKMLoiDvxWIxpDh5i0iBcMySOrE4SaseCG2HnMpgNz2VoIAYf1Mr3vVP1B_lifRN1EQ1C1jo4r5p-mKpfD2jmwuHiyKDmTnLUEhKiFQ/w400-h268/bone%20and%20knife.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ayoob Clipit blade fit's rather nicely</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">His
knife design locked the blade open at an angle of less than 180 degrees.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">This allows you to utilize the knife with the
wrist very close to the strong, neutral position.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">More on that later.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
original knife was produced as both a fully serrated and plain edge with a
black Almite handle and a blade made from VG-10. Almite is a surface coating used on aluminum
for decorative and protective reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
use of VG-10 in a knife blade designed to slice into human flesh was
ironic. VG-10 was initially produced for
Japanese chefs. The steel’s properties
soon caught the attention of other knife companies. Spyderco was not the only one to utilize this
steel. Al Mar, Camillus, Boker, SOG and Fällkniven
were among VG-10 users.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">By
the way - - If you aren’t reading this at Tactical Talk has been stolen and
used without my permission. Please let
me know at <a href="mailto:Frank1karl@yahoo.com">Frank1karl@yahoo.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">What
I thought was interesting is that Spyderco even made the Ayoob Clipit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Years
ago, Joyce Laituri told me Spyderco didn’t like making knives whose sole
purpose was to harm people. In the movie,
Hannibal, Spyderco was approached to provide knives. Such product placement is a free commercial worth
millions, so of course, they agreed.
They did ask if their knives could be used by the good guys. That didn’t happen and Hannibal Lecter used a
Harpy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Despite
this desire to be on the side of the angels, Spyderco will make purpose-driven
lethal knives if LEO and military agencies request those designs. The Ayoob was in the 2001 and 2002 catalog
but disappeared in 2003.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2ZHNkR7IorOVe0pF8V8EdrX35pKDYi_C0DPvivPyjdo4VuL73ZpduVyZczlYoceIuTa3POD68IqZYh15xObLeeGZFl9f9Kk3DbUKU1RgQ_f1IjcoU-K5HDMncNRLXxvMek4V-HPOrjZ70dJskhKB2AFUos3em-KmjTqF2jHbX8QiesEIAg3Mg8_W3g/s3872/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2ZHNkR7IorOVe0pF8V8EdrX35pKDYi_C0DPvivPyjdo4VuL73ZpduVyZczlYoceIuTa3POD68IqZYh15xObLeeGZFl9f9Kk3DbUKU1RgQ_f1IjcoU-K5HDMncNRLXxvMek4V-HPOrjZ70dJskhKB2AFUos3em-KmjTqF2jHbX8QiesEIAg3Mg8_W3g/w640-h428/DSC_0004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ayoob Clipit sprint run note the angle between blade and handle</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Despite
the short run, the Ayoob knife picked up a vocal following and Spyderco has
brought it back as a sprint run.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I
hesitated on the original Ayoob Clipit, but I did get one of the sprint runs.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I really like mine.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
current Spyderco Ayoob C60GPGY has a G-10 handle over steel liners. The scales are set up so you can move the
pocket clip to facilitate your favorite carry method. The clip holds the knife slightly visible in
your pocket, an important consideration for anyone concerned about concealed weapons. The visible portion of the knife eliminates
the concealed aspect. A David Boye
release lever is incorporated to reduce the possibility of your grip accidentally
unlocking the knife. I don’t believe
there are any actual documented cases other than those few that were engineered
to demonstrate the potential.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiLGEwVOG2ppdSF5WVlJj_aao-bF22uBCM_E-mwfxETftL6ebXfRIJgkOuUa7D6dfQ7zPWyry3DAVZSYUb_cVVYeYtU2iWIGKN2EL6aiysZ380tqAGZuq13yAKJ_AzYAKuKT4ZWGd2kuCpjDtaYqttnDE-4Y9LpkZ9GTNW5CmodxPK2E1zGzJa0tgXQ/s3872/face%20one.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiLGEwVOG2ppdSF5WVlJj_aao-bF22uBCM_E-mwfxETftL6ebXfRIJgkOuUa7D6dfQ7zPWyry3DAVZSYUb_cVVYeYtU2iWIGKN2EL6aiysZ380tqAGZuq13yAKJ_AzYAKuKT4ZWGd2kuCpjDtaYqttnDE-4Y9LpkZ9GTNW5CmodxPK2E1zGzJa0tgXQ/w400-h268/face%20one.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ayoob is a purpose-driven knife and still very good looking</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Surprisingly,
the steel used on the sub-four-inch blade is CPM CRU-WEAR.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">It is an interesting steel, but you should know
its limitations.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The elemental
composition gives it better wear properties than D2 tool steel, better
toughness than M2 steel, and more compression strength than either.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">But the properties of any metal are
essentially a teeter-totter.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Raise one
property and another property sinks.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
property on the low end of the teeter-totter is corruptibility.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a name="_Hlk111715583">CRU-WEAR </a>has
only 7.24% chromium. The steel’s carbides
are primarily produced by the presence of 2.4% vanadium and 1.6%
molybdenum. These tiny carbides are more
of a ceramic particle, very hard, and they pin grain boundaries preventing
movement. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately,
the free chromium level is too low to provide stain resistance. That’s something very important when dealing
with corrosive substances, like blood.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">So
what makes this fighting knife special?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But
before we address this, let me remind you that an expensive, purpose-driven knife
doesn’t give you the upper hand in any conflict. In Paul L. Kirk’s ‘Criminal Investigation’
published in 1955, Kirk noted the most common knives used in crime are cheap
kitchen knives or sharpened screwdrivers.
This hasn’t changed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t
end up in the morgue because you believed your special tool gave you a God-like
advantage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">There
are several things that make this knife special. The first was already mentioned. The blade is designed to fit between the ribs
and penetrate deep into the chest cavity, lacerating lungs, heart and other
vital structures. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps
the most notable feature and innovation is the angle between the blade and
handle. I’ll let Massad Ayoob explain
it. "With a typical knife,
thrusting lifts the blade's point above the line of the forearm, like a boat
prow going through water. The faster, harder or more resistance encountered,
the higher the prow rises deviating the blade off course from its original
target which can mitigate the depth of the cut.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Being
a folder, you are more likely to have the knife on you when it is needed, as
compared to a fixed blade. This too is
an underappreciated feature.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">What
Ayoob doesn’t explain, Jim Davis does:
“Regarding wounds, stab wounds are far more prone to kill a person than
slash wounds. Stabs tend to penetrate
and hit arteries and organs, causing internal bleeding.” <a href="http://tactical-talk.blogspot.com/2021/01/jim-davis-on-knives.html">http://tactical-talk.blogspot.com/2021/01/jim-davis-on-knives.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">When
you are fighting for your life, severe measures are called for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
blade/handle angle allows your wrist to lock into its strongest position, which
we call the neutral position. The wrist
loses strength when it is at extreme ranges of movement. This property is utilized in both disarms and
joint locks. The Ayoob Clipit lets you
cut and stab with your wrist in the neutral position for better control and
grip.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs57xOCYbDslufZAeQfdvYqv4AbiMaHpCEKJj9I_RCL9AMvuW3ZbeY-rssfsjvOyRC8tG__Glx9GLavpul3kQIl-I2YKvNdNSPu9tUygtTa1OTdqrhdYRv7tF47ZyAl95-7crqkI3mWiIrX-tIIx_E8TtXbk_vGZZ-LgMgpsvEtwjaqxQSvpL5nFKZDQ/s3872/DSC_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs57xOCYbDslufZAeQfdvYqv4AbiMaHpCEKJj9I_RCL9AMvuW3ZbeY-rssfsjvOyRC8tG__Glx9GLavpul3kQIl-I2YKvNdNSPu9tUygtTa1OTdqrhdYRv7tF47ZyAl95-7crqkI3mWiIrX-tIIx_E8TtXbk_vGZZ-LgMgpsvEtwjaqxQSvpL5nFKZDQ/w400-h268/DSC_0063.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ayoob Clipit with the wrist in the neutral position for strong slash or stab</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicc74mDirRdW30ihEUpE0ObXHBCN4oITLGoZJmrtzT0ss0cyjSxoqUyih4CLj7SffwqfZJIms-J95JkyvE7rzQjP9LPWN-L00toqMTWD9BwyTkLj6YQTCHGIL7EgZhgPOPLrTF3w3dN2KTVxqjj0JGfXEIn9JChRMpnE8uQIaFIvR6j-AyOf4BzpzdIA/s3872/DSC_0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicc74mDirRdW30ihEUpE0ObXHBCN4oITLGoZJmrtzT0ss0cyjSxoqUyih4CLj7SffwqfZJIms-J95JkyvE7rzQjP9LPWN-L00toqMTWD9BwyTkLj6YQTCHGIL7EgZhgPOPLrTF3w3dN2KTVxqjj0JGfXEIn9JChRMpnE8uQIaFIvR6j-AyOf4BzpzdIA/w400-h268/DSC_0057.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Endura with wrist almost set in a wrist lock. A significantly weaker grip</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0in;">Surprisingly, Spyderco amplifies these ideas,
stating:</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0in;">“The C60's radical angle brings
the blade into line with the long bones of the forearm, channeling the body's
force directly behind the line of the cut resulting in minimized blade
deviation and maximized accuracy.”</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0in;">This
statement may represent a fundamental change in philosophy on purpose-driven lethal
weapons.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me point out that deep penetration isn’t the
knife’s only purpose. In 1942 W.E.
Fairbairn published “All In Fighting,” which contained his ‘Timetable of Death’,
a estimation of how long it took to lose consciousness and die from a knife
injury to several major targets. Some of
these were subsurface locations, almost all are reachable by slicing with a
4-inch blade. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">This chart has been updated by C Grosz and M Janich
with additional information as well as Janich’s Counter-Blade Concepts. I recommend having both references on your bookshelf
as part of your affirmative defense. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Spyderco Ayoob is a limited sprint run. I find the Ayoob C60GPGY an attractive
knife. You’ve been warned. They’ll run out fast.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-12274322158626999822022-08-09T12:31:00.000-04:002022-08-09T12:31:00.362-04:00Look Behind You<span style="font-size: large;">In 1984 Massad Ayoob published a 149-page book called StressFire. It is the result of his ten-year study of police gun fighting techniques and outcomes. Ayoob wasn’t happy with his observations. Here are his words from page one of StressFire: “I found that the conventional American police weapons training worked well on the range, but not worth a damn on the street.”</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='418' height='347' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dykMR8eD756k23f7R48vsdnLfc6cyFAzx1Rcihi06bc0JQCPBkfsTpW6ooIc_YyJLs3tKx-lnWzETljIWEBFA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Basic StressFire FireStar sans change in grips - I didn't need them.</div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“The New Pistolcraft” developed by Jeff Cooper was making inroads, but were seen as “…too complex to be trained to anyone but a constantly-shooting buff…” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">One of the premises Ayoob used in developing his concepts was to look at how the body reacts to stress, then match a technique that works with those stresses. I think it has been a very fruitful endeavor.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I suggest you buy a copy and read it. You’ll be surprised how much of it has been incorporated into current training.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">My interest today is stress fire kneeling or the evolution of it from StressFire Star. Bottom line – the technique allows you to cover targets through 360° rotation from the kneeling position. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Classic marksman shooting teaches the more points of contact you have on the ground, the more stable you are. Add to that by resting your support elbow on your knee, in either sitting or kneeling, you can improve accuracy. There are two problems usually mentioned. Both are slow to get into and slow to get out of. But there is a third problem. These positions limit your engagement range from the 11 o’clock to 1 o’clock positions. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">While the kneeling position is relatively faster to get in or out of, you are still unable to quickly engage anyone approaching from the rear. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The solution was found in some of the basic movements from Aikido. You’ll find an excellent description in StressFire’s Chapter 12 of Ayoob’s technique called StressFire Star. Ayoob incorporates Chapman, Weaver, and Isosceles pistol holds to deal with individual flexibility and strength. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This same technique can be used with the tactical rifle. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Here are two photos of a shooter in the high knee position. He can cover both 12 and 6 o’clock positions by changing knees while kneeling.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4YwnuxAd6VO3txrJ1oYIFdVmjm7yXjl-8vfQRrMAqqZ0q7CAcb0tXnK9Mctn25KPD6uJDW9de0wNFGv-SXcxFDD9Fh-1EB8lY9Fg7Oova_NEvUgtkncTxZr4Zlvk3UbmNv3oCvSz1OTBGdr-4SS_Bf1WQqlUWgWzqkXamaEI1GbqcBU2cgkfXXSjrg/s4032/PXL_20220728_184438851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4YwnuxAd6VO3txrJ1oYIFdVmjm7yXjl-8vfQRrMAqqZ0q7CAcb0tXnK9Mctn25KPD6uJDW9de0wNFGv-SXcxFDD9Fh-1EB8lY9Fg7Oova_NEvUgtkncTxZr4Zlvk3UbmNv3oCvSz1OTBGdr-4SS_Bf1WQqlUWgWzqkXamaEI1GbqcBU2cgkfXXSjrg/w300-h400/PXL_20220728_184438851.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High kneel, left knee down facing 11 position</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VfJpZ-Hx9mbXybdeu9FT5I_EhspJ4ZfNLgT7SJpeW0_IP0UrxliOn27w0vHx2ZMNOeTHQUzWQyOGWr7sUaDkQwo_zcCLhAWU27by2iDrz8jyPaIvLYJaEifwy4yFYH2mVfvuJqDBcy2tqpTHV-fyPE7LiYGqppMjBY5NTsEEtIgMZJhcdq2BM5-mUw/s4032/PXL_20220728_184418929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VfJpZ-Hx9mbXybdeu9FT5I_EhspJ4ZfNLgT7SJpeW0_IP0UrxliOn27w0vHx2ZMNOeTHQUzWQyOGWr7sUaDkQwo_zcCLhAWU27by2iDrz8jyPaIvLYJaEifwy4yFYH2mVfvuJqDBcy2tqpTHV-fyPE7LiYGqppMjBY5NTsEEtIgMZJhcdq2BM5-mUw/w300-h400/PXL_20220728_184418929.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By changing knees in the kneeling position I can cover the area in the back of me.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">From a tactical perspective, you’re not likely to be kneeling to improve accuracy for 150 yard shot. You may be either trying to make yourself a smaller target or, more likely, take advantage of cover and concealment. If you assume that actual combat for your survival will be a fluid situation, then you must consider dealing with threats from several different directions. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The rifle Firestar gives you that ability. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But can you fire rounds with your body twisted in those positions? The answer is yes. One of the virtues of the AR in .223 Rem or 5.54X45 mm NATO round is the relatively low recoil. The proof of that statement? Small arms firing school for rifle at Camp Perry used to demonstrate a woman holding the AR to her chin and firing rounds one-handed. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I recently used the technique on a closed range, firing most of my rounds in the 5 to 8 o’clock position. It worked flawlessly. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The drawback is you can’t live fire this technique at most ranges without endangering someone. Still, the basic technique can be practiced dry anyplace you have room to swing a rifle. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This technique isn’t likely to help you win three-gun matches, but it is a skill set you may need to call on at some point. I hope you are ready.
</span></div></div></div>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-73207393628803878522022-08-05T17:24:00.000-04:002022-08-05T17:24:44.173-04:00Editorial: Why I Need An AR<p><span style="font-size: large;">You tell me I don’t need an AR-15.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t need the three wristwatches, eight pens, shelves of books, and many, many other things I own. But I need an AR. Because one day, things may change, and I will need it.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9N6dxKwmfn7AbVZ6Rd_pvepP7j5fsxPExJVF74he4Ksdc_Qjd9zSIm3RreIShBjz1LXPUZnq0EFJrn59VemswNKBXie2cvja1tmlL4ENcxQvloLE_X1rA_5CuifR0cSxoKPSs6mDlpqPFdagVeXfwL2sMaAni7J_PBQ0kwI3OZF7F5RUCQjp-hNun_g/s400/boxcar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="400" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9N6dxKwmfn7AbVZ6Rd_pvepP7j5fsxPExJVF74he4Ksdc_Qjd9zSIm3RreIShBjz1LXPUZnq0EFJrn59VemswNKBXie2cvja1tmlL4ENcxQvloLE_X1rA_5CuifR0cSxoKPSs6mDlpqPFdagVeXfwL2sMaAni7J_PBQ0kwI3OZF7F5RUCQjp-hNun_g/w400-h310/boxcar.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Polish Jews being loaded onto trains at Umschlagplatz of the Warsaw Ghetto, 1942. <br /><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;">Anti-gun liberals don’t want to hear about Jews, Catholics, homosexuals, and mentally disabled people being loaded in boxcars by Nazis. Just like you don’t want to hear we were traveling down the eugenics road, like Germany. Many liberal elites (John Harvey Kellogg, Margaret Sanger, Woodrow Wilson) supported it and, were in fact, jealous of the progress the German eugenicists were making. Perhaps we were closer to concentration camps than you thought.</span><p><span style="font-size: large;">That was an aberration, you tell me. We have laws to prevent that. Until we don’t.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Texas has abortion laws that allow you to turn in a woman if you think she has had or will have an abortion, even if she goes to another state. Ohio abortion law forced a 10-year-old rape victim to go out of state for her abortion. Women are now second-class citizens in many states, my home state included.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are more than a few fundamentalist Christians who hate Catholic papists and would have them as second-class citizens. You know there are more than a few morons who would have opened camps for the Chinese following the arrival of Covid-19.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I thought Richard Nixon would try a Trump-like takeover of the Federal government and I’d be in a militia killing men and women my age to restore our government.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Aberration, my ass.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">No, no, no, you tell me. We have laws and a legal system to challenge that. Don’t make me laugh. I remember the civil rights movement when dogs were sicced on marchers and water cannons were used to punish marchers and black men were lynched for looking at a white woman.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Let me tell you about an armed revolution in Athens, Tennessee and how veterans used the force of arms to restore democracy to their community.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6Q2O6AbwRCbAwDjthASYX0LfSMVLTI_KMUOgujLNL5A9eB1Hl1xqXo7e93B62gzr5dCGLTUv0-4A-PTnhvWu3S3DbRj-xAjPtIye8IZhXu_deTQLTj_6vlX814sIdTwksm72CzLvaUbenw4Ud9lwc7YmLWX9K8MYjMv5FW4g9LChpqO1vfkJyPp4kw/s1070/athens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1070" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6Q2O6AbwRCbAwDjthASYX0LfSMVLTI_KMUOgujLNL5A9eB1Hl1xqXo7e93B62gzr5dCGLTUv0-4A-PTnhvWu3S3DbRj-xAjPtIye8IZhXu_deTQLTj_6vlX814sIdTwksm72CzLvaUbenw4Ud9lwc7YmLWX9K8MYjMv5FW4g9LChpqO1vfkJyPp4kw/w400-h276/athens.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">It was 1936. The E. H. Crump political machine based in Memphis had extended to McMinn County with the introduction of Paul Cantrell as the Democratic candidate for sheriff. Paul was reelected sheriff in the 1938 and 1940 elections, and then to the state senate in 1942 and 1944. His former deputy, Pat Mansfield was then elected sheriff those years. It was a thoroughly corrupt system.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Access to voting was restricted by reducing the number of voting precincts from 23 to 12. The sheriff and his deputies were paid under a fee system, receiving money for every person they booked, incarcerated, and released. This caused extensive arrests on trumped-up charges lodged against tourists and travelers. Between 1936 and 1946, these fees amounted to almost $300,000.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Paul Cantrell engaged in electoral fraud, both by intimidating voters who voted against him, and by allowing ineligible people to vote. The U.S. Department of Justice had investigated allegations of electoral fraud in McMinn County in 1940, 1942, and 1944, but had not taken action. The Federal government just stood by and watched. Doesn’t this sound familiar?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The political problems were further entrenched by the economic corruption of political figures, who enabled gambling, bootlegging, and other illegal activity. Most of McMinn County's young men were off fighting World War II, which allowed the political machine's goals and exerted control over the county’s citizens. The machine controlled law enforcement, the newspapers, and schools. And the machine wasn’t happy to see the veterans return from WWll. It’s hard to intimidate men who have killed, watched their friends die, and seen the suffering they had.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The elections were rigged. It went beyond legal tomfuckery. “Windy" Wise, a patrolman, prevented an elderly African American farmer, Tom Gillespie, from casting his ballot at the Athens Water Works polling place. Wise struck Gillespie with brass knuckles, causing Gillespie to drop his ballot and run from the deputy who shot him. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">WWII veterans were arrested, and some were beaten to prevent them from voting. But enough was enough. A pitched gun battle occurred, the locked ballot boxes were seized and held by a newly formed political group representing the illegally disenfranchised citizens, GI Non-Partisan League.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxq2kqQ0c54xIHg8QV8F1KMvPC-3BiND6IJC1A3oih0hmv-J7Sq00wOpV45_i7LRHvw57PX7fqdEpFXiIN7CjXttTTwtBp_chNvW5wAaqpBlNKHJNIgxR-2Wrf23-LaxXXF0KD_e-EDH9WbFflM96WSNmtUNF249BCJ-fv3XVtAUF_B1mMX0Cccb_OKw/s800/Battle-of-athens-tennessee-marker1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="800" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxq2kqQ0c54xIHg8QV8F1KMvPC-3BiND6IJC1A3oih0hmv-J7Sq00wOpV45_i7LRHvw57PX7fqdEpFXiIN7CjXttTTwtBp_chNvW5wAaqpBlNKHJNIgxR-2Wrf23-LaxXXF0KD_e-EDH9WbFflM96WSNmtUNF249BCJ-fv3XVtAUF_B1mMX0Cccb_OKw/w400-h315/Battle-of-athens-tennessee-marker1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The armed men had made a difference. The "Battle of Athens" was followed by movements of veterans in other Tennessee counties promoting a statewide coalition against corrupt political machines in the upcoming November elections.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, the Second Amendment is the firewall that allows us to change our government when no other option is available. You may not like that thought, but fallible, imperfect governments change and arms may become necessary.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not in my lifetime, I hope. But if ill winds blow, I’ll stand. So that’s why I need an AR.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWZiT819jzxqOdleBWLGBZOMuD7wmLnI9vuVy0qZi-4Xd6JnYHgJJTLf81R6SLXGPjSlUwlje_7KlHeMBaVIZM7S00scC2EKzzClj_WuXNulWGqeOENtHtuD2Sj2cjf3ItM7BP_Nt484Ub2gU7CHWYXNyTm-sKDrFaE3Q_ZzMOttV6QPrM-BW6oF4rQ/s780/_methode_times_prodmigration_web_bin_5b047b36-9c85-320a-9a9c-4b482b316a66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="780" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWZiT819jzxqOdleBWLGBZOMuD7wmLnI9vuVy0qZi-4Xd6JnYHgJJTLf81R6SLXGPjSlUwlje_7KlHeMBaVIZM7S00scC2EKzzClj_WuXNulWGqeOENtHtuD2Sj2cjf3ItM7BP_Nt484Ub2gU7CHWYXNyTm-sKDrFaE3Q_ZzMOttV6QPrM-BW6oF4rQ/w640-h426/_methode_times_prodmigration_web_bin_5b047b36-9c85-320a-9a9c-4b482b316a66.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, it can happen again.<br /><br /><br /><br />None of these photos are mine. Better photographers took them, but they have power in them.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div><br /></div></div>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-90515640406339653362022-06-19T12:35:00.001-04:002023-04-20T13:22:30.528-04:00Editorial: Black Eye<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Tactical Editorial</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can America’s police survive
another black eye?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PfbvHfaamgfMct4f3e2BqRAHYRzpmaOa-Naa_ffGiy-xax7Xn8h7wYfDdm1iBZq-cR_kj5f1r_xyIsLfJD9mpYpmEfxsxLMSyvv219Ottc5m7brz913MTrI0m944FWXotRa7n9IxgO3acCThmxJ52CG9xdQj4t1_xbCtGt5WQk6ZJjffo057gRD2tA/s700/lion.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="700" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PfbvHfaamgfMct4f3e2BqRAHYRzpmaOa-Naa_ffGiy-xax7Xn8h7wYfDdm1iBZq-cR_kj5f1r_xyIsLfJD9mpYpmEfxsxLMSyvv219Ottc5m7brz913MTrI0m944FWXotRa7n9IxgO3acCThmxJ52CG9xdQj4t1_xbCtGt5WQk6ZJjffo057gRD2tA/w640-h384/lion.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My apologies to Burt Lahr</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The May 24, 2022, mass killing at
the Uvalde Elementary School, Texas, gave law enforcement a massive elbow to
the face and the nation a new heartache.
The police response to the calls for help was such an extensive fuck-up
that investigation and interpretation will take weeks to reach
conclusions. It shouldn’t. A google search of media reports and
statements from the involved police shows how the<span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> Uvalde CISD (Consolidated Independent School District) Police Department </span>screwed the pooch and let
children die.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Despite years of training based
on the premises and operational procedures derived from the Columbine High
School shooting, the first responders didn’t go in. The police stood waiting for orders from a
commander who arrived later, without his radio, assuming someone else was in
charge and who willingly dodged the responsibility. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The mission statement of the <a name="_Hlk105959559">Uvalde CISD Police Department </a>is plainly stated on
their website. “The primary goal for the
Uvalde CISD (Consolidated Independent School District ) Police Department is to
maintain a safe and secure environment…”
In this, they failed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The blame can be painted with a
narrow brush. Some teacher or school
employee left an outside door open for their convenience. The school and police now claim the door was
later pulled shut but failed to lock.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The school safety officer was out
of the building. So far, nobody has explained
what he was doing and why he was not on the job.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here the paintbrush gets more expansive and the blame thicker.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">School police officers arrived on
the scene and despite more than two decades of collective wisdom, elected to
wait outside. Of all the trainers I have
had over the years, when discussing active shooters, have always said, the
first officer on the scene goes in moving towards the sound of gunfire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is it dangerous? Yes.
Training and procedures can make it less dangerous, but it is the job
each officer signed up for. If you find
you can’t do it, that’s great, just get out and go elsewhere. There is no shame in understanding what you
can and can’t do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Transcription from open
microphones report that at one point during the operation officers in and
around the school were growing increasingly impatient, and in some cases had
been loudly voicing their concerns. “If there’s kids in there, we need to go in
there,” one officer could be heard saying. Another responded, “Whoever is in
charge will determine that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, Chief Arredondo
arrived without his radio, “because he believed that carrying a radio would
show him down as he entered the school” and assumed that someone, anyone else
was in charge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, two officers were wounded
and withdrew, fearful that their presence would cause more violence. The killing continued anyway. A locked steel door foiled the Uvalde CISD
Police Department, who couldn’t find the proper key and apparently didn’t want
to damage school property. Despite
having the responsibility of protecting the students in that school, they never
considered an active shooter would lock himself in with his victims and devised
a counter plan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The fuck-up continued until a Border
Patrol Response Team, who often provided additional manpower, decided enough
and went in. It was later quipped that
they did not disregard the Chief’s orders, they just didn’t know he had just
given the go-ahead at the time. Draw
your own conclusions about spin-doctoring.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Quisling was the Norwegian
politician and Nazi collaborator who headed the government of Norway during Nazi
occupation. His name is now universally synonymous
with traitor, and collaborator with his country’s enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Will the name Arredondo be linked
to coward? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Will Uvalde be synonymous with
fatal poor judgement?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ll let history decide that for
itself.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is there a tactical lesson for
citizens?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, the police do not and have
never had, a legal responsibility to protect the individual. You, you poor asshole, are on your own. If you have to be prepared to protect yourself
and self-rescue. So, what’s your plan?</span><o:p></o:p></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-9985691873540892112022-04-27T16:42:00.001-04:002022-04-27T16:42:12.602-04:00Continuing Adult Education<p><span style="font-size: large;"> It’s not often an attorney will
take the time to give you free legal advice.
When they do, it is in your best interest to pay attention. Mandy Gwirtz (<a href="http://gwirtzlaw.com/">http://gwirtzlaw.com/</a>)
gave a presentation in conjunction with U.S. LawShield about the changes in
Ohio Gun regulations.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Fb3SOogbEDMGVpIROFNRQzCGlx8JKcVASUrKMzpHPkGa1KopkeRt4mSEhXi1c2u1EuHX_jmW1kruMRayKYf1RmBnsnnwrA63fyWB-k_MPHxhr3sHJuwiHV8OERrrJEaMN1PQzh_XqbFfTddffQFxpJv-Z3CeEfspulyX2BbbSQoUpduFYsehT3YoFA/s2480/mod%20001%20image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2480" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Fb3SOogbEDMGVpIROFNRQzCGlx8JKcVASUrKMzpHPkGa1KopkeRt4mSEhXi1c2u1EuHX_jmW1kruMRayKYf1RmBnsnnwrA63fyWB-k_MPHxhr3sHJuwiHV8OERrrJEaMN1PQzh_XqbFfTddffQFxpJv-Z3CeEfspulyX2BbbSQoUpduFYsehT3YoFA/w640-h558/mod%20001%20image.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What do you do?</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Let me start by saying that what
is legal may not be tactically wise for you.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">More on that later.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Also, this is
an understanding from my notes.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Don’t
confuse this with legal advice.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">One last proviso: In our examples, you are snow-white innocent,
you did nothing to provoke the situation or inflame the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Jun 13, 2022, Ohio will allow Constitutional
Carry. We currently have open carry and
a license process for concealed carry. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ohio law will allow citizens of
other states, even those without a licensing process, to carry concealed in
Ohio. So why do we need a concealed
carry license?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is one of the tactical/legal
considerations. Going through the licensing
process provides education about the law and helps develop skill with the
handgun. It also allows you to enjoy reciprocity
with other states. Ohio Constitutional Carry
doesn’t cut any ice in our neighboring states.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">There may be an advantage in
either a civil or criminal case that the licensed person can bring in their
trainer to expound on the training with the lawyer and perhaps act as an expert
witness. Who would the Constitutional Carry
bring in to consult with their lawyer?
Some YouTube videos?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps the most compact, useful
concept I could share with you is your use of deadly force will be viewed in
the “totality of the circumstances.” The
jury will attempt to put themselves in your shoes, knowing what you knew at the
moment, what you felt and why you felt it and decide if your actions were
reasonable. This is the reasonable man
standard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ms. Gwirtz discussed the
difference between non-deadly harm and deadly harm. This topic evolves from the usual
question/fantasy that I could trip and literally break my neck if a person
tries to punch me. Therefore I should be
able to use deadly force to defend myself.
The trouble is that the intended outcome of a punch is not death, nor is
it likely to be death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Deadly Force, in Ohio, means any
force that carries a substantial risk that it will proximately result in the
death of any person (ORC 2901.01). From
this you can begin to see the how the totality of the circumstances comes into
play. A simple punch to the face doesn’t
carry substantial risk, but if your assailant is wearing brass knuckles, the
risk factor is increased. An assailant
attempting to use you as a punching bag, striking you repeatedly, increases the
risk factor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can summarize this as the
disparity of force. It becomes an unfair
fight if there are two of assailants, or the person has a weapon, or is significantly
larger. From this idea, we can draw out the idea that weapons come in all different forms, an assault by a person driving an automobile,
someone sicced their dog on you, a person with a screwdriver, a gun, a metal
pipe. Anything that can be used to
multiply their force. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">(As an aside, if a dog attacks
you, deal with the dog. Dogs are
property and deadly force used against property is a contradiction. The tactical side suggests you may then have
to deal with the person who owned the dog, so make sure the dog was being used
as a weapon and not just a nuisance.
Part Two: The alive dog arms the person, the dead dog disarms the
person. Are you justified in using
deadly force after dispatching the dog?
No, not at that instant.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another point worth mentioning is
that brandishing a weapon is not a legal charge in Ohio. The correct charge would be Aggravated
Menacing (making someone believe you will harm them by your words or actions). If you anticipate needing to defend yourself,
putting your hand on the holstered gun or opening your coat to make the gun
more accessible is tactically sound.
Drawing the gun begins to move you closer to the definition. Here too, it becomes the totality of the
circumstances. Holding the gun at your
side while talking civilly is significantly different from pointing the gun at
them and screaming you’re “gonna bust a cap on their ass and put them in the
grave.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stand your ground has been talked
about, knocked about and still tends to be misunderstood. Did you not create or escalate the situation?
Are you legally able to be where you
are? In those cases the law provides
that you do not have to attempt to back away.
Tactically? It is always a good
idea to attempt to deescalate. If it can
be done safely, backing up or moving away suggests you are trying to avoid a
conflict, making the other person your attacker. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Castle Law provides some
degree of protection in that it assumes that you acted in self-defense in your
home or in your car.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">What does that
mean? Let’s start with the easy. It’s your car, you have a legal right to use
it, to be in and are operating it. You can’t
be a passenger and expect protection.
Your house? That’s also limited.
It can be a hotel room you’re sleeping in, a tent, motor home, or your
house, assuming you have the legal right to be there. But not your unattached garage, unless you
are currently sleeping there. Not your
front lawn or backyard. You don’t sleep
there, do you? Unattached deck, no. Attached garage? Maybe, you’re going to have to spin the wheel
on that. Better tactics to skip that
one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it’s a rebuttable
defense. The guy in the wheelchair
holding a hammer and yelling he’s going to beat you to death? Be smart, retreat. And your home? The intruder can’t have a legal right to be
there. Your landlord, your sister-in-law
whose name is on the loan agreement and has a key you gave them? They may be intruders, but the castle
doctrine doesn’t protect you. Even the
drunk you discover sleeping it off on your couch isn’t considered a threat that
comes up to the level of self-defense.
At least while he snores away on your couch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Interaction with the police is
another area froth with danger.
Following a self-defense shooting we may want to deny we did it; we may want
to convince ourselves we were not on the cusp of life and death. We may desperately want to find permission
from an official source for our actions on one of the worse days of our
life. “I didn’t think he was going to
shoot,” we tell the cop. “I couldn’t
believe the gun was real,” we tell him.
“I wish I had done something else.”
All of which can wash away our claims of self-defense.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ms. Gwirtz says don’t talk to the
police. It’s good advice. But if you’ve been through higher training
and demonstrated your ability to control what you say, it might be tactical to point
out exculpable evidence to the police. “That’s
his gun/knife/hammer.” He/she/they saw
the incident.” “I was in fear for my
life.” “They forced me to defend myself.” And then ask for a lawyer and lock your lips
shut.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your gun gets stolen, and believe
it or not, most people don’t report it.
Maybe they don’t want to get involved with the police. Maybe they suspect a family member or
friend. Could it be a co-worker? Could it be you’re simply embarrassed to have
it happen to you? You should have locked
it in a safe, but you thought you could hide it on the shelf above the shower. Maybe you bought it from a friend or some guy
in a bar and aren’t sure of its bonafides.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Get over it. Reporting it stolen to the police can simply
your life if something criminal happens with the gun.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is there more? Sure.
Society is complex and regulated.
Rules are constantly changing and the volume of misinformation is becoming
legendary. To protect your Second Amendment
rights, you need to educate yourself constantly. </span><o:p></o:p></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739365475201576553.post-60090379745874965512022-04-14T19:47:00.000-04:002022-04-14T19:47:51.544-04:00Basics 15 : In Police Hands<p><span style="font-size: large;">I couldn’t watch NBC’s “The Thing
About Pam.” I couldn’t believe the
police would be that stupid, that a prosecutor and judge could be that corrupt,
not for money, but for career promotion.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqNGGLGuvm3giJjymT_254Ntsq4hyFEtlZLk-SRBqLAMWk24YyV8ONzBR8zDGKoAnDLd4f-CJcah3i4SXNCu2V1h3GtnNSTNQDauG0rpVVQ0B7WWoBFUID5_ZKud1TQgiQki_ip9DGYde03au2m8hYWytNirDwz-RksASzCNQ4nsj3b65ComavAJV3g/s1024/CR0VjL6UsAAapN2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqNGGLGuvm3giJjymT_254Ntsq4hyFEtlZLk-SRBqLAMWk24YyV8ONzBR8zDGKoAnDLd4f-CJcah3i4SXNCu2V1h3GtnNSTNQDauG0rpVVQ0B7WWoBFUID5_ZKud1TQgiQki_ip9DGYde03au2m8hYWytNirDwz-RksASzCNQ4nsj3b65ComavAJV3g/w400-h300/CR0VjL6UsAAapN2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Police arrive at your home in response to a phone call. </td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Summary:</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pam Hupp kills Elizabeth Faria for her
insurance money and frames her husband, Russell.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The lazy detectives op-out for the suspect with
the highest likelihood, the husband, and ignore exculpable evidence by concocting
fantasy conspiracies out of vapor.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The
prosecutor?</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Was she driven by a book
deal that only she fantasized about?</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The
judge, the high school buddy of prosecutor Leah Askey, had her back during the trial
and guaranteed the conviction before the trial started.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Surely this was a fantasy program
written just for television! The lazy
cops never check the validity of the evidence, just accepted Pam Hupp’s
meandering and conflicting tales.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Russell Faria didn’t do himself
any favors. He attempted to work with
the police to help them find his wife’s killer without realizing he was the
only suspect they would consider. He
never asked for a lawyer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">All of this occurred in a culture
where cop/criminal/lawyer stories are considered suitable entertainment for
adults and children. Finally, lawyer
Joel Schwartz was able to get a retrial in front of an unbiased judge and got
Russell released from prison. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what does that have to do with
you?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just a reminder, you can’t
control the actions of the police, what the prosecutor thinks, or the judge’s
bias. You can always ask for a lawyer
before talking with the police. If you
are unable to walk away, you are under arrest.
If they insist you must immediately come to the station to make a
statement, you are under arrest. In the
case of self-defense, you may want to point out the criminal’s weapon, eye or
earwitness, but it would not be out of the question to demand a lawyer before you
answer any questions or make a statement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I can’t believe the police and
judicial system, as shown in “The Thing About Pam,” is an accurate description
of law enforcement across America. I
believe it was a case of everyone being in over their heads and making such an
emotional commitment to their decisions that they could not change. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it can happen and will
happen. If you were somehow connected to
a crime, make sure you bring in a lawyer as soon as possible. Ask for a lawyer before you answer any
questions.</span><o:p></o:p></p>knifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668471324798770048noreply@blogger.com0