Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
4 Cases That Examine if a Shot in the Back Is Murder or Self-Defense
Massad Ayoob examines four cases where the criminal suspect was shot in the back and the implications that back shooting have for armed defenders. For even more information about the topic, check out my article Shot in the back- How does it Happen?
Backup Iron Sights: Selection & Setup Tips
I think you should have backup iron sights on your AR-15. My opinion differs from many other instructors in the field when it comes to how they are used. Most of the instructors I respect advocate running the backup sights along with the red dot. There are some advantages to doing it that way, but I find that the backup irons restrict some of the view through my red dot sights. I prefer to run them folded down as a general practice.
I like the Magpul folding sights for good performance at a decent price.
The 99 Drill – When What You Really Want To Do Is Practice
This is a good drill. See my take on it here.
After you have practiced your skills, make an attempt at the double speed Dallas PD Qualification as suggested by Karl Rehn.
11 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started My Business
Number 8 has been especially important for me. I’ve learned that I shouldn’t teach a class unless I’m excited about doing it. If I don’t think “Hell Yes” when I’m booking it, it’s not worth my effort.
Personal-Defense Skill-Building: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
“We are not looking for something that “works for you” under the ideal conditions of a square range, poking holes in a piece of paper at your own pace, with no one watching and judging your performance. What we are looking for is something that works under stressful conditions when it matters most. A good training class provides that opportunity, so do competitions such as practical pistol matches that encourage the use of common concealed-carry gear. Activities like that allow you to find out which parts of your gear need and upgrade and which don’t.”
New study on shooting accuracy. How does your agency stack up?
Less than half of police shootings involve a suspect being hit.
WYLDE: BOOKS 1-3
What I’m reading…
My friend Marcus Wynne just came out with a new novel. I’m only a few pages into it, but I’m hooked. Here is Marcus’ announcement as well as Ralph Mroz’s deeper dive into Marcus’ background. Buy his book. You’ll enjoy it.
Small Arms Survey Publish Free Guide to the Identification of Small Arms
Some of you will find this resource to be invaluable…and the price is right.
The 12 cognitive biases that prevent you from being rational
Recognizing these biases is critical. Not only do they affect your daily life, they come into play in potential self defense situations as well.
Brazilian Gun Grapple Analysis
A couple weeks ago I posted the video of this Brazilian shooting. In this article, Mark breaks down the action and highlights all the relevant learning points. Check out Active Self Protection’s take on the scenario as well.
Human Collateral
“We aren’t arguing against attrition, even extremely high attrition, in selection and training programs. It’s sometimes needed and important. What we’re doing is making the point that battering people takes a toll on them—whether they happen to break during the battering or not. And, while we in this industry might not always like to acknowledge it, the fact is that everyone has a cumulative limit and, ultimately, a breaking point.”
Merry Christmas, Bob
One of the most motivational articles I’ve ever read. I like to re-read it every year around Christmas time.
Practicing under adverse conditions
Today is the first official day of winter. Have you practiced shooting with gloves on? At what rate does your personal performance decline?
Why Semi-Autos Are the Best Tactical Shotguns
While the pump shotguns probably have more inherent reliability, when human factors are introduced into the equation, the semi-autos become a better choice. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen competent shotgunners short stroke a pump gun when placed under a little stress.
DHS Says Americans Need to Start Prepping for up to six months without electricity
Remember the government recommendation to have a few days’ worth of food, water, and medicine on hand in case of an emergency? Now they are saying we should have a MINIMUM of six months’ worth of provisions to deal with a possible EMP attack. If you’ve done any real research, you’ll know that six months is a very optimistic time period for recovery after and EMP. Two to five years is more realistic. Are you ready for that scenario?
Smith & Wesson J-frame Versus Ruger LCR
I don’t think you can go wrong with either.
Defense at a Distance
When is the last time you practiced your 75-100 yard handgun shots?
“Most practice should involve developing a response to the short-range encounters we are most likely to face. However, about 10 percent of practice should involve shooting at longer ranges. Even in dry-fire practice, one can incorporate handgun presentation with a move to cover, or backward or laterally to create distance.”
Here is a good distance shooting drill from my friend Dave Spaulding.
Zulu Bravo Obscure Series G-10 Knives
Some very nice non-metallic options for you Pikal enthusiasts.
Study: People Who ‘Microdose’ LSD and Magic Mushrooms Are Wiser and More Creative
And for those of you who are more interested in PiHKAL than Pikal, here is an fascinating study on microdosing psychedelics.
Reality Check with Chuck Taylor
A lot of my current students have never heard of Chuck Taylor. In the days before widespread internet use we depended on books and print magazine articles to learn about gunfights and firearms training. Chuck was a prolific author at the time and also served on the staff at Gunsite. Before the War on Terror, the only military vets we had as trainers were these guys from the Vietnam-era. Chuck, along with veterans like Clint Smith, John Benner, and John Farnam shaped our ideas about how things were done much like the current “Tier One” operator/trainers of today.
I trained with Chuck way back in the year 2000. It’s great to listen to his perspective on things. Thanks to Marcus Wynne for sending me the video.
Down Range Radio #598: The Greatest “Myth” in Concealed Carry
Some excellent words of wisdom from Michael Bane. “You are not a sheepdog.”
Some more on the “Sheepdog” idea from Rory Miller. H/T to Practical Eschatology for the link.
15 realities to talk about with recruits.
Quality advice for my police readers. The first suggestion is amazingly effective. I do it almost daily, but don’t see too many of my fellow officers talking to folks outside of the context of enforcement action. Take a walk through your business district. Walk around a school when students are arriving or departing. Eat your lunch in a city park and talk to the people who walk by. That’s invaluable community-oriented policing.
Making suspects sit on ground is ‘demeaning,’ San Francisco police chief says
One more police link for you today…
This isn’t something that affects many of you, but it identifies a trend you should all be tracking.
Why do cops make people sit on the ground?
It’s because:
1) they suspect that the person is engaged in criminal conduct that requires an investigation AND
2) they believe that the criminal suspect will either attempt to run away of will attempt to attack the officer
Sitting someone on the ground is a way to limit the suspect’s mobility and provide the officer with a visual warning sign (standing up) that the suspect is attempting to fight or flee.
In most cases, if an officer has enough of a reason to sit someone on the ground, he likely has reasonable grounds to handcuff the suspect and detain him in the back of a police car.
That’s the option cops will choose if they don’t have the ability to sit you down on the ground. I’m going to choose handcuffs over a foot chase or fight any day of the week.
Those “demeaning” police officers will now start handcuffing more and more of their detainees when they lose the ability to control a suspect non-violently by simple movement restriction.
Which would you rather endure? Would you rather sit on the curb for a couple minutes without handcuffs until the officer figures out what’s going on or would you rather be cuffed and stuffed in the back of a cruiser?
Who benefits from this policy? Is it the law abiding citizen? Likely not. Is it the officer? Nope. It only benefits the people being detained by the police. Is that really the population we want to cater to? Will this policy be a net good or a net bad for society at large?
This policy will cause more assaults on cops, more fleeing criminals, and more use of force complaints from people who are mistaken for criminals and are being detained with handcuffs in lieu of cops sitting them on the curb.
It’s a ridiculous solution to a non-existent problem.
WITH CHRISTMAS IN THE AIR, GIVE…AIR
Mas Ayoob provides an excellent last minute gift idea for you Glock shooters. Not to be used for force on force, but very useful for practice drills indoors or out in your back yard when you can’t make it to the range. Of course, it is available on Amazon. Interestingly enough, the airsoft version is about twice the price, but is of very high quality and the best airsoft Glock I’ve shot.
5 Failed Ammunition Innovations
Some very cool historic marvels in this article.
Establishing Dominant Positional Control – Closed Guard
Cecil talks about some basic ground control methods from the guard position.
Stop practicing shooting – response
Ralph Mroz wrote a thought-provoking essay on practice priorities. In the above link, Karl Rehn provides his thoughts on the topic. Both are worthwhile reads.
Some of the above links (from Amazon.com) are affiliate links. If you purchase these items, I get a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.
