Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
Spending the night on the Streets of Portland
Encounters with mentally ill homeless people are common. I think it’s useful to see how they live in order to better understand a population that most of us find a bit alien.
Self-Defense and the Law: When Is It Time to Talk with the Prosecutor?
Solid advice from Massad Ayoob. You should also read his thoughts on Post-Shooting Trauma Realities.
Let’s Fix What’s Broken
“…we need to start using the same neurological and physiological “machinery” in training that is required on the street. Most of what we have people practice doing now is almost completely unrelated to what is required in the real world. Nobody would expect riding a tricycle around in the driveway to produce a competent driver. Yet, this is an effective analogy for what we train people to do in firearms training versus what they actually need to be able to do for real. What we should be doing is developing the full spectrum of neurological and physiological functions that are required on the street – during all related training.”
Want to dig into this issue with a little more depth? Read Building Shooters: Applying Neuroscience Research To Tactical Training System Design.
Soft Loops for Fixed Blade EDC
I get lots of questions about recommendations for horizontal carry sheaths for the Ka-Bar TDI knife. Here is a quick and inexpensive solution.
The Press-Out (Part 2)
Part Two of SLG’s treatise on the press out.
Stay Solar
One of my favorite Jack Donovan essays:
“Are you a source of life-giving warmth in the lives of the people around you, or a collapsed sun— a black hole that draws them in and crushes them. Do the people in your orbit and the people you come in contact with every day feel improved by your presence? Do you make the people around you better or worse?
People love to complain, but it doesn’t help them. Be a source of inspiration, not commiseration.
The sun has warmth and energy to spare. What it gives doesn’t deplete it in any meaningful way.
Don’t operate in a “zero-sum” frame. Most of us are mobile, and we aren’t fighting over some closed, tiny market of friends, potential partners, or potential clients. Adopting an abundance mentality makes you appear more confident and less desperate — and ideally you will also become more confident and less desperate.
Let the low-energy vermin fight over every scrap in the alley, and turn your mind to greater concerns.”
If you liked this article, check out the author’s book Becoming a Barbarian.
Riot Gun – The Origin Story
Interesting stuff. Continuing on the topic of shotguns, this article discusses a useful technique that is seldom taught anymore. I learned it in my police academy shortly after it was used in the famed LAPD Bank Robbery shooting. When I trained officers at the police department, I made them practice it every couple years. Place a steel target flat on the ground as an aiming point if you don’t want to tear up your range.
50 Years of Travel Tips
This is one of the best travel articles I’ve ever read.
Updated data on the most dangerous call in law enforcement
I’ve been writing about this for more than a decade. It’s incredibly frustrating for me. Take a look at the graph above depicting where officers are shot when responding to active shooter calls. Why does all police active killer training start inside a structure and focus on room clearing?
If you are a cop and you don’t read and understand this article, you are unprepared to respond to an active killer attack.
Tips for Defensive Carbine Development
Some things you might think about when determining what skills to practice with your defensive carbine.
Give them what they want
Kathy Jackson provides an in-depth analysis of a kidnapping where a woman was carjacked at the ATM and forced into her own vehicle trunk. While you are on Kathy’s site, you’ll also want to check out her article on How to Win the Bullet Surprise.
.32 H&R Magnum vs .38 Special For Concealed Carry
Discussing the relative advantages of these two popular defensive revolver cartridges. For more quality revolver discussion, listen to Bryan Eastridge’s appearance on The Way is in Training podcast.
Lessons to Remember
“Sometimes it’s helpful to remember lessons that could well be lost to history, forgotten in the rush of current events. For those who are showing “snow on the roof,” current events become reminders of lessons learned, at enormous cost sometimes. I was reminded of some of this a few weeks ago.”
Don’t be a Parrot
“Since I can’t say it better than Musashi, I’ll quote him and let you choose how this article affects you:
‘Go alone to places frightening to the common brand of men.’
There is no single best teacher. Build experience, read, train, think, and above all else, live. Ruffling feathers in pursuit of greater knowledge is an entirely worthwhile trade”
Travis Haley – Blackwater Sniper’s Controversial Moments in Deadly War Zones | SRS #172
I know most of the people in the firearms training community. With that said, I have never met Travis Haley. I was impressed with the information he shared on this podcast.
What I’m reading…
Breaking In a Leather Holster
Good information for those of you who haven’t migrated to kydex holsters. I’ve personally had good luck with the “saran wrap” method described in the article.
You will also like the Revolver Guy’s AAR of the Gunsite Revolver Roundup.
Black Swans, Severity and Probability
Chris Cypert’s thoughts on training priorities.
Your Emergency Water Plan
A good checklist to determine if you are prepared to deal with a water shortage. Opens to PDF.
The trials of Doc Holliday
Massad Ayoob talks about some of Doc Holliday’s lesser-known gunfights. For a little more firearms history, read They Called Him Fitz.
Trends in Police Training – Part 3
I would postulate that these ideas are also relevant for armed citizens as well.
The New Bakersfield PD Qualification
Give this shooting drill a try during your next range training session.
The Levels of Eye Contact
A very good article about different types of eye contact and what each type signifies.
While most of the information is in the context of attracting a potential romantic partner, it also applies to more predatory criminal interactions as well.
The look that a potential lover gives you when he/she thinks you are attractive is the same look that a criminal will display when he sees you as an attractive target.
MARCH 2025 NEWSLETTER
The latest Rangemaster newsletter with a very good article on appropriate use of force.
Some of the above links (from Amazon.com) are affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn a small percentage of the sale price from qualifying purchases.
