Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
Where is The Safest Place to Sit to Avoid Danger?
Some things to consider when you are out in various public venues.
Capability or Size? What’s Best For Pistol-Mounted Lights
If you are going to attach a light to your CCW/home defense handgun, should it be a bigger one or a smaller one?
Instructor Tips | Making Targets Work for You
Instructor life hacks you may have never considered.
Top Concealed Carry Errors Explained
Are you making these errors? If you want to model good behavior rather than avoid bad behavior, here’s a list of the 10 Commandments of Concealed Carry.
The Dumbest Self-Defense Advice On The Internet
Since we are are on the topic of both good and bad advice, this article seems relevant as well.
How To Stay Safe in a Hotel
This article is fascinating to me. While each of the individual suggestions is solid, when taken all together, I’ve never seen a more utterly paranoid and obsessive analysis. In the 2025 calendar year I spent 144 nights in hotels or AirBnBs. No one would consider me an amateur in the field of surviving hotel room stays. I think I have very solid security procedures, but I don’t do 5% of what this author suggests. He’s not wrong, but damn if he isn’t more than a little over the top with most his recommendations.
Here’s something to ponder…
Most of you are gun and combatives enthusiasts. Do you think the advice you give your friends, family, and students might be seen as “over the top” from their perspective and ultimately ignored? Is that an effective communications/education strategy?
home defense against a mob
Massad Ayoob details how defending oneself against mobs is not just a modern phenomena. You might also like Mob Defense: How to Stay Safe from a Crowd.
Firepower of the Texas Rangers in the History of the Organization
Massad Ayoob went back to 1967 to teach you the lessons in the previous link. Here is a history lesson that goes back a bit farther.
Escaping the Gun Debate Trap | David Yamane | TEDxWakeForestU
It’s nice to see our favorite gun owning professor getting some exposure in this very popular lecture ecosystem.
Dr. Yamane discusses how the “other side” views all of you gun owners reading this article. I can’t help but think we can better bridge the cultural divide if we focus as equally on our responsibilities as we do our rights. Here are some suggestions about how to do that: Armed, Trained & Responsible: The Forgotten Half Of American Gun Culture.
For an even deeper dive into the topic, check out Harnessing the Resource: Transforming Armed America into a Public Asset – University of Wyoming.
KelTec P32: The Pocket Pistol That Changed Concealed Carry
Although it’s been eclipsed in popularity by similarly-sized .380 offerings, I think this is a unique little pistol that never received the credit it deserves.
11 Secretive Spots to Hide Valuables in Your Home
Some good hiding spots here.
The First Shot Problem: Why Your Draw Practice Might Be Lying to You – American Handgunner
How unexamined practice priorities might lead you astray. Some similar ideas in Stop Chasing Fads.
Some takes on UV & cancer — LessWrong
One of the less glamorous occupational hazards of being a traveling firearms instructor is near constant sun exposure. Here is some research that goes a bit against the conventional wisdom.
I’m probably not the best person to trust for skin care advice. I had a malignant melanoma surgically removed in 2018. Luckily, I caught it before it metastasized. Every time I look in the mirror I see the 10″ surgical scar that makes me look like I got hacked by a sword. I’ve also had four lesser skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma) removed. This is a topic you should be paying attention to.
Clerk Tries to Stop Multiple Shoplifters in Fresno, California
These “flash mob” style retail thefts/robberies are becoming more common. You should have a plan of action should something like this happen in a store where you are shopping.
Put yourself in this spot. Would you escape? If so, how? The robbers are blocking the door. Would you defend the innocent clerk when he is attacked? Have you thought about how well you could flee from violent teenagers who can move much faster than you can? At what point would you consider drawing your gun?
Lots of stuff to think about here.
What I’m reading…
Trust No One: an insider’s perspective
One of the best articles Todd Green ever wrote. I’m glad SLG is keeping Todd’s spirit alive by continuing to write for the site. You might like his latest post as well.
Drop the Knife
I hope you will be less enthused about the possibility of intervening in two strangers’ fight after reading this first person account.
Skills Check: The Event Horizon Drill
Tatiana shares a simple (but not easy) handgun shooting drill that most of you can do, even on indoor ranges.
1977 American Handgunner
Last week I posted a link to a full PDF copy of a 1978 issue of American Handgunner. Here is one to an even older 1977 edition. It’s cool to look back on the history of the shooting industry like this.
Tested: Steinel .38 Special +P Snub Nose Pro Ammunition
Ballistic testing of some new .38 ammo you may not have seen before.
Free Targets From Around The Web
Four sources for free downloadable shooting targets.
Of Shotgun Slings
Tips for slinging up your shotgun.
Quote to ponder: