Concealed Carry the BEDROCK MBC’S Master Technique Rights Are More Tenuous As a Skill Set Foundation Than You Might Think ❚BY MICHAEL JANICH ❚ by ROBERT H

STARTING AT $19.99 CONTENTS 58 GUN STORAGE HOT TOPIC The Turkey Incident ❚BY ED COMBS FEATURES 62 TACTICS AGAINST A MOB 52 Surviving in the Street and in Court SELF-DEFENSE ❚BY SCHUYLER P. ROBERTSON BAD LOT 68 FITNESS Trouble Finds a Young BUILDING TECHNIQUE Minnesota Couple on Strong People Are Harder to Kill the Way to Their Car ❚BY GARY REICHERT ❚ BY JARED BLOHM 76 ROBBERY A SHOOTING IN MY ’HOOD Violence Hits Close to Home ❚BY RICK SAPP 86 TRIALS OUT OF YOUR HANDS 82 The Legal System Can Be LAW Murky and Complicated BURIED ❚BY CLEMENT S. PATTI JR. IN PAPER 98 KNIVES Your Concealed Carry THE BEDROCK MBC’s Master Technique Rights Are More Tenuous as a Skill Set Foundation Than You Might Think ❚BY MICHAEL JANICH ❚ BY ROBERT H. CARP 10 2 LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICE AND THE LAWFULLY ARMED Tips for a Smooth and Safe Interaction ❚BY GREGORY J. CONNOR AND DOUGLAS MITCHELL 10 6 CLOSE QUARTERS 92 THE FOLLY OF TRUE STORY HANDGUN DEPENDENCY Going for Yours to Find You Don’t Have One VICTIM ❚BY MICHAEL LETTERMAN NO MORE 110 REAL LIFE How One Woman Chose to Take Her Life Back TRUE TO WORD ❚ BY RICK SAPP Concealed Carry Magazine Wants to Hear Your Self-Defense Stories ❚BY ED COMBS

4 January | www.USCCA.com January 2018

COLUMNS

WOMEN’S SECTION PG.121

48 DEFCON 1 CLOSE ENCOUNTERS Looking Down the Barrel ❚ BY JOHN CAILE

34 LEGALLY ARMED CITIZEN HARD LESSONS News From the Front ❚BY ED COMBS

January | www.USCCA.com 5 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Tim Schmidt

“If It Saves Just One Life…” You’ve likely heard both me and Executive Editor Kevin Michalowski say it more than a few times: The explicit goal of the Concealed Carry Magazine team is to make each issue better than the last. It is, perhaps, an impossible thing to measure, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that the talented people who work to bring you interesting, accurate and lifesaving information through these pages pursue that goal relentlessly. n fact, the amount of positive feed- See, true stories have the power to “x” number of lives are saved every day Iback we receive on a regular basis impact people in a way that statistics with the help of firearms, sharing those in- is a testament to how the Concealed cannot. And, honestly, that issue really dividuals’ life-changing stories — as Rick Carry Magazine team delivers on their helped to bring to light a crystal-clear Sapp did on behalf of Kevin Shea in “If promise of excellence and improve- truth that anti-gunners seemingly refuse It Bleeds…” (January 2017, Page 92), for ment every single time they send an to acknowledge: example — has a tendency to stick with issue from the printer to your mailbox. Guns help save lives. us far longer than even the most pro-gun I’m beyond grateful for their hard work, Wait … isn’t that usually their argu- numbers ever will. expertise and commitment to you and ment? Seriously, how many times have That’s why Concealed Carry Mag- to the USCCA’s ongoing mission to edu- you heard an anti-gunner say something azine’s editorial team has decided cate 10 million gun owners, protect and like, “If it saves just one life...” when refer- to bring you another true-stories- insure 1 million members, stop 20,000 ring to “common-sense” gun legislation? themed issue this time around. crimes and save 1,000 lives. I truly be- (Perhaps the real question is whether or Let’s be honest: Putting faces to dev- lieve that the content presented in Con- not you have enough fingers to count astating but ultimately triumphant acts cealed Carry Magazine is helping us do that high.) of survival can help to remind us — and all of those things. In fact, I know it is. What these people seem to com- reinforce in us — that our unequivocal, You may recall that, after over 10 years pletely ignore is the fact that guns, not God-given right to self-defense with a of producing this publication, we desig- gun laws, help save lives every sin- firearm might one day be the only rea- nated January 2017 as the first-ever issue gle day. I say “fact” because we have son we’re alive to tell our story. of Concealed Carry Magazine dedicat- proof — real, statistical evidence — The next time an anti-gun individual ed solely to true stories of self-defense. that this is true. Common sense tells tries to pull the “If it saves just one You’ll likely also recall that we debuted me, then, that guns in the hands of life” card, pull out a copy of Con- our brand-new women’s section in that good guys and gals is an effective way cealed Carry Magazine and hit them issue. (As an integral part of the USCCA to make our world a safer place. And, with true stories of armed self-de- mission, that section is here to stay. Turn honestly, I can think of few things that fense. As they say: The truth hurts, to Page 121 to read some incredible sto- make me happier than reading stories but it always prevails. ries from some of the firearms industry’s about these good guys and gals pre- most impassioned voices.) To date, and vailing against those who tried to do for both of those reasons, the “True Sto- them harm. ries” issue holds its position as my all- Think about it for a second: time favorite installment of CCM. While it might be promising to say that

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TRUE STORIES ARE OFTEN THE BEST TEACHERS We live in curious times. More surveillance cameras than you can imagine surround us. Children born after 1997 are considered the most photographed generation in history. There are images everywhere. Cameras everywhere. It is downright Orwellian, and there is much to fear from this surveillance culture we have created. But there is much to learn as well. These cameras capture activities ical eye. Don’t just log on to YouTube the most part, we are not ready for it. that, until recently, we never really got and search for “fight” videos. If you do, If you are serious about your self-de- to see unfold in real time at full speed. you will be shocked and horrified by fense training, you will endeavor to Consider the sudden violent assault. the brutality of fights in the street and learn what you can from surveillance For decades, we could only rely on by the callous nature of someone who videos and true stories. Use them as eyewitness accounts of what hap- could shoot video of such an event conversation starters when talking to pened. Under such trauma, memory without trying to stop it. But I digress. like-minded people. Openly discuss is not clear. Video, while it might not The goal is to learn from the videos. what you see and what we all might tell the whole story, provides a much Take careful notice of what you see, learn from these stories. We simply clearer view of the actions, reactions especially if the video includes the few cannot overlook these tragic incidents and movements of the attacker and moments leading up to the attack. as sources of information or inspiration the victim in a sudden assault. When watching these videos, notice when it comes to defensive training. We can learn from these true stories, how the predator moves into position. We learn best from experience, but but we have to look at them with a crit- Pay attention to the angles, distances none of us really want to experience and other elements the predator uses an actual assault in order to improve to gain the advantage. Pay special at- our defensive skills. Instead, we can tention to how quickly use the information gleaned from the things happen. Sud- video images of these incidents and den assaults are vi- combine that information with well-rea- olent, unpredictable soned, practical and reputable train- and dynamic. The ing. Discuss the elements you’ve seen only proven way you on video or heard about from various can be certain to es- true stories and do your best to plan cape unharmed is your next move. to avoid the fight. The best fight is the one you are not We have much to in. But you can learn from these tragic learn by watching events and, like they say, “If this can videos of actual save just one life, it will be worth it.” attacks. True stories remind us that crime happens every day and, for

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MESSAGE RECEIVED ■ WHEN Concealed Carry Magazine Creative Director Ken Wangler was out and about hunting up a location for a cover shot, an illuminated overhead traffic sign beamed him a message: "BE ALERT." Many blocks from his vehicle and not in the toniest part of town, he appreciated the tip. Your surroundings communicate with you, and it is to your advantage to be receptive. In these pages, you'll read of individuals who listened to what the world was trying to tell them, and you'll read of a few who are lucky to be alive after declining to take a call from reality. Either way, you'll be reading about — and hopefully learning from — actual incidents from the streets of this nation, told by those who survived them.

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FNA170033 509A_1MR 7_75x10_5.indd 1 7/10/17 9:07 AM ASK THE USCCA

QUESTION: I know that you have always stated that you should always chamber a round while carrying concealed. I recently purchased the new Ruger LCP II and really like this gun. It is now my carry gun, as I can conceal it easily and don’t have to worry about it printing regardless of what I am wearing. When I got the gun, I read the manual and it states that you should not carry this gun chambered. I thought that was a bit odd, as they are the manufacturer and would recommend, as does the USCCA, to carry with a round chambered. Is this just the manufacturer being super safe and not recommending a chambered round when carrying? Should I chamber a round even though Ruger says I should not? Thanks, Mark, via email YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY ANSWER: These are never easy. the chamber should be empty, and the because a safety on one of their pistols As I read them on Ruger’s website, this slide should be closed.” failed ... as a man attempted to clear it is the same set of instructions that warns As far as I can tell — and though I’m while pointing it at someone else. the consumer, “The pistol is ready for in- not an attorney, I do talk to a person or That lawsuit drove Jennings out of stant use when the trigger is pulled once two in the gun industry now and again business. the slide moves fully forward. Be careful!” — warnings like these are specifically So, I would say that you need to do In fact, right before the passage to included in owner’s manuals to entirely what you think is best. Executive Editor which you refer, they advise the consum- disentangle the manufacturer from any Kevin Michalowski and I agree with other er, “Do not load the pistol until you are and all possible responsibility should any subject matter experts, such as George ready to use it, and unload it immediately consumer ever do anything, well, foolish. Harris and Massad Ayoob, when we say when you have completed shooting.” It wasn’t the first time such a thing hap- that if you’re going to carry a sidearm for Then, as you detail, Ruger tells us that, pened, but one of the major moments in self-defense, you need to carry it fully “For maximum safety when carrying the history that really ramped up this kind of loaded, with all safeties engaged and pistol with a loaded magazine in place, behavior was when Jennings was sued with the gun secured in a quality holster

12 January | www.USCCA.com ❚ TO SUBMIT A QUESTION TO “ASK THE USCCA,” EMAIL US AT [email protected].

PRESIDENT & CEO ■ A manufacturer may Tim Schmidt warn against chambered rounds in their owner’s EXECUTIVE EDITOR manual, but the decision Kevin Michalowski on how to safely handle MANAGING EDITOR and carry your firearm Jared Blohm is ultimately up to you. ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ed Combs CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ken Wangler ART DIRECTOR Dusty Reid COPY EDITOR Carla Dickmann PHOTOGRAPHERS Ken Wangler • Dusty Reid COLUMNISTS John Caile • Bob Campbell • Ed Combs George Harris • K.L. Jamison, ESQ. Tamara Keel • Alan Korwin • Anthony Lambert Duncan Mackie • Kevin Michalowski Rick Sapp • Tim Schmidt CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jared Blohm • Robert H. Carp • Ed Combs Gregory J. Connor • Michael Janich Michael Letterman • Douglas Mitchell Clement S. Patti Jr. • Gary Reichert Schuyler P. Robertson • Rick Sapp

Published for USCCA by:

1000 Freedom Way West Bend, WI 53095 MEMBER SERVICES (877) 677-1919 [email protected] FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, CONTACT: Bruce Wolberg (715) 445-8722 or (715) 281-4075 [email protected] ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Carol Busse (262) 806-0117 [email protected] Concealed Carry Magazine (USPS: 022-302, ISSN: 1550-7866), Volume 15, Issue 1, that completely covers the trigger and member that you are responsible for your JANUARY 2018 Issue. Published 8 times a year, monthly, trigger guard. actions with this pistol. Muzzle manage- except combined issues: Feb/Mar; May/June; Aug/Sept; Ruger issues a lot of warnings in that ment and trigger-finger discipline are key and Nov/Dec. By Delta Defense, LLC, 1000 Freedom Way, West Bend, WI 53095. Periodicals postage paid at owner’s manual, like the warning against elements to safe gun handling, so ob- Jackson, WI and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: the fact that “the slide automatically serve those safety rules in every aspect Send address changes to: opens and shuts quickly while firing. of your gun handling. Concealed Carry Magazine, 1000 Freedom Way, West Bend, WI 53095 Keep face and hands away from rear.” Thanks a million for asking that one For, in their words and not mine, “max- and stay safe, imum safety when carrying the pistol,” I, Ed Combs as an employee of the USCCA and not Associate Editor Signed articles in Concealed Carry Magazine reflect the Sturm, Ruger & Co., would advise that views of the author, and are not necessarily the views of the editors at Delta Defense, LLC. Concealed Carry you carry that pistol ready to defend Magazine and the U.S. Concealed Carry Association are yourself against deadly violence rather registered trademarks of Delta Defense, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2004-2018 by Delta Defense, LLC. than corporate lawsuit. Atop all of this, re- Reproduction, copying, or distribution of Concealed Carry Magazine is prohibited without written permission. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

■JUST PICK ONE! with a round chambered and all safeties Wear your hearing protection when you I would not ask a lesser publication to do engaged, I have to wonder what on earth train, but when it comes time to fight, worry this: How about an article [titled] “The Saf- the shouter thinks Browning would have about staying alive first. After that, you can est Modern Handgun”? Note that I include had you do. deal with the issue of hearing loss. There both pistols and revolvers. The fact is, it is extremely difficult to find a will be some; there is some every time you My nomination: The P7M8, no worry modern pistol that’s “safer” than any other. fire a gun without hearing protection. That about “trigger snag” and it has a “drop There’s a decent number of attorneys and is just the way of the world. You could use safety.” What other [gun] allows the remov- politicians who already have a healthy gus- a suppressor, but a suppressor is very al (without tools) of the firing pin assembly to for making a run at destroying the Ameri- difficult to conceal and makes using your such that it can be rendered totally safe in can gun market, so the thought of releasing weapon effectively in a fight all the more one second, and just as quickly restored to an unsafe firearm would never even cross difficult. Law enforcement and military ready status? It also disassembles without a manufacturer’s mind. Oh, there’s some agencies address the problem by paying tools in one second. production hiccups now and again, but the worker’s compensation claims or offering I’m sure you’re up to the task. I’m equally failures there are almost always in failure to free medical treatment to those whose sure it will not be an easy one! function, not a breakdown in safety. hearing is damaged to the point of causing Ken, via email So, though I am also a fan of the H&K problems on the job. P7 series, I’m extremely hesitant to deem As for virtual reality training, I would sug- Ken, it any “safer” than anything else. A “safe” gest you continue your VR training under I thank you kindly for your confidence in pistol has a drop-safe design and a trig- the guidance of reputable trainers. Get as this publication, but I’m afraid my response ger guard. It is reliable in that it will not dis- much training as you can and train with as might be less than you’re looking for. charge without the trigger being pressed many different people and styles of training There have, in the past, been truly un- all the way to the rear. But no feature is as as you can. All of it will help, even if it only safe firearms manufactured and distribut- important as the individual holding it’s ded- teaches you what not to do. ed. The Japanese Type 94 Nambu pistol ication to safe gun-handling practices and Stay safe, had an exposed sear bar and would fire conscious commitment to never, ever allow Kevin Michalowski if a few pounds of pressure were exerted that firearm to discharge negligently. Executive Editor on the side of the frame. In the old days, Stay safe, before transfer bar safeties, certain revolv- Ed Combs ■SIR, EYE, EYE, SIR! ers could not be carried with a round under Associate Editor I read the email entitled “Eye, Eye Cap- the hammer at the risk of any impact on tain” (“Letters to the Editor,” Page 20, Au- the hammer pressing the firing pin into the ■EYES AND EARS gust/September 2017 issue) and am not primer of a cartridge and thus negligently I would like to pose two questions: sure that cross-dominance is all that rare. discharging the revolver. How can I protect my hearing if I have to I wasn’t aware I had this “affliction” until I Certain modern manufacturers have, use my weapon in my home, a store or a took a concealed carry class and found in more recent years, manufactured guns restaurant? From what I am able to glean, out. I never noticed it much prior as, at the that were deemed defective and were sub- a suppressor will reduce the decibels from distances at which I shot, it didn’t seem sequently recalled. I’d imagine that you the report to a level that will not blow out my to make any significant difference. As already know this, but a good deal of our eardrums, yet a good one is rather expen- my gun only has a 3.5-inch barrel, I don’t readers are new to guns and shooting, so sive and, with the federal requirements, it shoot beyond 25 yards. Anyway, I have a I feel that a general explanation is neces- takes a while to receive one. How do law Crimson Trace Lasergrip on my Kahr and sary. enforcement and the military address this? it works great at that distance. At shorter, What I dislike about the term “safest Secondly, what is your perspective on close-combat distances, like you would modern handgun” is that almost all of the virtual reality training? Although I am not in- encounter in your home, I don’t use the beefs I hear about the “safety” of various volved in law enforcement, I’ve had limited sights anyway (as you mentioned). I would models are, to be blunt, straw men argu- exposure to their virtual reality training, and suggest that anyone with cross-dominant ments. When I hear people say the Glock I feel like I’m getting something out of it. vision use a laser so [he or she] won’t need pistol is “inherently unsafe” because you Thanks so much, to worry about the “proper” sight picture in have to press the trigger to disassemble Dave, via email the first place. it, I’m forced to wonder how responsi- Aloha, ble the individual is who doesn’t double Dave, Gary, via email and triple check any weapon he’s get- Sadly, when it comes to hearing protecting ready to disassemble. When I hear tion in a real-world self-defense incident, people shout that Executive Editor Kevin you don’t have many options. You cannot Michalowski and I are being “inherently predict when an attack will come, and you unsafe” because we recommend that the cannot call “time out” to insert hearing pro- 1911-pattern pistol be carried fully loaded tection.

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16 January | www.USCCA.com American Value IN THE 10-RING

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18 January | www.USCCA.com

TRUE STORIES Compiled by Duncan Mackie

TRANSACTION DECLINED WISCONSIN MAN DEFENDS AGAINST ROCK-WIELDING ROBBER ■ A 51-year-old Milwaukee man got money from an ATM and proceeded to walk home. That’s when a man who had seen him at the money machine decided to rob him. The robber hit his victim on the head with a rock and demanded money. Dazed but still capable, the would-be victim, who was armed, fired on the robber, hitting him and driving him off. WZTV Fox 17, WISN-TV, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

20 January | www.USCCA.com

TRUE STORIES Continued from Page 20

■ ARMED OHIO JUDGE FIGHTS BACK ■ CALIFORNIA HOMEOWNER AGAINST BUSHWHACKER SHOOTS HOME INVADER A county judge in Steubenville parked at his regular spot When an intruder forced his way into their Escondido home near the courthouse and was walking into the building when early one morning, a father took up a rifle and shot the man to he was fired upon by a man lying in wait for him. Fortunately, defend his wife and two teenage daughters. The wounded bur- the judge was armed and, though wounded, was able to return glar then barricaded himself in the master bedroom. Respond- fire, getting off five shots at his assailant. An armed probation ing police evacuated the family from the home and then talked officer just behind the judge also drew his weapon and fired the wounded suspect into peacefully surrendering. on the assailant, killing him. While the assault on the judge was KFMB-TV, San Diego, California reported nationwide, the fact that the judge was armed and returned fire on his assailant was left out of many of the media ■ FLORIDA HOMEOWNER accounts of the incident. CHASES AWAY MASKED GANG Townhall.com A Summerfield man was going to bed when four masked strangers shot his dog, then forced their way into the home. ■ ILLINOIS FIRE SERVICE OFFICER When one of the intruders fired through the closed front door DEFENDS AGAINST CARJACKER into the home, the homeowner called for his girlfriend to get his A Chicago Fire Department lieutenant left his car running in a shotgun and throw it to him. She did so successfully, and the residential neighborhood long enough for a teenager to steal it. homeowner fired one round into the lead intruder, causing him Seeing the theft occurring, the lieutenant tried to get the teen to and the others to flee. The wounded home invader later died stop, but the young man decided to try to run over the fireman. of his injuries. That’s when the lieutenant, who was legally armed under an WKMG-TV, Orlando, Florida Illinois concealed carry permit, drew his pistol and fired on the approaching vehicle, shooting the driver fatally in the chest. ■ VIRGINIA MAN SHOOTS BURGLAR The Chicago Sun-Times, Illinois A Hampton man heard noises in his home at about 4 one morning. Taking a pistol to investigate, he found a lone young ■ NEVADA CONVENIENCE STORE CLERK man rummaging around in the residence. Seeing the armed FIGHTS OFF TWO ARMED ROBBERS homeowner, the intruder charged at the man, causing the res- When two armed and masked men barged into a Las Vegas ident to shoot the invader once. The homeowner then held the convenience store at about 1 a.m. and demanded money, the wounded man at gunpoint until police arrived and arrested clerk on duty was ready. He drew a pistol he wore on his belt him. Charges are not being sought against the homeowner. and fired on the duo. The robbers returned fire before fleeing WVEC-TV, Norfolk, Virginia in separate directions. No one was injured in the gunfight that ended the unsuccessful robbery attempt. ■ ALABAMA MAN TURNS TABLES LasVegasNow.com AGAINST ARMED ROBBER A Trussville man was accosted in his apartment complex ■ ILLINOIS HOMEOWNER HOLDS by a gunman who demanded money. Rather than comply, the DAYLIGHT HOME INVADER FOR POLICE victim drew his own gun and shot the robber in both legs, se- A Creston man heard strange noises early one afternoon in riously injuring him. The robber will face felony charges on his his home. Going to investigate, with a pistol in hand “just in release from the hospital. case,” the homeowner found an unknown male had forced his The Birmingham Patch, Alabama way into the home. The homeowner held the burglar at gunpoint until police arrived to take him into custody. ■ WISCONSIN MAN EXCHANGES WREX-TV, Rockford, Illinois SHOTS WITH ARMED BURGLAR A Medina man was confronted in his home by an armed ■ MINNESOTA CELLPHONE STORE CLERK man. Fearing for his life, the homeowner used a pistol to de- DEFENDS AGAINST ARMED ROBBERS fend himself and ended up in a gunfight with the home invader. An Inver Grove Heights cellphone store clerk was in the rear Several shots were exchanged, which ended with the home of the store when he was approached by two men. As one invader fleeing the scene. No one was injured in the exchange. of the robbers held a gun on him, the clerk, who was legally WISC-TV, Madison, Wisconsin armed, drew his pistol and fired on the suspects, hitting one and causing the other to flee with some cellphones. KMPS-TV, Eden Prairie, Minnesota

22 January | www.USCCA.com CBH_USCCA_MainStreetAd.pdf 1 9/1/16 3:38 PM BENCH REPORT by Bob Campbell

THE ROCK ISLAND 1911A1 A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT 24 January | www.USCCA.com ■ SOME YEARS AGO, an old-line maker introduced a new name into the firearms field. Armscor traces its history to 1911 and the Squires Bingham name and has manufactured firearms since 1952. The new trade name is Rock Island Armory. The new 1911 followed the line of the World War II GI 1911A1 fairly closely but used the flat mainspring housing and longer trigger of the original 1911. While not correct for a GI gun, this made the addition of a beavertail grip safety easier. The sights are of the GI type: small but well-regulated for 230-grain ball ammunition. Trigger compression is usually smoother than the GI pistol, and pull weight runs 5 to 6 pounds, with the fast reset typical of the breed. The pistol is Parkerized and is “Series 70” in that there is no firing pin block or drop safety. (Mil-Spec pistols generally include the Colt Series 70, the Springfield GI and the Springfield Mil-Spec.) It will accept most 1911 parts with a minimum of fitting. The 1911 handguns that are less likely to accept aftermarket slides, barrels and other parts without fitting are high-end handguns with a tighter fit, though off-spec economy handguns sometimes suffer the same fate. Our purpose in performing this test was to determine if the Rock Island Armory would accept the many popular aftermarket parts, what type of improvement could be expected and the overall reliability of this specimen.

GROUND RULES There are other Philippine-produced 1911s, and not all are from the Armscor plant. We are taking one make at a time, but the others, in general, do not enjoy the same reputation as the Armscor, which currently enjoys an enviable price point and is among the best-selling 1911s worldwide. The pistol is comprised of a cast frame and slide, a relatively inexpensive process compared to forging. The fitting of the barrel, link and bushing are competent, and the trigger action is smooth enough. The trigger breaks consistently and maintains the same weight for every press. The pistol is supplied with a single magazine, and I’ve seen them supplied with either seven- or eight-rounders from different sources. (Armscor outsources the magazines, which is not unexpected given the myriad of available manufacturers.) When supplied with Mec-Gar magazines, the results are good; with other magazines, performance declined in some cases. The barrel and frame feed ramps exhibit the proper 1/32-inch gap between the two parts of the frame. The ramps are smooth enough, which indicates that the pistol should feed jacketed hollow-points and lead semi-wadcutters without issue.

BAD OLD DAYS Plenty were skeptical of the new 1911. (After all, the terrible Llama — which, in all fairness, was 1911-like and not a true clone — was still fresh in many minds.) The 1980s saw quite The American 1911 buyer is a few less-than-first-tier 1911s introduced. The non-premium ■a demanding soul. How does 1911 market and, indeed, the non-premium pistol market in the Rock Island stand up? general can be tough for some to really decipher.

January | www.USCCA.com 25 At this point, I have observed no sue at hand. be filed for a perfect fit. The Ed Brown fewer than 16 Rock Island Armory The first evaluation was reliability and extractor was a perfect fit after a bit of .45s and two .38 Super pistols cy- combat shooting. I added Brownells file work. Next, I fitted the pistol with cle through my training classes. Like magazines to the test and accom- Cherokee Hills custom grips. The de- all 1911s, when they arrive for class plished my initial work with Black Hills sign is a bold and personal one and the lubricated and fed with quality mag- Ammunition 230-grain FMJs. With help adhesion during firing was excellent. azines and ammunition, they’ve prov- from range friends, I fired 100 rounds Up next was a Wilson Combat slide lock en reliable. One student’s .38 Super of this load during the personal de- safety, which demanded more fitting needed the extractor tuned out of the fense evaluation and then moved on to than is usual with the 1911 but, once in box and the ejector properly staked. 100 rounds of a handload: the Magnus place, maintained a good sharp action. One student subjected his pistol to Cast Bullets 200-grain SWC at 900 feet Trouble came when I fitted a wide a heavy practice schedule without a per second. I rounded out the assess- U-notch rear sight from Harrison Design complaint. Another suffered the indig- ment with 50 rounds of a different han- and Consulting. Sometimes called the nity of having a handload blow in the dload, sending the Hornady 200-grain “old man’s sight,” this open notch al- chamber of his High Standard 1911, XTP at 980 feet per second. lows real speed in finding the front post a Rock by another name. The slide I initially lubricated the pistol along and is recommended for speed shoot- lock was blown out of the frame, the the long bearing surfaces and then ing at close ranges. Advertised to fit the magazine was wrecked, the floor plate added lubricant at the 200-round mark. GI rear sight notch, considerable work was never found and the shooter had There were no failures to feed, cham- was needed to file down and mount the to pick brass out of his cheek. (Thank ber, fire or eject. After these courses of sight — too much for practical use, in God he wore eye protection.) The cul- fire and a thorough cleaning, I moved my opinion. Just the same, the sight prit, he believed, was a bullet that was on to a solid benchrest for accuracy. provided a quick picture that gave jammed into the cartridge case on the shooter a real advantage in speed feeding due to a poor cartridge crimp. shooting at moderate ranges and, with The pistol was reassembled and fired PERFORMANCE DATA attention to detail, the pistol maintained and functioned normally. LOAD 25-YARD GROUP good accuracy. As for feed with modern ammuni- After several weeks of use and hun- tion, the first generation of jacketed Black Hills Ammunition 230-grain FMJ 3.5 INCHES dreds of rounds expended in range hollow-points was designed to open testing, the pistol has earned my re- or feed but not both, and GI 1911s did Wolf 230-grain FMJ 4.9 INCHES spect for reliability. However, it fell victim not feed them well — if at all. Know- to one of the problems with GI guns that ing what I know about the 1911’s con- Hornady 200-grain XTP handload 3.75 INCHES I have not seen before with a Rock Is- trolled feed and feed ramps, I would land pistol: The front sight came loose. be reluctant to polish anything, as Magnus 200-grain SWC handload 3.65 INCHES The sight did not fly out and was not modern JHPs feed in practically any lost, but I noticed a change in the sight 1911. As long as an overall length of Winchester 185-grain Silvertip 4.0 INCHES picture and stopped shooting to find the 1.25 inches is adhered to, these loads sight had risen from its stake. The final should be reliable. chapter was ordering a new sight to be The RIA pistol features a 16-pound Since the original military specifica- staked in. recoil spring and a 24-pound standard tion for a 1911 was a 5-inch group at hammer spring, which is a good reci- 25 yards, the Rock proved reliable and EARNS ITS KEEP pe for function. If the pistol is going to literally close enough for government In the end, the Rock Island pistol be used for personal defense, I would work. seems worth its price. Like the original recommend the extractor be replaced GI pistol, there are areas of concern, with an Ed Brown model, simply be- SWAP MEET but there are plenty of reasons why cause of the excellence of design and Next I moved on to quality aftermarket modern pistols feature dovetail sights the chance of a soft extractor from the components, most of which I purchased and extended safeties from the factory. Pacific. If the Rock is your recreation- from Brownells, hoping I’d end up with You make your choice and you pay your al-grade handgun, don’t bother. a pistol that was more than the sum of money. Most aftermarket parts will fit it, its parts. I added Challis hex-head grip though, as always, consult a gunsmith if HOW HIGH A STANDARD? screws and then tested Wilson Com- you are not qualified to perform a spe- The typical Rock is reliable, while the bat and Ed Brown firing pins. Both fir- cific task. All told, the Rock Island pis- atypical Rock is easily repaired with a ing pins fit as designed, but I opted to tol is worth what they’re asking whether fresh extractor or different magazines. continue using the original for the time you’re looking to modify it or not. There are versions with adjustable being. sights and an ambidextrous safety, but The extractor is another matter, since the prospect of upgrading the Rock extractors require fitting and are sup- with quality aftermarket parts is the is- plied with a bump on the body that must

26 January | www.USCCA.com

DRILL OF THE MONTH by Ed Combs

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

HEADS UP THE F.A.S.T. DRILL

28 January | www.USCCA.com DOTM-JAN-2018.pdf 1 12/11/17 1:15 PM

CM In the context of the F.A.S.T. drill, MY CY

CMY ■“index card” and “paper plate” can K be taken to mean “small” and “large” FOR MORE areas of prepared silhouette targets. I N F O , V I S I T: livefiredrillcards.com/downloads

■CONTINUING in Concealed Carry Magazine’s partnership with Burnett Live Fire Drill Cards, the F.A.S.T. Drill (D-024) is about as judiciously and effectively as you can train with six rounds. You’ll need to print Target T-016 from the Burnett website or grab a standard paper plate, a 3-by-5-inch index card and a target to which you can mount the plate and card. Standing 10 yards away, stage your sidearm in your holster with two rounds loaded and ready to fire, and stage a reload containing four rounds however you would normally carry it while out and about. If you have access to one, you’ll want to set a shot timer. At the signal to commence, draw and fire two rounds into the index card. From slide lock (or dead cylinder with a revolver), perform a reload while stepping to one side and then fire the next four rounds into the paper plate. This drill will build not only your precision and speed shooting skills but also your reloads and movement. Though this is usually run as a timed drill, if you’re still in the primary skillbuild- ing phase of your journey, take all the time you need. Rounds sent haphazard- ly downrange are worse than useless in a training context, so as we always say, start slow and only start speeding up after you’ve built proficiency. If you need to move closer, do so. Remember: It’s far more important that you train properly than train quickly. The “F.A.S.T.” here stands for “Fundamentals, Accuracy and Speed Test,” so be sure you prioritize in that order. Follow Live Fire Drill Cards on Face- book or Instagram @livefiredrillcards. To use the complete selection of drills and targets in the Handgun Training Log system, visit livefiredrillcards.com.

January | www.USCCA.com 29 LEGISLATIVE NEWS by Rick Sapp

■MISSISSIPPI: WHEN A charged — for firearms, even in the orders to include nearby parking lots COURTROOM IS NOT hands of individuals with a Missis- in gun-free zones. He argued that A COURTROOM sippi “enhanced permit” … and what a courtroom was the actual room in Words and definitions matter, be- exactly defines a courtroom? Is it the which judicial proceedings occur, cause they are the bedrock of our actual room or the building or…? including jury room, witness room, social contract. Mississippi, for ex- Judges in Mississippi’s 14th Chan- judge’s chamber, office housing the ample, is making an effort to define cery District — Lowndes, Clay, Chick- judge’s staff or similar room but didn’t “courtroom.” The nub of the issue is asaw, Noxubee, Oktibbeha and Web- mean hallways, courtroom entrances, whether a citizen has a legal right to ster Counties — subsequently filed courthouse grounds, lobbies, cor- carry his or her gun into a court of law. an administrative order banning fire- ridors or other areas within a court- Part of the confusion has been a arms within 200 feet of a courtroom house which are generally open to natural process, sometimes tortuous, door. The Lowndes County judges ar- the public for transaction of business of changing law, interpretation and gued that allowing “a person to carry outside of an active judicial proceed- culture. a concealed weapon to a courtroom ing. His bill became enmeshed in a 2011: An “Enhanced Carry” en- door posed a threat that could not be flood of legislation and failed to pass dorsement allows carry in places oth- deterred before great bodily harm or prior to the end of session. erwise prohibited. death could be inflicted inside the Ward asked the chancery judges of 2013: “Open Carry” is allowed in courtroom.” Lowndes County to rescind their pro- public. (Legislators argue that the But firearms instructor and former hibitive orders, but they dismissed state constitution only allows the leg- law enforcement officer Ward argues his motion without a hearing. He then islature to regulate concealed carry.) judges took an oath to follow the filed a petition with the Mississippi 2014: Local governments can pro- laws and Constitution of Mississippi Supreme Court. We await the results. hibit carry in “sensitive areas,” but and the U.S. Thus, the 14th District Clarion Ledger, Ammoland.com, the public can legally challenge such is knowingly violating the law and he Slate, Merriam-Webster.com regulations. has asked the state Supreme Court to 2015: “Purse Carry” allows con- prohibit chancery judges from imple- ■LEFT COAST UPDATE cealed carry in a purse, briefcase, menting additional regulations and Several months ago, we reported satchel or bag without a permit. banning firearms. on Oregon SB 719A. We predicted 2016: Republican Governor Phil On the other hand, judges Democratic Governor Kate Brown Bryant signs the “Constitutional Car- write, “We are the point for persons in would sign it into law. Well, done and ry” bill, sponsored by State Rep. the delivery of dispute resolution. We game over. Andy Gipson, R-Braxton (assisted by are not casual observers, driven by a Oregon’s law creates an “Extreme firearms trainer Rick Ward), and Mis- political need or want. We know best Risk Protection Order” — an ERPO — sissippi thus becomes the 10th con- the impact on our sworn duty and in on California’s non-stop rush to crimi- stitutional carry state. A resident can keeping with the oath we took. You nalize and penalize legal gun owners. carry concealed without a state-is- cannot separate courthouses from These laws are mushrooming across sued permit, but the gun must be in a courtrooms any more than you can the U.S. “as the best ways to halt holster or sheath, not just in a pocket separate the heart from the body.” stalkers and protect women from vi- or waistband. Gulfport Chancery Judge James olence,” said Regina Malveaux, CEO Gipson said lawmakers will almost Persons wrote a brief to the state Su- of the Spokane, Washington, YWCA, certainly make a few technical chang- preme Court. While he supports 2nd echoing other screeching radical left- es to the law, but added, “I feel confi- Amendment rights and owns firearms, ists. Malveaux, a feminist lawyer and dent we’ve done about all we can do. the Mississippi law allowing firearms self-proclaimed LGBT “social justice We’ve gone from being a highly reg- in courthouses is unconstitutional as warrior,” says her primary interests ulated state to a very constitutionally an unreasonable infringement on the are fighting racism and economic in- based, pro-2nd-Amendment state. I inherent, core responsibility of the ju- justice. have no idea what we’re going to see diciary and on trial judges in partic- Now, along the entire Left Coast from the federal level, but I’m satis- ular, to ensure a safe, coercion-free — California, Oregon, Washing- fied where we are with the state.” and “suitable” environment. ton; 1,300 miles of “general coast- One of those “technical changes” Rep. Gipson authored legislation line” — you can be deprived of your will be deciding whether courtrooms in 2016 to clarify the meaning of 2nd Amendment rights with only the are too sensitive — too emotionally “courtroom” after some judges filed thinnest veil of due process. Your

30 January | www.USCCA.com firearms can be seized upon sworn Your Rights: Terrorism threats one of the bills’ sponsors, openly re- testimony of just about anyone — might require a reconsideration of fers to the package as Michigan’s your former wife’s new boyfriend, for civil liberties. “constitutional carry” and does not example — who says you could be, Your Guns: Seize them! shy away from her support for the 2nd might be, perhaps will be, one day, a New York’s Michael Bloomberg has Amendment that enshrines an Ameri- threat to someone — anyone. A Left- sponsored more anti-gun measures can citizen’s right to bear arms. Coast ERPO can be issued with no al- than anyone alive or dead, more in “People who can legally own a gun legation of criminal behavior or intent fact than every anti-gun advocate should have every right to carry a con- — just “a feeling” that something bad alive and dead. Get to know him, and cealed pistol without jumping through could happen. understand that when a “grassroots” bureaucratic hoops and landing on a How perfectly snowflake! organization shows up in your town to list,” Hoitenga said. NRA Institute for Legislative protest your rights as an American, The usual suspects, Democrats Action, The Oregonian, they’re likely on his payroll. such as Rep. Jewell Jones (D-Ink- Spokane Spokesman-Review ster, a suburb of Detroit), lined up in ■ IS CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY opposition. Missing the point entirely ■KNOW YOUR ENEMY: COMING TO MICHIGAN? (and perhaps even intentionally) and MICHAEL BLOOMBERG Alan Korwin, author of Gun Laws of directing the legislative argument to- Who is he? Eleven facts and stanc- America, defines “constitutional carry” ward race relations instead, Jones es: as: “No tests. No taxes. No paperwork. questioned why the right to carry Born: Boston, Valentine’s Day, No fingerprints in the criminal data- should override the right of people to 1942 — silver spoon in mouth. base. No photographs. No expiration live their lives and feel secure. Occupation: Wall Street hustler/ dates. No plastic-coated permission “What about the young black and huckster/bag man. slip. Just rights. For all law-abiding brown men, men like me, who are Net Worth: $53.4 billion (est.) — adults. Train because it’s right, not killed every day?” he asked. 6th richest person in U.S.; 10th richest state-mandated.” Rep. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) person on earth. The following states now permit con- sincerely replied that he found Jones’ Ivy League: Johns Hopkins Elec- stitutional carry: Vermont (since 1791), comment ironic because, historical- trical Engineering ’64, MBA Harvard Montana (enacted 1991, outside city ly, gun laws have been established ’66. limits), Alaska (2003), Texas (constitu- to keep people of color from owning Family: Daughters Emma and tional carry “light,” or “Motorist Protec- guns. Runestad was among a handful Georgiana (2003 documentary Born tion Act,” 2007), Arizona (2010), Wyo- of supporters who made the argument Rich) with Brit Susan Elizabeth Bar- ming (2011, residents only), Arkansas that Michigan residents can already bara Brown, now divorced; living with (2013), Kansas (2015), West Virginia carry guns openly with no training or Diana Taylor, former New York bank- (2016), Idaho (2016), Mississippi permit. ing superintendent, who is 5 inches (2016), Missouri (2017), New Hamp- “The legislation would repeal these taller than Bloomberg. Georgiana shire (2017) and North Dakota (2017). unnecessary criminal penalties for married a billionaire; Emma is an ani- Next, Michigan … and no one is putting on a coat over a gun,” he said. mal-rights activist and finances PETA laughing. The principal slice of legislation, and HSUS. Michigan’s 110-member House of House Bill 4416, passed 59-49. Curi- Political Affiliation: Democrat, Representatives has narrowly ap- ously, and giving hope to future pas- then Republican, now Independent proved legislation that does away with sage, the vote did not split along party — i.e., opportunist. licensing for concealed carry. House lines. It is possible that constitutional Social Stances: Opposes death bills 4416-4419 eliminate the require- carry could come to Michigan in 2018. penalty but believes aborting ba- ment for a resident to obtain a license GOPHouse.org, GunLaws.com, bies is a fundamental human right. to carry. Only individuals who are al- MLive.com, Wikipedia.com, (“You’re either with us or against us.”) ready prohibited from possessing fire- HouseDems.com Illegal Immigrants: Stop persecut- arms would be banned from carrying ing them; a border wall is foolish! them concealed. The bills also reduce Health/Environmental Nag: Chil- the penalties for some infractions re- dren should receive contraceptives lating to carrying without identification without parental knowledge. No sale or disclosure. of soda in cups larger than 16 ounces. Rep. Michele Hoitenga (R-Manton),

January | www.USCCA.com 31 GEAR WE LOVE

{1} SSP EYE PROTECTION MSRP: $49.99 FOR TWO SETS This unit — part of the “Entiat Deluxe Bifocal Bundle” in one of the available zippered case options — hits a rather difficult-to-find sweet spot in the eyepro market: It’s an effective and attractive set of glasses, it can be fitted with magnifying lenses and, if someone sits on them at lunch, it isn’t a huge deal. Visit sspeyewear.com for information and to purchase your perfect set.

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{2} COAST FL75R {3} TUFF WRITER OPERATOR MSRP: $60 MSRP: $95.95 Though a tactical flashlight is the backbone of any The Operator from Tuff Writer doesn’t forget that its EDC gear, depending on the crisis you’re attempting primary function is as a pen, but when the time comes to mitigate, a headlamp might be the best tool for the to strike an attacker, it’s there for you 100 percent. With a job. Particularly for emergency first-aid applications, a cap that remains firmly attached during use, it’s a secure headlamp with extremely bright white-light capabilities deal on an American-made, heirloom-quality writing and a red-light-only setting can make the difference piece. It’s available in the Precision Series (as pictured) between ailing and prevailing. This unit is rechargeable, and seven other finishes and configurations can also be run on traditional batteries and at tuffwriter.com. is available at coastportland.com.

32 January | www.USCCA.com {5} JAGEMANN G19 MAGAZINE {5} MSRP: $15.95 Available in six colors and very easy to maintain, this Glock 19 unit is just one of the magazines available from Jagemann Sporting Group. In fact, if you’re in the market for magazines for your Glock 17, 19, 42 or 43, get to jagemannsportinggroup.com and choose your color.

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{4} AMERICAN {6} ETYMOTIC GUNSPORT PRO PUREBRED HOLSTER MSRP: $299 MSRP: $69 Not only do these units protect your hearing by bringing Eddie Massaro wasn’t satisfied with the holster dangerous noise down to safe levels, other ambient options he encountered on the market, so he made noises are also magnified to a comfortable level, which his own. The neoprene backing on this minimalist unit means conversation and range commands become a lot keeps you comfortable, and the wire clips allow for easier to follow than while wearing traditional “cans and more flexibility in mounting, eliminating the “popping plugs.” When not in use, they can be turned off or hung off” that can be encountered with traditional clips. around the neck by a break-free neck lanyard that saves The hook-and-loop connection of the holster body to time on cleaning dropped plugs and money on broken the carriage allows for multiple cant positions, and it’s earpro. Learn more and get order info at etymotic.com. available at massholster.com.

January | www.USCCA.com 33

LEGALLY ARMED CITIZEN

THERE ARE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHOSE EXPERIENCES MAKE THEM NOT JUST HARD BUT DOWNRIGHT IRRESPONSIBLE TO IGNORE. AN ASTRONAUT’S OPINIONS ON HOW TO MAINTAIN MENTAL FOCUS MIGHT BE WORTH YOUR ATTENTION. A shipwreck survivor might have a thing or two to tell you about what happens when people start to panic. Were a zookeeper willing to tell you what she IT’S IT’S knows from her years working with large bears, you’d be well advised to listen, even if a trip to Yellowstone is not in your

J immediate future. More germane to what UST THE LAW | LAW THE UST we do here at the USCCA, someone who’s had to end human lives with a pistol will be able to offer pointers that are about as valuable as self-defense information can get. Though few realize it, such individuals are rare. Military combat veterans are excellent sources for information on many

BALLISTIC BASICS | aspects of armed self-defense, but the kind of fighting in which they engage is often very different from the kind of short-notice, minute-of-attacker handgun shooting law enforcement and intelligence operatives can find themselves doing after their luck runs out. No car- bines, no ACOGs, no SAWs … holstered sidearms and fractions of a second in which to employ them.

ENTER: UDI As a deputy, my lieutenant once called AFTER THE AFTER SHOT | me about an assignment, the particulars of which I would only learn after accept- ing and about which I was not to say anything to anyone for the next year. (I must admit that it was the kind of phone call a certain type of individual waits for.) I ac- cepted the assignment and, as she read me in, I learned that I would be working HARD with two Mossad agents I’ll call Udi and Hillel. I’m not bringing this up for self-ag-

DEFCON 1 DEFCON grandizing “ain’t I cool” points. I’m bringing it up because Udi and I wound up talking about all kinds of defensive firearms tactics, and when a man who serves with one of the world’s most elite LESSONS intel organizations wants to talk about NEWS FROM THE FRONT gunfighting, I listen. ❚ BY ED COMBS

34 January | www.USCCA.com HARD LESSONS

January | www.USCCA.com 35 LEGALLY ARMED CITIZEN

“I love working with Americans be- member that almost all issues anyone you need in a gun, but, so far, that’s two cause they’re the most professional, but ever experiences with pistols and re- for two: Men who’ve had to end human it seems like every time I work with an volvers are training issues. Find a gun lives with pistols prefer the Glock, and agency, they’re using a different gun or that sits comfortably in your mitts and I’d even be willing to expand that out to a different bullet [sic: cartridge]. I know train with it. any polymer-framed double-stack auto. that you’re always going for the best, Carry extra ammunition, but do not If you require a “social” gun, it’s really but we can’t do that. It costs too much expect to have to share it with anyone. If worth your while to look into them. to always be changing. I’ve never seen you’d like to outfit your extended family anything wrong with the 9 milly Glock with the same system of sidearms in the ENTER: LOUIS 19. If it’s a little too big or too small for interest of broad-spectrum ammo shar- The man I’ll call Louis was an NYPD your hands, you have to practice a little ing and magazine compatibility — such officer for much of the 1970s, all of the more. That’s all. But if someone isn’t will- as everyone running a Glock 17, 19 or 1980s and some of the 1990s. To my ing to practice with it, that is his prob- 26 — that’s one thing. If you think you’re knowledge, he’d never had to end a life, lem.” going to be tossing charged magazines but, just like anyone on the job in New Though his use of the slang term “mil- to your brother during a firefight, you’re York through those years, he survived ly” hasn’t caught on with me, his take either preparing for a standoff or telling his share of scrapes that very easily on firearms training is the kind of hard yourself a story. could have ended in death. advice that is probably needed most by “I’d done a follow-up and I was down the ones who’d be least receptive to it. ENTER: MELVIN in the lobby of this apartment building, Now, his situation is far from that of the The man I’ll call Melvin was a patrol plainclothes. I’m standing there wait- average responsibly armed American. sergeant in a large mid-southern city for ing for a woman to pass me and a guy He was a member of an extremely elite all of the 1970s and a good chunk of the runs up, out of nowhere, and grabs her intelligence-gathering and counter-ter- 1980s. He saw a lot of cocaine traffic handbag. He stops for a second, sees rorist agency, an agency in which he’d and personally shot a man to death in me and tries to push past. volunteered to serve and for which he’d the line of duty, and when I was lucky “I grabbed him and took him down surely trained tirelessly to earn a spot enough to catch him in a talking mood to the ground, but, as we went down, on the roster. As I was not then nor am I one day in 2000, I literally took notes. he was able to almost do, like, a somer- now familiar with the internal operations When I asked him what kind of side- sault, and we both landed weird on my of the Mossad, I have no idea whether arm he carried while on the job, his an- knee on the marble floor. The pain was his sidearm was department-issued or swer was swift and unequivocal. terrible. We were fighting — him trying if he elected to carry the 19. In a lot of “I carried a revolver, a Model 10, for to get away and me trying to hold onto ways, it hardly matters. all of the ’70s and some of the ’80s. I him and get cuffs on him — and after a We got on the topic of sidearm se- carried a Walther PPK for all of my un- few seconds, I realize I’m fighting him lection when he asked me about my dercover work, because there were for my gun. He kept going for it, and the 17 and mentioned that the man he’d plenty of times that guns would be pain was so bad I could hardly stand it. worked with the night before was carry- drawn but then everyone’s story would I couldn’t fight him anymore, and he’d ing a SIG. He asked if we were allowed check out. When you’re doing that kind started saying, ‘Just let me go, I want to to select our own pistols, and I told him of work, a ‘property of’ mark on your go!’ So, I said, ‘I’m going to let you go that we were, but that they had to be weapon is just out of the question. Then and, if you do anything other than run from a list of approved options. I saw a Glock in about ’87. When I first away, I’m going to shoot you.’ He said “That makes sense to me,” he mused. saw one, I knew what they were doin’. it again — ‘Just let me go’ — and so “I guess if you can afford to do it, that And I said, ‘Sign me up.’ It was plen- I did. I let him go and he got up and would work fine. I have been using the ty hot almost half the year and every ran out without the bag and I got to go Glock 9 milly for so long that I don’t think ounce you could shave off your duty to the hospital. I’d been fighting him for I’d want to use anything else.” gear was welcomed. It was also about my gun, but it started with me fighting Our conversation then moved into the when the drug violence in our area was him for a woman’s handbag. For a few realm of interchangeability and ammu- just getting terrible, and everyone was bucks and some makeup in a knock- nition sharing, which, years ago, a for- looking for an auto that they could carry. off Chinese copy of an Italian purse. It mer U.S. Marshal told me was a fantasy. You could get a Smith & Wesson Stain- was so stupid, but it almost got one of “I don’t know why some people bring less, but it weighed more and held less us killed. I couldn’t believe how stupid it up,” Udi said. “In a firefight, there’s ammo. I think the Stainless was unques- it was.” never any time for anything like that. tionably a higher-quality gun, but the LESSON: Make sure it’s worth it. Ammo sharing is for a battle or a cam- performance just wasn’t there to merit Always, always make sure it’s worth it. paign, not for a street fight.” me spending the money and totin’ the LESSON: Where to start? weight.” Pick the gun that you like, but do re- LESSON: Only you know exactly what

36 January | www.USCCA.com MAINSTAY ™ CLIPLESS IWB / POCKET HOLSTER

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LEGALLY ARMED CITIZEN

IT’S IT’S J LAW THE UST BALLISTIC BASICS | AFTER THE AFTER SHOT | DEFCON 1 DEFCON THE LAST MISTAKE YOU WANT TO MAKE LYING❚ BY K.L. JAMISON

38 January | www.USCCA.com THE GOVERNMENT IS ALLOWED TO LIE TO CITIZENS; CITIZENS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LIE TO THE GOVERNMENT. SOME WILL FIND THIS UNFAIR WHILE OTHERS WILL FIND IT FAMILIAR. Sometimes this arrangement trends suspect was declared a liar because he to the absurd. Martha Stewart famous- refused to uncross his legs (and possi- ly went to prison for insider trading. bly his fingers). The trades she made were not actu- One young man became a long-term ally illegal, but when the government resident of government housing when inquired about them, she lied. In es- it was discovered that he had a large sence, she went to prison for lying tattoo of a murder scene, containing de- about a legal act. tails of the crime known only to the killer. I tried to convince a federal prosecu- In another case, a gang member killed tor that my client would be a better wit- an opposing gang member in what the ness than a defendant. To this end, we entire criminal justice system declared had a conference with the prosecutor, to be self-defense. His gang declared who appeared with an FBI agent. My it to be in defense of the organization client began his “proffer” and, at every and he was awarded a “teardrop” tattoo sentence, the FBI agent declared him below his eye, forever declaring him a a liar. Lying to a federal agent is a sep- stone-cold killer to every passing po- arate crime and possibly a consolation liceman. Judges have become familiar prize if the government cannot make with such marks but not as familiar as the original case. they think they are. Another client had I shut down the conference and an unfortunately located “eye of God” walked out with my client, who contin- tattoo, and his religious expression re- ued to talk as we did so. (The prose- quired explanation. cutor, of course, tagged along, soaking Similarly, appealing to the court for up the free information that could be a lower bail while sporting gold chains used against my client.) At every step, I sends the wrong message. It might not demanded that he stop talking, but my be a lie, but it is certainly the wrong im- pleas did not halt the flood of words, so age. When one of the gold chains has I tried to speak loudly enough to drown a gold-plated AK-47 pendant hanging out whatever he said. There is a right to from it, that will be taken as a gang sym- free speech and there is a right to si- bol. It should not be so, but we must lence, but their circumstantial applica- work within the system we have. tion must not be confused. If you’re ever caught in a lie — or DRESS FOR SUCCESS what can even be made to look like a lie Ragged clothes are deemed disre- — it will be taken as proof of guilt, even spectful by a system of uniforms, robes if the lie is about a trivial matter. The only and suits, and disrespect makes one protection is a minimal statement until a less likely to be believed. A defendant defense lawyer is on station. Even when being sentenced for a drug offense you’re not engaged in what you consid- pleaded with the judge that he had er lying, a great many extraneous fac- reformed while wearing a T-shirt that tors make a statement less believable. boasted the image of Al Pacino’s “Tony Montana” character from the movie EVERYTHING IS COMMUNICATION Scarface. He clearly had no inkling why Body language, dress, writing and the judge was giving him a hard time. bumper stickers are declarative state- Camouflage clothing makes one sub- ments. In fact, official statements don’t ject to the prejudice against militias. even have to be in writing. After all, how Even when the garments are honorably many times is a verbal statement re- earned in the service of one’s country, corded in some fashion, misquoted and the media has created a certain image, used against the speaker? Statements yet another reality that should not be do not have to be verbal or written. One true but is.

January | www.USCCA.com 39 IT’S JUST THE LAW

GENERAL CONTEMPT “throwdown,” and doing so fools no one. that clear evidence of innocence is dis- The system demands respect. Many The other problem — apart from being regarded. Some forensic offices have persons have been charged with crimes dishonest — is that the police invented cooperated by producing results that when their real offense is “contempt of throwdowns and are quite adept at spot- support guilt with or without actually cop” — a very real (if uncodified) of- ting them. conducting tests. Protection from such fense. Arguing with a police officer is Legendary handgunner Bill Jordan actions requires hiring one’s own inves- never successful and tends to pad a recounts an early border patrol officer tigators and experts, which is expensive criminal record. who killed a notorious smuggler on a and justifies a self-defense insurance Sometimes, not arguing obtains the bridge over a canal. The patrolman said policy. same result. A Pennsylvania state troop- that the smuggler fired three rounds Whatever the reason for lying, the er stopped a lawyer and demanded from a revolver before falling into said average person lies poorly. Detectives her license and registration, which she canal, but the county coroner doubted take seminars on how to detect lying: provided. Then the trooper asked if she this version and announced an inten- They observe body language and mi- knew why she had been pulled over, tion to search the canal for the revolver. cro-expressions. For example, an indi- and the lawyer refused to answer. The Other border patrolmen believed their vidual looking left or right when answer- trooper arrested her for obstruction of comrade was about to be railroaded, ing a question is said to disclose if the justice and read her the Miranda rights, and when a powerful magnet dragged answer is true or not. There is some sci- including the right to remain silent. A the canal, it retrieved six revolvers, each ence to the system; after all, there was a supervisor reviewed the dash-cam re- with three chambers fired.1 TV series on its use, so it must be true. cording, knew stupid when he saw it The danger is that a detective will see and dismissed the charge. A lawsuit is TRY, TRY AGAIN? one indicator of lying and believe that in progress. Whenever an act of violence occurs, is the entire story. The files of the Inno- A defendant was found in contempt there is an investigation. Terms like cence Project are filled with detectives for making a face when the judge made “self-defense,” “Castle Doctrine” and who fixated on one element at the ex- a procedural ruling. Whatever thought “Stand Your Ground” are not magic pense of any conflicting information. the expression conveyed, his lawyer charms against suspicion. The system A protection from being denounced was thinking the same thing. Another has a long history of being lied to, re- as a liar is to minimize any statement un- defendant came near to contempt and ally hates that and therefore starts with til a lawyer helps to organize one. The seriously degraded his reliability be- the presumption that every statement is Founding Fathers, many of them law- cause he was chewing gum. To dress, a lie. yers, gave us the right to remain silent. It talk and remain excruciatingly polite in When Jack McCall killed Wild Bill is unpatriotic not to use it. the way operatives of the system find fa- Hickok in 1876, he claimed self-de- miliar is not being submissive; it is being fense. The primitive forensics of the time Kevin L. Jamison is an attorney in the practical. showed that he had shot Wild Bill in the Kansas City, Missouri, area concentrating back of the head. McCall then said that in the area of weapons and self-defense. ‘IMPROVED’ EVIDENCE Wild Bill had killed his brother, which Please send questions to Kevin L. A former law enforcement officer required vengeance. Facing Wild Bill in Jamison, 2614 NE 56th Ter, Gladstone, spoke of a colleague who carried a a gunfight was suicide; ergo, shooting MO 64119-2311 or KLJamisonLaw@ large knife on the job. His intention was him in the back was justified. No record earthlink.net. Individual answers are not that if there were ever a questionable of a brother was ever found and McCall usually possible but might be addressed shoot, he would drop the knife on the was hanged. in future columns. target and claim self-defense. Four men tried to rob a gun shop in This information is for legal informa- Some concealed carry students were Shawnee, Kansas. There was a gun- tion purposes and does not constitute advised that, after a shooting, they fight, during which one of the owners legal advice. For specific questions, you should pick up their cartridge cases and was killed and three of the robbers should consult a qualified attorney. flee the area. People who should know wounded. One of the robbers claimed better have advised that if a student self-defense on the grounds that he re- ENDNOTES killed someone outside the house, he or treated from the conflict, which is not an (1) Jordan, Bill. No Second Place she ought to drag him inside and put a unusual claim. Forensics destroy a great Winner, Police Bookshelf, Concord, NH, kitchen knife in his hand. many of these claims. Surveillance vid- 1989 at 16-17. Anyone told this must leave the class eos destroyed this particular claim and immediately. Get a refund if possible, hardened the prosecution. but flee. This is not education; it is counter-education. The student will know less HARDENED TARGET for having taken this course. Dropping a Some investigators have become weapon on a dead aggressor is called a so convinced that a defendant is lying

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LEGALLY ARMED CITIZEN

| IT’S IT’S J LAW THE UST BALLISTIC BASICS DROP IT DROP

AFTER THE AFTER SHOT

DEFCON 1 DEFCON

There remains one fail-safe drop ■safety: training until you’re never moving in so reckless or panicked a fashion as to drop your weapon.

42 January | www.USCCA.com ❚ BY TAMARA KEEL There are multiple mechanisms whereby a adding hammer blocks and firing pin blocks firearm can theoretically fire when dropped. that mechanically prevent them from moving The simplest is that, in a cocked firearm, forward to contact a primer unless the trigger the striker or hammer is held back against is pulled. the tension of the mainspring by a sear, and This brings us to the second type of mech- the contact surface between the two parts is anism that can cause a gun to fire when measured in thousandths of an inch. dropped: inertial pulling of the trigger. For example, the sear on an original Colt As I learned — to my mortification — sev- 1911 bears against two small protrusions on eral years back, merely having a heavy trig- the hammer, called the “hammer hooks” or ger isn’t enough to prevent a discharge. I had “full cock notch.” In his shop manual for the written a column about not catching dropped Government Model .45, gunsmith Jerry Kuhn- guns, stating that modern firearms were test- hausen recommends that these hooks be no ed to be drop-safe. A reader wrote in, de- shorter than .025 inches in a duty-type pis- scribing a tragedy that had occurred in their tol, although he allows that competition guns family with a dropped DAO pistol. I expressed might see them as small as .018 inches or skepticism that the double-action gun could even .016 inches. “go off” when dropped... This means that, in a cocked 1911, the ham- The gun manufacturer in question later set- mer spring is pushing on the hammer with 23 tled a lawsuit because it turned out that, if pounds of force, and the hammer is being held dropped at the right angle, the inertia of the back by two tiny trigger would cause it to continue rearward hooks with en- when the back of the slide hit the ground, THE TOPIC OF “DROP SAFETY” IN FIREARMS gagement surfac- thereby firing the gun — despite the firing pin es half as tall as a block and everything. All the passive safeties HAS COME UP IN THE NEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA dime is thick. The were useless, because they couldn’t tell if it situation is similar was a finger pulling the trigger or inertia doing CYCLES QUITE A BIT LATELY, SO I FIGURED IT in most single-ac- it. MIGHT BE WORTH TOUCHING ON HERE IN A tion firearms. This is the reasoning for the little “tabs” on Now, a 1911 the triggers of so many striker-fired guns and “BALLISTIC BASICS” SORT OF CONTEXT. has redundant for the hinged triggers on S&W striker guns.

DROP IT DROP thumb and grip This causes the two different parts of the trig- safeties that block movement of the sear and ger to possess differing amounts of inertia, trigger when they are activated, and that’s a and prevents the trigger from pulling itself if big step up in safety from the old days. Most the gun lands on the rear of the slide. long guns — rifles and shotguns — only have When you hear people shrieking, “Glock put safeties that block the trigger from moving, the safety on the trigger! That’s like writing the and their strikers or hammers are held back combination on the safe door!” all those peo- by similarly precarious mating surfaces. If ple are telling you is that they don’t understand you went through a hunter’s education class, what the trigger safety actually does. there was a reason that you received seem- A final component is that differing organiza- ingly arcane instructions about never climbing tions test drop safety differently. The SAAMI/ a fence while holding a loaded gun and got a ANSI standard involves dropping the pistol 15-minute block of instruction in how to haul from a height of 4 feet onto a concrete floor your rifle up to your tree stand: Many familiar covered by a hard rubber mat. The Mil-Spec hunting long guns aren’t terribly drop-safe. standard drops the pistol from pretty much the One of the earliest drop-safety mecha- same orientations but from 5 feet onto bare nisms incorporated in handguns involved concrete. Some states, such as California and spring tensioners that kept the firing pin back Massachusetts, have their own standards. off the primer of a chambered cartridge when So, is a certain pistol drop-safe? Well, that the mechanism was at rest. In revolvers, this depends on what you mean by the term. is generally termed a “rebounding hammer” From a sheer “playing the odds” standpoint and, in automatics, a “floating firing pin.” though, I still think you’re better off letting it fall However, this could still fail if the hammer of than trying to catch it. the revolver were struck a hard enough blow or if the auto were dropped muzzle-first from high enough. This situation was remedied by

January | www.USCCA.com 43

LEGALLY ARMED CITIZEN

| IT’S IT’S J UST THE LAW | LAW THE UST BALLISTIC BASICS

AFTER THEAFTER SHOT

DEFCON 1 DEFCON

44 January | www.USCCA.com HERE’S A PRETTY COMMON SUGGESTION: “I really like the idea of needing no government permission slip to carry my sidearm, but as a certified firearms instructor, I see so many people endangering themselves and others that I believe at least minimal training ought to be mandatory. Not just for safety but legally. Too many people have little understanding of shoot/don’t shoot laws and sce- narios. Even a short required class, say, through the DMV and a code on your license, would do a world of good.” Because rational people support real gun safety, marksmanship training as one credit for high-school diplomas might make sense. But that’s not what the instructor seeks, and most modern-day government school “educators” staunchly resist such ideas. And, like so many gun-control proposals, the trainer’s idea above seems eminently reasonable at first glance. It’s a somewhat widely held belief (nearly universal on the left) and it can seem like a good one until you look even a little closer. It’s a statist position — meaning things are only valid with government approval — which is basically the opposite of The American Way. Instead of individual initiative, free enter- prise, market dynamics and free will, you would be forced to obey. Take the mandatory class or you’re in violation. That’s just wrong on its face. The upshot is, if you’re armed or ever act in your own defense and you didn’t take the required course (however short or “reasonable” it might be), you’ve committed a crime just by exercising your rights. That rarely gets pointed out in debates. Does that still seem so reasonable, criminalizing the use of guns without first taking a government class? Of course not. Who would design the curriculum anyway? Trainers like the one who posed this “solution?” No, those people end up banned from affecting the class. They just get to obey after THE the new “reasonable” standards are in place. Unaccountable government bureaucrats who (typically) dislike guns and gun owners and likely know very little about the subject would control the contents, which is paradoxically why they would inevitably be chosen to decide. It’s government in action. The gun lobbies and others will fight them before draft guidelines are issued for public comment — public comments that will affect nothing. The guidelines will grow over CAMEL’S time. Your options will be ... well ... you’ll have none. To anti-rights bigots with equal government access, requirements are a camel’s nose under the tent. They’re a way to eventually make it difficult or impossible for people to qualify or even afford the process. That’s not conjecture; that’s history. We, as Americans, have made world history by reversing onerous concealed carry standards. We’ve been lucky, but we’ve been rolling Sisyphus’ boulder uphill. NOSE The most galling point, though, is this: Rights are not legiti- THE MANDATORY TRAINING mately subject to qualifications, fees, renewals, wallet cards, required classes or tests that remove your rights if you don’t ARGUMENT DOESN’T HOLD pass. Legislators who support that earn removal from office for violating their oaths. Could you imagine applying that line UP UNDER SCRUTINY of thought to speech, books or churches, all of which can ❚ BY ALAN KORWIN have deadly serious consequences? Of course not.

January | www.USCCA.com 45 AFTER THE SHOT

The instructor’s well-meaning argu- business wielding. you happen to defend. ment for required training collapses Training is and should always be a “So, Mr. Harry, you just got yourself a with thought. You must overcome the free-market option, and good people take high-capacity double-stack semi-auto- brainwashing pounded into your head it because it makes sense. If you don’t, matic handgun and went around think- by a compromised, unethical media you’re a fool. You’re free to be an idiot in a ing you’re a freelance police officer, who needs their 1st Amendment, speak- free country; that’s the ugly, unassailable ready to murder anyone you figured ing-in-public licenses pulled. Oh, that’s true underbelly of a free society. If you re- needed shooting, right?” right … there isn’t a license for that. No ally desire more control, visit communist “Oh, no sir. I’ve just completed my testing or training is required for journal- China and see if that suits you better. fourth self-defense training program, ists who wield astounding unchecked The training industry should be run- which I pay for myself, because I un- power, nor should there be. The 1st and ning full-bore with classes, outings, pub- derstand how deadly serious this whole 2nd Amendments should be subject to lic-awareness programs, magazines like crime problem is, and I practice with my equal treatment under the law; journal- this one and even messages “brought to sidearm at a range on a regular basis.” ists, it would seem, disagree. you by this station and the Ad Council.” Compare that with taking the govern- Any time you hear talk of a special- Firearms training should flood the public ment’s required four-hour program, filled treatment-for-guns plan, your antennae to the point where everyone is supremely with silliness and paperwork. You’ve got should go up. If you buy into any man- aware of its importance. No one should a persuasive jury argument that can only dated-training principle, how do you ever consider going about untrained. help you. exclude knives, power tools, poisons or That’s stupid and, in America, we don’t So, which will it be? The statist govern- anything else in hardware stores? Why like stupid. We sometimes have to put up ment requirement, reducing your rights not force bicycle riders into approved with it, but that doesn’t mean we like it. to bureaucracy and pending violations? classes? They are, after all, more acci- If you really want to be scared into Or The American Way of personal liberty dent-prone than gun owners. And par- training, consider the collateral attack a and real education? enting? How can government “allow” prosecutor might try on you when you’re Choose wisely. people to be parents without classes? on the witness stand after you shoot Face it: Compulsory classes put into the some miscreant during an assault on hands of government power it has no you or your family — or even a stranger Pro Series

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LEGALLY ARMED CITIZEN

| IT’S IT’S J UST THE LAW | LAW THE UST BALLISTIC BASICS |

AFTER THE AFTER SHOT CLOSE

DEFCON 1 DEFCON ENCOUNTERS LOOKING DOWN THE BARREL ❚ BY JOHN CAILE

48 January | www.USCCA.com EVERY YEAR, PEOPLE USE FIREARMS TO EFFECTIVELY DEFEND THEMSELVES, WHETHER AT HOME, AT WORK OR SIMPLY WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS. THE EXACT NUMBER OF TIMES THIS HAPPENS IS DIFFICULT TO PIN DOWN SINCE, IN MANY CASES, NO POLICE REPORT IS EVER FILED. BUT LEGITIMATE RESEARCHERS PEG THE NUMBER AT MORE THAN A MILLION AND MAYBE AS HIGH AS TWO MILLION. Unfortunately, misleading rhetoric from a largely anti-gun media clouds the general public’s perceptions regarding this topic. They rely on “statistics” that count a “defensive gun use” as only those cases where the attacker is actually killed. This is disingenuous at best, since it ignores the vast majority of cases — at least 92 percent — where an individual uses a firearm defensively without any shots fired. Even when shots are fired, only a fraction of those incidents result in the death of the attacker. Focusing only on lethal encounters completely miss- es the point. If you were to use your gun to scare off a would-be mugger or rapist, you’d likely be relieved that you successfully protected yourself without having to actually shoot someone. Besides avoiding all of the associated legal hassles, like criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits, you would be spared the lingering emotional aftermath that occurs when you have taken the life of another person. No matter how evil your attacker might have been, PTSD is a common occurrence. Most “no-shots-fired” incidents never make even the local press. As the old media saying goes, “If it bleeds, it leads.” When nobody is shot, it just isn’t worthy of coverage. The one exception to that rule is if the lawfully armed citizen has acted in a manner that could lead CLOSE to criminal charges. Then it will become a story, since it conforms to the media narrative that even responsible people cannot be trusted to carry firearms. Yet, despite the wailing and gnashing of teeth by the press and some politicians over “so many guns on the street,” Americans who lawfully carry firearms are amazingly responsible citizens. In fact, the average citizen is eight times more likely to commit an act of ENCOUNTERS violence than someone who legally carries. Meanwhile, the number of citizens who regularly carry firearms has soared over the last decade to

January | www.USCCA.com 49 DEFCON 1 approximately 15 million. The numbers Based on where they were about to did so. He said he never saw his sights, are continuing to rise, especially among meet up with him, they must have started just “pointed and pulled the trigger.” women, who are also the fastest growing walking in the opposite direction just after Like most people in such situations, segment of the gun-buying public. he’d left the lot. As they walked past him, he had no idea how many shots he fired. Over the years, I’ve trained thousands Jason smiled at the three men and said, It turned out to be three. Apparently, Ja- of people in concealed carry as well as in what he later described as a “friend- son’s first shot hit the lower abdomen, firearms safety and shooting proficiency. ly” tone, “Merry Christmas!” One of the the second just above the sternum and I’ve heard stories from students who’ve young men sort of waved his hand and the third right through the assailant’s left had to employ firearms defensively, but, replied, “Merry Christmas” to Jason. eye. more often and in the spirit of what I’d Most dogs have an instinctive ability to When Jason opened fire, the oth- taught them, I’ve heard students recount- sense danger. While his dog did not bark er two men bolted toward the SUV. As ing instances of avoiding such confron- or growl, in hindsight, Jason did realize they jumped into the vehicle, the driver tations altogether. Of all those people, that the dog had been noticeably “fid- roared out of the parking lot, spraying only three have been involved in fatal gety” and very much on “alert” status, tail gravel and almost hitting Jason on the shootings. This mirrors closely the na- down and not wagging, eyes fixed on the way out. tional statistics, where fatal outcomes are men as they walked by. Jason thought lit- Jason immediately called police on extremely rare. tle of it then and continued on. his cellphone, said only that he had been But, sometimes, you’re left with no As he got back to the parking lot, now attacked, described the fleeing SUV choice. dark with the exception of the overhead and then asked that an ambulance be One case that I will never forget comes lights, Jason saw that the three men had sent right away — just as he had been from a student of mine who, several years once again taken up their positions at the taught in class. Jason was also smart- ago, did indeed have to take the life of front of the truck, which was now running. er than most; since he had the ability to another person. Out of respect for his pri- At that point, nothing seemed suspicious. carry in both states where he worked, vacy (and safety), I’ve altered his name But, as Jason unlocked his car and he also kept the phone numbers of two and redacted the location of the incident. took his dog around to the right rear pas- attorneys in his cellphone, one in each “Jason” is a highly motivated young senger door to put him in the back seat, state. He made the call. man who worked as a tradesman in the dog became extremely agitated, re- The police apprehended the SUV a housing and commercial construction. At fusing to get into the vehicle, and began short time later. No surprise, two of the that time, he was saving to buy a home, to bark in the direction of the SUV. Even four men involved, including the de- so when the season came to an end in after he finally got the dog into the car, ceased shooter, had felony records. his home state up north, he headed the barking and nervousness continued. Additionally, the revolver used had been south to work through the winter. Jason walked around the rear of the stolen only weeks earlier. As a result, at It was just two days before Christmas, BMW, which was at a right angle to the the routine preliminary hearing, the pros- and, with the weather there relatively SUV. As he approached his driver’s side ecutors could offer no reason to charge pleasant and the sun just beginning to door, he looked up and saw that the Jason. Case dismissed. set, Jason decided to take his yellow three men were now approximately 20 Jason later sent me a long, very touch- Labrador for a walk at a city park not far feet away, walking toward him. It took a ing email, describing the entire event in from his apartment. When he arrived, he second to realize that one of the men was minute detail, adding, “Mr. Caile, without parked his silver BMW and saw only one holding a gun, a very big revolver. a doubt, if I hadn’t taken your training, I other vehicle in the lot: a dark gray SUV. In describing what happened next, Ja- might be dead or in prison. Thank you. Jason noticed that there was one person later told me, “Everything happened Thank you. Thank you.” son sitting in the vehicle; three others exactly like you said in class. The muzzle I’ll admit I choked up. were leaning against the grill of the SUV, of his gun looked as big as a cannon. In a fascinating post-script, the gun talking and smoking. As he later recalled, Things seemed to be in slow motion. I used by the now-deceased perpetrator they were all fairly young men. None of felt as if I were a passenger in my own was a Ruger Blackhawk .44 Magnum — them gave him any sign of recognition or body. Even my own movements seemed a single-action firearm. Although it was greeting. horribly slow.” loaded, it was un-cocked. Forensics in- After putting his dog on its leash, Jason Jason did remember that the man vestigators theorize that the shooter was headed out onto the paved walking path, with the revolver said, “End of the line, unfamiliar with how such a gun operat- which, according to the trail map, was [expletive],” as he raised the gun to ed. Ironically, Jason might owe his life to 3.2 miles long. About halfway around the point directly at Jason’s face. With his the ineptitude of his attacker. course, he noticed three people coming left hand, Jason lifted his sweatshirt, As one detective quipped, “Darwin at toward him from the opposite direction. drawing his .40-caliber pistol with his work…” As they drew closer, he recognized them right hand from an inside-the-waistband as the young men who had been leaning holster at the 2 o’clock position. He re- on the SUV. members raising his gun, firing as he

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GET YOUR BOOK TODAY www.30DaysToCarry.com Or Call 877-677-1919 BAD LOT TROUBLE FINDS A YOUNG MINNESOTA COUPLE ON THE WAY TO THEIR CAR ❚ BY JARED BLOHM

52 January | www.USCCA.com BAD LOT ■ Facing a disturbed stranger carrying an aluminum bat and making threats, Austin Koeckeritz was prepared to protect himself and his wife.

January | www.USCCA.com 53 THE GRINDING METALLIC RATTLE ECHOED AGAINST THE PILLARS OF THE NEARBY GARDEN CENTER, “GIVING KOECKERITZ AND JOY PAUSE AS THEIR EYES SEARCHED THE PARKING LOT’S SHADOWS. ounds carry across big, mostly sounds filled the air. But, on the way to — continued walking. empty parking lots at night. The their car to load the supplies they had Was it an old clunker laboring” to Shum of a big box store’s sign. A picked up for the house-warming par- crawl into the parking lot on its last car door slamming on the other side of ty they planned to host the next day, breath? Maybe a machine around the lot. The rattle of a shopping cart’s a new sound drowned everything else back with a loose fan? stubborn wheels. The buzz of vehicles out. Suddenly, though, the source was on a nearby highway. Even footsteps The grinding metallic rattle echoed clear. A slender, destitute-looking can permeate the stillness, especially against the pillars of the nearby gar- man wearing a long green coat with on a clear, cool evening, like Oct. 5, den center, giving Koeckeritz and a fur-lined hood appeared around the 2016, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Joy pause as their eyes searched the corner of the building. As he slowly As Austin Koeckeritz and his wife, parking lot’s shadows. The slow scrap- walked in the couple’s direction, the Abigail Joy, left the St. Cloud Walmart ing noise was a bit unnerving, but the top of the aluminum baseball bat he shortly before midnight, those usual couple — more curious than alarmed carried at his side dragged behind

54 January | www.USCCA.com him, bouncing like a turntable needle didn’t quite process what was going across each groove and divot in the on. I was just trying to dial 911 and I sidewalk’s concrete. couldn’t. It took me like five times.” Making the situation even more ON EDGE tense, the man began screaming for As the man approached, Koeckeritz Koeckeritz to pull the trigger. and Joy changed paths. “Shoot me! Please just shoot me!” “We started moving further away, Koeckeritz remembers him yelling. but he started walking around us,” With his gun still drawn, Koeckeritz Koeckeritz recalled. demanded over and over again that Circling as he passed the couple, the man get on the ground. Eventual- the man suddenly stopped. ly, the man sat down, only to stand up “Have you ever been hit in the head again seconds later. with a bat before?” he snarled. “He turned around and started walk- Koeckeritz, who works in private se- ing away, saying, ‘You wouldn’t shoot curity, feigned a laugh, hoping it was an unarmed man in the back, would a terrible joke, and continued to walk you?’” Koeckeritz said. away, sidestepping onto the parking The man then started taunting lot pavement as he kept his eyes fixed Koeckeritz and Joy. “What are you on the man. going to do?” he asked as he spun “I’ve dealt with a lot of people who in circles and threw insults, gradually just are like that as their mentality,” getting further and further away from Koeckeritz said. “That’s why it didn’t the couple as Joy continued relaying faze me or come off as strange to me details to the 911 operator. as it would have to other people.” Finally, the man flipped up the fur- But this was no joke. The man in the lined hood on his jacket, turned his green coat took a deep breath, smiled back to the couple and walked away. and raised the bat. He was now about “We didn’t stop him from walking 12 feet from the couple and closing. away, but Austin told him that the po- Backing up, Koeckeritz drew his lice were called and they were on their concealed handgun — a Beretta 92 way,” Joy said. that the 22-year-old had carried since Koeckeritz noted the direction the getting his Minnesota concealed car- man was headed and holstered his ry permit the year prior — and com- gun. With the man across the parking manded the man to drop the bat. Al- lot and no longer in sight, the couple though the man held onto his weapon, loaded their groceries and waited for he lowered the bat and backed up — police. concessions that likely saved his life. “He was very close [to getting POLICE ARRIVE shot],” Koeckeritz said. “Based on his When the squad cars — four to six, expression and his body language according to Joy — arrived a couple at that point, once he saw [the gun], minutes later, the police officers asked that’s what changed it for me from fir- Koeckeritz to place his handgun and ing right away to what happened. He everything he had in his pockets in the loosened up at that point. He obvious- trunk of the couple’s vehicle. ly had fear in his eyes and he started “They talked to us and asked us backing up.” questions about what the guy looked With his gun still drawn, Koeckeritz like and what happened,” Joy said. repeated his command to drop the bat “While we were talking to them, oth- several times. Finally, the man tossed er people were searching around for the bat to his side, allowing it roll up him.” against a nearby cart corral. It was at that point that the gravity of the situation began to hit Joy. A CALL FOR HELP “I was still shaking,” she said. “I By that point, Joy, who had been fro- remember just being really cold and zen in fear during the initial exchange, shaking. I wasn’t crying or any of that, was frantically trying to dial 911. it was just a lot of shaking. I felt kind of “I was just shaking,” she recalled. “I like passing out I guess.”

January | www.USCCA.com 55 Within about 10 minutes, officers learned police had obtained video had crossed their path and hadn’t run had detained a man matching the from multiple surveillance cameras in into anyone who was less prepared to couple’s description in the parking the Walmart parking lot, but the couple defend themselves. lot of a nearby hotel. The officers took hasn’t seen the footage. “I’m sure it would have happened Koeckeritz and Joy there in separate Joy would simply like to move on, regardless.” Koeckeritz said. “I feel squad cars, and they both confirmed but the “unnerving” experience has like he chose us at random. So, if it it was him. stuck with her. wasn’t us, it would’ve been someone The man denied the accusations, “For, like, a solid six months after that, who wasn’t carrying.” according to the criminal complaint, I was scared to go out by myself,” she And, in some ways, Koeckeritz telling officers he had been at a near- said. “Even now, I’m still a little scared thinks it was the best-case scenario by bar all night. He also indicated to to go outside at nighttime by myself.” for the man too. the officers that he was suicidal. To this day, Koeckeritz and Joy ar- “It sounds like he is somewhat get- en’t sure what the man’s motive was. ting the help that he needs,” Koecker- LOOKING BACK “If he wanted to rob us, I feel like he itz said. More than a year later, the court would’ve just threatened to hit us in the In the end, the incident just rein- case is still pending. At the time of head unless we gave him our money forced to Koeckeritz that evil can find this writing, the 31-year-old man who or something,” Joy said. “So, I feel like you anywhere, at any time, and you threatened Koeckeritz and Joy is still he just felt like hitting people in the have to be ready and willing to face it. being held in Stearns County Jail, fac- head that day.” “This happened at a Walmart that ing a felony charge of second-degree Asked what would have happened if was less than 2 miles away from where assault with a dangerous weapon. He he hadn’t had his handgun that night, our home was, so just carry every day had a lengthy criminal history prior to Koeckeritz didn’t pause. even if you don’t think you’re going to this incident as well. “I know that we would either be likely need it,” he said. The couple has not followed court in a coma or dead,” he said. proceedings closely and has had lit- After some reflection, though, tle contact with anyone regarding the Koeckeritz and Joy feel it was fortu- incident since that night. They later nate that the man in the green coat

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56 January | www.USCCA.com

HOT TOPIC

58 January | www.USCCA.com any longtime readers careful with weapons. have picked up that I Said the chief, “The same Mwas born and raised rules that apply to everybody in an anti-gun town. From the else apply to me.” mid-1990s through the mid- Now, I’m not going to take 2000s, Madison, Wisconsin, this in any number of possi- had an outright handgun-sale ble directions. I’m not going ban, and law enforcement and to talk about how differently he civic leaders were staunchly was treated as a liberal police anti-gun, let alone concealed chief in a town that prides it- carry. (Were you to spend self on its anti-authority past, much time asking around the up to and including a Weather Madison City Council, you Underground terrorist bomb- might notice that most of them ing of Sterling Hall in 1970 that remain so.) I seem to recall murdered a research chemist. some of my leftist friends and I’m not going to bring up family members mentioning what the local law enforce- that if even the chief of police ment response would have couldn’t be trusted to keep been to a non-liberal-appoint- track of his Glock, that was ed individual who negligently evidence enough that no one discharged a firearm in his should be allowed to possess home, let alone had he then anything as dangerous as a emailed the mayor with regard handgun. to what he thought his punishment should be. YOU SMELL SOMETHING? I’m not even going to talk You see, one Sunday back about how this disgraceful, in 1998, Madison Police Chief clownish waste of a mustache Richard Williams decided to said out loud, to a reporter, roast some turkey. He put it in that he thought the whole situ- the oven and then went to lie ation was “pretty funny.” down — a patently irresponsi- No, I’m going to talk about ble move in and of itself, but storing guns, and specifical- his repose was rudely inter- ly how to not store them like rupted by a loud report. an irresponsible jackass who His 9mm Glock, which very publicly demonstrated he’d hidden in the oven with himself to be a catastrophe a round in the chamber, had waiting to happen. discharged. “Afterward, I spent the next ONE IN THE OVEN? five or six hours thinking about The most difficult part about all the things that could’ve “safe gun storage” — and happened,” Williams said in public policy surrounding a Racine Journal Times story. “safe gun storage” — is the HOT “I could have been coming fact that there isn’t a single an- down the stairs at the time. By swer for every last responsibly Monday, I realized it was pret- armed American. According ty funny.” to certain individuals, “safe Williams turned himself in gun storage” means guns after the holiday weekend, being in the hands of law en- asking Mayor Sue Bauman forcement or the military and via e-mail that Tuesday to sus- no one else. To others, “safe TOPIC pend her police chief for a day gun storage” means storing THE TURKEY INCIDENT without pay for violating de- firearms in a place where they ❚ BY ED COMBS partment firearms safety poli- won’t get dirty, wet or dam- cy, which demands officers be aged. To almost everyone,

January | www.USCCA.com 59 “safe gun storage” means keeping fire- sionals — particularly law enforcement main aware of what you’re doing and the arms in a location and fashion that pre- officers — is to securely store an empty potential consequences of your actions, vents access by unauthorized persons, pistol next to a charged magazine; “half- regardless of your surroundings or cir- protects the guns from damage and ready,” if you will. cumstances. It means actually thinking maintains the firearms in a condition Another common way a sidearm is out everything you do, even if only for a that allows authorized users to access stored at the “half-ready” is a revolv- second. (What a concept, right?) them quickly and easily in the event of a er with a charged cylinder that is not I’m going to be the bigger man here deadly emergency. locked back into the frame. I’ve been and tell myself that had Williams thought I’m not going to try to tell you exactly told by practitioners of this method that for even the aforementioned second how to store your firearms, as that’s none the rationale is as follows: It removes the about whether placing his duty gun in of my business. What I am going to do is most difficult part of loading a revolver his oven was a good idea, he might run down, point by point, what I’m ready (getting the rounds into the individual have thought to at least unload it first. to call one of the most egregiously poor chambers) but does not leave the gun He might have thought that there ex- choices of firearm storage: my old bud- ready to fire, meaning, were a small child isted any number of other hidey-holes dy Chief Williams’ “funny” incident that to pick it up, he or she would not be able in his residence that might have been so rudely interrupted his afternoon nap. to simply pull the trigger and send a bul- better suited to gun storage than a steel let. I don’t love this method, but it is bet- enclosure designed to heat items past HIDDEN HEATER ter than nothing; were a toddler to gain cheese-melting temperatures. Hiding firearms as a means to actually access to the firearm, the chances are secure them brings with it a whole host of extremely low that he or she would lock STAY SMART, STAY SAFE problems. More often than not, when an the cylinder into place before all of the I’m not here to tell anyone what he or individual hides a firearm, he or she does rounds fall out. That said, it isn’t going to she has to lock up where; you all know so to keep children away from it. This is win you any Concerned Citizen awards; your specific situations far better than I not a particularly successful strategy; it’s swing-out-cylinder revolvers are, after do, and I’m not going to pretend that the not that no one has ever hidden a gun in all, 19th-century technology, and if a gun security requirements of a house such a way that children could not find it, kid can fumble with your cellphone and full of toddlers are the same as of a retir- it’s that the chances of the child either ac- inadvertently change its settings to Chi- ee’s apartment. The difficulties emerge cidentally or intentionally coming across nese, what do you think he or she could when those worlds overlap. When the the firearm are greater than what is ac- do with a revolver? grandchildren are over for a visit. When ceptable when the stakes are that high. the nephew has to come to your place There exist more than enough tech- ROASTING OLD CHESTNUTS after school every day for the next few nological options for storing firearms The most egregious error Williams weeks until his mom’s shift at the hospi- ready to go but inaccessible to children made wasn’t failing to unload his duty tal returns to normal. When you normally that simply dropping a loaded gun into a gun as soon as he removed it from his never bake anything, but turkey was on dresser drawer or shoebox is unneces- holster to ground it or hiding it in as illog- sale and money doesn’t grow on trees. sary. However you choose to store your ical and potentially dangerous a place It’s all too easy to laugh off stories like firearm, there are a few basic rules you as his oven. Just as your trigger finger Williams’, but, in some ways, we do so at should follow, which brings us to… is the immediate safety measure applied our own peril. Whenever you hear about to any firearm you’re holding, your brain someone executing such a humiliating ‘GOIN’ HOT!’ has to be at least as engaged while and farcically illogical blunder, have I am a proponent of carrying sidearms dealing with firearms as it is when you’re your laugh; you (and Williams) earned ready for use. In the case of Chief Wil- driving. Note I said “at least;” it can be it. But then step back and slip on the liams, I at least hope he carried his side- easy to slip into “autopilot” mode while reading glasses. Tales of self-defense arm clean and ready for duty with a fully driving to work, and you need to guard aren’t the only true stories from which charged magazine and a round in the jealously against slipping into the same all responsibly armed Americans can chamber. This is the manner in which all kind of waking-dream state when you’re benefit. The next time someone bakes defensive sidearms should be carried. dealing with the item you carry specifi- the proverbial Glock, take notes. Game As soon as you’re storing that pistol, cally because it’s capable of delivering it out. Most difficult of all, read through however, a few things might change. life-ending energy into a human being. the entire situation and then see if you Regardless of what current safety or- I hate to say it, but we’re back to what can find even the slightest similarities thodoxy might be, if we’re all honest with we harp on so hard here at the USCCA: between his actions and yours. ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that tens, situational awareness. You carry that sidearm as a shield if not hundreds, of thousands of pistols Though that term is abused in this in- against disaster; do all you can to en- are kept with charged magazines in their dustry more harshly than L.L. Bean’s re- sure that any disasters you’re forced to magazine wells. As long as such a pistol turn policy, it doesn’t just mean looking mitigate are 100 percent external. is securely stored, it’s hard to say that both ways before crossing the street and there’s anything wrong with that, though paying attention to the strangers around an option preferred by a lot of profes- you while out in public. It means to re-

60 January | www.USCCA.com If Gunshots Rang Out In A Crowd... What Would You Do?

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GET YOUR BOOK TODAY www.USCCA.com/MassShooterBook Or Call 877-677-1919 SURVIVING IN THE STREET AND IN COURT ❚ BY SCHUYLER P. ROBERTSON s a firearms instructor, one of the most common questions AI hear is, “When can I use my gun and not go to jail?” In light of recent riots and other mass violence, many people want to know when displaying or using a firearm is legal when faced with a mob. The fact remains that deadly force is only legally justified when it is employed to stop an immediate and otherwise unavoidable threat of death or grave bodily harm to the innocent. What this means is that, before deadly force can be legally applied, three conditions must be simultaneously present: ability, opportunity and jeopardy. The attacker must have the physical ability to cause death or serious injury, the attacker must have the opportunity to use that ability and the attacker’s words or actions must indicate he intends to use that ability. This combination places the defender in imminent and unavoidable jeopardy. Deciding whether lethal force is justified is rather straightforward when faced with an armed attacker or attackers, but what if the attackers are not armed? When can an armed citizen use deadly force against unarmed attackers? The condition of legal self-defense under which this falls is ability, specifically a concept known as “disparity of force.” Simply put, a disparity of force means that the attackers — AGAINST even without weapons — had such an overwhelming amount of force available to them that the lawful defender was at risk of death or serious bodily injury.

January | www.USCCA.com A MOB 62 Editorial credit: Vic Hinterlang / Shutterstock.com

■ Now that the kind of behavior shown here AGAINST has become something of a sport for the more aggressive misanthropes in this country, very real questions about defense against a mob are more common than ever.

A MOB January | www.USCCA.com 63 Editorial credit: Vic Hinterlang / Shutterstock.com

WHEN THE OTHER PROTESTORS PUT THE DRIVER IN FEAR FOR HIS LIFE, THE PASSIVE PROTESTORS WERE EQUALLY AND INDIVIDUALLY LAWFUL TARGETS OF THE DRIVER’S DEFENSIVE ACTIONS. CASE 1: DOCTOR SWEET at the residence, breaking a window, extends to each participant.”1 The “On Sept. 8, 1925, a young doctor and several members of the mob concept was set as a precedent in named Ossian Sweet moved into a rushed the house. The defenders State (WV) v. Foley. house in a respectable neighborhood opened fire, wounding one man and What this means for the law-abiding” in Detroit. Dr. Sweet was black and killing another. Sweet and his friends armed citizen is that, when faced with the neighborhood he moved into was were held and tried for murder, and a violent mob whose words or actions all white. There were several threats legendary attorney Clarence Darrow indicate the participants intend on do- against Sweet and his family and, defended them. The first trial ended in ing violence, each member of the mob despite police standing guard at his a mistrial; the second in an acquittal. shares the responsibility of the entirety home, crowds gathered at night to pro- This case is important because it is of the mob and is equally and individu- test. Sweet did the prudent thing and cited in the book Warren: On Homi- ally fair game for the defensive actions exercised his 2nd Amendment rights by cide, which is the definitive book on of the innocent defender. One import- inviting several friends over and pro- homicide law in the United States. A ant caveat in Warren is that, after the viding them with firearms to help him critical legal concept for self-defense mob is whittled down to one member, guard his family. in Warren is, “Where several are ap- any disparity of force caused by the On the second night, a mob gath- parently preparing to join in an attack number of attackers is gone. ered at his house. Rocks were thrown on defendant, his right of self-defense If an armed citizen uses a firearm

64 January | www.USCCA.com to defend himself against an unarmed onds of the initial attack, Lunsford was and weapons retention. One can ar- mob, no matter how many participants on the ground and immobile. Nine gue that the risk to private citizens is there are, no matter what threats the seconds later, one of the suspects even higher. mob makes or how many fires they’re took Lunsford’s pistol from his holster One aspect of riots that isn’t new setting, an overzealous lawyer is going and shot him in the neck, killing him but has recently made headlines is a to make the argument that, “This mani- instantly. group of protesters blocking traffic. ac used a gun on unarmed people. If Lunsford was considerably larger I’ve been asked many times if dead- they were unarmed, what threat were than his attackers. He was well-trained ly force is justified in such a situation, they against someone with a gun?” in unarmed arrest control. One on and the next cases are the ones I usu- The following case will illustrate exact- one, he was more than a match for ally bring up. ly what threat multiple unarmed attack- any them. Two on one, the outcome of ers can be against a trained person the fight could go either way. Three on CASES 3 AND 4: REGINALD DENNY with a gun. one, he had no chance. AND THE ABORTION CLINIC PROTEST The lesson here for the armed citi- In 1992, Reginald Denny was a con- CASE 2: DARRELL LUNSFORD zen is that even though your attackers struction truck driver who suddenly In 1991, Nacogdoches County, Tex- might not be armed, if you are armed found himself in the middle of the Los as, Police Constable Darrell Lunsford and become unable to defend your- Angeles Riots. He was pulled from his initiated a traffic stop on a suspicious self, there is a very real chance your vehicle and savagely beaten, result- vehicle. Constable Lunsford pulled the attackers will find your gun, take it ing in years of rehabilitative therapy. driver of the car out to speak to him, away from you and murder you with it. After being released from prison, one and, despite being told to stay in the According to the FBI Uniform Crime of his attackers said he and the others car, one of the other two occupants ex- Report, between 2011 and 2015, 7.9 never intentionally targeted Denny; ited the vehicle. Without warning, the percent of police officers killed in the they just got caught up in the moment. second occupant attacked Lunsford. line of duty were slain with their own Mob mentality is well-documented. The third occupant got out of the car firearms. These were men and women In short, people in riots will do things and joined the attack. Within five sec- who were trained in unarmed combat they wouldn’t normally do. A riot is a

January | www.USCCA.com 65 PROTESTS ARE, BY THEIR NATURE, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, AND THE PRUDENT COURSE OF ACTION IS TO AVOID THEM. IF YOU DO INADVERTENTLY FIND YOURSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROTEST OR RIOT, TREAT IT LIKE A WILD ANIMAL PRESERVE: STAY IN YOUR CAR AND KEEP MOVING. very“ dangerous organism, and even drew his pistol, scanned for threats and many firearms instructors teach people who plan on peacefully pro- and backed up. The crowd backed off; their students to do the same. testing can suddenly become threats Strickland reholstered and left the scene. The problem with this technique is or can block your escape if other pro- Strickland was arrested and found that, when the gun is at high-ready” testers become threats. guilty of 10 counts of unlawful use of as you scan, you can end up point- That was the case when a group a weapon, 10 counts of menacing and ing your gun at people who are not of activists were protesting outside a one count of second-degree disorder- threats. Strickland was convicted of Sacramento abortion clinic. Several ly conduct. At the time of this writing, menacing for pointing his gun not at protesters decided to lie on the ground he has not been sentenced. the people threatening him but at by- in front of an SUV arriving at the clinic, In looking at the facts of the case as standers who were trying to see what which, by itself, is not a threat merit- dispassionately as I can, I identified was going on. A more legally defen- ing a deadly force response. However, three things Strickland did that hurt his sible option is to scan at low-ready, other protesters surrounded the SUV self-defense claim. Two of the things with the gun pointed at the ground. and began pounding on the windows. Strickland did were what I call “tacti- Yes, your reaction time to respond to The driver felt threatened enough to cally sound legal suicide.” a threat will be slower, but it sounds drive over the protesters lying in front The first thing? Anticipating a possi- better on the witness stand. of him. bly violent crowd, he had an extended The third thing that hurt his case The protesters on the ground were magazine in his Glock and possessed was, after he was in a safe location, passive; by themselves, they pre- five spare standard magazines. The he didn’t call 911. The first person who sented no threat. However, remember prosecution made a very big deal calls 911 is assumed to be the victim; what Warren says about mobs. When about Strickland carrying more than the other party is automatically listed the other protesters put the driver in twice the ammunition some police offi- as the suspect. Equally importantly, if fear for his life, the passive protesters cers typically carry. two people call 911 on each other, it were equally and individually lawful In the American legal system, the should give the cops a clue that there targets of the driver’s defensive ac- concept of “mutual combat” voids is more going on than what just one tions. The driver was not charged, the claim of self-defense: Knowing of of the parties says. The prosecutor and, fortunately, no one was seriously the extra risk of attending this protest, made a big deal out of Strickland not injured. Strickland took extra ammunition with calling 911. Protests are, by their nature, po- him. While not as bad as agreeing to tentially dangerous, and the prudent an outright duel, he knowingly went AVOID, EVADE, PREVAIL course of action is to avoid them. If to a location where he anticipated the In any violent encounter, but espe- you do inadvertently find yourself in need to use his gun. cially against an agitated mob, there is the middle of a protest or riot, treat While taking extra ammunition was no winning, just degrees of losing. By it like a wild animal preserve: Stay in a tactically smart thing to do, it dam- knowing the applicable laws and mak- your car and keep moving, even if you aged his self-defense claim. Remem- ing sure your training dovetails with are only moving at a slow crawl. Be ber: Deadly force is only legally jus- those laws, you have a better chance aware of your escape routes and get tified when it is employed to stop an of not only surviving the streets but out of the area as soon as possible. immediate and otherwise unavoidable surviving the courtroom. As with any danger of death or grave bodily harm use of deadly force, though, nothing CASE 5: MICHAEL STRICKLAND to the innocent. By going somewhere beats avoiding it in the first place, so Michael Strickland was a conserva- he thought the need to use a gun was be certain that remains in the forefront tive blogger who, while filming a pro- likely, Strickland eroded his claim as of your consciousness as a responsi- test in 2015, was beaten. His cameras an innocent party and that the danger bly armed American. were stolen and he was hospitalized was unavoidable. with his arm broken in three places. The second act of “tactically smart ENDNOTES In July 2016, he was filming anoth- legal suicide” was to scan for threats (1) Warren on Homicide, Vol. 1, p. 642. er protest in Portland, Oregon. Several with his gun at high-ready, or with the members of the crowd became hos- gun just below eye level. I was taught tile, surrounding Strickland and yelling to do this as a deputy sheriff, in the at him. Feeling threatened, Strickland Army and as an overseas contractor,

66 January | www.USCCA.com WITH KEVIN MICHALOWSKI TRAIN FOR THE POSSIBILITY, NOT THE PROBABILITY Get your insider information every week with the Into the Fray video series found exclusively at: ■ Self-defense-related fitness isn’t about how you look or how much you can bench. It’s about becoming harder to kill, even if only by a little.

68 January | www.USCCA.com STRONG PEOPLE ARE HARDER TO KILL ❚ BY GARY REICHERT

January | www.USCCA.com 69 enjoy superhero movies; Hulk and When you see pictures of high-level 5 RULES Thor are probably my favorites. There operators, there is a reason they look No. 1: You need to address three sep- Iis something attractive about heroes jacked: It makes them better at their arate components of fitness: strength, who are virtually indestructible. The bad jobs and increases their survivability. endurance and cardiovascular health. guys can fire hundreds of rounds at, Watching my son and his girlfriend Strength and endurance are related and around and through them, they fall from provides an example for both points. are important for tactical applications, skyscrapers, survive and eventually tri- Many young men have discovered that while cardio kicks in after 20 minutes. If umph. some young women like to hit them after you are in a tactical situation for signifi- Unfortunately, I can’t do that. Nothing the women discover their punches don’t cantly longer than 20 minutes, you really anyone can do will make you bulletproof. do any damage. The disparity in mus- screwed up. What proper training can do is make you cle mass and strength shows the ability No. 2: You need to address your at least a little harder to kill. to absorb and deliver relatively greater whole body. The sport-specific idea of First, we should define “harder to kill.” damage. But how do you get there? “training the muscles as they are used in

YOU NEED TO ADDRESS YOUR WHOLE BODY. THE SPORT-SPECIFIC IDEA OF ‘TRAINING THE MUSCLES AS THEY ARE USED IN THE SPECIFIC “ACTIVITY’ IS A SALES GIMMICK. STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE NEED TO BE DEVELOPED, WITH EVERY MAJOR MUSCLE GROUP IN BALANCE.” This is not a cheat code in a video game Disclaimer: If you are over the age of the specific activity” is a sales gimmick. allowing unlimited damage. The real 40, do not start a fitness program with- Strength and endurance need to be de- world does not work that way. Increasing out a prior medical examination. veloped, with every major muscle group your strength and general physical pre- If you have access to a good coach or in balance. paredness — endurance — will make an actual expert, take advantage of his No. 3: To achieve No. 2, you need to you harder to kill in two specific ways: or her knowledge. He or she will evalu- individually address every major set of 1. Increased strength and muscle ate your needs and movement patterns muscle groups. The simple way is to mass help maintain structural integrity, and focus your efforts to yield the great- consider five movements. In no partic- making you more resistant to injury and est result in the shortest time. ular order, they are upper-body push, allowing you to absorb more damage This is not a training program for an upper-body pull, lower-body push, low- before being incapacitated. elite operator or a college athlete. This er-body pull (hamstrings and glutes) 2. Increased strength improves per- won’t make you the Hulk, but following and abs. You could add grip, but, performance aspects like speed, force pro- these basic guidelines provides a solid forming the upper-body exercises, you duction and peak-level response under foundation, and it’s easier to get rolling will hold implements or your body weight metabolic or situational stress. than you think. and develop grip and hand strength.

70 January | www.USCCA.com No. 4: You need to plan for progres- if you are going to skip something, it will sion to continually improve. This sample be the last exercise. Varying the order program should be good for at least six makes you do the exercises you would months as a beginner. You will need to like to skip. One of my favorite quotes add weight, repetitions or sets to the is, “Train your strengths to impress your program to improve. friends; train your weaknesses to im- No. 5: Consistency is key. If you can press your enemies.” devote about an hour twice per week, • For the exercises, go through the you will improve. You need at least twice greatest range of motion you can com- per week every week, but be realistic. fortably complete. A full range of motion If you can commit to two days, don’t is more important than the actual weight pretend you will do five. Start with two you move. and build from there. Three is better • Focus on progression over time; than two, but beyond that, the additional don’t get hung up on insignificant de- days generate marginal incremental re- tails. Five exercises, five sets and 10 sults. reps are not magic numbers. If you do four, six and 12 reps, the exercise fairy GETTING STARTED still loves you. If you work hard, most de- Here are a few general guidelines be- tails resolve themselves. fore we get to the actual program: • Keep a log. Write down the date, • All exercises are five sets of 10 to weights, sets, reps and the time dura- start. If you cannot do five sets, do what tion for each session. No one accurate- you can and gradually increase. When ly remembers everything he or she has you can do the five sets of 10 for two done, and a log keeps you honest and consecutive weeks, make it harder. records progress. When you get dis- • Vary the order of exercises. You couraged — and everyone does — read have the most energy and enthusiasm through your history. Seeing what you’ve for the first exercise, which means that accomplished can keep you going. DON’T OVERLOOK SQUATS SQUATS are not bad for your knees and back, but squatting hard and relatively flat soles and good lateral support. Run- incorrectly is. ning shoes are the worst possible choice for squatting, while If someone knows you lift weights, he or she asks, “What basketball, cross-training or wrestling shoes are great choices. do you bench?” I am not a particularly good bench press- In many powerlifting circles, old-style canvas Chuck Taylors er, and my response usually involves asking, “What do you are the de facto option. squat?” The inevitable answer comes, “I can’t squat. I have Rule 5: Have a way to get rid of the weight and, if you feel bad knees,” or, “I have a bad back.” I immediately remove my- your form deteriorating, stop. If you are squatting with a bar self from the conversation. Life is too short for excuses. on your back, have spotters or use a cage. If you do not have If you follow these basic guidelines, you can and should access to spotters or a cage, choose a squat variation where squat — bad backs and knees not withstanding. you can safely drop the weight if necessary. Front squats or Rule 1: Unless you are a powerlifter, you probably have no goblet squats are excellent choices. Above all, be certain that reason to squat 600 pounds. In most cases, ego is what caus- if you fail or fall, you will not land under the weight. es injuries while squatting. Yes, it is fun to have the whole gym Rule 6: Don’t squat in a Smith Machine. There are ways to go silent and watch you squat a ton. But, chances are, you will squat safely in a Smith, but there are no additional benefits, so crash with it or squat so poorly that the attention won’t be posi- it is not worth the effort. Your body was designed to stand up tive. Stay with a weight you can handle and increase gradually. and squat down. A Smith Machine limits the way your body If you want to be a powerlifter, find other powerlifters to train can move under weight and can load your lower back and with and learn to squat a ton correctly. knees in bad ways. Use Smith Machines for the things they do Rule 2: Speed kills when squatting, and gravity is not your well: hanging laundry, leaning on when talking to friends, etc. friend. You should descend slowly. You can come up as fast as you want, but descend like you’re getting ready to sit on A FEW NOTES ON EQUIPMENT a thumbtack. You know about kinetic energy from shooting: You don’t need knee wraps or a lifting belt. They do not prevent 125 grains traveling at 3,000 feet per second is more deadly injuries and can actually cause them, as, when used correctly, than 125 grains at 600 feet per second. Squatting is similar: their only purpose is to increase the amount of weight you can lift. The moment of impact is when you change the direction of Don’t use the foam pads that wrap around the bar either. the bar in the bottom of the lift. This is your weakest position They give padding, but they push the bar farther back and and, if you descend quickly, you will be battling accumulated allow it to roll. Both movements compromise your shoulders. kinetic energy far more than necessary. This moment of impact Neoprene knee sleeves work wonders for tendon soreness. can create problems if you aren’t skilled or strong enough to Warm things are stretchier and more flexible than cold things. counter the forces. They do not need to be tight, as they’re only there to provide Rule 3: If you are rocking onto your toes in the bottom of heat, not mechanical support. your squat, move your feet wider apart. Rocking forward has A heavy cotton T-shirt gives the bars something to stick to. the same effect as dropping too quickly: Your weight goes for- If you want to go retro, wear a flannel shirt. The bar will stick ward, your butt comes up and you load your spine in “C” posi- like you would not believe, and the extra layer and heat can be tion. Sometimes, this occurs because the lifter has long thighs wonderful on old shoulders. “Advanced” clothing tends to be relative to their spine — very common with women. A lack of slick. This allows a bar to slide down your back, similar to what glute or hamstring flexibility can also cause the same problem. happens with the squat pad. In most cases, the solution is to slightly widen your stance. For People call the squat the king of exercises for a reason. most people, a good guideline is to put your feet in the same Learning to squat correctly is critical to developing whole- position you would if you were going to jump. body strength, and these six rules can help anyone learn to Rule 4: Wear appropriate footwear. You want shoes with squat properly.

72 January | www.USCCA.com REGULARLY CHANGE THE FORM OF RESISTANCE WHENEVER YOU WANT, AS VARIETY KEEPS TRAINING FUN AND GENERATES BETTER RESULTS. • Rotate“ exercises for different muscle A warmup needs to increase your body groups. There are options for exercises temperature, get muscles moving and listed below and many available re- get joints loose. Your warmup should sources online. Changing the exercises cause a slight sweat” and you should helps you get stronger. breathe harder by the time you’re done. • Resistance can come from barbells, I am not a fan of jogging or most cardio dumbbells, machines, kettlebells, rub- equipment without arm motion as a war- ber bands, bodyweight or a partner. As mup. These exercises shunt blood to your long as you can add weight or make the lower body and will not get your shoulders exercise harder, all types have benefits. and elbows warm and ready to play. Regularly change the form of resistance A warmup should last 10 to 15 min- whenever you want, as variety keeps utes, but remember that it is not intend- training fun and generates better results. ed to be a full session of cardio.

WARMUP THE STRENGTH EXERCISES The specific exercise or exercises Upper-Body Push: Push away with does not matter as long as you move your hands. Pushups, bench presses, everything. I routinely use light kettle- dips and overhead presses are all good bell swings, but jumping rope, using examples. an elliptical or Airdyne bike, or perform- One common tip across all pressing ing jumping jacks, burpees or anything movements is to have your forearms moving your whole body works too. parallel to the direction force is applied. START GRADUALLY AND WORK UP THE WEIGHT SLOWLY. REMEMBER, YOU USE THESE MUSCLES IN EVERYTHING. IF THEY ARE SORE, YOU WILL BE REMINDED EVERY TIME YOU MOVE. In “cases where resistance is from gravi- back or knees. Squatting wrong or try- “glute-ham” raises, “good mornings,” ty, that means perpendicular to the floor ing to squat a ton when unprepared can pullthroughs and kettlebell swings. or straight up and down. both be dangerous, but squatting cor- When you do any of these,” remem- Upper-Body Pull: Pull toward your rectly is the safest and most effective ber to keep your back arched — chest body with your hands. Pullups, chinups, way to work your lower body. high and butt out. Some coaches prefer barbell rows, dumbbell rows, pulldowns, Lower-Body Pull: This one doesn’t a neutral or flat spine. I coach to arch, cable rows, band rows and reverse have as simple of an explanation. These because the weight will try to pull your pushups are good examples. exercises focus on the posterior chain, shoulders forward. If you start arched, Again, your forearms should be paral- or the strip of muscles running down the weight will pull you to a neutral or flat lel to the direction of force. But because your posterior from the lower back to the spine position. these often involve cables or straps, the hamstrings. Do not let your spine curl forward direction is often not straight up or down These muscles fight gravity, help you into a “C” shape, as in a fetal position. relative to the floor. lift from the floor and stabilize your trunk Your spine is not designed to support Lower-Body Push: Your legs start in everything you do. Start gradually and weight like that. Typically, this rounding bent, you push with the bottoms of work up the weight slowly. Remember, forward causes back pain in squats or your feet and your knees finish straight. you use these muscles in everything. If lower-body exercises. Squats, stepups, split squats, leg press- they are sore, you will be reminded ev- Abs: Ab exercises are more flexion es and goblet squats are all good ex- ery time you move. and extension of the spine, usually with amples. Examples of lower-body pull exer- some flexion at the hip. Examples in- And, no, squats are not bad for your cises are deadlifts, deadlift variations, clude crunches, situps and leg raises.

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74 January | www.USCCA.com trunk stabilityinabexercises. and lowerbackmusclesincrease ant to balance out the posterior chain so there is no compression. It’s- import safe becausenoloadisonyourspine, as youflexyourabs.Suchanexercise is “C” (similiartothefetalposition).Exhale and flexyourstomachtopullyouintoa you are doingthemwrong. reps forabs.Ifyoucando20inaset, Warming upanddoingfivesetsof10 onyourbackeitherflatorarchedStart You donotneedtothousandsof m The gumcreek Vehicle doesn’t make sense. hard to reach glovebox it inacrowded purse orina between theseats,stashing Jamming yourhandgun chAnges inyour cAr. The dynAmics ofc Arry ount isthebestsolution. concealed carry lifestyle. concealed carry safer, and safer is what we’re after in the two hoursperweek.Harder tokillmeans be harder tokillafterputtinginlessthan the HulkorThor, butyouwilldefinitely take between30and45minutes. for theabovefivemusclegroups should This simpleworkoutwon’t makeyou

Available with standard or concealed holsters. VIOLENCE HITS CLOSE TO HOME ❚ BY RICK SAPP

n the midst of a struggle, the assailant shot JC in Ithe hand. He then shot JJ in the leg. Before the incident, JC and JJ had been absorbed in working on a car that Saturday evening at Jake Klein’s garage at Route 66 Auto Repair in Alberquer- que, New Mexico. I know stuff like this happens. Happens a lot, actually. Just not in my neighborhood. These events unfolded a block away from my house. I eventually corralled JC and we had a conversation. It wasn’t a formal interview, as such, because JC’s primary language is Spanish; mine is English. So, there could be minor errors of interpretation in what follows. I also resorted to the official police report — State of New Mexico Uniform In- cident Report, Case No. 170024046 — and then JC pointed out that it contained several fundamental errors. (Apparently the cop’s first A SHOOTING language was English also.) Nevertheless, here’s how the crimes went down and what we can learn from the pain JC and JJ suffered. IN MY ’HOOD 76 January | www.USCCA.com A SHOOTING ■ Violent attacks perpetrated by strangers are almost universally unexpected and happen extremely quickly. If you’ve never experienced one, it’s better to start thinking about how you IN MY ’HOOD might react now than to wait until it’s too late. January | www.USCCA.com 77 WHEN HE TURNED AROUND, THE TATTOOED BICYCLIST HAD PULLED A STAINLESS-STEEL “ REVOLVER AND POSITIONED ITS MUZZLE WITHIN INCHES OF JC’S NOSE.”

SATURDAY EVENING, you when — or about when — he can Hearing a scraping shuffle, JC MY NEIGHBORHOOD get around to your work. You can take looked up to see a man standing in- It was 9 p.m. on March 11, 2017. it or leave it, and you’re still friends ei- side the garage. He didn’t know the New Mexico — by some measures ther way. Eventually, he tells you how man and had never seen him before, one of the poorest states in the U.S. much it will cost, you pay, there’s no an Anglo or Caucasian wearing jeans — has its share of classic and vintage receipt and, normally, it’s a good, fair and tennis shoes, a black hoodie and cars and trucks and, that night, JC job. Jake’s mechanics — a capable a black baseball cap. Later, for the and JJ, who are not related, were rip- but motley crew — come and go with- police, JC described him as 20 to 28 ping one of them apart in Jake’s ga- out a clock or when they want to work years old, roughly 5 feet 10 inches rage. (South Valley is the “traditional” on their own cars or do a favor for a tall, with a thin build — “skinny,” JC quarter, not upscale but not hungry, buddy. It’s loose. It’s New Mexico. says — with two teardrop tattoos on adobe houses, coyote fences and So, JC and JJ banged on the en- his right cheek beneath the corner of taco trucks.) gine. They loosened bolts and tight- his right eye. Apparently, the man had Although there’s plenty of traffic ened nuts and adjusted hoses. The ridden to the garage on a bicycle. along Old Coors on a Saturday night, evening was pleasant. The garage “Who’s selling the car?” the man the guys were absorbed in their work. bay doors were lifted halfway for the asked. Jake doesn’t have a website and air. The radio played a muted Norteño “This one? Not for sale,” JC replied. doesn’t employ a receptionist, even or grupero — accordion and guitar “No, the one outside,” the man said. during business hours. You don’t call music. The men were totally immersed “Got any information?” Jake’s to book an official appoint- in what Jeff Cooper called “Condition Jake sometimes allows customers ment; you just show up and he tells White,” which is to say, oblivious. to park “For Sale” vehicles in his lot.

78 January | www.USCCA.com A white 2004 GMC Envoy had a “For ment, Fort Defiant, Arizona — when drew a rumpled $100 bill he knew was Sale” sign in the window. he noticed the man had already load- genuine. He held both bills up to the “Oh,” JC shrugged and pointed to ed his bicycle into the GMC’s rear car- light and tried to point out the issue. JJ. “He does. But he doesn’t speak go area. “Look here,” he said. English.” “He take $500, cash?” the man “What are you talking about?” the The stranger didn’t speak Spanish. asked. man replied. “You saying my mon- “How much does he want for it?” the That amount was fine with JJ. ey’s no good, that there’s something man asked. Inside the garage, the man began wrong with my money?” As they talked and dickered about counting out $100 bills from a wad JC dropped the authentic $100 bill price, with JC translating back and of money in his jeans pocket. That back into his toolbox. When he turned forth in his broken English, the man struck JC as odd, so he held a bill up around, the tattooed bicyclist had asked if he could take the car for a to the garage lights. Immediately, the pulled a stainless-steel revolver and test drive … see if he “liked it.” image of Benjamin Franklin and other positioned its muzzle within inches of “Sure, no problem” JC said and government markings looked wrong. JC’s nose. handed over the keys. Lines were transposed over the en- The loudest sound JC has ever JC went along for the ride. The two graved amount. The security ribbon heard — louder than any muscle car’s barely drove a mile before the strang- was smudged. The representation glasspack or cat screeching in the er turned around and inquired about of Independence Hall on the reverse garage — was the “click” when the the car title. JC didn’t know but said seemed blurred. He knew the U.S. bicyclist pulled the trigger. he would ask JJ. It turned out that JJ $100 bill is the most counterfeited pa- That click immediately sent JC into carried it inside his toolbox, which per currency in the world. Condition Red. He slapped the man’s was in the garage. “There’s something wrong with your arm to the side and grabbed at the “Can I see it, the title?” the man money, bro,” JC said, at once notify- gun. The man pulled the trigger again asked. ing the potential customer that there and, this time, the gun fired. The bul- Still in Condition White, JC oblig- was a problem but wanting to avoid let struck JC in the left palm. The pain ingly walked into the garage for it. He giving offense. was instantaneous, and he fell to the was looking over the title — registered JC reached into his portable cash floor, bleeding. to Navajo Nation Property Manage- register — a rusty toolbox — and with- From behind, JJ leapt on the bicy-

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80 January | www.USCCA.com tation or misgivings about pulling the trigger and murdering someone. It was a hard call and second-guessing is mostly irrelevant. Fortunately for our New Mexican victims, the bicyclist’s small revolver, his ammunition or both were faulty. Officer Nix’s report notes: “I noticed what appeared to be a small caliber, possibly .22 LR or .32 ACP, bullet on the garage floor, in a piece of tan col- ored carpet ... In addition to the bullet, I also observed what appeared to be a piece of bullet jacketing about 2 inches from the bullet itself.” A neighborhood garage can be a naturally messy place. So, all this in my neighborhood … and I slept through it. Buenas noches. Dulces sueños.

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IN| PAPER 82 January www.USCCA.com YOUR CONCEALED CARRY RIGHTS ARE MORE TENUOUS THAN YOU MIGHT THINK ❚ BY ROBERT H. CARP any of the articles in this magazine deal Mwith avoiding dangerous situations or doing what’s necessary to come out alive when those situations can’t be avoided. Dealing with police and the concealed weapons licensing bureaucracy is an entirely different battle some concealed carriers face. And, like in many self-defense court cases, the outcome is often decided by onlookers who appear to have a bias against law-abiding citizens using the weapons they are licensed to carry in a manner that complies with the law. James Grimes, of Indiana, contacted Concealed Car- ry Magazine and told a cau- tionary tale of his struggles to regain his rights. It’s worth a closer look.

THE INCIDENT Grimes was originally in- dicted on two Class D felo- nies in Noble County, Indiana, in 2006. The first felony alleged that Grimes held Dustin BURIED Swartzlander, then 20 years old, at gunpoint after Swart- zlander crashed his vehicle into Grimes, who, fearing for his life, held the man for police. The second felony Grimes was charged with ■ Even once you’re vindicated in court, it’s was the allegation that he sometimes unpleasantly surprising how difficult waved his gun at a passerby it can be to actually get your rights reinstated. as he told him to “move on.”

IN PAPER | January www.USCCA.com 83 GRIMES SAID HE’S SPENT $55,000 FOR HIS TRIAL AND HIS ATTEMPTS TO GET “THE INDIANA STATE POLICE TO REINSTATE HIS CONCEALED CARRY LICENSE. The trial, held on Feb. 15, 2007, fore I can reinstate your license, I’ll ing at which time he labeled Grimes resulted in Grimes being found not have to call the prosecutor to find out to be “violent and emotionally” unsta- guilty of the charges. Swartzlander, why you were acquitted.” ble,” had a skewed view of what oc- a career petty criminal, testified that, Despite having been exonerated curred and refused to rightfully return “The brakes weren’t in the best of by the court, the police refused to re- Grimes’ license to carry. According shape.” Swartzlander was ticketed turn Grimes his gun, citing a loophole to Grimes, it took him eight years to at the time of the accident for false under Indiana Code 35-47-1-7(6) that finally get his weapon back from the and fictitious registration, driving on states that a “proper person” (i.e., sheriff’s department, because, ac- a suspended license and driving an someone capable of being trusted cording to Grimes, the “prosecutor unsafe vehicle. According to Swartz- with a concealed carry permit) can be would not allow them to release it.” lander, he didn’t own the vehicle but denied restoral rights if the licensing Grimes said he’s spent $55,000 for was in the process of buying it. Swart- bureau has “documented evidence his trial and his attempts to get the zlander was later convicted of auto which would give rise to a reasonable Indiana State Police to reinstate his theft and receiving stolen auto parts. belief that he has a propensity for concealed carry license. The alleged violent or emotionally unstable con- motive for his “crime?” According to THE AFTERMATH duct.” Any legal interpretation would Grimes, he was trying to “stop a flee- Unfortunately, Grimes’ real trial attempt to fit Grimes into the mold ing felon after he seriously injured my didn’t start until after the first one had where the “documented evidence” 70-year-old mother.” exonerated him. shows he pointed a gun at a fleeing When Grimes contacted Major Je- felon, which in turn, would give rise to THE TAKEAWAY rome Ezell of the Indiana State Police the charges. The troubles Grimes — an hon- in an effort to have his license rein- It would appear that Ezell, who al- orably discharged veteran — en- stated, Ezell allegedly told him, “Be- legedly held an administrative hear- countered demonstrate that, without

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checks and balances on the state tory, he or she often has a set of rules officials in charge of firearms matters, that is interpreted differently than the average citizen can be in for a most regulatory compliance vectors. tough battle to regain his or her rights The people interpreting the rules very Dillon’s to carry a concealed weapon, even often don’t have to answer to anyone after being exonerated in a court of but judges in the event their rulings law. The bureaucratic maze is the are challenged. SSqquuaarree DDeeaall ‘‘BB’’ perfect ambush spot for self-righ- If you ever find yourself in a twist- teous and anti-gun administrators to ed maze like Grimes, there are criti- Think of it as Your Personal take away concealed carry permits cal steps you can take to help avoid without even attempting to interpret becoming lost in a bureaucratic lab- Handgun-Ammo Dispenser the law correctly. yrinth. Ezell, a practicing attorney during • Know Your Rights. If you’re a STANDARD FEATURES: his rule as the lead administrator, lawyer, great. If not, retain someone • Automatic Indexing has also been a lawyer for the past who has worked in firearms law. This • Loading Rate: 400-500 Rounds/Hr. 37 years. According to his rating on is not the time to use your trusted • Comes Complete With Dies Avvo — a legal directory that pro- friend who did the closing on your vides the names and specialties on house 10 years ago. • Factory Adjusted, Ready-to-Use lawyers — the bulk of Ezell’s practice • File Any Appeals or Documen- • Lifetime “No-B.S.” Warranty is general practice, real-estate work tation on Time. If you miss a filing • RISK FREE 30-Day Trial Period! and divorce and separation. deadline, you might be sacrificing Working with licensing authorities your right to appeal. to get your concealed carry license • Get It in Writing. Government back after it has been revoked or workers very often know their job suspended is a lengthy, expensive well but are very reluctant to put an battle, because you, as the carrier, opinion or guidance in writing. Insist are trying to recapture a privilege, on it. If they refuse, make sure you in most instances, and not a guar- take great notes, document the time anteed right. The Indiana Code has and who else was present and then serious flaws in it, all of which work consider creating an affidavit so your NOTE: against anyone trying to regain his testimony has some weight. Pictured or her concealed weapons license. • Don’t Trust Anyone Who Tells here with For example, according to Indiana’s You Not to Bother Reapplying. available Code — Rule 35-47-4-5 — “A person Someone might tell you the evidence options. who knowingly or intentionally points seems to point toward you being re- a firearm at another person commits fused the return of your concealed a Class D felony.” Even if you’re being carry permit. Unless he or she is a attacked by a hoard of charging at- judge or the head of the regulatory tackers, you’ve committed a Class D body in charge of returning your li- felony. There is no leeway in the writ- cense, his or her opinion has no basis ten law for protecting yourself. in fact. Any professional who works as a judge or administrative master THE GAME PLAN will not give you an opinion of what If you have lost your license to car- will happen in court or at a hearing ry through a bureaucratic SNAFU or before it occurs. have been denied its reissuance af- • Know Your Rights and Don’t ter a court case, the actions needed Stop Fighting for Them. Make sure to recover it can be daunting. Even you consult with the proper type of at- if you’re successful, legal fees, court torney when in this sort of fight. The appearances and court fees will pile outcome will often hinge on it. up. Grimes, despite being found not guilty, has yet to get his license back. Many others face the same bureaucratic nightmare: finding the right person in the right agency to whom they must appeal. Even if that person is www.dillonprecision.com listed in the local government’s direc- FREE Catalog L87-14690, Call 800-762-3845

January | www.USCCA.com 85 OUT OF YOUR HANDS ■ One of the best parts of the American judicial system is that you’re guaranteed a trial before a jury of your peers. One of the drawbacks of the American justice system can be that you’re guaranteed a trial before a jury of your peers.

86 January | www.USCCA.com o, you carry a concealed firearm and are certain that you Swill use it only if it is absolutely necessary to protect your life or the lives of others. You also believe that, if you follow this rule, there will be few, if any, legal consequences. Well, the adage that applies in many other aspects of concealed carry training also applies here: “You’d better think twice.” A prosecutor, who pos- sesses almost absolute discretion under the law, might decide to go forward with a case, regardless of what you think. In fact, it’s not going to be about what you think or believe; it’s going to be about what a judge and jury think and believe.

LEARN THE LAW OUT OF As with most fundamental rights, concealed carry brings with it some awe- some responsibilities, not only to yourself but to your family — to whom you will YOUR be of no use if what you do leaves you incarcerated. The harsh reality is that, after you use a firearm, the matter is no longer in your hands. Now, this shouldn’t frighten you out of exercising your HANDS 2nd Amendment rights, but AFTER A SELF-DEFENSE SHOOTING, YOUR FATE IS it should absolutely serve as a cautious reminder that, OFTEN LEFT TO AN UNPREDICTABLE JUDGE AND JURY someday, someone might view your use of a firearm ❚ BY CLEMENT S. PATTI JR. differently than you do.

January | www.USCCA.com 87 THEY ALLEGED THE MEN WERE USING AND SELLING DRUGS AND INSTILLING FEAR IN THE BLOCK’S RESIDENTS. THE DEFENDANT AND HIS MOTHER HAD REPEATEDLY CALLED THE POLICE TO REPORT THE ISSUE, BUT RESPONDING OFFICERS USUALLY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. Were“ you to ever use a firearm in to learn the law; the “when” of defen- noteworthy for many reasons. While self-defense, your fate might very well sive firearm use is as important as the the laws differ from state to state and end up being decided by 12 strangers “how.” should so be studied, some basic prin- — OK, “peers,” if you wish. When that It cannot be stressed enough that ciples apply everywhere. The Valentin” jury hears your case, they’ll be sitting confrontation must be avoided when- case outlines some aspects of the law in the proverbial ivory tower, deciding ever possible. You don’t need to study concerning the justified use of a fire- your fate months later in the sterile the law to understand that a jury will arm in New York, which is one of the environment of a courtroom. They’ll want to hear that you did everything most restrictive states in the nation. be pondering the decision you had to you could to avoid a confrontation Jose Valentin, the defendant, was make within seconds for hours — or before it escalated into a shooting. If charged with — among other things — days — and they’ll be doing it all in a a jury thinks you were the instigator or murder in the second degree for fatally murky swamp of laws that they proba- initial aggressor, then the outcome will shooting Justin McWillis and shooting bly heard for the first time on the last probably not be what you were hoping one Edward Hogan in the arm. day of the trial. for. These three men knew each other. As tempting as it might be to throw Valentin and his mother had grown your hands up in disgust and forget THE VALENTIN CASE increasingly frustrated with McWillis the whole thing, there are several con- The case of People v. Valentin — and Hogan congregating around their crete actions we can take to best de- decided on March 30, 2017, by the house. They alleged the men were us- fend ourselves. Chief among them is New York State Court of Appeals — is ing and selling drugs and instilling fear

88 January | www.USCCA.com WHY WAIT FOR SUNDAY? ARMED AMERICAN RADIO NOW AIRS EVERYDAY!

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LISTEN LIVE DAILY from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (eastern time) as Mark Walters brings you Armed American Radio’s Daily Defense, a one-hour daily show dedicated to personal defense and your American freedoms. Find a radio station near you or listen live every day at www.armedamericanradio.com. NEW! Daily Defense Monday-Friday 4-5pm ET, 1-2pm PT in the block’s residents. The defendant his mother. McWillis then entered the dle] after I got shot; but when he hit and his mother had repeatedly called bodega. Hogan and Valentin followed him, the gun was already pulled out.” the police to report the issue, but re- him inside and Valentin and McWillis Hogan stated that the entire series of sponding officers usually advised that got into an argument, during which events took mere seconds. there was nothing they could do. McWillis grabbed a mop handle. Valentin was convicted of man- The night before the shooting, after According to Hogan, Valentin and slaughter in the first degree. the police informed Valentin they could McWillis continued to argue as they not arrest anyone because there was exited the bodega, and, as the defen- DEADLY PHYSICAL FORCE? no evidence of any criminal activity, dant was walking back toward his resi- Now, there are several legal princi- Valentin told an officer, “I know my 2nd dence and away from McWillis, McWil- ples at play here. To simplify, initially, Amendment rights to bear arms. If I lis put down the mop handle. Hogan a person cannot use deadly physical put a bullet to one of these kids’ heads, then saw McWillis pick up the mop force upon another person unless he you guys aren’t going to do s***. I don’t handle again and approach Valentin. reasonably believes that the other per- need the cops anymore.” He swung the mop handle at Valentin, son is using or about to use deadly The following day, Valentin left his who pulled a gun out of his open jacket physical force. Even in such a case, house and approached a nearby bo- and shot Hogan in his raised arm and however, the actor may not use dead- dega with a loaded firearm concealed then fatally shot McWillis, hitting him in ly physical force if he knows that he under his jacket. Hogan and McWillis the chest at close range. could avoid the necessity of so doing saw him from across the street. Ho- At times during Hogan’s testimony, by retreating with complete safety. gan approached Valentin and said, he indicated that Valentin took out the So, first order of business: Was Val- “Let me speak to you for a second,” to gun only after McWillis swung the mop entin defending himself from deadly which Valentin replied, “What do you handle. Several other times, however, physical force? While there are in- want, to get shot?” he described the actions as simulta- stances where a normally innocuous Hogan and the defendant then dis- neous. But, at one point, Hogan testi- item, such as a mop handle, could cussed the incident from the previous fied that, as Valentin “was pulling out, constitute deadly physical force, under evening, and Valentin complained Justin was swinging. I guess, well, you the circumstances in this case, the jury about the group of men disrespecting could say he hit him [with the mop han- reasonably could have concluded that the swinging mop handle did not constitute deadly physical force. Deadly physical force is defined as “physical force which, under the circumstances in which it is used, is readily capable of causing death or other serious physical injury.” That can include serious and protracted disfig- urement. Like a baseball bat swung at a person, which can certainly constitute deadly physical force, swinging a mop handle could easily fall within that definition. Since the jury convicted Valentin, they must have found that he was not justified in using his weapon against the business end of a mop handle, that it was not deadly physical force and/or that he was the initial aggressor, based in part upon his previous threats and actions. While the use of deadly physical force can be used preemptively in some circumstances, in self-defense situations, the issue of whether deadly physical force was being threatened or employed in the first place must initially be examined. Was the mop handle deadly physical force? It apparently was to Valentin, but, after he fired his weapon, 12 peo-

90 January | www.USCCA.com ple would scrutinize his employment of “reasonable person” standard refers LEARN THE LAW defensive deadly physical force. His to whether a reasonable person in the We need to study and understand fate was out of his hands. defendant’s position and knowing what the law not just despite it being murky the defendant knew at the time would and complicated but specifically be- INITIAL AGGRESSOR have acted in the same way. It doesn’t cause it’s murky and complicated. Next up for debate was whether Val- matter that the defendant might have Never, ever allow yourself to land in the entin was the initial aggressor, which been mistaken in his or her belief, pro- position of learning what the law is at was quite important. Were the jury to vided that such belief was honestly the same time the jury does. find that he was the initial aggressor, held and reasonable. So, was Valentin justified in his use of then he could not legally use deadly Odd as it might sound, the invisible deadly force? force in the first place. One could argue elephant in the room is that whether you Justified or not, by the time it got to a that Valentin was in no way the “initial acted reasonably is decided by wheth- jury, it was hardly his decision. aggressor” and, if he was, he retreated, er those 12 “peers” of yours believe that but a brief overview of initial aggressor you honestly believed what you claim to law is helpful here. have believed. Defendants are unable to claim self-defense if they were the “initial aggressor,” which means the person who first attacked or threatened to attack; that is to say, the first person who uses or threatens the imminent use of offen- sive physical force. The actual striking of the first blow or inflicting of the first wound, however, does not necessarily determine who was the initial aggressor. A person who reasonably believes that another is about to use deadly physical force against him need not wait until he is struck or wounded. He may, under such circumstances, be the first to use deadly physical force so long as he reasonably believed it was about to be used on him. He is then not considered to be the initial aggressor under those circumstances, even though he strikes the first blow or inflicts the first wound. Remember though: Arguing or abusive language unaccompanied by ND A THE ALL NEW O R physical threats or acts does not justify B M physical force. S T The bottom line here is that, like E Valentin, you most certainly would not X A N want to have a jury decide whether you TEXAN were the initial aggressor. If they decide that you were, you won’t like any of what comes next.

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January | www.USCCA.com 91 HE DIDN’T ALWAYS HIT ME. HE PUNCHED WALLS, SCREAMED AND THREW THINGS. HE HIT AND KICKED THE DOG. HE WAS “AGGRESSIVE WITH THE KIDS; SPANKINGS WERE ALWAYS WAY OVERBOARD. I TRIED TO FIGHT BACK, BUT HE’D HOLD ME DOWN, LEAN AGAINST MY CAR SO I COULDN’T DRIVE. I KEPT THESE THINGS SECRET.”— Beth Vaughn, survivor

92 January | www.USCCA.com VICTIM NO MORE HOW ONE WOMAN CHOSE TO TAKE HER LIFE BACK ❚ BY RICK SAPP

January | www.USCCA.com 93 stairs/off the patio.” Responding police officers are likely to hear, “I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have called you, officer. It was my fault. I don’t want to press charges.” The cycle of violence includes tears, apologies from the abuser and repeated attacks until hospitalization.1 Unless the cycle is interrupted, the victim’s final destination is a morgue. The abuser might end up in prison, but, by that time, the damage is done.

NO SAFE PLACE Domestic violence doesn’t always begin with shouting and culminate in a brutal beating, much less a shooting. Generally, abuse is more subtle and more persistent. It is often conducted with intermittent spikes of rage and fear: rage and fear similar to the dozen years of torment Beth Vaughn and her children experienced. Today, Beth describes herself as am- bitious, strong, confident, dedicated. At her job, she is reliable and motivated. Still, she has doubted, struggled with these traits — especially self-confidence. That, too, is part of the domestic abuse cycle: destroy your partner’s confidence and hold her emotionally captive. Make her believe she is help- less, dependent, even stupid. In 2002, at age 16, Beth officially became a statistic: She became an unmarried teenage mother. The kind of Vaughn, pictured, ■ person one might expect to have little is one of the fortunate survivors of domestic future beyond fast-food service. Her violence who was able son’s father, who won’t be named here, to reclaim her life. also a teen, was so busy cultivating his “bad boy” image that he couldn’t bother with the struggle of marriage or the omestic violence — spousal, Women Act” passed in 1994, rates of responsibility of changing diapers or partner, family abuse — is noth- domestic violence have fallen by two- working a steady job. Ding new. Following the Trojan thirds. Nevertheless, nearly three wom- Beth’s friends turned their backs on War 3,000 years ago, a Greek Queen en a day are killed in domestic inci- the pregnant high-school student. They named Clytemnestra enticed her lover dents on average. Nearly half of those pointed, laughed, made fun and called to murder her husband, the dynamic killed are shot. her “horrible names.” She became the but fatally flawed Agamemnon, and his Murder is rarely the ultimate act in central topic of gossip in her rural Wis- Trojan “war prize” concubine Cassan- a cycle of domestic violence. Usually, consin community. People whispered, dra. And, of course, we remember the abuse unfolds by stages: name-calling saying she would never graduate from incident from the Christian Bible when and shouting, rage, resistance, battery, high school, never go to college or hold “Cain rose against Abel, his brother, calls to police and outward lies in an at- a job; she’d live the rest of her life on and killed him.” tempt to mask the escalating assaults. welfare. Nearly half of the 1,600 women mur- Abuse victims tell countless stories “I just shut those people out and dered in the U.S. each year are killed to hide their shame and attempt to worked harder than I thought I could to by husbands or romantic partners. avoid retribution. You’ve likely heard get through it all,” Beth said. Since the original “Violence Against lines like, “I fell in the tub/down the She survived with the support of her

94 January | www.USCCA.com family and an inner — though still hid- when she met them. He checked her officer working in the local county jail, den — strength of character. With no phone for suspicious numbers. He dat- where she had interned as a student. support from her child’s father, she ed other women, and then lied about It was a good job and Beth loved the worked part-time jobs, often two at a doing so. He sent texts to monitor her responsibilities. While the clanging of time, cared for her infant son and grad- whereabouts and activities. When she steel locks, the screech of iron gates uated from high school. Still, she stuck complained, he blamed her. He said and occasional alarms would make by her man, despite the continuous everything he did was for her and the many people uncomfortable, Beth, an turmoil that included long periods of kids. If there was a problem, it was her inveterate “tomboy” as she was grow- “name calling, ugly slanders and horri- fault; she was not trustworthy; she was ing up, felt right at home in the uniform. ble fights behind closed doors.” a liar, a cheater; she was a “bitch” and No firearms were permitted inside the Why did Beth stay with such a man? she had better “suck it up.” jail, but she was trained and certified Why does any woman stay in an abu- In 2012, she married him. in the deployment of a Taser and could sive relationship? In a sense, psy- The marriage ceremony was a disas- use pepper spray if an inmate became chologists say, women become brain- ter, a humiliation for the 5-foot 9-inch unruly. washed. Their identity is unexpectedly blonde. Her blue eyes should have Despite benefiting from the securi- assaulted and they, themselves, are sparkled, but after the couple repeated ty, the salary, the paid time off and the blamed: “It’s your fault. You asked for their vows, the new husband sulked, health and retirement benefits of his it.” The victim is shamed, sometimes pulled her chair out from under her, wife’s new job, Beth’s husband grew battered into silence, and just when fell down drunk, vomited in the car unhappier by the day. There was talk of she can take no more, the abuser offers and collapsed on the toilet. The bride a divorce, which inevitably led to fights a small, seemingly random kindness, cleaned up the mess and thought, “To and a deteriorating relationship. Beth even a tearful apology. Relieved, the hell with this.” After all, she had put her- was forced to make a choice: Stay and victim accepts her “guilt,” confesses self through college, earning an Asso- die or take the children and run. her “mistakes,” pleads for forgiveness ciate of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice/ and denounces anyone who might Corrections from Moraine Park Techni- TIME TO GO help her. cal College just two years earlier. Her Beth was certainly not blind to her character was beginning to emerge, husband’s faults, but she was unwill- ‘HE DIDN’T ALWAYS HIT ME’ but still … she stayed. ing to admit he would never change, Things escalated, and when her Meanwhile, his rage deepened. that he would never grow up and out of child’s father would smash holes in Physical struggles. Household goods his teen angst to become the trusting walls or cram something down a gas smashed. Erratic driving with his wife companion that she wanted and that tank, Beth called the sheriff’s depart- and children in the car. He threatened her children needed. So, she clung to ment. But in small towns, everybody to kill himself, shouted that he would the hope that he would change, but knows everybody. Nobody makes “kill all of us.” the man just couldn’t … or wouldn’t. In waves. Eventually, she landed what she the end, it took two violent episodes for “The cops would show up and he called her dream job as a corrections Beth to become fully awakened. would go to Juvenile Detention, but it never mattered,” said Beth. He swore he’d change and people, even Beth, believed him. He was known for attempting to disarm officers when they’d arrive, or run or want to fight, but it never mattered. People said, “Oh, that’s just his anger.” One evening, when she felt she could take it no more, Beth told him to get out. “You don’t know who you’re f*#@ing with!” he screamed before he left. Then he came back. And Beth let him in. Arguments turned to fights and the fights to brawls. Still, she said, “We stayed together and when I was 21, we had a daughter.” With additional family responsibilities, the relationship, rarely pleasant, truly became toxic. He monitored her friends and lurked in the background

MagazineAd-4x3.indd 1 January | www.USCCA.com10/3/2016 4:36:08 95 PM ■ Vaughn is a USCCA-certified firearms instructor and training counselor.

One night, her husband picked a fight she was forced to re-file. The police also but nothing came of it and it only made in a bar and the situation should have filed paperwork, but the charges were him mad. ended there, but it didn’t. At home, his dropped and soon expunged from her “He plastered comments about me all fury intensified. He grabbed a .357 re- husband’s record. over social media,” Beth said. “He did volver from the top of a kitchen cabinet Unable to afford an attorney, Beth everything he could to destroy me.” and told her he was going back to the studied state statutes. On her own, she bar to kill the guy with whom he had filed for the divorce. That’s when the real HELP IS ON THE WAY fought. Beth tried reason, then wrestled harassment began. Anonymous calls to According to the Centers for Disease him for the gun. The two bashed into her supervisors at the jail. Threatening Control, more than five million American walls, hit counter tops and eventually he texts. Nails scattered in her driveway. Fi- women (and three million men) suffer “in- threw her to the floor, cursing, biting and nally, perhaps tiring of the family drama, timate partner-related physical assaults kicking. He never did make good on his the continuous work interruptions and and rapes” every year. Many individuals threat to kill the bar-room antagonist, but the “he said, she said” hassles caused are abused and assaulted repeatedly, Beth gave up. Whatever happened next by an abusive partner, the county sher- year after year — some report the mis- was out of her control. iff’s office dismissed her. In a supreme treatment; many do not. Figures cited Beth desperately wanted a divorce, irony, one of the reasons the department by any agency are, at best, an informed but wherever she went, he called, ap- gave for her termination was that Beth guess, but it is appropriate to surmise peared out of nowhere or drove slowly lied on her job application by claiming that everyone reading this story knows through the parking lot looking for her. It that she had never been abused. It was several women who have been bashed, was frightening. a dishonorable blow to the mother of humiliated and demeaned. Then, he called and shouted into the two small children who had put herself “The system” turned a deaf ear to phone, “I want you to hear this!” A gun- through school working two and some- Beth’s needs, as well as her children’s. shot followed, then silence. Beth dialed times three jobs, a working mother who Friends said, “Boys will be boys.” The 911. He had not, in fact, shot himself owed a small mountain of student debt. police advised patience, understanding, and was eventually located alive and Her abusive partner ignored the re- counseling. Prosecutors declined to ex- well. The cops urged Beth to file for a restraining order. Following one particu- ercise the power of their office to protect straining order, which she did. The court larly threatening text, he was cited for her. Less than useless, the restraining promptly misplaced her paperwork and “Misuse of an Internet Device,” a felony, order offered no protection for Beth or

96 January | www.USCCA.com her children. Even heralded programs I’m ready to teach others to do what they ENDNOTES for women turned her away; they didn’t can to change their situations or defend (1) Women who are physically assault- have the resources, they said, or — pri- themselves if they need to.” ed receive an average of 6.9 physical or to her dismissal from her job at the “Never again,” Beth says, and coun- assaults by the same partner every year. jail — she “made too much money.” No sels other women similarly: “I tell wom- (The Violence Against Women Act of help was readily available, even when en they deserve respect and I’m here 2005, Summary of Provisions, National she was unemployed and one step from to offer them support — not push them Network to End Domestic Violence.) living out of a bag on the street. But she necessarily but help them come to terms persevered, refused to give up and con- with their story, their life.” tinued to fight to build a life for her chil- Hers is a story every woman ought to dren. hear. Yet, unfortunately — ironically — Beth and her children have emerged too many women already know the inti- from the black hole of brutality, but it mate details. took courage and action. A portion of her salvation was finding an opportunity to be of service to other battered women. This chance came through the USCCA, where she took a job as fulfillment team lead and worked herself into an additional role as a brand ambassador through her single-minded determination to never again be a victim of violence — domestic or otherwise. “I’m not a victim any longer,” she said. “I’m my own person. I can protect myself and my family. That realization push- es me to become a better mom, better self-defense instructor and responsibly armed American. I’m not a victim. I’m a survivor and I’m strong.” In addition to her duties in the Fulfill- ment Center, Beth worked hard to become a USCCA-certified instructor and then a training counselor. Through the NRA, she also became a certified firearms instructor for Basic Pistol and for Personal Protection Inside (and Outside) the Home. Beth’s insights have expanded along- side her self-confidence. She speaks authoritatively on behalf of victims. She remembers the voices of skepticism, the voices that told her she would never amount to anything. She remembers those voices, but today she is alert and focused. She uses that focus to help and connect with others through shared experience. She also uses that focus to maintain a sense of readiness. Her carry pistol is a Taurus PT111 Gen2 9mm or, depending on weather and attire, a Smith & Wesson .380. But could she use either if she were threatened, beaten or found her children being abused? “I’m a strong person,” Beth said. “I know that now, but I hope I never have to use my gun to protect myself or my kids. But I know I could if I had to and

January | www.USCCA.com 97 98 January | www.USCCA.com MBC’S MASTER TECHNIQUE AS A SKILL SET FOUNDATION ❚ BY MICHAEL JANICH The Bedrock

January | www.USCCA.com 99 hen it comes to combative skill to achieve rapid stopping power. All of effective — even with a small knife — building, the most useful skills these elements then form the common and is surprisingly easy to execute be- W are those that not only provide ground for other MBC tactics and de- cause the attacker literally extends the critical functionality but also serve as a fenses against other types of attacks. preferred target toward you. foundation for learning other worthwhile Let’s take a look at the details of MBC’s skill sets. For example, if you think about master technique and the deeper levels BACKHAND CUT the act of loading a semiautomatic pistol of learning associated with each of its If your initial cut had the desired ef- — meaning inserting a charged maga- component movements. fect and you succeeded in disarming zine and chambering a round — the the attacker, you are no longer justified patterns of movement and mechanical FOREHAND CUT in using your knife (unless your attack- principles involved also form the basis Faced with an attacker armed with a er can re-establish himself as a poten- of reloading and malfunction-clearance short contact-distance weapon, like a tially lethal threat). If he did not drop his skills. This “master technique” approach tire iron, hammer or knife, you should weapon, the power of his swing prob- also allows novice students to continu- first assume a well-balanced guard po- ably caused his arm to follow through ally relate “new” skills to things they sition, with the knife in your dominant across his body, so you are looking at already know, speeding the learning hand (here described as right) and the back of his right triceps — the back process and keeping them from being your strong-side foot forward. When the of his upper arm. The followthrough overwhelmed. attacker swings his weapon at the left of your cut should also have caused In the Martial Blade Concepts (MBC) side of your head (an “Angle 1” attack), you to cross your body, so you are system of knife self-defense, the first your first action should be to evade the now chambered for a backhand strike. complete combative application stu- strike by shuffling backward slightly and Turning your hips and shoulders pow- dents learn is actually called the “master leaning back. As you do this, simulta- erfully to your right, execute a back- technique.” Taught as a defense against neously execute a forehand cut to the hand cut across the middle of his tri- the most common type of contact-weap- inside of his wrist or forearm with your ceps, as perpendicular as possible to on attack (a right-handed forehand knife. The flexor muscles of the inner the upper arm. This cut can potentially attack to the head or neck), it instills forearm and the flexor tendons sever the muscle, which is responsible proper body movement, cutting me- in the wrist are the physiological for extending the elbow joint. Without chanics, timing, distance appreciation structures that enable him to grip that function, the attacker can no lon- and the correct anatomical targeting his weapon, and by cutting the ger wield his weapon effectively. How- muscles deeply enough or, even ever, to make sure you’re safe, contin- better, severing the tendons ue to rotate your hips and shoulders, that connect those muscles to step forward with your left foot, and his fingers, you can instantly check the back of the attacker’s right destroy his grip and ideally arm with your left hand or the back of disarm him with a single your left forearm. The power generated cut. This tactic, known by the simultaneous step and check in the Filipino Martial will typically drive the attacker’s arm Arts as “defanging the away from you and buy additional time snake,” is extremely for you to execute the finishing cut.

■ Though true “tire irons” may not be nearly as common as they once were, attacks mounted with blunt objects from the high-right side are still one of the most common and violent encountered worldwide.

100 January | www.USCCA.com ■ These techniques are about stopping the threat, be it by “defanging the snake” or by creating distance between you and your (hopefully) “defanged” attacker.

COMMA CUT your chances of severing the muscle initial evasion of the technique allows With your knife hand once again completely and avoiding the keys, coins, you to judge distance and your attack- chambered on the right side of your wallets and other pocket contents that er’s reach while developing simple but body and your left foot forward, you are might minimize the effects of your cut if extremely effective footwork. Finally, the in a natural athletic stance for a powerful you had aimed higher on the leg. motions of the master technique teach comma cut thrust-and-cut tactic to the you to target the anatomical structures quadriceps muscle at the front of your FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES that will produce rapid, reliable stopping attacker’s thigh. For best results, target Done properly, this sequence of power with a knife. the inner portion of the right thigh by ro- movements can disable the entire right MBC’s master technique is more than THE COMMA CUT MIGHT ALSO SEVER THE FEMORAL NERVE, WHICH ALLOWS THE BRAIN TO CONTROL THE FUNCTIONS OF THE LEG, AND POSSIBLY THE FEMORAL ARTERY. tating your hips and shoulders to your side of your attacker’s body in just just a defense against a common attack; left and“ thrusting with a powerful fore- over a second. The master technique’s it’s the foundation of learning and under- hand motion. Aim for a spot on the in- powerful forehand/backhand/forehand standing the entire system and its core side of the leg about 4 to 6 inches above sequence also teaches you the body principles. ” the knee. The power from this thrust mechanics necessary to cut with devas- should easily allow your blade to pene- tating power, even with a small knife. The trate to its full length. With the blade still buried in the flesh, bring your right elbow toward your ribs so your hand turns from a palm-down attitude to a palm-up attitude. This motion will rotate the blade and orient its edge against the large fe- mur bone of the thigh. Continue to rotate your hips and shoulders to your left as you execute a forehand cut across the lower portion of the quadriceps muscle. The quadriceps muscle is responsible for extending the knee joint. Severing it just above the knee instantly destroys the leg’s ability to support weight and will typically drop your attacker with an instant “mobility kill.” Targeting the leg with the comma cut tactic might also sever the femoral nerve, which allows the brain to control the functions of the leg, and possibly the femoral artery. By focusing on the area just above the knee, where the muscle is narrowest, you increase

January | www.USCCA.com 101 POLICE AND THE LAWFULLY ARMED CITIZEN TIPS FOR A SMOOTH AND SAFE INTERACTION ❚ BY GREGORY J. CONNOR AND DOUGLAS MITCHELL

102 January | www.USCCA.com ■ Anyone who ventures out of the house can end up in f you’re reading this article, you’re almost cer- contact with a law enforcement officer, and knowing tainly one of the many decent people who’ve how to handle such a situation is an important decided to live lawfully armed. You probably un- aspect of the responsibly armed lifestyle. I derstand that the firearm itself is only a small part of that concept, and that knowledge and training are critical to truly protecting yourself and your loved ones. To do so as effectively as possible, you must thoroughly understand the legal consid- erations and complications that can accompany going about armed, specifically those surrounding interactions with law enforcement officers. This will provide a sound foundation for your educational efforts, but it’s only a starting point. As a realistic matter, it must be general, because CCM readers live in all 50 states (and even outside of them) and all of those states and commonwealths are different legal and social environments. Al- though limited to interactions occurring while operating a vehicle, many of the principles can be applied in other settings.

THE OFFICER IS IN CHARGE There’s an old adage that says, “If it’s predict- able, it’s preventable,” and the wisdom of this observation couldn’t be more applicable than in the context of a peace officer stopping an individual who is operating an automobile while legally armed. Depending upon the actions of those engaged, the outcome could be catastrophic or in- consequential. The best way to avert tragedy is by making sure to always act within a pattern of avoidance. Obvi- ously, following the traffic laws and maintaining the vehicles you operate are key elements in generally avoiding law enforcement contacts, but since you’re (probably) normal, the statistics support the premise that one will occur sooner or later. Such a stop will inherently include what law enforcement calls a “special circumstance”… namely the fact that the officer is not the only one with a sidearm. Like it or not, we all live in a time when fear might predominate our personal and professional lives. Some of this fear is rationally based; some of it is based on folklore and ignorance. Peace officers have come to perceive themselves to be more vulnerable not only because there are plenty of individuals who will attack them simply by virtue of who they are but also because of the disinformation being disseminated by pressure groups and recklessly repeated in many media outlets. This can potentially increase your risks, but, fortunately, you and your behavior are the most significant factors in protecting yourself against a negative perception among law enforcement personnel.

January | www.USCCA.com 103 Most of us can recall how nervous Law enforcement officers do not your ID should be done in a man- we were when we first got pulled have the luxury of believing that just ner such that it is no closer to your over by the police, and some can because they work in a “nice area” sidearm than absolutely necessary. even recall the bizarre things they or because you are well-dressed Go out of your way to make sure any said or did. Nothing about that is and polite, you’re incapable of act- family members who might travel in unusual, and such statements are ing in an anti-social manner. You the car with you understand and live typical responses to the stress of know that you are among the most by those same rules. the situation. But now the conditions wonderful, law-abiding citizens, 3. Like everything else in life, have become much more compli- but the officer probably does not. If communication is critical. cated, in part because you’ve de- you act in a manner consistent with What you do communicates much cided to go about lawfully armed. being a threat, no matter how inno- more than what you say, and that The dynamics and everything at cently you do it, you will be treated non-verbal conversation begins stake for all parties mandate that we as such until you are under com- long before the verbal one. Trust us: must all make a serious investment plete control. The officer was watching you for far in prevention. longer than you probably realized. Understand that the law is clear 9 REALITIES The event will include more than his that the officer is in charge: “The We have a few suggestions that individual perceptions; it will also risk of harm to both the police and might help reduce the risks to both include those of his partner if he the occupants is minimized if the you and the officer: has one, other officers or even other officers routinely exercise unques- 1. If you do not prepare prior to agencies, depending on the nature tioned command of the situation.”1 an interaction with law enforce- of the interaction. Subsequent cases have reinforced ment, you’re way behind. 4. Keep in mind that the officer this rule and applied it to many set- You might or might not know why might know more than you think tings. They tell you what to do, how you are being stopped. You might if he follows proper protocol and to do it and, most importantly, when have decided to speed, disregard- has already given dispatch your to do it. They decide when and ed a stop sign, had some form of license plate number. where to stop you, and they get to defective equipment or perhaps you The information he gets back be- control every step of the interaction. or your vehicle might be perceived fore he initiates the stop should in- Both authors of this piece have by an officer as related to a crim- clude your address, driver’s license stopped many people and pointed inal act. Regardless of the cause, information and other provisional in- guns at them, both in and out of the effect is the “enforcement en- formation, perhaps even your status vehicles. No one got hurt, because counter,” which is a fancy term for as a concealed carry licensee. Oth- those people did exactly what they you interacting with an on-the-clock er protocols might make you very were told to do (or not do). In short, cop, deputy or trooper. Statistically uncomfortable, but they are neces- you don’t have any lawful discretion speaking, it isn’t a matter of “if” but sary for maximized officer safety. He as far as your conduct goes. If you rather “when” you’ll find yourself in will almost certainly talk to you from do not agree with what happens, such a situation. a position that is well behind you, so your possible remedies are in the 2. You must be the one thinking that it is harder for you to see (and agency’s complaint process and the preventively. thus attack) him. Don’t take offense; court system, period. The officer’s mindset or expecta- he should do everything correctly tions might be impacted by condi- every time he interacts with anyone. THE OFFICER DOESN’T KNOW tions you did not create and about 5. People see what they expect YOU which you know nothing, but you to see, so, once again, think pre- You must also understand that, are now the focus of the action. ventatively. at its core, law enforcement is full You must do everything you can to The officer might not have ob- of interactions with people who are minimize even the appearance of served or analyzed accurately, so not like you and whose very nature a threat. Make sure that your carry remove all doubt and ask before do- is hard for decent people to accept. method is a holstered sidearm, car- ing anything. Assume nothing and Law enforcement officers, along ried on your body. Don’t have any- keep safety your top priority — both with some other professions, see thing that is not critical in the same yours and the officer’s. Keep your a lot of behavior foreign to decent area as your registration and proof hands on the steering wheel until people, ranging from odd to truly in- of insurance. Keep the material you are told to retrieve your regis- sane, from unpleasant to truly vile. organized, and under no circum- tration, insurance or anything else. This impacts their worldview, and stance should you have a firearm in 6. When the time feels right, they must be willing to believe that that area. (Think “glove box” if you consider informing the officer that everyone with whom they have con- haven’t already.) Doing so is certain you are lawfully armed. tact is capable of acting in violent, to create a very unpleasant expe- We understand that doing so unpredictable ways. rience for all. If possible, carrying might generate responses you don’t

104 January | www.USCCA.com like, but, as training and officer so- es in which a different conclusion vary from agency to agency, shift to cialization improve, the conflicts has been reached, and both are shift and officer to officer, so expect should decrease. Some states man- being appealed. Regardless of your the unexpected. Atop that, bear in date informing an officer you are opinion on the matter, whether it is a mind that the officer who’s speaking carrying, and, as such, the burden wise idea for an officer to handle a to you might have a backup officer, will be on you to understand and strange firearm is up to him. and that backup officer might be an follow that law if it exists. Consid- 8. Now more than ever, do what additional barrier to effective com- er how you phrase the information. the officer says when he tells you munication. If you feel you are under “I’m lawfully carrying,” conveys a to. pressure, understand it’s a feeling very different mental image than, Just as importantly, advise him of shared by all involved. “I’ve got a gun.” This isn’t a game; your intended actions in advance there are no winners, only potential and await his permission. As de- SAFELY ON YOUR WAY losers. tailed above, you do not have a vote We both share the same goal: 7. Understand that a traffic stop in the matter, and the law and good your protection. Help us serve you is legally considered a “Terry” en- sense necessitate this. Don’t do more safely and securely. An ounce counter, and just as with any oth- foolish things like open your door or of prevention is just another way you er “Terry” stop, the officer has the try to get out of the car unless you’re can support those who’ve sworn to unquestioned right to disarm you. told to, or the response you will cre- serve and protect, and it goes a Terry v. Ohio is a 1968 Supreme ate is going to be, at best, very un- long way in making our interactions Court ruling that allows a law en- pleasant. smoother and safer. forcement officer to search you if he 9. When an officer asks to see can articulate a reasonable suspi- certain documents, tell him where ENDNOTES cion that you are committing, have they are and ask how and when (1) Michigan v. Summers, 452 committed or are about to commit he’d desire you to produce them. U.S. 692, 702-703 (1981). a crime. The case law on the issue It might seem odd or robotic to is almost completely uniform across do so, but it’s a rational fit for the the country; there are only two cas- occasion. Remember tactics might

January | www.USCCA.com 105 THE FOLLY OF HANDGUN DEPENDENCY GOING FOR YOURS TO FIND YOU DON’T HAVE ONE ❚ BY MICHAEL LETTERMAN

106 January | www.USCCA.com s a proponent of the concealed carry of handguns, I almost al- Aways have one on my physical person. Sometimes, I carry concealed and sometimes I carry openly, but I generally choose the correct weapon for the duration of time that I will be out and the possible threats I might encounter. Occasionally, I make my choice based on comfort, my likely surroundings and the type of clothing I’m wearing. However, like many people, there are times when I’ve become lackadaisical or just plain lazy, as my father would have said. I have, on occasion, left my weapon in the car to quickly run into a store and back out again.

BUSINESS TRIP This was the case about seven years ago when I’d traveled to a large southern city to close a deal to provide enhanced security services for a large multi-state pipe- line project in the western United States. I left home early in the morning after kissing my bride of just a few months goodbye. It was one of those mornings where it just felt good to be alive; the air was crisp, clear and just cool enough to feel exhilarating. I reached the outskirts of the city after about four hours of solid driving, and my stomach started to remind me that I hadn’t eaten breakfast. Knowing the area in this particular city fairly well, I pulled into a fast-food restaurant for a short break. I was tired from the ■ One of the harshest drive and foolishly left my handgun realities of the armed in the car. After eating, I answered lifestyle is that, as soon nature’s call and, as I opened the as you acknowledge that you should always door to exit the stall in the men’s be carrying a sidearm, room to wash my hands, I was that means you never faced with an attacker holding a have any excuse to not slender, long-bladed knife that had do so whenever legal. obviously seen much use.

January | www.USCCA.com 107 HOWEVER, LIKE MANY PEOPLE, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I’VE BECOME LACKADAISICAL OR“ JUST PLAIN LAZY, AS MY FATHER WOULD HAVE SAID. I HAVE, ON OCCASION, LEFT MY WEAPON IN THE CAR TO QUICKLY RUN INTO A STORE AND BACK OUT AGAIN.

‘NO DINERO’ We were at close proximity to each other and my heart dropped” when I remembered my 9mm pistol comfortably nestled in the console of my vehicle. I also began to wonder whether, if I’d had my handgun, I would be able to deploy it quickly enough to avoid 5 inches of steel being inserted into my gut. I’d faced situations similar to this — and much worse — in my early 20s, and I knew this young man meant business. I also knew I was at a dis- advantage. In a past life, I would have had my dear Ka-Bar upside down on the left side of my harness, where I could snatch and deploy it at a moment’s notice. “Dinero,” he said, and then, in broken English, “Money!” That was an unfortunate request, as I almost never carry cash. I depend on my debit card or, in an emergency, my credit card. I can stop payment on either of those very quickly and save myself and the bank money in the process. “No dinero,” I said and shook my head no. It wasn’t the answer he wanted. The words of my former hand-to- hand combat trainer from 29 years ago came back to me before the attacker moved with the knife. “Make up your mind that you are going to get cut,” my trainer had said. “Better on the arm or other extremity rather than having a knife sticking out of your belly. You are going to be cut!”

108 January | www.USCCA.com FIGHT’S ON Having and depending on a firearm tacker, and should your weapon fail or My attacker thrust the knife toward for defense should not replace common you find you’re without it, you will need my body with amazing speed. As he sense, keen observation and simple to figure out another plan … and fast. was now extended forward, his center empty-hand techniques. of gravity was disturbed. Your oppo- The whole point of self-defense is to nent, unless trained to quickly recover either aid in your retreat or stop your at- from an attack, is seldom more open to attack than when recovering from one of his own. In short, pushing his body and the knife forward, he was now off Large front sight balance. I diverted the stab with my left increases speed hand, sliding down his arm, as I had been taught, allowing the knife to cut of front sight the top of my lower right forearm. FRONT acquisition. Still diverting his arm, I had already pivoted my body into a “cat stance,” or REAR V-notch rear neko ashi dachi, as it is called in many martial arts disciplines. The cat stance covers the places most of your weight on your rear least amount foot and only a little on the ball of the front foot, allowing the front foot to eas- of the target, ily be deployed. In this case, the pivot Use US10 encouraging the and the stance now placed me facing shooter to focus my attacker’s right side, with a little for 10% off more distance between my torso and your next purchase on the front sight. the knife. I reached over the top of my left arm xssights.com with my right, sliding down the man’s arm again and locking his wrist and hand, which still held the knife. My left arm was now free, and I turned the attacker’s right arm clockwise to fully expose his right elbow. My left arm turned into a middle block, and I used my forearm to strike through his exposed elbow while pulling backward on his right wrist with my right hand. There was a sick- ening crackle and cries of pain as the lower humerus, radius and ulna bones snapped and tendons tore. The knife fell to the floor, my blood staining the blade. I assisted his forward movement by tossing him into the stall from whence I came. The fight was over, but the lesson remained.

LESSON LEARNED On this morning, I violated several rules of my training. Principally, I’d become complacent and left my firearm in the car and, atop that, I wasn’t ob- servant or attuned to my surroundings. Even worse, I’d become too dependent on my firearm for self-defense, even at the expense of other self-defense techniques. I still have that scar (among the others) to remind me of that compla- cency.

January | www.USCCA.com 109 TRUE TO WORD CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE WANTS TO HEAR YOUR SELF-DEFENSE STORIES ❚ BY ED COMBS

110 January | www.USCCA.com WE WANT TO LET EVERYONE ELSE WHO’S BEEN FORCED TO FIGHT FOR HIS OR HER LIFE KNOW THAT HE OR SHE IS NOT ALONE AND THAT WE’RE NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH THE HATCHET-JOBS, THE INTENTIONAL MISQUOTING, THE AMBUSHES OR THE MEDIA DISHONESTY ANYMORE. “ew are as satisfying to us here on her story; as mentioned above, the who fight back with righteous vio- the editorial staff as our January mainstream media’s seen to that. Far lence. We here at the United States F“True Stories” issues. They allow too many times has the honest pri- Concealed Carry Association are us to bring to you, our readers, the vate citizen — who, mind you, only taking the lead in offering” Americans essence of what we’re about here shot after a violent predator set upon who’ve been left with no choice but at the USCCA: good guys winning him in a murderous attack — been to draw and fire with a trusted con- out when the bad guys come to call. set up, entrapped, intentionally hu- fidante — a publication that will not Some stories end happier than oth- miliated or ambushed by a news me- only treat them fairly but will champi- ers; some end with no shots fired, dia that not only couldn’t care less on their cause. We here at CCM not some end with a threat that’s been about his well-being but wished him only want to hear from you, we want successfully stopped and some nothing but harm. to help you. We want to tell your story. stories end almost as tragically as We here at the USCCA and Con- We want to show you how many mil- they would have had the responsibly cealed Carry Magazine intend to lions of your fellow responsible gun armed American forgotten to be car- change that dynamic. owners have your back. We want to rying at all that day. We strive to serve as the voice of let everyone else who’s been forced Though it is easily the most sat- the responsibly armed American to fight for his or her life know that isfying issue, it is also the most lo- however we can and, in that spirit, he or she is not alone and that we’re gistically challenging. After decades we’re asking you, our members and not going to put up with the hatch- of victimization by the mainstream readers, to step out of the shadows. et-jobs, the intentional misquoting, media, most responsible citizens We’re asking that you contact us the ambushes or the media dishon- who’ve been forced to shoot in through our editorial email account esty anymore. self-defense understand that the last — [email protected] I understand how much this asks thing they need to do is talk to any- — or through our West Bend-based of an individual who’s already had to one about the experience, let alone call center — (877) 677-1919 — and put up with an awful lot, and I’ll admit a reporter from a news organization share your stories of survival with us. right up front that we won’t be able to who blatantly forwards an anti-gun, Again, I understand your hesi- tell every story. But I also ask that if anti-self-defense agenda. These tance. As a former law enforcement you are able to help us in our quest heroes intelligently elect to keep to officer, I understand that, after any to champion the rights of the respon- themselves, to take a hard pass on use of force, you’re not talking to any- sibly armed American, you drop us any invitations to interviews or panels one your attorney doesn’t explicitly a line and see what we can accom- and do everything they can to try to tell you to talk to. I understand that, plish together. return to normality that, unfortunate- as soon as you see a hand record- Stay alert, stay focused and stay ly, seems less and less likely to ever er, microphone or notepad, it’s time safe, grace their homes again. to shoot an azimuth in the opposite Ed Combs This is our second “True Stories” direction in the interest of self-pres- Associate Editor issue, and I’m as proud of this one as ervation. I understand all of that. I am of the last. It was, however, just But I ask that you peruse this is- as difficult to assemble as last year’s, sue, as well as our issue from Janu- and, on that front, we’re looking for ary 2017, and reconsider. your help. We, as the responsibly armed We understand just how hesitant citizens of this nation, finally have anyone who’s been forced to shoot a voice that is interested in and cain self-defense would be to tell his or pable of sharing the stories of those

January | www.USCCA.com 111 INSTRUCTOR’S CORNER by George Harris

WHAT’S YOUR OBJECTIVE? OBJECTIVE- BASED TRAINING ■ FOR MANY YEARS, conventional firearms training has been doctrine-based, in that teaching a person to shoot — regardless of whether he or she was learning to shoot competitively, for personal defense, to hunt, to plink in the backyard or otherwise — took the same path. Entry level, intermediate and advanced training usually involved showering the student with such a large variety of techniques and absolutes as to push him or her into information overload, which inhibits retention and performance.

The theory was that no matter how niques that would lead to success. quire and retain knowledge revealed much information is thrown at a student, Fortunately, there were a few for- that the “throw the whole kitchen at some of it is bound to stick. With repeti- ward-thinking individuals in the train- the student and they’re bound to catch tion — more of the same on a frequent ing world who dared to step outside of some of it” method didn’t work nearly as basis — students would eventually get the realm of convention. These trainers well as originally thought. In fact, com- better ... hundreds or even thousands of knew there must be better ways of coax- prehensive studies had been done in rounds later. ing performance out of students in a the academic world on the subject of Invariably, some would improve and shorter period of time than with the, “I adult learning, which suggested that, others would give up in frustration be- talk, you listen” and, “Do this, don’t do under ideal conditions, five to seven cause they weren’t fortunate enough to that” method of teaching shooting skills. bits of information was at the upper lim- absorb the essential ideas and tech- Actually studying how humans ac- it of cognitive processing for the aver-

112 January | www.USCCA.com These discoveries caused a lot of in- usually one of two paths to follow: structors to rethink exactly how to make If the student isn’t experiencing the students better shooters, particularly desired levels of success, it’s simple to within a specific discipline and with diagnose what’s standing in the way: a specific type of firearm. As a result, The student is either failing to stabilize those who were on board distilled suc- the muzzle on the target until the bullet cessful methods down to two or three exits the gun or she’s improperly manip- bits of information at a time, and did so ulating the trigger, adding unnecessary while ensuring that information was un- motion to the gun and causing the muz- derstood and reproducible before mov- zle to veer off target. It’s not difficult to ing on to anything else. discover what she’s doing, determine This method requires a specific stat- why she’s doing it and formulate a plan ed objective — an activity the student on how to fix it and move forward. should understand and be able to do The other path is to build on the stu- after the lesson is completed — accom- dent’s success by fine-tuning and en- plished through the necessary steps hancing what she already knows. This is and nothing more. Teaching in this ob- where the extras and adjustments can jective-based manner simplifies and be introduced into the process. enhances the learning process and im- From an objective-based teaching proves retention of the subject matter. standpoint, instructing stance for per- To start this process, the initial expla- sonal defense (and some types of com- nation of the task needs to make sense petitive shooting) is simple, it makes to the student: It must be non-arguable, sense, it’s easy to reproduce and it’s and it must be relatively easy to repro- hard to argue about. The three key duce successfully within the time frame words are balance, mobility and stabil- of the lesson and using a minimum num- ity, and one leads to the next. ber of steps. A shooter needs to be balanced to For example, the objective of shoot- be mobile, as being stationary in a gun- ing, regardless of discipline or firefight or in a tactical course of fire is not arm type, is hitting the target; no one to her advantage. The balance that al- can argue that. To keep this as simple lows such mobility also helps in stabi- as possible, we’ll be discussing a sin- lizing the muzzle on the target, which in gle-projectile launcher (a handgun or no small way lends itself to the overall rifle) and a single stationary target on a objective of hitting the target. recreational range. Objective-based training is a simple, The two factors necessary for a shoot- easy-to-use and very effective way to er to hit the target are to stabilize the train and educate students in almost muzzle on the target and pull the trigger any aspect of shooting. It gives stu- age human. It was also found that this to fire the shot without influencing the dents what they need to be successful number was diminished when factors of stability of the muzzle. “Stabilize” means and nothing they don’t, eliminating the stress were introduced along with the to hold the gun as still as possible for unnecessary details that clog the mind learning. What this meant was teaching the time it takes to pull the trigger and and are rarely even useful. shooting fundamentals — foot position, fire the shot. As both an instructor and a student, arm position, head position and angle Now, an explanation that the gun consider stepping out of the box of of the torso with an emphasis on recoil won’t be motionless is helpful to a nov- convention. Identify the objective to be resistance — pretty much used up a ice shooter, since it’s virtually impossible learned, and then find the simplest and student’s cognitive processing ability on to keep the gun motionless. After the most effective way to accomplish that stance alone, before the shooting even student understands this concept, it end. Only pursue what you need and started. When attempting to coordinate allows her to execute a smooth trigger nothing you don’t. The simpler the bet- all of the above with sight alignment, pull, even through the small amount of ter, and success is non-arguable. sight picture, trigger control, left-hand movement that will invariably be pres- grip, right-hand grip and breathing, the ent. average human’s maximum cognitive It’s literally “point gun, pull trigger capacity is exceeded by more than a and hit target.” It’s simple. It works. It’s factor of two. non-arguable. From this point, there are

January | www.USCCA.com 113 LIFELINE by Anthony Lambert

STORM

MYSURGE DISASTER

■ ON DEC. 24, 2004, my family and I safely arrived in Japan, my new duty station for the next four years as the Medical Chief for Combat Services Support Detachment 36. We received a warm welcome from the commanding officer and first sergeant. We were invited to the command Christmas party to meet all the unit members and their families. It was great meeting everyone, but, honestly, my family and I were tired from all the travel and losing a day crossing the International Date Line. It was time to rest and freshen up to start my new job. On Dec. 26, 2004, at approximately Unfortunately, the novelty of the sight the news. The CO said, “I know you just 0058 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), peaked the curiosity of the people who got here, but I need you and the XO to a 9.1-magnitude earthquake hit the In- ran out onto the newly exposed seafloor. go to Indonesia in support of the tsunami dian Ocean offshore near Sumatra, In- Tourists in Thailand were seen wandering relief.” donesia. In several areas, the tsunami around photographing the scene, and What could I say other than, “Yes, sir! announced itself in the form of a rapidly the rest is history. If you need me, I’ll be drawing gear and receding ocean. Many reports quoted This is where my story begins. packing my equipment.” survivors saying how they had never At 0700 on Dec. 27, I got called into We landed near Sumatra in Marine seen the sea withdraw such a distance, the commanding officer’s office, along CH-46 helicopters to assess the situa- stranding fish and boats on the sand. with the executive officer, and I received tion and evaluate what support would be

114 January | www.USCCA.com EVENT: EVENT: TYPHOON/HURRICANE EARTHQUAKE POTABLE WATER, FLASHLIGHTS, MREs (MEALS, POTABLE WATER, FLASHLIGHTS, MREs (MEALS, READY TO EAT), GENERAL MEDICAL KIT, 3 BUG- READY TO EAT), GENERAL MEDICAL KIT, 3 BUG- OUT PACKS & A RADIO OUT PACKS & A RADIO TRAINING: N/A TRAINING: N/A sailors prepared? This got me started A few months before Harvey struck, on my journey to self-preparedness, and some friends of mine moved to the Hous- I’m hoping my journey can help get you ton area from the Midwest; time for some started on securing your own prepared- quick training. So I called them to provide ness in the event of a natural disaster. instruction on hurricane preparation. Here’s how I got started: I evaluated First, find out estimated travel of the my environment and listed the different storm. Second, assemble the supplies types of emergencies or natural disasters you absolutely need. If you’ll be remain- I could potentially face. Because we lived ing in your residence, fill your bathtub full on an island at the time, our biggest con- of water. This will not be water for bathing, cern every year was typhoons. (Having but rather to use in flushing the toilet (if served in the Navy and Marines, most of possible) or to boil if needed for drinking my duty stations have been near water.) or food preparation. If the seawater con- I also experienced an earthquake while taminates your local fresh water supply or I was in Japan. I was on my way to Fukuo- municipal water sources shut down, you’ll ka on the famous Bullet Train and, while need all the potable water you can get I was waiting at the train station, I start- and then some. ed feeling woozy, like I was on a boat. I Gather all of your important documents felt like everything was moving in slow and enclose them in waterproof bags. motion, but visually everything seemed (Mylar resealable bags perform the best normal. I initially thought it was just me, and are very durable.) Find out the loca- but then I felt it again. Ten minutes later, I tion of the nearest evacuation point — if got a call from my wife asking me if I was available — and make plans to evacuate OK. I told her I was and asked why she the area even if there isn’t a mandatory wanted to know, to which she frantically evacuation order. I told my friends, “Don’t responded, “We just had an earthquake!” be a burden on rescue crews because Another event to add to my list. you don’t want to lose your stuff.” Get to So, on my list, I added the events, re- a safe location when you have the time. ■ Tsunamis and hurricane storm surges quired safety equipment and any train- Know multiple routes and try to avoid are almost incalculably powerful, and ing I would require. (You can see a sam- flooded roads. GPS is not always the best that 30-foot wall of water rushing toward ple of my list above.) method for this, so print out a Google the city may as well be 50 times as high I also had a map of all the nearest map of the area for a backup and seal it for the damage it can do. evacuation shelter areas, marking prima- in a food storage bag or other waterproof ry and secondary shelters. Getting my membrane. Lastly, I advised them that, needed. Now, I’ve been in combat zones family involved was important because, depending on the situation, they should and have seen and experienced combat chances were, during an emergency prepare to possibly be displaced from operations, but what I witnessed was ab- event on base, I would be recalled to their home for an extended period. solute devastation and something I will duty and my family would have to exe- Fortunately, these friends of mine never forget. The odor of both deceased cute the evacuation plan without me. (If heeded the multiple warnings and evac- human and animal bodies in the hot, hu- they don’t already, those who serve in law uated early. They headed out to vis- mid sun made you taste the smell in the enforcement, EMS, fire or other emergen- it some friends in the Austin area, but air. I witnessed human turmoil from lack cy services should understand that the unfortunately now have to deal with the of water, food, shelter and the sense of same applies to civilian life as well.) aftermath and damage inflicted by the feeling lost amidst so much devastation. I After I was retired from the service and flooding. saw the agony on the faces of the victims didn’t have the luxury of military support Damage and flooding aside though, desperately looking for lost loved ones. It at my disposal, I really had to get serious their family is together and safe, which is was harrowing. with my family’s emergency plan. Texas, irreplaceable. My experience with Task Force 536: and specifically the city of Houston, are Operation Unified Assistance made me still suffering the effects of a horrific nat- wonder whether I was prepared for a ural disaster: the flooding after Hurricane natural disaster. Were my Marines and Harvey and the following tropical storm.

January | www.USCCA.com 115 CLEAR IMPACT by Ed Combs

STREETBAD LETHAL GUY LOADOUT? 116 January | www.USCCA.com WATCH CLEAR IMPACT AT https://youtu.be/ys4VbbuBt5U

■ ANALYSIS OF the newest cartridges on the market paired with top- flight sidearms can make deciding which gun and round combination to carry far easier. But that’s what you, as an honest, law- abiding American citizen, are likely to carry. What are you likely to be facing if you ever come under attack? Fortunately for responsibly armed Americans, most violent predators prefer to spend as little as possible on guns and ammunition. This poor old Jennings J-22 is long out of production, cost less than $90 when it was new and failed to extract every time it was fired in this test. But when paired with these rounds of .22 LR scrounged off the floors of various public ranges, the resultant (and consistent) 10 to 14 inches of penetration showed it was still a deadly combo. When we address a deadly threat, it doesn’t matter whether that threat is holding a weapon that cost a million dollars or a hundred quarters; what matters is that we act as efficiently and as quickly as possible to stop that threat and get to safety.

January | www.USCCA.com 117 MEMBER PROFILE

■ LIKE MANY STATES, Min- nesota saw sweeping changes to their concealed carry laws in the early 2000s. The timing of the Minnesota Citi- zens’ Personal Protection Act of 2003, which flipped Minne- sota from a “may-issue” state to a “shall-issue” state, was especially fortuitous for USCCA member Travis Pearson. “Right before I turned 21, Minnesota passed our concealed carry act, so as soon as I turned 21, I went out and got my carry permit,” Pearson said. Now, 14 years later, Pearson still carries daily. After learning about the USCCA from a friend with whom he attended law school, Pearson decided a membership would be a “worthwhile investment.” “It’s there if you need it,” he said, adding that the protection gives him “peace of mind.” A lifelong shooter, Pearson said his advice to new shooters is to spend as much time as possible at the range. “It’s kind of cliché to say, ‘Get as much training as you can,’” he said, “but get as much as you can and learn as much as TRAVIS you can from people who are more experienced.” PEARSON Pearson tries to find at least NEW BRIGHTON, MINNESOTA a few days every month — as ATTORNEY much as his work schedule and time with his family will al- EVERYDAY CARRY: low — to train. He also enjoys GEN 4 trying each drill featured in GLOCK 19 Concealed Carry Magazine’s “Drill of the Month” column. “They’re creative and they give you something new to try,” Pearson said.

118 January | www.USCCA.com PRESS CHECK IMPACT

■ IT CAN BE EASY TO FALL INTO THE TRAP of deciding to carry concealed, scheming out everything that a law enforcement officer carries, jettisoning the cuffs, radio and TASER and then hitting the gun shop or internet to buy everything else. First and foremost, actual law enforcement duty gear is tailored to duty- belt carry, which means not concealed. Only slightly less importantly though, not everyone's cut out for engaging an attacker with a baton. In the next issue of Concealed Carry Magazine, Associate Editor Ed Combs explains the ins and outs of collapsible batons and their place in the private citizen's carry rotation.

January | www.USCCA.com 119 Protecting Yourself Doesn’t Have To Be Confusing Find The Gun & Gear That’s Just Right For You

TOO SMALL JUST RIGHT TOO BIG

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CONTENTS

FEATURES 13 8 LEADERS LOOKING AHEAD 50 Years in the Game ❚ By Stephanie Mallory

134 MOMMY’S HOME GUNSITE The Live-Fire Shoot House and My Life-Changing Moment ❚By Beth Alcazar 142 LET REASON RULE IMPROVEMENT Skill Builders for the Real World 134 ❚By Sara Ryan COLUMNS 128 TACTICAL/PRACTICAL CHOOSING A HANDGUN... for Smaller or Weaker Hands ❚By Kimberly Klein 128 132 BY THE NUMBERS DEPARTMENTS GUT FIRING PEN GIRL GEAR INSTINCT 124 126 Trust That 6th Sense 130 SOUND OFF 146 THE LAST SHOT ❚By Carla Dickmann 132

January | www.USCCA.com 123 FIRING PEN by Beth Alcazar

We All Have Our Reasons I WAS TEACHING a personal protection and situational awareness class, and since a large number of non- gun-owners were in attendance, I made sure to encourage them to attend a firearms class, especially if they had never fired a gun. One of the ladies quickly commented, “But I don’t really have any reason to need a gun.” I froze in my tracks. It’s that very mindset that worries me. It’s not about “having a reason.” Owning a gun, learning how to safely use it and even choosing to carry it concealed is about safety, knowledge and empowerment … and about em- bracing one of our most basic rights Now, I’m not disre- rationalizing why. as Americans. You don’t have to have specting anyone who You don’t have I might be one of a special explanation for learning about does have a story, nor “to have a special the best examples of and training with firearms. am I meaning to take this very thing. While In fact, I often find myself telling peo- anything away from explanation for learning I might have experi- ple that, while you certainly have rea- their victories and about and training enced some “wake- sons to own a gun, you don’t have to successes. I’ve heard with firearms. up calls” and some have a “story.” You don’t have to have many, many powerful ” powerful moments of been hurt. You don’t have to have been reasons and inspirational accounts for validation (see my article on Page 134), a victim. You don’t have to have had a owning and/or carrying a firearm. And do you want to know what my “story” frightening experience. It isn’t required I am constantly amazed and encour- is? I’m a wife and mother with a gun. that you were (or are) in an abusive aged by what these individuals have It might not sound all that impressive. relationship, suffer a stalker or need a overcome. What I am trying to do is But, honestly, for me, it’s one of the restraining order. Learning about fire- reach out to everyone else and reiterate most powerful reasons in the world. arms is not just for people who have the fact that anyone can do this. Any- experienced those kinds of situations one can learn about safe and respon- or those types of misfortunes. It’s not sible firearms ownership. And you don’t just for people who want to erase those have to feel like you need to explain memories or overcome those anxieties. yourself or have a long list of narratives

124 January | www.USCCA.com RUGER® COMPACT HANDGUNS Ruger offers lightweight, compact handguns for every personal protection need.

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VERSATILE Concealing an extra mag, a Nickel passport or a knife, like the FOX 599 Karambit shown below? &Lace’s No problem. The discreet pockets Luxe Lace on the LUXE LACE Camisole Compression make stowing both self-defense and Camisole personal items a breeze. IN THIS ISSUE’S “Girl Gear,” we’re sharing Nickel and Lace’s new Concealed Carry LUXE LACE Compression Camisole. We love this soft, comfortable, multi-functional garment for its versatility to discreetly hold and hide a variety of items you might want to keep up close and personal — from money, credit cards, passport or ID to knife, OC spray, subcompact firearm and extra magazines. Available in black, white or nude and in sizes from XS to 2XL, this lace-trimmed, open- bust layering piece can easily be worn under most clothing and provides all the benefits of your favorite shapewear, with pockets on each side for safely stowing away small items you need to conceal or carry. Layers are especially beneficial when the weather gets colder, and women who are comfortable and confident with a cross-draw will appreciate this holster option. MSRP: $69.99 NICKELANDLACE.COM

126 January | www.USCCA.com

TACTICAL/PRACTICAL by Kimberly Klein Did You Know? The average trigger pull on a concealed carry gun is around 51/2 pounds.

Choosing a Handgun… FOR SMALLER OR WEAKER HANDS

WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING or using FINDING THE RIGHT FIT trigger naturally and comfortably, ideally a handgun, outside of needing a small Why is “fit” so important? The firearm with the trigger somewhere between the one for truly deep concealment purpos- must fit your hand in order for you to tip and the first bend (joint) of your finger. es, many women are told that they need acquire a proper grip, and you need to Small variations of this finger placement a small gun simply because they are acquire a proper grip in order to employ on the trigger are needed for heavier women. proper technique. You must be able to triggers — such as those on double-ac- But while a number of factors affect effectively operate the handgun in ev- tion revolvers and autos — but this is the whether a particular handgun is right ery way, including loading and unload- general placement you’ll be looking for. for someone, gender is not one of them. ing it, fixing malfunctions and pressing Too much finger on the trigger or barely What does directly affect selecting the the trigger. reaching the trigger with the tip of your proper-sized handgun — whether a re- To check the fit of the handgun, first finger means the body of the gun is too volver or a semi-automatic — are your make sure it is unloaded and clear, with small or too big. These problems can be individual physical characteristics. no ammunition nearby. Hold it in your fir- addressed with a longer or shorter back Selecting a firearm that will mate ing hand, back strap in the web of your strap (if the firearm in question has ad- well to your hand size and having the hand between the thumb and index fin- justable back straps), a thicker or thin- strength to run that gun is what matters ger, and place your finger on the trigger. ner grip or a longer or shorter trigger. the most. Your finger should bend and sit on the Sometimes, being able to reach and

128 January | www.USCCA.com CONCEALEDWomeCARRY n's President & CEO Tim Schmidt Executive Editor Kevin Michalowski engage the magazine or slide lock re- and flat and which distribute your weight lease can also be an issue. If you have to over a larger area, allow you to walk on Managing Editor Jared Blohm break your grip in order to reach either of snow you would otherwise fall through. Associate Editor these, that’s OK. Slightly move the hand- So, to minimize the amount of recoil you Beth Alcazar gun in your hand until your thumb can feel when shooting, you should use the Associate Editor reach the buttons; just make sure your largest handgun possible that properly Ed Combs muzzle always stays downrange. fits your hands. You can also limit the Creative Director There are many makes and models of amount of recoil by choosing a firearm Ken Wangler handguns, and they come in various siz- chambered for less-powerful cartridges Art Director es. And just because you have smaller or using “lighter,” low-recoil ammo. Dusty Reid hands does not mean you need a small, Copy Editor Carla Dickmann subcompact gun to ensure a proper fit. RACKING THE SLIDE You can get a compact or even a full- For those with weaker hands, strength Photographers Ken Wangler sized gun, but you’ll need to test the fit can certainly become an issue when it Dusty Reid and possibly even configure the hand- comes to running a handgun. Actions, Columnists gun to work best with your hand. Extend- like racking the slide of a semi-auto, can Beth Alcazar ed triggers, extended safeties and mag- be very difficult for weak hands, but, in Carla Dickmann Kimberly Klein azine releases, wider or thinner grips most cases, it can be done. To rack the Contributing Writers and the aforementioned back straps of slide, be sure the gun is pointed down- Beth Alcazar varying sizes can all be used to correct range — finger off the trigger — and Stephanie Mallory the fit of the gun in your hand. So be sure bring the gun in close to your body. As Sara Ryan to pick up a number of different hand- you quickly pull on the slide with your Published for USCCA by: guns to see how they fit you. support hand, PUSH firmly on the gun Be open to trying a few makes and in the opposite direction with your firing models to find what fits best, keeping hand. Pushing and pulling at the same in mind that each manufacturer varies time doubles the force you apply, and 1000 Freedom Way West Bend, WI 53095 its proportions and angles from other having the gun close to your body (and makes and models. It’s also important activating more muscle groups than just Member Services to remember that, depending on the de- those in your hands) gives you more (877) 677-1919 [email protected] sign, some parts of the gun can be mod- leverage and control. ified to get the fit you need. For Advertising Information, Contact: NEVER GIVE UP Bruce Wolberg (715) 445-8722 CONTROLLING RECOIL There might be certain situations under (715) 281-4075 Strength is not the primary factor in which physical injuries or other factors [email protected] controlling recoil; technique, not brawn, outside of your control prevent you from Advertising Coordinator controls recoil. Because of the nature of being able to run the gun. Though this is Carol Busse force, smaller is not better when it comes unfortunately — and unassailably — the (262) 806-0117 to handgun size. The smaller the hand- case, it shouldn’t stop you from learning [email protected] gun, the less surface area there is for the to shoot and defend yourself. Get help Concealed Carry Magazine (USPS: 022-302, ISSN: 1550-7866), Volume 15, Issue 1, January 2018 rearward force of the gun — that recoil loading and unloading the handgun. Get Issue. Published 8 times a year, monthly, except or “kick” — to spread across when fired, help clearing malfunctions. If necessary, combined issues: Feb/Mar; May/June; Aug/Sept; and Nov/Dec. By Delta Defense, LLC, causing all of that force to be directed you can have someone else prepare you 1000 Freedom Way, West Bend, WI 53095. into one small area. The larger the sur- and the firearm for the firing line. Just Periodicals postage paid at Jackson, face area, therefore, the more space for keep at it! No matter what gun you’re us- WI and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: the power to expand into … and the less ing or what issue you’re facing, shooting Concealed Carry Magazine, you will feel transferred into your hands. properly and safely is the most important 1000 Freedom Way, West Bend, WI 53095 The principle is similar to that of snow- part of training. shoes. Walk in the snow wearing regular shoes, and you’ll sink into the snow. All of Signed articles in Concealed Carry Magazine reflect the views of the author, and are not necessarily the views your weight — force — is concentrated in of the editors at Delta Defense, LLC. Concealed Carry a small area. Snowshoes, which are wide Magazine and the U.S. Concealed Carry Association are registered trademarks of Delta Defense, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2004-2018 by Delta Defense, LLC. Reproduction, copying, or distribution of Concealed Carry Magazine is prohibited without written permission. WomensAd_FullPage_USCCA.pdf 1 12/6/16 1:20 PM

SOUND OFF ❚TO SUBMIT A QUESTION OR COMMENT TO “SOUND OFF,” EMAIL US AT [email protected].

FEMINISTS NEED NOT APPLY Beth, I have noticed that Concealed Carry Magazine has been including increasingly more articles for women. I’m fine with that, since I think having more women involved in the shooting and self-defense population is a good thing. I regularly refer articles directed at women shooters to my wife, who is a somewhat reluctant shooter and regularly accompanies me to the shooting range, shooting club and various shooting schools/classes. I take umbrage, however, on the diatribe of Pam in the July issue, whining about only two pages of the issue directed to women’s issues. I examined this issue and found exactly 17 pages directed mainly to women (*See note below). How many did I find directed to men only? Ex- see what they want to see. Clearly, we Thanks so much for taking the time to actly zero! can’t make everyone happy all the time. comment! I used to be a big supporter of wom- Just to be sure people know the facts, Stay safe and be well armed, en’s rights at one time but have since however: Beth Alcazar stopped. The hardcore feminists have Concealed Carry Magazine has Associate Editor taken over and will never be satisfied. worked diligently to include at least 15 They will continue to complain and whine percent women-specific content and/or P.S. Fred, and discover discriminatory hurts no female contributors in every issue. And I decided that silence was the better matter how many rights and extra bene- with the addition of our women’s section, part of valor and held my peace. I de- fits they receive. I’m pretty sure that means the percent- test ugliness and, as I read Pam’s email, P.S. We have about 5 percent wom- age has gone up — just like you men- I could feel a bout of it preparing to seize en (including my wife) in our pistol club tioned. my tongue and fingers. this year — five or six out of about 100 Why? We like variety. And we like to When you pose (and then answer) the members. I noticed about the same per- share different perspectives. But that question, “How many did I find directed centage in the various shooting schools/ doesn’t mean there aren’t any “men-relat- to men only? Exactly zero!,” it leads me to classes I’ve taken. On this basis, the ed issues.” We have a lot of male contrib- suspect that you might be as interested May/June issue should have included 95 utors, and we have covered a lot of top- as Pam in getting offended by things. If percent of the 147 pages of this issue, ics over the years. But, if you feel we’ve she — or you, for that matter — are left about 139 pages, solely to men-related missed out on something, especially for cold by the content we provide here, I’m issues. Why did the editors “slight” its the guys, definitely let us know what that not sure what I’ll be able to do for either male readers by not including any arti- might be. of you beyond the usual: Strive to get the cles on men-related issues? Ultimately, while we do strive to offer in- most relevant, most easily understood *Note: Pages of articles directed to formation, education and even entertain- and most engaging self-defense-related women’s issues included: Pages 52-55, ment for men and women alike, we need information into the hands of law-abiding 66-71, 96-99 and 106-108. to remember that firearms and training American citizens. Fred, via email aren’t man things or woman things ... Stay safe, they’re responsibly armed American Ed Combs Fred, things! And while I believe that certain Associate Editor I’m not sure any feminism was involved content might sometimes be more ap- in the “diatribe” you mentioned, but, un- pealing or useful to one gender or the fortunately, it seems that people tend to other, it’s really for everyone.

130 January | www.USCCA.com WomensAd_FullPage_USCCA.pdf 1 12/6/16 1:20 PM by Carla Dickmann

Gut InstınctTRUST THAT 6TH SENSE

LAST SUMMER, I walked down- to walk through the park than around the left of a few volleyball courts, and town — about a mile from my house it. Plus, if you know about it, there’s a we crossed a couple streets to get — with my 2-year-old daughter, Cor- discreet path that brings you through downtown. I found a few friends but rigan. We were going to visit a few of a wooded area and deposits you on had barely said “hello” when Corrig- my friends who were working at a mu- the east side of the property. It’s a lit- an started to get antsy. I checked my sic event. My plan was pretty straight- tle creepy, even during the day, but phone. Dinner time. forward: We’d grab some dinner, I’d we made our way through quickly. My By the time I maneuvered her stroll- maybe grab a beer, my daughter daughter’s eyes lit up when she saw er through the crowd to a food vendor, would do some dancing and then my the playground to our left. dug out my purse from underneath husband would meet us in the truck “Mama! Swing?” her diaper bag, dug out my knife to and drive us home after he was done “No, baby girl, not right now. I prom- cut up her hot dog, dug out the wipes shooting trap for the night. ise we’ll come back and swing soon.” to clean her up and then maneuvered There’s a park separating my house I veered her stroller to the right, her stroller back through the crowd, from downtown, and it’s much faster around the swimming pond and to I had broken out into a light sweat. I

132 January | www.USCCA.com That’s Interesting… According to a recent Gallup poll, 22 percent of women own one or more firearms, while, according to a recent KnifeRights.org poll, 31.2 percent of women own one or more outdoor or folding knives. guess I’d forgotten how frustrating a deal?” workers once in a while. I half-smiled, single-parent excursions could be. I As I counted down the minutes catching Corrigan as she came down was still finishing up my dinner and — no, the seconds — I saw that the the slide, keeping my gaze firm on had just cracked a beer when Cor- volleyballers had wrapped up their the stranger’s face. The fact that he rigan started arching her back and game and were now headed to their had waited for his friends to leave the whining, “Nooooo, Mama.” (Why is cars. The lot stood between us and lot before coming over to talk to me that every toddler’s favorite word?) the path back home — although, at was a huge red flag, and I needed “You want to dance, honey?” this time, I didn’t really feel comfort- him to know I meant business. I had I freed Corrigan from the stroller … able taking the shortcut anyway. the knife in my back pocket, just in and she promptly took off running. I I got Corrigan out of the swing just case. He stalled for a few more mo- simultaneously bolted after her and as the group reached their vehicles. ments, trying his best to make small looked at my watch. It would be at I decided the best course of action talk, but he eventually got the hint. least an hour — maybe more — be- was to wait it out. After the group “Well, you have a good night,” he fore my husband was coming with cleared out of the lot, we’d walk said, retreating to his car. the truck. I swooped in as only a around the park back to our house. I nodded and watched as he sat in- mom can do and managed to get all I felt sick. side it for several minutes with the en- flailing body parts secured back into I remembered that I had my USC- gine off. He finally started it up, drove the stroller. It was a nice try, but we CA Expo knife in my purse. I quickly about 30 feet and then stopped. Lessons learned? At least three: Carry a gun whenever and wherever you “ can. Trust your gut. And know there isn’t a promise in the world worth keeping if it compromises your — or a loved one’s — safety.” were going home. The sun would be retrieved it from the stroller and stood What the hell is he doing? starting its descent soon, and I didn’t facing the parking lot as Corrigan I kept a wary on him from across want to be caught in the dark. made her way up the stairs to the the lot. But Corrigan wasn’t having it. slide. It seemed like forever until he “Corrigan, let’s go swing, OK? One by one, the cars exited the lot pulled out onto the street, and I was Mama promised.” — except for one. A single guy re- trembling as I loaded Corrigan into That seemed to do the trick. She mained behind, and he was rummag- her stroller. We walked in silence settled into her ride, and I retraced ing through his trunk. along the edge of the park and made our steps back toward the park. I cursed myself for being so stupid. it home just on the edge of darkness. That’s when I felt “it.” That little voice He closed the trunk and moved to I was furious with myself and felt that told me it was getting too late; the passenger side of his car, rum- more than a little guilty, although Cor- that it would be smarter to walk maging again. Then he closed the rigan was no worse for wear. I had let around the park and go home. But I door and started toward us. my emotions get in the way of what I felt bad. After all, I had promised. “Hi,” he said, smiling. “Do you knew was right. I had foolishly gone “We can swing for five minutes. come here a lot?” against my instincts in an effort to OK, sweetie?” “Hi,” I responded, trying desper- keep my daughter happy. As we made our way to the play- ately to keep my voice even and Lessons learned? At least three: ground, where a lone family was now friendly. “Yeah, she loves the park.” Carry a gun whenever and wherev- packing up their stuff, I noticed a “What’s her name?” er you can. Trust your gut. And know group of guys playing volleyball. “Carly,” I lied. there isn’t a promise in the world Gut check. Go home. Just go “Nice. I have a son. He loves it here worth keeping if it compromises your home. too.” — or a loved one’s — safety. “Sweetie, why don’t we go home I nodded politely and noticed he and swing there?” wasn’t wearing a ring. That’s ... odd. “Noooooo, Mama.” He told me he worked in town and “All right. Five minutes. Do we have played volleyball with some of his co-

January | www.USCCA.com 133 MOMMY’S The Live-Fire Shoot House and My Life-Changing Moment HOME by Beth Alcazar 134 January | www.USCCA.com Beth. You’ve just arrived mouth was dry. I felt shaky. And I had no clue how home. But there’s somebody far I had gone or how much of the house was left “OK, in your house … and your to explore. I remember performing a tactical re- loved ones need your help.” load, and then I continued through the jumble of Those were the precise directives given to me rooms, doors, furniture and hallways, searching by my instructor and range officer Chris Currie for the “bad guys” who had invaded my “home.” as I drew my M&P 9mm and started making my Taking another deep breath, I stepped cau- way down a short cinderblock hallway to the “Fun- tiously across a cleared room and moved to- house,” one of three indoor training simulators at ward an open doorway. As I angled around to Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona. I knew that see through the opening, I spotted the side those would be my RO’s last words until I’d com- of a potential target, what appeared to be a pleted the live-fire exercise. And, unless some- large male figure, about 7 yards away. As I’d thing went wrong, his objective was to stay behind been trained, I leaned in a bit, doing my best me in order to watch and evaluate. to remain hidden behind the doorframe, and As if the “test anxiety” wasn’t bad enough, my I looked to find the target’s hands. Just as I’d

CALL IT CLARIFICATION. “ CALL IT JUSTIFICATION. CALL IT VALIDATION. I KNOW MY REASONS WHY … AND I ACTUALLY HAD A CHANCE TO LIVE OUT THOSE VERY REASONS.

heart immediately started racing as I contemplated” anticipated, I spotted a gun in the man’s left the situation laid out before me. I did my best to hand, but then I saw something that I wasn’t remember my training: Move quietly but purpose- expecting at all. fully; angle around corners to spot possible threats; don’t peek into rooms but check them, step into WHERE IT STARTED them and “own” them; look carefully; and shoot This was Day 5, the last day of a week-long even more carefully… training course at Gunsite Academy, the re- A tangle of thoughts and instructions tumbled nowned, 2,800-acre training facility established around in my head as I took my first step into the by Colonel Jeff Cooper, who many know as “The shoot house and tried to ignore how loud my own Father of Modern Pistolcraft.” My three USCCA breathing and heartbeat seemed to have become colleagues and I, along with 24 other students, in my ears. I was taking the training exercise very had spent the previous four days in the high-des- seriously, but I was afraid of letting the anxiety get ert sun, working on drills and techniques to be- to me. I didn’t want to hyperventilate or make any come more skilled and effective in the three tenets dumb mistakes. I grabbed the doorknob, quietly of Gunsite’s “Combat Triad:” mindset, marksman- pushed open the front door and backed up in or- ship and gun handling. der to get a better look and to prepare for entering. This prerequisite Pistol 250 course, which in- “Calm down,” I told myself. “You can do this. structors call their “bread and butter” course, Just breathe.” included classroom lectures, demonstrations, I moved purposefully through the house, care- range work, competitions, low-light and night fully scanning each room and shooting any threat shooting with flashlight techniques, and some targets, most often following the “failure drill” and intense indoor and outdoor live-fire simulations. placing two rounds in the center chest area and Over the years, the 250 class has fittingly be- one round in the head. Somewhere in the maze, come known as “The Gunsite Experience,” and The Live-Fire Shoot House I lost count of how many targets I’d encountered. it was actually first presented in October 1976 by and My Life-Changing Moment Time failed to register with me anymore. My Colonel Cooper himself.

January | www.USCCA.com 135 It was a fantastic, fun and chal- of me, I felt like I was looking at my own I nodded, still feeling a bit like I’d lenging week of firearms training that little boy, injured and terrified, in the stepped out of an episode of The seemed to equally influence all experi- hands of a violent stranger. Twilight Zone. But it was true: I did ence levels and backgrounds of those Somewhat unexpectedly, I sensed it. I faced the training exercise, and I in attendance, though certainly in dif- my concentration grow more intense came out successful. But more impor- ferent ways and on different levels. than it had ever been before. I was tantly than that, I’d faced an unexpect- Some students learned to draw their enraged, horrified, focused and calm ed challenge, and I came out trans- firearms for the first time. Others shot — all at the same time. But I raised my formed. And, in that moment, I knew more rounds in five days than they’d M&P to the target’s head, lined up my with such certainty that this is exactly shot in a lifetime. Some took the oppor- sights and stared at the green fiber-op- why I do what I do. This is why I train, tunity to refine and polish their shoot- tic front sight as if I were about to burn why I practice, why I live a responsibly ing skills. And a few had their eyes a hole right through it with the intensity armed lifestyle, why I choose to carry a opened to a whole new world of think- of my gaze. I pressed the trigger three self-defense gun and why I do my best ing, planning and preparation. While times, hitting the target first in his left to communicate this valuable knowl- Gunsite didn’t necessarily change my eye, then his nose and then slightly be- edge to others. No doubt I’ve believed mindset, it definitely reinforced and low his right eye. it, lived it and shared it for many, many strengthened it. And it certainly made For an instant, I almost felt like I years. But this experience took it from an impact on me that I wouldn’t trade wasn’t really there; that I was instead just being knowledge in my head to for anything. watching myself engage the target. becoming evidence in my heart. In my firearms training up to that But it was in that intense, overwhelm- Call it clarification. Call it justifica- point, I’d never had much experience ing moment that everything I have ever tion. Call it validation. I know my rea- clearing rooms or dealing with realistic thought or believed about why I train sons why, and I actually had a chance human targets. Of course, my training and why I carry a gun became more to live out those very reasons. Facing hasn’t been completely static either; I real and more profound than I’d ever that target — a man full of evil holding enjoy competitive shooting, and I train imagined. an innocent child at gunpoint — solid- in defensive pistol techniques whenev- That’s when I heard the range of- ified within me that I do all of this for er possible. But I’d never had to put ficer’s voice call out, “Holster your my loved ones so I can have a better my skills to the test in a live-fire shoot weapon.” I took a slow, cleansing chance to keep them safe. Beyond house. And the targets in the Fun- breath and carefully slid my firearm that, going through this experience house weren’t round bullseyes, pink into the holster on my right hip. proved that I can’t depend on some- silhouettes, cartoon-like caricatures, “We’re done,” he said. “Great job!” one else to be there to help the ones I vital organ targets or even zombies. I looked back at the target, and love; it truly is up to me to protect my These targets were images of real that’s when reality set in. Tears flooded family. And above all else, overcoming people, with realistic features and ex- my eyes and poured down my cheeks. this challenge confirmed that while pressions, and they included all differ- Slightly confused, the RO asked me if some people claim their kids are the ent looks and builds — some women, everything was OK. Almost breathless reason why they do NOT have firearms some men, some masked, some inno- by this point, I pointed toward the hos- in their homes, my three children are cent, some insolent and some straight tage and managed to say, “That’s my the most important three reasons why I out of a nightmare. son. It looks just like my little boy.” do have them. I could tell that the range officer was I’d venture to say that our instructors WHERE IT ENDED a bit stunned and perhaps had not could not have known how profoundly As I edged around the corner of the encountered a reaction quite like this a trip through the live-fire shoot house doorframe to get a better shot, I won- before. would affect me that day, but I have a dered if the anxiety had gotten to me “I didn’t expect that at all,” I contin- feeling that they know how much of an after all. “Is my mind playing tricks on ued, my voice breaking. “I had no idea impact this kind of training can make. me?” All I knew was that at the end of there would be a target like this. And In fact, Gunsite’s website claims, “Re- this gunman’s muzzle was a hostage when I saw it, all I knew was I had to gardless of your age, gender or expe- … a young, blonde, frightened boy save him.” rience, completing the 250 class will who looked shockingly similar to my “But you did it,” he responded. “You change your life!” own 7-year-old son. And as I agonized did it. You didn’t stop. You didn’t break And no doubt, I would have to whole- over the scene that was staged in front your focus. You got him.” heartedly agree with that statement.

While We’re on This Topic… Training in a live-fire shoot house — a type of firing range modified to resemble a residential building — can mimic the stressors faced when entering a structure in a potentially lethal environment.

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While many people She said the biggest catalyst in her would be thinking about spending their career occurred when she and her days relaxing in retirement, Bowen says co-worker began attending gun trade- she’s just getting started on the second shows as representatives of Dixie Gun phase of her career. Her past 50 years Works. have only fueled her passion for shoot- “We were the first women to attend ing and gun education, and she has big these shows in the role of buying and plans for what’s to come. selling guns for a store,” Bowen ex- Bowen, who just turned 68 years old, plained. “Not surprisingly, it was tough started in the shooting industry right out for us to break in to this male-dominated BOWEN’S CERTIFICATIONS of high school. She got a job working industry. Many of the men either refused NRA-Certified Pistol Instructor at the nationally renowned Dixie Gun to work with us or tried to get the best NRA-Certified Range Safety Instructor USCCA-Certified Instructor Works store in her hometown of Union of us. But eventually, they found out that USCCA-Certified Training Counselor Center, Tennessee, the summer before we knew what we were talking about, P.O.F. Armorer she planned to go off to college. Little and most of them ended up giving us TWAW-Certified Instructor did she know that her first summer job the respect we deserved. C.R.T.C. Level I, II, III Handgun would set her on a path to not only a life- “It was tough being a woman in the Universal Security & Instruction long profession but to her life’s calling. gun industry back then, and it still is! Advanced Firearms Certification But I was fortunate to work at a place IN THE BEGINNING that supported me. When a man would “When I left to go to college, as many come in to the store and say he wanted work for them and I was fortunate to work young women did in that era, I ended up not me but another man to wait on him, with a lot of legends, such as Bill Jordan, falling in love and got married instead one of the male employees would come famed gun expert and book author, and of getting my degree,” she reminisced. to the front and say, ‘You don’t need me. Hodgdon’s founder Bruce Hodgdon and “At that time, it was more important for She knows just as much as I do.’ I am his sons J.B. and Bob.” my husband to get a college education still very grateful for their support.” Then, Bowen took a job with American than me, so I went back to work at Dixie Arms, Inc., a shotgun company in Kan- Gun Works.” A REMARKABLE CAREER sas City, Kansas, that imported Italian Bowen started out as an accountant After working for 10 years at Dixie shotguns. American Arms owner Gus at the firm, which sells black powder Gun Works, Bowen began working at Bader also mentored Bowen, teaching guns, antique firearms and parts, and B.E. Hodgdon, Inc., doing catalog work. her all about the international gun busi- shooting supplies. She then began pro- When Hodgdon closed, she went to ness. She worked with him for five years. ducing product catalogs for the com- work for the owner company, Hodgdon Bowen said her next job, working as pany, which were shipped all over the Powder Company, which bought a com- a contractor for Bushnell Sport Optics, world. pany called Pyrodex that manufactured was her favorite. “I was very fortunate to have a re- the first reproduction black powder. “They’d come out with the Bushnell markable mentor in Dixie Gun Works’ “I found what Pyrodex did to be revo- Holosight for commercial use and my owner and founder, Turner Kirkland,” lutionary and fascinating,” Bowen said. job was to promote it,” she said. “So, she said. “Turner is a legend in our in- She worked for Pyrodex for 11 years, I started and managed the Bushnell dustry. He was one of the first to ever during which she created her own ad- Holosight Shooting Team. I got to work have a reproduction muzzleloader and vertising agency called Quivera Adver- with the top seven shooters in the world, muzzleloader rifle kit in the U.S. He also tising, Inc. who we called ‘The Magnificent Seven.’ had antique firearms, which interested “Desktop publishing was just com- I traveled with them to their events all me very much. I love history and I loved ing into being,” she said. “I specialized over the country and learned so much learning all about those antique guns.” in gun companies that didn’t have the from them. I became enamored with Bowen worked for Dixie Gun Works funds to go with massive advertising handguns during that time.” for 10 years. During that time, she and a agencies. I did scheduling and creative When she left Bushnell, she was hired by Evernham, Anderson & As- soc., which was one of the rep groups By the Way… that she worked with while at American The National Sporting Goods Association shows the Arms. She worked for the rep group for firearms industry has enjoyed an 8 percent CAGR 12 years. (compound annual growth rate) over the last 30 years.

140 January | www.USCCA.com “I discovered that I needed to go back firearm, Bowen says, she should still be days, but I expected them,” she said. “To- and apologize to some of the reps who’d knowledgeable enough to know what to day, I still see some of the same challeng- worked for me because I didn’t realize do should she encounter one. es that I once faced years ago, but things how hard a job it was,” Bowen said. “I “I’ve had women come in literally shak- are so much better. Women have made also realized I should have fired some ing, but I’ve never had a single lady leave great strides. They now hold positions in of the reps back then who weren’t doing class not ready to buy a handgun,” Bow- gun companies that only men once held. what they should have been doing. If en stated. “I think, with education, we “Women have so many more oppor- you do it right, being a rep is hard work, can fix these false tales that are out there tunities now. There are more places for but sadly, a lot of reps don’t do it right.” about handguns, such as if you drop it, women to go and shoot, and gun stores After her stint as a rep, she then joined it will go off … or that guns are bad. We are more receptive to females than they Walther Arms, Inc., where she served for can fight those false narratives by simply used to be. I’m grateful to organizations 3½ years as a national accounts manag- talking to people and having open dislike The Well Armed Woman, A Girl & A er responsible for Cabela’s and Scheels. cussions. I’m putting together a class for Gun and the NRA for promoting women’s “I fell in love with the Walther PPQ M2 a group of very liberal women. I am telling involvement in shooting. The USCCA has 9mm before I ever went to work at Wal- them that they do not have to shoot a gun, done a fantastic job as well. They even ther,” she said. “The first time I felt that but I’d like for them to come to my class to have this segment in the magazine just gun in my hand, I knew there was some- critique me. I want to hear their points of for women. That’s huge! Even though I’m thing different about it. I was always a view and learn from them on ways I can excited to see this positive change, we 1911 fan and this was quite a revelation better reach them.” can’t get lazy … because we still have to me. When I took it to the range, there Bowen says, in this phase of her life, a long way to go, and we certainly don’t was no going back. I was hooked on teaching and educating women is truly a want to backslide.” Walthers. Walther produces some very passion. Even though she faced some challeng- ergonomic, great-shooting handguns. I “I just love it,” she said. “In a couple es early in her career, Bowen said if she continue to be a major Walther support- weeks, I’ll be doing the monthly program could go back and do things differently, er and I can’t wait to see what they have meeting for The Well Armed Woman as she wouldn’t change a thing. on the horizon.” well. I can’t wait.” “The industry has been incredibly good to me,” she said. “I love what I have done, PHASE 2 STILL WORK TO DO and I never thought of doing anything Bowen recently exited the corporate When it comes to teaching, Bowen else. I’ve met wonderful people out there world and is now devoting her energy said she most enjoys relating to the wom- and have learned so much, and I’m very and time to educating others — especial- en one-on-one, no matter their ability. excited to see what the future holds.” ly women — about firearms safety and She also likes being part of the positive use. She says she is extremely excited to change she’s seeing in the shooting in- see what the second phase of her career dustry’s attitude toward women. holds. “I faced a lot of challenges in the early “While working with The Magnificent Seven, I got the teaching bug,” Bowen said. “So, I worked on attaining all the credentials I would need to teach, and I started Quivera Firearms Training (Angels in Arms), where I offer a variety of classes where women learn to respect firearms but not fear them.” What she loves most, though, is helping women conquer their fear of handguns. “I don’t push them to conceal carry,” Bowen said. “That is a personal decision. But I don’t want any female to be afraid of a handgun. As the keeper of the home and as the hand that rocks the cradle, the woman is the one who has to keep that home safe. She may have a partner she wants to protect her, but he may not be around when trouble strikes. The woman is the one who is most often alone with the kids.” Even if a woman decides not to carry a

January | www.USCCA.com 141 LetSKILL BUILDERS Reason FOR THE REAL WORLDRuleby Sara Ryan

142 January | www.USCCA.com o you question whether your shooting is good enough for Dpersonal defense? You should. Most defensive pistol instructors will tell you to never be satisfied with “good enough” when it comes to your family’s protection. They’ll tell you to train harder, train more often and become a master of your pistol. I agree. To be realistic, however, I will acknowledge that most people don’t have the time, budget or desire to commit to the quantity of instruction and range time needed to become true defensive pistol experts. I teach many students who feel blessed to afford a quality pistol and a private lesson, and many others are lucky to get range time once per month. Additionally, I’ve spent the past seven years building my own skills as a shooter and firearms instructor, so I understand the costs of professional instruction and ammunition. I know the stress of trying to improve while being a mom, running Athena’s Armory and maintaining the family budget. The bottom line is that you do as much as you can to develop competent skills. Avoid the temptation to scour YouTube for gunslingers making light- ning-fast shots from all sorts of positions and distances to define a “good level of competence.” Although many of these videos are certainly impressive and entertaining, keep your focus on basic defensive shooting and concealed carry skills. Can you draw and place a few shots accurately in a reasonably quick timeframe? Can you perform a reload or fix a malfunction if you need to and then get your pistol running again? I’ve always looked to the industry’s established experts on defensive pistol shooting for guidance. The skills required to pass the tests listed below have been vetted over decades of practical experience and will serve you well in preparation for defense of yourself or your family. If you are a fairly new shooter, train to develop your draw, reload and malfunction techniques with a professional instructor (and at home using safe dry-fire practice) before attempting Let Reason Rule these skill checks. Lots of practice at

January | www.USCCA.com 143 home will help you avoid frustration and Engagement for Armed Citizens. In addi- you can and use a squatting position potential safety missteps at the range, tion to the written exam, Ayoob requires rather than kneeling; safety is the priority and it will also save you a significant students to pass a shooting qualification here. On the start signal, move to cover amount of money. After you’re at the that is a mixture of various law enforce- or sidestep in your lane and fire two shots range, start simple with the Center Mass ment agencies’ courses of fire. Even standing and then three shots kneeling/ Drill and work up to strings of quick shots if you are totally justified in a defensive squatting, all in less than 15 seconds. before proceeding with more difficult shooting, your mindset and skills will be Repeat for a total of 10 shots fired. skills. called into question by the prosecution, Ideally, all of these skill tests should be and, ideally, as part of your affirmative BILL WILSON’S 5X5 SKILLS TEST performed using your normal everyday defense, you should be able to articulate Bill Wilson, founder of Wilson Combat, carry gear and drawing just as you would and provide documentation to prove how has been in the firearms business for on the street. If range policy prevents you your regular training exceeds that of law nearly 50 years as a respected competitor from drawing from a holster, train from enforcement. Simply put, a document- and innovative gunsmith. Wilson’s com- a low-ready position and simply adjust ed training record will go a long way in petitive drive has produced many popular your time, adding one second per stage demonstrating your qualifications as a drills and skills tests. This well-known test to compensate for a draw stroke. responsibly armed citizen. will give you an idea of how your overall To that end, one way to test and docu- concealed carry skills measure up. CENTER MASS DRILL ment your skill level is to regularly shoot Start facing a standard IDPA target at One of my personal training mentors, the FBI Qualification Course of Fire and 10 yards with your hands at your sides. Don Larson, of Frontline Firearms Train- get it signed and dated by a witness. There are four strings of fire. Record your ing, has defensive pistol students start Use a standard FBI QIT-99 target. Any time for each stage. off with this simple drill. Begin with pis- hit within the "bottle" counts as one point, Stage 1: Draw and fire five shots free- tol at low ready, facing a target that has and a passing score is 48 out of 60 pos- style. a contrasted center portion, such as a sible points. Although law enforcement Stage 2: Draw and fire five shots with GITS target or similar, placed at 6 yards. agencies often provide additional ad- your strong hand only. On the start signal, try to put one shot in vanced training and testing for their field Stage 3: Draw and fire five shots free- the center circle in less than 1.5 seconds. agents, this qualification test serves as style, reload from slide lock and fire five After you can achieve that single shot un- an adequate baseline of proficiency. more shots freestyle. der time consistently, try for under one Stage 1: Fire three shots at 3 yards, Stage 4: Draw and fire four shots to the second. To increase the drill’s difficulty strong hand only, in less than 3 seconds. body and one shot to the head freestyle. as you progress, you can increase the Repeat. Fire three shots with your strong Hits to the head and center circle are distance. hand, switch hands to weak hand only A-zone hits and count for zero penalty After you can land multiple shots on and fire three more shots, all in less than points. Count one point down for each center mass in a reasonably quick time- 8 seconds, for a total of 12 shots fired. hit in the B-zone and three points down frame and have properly trained in your Stage 2: Using both hands, fire three for each hit in the C-zone. Total your draw and reloads, you should be ready shots at 5 yards in less than 3 seconds. points down and calculate one-half sec- to try these skill checks to see where you Repeat three more times for a total of 12 ond of time for each point down. Add stand. I find it most useful to use them shots fired. your penalty points to your actual time, as snapshots for my own self-improve- Stage 3: Using both hands, fire four and that’s your total time/score for the ment rather than competition with other shots from 7 yards in less than 4 sec- drill. shooters. This kind of regular testing and onds. Repeat. Fire four shots, reload, fire Below are Wilson’s suggested scoring documentation of your skill level will help four more shots, all in less than 8 sec- levels, which are best used to bench- you identify weaknesses and establish onds, for a total of 16 shots fired. mark your own skill level over time and do benchmarks for yourself. After you find a Stage 4: Using both hands, fire three not indicate a particular industry rating or weakness, concentrate your range time rounds at 15 yards in less than 6 sec- official title: and training dollars on that particular skill onds. Repeat. Fire four rounds in less Grand Master: 15 seconds or less to make the most gains. than 8 seconds for a total of 10 shots Master: 20 seconds or less fired. Expert: 25 seconds or less FBI QUALIFICATION Stage 5: This stage requires the use of Sharpshooter: 32 seconds or less Massad Ayoob offers students a near- a barricade, and you’ll be firing from 25 Marksman: 41 seconds or less Ph.D.-level class on the aftermath of a yards. If your range does not permit the Novice: 50 seconds or less defensive shooting in MAG40: Rules of use of a barricade, simulate it the best Not Proficient Enough to Carry a Handgun: More than 50 seconds

For the Record... THE 3M TEST Research shows that we retain in memory “10 percent of what we read, 20 percent If you are short on time or ammuni- of what we hear, 30 percent of what we see, 50 percent of what we hear and see, 70 tion, try running the 3M Test — “Marks- percent of what we say and 90 percent of what we say and do.”

144 January | www.USCCA.com manship, Movement and Manipulations” value out of this one, try different pistols you create for your own improvement as — described by Tom Givens in the No- and see how your times and accuracy a shooter. This type of regular testing will vember 2015 Rangemaster newsletter. with each compare. expose your weaknesses and help you Givens has decades of practical ex- focus your training, thus saving you valu- perience in law enforcement and as an IMPROVEMENT IS able time and money. Moreover, the train- instructor, and he modified earlier ver- ALL YOU NEED ing record you create might someday sions of this test to fit the Rangemaster There are many other types of drills, help you in the courtroom if, God forbid, curriculum. It takes only nine shots and skill checks and full qualifications out your skills are ever put to the ultimate test. you should complete it in roughly 15 sec- there for you to try, and you should ask onds or less to be considered proficient. your favorite instructor to provide a few As Givens explains, it “tests movement ideas appropriate to your skill level. Re- off the line of force, rapid presentation gardless of which drills you choose, what from concealment, accurate placement will matter the most are the benchmarks of multiple fast shots, a malfunction rem- edy and an empty gun reload, all under time pressure.” Don’t let this simple test fool you; it is challenging and can be very frustrating. Place a standard IDPA, IPSC or similar target at 5 yards. Start with your handgun loaded with six live rounds — one in the chamber and five in the magazine — and one dummy round in the magazine, and make sure that dummy is at neither the top nor bottom of the magazine. Load a spare magazine with at least three live rounds. (It works best to have someone else load your first magazine or load a few magazines yourself and pick one randomly so you do not know when the dummy round will chamber.) On the start signal, side step, draw and fire until a malfunction (dummy round) occurs. On the malfunction, side step, fix it and continue to fire until the gun runs empty. At slide lock, side step, perform an emergency reload and fire three additional shots. For simplicity’s sake, I recommend pass/fail scoring: Any round outside the highest-value zone is a fail. Not sidestepping on the draw, malfunction or reload is a fail. Any time over 15 seconds is a fail.

HEADHUNTER 6X6 DRILL Veteran instructor and author Gila Hayes suggests that a minimum com- petency for a defensive pistol should be five shots into a 5-inch circle at 5 yards in 5 seconds. I like the way Greg Ellifritz at Active Response Training builds upon this idea with the Headhunter 6x6 Drill. Fire six shots at a 6-inch target at 6 yards in 6 seconds, and repeat the drill six times for consistency. To pass this one, you must put all six shots within the circle under time for all six strings. To get more

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