tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68036679916763026562024-03-11T07:46:46.443-07:00Limatunes' Range DiaryThe opinions, trainings and experiences of a wife, mother and woman with a gun.Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-77113738131427701932015-02-13T13:03:00.001-08:002015-02-13T13:03:27.176-08:00Range Diaries FaceliftThe Limatunes Range Diaries has gotten a facelift! <br /><br /><a href="https://limatunesrangediaries.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Follow the Link. You'll be glad you did! </a><br /><br />See you on the other side. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-13693331033159612202014-12-30T07:17:00.001-08:002014-12-30T11:21:33.485-08:00The Pros and Cons of BabywearingI have three beautiful children. As a parent, my style could be summed up
in what is often referred to as Attachment Parenting. I have practiced
extended breastfeeding, co-sleeping and babywearing with all three of my children. I've also been armed.<br />
<br />
These practices have made for a rewarding, close and loving environment
for my kids but there are some fall backs when it comes to defensive tactics.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/fussy-baby/baby-wearing/benefits-babywearing" target="_blank">The social and developmental benefits of babywearing</a> are often debated
among mommy groups all over the place, neither of which I will discuss here here. If you babywear you know the benefits of it for your
family.<br />
<br />
If you are interested in some basic babywearing and gun-carrying tips, please read <i><a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2009/06/carrying-gun-and-baby.html" target="_blank">Carrying A Gun And A Baby</a>.</i><br />
<br />
What we are going to discuss here is the narrow scope of the pros and cons of babywearing from a purely self-defense standpoint.<br />
<br />
<u>
<b>Pros:</b></u><br />
<br />
<b>- Free Hands</b><br />
One of the best aspects of babywearing is
that it allows for hands-free activity. Fighting, drawing a weapon,
controlling an attacker long enough to gain access to a weapons, etc., are
all easier with two free hands.<br />
<br />
Whether the baby is front or back carried will also have an effect on
how easy it is to work in a particular space or allow access to tools. Babies
too young to sit up on their own are primarily carried in front carriers
and wraps. However, this position limits your range of motion slightly with a child on
your chest and if you carry a defensive tool on the front of your body
they can hinder access to said tool, depending on how high you carry and
the size of your child. It will also completely impede your access to something like a flashbang holster. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/ofvMq51ltYE0OlVsmep7wPs21fRz7ScXahXqxL6Ih1NZ_7FLsVIElB4eokzSSrFFxyOg2A=s400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/ofvMq51ltYE0OlVsmep7wPs21fRz7ScXahXqxL6Ih1NZ_7FLsVIElB4eokzSSrFFxyOg2A=s400" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front Body Carry Makes Center-line Carry More Inaccessible</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Front carrying a baby with a front carry defensive (handgun, knife etc.) system also hinders your
ability to look and reholster your tools. It's not a huge issue if it's a
fight for your life, but it's something to consider.<br />
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</div>
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</div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>- Baby Cannot Be Left Behind</b><br />
This is both a pro and a con (as we will discuss later) but a baby that
is physically strapped to your body obviously cannot be easily left
behind.<br />
<br />
One would think this would never be a concern but it is something that
has happened on several occasions when it comes to violent crime or
other emergency situations. This has a lot to do with the freeze, fight
or flight response. These responses are designed for your personal self-protection and do not concern themselves with the defense of others. It
is possible to leave your child behind in a flight response, but
obviously not if that child is strapped to your body.<br />
<br />
<b>- Baby Is Secure</b><br />
Child snatching is a huge concern for many parents, despite the fact that
<a href="http://news.discovery.com/human/psychology/stranger-child-abductions-actually-very-rare-130514.htm" target="_blank"> it is statistically unlikely to ever occur--especially via a stranger</a>.
That does not mean it cannot and has not happened, however. A baby
attached to your body cannot be snatched either as a means of kidnapping
or to be used as a tool of compliance. There is also no chance that
your child will be accidentally dropped in panic.<br />
<br />
<b>- Movement Is Easier</b><br />
To a degree, movement is easier when you are carrying a baby on your
body. Yes, having an 8-20 lbs. child strapped to your body does degrade
your movement to some point, but it's a lot easier to move around with
your child strapped to your body than with a baby in a stroller. If
trying to escape a burning building I'd absolutely prefer to have my
child strapped to me than in a stroller or in my arms. I would be less
likely to drop my child, get caught up fumbling with my baby and a
door, or have him knocked from my arms by other panicked patrons.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<b><u>Cons:</u></b><br />
<br />
<b>- Holster Systems Can Be Hindered <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/m29tuMVFln4mxfS2uSih8rA8a7OdnXbw3hpG8xpFEYKT9JbS8RmBfbN8qxKxzL1rj5wklQ=s400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/m29tuMVFln4mxfS2uSih8rA8a7OdnXbw3hpG8xpFEYKT9JbS8RmBfbN8qxKxzL1rj5wklQ=s400" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Back Carry Allows More Access to Tools Carried on the Center-line of the body</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b><br />
This is the single most common issue I see with babywearing and carrying. Because of the nature of baby carriers that attach around the waist, over the chest, and across the back, some of the most common carry locations for firearms are compromised or hindered due to the carrier or baby interfering with the holster or draw. Sometimes it's a simpler solution like changing the babywearing method or going to a different holster. Sometimes it means coming up with an entirely different defensive carry system depending on the method of carrying the child. What I have seen in practice is parents compromising access and putting their guns and holsters in places that are impractical and potentially dangerous for a self-defense situation.<br />
<br />
But that will be a blog for another day.<br />
<br />
<b>- Damage To You Means Damage To Baby</b><br />
Herein lies the single most terrifying part of wearing a baby from a
defensive standpoint: If you take damage, it's highly likely your baby
will as well. In other words, babywearing is like pregnancy. While
pregnant and under attack there is nothing you can reasonably be
expected to do to protect your child. The same goes for babywearing.
Because you can't put your baby down or distance yourself and because your baby is so exposed if you are taking fire, it's highly
likely your baby is going to be shot. If you are under a knife attack,
it's likely your baby is going to be cut. If you are being kicked or hit
or punched, it is likely your baby is going to be on the receiving end of those blows as well. <br />
<br />
You could certainly try to shield your baby from harm by turning him or her away and placing your own body between yourself and the attacker, but even that is no guarantee your child will not come to harm.<br />
<br />
As terrifying as that is to consider, it is something that must be addressed. If all of your preventive measures are overlooked and someone chooses to visit violence on you while babywearing you must be aware and prepared for the fact that it will likely mean harm to your child. <br />
<br />
<b>
- Baby Cannot Be Left Behind Or Handed Over</b><br />
As promised, I told you this was both a pro and a con. The con side of
this particular coin is that you cannot leave your child behind to
draw fire or violence away from them. If you are the target and not your
child and the violence is centered on you, there is no quick, easy way
to separate yourself from your child or give your child to someone who
can take him or her out of harm's way. If the fight is on it's going to
require fighting around the child.<br />
<br />
<b>
- Fighting Is Harder</b><br />
Hand-to-hand fighting is hard enough. Doing it with a 10-20 lbs. weight
strapped to your back or front will make it harder. Your center of
gravity is off. Your range of motion is restricted. Your ability to
clench up or ground fight is almost gone. Roundhouse kicks? Front snap
kicks? Vicious knees? All harder with a child strapped to your body. Not
to mention the elevated degree of violence you may need may mean harm to your child.<br />
<br />
<b>
- Running Is Not An Option</b><br />
Let me rephrase: Running is always an option. It's not always a good
option, but it <i>is</i> an option. <a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2013/07/so-you-think-you-can-outrun-him.html" target="_blank">Remember that women often cannot run as fast as men</a>. If you are a man, 20 lbs. of strapped baby will probably hinder you as well.<br />
<br />
If you have an opportunity to escape to safety you absolutely should take it!
However, you have to reasonably understand what your capacity for escape
is when you are carrying a child. Even if you are a runner, your ability
to sprint with a child will be hampered. Try it sometime. <br />
<br />
Thankfully, crime against parents while they carry their babies is still quite low. While it does happen, it's not so common as to be expected. That
being said, it's still a possibility.<br />
<br />
When the pros and cons are weighed exclusively from a defensive
standpoint, babywearing is a terrible defensive tactic and has no real
advantage and lots of disadvantages that can be devastating for both the parent and baby.<br />
<br />
That being said, babywearing does have great developmental, bonding
and even health benefits for the parent and baby. Whether or not one
decides to continue to babywear should be based on all of those factors
as well as risk factors for actual violence.<br />
<br />
There are those who may decide that babywearing increases the
difficulty in defending themselves too much and decide to no longer
babywear. If that's the case, that's fine.<br />
<br />
While I have continued to babywear, I have amended my practices to make the outcome better for the both of us.<br />
<br />
-<b>Be smart about when and where you wear your baby.</b><br />
This should go without saying, but it stands to reason that making smart
decisions about where, when and who you are with when
you babywear is going to help with your defensive options.<br />
<br />
Do you and your husband and your kids all have to go to the grocery
store? Can you or your husband stay home snuggling the baby while the
other goes to the store by him or herself for some alone time and
therefore not have to worry about defensive situations with a child in
tow?<br />
<br />
If required to go some place with a higher rate of violent crime, might
it be better to place your child in a stroller vs babywear? It may seem
counter-intuitive, as parents like to collect their children to their
persons when they feel threatened, but from a purely defensive
perspective it may not be the best tactic.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
-<b>Have a means to get your baby off of you as quickly as possible.</b><br />
This will have a lot to do with your type of chosen baby carrier. Buckle
carriers are quicker to get in and out of than wraps, so given the choice
between the two you might want to choose the one that is easier to get
out of.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/692XFKYEo7q1OcrIG8-GePZbSIVNk4qwXJBSrGBUkOzUZysRdpECuvX7q9Bryo75EkK5-A=s400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/692XFKYEo7q1OcrIG8-GePZbSIVNk4qwXJBSrGBUkOzUZysRdpECuvX7q9Bryo75EkK5-A=s400" height="129" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Safety Cutter on the Benchmade Triage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Make no mistake about it, in an immediate, violent attack on your life
you are not going to have time to remove your baby from your person.
However, immediately after or if in a lull or in other emergency
situations, you might need to get your baby off you and quickly. Carrying
items like safety cutters or seatbelt cutters for straps or wraps may
be an advisable option. Be sure to carry them in a location they can be
quickly accessed.<br />
<br />
-<b>Decrease the clutter you carry.</b><br />
If you babywear, it's imperative that all other loads be kept to a
minimum. Any additional bag will be that much more of a hindrance. Keep
your on-body carry to your baby, pepper spray, your gun, your safety cutter and/or
knife, money, identification and carry permit (if required), and phone.
Avoid putting your gun in any off-body carry system, and if you must have
another bag for diapers and baby gear keep that gear to a minimum and
be ready to ditch the bag.<br />
<br />
-<b>Increase your personal boundaries.</b><br />
It's not easy to keep people away from you. We live in a world where
people will encroach upon your personal space and it's unrealistic to
think you will be able to keep a ten foot radius of empty space around
you at all times. That being the case, it's still important to be aware
of who gets within your space and control it as best you are able.<br />
<br />
Move away from people if you can, be alert and aware of those who are
around you and tell people to stop and back up who make you
uncomfortable. Most people who do not intend harm, but may also think you are a little nutso, will respect your request for distance.
Those who do not are of more concern and may lead to my next point...<br />
<br />
-<b>Carry a less-than-lethal option.</b><br />
This is not a suggestion as much as a command. Go! Do! Get pepper spray and carry it! Period.<br />
<br />
Not everyone who is a threatening presence deserves to be, or can legally be, shot. But they might deserve a good dose of pepper spray. As an
individual who should now be able to articulate the reasons why you
cannot fight or escape with a baby strapped to your body, you may be able
to explain why you preempted by pepper spraying someone who was
escalating and making you feel threatened.<br />
<br />
This absolutely does not mean that you get to go around pepper spraying
people who make you feel uncomfortable. It is, however, an advisable
alternative to going hands-on or escalating immediately to lethal force.<br />
<br />
<b>-Practice your defensive options with your chosen babywearing options.</b><br />
Go to the range with your wrap or baby carrier and a weighted <b>baby-doll</b> or
bag of kitty litter. Practice drawing and shooting, moving, magazine
changes, and single-handed shooting. If you find errors in your carry system work them out now. <br />
<br />
Babywearing and carrying a gun may not be the best tactical practice but that
doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be done. If you choose to do it, make sure you do it as wisely as possible. Take some practical steps to ensure both you and your baby are as safe and secure as possible. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-37533035469101342252014-11-25T06:21:00.000-08:002014-11-25T07:00:20.900-08:00Cold Weather CarryI live in Iowa. I grew up in Wisconsin. I'm also 100 lbs of skin and bones. I'm also one of those unfortunate people who can freeze an Eskimo out of an igloo with her feet even if I wear socks and slippers. <br />
<br />
In short, I know cold. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2GUekXhNaru7-AA4kLkhyphenhyphenOq58qdoTvaWdRJC7Fqiy14No72XR6-9yafmNP_gGTWxBeVuVjWqwaj7KJf4RtSmJ6cFa5twjZB9oqF0zPajLf6c21-G6OsMltuH7iJyH6y8RJUPVj-krnkc/s1600/jello.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2GUekXhNaru7-AA4kLkhyphenhyphenOq58qdoTvaWdRJC7Fqiy14No72XR6-9yafmNP_gGTWxBeVuVjWqwaj7KJf4RtSmJ6cFa5twjZB9oqF0zPajLf6c21-G6OsMltuH7iJyH6y8RJUPVj-krnkc/s1600/jello.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a lot of layers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the winter I wear more layers than my grandmother's rainbow jello. Because of this I've discovered that getting to a concealed carry firearm under all those layers can be difficult.<br />
<br />
It all started at IDPA last year. It was cold. Really cold. I was wearing enough layers to keep me comfortable but I noticed an interesting trend. Even though all shots had to be taken from concealment, right before shooters came to the firing line they would unzip their coats, take off their gloves or additional sweaters and otherwise get themselves in the most favorable position to draw from concealment. Make no mistake about it. I was doing it myself. It is a game and everyone wants the best chances of winning. Even with all that prep the cold weather gear still slowed plenty of people down.<br />
<br />
Once the stage was over you would see people putting gloves and sweaters back on, putting on their gloves and zipping their coats back up while they waited for the next stage.<br />
<br />
Most people aren't standing on ranges for several hours in the freezing cold. Lots of people do run around with their coats unzipped, no gloves or multiple layers to fight with. But that's not always the case. If it's particularly cold people wear gloves and zip coats. They wear layers and many don't consider what that means for drawing their firearms. <br />
<br />
So, I set out to find a good way to deal with cold weather attire and carry.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Pocket Gun</b></span><br />
The hands-down fastest and most practical means of cold weather carry is the pocket gun carried in your coat pocket. You have almost immediate access and can even walk around with your hand on your gun. Coat pockets are usually larger and can accommodate a variety of guns and give you time to access your primary carry gun if you choose to carry both. <br />
<br />
Be sure you are following all of the rules of pocket carry such as getting a pocket holster, making sure the pocket is empty of any and all other debris before putting the gun in the pocket and making sure your pocket gun is snag free. <br />
<br />
Not everyone can carry in a coat pocket, however. Some coats don't have pockets (ridiculous, I know), some pockets (particularly pockets on women's coats) can be too small or people may only have one gun that won't fit in a pocket. Whatever your reason, if you can't pocket carry be aware that cold weather gear is likely going to slow down your access to your gun but there are ways to maximize access and still stay warm. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Concealment Isn't the Problem</b></span><br />
A benefit of cold weather carry is that the larger coats, shirts and sweaters allow for better concealment of a larger variety of guns. The only problems can be if you go somewhere hot and want to shed layers or if you put on so many layers you significantly down your access to that gun.<br />
<br />
Before you leave the house make sure you can be comfortable at room temperatures so you're not the odd man out sweating in a heavy jacket because you carried a gun you couldn't conceal without it. If you choose to pocket carry make sure you have a plan for stowing that gun or transitioning it to your body if you are going to end up putting your coat in an unsecured closet, etc.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpEHmBBBwgVYFgsDoDVJQpvd2a5-u_Oar0O5ffnS4hVuqQHatFwDcMixuwc2vDbbQfuiF5Q0D5Tr_MltXnZchPgtuILC2_nOa9ChrkgKbplfFuZo7W5YXU8oWd_Hm9a69zIGDxz4cudgI/s1600/coatvestaiwbcarry.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpEHmBBBwgVYFgsDoDVJQpvd2a5-u_Oar0O5ffnS4hVuqQHatFwDcMixuwc2vDbbQfuiF5Q0D5Tr_MltXnZchPgtuILC2_nOa9ChrkgKbplfFuZo7W5YXU8oWd_Hm9a69zIGDxz4cudgI/s1600/coatvestaiwbcarry.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coat and Vest: Dressed for the Range</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Waistband Carry</b></span><br />
Second to pocket carry, waistband carry seems to give the best access and speed. <br />
<br />
To test this theory I met my good friend, fellow training junkie and Krav instructor, Dave, at the shooting range. We ran a total of eight very simple scenarios. With a shot timer we timed how long it took to draw and put one good hit on target about four yards away from concealment with a coat on. <br />
<br />
The scenarios were as follows:<br />
<ul>
<li>Draw and shoot (D/S) from Appendix Inside the WaistBand (AIWB) with coat on and zipped.</li>
<li>D/S from AIWB with coat on and unzipped but concealed under shirt. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>D/S from strong-side Outside the WaistBand (OWB) holster with coat on and zipped. </li>
<li>D/S from strong-side OWB with coat on and unzipped.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>D/S from OWB positioned under an additional layer of clothing under a coat (zipped and unzipped). </li>
<li>D/S from OWB positioned over an additional layer of clothing under a coat (zipped and unzipped).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>D/S from the flashbang bra holster under a shirt and coat (zipped and unzipped). No, my Krav instructor did not do the Flashbang portion of these scenarios. And because he didn't have an additional cover garment his shooting OWB was included in "OWB over an additional layer" since he didn't have to get under two cover garments. </li>
</ul>
<br />
We also had very different coats. His was more of a cotton jacket with a zipper that came down a little lower than his waist. My coat was an insulated Columbia coat that came down to below my hip. When zipped mine was considerably tighter on me than his was around him. Even accounting for the differences in coat styles it was still slower to draw from his zipped coat than unzipped or my zipped vs unzipped coat and the numbers seemed to represent that between the both of us and our averages.<br />
<br />
It's also important to note that I've spent eight years drawing and shooting from behind my hip and only about two weeks and four range days (max) drawing and shooting from AIWB. I've spent many more days drawing from the flashbang than AIWB. Conversely, Dave spends almost no time shooting OWB from behind the hip or strong-side and the majority of his practice and training is from AIWB. We hoped that mixing the data would cancel out any biases for any one particular form of carry. <br />
<br />
We also performed each scenario without any practice sessions to keep the data in its rawest form. This is the beginning of our cold weather season. We were both pretty slow while adjusting to our cover garments. Our times improved as we continued to draw and shoot but we limited ourselves to 5 shots per scenario. <br />
<br />
Here are the results:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWPCnAnBY6qzXBSj0c6ePvsPUJHuixJB0Rb9s_-81BsJc0XdL_Wdk3KiBB8zG57nbtDqqupvkR0Hp6HX18l9xI0Enmhk3psa89Qob8Con06jvtgMXH8HMnI6LxhEsjaRIyM1SLRs79HWm/s1600/coldweatherdata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWPCnAnBY6qzXBSj0c6ePvsPUJHuixJB0Rb9s_-81BsJc0XdL_Wdk3KiBB8zG57nbtDqqupvkR0Hp6HX18l9xI0Enmhk3psa89Qob8Con06jvtgMXH8HMnI6LxhEsjaRIyM1SLRs79HWm/s1600/coldweatherdata.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>The fastest draw with shot on target was with an OWB holster over a vest (or in Dave's case, over shirt) and drawn from behind the strong-side hip (2.319 seconds) with the coat unzipped.</b> It was a half second (0.669) faster than the next fastest method which was AIWB with the coat unzipped (2.988). Concealment was still a requirement for AIWB, however. I used an insulated vest as my cover garment. Dave used his t-shirt.<br />
<br />
When the coat was zipped more than a second (1.379) was added to the OWB draw and less than half a second (0.416) was added to AIWB for a total average draw time of 3.404 seconds. <br />
<br />
<b>The difference in drawing between AIWB and OWB with a zipped vs unzipped coat makes AIWB a little more consistent across both scenarios. </b>That's important if you live in an area where you may need to zip your coat in order to stay warm. <b>The fastest draw and shoot time from a zipped coat was AIWB at 3.404 seconds. </b><br />
<br />
As you can see, when we timed the flashbang with a coat unzipped the times were within a second (give or take a tenth here or there) even though it was still the longest "unzipped" time of 3.386 seconds.<b> Zipping the coat slowed the down the flashbang draw by nearly two seconds (1.928) for a total of 5.314 seconds.</b> The first couple of draws I did from the flashbang with a zipped coat over top were over six seconds long. By the third draw I figured out that unzipping the coat and drawing was about a second faster and safer and it brought down the average draw time. Taking the time to unzip the coat was not a scenario I found favorable, however.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-U4lHawFvEyG_BGF3BJbwjMCCyj6DpsuqRozefE3LV0sDpQwxHZIBibtChYGwTQX2_5DdylZFU9-KFKaKmftI8MokWTWSaW_j61X4tZLt-iQA0H6eoEbje8GgrS1SViPCHC_gVcUgXb_/s1600/behindhipaiwb.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-U4lHawFvEyG_BGF3BJbwjMCCyj6DpsuqRozefE3LV0sDpQwxHZIBibtChYGwTQX2_5DdylZFU9-KFKaKmftI8MokWTWSaW_j61X4tZLt-iQA0H6eoEbje8GgrS1SViPCHC_gVcUgXb_/s1600/behindhipaiwb.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gun Between Garments </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The other unique scenario we tried was adding an additional garment (one or both used as a concealment garment). Many people wear additional vests or sweaters underneath of coats and jackets and I wanted to see the difference between putting the gun between those garments or underneath of all of them. <b>Drawing and shooting from under two garments with OWB holster with the coat zipped was coming in at 4.288 seconds.</b> It was a half second (0.59) slower than drawing and shooting from the holster under the zipped coat and not under the second garment.<br />
<br />
<b>The difference between the jacket being zipped and unzipped was almost a second and a half (1.379) with an average draw and shoot time of 3.166 seconds. </b><br />
<br />
Towards the end of our five draws both of us were getting around 2 second shoot times with AIWB and OWB carry but when adding the extra cover garment or the flashbang the times stayed solidly in the 3+ second times. I have no doubt that both of us could get those times down with practice but one of the reasons we chose to do it cold was because a lot of people don't practice drawing in different/additional attire and I wanted to reflect that in the data. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Vehicle Carry in the Cold</b></span><br />
Where AIWB started to really pull out in front was when drawing from a seated position or in a vehicle while in your cold weather gear. Behind the hip or strong-side carry provided very limited access from a seated, car position with a coat on. Even with the coat unzipped it was a challenge to get to the gun even when I took the seatbelt off. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWv074kXVX1yAUe-oDb2XI_sx18MJJax_VunqMSYTjL-nLYcjH5aLxuMWN6nEf_3MZnibt4_5HmfZlYCnL2dUgL641u71qH7XG_8-5SQlroJ40yDrrfEd-6nPgPjOMv7gyfAeStBZGOde/s1600/IWBbehindhipcarseatbelt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWv074kXVX1yAUe-oDb2XI_sx18MJJax_VunqMSYTjL-nLYcjH5aLxuMWN6nEf_3MZnibt4_5HmfZlYCnL2dUgL641u71qH7XG_8-5SQlroJ40yDrrfEd-6nPgPjOMv7gyfAeStBZGOde/s1600/IWBbehindhipcarseatbelt.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behind the hip carry in a vehicle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJc_9ovZr54vk_TIWvIHsAZUhvr9-h2smpM79RX5XwUHXtzJiVLuBCKb97Gn51_j-tLWkydfquJpPZodvovQcc9d5-1zsgUxj0P75O2ddC9gMaNKc-xEODwkEvaUFkS8qEY26QYeG4BZQ/s1600/IWBbehindhipcar.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJc_9ovZr54vk_TIWvIHsAZUhvr9-h2smpM79RX5XwUHXtzJiVLuBCKb97Gn51_j-tLWkydfquJpPZodvovQcc9d5-1zsgUxj0P75O2ddC9gMaNKc-xEODwkEvaUFkS8qEY26QYeG4BZQ/s1600/IWBbehindhipcar.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seatbelt off, accessing behind the hip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
With AIWB, however, I was able to put the gun over a vest and drape my coat over it. Even with the seatbelt on it was far more accessible than behind the hip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciV8M9LthI81ZMkTRje-8NnIZgKBzFWsZwZte0vp3blOd4-jIJHqG4TQ7GyOr-uZA4blgfGeHCjt19OkNBtZzqbhCoggcBS7KyLiVY8xuD8swVoJtJuJlJcoQ5zn2xNpjbYinVc-mcvgP/s1600/seatbeltaiwb.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciV8M9LthI81ZMkTRje-8NnIZgKBzFWsZwZte0vp3blOd4-jIJHqG4TQ7GyOr-uZA4blgfGeHCjt19OkNBtZzqbhCoggcBS7KyLiVY8xuD8swVoJtJuJlJcoQ5zn2xNpjbYinVc-mcvgP/s1600/seatbeltaiwb.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AIWB carry in a vehicle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What It Means</b></span><br />
Dave and I are pretty regular folks trying something
relatively new to the both of us. We produced our own unique numbers. If
you were to run similar scenarios you may get different numbers based
on your experience and training. On the surface, if zipping the coat was
something that was never required, it would appear that strong-side
carry with no additional cover garment was the fastest way to draw and
fire from concealment under a coat. However, if the coat ever needs to
be zipped then AIWB carry shows a time advantage. If you're looking for
the most consistent drawing time with a zipped or unzipped coat AIWB pulls out as being a little faster.<br />
<br />
For many reasons people are not able to pull off AIWB carry. If that's the case behind the hip is certainly viable. If carrying behind the hip I would modify my carry in such a way as to attempt to eliminate the need for zipping my coat or try my hardest to find a way to pocket carry. That may mean wearing an insulated vest and making sure the additional garments are securely tucked behind the gun for best access (as seen in the image above). I particularly love the insulated vest because I can shed by coat when getting warm but stay very toasty even with my coat unzipped. It's been a good addition as far as my own personal carry is concerned.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcy7u-HDEJi85NqtKFQqLGYb-ghGLnzTDuCVZNZag9ynVzmbyewNpe2xyK0kpijnXPXs8MZTBNST-glamQtmQuuGLxnKS9ecrdi21HlM4YducgyHiltFG7bZtGb_cPcYuESGhOJ0gvQbKd/s1600/openfrontaiwb4.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcy7u-HDEJi85NqtKFQqLGYb-ghGLnzTDuCVZNZag9ynVzmbyewNpe2xyK0kpijnXPXs8MZTBNST-glamQtmQuuGLxnKS9ecrdi21HlM4YducgyHiltFG7bZtGb_cPcYuESGhOJ0gvQbKd/s1600/openfrontaiwb4.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AIWB under vest</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If I wear a dark colored shirt I can also get away with keeping the vest unzipped and have an almost as much instant access as open carry even carrying AIWB. It seems to be the best all-around option for me. If that were not an option I would likely go back to IWB behind the hip carry with the same type of cover garment. This type of outfit would also give the most concealment and access for a specialty holster like the flashbang while still attempting to stay fairly warm.<br />
<br />
If you do wear a specialty holster, get your coat on and go shooting. Again, with
practice you might make something work out but it's worth it to go out
to the range with a shot timer and see what happens with your own gun and your own clothing options. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Other Stuff</b></span><br />
Something we didn't test was the addition of gloves, etc. You could go crazy adding additional variables into the mix. It stands to reason, however, that one would do well to do a few practice sessions with gloves on. You'd be surprised how many gloves won't fit into trigger guards or how they might get hung up in some of the controls. <br />
<br />
Also, in the interest of having the most access to their guns some people dress lighter than they should for cold weather. If you are constantly in and out of stores or just going from a warm car to a warm office you may be tempted to leave the heavy coat at home. In emergencies extreme temperatures can be deadly. Even if you don't wear the coat all the time at least bring it with you. You're far more likely to get into a cold weather emergency than need a gun. Not having adequate protection from the elements (particularly if you live in the northern states) can be dangerous. You can have the best of both worlds.<br />
<br />
How do you make cold weather carry work?Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-56822519557569473452014-11-19T23:24:00.000-08:002014-11-25T06:23:32.432-08:00Situational Awareness With ChildrenThere's a funny advertisement about how children are time thieves and parents are willing victims. It's a humorous ad that rings with quite a bit of truth. In addition to time, children als<br />
o steal attention, energy, patience, and maybe a little sanity.<br />
<br />
Situational awareness has been a hot topic on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LimatunesRangeDiary" target="_blank">facebook page</a> of late. My goal has been to better represent its purpose and limitations. While talking about situational awareness a mother asked whether or not situational awareness was possible with children in tow.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8QrJvh9-0c_eZTbLjoJeMicLpzEpeB9Hlj7xGG5rLMWYdvNRBTidNDY6_MB_8dn8U4VYgEUnZZSKWRi9_qZd5alH0FMUIEfZfkZAD1poWufPrCX_Krf5BABsqy9WbxgozofHxNZ5AUw3/s1600/Photo+on+2001-12-31+at+18.09+%233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8QrJvh9-0c_eZTbLjoJeMicLpzEpeB9Hlj7xGG5rLMWYdvNRBTidNDY6_MB_8dn8U4VYgEUnZZSKWRi9_qZd5alH0FMUIEfZfkZAD1poWufPrCX_Krf5BABsqy9WbxgozofHxNZ5AUw3/s1600/Photo+on+2001-12-31+at+18.09+%233.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My two oldest being goofballs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My answer, I presume, was not much help to her.<br />
<br />
I said, "Yes. No. Maybe."<br />
<br />
I promised to clarify and herein is that clarification.<br />
<br />
In order to answer the question more thoroughly we must define what situational awareness is. At its core, it is a skill. Like any skill, it must be practiced.<br />
<br />
Some people are born gifted with situational awareness, most are not. Training can be acquired to help people interpret what they are seeing and what to do with that data. Like any other skill, however, practice falls to the individual attempting to be more aware of their surroundings. <br />
<br />
Can you be situationally aware with children?<br />
<br />
<u><b>Maybe.</b></u><br />
<br />
That depends a lot on the person attempting to be aware--in this case, the parent. <br />
<br />
What kind of situational awareness did that parent have before they had children? Were they the type to walk down stairs or into water fountains or did they have a sense of their surroundings and what was going on? What was the focus of their situational awareness?<br />
<br />
People interested in self defense tend to look at their surroundings in a far more critical light of potential danger from violent crime and other environmental hazards. <br />
<br />
It makes sense that people are are already alert and aware are easier to guide toward defensive situational awareness. On the other hand, there are the <b><u>No</u></b> people who couldn't tell you the color of the car they drive to work every day. They might have a little further to go and must <a href="http://www.itstactical.com/intellicom/mindset/3-effective-techniques-to-train-your-situational-awareness-and-recognize-change/" target="_blank">first practice awareness in general</a> before it can be <a href="http://www.activeresponsetraining.net/situational-awareness-for-the-ccw-permit-holder" target="_blank">directed to any one area such as self defense</a>. They may be completely overwhelmed when asked to be aware while also caring for a child.<br />
<br />
Take an aware individual, train them what to look for and give them children and I say, <u><b>Yes!</b></u> They absolutely can be aware with children--although there may be an adjustment period.<br />
<br />
Children, especially really little ones, suck attention as easily as they suck milk. If they aren't demanding it with screams to be fed, changed, burped or held we are giving it to them willingly while we lovingly watch them sleep, smile, coo and play. It is easy (or should be easy) to allow your child to get 100% of your attention. A parent (in my opinion) should specifically structure times when they purposefully give their children 100% of their attention. In general, however, that time and place should be of the parents time and choosing as to make sure it is appropriate and you are secure. <br />
<br />
One cannot simply kneel down in the middle of the street and give their child 100% attention to look at the pretty penny on the ground when a truck is barreling down on them. It may also not be wise to gaze playfully at your child at the park while overlooking the strange individual stalking you or to put your full attention into your child's temper tantrum and miss exit signs and safe havens for emergency situations like fire and weather.<br />
<br />
Before you give your child all of your attention ask yourself these questions: <br />
<ol>
<li><b>Are we reasonably safe?</b></li>
<li><b>Who is near me?</b></li>
<li><b>How do we get out of here?</b></li>
</ol>
<br />
In the example I gave above, the middle of the street is not a safe place to stop and talk about the joys of copper. Another example might be going to the park. It may be a safe place provided it is well maintained but you may take a moment to mentally catalog the individuals there, who they are with and what they are doing. Other parents with children are to be expected. Make note of people who aren't accompanied by children (male or female). Note any and all escape routes (particularly unconventional ones) and take moments to periodically update that information. <br />
<br />
There are times and places where it's far easier to give your child your full, undivided attention because you have far more control of the place and time. At home where the location can be secured, you intimately know the individuals in that location and you have already devised a fairly unchanging escape plan is one of the best places to exchange quality attention time with your kids. <br />
<br />
Do you have any situational awareness to speak of? If not, now's the time to start practicing. It's impossible to have perfect situational awareness at all times, so don't get frustrated when you find yourself struggling. There will also be times when your kids will steal your attention unexpectedly. That's okay. Keep working at it.<br />
<br />
If you're already situationally aware but not sure how to incorporate your kids, here are some tips that might help:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Think of yourself as your child's bodyguard. </b></li>
</ul>
Hired bodyguards don't spend a whole lot of time looking at the person they are guarding because the threat doesn't come from that individual. The threat comes from around you. Be looking around you. <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>When your child is demanding your attention, decide if it's an emergency or something that can wait until you are in a better location. </b></li>
</ul>
A child who has fallen and broken his arm is having an emergency. He needs to be dealt with. A child who is screaming because you aren't allowing him to have a candy bar can be dealt with somewhere else (even if you have to drag him there). <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>If you can't look at your children, touch them or have them touch you.</b></li>
</ul>
Hold hands. If you only have two hands and more than three children or want a hand or both hands free have your children hold your bag, the stroller, a cart or your clothes.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Incorporate your children into your awareness.</b></li>
</ul>
<a href="http://growingupguns.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/making-i-spy-a-useful-awareness-game-for-your-child/" target="_blank">Play awareness games like ISpy</a>. Have the older children tell you everything they see behind you while you strap the younger ones into seats or load groceries. Make games out of finding all of the exit signs, fire extinguishers and AEDs. Ask them to count how many people are in the room or cars in a parking lot. Ask them where they might hide if there was a bad guy, etc. <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Trust your child's instincts and teach your children to trust them as well. </b></li>
</ul>
When your child shies away from an individual or tells you they don't like a certain circumstance, as much as possible, err on the side of following the child's lead. They have a strong sense about people. <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Make yourself known. </b></li>
</ul>
If you live in or frequent the same areas and see the same people over and over again introduce yourself and your children. If there's an emergency they can be helpful in reconnecting you with your children or feel more comfortable alerting you to strange things happening. They will also be able to better identify strangers around your children. <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Know your children and plan for their needs. </b></li>
</ul>
I have a 5 month-old a 2 year-old and a 5 year-old. My youngest is not mobile. If I want him to move I have to move him or give him to someone who can move him for me. My little girl is independent and opinionated but still requires contact with her mom or dad in public to feel safe. She will not run away from me or her father if she feels threatened. I will need to carry her with me, give her to someone who can carry her or leave her to draw attention away from her if need be. My oldest is able to understand the concepts of danger. If given specific commands I trust him to be able to run, hide or escape on command. As my children get older their roles in their own defense and that of their siblings may change. Determining their levels of understanding and response takes constant evaluation on my part in addition to mock drills. Your child may be old enough to understand making emergency calls or be trusted with getting his or her siblings to safety or they might be handicapped and need more assistance. Take those things into account and plan for them. <br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Strategically place yourself. </b></li>
</ul>
Sit where you can see entrances and exits. Sit closer to exits (particularly ones that are not also entrances). Park where you have the best views of both the store and blind spots.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Be mindful of what you carry. </b></li>
</ul>
Parents (especially parents with kids still in diapers) tend to carry a lot of stuff. As much as possible, try to limit what you carry with you to limit what you are needing to juggle in a time of need or what might potentially attract the attention of someone looking to victimize you. <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.activeresponsetraining.net/are-your-instincts-putting-your-child-in-danger" target="_blank"><b>Be aware that the best response may mean leaving or drawing attention away from your children.</b></a> </li>
</ul>
Depending on the type of emergency of violence coming against you it is important to note that the safest place for your child might not be with you. In order to increase their chance of survival you might have to give them to a stranger or push them away while you draw violence toward yourself and away from them. Start thinking of scenarios where leaving your children might be the best option for their survival and when it might not.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Decide if your exit plan will accommodate strollers and baby carriers.</b></li>
</ul>
When you enter a building, immediately start thinking about how you and your children might make a hasty exit and whether or not you will be able to do that with the gear you may have brought in. If you have three children or more it might be easier to pile them all on a stroller and run them out. On the other hand, if you need to escape through a narrow or unconventional place that a stroller won't fit through you might have to ditch the stroller. It may mean pushing them so far and carrying the rest of the way, but consider circumstances where you might have to ditch the baby gear. <br />
<br />
Situational awareness with children is possible if you can build off of existing awareness and tailor it to fit your needs as a family. <br />
<br />
How might you increase awareness while out and about with your children? <br /><br /><i>A special thank you to <a href="http://www.corneredcat.com/" target="_blank">Kathy Jackson</a> for all her good advice over the years.</i>Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-87144033346655565512014-10-28T07:08:00.000-07:002014-10-28T07:19:10.359-07:00Situational Awareness: The New TalismanI posted something on Facebook that looked a lot like this:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Situational Awareness</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://themojocompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/tumblr_lwru33NE821r803nno1_500.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://themojocompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/tumblr_lwru33NE821r803nno1_500.jpg" height="268" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, so it's a phrase, not a word. You get the point.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">P</span>eople got all bent out of shape, jumping to the conclusion that I am against situational awareness. I challenge anyone to find evidence of me recommending people walk around with their heads firmly planted up their butts. <br />
<br />
It's not that I don't like situational awareness. In fact, I love it! It sparks interesting conversations. It allows you to enjoy your environment. It keeps you engaged. It can even save your life.<br />
<br />
Situational awareness is a really good thing. It's just being mishandled. Or misrepresented. A lot of weight is being put on its shoulders. Instead of being another great tool, it's becoming something of a talisman that people are pulling out and using as an excuse to berate, to not train, to have sloppy carry methods, etc.<br />
<br />
Situational awareness is the ability to scan an environment for items or actions that could be potentially dangerous. It allows us to alert to those items and behaviors and activate one's capacity to make intelligent decisions and actions in regards to that data based on one's training and experience. <br />
<br />
Situational awareness does not make the untrained and unprepared better at responding to that data.<br />
<br />
<i><b>If he'd had better situational awareness, that wouldn't have happened.</b></i><br />News flash: people get hurt. They get victimized. Sometimes there's nothing that can be done to stop it. <br />
<br />
Yes, there are legitimate cases where having better situational awareness could have at least let someone be aware that danger was close. In regards to people who walk into traffic, down flights of stairs or into fountains because they weren't paying attention, there's not much lacking but situational awareness. It doesn't take a lot of sense and training to walk around a fountain instead of into it. <br />
<br />
In the realm of self defense, however, seeing the potential attack does not mean the outcome would be different. <br />
<br />
If you see the truck or the rapist of the burglar or the axe-wielding maniac and you don't have any capacity to do anything with that data and change your situation you'll still get ran over, raped, burglarized or chopped to pieces. <br />
<br />
Situational awareness is only as good as it's ability to alert you <u><b><i>in addition to</i></b></u> activating your capacity to do something with that information.<br />
<br />
<i><b>I use situational awareness. I don't need to keep one in the chamber (or carry a gun, or know hand-to-hand skills, etc) because I'll always have time because I'll always see it coming. </b></i><br />We've discussed what situational awareness is and what it isn't and what its limits are. Now we have to admit to ourselves that situational awareness is not infallible. <br />
<br />
We will not (cannot) always see it coming. We do not have eyes on the backs of our heads. Our eyes are only capable of focusing on one thing at a time. We also are capable of misreading any number of situations. Even when we recognize those situations as being dangerous we don't always allow that data to activate our capacity to do anything about it via a nifty little trick I like to call <u><i><b>DENIAL</b></i><b></b></u>. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Let's go back to capacity, however. Let's say you see the danger but don't have the capacity to respond to it. That capacity might be because of mechanics--your arm is pinned, shot, broken, protecting your head and you cannot physically put a round in the chamber; your gun is stuffed so far down your pants in ubber-deep concealment to the point it is inaccessible; you are getting your head pounded into the pavement because you tried to go for your gun and got punched in the face and your draw stuffed and now have no idea how to get out of that situation and the lights are dimming. <br />
<br />
That capacity might also be because of time--it takes you 2.5 seconds to draw, rack and fire but the guy who's fighting you is going to kill you in 2 seconds. <br />
<br />
You don't always see the danger coming. Even if you do, if you lack capacity, you may be no better off with that knowledge. <br />
<br />
In short, situational awareness is not a substitute. It is not a substitute for good equipment. It's not a substitute for common sense and it's certainly not a substitute for good training and practice.<br />
<br />
Use good situational awareness! But give it substance to fall back on. </div>
Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-5414527799940156072014-10-20T22:28:00.001-07:002014-10-20T22:28:05.996-07:00Self Evaluation and GoalsIt's not quite the end of the year but that's not stopping me from starting to highlight my road map for the future.<br />
<br />
I decided about a year ago that I have no greater passion (as far as a vocation is concerned) than that of self-defense, be it armed or unarmed. I also have no greater passion than to share that with others, be that through writing or via instructing. I have made it a goal of mine to become an advanced firearms instructor.<br />
<br />
Some life destinations are easier to map out than others. If I wanted to be a doctor I know which degrees I would have to get, the system is pretty well set up. Firearms instructing is a little more fluid. There's no set standard to what makes someone advanced, nor is there clear agreement on what it means to be advanced. Is it high shooting scores in competition? Is it a training resume a mile long? And where do I fit into it all? How far have I come so I might be able to find out how far I need to go?<br />
<br />
People have a tendency to over estimate their own skills and abilities and rank in the scheme of things. I'm a regular person. But I'm not a dumb regular person. So, to more accurately gauge my own standing and becomes I'm a very visual person, I made this graph:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Pf6Qah8B4U68qCYLLQy4heL-BymuEpG1VuHZ0ArQPWRLwFXC7uxoyJ4BTX0JDSO4MyTyqX6_5gP8n2-bWgnZBtIZuvrGKHOEEWBmfMdwmN7D7F0lOp_P4Qb_IzQ6_pLJs6O4dMrUmWlM/s1600/Self+Eval.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Pf6Qah8B4U68qCYLLQy4heL-BymuEpG1VuHZ0ArQPWRLwFXC7uxoyJ4BTX0JDSO4MyTyqX6_5gP8n2-bWgnZBtIZuvrGKHOEEWBmfMdwmN7D7F0lOp_P4Qb_IzQ6_pLJs6O4dMrUmWlM/s1600/Self+Eval.jpg" height="154" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I figure myself to be somewhere on the precipice between beginner and intermediate, feeling much safer to assume myself lower in skill than above. Probably because lower is exactly where I am. <br />
<br />
<b>Practice</b><br />
Why am I not further along? Because I haven't practiced the lessons I've learned.<br />
<br />
I have a lot of head knowledge that is serving me very well in theory but I've not gotten out there and worked the work enough for it to be recalled as "second nature."<br />
<br />
A perfect example was my Extreme Close Quarters class. One year ago this month I took that class fully expecting to be able to glean the knowledge, take it home and work it until I couldn't get it wrong. I was in a perfect place to do so as well. Both my husband and my martial arts instructor took the class with me. We could all go home and be on the same page. We could all work the skills over and over again until they were ingrained. I was so excited about working the work and taking that work to force-on-force scenarios in classes, and even out into competition.<br />
<br />
And the day I got home from that class I found out I was pregnant with our youngest son.<br />
<br />
Having to drop out of martial arts and any other aggressive force on force work shortly thereafter hit my retention of that class hard. I have more of the theory still in my head, not a lot of the practice. <br /><br />The same is true of my room clearing skills. Having worked them only a select number of times I still make errors on my drop outs and use of cover. I also have to take far too long to recognize blind spots and favorable angles for clearing obstructions.<br />
<br /> <br />
I'm not even going into my team-work.<br />
<br />
These are all classes I've taken and learned so much from, but learning without practicing really isn't much of an advancement. It's more of a baby step.<br />
<br />Working those skills combined with simply running the gun as fast, aggressively, accurately and smartly as I can, combined with more education in the legal aspects of self defense, less-than-lethal and empty-hand and I feel like I'll be on my way to something similar to my goal. <br /><br />Truth be told, my plan-old gun work could use some serious fine tuning from time to time. <br />
<br /><b>What I Don't Know I Don't Know</b><br />The other reason I evaluated myself as being somewhere in the bottom is because I still don't know what I don't know. And that can account for a LOT. It's really easy to think you're on your way to some place great but once you achieve your first level of success you realize the mile hike you thought it was going to take to your destination just because a double marathon. <br />
<br />
I don't know all of the skills I'm missing. I don't know what kind of experience will help me on my goal aside from the obvious experience in classrooms, competition and more classes and practice. I don't know what I don't know.<br />
<br />
<b>Experience</b><br />
And nothing beats experience. Do I have experience teaching? Yep. Quite a bit, but not enough.<br />
Do I have experience competing? Yes. But not enough.<br />
Do I have experience carrying a gun? Oh yes. But many would say it's still not enough. <br />Do I have experience using the techniques I've learned? Not so much. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Evaluation</b><br />
One thing I didn't put on that graph that I think is vitally important is evaluation. It's really easy to think you're good in your own eyes compared to no particular standard. It's something else entirely to submit yourself to the evaluation of those you consider to be in authority on the subject.<br />
<b> </b><br />
Over the past few years I've been blessed to have connected with some amazing people in the industry. I've been able to get frank feedback from them and will continue to look to them for guidance and honest evaluation.<br />
<br />
I've been grateful for every word of honest feedback and criticism. I want those people to know every word they've said to me has been taken to heart. Some of them have put me through true tests of my skill. Some I have passed, others I have not. But it has given me more goals to strive for. <br />
<br />
So, what will 2015 be? We'll see!! I'm optimistic. A lot of it might be repeat. <br />
<br />
Finding a way to fit training and parenthood together has never been easy but my hope is that I will be able to return to combatives soon and work hand-to-hand again. I have my first pistol match since Feb coming up this month and then a handgun class in November. I'm hoping that 2015 Feb will see me back at Rangemasters for their conference for more head knowledge and a host of other refreshers as well. <br /><br />Above all, I'm hoping that 2015 sees me on the mat, with trainer guns in force-on-force scenarios, at the range and competing again.<br />
<br />
Another baby step towards my goals. <br />
<br />
<br />
Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-2738898727358587092014-09-23T08:05:00.000-07:002014-09-23T10:56:16.825-07:00Men, Come To My RescueAn article has made it's rounds on my Facebook page via several instructor friends. It's titled <a href="http://alphagameplan.blogspot.com/2014/02/protect-yourselves-ladies.html" target="_blank">Alpha Game: Protect Yourselves, Ladies</a> and attempts to explain why women and children are being targeted more frequently in violent crime and why men are not coming to their aid. <br />
<br />
The crux of the article can be summed up in these paragraphs: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Men have been subjected to forty years of propaganda telling them that
those old codes are outdated no longer apply. They have been taught from
kindergarten that men and women are exactly the same. So, women
shouldn't be surprised when bad men no longer treat them with kid
gloves, but prey upon them as mercilessly as they do upon other men.<br />
<br />
Nor should they be surprised when good men won't lift a finger or run any risks to defend them."</blockquote>
After reading the article and feeling a little sad I started reading the comments to the article and even thinking back on my own experiences. <br />
<br />
I've spoken against relying on someone else to save you. I've written countless blog posts about standing up for yourself and taking charge of your own self defense. I seek out the training that would allow me to better my chances against all aggressors--male, female, big or small. <br />
<br />
But here's a little secret: I welcome help. I welcome protection. I embrace the kindness of a stranger or friend or spouse or family member who would stand up for me and say, "Leave her alone." <br />
<br />
I won't wait for it. But I welcome it. <br />
<br />
In the world of self defense things can get a little funny. Women train to fight off their most-likely and damaging attacker (a man) and that can often be translated into the idea that women are 100% equal to men or that she now no longer needs the assistance of anyone, even (or especially) a man. <br />
<br />
Sometimes, that philosophy alone is what <i>drives</i> women to self defense classes. A woman, through the guise of feminism or equality, or whatever, decides the best way she can prove her superiority is to learn to defeat men in a physical match-up. Sadly, all too often, that drive comes from abuse or negligence at the hands of men.<br />
<br />
Abuse at the hands of any man is enough to drive any woman to feel mistrustful of the gender as a whole. Abuse or neglect at the hands of a man that woman is supposed to have trusted to protect her can compound the issue even further. <br />
<br />
I'm no stranger to such abuses and it was that abuse that drove me to the doors of self defense. <br />
<br />
I made a decision that I was never going to rely on anyone else to save me ever again and if no one was going to help me then I'd help myself.<br />
<br />
My drive for self protection was born out of hurt and bitterness, mistrust and anger. Yet the more I learned (the more I healed) the more I realized that my prejudices against men were planted in the shallow, infertile ground of perversion in a few. <br />
<br />
Most men are not interested in hurting anyone. Many, in fact, want to be a protector. They want to be needed, relied upon or trusted to solve a problem. As much as men admire strong women there is a part of them that finds it perfectly acceptable for that woman to have her moments of weakness. Those men are okay being that knight in shining armor who comes to the rescue. If given the chance, many men would put forth the finest of efforts to fulfill that role and feel more like men because of it. <br />
<br />
And yet, no one is asking them. <br />
<br />
We're shoveling women into self defense classes and telling them that they don't need help. Worse, in many classes, women are being taught that the people they should be fearing the most are those they are invested in trusting. The domestic violence statistics are quoted. The rape statistics. The fact that most attacks happen by individuals the woman knows. And then the seed of mistrust is watered with words like, "Would you be ready to do this against your own husband?" <br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong. A woman should very well know how to defend herself from anyone, including her spouse, if the need arises. She should be capable of standing up to the most aggressive and unlikely of foes. She should be able to do her best, with whatever tool is at her disposal, to defend herself. But I can't help but fear we're creating a much bigger problem by breeding that kind of mistrust and an attitude that she can always do it and do it best on her own.<br />
<br />
We're breeding men who think they are irrelevant to the defense of women. That they don't matter and shouldn't help even if they are in a position to do so. <br />
<br />
Worse still is that we may be breeding women who have a higher opinion of their own abilities than reality would dictate. <br />
<br />
Women are plowed through self defense classes often paired up with other women or compliant male partners, given reassuring conditioning through defeating other non-skilled females or compliant males, told they are unbeatable, given a certificate of completion and told they are ready for whatever anyone can throw at them. The truth is that we women suffer a huge disadvantage when it comes to real world encounters with violence--particularly violent men--and we may not be able to conquer every foe out there without help.<br />
<br />
Yes, many men can be deterred or fought off when encountering the minimum of resistance. Many women have fought off attackers using basic self defense skills. There are also some highly skilled women out there. Those skills should be taught. They should be learned and they should be applied when necessary. They have and will continue to be successful! <br />
<br />
But those classes and skills should not be a substitute for an able-bodied, and preferably skilled individual coming to help.<br />
<br />
My journey into self defense began on the premise that I never again wanted to rely on someone else to save me. I stand by that decision. I do not want to wait for someone to come to my rescue. But whereas I crossed the start line determined to resist all outside offers to help, I've reached a point of this unending journey with the realization that I don't want to do it all on my own anymore. Not only is it impractical, it's foolish. If the bad guys can embrace the need for assistance in victimizing others, why should I try to stand alone in defending myself? <br />
<br />
So, to those who would question whether or not I would ever want any assistance from a man, the answer is, "yes." <br />
<br />
Help me. Save me. Rescue me. Protect me.<br />
<br />
Encourage me to learn how to do it myself. Congratulate me when I take the next step in self reliance and self defense. But if you see me in a position of need, please, help me. I will thank you for it. I will appreciate you for it. I will not feel less of a woman because you helped me. I will not feel as though you are undermining me. I may be able to do it on my own but I know I have a better chance with your help. I welcome your help. <br />
<br />
For those men who have felt like we women don't want you or need you anymore. I'm sorry. I can't speak for every woman but for my own part in shutting you out of my own defense I apologize. <br />
<br />
We women will never be as good at defending ourselves from men like you men are.<br />
<br />
For those men who have wanted to help but have been hesitant for fear you'd be seen as undermining us and our strength. I, for one, would like to invite you to jump in and help. Again, I can only speak for myself, but I want you to know I'd appreciate your help. <br />
<br />
To those men who have never wondered and never asked but have thrown themselves into the mix on a woman's (or anyone's) behalf. Thank you! You are appreciated. Even if it wasn't by the individual you helped, I appreciate your spirit. <br />
<br />
To the women who read this. Good for you for learning how to defend yourself. Keep at it. Don't stop and don't wait for someone to rescue you. But don't discredit the ability and desire that men have to help you and protect you, either.<br />
<br />
In the world of self defense, it still counts as a win to be rescued.<br />
<br />Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-653126584655484082014-09-16T06:45:00.001-07:002014-09-16T07:39:50.188-07:00Judged By Twleve, Carried By SixThe self defense community, like any I suppose, is filled with quips and clever saying. Eventually they all become trite but that doesn't keep them from being thrown around with little thought or consideration to what is actually being expressed.<br />
<br />
One such phrase is, "I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six." <br />
<br />
What is trying to be expressed here is that one would rather be judged in a court of law by a jury (twelve jurors) than die (six pallbearers).<br />
<br />
This phrase is frequently used when there is a measure of confusion about a self defense law. Instead of searching for legal clarification someone will say, "Well, I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six," implying that they are okay being on the questionable side of the law than face dying at the hands of an attacker.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://paulwhamilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Criminal-law.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://paulwhamilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Criminal-law.jpg" height="154" width="320" /></a><b>Firstly, ignorance of the law is never a good defense. </b><br />
<br />
Shaneen Allen, a PA resident, was driving in NJ when she was pulled over for a dangerous lane change. She handed her driver's license and PA-issued carry permit to the officer and informed him that she had a gun in her car. According to her lawyer she did not know what she was doing was illegal.<br />
<br />
She is now facing prison time. As <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2014/07/22/shaneen-allen-race-and-gun-control/" target="_blank">this article</a>, by the Washington Post puts it, "<span style="color: black;">But if she is denied [an amnesty] defense, she
will almost certainly go to trial, and under New Jersey’s gun law, she
will have no real defense. Unless her jury engages in a defiant act of nullification, she will be convicted, and her trial judge will have no choice but to sentence her to the three-year minimum."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Shaneen's only crime was having access to a firearm in her vehicle and having a specific type of ammunition. She is going through a legal hell because of it. How much more difficult might the situation be if said firearm had been used? What if someone were involved in a questionable act of self defense with a firearm? </span><br />
<br />
If there is ambiguity about a law it is not time to throw up your hands and say, "I don't understand it so I'm just going to hope for the best." It's time to knuckle down and get to the bottom of that law. Your future and freedom may depend on it.<br />
<br />
Read your state statutes. If you don't understand them, ask someone who does. Get a few books and start reading, compare what you know about your own state with the states around you. Attend a class geared toward self defense law. Do not leave your understanding of self defense law up to chance, especially if you carry a lethal tool. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>No trial is no picnic.</b><br />
I believe a lot of people who throw out this phrase really don't think <i>their</i> particular case will ever make it to trial. They are somehow under the illusion that if they ever get into a lethal encounter it will be so black and white that their innocence will never be in question.<br />
<b> </b><br />
Many times that is the case. The evidence paints a pretty clear picture and charges are never filed. That doesn't mean life gets to go back to normal. Sometimes it does. A lot of times it doesn't.<br />
<br />
Reading accounts of self defense accounts where shots have actually been fired and especially where there has been loss of life shows a grim reality. Sometimes there are injuries to recover from. Other times there may be a loss of a loved one's life or an injury. Many times there are still social repercussions wherein friends and family distance themselves, no longer wishing to be associated with someone who has taken a life. <br />
<br />
There may be threats from friends and family of the aggressor.<br />
<br />
Even if the situation itself was pretty clear in the mind of the shooter, however, that doesn't always mean that witnesses or evidence paints the same legal picture. In which case, a trial is at hand. <br />
<br />
<b>Finally, death may not be the worst outcome and there are many ways to die. </b><br />
<br />
What really irks me about this particular phrase is that it implies that death is absolutely the worst outcome and that putting your future in the hands of a jury is always going to be a better option. <br />
<br />
This will largely depend on what an individual can handle and what s/he can take in the way of financial, emotional and personal stressors.<br />
<br />
There are people out there who can genuinely say that death for them would be the ultimate, worst case scenario. They don't care if they are bankrupt, in prison with no friend, have failing health and no rights. They are breathing, therefor it's not as bad as it could be.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, there are many people who would welcome death before they welcomed bankruptcy or a felony murder conviction, the disgrace of their name, the loss of their wife and kids (even if that loss is only emotional), a substantial prison sentence or the loss of their lifestyle as they know it. To some, losing everything might as well be death. It may not be a physical death but it's a type of death just the same. <br />
<br />
That may happen to anyone who leaves his fate in the hands of a jury.<br />
<br />
You don't have to look far to find cases of where self defense is used as the legal defense that have gone to trial. Two of the most well known and publicized trials were the George Zimmerman trial and the Michael Dunn trial. One ended in exoneration, the other in conviction and both lives will never be the same.<br />
<br />
Court costs and lawyer fees leave individuals hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt if not millions. Homes are sold. Divorce is common. The social repercussions from neighborhoods push families out of communities often resulting in divorce and disassociation of children and loved ones. Jobs are terminated. The trial process is long and even if the verdict is favorable there is the stress of picking up those pieces and moving on. There can even be PTSD or living with life-long injuries. If the verdict is one of guilt (and it may be) you then have a prison sentence to serve and a criminal record for life and the subsequent struggle to find work and a future based on that record.<br />
<br />
Very few people know with certainty what kind of pressures they can handle. Could you handle a 20-year prison term separated from your family and life as you know it? Would your family be there for you afterward? Could the person you are survive that? If you physically survived would you emotionally survive? Could you pick your life back up after a manslaughter or murder conviction? Could you find work with a felony record? Is the death of everything you knew something you have considered?<br />
<br />
Because I can't answer those questions for myself I choose not to be flippant about the responsibility I have to make sure I don't put myself into a position where such an outcome is probable. Don't get me wrong, a worst case scenario is always <i>possible</i>, not always <i>probable</i>. <br />
<br />
To paraphrase one of the instructors at the Rangemaster Tactical Conference, "When you decide you will take on [a lethal fight for your life] you agree you accept the bill and pay for [the trial and any outcome] no matter what the cost."<br />
<br />
That's not something anyone should take lightly. <br />
<br />
Know your local law. Know the law of any states you frequent or may travel into. Learn the difference between true lethal situations wherein lethal force is justifiable and less-than-lethal situations. Learn when lethal force is no longer justifiable. Seek out training that helps you identify those differences. Understand the gravity of what a trial would likely be. <br />
<br />
Are you giving those things the respectful attention they deserve?<br />
<br />Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-97331143823982842014-09-15T06:55:00.002-07:002014-09-15T07:16:13.013-07:00Bad Info PrevailsA few weeks ago I went to a jewelry making event. There were a number of women there who didn't know me and I didn't know them. While we formed our pendents we started getting to know one another but I don't always disclose my interest and passion for self defense and firearms.<br />
<br />
Somehow, however, the conversation turned to guns and self defense.<br />
<br />
I tried to keep my mouth shut.<br />
<br />
Someone said she didn't want to get a gun but she was thinking it might be good for her to get some pepper spray.<br />
<br />
One of the other women said, "You know what's a great alternative? Wasp spray! It has better range and is more effective."<br />
<br />
I couldn't hold it in any longer. I asked, "Would you like to know why that isn't necessarily true?"<br />
<br />
She said yes. <br />
<br />
After I was done explaining that wasp spray has never been proven effective against human beings like pepper spray has been I explained that modern pepper sprays have a great range and then left it be.<br />
<br />
The conversation continued and one of the other gals said, "Well, that's why whenever I go anywhere I put my keys between my fingers so that I can punch with them if I need to."<br />
<br />
I winced. "I'm sorry. But would you like to know why that's not a good idea?"<br />
<br />
She said yes.<br />
<br />
I explained that the keys between the fingers have no stability and punching someone with your keys between your fingers will likely do no more damage than just punching them. In addition, finger bones are not all that strong and if someone stronger were to grab your hand it's entirely possible to break a few fingers around those keys as they act as a sort of fulcrum. If you have any kind of key defense you're much better off getting a kubaton (careful to observe that in some states you need a carry permit to do so) or just swinging your keys on a key chain line a mace and chain. <br />
<br />
I shut up again and eventually one of the other gals said, "What I don't understand about these shooting things is why the police can't just shoot people in the arm or the leg or something?"<br />
<br />
I put my head on the table and said, "Would you like to know why that's not an option?"<br />
<br />
She said yes.<br />
<br />
I explained a little about deadly force and when you can and cannot use it and that there is no such thing as a non-lethal shot, not legally anyway. <br />
<br />
The girl I came with happens to be one of my former students. She started laughing and finally spoke up, "Just in case you were wondering why she's so passionate about this stuff it's because she's a firearms instructor."<br />
<br />
We eventually got the class back on a jewelry making track but this all got me thinking about why the bad information keeps circulating. Why, despite our best efforts, do people still regurgitate the same old myths over and over again? Why do they get shared with higher frequency than good information?<br />
<br />
Is it because the information is novel and therefore sticks out as something to remember? Is it because the techniques seem easier or more accessible to common individuals?<br />
<br />
Of course it doesn't help that we have <a href="http://www.today.com/news/home-invasion-jeff-rossen-shows-how-protect-your-family-1D80117494" target="_blank">national television programs spewing crap</a>, either. Thank you, NBC, you just set us back seven years.Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-14125453653302453162014-07-28T06:52:00.001-07:002014-07-28T07:42:06.720-07:00Announcing You Are Armed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJyJsGF0IUBv5lDhAAmA_vLdsJi-bD9WXDOa9fzFqO8t7HNhAhT7h9bAzbBemQfkqNVdbkOVga7zn5dDdlRBF7CoL1yhaL3CBPiDLAgJqw4QW1IJX9MKiQ0ZQT2KwThP8OnpHF04FDGjP/s1600/holster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJyJsGF0IUBv5lDhAAmA_vLdsJi-bD9WXDOa9fzFqO8t7HNhAhT7h9bAzbBemQfkqNVdbkOVga7zn5dDdlRBF7CoL1yhaL3CBPiDLAgJqw4QW1IJX9MKiQ0ZQT2KwThP8OnpHF04FDGjP/s1600/holster.jpg" /></a></div>
For the purposes of this blog post we're going to assume you are a concealed carrier. <br />
<br />
Here's the scenario:<br />
<br />
You are confronted with a potential threat. You feel it may escalate to a confrontation involving serious bodily injury or death.<br />
<br />
Do you tell or otherwise demonstrate to the individual that you are armed?<br />
<br />
There are four ways that you could do this: <br />
<br />
Verbally. Saying, "Hey, I have a gun. Back off!"<br />
<br />
Implied. Sweeping your cover garment aside and/or placing your hand in the general area of where a firearm is likely to be kept. This is often called a furtive movement and widely recognized by criminals and law abiding citizens alike. <br />
<br />
Brandishing. For the purposes of this post we're going to call brandishing the display of a firearm while it's still in the holster with intent to intimidate. Usually brandishing means the display of the firearm is not justified but we'll get to that in a moment. <br />
<br />
Implied or brandishing combined with a verbal confirmation. Placing your hand on the firearm or displaying it while it's still in the holster and saying, "I'm armed." <br />
<br />
I'm usually a "never say never" kind of gal. But I will say that some things are generally not a good idea. Any of the above responses, in my opinion, are all bad ideas.<br />
<br />
The thinking, of course, is that announcing you are armed increases
the stakes for the bad guy to a point where he decides to deselect you
as a potential target. This has happened and it may work at deterring the threat . But,
it may not and when it doesn't deter the threat it generally means you are dealing
with someone who isn't afraid of your gun or isn't convinced you will
use it, or use it effectively. In which case you are probably in for a violent encounter--an encounter you would be in anyway even if you didn't announce you were armed but now wherein you have lost a significant surprise advantage.<br />
<br />
Not only am I a strong believer that a firearm should be kept concealed pretty much at all times, but I also believe that the only time a potential assailant should know that I am armed is when I'm pointing my firearm at him or he's hearing really loud noises and wondering about the strange sensations in his body accompanied by flashes of light.<br />
<br />
This isn't an opinion I've borrowed from others. I'm sure there are others out there who will disagree with me but I've decided it's better not to tip my hand. I want the element of surprise and here's why.<br />
<br />
<b>You Announced That You Have Something Desirable</b><br />
A gun is a pretty desirable thing to have if you are a career criminal. And if you don't mind beating someone up to get one, here is someone who just announced that there's one available for the taking if he's willing to take the risk in fighting for it. <br />
<br />
The only thing that will likely save you is his ineptitude, your skill, luck or a combination thereof. <br />
<br />
<b>There Could Be More Than One</b><br />
If your training is reputable you are being taught that bad buys come in pairs. In a confrontation you should always assume there is another assailant ready to jump into the fray when you least expect it. That could also happen to be the moment you decide to announce you are armed while fixated on bad guy #1. While there is no honor among thieves, there is potential for a lot of violence, and announcing you're armed might be all that the second assailant needs as ammunition to unleash his violence on you instead of allowing his buddy to interview you further or initiate contact. And his attack will likely be targeted and brutal (more on that below).<br />
<br />
Just saying you're armed allows him to speculate as to where it is, but placing your hand over the firearm or displaying it allows both assailants (again, assuming there are two) to plan for it accordingly if they decide to continue their assault. Depending on factors such as distance, holster type and carry method and skill you may not be able to get your firearm out of the holster before your attacker is on top of you and doing serious harm.<br />
<br />
<b>You Open Up Dialog</b><br />
"I have a gun." <br />
"No you don't. I don't see a gun. You think you're all big and bad?" <br />
"No. But I will use it!" <br />
"You don't have to be like that. I don't see any gun and I don't think you'd use it anyway. What's a sweet little thing like you doing with a gun?" <br />
<br />
All the while bad guy #2 is sneaking up behind or bad guy #1 is creeping closer and closer and planning his attack. <br />
<br />
Dialog is dangerous. If you have to say more than, "BACK OFF!" you're starting down the rabbit hole. A few of the close quarters classes I have been to have demonstrated the dangerous potential of dialog. We naturally allow people to get closer to us when we dialog with them. Dialog also slows down our reaction time because we're thinking about responses instead of defense or offense. <br />
<br />
Your safest bet is to shut down dialog immediately with anyone you perceive could be a threat. If you want to dialog, verbally establish a boundary and have a plan should it be crossed. <br />
<br />
Yes, you could scream, "I'm armed! Back off!" and leave it at that and refuse to engage in any other dialog but then you're still leaving yourself vulnerable to my next point.<br />
<br />
<b>You Set Yourself Up For A Targeted, Brutal Attack</b><br />
When the bad guy knows you're armed and decides to fight you anyway
he will target your weapon or attempt to overwhelm you with such
violence you are unable to use that weapon. If you don't have retention
skills, a very good retention holster and the skills to resist that kind
of violence you will likely lose your firearm and/or your life. <br />
<br />
All you have to do is watch altercations with police officers. One of two things happen:<br />
1) The violence of the attack is so brutal the officer rarely has opportunity to defend himself with his firearm, if at all.<br />
2) The gun is immediately targeted and fought for.<br />
<br />
What ends these scenarios is death or defeat on the officer's part (at times resulting in the firearm being stolen), a competently trained officer being able to retain his firearm and regain control and fight through his injuries (make no mistake about it, there will likely be injuries--possibly severe) with skill and aggression, the officer using a hidden weapon the bad guy didn't see, or the force of other responding officers ending the confrontation. <br />
<br />
You retain a small advantage if you have not revealed the firearm's location (i.e. saying you are armed but not indicating where it is by either touching it or displaying it) but you lose any advantage of surprise.<br />
<br />
And here is where I will refer back to the Extreme Close Quarters class I attended in the fall of 2013.<br />
<br />
In the final force-on-force scenario with Greg Ellifritz, Greg decided to try to disarm me even though he hadn't seen my weapon. He knew I was armed but he didn't remember where I was carrying my gun (if it was appendix or behind the hip). While we fought, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjf8xr3N9wI" target="_blank">if you watch the video (NSFW, btw)</a>, you can see him searching behind my hip for where I would normally carry my Glock. That little bit of confusion on his part allowed me the opportunity to simulate stabbing him in the groin with my trainer knife. I never actually did get to my gun until after I broke contact but neither did he. Had Greg known exactly where my gun was I'm not sure how things would have played out. I prefer to never find out. Or to find out, but in the safety of a training environment because I'm morbidly curious like that. In real life, however, I prefer not to have people trying to take my gun away from me.<br />
<br />
I do not think one has to be a skilled fighter to carry a gun but I do think anything less than a skilled fighter trained in weapon retention is taking undue risk by advertising a weapon they can legally conceal. <br />
<br />
<b>You Lose A Fighting Arm</b><br />
If you have done any force-on-force while armed you know how hard it is not to reach down and finger your firearm during the interview portion of the scenario. You know your gun is there and you know that if you need to use it you want to get it out quickly. There's a psychological comfort in having your hand on top of it even if it's not necessarily the best tactical move, especially in close quarters.You soon learn that if you put your hand on your gun you aren't protecting your face and you have one less appendage to use in fighting and controlling your attacker so that you can get in a better position to use your weapon of choice. <br />
<br />
Yes, there are times to put your hand on your gun. No, I can't tell you when that will be. A lot of that has to do with distance, gear, skill, size and you will have to figure that out for yourself in a safe training environment. In my opinion you should either have your hands up in a defensive posture ie. the fence or your gun out and in your hand.<br />
<br />
In my opinion, the hand goes on the gun as part of the draw stroke. <br />
<br />
The key point here is that before you decide whether or not you want to announce you are armed and how you are going to bring a gun into a fight you need to be getting training in those scenarios and practicing them. <br />
<br />
This is multiplied if you chose to carry openly on a regular basis. <br />
<br />
It's a really bad day when you get your gun targeted, have to fight for it and potentially taken from you and shot with it. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-26054787738229036482014-07-08T11:26:00.001-07:002014-07-08T11:43:41.938-07:00What Advice Would I Give My Younger Self?What advice would I give my younger self? <br />
<br />
Man, that's a hard one. <br />
<br />
I've been trying to answer that question ever since <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI" target="_blank">Baz Luhrmann came out with the song "Everybody's Free" in 1999</a>. I still don't know what I'd tell my younger self in regards to life to prepare myself for the future. Maybe that's as it should be. I probably wouldn't have listened to myself anyway. My life has been a journey of ups and downs, failures and successes, surprises of all kinds. And not knowing has always been half the fun. Overall, I have nothing to complain about.<br />
<br />
Today, however, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Girl-And-Her-Gun/125775874171998" target="_blank">A Girl And A Gun challenged those on her facebook page</a> to reveal what they would tell their younger selves in relation to self defense.<br />
<br />
That, I can do!<br />
<br />
It's a narrow enough scope that I can pinpoint specific areas where I could have been better prepared to face the evils of life.<br />
<br />
The original challenge was "what would you tell your 20 year-old self?" Well, I'd have to go a lot younger than that to really do much difference in the scope of protecting myself or preventing some of the worst tragedies in my life.<br />
<br />
How young? That's a tough one, too.<br />
<br />
I decided to look at it from the perspective of a mother. I look at my two sons and my daughter and I think, "When should I start teaching them these lessons?"<br />
<br />
The answer is now!<br />
<br />
So, if I could go back in time and teach my younger self some self defense lessons I'd go back to the times of a little girl who was terrified of flushing toilets, learning how to tie her shoes, how to write the number "4" and stealing her mother's high heels out of the closet to wear around the house and these are the things I would tell her: <br />
<br />
<b>- It's okay to say, "No!" </b><br />
In fact, you need to say no. You need to have boundaries and it's good to have boundaries. People who don't respect your boundaries aren't people you should have in your life.<br />
<br />
<b>- Your body is your own. PERIOD! </b><br />
With EXCEPTIONALLY few exceptions, no one has the right to touch you, hold you or ask you to do something with your body that you don't want to do. You don't owe anyone your body. <br />
<br />
<b>- Your parents are wrong. </b><br />
A lot of society will be wrong, too. They will tell you things like, "You are safe here," "This person is okay," "Stay in public places. The public will protect you," "Good girls don't hit." It's confusing, I know, when people you trust tell you things they believe to be true and they turn out to be wrong. It doesn't mean they don't love you, it means they were human. You'll have to learn to discern the truth for yourself and that's where your own instincts, life experience and feelings will have to come in. <br />
<br />
<b>- Listen to your instinct. </b><br />
When that inner voice says, "Something's not right," listen to it. Don't try to talk yourself out of it. Don't let other people downplay your feelings or talk you out of them. You're having those feelings for a reason. But here's a newsflash for you, sweety, you'll be wrong from time-to-time, too.<br />
<br />
<b>- It's okay to be angry. </b><br />
There are people who waste their lives on anger. They are consumed by it and use it for minor issues where it has no place or they use it disproportionately to the offense. Or they dwell in it, wallowing in it in misplaced comfort and failing to use it as the tool of action it should be. There are also people who never use anger for fear of it. They allow people to misuse them and abuse them and never get angry enough to change their situation. <br />
<br />
Don't be either one of those people. Don't misuse or neglect anger. Don't be afraid of it, either. <br />
<br />
Anger is a tool of action when you have suffered a legitimate hurt or injustice. Get angry--even if you need to get angry at someone you love. Use that anger to cut through the fear, the societal norms, the lies you've been told about how you or a "good girl" should act. Use it to give you the courage to act, to stand up for yourself, to do something about your situation. If you need to, use that anger to act immediately to save yourself. If it's after the fact, use that anger to give you courage to seek help. Learn to use it appropriately and to the right degree. Then, learn to put that anger away. As useful of a tool as it can be, it will destroy you and your relationships with those you love if you overuse it. <br />
<br />
<b>- Learn to hit. </b><br />
Despite what you've been told, good girls <i>DO</i> hit. They hit hard and in the right way and at the right time. Be a good girl. Learn to hit!<br />
<br />
<b>- Get strong.</b><br />
Seriously! Do it now. Lift weights. Screw running! Your life and the defense thereof will be way easier the younger you do this and the better you maintain it. You'll probably save yourself a lot of aches and pains and open up a lot more opportunities for yourself, too. <br />
<br />
<b>- Don't mistake your skill or defensive tool as a talisman.</b><br />
I know you won't, but here's a reminder anyway. As you get older you will learn the hard lesson that there is no magic talisman against evil. Saving yourself will mean hard work. It will mean exercising your boundaries, your anger, your common sense, instincts, avoidance and learning proficiency with whatever tool or discipline you choose (Hint: choose as many as you can and take time working them all when you can). It will mean working that tool or discipline as regularly as you can which will demand money and time. You will need to keep working those tools and skills and it will become a part of who you are but it won't define you and it shouldn't. Avoiding or defeating evil is a tiny, <i>TINY</i> part of what will make up your life and the joys therein (as it should be), but that doesn't mean you should neglect developing and maintaining your skills in that area. <br />
<br />
No one is as devoted or available to defend yourself as you are. You need to be in a condition--physically, mentally, skillfully--to do the fighting for yourself. <br />
<br />
<b>- Not everyone is out to get you. </b><br />
There will be people you trust who will betray you. They will hurt you. They will make you question everything you thought you knew about life, love, trust and who you are. You won't be right about everyone and you will be hurt. Sometimes more than others. Sometimes just emotionally, sometimes physically. But there are other people who do love you. They legitimately want to help, encourage and support you. They won't test your boundaries, instead they will help you build new, stronger ones. They will love you. Rest securely in the love of those people. Seek out those people. Appreciate them, as I know you will. It will be your relationships with those people and the people you meet (and even create with a special someone down the road) that will make it all worth it in the end. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-91281807522841270972014-04-25T06:44:00.000-07:002014-04-25T06:44:05.855-07:00How Are You Going To Do That?Anyone who's been in the gun community for any length of time has come across this scenario.<br />
<br />
Someone reads a news report or hears a story and the conversation abruptly turns into a "What Would You Do?" situation. <br /><br />Good, conscientious gun-carriers do this all on their own. Asking themselves what they would do in any number of given situations is part of the mental training that goes along with carrying a gun in self defense. <br /><br />Sometimes those questions lead to revelations about gaps in training. If the answer is, "I don't know," to any particular scenario situation, it becomes wise to seek out training to fill that gap. <br /><br />But every now and then and sometimes far too often, there's a jump in track of the logic train.<br />
<br />
A scenario will be presented and the answer becomes, "I would shoot." <br /><br />It may be a very reasonable and justifiable answer but there is a whole lot missing--the how. <br /><br />The other day I read a scenario of a woman being run off the road, pulled from her vehicle and beaten. <br /><br />The levels of avoidance when coming to road-rage incidences being discussed, the scenario was whittled down to being run off the road, not being able to flee and the driver of the aggressor's car is coming after you.<br />
<br />
The go-to answer was, "I'd shoot."<br /><br />Legalities aside, I begged to ask the question, "How?" <br /><br />You are sitting in your vehicle, presumably seat-belted in and you want to shoot someone who is walking towards your vehicle, (again, presumably) from a vehicle that is in front of you, cutting you off. <br /><br />How, physically, are you going to accomplish this task? <br /><br />Where is your gun? Is it accessible with your seat belt on or do you have to take it off? Once you get your seat belt off, how do you draw your gun? Do you shoot through the windshield or try to get out of the car or roll down your window? Do you know what a windshield will often do to handgun bullet trajectory? How many bullets are you willing to waste through a windshield before you switch to another tactic? Is there a better alternative to shooting in the first place or a better way to shoot out of a vehicle if you have to? <br /><br />This isn't the first time I've talking about the "how" and it won't be the last.<br />
<br />
I'm on a campaign of sorts to getting others to start thinking about the how as well. <br /><br />When you approach scenarios don't start and stop with "what would I do?" <br /><br />Start with "What would I do?" and finish with "How would I do it?" <br /><br />Think it through and then practice it. Even if it's just a matter of walking through it with your hand as a finger gun. You might even be surprised that discussing the "how" might actually change what you would do in the first place. <br /><br />Many times new carriers don't know what they don't know. Influenced by bad television, biases, misinformation and pure ignorance they may have no idea that there are so many variables in any given situation.<br /><br />I stood in slack-jawed amazement the first time I watched what happened to handgun bullets being shot through a windshield. I really had no idea they could be deflected so much. It's something I didn't even know to consider when it came to the dynamics of shooting in and around cars. Now that I know it's something I must consider when it comes to vehicular incidences. <br /><br />Scenarios are (and should be) a lot more than simply deciding whether or not to shoot. They should be an exercise in determining the steps you may or may not take given that scenario.<br /><br />Next time you read or ask what others would do in a given scenario, add "And how would you do it?" in there. <br />
Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-20756862405642782062014-04-01T05:25:00.001-07:002014-04-02T08:35:27.949-07:00Equipment And The Point Of Diminishing ReturnsOne of the most common questions I get is, "What gun should I get?"<br />
<br />
I used to spend a lot of time responding to these inquiries because I genuinely love helping people. I loved being in gun sales. I love finding guns that fit people and I love helping them find that good fit. I love taking them to the range and helping them take their first shots even more. <br />
<br />
Through the years, however, I've come to the conclusion that internet-based advice is more-often-than-not a waste of everyone's time. I have nothing new to add to what has already been written about what kind of gun is ideal for any number of different specific situations; be it jogging, home defense, deep concealment, etc. Without seeing someone shoot and seeing them with the firearm and having the opportunity to assess them in action, it's nothing more than a best-guess anyway. <br />
<br />
That being said, it's still the reigning question for a few reasons:<br />
<br />
1) The volume of options is overwhelming and people want to have it narrowed down for them, presumably by someone they consider to be an authority on the subject. <br />
2) People generally overestimate the role of equipment in performance and therefore want to get the "best" gun, ideally at the lowest cost.<br />
<br />
I'm going to skip over the first point for now and just hit you with a few general truths regarding the second:<br />
<ul>
<li>What gun you choose doesn't make as much of a difference as you think it does. </li>
<li>Your first gun will likely be the wrong gun, purchased for the wrong reasons. </li>
<li>You'll more-than-likely not put enough rounds through it to figure out whether or not it is right/wrong for you. </li>
<li>You'll go on your merry way possibly advising others on what they should get based upon your limited experience training/shooting with a gun that probably isn't the right one for you.</li>
</ul>
The end.<br />
<br />
You may be thinking that what I said was contradictory. How can your gun choice not make a difference but be wrong?<br />
<br />
Allow me to explain... <br />
<br />
A gun is a gun is a gun and even an ill-fitting gun put in the hands of someone who is skilled in shooting will perform adequately. He will get accurate hits at a good rate but he would perform better and more comfortably with something that fit him better. So also, if your skill were the same (or as it increases) you would be able to better assess the fit and feel of your firearm and what makes it right or wrong for you and adjust accordingly.<br />
<br />
<b>Skill is far more vital to performance than your equipment (presuming, of course, your equipment is quality enough to last).</b> And eventually, as you get skilled enough, you can better gauge whether or not your performance will be augmented by your equipment and through what change--a small-handed person having better control with a single-stack firearm or having the grip reduced, a cross-dominant shooter getting better sight picture with a red dot, an individual with arthritis getting a trigger job, etc.<br />
<br />
<b>Most people do not seek out enough skill to where their equipment choice matters that much.</b> There are exceptions, but that's the general truth. They buy a gun, they put maybe a box or two of ammo through it a year (if that) and whether or not it is the right one for them is irrelevant compared to their lack of skill. <br />
<br />
<b>So what does that mean for you? </b><br />
<br />
Well, it means nothing if you aren't committed to gaining skill. If you are committed you've likely already purchased a firearm, trained with it to the point where you've figured out what is working and what isn't (or your about to) and you might even be on your way to your next gun or a modification of the one you already have. Or you are lucky enough to be one of the few who bought a good fitting gun the first time but found you have a preference you'd like to change (sights, a cleaner trigger, an extended magazine release, etc). <br />
<br />
<b>I caution you! There is a point of diminishing returns. </b>It happens all the time. A new shooter buys a gun. As he gains skill he finds what he doesn't like about his firearm and he changes it or modifies it. He gains more skill and changes or modifies his gun again. He often attributes his increase in skill to the modifications or new firearms he's purchasing. Then one day he finds out that a modification or new gun doesn't help. In fact, it hinders or he improves slightly in one area but worsens in another. The new gun doesn't shoot the way the old one did. He had better sight picture with the last sights. If he's not careful he can get stuck in a rut of cycling through gun after gun, throwing hundreds and thousands of dollars of equipment at a skill problem. <br />
<br />
The solution? Find the gun that fits you best, make any modifications you have to (if any) and then leave the gun alone. Work on gaining more skill. <br />
<br />
Now, there are a lot of people out there who say you should never (ever, Ever, EVER!!!!!!!) modify a carry gun. <a href="http://www.armedcitizensnetwork.org/gun-modifications" target="_blank">A lot has been written on that subject so go read it</a> and make up your own mind on the matter. If you make a modification to your carry gun make sure you have a good, logical explanation for why you did it. If you have the disposable income, time and inclination to go nuts on a competition or range gun? Go. Be wild, my friend! But keep your carry gun as close to stock as feasible and avoid the equipment rut. <br />
<br />
Finally, there are reportedly those out there who get lucky. They go into carry and shooting
with a committed and realistic mindset. They wisely choose a stock
firearm that fits them well, they train with it extensively and they
gain in skill until they perform masterfully with the first and only gun
they've ever bought. I have yet to personally catch said unicorn.
Though I have met many who have been issued firearms for duty and gained skill to a very proficient degree with that duty gun that they apply to a personal firearm that fits them better when off duty. Even the best of the best out there have their stories about the guns
they started out with and the changes they've made along the way.<br />
<br />
In summation, if you're serious about this gun/carry thing, put the effort into getting a gun that fits you well. Take a class, rent, shoot with friends, ask for advice and (<i>please, I implore you, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!!</i>) listen to what that person tells you. Purchase a firearm and then commit yourself to gaining skill. Make note of what you like or don't like about your firearm as you train with it, talk to others about it, have an instructor critique you and make an educated decision as to whether or not it is an equipment problem or a <i>YOU</i> problem. <br />
<br />
Adjust accordingly. <br />
<br />
<br />
<i><br />PS... If you are somehow misguided into thinking I have it all figured out, let me assure you that I am still struggling with my own likes, dislikes, frustrations, biases, stubbornness, changes, adaptations, learning curves, etc. If I ever figure it all out, you'll be the first to know.</i>Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-62668840035257934602014-03-27T08:49:00.002-07:002014-04-01T02:22:34.129-07:00Why Read Words <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEink260K7VFi7SjlY8Vg8UQFbH4MS3xdLrACvHWIWmxaIP7cDznMEhlZNkAKpMHSwaTIaRzcWJ9GY4mpJYs4TJzchCZHGWJSJBTAyZBPnIis_IDT9jywKnD4HmwnWhirePCJXPq9vN_5phN/s1600/book-club-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEink260K7VFi7SjlY8Vg8UQFbH4MS3xdLrACvHWIWmxaIP7cDznMEhlZNkAKpMHSwaTIaRzcWJ9GY4mpJYs4TJzchCZHGWJSJBTAyZBPnIis_IDT9jywKnD4HmwnWhirePCJXPq9vN_5phN/s1600/book-club-300x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I'll share a little secret with you: I don't particularly <i>love</i> to read. But I love to learn. Amazingly enough, the two often coincide. Therefore, I love to read. I am a very slow reader so sometimes it takes me a while to catch up but I keep plugging away at it and I'm better off for it because I do learn a lot. <br />
<br />
That being said, I'm always astonished how few people are interested in reading about the topics of self defense. Some may follow the occasional blog or visit forums wherein reading is presumably necessary but from time to time it's made very clear that even those are not actually read to be digested before they are commented on.<br />
<br />
Worse still is the idea that reading is unnecessary to the understanding of the principles of self defense.<br />
<br />
I've seen many a comment to self defense book recommendations that go a lot like the Snotlout quote from How To Train Your Dragon: <br />
<br />
<blockquote>
"Why read words when you can just kill the stuff the words tell you stuff about?"</blockquote>
<br />
Or, as one person commented to a Rory Miller book recommendation, "I don't need to know what makes a criminal a criminal or how he thinks, I just need to know if he's a threat." <br />
<br />
There is a certain sort of logic to that but it's also pretty naive. I may set people up for assuming too much or too little in any given encounter and in every aspect no less. <br />
<br />
<b>A Mindset Aspect:</b><br />
Mindset is pretty driven into people who carry guns these days. But there are still a lot of people out there who carry guns who ".. don't want to hurt anyone." They will just, "shoot someone in the leg." They have no concept of awareness, avoidance and they can't recognize a dangerous situation unfolding until it's already gone past the point of no return. Yes, you can get this information from classes but a lot of it comes from sitting down and digesting the written material of those who've already been there.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>An Equipment Aspect: </b><br />
Many people base their carry setup choices based upon the recommendations of those they know ("My friend, who is a cop, told me I should get..."), feelings ("I got this one because it has pink handles"), cost ("It was between this one and that one but this was cheaper") and assumed reputation ("The military carried the 1911 for 70 years (with an empty chamber, no less). If it was good enough for them, it's good enough for me.")<br />
<br />
<br />
So much has been written about what makes a good, civilian fighting/carry setup it's impossible to list all of the resources. Despite that fact, many people still skip absorbing the seasoned advice of people who've been there and done it in favor of pink handles and cheap accessories. <br />
<br />
Why read? So you don't end up with crap. <br />
<br />
<b>A Tactical Aspect:</b><br />
You may not have $500 to go to the class you want, but you can afford a $15 book on the principles of carry or gunfighting. You may not be able to sit under an instructor who will demo for you the ways to utilize cover, set up your equipment, think about how you walk down the street, clear a room, etc. But you can get the basic gist from a good book or two on the subject. <br />
<br />
One of the best students I've ever had came directly to our intermediate class and had never taken a firearms class in his life. All he'd ever done was read, test what he read at the range, watch a few videos online and take what he learned to heart. He was a <i>FINE</i> shooter and had a great rudimentary grasp of everything we were trying to teach. With a few tweaks he was flying and started competing in IDPA the next day.<br />
<br />
<b>A Performance Aspect: </b><br />
What will your bullets do? What won't they do? How far will it travel if you miss? What is cover? What is concealment? What is the penetration of your particular caliber choice in your particular gun? What about your target? What are the best areas to target? <br />
<br />
What about your body? How does it work with things like adrenaline? How can you expect to reasonably perform under that kind of stress?<br />
<br />
Guess what... There are books about that. <br />
<br />
<b>A Potential Threat Assessment Aspect:</b><br />
So, you don't think you need to know how a criminal thinks or works but when some guy comes up to you and compliments your shoes you have absolutely no concept as to whether or not this is just a nice guy paying you a compliment or a predator using charm as a way to get close enough to victimize you. You have nothing to do but wait until the situation escalates or attempt some sort of immediate shut down. <br />
<br />
Why read? Because being able to distinguish between the types of criminals and how they operate can tell you how you might be able to assess them and even be deselected or deescalate the situation. <br />
<br />
Why is that important? Because it's always better to deescalate than let it progress to a fight and how you deescalate a situation with one type of criminal is different from how you may deescalate from another. <br />
<br />
<b>An Emotional/Psychological Aspect: </b><br />
So you had your day. You shot someone. There are people out there who are unaffected by this. But a lot of people go through a whole gambit of emotional and psychological stages. Knowing about and/or being prepared for them can help one process and heal. And there are lots of good books on the subject. <br />
<br />
<b>A Legal Aspect: </b><br />
It still astounds me how many people don't care to read about self defense law in general or in their own state. <br />
<br />
"I was in fear for my life," is not the begin-all and end-all of your defense. <br />
<br />
You <i>do</i> need to know when it's legal to engage and (sometimes more importantly) when it's necessary to disengage. You <i>do</i> need to have a sense of the law so that you can articulate why you were justified in doing what you did. <br />
<br />
You do that by reading. If you don't have your state statutes bookmarked on your internet browser yet, what are you waiting for? Get reading! <br />
<br />
And I'm just scratching the surface. There are so many more subtopics and theories and principles laid out by great minds worth exploring.<br />
<br />
If you're serious about it, you should be reading about it. <br /><br />Want a good place to start? <a href="http://www.activeresponsetraining.net/recommended-reading" target="_blank">Greg Ellifritz's "Recommended Reading" link on his website</a> and all of his "free book" links. <br />
<br />Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-1090023258651543162014-03-24T06:35:00.000-07:002014-03-24T08:03:13.504-07:00Are Your Beliefs/Training Valid?<style>Â <!--
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--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">When I was twenty I got myself in an online debate about
"knockdown power." Of course I didn't know what the hell knockdown
power was. But I truly and genuinely believed that if you shot someone with a
handgun bullet they would instantly fall down.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">No, I didn't believe they flew across rooms or anything but I remember
watching a movie where a man got shot in the shoulder with a handgun, doesn't
even twitch, looks down at his wound and then charges the shooter in rage and
all I could think was how unrealistic that was.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was that naive.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So when I entered this debate, I did so under the premise that knockdown
power was not only real but something to be relied upon in armed confrontation.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">When my opinion was not sufficient to persuade I figured I would overload my
nay-sayers with data.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, the search began. I went to the interwebz and spent non-stop hours
searching for a shred of irrefutable proof that a handgun bullet would
physically knock a human being off of his feet reliably.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The problem was I couldn't find any data to support my argument.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was wrong.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And if that weren't bad enough. The people I learned that from, who I
thought were more knowledgeable than me in these matters were also wrong.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And if they could be wrong about knockdown power what else were they capable
of being wrong about?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Holy plastic nutcracker, they could be wrong about .... EVERYTHING!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">This meant only one thing: I would have to verify everything I ever learned.
I would have to test it. I would have to do my best to make sure it was valid,
not only if I were going to use it or allow it to influence in my own decision
making regarding my own safety but especially if I chose to pass that
information on to others.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The problem with that is that it's time consuming and exhausting and
sometimes there is misleading or dated information out there that needs to be
updated. Another problem I've seen is with public opinion. They get used to the
way it is and resist change, new ideas or tactics. Instead of looking at those
things dispassionately, they resort to rejection.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">How was/am I to know what's valid, what can be changed or updated, what's
worth considering, what I'm willing to change my mind about and what I'm not?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">1) Question everything.</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, even the basics, the rules, the absolutes, the truths. If they are
worthy they will stand up to scrutiny. If they aren't, they will crumble or
will be improved upon.</span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">No, this doesn't mean you have to be the jerk in the back of a class who is
interrupting every five seconds to ask, "Why?" (Here's a hint: Most
good instructors will already tell you why.) Use some common sense, ask valid
questions as they arise, take good notes and go home to research and get your
second opinion. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">If the information your questioning is in a written or online form use your
google-fu.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">2) Consider the source.</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">In this world where anyone can have an opinion and publish it in one forum
or another or get some credentials and teach a class, it can be difficult to
narrow down whether something is a trustworthy source. There are a LOT of
people out there who are vary well-respected (even if that's just locally) and
very wrong. There are also people out there who are generally unknown but very
knowledgeable. Determining who is worth considering can be difficult. Resort to
step 1 and then move on to step 3.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">3) Find someone (preferably more than one someone) you can trust.</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have been very fortunate to get acquainted with and even become friends
with some great instructors and leading individuals in the gun community.
Perhaps one of the reasons I've been so fortunate is because I've sought these
people out. I have hunted them down and not been shy about asking them
questions. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">They base their opinions on experience, they know how to distinguish between
tactics that work for police, military and the civilian sector and they aren't
intimidated when asked, "What makes you believe this is better than
that?" They have been gracious enough to take my questions and give me the
time of day to at least point me in the right direction when it comes to
information. I've been sent books, given links, had amazing discussions,
learned about biases, and even been told, "I don't know."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And that last one should be a big clue. If your trustworthy source isn't
willing to say, "I don't know," I doubt their trustworthiness.</span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many of these people have been around long enough to know and/or trained with a
good number of other instructors and aren't afraid to recommend other classes
and instruction or steer you in the right direction to meet your goals. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Be leery of instructors who discourage you from taking classes from any other
source but do consider their warnings if they tell you a certain class or
instructor isn't particularly up to par. Yeah, every instructor out there wants
business and there are feuds so keep an open mind. Do independent research and
come to your own conclusion. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But remember step 2. Every instructor and writer and trainer, no matter how
good has their biases and/or flaws. Some are biased against certain types of
guns or training or methods. It doesn't make them invalid sources but it may be
important to see through their bias to avoid casting aside their valid
information or instruction.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">4) Test it.</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's really easy to take something you learn and think it's the begin-all
and end-all of what you need to know, especially if it seemed to work well in a
certain environment such as a classroom. I've seen this a lot in women’s'
self-defense classes. A technique will be taught as "guaranteed to
work" but then I go home and test it on a non-compliant partner and it
falls apart. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some things being taught are just bad all around. And some are just not
right <i>for you</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. I've seen lots of
techniques (or gear or ideas) that work really well for most everyone that just
don't work for me. I will give it an honest try but if it doesn't work for me,
it doesn't work. It doesn't mean the technique is completely invalid, just not
for me. Sometimes it means that the technique just needs to be worked more to
be perfected or adapted to your size and abilities. If it can't be adapted and
you've given it an honest effort and it's still not working for you (or not
working reliably) it might be time to ditch it. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
The only way to know that, however, is to test it as often as you can. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">This step goes hand-in-hand with step 1. If it's valid, it will work. If it's
not it will fall apart or need changing or adapting.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">5) Don't stop going through the steps... Ever.</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even if something has been tried and tested one hundred times or you've done
it this certain way since the first time or you heard it from a hundred
different sources, doesn't mean you stop questioning it, updating it,
reevaluating it's place in how you prepare, train or think. <br /><br />You may just learn a new way to apply that same principle or you might find something that works better. But you won't if you aren't willing to open up to different avenues of learning and training. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">In a world where everything changes, the ones who fall behind will be the ones
who think they have it all figured out. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-8426279960204774672014-03-07T07:46:00.005-08:002014-04-01T04:34:11.633-07:00Stripping Vs Dumping MagazinesIf you train at any number of shooting schools long enough you will find that even if they agree on certain aspects of shooting where they can almost violently disagree is in the small stuff. <br />
<br />
How many forum death matches have been waged over whether or not to use the slide release or rack the slide; whether to use to the strong side thumb to release a magazine or the support hand; whether to bring a gun to a low ready or high, SUL or something else? <br />
<br />
Just as hotly debated is the sequence of events surrounding magazine changes.<br />
<br />
For the first four or five years I carried and trained in firearms I traditionally hit the magazine release with my strong-side thumb while retrieving a fresh magazine and pretty much expected the magazine well of my gun to be empty by the time I got back with my fresh magazine.<br />
<br />
When I went to the Tactical Defense Institute for the second time (the first time was a knife class so there wasn't a lot of talk about magazine changes) I was introduced to the concept of "stripping" an empty (or troubled) magazine from the gun before retrieving a fresh one. <br />
<br />
With stripping the magazine, once the firearm is empty and the slide locks back, or if the gun jams to the point where a magazine change is required, one hits the magazine release with the strong-side thumb (or however they hit the release for lefties) and physically rips or "strips" the magazine from the auto-loader with the support hand before retrieving a fresh magazine. <br />
<br />
The reasons the instructors gave for this were primarily three-fold:<br />
1. Your magazine can get hung up and doesn't always drop free. <br />
2. You could be in a strange position where gravity will not help your magazine out of the gun.<br />
3. If your gun is jammed with what is commonly known as a "double-feed" (or, more accurately, a failure to extract). Your magazine will not fall free and you will have to physically tear it from the gun. <br />
<br />
I've always appreciated the attitude of the TDI instructors. They don't go to any deep lengths to force you to do things their way (as long as you are being safe) but they do ask you at least try their method, see if it works for you and move on. If it doesn't, no big deal.<br />
<br />
I can respect that. So I tried it. It was a heck of an effort to back pedal and unlearn just hitting the button. <br />
<br />
It took some effort but it's become my standard reload to the point where I would have to unlearn the practice if I tried to change it again. I don't see that happening because I've seen the benefits of it several times, especially since I have been going to different classes that require shooting from strange positions with firearms and have higher rates of malfunctions because of said strange shooting positions. <br />
<br />
The most glaring example was while I was at ECQ last fall. We were practicing drawing and shooting from all sorts of strange positions on the ground, one of them being flat on our back, shooting over our heads. I'd taken shots from all sorts of strange positions before so that wasn't particularly new and when my slide locked open upon empty, I didn't even think about it, I stripped the magazine, retrieved a fresh one, reloaded my gun and just kept shooting. <br />
<br />
My husband happened to be taking video and took a quick screen shot. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiF9fiTODvkQZv0Jey1bJEQDurhgnriWLA3qnJOX1B38vIZ5UZ96GrlThPk6YzguWBQ0QVXla8aj7kcHUsS0T7JhQrj3cdvL5OM6zLWW6fBn_aTZx15bHTd1yJY79PVtErlw2ImlZLzFK5/s1600/magchangeupside.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiF9fiTODvkQZv0Jey1bJEQDurhgnriWLA3qnJOX1B38vIZ5UZ96GrlThPk6YzguWBQ0QVXla8aj7kcHUsS0T7JhQrj3cdvL5OM6zLWW6fBn_aTZx15bHTd1yJY79PVtErlw2ImlZLzFK5/s1600/magchangeupside.jpg" height="552" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Stripping the empty before retrieving a fresh magazine</u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now, I'll be the first to say this isn't a perfect magazine change. I could have brought it back to my chest so I didn't have an empty gun just sticking out over my head, my hands wouldn't have had so far to travel, yada, yada, yada, but for the purpose of getting more ammo in the gun it was enough. I was reloaded and shooting again before it really even dawned on me that my newer practice of stripping a magazine vs dropping or dumping it made a change in a position like this a total non-issue. <br />
<br />
Being able to strip my magazines more effectively (especially if really jammed up) is also why I have cutouts in the bottom of both of my Glocks. <br />
<br />
Try it out. See what you think.<br />
<br />Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-36806424830411120472014-03-05T07:24:00.001-08:002014-03-05T07:40:37.436-08:00All Is Lost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjI0MzIyMjU1N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTk1MjQxMDE@._V1_SX214_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjI0MzIyMjU1N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTk1MjQxMDE@._V1_SX214_.jpg" /></a></div>
I stopped at the library on my way home from my CPR renewal class last night and picked up the movie All is Lost with Robert Redford. The librarian warned me it was boring but I wasn't looking for spectacular, just something to relax on the couch with and my son loves ship wreck movies.<br />
<br />
She was right. It was pretty boring. My son--the lover of ship wrecks and storms--fell asleep on my lap ten minutes into it and my daughter just snuggled next to me and would rather look at text on my cell phone that she couldn't read than watch the movie.<br />
<br />
When my husband got home I was telling him about it and though I admitted it was boring I said, "But it has some good learning points for pretty much anyone." I fell asleep thinking about them and figured I'd share this morning.<br />
<br />
Don't worry. I won't spoil anything if you actually want to watch the movie but for those of you who don't (or have never heard of the movie), it's the story of a lone man on a sail boat who has an accident out at sea and pretty much everything that can go wrong eventually does. I'm no sailor so I can't tell you what the character did technically right or technically wrong, etc, but I can say there were a few things that stood out to me.<br />
<br />
<b>1. He had the equipment on-hand to handle almost every emergency he faced. </b><br />
<br />
And it wasn't a bunch of McGyver fixes either. The movie opens with a hole being smashed into the side of his boat. He is able to patch it with what looked to be a legitimate hull-patching kit. When he's forced to navigate without a computer he digs out a sextant (yep, I had to google what that was).<br />
<br />
At every step of the way, when a new emergency arises the character rather calmly goes to this or that nook or cranny and pulls out this or that tool which was made to assist in that particular emergency situation. Yes, the movie could have been made more interesting if he had to make
up all of these emergency preparations along the way but I was far more
impressed with a movie portraying a prepared individual vs a clever fool. <br />
<br />
The take away of that is, of course, to have the right tools for the job. When it comes to self defense not everything can be solved using any one tool. Having things like flashlights, spare magazines, pepper spray, medical supplies, guns, knives, give you options for all sorts of emergencies that may come up. <br />
<br />
<b>2. What broke he tried to fix but didn't dwell on it.</b><br />
<br />
When the hull is damaged he attempts a patch, when the radio breaks he attempts a fix. This pattern repeats itself quite a few times throughout the movie. But what was interesting to me was that the character didn't obsess over one particular repair for any undue length of time. If his repairs weren't successful and it wasn't vital to life he moved on.<br />
<br />
This has an application to many different aspects to self defense starting with the equipment we use or even the way we handle the initial contact of a potentially dangerous person. <br />
<br />
Your gun jams. You clear the jam. It jams again. You clear it. You repeat the pattern over and over again instead of changing to something more useful. <br />
<br />
You see someone approaching and you tell them to stop. They don't stop. So you tell them to stop again and again and again and again. You get stuck in a rut of commands instead of moving on to something that might actually put you in a better position. <br />
<br />
You shoot an assailant in the chest 16 times but he still doesn't go down it's probably time to target another area. <br />
<br />
When something doesn't work the way it's supposed to work or doesn't go the way you planned it to go, it's okay to try to salvage that equipment, technique, command, etc, but only a very limited number of times. Getting stuck in a rut is unproductive. Move on.<br />
<br />
<b>3. He prepared in advance.</b><br />
<br />
When he saw the storm coming he got on his wet gear, he tethered himself to the boat, he buttoned down the hatches, he filled his emergency water container, prepped his life raft, etc. <br />
<br />
It goes without saying that most of us carry guns because we want to be prepared in advance for a self defense and/or lethal force emergency. But there are so many more emergencies out that that we don't prepare ourselves for that pose just as much or far greater risk to us.<br />
<br />
If you see a questionable situation, avoid or put yourself in better position to get out or respond. Don't wait until it's all crashing down around you to act. <br />
<br />
And this goes a lot further than self defense, too. <br />
<br />
As winter is approaching, prep that car for snow and ice. In the summer, prep your car or house for heat related emergencies. Prepare for the common natural disasters in your area.<br />
<br />
Prep your body to withstand the rigors of running and fighting if you can.<br />
<br />
<b>4. He had resources on hand for and to learn skills he didn't already have. </b><br />
<br />
When the main character accepted that he would no longer have modern navigation at his disposal, he retrieves a nautical navigation book and starts to read.<br />
<br />
Lot of people like to think certain things will never happen to them or that certain information isn't relevant to them. A lot of articles and discussions, classes, etc, are ignored because they deal with issues that aren't very unlikely. A good example of this is medical issues and supplies, law, abductions, etc.<br />
<br />
Many don't carry medical supplies because they aren't trained and think it's useless to carry supplies they don't know for certain how to use.<br />
<br />
I remember the moment I got a tension neumothorax needle. I told my friend, "I don't think I'll put this in my bag because I don't know how to use it." He said, "That doesn't mean there won't be a paramedic or nurse or someone else on scene who does."<br />
<br />
He had a good point.<br />
<br />
Just because you don't have a skill doesn't mean someone else doesn't. It also doesn't mean you can't learn a few things and put them into the back of your brain for the unlikely or have some other resources on hand to learn.<br />
<br />
We all have spare tires in our cars. Many of us have no clue how to change a tire. But in the event of a need we all know we can go in our glove boxes, get the owner's manual and figure it out. <br />
<br />
Invest in a few self defense law books. Get yourself gunsmithing manuals for the firearms you own. Get an emergency medical textbook. Have resources on hand to learn and supplies for those who may already be educated. <br />
<br />
<b>5. When his survival was on the line he improvised. </b><br />
<br />
Despite all the pre-planning, the equipment, the skills and resources there were a few situations where the character had things go wrong, he wasn't as prepared or his preparations failed and he had to make it up as he went along. In which case he improvised and came up with ways to survive.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, when it's all coming to pieces we have to make it up as we go along. It may not be perfect. It may not be pretty but it might just get us out alive.<br />
<br />
<b>6. He put it all on the line. </b><br />
<br />
Again, without going into any spoilers, there comes a point in the movie where the main character pretty much throws all caution to the wind and puts everything on the line to be rescued.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, despite all of our preparations and planning and equipment we have to make a bold move that will mean life or death. When that time comes it's no one's decision but your own and you'd better have made your peace with outcome either way.Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-49320084662731251362014-03-03T06:45:00.000-08:002014-03-03T06:52:41.926-08:00FAST Gear<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVT8AMn3Uixw3wl_FUYl9bK51oUvpO3ptR5AiaITaXmsAQy9NRnTvyAtbIHDulEM18w8u0ghG8yny2UukQcp8Y6hgWedWP_7-QbYkl4f0morBlT1zTCHKw3ohRxBu_moVfEwbw6qKS6lm/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVT8AMn3Uixw3wl_FUYl9bK51oUvpO3ptR5AiaITaXmsAQy9NRnTvyAtbIHDulEM18w8u0ghG8yny2UukQcp8Y6hgWedWP_7-QbYkl4f0morBlT1zTCHKw3ohRxBu_moVfEwbw6qKS6lm/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Holster and Magazine Section of the Gear Chest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had my carry permit for less than five months the first time I had a
BAD carry day. I was working in an office and was running late for
work. I grabbed a flimsy skirt off my bedroom floor, a fresh shirt out
of the closet, grabbed a cheap nylon one-size-fits-most clip holster and
shoved my Kimber Stainless Ultra Carry inside my waistband clipped to
nothing but the side of my skirt. I wasn't even to my car before I
wanted to ditch the whole setup. My skirt was digging into my side. The
gun was flopping all over the place and on the verge of falling out all
day. I was being poked with the muzzle and fighting concealment. If it
weren't for my commitment to carry I probably would have given up
concealed carry on that day. By the time I got home from work eight
hours later I couldn't wait to take my gun off and don't even want to
describe the raw meat my waist had been turned into.<br />
<br />
I
learned how important good gear could be to the carry experience and how
bad gear can ruin everything or at least make you want to leave your
gun at home or seriously compromise the security of your concealment and
carry. So much has changed since that day and now I'm happy to say it's
been a LONG time since I've experienced a bad carry day. I have a very
good working system for myself that I can count on in a pinch and that
is important to everyone who decides to carry a gun.<br />
<br />
We all have those moments when we need to get out the door post hast. We're running late, we got a last minute appointment, there's an emergency and we need to gear up. <br />
<br />
Finding
good gear is a process that often varies by individual, gun, body type, etc, and may take
some time to get perfect but eventually we should all get to a point
where we have FAST gear that we can count on in a rush.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span class="fbUnderline"><b>F</b></span><b></b><b>it:</b></li>
</ul>
The
gear should fit well with a wide variety of applications, clothing
styles and your general lifestyle. Sure, there are always those days and
moments where things get mixed up a bit but everyone should have a
setup that, for the most part, would work on any given day. For some
that could be smart carry and an XD or a shoulder holster with a
j-frame. For others it might be an IWB holster and a 1911.<br />
<br />
The
holster should fit the gun. Spare magazine pouches should fit the spare
magazine. I know I'm preaching to the choir here but I've seen (and
sold) many holster that "could" fit the gun if these few stitches were
let out or if you cut this strap or cut a hole in the bottom for the
sight. Ill-fit holsters will cause you nothing but trouble in the long
run. Spend the extra money, get yourself a quality, well-fitting holster
and spare magazine pouch.<br />
<br />
Your belt should be fit to
your body and your gear (if applicable). If you commonly wear IWB
holsters with your gun you might have to have a belt with a wider range
of adjustability. If OWB is your primary carry method you may need a
tighter fitting belt. If you carry a heavier gun, knife and spare
magazine you may need a more robust belt to support the weight of your
equipment. Choose your belt carefully to support you and your needs.<br />
<br />
Pocket
knives should fit in your pockets or on body in such a way that they
are comfortable and you won't be tempted to take them off. The same
could also be said of flashlights and other pocket tools. If these
things do not fit well into pockets or your clothing doesn't have good
pockets (like a lot of female clothing) consider purchasing only those
tools with clips that can attack to waistbands or belts. Most
flashlights and pocket knives and even many fixed-blade knives have belt
or clip attachments available.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><span class="fbUnderline">A</span>ccessible</b></li>
</ul>
What's
the point of having stuff you can't find? If you are in a hurry and
can't locate a specific item you are most likely going to leave without
it. We have a gear chest that sits close to the door. Everything but
guns goes in that chest and I know exactly where I can find the things I
need from holsters to spare magazines and pouches to knives,
flashlights, ammo and even shooting glasses. Don't risk leaving
something important behind by not having it accessible.<br />
<br />
It should also be accessible on body. Your tools are only as good as their accessibility in a fight and if you have to get through several layers or into bags, etc, you might be forfeiting your use of that tool in the fight. Yes, some of us have to have deeper concealment than others but make it as accessible as possible. <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><span class="fbUnderline">S</span>ecure</b></li>
</ul>
The
security of your defensive tools should be paramount. I attended a
FOF class where the airsoft gun I was using did not fit my regular carry holster and I had to borrow someone else's
one-size-fits-most for the first half of the first day. My airsoft gun
fell out of the holster once, ejected my magazine on me once, and often
moved around on my waist while I was running or fighting. These things
should never happen. PERIOD! Your gear should be secure on your body so
that you can run, fight, or even work and play without worrying about
it.<br />
<br />
Belt loops should be strong. Belts should be
sturdy. Holsters should be in good repair. Snaps should be solid. Clips
should be well-formed. Locking mechanisms should be fastened. Your gear
should be secure on your body.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><span class="fbUnderline">T</span>ested</b></li>
</ul>
There
is a time for testing your gear and as someone who reviews holsters for
various individuals I sometimes take the risk of carrying in "untested"
gear as a means to test it. Though I usually have a back up near by.
But when it comes down to a moment that I am running out the door not
willing to take on the role of reviewer or tester or don't want to make
sure I have a reliable backup I will always revert to tried and true and
well-tested equipment. I choose guns that have gone through hundreds
(if not thousands) of rounds of accuracy and reliability. I choose
holsters, belts, flashlights, knives, sheaths, pepper sprays and other
tools that I have carried many times before and have proven themselves
to work through trainings and experience. There is no (and should be no)
doubt that, if needed, my equipment will work.<br />
<br />
And
it's always a good idea to do a quick test while gearing up. Test that
flashlight and make sure it still works. Drop that magazine and make
sure it's fully loaded. Check the chamber and make sure it's loaded.
Pull on your holster and make sure nothing has broken or ripped. Deploy
your knife to make sure the blade comes out smoothly and nothing has
broken. Make sure you have disabled any major locking devises like the
key-lock on your S&W revolvers or Taurus 1911s.<br />
<br />
Having a system of FAST gear will insure you are equipped in those moments of hast.Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-84888882720444437932014-02-28T06:27:00.004-08:002014-02-28T07:36:36.524-08:00Rangemaster Tactical Conference 2014<br />
Every year Tom Givens puts on a conference in Memphis, TN, at his
facility. It is called the Rangemaster Tactical Conference. It consists
of three days of instruction by top instructors in the firearms and self
defense community. At any given time there can be three to five
instructors presenting on any number of topics related to self defense,
particularly with a firearm. Most instruction blocks are two hours in
length but from time to time and with an important enough topic it's not
unheard of to see a whole four-hour block dedicated to one instructor
and his information.<br />
<br />
After years of hearing great things coming out of the conference we finally made it a priority to attend this year.<br />
<br />
The Conference was held on Feb 21-23 and the hardest part was deciding which instruction blocks to attend vs the others.<br />
<br />
My schedule started with <b>Shane Gosa</b>, instructor with CQB Services International, talking about <b>The Mental
Trigger</b>. This entire two-hour block was largely centered around mindset. Shane had a unique perspective on Jeff Cooper's color codes of awareness, how they were intended to be used and how to apply them to daily life. We did one group visualization technique, discussed mental barriers and the aftermath of violent encounters and finished up with a training exercise on what Shane called, "Accessing State." The exercise is meant to train the mind and body to work together and to limit or completely eliminate the freeze response and allow for a faster and more efficient aggressive, defensive or offensive response. Not only did it address turning the aggression on, immediately, but also turning it off (often the hardest and most damning part of self defense). The lecture concluded with a discussion on winning vs survival, the importance of combat breathing and other tips on getting the most out of training sessions.<br />
<br />
Next was <b>Kathy Jackson</b>, author and instructor for <a href="http://www.corneredcat.com/" target="_blank">Cornered Cat</a>. Her lecture was very bluntly titled "<b>What Women Want</b>" and centered around getting more women to attend professional firearms and self defense training. She opened with statistics about how many women were getting their carry permits and buying guns compared to men (hint, it's a lot more women than you think) and on the high note she dashed us down by showing the number of women who attend regular training past the basic carry class (hint, it's way less women than you'd hope). She drew parallels from other male-dominated fields and how they have fought to retain women. Her discussion on how women often feel in the firearms community (and other male-dominated fields) left my mouth agape in it's accuracy at how I have often felt. She then held back nothing as she talked about some of the common flaws in firearms training that set women up for failure or at least for being undermined in the industry. She slaughtered a few sacred cows (which I was gleeful to see butchered (there were at least two times I literally almost clapped)) and moved on to the best strategies for encouraging women. She was very frank that if you are going to teach women you have to be okay talking about and at least have a working idea of some women's issues like drawing around big breasts, discussing bra or thigh holsters, or even being able to address long fingernails and how it relates to shooting. In short, if you want women to come to your classes, you need to make them feel like they belong in a human space vs feeling like they are guests in a man's house. <br />
<br />
After lunch I was off to <b>Jim Higginbotham</b>, a former instructor at Gunsite, from Riposte Training. His lecture was called "<b>Fire for Effect</b>" and entirely centered on how the body reacts to gunfire and how bullets may (or may not) physically stop a determined attacker. He discussed the factors that influence incapacitation, how one should train to maximize the effectiveness of their shots if they are needed and what physically needs to be achieved in order to stop a determined attacker instantly, rapidly or marginally. He addressed head-on the growing concept that it's better to spread your shots around vs making tight groups and how ineffective that can be. He addressed the issue of training scars developed through targets with poorly defined targeting zones and concluded with practice tips on improving ability to make better incapacitating shots.<br />
<br />
My last class on Friday was <b>Chuck Haggard</b>, a former SWAT officer and current supervisory officer in Kansas. I had the privilege to meet Chuck at the Rangemaster Instructor Development class in September and we've kept in touch ever since. His block of instruction was on <b>Active Shooters/Terrorist Events</b>. Chuck has been personally involved in two active shooter events and his unique perspective was insightful when going through some of the information. A good majority of the class was going over many of the major active shooter events and discussing the tactics used by law enforcement and what worked and what didn't as far as slowing or stopping the events. He talked about what motivates active shooters and what civilians can do to better prepare for an active shooter event.<br />
<br />
Saturday morning started with a four-hour block of instruction by <b>John Hearne</b>; a Rangemaster instructor, federal law enforcement officer and self-proclaimed research geek; called "<b>Performance Under Fire</b>." He gave the four-hour version of an eight-hour class and if I ever get the chance to take it in more depth you will find me there. A long-held belief is that humans are predestined to become quivering masses of unpredictable goo when confronted with traumatic events. John's lecture went over the brain, how it works and functions with other body systems to respond to emergencies, why it is conditioned to do what it does under stress and how it can be optimized to respond better or entirely differently. He explained the difference between the neocortex and limbic system and their roles in traumatic events and how to keep the neocortex in control. He defined what it meant to be untrained, to have learned a skill and what was an overlearned skill. My favorite part of his lecture was what he called the "Sacred Cow Slaughterhouse" that took on the concepts of heart-rate being a key factor in performance, the idea that a "natural" response is somehow superior vs an overlearned response, the famed "startle-response" we all train to start from, the supposed innate aversion we are said to have against killing other humans, and whether or not we really do loose our ability to perform fine motor skills and see something as small as a front sight when fighting for our lives. He concluded his lecture with training tips and tips for instructors on how to maximize student learning. All-in-all a very intensive and eye-opening block of instruction.<br />
<br />
And from there I stood in line for twenty minutes waiting to attend <b>Craig Douglas'</b> workshop on <b>Managing Unknown Contacts</b>. Craig Douglas is often known through his former screen name "Southnarc." As his handle would suggest, he was an undercover narcotics officer who has since retired and started his own training company called <a href="http://shivworks.com/" target="_blank">shivworks</a>. The man has a stellar reputation in the training community that is well-deserved. Many of his techniques were developed directly from his own experience interacting on a regular basis with the criminal element. The workshop was based around the simple premise that you are being approached by an unknown individual. You need to decide whether or not this individual is a potential threat with enough time and/or distance to do something about it if it turns out this individual means you harm. We spent most of the instruction block working his three-part interaction system of Verbalizing, Moving and preparing your Hands for action. He then went over four of the most common pre-fight indicators and we practiced identifying them in class. Lastly, we talked about what to do if we are still unsure of the genuine intent of an individual but decide we want to help them vs shutting them down. This was mostly a live-action class worked with other partners and a great exercise in staying relatively safe while deciding if someone is a legitimate threat or not.<br />
<br />
My final Saturday class was <b>Skip Gochenour</b>, a retired police investigator who specialized in homicides and helped prepare cases for trial. Skip's lecture was titled "<b>Problem Two: On Trial</b>." In other words, you've survived a lethal encounter (problem one) but now you are being charged with a crime (typically some form of homicide). He opened his lecture with some pretty harsh facts about the law and legal system, the hardest to accept by your average gun-totter being that the truth has absolutely no relevance in a court of law. If a question cannot be clearly answered by the evidence it is what is considered "a jury question" at which point a prosecutor and defense attorney will both make a case on how they interpret the evidence and the jury makes a declaration and what they believe the evidence likely indicates what happened. He went over a lot of history of our legal system and broke down what four main questions a prosecutor will ask in order to determine whether or not someone acted in self defense. He then moved on to what criteria the jury will look at as to whether or not they will convict (or acquit) someone of the various degrees of murder. One of the quotes of the class that particularly resonated with me was, "When you decide you will take on problem one you agree to accept the bill and pay for problem two no matter what the cost." Be that emotional, financial, physical, legal or in prison. A sobering reminder of the responsibilities involved in carrying a firearm.<br />
<br />
Sunday morning opened with <b>Cecil Burch</b>, a career martial artist and instructor. His block of instruction was titled <b>Immediate Action in Extreme Close Quarters</b>. In short, you've just been taken by surprise in a violent attack and you can't get to or don't have a gun. What do you do? This was another live-action workshop and we spent much of it on our feet working with partners to protect our most vital area (the head) and work on switching from a defensive posture to an offensive one and gaining ground to either fight, access tools or flee. <br />
<br />
Next I attended <b>Tom Givens' Active Shooter</b> lecture. His lecture differed from Chuck's in that he did not spend a lot of time discussing individual cases but rather patterns across many active shooter events. He went over a lot of information that is already known in the community such as the fact that most active shooter events happen in gun-free zones, a large portion of them being schools, and that the shooters tend to be lone, white males with one gun. He went over the phases of an active shooter from fantasy all the way to the shooting and how the best time to stop an active shooting is in the planning or preparation stage. He discussed the difference in outcomes with civilian's have responded to active shooters vs law enforcement with the results being in favor of a civilian response. Lastly, he talked about what to do if caught up in an active shooter event and wrapped it up with an admonition to be armed and fight for abolition of gun-free zones.<br />
<br />
After lunch was <b>William Aprill</b>'s lecture titled, "<b>Fatal Choices</b>." William Aprill is a psychologist who works with criminals in a law enforcement capacity and a brilliant speaker. His lecture was primarily about what makes a criminal pick a particular individual to victimize. His initial task was to distinguish between those who are targeted and those who are victimized. Anyone can be targeted but only a portion of those are actually chosen to be victimized and that comes down to a criminal deciding whether or not that target is a "go" or "no go." How does he make the decision? William went into depth about what is called "thin-slicing" and it's connection to the intuitive mind that allows us to make instant and more-often accurate decisions about people based on very limited, external data. Facial expressions, gait, appearance, even the amount of multi-tasking we seem to be taking on in a particular moment, can all be factors in what makes a criminal decide whether or not to victimize a particular target. He talked about what we can do to lower our chances of being targeted in the first place or even "deselected" as a "go." Of all of the presentations at the conference, it was William's that fascinated me the most and has made me want to research much more into the topics of thin-slicing and how it relates to criminal choice.<br />
<br />
Finally, when I thought I could cram no more into my little brain I sat down in <b>Greg Ellifritz</b>'s "<b>Armed Citizen Response to Terrorist Bombings</b>." Anyone who has followed my blog for any length of time has seen Greg's name before. He's one of my favorite instructors and this is my third class with him. He's the author and lead instructor for Active Response Training. He holds more instructor certifications than I care to list at the moment and his topic of the day was bombs. He went over what they are, how they work, how we might be able to identify them and how they are being used by terrorists and active shooters. After pretty much letting us all in on the terrifying reality that there's not much you can do about a bomb he dampened the mood even further by alerting us to the fact that most active shooter/terrorist bombs are homemade and unstable and it's not even a safe bet to try to shoot someone, even if you are 100% sure he has a bomb. If you choose to do so you're doing so with the expectation that you're going to die and generally not going to stop the bomb from going off anyway given the instability of the device, handlers who will set it off anyway, timers, or a hit to the device that triggers it early. He did try to end it on an upbeat note by assuming if we were involved in a bombing we were far enough away or able to get to cover quickly enough to survive. He talked about steps to take to identify secondary devices, how to manage other survivors of the blast and then talked about relative safe distances and cover from certain sizes of devices (which can vary depending on device).<br />
<br />
On that happy note we piled in our car, went for some good bbq and just about crashed in an information-overload coma. <br />
<br />
These were only the classes I was able to attend. There were so many more I missed and am disappointed for it.<br />
<br />
I got to meet some of my heroes and other top-name instructors, got to network with some great people and trainers, meet some of the people who have followed me for years and generally rub shoulders with some great, like-minded individuals.<br />
<br />
In addition to the instruction, there is an ongoing pistol match which I shot on Saturday night and learned later that out of 129 shooters I came in 22. To say I was pleased would be an understatement.<br />
<br />
I'm not done processing the information from the conference and I fully expect to write more in depth thoughts on several of the training blocks I attended, but for now, I'll leave you all with the admonition that if you can even remotely conceive of going to a Tactical Conference you should do so! <br />
<br />
I plan on returning often! I hope to see you there!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-70572769941070416492014-02-27T12:10:00.001-08:002014-04-01T04:32:53.644-07:00Looking For NailsThere's an old saying in the gun training industry that says, "If all you carry is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." The implication being that if your only option for self defense is a gun you will start to see shooting solutions to no-shoot problems. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRj3n2BChyBgdMyV-XiVlzfUg9iI807tGzg5O67wiIy64-jUkzlre6fNsQP7UaR35zXUSOI5pU6bkL0PxHoNQKlw8cbk11ZkkqubOfH8rY0GWu89YXk0Y12C5iB00Q_lSeFszDI0U6D3B/s1600/wrong+tool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRj3n2BChyBgdMyV-XiVlzfUg9iI807tGzg5O67wiIy64-jUkzlre6fNsQP7UaR35zXUSOI5pU6bkL0PxHoNQKlw8cbk11ZkkqubOfH8rY0GWu89YXk0Y12C5iB00Q_lSeFszDI0U6D3B/s1600/wrong+tool.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
When I started out on my self-defense journey I had no clear idea of what a lethal force situation looked like. Yeah, I could make an educated guess that someone who was raping me or stabbing or shooting me was probably worth shooting but when we got into discussions of disparity of force and the legalities of using lethal force against someone or multiple someones who were unarmed I was a bit confused. As it was better explained to me I was actually surprised that lethal force may be used in many "weaponless" or bare-handed situations.<br />
<br />
One could argue whether or not anyone gets a true grasp of all the dynamics involved in a true lethal force situation. I continue to study it regularly but don't claim to have any mastery of the topic. There are those who seem to understand it better than others but for the most part we all can grasp the general principles of deadly force and how that relates to reasonable suspicion of death or great bodily harm. <br />
<br />
As scenarios are presented to students they start to try to evaluate whether or not lethal force is justified based on those principles and understanding. <br />
<br />
All of a sudden, the man getting beaten may have a legitimate claim for use of deadly force if there's a sudden change in disparity of force. The woman being chased; the big, burly guy getting cornered by two other big, burly guys; the older man with a cane getting robbed by the younger, stronger man; the untrained civilian being decimated by the boxing champion all might find themselves in real and dangerous lethal force scenarios.<br />
<br />
These students start to identify the legitimate nails that need hammering. And before they know it they are chiming in on discussions of nails, critiquing this nail vs that nail and the best hammers to apply to certain nails and how many times those nails should be hit, where they should be hit, at what angle they should be hit, etc. <br />
<br />
Over the last weekend I attended the Rangemaster Tactical Conference. I was set to swim through a veritable sea of the most relevant and up-to-date information one can hope to obtain in the training, shooting and self defense industry. I also had the unique privilege to talk to and sit under some of the top names in the business. These people have dedicated their lives to training, self defense, the legalities and psychology surrounding it and have the experience, skill and expertise to not only have an opinion but to pass on their vast knowledge to the rest of us. <br />
<br />
A reoccurring theme that popped up in discussion with many of these instructors was the fact that people are identifying way too many nails. They are practically obsessed with nails. <br />
<br />
These people aren't emphasizing or practicing deselection techniques (if they are aware they exist). They aren't practicing good avoidance. They know nothing or seek out almost no knowledge on deescalation, social and verbal dynamics of dealing with potentially dangerous people and have no (or do not seek out) hand-to-hand or less-than-lethal skills and options. They know nothing about articulation and the actual legalities surrounding defensive shootings (outside of the basics) or the true cost of what the lack of all of those things might mean. <br />
<br />
But by-golly you will find them at the range practicing their draw-stroke every Saturday. They are training at every known shooting school they can attend and the top competitors in pistol matches. They can do a sub-second magazine reloads one-handed. They will practice that 10 yard head-shot on that hostage target until they can't miss. They will argue until they are blue in the face about how justified they were at using their hammer in any number of self-defense situations and are top commentators on seven different pistol forums and facebook discussion groups.<br />
<br />
I used to think it wasn't bad or that maybe I was missing something. I used to think that most people, given other options, would choose wisely. When someone would ask me to chime in on a self-defense scenario, I'd read all the "just shoot him" comments and cringe. Another would send me an article about this questionable "self-defense" shooting or that one or another or another and I would wonder what made those individuals think the gun was the best option. <br />
<br />
I thought that this was was the fringe element. Surely, most of us can see a nail as needing a hammer and a screw as needing a screwdriver, right (not to mention identifying a flat-head from a phillips)? <br />
<br />
Then I saw the results from <a href="http://blog.krtraining.com/?p=40" target="_blank">Craig Douglas' force-on-force (FOF) scenario</a>. I didn't even participate and the information frightened me. The scenario had a no-shoot solution and yet a gun was fired 10 out of 12 times and it was reported to me that those results were "about average." I've been in FOF scenarios before and understand how difficult they can be to think through. And the reason we do FOF is to construct a safe place to make mistakes. I can't say I would have fared any better. But if you aren't at least concerned by this data than I'm even more worried. <br />
<br />
Later I visited a self-defense focused facebook page and commented on a scenario taken from a surveillance video of an altercation between one man and other that resulted in the first being hit a number of times (he never lost consciousness, they exchanged a few words throughout the course of the fight and both individuals eventually walked away). I said didn't think the scenario as it was warranted lethal force. I could have been wrong, I'm okay with that. But I was told my "attitude was what is wrong with society." <br />
<br />
Over and over again in self-defense related discussions it is becoming more and more acceptable to proclaim lethal force as an only, early or at least earlier option. And those who are standing up to say it's not are being accused as fools. <br />
<br />
After reading those results of the FOF scenario and seeing the trend in discussion groups I started talking to other instructors about the importance of FOF training. I wondered if it might be time to start training people to identify no-shoot scenarios instead of having them identify shoot scenarios.<br />
<br />
One of the responses I got was, "That sounds about right. Otherwise we are training them to look for the nail."<br />
<br />
That statement had a huge impact on me as both a civilian carrying a gun and as an instructor teaching individuals to use a gun. Have I been trained to look for nails? Have I been training people to look for nails? Given certain scenarios am I able to identify other options quick enough to avoid having to go to the gun? Do I have the skill to use those other options effectively? Am I communicating to my students the importance--no, the <i>NECESSITY</i>--of having other options besides the gun? <br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong. As someone who has experienced a violent crime I am an advocate for lethal force. People should shoot when there is a need. They should be able to recognize that need and be able to articulate it. They should have the right to defend themselves with lethal force and be able to delivery it swiftly and aggressively. They should be skilled in the use of deadly force and ready and able to use it effectively. <br />
<br />
But they should also be able to identify when it is not needed.<br />
<br />
As my Krav instructor once said, "The hard part isn't teaching people how to turn the aggression on. It's teaching them how to turn if off."<br />
<br />
Yes, we need to teach people and/or learn to identify those nails. But after that it might be time to start learning how to identify screws and wires, paint and thread and the appropriate tools for those jobs. <br />
<br />
Maybe instead of asking, "Would you shoot in this scenario?" we should be asking, "What would you do to keep from having to shoot in this scenario?"<br />
<br />
Maybe instead of constructing all of our FOF scenarios to have gun solutions, we should be constructing far more of them to have no-shoot solutions.<br />
<br />
Instead of lauding good shoot news articles on our facebook pages we should be praising scenarios that ended with no shots fired or less-than-lethal force.<br />
<br />
Maybe as students of self-defense we should put more time into seeking out no-shoot solutions instead of concentrating so much on the shooting part.<br />
<br />
The gun is a good tool. It's the best option in many encounters. But it's just a gun. It's not the only option, nor should it be. <br />
<br />
Be able to identify a nail for what it is. But stop looking for them.<br />
<br />Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-34996012600101273962014-02-13T08:07:00.001-08:002014-02-13T08:30:55.045-08:00The Child Trauma Kit<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQRKV16f160LvQ8CQcKxGEllcveUYg9RMuV_1qelB_GHgaFTzuoSiKNodrSWadE7soA6eMdN3RYbKOdDPMBobdxrCK6xsrECcbUVPkkm0b3HReBm-elDPeJJ1uudJ2ToqWcc5DPlYqcq1/s1600/20140213_083823.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQRKV16f160LvQ8CQcKxGEllcveUYg9RMuV_1qelB_GHgaFTzuoSiKNodrSWadE7soA6eMdN3RYbKOdDPMBobdxrCK6xsrECcbUVPkkm0b3HReBm-elDPeJJ1uudJ2ToqWcc5DPlYqcq1/s1600/20140213_083823.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A commercial tourniquet on five year-old's arm.<br />
Too big!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thankfully, major trauma to children is not common. Even less common is major trauma to children due to violence.<br />
<br />
However, since we are in the interest of being prepared for the eventuality of all disasters, we might as well cover the horrid reality of violent trauma to your child. <br />
<br />
In my <a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2014/02/will-your-passion-for-your-loved-ones.html" target="_blank">Realities and Legalities of Child Snatching</a> series I touched on the possibility of your child being injured in an altercation between a parent and a kidnapper and that commercial trauma kits do not often account for the size differences and special needs of children. <br />
<br />
First, in the interest of brevity I'm going to skip talking about <a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2012/07/carry-gun-and-bandaid.html" target="_blank">trauma kits, what is in them and how to use them</a>. For the purpose of this blog I'm going to assume you have one and have been trained in its use. If you don't have one and don't know how to use it I highly recommend you seek out a combat medicine class.<br />
<br />
I want to talk specifically about children and at what ages your trauma kit and skills might need a little adjusting. <br />
<br />
Soon after children hit puberty, while they are technically and legally still children, their bodies develop quickly into adult capabilities. While medical dosing and treatment might be different, for trauma management your average junior to senior high school students may not need any specialized equipment. That may not be the case for every child so assess your own child and what you might need for him or her but for the most part you can use a standard trauma kit on post-pubescent children with adequate results. <br />
<br />
Prepubescent and adolescent children (called pediatrics in the medical community), on the other hand, are not miniature adults. They can handle some traumas well but not others and their bodies are often not able to compensate for injuries like an adults. <br />
<br />
They have different blood pressures, pulses and breathing rates. They cannot take the blood loss an adult can and their lungs often give out far faster than an adult's. Depending on the age, their lungs also cannot handle aggressive positive pressure from artificial ventilation like an adult. When children suffer major traumas they need specialized care and quickly.<br />
<br />
The number one cause of heart failure in a child is respiratory distress (they cannot breathe). So a child that is struggling to breathe can deteriorate quickly into a child who's heart is not beating. <br />
<br />
Taking those things into consideration let's consider an absolutely worst case scenario:<br />
<br />
Your child has been shot. Be this an active shooter event, a shooting at a school function, etc, you are now the sole provider for your child until paramedics arrive. <br />
<br />
You have your trauma kit. A lot of the products in that kit such as gauze, surgical sponges, duck tape, occlusive dressings, will directly apply to trauma in children but let's talk about what may not and what you might want to keep an eye out for and add for your child.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Tourniquets: </b></i><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIxD1bi8yHx4VuMwnLkxjQRHmyqszS-YTUUJi2wZiaI8v5TpLbfZtgWa_J5gFxu94JVhgkHgHdzMcY7_GPrRMrMtgryUXyL5KbFY4UIQTLVQY1rKyDG46t9PUhxYYnHqOdA-euvq1c2FZ/s1600/20140213_084048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIxD1bi8yHx4VuMwnLkxjQRHmyqszS-YTUUJi2wZiaI8v5TpLbfZtgWa_J5gFxu94JVhgkHgHdzMcY7_GPrRMrMtgryUXyL5KbFY4UIQTLVQY1rKyDG46t9PUhxYYnHqOdA-euvq1c2FZ/s1600/20140213_084048.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make sure your fingers at least touch <br />
around a child's extremity for best results.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Many people who carry trauma kits buy them prefabricated off the
internet. These kits often come with easy-one-hand-use tourniquets such
as the CAT or SWAT-T. While many of them may be adjustable down to
pediatric sizes some are not and you may spend too much time trying to
adjust the tourniquet that you could be spending getting the bleeding
under control.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Alternatives: </b></i><br />
Your hand.<br />
<br />
An
adult's hand is often the perfect tourniquet for a young child.
Encompass the fingers 1-2 inches above the wound and squeeze while
applying pressure on the wound with the palm or heel of the hand. The
combination of pressure and squeezing off blood flow can get bleeding
under control quickly or buy you time to adjust your other tools or
direct someone in adjusting your equipment or improving a tourniquet. To
see if your hands are big enough, try to encompass your child's arms or
legs at their thickest points (the thigh and the upper arm). If your
fingers don't touch at the back, know that you may need to improvise a
tourniquet for that extremity.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90QFG4u-IisOc9jb9GhUy_W5TTYp7AyPpZVg8CDYbx67yJgSy87rvRZiU__3yTGLbs47rjWGArVu6wVgPldG4xwsVKVSLLtgVfmE2TmDifAoTAqBnJjpIb51SPeOk3PkQS9GJvCfJhMIh/s1600/20140213_084147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90QFG4u-IisOc9jb9GhUy_W5TTYp7AyPpZVg8CDYbx67yJgSy87rvRZiU__3yTGLbs47rjWGArVu6wVgPldG4xwsVKVSLLtgVfmE2TmDifAoTAqBnJjpIb51SPeOk3PkQS9GJvCfJhMIh/s1600/20140213_084147.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A triangular bandage is quickly applied to<br />
this tiny 2 year-old's arm. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Triangular bandage.<br />
<br />
A triangular bandage can make a great tourniquet and can often be applied faster than some commercial products. I recommend carrying at least two or three triangular bandages in case you need more than one tourniquet (think Boston Bombing) and they come in handy for many other purposes. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Triangular-Bandages-40-56-Box/dp/B00186W666/ref=sr_1_21?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1392301432&sr=1-21&keywords=triangular+bandage" target="_blank">You can buy boxes of twelve off of Amazon for less than $10</a>. <br />
<br />
<i><b>Pressure Bandages:</b></i><br />
As with tourniquets, pressure bandages often come in trauma kits and can be too big for some little bodies or take too much time to apply with all the excess material. <br />
<br />
<i><b>Alternatives:</b></i><br />
A fantastic alternative to a commercial pressure bandages is gauze and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dynarex-Sensi-Rainbow-Color-Inches/dp/B001B5OZBS/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1392301511&sr=1-1&keywords=coflex" target="_blank">Coflex or Self-Adherent Stretch Sensi-Wrap</a>. It can be torn to size and provides very good pressure (even to tourniquet tightness if you wrap it tight enough). It comes in different widths and is a fantastic thing to throw in any trauma bag even for adult trauma. <br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Things to Consider Adding:</b></i><br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.galls.com/nasal-airway-kit" target="_blank">nasal</a> and/or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/ADC-Guedel-Airway-hard-43000/dp/B000FVXMFE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1392304067&sr=8-3&keywords=oral+airway+kit" target="_blank">oral airway kit</a>. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSfbpqWJMuGanY2VR9BIOzwUCO5UZpV498OaWLrS2-KXZ0vb_r7Ug" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSfbpqWJMuGanY2VR9BIOzwUCO5UZpV498OaWLrS2-KXZ0vb_r7Ug" /></a><br />
<br />
As I said before, the number one reason for cardiac arrest in children is respiratory distress and children's lungs often give our faster than an adults. After you've controlled bleeding, if the child is quiet, gasping for air or seems to not be breathing well you may have to preform CPR on that child and breathe for him or her at any moment. Take time to consider the normal breathing rate for your child so that you can better gauge what it is too fast or too slow. Children's airways are small and while an oral or nasal airway is not as good as intubation, it will at least keep the tongue out of the back of the throat and keep the mouth slightly open while you preform breaths for the child. <br />
<br />
A good tip to remember is if a child is crying, he's breathing. The sounds of your child screaming in such a situation should be music to your ears. A quiet child that is injured is one you need to watch <i>very</i> carefully for respiratory distress and heart failure. <br />
<br />
Pediatric airway adjuncts are not big but they do take up space. Many people who carry them prefer to carry the whole kit in case they need to help others. If you are strapped for space, however, you can pick out the airways that will fit your children and put those in your kit. Whether you carry the whole kit or not, it's still a good idea to measure out the airways for your children so that you don't have to take time measuring them under duress. <br />
<br />
Click <a href="http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240191_AirwayAdjunctsFactandSkill.pdf" target="_blank">this link</a> for step-by-step instructions on measuring and inserting an oral or nasal airway and when to use one vs the other.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Things to Tell 911: </b></i><br />
When you call 911 be sure to specify that there is a pediatric child on scene. If someone else is making the call be sure tell them to specify "Pediatric" or "Child." Give the age, weight and injuries and what you are doing to help that child. Specifying the weight will allow paramedics to start calculating possibly needed doses for medications they may have to give on scene. If CPR is in progress be sure that is made very clear to dispatch. <br />
<br />
Some ambulances have separate pediatric bags and med boxes they need to grab and they often will not grab that bag or box unless they know a pediatric patient is on scene. If it's a mass casualty scene they may have a larger jump kit with pediatric tools included but don't count on it. Knowing there is a pediatric on scene in advance will save time from someone having to run back to an ambulance and get the correct med box or bag. <br />
<br />
<i><b>Training You Need: </b></i><br />
If you have a child you should know CPR. This is a must. Given choking hazards and other medical emergencies, CPR should have been something you already have been trained in. If not, get it. <br />
<br />
If your CPR class does not include practice on inserting oral and nasal airways, ask them if they have them available to try on the dummies. Many places that teach CPR will at least have them on hand and might be willing to allow you to practice and critique your technique. <br />
<br />
<i><b>Organize your kit:</b></i><br />
My supplies for my children are in a separate MOLLE pouch on the side of my bag vs buried with all of the other trauma stuff in the main compartments. It gives me peace of mind knowing exactly where they are and that they are easily accessible. Even if you can't make separate kits for your kids vs yourself, have them accessible and well labeled. You might not be the one using them or you might have to direct someone else in their use if you are too injured to do it yourself. <br />
<br />
Again, thankfully, traumatic injuries to children due to violence are rare but it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. That goes for tools <i>AND</i> skills.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Skills:</b></i><br />
<br />
<b>Tourniquet with hand.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKh3732vI-OnL9Moly1up6Mjb8HrN-EuGt1lmBtkO8UcrVtOraiCADoJB6enUiSs8DoBAzEeO1eh2FjQA5E4O_oXfdD4SEQzzds4LbG-sHiwTi-QI9lwiyKVhCgp-hIlfTqYrpYviX5pnw/s1600/20140213_083602.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKh3732vI-OnL9Moly1up6Mjb8HrN-EuGt1lmBtkO8UcrVtOraiCADoJB6enUiSs8DoBAzEeO1eh2FjQA5E4O_oXfdD4SEQzzds4LbG-sHiwTi-QI9lwiyKVhCgp-hIlfTqYrpYviX5pnw/s1600/20140213_083602.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">1. We're going to assume the blue X on this five year-old's arm is an aggressive hemorrhage.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfW_3aRioiHMxUqigKXt2fkA4zd0UMTjVXHVZKcWFOhphLsIi90TWvAxzC8zrGbqhZLYrvPrZm-Sbw7zwR0NrlgBQxuEGvozNi0kRt4AjzfF7itUo26I349pJ1TssYwRN9Oy3n8J4Db7G/s1600/20140213_083621.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfW_3aRioiHMxUqigKXt2fkA4zd0UMTjVXHVZKcWFOhphLsIi90TWvAxzC8zrGbqhZLYrvPrZm-Sbw7zwR0NrlgBQxuEGvozNi0kRt4AjzfF7itUo26I349pJ1TssYwRN9Oy3n8J4Db7G/s1600/20140213_083621.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">2. Cover it with a dressing.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1BEebsyr7hJTfirXqZ37gsLPA3bJmXL7udnXWqjNrMfdXCdYhWbG1hHXBWgob_tjssffjim7Yjrejgu3N5fGxNInyiIuXMbpdK_xDjVb79Q5FhLbwL3LKMeJaE_yrzhWr0-OQ2_iYGrp/s1600/20140213_083646.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1BEebsyr7hJTfirXqZ37gsLPA3bJmXL7udnXWqjNrMfdXCdYhWbG1hHXBWgob_tjssffjim7Yjrejgu3N5fGxNInyiIuXMbpdK_xDjVb79Q5FhLbwL3LKMeJaE_yrzhWr0-OQ2_iYGrp/s1600/20140213_083646.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">3. Place the heel of the hand on the dressing and apply pressure while you wrap your fingers around the arm about 1 - 2 inches above the wound. Make sure your fingers touch to stop all blood flow and squeeze.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKVUMdNrRLLbvwE7cmJxZq47YbilpNmqokMQUzxBRgKACVXNVjPK9H15FQkcXZdwE2xTkq_FkeEfmWfMwmoxVigw3em1beznlCabG3rkE7IyBrbmLju5c76pF5YxnFHhQg5mfyaLskeA5/s1600/20140213_083719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKVUMdNrRLLbvwE7cmJxZq47YbilpNmqokMQUzxBRgKACVXNVjPK9H15FQkcXZdwE2xTkq_FkeEfmWfMwmoxVigw3em1beznlCabG3rkE7IyBrbmLju5c76pF5YxnFHhQg5mfyaLskeA5/s1600/20140213_083719.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">4. If bleeding is stopped I can apply a pressure bandage with Coflex self-adhesive tape or a triangular bandage.<br />The smaller size Coflex might work better for such a small arm.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b><br />Tourniquet with triangular bandage. </b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q9HrZ5BE2IQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-71822002999938481022014-02-12T06:02:00.002-08:002014-02-13T08:31:21.668-08:00What Is ProficiencyWe hear about it all the time: proficiency. <br />
<br />
You need to be proficient with your firearm. <br />
<br />
But what does that mean? How does one ever know he or she is proficient? Is there a set number of rounds one has to shoot before he or she is considered proficient? A number of times each week they must practice? Is there a proficiency standard? And if there is a standard, who has set it and why? How proficient is proficient enough? And enough for what?<br />
<br />
So that no one gets confused about what I mean when I pull out the word "proficient" let's start with the Webster definition:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Competent or skilled in doing something or using something"</b></div>
</blockquote>
And competent means having the necessary skill, knowledge or ability to do something successfully. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRnBEPP5rc7eI1V_T0-X5dTZVsMRc3X4BMqu0px8D0A11ENjZCIIOO_lnKP_QabDnE08R6mU3WTZb-ESObTIqrvJ-VDJ7cVKuD0ArMr7v8j8DumB8oOAPM1R9avELK8hMgudPbkw0w9Ex/s1600/IMG_2164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
You want to know if you have the necessary skill, knowledge and ability to use and shoot a firearm, if you are proficient enough to move on to an intermediate class or maybe to a shooting sport like IDPA. There are lots of levels of proficiency that are stated as requirements for certain intermediate or advanced classes and if you cannot meet those requirements then obviously you are not skilled enough for those classes but many brand new shooter do not even know when they are ready to take the next baby step unless expressly told to take it by instructors or pushed there by the natural progression of certain shooting courses. <br />
<br />
For a very basic level shooter I break proficiency down into two parts: gun handling and shooting. <br />
<br />
While they are directly related to one another I do not consider them the same thing. One can have outstanding gun handling but not be able to hit a fraction of their targets. Likewise, one can be a very good shot but have terrible gun handling. One must be proficient in both in order to progress. And progression is the goal. Right? <br />
<br />
Gun handling is considered any necessary handling of a firearm up to and including firing it. This includes drawing from the holster, returning the firearm to the holster, the general attitude when holding the firearm, trigger finger discipline, the ability to abide by safety rules and administrative handling. <br />
<br />
Shooting is the act of firing rounds at a specific target and the steps included therein--stance, grip, sight alignment, trigger press, follow through. <br />
<br />
Many people think that the shooting part is most important. It isn't. The shooting part is relatively easy compared to gun handling. Where new shooters often struggle is gaining proficiency in gun handling and I have been known to stall entire classes until I see all of my students exhibiting proficient gun handling before allowing them to progress with their shooting. I see no point in continuing allowing my students to fire shots downrange when they cannot holster their firearm safely or keep their finger off the trigger when not shooting or keep their firearm pointed in a safe direction during magazine changes. <br />
<br />
How do you know you have proficient gun handling? <br />
<br />
<b>1. You respect a firearm as a deadly weapon and treat it as such. </b><br />
If you pick up a firearm it is for a purpose and if you don't have a purpose for touching it you leave it alone. You do not play games with firearms that do not involve purposeful shooting. <br />
<b>2. You take responsibility for every action you take with a firearm. </b><br />
If handed a firearm you know how to check it and do so safely. You do not allow outside pressures to influence you to do something you know to be negligent or unsafe. <br />
<b>3. You know and can follow the four rules of gun safety. </b><br />
No one has to tell you to keep your finger off the trigger or to watch your muzzle (especially during reloads, holstering, drawing, etc). <br />
<b>4. You know the parts of your firearm and can use the functions with relative ease. </b><br />
You know the difference between your safety (if your firearm is equipped with one) and your slide stop and you don't confuse the two. You know what the take-down levels are for and how to use them. <br />
<b>5. You can maintain your own firearm. </b><br />
You can take it apart and clean it adequately. <br />
<br />
If you still aren't sure if you are a proficient gun handler, have someone (preferably an instructor) watch you shoot. If he or she has to tell you to watch your muzzle or your trigger finger or be careful about where you point your firearm during reloads or to be more careful with the way you hold your gun when you reholster, then no, you are not a proficient gun handler yet. Don't disparage. Keep practicing and get better! <br />
<br />
How do you know you are a proficient shooter?<br />
<br />
This one is simple and here it is: <br />
<br />
<b>1. You can hit what you're aiming at consistently and in a timely manner. </b><br />
It's that simple. If you can align the sights of your firearm, press the trigger and know where the bullet is going to impact and see an impact there (while exhibiting good gun handling) you are on your way. A proficient shooter is not surprised when he or she hits his or her intended target. Additionally, many times he or she is not surprised when a shot is thrown. A proficient shooter can generally feel a bad shot and predict where the impact will be without even looking at the target. <br />
<br />
That being said, it's entirely understandable when new shooters get excited by accurate shots. It is exciting to do something new and to do it well. But when new shooters throw a shots and are asked, "Okay, what did you do different that time?" and they says, "I don't know," they are demonstrating their lack of proficiency. A proficient shooter will tell you, "I jerked the trigger... I flinched... I forgot my follow-through." A proficient shooter knows the fundamentals and how to apply them as well as when they forgot them. <br />
<br />
That doesn't mean those fundamentals are perfectly mastered and that there are no errors or work to be done, but the fundamentals are there. It doesn't mean one is never confused about an error that suddenly pops up that they can't immediately diagnose, especially as they attempt new distances and speeds or switch to a new firearm. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRnBEPP5rc7eI1V_T0-X5dTZVsMRc3X4BMqu0px8D0A11ENjZCIIOO_lnKP_QabDnE08R6mU3WTZb-ESObTIqrvJ-VDJ7cVKuD0ArMr7v8j8DumB8oOAPM1R9avELK8hMgudPbkw0w9Ex/s1600/IMG_2164.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRnBEPP5rc7eI1V_T0-X5dTZVsMRc3X4BMqu0px8D0A11ENjZCIIOO_lnKP_QabDnE08R6mU3WTZb-ESObTIqrvJ-VDJ7cVKuD0ArMr7v8j8DumB8oOAPM1R9avELK8hMgudPbkw0w9Ex/s1600/IMG_2164.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken exactly one month after my 21st birthday. It's one of my first targets <br />
before I took any additional gun classes past the basics class. Note the self-diagnostic note to myself. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There is no magical round count that makes a shooter proficient. There is no magical number of range visits or classes. I have had proficient basic shooters in as little as one hour. As one of my students put it, "I don't see what all the fuss is about. You just aim and press the trigger." In as little as a few magazines she could tell me how to shoot well and could tell when she messed up and why. I've also seen individuals shoot daily for months and never gain in accuracy or be able to tell me what he's doing right or wrong. Each individual is different and learns at a different pace. <br />
<br />
If you aren't there yet, that's okay! Take a class with someone who is good at teaching beginners and diagnosing shooting errors. If you're struggling with gun handling, do dry fire practice in a safe place being exceptionally conscious of muzzle and trigger finger awareness. If you're having a recurring issue, seek help. Very few shooting issues are are solved by simply throwing ammo at them. It often takes reworking of the basics and feeling what is working and what is not. <br />
<br />
Some will disagree with me and say that my standard of proficiency is far too low. When I started looking at what I would base my standard on I started seeing that while lots of people will opine about what makes one proficient in this venue or at that task does not tell someone they are ready to even attempt those skills. So I thought about what I would consider an a minimum baseline of firearms proficiency. <br />
<br />
<b>Now allow me to remind you that this is proficiency at an <u><i>extremely</i></u> basic level.</b> This is what I would expect to see from a student coming out of a basic pistol class or enrolling in an intermediate class with no specified requirement of proficiency. <br />
<br />
This <u><b>does not</b></u> mean you are proficient in gun fighting and the laws thereof. This does not mean you are proficient in combat. This does not mean you are proficient at moving and shooting. This does not mean you are proficient in extreme close quarters gun fighting or partner tactics, or shooting from unusual positions, or shooting one handed or shooting moving targets, or shooting moving targets while moving, or room clearing, or shooting from or at vehicles, articulating why you chose to do what you did, etc, etc, etc. <br />
<br />
In other words, this does not automatically make you a gunfighter. (Here's a secret for you. I don't consider myself a gunfighter, either.) <br />
<br />
Don't get ahead of yourself. Just because you passed a basic safety course doesn't mean you know all there is to know about shooting, particularly defensive shooting. But don't get too discouraged either. The first step is often the hardest and once you've become proficient at gun handling and basic shooting, the other skills can be added, sometimes quite quickly.<br />
<br />
If you wonder if you're ready to advance, take a look at your gun handling and shooting. Take a look at the classes you are looking forward to attending and see if any of them have minimum requirements for enrollment. If the minimum requirement is that you be able to consistently hit a man-sized target at 25 yards or be able to do a 5x5 drill (five shots in a five-inch circle at five yards in five seconds from the holster) and you can't do it or have never tried it, then instead of being discouraged, consider it an opportunity to work towards a new level of proficiency! <br />
<br />
And if you want to test how you are progressing, here is a great list of drills you can attempt on your own to challenge you: <br />
<a href="http://pistol-training.com/drills" target="_blank">Pistol Training Drills</a><br />
<br />Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-34491751834912205702014-02-08T08:57:00.000-08:002014-02-08T09:52:49.889-08:00Realities and Legalities of Child Snatching: Part 3<i><span style="color: red;"><u>Note</u></span>: Throughout this blog I
refer to some legal code and legal issues. All codes quoted are for the
state of Iowa. Check for differences in your own state code. I am not a
lawyer and all opinions are from a layman's perspective. </i><br />
<br />
In <a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2014/02/will-your-passion-for-your-loved-ones.html" target="_blank">Part One</a>,
we discussed the legalities of determining whether or not your could
reasonably use lethal force against someone who snatched your child from
you, what kidnapping is and what it is not. <br />
<br />
In <a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2014/02/will-your-passion-for-your-loved-one.html" target="_blank">Part Two</a>, we discussed using less-than-lethal force against someone holding your child, whether or not it is necessary and the types of force one can employ. <br />
<br />
In this segment we are going to discuss using lethal force against someone holding your child and the realities of what that might entail if it is, indeed, necessary. <br />
<br />
<u><b>PART THREE: LETHAL FORCE AGAINST SOMEONE HOLDING YOUR CHILD</b></u><br />
<br />
The scenario we opened with in the beginning of this series was a woman who snatches a child from a mother who is attempting to put the child into a carrier. The woman believes the carry method is unsafe and holds the child, neither threatening the child nor the mother but does not return the child to the parent. <br />
<br />
In Part One and Two the woman doing the snatching never implied any harm to the child or the parent. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In this segment we are going to take all ambiguity out of it and up the stakes. <br />
<br />
The child is snatched, the woman refused to return the child and has produced a weapon and stated she intends to do the child harm and lethal
force is justified. <br />
<br />
I
know many parents who have stated they would rather have their child
die in front of them from a bullet they fired than have their child
taken, tortured, molested or assaulted and never found or found
mutilated days, months or years later. I'm inclined to agree but I think
every one of us would do our best to minimize the chances of that
happening. The problem is that not many parents know how to minimize
those risks. Without the proper information, training and practice their
skills set them up for potentially killing the very person they are
trying desperately to defend. <br />
<br />
First, let's talk about guns. For the sake of brevity I'm going to assume you are armed, your firearm is in good working order and accessible. I'm also going to assume that you can access this firearm without having to neutralize an attack first. You are set to take the shot. <br />
<br />
<b><i>1. Shooting The Hostage Taker (Distance Shots)</i></b><br />
Deciding
when to shoot is the question of the ages. There is a delicate balance
of timing, distance, threat and more and when you put a child--YOUR
child--between yourself and the bad guy you are upping the stakes
considerably, especially if your child is being threatened with death or
serious bodily harm, or worse, in the process of being harmed.<br />
<br />
I
have done lots of hostage-taker shooting, both with actual hostage
targets in shoot houses and in IDPA-type matches where no-shoot targets
are overlaid on hostile targets. The most challenging (and dare I say,
realistic) are when either the no-shoot or the hostile targets also
move.<br />
<br />
It's not easy. <br />
<br />
As accurate as a bullet has potential to be, it is only as accurate as you are and I have seen <i>MANY</i> bullet holes in hostages or no-shoot targets. I have put some of them there. <br />
<br />
Finding
little data for civilians shooting hostage-takers, I asked a trainer
friend of mine who routinely puts concealed carry pistol students
through live-fire shoot houses with a variety of hostage targets if he would estimate
how many of the students shoot the hostage and this was his response: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">"I'd guess 50%. Others
miss everything. Others make a very poor shot on bad guy and very very
few actually make a stopping hit on bad guy. I've learned. Never be a
hostage...."</span></span></blockquote>
Keep in mind. Most of these targets do not move. They are static targets and the
hostage is hit as often as 50% of the time. Now imagine that hostage is
your child. <br />
<br />
For individuals advocating "just
shooting" the man (or woman) who took your child. Could you reasonably
expect to hit the bad guy vs your own child? What practice or training
have you done to make you more confident in your abilities? If the
individual is running with your child do you know if you need to lead
the target or how to lead the target and at what distances you would
need to increase that lead with your particular caliber or gun? Can you
do that under duress? When's the last time you practiced such skills?<br />
<br />
Sometimes a distance shot is the only option. Can you physically make that shot? What if you could attempt a contact shot? <br />
<br />
<i><b>2. Shooting The Hostage Taker (Contact Distance)</b></i><br />
I
like contact shots and in a hostage situation involving my child where
there was clear intent to do my child harm or to kill him I would hope
for the opportunity to make a contact shot vs a distance shot. <br />
<br />
Why?
Because there's less chance of my child being hit or injured and I
might even be able to take temporary control of my child in order to
make a better shot. <br />
<br />
One of the many parts of the Partner
Tactics class I attended that was enlightening to me (and again in Extreme Close
Quarters) was the concepts of "Partner Rescue." Or, in this case, child-hostage rescue. <br />
<br />
In order to understand how dangerous it is to shoot at two people--one of which you have a vested interest is <b><i>NOT </i></b>injuring--you must understand that shooting a gun is not instantaneous. It's fast, but many times it's not fast enough. <br />
<br />
In
the time between deciding to shoot and the bullet impacting the
intended target, your intended target could very well have moved or been
moved. This is why follow-through is so important to accurate shooting
and why moving individuals who you don't intend to shoot get shot.<br />
<br />
How do you keep that from happening? <br />
<br />
You need to buy yourself time through control. <br />
<br />
In other words, you need to get yourself into the mix. <br />
<br />
For
an adult partner we practiced doing this by grabbing onto your partner
and moving with him or her, finding a free space on the attacker that
would ideally be incapacitating (more on that later), contacting it with
the muzzle of the firearm, finding an angle that will not allow any
pass-through bullets to hit one's self or the partner, backing off the
muzzle so that it was not forced out of battery (in the case of a
semi-auto) and taking the shot.<br />
<br />
Yes, it's a lot. It may
mean getting beat up a bit as the three of you wrestle around and
sometimes there are no perfect angles. But it beats the heck out of
trying to make a distance shot on a moving target with your child in
arms even if that distance is mere feet. <br />
<br />
For a child, I
would ideally find a way to wrap my arm around the child and pull him
or her to myself or myself into him and the individual holding him. If
possible I might even try to tear the child away from the individual
holding him or her. Might I injure the child in the process? Yes. But I'd rather a broken or twisted arm than a bullet hole. This might
change if the child is an infant and violent movement could result in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_contrecoup_injury" target="_blank">coup-countercoup</a> (whiplash) or similar injuries. The rest of the steps would be identical. <br />
<br />
The
only potential good thing about shooting an adult holding a child is
that children are very small shields. You may have more available
targeting areas and less worry about pass through striking the child. A
grown adult male holding an infant leaves most of his head, abdomen and
lower extremities completely exposed.<br />
<br />
<i><b>3. Targeting</b></i><br />
When it comes to
shooting someone who is threatening the life or limb of your child, dare
I say there is no "bad" shot but there are better shots.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://home.comcast.net/%7Ewnor/latskulllabelled.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://home.comcast.net/%7Ewnor/latskulllabelled.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bones of the Skull</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Many people like head shots and for good reason.
There's a lot of really vital stuff up there and a good head shot gives
you a pretty good chance of complete incapacitation vs something like an
abdomen or extremity shot where the fight can continue for even
extended periods of time. <br />
<br />
But even head shots are not
guaranteed show stoppers. Heads are exceptionally well fortified with
bone. Bullets have been known to bounce off or fail to penetrate said
bone, particularly the frontal, jaw (mandible), occipital and parietal
bones. Some ricochets have even been fatal to those nearby. You
certainly wouldn't want your ricocheted head shot to be the thing that
killed your child. <br />
<br />
Though the facial bones and the
side bones (the temporal and sphenoid) are not as thick or strong they
still provide plenty of opportunity for deflection. Good head shots are
considered shots within the inverted triangle of the tip of the nose to
the brow-line. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.activeresponsetraining.net/head-shots-and-bouncing-bullets" target="_blank">Greg Ellifritz wrote a very good and short write up on head shots and within that article</a>
and his Extreme Close Quarters class he advocates that if the head is
available to shoot, usually the neck is also available. There's a lot of
very vital stuff in the neck (airway, nerves, major blood vessels and
cervical spine) that can lead to incapacitation very quickly. It's also a
decent opening to the thoracic cavity if you if you shoot down from the
clavicle towards the heart and lungs. <br />
<br />
If the head and
neck are not available, the thoracic cavity containing the lungs and
heart is another good target. It's large and not as well protected as
the head. It also contains two of the most vital structures to life (the
lungs and heart). Be aware that even direct hits to the heart and lungs
do not always produce immediate stops. <br />
<br />
The lesser
vital organs of the body are tucked into the lower abdomen. Though they
are not considered optimal targets they will do. <br />
<br />
The
pelvis is very vascular. That is to say it has a lot of major blood
vessels running through it. There are also some major structures there
that, if damaged, could make it impossible for an attacker to continue
standing or use one or both legs. <br />
<br />
Finally, extremity
(arm and leg) shots are considered least ideal but, again, I would not
hesitate to take the shot if it was the only one I could reasonably get
while in extreme close quarters with an attacker and fighting for mine
and my child's lives. <br />
<br />
This is all being mindful of
trajectory should the bullet pass through the intended target. If the
bullet followed a straight path (sometimes it doesn't) would it exit the
bad guy and enter your child or a part of you? <br />
<br />
<i><b>4. Knives and Other Lethal Tools</b></i><br />
Some people prefer knives or other lethal tools in extreme close quarters if their state will allow them to carry them. Sometimes, if in a state that does not allow firearm carry a knife or other tool may be all that is available. Do you know how to target with a knife? Do you have any training in using a knife to incapacitate? What would you do to ensure you did not cut your child? If using another object as a lethal object such as a baton, are you confident you could hit the attacker and not your child? Are there be less optimal targeting areas with less risk to your child? <br />
<br />
Now
I'm going to add a few more monkeys to the pile. What if the attacker is
holding a gun or knife to your child? What are you going to do? Is it
possible to make a fight-stopping shot before he can pull the trigger or
stab your child? If you are able to close distance and make contact,
how are you going to ensure you and/or your child don't get shot or cut
in the process? What is your priority, getting to his weapon or getting
to your own weapon? <br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>5. Injuries</b></i><br />
Finally, what if your child is injured? Can you treat him or her? <br />
<br />
When the body is injured it begins to compensate for the injury as long as can. When the body can no longer compensate for the injury it goes into a state of decompensation, the end of which is often death. Children decompensate faster than adults. Their bodies cannot sustain a compensated state as long. They have less blood volume to lose and their lungs often give out faster than an adult's. <br />
<br />
Are you certified in child CPR? Can you stop a hemorrhage in your own child? What do you have on hand to aid you toward that end? If you have purchased a commercial trauma kit will all of the tools within fit a child? What about an infant? Do you know how to improvise things like tourniquets and pressure bandages if the items won't fit your child? <br />
<br />
Don't be seduced by the idea that there
are simple or easy answers to these questions or that you could "just
shoot" someone holding your child. Imagine with me, if you will, the
life-time of regret that may come from accidentally killing your child
over a less-than-lethal situation or a poorly executed shot or act. <br />
<br />
Don't
let your passion for your loved one get them killed by your own lack of
knowledge, training or skill--or worse, by your own delusion that such a
situation is easy (legally, tactically, emotionally or physically). <br />
<br />
<a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2014/02/will-your-passion-for-your-loved-ones.html" target="_blank">Part One: Is It Legal </a><br />
<a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2014/02/will-your-passion-for-your-loved-one.html" target="_blank">Part Two: Force Against Someone Holding Your Child</a>Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-52879408871255018382014-02-07T07:59:00.000-08:002014-02-08T09:52:49.893-08:00Realities and Legalities of Child Snatching: Part Two <i><span style="color: red;">Note</span>: Throughout this blog I
refer to some legal code and legal issues. All codes quoted are for the
state of Iowa. Check for differences in your own state code. I am not a
lawyer and all opinions are from a layman's perspective. </i><u><b><i><br /></i></b></u><br />
In <a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2014/02/will-your-passion-for-your-loved-ones.html" target="_blank">Part One</a>, we discussed the legalities of determining whether or not your could reasonably use lethal force against someone who snatched your child from you.<br />
<br />
We discussed when someone snatching your child is kidnapping and when it is not per Iowa state law (I strongly recommend that parents look up the definitions of kidnapping in their own state). <br />
<br />
In this segment we're going to discuss using less-than-lethal force against someone holding your child and, in Part 3 we will discuss using lethal force. <br />
<br />
The scenario we started with in Part One was a woman snatching a child
from a mother and not returning the child to the mother but neither
fleeing the scene or showing intent to harm the child. <br />
<br />
The goal
is to get the child back unharmed and quickly. What level of force do we
need to use to accomplish that goal? Do we even need force at all? Do
not underestimate the power of a broad smile and a feigned, "Thanks for
the suggestion," while you take your baby back. <br />
<br />
Use your <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Verbal-Judo-Gentle-Art-Persuasion/dp/0060577657" target="_blank">Verbal Judo</a>. Understand deescalation and ways to calm yourself and other individuals and manipulate them into doing what you want. <br />
<br />
Also,
do not underestimate the power of drawing attention to the scene. A
woman yelling, "She took my baby. Call the police! That woman has my
baby," can be quite effective in making the snatcher with no ill-intent
return the child for fear he or she will be perceived as a
child-abductor. If you choose this method enlist the help of specific
individuals on scene. Speaking in generalities to a crowd (if there is a
crowd) tends to bring attention but little action. Find one or two
specific people you can single out and command their action. "Ma'am!,"
(point to a specific woman) "Call the police. That woman took my baby.
... Sir!" (again, make it specific) " Help me! That woman has my baby."
You are far more likely to get responses out of onlookers. <br />
<br />
You don't always have to make it escalate to force if it doesn't have to go there. <br />
<br />
But, because this is a blog about force, let's discuss it. <br />
<u><b><br />PART TWO: FORCE AGAINST SOMEONE HOLDING YOUR CHILD</b></u><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGyXtixqNuNpoe1TKfJk2UQaI11_De-mLk_tCiSH2dqmSSXWDmAGchOxPQJ9Zn0ck00QhzgiRfBJG6gavnsRnleF7eRWwvrm2uvfcNhWRx_swRpHMKw6VGoOdnWvb7RNd4soGDMwS0hFl/s1600/article-1116602-030EFF8D000005DC-57_468x414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGyXtixqNuNpoe1TKfJk2UQaI11_De-mLk_tCiSH2dqmSSXWDmAGchOxPQJ9Zn0ck00QhzgiRfBJG6gavnsRnleF7eRWwvrm2uvfcNhWRx_swRpHMKw6VGoOdnWvb7RNd4soGDMwS0hFl/s1600/article-1116602-030EFF8D000005DC-57_468x414.jpg" height="283" width="320" /></a></div>
Many
people who consider using force against someone holding a loved one do
so with little consideration to the fact that the loved one is an
intricate part of confrontation. <br />
<br />
Even considering
hitting, pushing or use of other levels of force means the possibility
that the child might also be injured. The age of the child may have a large affect
on how much collateral damage the child can take. A newborn who is dropped
because you hit or startled the individual holding him can suffer brain
damage and more. A toddler might be able to take more but what levels of
force are you willing to involve your children in at what age? <br />
<br />
What
level of force are you comfortable using and how would you use it to
minimize damage to your child? What training do you have to make your force effective and targeted that might spare your child involvement? At what point would the potential for
damage by your hand be worth the risk of death or greater bodily harm by
the perpetrator? <br />
<br />
There are several levels of force. From least amount to most: <br />
<ul>
<li>Presence </li>
<li>Commanding voice</li>
<li>Threat of force </li>
<ul>
<li>Calling the police </li>
<li>A threat to injure, wound or kill</li>
<li>Brandishing a weapon </li>
</ul>
<li>Physical Force</li>
<ul>
<li>Pushing, hitting, the use of less-than-lethal tools</li>
</ul>
<li>Lethal Force</li>
<ul>
<li>The use of open hands to maim or kill (eye gouges and choke holds), knives, batons, guns or the use of any other tool in a manner that can cause serious bodily injury or death.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<b>Presence and Commanding Voice</b><br />
Many people underestimate presence and a commanding voice. People who actually study inter-human relations based on posture, presence and voice have proven that individuals who act authoritative often receive the respect and deference their presence suggests. This includes confident posturing such as holding the head up, chest broad, hands on hips and feet planted and apart. <br />
<br />
This combined with an authoritative voice (low, loud, and demanding) can often result in commands being met.<br />
<br />
Men may not have as much difficulty adopting a commanding presence, especially around women who are smaller than they are. A man commanding a woman to give his child back in an authoritative manner would likely have the child immediately returned to him. <br />
<br />
Women can find it more difficult to be authoritative due to our small statures and frame or cultural upbringing. Some women mistake volume for pitch and instead of sounding low and loud they sound high-pitched which can sound more panicked instead of commanding. <br />
<br />
Many do not consider practicing a commanding, confident presence part of self defense training, however, that skill can end a conflict or even deter one from choosing you as a victim in the first place. Practice authoritative posturing and a commanding voice. Practice it in social environments (getting everyone's attention at a gathering, teaching a class, etc). <br />
<br />
<b>Threat of Force</b><br />
If the simple command of returning my child did not work I would immediately call authorities. It is still a level of threat of force that does not pose any risk to myself and it establishes that the situation has gotten quite serious. <br />
<br />
Be aware that the threat of harm can be assault if it is not justified. Also be aware that your threat of force could cause the individual to escalate into threatening harm to your child. <br />
<br />
<b>Physical Force</b><br />
From here out the level of force you choose to use will depend on more factors than we could possibly discuss. Here are some things to consider.<br />
<br />
In the scenario, the individual who snatched the child was a woman. Would your level of force be different if it was a man? How old is she or he? Are you comfortable threatening further force realizing that this may escalate the situation or would it be better to wait for authorities provided he or she continues to remain on scene and the implied intent has not changed? <br />
<br />
If you choose to escalate are you considering the harm you might be putting your child in? Is your priority to get your child out of the situation or to fight? Have you considered, if you are armed, that if your weapon is discovered in the altercation the snatcher might try to go for it while in the midst of a fight? What would you do do defend both your gun and your child? Has there been any change in implied intent that makes you believe you need to act sooner rather than waiting for authorities? What level of force are you competently trained in? Could you go hands on with a woman or a man? Do you carry a less-than-lethal tool you might be able to use? <br />
<br />
If your child is injured, how would you assess and/or treat him or her? <br />
<br />
The suggestion of pepper spray was
brought up in discussing the opening scenario on Facebook and this was a
response that was given: <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnlsGUCl2RWqQnf2ljG5F2YLZ0MdIWi0tNuOYwWzCIVujeE-BM2LLXFZikWGgFLA_QqKscEmCnTeowm5Bb7j6m_9-sjaCkGLOH5-xV8Hee1z1hLneI3j8LLB6svO6ZOkVACc5xVlSfmu2/s1600/SDMneverpepperspray.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnlsGUCl2RWqQnf2ljG5F2YLZ0MdIWi0tNuOYwWzCIVujeE-BM2LLXFZikWGgFLA_QqKscEmCnTeowm5Bb7j6m_9-sjaCkGLOH5-xV8Hee1z1hLneI3j8LLB6svO6ZOkVACc5xVlSfmu2/s1600/SDMneverpepperspray.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Consideration <i>is</i>
being made for the child being exposed to pepper spray but no
consideration is being put into the damage that could be done if the
child was hit with a bullet. There's also little consideration going on as to the jump in force from non-lethal to lethal. The assumption seems to be that if you are justified in pepper spraying you are justified in shooting. This is simply not true. <br />
<br />
I, for one, would <i><b>GREATLY</b></i>
prefer washing pepper spray out of my child's face than trying to treat
him or her for a gunshot wound. I would do anything I could to avoid
bringing a gun into a situation involving my child (or any situation for
that matter) and would not hesitate to use a less-than-lethal option if
I reasonably believed it would be effective and minimize the potential
for harm to my child. <br />
<br />
Sometimes there is no time to consider less-than-lethal options or to attempt deescalation or verbal judo. The situation is immediate and dire. Action is demanded. But if you have time to consider your options you likely have time to deescalate or use a lesser form of force. If you choose to use force you must be competent in that use of force and decide its appropriateness in the given situation. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2014/02/will-your-passion-for-your-loved-ones.html" target="_blank">Part One: Is It Legal</a><br />
<a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2014/02/realities-and-legalities-of-child.html" target="_blank">Part Three: Lethal Force Against Someone Holding Your Child</a>Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803667991676302656.post-14732051965692542592014-02-05T06:44:00.002-08:002014-02-08T09:52:49.886-08:00Realities and Legalities of Child Snatching: Part One<i><span style="color: red;"><u>Note</u></span>: Throughout this blog I refer to some legal code and legal issues. All codes quoted are for the state of Iowa. Check for differences in your own state code. I am not a lawyer and all opinions are from a layman's perspective. </i><br />
<br />
A scenario came up a few days ago that reminded me of a blog I wrote a few months ago titled: <a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2013/09/will-your-passion-for-your-loved-ones.html" target="_blank">Will Your Passion For Your Loved One Save Them?</a> If you haven't read it already feel free to click over and read. In a very small nutshell the blog is about people (particularly parents) who believe their passion for their loved one or child will provide them with needed skill they haven't learned or practiced.<br />
<br />
In this extension of that blog we will talk about a very specific aspect of parental passion and terror: possible kidnappings and/or a potential hostage situation. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.closertoyou.co.uk/index_files/kozy%20orangedale%20back%20carry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.closertoyou.co.uk/index_files/kozy%20orangedale%20back%20carry.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.closertoyou.co.uk/index_files/kozy%20orangedale%20back%20carry.jpg" height="157" width="200" /></a>The scenario was presented to me on an armed motherhood Facebook page I sometimes pop into. A mother is putting her baby on her back in a baby carrier when another woman, thinking the practice dangerous, grabs the child from the carrier and begins to lecture the mother on safety, refusing to give the child back. <br />
<br />
Nothing incites terror in a parent quite like the idea of a stranger snatching their child. Nothing. And it's understandable that a bunch of armed mothers, when presented with said scenario, would consider preparing to pull a gun on such an individual. Several mothers either said they would draw or at least prepare to draw their firearms. Some even admitted that they would outright shoot. <br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>PART ONE: IS IT LEGAL?</b></u><br />
<br />
Before we even get into the practicality of shooting someone who is holding your child I think we should talk about the legality. And, as a reminder, I'm no lawyer. The bottom line is that no matter how angry it makes you, someone snatching your child may not be immediate justification for lethal force. One must be able to point out what made him (or her) believe his child was in jeopardy of serious bodily harm or death before lethal force can be used. <br />
<br />
I can't think of a single state that does not allow force (up to and including lethal force) to be used to stop a forcible felony (which is what kidnapping is). However, one has to define kidnapping and <u><i><b>reasonably</b></i></u> believe that such a crime is taking place. Is this kidnapping? Can a woman who snatches a child out of her own concern for the child's well-being, who neither flees the scene nor threatens the child or the parent be reasonably believed to warrant the use of deadly force? <br />
<br />
The scenario has a lot of potential to progress many different ways but as the scenario stands is there a legitimate threat to the child's life or limb? <br />
<br />
The fact that there could be serious question as to whether or not a crime warranting lethal force is actually being committed should make parents think very carefully about their actions in such a scenario. <br />
<br />
There were three main self-defense principles that came to mind when I read the above scenario:<br />
<br />
<i><b>1. AOJP </b></i><br />
<a href="http://www.personaldefensesolutions.net/free-resources/judicious-use-deadly-force/" target="_blank">AOJP stands for Ability, Opportunity, Jeopardy and Preclusion</a>. The AOJP must be satisfied in order to justify use of lethal force in self defense (including self defense of another). <br />
A = Does the attacker have the ability to do serious bodily harm or kill the child? Using the scenario above, if we assume the woman is a healthy adult then yes. She likely has ability. <br />
O = Does the attacker have the opportunity to do serious bodily harm or kill the child? Yes.<br />
J = Is the child in jeopardy or serious bodily harm or death? Let's be honest here, this is a big unknown. Again, arguments could be made with all sorts of speculation but with nothing but the information we have to go on I'm inclined to say no (at this time).<br />
P = Preclusion. Is there anything else that can be done besides lethal force? Or, in other words, is it absolutely necessary to use lethal force in this situation? Again, with the information given, I would have to say no. There are lots of less than lethal options at this point. <br />
<br />
<b><i>2. Intent</i></b><br />
Intent is rarely brought up and heavily debated as to where it stands in the use of force continuum. Many proclaim you can never know another individual's intent. And even if one was to state his (or her) intent, how is one to know he is telling the truth?<br />
<br />
When intent is clearly stated (especially when there are witnesses) it should not be (and usually isn't) ignored.<br />
<br />
Behavior often immediately backs up stated intent or is considered "implied" intent. If the man who said he had a grenade and was going to blow himself up suddenly does fly to pieces, it's safe to say he correctly stated his intent. If an EMT says he's on scene to help and immediately starts to stabilize the C-spine, checks for breathing and pulse, it's safe to say he has correctly stated his intent. But if nothing is said the actions of violence or assisting imply an individual's intent. <br />
<br />
In the case of the scenario above, intent is not exactly clearly stated but the woman's actions do not imply harm. <br />
<br />
My husband and I had an interesting debate while picking through Iowa code where he plead the case of the parent and I plead the case of the woman doing the snatching. We looked at what, if anything, the woman could be charged with (in Iowa) for snatching the child and the level of force a parent could use in response that would be reasonable and lawful. Let's just say I would hate to be a lawyer, judge and/or jury in that case.<br />
<br />
Kidnapping in our state means taking someone with the intent to do harm. <br />
<br />
Snatching a child from a parent or legal guardian for the purpose of detaining a child but with no intent to harm by Iowa law is called "Child Stealing" and it's a felony. Not a forcible felony (such as kidnapping), but still a crime. And the witness pool (if there are witnesses) could be split on who they empathize with--a woman's ill-attempt to help a child or a mother. <br />
<br />
In the end we both agreed that some sort of physical response could be justified. However, we could not find justification in our own minds for bringing a lethal weapon into the equation for a woman snatching our child and arguing without demonstrating intent to do harm or without being able to articulate why we believed our child was in danger of serious bodily harm or death. <br />
<br />
Which brings me to my third point:<br />
<br />
<i><b>3. <a href="http://www.personaldefensenetwork.com/the-reasonable-man-doctrine/" target="_blank">The Reasonable Man Doctrine</a></b></i> (and the principles of reasonable force)<br />
In a nut shell, you have to prove, in a court of law that the actions you took were reasonable given the circumstances and information you had at the time of the incident and that any other reasonable individual would do the same thing if he were in your shoes. Then the jury has to reasonably weigh that evidence and decide whether or not they believe you acted reasonably. <br />
<br />
Per Iowa code, reasonable force is defined as follows (look up your own state codes and see if they differ):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Reasonable force" is that force and no more which a reasonable person, in like circumstances, would judge to be necessary to prevent an injury or loss and can include deadly force if it is reasonable to believe that such force is necessary to avoid injury or risk to one's life or safety or the life or safety of another, or it is reasonable to believe that such force is necessary to resist a like force or threat.</blockquote>
Would pulling a gun be considered reasonable in this case with the information given? What do you think? <br />
<br />
And how would you articulate to responding officers, a lawyer, a judge or a jury why you chose that particular course of action?<br />
<br />
In this case, I'm inclined to think it would not be reasonable (yet) and I would defer back to the excellent advice or Rory Miller:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It is better to avoid than to run; better to run than to de-escalate;
better to de-escalate than to fight; better to fight than to die. The
very essence of self-defense is a thin list of things that might get you
out alive when you are already screwed."</blockquote>
<br />
Would I grab my child back? Try to deescalate? Use threat of force (calling the police included)? Pepper spray? The options available before getting to the gun are as vast as the imagination. As long as the woman was not attempting to leave the scene or demonstrating intent to harm, I'm inclined to try many different things before going to lethal force or even the threat of lethal force. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2014/02/will-your-passion-for-your-loved-one.html" target="_blank">Part 2: Force Against Someone Holding Your Child</a><br />
<a href="http://limatunesrangediary.blogspot.com/2014/02/realities-and-legalities-of-child.html" target="_blank">Part 3: Lethal Force Against Someone Holding Your Child</a>Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687819351571987594noreply@blogger.com5