I recently came across a video produced by ABC News a couple of years ago. This video documented what they called a “controlled study” and claimed conclusively that “concealed carry permit holders are fooling themselves if they think they will be able to react effectively to armed aggressors. Most CCW holders won’t even be able
At the Concealed Handgun Licensing classes I’ve taught for years, I often throw out the old “What would you do in x, y, z situation?” question to students. And just as often, I’ve been amused and appalled at the responses. I then try to explain that, depending on the situation, what we think we will
You’ve heard it a thousand times. “The power of the [insert unarmed defensive move here] comes from your hips.” And it’s true. But has anyone ever explained why? If a person understood the science and reasoning behind that statement, I believe more people would execute their unarmed self defense with not only better precision, but
Many people new to defensive shooting give me the “Are you crazy?” look when I say that one of my strongest recommendations for a defensive pistol is that it have no mechanical safety. One of these people was my wife when I bought a new M&P last year. At the local gun shop, as the
On 23 September 2013, a 30-year-old man named Nikhom Thephakaysone was riding on a crowded commuter train in San Francisco. Surveillance video recorded the man drawing a large-frame pistol from his waistband or jacket pocket several times. He pointed the weapon across the aisle of the train directly at the man he would later shoot
There has been a lot of bickering lately between defensive trainers and skilled competitors within the shooting industry. As someone who is a member of both niches, I find myself stuck in the middle. In this article, I will present some of the reasons I believe gun training and competition are both things that shooters
What makes you proficient at your particular skill set for personal defense? How did you get to your level of knowledge or skill? How do you plan to improve upon your personal defense plan (PDP)? At some point your search most likely included: 1) Obtaining useful knowledge of said weapon (firearm, knife, hands, feet, knees,
A discussion I’ve had with students and friends, almost as frequently as the “Which gun should I buy?” discussion, is in response to that age-old statement, “I have a shotgun for home defense. All I have to do is rack it and the bad guy will go away.” I have heard this skewed logic many
Have you ever heard the phrase “Friends don’t let friends carry mouseguns”? I have; in fact, I’ve uttered it more than a few times myself over the years! The implication, of course, is that calibers below a certain threshold, arbitrary though it may be, are not suitable for protecting one’s life. What that threshold is,
When I was 11 or 12 years old, my family and I were out of state visiting relatives. While playing with my cousins who were about the same age, we discovered my uncle’s rifle on a rack in his room. This rifle instantly became the focus of our attention. We asked my uncle for permission
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