FOOD FOR THOUGHT

WARNING SHOTS! William Blake

This was posted by Dave Spaulding.  Written by John Farnam. They are two of the most EXPERIENCED & KNOWLEDGEABLE TRAINERS in the world.    

 Handgun Combatives

Interesting observation from my good buddy John Farnam...

Warning" Shot(s)!

"No one remembers who came in second."

Walter Hagen

On 19 Mar 1988 in West Belfast, Northern Ireland, two young British Army
corporals inadvertently drove in the vicinity of the elaborate funeral
procession for Kevin Bradey, considered a hero by the IRA.

The two corporals were in civilian clothing, and their car was unmarked.
Both were armed with ageing Browning Hi-Power Pistols with standard,
hardball ammunition. Pistols were issued for "personal protection," because of
the dangerous nature of Northern Ireland at the time, but neither soldier
(nor anyone else in the British Army) had ever received any species of
competent training in their serious use. Of course, neither pistol was carried
with a round chambered.

The UK, then and now, has no gun-culture, so no one there knows anything
about carrying and using guns for serious purposes!

The two junior NCOs, realizing their mistake, tried to get turned-around,
but they never made it!

An angry crowd quickly surrounded their now-stationary vehicle. Both
soldiers were dragged out of their car, beaten half to death, and then shot
multiple times through the back of the neck by IRA operatives, who, by the way,
do know something about carrying serious pistols and do carry them in the
correct state of readiness!

During the incident, one of the corporals managed to get a round chambered,
and fired a single shot, not at his attackers, but in the air, as a "
warning," just as he had been foolishly instructed. Both NCOs had been sternly
warned by their cynical superiors that if they ever used their pistols for
any purpose other than starting horse races, they would be drummed out of
the Corps!

As a result, neither made any effective use of weapons they had readily at
hand, pistols, nor the car itself.

In Parliament two days later, Northern Ireland's Secretary of State
publically condemned the killings, and added this gem:

"... although they both had loaded personal-protection pistols, they showed
incredible restraint in using them only to fire a warning shot in the air.
"

Yes, so much "restraint" that they allowed themselves to be murdered while
scarcely even inconveniencing their murderers. So, now we lavishly praise
people for these demonstrably incompetent, inadequate, and ineffective
responses to criminal violence. No wonder Western Civilization is crumbling.
We're congratulating people for being losers!

The problem is, of course, the British Government's hysterical hatred of
self-defense and its paranoid fear of guns. This irrational fearfulness
makes itself felt, even the Army!

The two murdered corporals were not MI5, nor SAS. They were just two junior
NCOs who drove by the wrong place at the wrong time.

When exposed to violent, criminal attack, the only "warning shot" that
should be fired by any one of us should go straight through the ventricles of
our attacker's black heart, as a subtle indicator that more are about to
follow in rapid sequence until he/they find something else to do!

"Warning shots" are a sign of lack of commitment to one's personal
survival. They will invariably be interpreted as such!

"You never know how much is enough unless you know how much is more than
enough."

William Blake

More on Skills Set....Things to think about!

Skill Set: Do You ... ?

Having a gun isn't enough to keep you safe. You have to have the skill set, presence of mind, practice and the other aspects of emergency preparation in place as well.

Do you know, understand and apply the Four Basic Safety Rules all the time?

Do you know the laws for where you are concerning carrying firearms and the use of lethal force?

Do you practice at least twice a week? (Dry practice counts.)

Do you practice drawing, moving, communicating, and using cover?

Do you have a basic response to a potential threat already in your mind and ready to implement?

Do you shoot at least once a month, and if so do you shoot while moving?

Do you know what to do afterwards, if it is necessary to use your weapon?

Do you have a lawyer ready, willing, and capable of representing you if you have to use your weapon?

Do you have a plan in case of an attack when you're not carrying a firearm?

Do you have the equipment close by and the basic skills necessary to deal with some type of major trauma, wound or injury?

Do you have a flashlight on you right now?

Do you know where the fire extinguisher is, and how to operate it?

Do your family members know what to do in case of an emergency?

Do you - where it is legal - have a firearm on you or within arms reach?

Do you know how to keep someone from taking your weapon away, disarming you?

Do you know if you are ready or not?

Personal protection is an individual responsibility. If you answered "no," to any of the questions above, or "maybe" - there's nothing worse than not knowing for sure - then you are not ready to take care of yourself and family. And, these are the easy questions.

Truly being responsible, prepared to deal with emergencies, is about answering questions, not how many training courses you've attended or the quantity of firearms you own. Your job is to anticipate all the questions and figure out their answers in advance, prior to the time lives depend on what you know and can do. And, if you're responsible for other people, like your family, then shame on you for not being ready. It's one thing if you're not prepared to take care of yourself. It's unforgivable to not be ready and able to take care of those who depend on you.

Being responsible means being ready for trouble all times, not just when you think it might happen. If you knew when it was going to happen you'd be somewhere safe, or fully prepared, which means there wouldn't be any danger. Trouble comes at unexpected times and in all forms, both man-made and natural. Understand and acknowledge this: You have to be ready all the time. That should change your priorities and how you live. It's a sad fact, but most people can operate the remote for their home entertainment system better than they can their pistol.

Answering "no" to any of the questions above means you don't get it, yet. So you reset your mind and make the necessary sacrifices and changes, or quit kidding yourself and invest in a rabbit's foot or other good luck charm.

Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. He is the author of "The Book of Two Guns," 

TRUE OR FALSE

NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR YOUR EVERYDAY CARRY GUN?

Glock Slide Cover Plate

FYI

What do you carry and in what caliber?  When ever I talk to students in my classes the question always comes up as to what I prefer to carry and in what caliber.  My answer is always the same, A Glock 19 Pistol, with 16 rds. of 9mm+p, 124 gr. ammo  There are times when you may find me carrying another Glock in one of the other major calibers but most of the time a Glock 9mm is in my holster. 

The reason I brought up the above information is because I came across an article that was posted by Dave Spaulding, regarding what the lead Law Enforcement Agency in the country is considering for their agents.  I have attached it for your information.

Handgun Combatives

Subject: FBI Dropping .40 S&W and going back to 9mm

The Bureau are looking for a compact, a full size and a training/simulation semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9mm Luger/Parabellum. A full solicitation noticed is expected to during Q1 2015.

The notice (SYNOPSIS-OSCU-DSU1501) is below …

“

This is a PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE of a proposed requirement for various commercial “OFF THE SHELF” semi-automatic pistols chambered to fire a 9mm Luger cartridge as defined by SAAMI. This notice is issued solely for informational and planning purposes only.

The following types of pistols, chambered to fire a 9mm Luger cartridge, may be requested for testing and evaluation purposes under a future solicitation:

Class One Pistol: barrel length between 3.75″ and 4.25″; with a minimum magazine capacity of 13 rounds.

Class Two Pistol: barrel length between 4.5″ and 5.5″; with a minimum magazine capacity of 15 rounds.

Class One Training Pistol (Red Handle): deactivated with full articulation, red receiver and slide, night sights.

Class One “Man Marking” (a.k.a., “Simunitions”) pistol: blue slide or slide with blue inserts.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation anticipates the release of a solicitation during FY2015/Q1; distributed solely through the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) Website (http://www.fedbizopps.gov/). This notice does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) and should not be construed to as a commitment of any kind by the Government to issue a formal solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Any costs incurred by interested parties will NOT be reimbursed. It is the responsibility of any interested party to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this notice.”

- See more at: http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/07/29/us-army-wants-fbi-wants-9mm-pistols/#sthash.Re7n0D7w.dpuf

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GREAT TRAINING DRILL...Greg Ellifritz

Written by Greg Ellifritz

A series of drills we use at the Tactical Defense Institute with beginning-level students is what we call “Dot Drills.”

As instructors, we also use Dot Drills to warm up and to keep our own skills sharp. A smooth presentation along with excellent sight alignment and trigger presses are necessary to successfully complete the drill.

Start with a target that has six numbered circles (“dots”) measuring between three and four inches across. Several commercial target manufacturers call this target “The DEA Dot” target. If you don’t have a commercially made dot target, turn a paper silhouette over and use a marker to trace the bottom of a water bottle, small coffee can, or similar object. You’ll want six circles arranged into three rows of two.

DEA Dot Target

Dot #1

Shoot a series of single shots from the ready position of your choice (compressed chest ready or low ready). Try to put all your rounds in the circle with a time frame of less than two seconds for each shot. Focus on a good trigger press and train excellent follow through by re-establishing your sight picture after each shot.

Dot #2

Shoot a series of two shot strings (less than three seconds each) from the ready position.

Dot #3

Shoot a series of two shot strings, drawing from the holster for each pair. Par times on this one vary according to your holster type, but try to do it in less than four seconds.

Dot #4

Shoot a series of three shot strings from the ready position. Do this as quickly as you can, keeping all the rounds within the circle. This is a good drill to evaluate your grip. Many people can maintain a good grip for one or two shots; but if the grip isn’t correct, most people won’t be able to fire three consecutive shots without the pistol moving in the hand.

Dots #5 & #6

Multiple targets. Fire one shot at each of the two targets from the ready position in less than three seconds for the pair. Use the transition time as you are moving between the targets to prep your trigger for the next shot.

At TDI, we start beginning shooters on this drill at a distance of about ten feet. More advanced shooters can do it faster or increase their distance from the target.

For a full practice session, I recommend shooting about 30 rounds on each stage. If that will take too long, or you are short on ammunition, fire one magazine or cylinder full at each dot.

Author demonstrating the teaching points of some Dot Drills to a West Point Cadet at TDI

Another good article by, Ed Head

Stress Inoculation

May 27, 2014 | Category: Articles / Blogs,Ed Head,Featured | By:Ed Head

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Getting off the training range and into simulators may be the best way to increase your tolerance to stress.

Early one morning Fidel and I were working together when we caught a group of eight illegals in a steep finger canyon below Otay Mesa. Lining them up in the narrow draw I led them out while Fidel brought up the rear. As we topped out on the mesa Fidel shouted a warning. Glancing over my shoulder I saw a man coming at me with a butcher knife raised over his head. Spinning into him and drawing my pistol, I knew he had me beat – I wasn’t going to get my gun up before he connected with the knife. Much to my surprise and everlasting gratitude, Fidel somehow flew through the air like Superman and tackled the knife man. As I swung around my .357 Magnum connected with the side of my attacker’s head and I stomped his knife hand with my boot. This little disgusto lasted only seconds and I was more angry than excited or fearful, but a minute or two later my body caught up and slammed me with a stress reaction.

The flight or fight response is how our bodies protect us from danger. Muscles tighten, our breathing quickens, the heart beats faster and blood is diverted to the large muscle groups. As we tremble and sweat our hearing and eyesight are affected and we enter into an altered perceptual state of time and distance. You might wonder how anyone could perform complex tasks while experiencing high stress levels but people do it all the time. Pilots, soldiers, police officers, fire fighters and emergency medical providers are just some of the examples of folks who work in high stress environments. What’s their secret? It’s repetitive training and experience.

If we relate this to defensive firearms training, the goal should be to make our skills reflexive – able to be performed without conscious thought. The draw from a holster is a good example. Breaking the skill down into small steps in the beginning, you progress to one smooth motion you can perform without thinking about the individual steps. And then, with practice, one day when you need it, the pistol will seem to appear in your hand without conscious thought – the skill has become reflexive. Reflexive skills are the ones we need when the spit is spinning off the fan blades and there is no time to think.

Aside from living through multiple gunfights, here are some of the things defensive shooters can do to increase their tolerance and learn to perform at high stress levels; what I refer to as stress inoculation:

Training against the clock

People seem to lose it when you put them on the clock, something we see in class when we use turning targets or run a timed drill. Train with a stopwatch or a shot timer and you’ll learn to operate under the pressure of time.

Practicing complex skills

Advanced skills are nothing more than a combination of basic skills applied to a particular problem. Practicing complex skills until they become routine helps you perform them more easily in high stress environments.

Competing

Competition is a great way to develop the ability to stay cool under pressure. Whether informally among training partners or in an organized match, competition combines the need to perform complex skills under time pressure while others are watching, a guaranteed stressful environment.

Tactical simulator and force on force training

Getting off the training range and into simulators may be the best way to increase your tolerance to stress. Live fire tactical simulators where you have to work your way through a problem sorting out the shoot targets from the no-shoots will force you to learn that you need to apply basic marksmanship skills to be successful and will greatly increase your ability to operate at high stress levels. Shoot houses are to shooters as flight simulators are to pilots and both accomplish the goal of teaching proper responses to emergencies.

Force on force is situational training where you interact with other people to create a complex training experience. Less-lethal guns and training ammunition are used and safety is a huge consideration. This advanced training is the ultimate in high stress level firearms training because it most closely resembles reality.

Mental conditioning

Mental preparation – getting your mind right, as a SEAL friend of mine stated it – may be the most important component in stress management. Anticipating, then visualizing how an event may unfold while planning your response in advance is part of it. The other part, knowing you can act, and you will act to solve the problem, is just as important.

Stress management

Remember to breath. This sounds ridiculous but in fact people tend to hold their breaths when they’re stressed. Take a big, deep breath, pause, and blow it out forcefully. Repeat several times and you can significantly lower your blood pressure, slow down your racing heart, minimize the physiological effects of stress and regain control. If faced with a complex problem start breaking it down into simple tasks you can perform one at a time, as this provides goals you can more immediately accomplish, rather than being overwhelmed by the entire problem.

The pursuit ended suddenly when the deputy followed the suspect into a parking lot with no way out. After blocking the exit the deputy got out of his car. The suspect vehicle turned around and accelerated towards him, then the driver pointed a pistol out the window and started firing. The deputy drew his pistol and fired two quick shots, ending the career of the wannabe cop killer. I learned about this when the deputy called and told me the story. You see, he was a student of mine and had recently completed a pistol class at Gunsite. He said, “Ed, it was just like being on the range in class. I wasn’t excited or scared; I was completely calm and simply did what I had done hundreds of times before during training.” It’s hard for me to maintain my composure when I hear these stories – I’ve heard hundreds of them – because I always cry at happy endings. If the time comes, I hope your story has a happy ending as well.

About the Author:

Ed Head is a regular on Shooting Gallery, Gun Stories and Down Range TV. He has worked for almost 30 years in law enforcement, first in the United States Air Force and then with the United States Border Patrol, retiring as a Field Operations Supervisor. During his Border Patrol career, Ed worked in a variety of patrol, investigative and training capacities. Ed has an extensive background as a firearms instructor, having trained thousands, ranging from beginners to police, military and special operations personnel. Having taught at Gunsite for 20 years, Ed first trained there under the world famous shooting school’s founder, Jeff Cooper, then later ran the school as the operations manager for more than five years. Ed lives in Chino Valley, Arizona, where he continues to teach and write.