Putting things into Proper Perspective!

Dave Spaulding · 

I headed to my gun club recently to partake in some task-specific skill building in what I call "the combative application of the pistol." When I arrived, the range I intended to use was occupied by three men who were dressed in "bill board" clothing that alleged they were being sponsored by major gun companies. Their guns looked as if they came from a STAR WARS movie in holsters that barely kept them from falling on the ground. When I inquired as to getting some range space, I was told they were "practicing to USPSA standards and that it was unlikely I could keep up." I was told I was welcome to watch, however.

OK, I decided to do just that. What occurred next was nothing more than an exercise in ballistic masterbation. These guys ran from place to place so fast there was no way they could utilize solid technique...one even missed his magazine well, jettisoning his magazine into the air before trying again. There was no attempt to plant and shoot accurately as they slowed and sprayed the area. They should have left the barricade out as no attempt was made to actually use it. As a matter of fact, they stood next to it. At the end, their targets looked like #4 Buck had been used, but they were high fiveing each other talking exclusively about their times. They were right, I could not keep up with this stuff and I deciding to practice another day.

Don't get me wrong, I am a full supporter of shooting sports. I have shot PPC, USPSA and IDPA and find them to be a great activity and if done well, can actually be a fine training vehicle for personal security. However, if this is your goal, you should never be in a hurry to get shot and your ultimate aim (pun intended) should be to stop your adversary quickly. This means shot placement or on the USPSA Target an "A" zone hit. Combative Pistol craft is a balance of speed and accuracy and as I recall, so is USPSA but I did not see that here...it was all about speed.

These gentlemen claimed this was a practice session, but there was no attempt at a correct grip, smooth, efficient draw, a solid reload on the first try...you know, the kind of stuff that is essential to proper pistol shooting of any discipline. It was all about how fast they could go from start to finish with little regard for anything else. I do have to admit, their clothing looked great! It seems that "tacti-cool" has made its way to the shooting sports. What would it be "comp-u-cool"?

Having been a former scholastic and collegiate athlete, I am surely a fan of sport, but the sport should be done WELL. Anything worth doing is worth doing WELL, but what I saw here was not it, whether it was for sport or defense.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! / HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON

A very Special Merry Christmas wish to all that server in our Military, Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters, and EMS communities!  

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Book Review

I finished reading this book about a week ago, and will most likely start to read it again so that the information in it will hopefully be burned into my sub-conscience.  The name of the book is Left of Bang.  It was written by two retired Marine Officers, Captain Patrick Van Horne, and Major Jason A. Riley and has to do with How to Develop the Marine Corps' Combat Hunter Program Mindset.  This program was developed so as to keep Marines in a proactive rather than a reactive mode in order to save their lives.  I would recommend this book to anyone who is serious about keeping themselves and their family safe and out of danger.  I would also mention that if you are in any branch of the service or  you work in any form of law enforcement, first responder, or armed or unarmed security capacity, you need to read this book!  This should be a mandatory read for anyone that works in those fields.

This book will definitely open your eyes and make you much more aware of the things that you need to pay attention to in this ever changing and violent world that we live in.  

Food fo Thought....Dave Spaulding

Dave Spaulding

With the growing number of former military members now conducting training (and good training I might add) there is also a growing number of people who think battlefield-style tactics are appropriate on American streets. This is not always the case! I have been named in a past Use of Force lawsuit and I can tell you it is not a fun experience. Your force must be "reasonable based on the circumstances at hand" and your actions will be picked apart in he safety of a court conference room. In addition, if you think public perception will not play a roll you are kidding yourself. The jury is part of the public...

I was recently asked about the use of "anchoring shots" in a domestic gunfight. These are rounds generally fired to the head once a suspect is down to make sure a suspect cannot deploy a suicide vest. Keep in mind there is a real good chance there will be a video of your shooting these rounds into this person lying on he ground...will it look like the recent Chicago Police shooting that has the city on edge? If so, you better be damn sure he has a bomb strapped to his chest!!

Attorney Steven Harris knows a thing or two about the JUDICIOUS use of deadly force and while YOU NEED TO WIN THE FIGHT FIRST to be sued, it is wise to understand the dynamics of deadly force deployment.

Rich Grassi....Threat Assessment

Good information so I wanted to pass it along!

Editor's Notebook: Threat Assessment

Coordinated terror attacks struck Paris on 13 November. In the U.S., we saw gun sales to private citizens continue the record set since 2009. There was a huge Black Friday run on guns. As we approach a week since the outrage in San Bernardino – with the accompanying screed from the Left – we again see clogged gun shops.

I was on the road and made an early morning stop at an Academy Sporting Goods store on Saturday. While perusing ammunition stock and prices, I overheard a customer tell a gun counter clerk, "I want the cheapest, smallest 9mm you have."

The S&W SD9VE is a functional, accurate and low cost self defense pistol.

I looked at the customer. He didn't look silly. The clerk followed his instructions and showed him several guns. I walked over to the counter and, on the bottom shelf, there was a S&W SD9VE with a price tag of about $310 . . . a far better choice for shooting and defense and certainly low cost.

I wanted to ask if he'd seek a $25 vasectomy from a guy working in a garage somewhere – but I didn't.

At Steve's Trading Post later the same day, a young lady was examining a micro Glock (G42 or G43). She said she was going to carry it in a purse, presumably without a holster. The clerk properly told her that was NO-GO. She wanted to know why, where is the safety?

When she said she preferred a .380, the clerk tried to move her to the 9mm pistol as the ammunition was cheaper. "Why?"

Any time you carry a gun -- Micro Glocks shown here -- a holster is mandatory. A purse is not a holster, nor is a glove box, a console or a pocket. Buy a holster.

These were folks who were likely going to start carrying guns. They were getting recommendation from those who sell guns – but "the customer's always right." There has to be some way for people to get quality training in small doses at low cost – conveniently scheduled – but I'm not sure how.

A few things to pass along to friends considering the purchase of firearms for self-protection:

First, you are making a lifestyle choice. It requires changes in behavior. You can't leave these things laying around unattended: firearms need to be kept in your custody and not left behind in a restroom, not left in a car – prone to burglary in any parking lot, and not in a purse left out of your reach.

Second, you need to consider the environment in which you operate. I worked in a place where armed personnel were the norm; many places have restrictions on bearing arms. Wearing guns in the open can create some problems and, remember, "concealed means concealed.

I've worn the SD9VE concealed – in an inside-the-waistband holster. It's not for everyone, but it allows me to carry a service size pistol discreetly. Discretion goes along with security of the piece.

Third, know the legal ramifications of firearms ownership. Freedom isn't free. You need to check with people who know the liabilities.

Finally, consider safety. Knowing the Four Rules (we use Five) is critical – if you make adherence to those rules reflexive through focus and practice. Never carry a firearm without a holster – even in a purse. Semiauto pistols need to be in holsters that cover the trigger guard – and you need to learn to holster while observing Rule Three (Keep your finger out of the trigger guard and on the frame until the sights are on the target and you intend to shoot).

Avoid off-body carry (e.g., in a purse, briefcase, etc.) if at all possible.

When considering a firearm purchase, the smallest, lightest and cheapest is often not the best choice. It's time to get help. Firearms owners should be ready to mentor new gun owners without various brand biases and without making fun of their choices.

As our publishing year is moving to a close, we're faced with the same uncertainties, the same concerns as we've had for a number of years. The people aren't standing still and we need to be ready to lend a hand. It's more important than "what's the best gun, what's the best caliber," etc. It's retaining the heritage of freedom in the face of those who'd seize our freedoms.

People will continue to flock to gun shops. They're our allies in this fight. We need to facilitate that move – but help out or not, they tire of the government's inability to be everything to everyone. They know they need to step up.

Whether anyone likes it or not, Gun Culture 2.0 is under way. There's no stopping it now.

-- Rich Grassi 

Good tip

Gunfighter Moment – Pat McNamara 

Because I’ve heard it said that ‘Holstering’ a pistol is an ‘Administrative’ move, I would argue that there is true merit in holstering a pistol the same way we draw a pistol on two different fronts.

One is that in the tactical world, we must sometimes have to deescalate and go ‘Hands On’. We must do this without taking our eyes off of the threat.

Two, when practicing a draw stroke, the best draw stroke is nothing more than holstering in reverse. This was said to me by Rob Leatham some decades ago. So, when practicing a draw stroke, why not double the amount of meaningful repetitions by holstering the same way we drew?

…Only one is in reverse.

Patrick McNamara
SGM, US Army (Ret)