Introduction to Defensive Pistol 10.14.17

FOCC/IDP...great class in the pouring rain

Sometimes Even Icons Get It Wrong

LTC Grossman is an icon in the self defense community. His two seminal works on the psychology of killing, On Killing and On Combat are without a doubt historic. They have even spawned an entire subculture of self described "sheepdogs" due to his oft repeated analogy.



"If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen: a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath—a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? Then you are a sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path.  "



However I am going to differ with the good LTC on some of his EDC choices.



1. Emerson Folder-I am not a huge knife expert however I do have some opinions based on my own experience and advice from those I know that are experts in this field. Having a strong side folding knife as your EDC might not be the best choice. It would be more preferable to have a fixed blade on the weakside as your "stabby stabby tool." Ease of employment,ease of access, and efficiency are considerations. If you are constrained to carrying a folder then a wave feature or ziptie may aid in rapid opening and deployment.



2. 1911 style handgun in .45- This is probably a very emotional topic for some and I will not revisit the whole .45 vs 9mm debate here. Suffice to say however that I and many others have written extensively about the lack of efficiency of the DA/SA platform and the efficiencies of the 9mm round for self defense. If our goal is to stop the threat and not count on luck then we need to put as many holes in the combat accurate area as we can, as quickly as possible. To do that a modern striker fired handgun in 9mm carried on the strong side hip or appendix carry is the way to go. Off body carry in a fanny pack is a liability.



3.TQ and Quikclot- I will come right out and say it. The SWAT TQ is a poor choice. TQ need to compress flesh and blood vessels to bone to get the amount of occlusion necessary to stop the bleeding. LTC Grossman's quick demonstration of how to apply the SWAT TQ is not indicative of actual application. In my experience the SWAT is not as easy to apply as advertised and does not occlude sufficiently to be a primary TQ. Don't believe me then check out this study from the Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio. His statement that it is better used on K9's and children may have some validity but I would argue if the limb is too small for a CAT or SOFT-W TQ then you should go straight to a pressure dressing. Which is what I carry a SWAT for anyway. Quikclot is a proven performer.



4. Flashlight- No argument there you need to carry one. Make it a good sturdy model with plenty of lumens. It can be used for its intended purpose or as a striking implement.



5. OC Spray- Again not an expert but having less lethal options is a solid piece of advice. If you are going to carry OC spray know how to use it and its effects. Also realize it is not a man stopper and people can definitely continue to function after getting a face full.



I welcome your feedback and continue to question the status quo.

Fundamentals of Combat Focus Shooting 4.8.2017

Sheepdogging it: No One Cares About Your Feelings Bro!!

I have come to despise the term " Sheepdog." Although the initial analogy as proposed by LTC Dave Grossman in his book " On Killing" was intriguing, Grossman's intent has been perverted into some sort of call for hypervigilant, wannabe SWAT operators to walk among us. It has bred a culture of ignorance and moral ambivalence.

Originally Grossman was merely pointing out that there are people in society that are willing to commit to different levels of involvement when it comes to violence and violent acts. He postulated that the majority of the general public are  "sheep" that neither seek nor notice violence. A small percentage of the public are "wolves" that have no qualms about visiting violence on others. Finally he identified the "sheepdog." These are the protectors, fireman, police, first responders, those that protect the "sheep."

There are those in the circle jerk, insular world that is the 2A community that have latched on to this concept and run with it. However as is usual with the lazy and the ignorant they decline to put out the effort to accomplish the mission. They choose to wear "Molan Labe" t shirts to their open carry night while neglecting to get in any basic additional training past the laughably low standard of an online CCW class. As I have said in the past I am not an advocate of mandatory training but if you are going to style yourself a protector of the people you should be pretty darn familiar with the law and the consequences of your actions.

I made the mistake of getting into a "discussion" the other day with a gentleman who insisted that it was morally and ethically ok to find an intruder in your business, leave the property, arm yourself, return and execute the offender. All this without notifying law enforcement. Why? Because it was his stuff and no one has the right to his stuff. That's all fine and well but NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS BRO!! Because that's all it is, feelings. The law is not on your side, morality is not on your side, and good sound tactics are not on your side. When did we go from preparing to protect our family to posturing and preening about being the shield of civilization?

These wannabes heap scorn and derision upon the so called "snowflakes" in liberal society for their thin skin and hurt feelings but are the first to start the name calling when someone calls into question their sketchy choices in carry gun or poor holster selection. Because the modern day sheepdog is not pragmatic, its about the coolest Instagram picture and the latest bell or whistle for your short barreled rifle. They are all about the "feels".

You know who is a "sheepdog?" The guy who raises a family while going to work everyday. The guy who makes an honest living. The guy, who while not bringing attention to himself or his actions, quietly gets the job done and gets outside his comfort zone as often as possible. The guy who incrementally and with relentless forward progress makes himself just a little more dangerous. It can be something as small as choosing an apple over a donut. Life choices, good attitude, and a quiet professionalism make a sheep dog.

So come down from "Code Orange", put your nylon holster in the trash and get some training. Quit being an assclown and represent us better. 

Intro to CFS 2.19.17 1st CFS class of 2017

    

Combat Accuracy Does Not Mean You Suck

An article I wrote for Personal Defense Network

https://www.personaldefensenetwork.com/article/combat-accurate-not-mean-suck/?utm_content=bufferb1da3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Enjoy

Fundamentals of Combat Focus Shooting 10.02.2016

8 students came out to train on a great day that also happened to be my wife's birthday. Happy birthday Starr!!! Varying skill levels from experienced to first time shooter. Lots of great feedback.

Fundamentals of Combat Focus Shooting 4.30.2016

Was a rainy and blustery day. Well done to the students who came to train

Mandated Training

Bottom line up front I am for "constitutional carry" and against any kind of mandated government training protocol being required to exercise your right of self defense. Besides the obvious argument that you cannot regulate a natural right, I also believe that mandated training gives gun owners a false sense of security. Many will go to the required concealed carry training every 5 years (which they may or may not have done on the internet) and call it good. It is painfully obvious who those folks are. These  are the folks that show up for a reclassification shoot with a compact 1911 that they cannot manipulate under even mild stress. These are folks that have supposedly been carrying a firearm for self defense on a daily basis for at least 5 years.

I am however a huge advocate of training. It is incumbent that responsible concealed carriers seek out training. There are 5 different areas where this training should be focused.

1. Defensive Handgun Training: This is a no brainer. However the key word here is "defensive." Target shooting is fun, competition shooting is fun however they do not necessarily prepare the concealed carrier to react appropriately in the context of a self defense shooting scenario. The responsible concealed carrier should seek out realistic training from  reputable instructor.

2. Hands on skills or Defensive Tactics: Although the most common distance at which self defense shootings happen are 9-12 feet they don't always start out that way. Often the concealed carrier may need to disengage or get untangled from an aggressor before they can employ their firearm. This training should also include weapon retention training. I am not necessarily talking about martial arts per se but I am talking about training to help you defend yourself when a gun may not be available or may not be a viable option. Concealed carriers need to seek out these classes and participate to the best of their ability.

3. Medical Training: I have long been an advocate of medical training for the lay community. It is the single most important self defense skill one can possess. Even more important than using your firearm properly. Medical training can be used in almost every facet of your life. It can be used in the context of your family life, at a car accident or on the range. The more members of the general public that possess basic life saving skills the better odds there are that my family will be safe should I not be in the area.

4. Legal Aspects: Concealed carriers need to learn what happens in the legal aftermath of a self defense shooting scenario. Training on applicable laws, how to interact with law enforcement, and how to deal with the various legal scenarios that may result. It is imperative that concealed carriers understand the awesome responsibility that is incumbent upon them when they choose to carry a firearm in public.

5. Avoidance: Managing unknown contacts and how to avoid compromising situations is also very important. Get training on recognizing pre assault indicators. Learn how to react to strangers if you may be stuck in an environment that supports violent criminal activity.

Training does not always have to be formal training in front of an instructor. Reading books and articles on these subjects, listening to podcasts or even just visualizing how we would react to certain situations are all viable training models.

Mandated training will not prepare you to react to a dynamic critical incident, but you can be prepared should you choose to be.

CVO Gun Talk Episode 001

Our first episode. 3 guys talk about traning and guns. Subscribe at this link http://www.tpspproductions.com/cvo-gun-talk-1/ or on itunes

Fundamentals of Concealed Carry 3.26.16

First outdoor class of the year. A very diversified class that learned a lot.

Veterans and Concealed Carry

Here is an article I wrote for the Personal Defense Network. Give it a read.

http://www.personaldefensenetwork.com/article/veterans-and-concealed-carry-how-important-is-training/