I have spent the majority of my life teaching folks how to be safe. It started when I was a 20 year old Paratrooper and 81 mm Mortar Squad Leader and I had to teach my squad crew drill, immediate actions and all the individual and collective tasks needed to operate at the squad level. Subsequently I have taught everything from weapons maintenance, infantry tactics, freefall parachuting, and medical subjects to conflict de-escalation and defensive tactics. I have been on the periphery of the civilian "training" industry since 2014. First as a contracted instructor and now as a local gun store employee.
With my background I could cater training to all the "tacticool" individuals looking for a fantasy camp experience but I find it more fulfilling and a better use of my time educating the first time gun owner on proper grip and stance or the college age female on how to manage space and avoid danger. I enjoy watching the light bulb turn on during a Permit to Carry class when the individual realizes the awesome responsibility they are taking on by electing to carry a firearm. When those individuals spend their own time, energy and resources with me for additional training, be it firearms, medical or anything else, it truly makes the time spent in curriculum and Instructor development worthwhile.
I am passionate about making folks better prepared. I will continue to concentrate on the "average Joe and Jill" and continue to make them one percent better.
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.
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.
Many people in the self defense world look to the gun as the end all be all of the personal defense scenario. As if it is a special talisman that will ward of evil. In truth the gun is a very effective tool for use in a unlikely and very narrow set of circumstances. What is way more likely is the use of some sort of medical skill. How often have you been in a situation where you needed to dress a wound or react to a medical emergency? Quite a bit more often than you have participated in a gunfight I would imagine.
I emphasize with my students the need to train on the skills needed when the threat is outside the context of a shooting solution. Medical skills are paramount and essential. .
The reality of the world we live in
is that you are more likely to attacked in your own home than you are in a
public environment. Because of this it is incumbent on the well prepared home
owner to have at least a basic plan for home defense.
There are many things a home owner
can do to mitigate an invasion before they happen. There are the obvious things
such as locks, closed circuit television cameras and access controls systems.
Another thing that can be done is to implement Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design principles. Things like planting of thorny shrubs under windows
to discourage intruders or trimming trees to afford betters fields of view from
inside the residence. However the context of this article will be some of the
basic consideration in using handguns for home defense.
The individual domestic situation
in each home and local laws will determine the method of storage for the
handgun used for home defense.
Storage options must satisfy these three criteria
Secure the handgun from unauthorized access
The handgun must be accessible
The handgun must be in the proper condition when
it is needed.
Your handgun can be stored in several configurations.
Unsecured-
The handgun is stored openly such as on a nightstand or counter
Hidden
and Unsecured- The handgun can be hidden in a drawer, book or some other
unlocked but hidden storage area.
Secured-
The handgun is stored in a quick access safe. This method is the most efficient
and recommended.
The handgun can be stored in a variety of conditions
Unloaded-
A loaded magazine is available but not inserted into the handgun. This
condition is the safest but is the least efficient due to the complex motor
skills needed to load the weapon during a home invasion.
Loaded-
A loaded magazine is inserted into the handgun but no round is in the chamber.
The negligent discharge risk is lower in this condition but the need to chamber
a round will effect efficiency.
Chambered-A
loaded magazine is inserted into the handgun and a round is chambered. This is
the most efficient however the risk for a negligent discharge while reaching
into the quick access safe is present. This risk can be mitigated by storing
the handgun in a holster inside the safe.
Due to the propensity for the
grasp reflex to be triggered while under stress and the subsequent possibility
of a negligent discharge while reaching for the handgun the recommended condition to store your
home defense handgun is in the loaded
condition or chambered and holstered in a quick access safe.
When formulating a home defense
plan you should apply these Five
Fundamental Principles in the context of your individual circumstances.
Evade or
Escape-Individuals should create distance and minimize exposure to the
threat. This fundamental includes marshalling family members or moving to
rally/barricade points. Empowering family members to evade individually is
important.
Arm-
Arm yourself as early as possible. Individuals should have the tools to defend
themselves or their family as early as possible if needed.
Barricade-
Your preplanned barricade point should be the safest place possible. Your barricade
point should be 90 degrees off any point of entry. You should be greater than
two arm’s length from the point of entry in a position that will allow you to
shoot from full extension if needed. If it is necessary to move, move with a
purpose without exposing your handgun.
Contact-
Call 911. When calling 911 stay on the line. Give your location. Give your
location within the structure. Tell what is going on. Tell who is involved. ID
yourself and any family members (give a description) and that you are armed. ID
the assailant (give a description if possible).
Counter-
Respond a necessary to a lethal threat.
The aftermath of
a home invasion will be chaotic. Initially you may be detained or even
arrested. It is important that you communicate to investigating officers the
evidence of a threat, any evidence of injuries, damage to the home and any
prior relationship with the assailant. Be the victim.
Finally
practice your plan and make sure all members of the household are fully
involved. Recognition is the tool of the expert. You can only recognize
something if you have been previously exposed to it. Through frequent and
realistic training you can use the power of recognition to respond more
efficiently during a home invasion.
Concepts and
principles in this article courtesy of I.C.E Training Company, Rob Pincus, and the
Defensive Firearms Coaches Course.
Recently there was another shooting on a College Campus. Of course all the predictable reactions on both sides. Calls for more gun control, calls for better mental health screening, background checks, elimination of "gun free zones." You get the picture. But one story widely reported illustrates the number one self defense tool an individual possesses. The will. Reportedly a US Army veteran stood up to the gunman. Although wounded severely he potentially saved many lives. What struck me as odd is not that we have individuals willing to sacrifice themselves for others but that we have many more individuals that willingly did nothing to save themselves. Individuals in this country are still conditioned to rely on others to "save" them.
This folks is the fallacy.It took law enforcement 10 minutes to respond in this instance. The national average for law enforcement response is 7 minutes. 7 long minutes. You need to empower yourself to survive. Give yourself the permission to act in your own self interest. I want to let you in on a dirty little secret. I am armed with a handgun probably less than 50% of the time. Many reasons for that, work related etc.. However I am armed 100% of the time with the will to survive.
Every time I enter a new situation I visualize the "what if's." What if this happens, what if that happens? What do I have on me I can use for a weapon, what is around me? Visualization is a key component to survival. Animals do it why don't you?
Harden your mind to your survival. Run through your options. If a lethal threat presented itself right now what would you do? Run? Lock down? Fight? All these things can be an appropriate response depending on the scenario but it is up to you. Your survival is your responsibility. Training can make you harder to kill but the will. The will to survive is yours and yours alone to employ.
