8 Father’s Day Gift Ideas

If you still need gift ideas or if you’re looking for an excuse to buy yourself a gift, here are eight Father’s Day gift ideas that no dad (or family) should be without.  

1. A Water Filter- It might be a pipe bursting, or something worse, but you never know when you’ll need to filter water in order to make it drinkable. I personally own multiple water filters and two of my favorites are the MSR MiniWorks and the Sawyer PointOne All-in-One Filter. If you’re only going to get one I would go with the Sawyer. I recently had a chance to test out the Sawyer when I went hiking in Zion National Park and it worked great. The bottom line is, don’t let anymore time pass without having at least one water filter in your home.

2. The Ruger 10/22- I own a lot of guns, but if for some (terrible) reason I could only have one it would be my Ruger 10/22. The 10/22 is such a versatile gun and can be used for many things from hunting small game to self-defense. I realize a .22 isn’t the optimal choice for personal protection but it will get the job done, plus it’s easy to teach new shooters on this gun and everyone in your family can handle it.

3. Swedish FireSteel- In both the 72-hour kits in your home and in the 72-hour kits in your car you should have multiple ways of starting a fire. One of these ways should definitely be Swedish FireSteel, which was originally developed for the Swedish military. Make sure you also have some dryer lint packed with this and make sure you’re buying the name brand product and not a cheap Chinese knock-off that won’t work.

4. A Fixed Blade Knife- Everyone ought to own a quality fixed blade knife for survival purposes and you should have it with you anytime you go exploring in the outdoors, such as hiking or camping. The Gerber LMF-II is an excellent knife and TOPS Knives also make a solid choice for a survival knife.

5. Ammunition- Most people have a lot of training ammunition, but few have enough self-defense ammo. I carry Hornady Critical Defense in my Ruger LCP and in my Glock 19 I carry Speer Gold Dot. Whatever self-defense ammo your loved one prefers, get them a few extra boxes this Father’s Day.

6. A Credit Card Lock Pick Set- When I first learned how to pick locks, I had no idea how useful this skill would become. That’s why I always carry my credit card lock pick set with me no matter where I’m going since lock pick sets are TSA approved and can be carried on an airplane.

7. Electronic Hearing Protection- If you go shooting often and you’re not using electronic hearing protection you have no idea what you’re missing. The electronic ears that I use and like are Pro Ears Gold.

8. A Tactical Flashlight- Just like with guns, you can never have too many flashlights. SureFire, Fenix, and O-Light are a few of the brands that I own and have worked well for me.

Hopefully, this short list of ideas has given you some inspiration for what you can get dad this year.

Top 7 Rules of Pocket Carry

Over the past decade, the popularity of “pocket guns” has exploded and it’s safe to say that more people are carrying guns in their pocket (instead of on their hip) than ever before. I count myself among this group of people, as you’ll frequently find me with a Ruger LCP in my front, right pocket.

Like every carry method, there are certain rules you should follow if you decide to pocket carry. Violating these rules can obviously cause injury to yourself or someone else. For instance, here’s an incident reported by a Florida newspaper… 

“According to a police affidavit, Thompson told them he was at dinner with his wife Saturday night when he reached into his pocket for money and a car valet ticket. His Glock 9mm handgun was also in his pocket, and it went off accidentally. The affidavit says the bullet hit the base of a table and burst into fragments, injuring several people nearby but none seriously.”

And, that brings us to rule #1…

1. If you are going to pocket carry, never, ever have anything else in that pocket with the gun. Your car keys, money, and everything else needs to be in another pocket. This is a gun pocket ONLY.

2. Your pocket gun should always be in a pocket holster and the holster needs to cover the trigger guard. In the incident mentioned above, if the gentleman would’ve had his gun in a holster there is no reason he would have “accidentally” pulled the trigger. (I use a simple kydex holster for my Ruger LCP.)

3. Don’t put your hand in your gun pocket unless you are in fear for your life or serious bodily injury. In other words, don’t be “that guy” who makes it so obvious he is carrying concealed because he’s always reaching in his pocket to make sure the gun is okay and wanting to touch it.

4. Practice your pocket draw. Obviously, drawing from your hip and drawing from your pocket are completely different. Spend some time doing dry fire practice to ensure you develop a smooth draw from your pocket so you’re prepared if you ever have to do it when it counts.

5. If you’re going to pocket carry, carry the “best” option you can. What I mean is, I wouldn’t stick a two-shot derringer in your pocket or a .22. I’d give yourself the best pocket option, such as a .380 or .38 Special or 9mm depending on how big of pockets you have.

6.  Make sure you are wearing the right type of pants. If your pants are so tight they produce a perfect outline of the gun in your pocket then you need to buy different pants. Never forgot the key word in concealed carry is “concealed”.

7. Have “muzzle awareness” when pocket carrying. When you go to a restaurant with your family and you sit down at the booth do you really want to point your loaded gun at them? Well, that’s what you’ll be doing if you don’t sit in the proper seat and pay attention to your muzzle when you sit down pocket carrying.

Keep these rules in mind so you never have an incident when carrying concealed with your gun in your pocket.

The truth about the CA killing spree

Last Friday, 22-year-old Elliot Rodger went on a killing spree in California that took the lives of six people. It’s another sad tragedy that happens far too often in this country and a reminder for us to always be vigilant and prepared for the unexpected.

The thing is, if you haven’t done much reading about this story you would assume that it’s another mentally ill kid with a gun that went on a shooting spree.

After all, here’s what CNN reported one of the victim’s father’s saying, “Why did Chris die? Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the (National Rifle Association). They talk about gun rights -- what about Chris' right to live?"

And the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence followed up on the father’s comments stating, "It is time for the American public to know the truth about why people are dying every day and, thanks to Americans like Mr. Martinez, that truth is starting to be heard.”

Well, here’s the real truth:

First, I certainly don’t blame the victim’s father for what he said. I can’t imagine anything worse in life than losing a child and you would obviously be angry and blame whatever and whomever you could for your loss.

But what very few media reports included is that the killer not only used a gun, but his shooting spree actually started out as a knife spree. The first three victims were stabbed to death in the killer’s apartment. From what I’ve seen, one news outlet that got it right is a newspaper out of Australia that reported the killings as a “violent knife and gun rampage.”

Now, it’s no real surprise that the liberal media in this country would only want to focus on the gun aspect and ignore the knife killings because those don’t push forward their agenda.

But you and I are smart enough to know that a gun or a knife is just a tool that can be used for good or evil. However, if someone is coming after you with a gun or a knife you want to be armed to stop the threat and use your gun for the lifesaving and defensive purposes for which it was created.

The last thing you want to be is an unprepared victim who thinks “it will never happen to me” and who didn’t have some type of weapon to defend themselves. So, while the media wants to use this as another excuse to ban guns, you and I should look at it as another reason to be armed because you’ll certainly want your Glock 19 (or whatever gun you prefer) with you when a madman is coming at you with a gun or a knife.  

Why you need to practice the “Bill Drill” more often

The “Bill Drill” created by Bill Wilson is one of the most well known handgun drills. Even so, far too many people have never done this drill before or don’t spend enough time practicing it.

This is probably because it’s such a simple drill. You aren’t shooting and moving, you aren’t shooting steel, and you’re not doing anything “super tactical.” With that being said, the Bill Drill is one of the most practical drills you can ever do that may save your life one day in a self-defense situation.

The target that you use for the drill is a standard International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) target. Only hits in the “A” zone count for this drill. The “A” zone on an IPSC target measures 6 x 11 inches. What this means is that instead of going out and buying an IPSC target you can make an “A” zone target yourself. What I do is take a regular white sheet of paper and measure 6 x 11 and then cut the target out and staple it to my cardboard backer.

You shoot the drill from the 7-yard line and the goal is to fire six shots as quickly as possible while getting all six shots in the “A” zone.

Don’t let the simplicity of this drill fool you. This drill teaches you to develop a smooth trigger pull because if you jerk your trigger you’re not going to get all 6 shots on the target. It teaches you how to manage recoil and also how to track your sights.

The reason to practice this drill often is because in a real life situation, where deadly force is justified, you’ll likely end up doing this drill. What I mean is, you’ll likely end up drawing your gun lightning fast and firing multiple shots as quickly as you can. Thankfully, I’ve never had to fire my gun in a self-defense situation, but I can tell you from very intense training scenarios that this is what you’ll do.

And, of course, in practice if you’re not able to fire off quick and accurate shots, then there’s little chance you’ll be able to do it when it really counts.

If you’ve never practiced the Bill Drill before or haven’t done it in a while, you need to start off slowly. The first time you do the drill take as much time as you need to ensure all six rounds end up in the “A” zone. If it takes you 10 seconds to do this then so be it because now you have a starting point.

After practicing more, your goal should be to get it down to 9 seconds, then 8 seconds, then 7 seconds and so on.

Once you’ve mastered this drill to a time that you’re comfortable with it’s still a good idea to practice this drill at least once a month, if not more. Because again, if your life is on the line you’ll be doing exactly what this drill teaches.

What Your Wife Must Know About Stopping a Home Invasion

My wife is a lawyer, but she no longer practices law. Instead, she’s chosen to stay at home with our two kids. That’s why the question below is near and dear to me, and why I want to write about it today.  

“Hi Jason,

My greatest fear, and one I think about often, is a home invasion. I'm a stay at home mom of two and constantly wonder what I would do IF. And it seems no one I know can give me an answer. No one has a plan for this. We don't own a gun; I am not opposed but my husband is. Do you offer a training for self-defense or home invasion preparedness or anything that will give me peace of mind? Or even training on using some type of gun that I could maybe get?” ~Michelle B.

Most people don’t realize how many home invasions occur during the day. After all, burglars think people are at work during the day so they break into the house hoping to have plenty of time to steal electronics, cash, and jewelry.

But, if someone is home during the day and an intruder breaks in it can quickly turn into a violent confrontation. For instance, in Alabama, an elderly man was at home when someone kicked in his front door. Thankfully, the elderly man had enough time to grab his gun and shoot the intruder before he could attack him.

The thing is, none of us ever wants to have to shoot someone if we can avoid it. That’s why the first thing anyone should do when it comes to preventing a home invasion is to make your home less attractive to criminals so that they’ll target any home on your street except yours.

How do you do this?

-Put alarm sign stickers around your front door and also around your back door. If you already have an alarm, use the ones the company gives you. But you can also buy these stickers online. Also, get one of the alarm signs that comes on a stake and put it in your front yard.

-Buy a large dog bowl and put it outside at your back door. I know this sounds corny, but consider this: If a burglar is casing the neighborhood and he sees your large dog bowl and other neighbors show no signs of a dog, do you think he’s really going to take the chance on your home instead of the no-dog home next door?

-Do the obvious things such as keeping the grass cut, the bushes around home entrances trimmed, and the newspapers from piling up on the driveway. An unkempt yard is an invitation to burglars.

-Get exterior cameras for your front and back entrance. If for some reason you don’t want to get real cameras, at least buy the fake ones.

After you’ve “hardened” the exterior of your house, the next important thing you want to do is get an alarm system. Basic monitoring for alarm systems isn’t expensive these days and will only cost you $15-$20 a month.

Here’s how the alarm system comes into play for stay at home moms: When nobody is at home you set the alarm system in “away” mode so if anyone breaks into the house or trips the motion sensors the alarm goes off.

However, when you are at home, you will set the alarm in “home” mode so that the motion sensor is turned off but if anyone tries to break in through a door or window the alarm gets tripped and the loud siren goes off.

In other words, you can be at home with the kids all day, with the alarm on, and if someone tries to enter the house the noise of the alarm will hopefully scare them off.

However, since there are no guarantees, I do recommend having a gun for home defense as the last line of defense if nothing else scares the burglar off. I can tell you that I use either a Glock 19 or Smith & Wesson M&P for home defense and that my wife uses a Glock 19.

But there is no perfect gun for everyone, which is why I recommend going to your local shooting range and renting several guns to try out until you find one you’re comfortable with. (Don’t let your husband or the gun store guy talk you into a gun you don’t like because you’ll be the one using it, not them.)

If you get a gun you need take a training course and also have a simple plan for what you’re going to do with the gun. For instance, if someone’s breaking into your home you will grab your gun and you and your kids will lock yourselves in the master bedroom while you call police. And, if the intruder tries to enter the master bedroom before police arrive you will have to shoot and stop them.

If your husband refuses to have a gun in the house, even if it’s locked in a rapid access safe, then I would go with a knife. It’s certainly not ideal but can still do a lot of damage to a criminal. The bottom line is, try and make your house as “uninviting” as possible so you’re hopefully never forced to use a gun or knife in the first place.

My Home Defense Nightstand

I’ve trained a lot of people who come to me after they’ve experienced a home invasion. One such fellow is a billionaire from Texas who got in a shootout in his home with the intruder, and another is a woman from Virginia who was raped twice before she realized she ought to have a gun for home defense.

And, just this weekend, I was teaching my Spy course in Las Vegas when one of the women who attended mentioned she had survived a home invasion.

Obviously, there are few things worse than being violated in your own home, which is why I want to share with you the items and tools I currently have on my nightstand to help me stop a home invasion should some criminal try and break into my home.

1) First, the nightstand itself. I have the nightstand right next to my bed. The size of the top of the nightstand is about 24 inches by 18 inches. I believe I got this nightstand from a thrift store awhile back so there’s nothing fancy about it.

2. I have a humidifier on the nightstand. The only reason I tell you this is because I’ve been sick lately and in bed a lot, as I am right now. I am literally typing this from my bed and looking at my nightstand and I plan to share everything that is on it.

3. There is a Gunvault gun safe. The exact model I have is the Gunvault MV500-STD Microvault.

4. Inside the gun safe is a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm. Attached to this gun is a Viridian laser/light combination, model C5L. Also in the safe is a spare magazine. (The two guns I use most often are the Smith & Wesson mentioned above and also a Glock 19. Both of these rotate in and out of the safe.)

5. Also on the nightstand is a dedicated cell phone. It’s a pre-paid phone I picked up from Walmart. That phone is always there so I at least have one cell phone for an emergency call and if I add my regular cell phone to the top of the nightstand then I have a backup.

6. At this moment on my nightstand there are three flashlights. You should obviously have one light available at all times, but I like flashlights and they tend to congregate on top of my nightstand. The three flashlights I have on the stand are a Surefire 6PX Pro, a NexTorch TA1, and an Olight T10. All three of these flashlights have worked well for me and I don’t have any complaints about any of them.

7. I have a set of scriptures on my nightstand for religious reading before I go to bed each night.

As you can see, there’s not a lot of clutter and nothing fancy. It’s a simple set up that gives me what I need in case my home alarm goes off in the middle of the night and I have to quickly access my gun to protect my family.

If you’re not fully prepared to defend your family from a home invasion make sure and work on your own “nightstand setup” this week.

How to Store Guns and Cash

A reader mentioned to me how he’s having his first child soon (congrats) and wants to not only keep his guns away from his child, but also have a safe that protects other documents.

First, it should hopefully go without saying that if there are children in the house all of the guns should be locked up. Even the “heirlooms” that you never shoot should at the very least have a trigger lock on them to make them inoperable.

As far as the home defense guns they need to be in a rapid-access safe. Lots of companies make these types of safes and every one of my home defense handguns is locked up in one. Check out the Gunvault company and Stack-On company for some of the better rapid-access safes. Also, Hornady recently released a quick-open safe. (I would stay away from the biometric versions of these safes as I am still hearing horror stories about people having to swipe their finger numerous times before the safes open.)

The thing is, in addition to having a handgun safe, I also believe you need a safe to store money and other valuables and I don’t think you should mix them. The fact is, my rapid-access safes are small and can fit only one or two full size handguns.

I don’t want to also store money in them because when I reach in the safe for my gun in a life or death situation, I only want to grab my gun and not something else. This is the same reason you never carry anything in your pants pocket when you are carrying a gun in your pocket. The hand only goes in the pocket (or your safe) when your life depends on it or when you’re actively training for that situation.

The safe that can be used to store money and important documents needs to be fireproof and can be one of the inexpensive Sentry brand of safes. I would have a least $1,000 cash stored in this safe and I would add more if you have the means.

Several years back a family member of mine was arrested in Washington, DC. Apparently, he and his business partner were in DC for a meeting and when they came back to his business partner’s car there was a boot on the car from unpaid parking tickets.

The only way this relative could get out of jail that Friday night (and not have to wait until Monday) was if someone showed up with $1,400 cash. Thankfully, we had some rich Italian friends who kept money in their home and they loaned us the $1,400 and the relative was able to get out of jail that night.

This story shows that life is unpredictable, which is why you need to always be prepared to protect yourself, and also have some extra cash on hand.