I spent six years with the CIA and had a great time while I was there. I was fortunate enough to get training in almost every self-defense skill you can think of, ranging from shooting to evasive driving. And as important as these skills are, there was something else that was far more important that I learned.
It’s a skill I use every day and it’s why the other day when I was running at 6am and came across a large black bag in the middle of the sidewalk, I quickly crossed the street to get away from the bag. The skill I’m referring to is “situational awareness.” (Regarding the black bag, it could have been a suspect package, so yes, I’m still a little paranoid.)
You see, these days almost nobody pays attention to their surroundings. If you walk down the street 99% of people will have their heads buried in their iPads or iPhones or whatever the ‘hot’ gadget of the month is. The good news for you is, if you do the exact opposite of these people and walk around with your head up and your hands empty, being aware of your surroundings, then you will greatly lessen the chance of becoming a victim.
For instance…
Criminals are often interviewed in prison and shown pictures of people on the streets and asked who they’d target. It’s no surprise the people they often choose have their heads down, are talking on a cell phone, or look less-confident than the average person. So like I just mentioned, if you are concentrating on walking down the street, while everyone else around you has a phone to their ear, who do you think the criminal is going to target? Probably not you.
In fact, I make it a habit to never talk on my phone when I’m walking down the street or any other location, away from home, and thankfully my fiancée now does the same. You see, right now she goes to school in Baltimore City. And quite frankly, the city is a dump.
The murder rate in Baltimore is one of the highest in the nation and since I spend a lot of time there I’m always on “high alert.” Just the other day, my fiancée and I were walking to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. As we were walking, I noticed a man cross the street several times in front of me acting very suspicious, and he finally ended up crossing the street and standing next to me as we were waiting for the light to change.
Once the light changed…
He began to walk stride for stride with me. For those of you familiar with Jeff Cooper’s color code, I immediately went into condition “orange.” (Criminals who are about to attack you on the street will either make prolonged eye contact with you or walk with you stride for stride.)
Well, after a few steps, I immediately stopped walking, turned to the guy and asked him what time it was. I gave him the “stare” and watched his hands the entire time as he looked at his wrist and told me the time. (He then proceeded to cross the street and walk away from me.)
So why did I ask him the time? Well, when it comes to situational awareness you have to trust your instinct. And I know without a doubt that he was getting ready to do something. So I turned to him, raised my hands so I could strike if I needed to, and watched his hands to make sure he didn’t go for anything. I let him know that I was onto him and I put him on the “defensive” by making him react to me.
Of course, this situation could have been handled a thousand different ways, but the important thing to remember is to trust your instinct and not simply think “it’ll never happen to me, I’m probably just overreacting.”
Whether you ask someone what time it is, like I did, or run the other way, or any number of things, just do something, because you never know when not listening to your gut or not paying attention to your surroundings is going to get you mugged or attacked or worse.
Perhaps best of all, paying attention to your surroundings will help keep you out of situations where you might be forced to use your gun to defend your life, which we know is the last thing any one of us wants to do. So if you’re not doing it already, put away the gadgets and start paying attention.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Top 10 Things You Should Look For in a Firearms Instructor
If you do an Internet search or read any gun magazine, you no doubt know that there are a lot of firearms instructors out there. And if I had to guess, I’d say that 98% of them are good honest folks who know what they’re doing. However, since the training we are getting from these instructors can literally mean the difference between life and death, we need to avoid the 2% who don’t know what in the heck they’re doing and could put your life in jeopardy. So, here’s what to look for when you want a quality firearms instructor…
1. What’s their employment background?
What did the instructor used to do for a living (or still does for a living)? Is he a former cop, ex-FBI, ex-Secret Service Agent, former military? Obviously, folks with this type of background have gone through far superior training than the average person and they’ll be able to share real life experiences when it comes to defending yourself. In other words, you want someone who doesn’t just spout “theory,” but knows from firsthand experience what they are talking about.
2. What’s their training background?
The groups that I mentioned above have had the opportunity to train at some of the best facilities in the world by some of the best instructors in the world. However, even if a particular instructor has no government or military background, they should still have received plenty of firearms training. There are private firearms schools all over the country, which anyone can attend. In fact, a true instructor never stops learning. If I were you, I would avoid any instructor who doesn’t train often and can’t rattle off the schools and trainings they’ve attended.
3. Are they NRA certified?
If so, you know they at least went through the NRA instructor class and have been taught proper instruction and safety techniques. This will ensure you don’t run across someone who doesn’t know the first thing about firearms.
4. Do they guarantee their training?
This is a topic which I’m sure will make more than one instructor a little squeamish. So what. If they really believe in their training and believe they are offering the best to their students, then there is absolutely no reason at all why they shouldn’t have a 100% money back guarantee. Why would you want to train with someone who doesn’t stand by their “product?”
5. Are they friendly, open-minded and non-militaristic?
If you’re like me, I know you’ve come across this type of instructor: The one who says “this is my way and there’s no other way to do it.” Or the instructor who finds it necessary to intimidate people to stroke his own ego. If you haven’t come across these folks just visit your local gun shop, as many of these types work there. When looking for an instructor you want someone who is humble and willing to learn from others and take their advice, as well as share their own wisdom.
6. Do they emphasize safety?
A firearms instructor must make safety paramount. If the instructor doesn’t cover the four safety rules (among others) or in any manner makes light of safety, walk the other way. There’s a video floating around of an instructor who had a cameraman down range, taking pictures of his students as they were shooting at targets (which the cameraman was next to.) I’m not going to waste your time discussing the stupidity of this, but I don’t care if the instructor is a former SEAL or Rambo himself. If he violates safety he should be avoided.
7. Speaking of Rambo…
You want an instructor who lives in reality and trains his students for the practical scenarios they will encounter. The instructor who is melodramatic and tells students that they shouldn’t leave their house without wearing their bullet proof vest, carrying 27 items on them, in addition to their gun, and having a bazooka in the trunk, just in case, should also be avoided. You might laugh, but I’m sure you know some of these over dramatic trainers.
8. Do they listen to you and genuinely care about you?
If you’re talking to an instructor about the first gun you should purchase do they actually listen to you and to the reason you want to buy a gun? Or do they just spout off “everybody should own a Glock, just buy a Glock and you’ll be fine.” Each of us is different and our firearms needs vary greatly. Look for an instructor that understands this.
9. Do they walk the walk?
I admit, this one is difficult to find out. However, it’s important to know whether an instructor believes in their training. If you ran into this person in the store, would they be carrying a concealed firearm? Or do they just teach the classes, yet never carry themselves? Obviously, I’d like to learn from someone who lives by what he teaches.
10. Can they teach?
Pretty obvious right? I know many people who are great marksmen and have incredible self-defense knowledge, yet are terrible teachers. You need someone who is articulate and able to explain why we do the things we do. If an instructor loses patience with someone for asking a few innocent questions, then they probably shouldn’t be teaching classes.
Like I mentioned earlier, most instructors will fit this bill, but use this list to help you avoid the 2% who don’t. Plus, this list will give you a good laugh when you come across those knucklehead instructors who think they’re training Special Forces teams, instead of the average American who needs to learn how to protect themselves in everyday suburbia, not the mountains of Afghanistan.
1. What’s their employment background?
What did the instructor used to do for a living (or still does for a living)? Is he a former cop, ex-FBI, ex-Secret Service Agent, former military? Obviously, folks with this type of background have gone through far superior training than the average person and they’ll be able to share real life experiences when it comes to defending yourself. In other words, you want someone who doesn’t just spout “theory,” but knows from firsthand experience what they are talking about.
2. What’s their training background?
The groups that I mentioned above have had the opportunity to train at some of the best facilities in the world by some of the best instructors in the world. However, even if a particular instructor has no government or military background, they should still have received plenty of firearms training. There are private firearms schools all over the country, which anyone can attend. In fact, a true instructor never stops learning. If I were you, I would avoid any instructor who doesn’t train often and can’t rattle off the schools and trainings they’ve attended.
3. Are they NRA certified?
If so, you know they at least went through the NRA instructor class and have been taught proper instruction and safety techniques. This will ensure you don’t run across someone who doesn’t know the first thing about firearms.
4. Do they guarantee their training?
This is a topic which I’m sure will make more than one instructor a little squeamish. So what. If they really believe in their training and believe they are offering the best to their students, then there is absolutely no reason at all why they shouldn’t have a 100% money back guarantee. Why would you want to train with someone who doesn’t stand by their “product?”
5. Are they friendly, open-minded and non-militaristic?
If you’re like me, I know you’ve come across this type of instructor: The one who says “this is my way and there’s no other way to do it.” Or the instructor who finds it necessary to intimidate people to stroke his own ego. If you haven’t come across these folks just visit your local gun shop, as many of these types work there. When looking for an instructor you want someone who is humble and willing to learn from others and take their advice, as well as share their own wisdom.
6. Do they emphasize safety?
A firearms instructor must make safety paramount. If the instructor doesn’t cover the four safety rules (among others) or in any manner makes light of safety, walk the other way. There’s a video floating around of an instructor who had a cameraman down range, taking pictures of his students as they were shooting at targets (which the cameraman was next to.) I’m not going to waste your time discussing the stupidity of this, but I don’t care if the instructor is a former SEAL or Rambo himself. If he violates safety he should be avoided.
7. Speaking of Rambo…
You want an instructor who lives in reality and trains his students for the practical scenarios they will encounter. The instructor who is melodramatic and tells students that they shouldn’t leave their house without wearing their bullet proof vest, carrying 27 items on them, in addition to their gun, and having a bazooka in the trunk, just in case, should also be avoided. You might laugh, but I’m sure you know some of these over dramatic trainers.
8. Do they listen to you and genuinely care about you?
If you’re talking to an instructor about the first gun you should purchase do they actually listen to you and to the reason you want to buy a gun? Or do they just spout off “everybody should own a Glock, just buy a Glock and you’ll be fine.” Each of us is different and our firearms needs vary greatly. Look for an instructor that understands this.
9. Do they walk the walk?
I admit, this one is difficult to find out. However, it’s important to know whether an instructor believes in their training. If you ran into this person in the store, would they be carrying a concealed firearm? Or do they just teach the classes, yet never carry themselves? Obviously, I’d like to learn from someone who lives by what he teaches.
10. Can they teach?
Pretty obvious right? I know many people who are great marksmen and have incredible self-defense knowledge, yet are terrible teachers. You need someone who is articulate and able to explain why we do the things we do. If an instructor loses patience with someone for asking a few innocent questions, then they probably shouldn’t be teaching classes.
Like I mentioned earlier, most instructors will fit this bill, but use this list to help you avoid the 2% who don’t. Plus, this list will give you a good laugh when you come across those knucklehead instructors who think they’re training Special Forces teams, instead of the average American who needs to learn how to protect themselves in everyday suburbia, not the mountains of Afghanistan.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Why You Should Invest in a .22 Handgun Today
If you mention buying a .22 gun to most people they’ll immediately flip out and say it’s a terrible caliber for self-defense and that you’ll never be able to stop somebody with it. And yes, I agree with this. Personally, I would not carry a .22 revolver or pistol as my carry weapon. The lowest that I would ever go is a 9mm.
However, I certainly think that everyone interested in personal protection should own a .22 revolver or pistol or both. Why? Well, let’s first start out with the fun reason. A .22 is a great gun for “plinking” and you can shoot .22 rounds all day long without breaking the bank.
But that’s not the real reason I want you to buy a .22. I want you to get one for training purposes. You see, if you really want to improve your accuracy and skills, it’s best to start out training with the .22 and make sure that you master all of the fundamentals on the .22 and then move up to the 9mm and larger calibers.
First, start out dry firing with the gun.
Of course, follow all the dry fire safety rules such as having no ammunition in the room and have a safe backstop, etc. Then practice drawing from the holster and achieving a smooth trigger pull. Use a timer and see how quickly you can come out of the holster and take care of your threat.
Do not rush this, whatever you do. The speed will eventually come. Take as much time as you need to safely come out of the holster and up on target. Also, when you’re dry firing, practice drawing the firearm as you carry it in real life. For example, if you always carry concealed in an inside the waistband holster wearing a t-shirt over top, then practice with that same holster, wearing a t-shirt.
I know this sounds obvious and it should be common sense. But far too many people want to make “it easy” so they’ll practice without any concealment clothing, although in a real life situation, they would have to lift up their shirt to draw their gun.
Once you’re proficient with the draw and trigger pull of the .22…
Then it’s time to go to the range for some live-fire. At the range, once again, take your time. Practice the fundamentals, make sure you have a smooth trigger pull and that you’re not jerking the trigger every which way.
Take as much time as you need to “master” the .22 and shoot two inch groups coming from the holster or the low-ready. I realize that most ranges won’t let you draw from the holster, however, I’m not talking about shooting tight groups, while taking all of the time in the world.
I’m talking about shooting tight groups while quickly coming up from the low-ready and firing at your target. Only when you’re shooting consistently with the .22, do you move up to a 9mm.
So here’s why we do this: In short and simple terms, the brain doesn’t like loud bangs. Just think about when you were a kid and I firecracker went off in your hand, or went off close by you – you would automatically flinch.
That’s why many shooters flinch when shooting because they know the loud bang is about to come and their brain flinches away from it. However, the .22 which has lower recoil and “less of a loud bang” will allow you to properly condition the mind and properly train in the fundamentals. Once you’ve learned on the .22 then you move onto bigger and better things.
It’s basically like riding a bike. Start off with training wheels, then once you know how to ride, take them off. I hope this made sense. If not, just trust me and go train with a .22 first.
However, I certainly think that everyone interested in personal protection should own a .22 revolver or pistol or both. Why? Well, let’s first start out with the fun reason. A .22 is a great gun for “plinking” and you can shoot .22 rounds all day long without breaking the bank.
But that’s not the real reason I want you to buy a .22. I want you to get one for training purposes. You see, if you really want to improve your accuracy and skills, it’s best to start out training with the .22 and make sure that you master all of the fundamentals on the .22 and then move up to the 9mm and larger calibers.
First, start out dry firing with the gun.
Of course, follow all the dry fire safety rules such as having no ammunition in the room and have a safe backstop, etc. Then practice drawing from the holster and achieving a smooth trigger pull. Use a timer and see how quickly you can come out of the holster and take care of your threat.
Do not rush this, whatever you do. The speed will eventually come. Take as much time as you need to safely come out of the holster and up on target. Also, when you’re dry firing, practice drawing the firearm as you carry it in real life. For example, if you always carry concealed in an inside the waistband holster wearing a t-shirt over top, then practice with that same holster, wearing a t-shirt.
I know this sounds obvious and it should be common sense. But far too many people want to make “it easy” so they’ll practice without any concealment clothing, although in a real life situation, they would have to lift up their shirt to draw their gun.
Once you’re proficient with the draw and trigger pull of the .22…
Then it’s time to go to the range for some live-fire. At the range, once again, take your time. Practice the fundamentals, make sure you have a smooth trigger pull and that you’re not jerking the trigger every which way.
Take as much time as you need to “master” the .22 and shoot two inch groups coming from the holster or the low-ready. I realize that most ranges won’t let you draw from the holster, however, I’m not talking about shooting tight groups, while taking all of the time in the world.
I’m talking about shooting tight groups while quickly coming up from the low-ready and firing at your target. Only when you’re shooting consistently with the .22, do you move up to a 9mm.
So here’s why we do this: In short and simple terms, the brain doesn’t like loud bangs. Just think about when you were a kid and I firecracker went off in your hand, or went off close by you – you would automatically flinch.
That’s why many shooters flinch when shooting because they know the loud bang is about to come and their brain flinches away from it. However, the .22 which has lower recoil and “less of a loud bang” will allow you to properly condition the mind and properly train in the fundamentals. Once you’ve learned on the .22 then you move onto bigger and better things.
It’s basically like riding a bike. Start off with training wheels, then once you know how to ride, take them off. I hope this made sense. If not, just trust me and go train with a .22 first.
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