I’m in the great state of Utah right now attending my family reunion. Not only do I enjoy coming here because of the many outdoors activities, but of course, because the state is very gun friendly like my home state of Virginia.
Perhaps one of the best gun laws that Utah has is the “Firearms Confiscation Prohibition” Utah Code Ann. § 63k-4-405. In short, we all know the disgusting things that occurred during Hurricane Katrina and how the police and military went around confiscating citizen’s guns.
Well, this Utah law says that the government cannot take your guns during an emergency and that if for some reason a police chief or someone else ordered the confiscation of guns, their subordinate would not have to listen to them and could not get in trouble for disobeying an order. The law also includes fines of several thousand dollars to anyone who violates this law and tries to take your guns.
It’s scary that a law like this needed to be passed in the first place, but at least in Utah you don’t have to worry about having the police knock on your door after a natural disaster trying to take your guns leaving you without any way to protect your family.
However, what if you live in another state which doesn’t have such a law?
Well, this was a question I got asked during training I was doing a few weeks ago and here’s what I told them: I believe a person’s integrity is the most important thing in the world. I wish people could do business on a handshake and if people were more honest in this world we wouldn’t have a need for lawyers and our courts wouldn’t be all clogged up.
With that being said, one of the very few times I think it would be okay to lie and be dishonest in life is if someone knocked on your door after a natural disaster and tried to take your guns. If it happened to me there is not a chance in the world I would give up my firearms leaving my wife and I unable to defend ourselves.
After all, how could I, as a husband, say to my wife “Yes dear, the police just knocked on our door, and although we’re law abiding citizens I gave them all of our guns, so hopefully a bunch of thugs won’t break into the house and try and rape you because there’s not much I can do now.”
Those words will never come out of my mouth.
But… what words should come out of your mouth if you’re ever in the situation where the government is trying to take your guns? Tell them your guns are at your father’s house in Alabama… tell them you got rid of them all… tell them any number of things but don’t tell them you have guns in the house in case they try and force their way in.
In other words, make up anything you can thing of to get the soldiers or police away from your house thinking you don’t have any guns. But just to be ultra-safe, if you own multiple firearms as I do, it’s not a bad idea to store a gun or two somewhere else besides your house in case of an emergency and your guns did somehow get confiscated.
Let me reiterate though, I’m only talking about lying and being dishonest during extreme circumstances. I don’t believe in lying or causing problems in every day life just to prove a point. (Such as the guy who walks around with four guns on him and a bazooka just to prove a point that he can open carry.) I’m a practical guy who doesn’t need to prove points in life, I just need to make sure my family is safe, which is exactly what I’ll do if the government should ever come after my guns.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
The Lazy Man’s Guide to Choosing the Right Self-Defense Ammo
I’ll be the last person to claim that I’m a ballistics expert or some brilliant physics engineer who knows the ins and outs of ammunition design. However, I don’t own a TV (haven’t owned one in 10 years) and when I’m not training or shooting or spending quality time with the wife, I’m reading up on various aspects of personal protection.
And this includes ammunition information which is a deathly boring (but important) topic. And to save you the pain and suffering I’ve gone through reading boring books and articles about self-defense ammo, here’s what you need to know in a nutshell.
First off, it’s going to cost more money. Yes, you can go to Walmart and buy 9mm ammo for about 22 cents a round. But for quality ammo you’re going to pay more than $1 per round. But it’s worth it because this stuff might save your life one day, so don’t be a cheap son-of-a-gun about it.
Secondly, when it comes to ammo…
There is full metal jacket, semi-wadcutter and jacketed hollow point, to name a few. For your self-defense ammo I recommend jacketed hollow point rounds. Why? Because ideally you’ll get more expansion and less penetration versus a full metal jacket round which might only create a tiny entry point and go right through a person. (In other words, it won’t expand as much.)
Now, let’s say you agree with me and you’ve decided to go with a jacketed hollow point round. Well, that’s good, but we’re not done yet. You still have to decide on the weight of the bullet. For example, do you want a 115 grain, 124 grain or 147 grain, among others. (Grain is the weight of the bullet.)
Well… here’s how it works:
The lighter the round, the faster the bullet will go, which causes it to expand more and therefore penetrate less. And the heavier a round is, it will move slower (causing it not to expand as much) and it will penetrate more. I hope I haven’t totally lost you, but in short, a 115 grain will expand more and penetrate less than a 147 grain bullet.
So which one should you get? You should try to find a healthy combination between how far a bullet will penetrate and how much it will expand. Of course, depending on who you talk to everyone has an opinion. But for a 9mm (such as my Glock 19) I like 124 grain rounds. You could get the 115 grain rounds but I wouldn’t go any lower than that, and on the other end of the spectrum I wouldn’t use 147 grain either.
Hopefully, the next time you’re looking to buy some self-defense ammunition you’ve got a better idea of what to look for and how much it’s going to cost you. Also, before I forget, make sure you go to the range and try out your new self-defense ammo to make sure your gun feeds it and doesn’t jam up. (By the way, you can’t go wrong with companies like Corbon, Speer Gold Dot or the Federal Premium loads when it comes to self-defense ammo.)
And this includes ammunition information which is a deathly boring (but important) topic. And to save you the pain and suffering I’ve gone through reading boring books and articles about self-defense ammo, here’s what you need to know in a nutshell.
First off, it’s going to cost more money. Yes, you can go to Walmart and buy 9mm ammo for about 22 cents a round. But for quality ammo you’re going to pay more than $1 per round. But it’s worth it because this stuff might save your life one day, so don’t be a cheap son-of-a-gun about it.
Secondly, when it comes to ammo…
There is full metal jacket, semi-wadcutter and jacketed hollow point, to name a few. For your self-defense ammo I recommend jacketed hollow point rounds. Why? Because ideally you’ll get more expansion and less penetration versus a full metal jacket round which might only create a tiny entry point and go right through a person. (In other words, it won’t expand as much.)
Now, let’s say you agree with me and you’ve decided to go with a jacketed hollow point round. Well, that’s good, but we’re not done yet. You still have to decide on the weight of the bullet. For example, do you want a 115 grain, 124 grain or 147 grain, among others. (Grain is the weight of the bullet.)
Well… here’s how it works:
The lighter the round, the faster the bullet will go, which causes it to expand more and therefore penetrate less. And the heavier a round is, it will move slower (causing it not to expand as much) and it will penetrate more. I hope I haven’t totally lost you, but in short, a 115 grain will expand more and penetrate less than a 147 grain bullet.
So which one should you get? You should try to find a healthy combination between how far a bullet will penetrate and how much it will expand. Of course, depending on who you talk to everyone has an opinion. But for a 9mm (such as my Glock 19) I like 124 grain rounds. You could get the 115 grain rounds but I wouldn’t go any lower than that, and on the other end of the spectrum I wouldn’t use 147 grain either.
Hopefully, the next time you’re looking to buy some self-defense ammunition you’ve got a better idea of what to look for and how much it’s going to cost you. Also, before I forget, make sure you go to the range and try out your new self-defense ammo to make sure your gun feeds it and doesn’t jam up. (By the way, you can’t go wrong with companies like Corbon, Speer Gold Dot or the Federal Premium loads when it comes to self-defense ammo.)
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Why Gun Stores are Dangerous for New Shooters
I really admire new shooters. I admire the person who has the
courage to come out to a gun class all by themselves even though
they've never touched a gun in their life. It takes a lot of
courage to do this and I commend the people who highly value the
ability to protect themselves.
However, I am also worried for these new shooters. You see, once a
person takes a class they often want to go out and get their first
gun and they're full of enthusiasm. And I think that's a wonderful
thing, but sometimes a visit to the local gun store severely
dampens that enthusiasm.
You see, I have a theory about gun stores. I call it the "90% of
gun store employees are not nice" theory. Originally, the theory
had another name, but my loving wife convinced me that this name
was more appropriate.
So before I continue, let me explain the "90% of gun store
employees are not nice" theory. It's pretty complicated so pay
attention. In short, my theory is that 90% of gun store employees
are not happy campers. I bet they've washed out of police
academies, never achieved their dreams to join the FBI or never
made it to SEAL Team 6.
And due to these failures they are bitter and now feel the need to
be rude to others and belittle them. If you've ever been to gun
store, you've likely experienced this. When my wife and I were out
in California visiting the in-laws last Thanksgiving we went to a
local gun store/shooting range. The guy behind the counter was very
rude to my wife and deserved a kick to the face.
Just a few weeks ago we were at a gun store in Maryland...
And not surprisingly, one of the employees was rude to both of us
and treated us like second-rate citizens who didn't even know what
a gun was.
The point is, I hate to hear about a new shooter who is so excited
about buying their first gun and has the courage to go to the gun
store, just to be treated like dirt or intimidated by some jerk of
an employee. I can only imagine how many people decided not to buy
a gun or who decided guns were not for them after a terrible
interaction at a gun store. (Which is a huge shame, since we all
needs guns to protect ourselves, especially in our homes.)
That's why I want to give you some quick advice if you're a new
shooter getting ready to go purchase your first gun:
First, never forget the "90% of gun store employees are not nice"
theory. Remember, they probably hate their life so try not to take
it personally. Second, if you can help it, do not go to the gun
store alone to look at buying your first gun. Take someone with you
who is knowledgeable about firearms.
But if you have to go alone...
I would take everything the gun store employee says with a grain of
salt. Do not let them talk you into buying a gun that doesn't fit
your hand or that you don't feel comfortable with. Remember, you
are the one who is going to be carrying and shooting this gun, not
the store employee.
Also, do not buy a gun that you have never shot before. Almost
every gun range allows you to rent guns, so go take a "test drive"
of the gun you're thinking of buying.
I could go on and on, but it all boils down to this. You are doing
the right thing by taking responsibility for your own protection
and you know this. So don't let anyone intimidate you about this
or try and talk you out of it.
Lastly, even though I've already said it, please don't go alone if
you can help it. You need someone with you who's patient and
knowledgeable and who's going to take the time to help you find the
gun that's best for you.
Also, even if you're an experienced shooter, please pass this
advice on to the new shooters you know, so they don't think all gun
people are jerks and intimidating.
courage to come out to a gun class all by themselves even though
they've never touched a gun in their life. It takes a lot of
courage to do this and I commend the people who highly value the
ability to protect themselves.
However, I am also worried for these new shooters. You see, once a
person takes a class they often want to go out and get their first
gun and they're full of enthusiasm. And I think that's a wonderful
thing, but sometimes a visit to the local gun store severely
dampens that enthusiasm.
You see, I have a theory about gun stores. I call it the "90% of
gun store employees are not nice" theory. Originally, the theory
had another name, but my loving wife convinced me that this name
was more appropriate.
So before I continue, let me explain the "90% of gun store
employees are not nice" theory. It's pretty complicated so pay
attention. In short, my theory is that 90% of gun store employees
are not happy campers. I bet they've washed out of police
academies, never achieved their dreams to join the FBI or never
made it to SEAL Team 6.
And due to these failures they are bitter and now feel the need to
be rude to others and belittle them. If you've ever been to gun
store, you've likely experienced this. When my wife and I were out
in California visiting the in-laws last Thanksgiving we went to a
local gun store/shooting range. The guy behind the counter was very
rude to my wife and deserved a kick to the face.
Just a few weeks ago we were at a gun store in Maryland...
And not surprisingly, one of the employees was rude to both of us
and treated us like second-rate citizens who didn't even know what
a gun was.
The point is, I hate to hear about a new shooter who is so excited
about buying their first gun and has the courage to go to the gun
store, just to be treated like dirt or intimidated by some jerk of
an employee. I can only imagine how many people decided not to buy
a gun or who decided guns were not for them after a terrible
interaction at a gun store. (Which is a huge shame, since we all
needs guns to protect ourselves, especially in our homes.)
That's why I want to give you some quick advice if you're a new
shooter getting ready to go purchase your first gun:
First, never forget the "90% of gun store employees are not nice"
theory. Remember, they probably hate their life so try not to take
it personally. Second, if you can help it, do not go to the gun
store alone to look at buying your first gun. Take someone with you
who is knowledgeable about firearms.
But if you have to go alone...
I would take everything the gun store employee says with a grain of
salt. Do not let them talk you into buying a gun that doesn't fit
your hand or that you don't feel comfortable with. Remember, you
are the one who is going to be carrying and shooting this gun, not
the store employee.
Also, do not buy a gun that you have never shot before. Almost
every gun range allows you to rent guns, so go take a "test drive"
of the gun you're thinking of buying.
I could go on and on, but it all boils down to this. You are doing
the right thing by taking responsibility for your own protection
and you know this. So don't let anyone intimidate you about this
or try and talk you out of it.
Lastly, even though I've already said it, please don't go alone if
you can help it. You need someone with you who's patient and
knowledgeable and who's going to take the time to help you find the
gun that's best for you.
Also, even if you're an experienced shooter, please pass this
advice on to the new shooters you know, so they don't think all gun
people are jerks and intimidating.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
How to Find Out If You Carry Wisely
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know it all. One of the beauties of teaching concealed carry classes is that I’m constantly learning from other people. They’ll tell me about a new gun I haven’t heard of or a new type of flashlight or any number of new accessories.
Anyway, recently I had a fellow argue with me about carrying a 1911 “cocked and locked” and how he said he would never do it because it’s dangerous. (If you’re not familiar with what that means it means you have a round in the chamber, the hammer is cocked, and the safety is on.)
If by chance…
You happen to agree with this guy let me show you why you’re nuts and if you don’t agree with this guy let me show you why it will save your life one day. First off, if you carry a firearm concealed you’re carrying it because you want to be able to protect yourself, right?
Well… when it comes to a deadly force situation it usually happens instantly. You’ll have nanoseconds to draw your gun to take care of the threat. That’s one of the main reasons I wear an inside the waistband holster. In my opinion that’ll give you the quickest draw. (Yes, I know that open carry is quicker, but I’m not a fan of open carry, to say the least.)
I don’t recommend shoulder holsters and I certainly don’t recommend an ankle holster for your primary gun (backup only) because they take way too long to draw. Again, if the stuff ever hits the fan you want to draw quickly.
Maintaining our “quickly” theme…
When you draw you want to simply be able to pull the trigger and have it go “boom.” The last thing in the world you want to do is have to rack the slide and chamber a round. Yes, there are professionals out there who can do this lighting fast, but for 99% of gun owners having to rack a round will likely be a death sentence in a deadly force situation.
I tried to explain all of this to the guy, but of course he wouldn’t listen. Then I went on and told him to get another gun besides a 1911 such as a Glock. He told me that he thought Glock’s were even worse because they don’t have any safeties at all and he would never, ever carry a round in the chamber.
I guess the good thing is, if you or I ever come against this guy (or others who think like him) we’ll have a much quicker draw while he’s trying to rack a round in the chamber. Heck, it would be nice if criminals thought like these guys, but I have a feeling criminals aren’t worried too much about safety.
The bottom line is, if you’re carrying a gun for personal protection carry it wisely. Don’t put yourself at a disadvantage by not having a round in the chamber or by wearing an ankle holster that you have to bend all the way over to draw from. In other words, don’t be foolish when your life depends on it.
Anyway, recently I had a fellow argue with me about carrying a 1911 “cocked and locked” and how he said he would never do it because it’s dangerous. (If you’re not familiar with what that means it means you have a round in the chamber, the hammer is cocked, and the safety is on.)
If by chance…
You happen to agree with this guy let me show you why you’re nuts and if you don’t agree with this guy let me show you why it will save your life one day. First off, if you carry a firearm concealed you’re carrying it because you want to be able to protect yourself, right?
Well… when it comes to a deadly force situation it usually happens instantly. You’ll have nanoseconds to draw your gun to take care of the threat. That’s one of the main reasons I wear an inside the waistband holster. In my opinion that’ll give you the quickest draw. (Yes, I know that open carry is quicker, but I’m not a fan of open carry, to say the least.)
I don’t recommend shoulder holsters and I certainly don’t recommend an ankle holster for your primary gun (backup only) because they take way too long to draw. Again, if the stuff ever hits the fan you want to draw quickly.
Maintaining our “quickly” theme…
When you draw you want to simply be able to pull the trigger and have it go “boom.” The last thing in the world you want to do is have to rack the slide and chamber a round. Yes, there are professionals out there who can do this lighting fast, but for 99% of gun owners having to rack a round will likely be a death sentence in a deadly force situation.
I tried to explain all of this to the guy, but of course he wouldn’t listen. Then I went on and told him to get another gun besides a 1911 such as a Glock. He told me that he thought Glock’s were even worse because they don’t have any safeties at all and he would never, ever carry a round in the chamber.
I guess the good thing is, if you or I ever come against this guy (or others who think like him) we’ll have a much quicker draw while he’s trying to rack a round in the chamber. Heck, it would be nice if criminals thought like these guys, but I have a feeling criminals aren’t worried too much about safety.
The bottom line is, if you’re carrying a gun for personal protection carry it wisely. Don’t put yourself at a disadvantage by not having a round in the chamber or by wearing an ankle holster that you have to bend all the way over to draw from. In other words, don’t be foolish when your life depends on it.
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