WARRIOR TALK NEWS

Beating The Reaper!!! Volume 1: Trauma Medicine for the CCW Operator

Dr. John Meade

Director of Tactical Medicine

Suarez International

In 2010, I introduced a radically new class into the Suarez International curriculum: Trauma Medicine for the CCW Operator (TMCO). This class was designed to be a gunfighting class, not just a classroom first aid class like so many others teach. My idea was to teach how to respond to the potentially lethal encounter and be able to not only win the gunfight, but also avoid dying from wounds received during the fight. The class teaches both halves of the situation, the gunfight and the medical care, in an integrated fashion.

As obvious to me as it was that we needed the TMCO class, it was also obvious that we needed a book to accompany the class. While no book can replace the guided instruction of a class, having a text would be very helpful. The book could serve as material for preparation prior to the class, as notes so the student would be able to pay more attention during the class and as review material afterwards. The realist in me had to admit that everyone in the English-speaking world would not sign up for a TMCO class, so the book needed to be able to stand on its own, as well, and be able to provide lifesaving information for those who could not attend the class.

I am an experienced Emergency Medicine/Trauma doctor, and a member of a police SWAT team. I train SWAT medics, street paramedics and EMT’s, and oversee multiple EMS agencies. I decided that two brains were better than one for this project, however, and approached a friend who is an active duty Special Forces military combat medic to co-author the book with me. He has spent most of the last decade treating gunshot wounds and other traumatic injuries on overseas battlefields, and would be able to bring another set of experiences to the project.  Between the two of us, we bring a combination of civilian, military, law enforcement, hospital, and out-of-hospital perspectives.

The focus of this book is the same as the TMCO class: the “Average Joe” who finds himself suddenly in an unexpected violent encounter. This man certainly doesn’t consider himself to be a medically trained special operator. Instead, he is someone who realizes that, just as with his shooting skills, he needs to have skill to help save someone’s life, perhaps his own, in the aftermath of shooting or other traumatic event. We call that man the “CCW Operator”. He doesn’t have a team medic nearby. He must show the same self-reliance that got him through the initial incident.  The book, and the class, are infused with the same TCCC (Trauma Combat Casualty Care) principles that are now being taught to military medics. We believe that the skills and mindset needed by the average guy robbed at his local bank ATM machine are the same as those needed by the cop pinned down in an inner city apartment complex hallway, or a soldier caught in an ambush in Iraq.

 

The result of this joint effort is BEATING THE REAPER!! Volume 1: Trauma Medicine for the CCW Operator. It is available now exclusively at the One Source Tactical store. Topics in the book include tactics, hemorrhage control, shock, airway management, chest injuries and musculoskeletal injuries. We also discuss various pieces of medical gear that we strongly recommend, and other gear that we strongly recommend that you avoid.

 

We are already at work on Beating The Reaper: Volume Two. Volume 1 is appropriate to everyone, but especially addresses how to handle things when all you have is a pistol in a reactive gunfight. Volume 2 will focus on things that are more pertinent to teams, such as military, police, and even families that train together. Armor, more medical gear, and a higher level of medical treatment will be discussed.

Sign up for a Trauma Medicine class near you, and purchase the book now! I assure you that you won’t regret either one!

Bullets Don’t Work

By Suarez International Staff Instructor Craig S. Flaherty

You have been lied to for years. Ammunition manufactures, instructors and the gun culture in general have lied to you. When it comes down to an inter-personal violent encounter where handguns are used, the bullets fired from that handgun do not work. This not an exercise in the age old argument, 9mm vs. 45 ACP vs. .40 vs. take your pick. As an example I was once told an issued .40 S&W round issued to me was the “laser beam of death”. This particular round has done things such as bounce off a cheek bone and failed to penetrate to a depth to do any significant damage to the human body, to name just two.

Why is this; clothing, angle, temperature or medical science? I feel all these things have a role in these types of incidents. Let’s look at arguably one of the most investigated and documented incidents of the last quarter of century to see what we may see.  On April 11^th, 1986 that has been talked about and reported on since. 

In the 1980’s, there were a good deal of notorious violent crimes in Miami. Most of them, were linked to the cocaine trade. But of all the violent assaults that took place during Dade County’s most violent period, the most influential and notorious of them all did not involve high-profile drug cartels. It involved two middle-aged armed robbers and eight FBI agents. What began as another morning in Miami ended as, what was at the time, the bloodiest day in the history of the FBI.

 After several robberies, murders and assaults the culmination of the investigation began at about 9 AM on April 11, 1986, Special Agents noticed two men identified as Michael Platt and William Matix in a black Chevrolet Monte Carlo on South Dixie Highway. They moved in behind them and alerted the rest of the team that they were following the suspects. Sensing that they were being followed, the robbers turned from the freeway onto surface streets, behind the Dixie Belle shopping center. As the rest of the agents closed in on the suspects, another Special Agent  passed the Monte Carlo and saw Platt loading his Ruger Mini-14.

 Platt and Matix’s vehicle was forced into a large tree in a parking lot along a surface street. Immediately after crashing, Platt fired 13 rounds at the agents from his Mini-14, hitting two agents. Matix then leaned out of the Monte Carlo, presumably to try and overtake one of the FBI vehicles for a quick escape. Matix was immediately shot in the forearm. While back inside the car Matix was hit again, this time in the head and collarbone, The head shot, while accurate and often deadly, only managed to knock the robber unconscious.

Platt continued to shoot at the Agents as he got out of the Monte Carlo and began to advance on a FBI vehicle. During this charge he was shot four times, mostly in the legs and torso, and then another five times as he attempted to commandeer the FBI automobile. Platt was undeterred by the flurry of bullets hitting him as he made his assault, and upon arrival at Agents car, Platt shot them both, killing each instantly. He also shot several other agents in the process, providing cover as Matix somehow regained consciousness after being shot in the head. The two suspects crawled into the front of an FBI car and continued to receive gunshot wounds, and return fire, for another two minutes.

 Platt was shot in the feet as he exited the FBI vehicle again, presumably to fire more shots. While the wounds were not fatal, they did force Platt back into the vehicle. An Agent advanced on the FBI vehicle the contained Platt and Matix with a .357 magnum revolver, firing into the vehicle five times. Despite having both been shot in the head, chest and extremities, the wounds that finally stopped Platt and Matix were rounds that lodged in their spines during this final attack. Thus ending a nine minute shoot out.

 Autopsy reports showed that the suspects were hit 18 times by FBI bullets, incurring multiple injuries to “kill zones” like the head and chest. Following the incident reports showed that guns had functioned properly. Had the bullets done their jobs Platt would have lasted about 30 seconds after his first chest wound.

Hence my theory, “Bullets Don’t Work”. Now this very short account of the incident does not do it justice. I use it as a point of reference. Have we had weapon and ammunition improvements over the last twenty five years? Of course we have. Many variables impact why bullets do what they do. If you have ever been in one of my classes, you have heard me talk on this subject. Quite simply put. Bullets don’t work, but we are lucky. Ammunition manufactures do a great service. They include a couple “magic” bullets in every box. We as end users just have to find them.

As Gabe has proposed during courses for years, “Shoot them to the ground”. When you attend a course, you spend a very few precious hours with an instructor.  Some instructors will teach you two to the chest one to the head. In a training environment where saving ammunition and making drills easier for the instructor to control the class is part of the equation.  This may not be the best option for you when you are confronted with inter-personal violence that needs to be resolved with a handgun. If you have attended a Suarez International with course you will remember hearing “a burst to the chest and a couple to the head” your choice. When you are training and not under our direct supervision, it is my fervent hope as it is all Suarez International Instructors you remember all the lessons learned during the time we have together. Bullets don’t work and keep shooting good accurate shots until that magic bullet does its damage.

Optimizing Pocket Glocks

 

- Jon Payne Suarez International Tier 1 Staff Instructor

It’s no secret I like Glock pistols. I don’t buy into the whole “perfection” thing, but I have yet to find a more versatile, durable pistol made for killing bad guys and keeping good guys safe. Southeast Texas is dang near a tropical climate so I have no problem admitting I carry a Glock 26/27 when I don’t feel like carrying a gun, or as a backup to my carry pistol. Recently there have been a few threads on the Glock 26/27 on Warrior Talk and Texas Gun Talk. Here are my solutions into making the baby Glocks all they can be.

The Baby Glocks are easier to shoot, hold more ammo, are easier to carry spare ammo for, and are faster to reload than most other subcompact pistols/revolvers. The little Glocks are shoot-able as they come from the factory, but I don’t care for some of the factory options and they are easy to improve. Starting at the top, lose the factory plastic sights and opt for Warren Tactical Sights. On these little guns I like the tritium on the front with a plain black rear. I haven’t made up my mind on which I like more, the “carry” or the “competition” rear because they are both excellent. These sights provide for a nice sharp sight picture and with the tritium up front you have a great reference point for low light shooting. 

Be honest, you won’t use the three dot system to make a precise sight alignment/picture in low light anyway. Night sights just give extra input on where you’re pointed in low light. If you really want to go first class you can have TSD Combat Systems install a Trijicon RMR on your factory slide! The cool thing is the sight radius issue no longer matters and 100 yard shots is like eating lettuce, nothing to it. The con is the added size of the RMR limits where you can hide the pistol. Even with good sights and the ability to get a great sight picture, if you don’t have a manageable trigger you won’t get hits. 

The factory triggers aren’t bad, but I like a cleaner and smoother “break”. Improving the trigger pull on a Glock is so simple you can get yourself into a lot of trouble. There are many reading this that has heard me say, “Stay away from the 25 cent trigger job.”, and I mean it. All you need is a properly tuned Glock Factory 4.5 lb. connector, a Lightning Strike safety plunger, and the 1,000 round trigger job. Even without the 1,000 rounds the last two items will make a marked difference in the feel of your trigger. Next stop, the slide stop, uh…releases whatever. 

There is no need for an extended factory slide stop. It really doesn’t hurt, but I really haven’t found any benefits for me with them. I have had the sharp rear edge get caught in my shirt once, so it can happen, but I’m not too worried about it. Basically this is entirely up to you whether you use the standard or extended factory slide stop. What I won’t use here is after market slide stops. While the magazines can’t be improved, they can be safely altered without affecting reliability. 

First off, only use factory magazines. Second, always carry a spare magazine. It boggles my mind the number of people who will argue about carrying a spare mag. If you’re going through the trouble of packing a darn pistol, carry a spare magazine! Don’t be lazy, if things have gotten to the point where you have to use the pistol I don’t think you’ll wish you had less capacity or be glad you chose to go without a spare magazine. There are other problems that might require you to strip your mag out to get the gun back in the fight. Do you want to put the same mag in that may have been part of the cause of your problem, or replace it with a fresh one? Because I’m carrying a spare mag it’s not a bad thing it holds a little more ammo than the one in your gun, but be aware if you go “too big” it might cause problems.

I have seen Glock 26’s in classes using Glock 19 and Glock 17 mags hiccup when the shooter applied enough pressure through their grip. Did it happen every time? No, it didn’t, just enough times for me to see a pattern. I have added the Glock +2 extension to my spare Glock 26/27 mags. In the 26 you do get the two added rounds, in the 27 you only get one. For pocket carry or deep concealment I use the standard capacity mag with the +2 mag as my spare. I also have some of the Pearce Grip Extensions that add three rounds to the 26 and two rounds to the 27. So far they have worked out very well, and if they continue to do so I have no problem endorsing them. Again, I don’t use magazine extensions from the pocket for obvious reasons, but when using the Zack holster it really doesn’t matter and I use two +2 mags.

 If you own any Glock, especially a 26/27 you need a Zack period. Besides it being a minimalist holster that you can use with all your Glocks, it gives you a little extra piece of mind when transporting your Glocks in a range bag and it’s an extra little step to clear your mind when startled in the middle of the night. The cool thing is you can use any holster designed for your Glock 17/22 or Glock 19/23 when training with the 26/27. 

Running my Baby Glocks in the fashion I have described in this article all but guarantees me hits at 50 yards and makes me real dangerous at 100 yards! The Glock 26/27 when properly rigged up shoots just as accurately and just as reliably as their compact and full sized counterparts. I must add that Glock is not the only maker of a subcompact pistol that handles like its big brother. 

The XD series from Springfield is comparable in just about every way. There are more options for Glocks, but the XD is nothing to sneeze at. The same can be said for the S&W M&P series. An interesting note is TSD Combat Systems is getting geared up to mill XDs and M&Ps for the awesome Trijicon RMR. Unlike some make-believe fairy tale, TSD Combat Systems has opened a new market and the RMR on a combat pistol is a game changer. If you’ve ever thought you wanted more than a .38spl or a .380 ACP, look at the pocket Glock, it fills more roles than just a pocket pistol.

 

Are You A Minimalist?

J D Lester - Suarez International Staff Instructor 

Are you a minimalist? 

I concur with keeping things simple and I am a minimalist, though some might consider me a maxi-minimalist. What is a maxi-minimalist?

From Wikipedia: “The term “minimalist” is often applied colloquially to designate anything which is sparse or stripped to its essentials.” 

From FreeDictionary.com: “Minimalist; adjective sparse, simple, basic, plain, discreet, spartan, unadorned, unfussy.” 

Some people consider having one type of handgun, rifle or shotgun being minimalist in order to simplify training, ammunition, etc. 

Others consider themselves minimalists by owning only one gun: “This _______will do everything I need to do with a gun.”

 Some refuse to step into the current time period and add optics to their guns: “I only have iron sights on my guns, because I don’t want to worry about batteries or stuff breaking.“ 

Some that take pride in having the latest and greatest concealed carry gun don’t see a need to carry a second magazine: “If I can’t do it with (insert # of rounds here) ……., it can’t be done.” 

Some spend several hundred dollars on a pistol they are going to carry to defend themselves and their loved ones, and choose to carry it in a $14.99 holster with a plastic or metal clip to secure it to their belt or pants. 

I think their logic is flawed. The gun, holster, belt, spare magazine and mag pouch are all part of a system that is only as strong as its weakest link.

I agree with the minimalist approach to filling a particular niche, but I choose the best system I can afford. Because of this, my everyday carry pistol is a Glock 17 with a Trijicon RMR red dot sight. Having 18 bullets on board that I can put anywhere I want to, repeatedly, at ranges that most concealed carry pistoleros consider impossible with a handgun is a very good thing. If my battery goes down, I am in no worse shape than without the RMR, thanks to the co-witnessed iron backup sights. 

It is not carried in a cheap nylon holster that is uncomfortable, slow, likely to be deployed along with the gun, or cause the gun to self-deploy at an inopportune time. Instead,  I chose high quality kydex holsters that are comfortable,fast to access, and last for years. 

 I also have an additional 17 round Glock magazine on my belt, and carry several additional Glock-made magazines holding from 17 to 21 rounds off body, along with some other nice to have support gear. I think this keeps things minimal yet maximizes the potential of my everyday carry gun. Ergo, maxi-minimalist. 

We can see the same things when it comes to training. Sadly the firearms education for most people that carry a gun for personal defense ends after the CHP course.  

Here are some quotes from some minimalist on training that I have personally heard:

 “I got all my rounds on the target for the CHP shooting test. “ 

“Yeah I go to the range and shoot every now and then with a friend of mine….he’s a cop.“

 “I was trained on the .45 / M9/ M16 etc and always shot expert when I was in the Military.”

 “I shoot IPSC / IDPA matches to keep my skills up.” 

Finally, my all time favorite:

“If I draw my gun that will end that situation right there…I won’t have to shoot them.” 

Going to the firing range and shooting tiny little groups at a static target while standing stock still proves that, under ideal conditions, you can shoot tiny little groups in a controlled, static environment. Great for training for a bullseye match. Not great for training when the bullseye is on the spot you are occupying.

Taking every gun you own to the range 1 day every 3-4 months and shooting them all. What does this accomplish other than ensuring they function? 

Some definitions of minimalist suggest only the minimum effort be made.

I think that at the minimum we should concern ourselves with maximizing our efforts to fight and win and minimizing the non-essential to the success of our mission.

Know the capabilities and limitations of the gun and your shooting skills. This includes static positions for taking long shots, drawing and shooting while getting off the X, moving to and using cover, using the sights and point shooting. Doing this in the cold, the heat, and the rain is probably a good idea as the conditions the fight occurs in are not ours for the choosing. 

After attending an SI class and taking copious notes, you can practice those skills at your home range. Obviously, you can’t practice all of these in one practice session. Work on your weaknesses as well as your strengths.

Instead of throwing every pistol you own and several boxes of ammunition for each in your range bag, why not write down in a notebook what you want to work on with your carry gun and stick to that? 

If you can’t shoot on the move or draw and fire at your range invest in an airsoft pistol and work the movement piece at home. 

Having a training partner can benefit you, as they will see things that you can’t.

Having a training partner holding a video camera is even better. 

Don’t forget about dry fire training. It yields great dividends and cost only your time. 

Are you a minimalist? 

Which type of minimalist are you?

 

The Floating Gun

If you’re going to take your point shooting skills as far as the fight needs them to be, you’ve got to have it.

Suarez International Instructor CR Williams

I see it over and over again, and I still do it myself (not as often as I did, but I still do). I see them at classes, on the range practicing, in groups, watching others work, and when working by myself. Once you know what to look for they’re pretty easy to spot. They’re like chronic or recurring illnesses.

Let's call them the 'Welded Hand Syndrome' and the 'Locked-In-Position Syndrome'.

Welded-Hand Syndrome is characterized by an unconscious but nonetheless strong and determined reluctance to release the support hand from the grip of the gun. The shooter beset by WHS acts as if his or her hands have been super-glued and duct-taped to the grip such that they are unable to let go and shoot with one hand despite the position they are in or the angle to the target they are engaging. They will twist and turn and step, bend and flex, and move the wrong way trying to keep their gun on the target, unaware that they are in the grip of the Welded-Hand Syndrome.

Related to and often seen in conjunction with Welded-Hand Syndrome is Locked-In-Position Syndrome. LIPS is characterized by the unthinking drive to keep a pre-set arm and upper-body shooting position under any and all circumstances and no matter where the target is or how they are moving (if they’re moving) whether it is appropriate to the circumstances or not.

WHS and LIPS do occur in isolation but will most often be observed appearing together. Both syndromes have the same three primary causes: A lack of experience or training, a history of training that is totally or almost totally devoted to the proactive gunfight, and the tendency we all have to want to remain ‘squared up’ to something or someone that is trying to kill us.

Diagnosis of either or both conditions involves observation of the shooter in question to answer these questions: Is the position and placement of the gun appropriate to what the shooter needs to be doing with it? Does the shooter appear to be ‘bound up’ or in an awkward position? Is the shooter moving more slowly and awkwardly than they should be or in a different direction than they intend or that is appropriate to the situation? If the answers are ‘No’, ‘Yes’ and ‘Yes’, then WHS or LIPS should be suspected. Further observation is then necessary to confirm the presence and severity of the conditions.

Examples of Welded-Hand Syndrome and Locked-In-Position Syndrome:

Moving from right to left while attempting to keep a two-hand grip and squared torso. I did not deliberately cross-step, it occurred naturally as a result of my conscious desire to keep the same grip and upper-body position. You will see this unconsciously with those suffering from WHS and LIPS. If I had continued out of camera range, I would end up walking backwards.

Here I am moving properly to about 1:00, but because I refuse to release the grip or alter extension I would end up doing two things: putting the gun in range of a still-standing opponent, and curving back into the target instead of properly flanking it like I would prefer to.

(Full-size versions of all photos available at: http://photobucket.com/FloatingGun)

Effects of these conditions range from being frustrated about your ability to easily get good hits on a target that’s other than directly in front of you to your being killed in a fight because you can’t maneuver properly, move too slowly, are unable to get the gun into line like you need to, or from ineffective use of cover that exposes too much of your body to incoming fire. Given the potential severity of the effects, serious thought should be given as to how to avoid falling victim to these conditions. Fortunately, effective treatments are available and are simple (not always easy, but simple)  to apply.

Treatments are both corrective and preventive and may need to be applied on an ongoing basis.

 Treatments are as follows:

Learning and practicing ambidextrous use of all weapons. (At the least, getting as near to full ambidexterity as is possible.)

Learning and practicing one-handed shooting (of the handgun).

Learning and practicing to be able to shoot accurately with the gun below the eye-line, in other than dead-ahead directions, and held at distances ranging from in contact with your body to full extension.

The aim of the treatments is to develop the ‘Floating Gun’. This is a state in which you will automatically and without much if any conscious thought put the gun at the level you need and extended to the distance required in any direction of the clock face as the situation and the target you are engaging dictate. Sometimes one-handed, sometimes not, sometimes in one hand, sometimes in the other, sometimes held far away and sometimes in contact with your body, high, low, in-between, getting hits where you need them as you move where you need to without binding, bending, or twisting unnaturally. Furthermore, that point, that extension, that position, that direction, can and will change the moment the situation changes and the moment your relationship to the target changes. As you turn, as you change direction, as you change levels or speed or distance, or as the target does, so does your gun. It goes where it needs to be so that it can do what you need it to do.

 

 

 

This is a simple illustration of letting the gun float. Beginning in arm's reach of the target, I displace left as I draw and fire the first shot at waist level with the gun close in. I will continue to fire as I bring the gun up to eye-level to first a close-in two-handed shooting position and then, as I cross the 'T' of the target and then turn to advance along a parallel track, move to a more standard two-hand position. (Because of restrictions necessitated by the camera view range, I maneuvered in a much smaller area than if I were running this as a full-speed drill.)

 

 

 

Another way to answer the same question is to switch hands. Beginning from the same position and with the same initial displacement, I move the gun from right to left and continue the engagement. For complete development, both options should be learned and practiced.

Note that, unlike in the first examples, I was able at all times to move normally and naturally and did not have to cross my feet or become awkwardly 'bound up' to get the hits.

To best develop and keep updated on the use of the Floating Gun concept, therapy under the guidance of a qualified Suarez International instructor is highly recommended. Formal courses of treatment include Point Shooting Gunfight Skills, Close Range Gunfighting, Point Shooting Progressions, Advanced Close Range Gunfighting, and Advanced Point Shooting Progressions. Ongoing practice and training and refresher training is advisable, as without re-emphasis of the concept, Welded-Hand and Locked-In Syndrome will often re-occur. It’s happened to me; don’t let it happen to you.

Don't forget to work on 'floating' the long-gun as well:

 

 

PSP graduates will recognize this as the parallel-track approach to evasion and counterattack. I use a rifle here to illustrate that the concept of 'floating' is not limited to handguns. Long Gun Point Shooting Progressions will teach you more about this and is recommended for those wishing to become more facile in the quick and sure handling of the rifle or shotgun.

(I’ll get a bit more serious now: I believe there are two fundamentals that should not change no matter what you’re doing with the gun, and one fundamental that almost never should but can sometimes. The two things that should not change are your grip (the way you grip, not the tension of the grip), whether one or two-handed, and the way you work the trigger; these should always be consistent. The one fundamental that should almost not change is eye-hand, or eye-weapon, alignment. Even if the gun is below your line of sight, it should as much as possible be aligned with the dominant/shooting-side eye in order to have the best chance of hitting the intended target. As long as these fundamentals are satisfied, then the gun should be allowed to ‘float’ to where it will best get the hits you need.

Being able to float the gun does more for you than just to enable you to make hits from any position in any direction in an emergency, though that would be more than enough to justify the acquisition of the capability. Where employed deliberately, ambidextrous and one-handed facility with the weapon specifically will give you tactical options you will not have otherwise. For all these reasons, having the ability to float the gun is an all but must-have skill to everyone that carries and a definite must-have skill for the serious student of the gunfight.)

Take the time, make the effort, get the skill, and learn the Floating Gun. You will not regret it.

You be safe out there. And if you can't be safe, float like a butterfly and hit like the Hammer of Thor.

Tourniquets fears, revisited

John L. Meade, MD, FACEP

Director of Tactical Medicine, Suarez International

I got this email from a friend today:

There is a persistent belief among the general public (including an EMT I talked to yesterday) that applying a tourniquet means the limb below the tourniquet is a guaranteed total loss. How do we address this concern?

Simply tell them it has been conclusively proven that this is untrue.

a) People have tourniquets applied in the OR every day, for various orthopedic and vascular surgical operations. These are on for hours, without amputation.

b) Data being followed very closely from the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan show that rapidly and properly applied tourniquets are saving lives at a dramatic rate, and not a single amputation has been caused by the tourniquets.

c) Addtional military data shows that in cases of isolated severe extremity hemorrhage, if the patient has a tourniquet applied rapidly, before shock sets in, the survival rate is 90%. If tourniquet use is delayed until after shock (which can happen in as little as 1 minute), survival is only 10%.

The issue of tourniquets causing amputations is a myth left over from many years ago. We now understand how to use them, when to use them, and how they should be constructed (size, materials, etc.). We instituted the use of a tourniquet protocol for the state of Alabama a few years ago, after seeing the fantastic data from the military. At an international trauma meeting just yesterday, I was told that the state of New York was going to copy the Alabama protocol to give their residents the same advantages.

We can teach you how to evaluate and treat trauma, to try and keep your loved ones alive until the ambulance gets on the scene. We have scheduled "Trauma Medicine for the CCW Operator" (TMCO) classes all over the USA. Register now, to beat the 2012 price increase.

And learn what most medical people don't even know.

The “Do’s” and “Don’ts” of Open Carry Part III

Written by Roger Phillips, Suarez International Specialist and Tier One Instructor

The Retention Problem

“Ever since the first caveman grabbed the first rock inside of a fight, man has been fighting over a weapon.”

Weapon retention is something that simply has to be taken into consideration if you are going to carry a gun……concealed or open. I think we can all agree that if you follow the “Three Stupid Rule” your chances of being in a life threatening encounter are very low………that is if you follow the “Three Stupid Rule.” Most young people do not follow those rules and it seems as if the open carry crowd is predominantly young people. The chances rise dramatically if you live outside of the rules. But let’s all face it, even if the chance is low if your number is called it does not matter how many other peoples numbers were not called. All that matters is that you are now fighting for your life or the life of your loved ones. If there was zero chance of this happening then we would not need to carry weapons at all. But we all know that it can happen, so let’s get past the BS that is commonly thrown around by the political activist.


Retention is an issue that must be taken into consideration!

Refuse to admit this fact at your own peril. But do not blame the “self defense” guys for not trying to get this fundamental truth through to you…….blame the political activist for trying to hide it from you. When men fight, there will most likely be a weapon involved (even if it is an improvised weapon.) If there is only one weapon, there will be a fight over that weapon if the fight is not ended quickly and decisively. If you have a visible gun on your waistband, you have brought that one weapon into the fight. Basically that makes almost any fight that you get into a gunfight.

If we can just agree that “fights happen” then we can agree that retention is an issue.

When we look at “our power” it is strongest right inside of our work space. Our work space is from waist to chin, inside of each shoulder. It extends out about one foot from our chest. This is the area where we are our strongest. This is where “our power” is at its peak. This is right inside of the natural arch of the arms, if we were to bring our hands up along the body, from our waist up to our chin. Not only is this “our power” workspace it is also our optimal area of hand speed. If I want to open carry and I want to be the very best that I can be, I am going to wear my holster on my waistband, near my centerline. You can call it “cross draw” or “appendix” depending on the position that you use, but it has many advantages.

The number one advantage is that the gun is in front of you and you have better “security” over that gun. We have better security due to the gun being on the same side of your body as your eyes. The gun is also guarded by being in between your arms and inside of your power work space. This offers great protection from any gun grab from behind. When we look at conventional open carry methods of carry such as “on the hip” or “behind the hip” we see that we are really open from an attack on the gun from behind. When we combine “the eyes,”” the power,” and the “hand speed” from the centerline it is clear that any other carry position on the waistband are suboptimal positions in regards to weapon retention. While this concept may be huge inside of “those in the know” inside of certain tactical circles, it is not that well known inside of the open carry circles.

If you have made the decision to open carry on the hip or behind the hip it is probably a very good idea to invest in a high quality (I mean quality, not prolific) retention holster. Personally, I really like the Safariland retention holsters. Bladetec also has some good offerings. We need to accept the fact that since the gun is not on the same side of the body as the eyes, not inside of the power work space, and way off of the centerline we are going to need to supplement the suboptimal carry method with a holster that will mitigate those obvious weaknesses.

In Part I of this series I talked about “responsibility.” We have a responsibility to make sure that our weapons do not end up in the hands of the bad guys. That means that we must look at the security of our weapon. Centerline carry allows you to operate without retention devices. On or behind the hip should be supplemented with a quality retention holster. I am not interested in debating the tired old argument “Bad guys won’t take your gun.” That is not what my personal experience has shown me and no I will not provide a link or tell the story. All I know is…….BULL! Be very careful listening to a person that has never even been in a fist fight……..let alone a fight for a life.

If someone grabs for your gun, push down hard on his hand to keep the gun in the holster and to trap his hand, then go to town with hand to hand skill sets or access your blade and take out the parts of the machine that allow the machine to fight. Gun guys are notorious for thinking “I do not need hand to hand skills, I’ll just shoot them”……BULL! “I do not need to know knife fighting, I’ll just shoot them”……..BULL! This type of thinking is just another example of the perpetuation of ignorance inside of the gun world.

 

Let’s look at how to keep people from even thinking ”I could take that gun if I wanted to.” It all comes down to establishing a personal space around you. American men hold conversations at two yards. That is finger tip to finger tip. If anyone invades this space you are either dealing with an annoying idiot (you all know what I am talking about,) a person looking to teach you a lesson, or a bad guy trying to get to your gun. Be wary of anyone trying to get inside of this space. As soon as it happens you need to go from yellow to orange. Do what needs to be done to re-establish this space and establish that you do not like people inside of your personal space.

This is why I do not open carry in crowds. This is why I do not open carry anywhere where I know that I will be standing in line.

If you are open carrying in a crowd and it is impossible to avoid everyone, adjust the direction that you stand to mitigate your openings. It all comes down to awareness, common sense, and acceptance that life is not beautiful and people are not great.

The evil of man is just a newspaper article away. Bad things do happen to good people!

Discuss this here

Check Roger's schedule here

Scope Reticles 101

     Which scope do you recommend? I get asked this question several times a month. I wish the answer was as simple as the question. There are several factors we should consider before making a choice. The next few questions will help clarify the proper response to the question.

     What gun is it going on? Is it a semi auto 22 or a 300 WM bull barrel target rifle? Is it a 30-30 lever gun or an AK? The type of gun and the caliber are important factors in the scope and reticle choice. What do you plan to do with the gun? Self-defense has different requirements than hunting or target shooting. What caliber is the rifle? A 22 rim fire runs out of energy past 300 yards. What are the external ballistics of the round?  How fast does it loose velocity?

     It makes no sense to put an optic designed to shoot a thousand yards on a rifle/ cartridge that is not accurate at that distance. Here is an example. The 7.62x 39 cartridge velocity is approximately 1150 fps at 500 yards; at 600 it falls below 1000 fps. Generally 1000 fps is about the speed at which rifle bullets become unstable. This instability causes the bullet to yaw and wobble. The wobble changes the flight path. Based on my experience unstable flight path can vary greatly. I am talking about variation by feet, not inches. If you add in weather and wind factors the variation is increased. So a 7.62x39 or a 30-30 would not be a good rifle for a 6-20 x 50 target scope. A 1-4 or 2-7 or a low power fixed scope would be a better choice for these calibers.

     On the other end of the spectrum is the 338 Lapua. This round at 1000 yards still has a velocity of 1680fps. This means the cartridge is accurate well past 1500 yards. Installing an Eotech red dot or a 3-9 power scope is limiting the capabilities of the cartridge. Generally speaking having 1 power of magnification per hundred yards is good if you are shooting man size targets.  If the man ducks behind cover or goes prone you may need more magnification to find and shoot this now smaller target. Higher power will also aide in range estimation. On the down side, higher power can amplify movement as the shooter moves the gun. It can also be difficult to shoot through the mirage on a high power setting.

    Now that we have the basics as to what we want to do with the gun/ammo scope combination (also called the weapon system). We can look at reticles for the scopes. There are hundreds of different reticles available for scopes. The early scopes had crosshairs and nothing else. Since the invention of crosshairs in scopes man has looked at ways to improve the basic idea by adding thicker lines or removing a portion of the crosshairs (also called stadia lines). Today scopes have 4 categories of reticles.

       Standard Reticles Fine, Crosshairs or Duplex

       Illuminated Reticles; Eotech, Aimpoint or Trijicon

       Hold Over recticles; a bullet drop compensator type

       Ranging reticles; Mil-dot or MOA hash marks

      (Combinations of 2 or more can also be found.)

 

    This article will examine standard reticles and illuminated reticles.

    The standard reticles group includes the t-post, target dot reticles. The stadia lines may be tapered or have two different widths. Standard recticles are used to zero a rifle at a specific distance. That is about as basic as it gets. The turrets on the basic scopes normally do not have numbers or revolution marks to adjust them to different zero points. They are meant to be zeroed and left alone. These types of scopes work well on rim fire and hunting rifles designed for 200 yards or less. With some practice the shooter can use them for longer shots by holding over on the target. They have no value in ranging to the target and adjusting for wind or weather changes.

     The variable power scope with a duplex type reticle can be used for ranging by using the points where the stadia line reduces from thick to thin. This method works by adjusting the magnification so that a known object will fit the reticle between the horizontal line and the point where the vertical line changes width. This requires practice and the shooter should develop a range card to record this information.

     Here is an example. Your target is a deer.  It’s size from the top of the shoulder to the bottom of the belly is 18 inches. Now use the zoom to set the horizontal line on the top of the deer’s back and the point on the vertical line at his belly. Now determine the power setting. Reference this number to your range card and read the distance to target. Then you can use the hold over you established during practice to make a hit. For this to work the shooter must put in the time to gather the information and build the range card. This same principal works for many different types or styles of reticles.

    The newest style of reticle is an illuminated reticle. There are 3 sources of illumination, battery power, fiber optics, and tritium.  Combinations of the three can also be found. The most simple of these is the battery power models with a round dot in the center of the lens. The red dot reticle can vary in size, shape and clarity. With variable power scopes and red dot scopes the quality of the glass can vary. Better quality glass will result in a crisp edge to the dot type reticle.

     Try this little test. Pick up a cheap red dot and turn the power up to its highest setting. Notice the dot is not perfectly round; it can look like a star. Or it may have streamers coming from the center. While taking a sight picture rotate the red dot. See if the streamers rotate with the scope body. No streamers means the glass is of high quality. Another test is to take the red dot scope into the full sun and check to see if the dot is visible. In some of the economy models the dot will almost disappear. Next look at in in very low light. The dot should be visible but not so bright that you can’t see the target past the sight. The size of the dot makes a difference as well.

     An EO Tech has a 1 min dot in a 65 min circle. These are designed to use the small dot for accuracy and the large circle for speed. The Aimpoint models have a 3.5 min or 8 min dot. For a rifle or carbine I like the 3.5 min dot. Why the smaller dot on a carbine? The dot covers up 3.5 inches of the target at 100 yards or 7 inches at 200 yards. I can still make a head shot at 200 yards with it. The 8 min dot would be 16 inches at 200 thus making a head shot hard.  The average head is 8 inches wide. The Leupold Delta sight uses an illuminated triangle instead of a round dot. This gives the shooter an option: fast shooting at close range when referencing the entire triangle on target or using the top point of the triangle if a more precise shot is needed. I recommend zeroing the rifle at 200 yards to the top point of the triangle or the top edge of the round dot. Bushnell has a multiple reticle red dot that has a circle dot, a small dot and “T” style reticle. The shooter can select all three if needed.

     Battery life is a big factor when using a red dot scope. The first models lasted about 24 hours before the battery died. The latest model Trijicon RMR will run more than a year before the battery dies. The Leupold has a motion sensor that shuts down after 5 minutes of no movement. The standard red dot sights do not have any magnification. Therefore, long range precision is no better than when using sights.  If these are used on a rifle the shooter is limiting the performance of the weapon system. Power failure while using battery powered sights is the main reason for having back up iron sights on a gun. The other option is to use the scope itself as a huge ghost ring and put the target in the center and press the trigger.

     Fiber optic illuminated red dot sights have the advantage of not needing a battery for illumination. No battery means no power failure. A benefit of the fiber optic system is the brightness level automatically adjusts to the ambient light. This also means it is always on. A few models even have a shade so the shooter can block some of the ambient light to reduce the reticle brightness. There are 3 styles of reticles for fiber optic scopes, a solid round circle, a triangle and a chevron (an inverted “V”). There are also color options of red, green and amber. I have used all three and I like the green the best. The red can disappear on a red target or on the red dirt here in Georgia. The green is a fluorescent green that has a good contrast in foliage. Also green is in the middle of the light spectrum and is easier for the brain to pick up. The amber blends in on fall days with flat light or in reduced light. To me green is the easiest color to pick up in a wide variety of light conditions. The size of the reticle is just as important on a fiber optic scope as it is on a red dot scope. Fiber optic scopes have one big advantage; the availability of magnification with them. There are fixed power and variable power scopes available with fiber optic reticles.

       There are a limited number of scopes with tritium illuminated reticles. They work well in low light but are not bright enough by themselves to work in sun light. Normally these are combined with fiber optics to give the shooter a sight in very low or no light. One down side to tritium is they do not last forever. The half- life is 12 years.

     For a fighting rifle I would only use a scope that will continue to work when the battery dies. If the battery dies and I can’t use the scope my effectiveness as a rifleman just diminished. We should all have the knowledge and skill to point shoot the rifle in CQB without the use of any sight system.

     We covered the 2 basic types of reticles in this article. Both have their good points and drawbacks. Remember any time you get to look through a scope outdoors take the opportunity to learn about the scopes. Learning experiences are valuable specially if they are free.  Part two of this article will cover hold over style reticles and ranging reticles.

Please join me for the Guerrilla Sniper I in Blakley GA March 8-10

 

Scott Vandiver

SI Staff Instructor

www.centerfiretraining.com

 

Class is over; now what?

By Don Robison,  Suarez International Tier 1 Instructor

So, it’s Monday morning and you’ve got your training class over the weekend fresh in your mind as you drink your morning cup of coffee and get ready for work.  All these questions keep running through your mind from Sunday night. I’ve got the training; now what do I do with it?  The instructor said I should dry practice and then verify my dry practice at the range.  My range will never let me draw from a holster or get off the X.  Since the last time I wrote about dry practice Suarez International has realized these questions as well and come up with some solutions for working on perfecting these skills, but more about that later. 

Let start with the dry practice and work on it.  Pick a skill and do it.  Practice it, don’t just go through the motions, but practice it as perfectly as you can. Watch yourself in a mirror or video tape it so you can review your tapes and pick your technique apart.  Video doesn’t lie; it also doesn’t make you look better than you are.  Be honest with your assessment of your skills and what you need to practice.  As Greg Nichols says; “Get it right and then get it fast.”  Don’t worry if you’re slow; everyone is slow with a new skill; it’s better to practice it slow and correct rather than fast and incorrect. 

The instructors and students you see who are correctly doing a skill fast and smooth didn’t get there by not practicing or by practicing the skill sloppily.  They got there by practicing hundreds sometimes thousands of repetitions correctly and then worked on getting the speed and fluidity. 

My range won’t let me get off the X or draw from a holster.  It would be easy to say “Find another range.”, but that is often easier said than done.  What skills can you verify at your range?  Obviously you can verify the fundamentals of marksmanship, but you can also do malfunctions drills at most ranges by having your training partner setup malfunctions for you.  You can also practice failure to stop drills at many ranges.  Some ranges also have “action ranges” or a range bay set aside that you can rent by the hour to draw from a holster and practice other skills associated with competition.  It may be more expensive than renting a single lane and may require some type of special “check out” from the range master, but nothing worthwhile is usually easy.  Check at your range or other ranges in the area to see what’s available.  I’ve also had some success in the past with range owners letting me practice skills they don’t normally allow like the draw stroke during their slow time of the week when the range is empty. Find out when that is and if it’s possible. 

Other possibilities are airsoft.  It’s not perfect, but a good airsoft gun will allow you to practice the mechanics of magazine changes, and the draw stroke.  Sometimes you just need to get creative.  As cliché’ as it sounds; there really is more than one way to skin a cat.

How has Suarez International taken the reins on refining the skills of our students?  We now have Suarez International Authorized Training Groups for SI class alumni for students to get additional coaching to perfect those skills they are learning in class.  These are training groups organized and led by the various Suarez International Instructors all over the country.  For example in August I led the first training group in my area.  We concentrated on the draw stroke to the first perfect shot and the fundamentals of pistol shooting.  Each alumnus who attended received four hours of individual coaching to perfect their draw stroke and fundamentals of shooting.  First we started with repetitions of dry practice.  Then we progressed with live fire.  We were able to break each skill down to individual parts and work on perfecting the individual pieces before tying them together.  The training groups are also a great way to get connected with other students in the area who you may not have met and who may need a training partner.  All of this for a nominal fee to cover range rental and supplies.  The only other requirement is that you have taken a class covering the skills being covered in the training group meeting i.e. if Close Range Gunfighting skills are being worked on you need to have attended the Close Range Gunfighting Class or if knife skills are being worked on you need to have attended the SI knife class.

Now get out there and find your nearest training group and take advantage of the opportunities they afford.

Don's class schedule in Florida

AR15/M4 Rifle Gunfighting in Iowa

TSD Combat Systems Special Announcement - The Week Of 17 November 2011

1).  TSD Combat Systems is offering grip treatments to the Glock Series of Pistols.  The Grip Enhancement Package (standard on our custom Glock pistols) involves slightly contouring and texturing the frame for a better shooting feel and grip.  Finger grooves can be left as is, or removed.

For more information on this service

2).  TSD Combat Systems is also offering Grip Reduction Packages.  Many of our students and clients have voiced concern over the fit or girth of certain Glock models.  In order to over come that we are able to reduce the frame in a number of ways.

For more information on this service

3).   TSD Combat Systems - Gen. 4 Glock 17 and 19 Slides.  The Gen 4 guns are here to stay and the call for TSD slides has been great.  We offer slides for the Glock 17 and 19 models, already set up to accept the Trijicon RMR. 

Read more on the TSD Gen. 4 Glock 17 Slides

Read more on the TSD Gen.4 Glock Pistols

 

The Shotgun - Force Multiplier for Civilian Small Unit Tactics- Part II – Integration of the Shotgun for Ambush Patrols

J D Lester

Suarez International Staff Instructor

An ambush is a surprise attack from a concealed position on a moving or temporarily halted target.

Could four or five people lay down by a trail or road and fire a bunch of bullets simultaneously at a group of bad guys walking or driving along? You might very well pull it off…..then again it might not go so well for you. What could you do to enhance your survivability?

Branching off into some tactics, techniques, and procedures study is needed here. Two handy references for operations of this nature are SH-21-76 and FM-7-8. When used as designed, they provide an excellent guideline and a look at the Ambush from a military perspective.

Previously I talked about the tradeoffs associated with the configuration of our Fighting Shotguns. Now we must discuss the tradeoffs we will face tactically. After a quick read of the above listed references you will see that setting up and conducting a successful ambush can be more complex than one might think; it can also be as simple as you want to make it. A good starting point for a practical study of Small Unit Tactics would be the HRO Patrolling classes offered by SI.
Patrolling, as read about or seen in the movies is very much a different animal in real life. You really can’t appreciate it without some practical application.

Whether conducting reconnaissance or combat patrols the principles are the same. (Ref: SH-21-76 Chapter 5)

If charged with the planning and execution of this type of operation and integrating the shotgun one would need to consider the capabilities not only of the platform, but those of the operator and give respect to the terrain as well.

Fire Control and Rates of Fire:

 The timing of the fires is critical at the initiation of the ambush. This ensures that the patrol delivers fire with the heaviest, most accurate volume possible on the enemy in the kill zone. A lull in the fire can be a decisive point for those in the kill zone to break out of the ambush.

Conducting rehearsals of this would be critical to not only verify the reliability of the shotgun but also to validate techniques to be used for the following: controlling the initiation, rates of fire, shifting and lifting of fire and when/ if the shotgunner should transition to the primary weapon.

Planning Considerations:

Planning considerations would also include the most likely course of action and most dangerous course of action of your enemy. How will you get this information? ( A few sources for gathering current intel can be found in the questions below.)

Your mission will dictate your tactics for the conduct of the ambush. Some consideration should be given to the following questions.

Will it be primarily to harass the bad guys or kill / capture?

Will you initiate and fire until all movement and noise has ceased then break contact and disappear?

Will a search of the kill zone be conducted? If so, how will you conduct it?

What are your abort criteria?

What is your risk acceptance?

Will you use speed as your security, as opposed to traveling as stealthily as possible?

When does the shotgunner transition to primary carbine or sidearm (RMR’d G17 with a happy stick or glad stick would be the best if no carbine)?

If the shotgun is carried as a secondary to a carbine how will it be secured on the ambush line after use?

What should be the Ammunition Basic Load (ABL)?

Should additional ammo be cross loaded among the patrol?

Will assaults packs be worn to the ambush position?

Shotgun Employment - Tube Fed Semi-auto or Pump:

From the Line of Departure (LD) to the Objective Rally Point (ORP) operator uses primary weapon or if it is his/ her only long gun a few options are:
Shotgunner placed in the Order of Movement (OOM) where it would be most effective due to terrain if that allows, rotate shotgun to point element. (More tradeoffs kicking in, does everyone know how to use everyone else’s weapon? Or do you have the shotgunner on point the entire mission?)

In the ORP ensure shotgun has the right ammo correctly loaded for the ambush, if that was not what was loaded for use during movement. Any additional ammo should be prepared at this time also.

Once in ambush the reload ammo should be prepped for use. In the past I have found that claymore bags work well for carry of loose shells and can keep buck and slugs separated. Moving forward to 2011 the Terrorist Interdiction Bag comes to mind as a handy bit of kit for this purpose. It can also remain attached to the body while in the prone. Reload from the bag or pre-positioned ammo first. Use your well camouflaged assault pack as a shooting rest to help stabilize the shotgun.
Position everything so you can use it with either hand and also be able to grab and go for an emergency egress should you have to withdraw under pressure.

On initiation shotgunner fires at pre-selected targets and at rate of fire covered during the planning process. Once all rounds are expended, top off the gun down in your piece of micro terrain and repeat as needed or transition to the carbine dependant on how you are armed.

Loading from the prone in this situation is probably best done with your most dexterous hand to combat the lack of fine motor skill capabilities the shotgunner might experience. Resting on the assault pack allows you to cant the gun toward the working hand for the reload.

Having a side saddle on the gun might facilitate a faster reload or be kept on the gun for an emergency reload. (Same thinking as drinking from the water on your ruck first, so if you need to ditch it you still have water on you.) Return fire from the kill zone should provide you with guidance to load from the saddle or your bag.

Be prepared to reengage the kill zone should a lull in fire occur due to weapons malfunction or everyone doing a mag change at once…..it happens.
Prepare to transition to carbine or pistol as briefed during planning.
Whatever the plan, the shotgunner must conduct rehearsals of loading from the prone and what his actions are based on the plan prior to execution to ensure success.

Shotgun Employment - Magazine Fed:

In the ORP if drums are used know the ammo selection desired and ensure it is on the gun. Secure all reload mags / drums for movement to ambush line.

Once in position, scoop out a place for the drum or mag to ensure the lowest possible position and allow the ability to cover your sector of fire.

Prep layout of reloads as planned and rehearsed. When you reload …mag , mag, bolt just like the rifle folks in the patrol. Empty mags go down the shirt or to a dumper when time allows.

Lastly remember you are not Big Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines. You are a few folks with guns doing what you need to do.

Planning, Rehearsals, and Violence of Action during Execution!

End Part II

There I was... In the food court.

Jack Rumbaugh, Suarez International Director of Training.

The first thing that registers in your mind is that the noise you just heard should not be something you hear in the mall. You know immediately that something is wrong and that you are hearing the sound of an assault rifle being fired inside the building. Your Starbucks spills on the floor as you overturn the table, moving to the nearest cover. The panicked shoppers are running over each other trying to get to the nearest exit. You realize one of the terrorists is stepping out of an alcove, blocking the exit and raising his AK-47 to fire. He is only 20 yards away as you bring your RMR equipped Glock 19 to bear, allowing the dot to settle in the center of his chest. You struggle to get a clear field of fire but as the shoppers realize their mistake, they reverse course and are now stampeding right back your way.

Depressing your pistol into Sul, you swim upstream until the field of fire clears. You have closed the distance to ten yards as your dot again falls on the terrorist’s chest. You fire once, twice, three times, all three 115 grain Corbon DPX rounds hit home and enter the third and fourth intercostal spaces, pulverizing the heart and lungs. He’s dead on his feet but that information hasn’t reached his brain yet. His head is still in view in your RMR as the dot settles on the bridge of his nose. The mantra, “Did I hit him, did it work?” echoes in your mind as you press the trigger twice, both rounds impacting the bridge of his nose, obliterating his sinuses and lodging deep in his brain. You quickly grab his rifle and field strip it, taking the bolt with you so no one can come up behind you and use it… On you or anyone else for that matter.

The sound of gunfire erupts from another wing and as you round the corner, you see Tango #2 60 yards away, firing down into the first level of the mall from one of the walkways. A quick prayer leaves your lips as you steady your breathing and allow the dot to settle on the upper third of the Tangos chest. Your finger increases the pressure until a shot rings out. The Tango's eyes widen in surprise, hands clutching his throat as the copper slug tears into his esophagus. It is the last thing he will ever do as the bullet shatters his C6 and C7 vertebra. His legs suddenly fail him and he tumbles over the rail to the marble floor 20 feet below. You risk a peek over the rail and considering the growing pool of blood and the very unnatural angle of his neck, he won’t be bothering anyone again.

You quickly swap out the magazine in your pistol for a fresh one and chamber check it just to be sure. You crouch behind a large planter and listen for more shots. Not hearing any, you risk a peek around the planter. Nothing but empty hallways. You know from your training these assholes always work in teams. You wonder to yourself, where are the others…

I know, this sounds like a chapter from the latest techno-thriller. The hero, an uber-ninja,
ex SEAL, and all around great guy just took care of business. But this scenario could be playing out, not in the pages of a book, but in dozens of malls or other places where large numbers of innocent people gather, all over the US. The likely hero will be someone just like you or I. The difference between winning and losing will be the training.

Providing civilians with this kind of cutting edge training is what we do at Suarez International. We have studied the Terrorist/Active Shooter problem for many years and have conducted numerous Force on Force and live fire studies of what is possible with a human being and a CCW pistol. Out of those studies, our Terrorist/Active Shooter Interdiction (TASI) class was developed. This class quickly became one of our most popular and most requested classes. Originally taught only by Gabe Suarez, a select number of the Suarez Tier One instructors were recently authorized to present this ground-breaking material. Now, more than ever, men and women that carry a firearm on a regular basis need this information and it has never been more convenient to attend a class. And in case you were wondering, every technique dramatized in the short story above is something you will learn in class.

Visit http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/classschedule.aspx for a complete schedule of classes and http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/terroristactiveshooterinterdiction.aspx for a TASI class near you.

The Long Shot

...and why you should work on being able to take it.

CR Williams, Suarez International Staff Instructor

Gabe's recent article about the shooting at the Carson City IHOP was, as such things tend to be, copied to and discussed on a number of gun forums outside of Warrior Talk. On one such I frequent some posters said that they would take the shot the BBQ owner did not, some said they did not feel capable of that shot at their current level of capability but would have tried to work to ranges and positions where they would feel confident of the shot. Others expressed a need to work on their long-range shooting. Some did not think they could get 'good enough' to be able to take the shot and some did not think their current carry weapon was up to the shot. Others raised concerns about stray rounds and whether you really could make an effective shot at that distance (between 70 and 100 yards). Still others declared that they carried for their own defense and would make a good report of what they saw but otherwise, if it wasn't their problem, they saw no need to try and be part of the solution. And there was a hint from one or two to the effect that they didn't see a need to learn to 'go long' even with this incident on the records. They, and others, correctly stated that the majority of shootings were going to be at shorter range.

It is true that times when you might need to go beyond 25 or 30 yards like this...and the shooter with the SKS on the second-floor walkway of a mall...and the guy that went into another mall with a shotgun...and Murray with his AR in the parking lot of New Life Church...and (for those in that Too-Thin Blue Line) Phillips and Matasareanu outside the bank, where both range and precision were at a premium...

...rare as  they are, are still a not as rare as you want them to be. It has happened before, it will happen again.

And when it does happen again, who will they be aiming at?

What if next time it is NOT 'somebody else's problem'?

One of the reasons we carry is because we can't depend on the police, right? We can't base our strategy of defense and survival on the hope that a cop will be right-there-right-then when something lethal starts happening, right? Then why are you going to depend on someone else there being able (and willing) to take that long shot? If the next man with the rifle is aiming it at you, or someone you care about, is your strategy for dealing with it going to be to hope that someone else with a gun is there and able to take the shot you can't make?

You don't depend on the police being there, but you are going to depend on the smaller probability of another gun-carrier with that skill-set to be there? Why should you?

 

 It's not as distant-looking if you're not a camera, but it still looks long.

Regardless, you can learn to make the shot.

 

 

Not only that--learning how and practicing to make the long shot can help you in other ways as well:

It is a way to practice fundamentals without specifically practicing fundamentals.

Shooting long, whether with regular sights or a red dot, stresses the fundamental principles of good shooting as much, if not more, than standing five or ten yards away from a target and thinking "grip, stance, picture, alignment, breathe, press". The need for solid basics is paramount. The slight twitch of a trigger or fractional-degree skew in sight alignment that puts you off an inch or two at ten yards is going to be a clean miss at fifty or a hundred. Consistent trigger work and the steadiest hold and/or position you can get before taking the shot appears to be the most important, but every fundamental has to be done well for the long shot. Training and practicing this kind of shooting is a way to push yourself into developing solid basic shooting principles that carry over to every shot you will ever have to make.

It will help with closer-range precision shooting.

We acknowledge the possibility that we might have to move from COM to a small-area or even pinpoint target. Besides specific practice for that possibility, working on the long shot is a way to help prepare for the close precise shot. The same fundamentals are as important; repetitions of anything that stresses those fundamentals is good; and your subconscious can be conditioned to not panic about any very small target you have to hit, whether it is a torso at 75 yards or somebody's right eye at thirty feet.

The better you get at it, the more confidence you will have in your general ability and the more confidence you will have about almost any kind of shot you have to make.

Marc MacYoung calls it the "Monkey Brain". It's the part that takes over when things like madmen pointing rifles at you or your family happens. One of the things it does is look for familiarity, something you have done or experienced that is like or close to what you're experiencing now. If it can't find something like that or close to like that, there will be a greater tendency for you to panic and/or make the wrong decision about what to do. The greater the range of knowledge and experience, the more likely the Monkey Brain can latch onto something and the less likely you are to lose yourself to indecision and maybe outright panic. The confidence of knowing your limits and knowing what you've done gives your survival controller more to work with and you a better chance of staying alive past the end of the event.

Better to have it and not need it than...

It's like a seatbelt and insurance, ladies and gentlemen. You put it on and set it up without ever expecting to need it. But understanding that there is just enough of a possibility that you might have to use it, you do it anyway. Just in case...

Kelly McCann, by admission, is not a point shooter and never has been. But in his Combative Pistol DVD, McCann tells how his mind was changed about learning point shooting by someone he talked to at a conference. McCann saw the need to go beyond his current sphere of capability in case he ever was in a position where he couldn't get to the sights in time. He might never, ever need it, but if he did need it, he needed to have it.

Kneeling, standing, unsupported, supported, none of the above---whatever you need to do, you can learn how do to it.

Perhaps you do as well...just in case...

Here, then, are four reasons that training to 'go long' will be useful to you. Assuming no physical limitations to prevent it, most people can learn to make shots of fifty to one-hundred yards and beyond and maintain that ability without having to invest huge amounts of time and effort. It is not a special skill, it is an extension of skills you already have, and worth it to you to get them even if you never, ever have to do it to save your life. Even if you never do manage to get to where you can go to a hundred yards or more, shouldn't you at least make the effort to find out how far you can go? What price "in the event" would you pay to know for certain that you're good out to fifty yards or seventy-five yards and no more? Why not take a little time to know how far you can reach with your short-barreled carry weapon? Why not find out what to do to be sure of your shot at over twenty-five or thirty yards?

Why not?

The first two shots weren't in your direction, which was fortunate. You, your wife, and your daughter were within easy killing distance when the crazy guy opened fire. You got them down and put some fire on him quick and got one hit, you think, but he's still shooting and now it's a gunfight. You and the family are behind the engine block of one car and he's thirty or thirty-five yards away behind another one alternating shots at you and whoever else gets in his vision, and he's got a rifle. Can the car you're behind keep you sheltered? What if he starts moving again? But all you've got is little parts of him and his gun when he shoots at you or somebody else---wait--under the car, the foot or ankle, somebody did that to stop a shooter one time!* At least stop him from moving or maybe shooting more...almost thirty-five yards and so little for a target... He's shooting again! IT HAS TO END....

So tell me: If you're on the target end in this situation, what would you want to be running through your head?

OhGodOhGodOhGod I hope somebody else has a gun and can take the shot!

I CAN MAKE THIS set-up-sights-on, I CAN MAKE THIS HOLD HOLD NOW...

Here's my confession: I can't do all of this as well or in as many cases as I want to...yet. Here's my word to you on it: I'm already working on being able to and will continue until I can, or at least know where my limits are. I will have the option even if I choose not to take it.

What are you going to do?

Be safe out there. If you can't be safe, be dangerous--from as far away as you can be.

*Matasareanu at the North Hollywood Shootout, stopped by a round in the ankle fired by a SWAT officer under a car, if you want one historical reference. His partner Phillips was stopped first by a hit on his left wrist and then his right hand. Phillips suicided, Matasareanu bled out from multiple wounds before medics could reach him.

Train with CR Williams.

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The “Do’s” and “Don’ts” of Open Carry Part II

By Roger Phillips, Suarez International Speicialist and Tier One Instructor

The Mental Aspect of the Fight

 Some people may want to call this “mindset” but that term is very vague and does not do justice to the things that you should really know when it comes to open carry. If we can all agree that there are risks to carrying handguns (open or concealed) and that there is a certain responsibility attached to that decision, then it is clear that we need to “get our head right” about what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how to do it best. If you are open carrying for the reasons mention in the first part of this article, then you need to understand that the mind is the ultimate weapon and the handgun is just the tool that the mind uses to be as efficient and effective as you can possibly be inside of the limitations of “just walking through life.” In other words, it is the mind that turns the talisman into a devastating weapon. Without the mind it is just a chunk of metal, wood, and plastic.

I think that we can all agree that the very best life threatening confrontation is the one that you can avoid. If you don’t feel this way, let me warn you “be very careful what you wish for.” Being a hero is not all that it is cracked up to be. It can be alright (that is the extent of it, that is why almost all hero’s say “I just did what anyone else would do”) or it could be absolutely devastating.

 

“If you spend your life hunting monsters, be very careful to not become one yourself. Because, when you stare into the abyss, the abyss will eventually stare back into you.”

 When it comes down to avoidance, awareness is our number one tool. When you are open carrying, you need to learn the difference between people looking at you and thinking “hey that guy has a gun” and looking at you and thinking “hey that guy has a gun, I bet he thinks he is a bad @$$. I could so take that gun if I wanted to.” Do not make the mistake that people do not ever ponder this. I am a certified good guy and I have pondered it. There are times that I have wanted to teach a lesson or two. But of course being a certified good guy, I did not do it……….but oh was it tempting! To think that people will not take your gun “just because they can” is a huge mistake. That is why everyone that you do not know personally needs to be looked at with a critical eye. I am not saying to be paranoid, but use some common sense and good judgment. If you do not know the person……do not trust the person. We all need to be aware of the bad guys ploy of sending in a “friendly” to set the person up for what they want.  If it seems too good to be true……guess what……it is too good to be true. 

 When you are open carrying, keep your head up and your radar on. Let people know that you see them, when they see you. A little eye contact is good…….too much is bad. A nod of acknowledgement is acceptable, but do not come across as being too friendly or too much of a hard @$$. You should not be striving to engage people, you should not be looking to “educate.” That leaves you open. You should be striving to do what you need to do, inside of your life, and then fulfill your mission and go home. One of the main stay ploys for a bad guy is to get you to stop and have a conversation, so they can close distance. Once the distance has been closed, you are theirs! If you doubt this then you do not know about the OODA loop or “initiative deficit.” Allowing people to engage you in order “to educate” is playing into one of the most successful bad guy ploys that there is.

“Be polite, be professional, but have a plan that will allow you to dominate everyone that you meet.”

 Situational awareness is all about profiling. This has nothing to do with race. We all know that bad guys come in all races, sizes, ages, and sex. You are profiling anything that is simply out of place or unusual. It can be as simple as a glance that is adverted quickly when eye contact is made. It can as simple as a certain type of car. Yes, we do profile cars……right? One of my favorite profiling games that I play is the “who is the most dangerous person in the general vicinity?” As long as the answer is a resounding “ME!” than I am safe. As soon as I begin to question that answer, then I know that I really need to be on my toes. Ego can never be part of this game, the truth is the truth and everything less is a lie. This question cannot be answered through target shooting. Fighting and target shooting have next to nothing to do with each other.

As Gabe pointed out in his book "The Combative Perspective" the term "mindset" is very vague and does not do justice to the necessary mental aspect of the fight. People think that mindset is just awareness and willingness. In my opinion that is less that 10% of the true combative perspective. Gabe sets out the combative perspective into four categories. Inside of each of these four categories are subcategories. The mental aspect of the fight that people refer to as mindset is much more than just awareness and willingness. Gabe’s book is 97 pages. Over half of my “Point Shooting Progressions” book is about the mental aspect of the fight.

Gabe's book is set up as;

Desire for Victory

Elimination of Uncertainty

Situational Awareness

Willingness to act

While most of this is covered in Gabe's book we can also consider;

Know yourself

Know the adversary

Know the dynamics of a fight

Know the correct context of a fight

Know avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation

Know that the situation is the dictating factor

Know the best strategies for your very personal mission

Know when to apply your wide range of tactics

Know which skill sets facilitate the best use of your tactics

Your tactics are worthless without having your head straight.

Your skill sets are worthless without having your head straight.

Your equipment is worthless without having your head straight.

Mindset

Tactics

Skill sets

Equipment

In that order!

The brain is the ultimate weapon....everything else is just a tool.

Discuss this here

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Conditioned Response

          

Conditioned Response
By Scott Vaughn

    Have you ever wondered why we train in and with weapons, tactics and combatives? The reason is to learn the best techniques for our application and how to train and develop the muscle memory, those instinctive values, so we ingrain into our muscles and minds the Conditioned Response! What makes or allows us to respond/react to a given stimulus? If a car slams on the brakes at a distance of 500 feet ahead of you and you are travelling at 60 MPH, how do you react? If you see this as it happens, you probably start braking to a controlled stop, if necessary. Of course, if you are not paying attention at the time the car slams on the brakes and moment you realize this has occurred, the car is at a distance of 50 feet in front of you and you are travelling the same speed as above, what is your reaction now? Most likely you stomp on your brake pedal while trying to veer the car into a path to avoid the crash. Maybe you don’t try to veer but only slam the brake. Maybe you only veer and no brake. However you handle this crisis, it will most likely be different than the response to the first mentioned situation. Agreed? The response taken is conditioned, whether from years of driving experience or a new driver lacking the driving experience to help make snap decisions. The difference in the response will be from experience, training, instruction or maybe yesterday’s movie. Yes, we have all been mentally conditioned all of our lives from media, school, peers, family, the neighbors, etc. How deeply fixed in your subconscious the conditioning is will help determine how you respond/react.

    These are all typically conditioned responses of a variety of people. The first instinctive reaction from the stimulus comes from the mid-brain and depends on 1: experiences we have been through in our life. 2: the wrong type of information instilled in our mid-brain (where our instinctive reactions are housed) for given stimuli. 3: the lack of training, experiences and mental conditioning. 4: ingrained/habitual reactions that we have developed through repetition of training and practice.

    Remember when we were kids? We were indestructible, we could do anything given the right chance, we would never get ‘old’ but always get stronger, faster, better, smarter and would live forever! We had not experienced life but only a fraction of it. Then most of us started driving and learned dangerous situations could happen fast, our fault or not. Some never made it through their first year of driving, but those of us that did, understood driving could be dangerous and not as easily done like we assumed from watching our parents or from television. Some continued to take chances and others didn’t. Some took drivers training to learn to be a better/safer driver and most others didn’t. Of those that took the driver training, did it ensure the successfully safe driving experience for life? Of course not as there are no guarantees in life, period! But it did help condition them with, hopefully, better responses to more stimuli while driving and faster reaction time from not having to think all the way through the response. In highly stressful situations, the fore-brain (the part of the brain that we use to think rationally) shuts down and the mid-brain takes over to instruct us to react from our mental conditioning. –Conditioned Response-

    When we were kids we started developing reactions or habits. Some of these habits we carried with us to adulthood. These conditioned reactions, habits, are hard to unlearn sometimes. If you don’t develop better, safer, quicker habits and just continue to feel what you do is ‘OK’, you will never reach your potential and ALL of the bad habits/responses/reactions can get you and/or yours killed! I’m reminded 4 times a month by those that attend my concealed carry classes. Most have been around guns a long time and have developed habits from their parents and friends for things like the grip, the way they look through the sights (one eye closed) and how to stand while target shooting. Even though they are shown the best way to do some of these, once a pistol goes into their hands, their old habits automatically take over! They also are reminded repeatedly throughout the class of gun safety rule # 3, yet when they finally get to handle their guns….finger goes to trigger for too many of them.

    When our men and women of our military go over a technique once, they are soon convinced they will revisit this particular lesson numerous times, sometimes until some are sick of it! Repetition is necessary to build the muscle memory for a conditioned reaction to combat that can save their life, and/or the lives of their friends. Most of this training is done under circumstances to build the best response to the situations they may face on the battle field. These consist of training in the rain, the cold/heat, with the sound of guns firing and bullets buzzing overhead! Conditioned response! Some martial art students learn maneuvers and techniques for combat. They train these moves repeatedly to develop the muscle memory it takes to use the moves automatically. Most of the training and techniques are new to these men and women but they still learn it, just like you can. Occasionally they fight under controlled circumstances to help develop the ideal conditioned responses to the stimuli shown to them via opponent.

    It is proven that training and experience can be developed properly and with it, conditioned responses for certain circumstances, i.e. FOF, CRG, 0-5 feet GF, etc. That trained and experienced people generally survive more than those who are not, is a given. My brothers and sisters at SI understand this and I think most others would agree. The difference is this: We study and train to develop the techniques that are proven to work under combat. We work to build the muscle memory and habits for those reactive situations we all know can happen anytime/anywhere. We put ourselves in the Lion’s Den to help condition the mind and body. The ability to make immediate decisions under stress needs to be developed. To fine tune the OODA Loop.

    If you can see the threat coming toward you from 100 feet away, how would you react? Think about this for a few seconds, but I think you already have a plan of some type for this situation. Maybe you get set in mind and body for the fight. Maybe you take off to avoid the fight, if you have this option. Possibly you move to cover or just haul ass out of there. Whatever you decide will depend on the situational elements: Inside or outside- Family with you or not- Dark or light- Raining or not- Armed with gun or knife- or not…. If, when you first realize the threat is there, you are 25 feet apart, how will you react? Maybe you freeze! Maybe you bust a ‘GOTX’ to cover or to avoid the BG’s attack or shot, possibly to line up the 2 BG’s to make your defense easier (yeah, we know multiple advisories are anything but easy). The relative distance between you and the threat will definitely make a big difference in the immediate level of necessity to respond with the best decision. If your BG is standing behind you holding a pistol to the back of your head and says “Get in the car and drive or die right here”, how will you react? Freeze and give-up? Or mess up your BG’s OODA Loop by explosively moving your head to one side while turning to wrench his shoulder and arm to control his pistol while you bash this POS in the face, knees, ribs, etc. to keep yourself/your family safe! You got it, Conditioned Response.

    Training is what we do at Suarez International. When is the best time to train for your fight? Yes, before the fight! Where is the best place to learn how to fight? You got it, Suarez International! Training people to fight with their hands, knives, guns and minds like Warriors. Helping to understand and develop the muscle memory, to build the mindset to think, act, train and fight like Warriors!

    We won’t teach you how to drive, but we will teach you how to fight with your gun from your ride! We want you to win your fight as bad as you do! Come train with us to help develop and/or sharpen your skills with SI. You are never too old or too young to become a warrior in mind, body and spirit.

      

The “Do’s” and “Don’ts” of Open Carry Part I

By Roger Phillips, Suarez International Specialist and Tier One Instructor

A serious look at making the open carry operator as squared away as they can possible be.

I know there are people out there that believe that I am “anti-open carry.” This is not really the truth of the matter. What I am is “anti-ignorance” and I admit that I am very hard core in this belief. For those that know and train with me, they know why I am like that. They know that I really care about their ability to be the very best they can be when it comes down to the ability to defend their lives and the lives of their loved ones. To me, this is the paramount reason that we carry and any other reason pales in comparison.

I do not carry for a political agenda, or because it is my right, or because I want to be a hero, or because I want the mere presence of the gun to stop a crime, or because of the coolness factor, or to educate people, or the stir up awareness. I carry for one reason and one reason only.

I carry to be the very best that I can be inside of a life threatening encounter involving myself or my loved ones!

Everyone can feel free to call that “one way” or “self centered” but the reality of the matter is that “me and mine” are more important than everyone else. That does not mean that I will not risk my life help innocent people, heck I’ve done it before on a few occasions. What it does mean is that I want to have the choice whether I get involved or not. Open carry cuts down on my options.

Any attack on me is an attack on my loved ones. I am the one that keeps them in good neighborhoods. I am the one that keeps them in good schools, I am the one that keeps them from hanging out with the wrong people, I am the one that keeps them away from drugs, alcohol, crime, teenage pregnancies, and especially the violence that comes out of those issues. I am the one that instills “the three stupid rule” into them. You will be amazed how living with “the three stupid rule” as a guide will cut down on your violent encounters.

Do not go stupid places, with stupid people, and do stupid things.

The importance of a solid parental figure inside of the home can be the difference between life and death for the children inside of that home. That has been my reality! I lost my older sister at 28 years old due to the life style that we had led as children and young adults. Living outside of “the three stupid rule” as we did, for over thirteen years, cost her her life. She made decisions at thirteen years old that were not survivable. I spent thirteen years of my life protecting her and my family from the extremely violent world that she brought into our lives. Never underestimate the value of a strong parental figure inside of the home. As the parent, no matter how important that you think that you are, you are much more important than that. You can be the difference between your children living or dying…….and that is a fact!

IMHO, as a parent or future parent, you should have one mission that overrides all other missions. That mission is to go home and take care of your family. I do not need to be a hero, I do not need to push a political agenda, I do not need to educate anyone about their rights. All I need to do is go home and make sure that my family has everything that I can give them, to give them the ability to acquire the very best life that they can have. I did not fight my way out of the gutter to have my children need to do the very same thing.

This is why I am so vocal on the issue of being the very best that you can be inside of a life threatening encounter. This is why I risk being seen as an “anti-open carry” guy, even though I am not. All I want is for people to get the best information so that they can make the best choices for themselves and their love ones. All I care about is you fulfilling your paramount mission.

Now that people have some insight on “why I do what I do” how about we look at the things that will allow you to be the very best that you can be while open carrying.

The Gun is not a Talisman that wards off Evil

I think it is time for us all to agree, without having to call for links to prove it, the mere presence of a gun may stop a crime from ever being committed. On the flip side we need to agree that the presence of the gun may also be the catalyst of the crime that is committed. Yes, there are plenty of cases that show that people were targeted for their guns……..in their homes and on their person. This is all well documented and backed by common sense. Once we understand this, it becomes very clear that carrying a gun (open or concealed) comes with certain responsibilities. If the gun is a deterrent, not having the teeth to use it efficiently and effectively is like bluffing while playing poker. If you carry (open or concealed) you need to know how to use it efficiently and effectively. You do not want to bluff while holding one ace! If I am concealed, I never have anyone “call” my bluff because I am not bluffing. But if I am open carrying I am always in the position to be “called.” This means that if you decide to open carry you may need a higher skill level than those that carry concealed. Since the gun is visible, you may be in the position where you are more likely forced to use it.

With concealed carry I have more of an option to get involved or to not get involved. Since no one knows that I am carrying, I will be less likely to have my hand forced. I can make the rational decisions, on what to do based on “my mission.” I can watch the confrontation unfold and make the decision “when” or even “if” I go on the offensive. This is what people are talking about when they talk about “the tactical advantage.” This is all about the manipulation of the OODA loop, understanding “initiative” and the huge problems inside of “initiative deficit.” Once again this leads us to the point that open carry individuals may need a higher skill level and tactical understanding than those that carry concealed.

Simply put, action beats reaction! So many gun people do not understand this fact. Until you experience this firsthand you will not understand just how far behind you are most likely going to be. Open carry requires that you have your situational awareness tuned to a higher level, your “line in the sand” drawn clearer, your ability to work through the OODA loop quicker, and that your skill sets inside of the reactive gunfight at a higher level. You may be quicker getting your gun into play (depending on your mode of carry) due to not having a concealment garment, but that may not be even close to being good enough.

If the open carry gun deters the crime from ever taking place……great! But this is something that you cannot rely on. Crimes can also be deterred just by the way you carry yourself and how you handle yourself. There is one stat that will never be sure of, how many times is a crime deterred because of an open carry gun, compared to how many crimes are deterred due to being deselected due to the way you handle yourself and how you carry yourself.

You may want to consider getting some information about the streets. There are certain neighborhoods in Las Vegas where open carry may be seen as a sign of disrespect to the criminal organization that controls those neighborhoods. I know we all want to “go where ever I want to go.” But, is it really smart to fly the one finger salute in the most dangerous neighborhoods in Vegas, to the most dangerous people in Vegas. Going to those areas cover the “going stupid places” which makes you “the stupid person, doing the stupid thing.” Open carry requires a little more discretion than concealed carry. Information about the streets can be had if you know where to look.

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Discuss this topic here

The Ego Trap

Ego, how do we define it?

What is a healthy ego in the context of training?

When does it cross the line and become an obstruction to further development in this context?

Our ego is our sense of self. It is our very personal perception of who we are and how we view ourselves. A healthy ego possesses a positive and realistic self image as well as self confidence, open-mindedness and humility.

An unhealthy ego is based in fear and narcissism. Symptoms incude manipulative behavior, greed, vanity and an insatiable need for recognition of achievements. The person with a grandiose ego will go to any lengths to prove them-self superior to all others in any chosen endeavor. They will display aggressive emotional outbursts and ostentatious displays of materialism or wealth. They will create and destroy relationships to further their own gain and maintain an unrealistic sense of self.

In training, the student with an unhealthy ego is close-minded to concepts they are unfamiliar with or that might take them out of their comfort zone. This student refuses to acknowledge new paradigms and ideas. He is quick to discount and discredit those whom he percieves as opposing his point of view.

The novice student generally arrives with an open mind, tainted only by what he has read in various firearms publications, seen on the internet or heard from his buddy in some high-speed occupation. If he is driven and has a healthy ego, he will continue to train and begin to formulate his own perceptions on the application of force. This student welcomes new concepts and methodology. He continues to evolve because he is constantly evaluating himself and those he trains under. For this person the journey never ends.

The student with a diseased ego will tend to blindly adopt his favorite gun guru's teachings as gospel. In extreme cases, he might adopt the instructor's mannerisms, equipment choices, speech patterns, etc. He will become hostile in defense of the "faith". His frail ego has become a barrier to further development. For this student the journey has ceased. He will stake his ground and defend it at all cost.

The instructor with a balanced ego strives to provide his students with the best possible training he is capable of. He seeks to expand his own knowledge base, not only for himself but for those he teaches. He is continuously analyzing and revising his curriculum. This instructor is not afraid to fail, make a mistake or garner criticism, because he sees these as learning experiences and a chance to grow.

The instructor with an unhealthy ego is exclusive, dogmatic and inflexible in his approach to teaching. He is adept at discrediting others with his own special brand of reasoning. He is afraid to fail and sees any questioning of his methodology as a direct assault on his persona. He is driven by fear and conceit, greed and paranoia, unable to accept that there might be a different approach or a better way. For this person everything is black or white, this or that, always or never. Everyone is a potential enemy to be manipulated, torn down and cast aside in a never-ending quest to feed his superiority complex.

There are of course those who fall somewhere in-between these two polar opposites. The ego is a funny thing, it drives our need to succeed and prosper, but it must be kept in check, lest we construct our own roadblocks to individual development.

Training for a lethal force encounter is serious business. There is no room for exclusivity and superiority complexes. In your approach to training, let an open mind be your guide and common sense be your rudder.