Parker Decision Credited To Liberal Academicians: The New York Times begins. "In March, for the first time in the nation's history, a federal appeals court struck down a gun control law on Second Amendment grounds. Only a few decades ago, the decision would have been unimaginable." The article goes on to credit the writings of Lawrence Tribe, Akhil Reed Amar and Sanford Levinson for having influenced the court. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/us/06firearms.html?_r=1&hp=&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all --- Satisfied Glock Customer: As I have not been shy about sharing material on the shortcomings of Glock pistols, it's only fair that I share this report of one user's experience with his G19 and Glock's current customer service. http://www.stoppingpower.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13632 --- From John Farnam: 29 Apr 07 Another gun accident, this time in CA: "A patrol officer from a LA suburb, with only a few weeks on the Job, accidentally shot himself four weeks ago. He is returning to normal duty next week. He was walking out the front door of his girlfriend's house, with her by his side. He reached into his right/front pocket in an effort to retrieve his car keys. Sharing that same pocket was a G27, not in a holster but loose in his pants pocket. You guessed it! As he pulled them out, his keys caught in the trigger guard and made contact with the trigger. Both pistol and ammunition functioned normally! A single bullet went through the bottom of the pocket and entered his thigh. The trajectory passed through the outside of his thigh, exiting just above his knee. The wound was actually little more than a streak mark, as, happily, the bullet did not penetrate significantly. He'll inherit a sexy scar to show people at parties, but no permanent disability. The officer's first assignment next week is to the range, for remediation!" Comment: PISTOLS CARRIED CONCEALED, OR OPENLY FOR THAT MATTER, NEED TO BE SECURED IN WELL-DESIGNED (PROTECTED TRIGGER AND TRIGGER GUARD), HIGH-QUALITY HOLSTERS, NOT LOOSE IN POCKETS OR RATTLING AROUND IN THE BOTTOM OF HANDBAGS. Carrying loose guns in pockets is fairly an invitation to disaster, as this young lad discovered. Fortunately, his "lesson" was not fatal. Many others have not been so lucky! /John (It's hard to add much to this one, other than to point out that there was a time when it was considered state-of-the-art for holsters to be cut so that the trigger guard was exposed, Such holsters [e.g., Tom Threepersons' design] were developed for single-action revolvers, which are carried uncocked, and transitioned into use for double-action revolvers, during the time that officers were trained to start the trigger stroke before the sights were aligned with the target.) 30 Apr 07 Handgun Training in the Philippines, from a friend there: "I was recently asked to assist with defensive handgun instruction. The instructor is an acquaintance, and two of his students had just narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt. However, I had to check my candor when the instructor emphasized the need for chambers to be empty whenever a pistol is carried. The reason given was: 'When we are aware enough of our surroundings, we will always have plenty of time to chamber a round. The rest of the time, the pistol will be 'safe.'' During the first break, I spoke in private with my friend and said: (1) Racking the slide is normally a two-handed procedure. Those of us unlucky enough to have our support hand already critically occupied will find your technique unusable, at a most inconvenient time! (2) While we all struggle to remain 'switched-on' (condition yellow) all day, there will be moments wherein we are less alert than we should be. Having to rack a slide AFTER being caught with our pants down will not contribute to our happiness! (3) When the student loads his pistol and then discovers he doesn't need to shoot immediately but does need both his hands, what does he do with the pistol? Does he holster it in its loaded condition, having never been trained to carry a loaded pistol? He flat refused to even mention carrying a truly loaded pistol, saying that it was too dangerous for beginners. Of course, to him all students are forever 'beginners,' as he indicated he never allows loaded pistols on any range, no matter whom he is training. I countered that during my experience with hot ranges (including yours!), I had never observed a single ND. I then thanked him for inviting me and abruptly departed, wanting nothing more to do with this fraudulent 'training.' Serious guns are loaded! Who can't get past this primary axiom needs to reconsider his interest in the entire subject." Lesson: Competent teachers don't pussyfoot about the subject of serious weaponcraft! We tell students, in plain English, (1) What kind of commitment our craft entails, (2) What sacrifices will be required, and (3) What gains can reasonably be expected. We develop correct habits, so our students can fight effectively with any weapon. We push them, making sure that "safety" is a function of the mind, not the result of some gadget. Delusion is not part of the professional gunman's calling! /John (Empty-chamber carry, as part of the Israeli doctrine, seems to be traceable back to Fairbairn and Sykes. It is popular in institutional environments where pistols are issued and returned at shift changes. John has confirmed that, to his knowledge, a certain nationally know firearms trainer, who has published several books and countless magazine articles, is still running cold ranges at his school.) 1 May 07 Comments on personal weapons management, from a pilot who is one of our students, currently stationed in Baghdad: "I couldn't help but to respond regarding this subject, as I am currently dealing with the same nonsense. I am here in the Green Zone as part of an aviation unit. Base commanders have decreed that there are three condition for personal firearms (rifles and pistols), Green, Amber, and Red. While in the Green Zone, personal weapons must be 'Green.' We would call it 'storage-mode,' no magazine inserted, empty chamber. One may carry rifles and pistols and have a charged magazine or two with him, but they may never be inserted into magazine wells. 'Amber' we would call 'transport-mode.' Charged magazine inserted, but no round chambered. The only ones authorized to carry in Amber are Security Forces, and only when they are actually working as such. At all other times, they are expendable peons like the rest of us. 'Red' is what we would call 'carry-mode,' but it is only theoretical, as no one may have a weapon in that condition. Weapons are NEVER actually carried in 'Red.' At the chow hall, Ugandan security guards (who don't speak English) check to ensure holstered pistols (which are all in storage-mode anyway) have the decocker (the call it a 'safety') down. There is a clearing barrel beside the entrance, but one is no longer mandated to 'clear' weapons upon entering. Such 'clearing' used to be a requirement, but there were so many NDs, the more-or-less continuous noise disturbed diners! In addition, since such NDs automatically give rise to Article 15 sanctions, too many troopers, after experiencing an ND, would simply drop their pistol and run away. Embarrassing! Since my unit regularly flies over hostile territory, I make it a habit to go 'Red' with my M9 pistol prior to each flight. Unfortunately, I'm the only one who does! Other pilots laugh, saying, "I'll just load it when I need it!" However, there has never been any training with regard to going from Amber to Red, so such empty bravado is all theoretical, since they have only talked about it. None have ever actually done it! Well, I recently had to have a chat with my desk-bound Battalion Commander with regard to this very subject. He stated that the threat level did not 'justify' having a loaded gun in the cockpit! He made it clear that none of us were authorized to "go Red" until we're shot down. He added, 'All you have to do is just pull that thing, the "slide, right?, back, right?' I concluded that no further discussion was necessary. I continue to, now surreptitiously, 'go Red' prior to each flight. As the Great Philosopher said, 'There is nothing to be gained by arguing with idiots!' It is truly a sad state of affairs that I'm an officer, wear the uniform, have an issued pistol, ammunition, magazines, but '... Oh, don't load that gun. That would be unsafe!' Back in the States (where I don't draw combat pay) I carry, concealed, a fully-loaded pistol, just as you taught me, every waking hour, only to arrive in a "Combat Zone,' draw 'combat pay,' and have to deal with this insanity!" Comment: Desk-bound managers (masquerading as "leaders'), who, because they've never been exposed to competent small-arms training, don't know what they don't know, but unforgivably, don't want to know what they don't know are smothering real warriors who want to enlighten others and advance the Art. With "leaders" like these, we don't need enemies! "In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. Everything else is rubbish!" Eddie Rickenbacker, WWI Flying Ace /John 2 May 07 Same thing in Afghanistan, from a friend and student who is there now: "No different here! I am also routinely instructed by Army gate guards to download my weapons as I return from Indian Country. Interestingly, European posts require no such silliness! I have foolishly tried to reason with these young lads at the gate, because I spent twelve years wearing the same, Infantry uniform, including the First Gulf War, and, of course, carry every day as a Federal Officer back in the States. I should know better! Says I, 'I am expected to wander about with empty weapons?' 'Yes, sir, that's the rule.' is the mechanical reply. As soon as we are through the gate, we stop, recharged our guns, and go merrily about our business. This has become SOP. However, I now make it a habit to bring some kind of gift for the overworked, unappreciated gents at the gate. Since then, my comings and goings have become a good deal smoother and vastly quicker. The idea that anyone, anywhere, would carry firearms for serious social interaction, yet do so with them in any condition other than ready to fire at a moment's notice, is so stupid no 'discussion' appears necessary, at least among the sane. I know I am preaching to the choir, but it is frustrating nonetheless. Even in my own stateside Organization, we have grasseaters who insist, if a Special Agent is going to carry a gun in the office, he do it concealed. The message is clear, 'Those things are frightening, and, if they must be around, at least make it so we grasseaters can pretend they don't exist.' Bureaucracies everywhere have a habit of attracting and nurturing herbivores. This would not be nearly the problem it is if they would just sit down and shut up, allowing those of us who stand ready to engage VCAs to do what we do. Sadly, who don't lead the way, just get in the way! I am off my soapbox now." Comment: "They have given us into the hands of new, unhappy lords Lords without anger and honor, who dare not carry their swords They 'fight' by shuffling papers; they have bright, dead, alien eyes They look at our labor with laughter as a tired man looks at flies And the load of their loveless pity is worse than ancient wrongs Their doors are shut in the evenings; and they know no songs" The Secret People G.K. Chesterton Leaders select objectives, then direct others to achieve them. Managers direct others to achieve objectives chosen by a third party. Administrators direct others, using means selected by a third party, to achieve objectives chosen by a fourth party. All three circumstances are part of an officer's life, but real officers yearn only for the former. Unfortunately, many military "leaders" are little more than managers, and many of those have consciously chosen to reduce themselves to the level of permanent administrator, because it is safer for their careers than risking real decision-making. They know that they will only be held to account an act of commission, i.e., making a decision that has a poor result. They will never be held to account for an act of omission, i.e., refusing to making a decision, even when that also has a poor result. In such an environment, which is the safest posture for the "career officer?" Do nothing. Become an administrator. The entire philosophy of any armed force should be TO ESTABLISH TRUST, well earned and deserved, at all levels. The foregoing encourages precisely the opposite, destroying trust and creating "leaders" who predictably dodge decisions by referring them "upstairs." When routine, this practice promotes micro-management, which in turn degrades trust and slows tactical, decision-making loops. Over time, we find ourselves with a stilted, uninspired army, where those on the ground realize that they will not receive timely decisions from above, and that decisions that finally do come down will be long-since irrelevant to the actual situation before them. Troops, in turn, gradually begin to regard their officers, correctly, as disconnected, dithering buffoons who care not a whit for the Cause or the troops. Accordingly, they surreptitiously disregard their officers and keep as much decision-making as possible away from them. They also withhold information. Isolated, delusional officer/administrators continue to strut about, thinking everything is swell, until something blows up in their faces. Then, he priority immediately switches to assigning blame! Such a sterile, hyper-politicized, ponderous, disconnected army is no match for an inspired, committed, agile, flexible force, even one smaller and less technologically sophisticated. History is replete with examples! All of Western Civilization had better look up and see what is happening, lest we become yet another example, and are unceremoniously relegated to the dustbin of History! /John -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .