New on the DUF Website: I have updated the discussion of the feasibility of wearing IWB holsters in the appendix or front-crossdraw positions, in the "Belt Holsters for Women" section at http://www.spw-duf.info/holster.html. An article on the role of what Mike Conti calls "directed-threat perception theory," a term I did not bother to include, was added to the Naked Emperor page at http://www.spw-duf.info/emperor.html#which --- The Beat Winds Down?: The "Obama effect" seems to be wearing off in Southern Arizona. Tucson-area shooters and gun-shop owners say sales of firearms, which spiked with Obama's election, have been normalizing for months. Even so-called assault rifles, which were selling out at this time last year, are in stock. mmunition remains in tight supply for some common calibers, and expensive across the board. Still, it is more widely available than it was during much of the middle of the year, gun owners and merchants said. One likely reason is that the Democrat-controlled Congress and President Obama have not pushed through gun-control measures as expected, said Steve Spencer, a Lutheran pastor from Sierra Vista who was target-shooting Friday at the Southeast Regional Park Shooting Range, 11296 S. Harrison Road... Even as the demand for firearms eased off, the demand for ammunition surged. At some chain stores, common handgun ammunition such as .22 caliber and .45 ACP ran out... (I'm not sure what qualifies Rev. Spencer as an industry analyst. In my analysis, there was only so much money available to be spent on the firearms that could still come under federal restriction, as well as on those that are popular for the surge in concealed carry. Where I live, I see only an occasional box of handgun ammunition at Walmart, typically in .44 Magnum, .25 ACP or .32 ACP, no .22's or even .30-30 offerings. My understanding is that primers remain the rate-limiting step, which would also account for their continuing scarcity as reloading components.) http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/318558 --- Using Art to Enhance Observation Skills: Early one morning a bunch of New York City police officers, guns concealed, trooped into the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Inside a conference room, Amy Herman, a tall 43-year-old art historian and lawyer, apologized that she hadn't been able to provide the customary stimulant. "I usually try to give you coffee with plenty of sugar to make you talk more," she said. The officers, all captains or higher in rank, were attending "The Art of Perception," a course designed to fine-tune their attention to visual details, some of which might prove critical in solving or preventing a crime. Herman laid out the ground rules. "First, there are two words that are not allowed - 'obviously' and 'clearly' - since what's obvious to you may not be obvious to someone else. Second, no reading of labels. For purposes of this exercise, we are not focusing on who the artist was, the title of the work or even when it was created. Third, I want hands back, no pointing. If you want to communicate something, you have to say, 'Up in the left-hand corner, you can see...' " ... (I don't know if it's strictly for monetary reasons that this course seems limited to at least mid-level supervisors. I guess the lesson for those of us who cannot take the course is to use opportunities such as visits to galleries to learn to make objective observations. On the other hand, I strongly believe that "gut feelings" are mostly a subconscious recognition that something has varied from a normal pattern.) http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Teaching-Cops-to-See.html --- But First, a Word from Our Sponsor...: This has not been an easy choice for me but I have decided to share, in context, some observations I made to John Farnam, rather than what they became in his rendition: > 19 Nov 09 > > Dear Steve > > My opinion: > > When all those naive, self-deceptive "fun-gun" owners are compelled by circumstance to actually use their "fun-guns" for serious purposes, maybe it will finally become obvious to them, and the rest of the rose-colored-glasses crowd, that "weapon" is a valid, and honorable, term. > > All guns are "weapons" "Fighting" is sometimes acutely necessary, even for those who foolishly believe they will never have to! > > /John You may not know that, circa 1996, I spent a few months assisting in the junior smallbore rifle program at the now-defunct San Gabriel Valley Gun Club (home club to Olympian shotgunner Kim Rhode). During that time: * I once had one of the teenage members walk up looking very dejected. I ask the problem and, in response, was asked what a weapon was and if his target rifle was a weapon. It turned out that he had referred to his rifle as his weapon and had been soundly chastised for doing so by one of the senior coaches. I explained that a weapon is an implement of combat and that while his rifle had been designed for sporting use, it could be utilized as a weapon, albeit a low-power one. * I took a pair of courses to qualify to become a smallbore rifle coach. In the shooting-coach course, the instructor went on and on about how when he had been trained to teach the course, his class had a coffee can at the front of the room and anytime someone referred to a rifle as a weapon, they had to walk up and put a quarter in the can. * I overheard a few remarks by the senior coaches complaining about the NRA spending too much money and effort "defending assault weapons," at the expense of neglecting the competition program. This culminated when I heard one senior coach remark that, as far as he was concerned, the government could ban and confiscate all firearms, as long as he could keep his free-style air rifle. This last incident made me decide not to submit the paperwork for certification as a coach and to find a better way to spend my Saturday afternoons. I felt that the program was a valuable one for the kids, more than one of whom ended up going to college on shooting scholarships, but that it would likely be unhealthy for them to see me get into an argument with their senior coaches. Very shortly after I moved back to Arizona, in July 1999, the two teenage daughters of Middleton Tompkins (whose wife is also a champion highpower rifle shooter) won a thousand-yard highpower rifle match, beating out several LE teams, including the USSS team. Tompkins was interviewed by one of the major Arizona papers and also made a remark belittling NRA's efforts to "defend assault weapons" and suggesting that NRA needed to get back to its roots in fostering marksmanship skills. My reaction - If I were a tyrant, would I be more concerned about some bozo spraying 7.62x39 rounds from an SKS or an AK clone or someone who could take me out with a single shot from a thousand yards? We have seen the enemy... he is us. --- From John Farnam: 16 Nov 09 Scenario-Based Training: We just completed an Airsoft-enabled, Scenario-Based Training program in Addison, IL, at the wonderful Safe Direction facility. It was an eye-opener for all of us! Students were veterans of several Defensive Handgun Programs, by us and other well-known instructors. All carry concealed regularly. No amateurs were present! We used Airsoft pistols and rifles, and all students were thoroughly oriented on Airsoft at the beginning of the Program. Here are important lessons students report over and over: 1) Keep your head up! Maintain continuous visual contact with all possible threats. Look all around. Notice details. Gawking at your gun seldom provides you with any useful information. 2) Stay in motion! We die in the gaps. Get off the "X!" 3) Use cover! Be ever-aware of objects that may be used for cover. Be able to become an extremely difficult/illusive target, instantly. 4) Develop an ability to rapidly size-up threatening situations. We may not like what we see, but we must have the personal courage to confront indisputable facts squarely. 5) Have a plan! You must have a tactical blueprint up on your screen all the time. You can't plan every detail, but you must have a general idea of what you're going to do and where/how you're going to start. 6) Be able to distinguish the significant from the insignificant! Most information is worthless. Don't expend attentive energy on what is not important. Quickly determine what is critical and start planning around it. Beware of decoys! 7) Don't panic! Move smoothly and with purpose. No wasted parts; no wasted motions! Control your breathing and stay one step ahead of developing situations. Use your sights; aim your shots! 8) Fight through speed-bumps. Running out of ammunition, stoppages, being wounded, et al. They're all just speed-bumps. Don't turn them into Mt Everest! Get over/around them quickly and move on. 9) Gain and maintain the offensive! Turn the table on your opponent(s) immediately. Once the initiative is seized, never give it up. Stay in control. One-by-one, eliminate his options. 10) Finish the fight! Outcomes are often determined by who gives up first. See the fight through to the end. 10) Don't hesitate, dither, nor stampede! (a) Smooth, (b) lethally potent, (c) coldly efficient, (d) surgically precise, and (e) ruthlessly incisive execution are the keys to victory. Scenario-based training represents a wonderful opportunity to exercise all of the foregoing. We're doing a lot of it these days! /John ("Amateur" and "professional" each have a variety of meanings. While "amateurish" usually refers to a low level of competence, the original meaning of "amateur" is one who performs for the love of the art, not necessarily a bad thing. One area of disagreement I have had with other instructors is my preference for performing reloads, malfunction clearances and reholstering without having to look at the firearm or holster; John seems to agree. Ray Chapman taught us that speed is five-sixths smoothness. Smoothness is elimination of unnecessary motion. As my former teaching partner, Peter Samish, likes to say, "Move quickly, shoot carefully. Take the time you need to make the shot but don't waste any time.) 16 Nov 09 These additional comments from my friend in the Federal System: "I visited a colleague at FBI headquarters in Washington DC a short time ago. He had to come down from his office to the quarantined check-in area to meet me. He then instructed me to secure my weapons up in lockers provided. When I asked why, he told me that only FBI Special Agents were authorized to carry weapons in 'their' building. 'That's really curious,' said I, 'since my Agency's recruitment and training standards, in addition to our security clearance, vastly exceeds yours. So, our Agents, including me, are even more 'special' than yours!' No reply, of course. I was then required to pass thru an airport-style magnetometer (operated by rent-a-cops) before being allowed into the building. As a manager, how can one possibly justify such a stupid, demeaning, intelligence-insulting policy at a federal facility, when all us federal law-enforcement personnel routinely carry loaded firearms everywhere, daily, including on commercial aircraft! The whole thing is so juvenile, it is difficult for me control my anger long enough to wrap my brain around it. It is even more difficult for the average American to understand how massacres of the unarmed (actually DISarmed, as most officers and NCOs would happily carry all the time if permitted) happen on military bases!" Comment: My friend hesitates to say it, but I won't. The problem is that "managers" to whom he refers, including some generals and directors, are spineless worms, far more interested in promotion-groveling politics than in law enforcement, or even defending the Nation. The entire Federal System, including the Military, needs fewer cowering atta-boys and more audacious heroes! /John (Several years prior to 9/11, a list member was assigned to a federal drug task force. On his first airline flight after receiving his appointment, he reached the security checkpoint and presented his federal documentation, jokingly referred to as "the Queen's warrant." He bypassed the metal detector and waited for his carry-on luggage to clear the X-ray inspection. He was surprised to see the bag carried back for a second viewing. When he asked if there was a problem, the screener told him that she could not see his gun. He replied that he was wearing it. "Oh," she replied, "all the FBI agents carry them in their bags.") 19 Nov 09 Interesting comments from a student and inadvertent bear hunter! "Several years ago in MT, while ostensibly hunting elk, I accidentally disturbed an enormous male grizzly bear! The bear was reclining in alders behind me as I took up a position to scan for elk. I was unaware he was there and was surely not thinking about bears. The bear may not have been thinking about me either, but it is obvious he was thinking about lunch! The first clue was when I heard the sound of crashing alders behind me and turned to catch my initial, terrifying glimpse. The bear was charging me from a distance of thirty meters! I was armed with a scoped, Ruger bolt-gun in 7mmRem Mg. I remember being surprised and frightened, but I consider myself a competent Operator, and I knew what to do! My first shot struck the bear head-on, just under the chin. Range was twenty meters. I used the scope. It was adjusted to 3X. It caused the bear to shift his head, similar to a boxer fading from a punch. I was sure I had hit him, but I didn't know exactly where. Without delay, I bolted-in a second round and fired. That round struck just behind the hump (fired at a downward angle). Range was ten meters. I was looking over the scope when I took that shot. The bear dropped, rolled over, bellowed, and slid down an incline. He thrashed for ten seconds, then went limp, DRT. I was unhurt. I moved laterally, positioning myself behind a large tree. I then recharged the rifle's magazine with two rounds, replacing the ones I had just expended. When the whole episode started, it only required an instant for me to realize that neither fleeing, nor verbal de-escalation, were likely to be successful! Standing my ground and ending this fight was my only viable option. Extensive training made my weapon work. I didn't have time to think about how to run it. Because, to Feds, killing a grizzly within CONUS is akin to molesting children, simultaneous, interminable investigations by four, separate state and federal law-enforcement agencies were apparently obligatory. However, the affirmative necessity of my actions were shown to be incontrovertible, and all evidence united in confirming it. Since the event, I've experienced recurring nightmares, which I know are normal. They've gradually diminished with time. A source of personal satisfaction is the fact that I know I fought a battle with an honorable opponent. The bear's motives were at least respectable. In my job as a police officer, most of my opponents are human, none of whom have ever know any species of honor! I keep remembering your saying, 'When it's least expected, you're elected!' Can't be stressed too much!" Comment: There are no guarantees in this life, and even the best preparation and tactics sometimes yield poor results. The only thing competent training and preparedness can do is stack the odds in your favor. They give you a good chance. In the end, that's all a good man needs! /John (The bear where I live are relatively small black bear and I add a .44 Magnum revolver to my daily battery when I hike with my dog on forest roads. I have yet to encounter a bear [or cougar] so I can't say from personal experience whether or not one would have the ability to "get off the X" in an incident of this nature. Bears run faster than humans so 30 meters in an attack by a bear is functionally closer than 30 meters with a human assailant but I don't know if bears can change direction faster than people.) 21 Nov 09 One of my Instructors comments on scenario-based training: "Being a role-player allowed me to observe our students reacting to a wide variety of threatening circumstances. Some notes: (1) Keep students guessing. We need to 'maintain the mystery,' All scenarios need to be full of surprises and unexpected challenges. Student expectations and smug prejudices must be constantly assailed! (2) Not every drill should culminate in gunfire. Scenarios where many options are available provide the widest spectrum of learning experiences. Too often, students enter scenarios all too anxious to draw and fire, when verbal/postural disengagement, at least initially, is clearly called for. Those skills must be exercised too! (3) We need less emphasis on endlessly/tumidly acquiring information and more on definitive, timely action. When circumstances are rapidly evolving, few relevant details will be known, nor can they be known in time for that knowledge to be used to our advantage. Nonetheless, decisions need to be made quickly. Dithering is always fatal! Do I voluntarily become involved, or not? Does that person represent a lethal threat, or not? Do I need to change position, or stay where I am? Students need to learn to think on their feet, put together a plan on the spot, and hit the ground running, all with limited information! (4) Students need the personal experience of actually 'firing' at another human being (albeit a role-player) using a simulated (Airsoft) pistol. Shooting at paper targets, even life-like mannequins, is all good training, but there is no substitute for actually dropping the hammer on a real person when it has to be, without hesitation. All students need that experience, no matter how personally distasteful! Airsoft has been long overlooked, but we are now, at long last, finally coming to fully realize its usefulness in training professional Operators." Comment: Scenario-based training, using Airsoft pistols and rifles, is a critical part of every Operator's training. It requires precise organization, and it is wearisome and far from risk-free! But, all of us need to find a way to get in into our lives! /John ("Scenario-based training, using Airsoft pistols and rifles" is more commonly referred to as force-on-force training. It has revolutionized what many open-minded instructors now teach because it has helped uncover that even the most highly trained operators are likely to fire one-handed, with the crudest of visual index, if that, when confronted suddenly with a threat that is about to shoot them, albeit with a round that will cause only pain, with no serious wound. It is, however, generally regarded as the third level of training, after one has mastered the basics [level one] and increasingly complex range drills [level two]. There have been tragic accidents in the law-enforcement community due to failures to maintain an environment free of all "live" weapons during this training. For this reason, force-on-force training generally requires multiple instructors, in order to maintain a "sterile" training environment. One should consider some training at one of the larger schools that offers this training, even if one does not accept all of that school's doctrine.) -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. The tactics and skills to use a firearm in self-defense don't come naturally with the right to keep and bear arms. http://www.spw-duf.info .