Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
Critical Incidents!
John Farnam’s commentary about last week’s terrorist attack in Colorado. The attacker used Molotov cocktails and a flame thrower.
Most of my friends carry weapons and medical gear. Do you have fire extinguishers in your house and car as well? Your tourniquet will be of little use to someone who is on fire after having been soaked in a flammable liquid.
I started carrying fire extinguishers in my car about 10 years ago after I saw rioters using fire during their activities. The two extinguishers linked below are smaller than a standard fire extinguisher, but still work well.
I soaked a police uniform shirt in gasoline and set it on fire in a backyard fire pit. Both of these extinguishers put out the flames quickly. You probably should have a few of these (or other extinguishers) on hand.
Continuing on the topic of modern terrorism and criminal violence, Michael Bane has some excellent advice on his latest podcast episode.
The Case of the One Cut Stop
“Bendigo Strange” doesn’t write nearly as often as he once did for a different blog. You should be actively seeking out his content and learning from it.
Situational Awareness in a Digital Age: 8 Smartphone Safety Tips
Some best practices for digital situational awareness. If you want some more info about the “juice jacking” the author mentions, read this article about it happening in airports.
Overview of gun laws by nation
A lot of Americans think that no one can own guns in other countries. It’s simply not true. There are nearly 40 countries that have some type of “must issue” permit system or constitutional protections allowing legal residents and citizens to own firearms. In most of these countries, it’s difficult or impossible to get a concealed carry permit, but having a home defense weapon isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
Testing Duty Pistols?
Erick shares some advice for any of you police readers who are involved in your agency’s handgun selection process.
Get. Off. The. X.
Thoughts on movement in the context of gunfighting. The site also posted some very useful commentary about the use of red dot sights on handguns.
Switch-Barrel Revolvers
When I was a kid, one of my dad’s good friends had a Dan Wesson Pistol Pack in .357 magnum that I loved to shoot. Being able to switch barrels is a cool feature. It’s nice to know that some folks are still attempting to improve revolver technology.
Guns and Self-Defense
I like reading experienced trainers’/operators’ well considered logic behind their choices of defensive carry firearm.
When Six Is Not Enough – Myths of the Self-Defense Revolver
Continuing on the theme of ideal self protection gun from the articles above, we honestly have to consider the weapon’s capacity when deciding which gun to carry every day. I love my revolvers, but I have to admit that on occasion six rounds might not be enough to do the job.
The LAPD Bonus Course
A great test to try during your next shooting session at the range.
Tactical Kindness
A fact that many “operators” fail to understand.
“I say this to say that when it comes to self defense, there is a skillset that has been overlooked by the majority of trainers: kindness.”
Understanding Ohio’s Weapons Law – Part 7 – Carrying Concealed Weapons II
Part seven of Lon’s deep dive into Ohio weapon laws.
Violence: Reflections on a National Epidemic
What I’m reading…
Don’t Do These Things with Your 1911!
I’m betting that most of the people who carry 1911 pistols screw up at least one of the things Mr. Ayoob identifies. You might also like to read Massad’s advice about talking to the police after a defensive shooting.
Three Lenses on Violence: Grossman, Buss, and the Evolutionary Reality
“In the end, Buss and Grossman each reveal a partial truth. Buss reminds us that killing is natural, but fails to account for its moral and psychological costs. Grossman reminds us that killing is often traumatic, but misrepresents how easily that trauma can be manipulated or mitigated. My work aims to reconcile the two, not with platitudes, but with a framework grounded in evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and combat realism. Violence is not a problem to be wished away or moralized into silence. It is the furnace in which human nature was forged.”
Tips for Defensive Carbine Development
Some tips for setting up and training with a home defense carbine.
Under-Fire Reload Tactics
Mike Boyle talks handgun reload strategies.
.38 Smith & Wesson: The Other .38 Revolver Round
Some fun history for you. All instructors must at least be passingly familiar with this cartridge and why it is not the same as today’s .38 special load. If you teach enough basic CCW type courses, you’ll have someone show up with an old break-top revolver.
The Psychology of Deterring Attackers–Part I
The late Dr. Aprill was one of the world’s foremost experts in criminal psychology. In this article he provides amazing information about “de-selecting” yourself from the risks of criminal violence. It covers what you can do to make the criminals pass you by. You should also read Part Two of the series as well.
The article is from the ACLDN monthly newsletter. I like the ACLDN and am a member. They can provide a massive amount of financial assistance and expert witness testimony to help keep you from being bankrupted or jailed following your self-defense shooting.
The State of Crime and Criminal Justice in 2025
Taking a look at current crime trends and predicting how that might change in the near future.
Best Shotgun Shell Holder Guide
Matt Haught provides some excellent advice about carrying spare ammo with the shotgun. Although almost all of my defensive shotguns have the ability to carry extra ammo, I would caution you not to worry too much about this topic. If you don’t have the perfect solution for spare ammo, you are still likely to be OK. Statistically, reloading the shotgun during a home protection scenario is so incredibly rare as to be non-existent. I wouldn’t spend dozens (or hundreds or thousands) of hours trying to really shave time off your shotgun reload unless you plan on competing.
The 20 Gauge Shell That Could
And while we are talking shotguns, if you have a 20 gauge, this looks like an excellent defensive load.
FBI Reports Active Shooter Incidents Down 50% Last Year
After all of this week’s links about violence and bloodshed, let’s end on a good note. A 50% reduction in active killer attacks is great news! Until you realize that the FBI report is seriously flawed and missing some very important events.
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