As a nation we are again engulfed in civil unrest. For those that live in urban or suburban areas such unrest is, along with natural disasters, an obvious reason that may force you to leave your home. No matter how well-provisioned your home is, and no matter how well-positioned it is within a stable environment,... Continue Reading →
I have penned a few articles in various places denouncing the concept of a “carry rotation” which involves switching carry guns on a daily basis. Such a practice diminishes proficiency as switching between platforms for no other purpose than the variety detracts from familiarization with your defensive tool. With that said, most concealed carriers need... Continue Reading →
You really need to practice your draw stroke, from concealment, and do it often. It is, perhaps, the most essential skill related to the defensive handgun. However, there are a number of variations on this draw stroke, and I am referring here only to the draw from a single carry mode. Even if you wear... Continue Reading →
A while back I moved to appendix carry exclusively. The benefits of wearing your gun forward of your hips are numerous. Likewise, having a knife forward of the hips, accessible to the support hand, also makes good sense. The mechanics of the human body clearly function best when we conduct tasks in front of us... Continue Reading →
Being able to mitigate a heated situation before it turns violent is a skill you should have, especially if you go armed. This seems to be of ever-more pressing importance in modern society. It is also of great concern currently, in the midst of this pandemic, where we find seemingly normal people getting irate over... Continue Reading →
Guns are machines and as such they can malfunction. I have trained with a lot of people and it seems every instructor puts his or her own spin on how to clear malfunctions. It almost appears that malfunction clearance is a badge of honor in which to stake out your own niche. This is a... Continue Reading →
The concealed handgun has two primary attributes: First, it gives you a weapon that extends in function beyond contact distance which can be carried on the person. Second, it gives you the ability to keep said weapon concealed on your person. If you open carry you throw away the second attribute, which is a significant... Continue Reading →
While it is undeniable that Pat McNamara brings a good deal of entertainment value to the shooting and personal protection world, he is also exceedingly knowledgeable and skilled both as a practitioner and instructor. I read his book, Sentinel: Become the Agent in Charge of Your Own Protection Detail some time ago. McNamara approaches the... Continue Reading →
One of the best books I have ever read on human conflict is Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected by Rory Miller. I read this quite some years ago, actually, though this is the first time I am reviewing it. Rory Miller, a very experienced ex-corrections officer, offers an excellent overview of human predator types,... Continue Reading →
Several years ago I read Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps' Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life. The authors detail the Combat Hunter program approach to identifying threats in the environment. The idea behind the term “left of bang” is that this material focuses on what happens before the “bang.” The desired result... Continue Reading →
