I hate ankle carry. I can’t stand it. I used ankle carry quite extensively in years past for deep concealment needs when dressed formally, but the advent of such deep concealment solutions as the Phlster Enigma have eliminated my need for it to accommodate such dress. For medical, I daily pocket carry a minimalist kit... Continue Reading →
There is no denying that, if we have the choice, a long gun completely outclasses a pistol for actually stopping threats, be they two or four legged. A shotgun reigns supreme in decisiveness within its performance envelope, and the rifle can dominate a far more extensive plain. The pistol has only one advantage over long... Continue Reading →
Many lose sight of the fact that defensive firearms are simply emergency response tools. As medical gear is designed to respond to medical emergencies, and fire extinguishers are made to respond to fire emergencies, a defensive firearm is designed to respond to emergencies of violence. All such tools, however, do you no good if you... Continue Reading →
For many American families the summer involves a vacation trip to the beach. The beach involves dress and routine that poses challenges to staying armed. Still, do not think that bad things cease to exist just because you are on vacation. If vacationing in a free state where you can go armed, legally, you should... Continue Reading →
I have gone back and forth on knives over the years in my self-defense training. Working in hand-to-hand, force-on-force, experiences led me to see the obvious utility of a small, fixed blade. Still, as an overall preparedness tool, while a knife is essential, a dedicated “fighting” knife sits low on the totem pole for me... Continue Reading →
Under the American system of law you cannot use lethal force, or potentially lethal force, to protect property, period. The most common form of this seems to be in connection with automobile theft. Thug tries to steel a citizen’s vehicle, citizen intervenes, thug ends up dead. Well, even if found and ruled justified after the... Continue Reading →
The concept of limiting who you are willing to protect by inserting yourself into a violent confrontation is nothing new. Well over twenty years ago the instructor for my concealed carry course (in a state that mandated a full day course that primarily focused on legalities) suggested that the concealed carrier “keep it close to... Continue Reading →
The most important skill with a pistol, as it pertains to self-defense, is being able to deploy it efficiently, safely, and quickly. We could say that the draw to a first, solid hit, is most important. I would submit that the draw itself can be separated out from the first accurate hit to an extent... Continue Reading →
I generally avoid the topic of open carry as those devoted to it certainly should have every legal right to do so. Still, just because you can does not mean you should. There are certain environments where open carry is more acceptable than others, but they are few and far between. If you live in... Continue Reading →
I have long promoted keeping a holster for your carry gun that is for the opposite hand. In the event that you sustain an injury to your dominant hand, or in the event of having surgery on your dominant side elbow, shoulder, wrist, etc…, you will be out of commission for a recovery period and... Continue Reading →
