Once again, a great crop of stories for you! In this issue: another look at defending yourself from someone you know; an alarm system that will cuddle and lick your face; expanding on the idea of training your kids how to respond; some Halloween safety tips; should you shoot a burglar?; the right way to clear bad guys from your home; Greg Ellifritz looks at how you might respond to a shooting in an isolated area; and Rob Pincus has ...
Continue Reading →Welcome to Wednesday! Here’s some more great personal safety and self defense information: someone survived a hurricane because of common-sense preparation; a Halloween horror story with a happy ending; winter holidays have many opportunities for crime; poker and its relation to self defense; a look at the shotgun as a home defense tool; a warning shot goes horribly wrong; Greg Ellifritz looks at the .22 revolver in a different light; taking your trauma kit with you while shooting. Enjoy and ...
Continue Reading →Another Wednesday, another Reading List! In today’s list: learning to fight back; knowing where your line in the sand is; the police probably aren’t going to save you; what not to do when your attacker is in your face; getting your gun ready when you don’t yet need to shoot; a sad case of someone who didn’t understand when the fight was over; preparing for winter storms; and Greg Ellifritz teaches us to look for opportunities. Read, learn, and share!
More great self defense reading for this week! First, why you need to include a dog in your defensive planning; Greg Ellifritz considers what you should do after you’ve stopped the active killer; why you need a practice tourniquet in your kit; how to carry spare revolver ammunition; dealing with the spontaneous fight; how to properly analyze incident video; and dispelling some pervasive shotgun myths. Be sure to share with all of your friends!
It’s Hump Day — and time to get your learning on! This week: another look at a case where shooting wasn’t the answer; some alternative defensive tools to consider; a gun you have beats the one you wish you had; an explanation of polygonal rifling; sometimes students active try to not learn; a real-life example of “could” versus “should”; Claude Werner looks at the criminal interview; and the lever action rifle is still a viable choice for defense. Prepare for ...
Continue Reading →More Wednesday Wonderfulness! Massad Ayoob and Gail Pepin talking with Joshua Gideon; what happened at an airport when an active shooter alarm went out; doctors need protection too; defending against rioters with a rifle; Greg Ellifritz talks about defending against the surprise attack; the ways to use a defensive flashlight; being a survivalist doesn’t have to involve camouflage underwear; and understanding crying at the range. Another great collection of articles to help you and your family stay safe in this ...
Continue Reading →In today’s Hump Day Reading List: another warning shot goes bad — very, very bad; Greg Ellifritz has some ideas on protecting yourself while working in your yard; reasons why your demeanor as an armed citizen is important; one woman gives her hard-won advice on concealed carry; not being noticed as a protection tool; the after-shooting “scan”; and how burglars do their work.
I’ve said this before, many times: warning shots are almost universally a bad idea. ...
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It’s Hump Day, which means it’s time for education and enlightenment! Claude Werner talks about mindset, decision making, and training both; a defensive shooting what really wasn’t, despite what your friends think; Greg Ellifritz shows you how drug stores are really dangerous places, and what to do about it; some tips for women on learning defensive shooting skills; dealing with a disaster when away from home; how to properly evaluate a belt for concealed carry; some thoughts on what experience ...
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This week’s Hump Day Reading List includes an article on how to get the exercise you know you need; developing a defensive mindset; Greg Ellifritz looks at how terrorist attacks on airports are evolving; the AK as a defensive rifle; how to design your own home alarm system; what you need in an auto emergency kit; grandmas have always carried guns, but now they’re not afraid to admit it; and a look at the 20-gauge as a defensive tool. All ...
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A couple of weeks back social media was all abuzz at the case of an 11-year-old “hero” who shot a burglar. Now I know we’ve all seen “Home Alone” and cheered when little Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Caulkin) got the best of the would-be burglars, but in this case there’s much less to celebrate.
The news reports I’ve read differ slightly in the details, and frankly the boy’s story appears to keep changing, but what is consistent is that a burglar ...
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It’s the Hump Day Reading List! To start off, we look at a case where a police officer used his trauma kit to save his own life; a story of a man who shot a neighbor under less-than-perfect circumstances; the horrific incident that started one man on the path to an armed lifestyle; the myth of racking a shotgun; taking apart a classic Savage pistol; a comprehensive look at what cover is and isn’t; what you know determines what you ...
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I’ve really got something for everyone today! Starting off, there’s Greg Ellifritz with an article on how to handle people following you; Ian McCollum looks at some incredible engraved revolvers; a way to ease into the preparedness world; a reason why some rifle cartridges destroy barrels; some advice on what to do when your child reaches for your gun; avoiding social violence by being smarter than the other guy; ideas for outdoor security lighting; and all you ever wanted to know ...
Continue Reading →It’s Wednesday (again), but I’ve got happiness for you: the Hump Day Reading List! This week we look at a defensive shooting that really wasn’t; why you fear a knife attack; Ian McCollum brings us an interesting .22 rifle from the days of yore; quick-access safes may not be all that safe; the AR-15 takes on all comers, and emerges victorious; when is a leg wound an abdominal wound?; carrying while on vacation; and Greg Ellifritz brings us some lessons ...
Continue Reading →Welcome to Wednesday — and the Hump Day Reading List! Today Greg Ellifritz has some lessons to be learned from recent news events; a look at why what works in the shoothouse may not work in the real world; Ian McCollum examines the pinfire revolver; storing a defensive shotgun; some women and gun myths get busted; how to deal with people who suddenly find that they aren’t as prepared as you are; and a look at why black women are ...
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I’ve spoken before about the need to be able to protect yourself when you’re not armed, and today’s topic is a perfect example: a video of a motorcycle versus car road rage incident from Florida shows the need to defend yourself when a firearm is either not available or is not the right choice. Not every lethal threat is a shooting situation!
First, watch the video:
Something to keep in mind: we don’t know what precipitated this video. ...
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Is it Wednesday again? Holy cow this week went by quickly, but I still found the time to bring you some great information! I have a new article up at the PDN Blog; someone showed me a great prepper blog that’s not scary or offensive; Greg Ellifritz looks at a case where a man shot another man over a dog — but not really; a look at TASERs and stun guns for self defense; being in a rut gives you ...
Continue Reading →More great information this week! It starts with a video featuring Rob Leatham and Rob Pincus (yes, they actually talk to each other!); a look at the social side of guns and shooting; some prepper terms you might want to know; how you can learn from other people’s experiences; the dangers posed by an otherwise unarmed attacker; Greg Ellifritz looks at why disarms don’t work on the street like they do on the mat; Claude Werner talks about the OODA ...
Continue Reading →This week I’ve collected quite a few gems for your edification! First up is a look at AR-15 barrel life; then an essay on why the change that comes from carrying a handgun is positive; a link to an article on the pitfalls of the ever-popular slide-mounted red dot sights; Ian McCollum has a video about early lever-action rifles; why you might want to learn how to use a map and compass in this modern age; Claude Werner tackles the ...
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Today’s Hump Day Reading list looks at the legal and practical sides of self defense, plus a few things: a home invasion successfully ended by the defenders; good news for owners of 5mm Remington rimfire rifles; a robbery which ended tragically for the defender but didn’t need to; why you need to learn how to respond to an active shooter; why you need to understand the legalities of self defense; Greg Ellifritz shows you what you need to consider before ...
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For this Hump Day we have an educational look at an actual attempted home invasion — from the intended victim himself; some resources for learning how to deal with an active shooter; some historical revolvers from a famous revolver shooter; trying to shoot a hole through titanium; a seasoned shooter finds out difficult it is to shoot a small gun; a blogger takes me up on a challenge; Greg Ellifritz analyzes what to do if you’re seated in your car ...
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Over at The Firearm Blog we read the story of one Bart Bryson. In investigating what appeared to be a burglary in progress he made a number of really bad decisions that could have left him very vulnerable.
The short version of the story: he pulled up to an unoccupied home that he owns and spotted fresh foot prints in the snow. He got out of his vehicle, walked up to the front door only to notice that it had been ...
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Today’s blog post was suggested by a reader. I wrote a piece a while back about the dangers of intervening in an active incident, and he asked if I could extend my comments to intervention in a chronic incident: one which has been going on for some time. Such situations do exist, and they can be very dangerous to both the victim and the person who intervenes.
Stalking and domestic violence are crimes that are, unfortunately, very common. ...
Continue Reading →Hump Day brings us more knowledge! This week, we look at kids who’ve protected themselves with firearms; Ian McCollum with a very unique “automatic” pistol; Claude Werner looks at another negative outcome, this time based on unreasonable fear; tips for handloading ammo for your AR-15; why crowds are dangerous, and what to do if you’re in one; Greg Ellifritz has some lessons from a recent series of terrorist attacks; the repercussions of not having a good teacher; and the fallacy ...
Continue Reading →Today I bring you some thoughts about getting older; Ian McCollum has a video about a Savage that isn’t a rifle; Greg Ellifritz talks about jammed guns in active shooter incidents; I found a great review of a neat lever-action rifle; Tiger McKee has some pithy words about the gear and training you really need; and a superb article about using your mouth instead of your gun.
I recently wrote ...
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It’s almost Thanksgiving, and you know what I’m thankful for? All of the great articles I found this week! We’ve got Greg Ellifritz commenting on a particularly ridiculous gun article; some talk about talking with business owners who ban guns on their premises; Richard Johnson reviews an interesting new pistol caliber carbine; saving money while reloading ammunition; Claude Werner looks at the case of a woman who pulled her gun when she really shouldn’t have; and Ian McCollum has the ...
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I’ve had numerous emails and messages asking me what I know about the killings which took place in my backyard this morning.
What I can tell you is that I have relatives and friends in Roseburg, some of whom are hurting tonight. Evil came to a beautiful part of the country — my part of the country — and found some people unprepared. That’s what evil likes; it thrives in those environments.
I’m not going to advocate for more gun control, nor ...
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You may not know this, but I’ve recently started blogging over at the Personal Defense Network site. Of course I’ve written articles for them for years, and have done a couple of DVDs and some videos for the site, but now I’ll be sharing things over there on a more consistent basis. You’ll be able to find everything I write for them at this link.
While what I share here tends to be of immediate, practical use the posts on ...
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Oregon is a wonderful state, generally very peaceful and tranquil. That isn’t to say crime doesn’t happen here, however, and there is the need to be prepared — just like you would anywhere else. Today’s case comes from the Medford Mail-Tribune and offers some lessons to heed.
On the evening of July 14th, a man tried to break into the secluded home of Charles and Jeanine Buckman. The Buckmans heard a man — later identified as Matthew Durbin, a transient ...
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By now you’ve no doubt heard about the tragic incident in Garland, Texas. For those who missed it, on Sunday a “Draw Mohammed” Cartoon show was held in that town; contestants vied for the best cartoon in celebration of free speech. There were speakers who are active in the free speech movement, including a Dutch citizen who has earned a spot on an al Qaeda hit list.
Two men — one of whom since identified by the FBI as having ...
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I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: intervening in another’s incident is risky, and more so when you do it with your firearm!
I usually catch all kinds of flak from the more militant corners of the shooting world when I say things like this, but the reality is that if you don’t know exactly what’s going on it’s very easy to find yourself at the wrong end of an arrest — or worse.
Take this recent case from Salt ...
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