Are shooting classes all there is to self defense?

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Are shooting classes all there is to self defense?

In the last couple of years I’ve had a somewhat radical change in my thinking about self defense. Rather, a change in thinking about teaching self defense. I’ve always focused on helping that half-percent* of gun owners who are interested in taking shooting classes to improve their gunhandling skills. In that respect I’ve been like everyone else in this business. We all want the “serious” students, those people who will sign up for a 3-day weekend class and travel across the ...

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29
AUG
11

Personal Safety, Training & Teaching

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Why your CCW class isn’t enough

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Why your CCW class isn’t enough

If you’re like most people who read this blog, you’ve already been through a CCW class of some sort. (CCW, of course, stands for Carrying a Concealed Weapon, which is a catch-all term for the practice, licensing and study to carry a handgun concealed on your person. The term ‘CCW class’ is generally applied to the courses which the law requires to be able to apply for a concealed handgun license.)

The CCW class is the first exposure many people have ...

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22
AUG
0

Concealed carry, Defensive Shooting, Training & Teaching

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This week’s Training Talk episode is a must-see!

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This week’s Training Talk episode is a must-see!

If you didn’t catch last night’s Training Talk episode, you missed some good information!

I covered gun safety from a slightly different point of view than you’ve probably heard before, as well as answering some viewer mail: one was about joining a gun club and the issues of cost; the other was about carrying a concealed weapon while high. I don’t mean at high altitude, either! With the number of states legalizing marijuana, this is becoming a potential issue and I thank ...

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19
AUG
0

Concealed carry, Other Defensive Tools, Personal Safety, Training & Teaching

Someone you know is attacking you. Could you respond appropriately?

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Someone you know is attacking you. Could you respond appropriately?

Those of us in the defensive training world usually talk about bad guys as though they’re complete strangers. The rapist on the jogging trail, the masked home invaders, and the carjacker at the gas station are all anonymous. We don’t know them, they really don’t know us, but fate causes our paths to intersect.

When we talk about “situational awareness” it’s always about spotting bad guys in the crowd. When we train defensive shooting, we assume our attacker is someone from ...

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8
AUG
5

Personal Safety, Street Smarts, Training & Teaching

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This week on Training Talk: Knife Defense with Alessandro Padovani

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This week on Training Talk: Knife Defense with Alessandro Padovani

Did you catch the live broadcast of Training Talk on Personal Defense Network last night? If not, you missed a phenomenal show all about knife defense. Don’t worry, though, because you can still watch the replay!

My guest was Alessandro Padovani of Safer Faster Defense. I consider Alessandro to be THE master of the defensive use of the knife and one of the single best teachers I know in the defensive training world. He travels all over the ...

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5
AUG
0

Other Defensive Tools, Training & Teaching

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Your Hump Day Reading List for August 3, 2016

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Your Hump Day Reading List for August 3, 2016

This week we have a surgeon’s take on hospital safety; another look at church security planning; what you should do if you find yourself at the scene of a mass shooting attack; what to do when the guy you’re holding at gunpoint doesn’t follow your orders; storing water for emergencies; how to deal with mob violence; how to master the traditional double action pistol; and a look at tampons for first aid. More great information only on the Hump Day ...

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3
AUG
1

Defensive Shooting, Handguns, Other Defensive Tools, Personal Safety, Prepping, Street Smarts, Training & Teaching, Travel Safety, Unarmed Defense

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Defensive shooting fundamentals: I do not think it means what they think it means.

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Defensive shooting fundamentals: I do not think it means what they think it means.

I want you to sit back and think for just a minute: you have 60 seconds to teach someone how to use a gun to defend herself from an imminent attack. What useful defensive shooting fundamentals can you give her in that small amount of time?

This little exercise strips away all of the nonsense, hype, and posturing that often surrounds defensive shooting training. I makes you really focus on the most important parts of teaching someone how to defend themselves ...

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1
AUG
2

Defensive Shooting, Training & Teaching

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What do you do with all your situational awareness?

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What do you do with all your situational awareness?

“Situational awareness”. It’s one of the throwaway personal safety tips that are always trotted out after a horrific news story.

So you work really hard to have it; then what? No, seriously: what do you do with all that situational awareness?

It’s one thing if your situational awareness finds an imminent attack, but that’s not what I (or they) mean. Usually the advice is meant to caution the reader/viewer to be alert enough to spot cues which might signal an impending incident. ...

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25
JUL
3

Personal Safety, Street Smarts, Training & Teaching, Travel Safety

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Your Hump Day Reading List for July 20, 2016

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Your Hump Day Reading List for July 20, 2016

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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20
JUL
2

Concealed carry, Defensive Shooting, Holster & Carry Methods, Incident Analysis, Legal Issues, Personal Safety, Prepping, Training & Teaching, Travel Safety

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Self defense for the disabled on Training Talk!

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Self defense for the disabled on Training Talk!

On this week’s Training Talk show at Personal Defense Network I had a great conversation with guest Joshua Gideon of No Soft Targets about how disabled people can prepare and train for their own self defense.

It’s an important topic, and as we all age (or sometimes have accidents) we’re often left less able to defend ourselves. Listen in as Joshua tells us how he approached the problems of one student, and how the training world can adapt to ...

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8
JUL
0

Training & Teaching

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Your Hump Day Reading List for June 29, 2016

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Your Hump Day Reading List for June 29, 2016

This week’s Hump Day Reading List is full of great information for the self-reliant! First, a new course promises to open your eyes to a new way of looking at personal safety; how to help your body adapt to summer’s heat; Greg Ellifritz looks at the question of giving first aid to someone you’ve defended yourself from; a look at what happens when you’re distracted in public; you’re a prepper and probably don’t even realize it; why you really do ...

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29
JUN
1

Defensive Shooting, Handguns, Legal Issues, Other Defensive Tools, Personal Safety, Prepping, Revolvers, Street Smarts, Training & Teaching

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Training Talk looks at fighting back during active shooter events. Watch the episode now!

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Training Talk looks at fighting back during active shooter events. Watch the episode now!

Last night’s Training Talk episode was a great one!

Rob Pincus joined me for a wide-ranging discussion about dealing with active shooter/spree killer events, focusing on the will and preparation to fight — using whatever tools might be at hand. In addition Rob filled us in on the new online PDN Academy courses, a new distance learning initiative for self defense knowledge and skills.

If you missed it, click here to watch the replay!

— Grant Cunningham

 

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17
JUN
0

Current Events, Other Defensive Tools, Training & Teaching, Unarmed Defense

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Want to improve your skill development? Take notes during class. Lots of ’em.

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Want to improve your skill development? Take notes during class. Lots of ’em.

A couple of years ago I was teaching a class in which there was an interesting mix of students: there were two public-sector firearms instructors, one from a state agency and one from a federal agency, along with the normal range of people you’d find at any shooting course anywhere in the country — blue collar, white collar, redneck and professional. All of them were motivated enough to sign up for class and pay good money for the dubious privilege ...

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17
JUN
0

Training & Teaching

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Your Hump Day Reading List for June 15, 2016

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Your Hump Day Reading List for June 15, 2016

This week we’re going to look at the importance of first aid during a terrorist attack; a man defends himself with a saucepan; some realities your CCW instructor didn’t tell you; why the pistol caliber carbine is a home defense winner; the fallacy behind night sights; understanding flashlights beyond lumens; senior citizens head to the range, for good reasons; why your defensive shooting instruction may not be all that valid; and finally, it’s not just the drug addict on the ...

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15
JUN
4

Accessories, Current Events, Defensive Shooting, Other Defensive Tools, Personal Safety, Street Smarts, Training & Teaching, Unarmed Defense

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Your Hump Day Reading List for June 8, 2016

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Your Hump Day Reading List for June 8, 2016

I’m always looking for great self defense information that the average person can really use, and this week I found a bunch of great articles! First, a look at training to use a defensive firearm even if the user has some infirmities; a real-life reason why you should have a “get home bag”; don’t call unwanted attention to your car; a look at some realities of police shootings that have important lessons in the private sector; the 12-gauge shotgun, properly ...

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8
JUN
1

Accessories, Ammunition & Reloading, Current Events, Defensive Shooting, Other Defensive Tools, Personal Safety, Prepping, Revolvers, Rifles & Shotguns, Training & Teaching, Unarmed Defense

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Did you miss last night’s Training Talk? You missed a great discussion about women’s concealed carry!

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Did you miss last night’s Training Talk? You missed a great discussion about women’s concealed carry!

Last night’s episode of PDN Training Talk was superb!

My special guest was Julie Loeffler, who did a great great job explaining the issues women face with concealed carry of defensive tools. She started explaining about women’s body types and how to pick concealment holsters and clothing for each type; then she = covered belts, yoga pants, bellybands, and even a bit about shoes and carrying a flashlight clipped to a bra strap!

If you’re a woman who is getting into concealed carry, or ...

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3
JUN
0

Training & Teaching

Catch last night’s Training Talk replay!

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Catch last night’s Training Talk replay!

Another great show last night on Training Talk!

I discussed what I did at the NRA Meetings and Exhibits; dissected some self defense myths overheard at the show; discussed a different way to look at what a threat is; answered a viewer who wanted to know what to do when faced with a physical infirmity; considered an elderly but untrained person’s gun choice; went over what makes a defensive flashlight; and explored  traveling light as a defensive tool.

Here’s the link to the show page

— Grant 

P.S.: Remember to ...

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27
MAY
0

Training & Teaching

Your Hump Day Reading List for May 18, 2016

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Your Hump Day Reading List for May 18, 2016

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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18
MAY
0

Accessories, Gunsmithing & Maintenance, Handguns, History, Incident Analysis, Legal Issues, Personal Safety, Rifles & Shotguns, Street Smarts, Training & Teaching, Unarmed Defense

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Did your defensive shooting instructor get his certificate from the University Of Facebook?

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Did your defensive shooting instructor get his certificate from the University Of Facebook?

A couple of weeks ago I was witness to an interesting incident on social media. There were two involved parties with me as a mutual contact observing both sides. In that incident are lessons for those who are searching for reliable self defense training and information.

The first party — who is fairly well known in the defensive training world — posted a link to an article or video (I really don’t remember which) about a specific type of response technique. The second party ...

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9
MAY
0

Training & Teaching

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Did you miss last night’s Training Talk? Watch it now!

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Did you miss last night’s Training Talk? Watch it now!

If you missed last night’s Training Talk LIVE show, you missed a great one!

My special guest was Julie Loeffler — defensive shooting instructor, certified Defensive Firearms Coach, and Martial Arts Hall Of Fame member. She’s also a professional woman who loves the latest in fashion, and we talked about how the professional woman, working in a non-permissive environment, can effectively conceal a defensive firearm.

Julie is one of the very few women I know (maybe the only one) who ...

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6
MAY
0

Accessories, Concealed carry, Holster & Carry Methods, Training & Teaching

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How to afford the training you need? Sell a gun! (I’m serious.)

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How to afford the training you need? Sell a gun! (I’m serious.)

First, I’m going to ask you to go to the PDN site and watch this video of Rob Pincus speaking at last year’s NRA Annual Meeting (watch through at least the 4:45 mark, but I strongly suggest watching the whole thing.)

One of the issues I confront frequently is the excuse that people “can’t afford” the self defense or defensive shooting training they need. They’ll acknowledge that it’s important, agree that they should have it, then say that they just ...

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25
APR
2

Training & Teaching

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Did you miss last night’s Training Talk episode? Watch it now!

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Did you miss last night’s Training Talk episode? Watch it now!

If you missed last night’s episode of Training Talk on Personal Defense Network, catch the recording!

I covered quite a bit of ground, including looking at defensive and training ammunition together, rather than separately; a purse-carry tragedy that could have been avoided; some thoughts on appendix carry (and what I use when I carry in that position); and some tips for carrying a defensive handgun discreetly in a professional yet non-permissive environment.

Plus some of your emails!

Here’s the link to the ...

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22
APR
0

Ammunition & Reloading, Concealed carry, Holster & Carry Methods, Training & Teaching, Unarmed Defense

Your Hump Day Reading List for April 20, 2016

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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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20
APR
0

Current Events, Defensive Shooting, History, Home Security, Incident Analysis, Personal Safety, Prepping, Rifles & Shotguns, Street Smarts, Training & Teaching

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“It’s a training issue.” I don’t think that means what you think it means.

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“It’s a training issue.” I don’t think that means what you think it means.

Hoo boy, I heard it again just the other day: “it’s a training issue”. The subject at hand was a discussion about the traditional double action pistol, the kind that has a long and heavy double action first shot and a shorter, lighter single action (DA/SA) for each subsequent shot.

I’m not a fan of the things as a defensive tool in this modern age. They are the most complicated of the autopistols in use, owing to the two different trigger ...

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11
APR
5

Defensive Shooting, Training & Teaching

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Is “Constitutional Carry” good for the rest of us? Let’s make sure it is through education!

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Is “Constitutional Carry” good for the rest of us? Let’s make sure it is through education!

So-called “constitutional carry” is becoming more popular around the country. This refers to being able to carry a concealed handgun in public without any sort of permitting or licensing process, assuming that the person is legally allowed to possess the handgun.

(The term “constitutional carry” is itself a reference to the Second Amendment’s wording of “keep and bear arms”. As constitutional scholars are quick to point out, however, the term isn’t really accurate; however, since it does have a generally agreed ...

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28
MAR
11

Defensive Shooting, Firearms Industry, Legal Issues, Politics & RKBA, Training & Teaching

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Your Hump Day Reading List for Mar 16, 2016

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Your Hump Day Reading List for Mar 16, 2016

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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16
MAR
0

Ammunition & Reloading, Current Events, Defensive Shooting, Firearms Industry, Home Security, Incident Analysis, Legal Issues, Personal Safety, Rifles & Shotguns, Street Smarts, Training & Teaching, Unarmed Defense

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Boring doesn’t sell, and realistic self defense skills are kind of boring.

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Boring doesn’t sell, and realistic self defense skills are kind of boring.

No matter what you’re trying to get people to buy — from cars to breakfast cereals to political candidates — you have to make it exciting, because if it’s not folks will just pass it by. (Yes, political candidates. Anyone remember Scott Walker? He was an early entry into this year’s Republican field and widely regarded as being phenomenally boring. He went nowhere. Older people will remember Walter Mondale; nice guy, smart, pleasant — and as boring as getting socks ...

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11
MAR
0

Personal Safety, Training & Teaching

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Your Hump Day Reading List for Mar 9, 2016

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Your Hump Day Reading List for Mar 9, 2016

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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9
MAR
1

Ammunition & Reloading, Concealed carry, Defensive Shooting, Handguns, History, Home Security, Incident Analysis, Legal Issues, Other Defensive Tools, Personal Safety, Revolvers, Street Smarts, Training & Teaching

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You don’t need to be a SEAL to defend yourself with a firearm. You need more relevant skills.

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You don’t need to be a SEAL to defend yourself with a firearm. You need more relevant skills.

Last week I got two emails about my front page headline: “You don’t need to be a Navy SEAL just to be safe!” One applauded me for “telling it like it is”, but the other one insisted that I was doing people a big disservice by saying that, because if everyone trained to the level of a SEAL they’d definitely be safer. “It’s a matter of priorities”, the writer concluded.

Sorry, but I really don’t think so.

I believe those of us in ...

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7
MAR
2

Defensive Shooting, Training & Teaching

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