What’s this? A new Hump Day Reading List photo? You bet! I thought the old one was a little drab, so welcome our new more colorful mascots! Along with it I have some shiny new articles for you to peruse: a look at how to deal with terrorists in trucks; one very knowledgable man’s take on appendix carry; a video about why a DA/SA pistol isn’t a good defensive choice; some personal safety apps that you should have; how to get where you shouldn’t be using a safety vest; a very dumb revolver article; and why you need to know how to pack a wound. Celebrate our new mascots by sharing this with your friends!
Attacked by a truck?
Last year saw several high-profile terrorist attacks using not bombs or guns, but trucks. Common, ordinary, don’t-attract-any-attention-until-it’s-too-late trucks. Marcus Wynne has some thoughts on how to deal with these kinds of attacks from both a law enforcement and civilian perspective. Pay particular attention to his description of the neuroscience of how people respond, because it’s key to understanding your training and preparation from a much broader perspective.
Another perspective on AIWB
Appendix in-the-waistband carry (AIWB) is the topic of much discussion these days. Some people think it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, others think it’s the work of Satan himself. (I’m somewhere in the middle, being rather agnostic with regard to the practice.) Cecil Burch, famed teacher of hand-to-hand defense, carries his gun in the AIWB position and has some thoughts on why he does. He has a different perspective than most “gun people” and his reasoning is worth considering.
The double-single action autoloading pistol
I’ve often said that the most complicated defensive tool, and the one requiring the most training and practice time, is the traditional double action autopistol. Because it’s actually a double-single action combination gun, and has extra controls and functions not found on other pistols, it does require more of your training resources to master. Rob Pincus appears in this video explaining the facts of the double-single action autoloading pistol and why it may not be the best choice for you.
Safety apps that are actually worthwhile
In recent months I’ve shared several articles about the personal safety apps which seem to be flooding the market. Most of them are worthless, simply providing an evidence trail for the police to follow after the fact. That isn’t to say your smartphone isn’t useless in an emergency, however! There are a number of apps which might be very useful in the event of an emergency, and this article looks at several categories you should consider. (My only criticism of the article is that the Red Cross app isn’t terribly useful. Sadly I don’t have a very good alternative to recommend at this point. To make up for that, I’ll recommend you get one of the apps that helps you decode the content placard numbers which are on the side and rear of every truck carrying hazardous materials. It might be handy to know what you’re facing when that tanker overturns in your neighborhood!)
What about that guy in the safety vest?
This article is from Australia, but I can vouch for it working in this country too: you’d be surprised where you can go with a high-visibility vest. People see it as a sign of authority, or at least a sign of trust. Now imagine how easy it would be for a terrorist, or simply a run-of-the-mill nutcase, to use one of these to get into an area he shouldn’t be to wreak havoc. (It doesn’t need to be a vest, either — the same thing can be done with a short-sleeve dress shirt, a pocket full of pens, a clipboard, and a clean white or yellow hardhat. You’d be surprised where you can go with a clipboard and a look of purpose on your face.) If you’re in a position of denying or reporting unauthorized access, don’t let the presence of a vest or hardhat keep you from verifying identities before granting passage. If you’re in a sensitive or vulnerable area, keep an eye out for people like this and, if you feel at all uneasy, get away and notify authorities.
Read this article, then forget all about it
I’m sharing this article not because it’s valuable or even factual, but to alert you to something you shouldn’t do. I’m fairly convinced the author knows very little about revolvers; aside from clearly misunderstanding what a Comp I speedloader does, I don’t believe he understands anything about revolver chambers. The chambers on the vast majority of revolvers made in the last several decades (at least) are perfectly smooth and shiny as they come from the factory. Attacking them in the manner the author prescribes will in fact make the chambers rougher and have the opposite effect he claims. (Oh, and by the way: any article that starts with “FBI statistics say…” is almost guaranteed to be rubbish, because they almost never say anything of the sort being claimed.)
Sometimes you need more than just a tourniquet
Reading some of the articles on trauma care might give you the impression that all you need is a tourniquet and all will be fine. While the tourniquet is an important piece of lifesaving gear, it has a specific range of application and not all life threatening bleeding can be controlled with one. Another important skill to practice is wound packing; this article shows you the hows and whys of the technique.
– Grant
P.S.: Do you own a revolver for self defense? You should attend my upcoming Threat-Centered Revolver class in sunny Phoenix!
Opening photo by Backpacker – pixabay.com (CC0 public domain)
The post Your Hump Day Reading List for February 22, 2017 appeared first on www.GrantCunningham.com.
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