It’s the last day of February and I’m finishing out the month with more great resources for your health and safety!
Being a fan doesn’t mean you have to be irrational
It’s probably fitting that, in some circles, I’m known as “The Revolver Guy”. I’ve written what have been called the “standard works” on the topic, teach one of the few national revolver-centric courses available, and have designed a revolver that’s being sold today. I’ve also written quite a few pieces where I extol the virtues of the revolver as a defensive tool. Which oft-repeated virtue have I not cited? “Reliability”. I have, however, often said that the revolver is generally more tolerant of neglect than abuse. This is true, as there are a lot of parts which have to operate together to make them work, and damage (or improper fitting) is enough to keep them from working — and the gun from functioning. Here’s an article that talks about some recent revolver issues the author encountered, all of which I’ve seen myself over the years.
Some thoughts on the defensive flashlight
This article starts out a little disorganized, but rapidly turns into something worth reading. I’m a huge fan of the defensive flashlight; I believe it to be the most important self defense tool you can carry, due to its usefulness over an unusually wide range of circumstances. The article looks at some of the uses and makes some reasonably good recommendations. (I disagree with the author’s notion of “force escalation”, but other than that it’s a good explanation of the uses for the defensive flashlight.)
There is no gold medal for speed holstering
In my handgun classes, my students get tired of listening to me say “holster reluctantly”. I’m a proponent of the idea that you should holster your gun carefully and — ideally — while looking at the holster. This raises blood pressure in some circles, particularly those which have been unduly influenced by police methodology and training. Police often need to holster quickly and without looking at their holsters; those of us in the private sector, not so much. One retired law enforcement officer who understands the difference is Sheriff Jim Wilson, with whom I’m in complete agreement on the subject.
Some thoughts on how to handle an attack in a public space
I’m sharing this not because I agree with all of it, but because it encapsulates the general attitude that I think you should cultivate whenever you’re in a public space. Knowing where the exits are, being on the lookout for places where you can barricade (not “hide”, as the author suggests), and understanding crowd dynamics are all good practices. (The recommendation he makes about not engaging the attacker is, I think, poorly considered. There may not yet be police on the scene or able to mount a counter-offensive against the attacker. If you’re in proximity and have made the decision to fight — or are left with no other safe option — then do so aggressively and unhesitatingly. Many active killers have been stopped by unarmed resisters, and there are resources to help you learn how to do so effectively. You can start by checking out the videos on Personal Defense Network.)
Accept the hurt
One aspect of self defense we don’t usually talk about (because it scares off paying customers) is that you might be injured at the start of an attack. This can include being punched in the face or doused with pepper spray. Your attacker may use physical pain as part of a distraction, or the pain may come from an attempt to incapacitate you. Whatever the reason or cause of the pain, you need to accept it and be prepared to mount a successful counter-attack. This article has some good thoughts on the subject of “fighting through the pain” (even if some of the practice scenarios are implausible. I suggest taking the specific training recommendations with a grain of salt.)
What about vehicular attacks?
In the last couple of years we’ve seen an increase in terrorist attacks using vehicles, whether as the precursor to another type of attack or as the primary method of causing casualties. Greg Ellifritz has some excellent thoughts on what to do if you’re in an area when an attacking vehicle shows up. (Hint: drawing your gun probably isn’t what you should be doing.)
Forget the MREs
If you’re laying in food for your disaster preparedness, what should you be putting on your shelves? Lots of prepping sites will tell you to spend your money on freeze-dried foods or MREs, but that’s not what I recommend. Instead, stock up on plain old canned goods. Make sure they’re items you like to eat and then rotate them through by actually eating them. That way your diet isn’t a contributor to your stress levels during an actual disaster. They’re a lot cheaper than the alternatives, too!
– Grant Cunningham
P.S.: Be sure to tune in tomorrow, March 1st, for another episode of Training Talk on Personal Defense Network! This week my guest is Klint Macro, and we’ll be talking about the “concealed carry lifestyle”. Don’t miss it!
Opening photo by Backpacker – pixabay.com (CC0 public domain)
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