Current events in the Wolf Age have prompted this important short post. Last evening a man walked up to patrons, who were sitting outside a local restaurant. The man produced a handgun and began shooting the patrons. Two of the patrons were struck with gunfire and they were transported to the local hospital in critical condition. While police were in the area looking for the shooter, shots were heard at a nearby major outdoor store. The shooter was in a stolen vehicle shooting at people who were coming out of the business. At least one person was struck by gunfire.
Police were able to get behind the shooter, who was driving at a high rate of speed down a one way street. The shooter then struck a policeman who was directing traffic at an intersection. The shooter last control of the vehicle, which crashed into a tree bursting into flames. The shooter ran from the vehicle and was arrested a short distance away. The Officer’s right leg was severed and he died. It does not appear, at this time, that anyone shot back at the shooter.
The day before the shooting, the writer had a conversation with a young man who had moved to the city from the country. The young man had never seen a shooting and he really wanted to tell what he had seen. It appears that some locals, who belong to a social club, were in the process of changing leadership. One local knocked on a club member’s door and wanted to speak with a particular individual. That individual was not at home, but his brother was. When the brother stepped outside, the “mechanic” produced a handgun. When “brother man” saw the handgun, he took off at light speed.
The “mechanic” tried to shoot brother man, but his weapon jammed twice before he could get off a missing shot. During the shooting, brother man’s “play sista” started yelling for brother man to run. This attracted the “mechanic’s” attention to “play sista” who was an easier mark. “Play sista” seeing that the “mechanic” was not leaving without producing some results, turned and ran. The “mechanic” got off two shots, one striking “play sista” in the leg. The young teller of this tired tale advised the writer that he was going to get a handgun permit, things were getting dangerous. To which this writer replied, to the teller of this tale, that he needed to get some training.
The young teller of tales, told the writer that he didn’t need any training, he was from the country. He grew up hunting and he had land where he could practice shooting cans. At this juncture, the writer told the young sage, “good luck.” And that is what this post is about. The young man, like many others, is going to carry a gun without adequate training. Cans and deer don’t shoot back. Deer don’t prosecute you in court if there is a bad shoot. Handgun permit carry courses are very basic safety courses, with a little law thrown in. They will not make one a gunfighter and if that is not your goal, you are ill prepared for a lethal encounter. Without proper training, you are trusting entirely to “luck” and your weapon is a talisman.
Most local, serious, purveyor’s of violence and mayhem, are experienced and comfortable with violence. They make up for a lack of skill with an overwhelming, direct application of violence; which they apply when they see the first opportunity of success. No hesitation, they have nothing to lose. Simply producing a handgun, when one is threatened, will not deter a true man of violence, if he senses you will hesitate more than you already have. (You produced a weapon, but did not immediately fire it.) Again he has little to lose, but you do. This writer will give the reader some suggestions. Do what you want with it, just like the young sage whose glass was already full.
(1). Buy a quality handgun that fits the shooter’s physique. But most importantly, the handgun must be reliable and rugged, it must go “bang” every time you pull the trigger. The weapon is not a talisman, it is a tool. Learn how to keep the tool working.
(2). In this writer’s opinion, caliber is not as important as bullet placement. This writer has seen more people killed with kitchen knives, .22, .25, .32 and 9mm, than with large caliber weapons. It is not that larger calibers aren’t more effective, it is that smaller is easier to carry and you use what you have with you at the time.
(3). Get professional training. Get as much training as you can from someone who has actually successfully applied violence. Someone who is able to explain to you how to survive and improve your skills in a professional and respectful manner. Women do not be discouraged. Women who want to learn are easier to train because their egos do not get in the way. Their glass is not full. Go ladies!
(4). Practice regularly. Training is not practice. Training is not enough, you must practice what you learn. Practice at the range, like training is expensive, if you are like the writer you will spend a great deal of time “dry firing.” If you weapon will not tolerate “dry fire” dump it and get a real weapon. It takes at least 1,000 repetitions of an individual skill to be able to consistently perform the skill without thinking. It must be over learned and over learned correctly.
(5). Keep an open mind and be ready to adopt something new, if something better comes along.
(6). Be as fit as you can be.
(7). Study unarmed combat. Know what it is like to be punched or thrown to the ground. It is just a thing.
(8). Practice awareness of your surroundings. This will buy you time to react, when you have been targeted.
(9). Develop a never give up combat attitude. This is best developed through physical training. Never stop fighting, if you go to be with your ancestors, go sending him to his.
(10). Know the laws in your area in regards to self-defense.
(11). Be careful what you put on social media. Generally avoid posting photos of yourself on social media posing, especially menacingly, with firearms. Lawyers will use such photos against you in court to show an intent to use violence. Bad! Bad! Bad! Don’t be a poser. If you must post photos of yourself on social media with firearms or weapons, they should be educational photos, sporting photos, or legitimate training photos. Be careful of making comments on social media about “blowing people away.”
(12). Always assume you are being video taped and if possible your actions will be shown in court in such a way to make you look wrong or reckless.
(13). Do not mix tactics and politics together, ever! One or the other always, never both at the same time!
(14). Keep training records, they can be used in court to show that you are a responsible person, concerned for the safety of others.
Tryggulfr
The writer put this post together rather quickly because of things currently going on in the Wolf Age. If there is interest, the writer will add additional self-defense training blogs in the blog list.