Massad Ayoob Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry - Programação (2024)

ESTÁCIO EAD

Alberto Santiago 20/09/2024

Prévia do material em texto

<p>GUNDIGEST®</p><p>BOOKSOF</p><p>CONCEALED</p><p>CARRY</p><p>2ndEdition</p><p>MASSADAYOOB</p><p>ThankyouforpurchasingthisGunDigesteBook.</p><p>Signupforournewsletterandreceivespecialoffers,accesstofreecontent,and</p><p>informationonthelatestnewreleasesandmust-havefirearmsresources!Plus,</p><p>receiveacouponcodetouseonyourfirstpurchasefromGunDigestStore.com</p><p>forsigningup.</p><p>orvisitusonlinetosignupat</p><p>http://gundigest.com/ebook-promo</p><p>http://gundigest.com/ebook-promo</p><p>http://gundigest.com/ebook-promo</p><p>I</p><p>AcknowledgmentsandDedication</p><p>tisapleasuretoacknowledgethecontributionsofthosewhomade</p><p>this book possible. Gail Pepin,who tookmost of the photographs</p><p>and was indispensable to the editing process on my end. Steve</p><p>Denney,whoseproofreadingadvicewas invaluable,andwhowaskind</p><p>enoughtowrite the foreword.HermanGunter, IIIwhoalsohelpedme</p><p>proofread.HarryKane,thesuperbeditoratCombatHandgunsandGuns</p><p>&WeaponsforLawEnforcement,whogavemepermissiontoblend into</p><p>this book some things I had previouslywritten for some of theHarris</p><p>Publications titles he puts together so tirelessly. Thanks! I never</p><p>would’vemadedeadlinewithoutyou!</p><p>Imayhavedesignedacoupleofholstersandcomeupwithacoupleof</p><p>techniques,butthisbookreallycomestoyoufromthecountlessnumber</p><p>ofpeoplewhohavetaughtmeandallowedmetopicktheirbrainsover</p><p>thelastnearlyfiftyyears.Theyareholsterdesignersandgundesigners,</p><p>gunfight survivors and survivors of horrors they were unarmed and</p><p>helpless to prevent. They range from world handgun champions to</p><p>novicehandgunstudents,allofwhomtaughtme lessonsabouthowto</p><p>help people prepare themselves and become ready to quell lethal</p><p>violenceatamoment’snotice.</p><p>Iwasmerelytheconduitoftheirknowledge,thecollectingagentwho</p><p>passedtheircollectivelearningexperiencesontoyou,thereaderofthis</p><p>book.</p><p>It is to all of them that this book is gratefully and respectfully</p><p>dedicated.</p><p>MassadAyoob,December2007</p><p>CONTENTS</p><p>TitlePage</p><p>SpecialOffers</p><p>AcknowledgmentsandDedication</p><p>Preface</p><p>ForewordbySteveDenney</p><p>SOFTWARE</p><p>Chapter1:TheCCWLifestyle</p><p>Chapter2:WhyWeCarry</p><p>Chapter3:WhereYouCan(AndCan’t)Carry</p><p>Chapter4:PreparationandAftermath</p><p>Chapter5:CastleDoctrineandStandYourGroundLaws</p><p>HARDWARE</p><p>Chapter6:“Gentlemen(AndLadies),</p><p>ChooseYourWeapons”</p><p>Chapter7:DefenseLoadsofChoice</p><p>Chapter8:ConcealedCarryandSpareAmmo</p><p>Chapter9:LightsforConcealedCarry</p><p>CARRYMETHODS</p><p>Chapter10:HipHolsters</p><p>Chapter11:CrossDraws</p><p>Chapter12:ShoulderHolsters</p><p>Chapter13:PocketCarry</p><p>Chapter14:AnkleHolsters</p><p>Chapter15:Non-traditionalCarryMethods</p><p>Chapter16:ConcealingLargerHandguns</p><p>Chapter17:ImprovingYourDrawFromConcealment</p><p>Chapter18:TheBackupCCW</p><p>Chapter19:OpenCarry</p><p>Chapter20:2012HolsterUpdate</p><p>ENHANCEMENTS</p><p>Chapter21:WardrobeFactors</p><p>Chapter22:IDPA:HowItHelpsTheConcealedCarryPractitioner</p><p>Chapter23:FinalAdvice</p><p>KeyPrinciples</p><p>PREFACE</p><p>IthasbeenfouryearssincethefirsteditionoftheGunDigestBookof</p><p>ConcealedCarry.Thingschange.Morestateshavegottenonboardwith</p><p>shall-issue concealed carry laws. More people in those states and the</p><p>states that already have such good laws are taking advantage of the</p><p>opportunitytobetterprotectthemselvesandtheirlovedones.Concealed</p><p>carryis,nopunintended,aboomingbusiness.</p><p>The industryhas respondedaccordingly.Therearenewconcealment</p><p>holsters, some of them downright ingenious. There is also a push for</p><p>lawswhichbetterprotecttheconcealedcarrier.Floridarecentlypassed</p><p>onewhichprotectedtheconcealedcarrieriftheirweaponinadvertently</p><p>became visible. Several states have passed “Stand Your Ground” laws,</p><p>whichrescindanyrequirementtoretreatbeforeusingdefensiveforceif</p><p>attacked in any place where you have a right to be. As we shall see,</p><p>these have been widely misunderstood, even by some on the gun</p><p>owners’sideofthedebate.</p><p>TheBottomLine</p><p>Self-defenseissuesareaverymatureandwell-establishedbodyoflaw,</p><p>andthecarryingofgunsissomethingthathasbeenpracticallyworked</p><p>outbyprofessionalsforaverylongtime.Thisiswhymostofthebook</p><p>younowholdinyourhandsisasitwaswhenitfirstcameoutin2008:</p><p>it is, for themostpart, everybit as relevantas itwas then.That said,</p><p>both the law and the human condition are dynamic things which</p><p>change,andthat’swhy18,000wordshavebeenaddedtothisupdated</p><p>edition.</p><p>And,ofcourse,changewillcontinuetotakeplace,anditwillalways</p><p>be up to all of us individually to keep upwith those changes as they</p><p>affectusandthoseweareresponsibleforprotecting.</p><p>I</p><p>FOREWORD</p><p>Spentcasingsareinchesapartfromex-SWATcopSteveDenney’snewSIGP2509mmashetests</p><p>itwithafastdoubletap.</p><p>’vebeencarryingconcealedfirearmssince1968,whichwasmyfirst</p><p>yearasaswornlawenforcementofficer.Iwasfinishingthelastyear</p><p>ofmyCriminologyDegreeatFloridaStateUniversityandjoinedthe</p><p>Tallahassee Police Department as a Reserve Officer. Since then, I’ve</p><p>learneda few lessonsaboutconcealedcarryby trialanderror,butmy</p><p>knowledge about firearms has been improved immensely by reading</p><p>whattheexpertsweresaying.Intheearly1970s,besidesreadingarticles</p><p>by people with names like Cooper, Gaylord, Askins, Skelton, etc., I</p><p>started reading articles from a guy by the name of Massad Ayoob. I</p><p>begantowonder,whowasthisAyoobguyand,moreimportantly,why</p><p>didwhathewroteactuallymake sense,basedonmyownexperience?</p><p>MyrelationshipwithMas’writingwasstrictlyone-sided(hewroteandI</p><p>read) from thenuntil 1999,when I finally had the chance to takemy</p><p>first LFI course. Since then we have become good friends and I have</p><p>become an instructorwith him for his Lethal Force Institute. That has</p><p>givenme a precious opportunity to see how he acquires and uses the</p><p>knowledgethatheshareswithothersinhistrainingclasses,hiswriting</p><p>andhiscaseworkasanexpertwitness.Sowhenhesaidhewaswriting</p><p>abookaboutconcealedcarry,Ithought:“Thishasgottobegood!”</p><p>Well, it is. Ihavebeenporingoverthemanuscriptforthepastweek</p><p>and I am happy to report thatMas has put together awinner. And a</p><p>timelywinner,atthat.Concealedcarryhasbeenahottopicintheworld</p><p>of gun ownership for the past two decades or so. More and more</p><p>opportunities for decent, law abiding citizens to protect themselves by</p><p>legallycarryingconcealedfirearmshaveemergedasStateafterStatehas</p><p>adoptedmore realistic concealed carry laws. Even so, only about two</p><p>percentofthepeopleeligibleforaconcealedcarrypermitactuallyapply</p><p>forone.That is starting tochange,however.Ofcourse,September11,</p><p>2001startedfolksthinkingmoreseriouslyaboutthesubject.Andmost</p><p>recently,themassmurderofstudentsatVirginiaTech,theshootingsin</p><p>malls inOmahaandSaltLakeCityand thearmedattackson religious</p><p>centers inArvada andColorado Springs are causing people to reassess</p><p>theirvulnerabilityastheygoabouttheirdailylives.Asmoreandmore</p><p>people come to the conclusion that they need to take realistic</p><p>precautionsagainstviolentattack,theneedforsensibleconcealedcarry</p><p>advicewillcontinuetoexpand.</p><p>Oneof the things thathas always impressedmeabout thewayMas</p><p>worksisthatheisnotjustateacherandnotjustawriter.Heisatrue</p><p>student of firearms, their history and their use. This book reflects his</p><p>serious research of the subject, as well as his ability to communicate</p><p>withhisaudience.Thereferencestomanyofthelegendary</p><p>waitingforpeoplewhowouldmake</p><p>easytargetstocomerunningout,ormaybeevenforme?Isteppedback</p><p>behind the corner of the wall and prepared to blast the last of my</p><p>firepower.Istrodeoutinfullviewoftheterroristandshotmylastthree</p><p>rounds. By this time, the others were already in the car. My target</p><p>jumpedintothevehicleandthedriverspedawayimmediately,leaving</p><p>behindtheacridstenchofburningtyresandexhaustfumes…”</p><p>Elsewhere in thisbook,wediscuss such factorsas the selectedcarry</p><p>gun’s ammunition capacity, and the carrying of spare ammunition. In</p><p>thiscase,vanWyk’sfive-shotrevolverwasnowempty,butitistellingto</p><p>examinehisfirstthoughtsintheimmediateaftermath.WrotevanWyk,</p><p>“It’s hard to expressmy feelings as Iwatched them drive away, but I</p><p>remember thinking, ‘Lord,whyhaven’t I gotmore ammunition?Why?</p><p>Why?Why?’”</p><p>It turned out that one of vanWyk’s shots hadwounded one of the</p><p>terrorists, oneKhayaChristopherMakoma, andhis first two rounds of</p><p>return fire had been enough to send the assassins fleeing with their</p><p>AK47s. At least that was the assessment of the South African Police,</p><p>neverapro-gunorganization,whenitissuedvanWykacommendation</p><p>forhisactions.Theawardread,“Mr.CharlAdriaanvanWykishereby</p><p>commended for outstanding services rendered in that he: on 25 July</p><p>1993endangeredhisown life inwardingoff theattackperpetratedon</p><p>the St. James Congregation in Kenilworth. His action in pursuing the</p><p>suspectsonfootandreturningfirepreventedfurtherlossoflife.Oneof</p><p>thesuspectswoundedintheincidentwaslaterarrested.”</p><p>Charl vanWyk, like many others, cites Biblical confirmation of his</p><p>choice to be armed. Proverbs 25:26: “Like a muddied spring or a</p><p>pollutedwell is a righteousmanwho givesway to thewicked.”Luke</p><p>22:36: “If thou hast not a sword, sell thy cloak and buy one.” (This</p><p>particular quote was a favorite of my old friend Harlon Carter, the</p><p>dynamic president of theNational RifleAssociation.)Nehemiah4:14:</p><p>“Don’tbeafraidofthem.RemembertheLordwhoisgreatandawesome,</p><p>and fight for yourbrothers, your sons andyourdaughters, yourwives</p><p>andyourhomes.”Exodus22:2:“Ifathief iscaughtbreakinginandis</p><p>strucksothathedies,thedefenderisnotguiltyofbloodshed.”</p><p>RememberthatintheoriginalHebrew,theSixthCommandmentisnot</p><p>“Thoushaltnotkill,”but“Thoushaltnotcommitmurder.”Thatis,thou</p><p>shaltnotkillwithevilintent.</p><p>I have trained many clergymen over the years, most of them the</p><p>religious leaders of their particular parish or synagogue. One was a</p><p>Bishop of the Catholic church. Most (not all, but most) of these</p><p>particularpadreswerescrupulousaboutmakingitcleartomethatthe</p><p>utmost confidentialitywasnecessary in regard to their training. Itwas</p><p>obviouswhythatwas,butitwasaBishopwhosaiditbest.“Ifitwasto</p><p>getoutthatIcarriedaguneveryday,”saidtheBishop,“Iwouldendup</p><p>astheparishpriestinFlatRock,Iowa.”</p><p>In some jurisdictions, houses of worship are off-limits for legal</p><p>concealedcarry.Inothers,itmaybeOKtocarrythereintheeyesofthe</p><p>law,butforbiddenbythatparticularchurch’spolicy.Insomestates,you</p><p>canloseyourpermitforcarryinginaplacethatis“posted”againstthe</p><p>practice. Inothers, there isnopenalty for ignoringa“no-guns”policy,</p><p>butifyourweaponisspotted,youcanexpecttobeaskedtoleave.Ifyou</p><p>do not comply, you can then be arrested for “trespass afterwarning,”</p><p>andinadditiontothatparticularoffense,yourpermittocarrymaynow</p><p>beinjeopardy.</p><p>Staywithinthelaw,andusecommonsense.Itain’tallabout“praise</p><p>theLordandpasstheammunition.”</p><p>CarryinginSchools</p><p>TheseriesofmassmurdersinAmericanschoolsinthelastfewyears,</p><p>particularlytheatrocityatColumbineHighSchoolinLittleton,Colorado</p><p>in1999andtheoneatVirginiaTechin2007,havebroughtuptheissue</p><p>of whether teachers or other school personnel should be armed on</p><p>campus.Theissuehasraisedsomeheateddiscussionsonbothsides.</p><p>Shortlyafter theColumbine incident, IwascalledbytheWallStreet</p><p>Journal and asked to write a short essay for their op-ed page on the</p><p>topic, in which I came out strongly for a policy that would allow for</p><p>volunteerteachersandotherstafftobespeciallytrainedandauthorized</p><p>tocarryconcealedhandgunswhileatschool.TV’sTodayShowgothold</p><p>of it, and invited me to appear opposite a spokesman for one of the</p><p>educators’ associations, who totally opposed the idea. No one, he</p><p>scoffed,hadeverheardofsuchasuggestion.</p><p>Insomejurisdictions,asignlikethismeansthesameas“CCWIllegalHere!”</p><p>ItisgenerallyacceptedthatitisillegalforaprivatecitizentowearaguninaU.S.PostOffice,</p><p>irrespectiveofconcealedcarrypermits.</p><p>IthenexplainedhowtheIsraelischoolshavehadthissysteminplace</p><p>since the Maalot massacre of schoolchildren by terrorists in the mid-</p><p>1970s,andhadeffectivelyputanendtosuchproblems.Theplainclothes</p><p>bodyguardswerevolunteerparentsandgrandparentsaswellasteachers,</p><p>alltrainedbytheIsraelicivilguard.WhenhostMattLauersarcastically</p><p>asked if the plan would include assault weapons, I replied that the</p><p>discreetly concealed 9mm semiautomatic pistols of the Israelis had</p><p>workedjustfine.</p><p>SimilarconceptsareinplaceinPeru,thePhilippines,andelsewhere.</p><p>We’ve also seen proof of the efficacy of an armed citizen response in</p><p>schoolshootingsintheUnitedStates.InPearl,Mississippiatwistedteen</p><p>namedLukeWoodhamstabbedhismothertodeathtogetthekeytohis</p><p>estranged father’s gun cabinet, and the next morning showed up at</p><p>school with a 30-30 deer rifle. He opened fire, with fatal results. As</p><p>Woodhamrantohiscar,assistantprincipalJoelMyrickrantohis,and</p><p>retrieved a compactColtOfficers 45ACPautomatic.He confronted the</p><p>escaping Woodham, who crawled out of his car and cravenly</p><p>surrendered.Theyoungmurdererhadbeenheadinginthedirectionofa</p><p>nearbyjuniorhighschool,stillinpossessionofthedeathweaponandan</p><p>amplesupplyofammunition.</p><p>There are gun law compendia for many states, but remember that the laws are constantly</p><p>changing.Reviewthem,butupdateconstantly!</p><p>In Pennsylvania, another crazy punk kid opened fire with a small</p><p>caliber pistol at an off-grounds school affair. The owner of the venue</p><p>grabbed a shotgun from his office and took the vicious little punk at</p><p>gunpoint. The latter, of course, surrendered, and amassacrewas very</p><p>likelyaverted.InVirginia,amassshootingatalawschoolwasaborted</p><p>whentwoadultstudentsdrewtheirownhandgunsandtookthearmed</p><p>offenderatgunpoint,atwhichtimeheinstantlygaveup.</p><p>The reality is as obvious as a corpse on display in a funeral home</p><p>casket.Guns in thehandsofgoodpeople stoparmedbadpeople from</p><p>committing mass murder. “Gun-free zones” literally become hunting</p><p>preservesforthepsychopathswhohunthumans.</p><p>FederalBuildings</p><p>Asageneral rule,Federalbuildingsareoff-limits forprivatecitizens</p><p>with firearms, concealed carry permits notwithstanding. If you feel a</p><p>compellingneedtocarryaguninoneofthoseplacesanddon’twantto</p><p>takethisadvice,phonetheofficeyouwishtovisitandaskthemabout</p><p>their policy. In the unlikely event that they tell you “Sure, it’s OK to</p><p>carryhere,”getsomethinginwritingonGovernmentletterheadwitha</p><p>signaturefromaresponsibleindividual.</p><p>The place most folks with permits</p><p>especially want to carry is, of</p><p>course,thePostOffice.It’stheoneofficeoftheFederalgovernmentthat</p><p>theprivatecitizenmostfrequentlyvisits.Therehasbeenagreatdealof</p><p>controversy over this issue. Some people interpret the wording of the</p><p>regulation that generally prohibits firearms from such places as</p><p>exempting permit-holders. There are others who consider that</p><p>interpretationtobewishfulthinking.</p><p>IhaveoccasiontoenterPostOfficebranchesalloverthiscountry,and</p><p>thereisgenerallyasignpresent(sometimesconspicuous,sometimesnot)</p><p>statingflatlythatfirearmsarenotpermittedonthesepremises.Stating</p><p>laterincourtthatwhatyoureadonthisorthatelectronicgunforumon</p><p>theInternetsayingyoucouldcarryinPostOffices,carriedmoreweight</p><p>inyourmind thana signpostedby thatOffice flatlyprohibiting carry</p><p>there, is not going to put you in great shape if you are arrested by</p><p>securitythereforillegalCCW.</p><p>Myadvicetoprivatecitizensisconservative,andsimple:“Don’tcarry</p><p>aguninsidetheUnitedStatesPostOffice,oranyotherFederalbuilding.</p><p>Courthouses</p><p>Idon’tpersonallyknowofanycourthousesanymorewheretheprivate</p><p>citizen can carry a gun around inside. In a handful of jurisdictions</p><p>(checkcarefullytoseeifyoursisone)itislegalforthearmedcitizento</p><p>actually check his or her gun into a lockbox at Courthouse Security</p><p>whentheyenter,andretrieveitwhentheyleave.These,unfortunately,</p><p>are few and far between. I have also seen court security personnel</p><p>literallybecomehystericalwhensomeonesimplyaskedthemaboutthe</p><p>legality of firearms in the courthouse. (“Oh, my God! A gun! Do you</p><p>haveagun?Doyouhaveagun?!?”)</p><p>Whenindoubt,callSecurityattheCourthouseinquestion,andgetit</p><p>sortedoutclearlybeforehand.Makesuretheyunderstandthatyouarea</p><p>privatecitizenwithacarrypermit,andnotapoliceofficer.</p><p>FederalCourthousesinparticulartakegunsveryseriously.Ifyouare</p><p>carrying your gunwhen youwalk through the front door and ask the</p><p>guardsatthemetaldetectorsifyoucancheckyourgun,you’realready</p><p>inviolationbecauseyou’realreadyinsidethecourthouseproper.</p><p>Forallthesereasons,thegeneralruleofthumbis,“Don’tbringagun</p><p>to the courthouse.” If the gun is evidence, talk to the attorney who</p><p>summonedyouthere,andhewillgothroughtheprocessofgettingthe</p><p>gunbrought in, turnedover toSecurity,andbrought to thecourtroom</p><p>andbackoutattheappropriatetime.</p><p>AlcoholicBeverageEstablishments</p><p>Gunpowder and alcohol can obviously be a pretty scary mixture.</p><p>Different jurisdictions handle that in different ways. I used to enjoy</p><p>visiting the Shortstop, a tavern on LA’s Sunset Boulevard. It was the</p><p>model for the bar Joe Wambaugh called The House of Misery in his</p><p>novel, TheBlackMarble. Itwas a cop bar.Most times Iwas in there,</p><p>therewereprobablyonlythreeorfourpeopleintheplacethatweren’t</p><p>carryingguns.</p><p>“Intheplace/Thathasthesteeple/Theymaynotwelcome/Pistol-packin’people.”</p><p>At thiswriting (2007), it is perfectly legal to carry your gun into a</p><p>taverninMassachusettsorNewHampshire,andhaveadrinkortwo,if</p><p>youhaveaCCWpermit.Obviously,ifyougetdrunkanddosomething</p><p>stupid with the gun, you can expect to go to prison. It’s your</p><p>responsibilitytobe,well,responsible.</p><p>Inonecase Iwascalled inonrecently,aMassachusettsCCW-holder</p><p>droppedinathisfavoritewateringspot,anddidn’tevenhavetimefor</p><p>one drink before a man he well knew to be a viciously brutal bully</p><p>began harassing a local woman. The armed citizen stepped in, and</p><p>becametheobjectofthebully’swrath.Bouncersintervenedandkeptthe</p><p>bully, who was known locally as “Killer,” from attacking the permit</p><p>holder.</p><p>Theyallleftthebarseparately,afewminutesapart,thearmedcitizen</p><p>leaving last. He was carrying a Beretta 40 in a hip holster under his</p><p>sweatshirt. As he drove away, he saw a man violently attacking a</p><p>woman.Pullingover,hesawitwasthebullyandthewomanfromthe</p><p>bar,whom the bully had been stranglingmoments before.He jumped</p><p>outofhiscarandorderedthemantolethergo.Thebullythrewherto</p><p>theground,screamed“I’llkillyou!”andlungedattheCCWholder,who</p><p>by now had drawn his Beretta. He fired one shot. The assailant went</p><p>down,mortallywounded, and the rescuer survivedamore than three-</p><p>yearlegalnightmarethatculminatedwithhisacquittalofallthecharges</p><p>(Murder, Manslaughter, and Aggravated Assault) that were lodged</p><p>against him. If he had not been carrying his gun (legally, under that</p><p>state’slaws)bothheandthewomanhesavedmighthavebeenkilledor</p><p>profoundlyinjured.</p><p>Not long ago, aNewHampshiremanwashaving a quiet drink in a</p><p>city bar, when a weirdo pulled out a gunwithmurder clearly on his</p><p>mind.Thecitizen,licensedtocarryhislittleKel-Tec“ratgun,”drewand</p><p>shothim.Theoffenderlived,butafterbeingshotgaveuphisattemptsto</p><p>hurt innocent people and focused solely on surviving his gunshot</p><p>injuries.Tothebestofmyknowledge,atthiswriting,thearmedcitizen</p><p>who shot him has not been criminally charged.He, too, had a permit</p><p>and was perfectly legal to carry while drinking moderately and</p><p>responsibly…inthatjurisdiction.</p><p>In our nation’s patchwork quilt of state-by-state laws, things change</p><p>dependingwhereyouare.InNorthCarolina,youcan’tevencarryyour</p><p>gun into a restaurant that has a liquor license, even if you’re not</p><p>drinking. The same is true in Virginia, with one exception: you can</p><p>“opencarry”ahandguninarestaurantwithaliquorlicense,andeven</p><p>whileconsumingalcohol inabar! Indeed, theVCDL(VirginiaCitizens’</p><p>DefenseLeague)considersthe“goodrestaurantaccess”factortobeone</p><p>of the strongest pillars of their advocacy of open handgun carry. One</p><p>night while teaching a lethal force class in Richmond, some VCDL</p><p>memberstookmetothebaratanOutbacktomakeapoint.Mostwere</p><p>conspicuouslycarryinghandgunsinunconcealedholsters.Theywerenot</p><p>hassled. I couldn’t help but notice, though, that the customers at one</p><p>table nervously summoned a waiter and pointed, with frightened</p><p>expressions, at the Glock 21 45 automatic on the hip of one VCDL</p><p>member.Thewaiterexplained that itwas legal,andhewassorry,but</p><p>therewasnothinghecoulddoaboutit.</p><p>Inmostjurisdictions,concealedcarryisillegalincourthouses.Checkthelawsinanyjurisdiction</p><p>whereyoucarry.</p><p>ThenyouhavethestateofFlorida,whereatthiswriting,youcansuck</p><p>upalltheboozeyouwantinarestaurantwithaliquorlicense.However,</p><p>ifthemaitre‘dsays,“Yourtablewillbereadyinafewminutes;youcan</p><p>wait in the bar,” the second you step over that threshold you’re</p><p>committingaClassIVFelony,andyourautomaticlossofyourconcealed</p><p>carryprivilegewillbethe leastofyourproblems. Inthatstate,evenif</p><p>youarenotconsumingalcohol,youare forbiddentohaveyourgun in</p><p>any premises that makes more than 50% of its income from serving</p><p>alcoholbythedrink.</p><p>InTexas,notonlycan’tyoupackinabarorarestaurantwithaliquor</p><p>license,youcan’tevenenteraliquorstorewithyourgunontopurchase</p><p>abottleofwinetobringhome,unopened,fordinner.Thesameistruein</p><p>NewMexico.AfewyearsagointheAlbuquerquearea,amadmanwitha</p><p>knifeattackedawoman ina localWal-Martandnearlymurderedher.</p><p>Hewasplunginghisknifeintoherasanarmedcitizenleanedoverthe</p><p>counter with a licensed-to-carry semiautomatic</p><p>pistol, and shot him</p><p>dead.Allincludingthevictim,whosurvived,realizedhehadsavedher</p><p>life. Alas, anti-gun organizations pushed for his prosecution on the</p><p>grounds that he was illegally carrying the gun, because Wal-Marts</p><p>typically sell carry-out alcoholic beverages. What saved this heroic</p><p>gentlemanwasthefactthathewasintheoneWal-Martintheareathat</p><p>didn’thavealiquorlicense.</p><p>The lesson is clear. Know the law regarding the carry of firearms in</p><p>alcoholicbeverageestablishments, in thecommunityyouhappen tobe inat</p><p>themoment.Thereisnonationalstandard.</p><p>Thesimplestandmostlogicalcourseofactionistostaythehelloutof</p><p>barswhenyou’recarryingagun.Evensimplerandmorelogical,juststay</p><p>thehelloutofbars.</p><p>Oneofmymentorswasthelate,greatLt.FrankMcGee,thelegendary</p><p>NYPDmanwhoturnedthatdepartment’sFirearmsTrainingUnitintoa</p><p>FirearmsandTacticsUnit, tookanoverall tacticalapproach to training</p><p>that caused the rate of the officers’ gunfight survival to skyrocket.</p><p>Duringoneshortperiodinthe1970s,threepoliceofficerswereshotand</p><p>killedingunfights thatoccurredwhiletheywereoff-duty inNewYork</p><p>drinking establishments. Under Frank’s tutelage, the FTU literally</p><p>institutedablocof“offdutybar-roomsurvival”training.</p><p>Frank strongly urged his officers to stay out of bars for one simple</p><p>reason:barsare fullofunknowndrunkidiotswithguns. Icantellyou</p><p>thathelivedwhathetaught,too.McGeewasamanwholikedtolight</p><p>upanL&McigaretteandsipaglassofgoodScotch…buthelikedtodoit</p><p>someplacewhereitwassafetorelax.</p><p>One time back in the ’80s, Frank and I were guest-teaching at an</p><p>Instructors’ Update class at Smith & Wesson Academy in Springfield,</p><p>Massachusetts,andbothhadroomsatahotelinnearbyChicopee.After</p><p>class, I invitedFrank to joinme foradrink in thehotelbar.“Thehell</p><p>withthat,”growledFrank.“YouknowwhyIhatebars.Comeonbymy</p><p>roomandhavesomeScotch.”</p><p>Mostjurisdictionsforbidcarryofconcealedweaponsatschoolsportingevents.</p><p>“Ah, c’mon,” I teased. “Bars have atmosphere. It’ll be fun.” I finally</p><p>cajoled him, against his better judgment, into joiningme at the hotel</p><p>bar. Damned if we weren’t just starting our first drinks, when a</p><p>stereotypebutch lesbian starteda raging fightwithhermore “femme”</p><p>loverinthebar.Frankflashedatriumphantsmileatmeandsaid,“See?</p><p>See?”Andthen,withthehard-learnedpeopleskillsofaNewYorkcop,</p><p>hespokesoftlytothecouplewithacharmthatwouldhaveevaporated</p><p>themorningdewfromtheBlarneyStone,andhadtheaggressortearfully</p><p>apologizingtoherloverinminutes.</p><p>Atwhichpoint,we left thebar,me shakingmydumbfoundedhead.</p><p>FrankMcGeehadmadethepoint.AllIcouldmutterwas,“Howthehell</p><p>didyouarrangethat?”</p><p>Istillvisitbarsoccasionally,butlessandlessastheyearsgoby,and</p><p>neveranymoreinFlorida,NewMexico,orotherstateswiththoserules.</p><p>If Ineed tomeet someone inabaronbusinesswhere it’snot legal to</p><p>carrymygunonmyperson,Isecuretheguninthehotelroom.</p><p>Ifyouusealcohol,useitthewayyouuseguns:responsibly.</p><p>Amajorityofjurisdictionsforbidprivatecarryofhandgunsatschools.Authorwouldliketosee</p><p>thischangetotheproven-saferIsraeliparadigm.</p><p>Carrying a gun at church is no longer unthinkable, in jurisdictions where it is not expressly</p><p>forbidden.Inacasethathappenedasthisbookwenttopress,anarmedcitizengunneddowna</p><p>heavilyarmedmassmurdereratareligiouscenterandsavedcountlesslives.</p><p>AndOneOtherThing…</p><p>Youcanbedrivingalong,mindingyourownbusiness,perfectlylegal</p><p>tohaveyourconcealedweaponon…andtheblue,orred,orblue-and-</p><p>red lights start flashing in your rear-view mirror. You are about to</p><p>undergoaroutinetrafficstopwhilecarryingaloadedgun.Howexactly</p><p>doyouhandlethat?</p><p>If thisbookwas larger, I could tell youenough stories fora loooong</p><p>chapteronthistopicalone.Itisn’t,solet’sskipthewarstoriesandcutto</p><p>thebottomline,which is: it’s situational. I saythatbecauseyou’ll find</p><p>yourself in threedifferentkindsofstates.1)ThosethatrequireaCCW</p><p>holder to identify himself or herself immediately upon contact with</p><p>policewho are in theperformanceof their duties. 2) States that don’t</p><p>have that, but do cross reference their CCW files with the state</p><p>department ofmotor vehicles, sowhena cop runs your license taghe</p><p>immediatelycomesupwiththefactthattheownerislicensedtocarry.</p><p>3)Stateswhereneitherofthosethingsareinforce.</p><p>Here’saquestionfortheteacher:injurisdictionswhereyou’relegaltohaveaguninyourglove</p><p>boxbutcan’tcarryoneanyplacewherealcoholicbeveragesaresold,wheredoyoustandlegally</p><p>whenyouvisitthisdrive-throughbeerstore?</p><p>Inmostjurisdictions,yourcarrypermitallowsyoutobearmedinaWal-Mart…butnotinNew</p><p>Mexicoifthatparticularstoresellsalcoholicbeverages.</p><p>Inthefirstkindofstate,thebestwaytoIDyourself istocarryyour</p><p>CCWcard rightnext to yourdriver’s license, andhand the two to the</p><p>officer,withoutsayingawordabouttheCCW.They’llseeit,andtakeit</p><p>from there. (Many or even most will relax a little, knowing they’re</p><p>dealingwithsomeonewhowasinvestigatedanddeemedaproperperson</p><p>tocarrya loaded,concealedhandgun inpublic.)Youhavenotuttered</p><p>thatscary“G-word”thatfrightenspassersby,andyoungrookiecopswho</p><p>mightberidingalongtonight.</p><p>In the second kind of state, do exactly the same thing. You’re not</p><p>required to by law, but the cop knowswhen he stops you that you’re</p><p>likelytobecarrying,andifhehastoasktofindout,hemaywellseeit</p><p>subconsciously as you practicing “deception by omission of</p><p>information.”Ergo,CCWalongwithdriver’s license,as intheprevious</p><p>case.</p><p>In the third kind of state,where I’m a sworn officer, neither of the</p><p>aboveisthecase,andfranklyIdon’tcare.IfI’vepulledyouoverandI’m</p><p>worriedaboutyoubeingarmed,I’llaskyou,atwhichtimeI’llexpectan</p><p>honest answer. You blurting at first contact something about having a</p><p>gun tellsmeyou’vegota lotofego invested in it, and thatmakesme</p><p>nervous.But,that’sjustme.Alotofbrotherandsisterofficersinmyand</p><p>similar jurisdictions tell me that the driver handing over the CCW</p><p>reassures them.So, gowith the short form,whichwillworkwherever</p><p>youare legal tocarry: just forkovertheCCWwiththeDL.Theofficer</p><p>performingthestopwilltakeitfromthere.</p><p>Iftheofficerasksyoutostepoutofyourvehicle,itmeansthateither</p><p>youfitthedescriptionofsomeonehe’slookingforwhodidABadThing</p><p>andyou’llbepatteddown,orthatyouweredrivingcarelesslyenoughto</p><p>givehimprobablecausetobelieveyoumightbe“undertheinfluence,”</p><p>inwhichcase there isabout tobea roadside field sobriety test.While</p><p>some ofmy brothers and sisters use the gaze nystagmus test for this,</p><p>mostofusstillusetheRohmbergseries,whichwillinvolvemovements</p><p>suchasarmsextendingouttothesides,whichcanrevealyourholstered</p><p>weapon. In either case, you don’t want finding the gun to come as a</p><p>surprise. If Iwas instructed, “Please stepoutof thecar,” Iwouldkeep</p><p>my hands in plain sight andmotionless and reply, “Certainly, Officer.</p><p>However, I’m licensed tocarry,and Idohave iton.Tellmewhatyou</p><p>want me to do.” The statement begins and ends with respectful</p><p>deferenceand lawfulcompliance,andavoidsanything thatsounds like</p><p>“I’ve got a gun,” which is generally</p><p>interpreted as a threatening</p><p>statement.</p><p>I’ve been on both sides of these stops. Some cops will ask to take</p><p>custodyyourgunwhilethestopisunderway.Theyhavethelegalright</p><p>todothat.Don’targueorgivethemSecondAmendmentlectures:they’ll</p><p>see it as a dangerous person with a gun who is non-compliant with</p><p>lawful commands, and your night will quickly go downhill and your</p><p>carrypermitmaysoongrowwingsandleaveyou.Iwouldn’treachfor</p><p>the gun if the officer wanted that. I would say, “Certainly,</p><p>Officer/Deputy/Trooper.However,Idon’twantittolooktoanyoneelse</p><p>asifI’mpullingagunonanofficer.Thepistolisinaholsteronmyright</p><p>hip.You’rewelcometotakeit.Tellmewhatyouwantmetodo.”</p><p>EndinguphereforaCCWerrorwouldbeaverybadthing…</p><p>…but ending up here because youwere helpless is an evenworse outcome. Proper planning,</p><p>mind-set,andknowingtherightthingtodocankeepyououtofbothplaces.</p><p>If jurisdiction’s prevailing law says “no guns in county ormunicipal buildings,” check to see</p><p>wherethatleavesyouwhenyouvisitthepubliclibrary.</p><p>If the officer insists on you handing it over, do it very slowly and</p><p>carefully, with the muzzle in a safe direction and finger clear of the</p><p>triggerguard.Ifyoucansimplyunfastentheholsterandhandoverthe</p><p>holsteredweapon,that’sevensafer.</p><p>Would’vebeeneasierifyou’djustfollowedthespeedlimit,huh?</p><p>TheBottomLine</p><p>The laws of the given jurisdiction in a nation that’s a patchwork of</p><p>gun laws, are the laws you have to follow. It’s your responsibility to</p><p>knowtheturf inthatregard,whereveryourtravelsasa freeAmerican</p><p>takeyou.</p><p>2012Update:ChangesinWhereYouCanCarry</p><p>Since the first editionof thisbook, theUSAhas comedown toonly</p><p>onestatewherethereisnoprovisioninthelawfortheprivatecitizento</p><p>carry a loaded, concealed handgun in public. That’s Illinois, and even</p><p>there concealed carry has come surprisingly close to passing the state</p><p>legislatureatthiswriting.</p><p>Reciprocity – that is, recognition of out of state concealed carry</p><p>permits – changes constantly. The bestway to stay on top of it is the</p><p>very up-to-date website www.handgunlaw.us. Shortly prior to this</p><p>writing, for example, the state ofNewMexico see-sawedon the issue,</p><p>firstannouncingthatitwouldnolongerrecognizethepermitsofseveral</p><p>states, then capitulating to popular demand and once again accepting</p><p>manyofthepermitsithadjustpubliclyrejected.</p><p>NationalreciprocityhaslingeredformanyyearsonCapitolHill,butin</p><p>2011 House Bill 822 passed the House of Representatives, only to be</p><p>stalledintheSenate.Evenso,thatwasthefarthesttheconcepthasyet</p><p>gone,andthereishopeforitinthefuture.Theanti-gunnerspractically</p><p>foam at themouth over the concept, of course, but, amazingly, some</p><p>otherwise pro-gun individuals are against it. For some, it is “the</p><p>principle of the thing,” in their minds a violation of state’s rights.</p><p>(Interesting thought. Do they feel their marriage license or driver’s</p><p>licenseshouldloseitsvalidityattheborderoftheirhomestate,too?)</p><p>Author with Otis McDonald, right, the lead named plaintiff in McDonald v. Chicago, which</p><p>resultedina2010USSupremeCourtdecisionconfirmingindividualrighttokeepandbeararms.</p><p>http://www.handgunlaw.us</p><p>When this guy pulls you over for a routine stop and you’re legally carrying a gun, there are</p><p>thingsyouneedtoknowbeforehand.</p><p>This writer, for one, hopes that national reciprocity will pass. The</p><p>NationalRifleAssociationandtheSecondAmendmentFoundationhave</p><p>bothputa small armyof lawyersand law scholarson thematter, and</p><p>seen no practical downside to national reciprocity. Individual</p><p>interpretationofprincipleisfine,butjustaseconomicrhetorichasnever</p><p>fedthehungry,Constitutionalrhetorichasneverarmedthehelpless.</p><p>Sincethefirsteditionofthisbookwentintothepublisher,we’vehad</p><p>twogreatvictoriesintheUnitedStatesSupremeCourt,forwhichIthank</p><p>theSecondAmendmentFoundationinparticular.Thesearethedecisions</p><p>inHellerv.DistrictofColumbia (2008)andMcDonald, et. al. v.Chicago,</p><p>which finally wrote in stone that the Second Amendment-guaranteed</p><p>right to keep and bear arms is indeed an individual right. There have</p><p>beenmanyvictories since,at the stateand local level, for lawabiding</p><p>gun owners. On the concealed carry side of one of America’s most</p><p>contentioussocialdebates,so-called“guncontrol,”oursideiswinning.</p><p>COMPENDIUMOFSTATELAWS</p><p>GOVERNINGFIREARMS</p><p>Sincestatelawsaresubjecttofrequentchange,thischartisnottobe</p><p>consideredlegaladviceorarestatementofthelaw.</p><p>Thefollowingchartliststhemainprovisionsofstatefirearmslawsasof</p><p>thedateofpublication.Inadditiontothestateprovisions,the</p><p>purchase,sale,and,incertaincircumstances,thepossessionand</p><p>interstatetransportationoffirearmsareregulatedbytheFederalGun</p><p>ControlActof1968asamendedbytheFirearmsOwners’Protection</p><p>Actof1986.Also,citiesandlocalitiesmayhavetheirowngun</p><p>ordinancesinadditiontofederalandstaterestrictions.Detailsmaybe</p><p>obtainedbycontactinglocallawenforcementauthoritiesorby</p><p>consultingyourstate’sfirearmslawdigestcompiledbytheNRA</p><p>InstituteforLegislativeAction.</p><p>Allfiftystateshavepassedsportsmen’sprotectionlawstohalt</p><p>harrassment.</p><p>CompiledbyNRAInstituteforLegislativeAction;11250Waples</p><p>MillRoad;Fairfax,Virginia22030</p><p>Sincestatelawsaresubjecttofrequentchange,</p><p>thischartisnottobeconsideredlegaladviceorarestatementof</p><p>thelaw.</p><p>Allfiftystateshavepassedsportsmen’sprotectionlawstohalt</p><p>harrassment.</p><p>Withover20,000“guncontrol”lawsonthebooksinAmerica,there</p><p>aretwochallengesfacingeverygunowner.First,youoweitto</p><p>yourselftobecomefamiliarwiththefederallawsongun</p><p>ownership.Onlybyknowingthelawscanyouavoidinnocently</p><p>breakingone.</p><p>Second,whilefederallegislationreceivesmuchmoremedia</p><p>attention,statelegislaturesandcitycouncilsmakemanymore</p><p>decisionsregardingyourrighttoownandcarryfirearms.NRA</p><p>membersandallgunownersmusttakeextracaretobeawareof</p><p>anti-gunlawsandordinancesatthestateandlocallevels.</p><p>Notes:</p><p>1.“Assaultweapons”areprohibitedinConnecticut,NewJerseyand</p><p>NewYork.SomelocaljurisdictionsinOhioalsoban“assault</p><p>weapons.”Hawaiiprohibits“assaultpistols.”Californiabans“assault</p><p>weapons”,.50BMGcaliberfirearms,some.50caliberammunitionand</p><p>“unsafehandguns.”Illinois:Chicago,Evanston,OakPark,Morton</p><p>Grove,Winnetka,Wilmette,andHighlandParkprohibithandguns;</p><p>somecitiesprohibitotherkindsoffirearms.Marylandprohibits</p><p>“assaultpistols”;thesaleormanufactureofanyhandgun</p><p>manufacturedafterJan.1,1985,thatdoesnotappearonthe</p><p>HandgunRoster;andthesaleofanyhandgunmanufacturedafter</p><p>January1,2003thatisnotequippedwithan“integratedmechanical</p><p>safetydevice.”Massachusetts:Itisunlawfultosell,transferor</p><p>possess“anyassaultweaponorlargecapacityfeedingdevice”[more</p><p>than10rounds]thatwasnotlegallypossessedonSeptember13,</p><p>1994andthesaleofhandgunsnotontheFirearmsRoster.TheCityof</p><p>Bostonhasaseparate“assaultweapons”law.TheDistrictof</p><p>Columbiaprohibitsnewacquisitionofhandgunsandany</p><p>semiautomaticfirearmcapableofusingadetachableammunition</p><p>magazineofmorethan12roundscapacityandanyhandgunnot</p><p>registeredafterFebruary5,1977.Virginiaprohibits“StreetSweeper”</p><p>shotguns.(Withrespecttosomeoftheselawsandordinances,</p><p>individualsmayretain</p><p>prohibitedfirearmsownedpreviously,with</p><p>certainrestrictions.)Thesunsetofthefederalassaultweaponsban</p><p>doesnotaffectthevalidityofstate“assaultweapons”bans.</p><p>2.NationalInstantCheckSystem(NICS)exemptioncodes:RTC-</p><p>CarryPermitHoldersExemptFromNICSL-Holdersofstatelicensesto</p><p>possessorpurchaseorfirearmsIDcardsexemptfromNICS.</p><p>3.NICSexemptionnotes:Arkansas:Thoseissuedonandafter4/1/99</p><p>qualify.Mississippi:Permitsissuedtosecurityguardsdonotqualify.</p><p>4.Marylandsubjectspurchasesof“assaultweapons”toa7-daywaiting</p><p>period.</p><p>5.Waitingperiodforallsales.California:10days;sales,transfersand</p><p>loansofhandgunscanbemadethroughadealerorthroughasheriff’s</p><p>office.Maryland:7days;purchasersofregulatedfirearmsmust</p><p>undergobackgroundchecksperformedbytheStatePolice,either</p><p>throughadealerordirectlythroughtheStatePolice.RhodeIsland:7</p><p>days;privatesalescanbemadethroughadealerorthesellermust</p><p>followthesameguidelinesasasalefromadealer.</p><p>6.Thewaitingperioddoesnotapplytoapersonholdingavalidpermit</p><p>orlicensetocarryafirearm.InConnecticut,acertificateof</p><p>eligibilityexemptstheholderfromthewaitingperiodforhandgun</p><p>purchases;ahuntinglicenseexemptstheholderforlonggun</p><p>purchasers.California:transfersofalongguntoaperson’sparent,</p><p>childorgrandparentareexemptfromthewaitingperiod.</p><p>7.Incertaincitiesorcounties.</p><p>8.Maybeextendedbypoliceto30daysinsomecircumstances.An</p><p>individualnotholdingadriver’slicensemustwait60days.</p><p>9.Connecticut:Acertificateofeligibilityoracarrypermitisrequired</p><p>toobtainahandgunandacarrypermitisrequiredtotransporta</p><p>handgunoutsideyourhome.DistrictofColumbia:Nohandgunmay</p><p>bepossessedunlessitwasregisteredpriortoSept.23,1976andre-</p><p>registeredbyFeb.5,1977.Apermittopurchaseisrequiredforarifle</p><p>orshotgun.Hawaii:Purchasepermitsarerequiredforallfirearms</p><p>Illinois:AFirearmOwner’sIdentificationCard(FOI)isrequiredto</p><p>possessorpurchaseafirearm,mustbeissuedtoqualifiedapplicants</p><p>within30days,andisvalidfor5years.Iowa:Apurchasepermitis</p><p>requiredforhandguns,andisvalidforoneyear.Massachusetts:</p><p>Firearmsandfeedingdevicesforfirearmsaredividedintoclasses.</p><p>Dependingontheclass,afirearmidentificationcard(FID)orclassA</p><p>licenseorclassBlicenseisrequiredtopossess,purchase,orcarrya</p><p>firearm,ammunitionthereof,orfirearmfeedingdevice,or“large</p><p>capacityfeedingdevice.”Michigan:Ahandgunpurchasermust</p><p>obtainalicensetopurchasefromlocallawenforcement,andwithin</p><p>10dayspresentthelicenseandhandguntoobtainacertificateof</p><p>inspection.Minnesota:Ahandguntransferorcarryingpermit,ora7-</p><p>daywaitingperiodandhandguntransferreport,isrequiredto</p><p>purchasehandgunsor“assaultweapons”fromadealer.Apermitis</p><p>validforoneyear,atransferreportfor30days.Missouri:Apurchase</p><p>permitisrequiredforahandgun,mustbeissuedtoqualified</p><p>applicantswithin7days,andisvalidfor30days.NewJersey:</p><p>FirearmownersmustpossessaFID,whichmustbeissuedtoqualified</p><p>applicantswithin30days.Topurchaseahandgun,apurchasepermit,</p><p>whichmustbeissuedwithin30daystoqualifiedapplicantsandis</p><p>validfor90days,isrequired.AnFIDisrequiredtopurchaselong</p><p>guns.NewYork:Purchase,possessionand/orcarryingofahandgun</p><p>requireasinglelicense,whichincludesanyrestrictionsmadeupon</p><p>thebearer.NewYorkCityalsorequiresalicenseforlongguns.North</p><p>Carolina:Topurchaseahandgun,alicenseorpermitisrequired,</p><p>whichmustbeissuedtoqualifiedapplicantswithin30days.</p><p>10.Apermitisrequiredtoacquireanotherhandgunbefore30dayshave</p><p>elapsedfollowingtheacquisitionofahandgun.InVirginia,those</p><p>withapermittocarryaconcealedweaponareexemptfromthis</p><p>prohibition.</p><p>11.Requiresproofofsafetytrainingforpurchase.California:Musthave</p><p>HandgunSafetyCertificatereceipt,whichisvalidforfiveyears.</p><p>Connecticut:Toreceivecertificateofeligibility,mustcompletea</p><p>handgunsafetycourseapprovedbytheCommissionerofPublic</p><p>Safety.Hawaii:Musthavecompletedanapprovedhandgunsafety</p><p>course.Maryland:Mustcompleteanapprovedhandgunsafety</p><p>course.Michigan:Apersonmustcorrectlyanswer70%ofthe</p><p>questionsonabasicsafetyreviewquestionnaireinordertoobtaina</p><p>licensetopurchase.NewYork:Somecountiesrequireahandgun</p><p>safetytrainingcoursetoreceivealicense.RhodeIsland:Must</p><p>receiveastate-issuedhandgunsafetycard.</p><p>12.EverypersonarrivinginHawaiiisrequiredtoregisterany</p><p>firearm(s)broughtintothestatewithin3daysofarrivaloftheperson</p><p>orfirearm(s),whicheveroccurslater.Handgunspurchasedfrom</p><p>licenseddealersmustberegisteredwithin5days.</p><p>13.“Assaultweapon”registration.Californiahadtwodatesbywhich</p><p>assaultweaponshadtoberegisteredorpossessionaftersuchdate</p><p>wouldbeconsideredafelony:March31,1992forthenamedmake</p><p>andmodelfirearmsbannedinthe1989legislationandDecember31,</p><p>2000forthefirearmsmeetingthedefinitionofthe“assaultweapons</p><p>inthe1999legislation.InConnecticut,thosefirearmsbannedby</p><p>specificmakeandmodelinthe1993lawhadtoberegisteredby</p><p>October1,1994orpossessionwouldbeconsideredafelony.Arecent</p><p>lawrequiresregistrationofadditionalgunsbyOctober1,2003.In</p><p>NewJersey,any“assaultweapon”notregistered,licensed,or</p><p>renderedinoperablepursuanttoastatepolicecertificatebyMay1,</p><p>1991,isconsideredcontraband.</p><p>14.Chicagoonly.Nohandgunnotalreadyregisteredmaybepossessed.</p><p>15.NewYorkCityonly.</p><p>16.Purchasersofhandgunswhodonotpossessapermittocarryapistol</p><p>mustfileanapplicationforpurchase,whichwillberetainedbythe</p><p>chiefofpoliceorsheriffforoneyear.</p><p>17.VermontandAlaskalawrespectyourrighttocarrywithouta</p><p>permit.Alaskaalsohasapermittocarrysystemtoestablish</p><p>reciprocitywithotherstates.</p><p>18.Provisionsofthislawarestayedpendinganongoingdisputeinthe</p><p>courts.</p><p>19.Carryingahandgunopenlyinamotorvehiclerequiresalicense.</p><p>20.Arkansasprohibitscarryingafirearm“withapurposetoemployit</p><p>asaweaponagainstaperson.”Tennesseeprohibitscarrying“with</p><p>theintenttogoarmed.”Vermontprohibitscarryingafirearm“with</p><p>theintentorpurposeofinjuringanother.”</p><p>21.Loaded.</p><p>22.Municipalitiesmayprohibitopencarryingovernmentbuildingsif</p><p>suchprohibitionisclearlyposted.</p><p>23.Localjurisdictionsmayoptoftheprohibition.</p><p>24.IntheRighttoKeepandBearArmsAmendmentoftheAlaska</p><p>Constitution.</p><p>25.Preemptionthroughjudicialruling.Localregulationmaybe</p><p>institutedinMassachusettsifratifiedbythelegislature.</p><p>26.ExceptGaryandEastChicagoandlocallawsenactedbeforeJanuary</p><p>1994.</p><p>27.Preemptiononlyappliestohandguns.</p><p>Concealedcarrycodes:</p><p>R:Right-to-Carry“Shallissue”orlessrestrictivediscretionarypermit</p><p>system(Ala.,Conn.)(Seealsonote#21.)</p><p>M:ReasonableMayIssue;thestatehasapermissivemayissuelaw,but</p><p>theauthoritiesrecognizetherighttokeepandbeararms.</p><p>L:Right-to-CarryLimitedbylocalauthority’sdiscretionoverpermit</p><p>issuance.</p><p>D:Right-to-CarryDenied,nopermitsystemexists;concealedcarryis</p><p>prohibited.</p><p>I</p><p>Chapter4</p><p>PREPARATION</p><p>ANDAFTERMATH</p><p>Intheentertainmentmedia,gunfightsbeginwiththedrawandendwiththe</p><p>lastshot.Intherealworld,youneedtobepreparedbeforehand,andready</p><p>fortheordealthatislikelytofollow.</p><p>t’saboutsunsetrightnowoutsidemyhotelroominDenver,achilly</p><p>evening.December7,2006.PearlHarborisonourminds,ofcourse,</p><p>this being the anniversary of the sneak attack that changed the</p><p>historyofAmericaandtheworld.Butrightnow,I’mdealingwithacase</p><p>ofalaw-abidinggunownerwhohassufferedasneakattack</p><p>fromfate.</p><p>Thecaseclosedtoday,anditwenttothejuryabout45minutesago.</p><p>Eleven months earlier, the client, 58, was driving to the Veteran’s</p><p>Administration hospital to pick up some medicine. His name is Larry</p><p>Lindsey.Already asthmatic, he had just been diagnosedwith diabetes,</p><p>andoverallwasnotinthebestofhealth.Hewalkedwithacaneanda</p><p>pronouncedlimp,thelegacyofanaccidentonacitystreetafewyears</p><p>earlierwhenacarelessmotoristblastedthrougharedlightandranhim</p><p>downonacrosswalk.</p><p>Beable toarticulatewhyyouchosethecaliberandammothatwereused.Federal+P+115-</p><p>grainJHPisanexcellentchoicein9mm,butfullmetaljacket,right,isnot.</p><p>OntheInterstatethatgoesthroughDenver,ayoung-lookingmanina</p><p>FordTaurus, racingzig-zag through thehighspeed traffic, cut intohis</p><p>lane. The smaller car nearly ran Larry’s vehicle off the road. Acutely</p><p>aware of the dangers posed by such driving – not only reminded</p><p>constantlybyhislingeringinjury,butbythefactthathehadlostloved</p><p>ones to drunk and reckless drivers in the past – Larry alwaysmade a</p><p>pointofcalling in suchdangerousmotoristsonhiscellphone.But the</p><p>Taurus had accelerated ahead so quickly, still cutting left and right</p><p>throughtraffic,thathehadn’tbeenabletogetthelicenseplatenumber.</p><p>Hecontinuedonhisway.Ashereachedhisexit,hesawafamiliarcar</p><p>stopped at the edge of the exit ramp: the tan Taurus, with the same</p><p>youngmanat thewheel. Larry instinctively slowed, and suddenly, the</p><p>vehicleshotoutdirectlyinfrontofhim,nearlycolliding.Larryswerved</p><p>andhitthebrakes,andbarelymissedplowingintotheconcretewallon</p><p>therightsideoftheexitramp.Ashebroughthisvehiclebackonpath,</p><p>LarrysawtheTaurus’drivermouthacurseathimandraisehismiddle</p><p>fingerincontempt...andthenblastthrougharedlight,turningright,in</p><p>flagrantviolationofabigsignthatread,“NORIGHTTURNONRED.”</p><p>This, Larry decided, was just too blatant to ignore. When traffic</p><p>allowed,he too turned right, following the tanTaurus thatwasnowa</p><p>considerabledistanceaheadofhim.Hedecidedhewasgoing towrite</p><p>downthelicensenumberandphoneitin.Ashedrovehedialed9-1-1on</p><p>hiscellphone,andwasputon“hold.”Aheadofhim,hesawthecartake</p><p>a right, thena left.He followed in time to see it pull quickly into the</p><p>parkinglotonhisleft.</p><p>He slowed, turned into the lot – and stopped dead in the narrow</p><p>mouthof theparkinglot. Insteadofgoingtotherightwherethemain</p><p>parkingspaceswere,thetanTaurushadpulledintothethirdslotonthe</p><p>immediate left of the exit, a short row of Handicapped spaces. The</p><p>vehiclehadcome to its suddenstop in frontofa largeHANDICAPPED</p><p>sign.</p><p>Onlyafewstepsawayfromthevehicle,Larryfiguredhe’d jotdown</p><p>thelicensenumberandbeoutofthere.9-1-1Dispatchhadnotyettaken</p><p>himoff“hold.”</p><p>Butotherthingsweren’t“holding”atall.</p><p>The driver boiled out of the car, coming toward Larry, screaming</p><p>obscenities.FifteenortwentypacesaheadofLarry’scar,averytalland</p><p>strong-looking young man emerged immediately from the apartment</p><p>houseentrywayandproceededtowardhimatafastwalk.Thenanother</p><p>cameoutbehindhim.</p><p>Five feet eight, pushing sixty, a little overweight, and crippled and</p><p>sick,Larrywasn’tsurehewouldbeamatchforoneathleticyoungman,</p><p>letalonethree.Thethirdoneseemedtodriftaway,butthetallonewas</p><p>approachingstraightathimandthedriveroftheTauruswasalmostat</p><p>hisleftdoor,screaming“I’llkickyourass!I’llkillyou!”</p><p>Inhisyoungerdays,LarryLindseyhadspenteightyearsintheUnited</p><p>StatesMarineCorps,muchofitinVietnam,wherehisMOSwasCombat</p><p>Photographer. His issue weapon had been a 1911 45 automatic back</p><p>then.Agunguyallhis life,hehadgrown to like the issuepistol, and</p><p>hadchosenashispersonaldefensegunastainlesssteelKimberCustom</p><p>ShopGold191145.Hekeptitinhisconsolewithprettymuchthesame</p><p>load-out to which the USMC had accustomed him: in a holster with</p><p>loadedmagazine and empty chamber, backed up by twomore loaded</p><p>magsinaleatherpouch.</p><p>Trialscanbescary.Lawenforcementpersonnelbarricadethestreetsforablockineachdirection</p><p>around the courthouse because of death threats against the defendant in one case the author</p><p>worked.</p><p>Larry flipped open the console and took out the holstered pistol,</p><p>holdingitinplainsightwherehehopedtheycouldseeit.Themanon</p><p>hisleftscreamedanotherF-wordcurse…andhisrighthanddoveunder</p><p>hisjackettowardhisback,asifgoingforapistol.</p><p>Larry ripped the holster off the Kimber, jacked a 230-grain Federal</p><p>Hydra-Shokintothechamber,andbroughtupthepistol.</p><p>Suddenly,thetwomenweremovingback,andLarrywasn’tindanger</p><p>anymore. His cell phonewas still in his lapwhere he had dropped it</p><p>whenhewentforhispistol.Glancingbehindhim,Larrysawanopening</p><p>inthetrafficandhebackedoutintothestreet,thendrovetothenearest</p><p>corner andpulled into a parking lot there.Hedialed9-1-1 again, and</p><p>thistime,hegotthrough.Hetoldthedispatcherwhathappened.</p><p>Unfortunately, the tallmanwhohadmenacedhimhadwhippedout</p><p>hisowncellphonebeforeLarrywasoutoftheparkinglot.Hiscallwent</p><p>intoDispatchat3:02PM,andLarry’sdidnotgetinuntil3:03.Thefirst</p><p>responding officer arrived at the scene at 3:10, a respectable eight-</p><p>minuteresponsetime.</p><p>Thatofficerwouldtestifythatheneverreceivedanyradionotification</p><p>thatLarryhadcalledinhiscomplaint.Heseemedsurprisedwhenhewas</p><p>shownthefactsonthe9-1-1calllog,incourt,bydefenseattorneyPaul</p><p>Grant.</p><p>The same officer would testify that he had decided almost</p><p>immediatelyuponhis arrival to arrest Larry Lindsey,whowasnow in</p><p>the grip of a full-blown asthma attack. After all, two witnesses had</p><p>identifiedthecrazymaninastateofroadragewhohadwavedasilver-</p><p>coloredpistolat them,and themanhadadmitteddrawing thegunon</p><p>thepairtheofficernowconsideredvictims.</p><p>Larry Lindsey was arrested at the scene. He was charged with two</p><p>countsofFelonyMenacing,andlaterreleasedon$50,000bail.</p><p>ThetrialbeganonDecember6.Juryselectionwasdonebymorning,</p><p>withtheprosecutionremovingalmosteverygunowner.This isparfor</p><p>thecourse.Neithersidewantssomeoneonthejurywhomightidentify</p><p>withthepeopleontheothersideofthecase.Amongthetwelvejurors</p><p>andonealternatefinallyselectedtherewasbutasingleonewhoowned</p><p>firearms. He had two, which he kept empty, fittedwith trigger locks,</p><p>insideagunsafe.Aloadedgun,hesaidduringthejuryselectionprocess</p><p>calledvoirdire,wasjusttoodangeroustokeeparound.This,apparently,</p><p>wasenoughtosatisfytheprosecutor.</p><p>Thestatetooktherestofthedaytoestablishitscase.Astoryemerged</p><p>ofanicetwenty-somethingkid,animmigrantfromtheMiddleEastwith</p><p>no record,who accidentally cut in front of amotoristwhomust have</p><p>beenoneofthoseAngryWhiteMales.Thedriverhadboiledupinroad</p><p>rage, followedhimforseveralblocks,pulled inbehindhimandpulled</p><p>outabigsilverpistol,withwhichhethreatenedto“blowhisbrainsout”</p><p>along with those of his equally innocent twenty-something friend, an</p><p>immigrantfromEasternEurope,whohaddonenothingbutcomeoutof</p><p>hisapartmentbuilding.</p><p>Thecops took the stand.Yes, said thearrestingofficer,hehadbeen</p><p>calledtothesceneofacrimeofthreateningtoshootsomeonewithout</p><p>reason…foundtwocomplainantswillingtotestify…foundthedefendant</p><p>who admitted having</p><p>a gun just like the one the complainants had</p><p>described…anddetermined immediately thathewas guilty andplaced</p><p>himunderarrest.Muchemphasiswasplacedonthelargecaliberofthe</p><p>weapon. The prosecutor elicited from the officer that the hollowpoint</p><p>bullets,230-grainFederalHydra-Shok,weredesignedtoexpandandtear</p><p>“larger wounds.” And, oh my God, there were two spare magazines!</p><p>Enoughbulletstokilltwodozenpeople!</p><p>On themorningofDecember7, theassistantdistrictattorneywould</p><p>announce thathercasewasclosed.AttorneyPaulGranthadchosen to</p><p>call only twowitnesses: the defendant, andme. The ADA strenuously</p><p>objectedtomypresence,soaninformalhearingwasheldontherecord</p><p>inchambers.</p><p>It seems that when Grant had sent the routine list of witnesses he</p><p>intendedtocalltotheprosecutorwho’dhadthecasepreviously,thefax</p><p>hadnotgonethrough.Hehadn’tknownthat.Whenhementionedtothe</p><p>newprosecutoronthecasetheweekbeforethathewouldbecallingan</p><p>experttotestify,shewentthroughtheroof.</p><p>Thejudgewasnothappyabouttheglitch.However,hewasdiligentin</p><p>hisdutiesandherecognizedthatthedefendanthadcertainrights.The</p><p>prosecutor’s questioning of the arresting officer the day before had</p><p>elicitedtestimonythatmadethepistolseemanavatarofmalicebecause</p><p>of its caliber, its sparemagazines, its hollowpoint ammunition; Grant,</p><p>who had seen that before, argued that he had a right to rebut those</p><p>arguments.Incredibly,theprosecutorarguedthatsinceitcamethrough</p><p>a material witness instead of an expert, that material could not be</p><p>rebutted by an expert. Grant responded, successfully, with a logical</p><p>argument:whoeverhadsaidit,thepoisonwasinthewater,andhehad</p><p>therighttoadministeranantidoteofhischoice.Thejudgeagreed.</p><p>Reloaded ammo is great for practice, hunting, and competition, says author, but he strongly</p><p>recommendsagainstitfordefenseuse.</p><p>Grantwantedmetotestifyalsoastothestandardsofcareforprivate</p><p>citizens in such things, the rules of engagement as it were. The</p><p>prosecutoradamantlyobjected.Iwas,shesaid,goingtotellthejurythat</p><p>the defendant’s use of the gun was justified, and that issue was</p><p>somethingonlythejurycoulddetermine.Thejudgeaskedmewhatmy</p><p>takewasonthat.</p><p>IexplainedthatIhadnointentionofgoingto“theultimateissue,”the</p><p>guiltorinnocenceofthedefendant,andthatIagreedthiswasaquestion</p><p>that only the triers of the facts could answer. However, I added, I</p><p>believed the defense attorney’s job was to show the jury that a</p><p>reasonable,prudentperson,inthesamesituationandknowingwhathis</p><p>clientknew,wouldhavedonethesamething.Theelementof“knowing</p><p>what the defendant knew” required him to show the jury how such</p><p>decisions are made by lawfully armed citizens, and what the rules of</p><p>engagementareunderstood tobe. Itwas toestablish thoseparameters</p><p>thathehadbroughtmein.</p><p>And,ofcourse,thejudgeagreed.</p><p>Iwent on the stand first thing after court convened. The prosecutor</p><p>stipulated tomycredentials andexpertise, aprofessionalmovebyany</p><p>advocateagainstanadverseexpertwitnessbecauseit limitshowmuch</p><p>of his qualifications and background the jurywill hear in the opening</p><p>momentsoftestimony.</p><p>DefenseattorneyGrantaskedtherightquestions,andIlaidoutthose</p><p>“rules of engagement,” which will follow shortly in this chapter. We</p><p>explainedthe“furtivemovement”element:thatwhensomeonesuchas</p><p>theyoung Iranian immigrantmadeamoveconsistentwithgoing fora</p><p>gun, and not reasonably consistent with anything else under the</p><p>circumstances,itwouldreasonableandprudentofsomeonesuchasthe</p><p>defendanttoimmediatelydrawhisowngunandtakehimproactivelyat</p><p>gunpoint.</p><p>Onebyone,wecutdowntheshibbolethsthathadbuiltuparoundthe</p><p>defendant’schoiceofgunandammunitionduringtheprosecution’scase.</p><p>The45-caliberpistolwasquitecommoninAmerica,verypopularinlaw</p><p>enforcement, in fact approved for the Denver Police Department and</p><p>carried by a greatmany of its officers. The type of gun the defendant</p><p>hademployedwasadoptedby theUnitedStatesMilitary in1911,had</p><p>beenstandardwithourarmedforcesuntilthemid-1980s,andwasstill</p><p>used by ourmilitary among pistol teams, theArmy’sDelta Force, and</p><p>theMarine Corps’ Recon unit,which in fact had recently purchased a</p><p>quantityofKimbersfunctionallyidenticaltotheKimber45inevidence.</p><p>I explained that generations of American service personnel had</p><p>returnedtocivilianlifeaftercompletingtheirtermsofservice,andhad</p><p>decidedthatifthe191145pistolwasgoodenoughtobeissuedtothem</p><p>byUncleSamtoprotecttheircountry,itwasgoodenoughforthemto</p><p>purchase to protect their home and hearth and loved ones. In turn,</p><p>countlessAmericanswhohadneverjoinedthemilitaryhadbeentaught</p><p>by theirparents touse those same45s,andboughtoneormorewhen</p><p>they in turn grew up andmade the lawful decision to have a gun to</p><p>protectthemselvesandtheirlovedones.Thiswaswhythe1911wasso</p><p>verypopularandcommonamongarmedcitizens,andalsothefactthat</p><p>itsdesignfeaturesmadeitidealformanyformsofpistolmatches,which</p><p>thedefendantwouldtestifyhehadcompetedinregularlyuntilbecoming</p><p>toophysicallydebilitatedtodoso.</p><p>The two spare magazines that augmented the loaded pistol? I</p><p>explainedthatthiswasatypical“load-out”forthosewhocarriedagun.</p><p>Sincebeforeanyofuswasborn,thestandardlawenforcementrulewas</p><p>aloadedgunplusenoughspareammunitionfortwofullreloads.Itold</p><p>thejurythattheywouldseeuniformedofficersinthecourthouseduring</p><p>their breaks, and that theywould notice each had a double pouch on</p><p>theirdutybeltstocarrytwosparemagazinestocomplementtheirfully</p><p>loaded weapon. Since many of them had high-capacity pistols, some</p><p>wouldbecarryingasmanyas54dutycartridgesontheirperson,i.e.,a</p><p>fullyloadedGlock17with189mmroundsinitandtwospare17-round</p><p>magazinesinthepouches.Themilitaryload-out,sincethe45’sadoption</p><p>in1911,hadbeenloadedguninholsterplustwomagazinesinpouches.</p><p>Ipointedoutthattestimonywouldshowthatthedefendanthadserved</p><p>forsomeeightyearsasaUSMCcombatphotographerinVietnam(where</p><p>he had been wounded in action) and that every day there he carried</p><p>what the Government issued him: a 1911 45 auto with an empty</p><p>chamberandfullmagazine,andtwosparefullyloadedmagazines,inthe</p><p>holsteranddoublemagpouchhewasissued.Thiswasexactlywhathe’d</p><p>hadinthecarwithhimonthedayinquestion,albeitwitheight-round</p><p>competitionmagazinesinsteadofseven-roundGImags.</p><p>As a competitor for many years, the defendant needed at least two</p><p>magazines to shoot even prosaic NRA bullseye matches, and three to</p><p>shootastageinIDPA.Ifhejuststoppedatthepublicoutdoorrangefor</p><p>someshooting–which,recordswouldshow,hehaddonejustacouple</p><p>ofdaysbefore the incident– therewouldbea finiteamountofactual</p><p>shooting time in between stand-downs to examine and change targets.</p><p>Duringthosestand-downs,therewouldbetimetorefill themagazines.</p><p>Then, when it came time to shoot, the guywho came to shoot could</p><p>spendhisshootingtimedoingmoreshooting,justastheguywhocame</p><p>toagolfcoursetoplaygolfwouldratherplayeighteenholesthannine.I</p><p>couldseesomeofthejurorsnoddingtheirheadsinaffirmation.Andof</p><p>course, should adefensivepistolhave tobeused for seriouspurposes,</p><p>moreammocouldberequired,</p><p>orasparemagazinemightbenecessary</p><p>toclearamalfunction.They“got it.”Theyrealizedapersonforwhom</p><p>pistol shooting was a sport might want to have multiple loaded</p><p>magazinesforpurposesotherthanmassmurder.</p><p>The hollowpoints? I explained that virtually every law enforcement</p><p>agency in the country had adopted such ammunition, including the</p><p>DenverPDwhichlast IknewhadSpeerGoldDotasstandardissuefor</p><p>everyapprovedcaliber. (Detroit,Michigan is clutchedso tightly in the</p><p>ironfistofpoliticalcorrectnessthat“hollowpoints”areanathemathere,</p><p>so Detroit coppers are issued Federal Expanding Full Metal Jacket</p><p>ammunition, inwhich theoperative term is “expanding.”) I thenwent</p><p>on topointout the reasons for that,whichare listedelsewhere in this</p><p>book but, briefly, include reduced likelihood of ricochet that could</p><p>endangerbystanders, reduced likelihoodofover-penetration that could</p><p>jeopardizethesameinnocents,etc.TheFederalHydra-Shokinparticular</p><p>hadatonepointbeenthe“goldstandard”amongAmericanpolicebefore</p><p>thecomingofhigher-techJHPsfromthatmakerandothers,andremains</p><p>inwidelawenforcementuse.</p><p>Paul Grant closed the direct examination by askingme if I toldmy</p><p>studentsthattheymightbewisetoavoidfollowingdangerouspeopleto</p><p>reportthemtopolice.Itoldhimthatwastrue,andexplainedwhy:that</p><p>folkswhocameinlateanddidn’tseewhatyousawcouldmistakeyouas</p><p>theaggressivepursuerchasingahaplessvictim,andtheresultcouldbea</p><p>“falsepositive”thatmadethegoodguylooklikethebadguyandvice</p><p>versa.Itwasagoodnoteonwhichtoendthedirect.</p><p>Cross-examinationwasinteresting.Theseasonedprosecutorwaswell-</p><p>spokenandutterlyprofessional.Ifyoudrewagunbecauseyouthought</p><p>theothermanwasgoingtodrawone,butheturnedouttobeunarmed,</p><p>wouldn’t that be amistake? No, I answered, not if the totality of the</p><p>other man’s words and actions were reasonably construable to any</p><p>prudentpersonasindicatingthathedidhaveagun.Besides,twostrong</p><p>youngmenthreateningtobeatupandkillaphysicallydisabledmanin</p><p>his late fifties constituted disparity of force twice over. I had already</p><p>explained to the juryondirect thatdisparityof forcemeant that even</p><p>ostensiblyunarmedmenweresolikelytokillorcrippleyouunderthese</p><p>violent circumstances that this likelihood constituted the equivalent of</p><p>oneorbothofthembeingarmedwithapersedeadlyweapon.</p><p>And so itwent for almost two and a half hours, until Iwas done. I</p><p>headed back to the hotel to wait in case I was called back. Out of</p><p>hearingof the jury, theprosecutor informedthe judgeandthedefense</p><p>lawyerthatshemightcallarebuttalwitness,whosepurposewouldbeto</p><p>refutemy testimony. Therefore, I had to stick around for sur-rebuttal,</p><p>whichwouldinvolvemytakingthestandonceagaintoshootdownthe</p><p>rebuttaltestimony.</p><p>Whichbringsus to lateafternoonofDecember7. I learnafter court</p><p>hasadjournedforthedaythattheprosecutorhasgivenuponrebuttal,</p><p>the defendant has told his story, and both advocates have given their</p><p>closing arguments. There’s nothingmore I can do here. I pick up the</p><p>phoneandmakearrangementstoflyoutearlythenextmorning.</p><p>December 8, 2006: I’m in the Atlanta airport waiting to board my</p><p>connecting flight for the final leg ofmy journey homewhenmy Treo</p><p>rings.It’sPaulGrant.Thejuryhascomeinwiththeverdict.</p><p>NotGuiltyonallcounts.</p><p>Criminal defense lawyers rarely get to defend innocent men. When</p><p>they do, acquittal is all the sweeter, a perfect validation of such a</p><p>professional’s very existence. A relieved Paul Grant reminds the judge</p><p>thatthereisthesmallmatterofsomeofhisclient’sproperty,whichat</p><p>this moment has ceased to be evidence in the custody of the Court,</p><p>whichshouldbereturnedtohisclient.</p><p>Theprosecutor jumps toher feetandsays,“YourHonor, thestate is</p><p>preparingamotionfortheguntobedestroyed.”</p><p>The judge looksather in somethingclose todisbeliefandasks, “On</p><p>whatgrounds?”</p><p>“There’sastatute,”sheblurts.</p><p>Patiently,thejudgeasks,“Whatstatute?”</p><p>Theprosecutorrepliesthatshedoesn’tknow,exactly,butsheintends</p><p>tofindit.</p><p>Somepeoplejusthatetolose.</p><p>Lessons</p><p>Aweeklater,Ireceivedanemailfromthedefendant.“Thisisthefirst</p><p>chancesincethetrialthatIhavehadtoactuallysitdownandcomposea</p><p>lettertoproperlythankyou,”hewrote.“Thewholeordealofthetrial,</p><p>coupledwith the emotional and financial drain of the previous eleven</p><p>monthshadtakensuchatollonmywifeandmyselfthatwejusttooka</p><p>fewdaysofftospendsometimewitheachother.Itisamazingjusthow</p><p>muchbetterIfeelnow.</p><p>“I can’t tell you how much we appreciated your presence in the</p><p>courtroom,andyourtestimony.BecauseofyouandPaul,NatashaandI</p><p>willbespendingChristmastogetheragainthisyear.Webothagreethat</p><p>thisisourbestChristmasever.Wehopethatyouandyourfamilyhavea</p><p>veryMerryChristmas,andaHappyNewYear!</p><p>“The one thing that I never could have anticipated was that the</p><p>elements of a confrontation with bad guys here in a ‘civilized’</p><p>environmentcouldhavesomanysimilaritiestoanengagementinactive</p><p>combat. Therewas the same tendency to focus solely on the threat at</p><p>hand,excludingalmosteverythingelse,andthesameauditoryexclusion</p><p>andtimedistortion.Thestressofthesituationalsomadeitverydifficult</p><p>torememberthechronologicalorderofthings.</p><p>“Itisaverystrangesensationtohaveyourmindracingatsuchspeeds</p><p>astomakethemomentseemasifitistakingplaceinagonizinglyslow</p><p>motion. It’s almost impossible to keep tabs on everything at once…</p><p>assessing the danger, keeping an eye on two ormore aggressors (who</p><p>happentobeindifferentlocations),tryingtosafelyretrieveandhandle</p><p>yourhandgun,while simultaneously trying towatch the traffic behind</p><p>yousothatyoucansafelybackoutoftheparkinglot.ThewholetimeI</p><p>wasprayingthatIdidn’thavetoshootthisidiot,butIalsorealizedthat</p><p>pullingthepistolwasmyonlywayoutofadeadlysituation.Thankfully,</p><p>itdidwhatIintendedforittodo.Itdefusedthesituationimmediately</p><p>andIwasabletoextractmyselfandwaitforthepolice.</p><p>“Iusedmypistolinselfdefense,knowingfullwellwhattheaftermath</p><p>wouldmost likelybe. IknewthatDenveralmostalwaysprosecutesan</p><p>individualifhehasusedafirearmtodefendhimself,butIalsobelieved</p><p>thatIhadnootherchoiceinthematter.”</p><p>He concluded, “After the trial, a juror askedme if thishad changed</p><p>mymindaboutcarryingafirearmforselfdefense.Sincesheclaimedto</p><p>beoneofmydefendersearlyonindeliberation,I’msurethatwhatshe</p><p>meantwasthatifIhadnothadmyhandgunwithmethatIwouldnot</p><p>havehad todefendmyself, yeta second time, in court.Evenafter the</p><p>trial andmy acquittal of all charges, she still couldnot see thewhole</p><p>picture,andfailedtoconsiderthelikelyoutcomehadIbeenunarmed.I</p><p>explainedtoherthattheexperiencehadonlyreinforcedmybeliefthat</p><p>we live in perilous times, and that I should always carry a firearm to</p><p>defendmyself.”</p><p>Whew!Wheredowebegin?Let’sstartwiththeobvious.</p><p>I can’t overemphasize that “false positive effect” that I spoke of in</p><p>court.Thiswholethingwentthewayitdidafterthegunwasputaway</p><p>becausethedefendantdidn’tgethisstoryintotheauthoritiesbeforehis</p><p>antagonists did. The entire criminal justice system is geared on the</p><p>assumptionthatwhoevercallsinfirstisthecomplainant,</p><p>thevictim.The</p><p>good guy now, by default, becomes the bad guy: the suspect. The</p><p>perpetrator.</p><p>Insituations like these,you’reacontestant inwhat I’vecometocall</p><p>“theracetothetelephone.”Thewinnergetstobethegoodguy,andthe</p><p>loserautomaticallybecomesthebadguy.</p><p>She’s5’0”,andthey’reabout6’4”.Howmanyelementsof“disparityofforce”couldbepresent</p><p>here?</p><p>Iknowwhatyou’rethinking:that’snothowitshouldbe,anditisn’t</p><p>fair.You’reright.Itisn’tfair,anditisn’thowitshouldbe.But,yaknow,</p><p>I don’t think you paid the price of this book to find out how I think</p><p>things should be. I think you paid it to find out how things are, and,</p><p>well,thisishowtheyare.</p><p>Please don’t think that the criminal justice systemalways goes after</p><p>thewrongguy.That’sactuallyfairlyrare.Mostofthetime,thesystem</p><p>works.Butthat’spartlybecause,mostofthetimethings“goasusual.”</p><p>BythatImean,whathappensmostofthetimeisthatthepersonwho</p><p>calls in is the innocent victim aswell as the complainant.Most of the</p><p>time, the person complained about is the perpetrator. After you do</p><p>criminaljusticeforalivingforawhile,itbecomesbusinessasusualto</p><p>accept things as such. Complainant equals victim, complained about</p><p>equals suspected perpetrator. Soon everyone from the dispatcher who</p><p>takes the call, to the copon thebeatwho responds, to theprosecutor</p><p>whotakesthecasetocourt,acceptsthisasamatterofcourse.</p><p>That’s why, when testifying in this particular case, I used the term</p><p>“falsepositive”tothejury.Iwasn’ttheretoblamethearrestingofficer.</p><p>Heworkedwithwhat he had toworkwith. Call says, “Manwith gun</p><p>threatens people.” A BadThing. Gets to scene. Complainants confirm,</p><p>“Yup,threateneduswithgun!”Hmmm.Suspectsays,“Sure,Ipulledthe</p><p>gun–it’srightthere–andwarnedthatIwouldshoot,but–“</p><p>Well,youandImightalsosay,“Saveit forthe judge,buddy,you’re</p><p>underarrest.”Probablecausenowexiststomakethearrest.Sortingout</p><p>theexcusesandalibis?That’slargelyforthecourtroom.</p><p>At one point in that trial, I was asked in front of the jury if I was</p><p>prejudiced against cops. Hardly, I replied; I had been a sworn police</p><p>officerfor33years,andstillwasone,albeitonaparttimebasis.Ifthe</p><p>assistant district attorney had asked me on cross if I was prejudiced</p><p>againstprosecutors,Iwouldhavesaidmuchthesame:Hardly,because</p><p>I’vespentmorethanseventeenyearsasapoliceprosecutor.(Inthestate</p><p>where I serve, selectedpoliceofficersaresent toa two-weekcourseat</p><p>the state law enforcement academy after which, if we can pass the</p><p>stringent final exam, we are declared “police prosecutors.” We can</p><p>prosecuteviolationsandmisdemeanorsallthewaythroughonourown,</p><p>andcangoas farasarraignmentwith feloniesandsecondseat for the</p><p>restofthetrialwitha“real”prosecutorifheorshewantsusto.“Second</p><p>seat,” called “second chair” in some jurisdictions, mean that you’re</p><p>actingasco-pilot to thedesignatedprosecutorwhois thepilot.Onlya</p><p>fewstateshavethissystem,butitworksamazinglywell.)</p><p>JustasIrespectcopsandprosecutors, Irespectphysiciansandother</p><p>medical professionals. They rarelymakemistakes…but they’re human,</p><p>andtheycanmakemistakes.Theyworkdailywithreliablesystemsand</p><p>protocols that let themdiagnoseand treatproblems.Mostof the time,</p><p>those things perform as intended. But, every now and then, an</p><p>unforeseen aberration occurs in the way things normally work, and a</p><p>test registers “positive” when in fact it should register “negative.”</p><p>Professionalhistory, logic, themomentumofroutine,anda little thing</p><p>called “business as usual” now come together, and because the test</p><p>indicated “positive,” the patient is treated as if he had the disease.</p><p>Hopefully, the wrong treatment is discovered in time to rectify the</p><p>situation,givethepropertreatment,andhealthepatient.</p><p>Thecriminaljusticesystemworksexactlythesameway.</p><p>Whentheguywhostartedtheproblemcallsinfirst,andsaysthegood</p><p>guy is thebadguy,wehave the “falsepositive” result. In themedical</p><p>example, thesymptomshavemimicked thoseof thegivendisease,and</p><p>treatment for that disease is prescribed. In the legal example, actions</p><p>mimic those of a given crime, so the “patient” is treated as if he had</p><p>committedthecrime.Inthemedicalenvironment,continuedmonitoring</p><p>of the patient’s condition will hopefully determine that the wrong</p><p>treatmentwas prescribed because of the false positive, and thematter</p><p>willbe rectified. In the legalenvironment, thatusuallydoesn’thappen</p><p>untilyougettocourt,aswasthecaseforthisunfortunatedefendant.</p><p>So, tomakea longstoryshort, the lesson is,be thecomplainant!Win</p><p>that“racetothetelephone”intheaftermathoftheincident.</p><p>Another lesson, discussed in both direct and cross and worthy of</p><p>reiterationhere, is: carefully consider the risks before you pursue or even</p><p>followawrongdoer.AsIsaidonthestandthatdayinDenver,aprivate</p><p>citizenchasinga suspect is a little likeadogchasinga car:hehasno</p><p>ideawhathe’sgoingtodowithhisquarry ifhecatches it,buthewill</p><p>feelanalmostirresistibleurgetochaseit.</p><p>Our society sends a very mixed message on this. Somewhere in</p><p>America almost every day, some brave citizen will chase a thief or</p><p>follow a bank robber or trail a road-raging driver as Larry did in this</p><p>case.Often, there is a successful conclusion. Thanks to that concerned</p><p>citizen’sdiligenceandwillingnessto“getinvolved,”thepersonwhodid</p><p>the bad act is captured by the police and the public is made safer.</p><p>Sometimes,it’seventhecitizenwhocapturesthebadguy,andthenthe</p><p>newspaperslionizethatgoodcitizenasahero.</p><p>Well, I think that’s agood thing, in themoral sense.Backwhen the</p><p>English Common Lawwas formed, it included an element called “hue</p><p>and cry.” A formal police department would not be established in</p><p>England until long after, under the great Sir Robert Peel for whom</p><p>British “bobbies” are nicknamed. In those long ago times, it was</p><p>understood that citizens had to do their own policing. Thus, it was a</p><p>publicdutyto“raiseahueandcry”whenonesawacrimecommitted:</p><p>toshout“Stop,Thief!”andgivechase,hopefullysoonjoinedbyalike-</p><p>mindedcrowdofgoodcitizens,andlayhandsuponthemalefactorand</p><p>holdhimuntilthetravelingmagistratecouldbebroughttothevillageto</p><p>supervisetheimpositionoftheKing’sjustice.Itisfromthisheritagethat</p><p>we have today’s laws creating something called “citizen’s arrest” in</p><p>virtually all of our United States, where the English Common Law</p><p>remainsthemodelofoursystemofjustice.</p><p>However,whenthenewspaperandTVnewsstoriesappearapplauding</p><p>theheroic citizenwho led thepolice to thebadguyor even captured</p><p>himbyhis lonesome, please notice that there’s almost always a quote</p><p>from a police spokesman who says, “We appreciate this citizen’s</p><p>heroism,butwehavetourgethepublicnottogoafterpeopletheysee</p><p>commitcrimes.Itcanbeverydangerous.”</p><p>They ain’t just blowing politically correct smoke. The bad guymay</p><p>just turnonyou, justas thecar thedog is chasingcansuddenlygo in</p><p>reverseandrunoverthepuppy.Whatareyougoingtodoifthebadguy</p><p>screamsatyou,“I’llblowyourf—kin’headoff!”ashereachesasiffora</p><p>pistol?</p><p>Well,ifyoucan’tgetagunonhimasquicklyasLarrygot</p><p>a45onthis</p><p>guy,youcouldbeonthefasttrackforyourbodyheatgoingfrom98.6</p><p>degreesFahrenheittoroomtemperature.AndifyouareasfastasLarry,</p><p>you can find yourself going through the same terrible ordeal in court</p><p>thathedid.</p><p>Maybe you’re faster than Larry. Let’s say you’re in the exact same</p><p>circumstances, and you put a 230-grain Hydra-Shok into the man’s</p><p>centerchest,heartintospine,beforehecangethisgunhereachedfor</p><p>first,outofitshidingplace.He’swhatsomefolkswouldcallDRT:Dead</p><p>RightThere.</p><p>The first responding officers will approach the body. IF they find a</p><p>pistolinhishand,youmaybehomefree.ButIFtheyDON’T,you’rein</p><p>deeptrouble.You’vejustshotanunarmedman.</p><p>Gobacktothewaytheprosecutorcross-examinedmeinthiscase.She</p><p>was trying togetme to say that ifyoupullagunonamanyouhave</p><p>reasontobelieveisgoingtocriminallyshootyouwithagunofhisown,</p><p>andheturnsouttobeunarmed,it’swrong.Well,asIexplained,that’s</p><p>plain and simple BS. The law has never demanded that the bad guy</p><p>actually have a gun, or that the gun be real instead of fake, loaded</p><p>insteadofempty,operableinsteadofbrokenanduseless.Allthelawhas</p><p>everdemanded,insofarastheattackerbeingarmed,isthathismanifest</p><p>intent–hisobviousintent,asmanifestedbyhiswordsand/orhisactions</p><p>–besuchthatanyprudentpersonwouldbereasonabletoconcludethat</p><p>hewasindeedcapableofkillingyou.</p><p>Alas,overtheyears,ahugenumberofprosecutorshavefailedtosee</p><p>that.Inlawschool,deadlyforcelawisatinydropinagreatseaoftort</p><p>law,contract law,andgeneral legalprinciples. I’ve talked toattorneys</p><p>whospentmoretimeinlawschoolstudyingmaritimelawthandeadly</p><p>force or self-defense law. This forces the prosecutor, absent special</p><p>training,tofallbackonlegalformulae.</p><p>Author,right,observesaslightingexpertsdetermineambientlightatacrimescene.Thiscould</p><p>beacriticalelementforthejurytoweigh.</p><p>The formula says that the key ingredients of Manslaughter are</p><p>recklessness or negligence, coupled of course with the death of the</p><p>alleged victim. Some perceive bad judgment to be the equivalent of</p><p>recklessnessand/ornegligence.“Hmmm…youthoughthehadagun,but</p><p>hedidn’t.Yourjudgmentwasobviouslywrong.Youkilledhim.Let’ssee</p><p>what my law school notes say…bad judgment, plus death, equals…</p><p>Manslaughter!Yes, thatseemstobeanappropriatecharge.”Andthere</p><p>youare,incourtwithyourfutureontheline.</p><p>Eveniftheotherguydidturnouttohaveagun,rememberthatIonly</p><p>said youmay be home free. Way back in 1984, I was hired by two</p><p>famouscriminaldefenselawyers,RoyBlackandMarkSeiden,tospeak</p><p>inthedefenseofOfficerLuisAlvarez.LuiswasaMiamistreetcopwho,</p><p>along with his young rookie partner, was arresting a man for illegal</p><p>possessionofaconcealedhandguninacrowdedvideoarcade.Theman</p><p>went for his gun, a stolen RG-14 revolver loaded with hyper-velocity</p><p>Stinger22LongRiflehollowpoints,andAlvarezshothimdead.</p><p>It was a cross-racial shooting, and it triggered a race riot. The city</p><p>needed a scapegoat, and Alvarez was the chosen sacrifice. He was</p><p>charged with Manslaughter. Now, at the time the suspect made the</p><p>drawingmovementthatledtohisdeath,Alvarezalreadyknewthisman</p><p>wasarmedwithahandgun.Hehadapproachedhim,putahandonthe</p><p>bulgeunder the suspect’s sweater, and instantly realized thathishand</p><p>was on a revolver. The cop asked him, “What’s that?” The suspect</p><p>replied–withwhatwouldturnouttobehislastwordsonEarth–“It’sa</p><p>gun.”</p><p>Theprosecution,togetaconviction,neededtoshowthatAlvarezhad</p><p>actedrecklessly.TheirpositionwasthatAlvarezshouldhavewaitedto</p><p>actuallyseethemandrawthegun.Theyputforthanexpertasawitness</p><p>who testified, “He shouldn’t have fired until he saw the gun.” Asked</p><p>aboutthatwhenmyturncameonthewitnessstand,myreplywas,“If</p><p>youwaittoseethegun,you’regoingtoseewhatcomesoutofit.”Ithen</p><p>did ademonstration and showed the juryhowquickly a gun couldbe</p><p>drawn from a waistband when carried as it was found on the dying</p><p>suspect’sbody.Therewasawholelotmoretotheeightgruelingweeks</p><p>BlackandSeidenputinonthattrial,fromjuryselectiontoverdict,but</p><p>itendedinanacquittal.Whichtriggeredanotherriot,butthat’sanother</p><p>story.</p><p>Now, let’sgetback to theLindseycase, theone inDenver.Youwill</p><p>recall the discussion of actions leading up to the final encounter, and</p><p>how it is important that the jury know and assess how each of the</p><p>players was acting in the short period of time leading up to the</p><p>encounter.IfyouhaveacaselikeLindsey’sthat’s“hesaid/shesaid,”in</p><p>this case two complainants versus one defendant and no impartial,</p><p>objective eyewitnesses, it’s going to come down to taking one man’s</p><p>wordsoverthoseofanother,orthoseofacouplemore.</p><p>Thenumberofpeopletestifyingononesidecanbeconvincing,butis</p><p>not necessarily the best evidence. (By that standard, if a victim was</p><p>gang-rapedandall theperpetrators solidlydenied it, thevictimwould</p><p>never get justice.) When it goes to “he said/she said,” the relative</p><p>credibilityofeachwitness’stestimonymustbeweighedseparately.This</p><p>will include other factors in what the court calls “the totality of the</p><p>circumstances.” Therefore, each individual’s actions in the short time</p><p>frameleadinguptotheencountercanbeusedbythejurytodetermine</p><p>who seemed most likely to have committed a reckless act that</p><p>disregardedthevalueofhumanlife.</p><p>Let’s lookattheLarryLindseycaseagainwiththat inmind.Lindsey</p><p>wasasickmanenroutetotheVeteran’sAdministrationhospitaltoget</p><p>much-neededmedication,yethedivertedfromhisownneedstogetthe</p><p>license number so he could report the offending vehicle to the</p><p>authoritiesbeforetherecklessdrivercouldkillsomeone.This,Isubmit,</p><p>would be seen as a selfless and highly responsible action by a private</p><p>citizenwhohadno legalduty todo that, thoughofcoursehehad the</p><p>right.</p><p>Now,let’slookatthechiefwitnessagainstLarry.Howmanyreckless</p><p>acts, connotative of irresponsible action and therefore corroborative of</p><p>Larry’s account of the incident, did this guy commit? At least five are</p><p>evident.</p><p>(1)HeinitiallycutsLarryoffontheInterstate,nearlyrunninghimoff</p><p>theroad.</p><p>(2) He suddenly darts onto the exit ramp and cuts Larry off again,</p><p>nearlyforcinghisvehicleintoaconcretewallthistime.(Thedriverwill</p><p>lateradmittothisparticularoffense,butwillsaythathedidn’tmeanto</p><p>doit.)</p><p>(3) The other driver flipped Larry off. Now, obviously, that’s not a</p><p>“shootingoffense,”but it showsyou thatyou’redealingwith someone</p><p>whohassomehostilitygoingandperhapsanangermanagementthing.</p><p>After all,wewould all tell our kids that giving the bird to a stranger</p><p>you’ve cutoff in traffic is provocativeat thevery least, and therefore,</p><p>notaresponsiblethingtodo.</p><p>(4)Larrysawhimblastthrougha“norightturnonred”light.Another</p><p>dangerousact that’s construableas showingdisregard for the safetyof</p><p>oneselfandothers:moreirresponsibility.</p><p>(5) In the penultimate moment before the confrontation, the driver</p><p>whobecamethecomplainantwhippedhiscarintoahandicappedspace,</p><p>withnoapparentneedforthatsortofspeed.Again,whileobviouslynot</p><p>an offense that warrants gunpoint, it’s something that shows you an</p><p>agitatedmaninahurry,amanwho</p><p>namesinthe</p><p>firearms world and many of the real-world case studies are not just</p><p>academic.Mashas knownmost of thegreats.Andanyonewhoknows</p><p>Mas also knows that he is always asking questions, always analyzing</p><p>otherpeople’sviewsandalwaysseekingmoreandmoreknowledge.It’s</p><p>not just the “names” either. I have beenwith himwhen he asked the</p><p>ordinarymanorwomanwhattheirimpressionswereonaparticulargun</p><p>or piece of gear. “How do you like that Beretta,” he asked a young</p><p>highwaypatrolmanweweresharingagaspumpwithduringafuelstop</p><p>onatripacrosstheGreatPlains.“How’sthatholsterworkin’forya,”to</p><p>aSheriff’sDeputywemet at a convenience store. “Whatdoyou think</p><p>theyshoulddotoimprovethat”isacommonquestionwehearwhenhe</p><p>callsonustohelpevaluatesomegunorothergearthathasbeensentto</p><p>himto“T&E.”Beyondtheequipment,Masgathersreal-lifeinformation</p><p>abouttheuseoffirearmsforselfdefense.Certainlyhiscaseworkasan</p><p>experthasgivenhimuniqueaccesstoincidentsfromthestreets.Someof</p><p>them are high profile, some rather ordinary. Except to the people</p><p>involved.Everycasehas its lessons.And,veryoften,his studentshave</p><p>their stories. Stories that canmake the hair on the back of your neck</p><p>standup,orbringateartoyoureye.Likethefemalestudentwhohad</p><p>beenthevictimoftwoviolentsexualassaults.Thefirsttimeherattacker</p><p>succeeded in raping her. The second attacker did not. The difference?</p><p>Thesecondtimeshewasarmedandpreparedtodefendherself.Orthe</p><p>RomanCatholicpriest,whogrewupinaforeigncountryknownforits</p><p>civilstrife.Hehasbeenshotfivetimesandstabbedonce,allinseparate</p><p>incidents.HenowlivesintheUnitedStates,carrieseveryday,andwhen</p><p>hequietlyrelateshisstory,hesimplysays:“Neveragain.”</p><p>Theseare thesortofpeopleMasspendstimewithasbotha teacher</p><p>andasastudentofthehumanexperience.Andthatexperienceiswhat</p><p>hewillingly and skillfully shareswith his students and his readers. In</p><p>thisbook,hehascompileddecadesofexperienceinnotjustthecarrying</p><p>of firearms, but the shooting of firearms.Mas has been a competitive</p><p>shootersince theoldPPCdays.Hewasa“regular”at theBianchiCup</p><p>and other national matches. He still competes regularly in law</p><p>enforcementcompetitionsandInternationalDefensivePistolAssociation</p><p>(IDPA)matches.Infact,MaswasoneofthefirstIDPAFourGunMasters</p><p>and became the first Five Gun Master, when an additional revolver</p><p>categorywasestablishedby IDPAa coupleof years ago.He is alsoan</p><p>avidresearcherofthehistoryofcarryingfirearmsandtheirusebypolice</p><p>andordinaryprivatecitizensalike.Assuch,hewasaguestlecturerata</p><p>conferenceofwriters andhistorians inTombstone,Arizona, assembled</p><p>todiscussprobably themost famousgunfightever, theshootoutat the</p><p>OK Corral. And, on a more contemporary note, he was requested to</p><p>representthe“expertwitness”pointofviewonapanelofAmericanBar</p><p>Association legal experts who were making a Continuing Legal</p><p>Educationtrainingtapeforattorneys.Thetapespecificallyaddressesthe</p><p>investigation,prosecutionandeffectivedefenseofpeoplewhohavehad</p><p>tousedeadlyforcetoprotectthemselvesorothers.</p><p>In this book,Mas discusses bothWHYwe carry andHOW to carry.</p><p>Mas explains the concepts behind the two styles of holsters he has</p><p>designed, the LFI Rig and the Ayoob Rear Guard, and why holster</p><p>selection is such an important part of your carry “system.” He also</p><p>explains the need to practice drawing from concealment, in order to</p><p>quickly respond to any threat. He explains the rationale behind two</p><p>drawingmethodsthathedeveloped:usingtheStressFire“CoverCrouch”</p><p>todrawfromananklerigandtheFingertipSweep(hecallsit“reachout</p><p>andtouchyourself”)usedtopositivelyclearanopenfrontgarmentfora</p><p>smoothsame-sidedraw.Masbegandevelopinghis“StressFire”shooting</p><p>techniquesbackinthe1970’s.Bylate1981,atthesuggestionofworld</p><p>champion shooter Ray Chapman, he established the Lethal Force</p><p>Institute and has been instructing “certified card carrying good guys”</p><p>thereeversince.TheChiefofPoliceofthedepartmentwhereMasserves</p><p>asaCaptain,RussellLary,hasentrustedhissontoMas’tutelagetothe</p><p>extentthathehasattendedalloftheLFIclasses,LFI-I, II&III,andhe</p><p>justrecentlycompletedthemostadvancedclass,LFI-IV.Yes,Masreally</p><p>isaCaptainintheGrantham,NHPoliceDepartment.IknowtheChief,</p><p>andhe isdelighted tohave sucha true “human resource”available to</p><p>theresidentsofhiscommunity.</p><p>Alothaschangedinthenearly40yearssinceIstartedinthisfield.A</p><p>lot happened before that, of course, but I see the next major steps</p><p>comingintheimmediatefuture.Peoplearetiredofbeingvictimizedby</p><p>peoplewhousegunsandotherweaponsillegally.Andpeoplearetired</p><p>of being victimized by anti-gun advocates and the laws and rules for</p><p>which they are responsible. They have been shown to be worse than</p><p>ineffective.Theyhaveputdecentpeopleunnecessarilyat risk in“Gun-</p><p>FreeZones,”thatareonlygun-freetothelawabiding.Theycontinueto</p><p>attempttothwarteffortstomakeconcealedcarrybylawabidingpeople</p><p>anation-widereality.Theyhavemadepeoplevulnerableatatimewhen</p><p>they should be seriously thinking about, and preparing for, their own</p><p>self protection.Not to become “vigilantes,” but to be able to hold the</p><p>lineagainstviolence,untiltheprofessionalscanrespond.And,makeno</p><p>mistake,youareyourown“FirstResponder.”Justasyouwouldhavea</p><p>fireextinguisher inyourhomeorcar,or takeacourse in firstaidand</p><p>CPR,youneedtoconsiderhowwellyouarepreparedfortheotherkind</p><p>of deadly threat that may suddenly present itself: a violent, criminal</p><p>attackonyouorthosewhodependonyou.Inthisbook,MassadAyoob</p><p>hasbroughttogetheralltheessentialelementsthatyouneedtoknowif</p><p>youarecurrentlycarryingconcealedfirearmsor ifyouareconsidering</p><p>doing so. This is your opportunity to take advantage of all of the</p><p>research, knowledge and experience that Mas has accumulated over</p><p>morethanfourdecades.Ican’tthinkofabetterteacher.</p><p>SteveDenney</p><p>FirearmsandDefensiveTactics</p><p>Instructor,FirearmsTraining</p><p>ContributortoOfficer.com,</p><p>FormerPoliceSupervisorand</p><p>OrdinaryCitizenoftheUSA</p><p>http://Officer.com</p><p>SOFTWARE</p><p>I</p><p>Chapter1</p><p>THECCW</p><p>LIFESTYLE</p><p>As Gail begins to give him a hug, Steve tucks his elbows into his body andwill seem to be</p><p>huggingback,buthisforearmplacementwillpreventherfromfeelingtheSIG357onhisright</p><p>hiporthesparemagazineonhisleft.</p><p>fyou’rereadingthisbook,thattellsmethatyou’veeithermadethe</p><p>decisiontoCCW(CarryaConcealedWeapon),orarethinkingabout</p><p>it.Eitheroneisagoodstarttoenhancedpersonalsafetyofoneself</p><p>andlovedones.</p><p>Itsurprisessomepeopletohearthatfromaguywho’sbeencarryinga</p><p>badge for threeandahalfdecades.Surprise: therearemorecopswho</p><p>feelthesamewaythanyoumightthink.Factis, forthemostpart,the</p><p>anti-guncopsfallintotwonarrowcategories.Oneisthechiefappointed</p><p>byananti-gunmayororcitycouncil,whoservesatthepleasureofthe</p><p>appointingauthority and cangetbustedback toCaptain– thehighest</p><p>ranknormallyprotectedbyCivilService–ifhedoesn’tmakehimselfa</p><p>mouthpiece for the politician(s) in question. The other is the young</p><p>rookiewhodidn’thaveagunofhisownuntilhegotintotheAcademy,</p><p>and associates the weapon with the new identity into which</p><p>doesnotcaremuchabouttheneeds</p><p>ofothers…andanirresponsibleman.</p><p>If you are the jurorwho has to determinewhich of thesemenwas</p><p>most likely toact irresponsibly in themoments that followed,whatdo</p><p>theiractionsinthemomentsleadinguptotheconfrontationtellus?This</p><p>iswhat thecourtsandthe laware lookingforwhentheydemandthat</p><p>actionsbeconsidered“withinthetotalityofthecircumstances.</p><p>Once you’ve learned to do it, you can shootwith deadly accuracy at high speedwith a good</p><p>double-actionrevolverlikethisTaurusTracker.There’snogoodreasontorelyonadefensegun</p><p>witha“hairtrigger,”opinestheauthor.</p><p>HardwareLessons</p><p>Beabletoexplainyourchoiceofgunandammunition,andeven</p><p>accessories.Therearesomewhowillbeyouradversariesincourtwho</p><p>willmakeitappearthatyourhavingagunwithyouatallwasparanoid.</p><p>Beabletoarticulatewhyyoudidchoosetoarmyourhome,yourshop,</p><p>oryourperson.Beabletoexplainwhycarryingsufficientammunitionis</p><p>a practice recommended by responsible firearms professionals for very</p><p>goodreasons,andhasnothingtodowithanyplantomassacreshoppers</p><p>atthemall.</p><p>Atthiswriting,I’mconsultingonanamicusbriefforanappellatecase</p><p>intheNortheast,Commonwealthv.Pepicelli.Amicuscuraeare“friendof</p><p>the court”briefs,whichexplain indeptha certain issue in the caseat</p><p>bar.Athisoriginal trial, thearmedcitizendefendantwasconvictedof</p><p>criminal homicide after fightingoffmenwhohad comeafter himand</p><p>endangeredothersata familycookout.Awareofapreviouspatternof</p><p>threats, Pepicelli was armedwith a Glock pistol and carrying a spare</p><p>magazine when the incident went down. The prosecution argued that</p><p>onlyamanwhointendedtoshootsomeonewouldbringaloadedpistol</p><p>to a family barbecue…that only a man who intended to shoot many</p><p>peoplewouldcarryasparemagazine…andthatcarryingahigh-capacity</p><p>semiautomaticpistolsuchastheGlockwassomehownefarioustobegin</p><p>with.</p><p>And they got away with that. The reason is, their argument went</p><p>unchallengedbyadefenselawyerwhoapparentlywasnotwellversedin</p><p>theseparticularareas.Pepicelliwasconvictedandsentencedtoprison.</p><p>Hisappealisnowunderway,undertheabledirectionofLisaSteele,one</p><p>ofthenation’stopappellatelawyers.Theoriginaltriallawyerhadbeen</p><p>wise enough to seek out an expert witness, and he chose TomAveni,</p><p>whoisahighlyqualifiedinstructorandresearcherinthefield,andvery</p><p>capable.Unfortunately,thejudgerefusedtoallowanytestimonyinthe</p><p>aboveareas.Itistheexclusionofthattestimonythatisbeingchallenged</p><p>intheappeal,andinthevariousamicusbriefsthatarebeingsubmitted.</p><p>Ammunitioncanalsobean issue. Ihaveseenmanycaseswhere the</p><p>prosecutors and plaintiff’s lawyers have argued that the use of hollow</p><p>pointsconstitutesmalice.Theirargumentsgenerallycomealmostword</p><p>forword fromanarticlepublishedsomethirtyyearsago in the liberal</p><p>magazineTheNation.Thisarticlewastitled“TheVietnamizationofMain</p><p>Street.”Thefocusofitsattackwasthesweepingadoptionofhollowpoint</p><p>ammunition by America’s police. The thing reeks of BS and total</p><p>misconception. It includes phrases such as “bullets shaped like the</p><p>nacellesofjetengines”and“Thebulletdoesn’texplode,youdo.”</p><p>Thereareseveralwaystodefusethisattack.Onethathasworkedwell</p><p>forme for someyears is to advisedefense counsel to ask everypolice</p><p>officer who testifies during the state’s case an important question on</p><p>cross-examination: “What sort of ammunition do you carry on duty,</p><p>Officer?”Almostcertainlyitwillprovetobesomesortofhollowpoint,</p><p>thoughthecounselorwillwanttoconfirmthiswellbeforehand,priorto</p><p>askingthequestion.It’safoolishortoo-adventurousattorneywhoasksa</p><p>questiontowhichheorshedoesnotalreadyknowtheanswer.</p><p>It’s still good to have an expert witness for your own side whose</p><p>trainingandexperienceencompassesthisarea.Thisguaranteesbringing</p><p>in the testimony that the HPs are less likely to dangerously over-</p><p>penetrateorricochet.Suchanexpertshouldalsobringoutthepointthat</p><p>since hollowpoints have come into use,most shootingswith themend</p><p>with fewer gunshots inflicted than in the old days, when cops with</p><p>impotent158-grainround-noseleadbulletshadtoemptytheirrevolvers</p><p>intothebadguystoputthemdown,andsometimesdidn’tevenstopthe</p><p>fightwiththat.</p><p>Themoregunshotwoundsamansustains,themorelikelyheistodie,</p><p>all other things being equal. The HP round’s history of improved</p><p>“stoppingpower”meansthebadguyhastobeshotfewertimestomake</p><p>himceasehostilities.Moreover,because itwasdesigned to stay in the</p><p>body, the hollowpoint slugwill be less likely to punch a second open</p><p>hole in the body as it exits. This reduces tension pneumothorax, the</p><p>“sucking chest wound,” and some believe it also somewhat reduces</p><p>hemorrhage.Thedeeperpenetrating “regular bullet”will bydefinition</p><p>becapableofpiercingmorebonestructures,bloodvessels,organs,etc.</p><p>Thus,withallthesefactorstakenintoconsiderationinTheBigPicture,a</p><p>solidargumentcanbemadethatthehollowpointbulletislesslethaland</p><p>thereforeevensaferfortheperpetratorwhoforcesyoutoshoothim!</p><p>Some authorities recommend that the armed citizen carry the same</p><p>round as that used by local law enforcement, on the theory that the</p><p>prosecutorcan’taccuseyouofusing“extra-deadlymaliciousbullets” if</p><p>thataccusationislikelytotarnishlocalpolicewhocarrythesameload.</p><p>Some folks have attributed this advice tome. This is incorrect. I have</p><p>mentionedthatsomeexpertssuggestthis,butIwasn’ttheonewhocame</p><p>upwith the idea. Is it smart?Well, it is if the department in question</p><p>usestherightammo!In1998,ifyoulivedinNewYorkCityandwanted</p><p>topack thesamestuffas the localpolicedepartment, thatwouldhave</p><p>been 115-grain full metal jacket round nose 9mm“ball,” one of the</p><p>poorestchoicesforself-defenseorlawenforcement.</p><p>Oneargumentagainst thishasbeen, “Carrying the same loadas the</p><p>local cops might allow opposing counsel to suggest, Your Honor, the</p><p>defendant is awanna-be Rambo!Why, he even loaded his deadlyweapon</p><p>withthesameammunitionasourpolicecarry,asifhewasimpersonatingan</p><p>officer.</p><p>IhavetotellyouthatIdon’tworryawholelotaboutthatparticular</p><p>attack.Ihaven’tseenithappenyet.But,ofcourse,someonenotseeingit</p><p>happenyetdoesn’tmeanithasn’thappenedyet,orthatitwon’thappen</p><p>inthefuture.Thatbeingthecase,itwouldn’thurttohaveananswerto</p><p>the challenging question, “Is it not true that you loaded with police</p><p>ammobecauseyou fancyyourself tobeacop,even thoughyouaren’t</p><p>one?”</p><p>The best answer is, “No, sir. The police are experts in protection</p><p>against the kind of criminals who attack citizens. I thought if the</p><p>ammunitionwasgoodenoughforthepolicetousetoprotectmyfamily,</p><p>itwasgoodenoughformetousetoprotectmyfamily.”</p><p>One thing I try to avoid is carryingmydepartment-issue45autoor</p><p>evenammoidenticaltowhatmyPDissueswhenI’mnotworkingforthe</p><p>department.ThereasonisthatIdon’twantthedepartmentgettingtied</p><p>into a suit that might evolve from something I had to do to protect</p><p>myself from death. The lawsuit won’t do either entity, me or the</p><p>department,anygood.Eachofficeronmydepartmentisissuedapermit</p><p>tocarryaconcealedhandgun,justlikeacitizeninourjurisdictionmight</p><p>possess. No, a sworn officer doesn’t</p><p>need a permit to carry a gun off</p><p>duty,butIlikethemhavingtheoption.</p><p>Here’s why, and it’s kinda complicated, so please follow along.</p><p>Remember, the lawsuitdoesn’t seek justicesomuchas it seeksmoney.</p><p>Therefore, the plaintiff will go for the deep pockets. When House</p><p>Resolution218wasatlonglastsignedintolawbyPresidentGeorgeW.</p><p>Bush and became LEOSA, the Law Enforcement Officers’ Safety Act,</p><p>sworn police and honorably retired cops around the country became</p><p>eligible to carry guns nationwide, on their own time, irrespective of</p><p>arrestpowersinagivenjurisdiction.Ipersonallythinkthat,intime,this</p><p>will be the precedent that could get a nationwide concealed carry</p><p>privilege for armed private citizens who are provably both competent</p><p>and law-abiding. It establishes a key ingredient called “obvious</p><p>legislative intent.”WhenLEOSAbecame law, theobvious intentof the</p><p>Representatives and Senators who voted for it was to recognize that</p><p>whenbadpeopleattemptedtomurdergoodpeople,itwasagoodidea</p><p>tohavemorearmedgoodguysandgalswhomightbetheretostopthe</p><p>carnage, and it didn’t matter if they had the power to arrest the</p><p>malefactor in that jurisdiction or not. Police chiefs in cities fromNew</p><p>YorktoChicagohavedraggedtheirfeetandgotteninthewayofother</p><p>cops carrying there, or their cops carrying elsewhere, but once that is</p><p>sorted out we’ll start seeing “saves” from LEOSA that will prove the</p><p>obviouslegislativeintenttobejustified.Now,itwillbeamuchshorter</p><p>step to expanding the privilege to private citizens who can show the</p><p>sametrustworthinessandcompetencyasthosecopscarryingnationwide.</p><p>If I’m outside my jurisdiction and have to shoot someone in self-</p><p>defense while I’m carrying on LEOSA, my police department is</p><p>effectivelyimmunefromlawsuit. Iwasnotactingunder“colorof law”</p><p>on duty; I was merely exercising a privilege granted by the Federal</p><p>governmenttomeandmanyothers.</p><p>If, however, I’m outsidemy jurisdiction and shoot someone in self-</p><p>defensewith the company hardware, the agency can be sued. After all,</p><p>theygavemetheammunitionandwhatisnow“thedeathweapon.”</p><p>The lawsuit seeksbigbucks. Idon’thavebigbucks,andain’tworth</p><p>suingbymylonesome.Butthecommunityanylawenforcementagency</p><p>serveshasa taxbase thatplaintiffs’ lawyersdoseeas representingbig</p><p>bucks.Ifthere’snomoneythere,thereislesslikelytobealawsuitatall.</p><p>Keepthebloodoutofthewater,andyoudon’tattractthesharks.</p><p>Avoidthe“HairTriggerTrap.”Icallitatrapfortworeasons.First,cops</p><p>and civilians and security professionals alike aremuchmore likely to</p><p>havetotakepeopleatgunpointthantoshootthem.Ifthefingergoesto</p><p>thetrigger,asstudiesshowitoftendoesunconsciously,evenwhenthe</p><p>personholdingthegunishighlytrained, thestage isset foraccidental</p><p>discharge due to several causes first identified by famed physiologist</p><p>Roger Enoka. These include startle response, postural disturbance,</p><p>interlimbresponse,etc.Thelighterthetriggerpull,themorepronethe</p><p>gun is to suchunintentionaldischarges,oftenautomaticallyconsidered</p><p>“negligentdischarges”byfirearmsprofessionals.</p><p>Butthereisamuchmoresubtletrap.Ithasbecomeacottageindustry</p><p>in shooting-related lawsuits, and to a lesser extent in criminal</p><p>prosecutions, foropposingcounsel topresenta false caseofaccidental</p><p>discharge when in fact the shooting was intentional. This is because</p><p>experiencedlawyersknowthatself-defensetoachargeofanintentional</p><p>shootingiswhat’sknownintrialtacticsparlanceas“aperfectdefense,”</p><p>butit’smuchharderforadefendanttoprovethathedidn’tcockthegun</p><p>andrecklesslysetthestageforanunintentionalhair-triggerdischarge.</p><p>Thebestwaytoavoidthatbogusattackistohaveagunwhosetrigger</p><p>weight is within factory specifications for police duty as opposed to</p><p>targetshooting.Thisisanargumentagainstanygunthatcanbecocked</p><p>to create a very lightpull, unless the single-actionpull is at least four</p><p>pounds or more in weight. This is one reason so many police</p><p>departments have gonewith double-action-only handguns. One reason</p><p>for theGlockpistol’s enormouspopularity, particularly among cops, is</p><p>that BATFE has ruled it to be a double-action-only design. Just don’t</p><p>installthe3.5-poundconnector,creatingalightpullthatthefactorysays</p><p>shouldbeusedONLYoncompetitionpistols,andyoushouldbefine.</p><p>Thehandloadtrap.Useallthereloadsyouwantforpractice,ormatch</p><p>shooting,orhandgunhunting.Heck,Ido.Butforahomedefensegun,</p><p>concealed carry handgun, or police dutyweapon, factory ammo is the</p><p>way to go. In most cases, the factory round will have better quality</p><p>control and more reliability than a reloaded cartridge. If you don’t</p><p>believeme,askanyonewithexperienceasarangeofficerinanyformof</p><p>handgun competition, “Which is more likely to misfeed or misfire, a</p><p>factory load or a handload?” Moreover, every factory defense round</p><p>recommendedinthisbookhasaproventrackrecordasaman-stopperin</p><p>actualgunfights.Nohome-brewedammohasthat;actualshootingswith</p><p>reloadsareveryfewandfarbetween.(Youcouldassembleahandload</p><p>that duplicates a given factory load, and save some money, but now</p><p>you’reliterallydefendingyourfamilywithacheapimitation.That’sthe</p><p>kindofcloneammotouseforpractice,notforstreetcarry.)</p><p>Tworealproblemscomeupincourtwithhandloads.InNewJerseyv.</p><p>DanielBias,whetherthedeathofayoungwomanwassuicideormurder</p><p>atthehandsofherhusbandcamedowntoforensicevidencetesting,to</p><p>wit, the determination of how far the gunmuzzlewas from her head</p><p>beforethefatalwoundwasinflicted.However,thedeathweaponwasa</p><p>Smith&WessonModel586revolverchargedwithverylightreloadsin</p><p>38Special+Pcases.Thepoliceinsistedondoingtheirgunshotresidue</p><p>(GSR) testing with actual +P, which leaves GSR for a considerable</p><p>distance,andtherewasnonefoundonherheadorhair.Defenseexperts</p><p>tested reloadsduplicatingwhat thehusband saidhehadmadeupand</p><p>put in the gun, and could have shown that these wouldn’t have left</p><p>residue at the distance the gun was when the defense believe it</p><p>dischargedinthevictim’sownhand.</p><p>However, tomake a long story short, that evidence never got in. It</p><p>would have required the court to take the defendant’s word for the</p><p>handload“recipe.”Evenyourreloadingrecords,meticulousastheymay</p><p>be,won’thelp.Yousee, theevidencewasmanufacturedbythedefendant,</p><p>and that goes for the records aswell as the ammo.You can’t prove it</p><p>wasn’tsomeBSyoucameupwithafterwardtogetawaywithmurder.I</p><p>havechallengedmanyInternetadvocatesofdefensivehandloadstofind</p><p>a case where the defendant’s records or testimony as to load was</p><p>acceptedasGSRevidence.Nonehasevercomeupwithacase.</p><p>SomescoffthatGSRisunlikelytobeanissue.They’rewrong.Lookat</p><p>a few random issues ofAmericanRiflemanmagazine’s “ArmedCitizen”</p><p>column,andseeatwhatcloserangesmostofthoseshootingstakeplace.</p><p>It’s critical for you to be able to prove that the opponent was close</p><p>enoughtokillyouwithhisknife,andheorhisadvocates incourtare</p><p>likelytotellthejurythathewastoofarawaytopresentanydangerto</p><p>you. Gunshot residue testing may save you…if we can get it in. We</p><p>regularlyintroduceGSRtestingwithfactoryammo;I’veneverseenthat</p><p>failtoget</p><p>in.</p><p>DennisTuellerdidagreatserviceforcopsandarmedcitizensalikewithhis1983researchthat</p><p>provedtheaveragemancouldclose7yardsfromastandingstartanddeliverafatalknifethrust</p><p>in 1.5 seconds. Here, he explains his research at a deadly force symposium convened by the</p><p>authoratanASLETseminar,2006.InthebackgroundarenotedauthoritiesBrianStover,Harvey</p><p>Hedden,andJohnHolschen.</p><p>HowlikelyisitthatGSRwillbeanissue?Well,let’stakealookatmy</p><p>owncaseloadat themoment.With theLindsey case finishedbya just</p><p>acquittal,I’mdowntotenonthecurrentschedule,aniceroundnumber</p><p>that’seasytoworkwith.Oneofthosecasesinvolvesacitizenwhodrew</p><p>aknife toprotecthimself,andanother focusesonacopwhodefended</p><p>himselfwithblunt force.Neither, obviously,haveanything todowith</p><p>gunshot residue sinceno guns came into play at all.Of the remaining</p><p>eight, GSR is an issue in four of them, and in one, it is a compelling</p><p>issue.That’s40percentofthecasesoverall,andhalfofthetencasesin</p><p>thisexample.DoesthatsoundasifGSRis“unlikely”tobeanissuewhen</p><p>yourshootingcomes?</p><p>Another thing toworryaboutwithhandloads is theargument,“This</p><p>man was so intent in causing horrible, deadly wounds that regular</p><p>bulletsweren’tdeadlyenough,sohemadehisownextra-deadlybullets!”</p><p>Thatwas theBSpulledby theprosecution inStateofNHv.Sgt. James</p><p>Kennedy.ThatargumentwasshotdownbyJimCirilloasexpertwitness</p><p>forthedefense.However,everycourtroomargumentislikeagunfight:</p><p>it’sbettertoavoidit thantohavetofight it,andeverynowandthen,</p><p>theothersidecangetluckyandwin.</p><p>Bytheway,rememberthosetwocasesthenexttimeyouhearonthe</p><p>Internet,“Therehasneverbeenacaseofanyonegetting in trouble for</p><p>using handloads.” TheKennedy case endedwith an acquittal, and that</p><p>wasjustice.However,theBiascasewentthroughthreetrialsbeforethe</p><p>thirdjuryfoundthekidguiltyofManslaughterandsenthimtoprison.</p><p>Bothhislawyerstoldmetheyfeltthatifhe’dhadfactoryammointhe</p><p>gun,theydon’tthinkhewouldhavebeenconvicted.</p><p>TheRulesofEngagement</p><p>Everyencounterwillbedifferentfromeveryother:sometimeshugely,</p><p>sometimessubtly.Theonlywaytomakesureyou’rerightistofollowa</p><p>formulawhenyoumakethedecisionwhetherornottouselethalforce.</p><p>The formulae I’m about to show you are rock-solid, engraved in the</p><p>stoneofthelawandwhatthecourtcalls“commoncustomandpractice”</p><p>alike.</p><p>Deadlyforceisonlypermissible inasituationof immediate,otherwise</p><p>unavoidable danger of death or great bodily harm to oneself or another</p><p>innocentpersononehastherighttoprotect.Thepresenceofthatsituation</p><p>is determined by the simultaneous presence of three criteria: ability,</p><p>opportunity,andjeopardy.</p><p>Abilitymeanstheattackerhasthepowertocausedeathorgreatbodily</p><p>harm: that is, to kill or cause crippling injury. This usually takes the</p><p>formof a per se weapon such as a gun or knife or club, but as noted</p><p>above,canalsomanifest itselfasdisparityof force.Forceofnumbers,a</p><p>hugelylargerandstrongerattacker,anable-bodiedpersonattackingthe</p><p>disabled,high skill atunarmedcombat that is known to the shooter, an</p><p>adult violently attacking a child, even a male violently attacking a</p><p>female are examples of disparity of force. Even though they are</p><p>ostensiblyunarmed,theirgreatersize,strength,etc.issolikelytokillor</p><p>cripple that it becomes the equivalent of a deadly weapon. As noted</p><p>earlier in this chapter as related toColorado v. Larry Lindsey, a furtive</p><p>movement that is consistent with going for a weapon (and consistent</p><p>withnothingelse)alsosufficestocreatetheabilityfactor.</p><p>Opportunitymeans the attacker is capable of immediately employing</p><p>that power. In 1983, Dennis Tueller did the ground-breaking research</p><p>thatprovedtheaverageadultmalecancloseagapofsevenyardsfroma</p><p>standing start and inflict a fatal stab wound in 1.5 seconds on the</p><p>average.From100yardsaway,itwouldtakehimlonger,andshootinga</p><p>manwithaknifefromtheotherendofafootballfieldwouldprobably</p><p>notbeseenasjustifiableinmostcourtstoday.Withinsevenoreventen</p><p>paces, though, the man with the knife has satisfied the opportunity</p><p>factor.</p><p>Jeopardy is the final factor. The opponentmust be acting in such a</p><p>manner that any reasonable, prudent person in your situation would</p><p>concludethathisintentwastokillorcrippleyouortheinnocentperson</p><p>you deploy your gun to protect. As noted earlier, we’re talking about</p><p>manifestintent:anintentexpressedinwordsand/oractions.</p><p>There is also an element that must be considered that has become</p><p>knownaspreclusion.Tobejustifiable,deadlyforcemustalwaysbealast</p><p>resort.Preclusionmeans,was thereanywayofavoiding this?Not just</p><p>escapeatthescene,butprevention:didyoudoanythingtostartthefight</p><p>or“keeptheballrolling”?Ifyoudid,itimpairswhatthecourtscall“the</p><p>mantleofinnocence.”</p><p>Some instructors teach preclusion as part of the same formula as</p><p>ability/opportunity/jeopardy. I disagree, and separate it out in the</p><p>trainingIgiveatLethalForceInstituteandelsewhere.Therearetwobig</p><p>reasons for this. First, Ability/Opportunity/Jeopardy (AOJ, for short)</p><p>speaks to the assailant and the threat he presents to you. Preclusion</p><p>speaks to you, and your exact situation, and your options in a given</p><p>momentandplace.It’s“applesandoranges.”Bothelementsneedtobe</p><p>considered,buttheyneedtobeconsideredseparately.</p><p>Second,AOJiswritteninstone,butpreclusionisfungible.Areyoua</p><p>cop,acting in the lineofduty? If so,youhavenoduty to retreat,and</p><p>indeed,undercertaincircumstancesyourretreatmightbeconstruableas</p><p>cowardice ormisfeasance of public office.Were you an armed citizen</p><p>attackedinpublicinFloridaintheyear2004?Ifso,thestatelawsaid</p><p>youhadaduty to retreat beforeusing lethal force in self-defense.But</p><p>today,thenew(and,Iliketothink,improved)Floridalawallowsyouto</p><p>standyourgroundwithoutattempting to retreat ifyouareattacked in</p><p>anyplacewhereyouhavearighttobe.NewYorkandmanyotherstates</p><p>stillhave“retreatrequirements”forpublicattack.</p><p>However, in any jurisdiction, you are allowed to stand your ground</p><p>without resorting to retreat if you are in your home. It is called the</p><p>“castledoctrine”becauseitstemsfromtheancientEnglishCommonLaw</p><p>thatheld“aman’shomeishiscastle,”andattackedthere,heneednot</p><p>retreat.</p><p>Ayoobwrote In theGravest Extreme to showarmedcitizens the rulesof engagement indeadly</p><p>force encounters. It is available through Police Bookshelf, PO Box 122, Concord, NH 03302,</p><p>www.ayoob.com.</p><p>http://www.ayoob.com</p><p>Remember, however, that in any jurisdiction that has a “retreat</p><p>requirement,”retreatisneverdemandedunlessitcanbeaccomplishedin</p><p>completesafety tooneselfandother innocentpersons. Inotherwords,you</p><p>aren’t expected to turn your back on a mugger’s gun and attempt to</p><p>outrunabullet.Youaren’texpectedtorunawayandleaveyourchildren</p><p>behind,helplessagainsttheattacker, likethrowingthebabiesfromthe</p><p>sleightoplacatethepursuingwolves.(Interestinglyenough,I’vebeenin</p><p>casesagainstruthlesslawyersandprostituteexpertwitnesseswhotried</p><p>toconvincejuriesthatyouweresupposedtostooptosuchlevels.They</p><p>didnotwintheircases.)</p><p>Ifthishasbeenalongchapter,it’sbecauseit’saveryinvolvedcorner</p><p>of concealed carry,</p><p>and we’ve barely scratched the surface here. My</p><p>bookIntheGravestExtreme:theRoleoftheFirearminPersonalProtection</p><p>isdevotedtothistopic,andhasstoodthetestoftimeandthecourtsfor</p><p>more than a quarter of a century. Deadly force law being one of the</p><p>morematurebodiesof law,nothing terriblysignificanthaschanged in</p><p>“the rules of engagement” since itwaswritten. It is available through</p><p>Police Bookshelf, PO Box 122, Concord, NH 03302, 1-800-624-9049,</p><p>www.ayoob.com.Atthesamewebsiteyou’llfindalinkfortheclassesI</p><p>teach throughLethal Force Institute.The course I’d recommendwould</p><p>be the 40-hour LFI-I, which encompasses the legal/ethical/tactical</p><p>elements plus several hundred rounds of hands-on combat shooting. If</p><p>youalreadyfeelyou’resufficientlycompetentwiththe“how”andwant</p><p>moreaboutthe“when,”considertheweekend(two-dayintensivelecture</p><p>setting)JudiciousUseofDeadlyForceprogram.</p><p>Thehowand thewhen can’tdo it by themselves, though.Youneed</p><p>both. Power and responsibility are commensurate. With great power,</p><p>obviously, comes great responsibility, because power unchecked by</p><p>responsibility becomes bullying among individuals and terrorism and</p><p>tyrannyinthecollective.</p><p>Atthesametime,responsibilitywithoutthepowertofulfillitmaybe</p><p>theultimatehopelessness.</p><p>http://www.ayoob.com</p><p>B</p><p>Chapter5</p><p>CASTLEDOCTRINEANDSTANDYOUR</p><p>GROUNDLAWS</p><p>etweenthefirsteditionofthisbookandthesecond,somestates</p><p>adopted “castle doctrine” laws that clarified the old English</p><p>CommonLawprinciplethat thecitizen’shomeishiscastle,and</p><p>attacked there,heneednot retreat.Thishad longbeen the lawof the</p><p>landanyway,whenstatutory law,case law,and jury instructionswere</p><p>examinedintoto,butitcertainlydidnothurttohaveitclarifiedinthe</p><p>statutes.</p><p>Manystateshavehad(andsomestillhave)lawsthatrequireaperson</p><p>attacked in public to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense.</p><p>Othershavehistoricallyallowedapersoninthatsituationtostandtheir</p><p>ground and fightwithout attempting to retreat, so long as they had a</p><p>righttobeinthatplace,didnotstartthefight,andwerenotcommitting</p><p>acrime.</p><p>It should be noted that even in the so-called “retreat states,” retreat</p><p>was only required when it could be accomplished in complete safety to</p><p>oneselfandotherinnocentparties.Ifitwasn’tinthestatutes,itwasinthe</p><p>caselawand/orthestates’recommendedjuryinstructions.Somefeltit</p><p>wouldbegoodtoclarifyit intheblackandwhiteofthestatutes.Sure</p><p>madesensetothiswriter,andI’mgladthatthosestatesdidso.</p><p>AtCatoInstituteforumonStandYourGroundlaws,ClaytonCramergaveexcellentexplanation</p><p>oftheselaws’historyandsocietaldevelopment…</p><p>…MassadAyoobexplainedwhyargumentsagainstsuchlawsdidnotholdwater…</p><p>Some other states rescinded the retreat requirementwith new laws,</p><p>which allowed the law-abiding citizen to stand their groundanywhere</p><p>they had a right to be if theywere attacked, under the circumstances</p><p>described above. The proper term for that was simply “rescinding of</p><p>retreat requirement.” If one needed a catchy name to sell it to the</p><p>legislators and the public, certainly “Stand Your Ground” was</p><p>appropriateforthat.However,sincemanysawitasextendingtheCastle</p><p>Doctrinetopublicplaces,and“CastleDoctrine”hadapositiveringtoit,</p><p>someonoursidedecidedtocallthe“StandYourGround”laws“Castle</p><p>Doctrine”lawsinstead.</p><p>That,unfortunately,muddiedthewaters.CastleDoctrinetraditionally</p><p>speakstothehome;StandYourGroundhistoricallyspeakstoanyother</p><p>placewhereyouhavearighttobeandarenotdoinganythingwrong.</p><p>AsmyfriendandcolleagueClintSmithofThunderRanchfamesaysof</p><p>sometacticalprinciples,“They’rethesame,butthey’redifferent.”</p><p>At this writing, I’ve been swimming with the sharks as an expert</p><p>witness for the courts, both criminal and civil, for 33 years in cases</p><p>involvingweapons and shootings. I can tell you that theold aphorism</p><p>fromlawschoolisabsolutelytrue:“Ifthelawisonyourside,poundon</p><p>thelaw…ifthefactsareonyourside,poundonthefacts…andifneither</p><p>the lawnor the facts are onyour side, poundon theopposingparty.”</p><p>Well,youwouldn’thaveshotsomeoneinself-defenseifthefactsandthe</p><p>law weren’t on your side, so that leaves the clueless or politically</p><p>motivated prosecutorwrongfully charging you, or the greed-motivated</p><p>plaintiff’slawyersuingyou,onlyoneavenuebywhichtoattackyou.It</p><p>won’tbehonest,itwon’tbeclean,anditwon’tbepretty.</p><p>…andattorneySteveJansenexplainedwhyhefeltStandYourGroundwasaLicensetoKill.</p><p>If one issue is, “Whydidn’t you runwhenyouwere attacked in the</p><p>public park instead of pulling your gun?” and your answer is, “Castle</p><p>Doctrineallowedmeto,”you’vejustopenedyourselftothesharkattack.</p><p>The opposing lawyer on cross-examination will hand you a copy of</p><p>Black’sLegalDictionaryandhaveyoureadthewhole“Aman’shomeis</p><p>hiscastle”thingaloudinfrontofthejury.Then,youcanexpecthimto</p><p>ask,“Didyouconsiderthepublicparkyourcastlegrounds?Whoexactly</p><p>wasitthatmadeyoukingofusall?”They’llmakeamonkeyoutofyou</p><p>and severely damage your credibility. (I don’t put words in people’s</p><p>mouths, but if I was the defendant in that situation I would simply</p><p>answer the questionwith, “Sir, therewas noway I could retreatwith</p><p>completesafetytomyselfandtheothersIfiredmyguntoprotect.”)</p><p>A third, and completely separate legal doctrine is “assumption of</p><p>reasonableness.” This means simply that the person claiming self-</p><p>defense,iftheycanproveittoapreponderanceofevidencestandardin</p><p>ahearinginfrontofanimpartialmagistrate,cannotbechargedwitha</p><p>crimefortheact.In2005,theFloridaStateLegislaturepasseda“Stand</p><p>Your Ground” law – Florida Statute 776.013 – which combined the</p><p>clarificationof theCastleDoctrineprinciplewith the rescindingof the</p><p>retreatrequirementfromwhichitdrewitsname,andtheassumptionof</p><p>reasonablenessprinciple.</p><p>The fourth and final element associatedhere is insulation fromcivil</p><p>suit,whichessentiallycomesundertheumbrellaof“tortreform.”Thisis</p><p>thelawthatstatesifthecriminaljusticesystemhasruledtheshootingto</p><p>bejustifiable,thepersonwhofiredshouldbeimmunetocivillawsuit.</p><p>That iswhat the “black letter of the law” says.However, it must be</p><p>takenincontextwithothersubtleties,suchastrialtacticsandthemoodofthe</p><p>courts.Onehastoreadthefineprint.</p><p>Let’s lookfirstatCastleDoctrine.Therearesomesituationswhere it</p><p>doesn’tholdtrue.Ifthepersonyoushootalsohadarighttobeinyour</p><p>homeatthetimeoftheshooting,thisdefenseisvoided.Weseethatall</p><p>the time indomesticviolence shootings,when thewomanwhohad to</p><p>firewasthevictimoftheabusivehusbandwhoattackedher,andwith</p><p>whom she shared the “castle.” Ditto roommates, ditto even originally-</p><p>invitedguestswhowentcrazyoncetheywerethere.</p><p>StandYourGround?Iftheotherguyalsohadarighttobethere,it’s</p><p>goingtocomedowntowhowasthemurderous,unlawfulaggressorand</p><p>whowas the innocent intended victimwhoworewhat the courts call</p><p>“themantleof innocence.”Foronething, if the initialattacker tries to</p><p>break off the assault and flee, and the original innocent victim then</p><p>shootshimintheback,the“standyourground”defenseforthelatteris</p><p>nowoffthegameboard.</p><p>Presumption of Reasonableness? Plaintiff’s counsel has</p><p>only to</p><p>fabricateatheoryofanegligent,unintendeddischargeonyourpart,and</p><p>they’vegottenpastyourwallofprotection.Thereisnosuchthingasa</p><p>“justifiableaccident”inthelexiconofthelaw.</p><p>Immunityfromcivillawsuit?Togetthat,youneedtoshowthatyour</p><p>shootingincidenthasinfactbeenruledjustifiable.Ifithasnotgoneto</p><p>trial(asitwon’t,iftheprosecutor’sofficedoesn’tchoosetoprosecute,or</p><p>the grand jury returns “no true bill”), you haven’t actually been</p><p>determined to have fired in self-defense. All that it means is that the</p><p>prosecutor’s office didn’t think they could convict you beyond a</p><p>reasonable doubt. The civil lawsuit standard is much lower, merely</p><p>preponderanceofevidence,whichiswhysomanypeoplewho’vebeen</p><p>heldharmlessincriminalcourthavebeenabsolutelyhammeredincivil</p><p>court. If the prosecutor’s office issues a “memorandum of closure”</p><p>statingthat,intheirofficialopinion,yourshootingofyourattackerwas</p><p>indeedjustifiable,that’sprettystrongonyourbehalfinthisstageofthe</p><p>courtproceedings. If they simplydon’t issue suchamemorandum, the</p><p>civilcourtjudgemaywelldecidethatit’s“anissueforajurytodecide,”</p><p>and you’re back in the very financially and emotionally expensive</p><p>nightmareofbeingsuedbysomeonetryingtotakeeverythingyouhave.</p><p>Inthefirstquarterof2012,ahighlypublicizedshootingtookplacein</p><p>Floridathatmadethesemattersanissueofnationaldebate.Atthetime</p><p>ofthiswriting,thematterhasnotbeenresolvedbythecourts,andthis</p><p>writer is not in a position to comment on that case until it has been</p><p>resolvedincourt.Thepublicityledtosometrulybizarreinterpretations</p><p>of the law, such as saying that “Stand Your Ground” means you can</p><p>shoot anyone you’re remotely afraid of. Totally untrue! Or that it’s a</p><p>“licensetokill”:again,totallyuntrue.Orthatitletsanyonekillanyone</p><p>andgetawaywithitbyclaimingself-defense:yetagain,totallyuntrue.</p><p>Toconvictyouforacrimeincriminalcourt,theprosecutionhastoshow</p><p>thatyouareguiltybeyonda reasonabledoubt, a standardof certainty</p><p>generally seen as somewhere between 95% and 99.9%. For you to be</p><p>cleared under “Presumption of Reasonableness,” youwill have had to</p><p>provetoacivilcourtstandardofpreponderanceofevidence,agreater</p><p>than50%certainty,thatyoudidtherightthing.</p><p>Dothemath!Ifyou’vealreadyproventhatit’smorethan50%certain</p><p>thatyoudidtherightthing,howonearthcoulditbeproventoa95%-</p><p>pluscertaintythatyoudidthewrongthing?</p><p>InAprilof2012,TimLynchoftheCatoInstitutebroughtthreeofus</p><p>totheirheadquartersinWashington,DC,totellaliveaudience,whichI</p><p>wastoldnumberedonehundred,andavideoaudiencefargreaterthan</p><p>that,whatwethoughtoftheStandYourGroundissue.HistorianClayton</p><p>CrameropenedbyexplaininghowCastleDoctrine,StandYourGround,</p><p>andrelatedconceptshaddevelopedoverthecourseofcivilization.Iwas</p><p>theonewhospokeonbehalfofStandYourGroundlaws.StevenJansen</p><p>of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys took the side that “Stand</p><p>YourGround”wasalicensetokill.Youcanseetheforumdiscussionfor</p><p>yourselfathttp://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=9141.</p><p>http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=9141</p><p>HARDWARE</p><p>O</p><p>Chapter6</p><p>“GENTLEMEN</p><p>(ANDLADIES),CHOOSEYOURWEAPONS”</p><p>(L)S&WBodyguard(M/649)withshroudedhammer,DA/SA.(Center) factorybobbedhammer</p><p>onDAORugerSP101.(R)“hammerless”configurationofDAOS&WCentennial(M/40-1).</p><p>necan’tcarryaconcealedweaponwithouthavingaconcealable</p><p>weapon. Some are suitable for the concealed carry task, and</p><p>somearenot.</p><p>Wecan’tcovereverypossiblechoicehere.AswingthroughtheKrause</p><p>catalog will show you whole books on the 1911, the Glock, the SIG-</p><p>Sauer,theBeretta,theSmith&Wessonseries,etc.al.Othergoodchoices</p><p>fromPaladinincludeLivingwith1911sandLivingwithGlocksbyRobert</p><p>Boatman,andtheoutstandingTheSnubbyRevolverbyEdLovette.Ithink</p><p>Lovette’s book should be read by anyone who owns or is thinking of</p><p>owninga“snub-nose.”Itputsthewholegenreinperspective.</p><p>As noted earlier, it’s more convenient to have a “wardrobe” of</p><p>concealable handguns, but it’s not entirely necessary. Generations of</p><p>youngcopshavelearnedthatit’scheapertobuyaconcealmentholster</p><p>for their full-sizedepartment-issue servicehandgun than topurchasea</p><p>wholenewgunandleathersetforoff-dutycarry.Similarly,manyarmed</p><p>citizens have learned that the full-size handgun they bought for home</p><p>protectionisconcealableiftheysettheirmindtoit.</p><p>Thecompetentshooterloseslittlegoingdouble-action-onlywithasnubby.ThisoldM/36Chief</p><p>SpecialwithHerrettstocksmade5outof5headshotsat20yardssingleaction(left)anddouble</p><p>action(right).</p><p>Cockedtosingleactionasshown,thisS&W649canbeaproblemwaitingtohappeninatactical</p><p>situation.Authorprefersdouble-action-only(DAO)S&Ws.</p><p>Copshavepickeduponthis,too.In1967,OrdnanceSgtLouisSeman</p><p>of the Illinois State Police convinced the ISP to become the first large</p><p>departmentinthenationtoadopttheSmith&WessonModel399mm</p><p>semiautomaticpistolasadutyweapon.The reasonwasnot firepower.</p><p>Atthetime,trooperswererequiredtobearmedoffduty.Theycarried4-</p><p>to6-inchbarrelColtandSmith&Wessonservicerevolversinuniform,</p><p>and generallywore 2-inch barrel small frame 38 versions of the same</p><p>guns on their own time. At qualification, the “snubby” scores were</p><p>dismally inferior to those with the larger revolvers. Seman reasoned,</p><p>correctly,thattheModel39autopistolwouldbelightandflatenough</p><p>forconcealedcarry,butwoulddofineforuniformwearaswell.Hewas</p><p>proven right: scores skyrocketed, and the troopersbecamecomfortable</p><p>wearing the slim Smith 9mms on their off-time. More recently, when</p><p>NYPDwentwith16-shot9mmpistolsandgavetheirofficersthechoice</p><p>oftheSIGP226DAO,theheavyS&WModel5946,orthepolymer-frame</p><p>Glock19, the overwhelmingmajority chose the latter. Thiswaspartly</p><p>because theGlock 19was cheaper (NYPDofficers buy their own guns</p><p>throughthedepartment),butalsobecause itwasmuchlighterandthe</p><p>onlyoneofthethreeoptionsthatwastrulya“compact.”TheG19was</p><p>easier to carry all the time off duty, or when transferring to a</p><p>plainclothesassignment.</p><p>AbitlargerthanJ-frames,andheavier,TaurusTracker45(top)andRugerSP101357(below),</p><p>arevery“shootable”andsubstantiallymorepowerfulthan38s.</p><p>Today’snewparadigm:polymer-framed,striker-firedautos.Fromtop:Glock22in40,S&WM&P</p><p>in9mm,SpringfieldXDTactical in45GAP,45ACPKahrP45,40cal.Taurus24/7,and9mm</p><p>RugerSR9.</p><p>Many prefer a mix of modern and traditional. These are modern polymer-frame autos with</p><p>hammer-firedmechanisms.Fromtopright:(1)9mmSIGP250DAO;(2)45ACPHeckler&Koch</p><p>USP45;and(3)45ACPRugerP345.</p><p>Secrets of experience: moderately long-barrel guns with short grips deliver great shooting</p><p>performance,andmaybeeasiertocarryatthewaistthan“snubbies.”(4)KahrCovertP40in40</p><p>S&W;(5)S&WModel6438Specialwith4-inchbarrelandCraigSpegelBootGrips;and(6)Colt</p><p>CCOwith41/4-inchbarrelofCommandermountedonshortOfficersframe,in45ACP,wearing</p><p>BarnhartBurnerstocks.</p><p>Just as hunters and sportsmen have historically modeled their rifle</p><p>choices on the nation’s military small arms, America’s armed citizens</p><p>havehistoricallyfollowedthepoliceestablishmentinchoosingdefensive</p><p>handguns.WhenmostofAmerica’scopscarried38Specialrevolversto</p><p>work,that</p><p>sametypeandcaliberwasthemostpopularchoiceofhome</p><p>defense and concealed carry gun. Though private gun enthusiasts</p><p>embracedautopistolsbeforeAmericanlawenforcementingeneral,they</p><p>did not switch to autoloaders enmasse until the police did the same.</p><p>Today, the snub-nose “detective special” genre remains extremely</p><p>popular amongcops forbackupandoff-dutywear, and the same style</p><p>gun is very popular among armed citizens, but both tend toward the</p><p>autoloaderasaruleforfullsize“heavyduty”handguns.</p><p>Let’s take just a cursory look at available choices today. In each</p><p>weapontype,varioussizesandcalibersareavailable.Thisallowsarmed</p><p>citizenandcopaliketohaveadeepconcealmentgun,alargerhandgun</p><p>that’sconcealableunderheavierclothing,andperhapsastilllargerone</p><p>for home defense or target practice, all with the same fire controls and</p><p>general “feel” for commonality of training and habituation, so that skills</p><p>developedwith the onewill transfer to the other.With some (but not</p><p>all) combinations, one can also use the larger gun’s speedloaders or</p><p>highercapacitymagazinesforefficientspareammorechargingwiththe</p><p>smallergun.</p><p>Twoapproachestomaking1911’sbuttlessprotuberantinconcealment.Top:shortenedOfficer’s</p><p>frame on Colt CCO. Center: “Bobtail” configuration developed by Ed Brown, shown on his</p><p>Executivemodelpistol.</p><p>Bottom:standardsize1911frameforreference,hereaSmithSW1911.All3are45ACP.</p><p>TheNewParadigm“Automatics”</p><p>The proper term is considered to be “semiautomatic,” but for my</p><p>generation “automatic” was an acceptable descriptor of autoloading</p><p>pistolswhichonlyfiredoneshotperpullofthetrigger,soforgivemeifI</p><p>use it in this book for convenience. We all know what we’re talking</p><p>about.</p><p>Themost popular genre of automatics today are striker-fired pistols</p><p>with no “hammers” per se, and with polymer frames. Pioneered by</p><p>HecklerandKochwiththeVP70ZandHKP9seriespistolsofthe1970s</p><p>and’80s–butpopularizedmorethan20yearsagobythemarket-leading</p><p>Glock brand – the polymer frame reducesweight, reduces cost, and is</p><p>impervious to corrosion. The latter is an important point with guns</p><p>carriedconcealedandoftenexposedtosalty,rust-creatinghumansweat.</p><p>Mostofthesepistolswillhaveatriggerpullthat’sthesamefromfirstto</p><p>lastshot,whichmakesthemeasiertolearntoshootwell.Theseinclude</p><p>the Glock, of course, and also the Springfield Armory XD, the Kahr,</p><p>Smith&Wesson’s successfulMilitary& Police series and cost-effective</p><p>Sigma line, and the slim, reliableRuger SR9 amongothers. TheGlock</p><p>lineisfarandawaythemostpopularinAmericanpoliceserviceatthis</p><p>writing,buttheS&WM&Piscomingonstronginthatsectorandso,toa</p><p>lesserdegree,istheXD.</p><p>S&W lightweight Centennials have been the choice of experts for deep concealment formore</p><p>thanhalf a century. Top:OriginalCentennialAirweight, circa 1953.Center,Model 442, early</p><p>’90s,withEaglegrips.Bottom,Model340M&P,withfactory-furnishedHoguegrips,introduced</p><p>2007.</p><p>Double-action semiautomatics can be had with polymer frames</p><p>(BerettaNinety-TwoandPx4,thecurrentHKseries,SIGP-250andSIG-</p><p>Pro,RugerP959mmandP34545,forexample).Theserequirea long,</p><p>heavy (read “deliberate”) pull of the trigger for the first shot, and are</p><p>considered by some to be less prone to stress-induced accidental</p><p>discharges for that reason. They can be ordered DAO (double-action-</p><p>only,withthatsameheavypullforeveryshot,suchasthepopularKel-</p><p>Tecseries),orTDA(traditionaldoubleaction)inwhichthepistolcocks</p><p>itselftoaneasy,lightpullforeveryshotafterthefirst.Thelatterwillbe</p><p>fitted with a decocking lever to safely lower the hammer when the</p><p>shootingisdone.Ofcourse,thesamecompanies–plusSmith&Wesson</p><p>and many more – offer double-action autos with steel or aluminum</p><p>frameconstruction,too.</p><p>A classic favorite among American shooters is the single action</p><p>semiautomatic, typifiedby the1911pistol thathasbeenpopular since</p><p>the eponymous year of its introduction. To be ready for immediate,</p><p>reactive self-defense, the 1911 type handgun has to be carried cocked</p><p>and locked (hammerback, thumb safety in the “safe”position)with a</p><p>liveroundinthechamber.Thisalarmssomepeoplenotintunewiththe</p><p>tradition, and there is no shame for those people to simply go to a</p><p>doubleactionorstriker-firedhandguninstead.The1911waspopularfor</p><p>concealedcarryfromthebeginningbecauseitisextremelythinforagun</p><p>of itspowerlevel,andisthereforeverycomfortabletowearinsidethe</p><p>waistbandoreveninashoulderholster.Themostpopularchamberingis</p><p>the one this gun was designed around, the 45 ACP (Automatic Colt</p><p>Pistol),butenthusiastshaveboughtthemin38Super,9mm,10mm,and</p><p>other chamberings. The 1911 was designed by firearms genius John</p><p>Moses Browning, who before his death did the initial designwork on</p><p>another famous weapon that bears his name, the Browning Hi-Power.</p><p>Even slimmer, and capable of holding 14 rounds of 9mmParabellum,</p><p>thishighqualityweaponhassomethingofacultfollowingintheCCW</p><p>world.</p><p>Revolvershaveearnedareputationforgoodreliabilityandhavebeen</p><p>aroundsincetheyear1836.Aswing-outcylinderdoubleactiondesignis</p><p>the easiest handgun for new shooters because of its simple</p><p>“administrativehandling,”theroutineloadingandunloading,checking,</p><p>and cleaning that accompanies all responsible firearms ownership. Its</p><p>“manual of arms,” i.e., its physical operation, is without parallel for</p><p>simplicity.Thisisonereasonmostexpertsrecommendthedouble-action</p><p>revolverasa“startergun”fornewshooters.</p><p>Model642Airweight38Spl.maybetoday’s“bestbuy”inacarrysnub,opinesauthor.</p><p>642withUncleMike’s grips andpocketholster, backedbySpeedStrip, and loadedwith135-</p><p>grainGoldDot38Spl.+Pisanexcellenteverydaycarrysnubbyset-up.</p><p>RevolverorAuto</p><p>Asyouassessyourparticularbalanceofneeds,you’llfindsomestark</p><p>differencesbetweentheattributesofthedoubleactionrevolverandthe</p><p>semiautomaticpistol.Let’sgoforaquickoverview.</p><p>All autoloadingpistolshave longbearing surfacesbetween slideand</p><p>frame, making them sensitive to proper lubrication. They are also</p><p>depended on clean, pristine magazines with unfatigued springs. Thus,</p><p>autopistols aremoremaintenance intensive than revolvers,whichcan</p><p>beleftunlubricatedandatrestliterallyfordecadeswithnodegradation</p><p>infunction.MilitaryspecautopistolssuchastheGlock,Beretta,SIG,etc.</p><p>have large tolerances between the moving parts, allowing them to</p><p>functionwhensandordirtgetinthemechanism;themorefinelyfitted</p><p>revolvers may choke if dropped in a sand pile or immersed in mud.</p><p>Thus, while the revolver is more forgiving of lack of routine</p><p>maintenance,theautomaticismoreforgivingoffieldabuse.</p><p>CrimsonTraceLasergripsmakeanexcellentadditiontohard-to-shootsnubbyrevolvers.</p><p>Intheseriousdefensecalibers(38Specialandup)revolvershaveonly</p><p>five shots in the small frame models, six in the standard frame, and</p><p>occasionallysevenoreightinthelarger,progressivelyhardertoconceal</p><p>sizes. The smallest 9mmautos start at seven rounds onboard, quickly</p><p>progresstotenoreleven,andifyoucancarryalightpolymer-frame,full</p><p>size9mmauto,you’reupto18roundsorso,twentyifyoudon’tminda</p><p>small magazine extension protruding from the butt. With</p><p>quick-</p><p>interchangingmagazines, the autos are alsomuch faster to reload. By</p><p>anymeasure,iffirepower’swhatyouwant,asemiautomaticiswhatyou</p><p>need.</p><p>Most semiautomatics can jam if pressed against an assailant’s body</p><p>beforefiring,ascanhappeninabelly-to-bellyfighttothedeathorrape</p><p>attempt. The pressure will push most autos’ slides out of battery, or</p><p>firingalignmentoftheparts,preventingevenoneshotfrombeingfired.</p><p>Ifthefirstshotdischarges,viscousblood,fat,andbrainmattermaybe</p><p>back-blastedfromashotagainstbarefleshintothebarrelbushingarea</p><p>of the autoloader as it cycles, preventing the slide from closing into</p><p>battery for a subsequent shot.With a revolver, however, this is not a</p><p>consideration. If your likeliest threat profile is a contact-distance</p><p>mugging, rape, or murder attempt, the revolver will give you an</p><p>advantage.Muzzle contact shots are particularly devastating since the</p><p>violently expanding gases of the muzzle blast are directed into the</p><p>opponent’sbody,causingmassiveadditionaldamage.</p><p>Revolvershootershavetendedhistoricallytopracticewithlightloads,</p><p>usingmildwadcuttersorfeeble130-graingeneric38Specialrangeloads</p><p>for training, and then loadingmonsterElmerKeithMemorialMagnum</p><p>loadsof357persuasionforthestreet.Copsgotawayfromthatlongago,</p><p>because they realized that light loads didn’t prepare the officer to hit</p><p>with a hard-kicking gun at the moment of truth. Too many private</p><p>citizensstilldeludethemselvesthisway.Anadvantageoftheautopistol</p><p>is that it won’t run with light loads, forcing the shooter into relevant</p><p>practice.</p><p>Seen here with 340 M&P, Centennial’s design lets the hand get higher on the backstrap for</p><p>superiorrecoilrecoveryinrapidcombatfire.</p><p>Shorter,moreefficient autopistol loads tend toproduce lessmuzzle</p><p>flash at night than revolver ammo of equivalent power levels, i.e., 38</p><p>Specialversus9mm,357Magnumversus357SIG,or45Coltversus45</p><p>ACPor45GAP(GlockAutoPistol).The lessmuzzle flash, the less the</p><p>shooterisblindedbyhisorherownweapon,anotheradvantagetothe</p><p>auto.</p><p>Autostendtohavesquared-off“handles”thatpresstightlyagainstthe</p><p>body, particularly in pocket, ankle, belly-band, or other deep</p><p>concealment carrymodes.Thismeans the fingers of thedrawinghand</p><p>mayhavetofightalittletogetbetweenthefleshandtheguntogaina</p><p>drawinggrasp.Theroundedprofileofthesmallframerevolverallowsa</p><p>much faster grasp, hence a much faster draw. Score a point for the</p><p>revolverhere,particularlyinpocket,ankle,orbelly-bandcarry.</p><p>Revolvers tend, overall, to be somewhat more reliable than auto</p><p>pistols,whichcanjamfrombeingheldwithalimpwrist,fromusingtoo</p><p>short or too long a cartridge, or from lack of lubrication ormagazine</p><p>damage.Particularly fornon-experiencedshootersandthosewhodon’t</p><p>routinely lubricate their guns, this gives the “wheelgun” a reliability</p><p>edge. (Auto shooters, remember to lubricate your carry gun monthly,</p><p>evenifyoudon’tshootit.Lubricantisliquid;itdrainsandevaporates.)</p><p>Ifyoucarryinanankleholster,gritbuildsuponthegunquickly.Onlya</p><p>few “military-spec” small autos seem to survive this buildup without</p><p>jamming:theKel-TecP11andP3AT,thebabyGlocks,andtheKahrs,for</p><p>example. Revolvers tolerate this grit buildup in ankle holsters much</p><p>better.</p><p>One thing we’ve seen more and more since autoloaders became</p><p>predominant in police work is that if they are carried with amanual</p><p>safetylockedinthe“safe”position,theyofferanelementofproprietary</p><p>naturetotheuserifacriminalgainscontroloftheweapon.Thisfeature</p><p>isgenerally theprovinceofautopistols insteadof revolvers.However,</p><p>theK-frame(38-sizeframe)orlargerS&Wrevolvercanbeconvertedto</p><p>MagnaTriggerconfigurationbyRickDevoid.Suchaconversioncanonly</p><p>befiredbysomeonewearingamagneticring.Whenmylittleoneswere</p><p>notyetatanageofresponsibility,my“housegun”(andoftenmycarry</p><p>gun)wasa4-inchbarrelSmith&Wesson357,MagnaTriggered. Itwill</p><p>comeoutofretirementnowthatI’vegotgrandkids.Igavea21/2-inch</p><p>barrelMagnaTriggerCombatMagnumtomyyoungestwhenshebecame</p><p>a mom – Devoid tuned the action, too – while her older sister was</p><p>comfortable with her pet S&W Model 3913 9mm automatic in this</p><p>regard, since it is equipped with both manual safety and magazine</p><p>disconnector safety. Devoid (www.tarnhelm.com) can also fit a</p><p>Cominolli thumbsafety forallGlockpistolsbut theModel36,offering</p><p>proprietarynaturetotheusertoGlockfans.</p><p>http://www.tarnhelm.com</p><p>Ayoobsays“Friendsdon’t let friendscarrymouseguns.”ComparedtoS&W40-138(top), the</p><p>NAA 22 Magnum (center) and 22 Short (bottom) mini-revolvers should be seen as enjoyable</p><p>recreationalguns,notfightingweapons,hefeels.</p><p>Thereissuchathingas“toobig”indefensiverevolvers,suchasthe460Smith&Wesson.Author</p><p>whimsicallyholds83/8-inchversion,left,andshortbarrel“emergency”model,right.</p><p>P3ATbyKel-Tecisreliableincurrentproduction,saysauthor,andcertainlylightandflat.</p><p>Kel-TecP3AT(belowJ-frameS&Wshownforcomparison)isextremelyflatandeasytocarry,but</p><p>authordoesnottrustits380cartridgeasmuchashedoes38Spl.+P.</p><p>Thecarrygunofyourchoicewillprobablybeavailableinavarietyofsizeformats.Herearethe</p><p>fourcurrentlyproduced9mmGlocks.Fromtop,targetsizeG34;servicesizeG17;compactG19;</p><p>subcompactG26.</p><p>Thereareotherfactorstoconsider,butthesearethekeypoints.They</p><p>help toexplainwhyserious shooters todayseemtopreferautoloaders,</p><p>butmostexpertsrecommendrevolversforbeginnersandforthatclassof</p><p>gunownersthatexpertMarkMoritzdefinedasNDPs,ornon-dedicated</p><p>personnel. It also explains why the revolver is so popular as a</p><p>hideout/backupgunamongevenhighlytrainedgunpeople.</p><p>Whenindoubt,dowhatIdo.Withaservice-gradeautomaticonmy</p><p>hipandalight,snub-nosedrevolverinmypocket,I figureI’mcovered</p><p>whether St. Peter turns out to be a Bill Jordan/revolver fan or a Jeff</p><p>CooperautofanwhenImeethimonJudgmentDay…</p><p>ConcealedCarryGunFeatures</p><p>Whatever your choice, there are some features that are particularly</p><p>suitableforconcealedcarry.Youwantacarrygunthatissnag-free.No</p><p>sharpedges.Nothingtohookonclothingandrevealthepistol,orwear</p><p>holes in the garments, or catch on fabric and fatally stall a defensive</p><p>draw. If you just have to have a sharp-edged, non-ramped front sight,</p><p>make sure your holster has a “sight channel” that will prevent</p><p>“catching.” Some shooters really do have a need for adjustable rear</p><p>sights – they’re carrying a hunting handgun or match handgun that</p><p>needs tobepreciselyzeroed,andmayneedthesightsadjusted to take</p><p>advantage of different ammunition power levels – the edges of those</p><p>sightsshouldberounded,evenifacustomgunsmithhastodoit.</p><p>Makesurethegripandgrip-frameareagivethehandenoughtraction</p><p>ifwetwithsweatorbloodorrain.Thedefensivehandgun,remember,is</p><p>an emergency tool. Smooth metal frames coupled with pearl or even</p><p>ivory“handles,”ifthelatterdon’thavefingergrooves,mightaswellbe</p><p>coatedwithwet soap. Some secure grip surfaces can be too tacky for</p><p>concealedcarry.Dependingon thegarments, “rubber”gripshavebeen</p><p>known to catch inner clothing surfaces and hike up the garment to</p><p>revealthehandgun.Skateboard-likegripsthatlockthegunsolidlyinto</p><p>thehand can abrade coat</p><p>linings. I find I canwear themnext to bare</p><p>skin,butalotofmycolleaguesfindthemagonizing.Ontheotherhand,</p><p>someofthosefolkscanwearcocobologripsnexttotheirskin,butinmy</p><p>casetheycauseanangryredrash.Therearealotofindividualisticlittle</p><p>tastesthatyoudevelopoveryearsofconcealedcarry,andtheytendto</p><p>behighlysubjective.</p><p>Theoldrevolverparadigm,seenwithS&W38Specials.Fromtop:6-inchK38forpistolteamuse,</p><p>4-inchCombatMasterpieceforuniformwear,and2-inchChiefsSpecialforconcealmentneeds.</p><p>Yourmodelofchoicemaybeavailableinvariouslengths.Thesearesingle-action-onlySIGP220</p><p>45s.Fromtop:5-inchbarreltargetmodel,41/4-inchservicemodel,and3.9-inch“Carry”model.</p><p>Night sights are a good idea. Most armed encounters occur in dim</p><p>light,andTritiumsightscanhelp.Whenyouwakeupinpitchdarkness</p><p>inastrangemotelroom,thoseglowingsightdotsguideyourhandtothe</p><p>bedside defense sidearm like airstrip landing lights. Laser sights,</p><p>particularly the convenient designs such as LaserMax (replacing the</p><p>recoilspringunderthebarrelinpopularautos),andtheCrimsonTrace</p><p>LaserGrip (bolt-on, for popular revolvers and autos) can enhance your</p><p>hit potential in the dark. They’re a Godsend for those with vision</p><p>problemsthatallowthemto identifya threat,butdon’t let themfocus</p><p>on gunsights that are at arm’s length. The deterrent effect of the red</p><p>laser dot on a suspect at gunpoint may have been over-rated by</p><p>manufacturers andadvertisers,but if there’s a chanceof thatworking,</p><p>it’sachanceyouwantonyourside.Lasersightsarealsoatremendous</p><p>trainingaidindryfireandevenlivefire,allowingtheshootertobetter</p><p>becomeaccustomedtoholdingthegunassteadyaspossibleastheindex</p><p>fingersmoo-oothlyrollsthetriggerbackuntiltheshot.</p><p>Commonalityoftrainingandammo,dualityofpurpose.Top,Glock31withScottWarrennight</p><p>sights and InSightM3Xwhite lightunit, forpolicepatrol andhomedefense.Below,Glock33</p><p>with Trijicon night sights for backup and concealed carry. Both fire the powerful 357 SIG</p><p>cartridge,andsmallergunwillworkwithlargergun’smagazines.</p><p>Whitelightattachmentsmakegreatsenseforhomedefense,anditis</p><p>logicaltopurchaseasanall-arounddefensepistolanautoloaderthathas</p><p>integral frame rails that allow slide-on/slide-off units by SureFire,</p><p>InSight, Streamlight, Blackhawk, and so on. Police are going to larger</p><p>holsters made to carry light-mounted guns, and a few manufacturers</p><p>(Blade-Tech, for one) produce concealable holsters that carry light-</p><p>mountedautomatics.Asthelightunitsbecomesmaller,thispracticewill</p><p>becomemorepracticalforconcealedcarry.</p><p>ThicknessisanimportantdimensioninCCWselection.Toptobottom,left:SpringfieldXD,Glock</p><p>22, Kimber 1911, SIG P226. From top at right: Kahr P40, S&W K-frame, S&W J-frame, and</p><p>BrowningHi-Power.Noteslimnessof1911andHi-Powerformats,areasonfortheirpopularity</p><p>amongCCWprofessionals.</p><p>SizeandShapeFactors</p><p>Bulgesundertheclothingarethekeyenemyofeffectiveconcealment,</p><p>andthe“handle”areaoftheguntendstobethebiggestoffenderhere.</p><p>The long grip-frame of a full-size duty pistol is best concealed by</p><p>carrying it on the strong-side hip, tilted sharply forward until the</p><p>backstrapofthegripispointedalmostatthearmpit.Thismayrequirea</p><p>slightcrouchtoeffectthedraw,butthat’ssomethingmostpeopledoin</p><p>ahigh-stressdangersituationanyway.</p><p>Carrygunofauthor’soldestdaughteristhisSokol-tunedS&WModel39.Itholdsnineroundsof</p><p>9mmand isaperfectcarry size.SIG’sanalogouspistol, theP239,wasadvertisedas“Personal</p><p>Size,”forgoodreason.</p><p>Nonetheless,smallergunbuttsareaplusforconcealment.Oneofthe</p><p>lesser recognized concealment secrets is that a medium-length barrel</p><p>coupled with aminimized grip frame can give the carrier the best of</p><p>both worlds. Three good examples would be the K-frame Smith &</p><p>Wessonrevolverwitha4-inchbarrelandstockscutlevelwiththemetal</p><p>butt;myfavoriteconcealedcarryColt45autoamongtheextensiveline</p><p>the company has offered since 1911, the CCO with 4 1/4-inch</p><p>Commander barrel and commensurate length slide mounted on the</p><p>short-butt Lightweight Officers frame; and the popular Kahr Covert</p><p>series, inwhichthebarrel/slideoftheirstandard-lengthguns(compact</p><p>bymostothermakers’standards)ismatedwiththestubbyframeoftheir</p><p>Micromodels.Withautos,thisgenerallyreducescartridgecapacitybya</p><p>round or two due to the necessarily shorter magazine, but that’s a</p><p>reasonablepricetopayforagunthatconcealslikeasnubbybutshoots</p><p>likeaservicepistol.MyoldfriendMartyHayes,themastershooterand</p><p>instructor who directs Firearms Academy of Seattle, once created a</p><p>Glock40perfectforconcealedcarrythatIcalledtheGlock22-1/2.He</p><p>took the standard service-size sixteen-shot Glock 22 and shortened its</p><p>butt to take the 13-round Glock 23 magazine. This gave maximum</p><p>concealment, still offered an excellent grasp, and a total of fourteen</p><p>versus sixteen roundswasnotdeemed tobeanunfairprice topay for</p><p>theimprovedconcealment.</p><p>This hammer-shrouded Colt Detective Special picked up thismuch lint and dirt carried in an</p><p>ankleholsterbetweencop-owner’srangequalifications. Itstillworked,onereasonauthor likes</p><p>revolversforpocketandanklewear.</p><p>Roundedbuttsworkwell.EdBrowncameupwitha“bobtail” lower</p><p>rearendforhisownlineoffactorycustom1911automatics,whichhe</p><p>has licensed to theDanWessoncompany for theirbrandandwhich is</p><p>availableforcustomgunsmithingaswell.Withanyhandgun(revolvers</p><p>areparticularlysuitable)roundingtheedgesofthegripsatthebottom</p><p>willimproveconcealability.</p><p>AdditionalSafetyFactors</p><p>The trigger pull should be smooth on a defensive handgun, but not</p><p>particularlylight.Onefactorthatoccurstohumanbeingsunderstressis</p><p>vasoconstriction.Bloodflowisredirectedawayfromtheextremitiesand</p><p>into the internal organs and major muscle groups, as if to “fuel the</p><p>furnace” for the superhuman effort about to come. This is why</p><p>frightenedCaucasiansbecomedeathlypale,anditiswhypeopleinlife-</p><p>threateningstresssituationsbecomegrosslyclumsy.Alighttriggerpull</p><p>cannowmuchmoreeasilydischargeprematurelyandunintentionally.</p><p>There are two problems with this. One is the potential for</p><p>unintentional discharge itself. (Yeah, I know, it’s trendy to call it</p><p>“negligentdischarge”unlesstherewasamechanicaldefect.I’veworked</p><p>in the criminal justice system since 1972, and I still believe in the</p><p>“innocent until proven guilty” part. The automatic assumption of</p><p>negligenceifthedischargewasnotcausedbymechanicalfailureseems</p><p>tohavearisenfromfirearmsacademiessponsoredbyliabilityconscious</p><p>firearmsmanufacturers. I’m still comfortablewith the term“accidental</p><p>discharge” (AD) until negligence has been clearly and convincingly</p><p>proven.)</p><p>AuthorhascarriedthisBrowningHi-Power,tunedbyCylinder&SlideShop,coasttocoastinthe</p><p>U.S.A.andfromEuropetoAfrica.Greatfeeland“shootability”combinewiththinnesstomakeit</p><p>more concealable than it looks in profile.Worldwide availability of Browning parts and 9mm</p><p>Lugerammodoesn’thurt,either.</p><p>GunexpertDeanSpeirpronouncedtheGlock30theidealconcealedcarrypistol.Match-accurate</p><p>andtotallyreliablewithdutyloads,itcarries11roundsof45ACP.</p><p>Laser sights are useful, especially in poor light. Here author centers a target</p><p>after dusk with</p><p>RugerSP101revolverequippedwithCrimsonTraceLaserGrips.</p><p>Subcompact1911sarepopularamongprofessionals.FamedinstructorGilaHayescarrieshers,an</p><p>UltraCompact9mmSpringfieldArmory,asshownwithmodifiedsafety,sights,andLaserGrips</p><p>added.</p><p>Accidental discharges, sometimes with tragic and fatal results, have</p><p>beenclearlyandconvincinglyrelatedtoverylighttriggerpullsoverthe</p><p>years by countless police departments. Decades ago, the police</p><p>departmentsofLosAngelesandNewYorkCitywent todouble-action-</p><p>onlyrevolvers,becausesomanybadthingshadhappenedwithrevolvers</p><p>cocked to single action. NYPD now mandates a nearly twelve-pound</p><p>(NY2,or“NewYorkPlus”)triggermoduleinallGlockpistolscarriedby</p><p>membersoftheirservice.TheNewYorkStatePolice,fortheexactsame</p><p>reason,pioneered theoriginal “NewYork trigger” (NY1) for theGlock</p><p>179mmstheyadoptedinthe1980s,andfortheGlock3745GAPsthey</p><p>carrytoday.Thisbringspullweightupto7.75-8.0pounds.Itworkswell</p><p>under stress foraccuratehits; it’s actually less likely tobreak than the</p><p>standardtriggerspring it replaces;andI foronehave it ineachof the</p><p>severalGlocks I regularly carry concealed. In a 1911 pistol, no street-</p><p>wisepolice instructororgunsmithwill recommenda single-actionpull</p><p>weightof less than fourpounds, andmost suggest somethingcloser to</p><p>five.</p><p>Crimson Trace LaserGrip activates when middle finger depresses button on front of grip in</p><p>normalfiringgrasp.It’sshownhereonaSmith&WessonTitaniumModel34238Special.</p><p>Precisionshotsareneededinself-defensemoreoftenthanfolksthink.LatemodelS&WM/40-1</p><p>(right), has better sights than such J-frame S&Ws used to have, but even better are those on</p><p>Model340PD(left).BigAOExpressnightsightinfrontiseasytopickupinclose,fastshooting,</p><p>andtheeyesettlesitintogenerousU-notchrearsightifprecisionshotisneeded.</p><p>ColtLightweightCommander45autohasbeenafavoriteofconcealedcarryprofessionalssince</p><p>1950.</p><p>Goodlightsareessentialtoself-defenseinpoorlight.FL/GARegionalChampionwithEnhanced</p><p>ServiceRevolver, Jon Strayer, demonstrates the very useful Liberator flashlight by First Light,</p><p>Inc. at 2007 national championships. Affixing quickly to the back of the hand, it leaves both</p><p>handsfree.RevolverisMulkerinCustomS&W45.</p><p>Thesecondproblemwiththelighttriggerpullisthefalseallegationof</p><p>anaccidentaldischarge.Here’sthesituationI’veseenplayoutoverand</p><p>over again in both civil and criminal cases over the years. Good guy</p><p>shootsbadguy.Publicity-hungryprosecutorormoney-hungryplaintiff’s</p><p>lawyer needs a scapegoat to grab political or financial profit. This</p><p>attorney fabricates a case of accidental discharge due to recklessly</p><p>cockinghammerandcreatinghairtrigger(orcarryingpistolthatwould</p><p>alwaysfirewith“hairtrigger”).ThisBSallegationisdignifiedincourtas</p><p>theaccuser’s “theoryof thecase.”Without this frailhookonwhich to</p><p>hang the bogus case, it probablywould have gone away. Instead, the</p><p>shooter who fired in self-defense goes through a nightmarish (and</p><p>nightmarishlyexpensive)ordeal.Seethe“Aftermath”chapter.</p><p>ThreemodificationsstandoutonthisGlock17.HeinieStraight-8sight…Cominollithumbsafety</p><p>fittedbyRickDevoidatTarnhelm…andoversizemagazinereleasefromGlockWorks.Notevery</p><p>shooterneedseveryavailablemodification.</p><p>One iswisest to avoid it entirely. The revolvers I carry for personal</p><p>defense will fire double action only. Some came that way from the</p><p>factoryandsomeweremodified.Mycarryautosareeitherdoubleaction</p><p>(withheavier-than-target-gradetriggerpullsevenonsingleaction),my</p><p>XDshave6to7poundtriggerpulls,noneofmycarry1911sarelighter</p><p>than4pounds,andasnotedmycarryGlockshaveNewYorktriggersin</p><p>the7-8poundpullrange.Anyonewhotellsyouit’simpossibletoshoot</p><p>wellwiththeseguns,doesn’tknowhowtoshoot.I’vewonIDPAmatches</p><p>withGlockandXDpistolsintheabovepullweights,andforthreeyears</p><p>runningwontheNHPoliceAssociationannualstateshootwithaGlock</p><p>22thathadaNewYorktrigger,shootingagainstsomewhohadput3.5</p><p>poundpullsintheirgunsbeforethematch.</p><p>SelectingtheGunWardrobe</p><p>In a clothing store, it’s hard to go wrong with “the basics”: “basic</p><p>black,”graypinstripe,andallofthat.IntheworldofCCW,thefirstof</p><p>“thebasics”isasmallrevolver.</p><p>S&W’s J-frame series is the odds-on choice of professionals. High</p><p>quality, smart engineering, and a wide range to choose from: 22, 32</p><p>H&RMagnum (off and on), 38 Special, and 357Magnum.My advice</p><p>wouldbetogowiththe38Special,thoughthelittle22KitGunsmake</p><p>great “understudies” for cheap practice. An all-steel 2-inch (actually 1</p><p>7/8-inchbarrelinmostcases)willrunabout20ounces.Thealuminum</p><p>frameAirweights go about 15ounces, a profounddifferencewhen the</p><p>guniscarriedinapocketorontheankle,butmuchlessnoticeableina</p><p>beltholster.TheAirLitesareavailableinvariousmixesofTitaniumand</p><p>Scandium, and are proportionally expensive due to the rare materials</p><p>used in their construction, but they can get down to the eleven and</p><p>twelve ounce weight range. There’s no excuse not to carry when</p><p>adequatelypowerfulhandgunscomethislight.</p><p>Of course, the lighter the gun, the harder it kicks with the same</p><p>ammunition. The all-steel small frames aren’t too bad, even with 38</p><p>Special+Pammo.TheAirweightsaredownrightunpleasant,andafter</p><p>I’ve finished a 50-shot qualification I’m glad it’s over. The AirLites,</p><p>however,aredownrightpainful,andwithMagnumloadsthey’retorture</p><p>devices. I find them more painful to shoot than the mighty Smith &</p><p>Wesson500Magnumhuntingrevolver,by far. Ifyouget themin357,</p><p>loadthemwith38sanddoyourselfafavor.</p><p>It’s amyth,by theway, that it’sOK topracticewithmild loadsbut</p><p>carry monster Magnums because somehow, fight or flight reflex will</p><p>makeupforthekickinanactualdefensiveshooting.True,thedumpof</p><p>nor-epinephrineandendorphinsthataccompanieshighlevelbodyalarm</p><p>reactionmay block the pain of the recoil, but that won’t keep a too-</p><p>powerful gun from twisting in your hand and preventing you from</p><p>gettingfast,accuratefollow-upshots.Youdon’tneedmetotellyouthat</p><p>ahitwitha38Specialbeatsamisswitha357Magnum.</p><p>The J-frame– a32-size framewith a cylinder boredout for five38</p><p>roundsinsteadofsix32s–canbehadinthreestyles,alldatingbackto</p><p>theperiodbetween1949and1955.TheoriginalChiefsSpecialseriesis</p><p>the “conventional style” double-action revolver,with exposed hammer</p><p>thatallowsthumb-cockingtosingleaction.TheBodyguardstyleisthat</p><p>gun with a built-in “hammer shroud” patterned after the bolt-on Colt</p><p>shroud introduced shortly before, which keeps the hammer spur from</p><p>snagging on clothing or pocket linings during a fast draw. A small</p><p>button-sizeportionofthehammerisexposedtoallowthumb-cockingfor</p><p>light-pullsingle-actionshots.ThethirdvariationistheCentennialseries,</p><p>known colloquially as a “hammerless” but actually having a hammer</p><p>thatistotallyenclosedinsideitsstreamlinedframe.</p><p>Modernparadigmhandgunsarewidelyconsideredinferiortotheclassic191145,butthat’snot</p><p>necessarily so. In the single-action 45 division, CDP, the top three places at the 2007 IDPA</p><p>National Championshipswent in order toDavidOlhassowith SpringfieldArmoryXD45 (top),</p><p>DavidSevignywithGlock21SF</p><p>(center),andErnestLangdonwithS&WM&P(below),allin45</p><p>ACP.</p><p>Itisgenerallyacceptedthatforfastdefensiveshooting,doubleaction</p><p>isthewaytogo.Withthisinmind,theCentennialisclearlythebestbet,</p><p>followedbytheBodyguard,followedbytheChiefs.Thereasonisfound</p><p>byanalyzingshooterergonomicsinlivefire,nottheorybornindryfire.</p><p>This late model S&W has current style cylinder latch, designed not to ding the thumb upon</p><p>recoil,andaboveittheInternalLockingSystem,whichpuristsdespiseandnewshootersseemto</p><p>like.</p><p>Introduced in2007, thisModel40-1Classicwas the first S&W inyears toappearwithout the</p><p>internallock.Ithastheold“lemon-squeezer”gripsafety,andtraditionalsquarelatchthatpurists</p><p>associatewiththeS&Wbreed.</p><p>Whena revolver recoils, itwants to torque itsmuzzleupand to the</p><p>side.With the conventional-hammerChiefs series, thebutt can roll up</p><p>intothewebof thehand,gettingafteronetothreeshots toaposition</p><p>wherethatwebofthehandblocksthehammerandpreventssubsequent</p><p>shots from being fired until the gun is re-gripped. That won’t happen</p><p>with the Bodyguard, whose hammer is shielded within its slot, and</p><p>whoseshroudisshapedinawaythatcatchesatthewebofthehandand</p><p>prevents“roll-up.”TheCentennialisevenbetter,becausenotonlycan’t</p><p>thegunrollup,but inaddition theshapeof therear frameallows the</p><p>shooter’shandtograspthegunhigher.Thislowerstheboreaxisvis-à-vis</p><p>the gun hand and arm, keeping the muzzle down, and maximally</p><p>enhancing the shooter’s recoil recovery rate for the most accurate</p><p>possiblerapidfire.</p><p>Because the Centennial can only be fired double action, it also</p><p>preventscockedgunaccidentsandpossiblefalseaccusationsofsame.All</p><p>thesereasonshavecombinedtomaketheCentennialseriesnotonlythe</p><p>mostpopularoftheJ-framesoverall,butinmostyearsof latethebest</p><p>selleramongJ-framesoverall.</p><p>Factoring in cost, shootability, and portability, the S&WModel 642</p><p>Airweight is my personal choice among all those available, most of</p><p>which Iownorhaveownedandallofwhich I’veshot. It’s theone I’d</p><p>personallyrecommend.Taurushasalineofsimilarrevolversinallthree</p><p>hammer styles which are acceptable alternatives, trading less fancy</p><p>finishforalowerpricetag.</p><p>Going up a notch, there are slightly larger revolvers that are more</p><p>powerful.ThetwoIcouldmoststronglyrecommendarethesnub-nosed</p><p>RugerSP101357Magnumand the2-inchbarrelTaurusTracker in45</p><p>ACP.Thelattertakestherimlessautopistolcartridgesinafast-loading</p><p>“moonclip,”andmine shoots topointofaimat25yardswithgroups</p><p>likeaservicerevolver’s.TheSPalsohastarget-gradeaccuracy.Eachhas</p><p>extra-cushionytripstobringtheirrecoildowntomanageablelevels.In</p><p>the25-ounceweightrange,thesearetooheavyformytasteforpocket</p><p>oranklecarry,butforthepersonwhowantsasmall,powerfulsnubbyin</p><p>abeltholster,they’regreat.</p><p>Carrygunchoiceinvolvesabalanceof“heavierguneasiertoshoot,lighterguneasiertocarry.”</p><p>Author weighs choice between 14 oz. Kahr PM9 (left, all black) and 22 ounce Kahr MK9</p><p>(stainless,right).Eachisa7-shot9mmofidenticaloveralldimensions.</p><p>Next on the “concealed handgun wardrobe necessities list” is a</p><p>compact semiautomatic pistol, if you’re comfortable with that type of</p><p>handgun.Glocksincompact(G199mm,G23.40,G32.357SIG,G30.45</p><p>ACP, and G38 .45 GAP) are all good choices. So are the many other</p><p>compact(i.e.,mediumsize)modernautosyou’ll findintheGunDigest,</p><p>where there’s more space to pore over the various models and</p><p>size/weight specifications than here. In the 1911, Commander and</p><p>Officerssizeworkwell.Formany,somethingmoresub-compactfitsthe</p><p>bodybetter.Thesewouldincludethe“babyGlocks”inthesamecalibers,</p><p>the Micro-series Kahrs, and the smallest of the 1911s by their many</p><p>makers.</p><p>Finally, a full-size gun makes particular sense under cold-weather</p><p>wardrobes,whichcanamplyconcealthem.Incoldweather,withgloved</p><p>orcold-numbedhands,apistolwithalongergrip-framemaybeeasierto</p><p>handle. I like somethingwith a large trigger guard, andwhose trigger</p><p>won’treboundsofarforwardthatitcansnagonorbeblockedbythick</p><p>glovematerial,whichcouldmakeitfailtore-set.ATDAautopistolwill</p><p>generallyfillthatbill,aswilltheGlockorXD.Igetleeryofsingle-action</p><p>pistols when cold or gloves have further reduced a vasoconstricted</p><p>hand’s ability to feel the trigger, and the glove-blocking factor leaves</p><p>mostrevolversoutentirely.</p><p>Subcompact carry guns can be “too small for your hand,” necessitating technique changes.</p><p>Trigger reach is so short on this Kahr that author’s trigger finger is blocked by thumb in</p><p>traditional grasp; thumb will need to come up. Little finger is tucked under short butt since</p><p>there’snoroomforitontheframe…</p><p>…author’s two-hand grasp on the Kahr puts firing thumb on support hand out of theway of</p><p>triggerfinger,andsupporthandthumbwellforwardtoavoidthesharpedgeontheKahr’sslide</p><p>releaselever.</p><p>The bottom line of “concealed handgunwardrobe selection” is this:</p><p>the gun’s size and shape must fit hand, body, and clothing selection</p><p>alike.Youprobablydon’tdressthesameeveryday.Whenyou“dressto</p><p>kill”(forgiveme,Icouldn’tresist)youalsoneedtovarythatparticular</p><p>“wardrobe”tobettersuityourdailyneeds.</p><p>Final advice: In the immortalwords of author and big game hunter</p><p>Robert Ruark, “Use Enough Gun.” Small-caliber weapons simply don’t</p><p>have the “oomph” to stop a violent human being. I coined the phrase</p><p>“Friendsdon’t let friendscarrymouse-guns,”and I’ll stickby that.The</p><p>cessationofhomicidalhuman threat is the raisond’etre of CCW. If the</p><p>Weaponyou’reCarryingConcealedisn’tpowerfulenoughtodothatjob,</p><p>you’veundercutthewholepurposeofthemission.Ipersonallydrawthe</p><p>lineabovethemarginal380ACPandconsidertheminimumstobe38</p><p>Special+Pinarevolverand9mmLugerinasemiautomaticpistol.On</p><p>thetopend,onlymastershooterscanhandletheviolentrecoilof41and</p><p>44Magnums. Formost people, the best bet is in a caliber range that</p><p>encompasses38Special,357Magnum,9mmLuger,40Smith&Wesson,</p><p>10mmAuto,45ACP,and45GAP.Thereareotherrarely-carriedrounds</p><p>withinthatrange,butanyofthose–withproperhigh-techhollow-point</p><p>defensive ammunition – can be reasonably counted on to get you</p><p>throughthenight.</p><p>Formoreongunandammoselection,I’dreferyoutomyGunDigest</p><p>Book of CombatHandgunnery, Sixth Edition, available fromKrause. The</p><p>bottom line is, it’snotabout “whatgundidyouhave” somuchas it’s</p><p>about “did you have a gun?” Modern ultra-compact, ultra-light 38</p><p>Specialand9mmLugerhandgunsgiveyouadequatepowerinextremely</p><p>smallandlightpackages.Youjustdon’thavetosettleforanythingless,</p><p>wheninnocentlives–includingyourlifeandthelivesofthoseyoumost</p><p>love–willlikelybeatstakeifandwhentheshootingstarts.</p><p>Longerbarrelequalseasiertoshootaccurately,hardertocarry.Lefttoright:2”barrelS&WJ-</p><p>frameCentennialhasproduceda roughly4”group.S&WModel64andRugerGP100with4”</p><p>barrelshaveshotmuchtighter.Bestgroupofallcamewith6”barrelS&WK-38, farright.All</p><p>firedat25yardswithSpeerLawman158-grain+P.38Specialammo.</p><p>S&WM&P11-shot45ACPhasoptionalthumbsafety,comeswithrailstoholdthisStreamlight</p><p>whitelightattachment.Somewhereoutthereisahandgunwithexactlythefeatures</p><p>he has</p><p>invested so much of his time, effort, ego and self-image. It’s not</p><p>somethinghewantstosharewiththegeneralpublic.</p><p>Give him time. My experience has been that the great majority of</p><p>LEOs (law enforcement officers) in themiddle of those two ends, the</p><p>seasonedstreetcopswho’veseenthereality,haveamorerealisticview.</p><p>A great many of themmake sure they leave a gun at home for their</p><p>spouse to use to protect the household while they’re gone. They’ve</p><p>learnedthatpolicearereactivemorethanproactive,andthatthevictim</p><p>has to survive the violent criminal’s attack long enough for law</p><p>enforcementtobesummonedandarrive.</p><p>I’ve carried a concealed handgun since I was twelve years old. My</p><p>grandfather,thefirstgenerationofmyfamilytoarriveintheUSA,was</p><p>anarmedcitizenwhowentforhisgunwhenhewaspistol-whippedin</p><p>hiscitystorebyanarmedrobber.Heshotandwoundedtheman.The</p><p>suspectfled,onlytobekilledlaterthatnightinashootoutwiththecity</p><p>police.Thewoundmygrandfatherinflictedslowedhimdownwhenhe</p><p>triedtokillthearrestingofficer,andthecopsthankedhimforthat.My</p><p>dadhadbeen inhis twentieswhenhehad to resort todeadly force in</p><p>thesamecity’sstreets.Awould-bemurdererputarevolvertohishead</p><p>andpulled the trigger;mydadducked to the side enough tomiss the</p><p>bullet,butnotenoughtokeepthemuzzleblastfromdestroyinghisleft</p><p>eardrum.Momentslater,myfather’sreturnfirehadputthatmanonthe</p><p>grounddyingfroma38slug“centermass,”andthethug’saccomplicein</p><p>afetalpositionclutchinghimselfandscreaming.</p><p>It’snowonderthatgrowingupinthe1950s,gunswereapartofmy</p><p>life:inthehome,andinmyfather’sjewelrystore.WhenIwenttowork</p><p>there at age twelve, I carried a loaded gun concealed. There were</p><p>strategically placed handguns hidden throughout the area behind the</p><p>counterandinthebackroom,butDadwassmartenoughtoknowthatI</p><p>wouldn’talwaysbewithin reachofonewhen Ineeded it.The laws in</p><p>thattimeandplaceallowedthepractice.</p><p>I realized thiswassomeprettyseriousstuff,andset to learningall I</p><p>couldaboutthepractice.Mydad’scustomers includedlawyers, judges,</p><p>andhisfriendthechiefofpolice.Ipickedalltheirbrainsontheissue.</p><p>WhatIlearnedstunnedme.</p><p>If you carry, be competent with your gun. You don’t need to be able to shoot this perfect</p><p>qualificationscorewithaGlock30and45hardball,butyouwanttocomeascloseasyoucan.</p><p>Confidenceandcompetenceintertwine,saysAyoob.</p><p>Therewere books then on gunfighting: how to do it, what to do it</p><p>with,andhowtodevelopthemindsettodoit.Interestingly,therewere</p><p>noneonwhen toshoot.Mydad’s lawyerfriendstoldmethatevenkids</p><p>likemecouldusealegallibrary;wedidn’thavetobeattorneysorlaw</p><p>students to get in there, and the librarianwould showus how to find</p><p>whatwewerelookingfor.Ilivedinthestatecapital,andtheStateLegal</p><p>Libraryhadthesamerule.AsIbeganthatself-education,Ifoundmyself</p><p>thinking,“Somebodyoughttowriteabookaboutthisforregularpeople!</p><p>WhenIgrowup,ifnobody’swrittenthatbookyet,Iwannawriteit!”</p><p>AndIdid.“IntheGravestExtreme:theRoleoftheFirearminPersonal</p><p>Protection”hitprintin1979,andhasbeenabest-sellereversince.And</p><p>I’vebeencarryingaconcealedhandgunsincetheyear1960,inpublicon</p><p>apermitsincetheyear1969.By1973,Ihadbecomeapolicefirearms</p><p>instructor, and from then tonowhave taken training as avidly as I’ve</p><p>given it. I’ve been teaching and researching this stuff full time since</p><p>1981,whenIestablishedLethalForceInstitute(www.ayoob.com).That</p><p>hasincludedexpertwitnesstestimonyinweapons,shooting,andassault</p><p>cases since 1979. From 1987 through 2006, I served as chair of the</p><p>firearms committee for the American Society of Law Enforcement</p><p>Trainers,andhavebeenontheadvisoryboardfortheInternationalLaw</p><p>EnforcementEducatorsandTrainersAssociationsinceitsinception.I’ve</p><p>also had the privilege of teaching for the International Association of</p><p>Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors inside and outside the US, and</p><p>servedacoupleofyearsasco-vicechair,withMarkSeidenunderDrew</p><p>Findling,oftheforensicevidencecommitteeoftheNationalAssociation</p><p>of Criminal Defense Lawyers. I’ve had the privilege of studying the</p><p>firearms training of the DEA, NYPD, LAPD, numerous state police</p><p>agencies, andcountlessother lawenforcementorganizations. I’vebeen</p><p>able to study hands-on with such great shooting champions as Ray</p><p>Chapman,FrankGarcia,RobLeatham, andmanymore. I learnedone-</p><p>on-onefromlivinglegendslikeCharlieAskins,JimCirillo,JeffCooper,</p><p>BillJordan,FrankMcGeeandmore.Someofthe“more”haveaskedthat</p><p>theirnamesnotappearinprint,andIwillrespectthathere.</p><p>Ithasbeenalongandeducationalroad,andwithalittleluck,itwon’t</p><p>beoveranytimesoon.Thebottomlineis,I’mnotasuper-copassomany</p><p>ofthosemenliterallywere. Inall theseyears, thoughI’vehadmygun</p><p>onalotofpeopleandwasstartingtopullthetriggerafewtimes,I’ve</p><p>neverhadtoshootaman.Withalittleluck,thatwillstaythesame,too.</p><p>I seemy role – as an instructor and as thewriter of this book – as a</p><p>funnelofknowledge.You’reatthereceivingendofthefunnel.</p><p>http://www.ayoob.com</p><p>Manywhocarrygunshavelearnedtocarrytwo.Here,twinbabyGlocksrideindoubleshoulder</p><p>holsterbyMitchRosen.</p><p>Whenyoubecomeaccustomedtocarrying,youlearntohaveatleastoneweak-sideholsterand</p><p>ambidextrousgunsoyoucanprotectyourselfandyourlovedonesifyousustainaninjurytothe</p><p>dominantarm.Thisisoneofauthor’sSpringfieldArmory1911s,withambidextroussafetyand</p><p>left-handHighNoonconcealedcarryscabbard.</p><p>Therehavebeentremendousadvancesinthelastfiftyyearsinholster</p><p>design,handgundesign,andammunitiondesign.Wenowhavethefinest</p><p>concealedcarryfirearms,holsters,anddefensiveroundsthathaveever</p><p>beenavailable.Welikewisehavetechniquesthathavetakenadvantage</p><p>of modern knowledge of the human mind and body that was not</p><p>available to the famousgunfightersofold. (But theOldOneshave left</p><p>theirlessonstous,andmanyofthosearetimeless,too.)</p><p>“CCW”</p><p>Let’s sort out the alphabet soup for those readers new to concealed</p><p>carry. To those who practice it, CCW can describe the practice of</p><p>(lawfully)carryingaconcealedweapon.Itcanalsobeashorthandnoun,</p><p>e.g., “My CCW is a Colt Commander 45.” Unfortunately, to some the</p><p>lettershaveanegativeconnotation. Inmany jurisdictions,policeknow</p><p>themastheabbreviationforthecrimeof illegallyCarryingaConcealed</p><p>Weapon.</p><p>Insomepartsofthecountry,CCWreferstothepermittocarryitself,</p><p>asin:“IcarrymyCCWnexttomydriver’slicense,soIcanhandbothto</p><p>theofficer if I’mpulledover for speeding.”But each statehas itsown</p><p>terminology.ThatlittlelaminatedcardmightbeaCPL(ConcealedPistol</p><p>License),CWP (ConcealedWeaponsPermit), CHL (ConcealedHandgun</p><p>License), or some other acronym.We’re talking about the same thing.</p><p>Hell,inthestatewhereIgrewupandspentmostofmyadultlife,itwas</p><p>known simply as a “pistol permit.” (And, no, we’re not going to use</p><p>thesepagestodebatewhether“license”or“permit”istheproperterm.</p><p>Thebook isaboutconcealedcarry,notwhat I’vecome tocallCombat</p><p>Semantics.)</p><p>Concealed carrymeans several small changes of habit. If reaching to a high shelfmight raise</p><p>youroutergarmentandexposeholsterorgun…</p><p>The concealed carry lifestyle</p><p>youwant.</p><p>Evenguncolorisadebatableissue.Somelikematteblack,asintheKahrPM9above,becauseit</p><p>doesn’tcallattentiontothegun.Otherswantthebadguytorealizehe’satgunpoint,andlikethe</p><p>conspicuoussilvercolorofstainlessMK9,below,bythesamemaker.</p><p>D</p><p>DEFENSELOADSOFCHOICE:</p><p>TheWordFromTheStreet</p><p>Premiumlines fromfourbigmakers,coveringfourpopularcalibers.This, for themostpart, is</p><p>thetypeofroundtheauthorrecommends.</p><p>Sterilelabtestinginballisticgelatinisgreat,buttheultimatelaboratoryis</p><p>thestreet,theauthormaintains.Herearetheloadsthatseemtobedoingbest</p><p>there, input written in blood from gunfights police departments have</p><p>experiencedwiththisammunition.</p><p>efensiveammunitionchoiceisaboutpickingwhatworksbestto</p><p>neutralizearmedanddangeroushumanbeingsbefore theycan</p><p>maimormurder. Scientific testingof ammo inballistic gelatin</p><p>canhelp predict bullet performance in the field, but at the endof the</p><p>day,itistheperformanceandnotthepredictionthatwillmatter.</p><p>Thirty-fouryearsofcarryingaswornpoliceofficer’sbadge,20years</p><p>as chair of the firearms committee of the American Society of Law</p><p>Enforcement trainers, and several years now on the advisory board of</p><p>the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association</p><p>have combinedwith several trips tomajor seminarsof groups like the</p><p>InternationalLawEnforcementFirearmsInstructorsAssociationandthe</p><p>InternationalHomicideInvestigatorsSeminarstogivemeasolidbaseof</p><p>copswho’veinvestigatedalotofshootingsfortheirdepartments.These</p><p>aren’t “war stories,” they are full investigations of shootings including</p><p>evidence recovery, complete autopsy and forensic ballistic testing</p><p>protocols, and intensive debriefings of the shooters and thewitnesses.</p><p>Fromthatcollectivepoolofknowledgeemergesaprofileofwhichduty</p><p>cartridgesperformthebest.</p><p>OBVIOUSLY, POLICE ISSUE AMMUNITION IS USED IN A</p><p>SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THESE SHOOTINGS. That’s why police</p><p>dutycalibersandloadshavethestrongest“databases”tolearnfrom.</p><p>Fortunatelyforarmedcitizens,theyandthepolicetendtochoosethe</p><p>same calibers. Picking a load that has proven itself on duty with the</p><p>police gives the armed citizen added confidence in what their chosen</p><p>gun/cartridge combination can deliver. As many have noted, using</p><p>ammunition that iswidely issued to police is a strong defense against</p><p>unmeritoriouscourtroomallegationssuchas,“Heusedevilhollowpoint</p><p>bulletsthatrendandtear,andthatshowshehadmaliceinhisheart!”</p><p>Let’slookatwhatthe“streetfeedback”isindicatingisworkingbestin</p><p>the“ultimatelaboratory”thesedays.</p><p>38Special</p><p>Concealed carry permit instructors tell me that the 38 Special</p><p>revolver, usually in compact short-barrel form, is one of the most</p><p>commongunsbroughttotheirclassesbystudents,andoftenthesingle</p><p>gunthattheirgraduatesmostcommonlycarryonthestreet.Formostof</p><p>the20thCentury,thiscaliberrevolverwasalsobyfarthemostpopular</p><p>in law enforcement, with plainclothes and off duty officers generally</p><p>carrying“snubbies,”anduniformedpersonnelgenerallycarrying larger</p><p>framed,longerbarrelmodels.</p><p>At this writing, there are still thousands of senior cops carrying</p><p>“grandfathered” 38 revolvers on duty in New York City and Chicago,</p><p>andmanymorewhocarrythemasbackuporoff-dutyguns.Infact,the</p><p>snub-nose 38 seems to be themost popular police backuphandgun to</p><p>thisday,andisstillwidelyusedforoffdutycarry.</p><p>Onlytwocartridgesreallystandoutasheadandshouldersabovethe</p><p>largepackofavailable38Specialrounds.Thesearethe“FBIload”and</p><p>the“NewYorkload.”</p><p>The FBI load gets its sobriquet from the fact that this round was</p><p>adopted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation circa 1972, right after</p><p>Winchester introduced it. Itwas also adopted by the Chicago PD, and</p><p>remainsthe38Specialloadofissuetheretothisday.Metro-Dade(now</p><p>Miami-Dade) police likewise found it to perform superbly, as did cops</p><p>throughouttheU.S.A.,anditcontinuestobeknownbysomelocallyas</p><p>the“Chicagoload”or“Metroload.”Thiscartridgecomprisesanall-lead,</p><p>semi-wadcuttershapedhollowpointbulletat+Pvelocity.</p><p>This 230-grain standard velocity Gold Dot 45 ACP bullet expanded to some 60-caliber after</p><p>strikingbone,keptongoing todelivermassivewound track.Expansionwasnot textbook,but</p><p>neitherarelivingthings.GoldDothasdoneverywellinofficer-involvedshootings.</p><p>It works particularly well out of a 4-inch barrel, but cops quickly</p><p>discovered that theprojectile generallyupset andexpandedat least to</p><p>some degree – even out of short barrels that reduced velocity. The</p><p>reasonwasthatwithnotoughcopperjackettopeelback,thesoftlead</p><p>expandedmoreeasilyinflesh.</p><p>HSTisFederal’scurrent topdefense load.Thesetwobulletsexpandeddifferentlybecausethey</p><p>met different resistance. The one on left went through a hog’s heavy skull before utterly</p><p>destroyingthebrain;theoneontherightenteredtheshoulderandtorealargewoundthrough</p><p>thechest.Bothanimalswerestopped instantly.+P230-grain45roundwasdoingbetter than</p><p>950fpsfrom5-inchbarrel.</p><p>Base-on view of expanded 45ACP FederalHST 230-grain+P bullet that instantly dropped a</p><p>man-size hog with a chest shot. Bullet destroyed both lungs and top of heart, expanded to</p><p>approximately90-caliber.</p><p>Seenfrombottom,thisWinchesterRanger127-grain+P+9mmroundexpandedtoslightlyover</p><p>60-caliber,andat1250footsecondsimpactvelocitydidmassiveandinstantlyfataldamagetoa</p><p>man-sizehog.</p><p>Base-on view of still-bloody HST 230/45 +P recovered from hog shot in skull and killed</p><p>instantly.Expandeddiameterisahairunderaninchatwidestpoint.Irregularexpansionwasdue</p><p>to striking heavy bone on slight angle, which did not deviate bullet from its trajectory.</p><p>Penetrationdepthwasoptimal.</p><p>Federal9BPLE,a115-grain+P+jacketedhollowpoint,shatteredskullofhogatentrypointfor</p><p>amore than 2-inch area,went on to virtually liquefy brain and lodge in base of skull. Truly</p><p>massivedamage,optimumpenetration.</p><p>RemingtonGoldenSaber124-grain+Pfrom4-inchbarrelGlock19killedman-sizehogcleanly</p><p>andinstantlywithoneshot,penetrateddeeply,andexpandedtoroughly50-caliber.</p><p>WinchesterandRemingtonbothproducethis158-grainLSWCHP+P</p><p>round. The Remington seems to have the softer lead of the two, and</p><p>therefore,opensabitmoredramatically.Thisisagoodthing.</p><p>A few years ago, NYPD realized it still had some three thousand</p><p>officerscarrying38Specialservicerevolversasprimaryhandguns,and</p><p>that the overwhelming majority of their plus/minus 35,000 sworn</p><p>personnel carried snub-38s as backup and off-duty guns. They</p><p>approached Speer to create a load that would optimize 38 Special</p><p>terminalballisticswhenfiredfromarevolverwithabarrelmeasuring1-</p><p>7/8 inches.ErnestDurhamatSpeer led theproject, and the resulthas</p><p>nowbecomeknowncolloquiallyastheNYPDload.Itcomprisesawide-</p><p>mouthed 135-grain Gold Dot bonded, jacketed hollowpoint at +P</p><p>velocity.</p><p>Innumerousshootingswithbothsnubsand4-inchservice revolvers,</p><p>NYPDofficialstellmethattheyaremorethansatisfied.Becauseofthe</p><p>lighterbullet,itkickslessthantheFBIload,andbecauseofthemodern</p><p>GoldDottechnology,itexpandswidelyandreliably.Theyhavefoundit</p><p>tobeagoodman-stopper.</p><p>Either will work well. In a snubby, I prefer the Gold Dot for</p><p>two</p><p>reasons. First, the lighter recoil is helpful in fast, accurate shooting.</p><p>Second,theall-leadFBIloadismorelightlycrimpedthantheGoldDot,</p><p>andwhenfiredinasuper-lightsnubbyinthetenorelevenounceweight</p><p>range, such as the Titanium or Scandium S&W AirLites, recoil is so</p><p>severe that after a shot or two, the projectiles can start pulling loose</p><p>fromthecasemouths.They“prairiedog”upoutofthechamberatthe</p><p>frontofthecylinder,wheretheycanstriketheforcingconeofthebarrel</p><p>andlockthegunupsolid.Whilethiscanhappenwithanymakeofthe</p><p>all-lead+PFBIload,itdoesnotoccurwiththeSpeerNYPDload.</p><p>9mmLuger</p><p>The9mmLuger(aka9X19,9mmParabellum,9mmNATO) isoneof</p><p>themostpopularamongarmedcitizens,andalsostillwidelyusedbythe</p><p>nation’spolice.Asaresult,wehaveahugeamountofstreetexperience</p><p>totapintoastowhatworkswellandwhatdoesn’tinthiscaliber.</p><p>Inthe late1980sthroughmostof the1990s,147-grainhollowpoints</p><p>of conventional copper jacketed construction were the trendy issue</p><p>rounds. They worked spottily – sometimes they expanded, and</p><p>sometimestheyjustpunchednarrowlittlethroughandthroughwounds</p><p>likeballammo–andasaresult,mostdepartmentsthatusedthisstuff</p><p>eitherswitchedtomorepowerfulcalibers,orwentto9mmammothat</p><p>wasgoingfaster,withlighterbullets.</p><p>Formanyyears,the“IllinoisStatePoliceload”–a115-grainstandard</p><p>JHPlaunchedatsome1300fps–proved itself tobe themostdecisive</p><p>man-stopperavailable.Itstillworksgreat.Federal’sversionofthisload,</p><p>the 9BPLE, is standard issue for the DeKalb County lawmen, on the</p><p>toughturfthatsurroundsandencompassesAtlanta,Georgia.Theseguys</p><p>get into so many firefights that they’ve drawn political heat for</p><p>“shooting toomany people.” They have proven that when they shoot</p><p>peoplewitha115-grainJHPdoing1300footsecondsoutoftheirissue</p><p>Beretta service pistols, the bad guys go down and stop trying to kill</p><p>them.ThisisAGoodThing.</p><p>Other loadings have emerged that have the same decisive stopping</p><p>powerin9mm.TheyincludeWinchester’s127-grainRangerseries+P+</p><p>at 1250 foot-seconds, and Speer’sGoldDot 124-grain+Pat the same</p><p>velocity.ChicagoPDswitchedtothe124-grain+Paftermultipledismal</p><p>stoppingfailureswith147-grainsubsonic,andNYPDhasusedthisround</p><p>with great effect for some fifteen years. Both are delighted with it.</p><p>OrlandocopsareissuedP226SIGsand127-grain+P+Winchester,and</p><p>manyshootingssince,they’vefoundittobeaseffectiveasanyhandgun</p><p>calibercouldbe.</p><p>Personally, I carry the9BPLE inoneparticularBeretta that shoots it</p><p>better than any other carry load, and Winchester Ranger 127 grain</p><p>+P+invirtuallyallmyother9mmpistols,longorshortbarrel.</p><p>Some folks have bought into the theory that the 147-grain subsonic</p><p>hasbeensowidelyrecommendedbyauthorityfigures,itmustbegood.</p><p>Thefactis,there’sanewgenerationof147-grainsubsonicthatispretty</p><p>darn good. It utilizes new-generation high-tech expanding bullet</p><p>technologyexpresslyengineeredtomakethebulletsopenupatvelocity</p><p>below the speed of sound. These include the CCI Speer Gold Dot, the</p><p>FederalHST,andtheWinchesterRanger.</p><p>Amarillo,TexasPolicereportexcellentresultswiththeirissueloadfor</p><p>thoseofficerswhochoose9mmpistols,the147-grainGoldDot.Amajor</p><p>department in the Pacific Northwest is now issuing Federal HST 147-</p><p>grain subsonic, and reports excellent results in numerous shootings.</p><p>LAPDandLACountySheriff’sDepartment find that fewerofficers and</p><p>deputies are opting for larger caliber guns bought out of their own</p><p>pockets,becausetheyarereassuredbyhowwellWinchesterRanger147-</p><p>grain9mmhasworkedfortheirbrothersandsistersinnumerouslineof</p><p>dutyshootings.</p><p>Still,thefasterbulletsseemtobethewaytogo.Thereismuchmore</p><p>corollary tissue damage around the wound channels with the faster</p><p>9mms,withmedicalexaminersdocumenting“macerated”flesh,that is,</p><p>tissuechoppedup likeburrito filling.Youdon’t see thatwith subsonic</p><p>rounds,eventhoughahigh-techmodern147grainmayactuallyexpand</p><p>very slightly more than a lighter 9mm bullet, simply because it has</p><p>“moreleadtospread.”</p><p>WinchesterRangerSXTisanexampleofmodern147-grain9mmsubsonichollowpointsthathave</p><p>proventhemselvessuitabletopoliceandcitizenself-defenseuse.Earlierversionsofthiscartridge</p><p>expandederraticallyandoftenover-penetrated.</p><p>Developedforthesnub-noserevolversofNYPD,SpeerGoldDot135-grain+Pisauthor’sloadof</p><p>choicein38Specialstoday.Thebulletswillnot“pull”fromrecoil insuper-lightrevolverslike</p><p>11-ounceS&W342,left,ashappenswith158-grainlead+Ps.</p><p>357Magnum</p><p>Onecartridgestandsaboveallothers inthiscaliber inthehistoryof</p><p>American law enforcement: the 125-grain semi-jacketed hollowpoint</p><p>loaded to a velocity in the 1400 foot-second range (from a 4-inch</p><p>barrel).Someexpertsarguewhetherthewide-mouthedFederalversion</p><p>of this load, or the scallop-jacket Remington version that originally</p><p>popularized the 125-grain 357 among cops, is the single best of the</p><p>breed.Itseemstobeanargumentakintohowmanyangelscandance</p><p>ontheheadofapin.TheWinchester125-grainMagnumloaddoesnot</p><p>have either of those features, but worked every bit as well for such</p><p>departmentsastheMaineStatePolicewhentheycarried357revolvers.</p><p>This round tends to create a wound channel that is nine to eleven</p><p>inchesdeep,butverywide,withtremendousdamagearoundtheradius</p><p>of thewound track. It also has a nastymuzzle blast and pretty sharp</p><p>recoil. The great combat shooting trainer and combat pistol champion</p><p>Ray Chapman used to say that the 125-grain Magnum load’s almost</p><p>magical stoppingpowerwas theonlyreasonto load357 insteadof38</p><p>Special +P ammunition into a fighting revolver chambered for the</p><p>Magnumround.Itendtoagree.</p><p>Affordably priced Classic line Federal 155-grain JHP has performed superbly in 40 S&W</p><p>shootingsbypoliceinthefield.Sometimesyoudon’tneedpremium-priceammoto“carrywith</p><p>confidence.”</p><p>This140-grain40S&WCor-BonDPX,usingall-copperBarnesXbullet,didasatisfactoryjobof</p><p>quicklykillingalargehog.</p><p>ThisSpeerGoldDot124grain+P9mmroundfrom4-inchGlock19instantlykilledalargehog,</p><p>didmassiveinternaldamage,andhadexpandedimpressivelybythetimeitstoppedatoptimum</p><p>penetration depth. This load has worked famously well for NYPD for several years in many</p><p>shootings.</p><p>Checkyourcarryammunitioncarefullybefore loading.Even thebestmanufacturerscanmake</p><p>mistakes.Thisvisiblydefective9mmballcartridgecameoutofafactorybox.</p><p>When departments such as City of Indianapolis Police Department,</p><p>and the state troopers ofKentucky and Indiana issued that load, there</p><p>wereliterallytonsofbadguysshotwith125-grainMagnums,andthey</p><p>tended to go down “right now.” Texas Department of Public Safety</p><p>personnelwereknowntorefertothisround’s“lightningbolteffect,”and</p><p>IknewKentuckytrooperswhocalledit“themagicbullet.”Eventhough</p><p>velocitydroppedconsiderablyfromthe2.5-inchbarrelsofIndianaState</p><p>Policedetectives’CombatMagnums,orfromthe3-inchMilitary&Police</p><p>357sofIndianapolisplainclothesmen,thebadguysseemtogodownjust</p><p>as fast.The125grain357Magnumsemi-jacketedhollowpointearned</p><p>itstitle,bestowedbyexpertEdSanow,as“KingoftheStreet,”andthis</p><p>remainstheMagnumloadofchoicetoday.Ihavenopersonalpreference</p><p>betweentheFederal,Remington,and</p><p>Winchesterbrands.</p><p>357SIG</p><p>Intheearly’90s,spurredbyTexastroopersandrangerswholovedthe</p><p>SIG45pistolbutmissed that “lightningbolt” stoppingpowereffectof</p><p>theirold357Magnumrevolvers,SIGworkedwithFederalCartridgeto</p><p>createthe357SIGround.Itresemblesa40S&Wneckeddownto9mm,</p><p>thoughtheactualconstructionissomewhatmorecomplicatedthanthat.</p><p>Differentcompaniesloadtodifferentvelocities,anddependingonpistol</p><p>andbarrel,factory125-grainJHPsaredelivering1325toover1400fps.</p><p>Relativebulletexpansion.Left,Winchester127-grainSXT9mm;centerand right,FederalHST</p><p>+P45bullets,each230-grains.Largerbulletshave“moreleadtospread,”butlighterbulletscan</p><p>beruntohighervelocities.Eachcreatesmassivewounds.</p><p>High-tech bullets that open rapidly but stay together seem to work</p><p>bestinthiscaliber.ThemostwidelyprovenistheGoldDot.FromTexas</p><p>toVirginia, ithasbeenkickingbuttwithnohorror storiesof stopping</p><p>failures.NewMexicoStateTroopersfellinlovewiththe357SIGafew</p><p>yearsago,andstayedwiththatcartridgewhentheyorderedtheirnew</p><p>S&W M&P auto pistols. North Carolina Highway Patrol gave up its</p><p>belovedBerettapistols aftermore than twentyyears to adopt theSIG-</p><p>Sauer,becausetheycouldgetitchamberedfor357SIG.</p><p>Gunfightsindicatethatthiscartridgeisparticularlygoodforshooting</p><p>throughautosheetmetalandwindowglass,yetdoesnotdeliveronthe</p><p>street the dangerous over-penetration that some gelatin tests had</p><p>indicated might happen. The spent, expanded bullets are normally</p><p>recoveredfromthefarsideofthecriminal’sbody,orfromhisclothing,</p><p>orfromthegroundwithinafewfeetbehindwherehewaslocatedwhen</p><p>shot.</p><p>Winchester Ranger in 125-grain 357 SIG has worked well in actual</p><p>shootings. Remington Bonded Golden Saber in 125-grain 357 SIG is</p><p>deliciously accurate, and performs superbly in FBI protocol gelatin</p><p>testing,thoughIhaven’trunacrossanyactualshootingswithityet.The</p><p>overwhelming majority of 357 SIG shootings by police have occurred</p><p>with the 125-grain Speer Gold Dot, and it has worked so well it is</p><p>unquestionablythemost“streetproven”loadinthiscaliber.</p><p>40Smith&Wesson</p><p>Introduced in 1990by S&WandWinchester, this 9mmLuger-length</p><p>10mmcartridgewasdesignedtosplitthedifferencebetweenthe9mm’s</p><p>higher round count in the gun, and the 45 auto’s larger caliber. It</p><p>succeeded hugely at that in police work, being chosen by more law</p><p>enforcement agencies today than any other. It has become popular</p><p>amongarmedcitizensforthatexactsamecompromisefactor.</p><p>Firstgenerationammo,a180-grainsubsonicwithaconventionalJHP</p><p>bullet, did better than expected, but still wasn’t spectacular. It pretty</p><p>much duplicates the ballistics of the old 38/40 blackpowder handgun</p><p>loadofthe19thcenturyfrontier.I’verunacrossalotofshoot-throughs</p><p>with 180-grain standard JHP,more thanwould be desirable for home</p><p>defense. Thosewho like the 180-grain subsonic’s ballisticswant to go</p><p>with high tech hollowpoints that openmore aggressively, penetrate a</p><p>littleless,andseemtoproduceamoredecisivestoppingeffect.The180-</p><p>grainGoldDothasearnedagoodreputationincitiessuchasBostonand</p><p>Milwaukee. The 180-grain Federal HST has produced some truly</p><p>impressive one-shot stops in the Pacific Northwest. The 180-grain</p><p>Winchester Ranger, particularly in its latest iteration, also works</p><p>distinctly better than a conventional copper-jacketed bullet of this</p><p>weightandvelocity.</p><p>It appears that the medium-weight bullets at higher velocities are</p><p>providing the best combination of penetration depth, expansion, and</p><p>overall decisiveness of ending encounters. Not the 165-grain</p><p>subsonic.40–theso-called“minus-P”–but165-grainJHPstravelingat</p><p>1140 or so feet per second, and 155-grainers at about 1200 fps. The</p><p>latterhasworkedverywell for theU.S.BorderPatrol,whichseems to</p><p>haveusedmostlytheRemingtonbrand.Othernon-high-tech.40caliber</p><p>JHPs in thisweight range that have delivered impressive performance</p><p>aretheFederalClassicandtheWinchesterSilvertip,both155-grainers.</p><p>Thesearealsolessexpensivethanthetop-linepremiumlines.</p><p>Whycarryspareammo?Somethingcouldmuckupthemagazineinyourgun.Ifthismuddy1911</p><p>9mmmagwasnotproperlycleaned,itwouldbeajamwaitingtohappenthenexttimeitwas</p><p>putinadefensivefirearm.</p><p>Withone17-roundmagazineinplace,twomoreinthebelt,andonemoreroundtoppedoffin</p><p>thechamber,thisGlock17puts52shotsatthewearer’simmediatedisposal.</p><p>High-techbulletsstilldowell inthisweightrange,though.The165-</p><p>grainWinchesterRangerandSpeerGoldDotseemtoleadthepackbya</p><p>narrowmargin.</p><p>45ACP</p><p>A standardpressure230-grain45ACPwith conventional JHPbullet</p><p>prettymuch duplicates the recoil and trajectory of GI hardball in the</p><p>sameweight,allowingcost-effectivetrainingoncetheuseriscertainthe</p><p>givenpistolwillfeedthehollowpointofchoice.The45’sbigbulletand</p><p>well-earned reputation for stopping power make it more forgiving of</p><p>less-than-optimum ammo choices, though you still want to stay away</p><p>fromfullmetaljacketbecauseofitstendencytogrosslyover-penetrate,</p><p>andtoricochet.</p><p>Inalow-pricedround,genericWinchester230-grainJHP“whitebox”</p><p>isa street-provenchoice. Itused tobe sold inboxesmarked“ForLaw</p><p>Enforcement Only,” if that tells you anything. For maximum effect,</p><p>though, a premium bullet is theway to go. Federal’s Hydra-Shok is a</p><p>well-proven man-stopper, long the “gold standard,” and still a good</p><p>choice today, but expansion characteristics (especially through</p><p>interveningsubstances)areenhancedinthenewHSTlinefromthesame</p><p>maker.CCIGoldDothasworkedwellfornumerousdepartmentsinboth</p><p>200-and 230-grain weights; Remington 230-grain Golden Saber has</p><p>worked quite well in the hands of certain units during the War on</p><p>Terror;andonestatepoliceagencyI’mawareofhasexperiencedastring</p><p>ofone-shotstopswiththeWinchesterSXT/Ranger230grain.Theseare</p><p>allstandardpressureloads.</p><p>Short barrel 45 ACPs are extremely popular among armed citizens</p><p>today.CCIoffersaGoldDotShortBarrel45load,especiallydesignedto</p><p>open to full effect at lower velocities. I haven’t run across any actual</p><p>shootingswithityet,butgeltestingindicatesthatithasmetitsdesign</p><p>parameters.</p><p>The +P 45 ACP has worked well in 185-, 200-, and 230-grain</p><p>loadings.The185-grain+Phasearnedagood“stoppingpower”repin</p><p>its conventional JHP loading from Remington and is also available in</p><p>Hydra-Shok and HST formats from Federal, and in Remington’s own</p><p>high-tech Golden Saber line. As a rule of thumb, the 185-grain +P</p><p>round will shoot pretty much to point of aim/point of impact out to</p><p>roughly100yardsinapistolsightedinfor230-grainstandardpressure</p><p>45ACPat25yards.Thatmakesitofspecialpurposeinteresttothosein</p><p>ruralareaswhocananticipateunusuallylongshotswiththeirpistols.</p><p>Kimber stainless 45, fully loaded and backed with two more eight-round ACT magazines of</p><p>Federal230-grainHydra-Shok,givesthewearera22-roundload-out.Elsewhereinthebook,read</p><p>thestoryofthemanwhogotintroubleforcarryingjustsuchanoutfit,butwasacquittedonce</p><p>rationaleforspareammowasexplainedtojury.</p><p>The45GAP,orGlockAutoPistol,isashortenedandstrengthened45</p><p>ACP round at standard pressure. Guns for it have been produced by</p><p>Glock, ParaOrdnance, and Springfield Armory. The state</p><p>troopers of</p><p>Georgia,NewYork,andPennsylvaniahaveadoptedtheGlockin45GAP</p><p>as standard,and shootingswith itusing200-grainSpeerGoldDotand</p><p>230-grainWinchesterRangerhavethusfarprovenittobetheabsolute</p><p>equalofthe45ACPwiththesamebullets.Lookforthisroundtogainin</p><p>popularityinyearstocome.</p><p>That concludes the feedback from the street,with the calibersmost</p><p>usedbycopsand, therefore,most thoroughlyevaluated in thewakeof</p><p>intensiveinvestigationofofficer-involvedshootings.</p><p>Atthetimeofthiswriting,it’sthebestthiswriterhastooffer.</p><p>Anotherreasontocarryspareammo.Topmostroundpositiononeachofthese1911magazines</p><p>hasbeencompromisedbyclearingextractionfailure/doublefeedmalfunction.Afreshmagazine</p><p>readytograbandreloadcanbealifesaverinsuchcircumstances.</p><p>THEDANGERSOFOVERPENETRATINGBULLETS</p><p>Onecritical ruleof firearms safety is that thebulletmust stay in its</p><p>intendedbackstop.Noresponsibleshooterwouldgotooneoftheolder</p><p>indoor shooting ranges that have a warning poster saying “LEAD</p><p>BULLETS ONLY, JACKETED BULLETS CAN PIERCE BACKSTOP” and</p><p>thenproceedtopumphard-jacketedbulletsintothatfrailbacking.</p><p>WinchesterRanger SXT127-grain+P+ammo inGlockmagazine, compared to hole through</p><p>muscletissuemadebysuchabulletonhog.Rememberthisthenexttimesomeonetellsyouthe</p><p>bulletcanonlydestroywhatitphysicallytouches.</p><p>Fullmetal jacket 9mm ammo like this has been known to be an impotentman-stopper for a</p><p>century, and it horrendously over-penetrates in living tissue. After many innocent over-</p><p>penetration casualties with it, NYPD dropped this ammo for hollowpoint, and solved the</p><p>problem.</p><p>On the street, the only safe backstop for the defensive handgun’s</p><p>bulletsisthebodyoftheoffender.Therefore,itisnotexactlyresponsible</p><p>to be firing bullets that are likely to shoot through and through the</p><p>assailant.Thisisoneofthemainreasonslawenforcementinitsvirtual</p><p>entirety has gone to expanding bullet handgun ammunition in this</p><p>country.Itwasalessonwritteninblood.</p><p>SevenCasesHighlighttheReality</p><p>In 1999, New York City became almost the last major police</p><p>departmenttoadopthollowpointammunition.Theydidsointheface</p><p>of huge, long-term opposition based on political correctness and the</p><p>erroneousperceptionofhollowpointsaswicked“dum-dumbullets.”One</p><p>reasontheywereabletopassitwasthatthecityfathershadbeenmade</p><p>to realize how much danger the supposedly “humane, Geneva</p><p>Convention-approved” ammunition previously used presented to</p><p>innocent bystanders and police officers when the duty weapons were</p><p>firedinself-defenseordefenseofothersbytheofficers.</p><p>Fromtheearly ’90sadoptionof16-shot9mmpistols(Glock19,SIG-</p><p>SAUER P226 DAO, and Smith & Wesson Model 5946) through 1999,</p><p>NYPD issueda fullmetal jacket“hardball” round,comprisinga round-</p><p>nose115grainbulletinthemid-1100fpsvelocityrange.TheNewYork</p><p>Timesexposedthefollowingfactsinitsstartlingreportonthematter:</p><p>Copshavelongunderstoodthathollowpointammoissaferforallconcerned.Thisis“FBIload,”</p><p>158-grain+P lead semi-wadcutter hollow point, in a 4-inchModel 15 S&W service revolver.</p><p>Thiswasthebulletthat“made”the38Specialintoafightinghandgunintheearly1970s,andis</p><p>stillagoodchoiceexceptinultra-lightsnubbies.</p><p>Even the U.S. military is looking at switching from ball ammo to expanding bullets. This is</p><p>Federal’s“LimitedPenetrationFMJ”…</p><p>…andcausingbullettoexpandto50-caliberorbetter.</p><p>“According to statistics released by the department, 15 innocent</p><p>bystanderswerestruckbypoliceofficersusingfullmetal jacketbullets</p><p>during1995and1996,thepolicesaid.Eightwerehitdirectly,fivewere</p><p>hitbybulletsthathadpassedthroughotherpeopleandtwowerehitby</p><p>bulletsthathadpassedthroughobjects,”statedtheTimes.</p><p>In other words, in rough numbers, 53 percent of these tragic</p><p>occurrences were apparently missed shots, while 33 percent were</p><p>“shoot-throughs”of violent felony suspects.Countingbullets thatwent</p><p>throughobjectstohitpresumablyunseeninnocentvictims(13percent),</p><p>that tellsus thatroughly46percentof these innocentbystanderswere</p><p>shotbyover-penetratingbulletsthat“piercedtheirbackstops.”Let’scall</p><p>thosevictimsCasesOneThroughSeven.</p><p>17OfficersShotDueto</p><p>Over-Penetration</p><p>The Times continued, “In that same period, 44 police officers were</p><p>struckbygunfireusingtheoldammunition:21werehitdirectly,2were</p><p>struck by bullets that ricocheted and 17 were struck by bullets that</p><p>passed through other people.” In round numbers, 52 percent of those</p><p>“friendlyfire”casualtieswerehitbybulletsthatapparentlymissedtheir</p><p>intendedtargets.42percentpassedthroughthebodiesof the intended</p><p>targetsafterthebulletsstruckthepeopletheywereaimedat.Let’stally</p><p>thosevictimsofover-penetrationasCasesEightthroughTwenty-Four.</p><p>Why would officers hit more of their own brethren than “civilian”</p><p>bystandersinthisfashion?Forthesimplereasonthatwhilevictimsand</p><p>potential innocent bystanders tend to flee danger scenes, the cops are</p><p>conditioned to “ride to the sound of the guns.” In a close-quarters</p><p>situationwhereaviolentcriminalisattemptingtoharmorevenmurder</p><p>anotherofficer,copstrytograbhimorstophimorevenmaneuverinto</p><p>apositionfromwhichtoshoothim.Alltheseactionscanputtheminthe</p><p>lineoffireofbrotherofficers.</p><p>Tunnelvisionoccursinamajorityoflife-threateningencounters.This</p><p>is theperceptualphenomenonofbeingable to seeonly the threatand</p><p>beingunabletocognitivelyrecognizeotherpeopleorobjectsthatmight</p><p>beinthelineoffire.Moreover,thebodyoftheoffendermaysimplyblock</p><p>theshooter’sviewofthebrotherofficerwhoistryingtoapprehendorrestrain</p><p>theattackerfrombehind. Inthesesituations,a“shoot-through”ishighly</p><p>likelytokillorcrippleoneoftheGoodGuysandGals.</p><p>What does this have to do with private citizens’ use of CCW</p><p>handguns?Only this:Where the cops jump in toprotect theirbrotherand</p><p>sisterofficers,bravecitizensmaystepintoprotecttheiractualbrothersand</p><p>sisters,husbandsandwives,sonsanddaughters,orfathersandmothers.Now</p><p>itisyourlovedoneswhoarebehindtheoffender–unseenbyyou–whenyou</p><p>dischargeyourCCWweapon.</p><p>Those115-grainjacketedball9mmroundswillpiercemorethantwo</p><p>feet ofmuscle tissue simulating ballistic gelatin. Sowill 230-grain full</p><p>metal jacket 45 hardball. By contrast, the depth of the average adult</p><p>malethoraxisprobablynomorethanteninches,fromfrontofchestto</p><p>back.Nor is it solidmuscle: the spongy tissueand largeairvolumeof</p><p>thehumanlungofferlittleresistancetoabullet.It’snotjustaboutNew</p><p>YorkCityand9mms.InArizonasomeyearsago,apeaceofficerfiredhis</p><p>45serviceautomaticatalargemaleoffenderrushinghimwithaknife.</p><p>He couldn’t see that a brother officer was running up behind the</p><p>offender to grab and restrain him.His gunfire dropped the offender…</p><p>and passed through his body with enough force to deeply pierce the</p><p>abdomenofthesecondcop,whohadbeentryingtorescuetheonewho</p><p>fired. That wounded officer almost died from those injuries, inflicted</p><p>unintentionally by shoot-through with 230-grain full metal jacket 45</p><p>ACP.CallthatincidentCaseTwenty-Five.</p><p>Many years ago in Los Angeles, an Aryan Brotherhood thug took</p><p>severalpeoplehostageinanoffice.Hedemandedanescapevehicleand</p><p>threatened</p><p>tostartshootinghostagesifhedidn’tgetone.Avehiclewas</p><p>provided, and he got into the car with the victims. At this point, the</p><p>LAPDSWATteamlaunchedsmoke,andtwomembersoftheteamwhom</p><p>Ihappenedtoknowmovedforwardthroughthegraycloud,theirissue</p><p>Colt45automaticsupandready.Whentheperpetratorreachedforhis</p><p>pistol, thecopsopenedfire,usingdepartment-issue230-grainhardball.</p><p>They fired four shots between them, and killed the offender before he</p><p>couldlaunchasinglebulletofhisown.Autopsyshowedanyofthefour</p><p>hitswouldhavebeenquickly fatal.However,onlyoneof thosebullets</p><p>stayedintheoffender’sbody.Oneofthethreeexitingslugsstruckoneof</p><p>the hostages. Fortunately, the wound was not in a life-threatening</p><p>location.LAPDquicklyswitchedtohollowpoints,whichiswhattheyuse</p><p>today.Lessonlearned.CallitCaseTwenty-Six.</p><p>Federal 158-grain lead hollowpoint+P, fired from 2-inch S&W into chest of hog. The bullet</p><p>killedquickly,expandedtoapproximately50-caliber.</p><p>BallStopsPoorly</p><p>Particularlyinthesmallcalibers,ballammunitionisinfamousforits</p><p>poorstoppingpower.WhentheIllinoisStatePoliceissuedballfortheir</p><p>9mmS&Wpistols from1967 through the early 1970s, theirOrdnance</p><p>Sectiontoldme,theyneverhadasingleone-shotstoponanarmedfelon</p><p>unless he was hit in the brain or spinal cord. This led the ISP on an</p><p>odyssey in search of more effective ammo, which culminated in the</p><p>famouslyeffective“IllinoisStatePoliceload,”a115-grainjacketed9mm</p><p>hollowpoint at +P+ pressure and 1300 fps velocity. Today, Illinois</p><p>troopers carry 180-grain high-tech hollowpoint in 40 S&W caliber</p><p>servicepistols.</p><p>In Case Twenty-Seven, NYPD’s last high-profile shooting incident</p><p>with9mmball ammo, fourplainclothesofficers engagedayoungman</p><p>namedAmadouDiallowhenhe turnedon thempulling anobject that</p><p>appeared, in the poor light, to be a small automatic pistol. All four</p><p>opened fire,andsomefiveseconds later theyhad firedsome41shots.</p><p>NineteenofthosebulletsstruckDiallobeforehewentdownanddropped</p><p>theobjecthewasholding,whichturnedouttobeablacknylonwallet.</p><p>Sixteen of the nineteen bullets had over-penetrated. Diallo died of his</p><p>wounds.Afteralongandarduoustrial,allfourofficerswereacquitted.</p><p>Had these officers been issued the department’s new 124-grain Speer</p><p>GoldDot+Phollowpointsintime,thereisanexcellentchancethathe</p><p>would have gone down much sooner, perhaps with as little as one</p><p>gunshotwound, givingDiallo a far better chance of survival.No such</p><p>horrorstorieshavehappenedonNYPDsincethehollowpointammohas</p><p>beengeneralissue.</p><p>MicroKahr9mmcomeswithsparemagazinewithfingerextensionthatholdssevenrounds,not</p><p>countingeighthinchamber.Withthiskindofcartridgecapacity,carryingspareammoisallthe</p><p>moreimportant.</p><p>Anotherreasonforcarryingspareammoisthefactthattoday’ssmallcarrygunsdon’tcarrythat</p><p>manyrounds“onboard.”S&WJ-frame,left,holds538Specialcartridges,andKahrMK9atright</p><p>holds79mms.</p><p>ForensicConcerns</p><p>When a bullet goes through and through a human body, it is not</p><p>alwayspossibletocorrectlydetermineentryfromexit,particularlyifthe</p><p>gunshot victim lives long enough for the healing process to begin.</p><p>Consider Case Twenty-Eight, in which the O.J. Simpson lawyers</p><p>defending him against charges of murdering his wife and her young</p><p>male acquaintance laid plans to impeach one of the state’s medical</p><p>examiners bybringingup a previous case inwhichhehadmistakenly</p><p>diagnosed a through and through gunshot wound, confusing back-to-</p><p>frontandfront-to-back.</p><p>In late 2007, this writer was involved in a murder case in</p><p>Massachusetts where it was alleged that the defendant had shot his</p><p>opponent in the back of the neck, with the bullet exiting his face,</p><p>implyingthathewasinnodangerandthereforecouldnothaveactedin</p><p>self-defense.ThedeathweaponwasaBerettaModel96Fpistol,andthe</p><p>deathbulletwasa180-grainroundoffullmetaljacketUMC40-caliber</p><p>practice ammunition. In fact, the bullet had entered the face of the</p><p>attackingman,andcoursedrearwardanddownwardbeforeexitingthe</p><p>neck. However, the assailant lived for a week before he succumbed.</p><p>During that time,hewas lying supine in ahospital bedwithhis body</p><p>weightpressingtheexitholedownagainstdressingsandbedclothesas</p><p>his body worked to heal the injury. This gave the wound a puckered</p><p>appearanceconsistentwithanentrywound.At the same time,doctors</p><p>and nurses were treating the open wound in the face, debriding it to</p><p>prevent necrosis, so by the time he finally died, thatwoundhad been</p><p>crateredoutwardandmimickedanexitinsteadofanentry.Themedical</p><p>examinerhad,apparentlyforthesereasons,determinedafterdeaththat</p><p>entrywas in thebackandexitwas in the front.Notuntil trial,aftera</p><p>three-yearordeal,didtreatingphysiciansfamiliarwithgunshotwounds</p><p>testify that when the “victim” came in, they diagnosed the wound as</p><p>frontentry/rearexit.Defenseexpertsconcurred,andthejuryacquitted,</p><p>as they should have. But Case Twenty-Nine probably wouldn’t have</p><p>gone to trial at all if the defendant had loaded his gun with proper</p><p>hollowpoints,whichalmostcertainlywouldhaveleftthemushroomed</p><p>bullet embedded inside the back of the neck and shown beyond a</p><p>shadowofadoubtthattheattackerwasinfactshotfromthefront.</p><p>Yearsbefore,intheTampaarea,Ihadbeeninvolvedinasimilarcase</p><p>that showedeven thewronghollowpointcanover-penetrateandcause</p><p>the same confusion. InCaseThirty, a young undercover narc became</p><p>involvedinastrugglewithanarmeddopedealerwhotriedtokillhim.</p><p>The copwas able to turn the suspect’s owngunonhim, a snub-nosed</p><p>ColtLawman357Magnumrevolverloadedwith158-grainsemi-jacketed</p><p>Magnum hollow points, which have a history of frequently over-</p><p>penetrating.Atverycloserange,thehighvelocitybulletcausedalarge,</p><p>“explosivewoundof entry” in the soft tissuesof the throat, andbeing</p><p>largelyspentwhenitexitedthebackoftheneck,leftasmallerwoundat</p><p>thatpoint.Onceagain,thesuspectlivedformanydays,lyingsupineand</p><p>undergoing treatment. After he died, the state’s pathologist concluded</p><p>thatthesmallwoundinthebackoftheneckmusthavebeentheentry,</p><p>andthelargeroneinfrontmusthavebeentheexit,leadingtothetheory</p><p>thathehadbeen“shot in thebackof theneck inapoliceexecution.”</p><p>Fortunately,thepathologisthadthepresenceofmindtosectionoutthe</p><p>woundtrackandpreservethefleshinFormalin,anditwassenttothe</p><p>SouthwestInstituteofPathologyfordeeperexamination.There,gunshot</p><p>residue embedded in the throat area of the wound track conclusively</p><p>proved the bullet had come in from the front, exonerating the</p><p>wrongfullyaccusedyoungofficer.But if thedistancehadbeenanother</p><p>couple of feet apart at the time the shot was fired, that critical</p><p>exculpatoryevidencewouldnothavebeenthere.Thisisanotherreason</p><p>whyit’sbesttouseabulletdesignedtostayinsidethehumanbody.</p><p>IrresponsibleAttitudes</p><p>Some people either just don’t get it, or have a totally irresponsible</p><p>attitude. A popular Internet gun forum recently had a thread in its</p><p>Caliber Corner section titled, “Why is over-penetration bad?” Most of</p><p>those who posted had a pretty good grasp on the issue. One or two</p><p>responsible, gun-wise participants even posted a link to theNew</p><p>York</p><p>Timesstoryandstatisticsabove.</p><p>Yet, even after thatwas posted, one participantwrote (the caps are</p><p>his):“IhaveNEVERreadANYarticleorreportaddressingIDENTIFIED</p><p>andactuallyoccurringsecondaryvictims.”Now,youcanputthatdown</p><p>to simple ignorance, or haste in posting an opinion in a discussion he</p><p>hadnotreadandbroughthimselfuptospeedwith.Buthowwouldyou</p><p>explainthefollowing?</p><p>Onefellowpostedinthesamediscussionthread,“…andshouldover-</p><p>penetration occur, oh well. The chances of it hitting someone else is</p><p>practicallynon-existent.”</p><p>Well, let’s do themath. 46 percent ofwounded innocent bystanders</p><p>being hit by bullets that went through offenders’ bodies or through</p><p>objectsthathopefullyshouldhaveactedasbackstops,isnot“practically</p><p>non-existent”byanystretchoftheimagination.42percentofcopsshot</p><p>byfriendlyfiretakingbulletsthatpassedthroughthefelonysuspectfirst</p><p>are not “practically non-existent.” On the contrary, they are hugely</p><p>significant.</p><p>Inthatsamethread,onepostercallouslysaid,“It’stoobadaboutthe</p><p>bystanders.Icallitgenepoolcleansing.”</p><p>Idon’tthinkanycommentisnecessaryonthatone.</p><p>Never forget thatwe live ina timewhenpolicedetectivesaresmart</p><p>enoughtogetawarranttoseizethecomputersofthosetheyinvestigate.</p><p>Technologyoriginallydevelopedtotrackpornographers,childmolesters,</p><p>andwhite collar criminals will be applied to determinewhat Internet</p><p>boardsyoumayhavepostedto.Whenstatementslike“It’stoobadabout</p><p>thebystanders.Icallitgenepoolcleansing,”arediscoveredandtracked</p><p>to the suspect, his conviction for something from attempted murder</p><p>upwardisalmostaslam-dunk.</p><p>Ignorancewon’tsaveyou.You’veheardandreadpeoplesaythatover-</p><p>penetrationisirrelevantbecausemissedshotsareamorelikelydanger.</p><p>First,adefensethatsaysinessence,“Youmustforgiveme thismistake</p><p>becauseIfiguredI’dprobablymakeamuchworsemistake”isafrailreed</p><p>that will not withstand the gale-force winds of cross-examination.</p><p>Second, 53 percent misses versus 46 percent shoot-throughs in the</p><p>unintentionalbystandershootings inNewYorkhardlymakes the latter</p><p>“irrelevant.” 52% misses versus 42 percent shoot-throughs in the</p><p>friendly fire shootings of cops in the same study obviously shows that</p><p>theover-penetratingbulletisnotan“irrelevant”danger.</p><p>ThenexttimesomeInternetninjaadvisesyoutoloadballammofor</p><p>home or public defense, think of the above thirty cases. They are</p><p>documentedreality.Andtheyarenottheonlysuchcases.</p><p>Collectiverealityhasgivenusamessage,anditisthis:Savetheover-</p><p>penetrating“hardball”forrangepractice.Loadyourconcealedcarryor</p><p>home defense handgun with ammunition designed, and proven to be</p><p>likely, to stay inside thebodyof theoffenderwho forcesyou to shoot</p><p>him.It’stheresponsiblethingtodo.</p><p>Thepracticeofcarryingspareammunitionisalong-standingone.This1960svintageColtAgent</p><p>six-shot38revolverwascarriedfordecadesbynow-retiredChicagocopJamesMoore.Bianchi</p><p>“spillpouch”withsixspareroundsof38Specialwascommonpracticetocarryevenoffdutyby</p><p>Chicagocoppersoftheday.</p><p>T</p><p>Chapter8</p><p>CONCEALEDCARRYANDSPAREAMMO</p><p>Youneedmorethanjustaguntodealwiththeentireself-defensespectrum.Here’stheKubotan-</p><p>like DeJammer keychain the author developed decades ago, and pepper spray. They are two</p><p>usefuloptionsfordifferentintermediatedefenseneeds.</p><p>he extra space in this second edition of Gun Digest Book of</p><p>Concealed Carry allows me to get into something I barely had</p><p>room to touch on in the first edition: concealed carry of spare</p><p>ammunition.</p><p>An amazing number of people who carry loaded guns carry them</p><p>withouta reload. I’mnotgoing todumpon themhere—inmy(much)</p><p>youngerdays,Iusedtobeamongtheirnumber.Hell,Ihadagun,didn’t</p><p>I?AndIwasagoodshot,right?HowmuchammowasIlikelytoneed,</p><p>anyway?</p><p>Theyearstaughtmethefallacyofthosearguments,aswellasothers</p><p>that I hear from folks in gun discussions, particularly those on the</p><p>Internet.Thereseemstobeastrange“Interwebz”ethosthatsays,“Ifyou</p><p>carrymore (ormorepowerful) guns andammo than I, youmust be a</p><p>paranoidmallninja…andifyoucarry less,youmustbeasheeple.” I</p><p>dunnoabout that. Let’s look at someof the excusesnot to carry extra</p><p>ammunition.</p><p>OddsareI’mnotgonnahavetofirethisthingatall,letalonerun</p><p>itdryandstillbeinagunfight.</p><p>Trueenough.Trouble is,wedon’tcarrygunsbecauseof theoddsof</p><p>needing one, ormost of uswouldn’t carry at all.We carry because if,</p><p>against the odds,wedo need one and don’t have it, the cost of being</p><p>unable to saveourown lifeand the livesof thosewhocountonus to</p><p>protectthemissocatastrophicastobesimplyunacceptable.Ifyouare</p><p>intheuncommonsituationwhereyourunthegundryandthedangeris</p><p>still present, you’re back to not having a loaded gun when you</p><p>desperatelyneedone.</p><p>IfIneedmorethanthefiveshotsinmysnub-nose38,Icouldn’t</p><p>havewonthefightwithmore.</p><p>No. Ifyouhaven’twonthe fightwith fiveshots,all itmeans is,you</p><p>needmore than five shots to win the fight. In the 1970s, the Illinois</p><p>State Police gave me free rein to poll their troopers and study their</p><p>gunfights, back when they were the only troopers in the country</p><p>carrying autoloading pistols. I was able to identify 13 troopers who</p><p>almost certainly survived because they had autoloaders (single-stack</p><p>9mm S&W Model 39s) instead of the six-shot revolvers they carried</p><p>before.Nine of thosewere survivors of “snatch the cop’s gun and kill</p><p>himwithit”assaults,andprevailedwhentheyfeltthemselveslosingthe</p><p>struggleforthepistoleitherbecausethebadguycouldn’tgetthegunoff</p><p>safe,orbecausethetrooperhadpressedthemagazinereleasebuttonand</p><p>activated the disconnector safety that kept the chambered round from</p><p>firing.Moregermanetothetopicathand,however,fouroftheseofficers</p><p>survived because they hadmore firepower remainingwhen theywent</p><p>pastfiveorsixshots.TrooperKenKaas,withtheseventhshotfromhis</p><p>9mm,droppedashotgun-wieldingattackerwhowasrushinghim.(The</p><p>gunman survived and reportedly told his attorney that he had been</p><p>countingandwassurethecophadfired“allsix”andemptiedhisservice</p><p>revolverwhentheperpbrokecoverandchargedthetrooper;hedidn’t</p><p>know Illinois trooperscarried semi-automaticpistols.)SargentGlessner</p><p>Davisshotandkilledashotgun-armedmurdererwitheithertheseventh</p><p>or the eighth shot in his department issue Model 39. Troopers Bob</p><p>KolowskiandLloydBurchetteshotitoutwithahomicidaloutlawbiker</p><p>andboth emptied their9mms,withKolowski reloadingand sustaining</p><p>fire before the gunman fell dying. They had fired 20-some rounds</p><p>between themandhit him13 timesbeforehewasunable to continue</p><p>thefight.IllinoistroopersinuniformtodaycarryGlock22pistolsloaded</p><p>withsixteen40-caliberhollowpointsandbackedupwithtwomore15-</p><p>roundmagazinesontheirdutybelts.</p><p>Softbodyarmorcoststhepriceofagoodgun,isconcealable,anddefeatstheotherguy’sgunat</p><p>hismostlikelypointofaim.</p><p>Butthoseguysareallcops!I’mnotacop!</p><p>Doesn’tmatter. You’re facing the same scumbags they face. I’ve run</p><p>across the occasional case where the private citizen has run dry,</p><p>reloaded, and prevailed. I’ve also run into cases where they emptied</p><p>theirgunandthedangerwasstillthere.Agoodfriendofmine,Richard</p><p>Davis,</p><p>shot it outwith threearmed robbery suspects inaDetroit alley</p><p>manyyearsago.Whenthelastroundinhissix-shotrevolverwentoff,he</p><p>hadseverelywoundedoneopponent, seriouslywoundedasecond,and</p><p>slightlywoundedathird.Withnospareammohehadnothingtodobut</p><p>run,atwhich timeoneof theperps shothim twice.He survived—and</p><p>learnedtocarrypowerfulsemi-automaticpistolswithspareammunition.</p><p>Consider two famous armed citizen cases on opposite sides of the</p><p>nation.LanceThomas,awatchrepairmaninLosAngeles,wasinvolved</p><p>in four gunfights against a total of 11 perpetrators. Hewon them all,</p><p>shooting sixmen and killing five of them. He evolved the practice of</p><p>havingmultiplegunsalwayswithinreachandsimplygrabbinganother</p><p>iftheonehewasholdingranempty.Inoneshootout,heemptiedthree</p><p>38 and 357 revolvers. In Richmond,Virginia, two brotherswho ran a</p><p>jewelrystorefilledtheshopwith38sbehindthecounter,soonewould</p><p>beinreachofalmostanyemployeeshouldtherebearobbery.Theday</p><p>camewhen theywere hit by two old proswho belonged to theDixie</p><p>Mafia,onewieldinga191145autoandtheotherasawed-offshotgun.</p><p>Intheblazinggunbattlethatfollowed,onebrotherhadneedtofireboth</p><p>a357MagnumrevolverandaRemington87012-gaugepumpshotgun,</p><p>whiletheotherwentthroughseveralRossi38Specialrevolvers,before</p><p>thetwogunmenweredeadonthefloor.(Oneofthestoreemployeesgot</p><p>alickinwithaRuger44Magnum,too.)Sufficeittosay,ifthesegood</p><p>armedcitizenshadgonewithanattitudeof“IfIcan’tdoitwithfiveor</p><p>six shots, I can’t do it at all,” they—and innocent customers an d/or</p><p>employees—wouldalmostcertainlybedeadnow.</p><p>Butthoseguyshadgunsallovertheplacetheycouldreach.I’m</p><p>anarmedcitizen,outandabout—Ican’tdowhattheydid.</p><p>No.Andifthey’dhadjusthadonegunwithnospareammunitionthey</p><p>couldn’thave,either.WhichiswhyI’vecometorecommendthatifyou</p><p>carryagun, it’sanawfullygoodideatocarryspareammunitionfor it.</p><p>Whydoyousupposeeveryuniformedstreetcopyouseehasthatammo</p><p>pouch on the duty belt? Remember, you’re preparing yourself to face,</p><p>alone, the exact same violent criminals for which society has armed</p><p>thosepoliceofficersinanticipationoffacing.Thatequipagecomesfrom</p><p>a long institutional history of gunfights with criminals, a history well</p><p>understoodbymodernpolice.Thelawfullyarmedcitizencanlearnfrom</p><p>it.</p><p>I carry an 18-shot auto pistol, so I don’t have to worry about</p><p>runningoutofammunition.</p><p>While that’sdebatable,youdohave toworryaboutyourautopistol</p><p>malfunctioning. It happens to the best of them, and any gunsmith or</p><p>armorer will tell you that assuming you’re using good quality</p><p>ammunition,thesinglemostcommoncauseofanautoloader’sstoppage</p><p>issomethinggoingwrongwiththemagazine.Clearingthestoppageand</p><p>getting back to fighting may require replacing the defective or</p><p>compromisedmagazinewithafreshone.Itwouldbenicetohavethat</p><p>instantlyaccessibleonyourperson,insteadofhomeinyourgunsafeor</p><p>ablockawayinyourvehicle’sglovebox.</p><p>Anotherpredictableoccurrenceisthestruggleforthegun.Asnotedin</p><p>my study of Illinois Troopers with Smith &WessonModel 39 pistols,</p><p>that one department alone had several “saves,” when the trooper</p><p>deliberately “killed the gun” by pressing the mag release during the</p><p>struggle.Supposeyou’vedone that successfullyand retainedcontrolof</p><p>thegun—andthebadguynowpullsaknife.Withyourmagazineloston</p><p>thegroundinthedark,youhave,atbest,asingle-shotpistolwithwhich</p><p>todefendyourself, andnoteven that ifyourgunhas thedisconnector</p><p>safety feature. Because their departments have had saves in this</p><p>circumstance, I can point out police agencies from California to New</p><p>Hampshirethatinsistonthisfeatureintheirservicepistols.Departments</p><p>soequippedandtrainedusuallyalsomandatethattheirpersonnelcarry</p><p>at least one spare magazine on plainclothes duty and two when on</p><p>uniformed patrol, in part so that, in such a situation, they can slap a</p><p>freshmagazineintothedutypistoland“bringitbacktolife.”</p><p>Theothersideofthisisthatinthestruggleforthegun,theoffending</p><p>hands on the pistol may accidentally release themagazine.When the</p><p>good guy regains control of the pistol, itwould be awfully good if he</p><p>couldgetafreshmagintothegunand“makeitwhole”again.</p><p>Well,ifmyfiveshotsorsixshotsorwhatevershotsaren’tenough</p><p>andI’moutofammo,I’lljustrunaway.</p><p>Anamusing suggestion, but if you couldhave runaway,whydidn’t</p><p>you do so before? The very fact that you’re in a situation that has</p><p>required you to empty a gun at one or more human beings probably</p><p>indicates that if you turn and run, you’ll just get a few bullets in the</p><p>back.Prettytoughtooutrunthose.</p><p>TheSnagMag,developedbyacareerplainclotheslawman,yieldsaspareGlockmagazinefroma</p><p>trouserpocket.</p><p>ConcealingSpareAmmunition</p><p>Let’s lookseparatelyat the twoprimary typesofdefensivehandgun.</p><p>One is the ubiquitous semi-automatic pistol. The other is the double-</p><p>action revolver, which, for very good reasons, refuses to die. Their</p><p>“ammo feeders” are differently shaped and differently inserted, hence</p><p>theneedtocarrythemdifferently.</p><p>Autoloaders</p><p>The sparemagazine is relatively flat and, inmy experience, is best</p><p>carried in a belt pouch on the side of the body opposite the holster.</p><p>Vertical carry is best for concealment and fastest for access, and</p><p>reloading will be more positive if each magazine is carried with the</p><p>bulletnosesforward.Forconcealedcarry,Idon’tseeanyneedatallfor</p><p>aflappedmagpouch.Itslowsdownaccess,andtheextraflapofleather</p><p>ornylonaddsunnecessarybulkandbulge. Justmake sureyouhavea</p><p>good, friction-tight fit and you’ll have all the security you need, with</p><p>maximumspeedandaccess.</p><p>Mostofuscarrythemagpouchjustbehindthelefthipifwe’reright-</p><p>handed,viceversaifwe’resouthpaws.Withanopen-frontconcealment</p><p>garment,suchasavestorasportcoatoranunbuttonedsportshirt,this</p><p>minimizesthelikelihoodofthemagazinebecomingvisible.Too,weight</p><p>on the corresponding point at the opposite side of the body seems to</p><p>“balance” theweight of the holstered pistol and increase overall body</p><p>comfortonceyouareusedtothepresenceoftheobject.</p><p>Here’stheSnagMagwithafull-lengthGlockmagazine,seenfromtheoutside.</p><p>The SnagMag again, and from the side that faces thewearer’s legwhen it’sworn in the side</p><p>trouserpocket.</p><p>Thisprinciple isone thing thatmadeRichardGallagher’s conceptof</p><p>theOriginalJackassShoulderSystem,theforerunnerofhisGalcobrand,</p><p>sofamouslypopularandsowidelyimitated.Theweightofthegunhung</p><p>suspended in one armpit, with the weight of the twomagazines (and</p><p>perhapsalsohandcuffs),undertheother.Anotheradvantage,ofcourse,</p><p>wasthattheuser’scriticalgearwasallononeharnessthathecouldbe</p><p>quicklythrowonifadangercalltookhimfromtheConditionWhiteof</p><p>totalrelaxationtothebrightercolorsof“suddencalltoarms.”</p><p>Anumberof thepeoplehavegonewith thecurrentlypopularAIWB</p><p>(appendix/inside-the-waistband)carry,whichplacestheholsteredpistol</p><p>onthedominant-handsideoftheirnavel.Thosewhocarrythepistollike</p><p>thiswilloftenplacethesparemagazinepouchatacorrespondingpoint</p><p>ontheothersideofthenavel.Again,it’samatterof“balance,”andalso</p><p>keysinalittlebitwiththehandsreachingtocorresponding</p><p>partsofthe</p><p>body during crisis, assuming that practice and training have drilled in</p><p>thegameplanwell.</p><p>Some people carry their spare magazines in their pockets. I did so</p><p>whenIwasveryyounganddiscoveredthatagenericeyeglasscasewith</p><p>pocket clip that cost 29 cents at Woolworth’s would hold a 1911</p><p>magazine in a trouser pocket without revealing its shape (though I</p><p>neededa folded-upmatchbookcoveror two in thebottomof it toget</p><p>themagazineuphighenoughinthepouchthatIcouldretrieveit).By</p><p>the time I hit my twenties, though, decent, concealable magazine</p><p>poucheswereavailableandIcouldaffordtobuythem.</p><p>(topleft)Atrest,theSnagMaglookslikeapocketknife…</p><p>(left)…andthemagazineiswithdrawnthus.</p><p>(above)Here’sanotherviewoftheSnagMagmagazinecarrier,incasualpants.</p><p>There are a fewpocketmagazine carriers available, but none are as</p><p>fasttoaccessassimplyreachingunderthesamegarmentthatconcealed</p><p>thepistol and snatchingoneout of abelt-mountedpouch. Inordinary</p><p>clothing,amagazinewillmakeacoatpocketorcardigansweaterpocket</p><p>sagabit.Manydedicatedgunconcealmentvestshaveelasticpocketsto</p><p>holdmagazinesupright.Theyconceal the shapewell,but they tend to</p><p>sag a bit. If the elastic is tight, the garment tends to rise with the</p><p>magazine you’re pulling on, and this also prevents it from coming</p><p>cleanlyawayfromthepocketinsomeiterations.</p><p>This writer wears BDU pants as default casual wear, and when</p><p>carryingamaginapocketprefersthededicated“magazinepocket,”also</p><p>knownas“cellphonepocket,”onthenon-dominanthandside.Withjust</p><p>themagazine in there, it tends to shift around a little bit.However, I</p><p>discoveredthatifIputacompact,high-intensityflashlightwithapocket</p><p>clipinthefrontofthatpocket/pouchandthepistolmagazinebehindit,</p><p>itconcealslikeacharmandtheflashlightinfrontholdsthemagazinein</p><p>averticalposition thatdoesnot shift appreciably.TheBDU-typepants</p><p>normally have a Velcro-closing pocket flap. I close down the rear</p><p>portion,whichhides themagazineperfectly.One endof the flashlight</p><p>protrudes visibly upward, and that’s fine; it’s only a flashlight and</p><p>doesn’t need to be concealed. I find that the flashlight goes unnoticed</p><p>fromsupermarketstobankstoairports.</p><p>The“BabyGlock”isseenasahideoutorbackupgun,buthere’sMikeRossshowingtheformthat</p><p>haswonmultipleGlockmatchesforhimwithhislittleG269mm.</p><p>MikeRosshaswonmultiplematchesagainst full sizeGlockswithhis“baby”Glock26,shown</p><p>here.Notethatitisloadedwithfull-length17-roundGlock17magazine.</p><p>When concealment is the highest priority and thewearer is dressed</p><p>lightly, aswith anun-tuckedpolo shirt or t-shirt (one size larger than</p><p>normal, remember, with straight drape instead of waist taper!), an</p><p>inside-the-waistband magazine carrier will be just as much more</p><p>concealableasan inside-the-waistbandgunholster.Ofcourse,youstill</p><p>havetorememberthatifthepantswereboughttofitjustyou,nowthe</p><p>waistbandhas toencompass justyouandaholsteredgun,anda spare</p><p>magazineanditscarrier.Thismeansthatyou’llneedalargerwaistband</p><p>sizethanwhatyouwouldnormallywear.</p><p>An inside-the-waistband magazine pouch brings some of the same</p><p>concernsasaninside-the-waistbandholsterandsomeofitsown.Certain</p><p>pistolmagazines—earlySmith&Wessons,earlyH&Kdesigns,anddamn</p><p>nearalltheserious-caliberSIGswhentheyhadsheet-metalfloorplates—</p><p>have sharp edges thatwill digmercilessly into skin, all themore so if</p><p>you’re a bit fleshy about the waist. Way back in the ’80s, when I</p><p>collaboratedwithTedBlockerontheLFIConcealmentRig,theoriginal</p><p>inside-the-waistbandmagpouchleftthewholefloorplateandlowerpart</p><p>ofthemagazineexposedtothereachinghand.Itwasveryfasttoreload</p><p>from. However, some folks with some magazines—myself included, I</p><p>admit—found sharp-edged protruding floorplates digging into us so</p><p>uncomfortablywecouldn’twearthedarnthings.Tedrevisedthedesign</p><p>toincorporateashieldbetweentheentiremagazineandthebody.This</p><p>greatlyincreasedcomfort,butalsosomewhatsloweddownthespeedof</p><p>getting themagazine out of the pouch. That’s always going to be the</p><p>tradeoffhere.</p><p>Autoloadersarefasttoreload.ThisMAGstudent’sejectedmagazineisfalling,asheisaboutto</p><p>thrustfreshmagazineintobuttofpistol.</p><p>Glock 30magazine rides comfortably and discreetly next to SureFire E2D light in cell phone</p><p>pocketofthesecargopants.</p><p>Outsidethewaistband,thepouchtendstobemorecomfortable.You</p><p>still want it to ride tight to the body for concealment, though. These</p><p>days,myfavoritesofthattypearetheKydexunitsproducedbyBlade-</p><p>Tech in double pouches, and by Ky-Tac in single-mag pouches. For</p><p>Glocks (bargain alert here!) I’ve honestly found nothing better than</p><p>Glock’s own simple, super-cheap magazine pouch, which is also</p><p>ambidextrous.Itcomeswithlittleladder-stepsinthebeltloopsthatcan</p><p>beeasilycutbytheownertofitnarroworwidebeltswithoutflopping</p><p>or wobbling, and to also ride high or low. I’ve won IDPA matches</p><p>reloading fromthesepouches.Theyare fast, theyare tight-to-the-body</p><p>concealable,theyarecomfortable,andtheyaresecure.Helluvadeal.</p><p>Howmanysparemagstocarry?Itdepends.I’vemetcopswhocarry</p><p>four double-stack magazines when on duty. My department issues a</p><p>single-stack.45auto,andwhenI’minuniformIcarrythreetofourspare</p><p>eight-roundmagazineson thedutybelt.Onmyown time, I carry two</p><p>sparemagazines fora single-stackpistolandat leastone foradouble-</p><p>stack. I also normally carry a backup handgun, and on patrol I have</p><p>a.223semi-automaticriflewithmultiplemagazinesandashotgunwith</p><p>anamplesupplyofshellsonboardinthevehicle.Ourmilitarypersonnel</p><p>in combat zones, of course, carry more—and those who don’t really</p><p>believethey’lleverneedtofiretheirdefensivefirearm,carryless.</p><p>It’snotricktocarrytwosparemagazines…</p><p>…andauthorrecommendsyoucarryatleastone.TheseareforGlock30,carriedinGlock’sown</p><p>inexpensive,efficientmagpouches.</p><p>Propergraspofautopistolmagazineforreload.</p><p>Revolvers</p><p>Whilewe do have seven-and eight-shot revolvers in combat calibers</p><p>today,yourtypicaldouble-actionrevolver isstillasix-shooter,andthe</p><p>singlemostpopularconcealedcarryformatforwheel-gunsisthesmall-</p><p>framefive-shooter.Thelattermayalsostillbethesinglemostcommonly</p><p>carriedbackupgun forpolice,armedsecurity,and law-abidingprivate</p><p>citizens.</p><p>When you’re traveling and living out of hotels and rental cars, the</p><p>fewergunsyouneedtoberesponsiblefor,thebetter.</p><p>IknowthatearlyinthischapterImadeitclearthatthemorerounds</p><p>youhaveinyourgun,thebetteroffyouareoncetheshootingstarts.At</p><p>thesametime,inallcandor,I’lltellyouthatinthe52weeksoftheyear</p><p>precedingmywritingof thischapter, IcarriedoneoranotherSmith&</p><p>Wesson 357Magnum revolver asmy primaryweapon for 12 of them.</p><p>Eachpractitionerhashisorherreasonsforcarryingtheguntheychoose</p><p>onagivendayorweekormonth. Inmycase, I’mbotha competitive</p><p>handgunshooterandafirearmsinstructor.Onthematchshootingside</p><p>ofit,mostofmyteammatesareyoungerthanmeandconsiderrevolvers</p><p>tobequaintmuseumartifacts.However,ifourteamwantstosweepall</p><p>the five categoriesof an IDPAmatchand, say, twoof those categories</p><p>areforrevolvers,wegeezerswhoarepracticedintheancient,arcaneart</p><p>of</p><p>double-actionrevolvershootingandreloadingare,therefore,askedto</p><p>shoot inoneof thosedivisionsatsuchmatches.Whenyou’re traveling</p><p>andlivingoutofhotelsandrentalcars,thefewergunsyouneedtobe</p><p>responsible for, the better. On one five-week trip and another seven-</p><p>week tour last year, there was a state championship among other</p><p>matchesfortheone,andatitledefenseinStockServiceRevolverclass</p><p>ataregionalchampionship,alongwithlocalIDPAandSteelmatcheson</p><p>theother.Fromtheinstructorsideofit,mostofmystaffinstructors,like</p><p>most ofmy shooting teammates, are younger thanme and into autos,</p><p>andso somebodyhad tohave thehardware to teach the studentswho</p><p>camewithrevolvers.Theresidentgeezer(me)getselectedagain.</p><p>Onthefirsttrip,ItookatrioofS&W357Mags,includingalittlefive-</p><p>shotMilitary&Police340pocketgunthatneverneededtobefired,and</p><p>twosix-shotCombatMagnums,a3-inchanda4-inch.Ireasonedthatit</p><p>would be a good idea to have a backup match gun anyway, and I</p><p>broughtleft-andright-handBianchiholsters.FormostofthetripIwore</p><p>justoneCombatMagbehindthelefthipandonebehindtheright.Sure</p><p>enough,aModel19developedproblemsandgotsidelineduntilIcould</p><p>send it for repair,but the3-inchModel66backupearnedmedivision</p><p>winner in one match and First Master/second overall Stock Service</p><p>Revolveratthestateshoot.</p><p>On the other trip, I brought a Bob Lloyd-tuned 4-inch S&W 686 as</p><p>primary,with the 340M&P and a 9mmGlock 26 as backup.Nothing</p><p>wentwrongwith the guns, and the 686won all threematches I shot</p><p>withit, includingtheStockServiceRevolverclassandthetitledefense</p><p>atthe2011SouthMountainShowdowninPhoenix.</p><p>Spareammoduringthose12weeks?Quiteapartfromtheadditional</p><p>guns,IalwayshadatleastonespeedloaderathandplusaBianchiSpeed</p><p>Stripanda2x2x2pouchofrevolverammoonmyperson.It’ssimplynot</p><p>thatheavyandnotthathardtocarry.TheSpeedStripwasintheright</p><p>cargo pocket on the thigh ofmyBDUpants, the speedloader(s) in the</p><p>rightsidepocketofmyconcealmentvest,andthecartridgepouchonthe</p><p>leftofmybeltinfrontofthehip(I’mright-handed).</p><p>HKSspeedloaderandBianchiSpeedStriparelong-provenspareammocarriersforJ-frameS&W</p><p>snub-noserevolverslikethisone,hereequippedwithCrimsonTraceLaserGrips.AmmoisSpeer’s</p><p>excellent135-grainGoldDot+P38Special.</p><p>Speedloaders greatly improve revolver firepower. Here, en route to taking First Master and</p><p>secondplacebehindsoontobeWorldChampCraigBucklandatthe2010EastCoastU.S.IDPA</p><p>championship, the author is closing the cylinder of his Reichard-tuned S&WModel 15 as the</p><p>speedloaderfallsawayatkneelevel.Notethateyesaredownrangeonthe“threat.”</p><p>Istronglysuggestthat,whilewecarryourspareautopistolmagazines</p><p>placedforthenon-dominanthand,mostpeoplearebetterofftoputtheir</p><p>sparerevolverammoonthegunhandside,wherethedominanthandcan</p><p>reachit.Thereasoningforthisissimple.Insertingalargeobject(pistol</p><p>magazine) into a large receptacle (auto pistol butt) is a simple gross</p><p>motorskillandcanbeaccomplishedeasilywiththelessdexteroushand.</p><p>Reloadinganautothatwaysavestimeandmotion,anditisasclosetoa</p><p>universally taught technique as exists in the world of pistolcraft.</p><p>However, inserting multiple small objects (cartridges) simultaneously</p><p>intomultiplesmallreceptacles(thechambersinarevolver’scylinder)is</p><p>unquestionablyafinemotorskill,andnaturedecreesthatmostofuswill</p><p>performthistaskmoreefficientlybyusingthemoredexteroushandto</p><p>doit.</p><p>Thereareahandfulofaceshooterswhocankeeptherevolverinthe</p><p>dominanthandandquickly reload thecylinderwith thenon-dominant</p><p>hand, but this requires either tremendous natural dexterity with the</p><p>loadinghandorconstant(readdaily)practice.Mostofuswillgetfaster,</p><p>morepositiveresults,andsooner,usingthedominanthandtoinsertthe</p><p>cartridgesintoarevolver.Thisisparticularlytruewhenloadingoneor</p><p>twocartridgesatatimebyhandoutofanammopouch,beltloops,ora</p><p>SpeedStriporTuffStrip.</p><p>Speedloaders, which hold a gun-load of cartridges for a particular</p><p>revolver, are the fastest way to reload this type of handgun. The full</p><p>moonclipisthefastestofspeedloaders,sincethewholethinggoesinto</p><p>the gun. This saves an extra movement, to wit, discarding the empty</p><p>loaderafterithasdroppeditspayloadintothecylinder.Themoonclip</p><p>alsoexpeditesthefirststepyoutaketoreloadarevolverafteropening</p><p>its cylinder, that of ejecting the spent cartridges from the chambers.</p><p>Withallsixorhowevermanyclippedtogether,nooneofthemcanhang</p><p>upundertheejectorstarandjamthegun.</p><p>J-frame HKS speedloaders carry comfortably, discreetly, and accessibly in the business card</p><p>pocket-within-pocketofthisblazer.</p><p>However,moonclipsaredelicateandcanbebentinordinarypocket</p><p>carryorridinginasoftpouch.Abentloadermaynotallowthecylinder</p><p>tocloseor,perhapsmoretreacherously,mayallowthecylindertoclose</p><p>but now fit so tightly that the cylinder can’t rotate, which of course</p><p>preventsthegunfromfiring.</p><p>Mostrevolveruserswhorelyonspeedloadersdoitwithconventional</p><p>loaders, themostpopularofwhichare thepush-releaseSafarilandand</p><p>theHKS,whichreleasesthecartridgesviaaknobthatturnsclockwise.</p><p>I’ve foundpersonallyover theyears that theSafariland is faster,while</p><p>theHKSissturdierandstandsuptolongeruse.Forthatreason,ifI’llbe</p><p>keepingtheloaderinapocketorautomobileglovebox,I’llgowiththe</p><p>HKS, and if I’m shooting for speed in amatch, I’ll use the Safariland,</p><p>specificallytheirlargebutveryfastCompIII.</p><p>Forconcealedcarry,theproblemisthattheloaderisaboutthesame</p><p>diameterasthecylinderoftherevolveritself,whichmanyfindthemost</p><p>difficult part of that type of gun to conceal, since it’s generally the</p><p>widest part. Speedloaders tend to bulge and sag in jacket pockets and</p><p>front trouser pockets. One exception is the “business card pocket”</p><p>generally found inside the right front pocket ofmanymen’s suit-coats</p><p>andblazers. It’s just the right size for a five-shot J-frame speedloader,</p><p>andsomemanufacturerscutthemabitlarger,whichwillfitaK-frame</p><p>loader. (Of course, any such coat can have one custom-tailored in.)</p><p>Beingsuspendedbya“pocketwithinapocket,”I’vefoundthatthissags</p><p>andbulgesmuchlessthanjustdroppingoneintoajacketpocket.</p><p>Another “pocket exception” is foundwith the cell phone pockets on</p><p>thesidesofsomeBDU/cargopants.Justasasparepistolmagazinefits</p><p>nicelyintotheoff-sidepocket,I’vefoundthatthelongSafarilandComp</p><p>IIIspeedloader(amoreruggedunit,inmyexperience,thanthesmaller</p><p>Safarilands more commonly encountered in concealed carry), will fit</p><p>perfectlyinthecellphonepocketonthegunhandside.It’sreasonably</p><p>fast,andthoughadedicatedeyecoulddiscernthatthere’ssomethingin</p><p>thatpocket,thesmallbulgedoesn’tresembleaweaponandtendstogo</p><p>completelyunnoticed.I likethelongCompIIIforthis,becauseitstays</p><p>orientedinpositionandisthefastesttobringoutofthepocketandinto</p><p>action.</p><p>(top)Author’srecommendedgraspofspeedloader.Fingertipsaheadofbulletnosesshapehandto</p><p>findcylinderbyfeelinthedark.Loaderis5-shotHKS.</p><p>(above) Author’s recommended grasp of Bianchi Speed Strip. Index finger holds strip like a</p><p>scalpelforaccurateplacement,middlefingersecurelyholdsemptyspacebelow5thround.</p><p>Author’s</p><p>recommendedgraspofspeedloader.Fingertipsaheadofbulletnosesshapehandtofind</p><p>cylinderbyfeelinthedark.Loaderis5-shotHKS.</p><p>Withloosefittingtrousers(cargopants,ortheDockers-typepopularat</p><p>this writing), the hip pockets are often capacious enough to carry a</p><p>speedloader. The smaller ones in my experience will roll around,</p><p>bringingthemtouncomfortableandbulgingpositionsandcausingthem</p><p>tobecomemorevisible toonlookers, not tomention they’reharder to</p><p>getholdofwhenyouneedthem.Onceagain,counterintuitivethoughit</p><p>seems, the big Safariland Comp III comes to the rescue. Being right-</p><p>handed,Iputmineintherightoutercorneroftherighthippocket,with</p><p>a folded handkerchief occupying the rest of that pocket’s space. The</p><p>handkerchiefisenoughtokeeptheloaderverticalandthereforealways</p><p>inthesameplace,alwaysquicklyaccessible.Itsroundededgegoesinto</p><p>thehollowontheoutersideofthegluteus,whichreducesbulge(some</p><p>folks’ mileage may vary on this), and being at the outer edge of the</p><p>pockettowardthehip,Idon’tendupsittingonit.</p><p>For the belt, there are a couple of very fast speedloader pouches</p><p>suitable for concealment. I generally wear them right in front of the</p><p>holster.OneistheloaderclipfromTedBlockerHolstersanddesignedby</p><p>thelegendaryTedBlockerhimself.Madeofwirecoatedwithsoftplastic,</p><p>it holds an HKS loader with spring tension between the body of the</p><p>loader and the release knob. Half the cartridges ride inside the</p><p>waistband,halfoutside,dramatically reducing theprofileof the loader</p><p>andthereforeminimizingbulge.</p><p>Before the Ted Blocker clip, there was another carrier which, if</p><p>memory serves, was originally designed by another holster-making</p><p>legend,GeneDeSantis.Openonthesides, italsoholdstheloaderwith</p><p>threeroundsinsidethebeltandthreeout,butitsretainingmechanismis</p><p>aleatherflapthatgoesoverthetopoftheloaderandsnapstotheflip-</p><p>downfrontofthepouch.Toaccesstheloaderinthispouch,theshooter</p><p>bringsthehanddowntothebeltand,reachingthroughtheopensides,</p><p>grasps thebodyof the loaderbetween the thumbonone sideand the</p><p>middle fingeron theother.Thispositions the index finger to flipopen</p><p>theretainingflap,allowingtheloadertocomefreeandgetonitswayto</p><p>the gun. It has become one of the most widely copied pieces of</p><p>gunleather on the market, and many makers now offer this type of</p><p>pouch.Withthisstyle,IdefinitelyprefertousetheHKS.Thereasonis</p><p>that the Safariland releases when its center-pin hits the axis of the</p><p>revolver’scylinder,and that samecenter-pin is incontactwith the top</p><p>edge of the beltwhen riding in this type of pouch. It is possible—not</p><p>everyday likely, but possible—to bend over sharply enough during</p><p>strenuousactivitytoforcetheSafarilandloaderdownhardenoughonto</p><p>thebelttoreleasethecartridgesintothepouch.</p><p>ThisladycarriesSpeedStripinwatchpocketofjeanstobackupherS&WAirweight.38Special.</p><p>Still,many combinations of body shape anddress codewillmake it</p><p>simply impossible for the revolver user to carry a speedloader</p><p>comfortably,accessibly,anddiscreetlyconcealed.Thatuser isgoing to</p><p>needanotherspareammocarrysystem.Someoftheoldwaysstillwork,</p><p>and some work better than others. The oldest system for carrying</p><p>revolver cartridges goes back to the 19th century, those being the</p><p>individual cartridge loops. They mount on a leather “slide,” and for</p><p>concealmentyoudon’twantcowboygear,youwantasix-loopslide.The</p><p>key is to have the loops at the top edge of the unit. This allows your</p><p>fingerstocomeinunderthebulletnosesandpushthemup,wherethe</p><p>thumband the two first fingers cangrab them firmlyby the rims and</p><p>guidethemintotherevolverchambers.(Hint:“Slant”theminonaslight</p><p>angle, which guides hollowpoint bullets more surely into those tight-</p><p>fittingrestingplaces.)It’snothardtolearntodoittworoundsatatime,</p><p>thoughitobviouslytakessomepractice.I’veseenaveryfewpeoplewho</p><p>candothreecartridgesatatime,andtheoperativetermthereis“very</p><p>few.”My good friend of 30-some years, the late Jim Cirillo, came up</p><p>with a belt-loop system that set the loops out away from the leather</p><p>slide.Thiswascertainlyfaster,andwasadoptedbyDonHumeleather,</p><p>among others, but was not really ideal for concealment for the very</p><p>reason that it pushed the ammo forward, increasing bulge under</p><p>concealinggarments.Jimdesignedthoseloopsforbothcompetitionand</p><p>dutywear,neitherofwhichinvolvedconcealment.Ihadtheprivilegeof</p><p>seeing Cirillowear them on duty, in NewYork, andwinningmatches</p><p>withtheminotherplaces,intheearly1970s.</p><p>With spill pouch, author uses left palm as “loading tray.” Ejector rod of J-frame S&W is slid</p><p>betweenfirsttwofingers,dominanthandloadscartridgesoneor(asshown)twoatatime.</p><p>Becausethecartridgesareexposed,it’simportanttokeepthecartridge</p><p>loop slide back from the front of an open front garment to maintain</p><p>concealment. They work well under closed-front garments. Under the</p><p>open-fronttype,youwantthembacktowardthehip—butnotbehindthe</p><p>hip,becausethey’remuchmoredifficulttoreachfromthere.</p><p>Another old concept is the dump pouch, sometimes called a spill</p><p>pouch.Flipopenthe flap,andthepayloadofcartridges falls intoyour</p><p>hand. This leaves you holding five or six or howevermany cartridges</p><p>andtryingtogetthemintothegun.Ifyoudumpthemintothedominant</p><p>hand, you have to literally juggle them, trying to get one or two at a</p><p>time into the gun, while hoping to keep the rest from falling to the</p><p>ground.Overtheyears,during“therevolverdays,” I, forone, foundit</p><p>mucheasiertodumpthemintothepalmofmy(left)supporthandafter</p><p>ejecting the empties out of the cylinder, then slide the ejector rod</p><p>betweentheindexandmiddlefingersofmylefthand,whosepalmheld</p><p>the cartridges like a loading tray. The right handwould thenpick the</p><p>cartridgesfromthepalmandinsertthemintothegun.Whicheverway</p><p>youdidit,weallfound,thedumppouchwasfarfromthefastestwayto</p><p>reloadarevolver.</p><p>Inthelatterhalfofthe20thcenturyandbeforespeedloadersbecame</p><p>popular,JohnBianchidevelopedtheBianchiSpeedStrip.Itcouldridein</p><p>oneofthosedumppouchesandwasandiswayfasterthanlooserounds</p><p>in the self-same pouch. More important for the concealed carrier, the</p><p>Speed Strip and the later Tuff Strip are amenable to hiding in other</p><p>places.One such spot is the traditionalwatchpocket, that littlehidey-</p><p>holewhichridesinsidetheright-sidefrontpocketofmostjeans.Another</p><p>is the low-riding cargo pocket on cargo pants and shorts. The round</p><p>speedloader and the rigid auto pistol magazine tends to bounce</p><p>uncomfortablyagainstthelegwhencarriedinthatpocket,butthelittle</p><p>cartridgestripseemstogounnoticedthere.</p><p>Being both flat and slightly flexible, speed strips ride more</p><p>comfortablyandmoreconcealablyinthefrontpocketsofmosttrousers</p><p>and in coat pockets. Remember that business card “pocket within a</p><p>pocket” in blazers and suit-coats? I discovered early on that Bianchi’s</p><p>strip fit there perfectly,with great comfort and a concealability factor</p><p>thatapproachedinvisibility.</p><p>Nothing isperfect. Idiscoveredover theyears that leadhollowpoint</p><p>bullets would become deformed from constant pocket carry in strips.</p><p>changes you. Most of the changes are</p><p>positive. If you’re new to the practice, what this book says will be</p><p>helpful toyou. If you’vebeendoing it foras longas Ihaveor longer,</p><p>youmightfindanewtrickortwo,andatworstwillhaveabooktoback</p><p>upyouradvicewhenyou’resharingthisknowledgewithyourstudents.</p><p>Changes</p><p>Peoplewhodon’tunderstandthelifestylethinkagunonyourhipwill</p><p>turnyoufromDr.JekylltoMr.Hyde,ormakeyou“gowhereangelsfear</p><p>totread.”Aucontraire.Thosewho’veactuallylivedtheCCWlifestylecan</p><p>tellyouthatit’sjusttheopposite.</p><p>When you carry a gun, you no longer have the option of starting</p><p>fights,orevenkeeping theball rollingwhenanotherpersonstartsone</p><p>with you. When you are armed with a lethal weapon, you carry the</p><p>burdenofwhattheCourtscalla“higherstandardofcare.”Becauseyou</p><p>knowadeadlyweaponispresent,andyouknowthatayellingmatchor</p><p>“merefisticuffs”cannowdegradeintoakillingsituation,lawandethics</p><p>alikewillsaythatyouofallpeopleshouldhaveknownenoughtoabjure</p><p>fromaviolentconflict.Thisiswhyaphrasefromscience-fictionwriter</p><p>RobertHeinlein,popularizedbyCol.JeffCooper,hasbecomeaguiding</p><p>light for CCW practitioners: “An armed society is a polite society.”</p><p>Answeringacursewithacurse,oranobscenegesturewithaone-finger</p><p>salute,isnolongeryouroptionwhenyoucarryagun.</p><p>…you learn to reachwith the otherhand. Similarly, to pickup anobject on the ground, you</p><p>learn to bend at knees instead of waist so the gun at your hip won’t “print” through your</p><p>concealinggarment.</p><p>Another sayingamongCCWpeople is, “Concealedmeansconcealed.”</p><p>Only the rankest rookie cop or first-time permit-holder will allow the</p><p>handgun to become visible in anything less than an emergency. In</p><p>professional circles, people who don’t follow this rule are sometimes</p><p>knownasgun-flashers,andarelookeddownuponwithonlyslightlyless</p><p>opprobriumthantheotherkindof“flashers.”</p><p>ResponsibilitycomeswithCCW.Theresponsibilitytokeepthatdeadly</p><p>weaponsecured fromunauthorizedchildren, incompetentguests in the</p><p>household, and burglars. The responsibility to use the weapon as</p><p>judiciously as, in the words of the Courts, “a reasonable and prudent</p><p>personwoulddo,inthesamesituation…”</p><p>If the gunmust be drawnand fired to save your life or the lives of</p><p>others,thereisaresponsibilitytomakecertainthatyourshotsflytrue.</p><p>Didyoulearntoshoot,perhapseven“qualify”withyourweaponlikea</p><p>police officer? Or did you just buy it, strap it on, and think it would</p><p>somehowprotectyoubyitself?Didyoubecomesufficientlyskilledwith</p><p>it that, in a state of stress, you could be reasonably and prudently</p><p>confidentofhittingyourtargetandnotaninnocentbystander?Didyou</p><p>carefullychooseammunitiondesignedtoincapacitateaviolentattacker,</p><p>and designed not to shoot through and through him and strike a</p><p>bystanderhidden fromyourviewbehindhim?Didyoubecome familiar</p><p>withthelawsofyourjurisdictionthatgovernthecarryingoffirearmsandthe</p><p>lawfuluseofdeadlyforce?</p><p>It’scriticalthatyoulearntodrawexpeditiouslyandsafely.Alegalgun</p><p>carrier not instantly recognizable as a Good Guy or Gal, the way a</p><p>uniformed cop or security guard would be, risks starting a panic if</p><p>drawinginpublic.Anonlookerperceptionof“thecophashisgunout,</p><p>getoutoftheway”becomes“goodLord,thatpsychojustpulledagun!”</p><p>This means that in “iffy circumstances,” the plainclothes carrier may</p><p>havetowaitlongertoreact,puttingapremiumondrawingspeed.Inthe</p><p>following pages, we’ll emphasize discreet “surreptitious draw”</p><p>techniques that let you sneak your hand onto the still-hidden gun</p><p>without frightening the crowds. For the same reason, lack of</p><p>identifiability, youwant to be able to holster that gun smoothly, one-</p><p>handed,byfeelwithouttakingyoureyesoffthedangerinfrontofyouif</p><p>cops are arriving, because you don’t want those tensely responding</p><p>officersseeing“manwithagun,therenow.”</p><p>Going out and drinking to the point of intoxication in public is not</p><p>youroptionifyou’recarryingagun.ThereareplacesinAmericawhere</p><p>settingfootinabarstonesober–or,hell,evenaliquorstore–cancost</p><p>youyourpermitand“buyyousometime,”thelatterphrasenotinthe</p><p>good sense. There are also places where it’s technically legal to get</p><p>smashed in a ginmill while packing a piece. But there is no place in</p><p>Americawherethatwon’tgetyouintoverydeeptroubleifyouhaveto</p><p>drawtheguninself-defenseinthatcondition.</p><p>Wewho carry guns in public are aminority.Wehave an unwritten</p><p>covenantwiththerestofsociety:“Youcanbeassuredthatwewillnot</p><p>endangeryou.”It’sacovenantwemustliveuptoineveryway,ifwe’re</p><p>goingtokeeptheattendantrightsandprivilegesandpreservethemfor</p><p>ourchildrenandgrandchildren.</p><p>ThepracticeofCCWcomeswithacommitment,ifyou’reserious,and</p><p>thatcommitmentisthatyouwillactuallycarrythedamnthing!Criminal</p><p>attackersdon’tmakeappointments.Themindsetof“I’llonlycarryitwhen</p><p>I think I’ll need it” is a false one. I, and anyone my age who’s been</p><p>carryinggunsas longas Ihave,cantellyoustoriesallnightofpeople</p><p>whoselivesweresavedbecausetheywerecarryinggunsinplaceswhere</p><p>theydidn’tthinkthey’dneedthem.Criminalsattackyoupreciselywhen</p><p>youdon’t think you’re in a situation where you’ll be ready for them.</p><p>That’swhattheydoforaliving.Ifyouareserious,you’llcarryyourgun</p><p>likeyoucarryyourwallet:daily,constantly,unlessit’sillegaltodoso.</p><p>Which brings us to another responsibility:make sure you’re carrying</p><p>legally! As you’ll see later in these pages, today’s situation makes</p><p>concealedcarrylegalformorepeopleinmoreplacesthanatanytimein</p><p>the memory of any living American. If you’re in one of those places</p><p>wherelegalcarryisnotpossible,Ihavetoadviseyou,don’tcarrythere.</p><p>Yes, there are peoplewhose lives have been saved by guns theywere</p><p>carryingwithoutbenefitofpermit. Ibecame,atage23,oneofthem.I</p><p>knowmorenow than I knewat 23, and today, I eitherwouldn’t have</p><p>beeninthatplace,orwouldhavefoundawaytolegallycarrythere.</p><p>“Theywon’tfindoutI’mcarryingillegallyunlessIneedtouseit,and</p><p>ifIneedtouseit,gettingbustedforitistheleastofmyworries.”You’ve</p><p>heardthat,right?Well,it’samyth!Thelikelihoodofthegunbeingfound</p><p>onyouafteracarcrashormedicalemergency,thelikelihoodofitbeing</p><p>spottedorfeltbysomeoneincontactwithyou,maybegreaterthanthe</p><p>likelihoodofyourneedingtodrawitinself-defense.Rememberthatin</p><p>manyjurisdictionsthefirstoffenseofillegallycarryingagunisafelony,</p><p>often bringing a minimum/mandatory one year imprisonment. And</p><p>whereit’s“onlyamisdemeanor,”rememberthat“onlyamisdemeanor”</p><p>means“only364days in jail.”Not tomentiona firearms-relatedcrime</p><p>onyourrecord.</p><p>Besmart.Belegal.Carryonlywherethelawallowsyoutodoso.</p><p>ThePriceoftheWardrobes</p><p>Youdon’tjustgotothepawnshop,buythecheapesthandgunthey’ve</p><p>got,stuffitinyourpocketandgo.Ifyouareseriousaboutthis,thereare</p><p>wardrobesyou’llhavetoacquire.Threewardrobes,infact.</p><p>The wardrobe of clothing. This will be discussed at length in</p><p>followingchapters,butyouwillfindyourselfchangingyourclothingto</p><p>“dress around thegun” if you’re seriousaboutCCW. Ididn’t get abig</p><p>charge out of bringingmy gun and holster into</p><p>Thiscanhaveadeleteriouseffectonbothaccuracyandbulletexpansion,</p><p>if they have to be used for their intended purposes. Jacketed</p><p>hollowpoints survive pocket carrymuch better. They can still pick up</p><p>pocket lint in theirhollowcavities, though, and foreignmatter in that</p><p>cavitywill never help the bullet. A separate location dedicated to the</p><p>cartridgestrip—ammopouch,watchpocket,whatever—seemstobethe</p><p>bestplacetoputthisparticularspareammodevice.</p><p>Ofcourse,onecanalwaysjustdumplooseammointhepockets.The</p><p>trouble with that is that it’s evenmore awkward to get to when you</p><p>needitthantheworstoftheancientdumppouches.Withtightclothing,</p><p>theoutlinesofthecartridgeswillbeobviouslyvisible,anditwilltakean</p><p>agonizinglylongtimetodigeachroundoutofitsrepository.Itwillalso</p><p>takeprehensilefingerstoclawloosecartridgesoutofthefrontpocketin</p><p>atightpairofjeansifyouarecrouchingorkneelingbehindcoverwhile</p><p>underfire.</p><p>TheBottomLine</p><p>Asthe late,greatmaster firearms instructorJeffCooperpointedout,</p><p>the function of the gun is to launch bullets. Back as far as the 1970s,</p><p>anothergreatmaster,JohnFarnam,quantifiablyprovedthattheaverage</p><p>personcanfirefiveshotsinasecondfromasemi-automaticpistolwitha</p><p>short trigger reset, and four shots per second with a double-action</p><p>revolver.AGoodPersonfightingfortheirortheirfamily’sliveswillvery</p><p>likely fire as fast as is humanly possible. Some will fire faster than</p><p>average.Consider those factsanddo themath.Remember that it’snot</p><p>abouttheodds,it’saboutbeingpreparedfortheworstcasescenario.A</p><p>gun without ammunition is a very poor weapon—and a gun without</p><p>spareammunitionisaverytemporarygun.</p><p>Fullmoonclip,seenherewithPerformanceCenterS&WModel625in.45ACP,isthefastestway</p><p>toreloadarevolver.</p><p>M</p><p>Chapter9</p><p>LIGHTS</p><p>FORCONCEALEDCARRY</p><p>Wehaveawidevarietyofgun-mountedlightsavailabletoday.Thesearesomeoftheonesthe</p><p>authorusesregularly.</p><p>ostofuswho’vebeeninthegun-carryingbusiness fora long</p><p>timecarryartificialilluminationasregularlyandreligiouslyas</p><p>wecarryfirearms.Letmetellyouwhy.</p><p>First,unlikethegun,it’ssomethingyou’llfindyourselfactuallyusing</p><p>everyday.Asabonus,whenthosearoundyouknowyoualwayshaveit</p><p>withyou,theyreactwithappreciationinsteadofthefearthatsometimes</p><p>comeswhen they learn you’re armed. The day rarely goes bywhen I</p><p>don’t utilize one of my pocket flashlights for some mundane chore,</p><p>whichoftenbeginswhen someone says, “Hey,Mas, can Iborrowyour</p><p>flashlight?”</p><p>At thenext levelup,a flashlightcanbean injuryprevention tool in</p><p>anynumberofways.Everwalkthroughanicyparkinglotorapatchof</p><p>woods innear-totaldarkness?The light canpreventeverything froma</p><p>harmlessbutannoyingandmessyfallinthemud,toatwistedankle,to</p><p>astep intonowherethatcouldhavedroppedyoutenfeetand leftyou</p><p>withabrokenspineorfracturedskull.</p><p>Third, there are more emergencies that require light than require</p><p>gunfire. Even if you consider yourself a night owl (inwhich case you</p><p>need to carry illumination all the more), homo sapiens is a diurnal</p><p>species,notanocturnalone.Wesimplydon’tseewellinthedark.Ithas</p><p>been said that on amoonlessnight, ahumanbeingwith20/20vision</p><p>andnoartificial illumination can seenobetter thanapersondeclared</p><p>“legallyblind”canseeinbroaddaylight.Fromsearchingforsignsoflife</p><p>under thesmokepallata firescene, tocheckingpupil response in the</p><p>eyesofapossiblehead injuryvictimto–well,useyour imagination–</p><p>there are countless emergencies in which a good light source can</p><p>literallybealifesaver.</p><p>Oneofmygraduateswas in theTwinTowerswhentheunspeakable</p><p>disasteroccurred.Hewasoneofthesurvivors.Hewillneverforgetthe</p><p>mass terrorofpeople trying togetdownthe interminablestairwells in</p><p>pitchdarkness.Hehasmadeapointofneverbeingwithoutatleastone</p><p>powerful,pocketsize“tacticalflashlight”eversince,whetherornothe</p><p>happenstobearmed.</p><p>Fourth,therearecountlessself-protectionsituationsthatdon’triseto</p><p>thelevelofthegun,butcanbebettercontrolledifyouhaveapowerful</p><p>lightimmediatelyathand.Isthatawildanimalbehindthetree,asyou</p><p>walkyourdogdownthecountrylaneinthedark?Theflashlightwilltell</p><p>you in time toavoidyouoryourpetbeingbittenbywhatmightbea</p><p>rabidbeast.Countlesspoliceofficers,andprobablyafewcivilians,have</p><p>forestalledviolencewithaquicksweepofapowerfullightbeamacross</p><p>the eyes that swept the suspect’s night vision awaywith it, leading to</p><p>non-violentresolutionwhenthingsmighthaveturnedoutotherwise.</p><p>Fifth,ifyouknowhowtouseit,somepocketsizelightscanserveasan</p><p>impacttool,anintermediateforceweapon,inahand-to-handfightthat</p><p>does not yet rise to the level of deadly force.We’ll discuss thatmore</p><p>shortly, but suffice to say that training is essential to make this</p><p>applicationworkeffectivelyandendwell.</p><p>We’ve come a longway, baby. 20 years ago this big SureFireWeaponlight on Jarvis Custom</p><p>Beretta92wasstateoftheart…stillfunctionaltodayforoutsidewearorhomedefense,buttoo</p><p>bigforconcealedcarry.</p><p>Finally, illumination that is always, instantly available is an essential</p><p>complementtoadefensivefirearmthatisalways,instantlyavailable.</p><p>WhenTheGunNeedsLight</p><p>There are several reasonswhy the personwho carries a gun is best</p><p>servedbyalsocarryingalight.</p><p>Theflashlightletsyoufindyourwaytotheencounterandback.</p><p>A huge percentage of gunfights occur in less thanHighNoon lighting</p><p>conditions.Totaldarknessisfairlyrareingunfights,butitcancertainly</p><p>happen. Under some circumstances, the light can show you a lurking</p><p>felon in time tokeepyourdistanceandavoidaconfrontationatall. If</p><p>you’reonunfamiliarground,inthemomentsbeforetheencounterwhen</p><p>you’reataConditionOrange levelofknowingsomething iswrongbut</p><p>not exactlywhat it is, the lightmay have shown youwhere cover is:</p><p>cover you can take to save your life, and cover your opponentmight</p><p>alreadybelurkingbehind,waitinginambush.Ifitturnsoutthatyoudo</p><p>get into a gunfight, andwin, the flashlight can show youwhere your</p><p>dropped cell phone is to call 9-1-1…show you where your downed</p><p>opponent’saccompliceiswaitingtoavengehishenchmanassoonasyou</p><p>drop your guard…and allow you to wave responding police and</p><p>paramedicstothesceneastheybegintoarrive.</p><p>Andmore…onceagain,useyourownimagination.</p><p>Theflashlightallowsyoutoidentifyathreat.Whenyou’vehadto</p><p>takethatshortcutthroughacityalleytogettoyourcarinthepouring</p><p>rain,thesmallbutpowerfulpersonalcarryflashlightallowsyoutosee</p><p>whether that person suddenly emerging from the shadows in front of</p><p>you is a restaurant employee coming out the back door to dump the</p><p>garbage,ora rapistormuggerwhohasbeen lying inwait.Whenyou</p><p>arrive after nightfall at the family cabin for a vacation you and your</p><p>spousearesharingwithyourbrotherandhiswife,andthepowerisout,</p><p>and a human figuremoves suddenly in front of you in the dark, that</p><p>flashlight lets you see whether it’s a potentially violent burglar you</p><p>surprised in the act…or your own brother, who unexpectedly arrived</p><p>aheadofyou.</p><p>The flashlight allows you to harmlessly, temporarily blind a</p><p>personwhothreatensyou,ortodistractapersonwhoisattacking</p><p>someone else, and buy you</p><p>time to save your life or that of the</p><p>otherinnocentpotentialvictim.No,thatlittlepocketthingyhanging</p><p>from your keychain won’t do it. But since the time of the classic old</p><p>SureFire6Pwe’vehadpersonal-size lights thatcangeneratethateffect</p><p>indeepdarkness.Thelongerthecriminalhasbeenwaitinginthedark</p><p>forhischancetopounce,themorehispupilswillhavedilatedandthe</p><p>moreblindingeffectyourlightwillcreate.</p><p>We’ll look shortly at the techniques that have evolved over the</p><p>decadesforpoliceandotherGoodGuysandGalstoilluminateahuman</p><p>targetwhile firing a gun to save innocent life. All of these techniques</p><p>assumethatthepersonwhohasbecomethetargetisdoingsomethingso</p><p>horrible that hemust be stopped instantly frompulling the trigger of</p><p>thegunhe’saimingatavictim,orstoppedfromplunginghisknifeinto</p><p>thethroatofaninnocentperson.</p><p>If that were the situation, wouldn’t it be kind of nice if something</p><p>happenedthatcausedthatcriminaltosuddenlyturnhisheadaway?Any</p><p>physiologist or martial artist can tell you, “Where the head goes, the</p><p>body follows.”Something thatpulls theBadGuy’sbody–andwith it,</p><p>theBadGuy’sknifeorgun–offtheintendedtarget,buystheGoodGuy</p><p>time tomake the shot thatwillhopefully end thedeadlydangermore</p><p>decisively.</p><p>DevelopingARepertoireofCCWLights</p><p>Thereisnoonegunthatfulfillseveryconcealedcarryneedwithevery</p><p>conceivablewardrobe, and the same is true of what some like to call</p><p>“tactical illuminationtools.”There’shardwareyoucancarry inthecar</p><p>withaviewtowardunlimberinginanemergency.There’shardwareyou</p><p>can have in the master bedroom for self-defense that would be</p><p>impossibletowalkaroundcarryinginpublic.Butthere’salsostuffyou</p><p>cancarrywithprettymuchanydress code this sideof anudist camp,</p><p>andthat’sequallytrueofbothlightingtoolsanddefensivefirearms.</p><p>It’seasiertohaveawholelotofflashlightsthanawholelotofguns.</p><p>No one is likely to kill someonewith a stolen flashlight, so you don’t</p><p>needtobuyasafetokeepitin.They’rewaycheaperthanguns.Youcan</p><p>give them to anyone you want without doing paperwork, a “pass it</p><p>forward”kindofrecyclingwhenyoufindsomethingbetterforyourself,</p><p>butrealizethatyourolderunitisstillbetterthanwhatthegifteehas.In</p><p>mycircleoffriendsandlovedonesandassociates,I’velosttrackofhow</p><p>manygunsI’vegivenaspresentsovertheyears…butIcantellyou,I’ve</p><p>givenoutawholelotmoreflashlights.</p><p>Somepeoplehavea lifestyleathomewhere theycanhavea loaded</p><p>guninstantlyaccessibleineveryroom.Somedon’t.EVERYONEthisside</p><p>ofprisonhasa lifestylewhere therecanbea flashlight ineveryroom,</p><p>and that’s a pretty handy thingwhen the power and the lights go out</p><p>andyoudon’tknowwhen they’recomingbackon. Indulgeyourself. If</p><p>yourunacrossaflashlightyoulike,buyit.Ifyoudon’tendupcarrying</p><p>itnextyear,itwillstilldoyouorsomeoneelsesomegoodbybeingona</p><p>shelf,inadeskdrawer,orinanautomobilegloveboxsomewhere.</p><p>Eachlightperformsasometimesdramaticallydifferent,sometimesslightlydifferentfunction.</p><p>Let’s look at one small array, in which each light performs a</p><p>sometimesdramaticallydifferent,sometimesslightlydifferentfunction.</p><p>Topmostinthephotoisatwo-cellMagLitefrommysignificantother’s</p><p>car. She has owned it since before we met. Yep, it’s old tech: D-cell</p><p>batteries. But she can replenish the batteries at any gas station or</p><p>convenience store. If you have to get out of the car on the proverbial</p><p>darkandstormynighttoassistastrangerinanunknownsituation,and</p><p>you have some background in self-defensewith short stick techniques</p><p>(ordedicated flashlight self-defense), you’reholdinga toolwithwhich</p><p>you can block, parry, strike, and more. No, you’re not going to have</p><p>muchluckwalkingaroundcarryingitconcealed.</p><p>Next down in the photo is SureFire’s lowest priced flashlight at this</p><p>writing, the hugely popular Nitrolon. It’s essentially a 6P model with</p><p>lighter, less expensive construction, but the same reliability as the old</p><p>standbythatprecededit.Veryhandyforall-arounduse,andconcealable</p><p>ifneedbe.</p><p>Below that is the flashlight I carrieddaily for about adecade and a</p><p>half,theclassicSureFire6P.Itcanbecarriedinanyofseveralways.My</p><p>feelingwas,“It’saflashlight,sowhythehelldoIhavetoconcealitin</p><p>the first place?” I came upwithwhat I believe to have been the first</p><p>horizontal carrier, which put the light at the front of the belt. Being</p><p>right-handed,Icarrieditwiththelenstotheleft,somylefthandcould</p><p>quickly draw it and flow into a Harries pistol/flashlight technique. I</p><p>evenworeitwithsuits.Ninety-ninepercentoftheworldnevernoticed,</p><p>andtheotheronepercentonlysaidsomethinglike,“Coolwaytocarrya</p><p>flashlight.Whydidn’tIthinkofthat?”Blade-Techandothersnowmake</p><p>thistypeofcarrierasaregularcatalogitem.Itcomesquicklyoffthebelt</p><p>andslides intoabriefcase ifone feels theyneed tobutton the frontof</p><p>thesuitcoattolookmoreformal.</p><p>Fourthdownintheimageisthenextgame-changerfromSureFire,the</p><p>E2D Executive Defender. It’s equipped with a pocket clip and narrow</p><p>enoughforatrouserpocket.Ipersonallyfinditidealforthecellphone</p><p>pocketintheBDUpantsthatreplacedjeansinmypersonalwardrobefor</p><p>casualwear.No one notices its lamp protruding from the front of the</p><p>flappedpocketonupperthigh–remember,it’sonlyaflashlight!–andit</p><p>gives a light output comparable to the big police flashlights of</p><p>yesteryear.</p><p>Below that, slightly larger, is one of the Brite-Strikes, still small</p><p>enoughtobecarriedinthesamefashionastheE2D.I’lloftencarrythis</p><p>onewhenI’moutinplainclotheswithbrotherofficers,becauseithasa</p><p>strobe option that, as we’ll see shortly, is particularly useful when</p><p>employedbetweencooperatingpartners.</p><p>Sixth down in the photo is another Brite-Strike product, the slender</p><p>EPLI (Executive Protection Lighting Instrument). The size of a fat</p><p>fountainpen,thisconcealswellwhenwardroberequiresatailoredsuit</p><p>orsuper-lightbeachwear.It’smycurrentdefaultlightontheraredaysin</p><p>mylifetodaywhen“concealment”isanabsolutepriority.</p><p>SeventhinthepictureisaStreamlight100C.Verybrightforitssize,it</p><p>fitsintosmallpockets.</p><p>At the bottom we close as we began, with old-school MagLite</p><p>technology, the classic and ubiquitous Mini-MagLite. A game-changer</p><p>when it first came out (back when most cops still carried service</p><p>revolvers), it doesn’t have enough light output to blind. It does,</p><p>however, let you see stuff you couldn’t see without a flashlight. It’s</p><p>cheap and expendable, but remarkably reliable. Its AA batteries are</p><p>cheapandeasytoreplace.It’swhatyouhandtothepersonintheoffice</p><p>whosays,“CanIborrowyourflashlighttofindmypenthatrolledunder</p><p>the file cabinet?” TheMini-Mag saveswastingmore expensive battery</p><p>lifewithyourprimarytacticalconcealedcarryflashlight.</p><p>No, it’snot theonly light Icarryconcealed(though itwas,“back in</p><p>theday,”whenitwas“theonlygameintown”forthat).TheMini-Mag</p><p>was designed by Don Kellner, the original Kel-Lite police flashlight</p><p>designer, when he was approached by Tak Kubota’s associate John</p><p>Peters.KubotahaddevelopedthebrilliantKubotan™self-defensedevice,</p><p>awand-shapedkeychainthatcouldbeusedforstrikes,key-slashes,and</p><p>wristlocks and</p><p>pressure point takedowns for self-defense. Kubota and</p><p>Peters were interested in a flashlight that could be used with their</p><p>techniquesandalsobeutilitarian.Theresultwaswhatmaybethemost</p><p>popular“personalcarryflashlight”ofmoderntimes.</p><p>TheMini-MagLiteismydailycarry“backupflashlight.”Tailoredsuit,</p><p>BDUsorwhatever,itsitsverticaltotheoutsideofthewalletinmyhip</p><p>pocket,alwaysinpositiontoreach,andcomfortable24-7.</p><p>Let’slookatsomehardwarethathasbecomecontroversialandtryto</p><p>makesomesenseofthecontroversy.</p><p>StrobeFlashlights</p><p>Beginning with the Blackhawk Gladius a few years ago, compact</p><p>flashlightswithanoptionalstrobefeaturehavebecomepopularinsome</p><p>quarters,andtendtobeeitherlovedorhated.Personally,Idon’tuseone</p><p>forEDC(everydaycarry),butifworkingintandemwithapartner,Ilike</p><p>tohaveoneofusequippedwiththestrobeoption.Here’swhy.</p><p>The SureFire Academy, when I went there before the Gladius came</p><p>out,wasalreadyteachingarapidmanipulationoftheconventionalhigh-</p><p>intensityflashlighttocreateastrobeeffect,aimedat thesuspect’s face</p><p>todisorienthim.Itworks.Hewon’tfalltothegroundinconvulsionsor</p><p>throw up or anything, but it does indeed interfere with his visual</p><p>processing,particularlyontheouterpartsofhisscanningfield.Thatis,</p><p>ifpartnerAisstrobinghimintheface, itwilltakehimalot longerto</p><p>see partner B approaching on his flank, and hemight even fail to see</p><p>thatpartnerintimetomounteffectiveresistancetoarrest.</p><p>That’sthegoodnewswiththestrobeoption.Theothergoodnewsis</p><p>thatyoucanturnittosolidbeaminstead.</p><p>Thebadnewsis,justasthebright,rapidlyflashinglightdisorientsthe</p><p>manyou’rebeamingitat,itcandisorientyou,albeittoalesserextent.</p><p>NoticeIsaiditcan,notthatitnecessarilywill.Visionitself,andhowour</p><p>brainprocesseswhatwesee,seemstobeaveryindividualthing.Backin</p><p>thetimeofdiscotheques, Icouldn’tbeartobeinthoseplaceswiththe</p><p>stroboscopic lighting, but some folks practically lived in that</p><p>environment in the 1970s. It was during that same decade that I</p><p>developedmylong-lasting love/haterelationshipwithstrobesaspolice</p><p>carrooflights.Iappreciatedthefactthatonasnowy,curvyroadinthe</p><p>darkofnight, the strobeswould literally lightup the skyandkeepan</p><p>innocent driver from coming around a corner too fast and rear-ending</p><p>mypatrolcarduringatrafficstop.ButIhatedthefactthat,thoughthey</p><p>affectedtheunknowndriverIhadstoppedinfrontofmypolicevehicle,</p><p>theyhadsomedegreeofthateffectonme.</p><p>Theeffectinquestionisthis:youreyeseeswhat’shappeningwhenthe</p><p>lightisonwhatyou’relookingat.Then,foraninstantwhenthelightis</p><p>off,youcan’tseewhatthepersonisactuallydoing.However,theimage</p><p>burned in your brain is telling you what it saw an instant ago. That</p><p>slowsyourabilitytorecognizeathreatandreacttoit.</p><p>Thenwhydo I think itmight be a handy option to have if you are</p><p>workingwithapartner?Becauseonecanput the strobe in the faceof</p><p>theopponentwhiletheotherholdsaconventional,solidlightbeamon</p><p>that suspect’s hands. This allows them to be seen constantly, even</p><p>thoughtheviewwilldimslightlybetweeneachstrobeoftheotherlight.</p><p>Theysay,“Youpaysyourmoneyandyoutakesyourchoice.”Isayyou</p><p>try the equipment under as close as you can get to the conditions in</p><p>whichyou’llactuallybedoingtheemergencywork,andthenyou’llhave</p><p>the knowledge to take the right choicewhen you pay yourmoney. To</p><p>eachtheirown…wisely.</p><p>TheGun-MountedLight</p><p>Crude flashlights attached to guns have been around since the early</p><p>1900s.Theydidn’tbecomereallyviableuntil the1980s,withSureFire</p><p>leadingtheway.Inthelawenforcementsector,itwastothebestofmy</p><p>knowledge the pioneering, trend-setting LAPD SWAT Team that first</p><p>used them, found them good, and spread their doctrine to other such</p><p>teams.</p><p>Therationalewasobvious:youcanseetoidentifyyourtarget,youcan</p><p>getasightpicturesoperfectlysilhouetteditlookslikesomethingoutof</p><p>amarksmanshipmanual,andyoucanapplybothhandstocontrolyour</p><p>weaponwithspeedandaccuracysinceyoudon’tneedaseparatehand</p><p>toholdtheilluminationdevice.</p><p>Buttherewasandisonehugedownside.Withthetwohandsonthe</p><p>gun,theonlylightyouhaveistheoneonthegun…andthismeansthat</p><p>everythingyouilluminate,youarepointingaloadedgunat!</p><p>(top)ForsmallerhandgunslikethisXD(m)Compact,wehavestill-powerful,properlysizedwhite</p><p>lightunitsliketheInSightX2.</p><p>(above)Allwhitelightunitsarenotcreatedequal.Thisone,onaRugerSR9Compact,proved</p><p>nexttouselessinauthor’sopinion.</p><p>Forthisreasonandforaverylongtime,ItoldstudentsthatIwasn’t</p><p>comfortable with a light mounted on a gun unless in the legal and</p><p>ethicalprinciple called “TheDoctrineofCompetingHarms,” therewas</p><p>some compelling danger that outweighed this one. For instance, the</p><p>SWATcop,whocouldbeexpected tohavebothhandson theweapon</p><p>whengoinginwheretherewasgreatreasontobelieveaknownarmed</p><p>anddangerous felon lay inwait, or aK9officerwhohad to keepone</p><p>handonhisdog’s leadandonlyhadonehandleft tocontrolbothgun</p><p>andilluminationdevicesimultaneously.</p><p>Overtheyears,Icametomodifymypositiononthat.Experienceboth</p><p>inthefieldandinteachingtaughtmetheadvantageofhavingthelight</p><p>on the gun in certain situations. In the early 1990s, I was serving as</p><p>chair of the firearms committee of the American Society of Law</p><p>Enforcement Trainers (ASLET)whenwe held our annual international</p><p>conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, hosted by the Palm Beach</p><p>County Sheriff’s Office, an agency which has long been a role-model</p><p>leaderinlawenforcementuseofforcetraining.BillTesta,commanderof</p><p>a SWAT team there, invited me along on a raid after class. I quickly</p><p>accepted; I had known Bill from previous shared training experiences,</p><p>andknewhimandhisteamtobetop-notchprofessionals.</p><p>AstheSWATteamrolledfromthevanandmovedrapidlytowardthe</p><p>house, aman appeared behind a frontwindowof the target premises,</p><p>pullingthecurtainopen.Asmyhandwent tomyownColt .45auto, I</p><p>sawBillTestasnaphisBenelliSuper9012gaugesemiautomaticshotgun</p><p>to his shoulder and put the beamof the SureFire light on its fore-end</p><p>rightinthesuspect’seyes.Themanraisedhishandstohiseyesandspun</p><p>away. Entrywas swiftly accomplished and arrestsweremadewith no</p><p>bloodshed.</p><p>Somepeople,undersomeothercircumstances,mighthaveshothim.</p><p>Thepowerful lighthadnotonly showedBill themanhadnogun,but</p><p>had caused the man to turn away and cease to present himself as a</p><p>threat.</p><p>Before long I had a SureFire light-equipped fore-end on my own</p><p>department issueHKMP5 submachinegun, and another for one ofmy</p><p>870shotguns.AlongaboutthenIalsoputoneofthethen-bigandbulky</p><p>dedicatedSureFirelightsonacustomhomedefensepistol,aBeretta92</p><p>withextendedMagna-Portedbarrel,extended20-roundmagazine,night</p><p>sights,andaBillJarvisaction.</p><p>So,wheredoesall this fit inaconcealedcarrybook? I feel it fitsas</p><p>follows.</p><p>For concealed carry per se, over the years gun-mounted lights by</p><p>SureFire, Streamlight, InSight, and other manufacturers became small</p><p>enough to fit in holsters. First, there were the big lights on the big</p><p>holsters that K9 officers hadworn, and by the early 2000s, hadmade</p><p>greatpopularity inroadswith rankand</p><p>filepolicepatrolofficers. Inan</p><p>emergency,wheretheofficerhadtodrawtheservicepistolinan“iffy”</p><p>situation, they allowed a last-minute verification before the officer</p><p>pulledthetriggerthatthiswasindeedadeadlythreat,anditwasindeed</p><p>aknifeinsteadofacarkeyintheopponent’shand,andtherefore,itwas</p><p>indeedasituationwheretheofficerneededtoshoot.</p><p>Thatexactsamedynamiccanbealifesaveroneithersideofthegun</p><p>whentheprivatecitizenhastodrawhisorherconcealedhandguninan</p><p>emergencysituation.</p><p>The first non-uniformholsters for flashlight-mountedhandgunswere</p><p>bulkythings…concealableholsters,butnotconcealmentholsters.BythatI</p><p>mean,yes,youcouldconcealthemunderaLondonFogovercoatoran</p><p>oversize shooter’s vest, but youweren’t going tohide that rigunder a</p><p>well-fittingsuitoranuntucked,one-sizelargepoloshirt.</p><p>Seen from the front, Concealment SolutionsMamba holster conceals IWB a full sizeGlock 17</p><p>withAdvantageSightsandmountedSureFirewhitelightunit…</p><p>…seenfromside,thefullsizegunisconcealableonaveragesizeadultmale…</p><p>…thefullsizeGlockwithSureFireX200lightdrawsquicklyandcleanlyfromIWBConcealment</p><p>SolutionsMambaholster.</p><p>Timewent on. Holstermakers figured how to conceal these bulkier</p><p>objects.Bylastwinter,whenIwasonhometurf,Ifoundmyselfcarrying</p><p>dailya full-sizeGlock31 in .357SIGwithaSureFire lightattached. It</p><p>rode in an inside the waistband holster from Concealment Solutions.</p><p>Therewasaslightbumpfromtheflashlightpart thatmighthavebeen</p><p>visible just overmy right hip pocket, but no one seemed to notice. If</p><p>theydid, theyprobably just thought Ihada fatbutt.Onunseasonably</p><p>warm days,when I could gowithout a coat, it all concealed just fine</p><p>underanuntuckedpoloshirtonesizelargerthanInormallywear.</p><p>Why was “winter” mentioned? Simply because when the earth tilts</p><p>awayfromthesunonitsaxisfarenoughtochangetheclimate,italso</p><p>changeshowmanyhoursofsunlightweget.Thereissimplymore“night</p><p>time”inwinter,andwhenyou’reoutandabout,there’sthatmuchmore</p><p>likelihood that your emergencywill occur in poor light.Moreover, no</p><p>one needs to buy a book such as this one to figure out that in colder</p><p>weather you’re wearing more clothing and bulkier clothing, which</p><p>meansthatyoucanhidebiggerhardwarediscreetly.Hell,theBadGuys</p><p>havealreadyfigureditout.Backinthe1970s,RichardDavisquantified</p><p>it.Richardwasthearmedcitizenwho“bullet-proofedAmerica’spolice”</p><p>whenhegotintoashootoutwiththreearmedrobbers,shot‘emall,and</p><p>took a couple of bullets himself in the process. Sitting in the hospital</p><p>being treated for two gunshot wounds, this brilliant man not only</p><p>figured out that there had to be something better to stop bulletswith</p><p>thanyourownbody,he introducedthesoftbodyarmor thathassince</p><p>saved thousandsof lives.As theentrepreneur/inventor runningSecond</p><p>ChanceBodyArmorCompany,hedidstudies inwhichhenoticed that</p><p>not only didmore bad guys carry gunswithwhich to shoot arresting</p><p>officers during winter than in summer, but also that more of them</p><p>carriedbiggergunsduringthecoolerseasons.IftheBadGuyscantake</p><p>thatadvantage,socanweGoodGuysandGals.</p><p>Aflashlightmountedbelowtheframeofthepistolgenerallyextends</p><p>beyondthefrontofthemuzzle.Thereisgoodnewsandbadnewshere,</p><p>andinthiswriter’sopinionthegoodnewsoutweighsthebad.Thebad</p><p>news ismuzzleblastandheataregoingtohammerthe flashlight.You</p><p>willwant to clean gunpowder residue off the lens after every practice</p><p>shooting session. Fortunately,most such “white light” units have been</p><p>engineeredtostanduptothis.</p><p>Thegoodnewsistheprotrudinglampofthelightunitcreates“stand-</p><p>off capability.” This is critical because when the muzzles of most</p><p>semiautomatic pistols are pressed against a firm surface – such as a</p><p>humanbody–thepressureforcesthebarrel/slideassemblytotherear</p><p>andpushesit“outofbattery.”Thatis,itmovestheworkingpartsoutof</p><p>the alignment required for the gun to fire…and it will no longer</p><p>dischargewhenthetriggerispulled.</p><p>It isnotatalluncommonforacriminal’s lethalassaulttohappenso</p><p>“upcloseandpersonal”thattheonlyoptionexcepttodieistoshootthe</p><p>attackeratmuzzlecontactdistance,sometimesusingadegreeofforward</p><p>pushthatisknownas“press-contact.”Thisconcernisonereasonsome</p><p>streetwisepeoplestillcarryrevolversinthetimeofsemiautomaticpistol</p><p>dominanceintheworldofthehandgun.</p><p>Different flashlight/gun holsters perform different functions. For open carry on his rural</p><p>property,authorlikesthisveryfastBlade-Tech…</p><p>…which,seenherefromthefront,protrudesfromthebodymorethansomeotherdesigns…</p><p>…and whose outer edge can lean a full two inches away from the body. Draw is very fast,</p><p>however.</p><p>The flashlight protruding from below the muzzle and in front of it</p><p>createsthe“stand-offeffect”:itisthelightthat’sincontact,notthegun.</p><p>Thepartsremain“inbattery”andthegunwillstillfire.</p><p>Itcan literallybe thedifferencebetween lifeanddeath. Inacase in</p><p>Florida, a law enforcement officer was murderously attacked by two</p><p>criminalsandhadtofireinself-defense.Heshotthefirstoneatmuzzle</p><p>contactwithhisnon-flashlight-equippeddoubleaction9mm.Thebullet</p><p>killed that one assailant, but “blowback effect” sent enough flesh and</p><p>bloodintothemuzzleareaofhispistolthatitdidnotreturntobattery</p><p>afterthefirstshot.Heswungtheguntothesecondmanandpulledthe</p><p>trigger, but nothing happened; his gun was out of battery. Before he</p><p>could clear the malfunction he was shot and killed by the second</p><p>assailant.</p><p>InMinnesota,anofficer losinga fightandknowinghewasabout to</p><p>die shoved his striker-fired duty pistol against his attacker’s body and</p><p>pulled the trigger.Nothing happened. The pistol, not equippedwith a</p><p>flashlight, was now out of battery. A near-miracle that was not</p><p>mechanicallygun-relatedwasallthatsavedthisofficer’slife.</p><p>InJacksonville,Florida,asuspectshotacourageousyoungcopnamed</p><p>JaredRestoninthefacewitha.45automatic.Restonfellbackwardinto</p><p>adryretentionpond,andthewould-becop-killerstoodabovehimand</p><p>shot him several more times, with multiple potentially fatal bullets</p><p>fortunatelystoppingontheofficer’sballisticvest.HedrewhisGlock22</p><p>and returned fire, hitting the opponent several times.The attacker fell</p><p>forwardandlandedontopofhim,stillcapableofkillinghim,andJared</p><p>pressed his .40 caliber pistol against the man’s head and pulled the</p><p>triggerthreetimes,endingthefight.Hesurvivedtoreturntofullduty,</p><p>onbothpatrolandSWATassignments.</p><p>JaredRestonsurvived, inmyopinion, inpartbecausehisGlockwas</p><p>fittedwithaTLR-1whitelightunit.Whenheputitforcefullyagainstthe</p><p>homicidal attacker’s head and pulled the trigger for the first of those</p><p>three shots, the bullet shattered themaxillo-facial structure but didn’t</p><p>reachthebrain,andwouldn’thavestoppedthemanfromshootinghim</p><p>again.However,while a non-light-equipped gunmight verywell have</p><p>failed to functionafter the first shotoreven for the first, the stand-off</p><p>effect of the TLR light allowed Jared to keep shooting when his</p><p>opponentdidn’tstopfighting,andallowhimto“brain”thegunmanand</p><p>bring the death battle his opponent had initiated to a righteous</p><p>conclusion.</p><p>Asarule,thosewholawfullycarry</p><p>aconcealedfirearminpublicalso</p><p>keep firearms readily available in the home for family protection. The</p><p>lighton thehomedefensegunservesa limitedpurpose:when thebad</p><p>guysarekickingdownthedoorandall thefamilymembershavebeen</p><p>marshaledintothesaferoom,andyou’vecountednosesanddetermined</p><p>that whatever is kicking down the door is something that is going to</p><p>severelyharmyourfamily,thatisdefinitelytimetoapplybothhandsto</p><p>thegunforaccurate,fastshooting.Andyes,it’sallthebetterifyouhave</p><p>those hands on a suitably loaded home defense carbine or shotgun.</p><p>THEN, the light can give you the final verification that it is truly</p><p>someonewhoneedstobeshot,beforeyoustartpressingthetrigger.</p><p>But,please,hearmeonthis:Anytimeyouneedtosearchwithalightto</p><p>findoutwhat isgoingon, forheaven’ssakePLEASEuseaseparate light to</p><p>search, so you don’t point the gun at everything illuminated by yourwhite</p><p>lightbeam!Ifthepistol’smuzzleisdownandthepersonyouilluminate</p><p>in your separately hand-held light turns out to be someone you don’t</p><p>needtoshoot–whichhappensmoreoftenthanyoumightthink,inreal</p><p>life–atleastyouhaven’tbeenpointingagunatthem.</p><p>Pointing a lethal weapon at someone you have no right to take at</p><p>gunpoint fits the description of the very serious felony of Aggravated</p><p>Assault. Even if the person you erroneously pointed the gun at during</p><p>your“housesearch”isamemberofyourfamilyorextendedfamilyand</p><p>not likely topress charges,youwillhave still inflictedapsychological</p><p>woundthatwillneverentirelyheal.</p><p>ThebestwayIcanexplainitis,treatthelightmountedonyourgun</p><p>thewaya responsiblehunter treats the telescopic sightonhishunting</p><p>gun.Youdon’tuseyourriflescopetoscanforthequarry,becausethere</p><p>isaveryhighlikelihoodthatyou’llenduplookingthroughthatscopeat</p><p>anotherhunterorahikerinthewoods.Pointingthegunatthatperson</p><p>stillconstitutesAggravatedAssault,andifyouarereportedfordoingso</p><p>you can expect that charge in criminal court atworst, and the loss of</p><p>yourhuntinglicenseatbest,evenifnoshotisfired.</p><p>LasersightsarepopularonsmallframerevolversliketheseS&Ws.Top,CrimsonTraceLaserGrip;</p><p>below,LaserMaxunit.</p><p>The latest TLR-4 flashlight from Streamlight encompasses both white light and laser dot, in</p><p>tandemorseparate.</p><p>TLR light system from Streamlight rolls onto the frame sideways, keeping hand behind the</p><p>muzzleofaloadedpistol.</p><p>This iswhy the responsiblehunterusesbinoculars to scan forgame,</p><p>and the scoped rifle to aimat the recognizedquarry.At thatmoment,</p><p>the magnified and improved vision afforded by the telescopic sight</p><p>allowsthehuntertoverifythatheisindeedaimingatadeerinsteadofa</p><p>human being or a domestic sheep, that he is indeed aiming at a legal</p><p>buckinsteadofanillegaldoe.</p><p>I respectfully submit that it is very much the same thing with the</p><p>lightingdeviceandthegun.Youuseaseparatehand-heldlighttosearch</p><p>andidentify,thesamewaytheresponsiblehunterusesbinocularstoscan</p><p>and determine a target, and you use the lightmounted on the gun to</p><p>verifythatthisisindeeda“shoot”targetbeforeyoupullthetrigger.</p><p>Lights that slide onto the front goon andoff faster, but put thehand in front of themuzzle,</p><p>whichgivespolicechiefsandfirearmsinstructorsnightmares.</p><p>Authoremphaticallysuggeststhatgun-mountedlightbebackedupwithseparatehand-heldlight</p><p>forsearchfunctions.</p><p>“Grommets”onthese lights facilitate theRogers techniqueofmatinghand-held flashlightwith</p><p>handgun.</p><p>Properlyused,thishardwaregivesallinvolvedonemoresafetynetto</p><p>preventtragedy.Improperlyused,itcanleaddirectlytosuchtragedy.</p><p>The hunter with his finger on the trigger as he searches for a deer</p><p>through his riflescope may be so startled by seeing a buck that the</p><p>“startle response” pulls the trigger for him before he is certain of his</p><p>target.The exact same thing canhappenwhen the light on thegun is</p><p>used for searching. Yeah, yeah, I know: we’re supposed to keep our</p><p>finger off the trigger until we’ve decided to shoot. However, that</p><p>requiresaperfecthumanbeingatthecontrols,onewhoisincapableof</p><p>makingamistake.NeitheryounorIareperfecthumanbeingsincapable</p><p>ofmakingamistake.Therehasn’tbeensuchahumanbeingforatleasta</p><p>coupleofthousandyears.However,theotherelementofthecomparison</p><p>also holds true: in the last instant before a tragic bullet ismistakenly</p><p>launched,thegun-mountedlightcanprovidealifesavingverificationof</p><p>targetidentity.</p><p>My take:use thegun-mounted light, butuse itwiselyandcarefully,</p><p>and in tandemwith a separate, dedicated flashlight to perform search</p><p>functions.</p><p>LaserSighting</p><p>Some of the white light units discussed above, which attach to</p><p>firearms, also come with laser attachments. Laser sights have been</p><p>around since the 1980s, though itwasn’t until later that they became</p><p>smallenoughtoadapttoconcealablefirearms.Usablelasersightswere</p><p>actuallyonthemarketbeforegun-mountedlightsgotsmallenoughfor</p><p>CCWwork.</p><p>Thelasershavetheirplace,solongasonedoesn’tallowoneselftobe</p><p>oversold on the concept. They need to be checked regularly to verify</p><p>thatthebeamisontarget,andofcourse,theyarebatterydependent.</p><p>Most of us find the projected laser dot slower to get on target than</p><p>regularsights,assumingthatwecanseethoseconventionalsights.It’sa</p><p>matterofgeometry.Gettingtheredlinethatprojectsfromtheguntothe</p><p>aiming point on a target a distance away, is a little like wielding a</p><p>weightlesswandofa lengththatequals thatdistanceandtouchingthe</p><p>spotwewanttohit.</p><p>Some proponents of the concept assure us that the BadGuywill be</p><p>terrified into peaceful surrenderwhen he perceives the red dot on his</p><p>chest.While this has doubtless happened, itwould be a stretch of the</p><p>imagination to expect that it would happen every time the laser dot</p><p>centeredonasuspect’sbody.Iwaspresentatoneincidentwhereithad</p><p>theoppositeeffect,andprovokedahomicidalresponse.Youdon’tspend</p><p>yourdayslookingdownatyourchestforlaserdots;whywouldtheBad</p><p>Guysbelookingthere?</p><p>Don’t focusonquestionableattributesof the laser-equippedhandgun</p><p>when it has multiple real advantages. There are many people,</p><p>particularlythosewitholdereyes,whocanseewellenoughatadistance</p><p>toidentifyathreattarget,butareunabletofocussharplyontheirgun</p><p>sights.Theprojectedred(orgreen)dotmayworkverywellforsomeone</p><p>insuchasituation.</p><p>The laser has proven to be a tremendous training tool for shooters.</p><p>Whentheyrefusetoacceptthatthey’rejerkingthetrigger,watchingthe</p><p>laserdoton targetduringdry fire tells the taledecisively.Conversely,</p><p>oneofthefewshortcutstolearningtriggercontrolistowatchthedoton</p><p>thepoint of aim, andhold it therewithout itmovingas the trigger is</p><p>slowlybroughtbackuntil thedry-fire“click”oftheunloadedgun.The</p><p>non-shootablededicatedlaserpistolknownastheSIRTisquiteusefulin</p><p>thisrespect,andhasprovenitselfinthetrainingenvironmentinthelast</p><p>couple of years before this Second Edition of the Gun Digest Book of</p><p>ConcealedCarrywaswritten.ResemblingaGlockpistol(othertypesare</p><p>believed tobe in thepipeline), it projectsonedoton the target like a</p><p>regularlasersight,andthenanotherfromtheboreaxisasthe</p><p>“shot”is</p><p>fired,toshowwhereitwouldhavehit.Thetriggerresetsitself.</p><p>Lasersightsareparticularlyusefulonsmallpocketsizehandgunswith</p><p>tiny,hard-to-seeconventionalsights.ThinkintermsoftheJ-frameS&W,</p><p>Ruger, and Taurus small frame revolvers, and the super-small .380</p><p>pistols suchas theKel-TecP3AT,Ruger LCP, andKahrP380.Crimson</p><p>Trace makes LaserGrips for small to large revolvers and for full-size</p><p>service autos, and their LaserGuard for the smaller autoloaders.</p><p>LaserMax,which came outwith a popular laser unit that replaces the</p><p>recoilspringguiderodinsemiautos,alsohasalaserunitthatattachesto</p><p>thesideofaJ-framerevolver.Laser-Lytemakesonethataffixes to the</p><p>sideoftherearsightonsomecompacttoservice-sizeautos.Finally, in</p><p>2010,Smith&WessonmadeproprietaryInSightlaserunitsintegralwith</p><p>theirnewly introducedBodyguardseries,apolymer-framed.38Special</p><p>five-shotandadoubleactiononly.380pocketpistol.</p><p>Crimson Trace sent a great many LaserGrips for the Beretta M9 to</p><p>America’s armed service personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the</p><p>dimnessofhouse-to-housecombatintheoneplaceandinsearchingthe</p><p>darkcavesof theother, the lasersightsmademanyfriendsamongour</p><p>troops. Standard issueUSmilitary servicepistols arenotusually fitted</p><p>withnightsights.</p><p>How effective are the laser sights in poor light? That’s where they</p><p>comeintotheirown–solongastheusercanseethetargetwellenough</p><p>to identify it.Workingwith a groupof very experienced colleagues in</p><p>LiveOak,Florida,wetestedthevarioussystemsintensivelyduringnight</p><p>shootsoneight-inchsteelplates.Shootingwithconventionalsightsand</p><p>no illumination on a dark night resulted in slow and relatively dismal</p><p>performance.Shootingwiththeguninthefiringhandandtheflashlight</p><p>in the support hand proved distinctly better.Gun-mountedwhite light</p><p>gaveevenbetterresults.However,solongastherewasenoughlightto</p><p>seethetarget,thelasersightprovedfasterandmoreaccuratethanany</p><p>of the previous systems. Best of all, by a slight margin, was the</p><p>combinationlightandlasersight.</p><p>Whenshootingwithalaser-equippedhandgun,bearinmindthatthe</p><p>boreisnotinperfectalignmentwiththelasersight,andyoumayneed</p><p>some“Kentuckywindage”accordingly.Withalasersightonlybelowthe</p><p>bore,andattachedtothegun’slightrail–notmyownideaofthebest</p><p>laser sighting system, because for that amount of bulk, I’dwant some</p><p>whitelight–wefoundthebestbetwasdetermininghowfarabovethe</p><p>underslunglaser’sdotthebulletwouldhit,andusingasixo’clockhold</p><p>proportionaltothedistance.Thesameistruewiththewhite/lightlaser</p><p>combinations,andyoucanexpectadifferenceofasmuchastwoinches</p><p>ormorewithsomeunits,becausewiththelasergenerallylocatedbelow</p><p>the light’s lamp, it is that far below the barrel axis.With the popular</p><p>CrimsonTraceLaserGrips,thelasermoduleis locatedontherightgrip</p><p>panel.Iadjustittoprojectthebeamparalleltothebore,andacceptthe</p><p>fact that thebulletwill goaboutahalf an inch leftof thedotand,at</p><p>mostreasonabledistances,aboutaninchhigh.</p><p>WithlasttwofingersFIRMLYholdingglobeofthelamp,thumbandindexfingerturnonaMini-</p><p>MagLiteone-handed.Techniquerequiresrelativelystrongfingers…andpractice.</p><p>Tryingtoadjustalasersightsothebulletstrikesexactly“onthedot”</p><p>isanexerciseinfrustration.Onceagain,geometryisatwork.Thebullet</p><p>willonly“hitthedot”attheexactdistanceforwhichitwassightedin.</p><p>WithLaserGrips,atshorterdistancesthedotwillbelowrightoftheline</p><p>ofthebullet,andatlongeryardagesthanthedistanceforwhichitwas</p><p>sighted, the dot will be progressively more high and left of the</p><p>trajectory.Byadjustingthebeamtorunparalleltothebore,you’llhave</p><p>aconsistent,easilyrememberedpointofimpactthat’soneinchhighand</p><p>halfaninchleftofthebullet’strajectoryline.</p><p>TheversatileHarriesflashlight/pistoltechniquerequiresbackofhandtobackofhandlock-in…</p><p>…andputstheshooterinabent-elbowsclassicWeaverstance…</p><p>Are laser sightsworth it?So longasyouplay to their strengthsand</p><p>avoidtheirweaknesses,Ithinktheyare.Usethemasauxiliarysightsfor</p><p>special purposes instead of yourmain default, unless you simply can’t</p><p>see your sights even under normal conditions, and I think you’ll find</p><p>themworth themoney.My regular backup gun is a J-frame Smith &</p><p>WessonequippedwithLaserGrips,andI foronehavebeenveryhappy</p><p>withit.</p><p>CoordinatingtheHandgunWithaSeparateFlashlight</p><p>Mostconcealedcarrygunsatthewritingofthissecondeditionwon’t</p><p>have lightsattached, thoughthatmaychangeas technologyprogresses</p><p>and the light units become smaller and relatively more powerful. For</p><p>now,itstillmakesalotofsensetobeabletocoordinateaconventional</p><p>flashlightinthesupporthandwiththefirearminthegunhand.Several</p><p>techniquesdeveloped for thishaveproven themselves in the fieldover</p><p>thedecades.</p><p>The firstwas theFBI technique, going back to the first half of the</p><p>20th century, and developed by the eponymous agency. The shooter</p><p>firesone-handed,astheflashlightisheldouttothesideoftheshooterat</p><p>arm’slength,andsometimesheldhighaswell.Thetheorywasthatthe</p><p>opponentwouldseethelightandshootat it,notrealizingthathewas</p><p>aimingawayfromthetorsoandheadoftheGoodGuyholdingthelight.</p><p>While that might have been true of weak, early flashlights of the</p><p>Eveready variety, the ploy is somewhat compromised by the powerful</p><p>lightsof today.Particularly indoors,all that lightreflectsoffwallsand</p><p>particularlyfromceilings,whicharegenerallywhite.Theresultcanbe</p><p>thattheGoodGuy,whothinkshe’sactuallyinvisibletothesideofthe</p><p>light beam, is actually illuminated by the reflected light, and from an</p><p>opponent’seyeviewisinfactasvisibleasifalow-watt lightbulbhad</p><p>beenturnedonovertheGoodGuy’shead.TheFBItechniquecomesinto</p><p>its own, however, if the user can duck behind a tree, with the light</p><p>projectingfromoneside,andaimingeyeandgunhandemergingfrom</p><p>theotherside.</p><p>GoingbacktotheearlydaysofJeffCooper’sgroupandthedawnof</p><p>what the Colonel called The Modern Technique of the Pistol is the</p><p>Harriestechnique.Cooper’scolleagueMichaelHarriesdevelopedwhat</p><p>is perhaps the most versatile such technique in terms of use with</p><p>different types of flashlight. The handgun is held in the conventional</p><p>manner. The support hand, holding the flashlight with the lens</p><p>protruding from the bottomof the fist, goes “back of hand to back of</p><p>hand”withthefiringhand.It’sprimarilyasearchtechnique;thatis,you</p><p>assume the position before you startmoving, not as a reaction to the</p><p>threatasyoudrawthegun.Thethumboperatesabuttcaplightswitch,</p><p>andthemiddlefingeroperatestheswitchifit’smountedonthesideof</p><p>theflashlight.</p><p>The Harries technique can be fatiguing over the long term. As</p><p>originally taught, the backs of the hands press against each other, an</p><p>unnatural action that we don’t do any other time in life, resulting in</p><p>fatigue.Someinstructorsteachtousethistechniquebypressingthegun</p><p>buttdownagainstthewristofthefiringhand.Itworkswellaroundthe</p><p>rightsideofabarricadeforaright-handedshooter,butisawkwardand</p><p>carries the upper body out too far on the left side of the wall. The</p><p>oppositewillbetrueforleft-handedshooters.</p><p>…whichlookslikethisfrom“thebusinessend.”</p><p>The Harries technique prettymuch forces the shooter into a classic</p><p>Weaverstance,withbothelbowsbent.</p><p>Another Cooper associate, Ray Chapman, developed the Chapman</p><p>techniqueshortlyaftertheHarries.Ray,thefirstworldchampionofthe</p><p>combat pistol and theman Cooper himself nicknamed “TheMaestro,”</p><p>preferred to hold the pistol in the conventionalmanner and grasp the</p><p>light in a conventional hold with the support hand, the lens of the</p><p>flashlight on the thumb side. Designed for the flashlights of the day,</p><p>whichwereoperatedby sliding switches or buttonson the sideof the</p><p>light,theChapmanmethodstartswiththesupporthandconfiguredlike</p><p>an“OK”sign.Thumbandforefingerencircle the light,with the thumb</p><p>ontheswitch.Thelowerthreefingersofthesupporthandwraparound</p><p>thefiringhand,reinforcingtheshooter’sholdonthepistol.</p><p>TheChapmanflashlight/pistoltechnique.Flashlighthandforms“OK”sign,withthumbrunning</p><p>side-mountedlightswitch,andthreebottomfingerssupportingfiringhand.</p><p>With a heavy flashlight, Ray’s technique can be fatiguing at arm’s</p><p>length, but fatigue is relieved with a long light by simply resting the</p><p>buttcapagainsttheupperabdomenwiththeguninatacticalhighready</p><p>position.Itlooksalittlelikethewaytheflagbearercarriestheflagpole</p><p>inaparade.LiketheHarries,thisisasearchtechnique,andisdesigned</p><p>to be assumed before the shooter starts moving, not suddenly as a</p><p>reaction.ItcanbeusedwithaWeaverstance,anIsosceles,orRay’sown</p><p>modifiedWeaverstance.Itworkswelloneithersideofthebarricade.It</p><p>does not, however, translate well to the short, butt-button lights of</p><p>today.</p><p>Author’stechnique,designedforsudden,reactiveshooting.Supporthandholdsonlylight,firing</p><p>handholdsonlygun…</p><p>…andfromthisperspective,wecanseethatlightisangledupwardtogointoopponent’seyes,</p><p>whilegunislevelonopponent’scenterchest.</p><p>Authorlikesthistechniqueforshortbutt-switchflashlight,butbehindcover,thebarricadecan</p><p>blocktheflashlightbeam.</p><p>IdevelopedtheAyoobtechniqueinthe‘70s,backwhenourprimary</p><p>flashlights were the big Kel-Lites with side buttons. I intended it as a</p><p>reactiontechnique,forwhentheflashlightwasbeingheldforordinary</p><p>illuminationtaskswiththeglobeprotrudingfromthethumb-sideofthe</p><p>hand,andthegunwasstillintheholster.Withthismethod,onesimply</p><p>draws the gun and extends it full length toward the threat, with the</p><p>firing hand dedicated to the pistol, and thrusts the flashlight arm</p><p>forward to full extension, too.Bothelbows lock inan Isosceles stance,</p><p>with “baseof thumbagainst baseof thumb” forhand-to-hand contact.</p><p>Withnaturalwristangle,thisslantsthelineofthelightbeamsomewhat</p><p>upward. From near-contact to about seven yards, this puts the light</p><p>directly in theopponent’seyes (Iwantedmaximumblindingpotential)</p><p>andthemuzzleinlinewiththecenteroftheopponent’schest.</p><p>Downsides?Developedfortheolderstylelights,itdoesnotadaptwell</p><p>to buttcap switches. Beyond seven yards, geometry being what it is,</p><p>eitherthelightwillgohighortheshotswillgolow.</p><p>The Rogers “cigar” technique came next, if I recall correctly,</p><p>developedbythebrilliantholsterdesigner,shootingchampion,andFBI</p><p>alumnus Bill Rogers. He built it around the SureFire 6P with butt-</p><p>mounted pressure switch. The light is held between index andmiddle</p><p>fingerslikeacigar.Themiddlefingerandtwolowerdigitswraparound</p><p>thegunhand for two-hand firing support, and the top fingerspull the</p><p>buttofthelightbackintothedrumstickofthethumb,whichactivates</p><p>the button. This is an accurate, effective, fatigue-free technique. The</p><p>flashlightindustrysawsomuchpotentialinitthatSureFirebroughtout</p><p>their Z-model with a rubber grommet placed to facilitate it, a feature</p><p>widelycopiedbyothermakers.Ifthelightiscarriedbutt-upinpocketor</p><p>belt, it can actually be drawn simultaneouswith the gun, a technique</p><p>thatrequirespracticebutisworthdeveloping.</p><p>This is how the support hand manages the “cigar” or “syringe” technique, developed by Bill</p><p>Rogers.</p><p>TheRogerstechnique,asseenfromthefront…</p><p>…andfromtheside.</p><p>Thenecktechnique isassociatedwithSureFireAcademy.Theshort</p><p>light is held with the thumb on the end-cap button and the lamp</p><p>projectingfromthebottomofthesupport-sidefist.Itisthenbroughtup</p><p>tothesideoftheneckorthejawline.Thisputsthebeaminarelatively</p><p>naturalposition to lookwhere thehead is looking.Firing isdoneone-</p><p>handed. Some like it because it can light up the gun and the sights. I</p><p>personallydislikeitforthesamereason:Ifindlightglaringonthegun</p><p>and particularly the sights in the dark distracts me too much from</p><p>identifying the target and aiming at it.With the beamon target only,</p><p>yougetthesilhouetteofthesightpicture,whichIforonefindeasierto</p><p>index. Vision being a highly individual thing, so obviously is the</p><p>preferenceforflashlighttechniques.</p><p>Finally,when the bigMagLites gaveway to the pocketsize SureFire</p><p>anditsmanycopies,Ifounditusefultosimplyquick-drawthelightwith</p><p>thelefthand,theglobeprotrudingfromthebottomofthefist,andbring</p><p>ittocenterchest.Thispointedthelightwheretheheadandupperbody</p><p>were pointing. It centered the beamverywell and didn’t glare onmy</p><p>gunandsights.Adownside:whenyou’rebehindcover, thatcovercan</p><p>blockthelightunlessyou’remoreexposedthanyouwanttobe.</p><p>Trythedifferenttechniques.Findatleastonethatworkswellforyou</p><p>whenyou setupbeforehand to search, andone that canallowyou to</p><p>quickly draw the gun and bring it up to coordinate with the light in</p><p>suddenreactivesituations.Theydaymaycomewhenyou’llbegladyou</p><p>did.</p><p>Neckplacementofflashlightworkswellforsome,butnotforeveryone.</p><p>FlashlightasWeapon</p><p>Whether as a less-lethal option to thegunor theonly thing inyour</p><p>possession that can serveasaweapon,a flashlight canbeaneffective</p><p>defense tool if you know what to do with it. The long police-style</p><p>flashlight shouldn’t be used like a Cro-Magnon’s club; the overhand</p><p>swingcansmasha skullandaccidentallykillormaimsomeoneyou’re</p><p>merely trying to subdue, and in any case is easy for a streetwise</p><p>opponent to block or evade a downward swing. Spend some time</p><p>learning flashlight defensive techniques from a qualified instructor, or</p><p>shortstickfightingtechniquesfromsomeonewhoteachesamartialart</p><p>thatincorporatesthatsortofweaponry.Intheconventionalillumination</p><p>grasp, a four-or five-cell light along the lower edge of the forearm</p><p>becomes a formidable blocking (and striking) tool. A few hours of</p><p>trainingwill showyouavarietyofblocks, less-lethal strikes,andeven</p><p>grappling techniques. Pick the lengthdependingon the lengthof your</p><p>forearm:whenheldnormally,youwant its lengthto truncatebefore it</p><p>reachestoyourownelbow.AC-celllightisslimmertograsp,andlighter</p><p>andfastertoswingformostpeople, thantheheavyD-size lights.Look</p><p>forthebookDefensiveTacticsWithFlashlightsbyJohnPeters.</p><p>The old FBI technique does not work as well with butt-activated lights projecting from the</p><p>bottomof the fist,as itdoes fromolderstyleside-switch lights,whichproject fromthethumb</p><p>sideofthehand.</p><p>EventhehumbleMini-MagLitecanbecomeaneffectivedefensetool.</p><p>Look for The Kubotan Manual by Takayuki Kubota. Both books were</p><p>availablefromPoliceBookshelf,POBox122,Concord,NH03302atthis</p><p>writing.KubotadevelopedhisnamesakeKubotan,asmallkeychain-size</p><p>plasticwand,todeliveravarietyofpressurepointattacksandcounters,</p><p>strikes, andwristlocks and takedowns.Every singleKubotan technique</p><p>willworkwiththeMini-Mag,whichislegaltocarryanywhere,evenin</p><p>courtrooms,schools,andcommercialaircraft.</p><p>The bottom line? For the person who carries a gun, a small but</p><p>powerfulflashlightisanessentialcomplementtotheequipment.</p><p>Hewhocontrolsthelightneednotfearthedarkness.</p><p>First Light flashlight straps onto hand, leaving palms and fingers free for two hand shooting,</p><p>graspingandfighting,orwhatever.Ausefultool!</p><p>CARRYMETHODS</p><p>T</p><p>Chapter10</p><p>HIPHOLSTERS</p><p>hestrong-sidehip– i.e., thegunhand-sidehip– is theodds-on</p><p>choice for weapon placement for most of those who carry</p><p>concealedhandgunstoday.Itisalsothestandardlocationforlaw</p><p>enforcementofficersinuniform.Thisisprobablynotcoincidental.</p><p>Many ranges,policeacademies, and shooting schoolswill allowonly</p><p>strong-sideholsters.Thetheorybehindthisisthatcrossdraw(including</p><p>shoulder and fanny pack carries) will cause the gun muzzles to cross</p><p>othershootersandrangeofficerswhenweaponsaredrawnorholstered.</p><p>Somealsoworryaboutthesafetyofpocketdrawandankledraw.There</p><p>are action shooting sports – PPC and IDPA, to name two – where</p><p>anything but a strong-side belt holster is expressly forbidden. Once</p><p>again,safetyisthecitedreason.</p><p>Itisworthwhiletolookatothersuchsportswherecrossdrawholsters</p><p>areallowed…butareseldomseen.IntheearlydaysofIPSC,crossdraws</p><p>actuallydominated thewinner’scircle forawhile.RayChapmanwore</p><p>onewhenhecapturedthefirstworldchampionshipofthesport.Today,</p><p>however, even though it’s still allowed, the cross draw has all but</p><p>disappeared from that sport. A little history is in order. In the mid-</p><p>1970s,acommonIPSCstartpositionwasstandingwithhandsclaspedat</p><p>centerline of the torso.With a front cross draw, this allowed the gun</p><p>hand to be positioned barely above the pistol grip at themoment the</p><p>start signal went off. IPSC started to gomore toward hands-shoulder-</p><p>highstartpositions(togiveeveryoneamorelevelplayingfield,andto</p><p>betterallowrangeofficerstoseeifahandwentprematurelytothegun),</p><p>and the last suchmatch I shot usedmostly start positionswith hands</p><p>relaxedatthesides.Thesepositionsfavoredagunonthesamesideas</p><p>thedominanthand.Inanycase,astrong-sideholsterbringsthegunon</p><p>target faster because, standing properly, theweapon is already in line</p><p>withthemarkanddoesnothavetobesweptacrossthetarget.</p><p>Quality concealed-carry hip holsters aren’t new. This one, carrying a period S&W Model 39</p><p>9mm…</p><p>…wasmadecirca1974bySeventrees,theinnovativecompanyledbythelateParisTheodore.</p><p>We saw the same inNRAAction Shooting.MickeyFowler formany</p><p>years had a monopoly on the Bianchi Cup, using a front cross draw,</p><p>specificallyanISICompetitionRigheandhiscolleagueMikeDaltonhad</p><p>designedwithTedBlocker.However,inlateryears,theCuphasalways</p><p>beenwonwithastraight-drawhipholster.</p><p>Becausetheybeginattheacademywithhandgunsontheirdominant</p><p>hand side, cops tend to stay with the same location for plainclothes</p><p>wear. Habituation is a powerful thing. Master holster maker and</p><p>historianJohnBianchiinvokesBianchi’sLaw:thesamegun,inthesame</p><p>place,allthetime.Itmakesthereactivedrawsecondnature.</p><p>We saw this in action in the IPSC world in the late Seventies. The</p><p>second American to become IPSCworld championwas the great Ross</p><p>Seyfried.RossshotaPachmayrCustomColtGovernmentModel45from</p><p>ahigh-ridingMiltSparks#1ATholsterthatrodeatanFBItiltbehindhis</p><p>righthip.HewasaworkingcattlemaninColoradoandadiscipleofboth</p><p>ElmerKeithandJeffCooper.Itwasatimewhentheseriouscompetitors</p><p>mostlyeitherwentcrossdraw,orworeelaboratespeedrigslowonthe</p><p>hip.OnewhochosethelatterwasamultimillionaireforwhomIPSCwas</p><p>purely sport. Frustrated that Ross had beaten him at the national</p><p>championships in Denver, this fellow hired a sports physiologist to</p><p>explain to him how Seyfried had managed to beat him. “I don’t</p><p>understandit,”thefrustratedprofessionaltoldthewealthysportsmanin</p><p>essenceafterviewingtapesofSeyfried.“Yourwayisfasterthanhis.The</p><p>waythisSeyfriedfellowcarrieshisgunismechanicallyslower.”</p><p>Aclassicfromoneofthegreatholsterauthoritiesofalltime,thisleft-handedIWBholstercarries</p><p>aDanWessoncloneoftheBrowningHi-Power…</p><p>BianchiBlackWidowhaseither-sidebeltloopsfortightcarryofthisRugerGP100357against</p><p>body,andfastthumb-breaksafetystrap.ItridesonamatedBianchidressgunbelt.Holsterand</p><p>beltaremorethan20yearsoldandinexcellentcondition,atributetoBianchiquality.</p><p>…andwasmadebythegreatChicGaylord,whosetimelessdesignsarenowreproducedbyBell</p><p>CharterOak.</p><p>Whatphysiologistandrichguyalikehadmissedwasonesimplefact:</p><p>themultimillionaire only strapped on his fancy quick-draw holster on</p><p>match day and at practice sessions. Ross Seyfried wore a #1AT Milt</p><p>Sparksholsterbehindhishipeverydayofhislife,thoughinthesaddle</p><p>ontheranchhecarrieda4-inchSmith&WessonModel2944Magnum.</p><p>Rossandthatholsterhaddevelopedasymbioticrelationship.Reaching</p><p>tothatspothadbecomesecondnature,andmadehimfasterfromthere</p><p>thanapart-timepistolpackerwithamoresophisticated,moreexpensive</p><p>“speedrig.”</p><p>Strong-SideHipAdvantages</p><p>If the navel is 12 o’clock, a properly worn concealment hip holster</p><p>putsaright-handedman’sgunat3:30.Inthisposition, justbehindthe</p><p>ileaccrestofthepelvis,clothingcomesdowninanaturaldrapefromthe</p><p>latissimus dorsi to cover the gunwithout bulge. On a guy of average</p><p>build,theholsteredgunfindsitselfnestledinanaturalhollowbelowthe</p><p>kidney area. With the jacket opened in the front, the gun is usually</p><p>invisible from the front. Being just behind the hip, a holstered gun in</p><p>this locationdoesnot seemtoget in thewayofbucket seatsnormost</p><p>furniture, anddoesn’tpress into thebodywhen thewearer leansback</p><p>againstachairsurface.</p><p>Because of its proximity to the gun hand, and because the gun can</p><p>come directly up on target from the holster, the strong-side draw is</p><p>naturallyfast.Formales,simplybringingtheelbowstraightbackbrings</p><p>thehandalmostautomaticallytothegun.</p><p>Disadvantages</p><p>The hip draw does not lend itself to a surreptitious draw – that is,</p><p>starting with the hand already on the gun, unnoticed – unless the</p><p>practitioner can get the gun-side third of his body behind some</p><p>concealingobjectorstructure.Becauseofthehigher,moreflaringpelvis</p><p>andshortertorso,womendon’tfindthiscarrynearlyascomfortableor</p><p>asfastasmen.Asnotedelsewhereinthisbook,crossdrawandshoulder</p><p>carryseemmoreeffectiveformanywomen.</p><p>DesignedbythelateBruceNelson,theserough-outSummerSpecialIWBholsterswereproduced</p><p>byMiltSparks.Left,standardversionforMorrisCustomColt45automatic.Right,narrowbelt</p><p>loopmodeltogowithcorrespondingthickbutnarrowdressbeltforsuits,alsobySparks,here</p><p>withBrowningHi-Power.</p><p>Author says at least one ambidextrous model is imperative to the holster wardrobe. This is</p><p>Glock’sown,inveryeconomicalpolymer,withaGlock3045auto.</p><p>ThePagerPalcarriesthegun,inthiscase</p><p>aKahrPM9,notonlyinsidethewaistbandbutbelow</p><p>it.Fakepager(shown)orknifepouchorcellphonecarrierdisguisestheconcealmentsystem.</p><p>Women’shipsdon’tadaptwell tomale-orientedholsters.NotewhereJulieGoloski carriesher</p><p>S&WM&P9mmasshepauseswhilewinning2006NationalWomanIDPAChampiontitle..</p><p>MitchRosen’sWorkmanholster,namedafterdesignerDaveWorkman,wasthefirstanddefining</p><p>“tuckable.”Notice“V”ofleatherbetweengunandbeltloop.Shirt,tuckedintotheVandinside</p><p>thewaistband,hidesthisGlock26.Beltloopcanbedisguisedbyputtingakeyringonit.</p><p>Galco’saffordableTuckableissuede-out(a.k.a.“rough-out”)andsecurestobeltwithlowprofile</p><p>polymerJ-clip.PistolisGlock269mm.</p><p>ThisSafarilandsyntheticOWBholdsGlock39subcompact45GAPtighttothebodyofastate</p><p>policeinstructor.</p><p>“Deep Concealment Special” IWB holster designed by Elmer McEvoy at Leather Arsenal has</p><p>rearwardflangetohelpkeepholsterfromdiggingintobody,orshifting.PistolisGlock30in45</p><p>ACP.</p><p>Exotic leathers have become a status symbol among CCW people. This ParaOrdnance SSP 45</p><p>automaticlivesinthissharkskinOWBholster/beltcombobyAker.</p><p>“Plastic” CQC holster for Glock 17 here holds a longer Glock 34, which works fine in this</p><p>instancedespiteexposedportionofbarrelandfrontsight.Itholdstheguntighttothebody,and</p><p>isveryfastforIDPA-typecompetition.</p><p>Oneof the great classic IWBholsters is the#3Pistol Pocket designed byRichardNichols for</p><p>Bianchi.HereholdingasquarebuttS&W357CombatMagnum,ithaswide,handyone-way-snap</p><p>foreasyon-off,leatherreinforcedmouthforeasyreholstering,andfast,securethumbbreak.This</p><p>onehasbeeninservicefordecadesandstillworksfine.</p><p>STREETTIP:Ifweightofgunispullingpantsdown,don’tpullitbackuplikethis.Itlooksasif</p><p>you’regoingforagun.INSTEAD…</p><p>…pull whole belt up, with both hands, like this. Now, you’re just another guy “doing a guy</p><p>thing”and“hitchinguphispants,”anddon’tbroadcastthefactthatyou’re“carrying.”</p><p>AuthordesignedthepopularAyoobRearGuard(ARG)holsterforMitchRosen.Itridesinsidethe</p><p>waistband,weight of gun levered forwardby rear-placedbelt loop to prevent “printing.” This</p><p>exampleisinsharkskinandcarriesS&W191145auto.</p><p>Replaceablebelt-clipmodulesofKydexIWBholsterbyMach2,theHonorman,“flex”andhelp</p><p>conceal thisGlock27without shifting.Notealso“bodyshield” tokeepsweataway fromgun,</p><p>andsharpgunedgesawayfromunderlyingskinandclothing.</p><p>Authordemonstrateshis “fingertipdraw,”whichhecalls “ReachOutandTouchYourself.”As</p><p>drawfromunderopen-frontgarmentbegins,allfourfingertipstouchabdomen’scenterline…</p><p>…and,fingertipsmaintainingtorsocontact,handsweepsbacktogun.Notethatknifeedgeofhand</p><p>hasbeguntosweeptheWoolrichElitevesttotherear…</p><p>…andwillinstantlyandpositivelysweepitallthewaytotherear,andholditoutofthewayuntil</p><p>hand has taken its drawing grasp, shown. Carry combo is Beretta 92G 9mm in Milt Sparks</p><p>ExecutiveCompanionIWBholster.</p><p>Authorexplainswhyhedoesn’tlikepaddleholsters,butwhytheycanworkforsomepeoplein</p><p>some situations. This is one of the best of the breed, by Aker, carrying Ruger GP100 357</p><p>Magnum.</p><p>STREETTIP:Whenyoufeelthegunbuttmovingtotherearand“printing,”DON’Tadjustitlike</p><p>this.Itwillbeobvioustoanyoneinlineofsightthatyou’re“carrying.”INSTEAD…</p><p>…useyourforearmbehindyourbacktopushthegunforward,stretchbackalittle,andyoulook</p><p>totheworldlikesomeonewithasoreback,notsomeonecarryingagun.</p><p>BlackhawkSERPAisasnatch-resistant,concealablerigthateffectivelyhidesthisS&WM&P9mm</p><p>underacoat.Ithasbeenadjustedtodesirableforwardtiltangle.Fingerpaddleiseasilyreleased</p><p>byowner’ssafelyextendedtriggerfingerwhendrawbegins.</p><p>ConcealmentRigbyTedBlockermakes this full-sizeGlock17 concealable for its average-size</p><p>maleowner.</p><p>Christine Cunningham, an instructor and competitor in the Pacific</p><p>Northwest, is also a holster-maker. She specializes in “by women, for</p><p>women”concealedcarrygear.Herstuffistopsinqualityandfunction,</p><p>and very well thought out. You’ll find much good advice, as well as</p><p>manyusefulproducts,atherwebsite,www.womenshooters.com.</p><p>Thegunbehindthehipispositionedsoastobesensitivetoexposure</p><p>andbulgewhen thewearerbendsdownor leans forward.This simply</p><p>means the practitioner has to learn different ways to perform these</p><p>motionsinpublic.Seephotos.</p><p>http://www.womenshooters.com</p><p>Ayoobdesigned theLFIConcealmentRigwithTedBlocker,whosenamesakecompanynow in</p><p>otherhandsstillfindsitagoodseller.Velcrotabonholster(andsparemagcarrier,shown)mates</p><p>withVelcrolininginsidethedressgunbelttosecuresolidly,andallowwideoptionstoweareras</p><p>toheight,angle,andlocation.PistolisSIGP220ST45,withHoguestocks.</p><p>Author demonstrates proper hip draw continuum while winning Wisconsin State Service</p><p>RevolverChampionship,IDPA2007.GP100isblurringasitcomesuptopectoralisposition,in</p><p>linetoalreadyhitafast-coming,closerangethreat…</p><p>…andthenextendsforpreciseaimwithmandatoryone-handhead-shotsfrombehindsimulated</p><p>cover.</p><p>STREETTIP:When driving, you don’twant your hip holstered gun trapped by seat belt and</p><p>concealinggarment.Here,safetybeltisfastened…</p><p>…butthendrivershouldreachunderseatbeltandgrabtheconcealinggarment…</p><p>…andpullitfreeoftheseatbelt!It’snottheseatbeltthatusuallytrapsahipholsteredgun,it’s</p><p>thecoatthatistrappedbytheseatbelt.Now…</p><p>BeltHolsterOptions</p><p>Continuingwith the “clock” concept, let’s look at different spots on</p><p>the belt for holster placement. 12 o’clock, centerline of the abdomen,</p><p>willbecomfortableonlywithasmall,short-barrelgun.It’saquickand</p><p>naturalposition,particularlyforwomenthankstotheirrelativelyhigher</p><p>beltlines.Myolderdaughter,tallandslender,preferstocarryherS&W</p><p>Model39139mmhere,inanAlessiTaloninsidethewaistbandholster,</p><p>or a belly-band. It disappears under an untucked blouse, shirt, or</p><p>sweater,butprovidesveryfastaccess.</p><p>1o’clock to2o’clockbecomes the so-called“appendixposition.”An</p><p>openfrontgarmentmustbekeptfastenedtokeepithidden,butashort-</p><p>barrelgunworksgreathereforaccessduringfightingandgrappling.A</p><p>top trainer who is still active in undercover police work and teaches</p><p>under the nickname “Southnarc” favors this location, with his retired</p><p>cop father’s hammer-shrouded Colt Cobra 38 snub-nose inside the</p><p>waistbandattheappendix.Itisveryfast.SometopIPSCspeeddemons,</p><p>such as Jerry “the Burner” Barnhart carry their competition guns in</p><p>speed rigs at the same location.A small gun concealswell here under</p><p>untuckedclosed-frontgarments.However,theappendixcarrycausesall</p><p>but the shortestguns todig into the junctureof thighandgroinwhen</p><p>seated,andthemuzzleispointingatgenitalsandfemoralartery.There</p><p>are those of us who find this incongruous with our purposes for</p><p>concealed carry, one of which is to prevent weapons being pointed at</p><p>suchvulnerablepartsofourbodies.</p><p>…you’re“readytoride,”andyourhandcanquicklygettoyoursidearm.</p><p>The Yaqui Slide is extremely popular for concealed carry. Here, the Galco version carries a</p><p>custom .40 cal. Glock 23 with Caspian slide, BoMar sights, and Hybrid-Port recoil reduction</p><p>system.</p><p>STREETTIP:Here’showtodrawfromhipholsterwhileseatbeltedbehindasteeringwheel.Gun</p><p>handdoes“fingertipdraw,”whichclearscovergarmenteveninstaticposition…</p><p>…andauthorrocksupperbodysharplytolefttocreatemorerangeofmovementforrightarm,</p><p>whichdrawsBlackhawkdummyofBeretta92usedfordemo,liftingitupandoversteeringwheelto</p><p>preventsnaggingthere…</p><p>…anddriverisquicklyinaready-to-shootposture.</p><p>Movingmoretotheside,thetrue3o’clockpositionisnotidealforall</p><p>day concealed wear. Riding on the protuberance of the hip, the gun</p><p>protrudes accordingly, callingattention to itself evenunderbig,heavy</p><p>coats.Theholsteredgunat3o’clockwillgratemercilesslyon thehip-</p><p>bone. Cops get away with it in uniform because their holsters have</p><p>orthopedically curved shanks, and the weight is distributed on their</p><p>wideSamBrownebelts.Neithermitigating factorwillbeatwork ina</p><p>concealmentholster.</p><p>Holster-makersarekeepingupwith tactical trends.This southpawcopcarrieshisdepartment-</p><p>issueGlock22withwhitelightunitalreadymounted,inconcealableBlade-Techholsteroffduty.</p><p>…butsamegunistightertothebodyinElmerMcEvoyQuadConcealmentholsterworn“inthe</p><p>belt”(ITB),betweenbeltandtrousers.However…</p><p>Comparisonsinconcealability.DaveLauckCustomfull-size191145leansouta littlefromthe</p><p>bodyinLauckoutside-the-waistband(OWB)Kydexholster…</p><p>…inside-the-waistbandholsterbySecretSquirrel carries samegunevencloser, andconcealing</p><p>garmentcancomeallthewayuptobeltwithoutrevealingholsteredgun.</p><p>Withtunnelloopatbackandrear-mountedbeltloop,thisDerryGallagherscabbardcarriesanN-</p><p>frame (.44 size) S&W Model 27-2 357 Magnum with 4-inch barrel with surprisingly good</p><p>concealment.</p><p>3:30, just behind the hip, seems to be optimum for comfort,</p><p>concealment, and speed. It’s wheremost professionals end up parking</p><p>theirholsters.</p><p>By the time you hit 4 o’clock, there is more likelihood of the butt</p><p>protruding.Whenyouhit6o’clock, the trueMOB(middleofback)or</p><p>SOB(smallofback)position,you’regettingintodangerousterritory.The</p><p>SOBisanSOBinmorewaysthanone.Whileaccessibletoeitherhand,it</p><p>canbemercilesslyuncomfortablewhenyouareseated.Therearcenter</p><p>hem is the first part of an outer garment that lifts when you bend</p><p>forward or sit down. The gun butt can catch the hem and completely</p><p>expose the holstered gun. You can’t see it and usually can’t feel it,</p><p>meaningyou’retheonlyoneintheshoppingmallwhowon’tknowthat</p><p>yourweaponisexposed.</p><p>Anotherextremedangerofthiscarryisthatanyfallthatlandsyouflat</p><p>on your back will be the equivalent of landing on a rock with your</p><p>lumbarspine.Veryseriousinjurycanresult.</p><p>Yet another problem with SOB carry is that you can’t exert any</p><p>significantdownwardpressure tohold thegun inplacewhentryingto</p><p>counteragunsnatchattempt.Moreover,biomechanically,youarepretty</p><p>muchputtingyourselfinanarmlockwhendrawing.Asaruleofthumb,</p><p>any technique that requires you to put yourself in an armlock when</p><p>defendingyourselfisatechniqueyoushouldprobablyre-evaluate.</p><p>InsideorOutsidetheBelt</p><p>An inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster will conceal the gun better.</p><p>Simpleasthat.Thedrapeofthepantsfromthewaistdownblendsthe</p><p>shape of the holstered gun with that of the body. The hem of the</p><p>concealing garment has to rise above the belt to reveal the hidden</p><p>weapon. This carry allows average size guys likeme to carry full-size</p><p>service handguns concealed under nothing more than an opaque,</p><p>untuckedteeorpoloshirt,onesizelarge.Heldtighttothebodybybelt</p><p>pressure,thisdesignminimizesbulge.</p><p>MiltSparksSummerSpecialholster,wornfromdecadesofservice,stillworksfine.Thisclassic</p><p>IWBcarriesanequallywell-wornSmith&WessonModel5841Magnumservicerevolver.</p><p>Author demonstrates “Hackathorn Rip,” his preferred technique for drawing from hip holster</p><p>underclosed-frontgarment.Supporthandgrabshemofshirtatappendixposition…</p><p>…aspistol“rocksandlocks”upwardintodraw,supporthandreleasesgarment,and…</p><p>…and jerks it upward toward shoulder, as gun hand goes for sidearm, in this case full-size</p><p>customBeretta92inMiltSparksIWBholster…</p><p>…shooterisontargetinstrongfiringstancewithmaximumspeed.</p><p>STREETTIP:Rockinghiptosideawayfromholster(i.e.,toleftwithright-handeddraw)speeds</p><p>drawfromunderclosedfrontgarmentbecauseithelpspullholsteroutfromunderpistol.</p><p>SomehavetriedIWBandfoundituncomfortable.Thisisbecausetheir</p><p>pantsweresizedforthem,andnowcontainthem–plusaholsteredgun.</p><p>Forpreliminarycomforttesting,unbuttonthepantsatthewaistandlet</p><p>outthebeltanotch,andtryitagain.If it’scomfortablenow,natureis</p><p>tellingyouto letout thepants ifpossible,orstartbuyingtrousers two</p><p>incheslargerinthewaist.Asnotedelsewherehere,thispractice“keeps</p><p>youhonest” (i.e., keeps you carrying)becausenow thepantswon’t fit</p><p>rightwithouttheguninitsIWBholster.</p><p>Beltclipsdon’tsecureaswellasleatherloops,forthemostpart.There</p><p>areexceptions, suchas theappropriatelynamedAlessiTalon, theclips</p><p>used by Blocker on their DA-2, and the modular Kydex clips on the</p><p>Mach-2Honormanholster.CheaperIWBholstersarenotoriousfortheir</p><p>poorclips.</p><p>The IWBholster stays in place largely throughbelt pressure, so you</p><p>want a rigid holster mouth to keep the opening from collapsing and</p><p>interfering with reholstering. The classic Bianchi #3 Pistol Pocket, a</p><p>Richard Nichols design, used stiff leather reinforcement for this. Most</p><p>othersfollowedtheleadofthelateBruceNelsoninhisfamousSummer</p><p>Specialdesign,andusedleather-coveredsteelinsertstokeeptheholster</p><p>mouthopen.OnrigidKydex,ofcourse,thematerialdoesthisbyitself.</p><p>…andpullsitstraightupward.Handnowdropsintodrawinggrasp…</p><p>One-hand-only draw from under closed front garment is critical to know, says author,</p><p>demonstratinghisowntechnique.Supporthandrisesinclose-rangeblockpositionasthumbof</p><p>gunhandcatchesshirthem…</p><p>…andguncomesupontargetin“rockandlock”motionforone-handedfiringifnecessary,from</p><p>close-range“protectedgunposition.”</p><p>Thisexecutive’swhitedressshirtisjustslightlyblousedabovehispinstripesuitpants…</p><p>Inside thewaistband, slimness becomesmore important, one reason</p><p>theflatBrowningHi-Powerand1911pistolsaresopopularwiththose</p><p>who prefer this carry format. The fatter the gun, themore the belt is</p><p>pushedoutfromthebody.Thisallowsthepantstostartslidingdownin</p><p>theholsterarea,causingfrequentneedforreadjustment.</p><p>Because thegun is tight to thebody, sometimesagainstbareskinor</p><p>sweat-soakedshirts,manymakershavebuilt“shielding”intothedesign</p><p>to protect the gun from sweat, and bare skin from sharp edges. This</p><p>worksprettywell,butcanslowthethumb’saccesstoaperfectpre-draw</p><p>grasp,dependingongundesignandhandsize.</p><p>I’veonlydesigned twoholsters inmy life.Bothwere IWB.The first,</p><p>designedwithTedBlocker,istheLFIConcealmentRig.It’scomprisedof</p><p>a dress gun belt lined with Velcro, and your choice of open top or</p><p>thumb-break safety strapholsterwithcoordinatedVelcro tab.This lets</p><p>the concealing garment ride all the way to the top edge of your belt</p><p>withoutrevealinganything,andperhapsmoreimportant,letsyouadjust</p><p>theholster almost infinitely for yourparticularneeds:high, low, exact</p><p>degreeofrake(orientationofmuzzle)andtilt(orientationofbutt)that</p><p>youwant.Highversuslowisimportant</p><p>the tailor shop to get</p><p>“courtsuits”madethatwouldconcealafull-sizehandgun…butI’mglad</p><p>Idid.Idon’tespeciallylikethelookofDockers-typesportslacks,atleast</p><p>onmybody,buttheydoagreatjobofhidingguns,andthey’vebecome</p><p>astapleofthe“sportcoatandtie”sectionofmywardrobe.WhenIsee</p><p>myself in themirrorwearing a vestwith a short sleeve shirt, I seeEd</p><p>Norton from the old TV show “The Honeymooners”… but when you</p><p>carryafull-sizepistolandspareammoinhotweather,believeme,these</p><p>garmentsbecomeyournewbestfriend.Youlearntoappreciatetheextra</p><p>pockets,too.</p><p>Whenit’ssohotyouneedtotakeyourjacketoffandhaveanice-creamcone,youdoitlikethis.</p><p>(Notethatpaperishelduptoread,soheadanddangerscanaren’t“buried.”)Unlessyouneedto</p><p>standandreachforit,noonewillnotice…</p><p>You’lldiscoverthe“two-inchwaistrangefactor.”Ifyourwaistsizeis</p><p>38, and you carry a handgun inside the waistband, you’ll quickly</p><p>gravitatetowardsize40forcomfort.Thiswillalsokeepyoucarryingthe</p><p>gun,sincewithoutthatholster,yourpantswillfeelasifthey’regoingto</p><p>falldown toyourankles.And thedaywill comewhenyougain some</p><p>weight, and decide that an outside-the-belt holster is cheaper than a</p><p>wholenewwardrobeoftrousers…</p><p>The wardrobe of holsters. This book will explain why different</p><p>holstersworkbetter indifferentsituations.WhenIpackasuitcaseand</p><p>goontheroadforafewweeksofteachingand/ortestifying,therewill</p><p>bemorethanoneholsterperguninthesuitcase.Thepocketholsterfor</p><p>thesnub-nosed38maybulgeobviouslyinthesidepocketofthetailored</p><p>suit-pants, but that same gun may disappear under the “classic suit</p><p>straight cuff” of the same trousers in an ankle holster.One inside-the-</p><p>waistbandandoneoutside-the-waistbandhipholsterwillaccompanythe</p><p>primaryhandgun,andifneitherofthoseisambidextrous,therewillalso</p><p>be aweak-side holster in case I sustain an armor hand injury on the</p><p>roadandcan’tusethedominanthand.(Beenthere,donethat.)Abelly-</p><p>bandholsterthatdoublesasamoneybeltwillgointhesuitcasetoo,and</p><p>I’vebeenknowntotossinashoulderrigtoallowforlowerbackinjuries</p><p>where Iwon’twantweighton thehips,ora caseof intestinal flu that</p><p>might have me dropping my pants constantly in public rest rooms, a</p><p>situation where hip holsters are tough (though not impossible) to</p><p>accommodate.</p><p>Thewardrobeofguns. I’ve gottenpretty good at gun concealment</p><p>overtheyears,butI’velearnedthatIcan’thideafull-size45automatic</p><p>inaswimsuit.AgoodfriendofminecarriesalittleSmith&WessonJ-</p><p>frameAirweight38snub-noserevolverinhis,though.</p><p>Asnub-nose38isagreatlittlecarrygun,andit’sastapleofanyCCW</p><p>“gunwardrobe.”However,I’vebeeninalotofplaceswhereIwasway</p><p>morecomfortablewithsomethingbigger,easiertoshootaccuratelyand</p><p>fast,thatheldmore–andmorepowerful–ammunition.</p><p>You’ll find yourself buying more firearms as you get into CCW</p><p>seriously. Somewill suit you, andyouwill keep them for carry. Some</p><p>willturnouttobegreatgunsbutjusttoobigandheavy,andyoumay</p><p>keep them as home defense or even recreational weapons. Some will</p><p>turnouttonotbeforyou,andyou’lltradetheminforsomethingthat</p><p>worksbetter.That’sallOK.</p><p>Asmallgun thatwillbe there incircumstanceswhereyou justcan’t</p><p>carryabiggeronemaystillsaveyour life.Therewillbetimeswhena</p><p>largergunwillgiveyounotonlymoreconfidence,butmorecapability.</p><p>I’vedebriefedgunfightsurvivorswhowouldhavediedifthey’dhadonly</p><p>a five-shot 38, but survived because they had something that carried</p><p>moreammoandletthemstayinthefightlongenoughtowinit.So,as</p><p>time goes on, you’ll want at least one small CCW handgun and one</p><p>larger one. Don’t be surprised if, like somany professionals, you find</p><p>yourselfcarryingbothatonce. It’sabelt-and-suspenders,“samereason</p><p>there’sasparetireinmycar”kindofthing.</p><p>…thatyouhavedrapedthegarmentstrategicallytocoverafull-sizeBerettapoliceservicepistol</p><p>inaquick-accessDillonholster.</p><p>AboutThisBook</p><p>This book is not about when you can shoot. That would be In the</p><p>GravestExtreme.It’snotabouthowtoshootahandgununderstress.That</p><p>wouldbeStressFire.It’snotaboutatotalapproachtopersonalsafetyand</p><p>crime prevention. That would be The Truth About Self-Protection. All</p><p>three are available from Police Bookshelf, PO Box 122, Concord, NH</p><p>03302,(www.ayoob.com).Irecommendthem,buthell,Iwrotethem,so</p><p>taketherecommendationfromwhenceitcomes.</p><p>Thechaptersongunsandholstersaregeneric.IfIdon’trecommenda</p><p>particularbrand,itdoesn’tnecessarilymeanit’sapieceofcrap;itmay</p><p>just mean that I haven’t worked with it long enough to give it a</p><p>recommendation.AnythingIrecommendinherebynameissomething</p><p>http://www.ayoob.com</p><p>I’vetestedsufficientlytotrustmyownlifeto;Ican’tdothatwithevery</p><p>product. I’ve tested guns thatwere obviously designed by peoplewho</p><p>didn’t carry them and didn’t know how to shoot them, and holsters</p><p>obviously designed by people who didn’t carry concealed handguns. I</p><p>don’thavetimetolistthejunk,nordoIhavethetimeorthefinancial</p><p>resources to fight nuisance suits by junk-makers who sue people for</p><p>tellingthetruthabouttheirproducts. If Isay it’sgood, I’mputtingmy</p><p>nameandreputationonthatfact.IfIdon’tmentionit,well,I’mjustnot</p><p>mentioningit,butremember,there’sgoodstuffouttherethatIprobably</p><p>justhaven’ttestedyet.</p><p>Imaybeafunnel,butIcan’tfunnelthewholeindustry.</p><p>Some points will be repeated in different chapters. I suppose that</p><p>reflectsa littleof the instructor’smantra, “Tell ‘emwhatyou’regonna</p><p>tell ‘em; tell ‘em; then tell ‘emwhat you told ‘em.” I think it reflects</p><p>morethesimplerealitythatinanadultlifetimeasanauthor,I’vefound</p><p>that folks readnovels straight front toback,butnon-fictionbooks like</p><p>this a chapter at a time, piece-meal, jumping back and forth. Some</p><p>pointsneedtobemadeincontextforthesporadicreader.</p><p>TV and movie characters are mentioned here a lot. That’s because</p><p>suchthingshavelargelydefinedpublicperceptionaboutconcealedcarry</p><p>methods.Itneededtobeaddressed.</p><p>In some chapters, you’ll see me drawing from under a transparent</p><p>raincoat. No, I’m not recommending “transparent concealment”! It’s a</p><p>deviceIhitontodemonstrateconcealeddrawwithouthandandweapon</p><p>beinghiddenfromthelearner’sview.</p><p>Inreadingthisbook,it’simportanttomaintainsomeperspectives.</p><p>Theraisond’etreisimportant.Carryingaconcealedhandgunreflects</p><p>serious understandings about predictable danger in Life, and it brings</p><p>moreseriousunderstandingswithit.We’lltalkaboutthat.</p><p>Thisbookislaidoutthewayitisforareason.RulesoftheRoadare</p><p>important.We’ll talkaboutwhereyoucancarry,andwhereyoucan’t.</p><p>Whenyoushould,andwhenyoushouldn’t.</p><p>Hardware is important. We’ll discuss which handguns have proven</p><p>themselves best suited for concealed carry for different purposes in</p><p>different “dress code” situations. Hardware encompasses not only the</p><p>gunsbuttheholsters,theammunition,thereloadingdevices,andother</p><p>accessories.</p><p>Deployment is important. It’s amazing, for instance, how many</p><p>people have designed and sold belly-band holsters but obviously don’t</p><p>knowthemosteffectivewaysofeithercarrying themordrawing from</p><p>them…nottomentionhowmanypeoplehavecarriedankleholstersfor</p><p>acareerasan</p><p>if, likeme,youhavetoswitch</p><p>betweensuitpantsanduniformpantsthattendtorideatthewaist,and</p><p>jeans/cords/BDUs that tend to ride slightly lowerat thehips.Nowthe</p><p>gunisinexactlythesamewhere-you-want-itspotnomatterwhatyou’re</p><p>wearing.ThecombinationofVelcroshearfactorandbelttensionholdsit</p><p>inplace.It’sverysecure,andI’vetaughtweaponretentionclasseswith</p><p>onewithoutitcomingloose.Matchingmagazinepouchesareavailable,</p><p>andtheLFIConcealmentRigalsoworksasacrossdraw.</p><p>…butpressinghand reveals thepresenceof a full-sizeGlock servicepistol, completelyhidden</p><p>beneathinabellybandholsterinstrong-sidehipdrawposition.</p><p>TheotherwasdesignedforMitchRosen,athisrequest.Hewantedan</p><p>open-top rig that would carry a heavy, full-size fighting handgun</p><p>withouttheweightoftheloadedmagazineinitsbutttiltingitbackward</p><p>to“print,”orexpose itself throughclothing. IdesignedanFBI-tilt IWB</p><p>scabbard with a single strong belt loop at the rear, behind the gun,</p><p>wheretheloop’sbulkwouldn’taddtotheholster’s.Inthisposition,the</p><p>holster “levered” the gun forward and prevented it from tilting</p><p>backwards. I called it the Rear Guard, because the loop at the rear</p><p>guardedagainstrearwardholstershifting.Mitchwaskindenoughtocall</p><p>it theAyoobRearGuard. Itwas shortened toARG,which I’ve always</p><p>pronouncedasAy-Arr-Gee.Unfortunately,folksstartedpronouncingthe</p><p>acronym in one syllable, which sounded like “Arrgghh.” I suppose I</p><p>shouldjustbegladIdidn’tnameitSuperHolsterInsideTrousers.After</p><p>9/11/01, Mitch changed the name to American Rear Guard. Still the</p><p>sameexcellentholster,though.</p><p>The belly-band is a variation of inside-the-waistband carry,</p><p>approximately four inches of elastic strappingwith a gun pouch. It is</p><p>wornbestatbeltlevel,“overtheunderwearandundertheover-wear.”</p><p>ThefirstoftheseIeversawwasaJohnBianchiprototypeinGunWorld</p><p>magazine,circa1960.Bianchididn’tbringitoutbackthen,butinafew</p><p>years, a firm in Brooklyn namedMMGR did. I wore anMMGR belly-</p><p>bandtomygradschooltestsonehotsummerdaywhenIwas21,and</p><p>noticed the day I got home that the beautiful blue finish ofmy S&W</p><p>Model36ChiefSpecialhadturnedbrownonthesidenexttomybody.</p><p>Some later belly-band designs, such as the Gould & Goodrich, used a</p><p>separateplasticshieldonthegunpouchtoprotecttheweaponfromthis,</p><p>butexpect somedegreeof sweatexposurewith this typeofcarry.The</p><p>Tenifer finish of the Glock pistols seems to stand up to this best,</p><p>followed by the similar Mellonite finish used on S&W M&P autos,</p><p>followed by industrial hard chrome finishes and stainless. The Glocks</p><p>willdiscolorafterlongcarryinthisfashion,butwon’tactuallyrust.</p><p>ThisDonHumeIWBholster,hereinleftyversionholdingGlock19,isanexcellentvalue.</p><p>WhileIpreferthebelly-bandinthefrontcrossdrawpositionfora2-</p><p>inch 38, larger guns work best behind the hip. They’re a great</p><p>alternativeundera tucked-in shirt for thosewhowork inbusiness suit</p><p>environments and must take the suit coat off in the office, but can’t</p><p>afford for thegun tobecomevisible.A “Hackathorn rip”movement is</p><p>thebestdrawingoptionhere.Ialsoknowmedicalprofessionalsingun-</p><p>freezonesinhighcrimeareas,whowearsmallhandgunsthiswayunder</p><p>theirscrubs.</p><p>There are many good belly-bands. My personal favorite has always</p><p>been the unfortunately discontinued Bianchi Ranger, with built-in</p><p>moneybelt. Ithasbeenmycompanionallover theworld. I’vecarried</p><p>S&W4-inch44Magnumsinit,perfectlyconcealedonthestreetsincities</p><p>fromSouthAfricatoEurope.</p><p>Sincetheyofferlittleprotectionagainstsharpedges,belly-bandswork</p><p>best with edge-free guns. That said, properly adjusted they can be</p><p>incredibly comfortable. One downside to them, though, is that you</p><p>practically need a shoe-horn to get the gun back in. The near-</p><p>impossibilityofquicklyreholsteringmeansthatregularrangepracticeis</p><p>outof thequestion,andyouhavetohaveanactionplanthat includes</p><p>puttingthegunawayinpocketorwaistbandaftermakingabelly-band</p><p>drawonthestreet.</p><p>The “tuckable” is a different breed, the latest development in this</p><p>areaandoneofthemostwidelycopied.ItgoesbacktoDaveWorkman,</p><p>aholster-makerwhoisalsoaleadingSecondAmendmentadvocateand</p><p>gun author. For those with office dress codes, Dave came upwith an</p><p>insidethewaistbandholsterthathadaseparatepaddlethatsecuredon</p><p>the belt, creating a deep “V” between the holster and that securing</p><p>portion,intowhichadressshirtcouldbetucked.Wornat3:30,orinthe</p><p>appendixposition,orat11o’clockinafrontcrossdraw,ithidthegun</p><p>perfectly. The snap-on belt loop could be disguised as a key holder</p><p>simply by putting a small key ring in the loop.When he looked for a</p><p>largermanufacturertohandlethedesign,IsteeredDavetoMitchRosen,</p><p>whointroducedittotheworldasTheWorkman.Itinstantlybecamethe</p><p>most copied new rig in the holster field. This style also functions</p><p>perfectlywellasanordinaryinsidethewaistbandholster.</p><p>AnotherIWBvariationthatgoesdeepinsidethewaistbandisthePager</p><p>Pal. A flat semi-disk of leather contains a small revolver or auto that</p><p>rides inside the pants and below the belt, hooked onto the belt by a</p><p>camouflaged pager, cell phone carrier, knife pouch, etc.When carried</p><p>cross draw, the support hand grabs the pager or whatever and pulls</p><p>upward,exposingtheholsterforthegunhand’sdraw.Ifoundthatifyou</p><p>don’thavealargebutt,youcancarryitonyourstrongsidebehindthe</p><p>hipandknifethehanddowninsidethepantstogetatthegun.Notmy</p><p>firstchoice,butaninterestingoptionthatsomehavefounduseful.</p><p>Authoronlytrustsafewmetalbeltclip-typeIWBholsterstostayinplace.OneisthisDonHume,</p><p>hereholdinga4-inchcustomKimber.</p><p>OutsidetheBelt</p><p>Outside-the-waistband(OWB)ismorecomfortable,butrequiresmore</p><p>effort for concealment. The most concealable designs copy to some</p><p>degree the Pancake holsters of Roy Baker. Rounded, thus their</p><p>eponymousshape,Baker’sholstersandsomeoftoday’scopieshavethree</p><p>beltslots,oneintherearandtwointhefront.Thisallowstheshooterto</p><p>setup for forward“FBI” tilt, straightuphip-draw,or straightupcross</p><p>draw. With the belt tensioning the holster fore and aft of the actual</p><p>scabbard body, the gun is pulled in tighter to the hip for better</p><p>concealment.</p><p>The Yaqui Slide holster, a “skeleton” design popularized by Milt</p><p>Sparks, ishandyinthat it fitsanumberofdifferentbarrel lengthguns</p><p>with the same frame.Points tonotewith it, though:1) If sitting inan</p><p>armchairandthearmofthechairbumpsthegunmuzzle,thewholegun</p><p>canbepushedupandoutoftheholster.2)Carbonanddirtonthegun</p><p>afterfiringcan,whileit’sholstered,transfertotheunderlyingtrousers.</p><p>3) Sharp-edged sights, or deep Picatinny-style rails on the dust cover</p><p>(lower front of frame) of somemodernmilitary style auto pistols, can</p><p>snag on the bottom edge of the Yaqui Slide, dangerously stalling the</p><p>draw.4)Backinthe’70s,asellingpointofthisdesignwasthatitcould</p><p>stayonthebeltwiththegunremoved,andwouldoftengounrecognized</p><p>asaholster.Thisisprobablynotthecasetoday.TheDonHumeversion</p><p>is certainly a best buy for quality vis-à-vis price today, and a key</p><p>objectionablepointtothisparticularstyleisremovedwithmodelsthat</p><p>havethumb-breaksafety</p><p>armedprofessionalandneverlearnedhowtomostquickly</p><p>andefficientlydrawfromone.Let’sseeifwecan’tfixthat…</p><p>Iknowitsoundscomplicated.That’sbecauseitiscomplicated.Bythe</p><p>timeyoufinishthisbook,youwillhavenoticedthatI’veneverinvoked</p><p>the currently popular weapons training buzzword that is the “KISS</p><p>principle.”KISSstandsfor“KeepItSimple,Stupid.”</p><p>Ican’tutterthatingoodconscience,fortworeasons.</p><p>Foronething,Idon’tthinkyou’restupid.</p><p>Foranother,Iknowfordamnsureitain’tsimple.</p><p>Ifanybodywants“simple,”thesimplefactis,alotofpeoplediedfor</p><p>thelessonsthatwerefunneledintothisbook.Someofthemweregood</p><p>guys and galswho died only because they didn’t know the things the</p><p>gunfight survivors and master gunfighters gave me to funnel into the</p><p>words that follow. And we’ll never know howmany innocent victims</p><p>diedbecausetheydidn’thaveagun,rightthereandrightthenthattheycould</p><p>havedrawnfromconcealmentandusedtosavetheirlivesandothers.</p><p>AndIthinkyouknowthat,too,oryouwouldn’tbereadingthis.</p><p>Withina fewdaysofmydeadline for thisbook,amassmurderer in</p><p>Coloradohittworeligiousinstitutions,andkilledpeopleatboth.Atthe</p><p>firstlocation,hekilledinnocentpeopleandsaunteredaway.Therewas</p><p>noonetherewiththewherewithaltostophim.</p><p>Attheseconddeathscene,heopenedfireintheparkinglot,andthen</p><p>enteredthebuilding.Hedidn’tgetthirtyfeetbeforehewasinterdicted</p><p>by one Jeanne Assam, a member of the church who was licensed to</p><p>CCW,hadherowngun,andknewhowtouseit.Sheshothimdownlike</p><p>the mad dog he was, and in his last bullet-riddled moments the only</p><p>person he could still shoot was himself. He died. No more innocent</p><p>peopledid.JeanneAssamhadtaughtalessontousall.</p><p>Onthepro-gunside,peoplestartedpostingontheInternetthestoryof</p><p>CharlvanWyck,astoryIhadputintothismanuscriptmonthsbefore.I</p><p>canonlyhopethatthegeneralpublicwilllookatbothAssam’sstoryand</p><p>VanWyck’s,andthelessonsthatcamebefore.Iamsure–sadlysure–</p><p>thatsimilarlessonswillbewritteninbloodafterthisbookispublished.</p><p>Thank you for taking the time to readwhat follows. Thank you for</p><p>havingthecouragetobethesheepdogpreparedtofightthewolvesback</p><p>awayfromthelambs.Ihopeyoufindthefollowingpagesuseful.</p><p>Useyourpowerwisely.Keepyourgoodpeoplesafe.</p><p>F</p><p>Chapter2</p><p>WHYWECARRY</p><p>Whydowecarry?AskDr.SuzannaGratia-Hupp,photographedhere</p><p>whiletestifyingforconcealedcarrylegislation.Shewatchedher</p><p>parentsmurderedduringtheLuby’sCafeteriamassacreinKilleen,</p><p>Texas,helplesstostopthegunmanonlyafewfeetaway,because</p><p>lawoftheperiodforcedhertoleaveherrevolveroutsideinher</p><p>car.</p><p>Thequestionisconstantlyasked,“Whydoyouwanttocarryagun?”Here</p><p>areseveralprovenanswers.</p><p>orty-eight of America’s fifty states now have at least some</p><p>provision for law-abiding private citizens to carry loaded,</p><p>concealed handguns in public. This comes as a shock to many</p><p>people in American society. Those responsible adults who choose to</p><p>avail themselves of the concealed carry privilege will constantly be</p><p>challengedastothisdecisionbyfriends,family,co-workers,andothers</p><p>whohavenotbeeneducatedontheissuesinvolved.Thisisonereasonit</p><p>isalwayssensibletobeextremelydiscreetaboutconcealedcarry,andto</p><p>notbroadcastthefactthatonegoeslegallyarmed.</p><p>Atthesametime,theoldphrase“forewarnedisforearmed”appliesto</p><p>the argument aswell as the practice itself. Those of uswho’vehad to</p><p>debatetheissuerepeatedly,inforumsrangingfromStateHouseswhere</p><p>reform concealed carry legislation was on the floor to radio, TV, and</p><p>printmedia,havelearnedthatthebestresponseisoftena“soundbite.”</p><p>Agoodsoundbite is short,memorable,andso logical that the listener</p><p>tendstoaskhimself,“Whydidn’tIthinkofthat?”</p><p>The following effective sound bite answers to the most common</p><p>challengesagainstconcealedcarryhavebeenproventoworktimeand</p><p>again.Asdonehere,alwaysbeabletobackthemupwithmoredetail.</p><p>Keepitlogical,andalways,alwaysapplycommonsense.</p><p>AmuchyoungerAyoobwithoneofhis kids, today an adult andaparentherself.Here, she’s</p><p>learningaboutammunition.Inherlateteens,shewonanationalhandgunchampionshiptitle…</p><p>andnot longafter,usedher legally-carriedhandgun todefendherself successfullyagainst two</p><p>largemalerapesuspectsonacitystreet.</p><p>It is generally accepted that the population of this country is</p><p>approximatelythreehundredmillion,andthatthereareonlyabitover</p><p>700,000currentlyservingpoliceofficers.Bytheirnature,wolvesattack</p><p>sheepwhenthesheepdogisn’tthere,andcriminalsarecarefultomake</p><p>suretherearenopoliceofficersinsightwhentheyattacktheirvictims.</p><p>Thisleavesthevictimalonetofendforhimselforherself.</p><p>“Whydoyoucarryagun?”</p><p>Kathy Jackson said it best on her website</p><p>(www.corneredcat.com):“IcarryagunbecauseIcan’tcarrya</p><p>policeman.”</p><p>Carryingaconcealedhandgun inpublic isverymuch likekeepinga</p><p>smallfireextinguisherinyourcar.Neithermeansthatbypossessingit,</p><p>youbecomeanofficialmemberofthepublicsafetycommunity.Neither</p><p>means that you don’t need public safety personnel from the fire</p><p>departmentorthepolicedepartment.</p><p>But the concealed handgun and the fire extinguisher are each</p><p>emergency rescue tools designed to allow first responders to crisis to</p><p>holdthelineagainstdeathandinjury,tocontrolthingsandsavelives,</p><p>untilthedesignatedprofessionalscangettothescenetodowhatthey’re</p><p>paid to do. That’s all the responsibly carried concealed handgun is:</p><p>emergency rescue equipment for use by a competent first responder,</p><p>whointhiscase,oftenturnsouttobetheintendedvictimofintentional,</p><p>violentcrime.</p><p>“But aren’t you worried that if more people carry guns, more</p><p>argumentswillescalateintopeoplebeingshotandkilled?”</p><p>No.Responsiblegunownersaretoopracticaltoworryabout</p><p>thingsthatdon’thappen.</p><p>Ever since the 1980s, when Florida started the trend of reform</p><p>legislation that replaced the elitism and cronyism of the old</p><p>“discretionary”permitsystemwiththemodern,enlightened“shallissue”</p><p>http://www.corneredcat.com</p><p>model, opponents of self-protection and civil liberties have made the</p><p>argumentthat“bloodwouldruninthestreets.”Ithasn’thappenedyet.</p><p>Ifanything,statisticsshowthatviolentcrimeagainstthepersonseemsto</p><p>godownaftershall-issuelegislationispassed.</p><p>In the wake of the recent confirmation of this by Minnesota’s</p><p>experiencewiththeirfledglingshall-issuepermitsystem,myoldfriend</p><p>JoeWaldronoftheCitizens’CommitteefortheRighttoKeepandBear</p><p>Arms(CCRKBA)putitaswellasit’severbeensaid.TheCommitteehad</p><p>noted,“Accordingtothe(MinneapolisStarTribune)newspaper,people</p><p>withgunpermitsarefarlesslikelytobeinvolvedinacrime,whetherit</p><p>isaphysicalassault,adrugcrimeorevendrunkendriving.Authorities</p><p>haveconfirmedthatthehystericalpredictionsaboutgunfightsattraffic</p><p>stopsanddangertochildrensimplyhavenotmaterialized.”</p><p>CommentedWaldron,executivedirectoroftheCCRKBA,“Youwillnot</p><p>hear an apology or any kind of acknowledgement from the anti-self-</p><p>defensecrowdaboutthestatistics.Nodoubttheywill trytoblamethe</p><p>law for crimes committed by people carrying guns illegally. But the</p><p>newspaper did a good job of sorting out fact from fiction, and it has</p><p>found that only a miniscule number of licensed citizens have been</p><p>involved</p><p>in serious crimes, and a tiny fraction of armed citizens have</p><p>hadtheirpermitsrevoked.</p><p>“Weknewall alongwhatHennepinCounty SheriffRich Stanek told</p><p>the newspaper: the worst predictions of gun control advocates who</p><p>bitterly fought to keep this law off the books just haven’t come true.</p><p>We’re delighted that the press, which did not support the law, has at</p><p>leastacknowledgedthepublic’srighttoknowhowthelawisworking.</p><p>“Minnesota is justonemorestatewherepeoplehavebeengiven the</p><p>opportunity to pass a law and see how it really works. The state’s</p><p>legally-armed citizens have proven not only that they are</p><p>overwhelminglyresponsiblewithfirearms,thedatashowsthatproviding</p><p>themeansforcitizenstogoarmedisnotathreattopublicsafety,and</p><p>neverhasbeen.”</p><p>ConcludedWaldron,“ThePersonalProtectionAct(inMinnesota)has</p><p>succeeded in destroying the myth that legally-armed citizens are</p><p>somehowathreattothegeneralpublic.Weknewtheywerewrong,and</p><p>noweverybodyelseknowsit,too.”</p><p>“Whyshouldapersonwholivesinalowcrimeareafeeltheyhadto</p><p>carryagun?”</p><p>Famed combat small arms instructor John Farnam said it</p><p>best.Hewas teachinganofficer survival class to ruralpolice</p><p>whenoneofficeraskedhim,“Hey,howoftendoyouthinkcops</p><p>get killed aroundhere, anyway?” Farnam’s replywas classic:</p><p>“Sameasanywhere.Justonce.”</p><p>In the 19th century, Coffeyville, Kansas and Northfield, Minnesota</p><p>were quiet, safe towns where no one might have thought ordinary</p><p>citizens needed guns…until they were robbed by violent, professional</p><p>robberygangsfrom“outoftown.”OneofthosegangswasledbyJesse</p><p>James and Cole Younger, and the other consisted primarily of the</p><p>infamous Dalton brothers. Both gangs were shot to pieces by armed</p><p>townsfolkactingindefenseofthemselvesandtheircommunities.</p><p>In theearly20th century, theautomobileallowedcriminals to range</p><p>evenmorewidely.TheJohnDillinger/BabyFaceNelsongangsmadea</p><p>specialtyofrobbingsmalltownbanksandescapingintheirhigh-speed</p><p>Hudsons and Ford V8s. They, too, felt the sting of armed citizens’</p><p>gunfire.WhenrobbingabankinSouthBend,Indiana,BabyFaceNelson</p><p>and Homer Van Meter, both hardened cop-killers, were shot and</p><p>woundedbyajewelerwitha.22targethandgun.Nelsonwassavedby</p><p>his bullet proof vest, and Van Meter, while knocked senseless by the</p><p>bullet that ricocheted off his skull, would have been killed if the</p><p>shooter’s aim had been truer by an inch, or if the armed citizen had</p><p>launched a more appropriate round. In another bank robbery, John</p><p>Dillinger and accomplice John Hamilton were each shot in the right</p><p>shoulderbyaretired judge,armedwithanantiquerevolverand firing</p><p>fromawindowacrossthestreet.</p><p>Now, in the 21st century, little has changed. Criminals are highly</p><p>mobile. They have learned that “the thin blue line” is thinnest in the</p><p>hinterlands.Policeinruralcommunitiescantellyouthatmanyoftheir</p><p>majorcrimesarecommittedbycriminalsfromcitieswho“commuteto</p><p>the crime scene.” And any small town cop can tell you that even</p><p>“Mayberry,RFD”cangrowitsownviolentcriminalswithoutanyoutside</p><p>help.</p><p>The smaller the town, the more rural your location, the longer it</p><p>generally takespolice to respond to an emergency call. Thus,while in</p><p>the big picture there may be fewer crimes committed in “low crime</p><p>communities,” that doesn’tmake them safe by anymeans…and,more</p><p>remote frompoliceassistance, thepotentialvictim insuchanareahas</p><p>all themoreneedtobeself-sufficient in termsofbeingable toprotect</p><p>selfandlovedonesfromnomadiccriminals.</p><p>Whycarryagun?Supposeyou’reapetitefemale,cominghomealone,andareconfrontedbya</p><p>knife-armedattacker…</p><p>“Whycan’tyoufacethefactthatastudyhasproventhataguninthe</p><p>homeis43timesmorelikelytokillamemberofthehouseholdthana</p><p>burglar?”</p><p>Probablybecause,beinglogicalpeople,mostofuswhocarry</p><p>guns detest having to look at such fact-twisting exercises in</p><p>sophistry.</p><p>“Discredited”isastrongword,butthestudyinquestionisindeedone</p><p>of themost thoroughlydiscreditedexercises in twisted statisticsof the</p><p>late20thcentury.Itcomparedalldeathsbygunfireintwocommunities</p><p>ofsimilarsize,oneinCanadaandoneintheUnitedStates.Under“guns</p><p>killinghouseholders,” it includedsuicides,manyofwhichtypicallyare</p><p>theso-called“rationalsuicide.”Thisiswhathappenswhenanindividual</p><p>diagnosedwith a terminal disease that brings a long, agonizing death</p><p>chooses to depart life with dignity. (In some foreign countries, this</p><p>process is assisted by state-approved euthanasia, not an option in the</p><p>USA.)</p><p>That study’s use of human body count as the ultimate arbiter of a</p><p>complicatedsocial issuepoisoneditsresults inandof itself.Thefact is</p><p>thatmostlaw-abidingcitizenswhoconfrontcriminalsandtakethemat</p><p>gunpoint,don’thave tokill them.The latest studies,byProfessorJohn</p><p>Lott, indicate that inwell over 90 percent of such incidents, the felon</p><p>eitherfleesorsubmitstocitizen’sarrestwhentakenatgunpointbyhis</p><p>intended victim, and none of his blood is shed. The oft-quoted bogus</p><p>study interprets this benevolent lack of bloodshed 180 degrees away</p><p>fromreality,asiftheobjectoftheexercisehadbeentokillintrudersand</p><p>anything less than a “kill” didn’t count for the “good guys.” How</p><p>ironic…ahypocritical attempt tomeasure safety frommurderbybody</p><p>count.</p><p>…doyouthinkamartialartsstancewillwardhimoff?Or…</p><p>TheFederalgovernment’sownstatistics,atthiswriting,showthatthe</p><p>UnitedStatesisatanall-timelowingun-relatedfatalaccidents.</p><p>Gunownershipquiteaside,theculturalmoresofeachcountryinthe</p><p>“study”werenot taken into consideration.There is simply less violent</p><p>crime in Canada than in the US, by virtually every measurement,</p><p>includingmeasurementsthatfactoroutpossessionoffirearms.</p><p>Alltold,then,the“43timesmorelikely”storywillberememberedby</p><p>history as a classic example of how to lie with statistics, how to</p><p>convenientlymanipulate the truth, andhow tomisinterpret reality. Its</p><p>proper place would be in a book of “Dirty Debate Tricks That Won’t</p><p>WorkintheLongRun,”notinanylogicaldiscussionofconcealedcarry</p><p>thatissubjectedtocriticalthinkingandhonest,fact-baseddebate.</p><p>“A review of strategy discussions on Internet gun boards reveals the</p><p>fact thatmanypeoplewhoare licensed tocarrygunscarrymore than</p><p>one. If this isnotan indicationof two-guncowboymentality,howelse</p><p>canitbeexplained?”</p><p>FirearmsinstructorandauthorDavidKenikwasonceasked,</p><p>“Whydo you carry three guns?”He calmly replied, “Because</p><p>fourwouldbeostentatious.”</p><p>Thesimplefactis,armedcitizenstoalargedegreemaketheirchoice</p><p>of defensive firearms based on the model of the domestic law</p><p>enforcement sector.Forgenerations,when the38Special revolverwas</p><p>the overwhelming choice of American police, it was also the</p><p>overwhelming choice of armed citizens. Though freedom of choice</p><p>allowed the citizenry to carry autoloading pistols before those guns</p><p>became popular with police, the general replacement of the service</p><p>revolver with the service pistol in American police work greatly</p><p>increased the popularity of the semiautomatic pistol in the private</p><p>sector.</p><p>Similarly, the last several decades have seen a vast increase in the</p><p>number of police officers who carry</p><p>backup handguns on duty. A</p><p>numberofpolicedepartmentsevenissueasecondhandguntoallsworn</p><p>personnelforjustthispurpose.Notsurprisingly,thearmedcitizenryhas</p><p>modeledonthisaswell,andforthesamegoodreasons.</p><p>Anyfirearmcanrunoutofammunition,malfunction,bedroppedbya</p><p>wounded “good guy,” or be snatched from its legitimate user. In all</p><p>those cases, recourse to a second handgun is the fastest avenue – and</p><p>oftentheonlyavenue–tolast-ditchsurvival.</p><p>Justoffthetopofmyhead,Icanthinkofatleastsevencaseswhere</p><p>recourse to another immediately-available weapon saved the life of a</p><p>privatecitizencaughtupinagunfight.Inthreeofthoseseveninstances,</p><p>theprimarydefensivehandgunhadbeensnatchedawaybyahomicidal</p><p>criminal, and the secondgun saved the life of the law-abiding citizen,</p><p>who in each casewas able to deploy the backupweapon quickly and</p><p>effectively.Ineachoftheotherfourinstances,theprimaryhandgunhad</p><p>run dry while shooting it out with armed criminals, and because</p><p>reloading theemptygunwas impracticaloreven impossibleunder the</p><p>circumstances, the ability to instantly transition to a second loaded</p><p>handgunliterallymadethedifferencebetweenlifeanddeath.</p><p>…perhapsthiscanofpepperspray?Ordoyouthinkjustmaybe…</p><p>There is another area in which having a second weapon on one’s</p><p>personcanmakeahugedifferencetolaw-abidingarmedcitizenswhen</p><p>deadlydangerthreatens.Inthe“concealedcarrycommunity,”thereare</p><p>agreatmanypeoplewhoonlyactuallycarrygunspartofthetime.The</p><p>carryingof a back-uphandgun allowsone competent armed citizen to</p><p>arm another citizen, who might be equally competent but, at the</p><p>moment,unarmedinthefaceofsuddenlybreakingdanger.</p><p>Forexample,atthiswritingIamspendingtimewithmygirlfriendin</p><p>one of America’s largest cities. This particular metropolis has many</p><p>attractions, but it is also a notoriously high crime area. The lady in</p><p>question is highly competent with a handgun, in fact is a current</p><p>regionalIDPA(InternationalDefensivePistolAssociation)champion,but</p><p>asithappens,whileIamlegaltocarryinthisparticularjurisdiction,she</p><p>isnot.</p><p>Iamcarryinga9mmSIG-Sauerpistolonmydominantsidehip,anda</p><p>38Special snub-noserevolver inapocketholsteronmynon-dominant</p><p>side.Sheisperfectlycompetentwitheither.Shoulddangerthreaten,the</p><p>common law principle as recognized by state law in this particular</p><p>jurisdictionwould allowme to arm her due to exigent circumstances.</p><p>Thus, there would be two trained and equipped “threat managers”</p><p>capableofdealingwiththesituation,insteadofjustone.</p><p>“Youbloodthirstygunpeopleonlycarryweaponsbecauseyouwanta</p><p>chancetohurtorkillsomeone!”</p><p>On the contrary,we carry guns sowewill be less likely to</p><p>have to kill or cripple someone. It’s called “Peace Through</p><p>SuperiorFirepower.”</p><p>Historyhasshownthatthegreatestpowerof thegunis itspowerto</p><p>deter.Bearinmindthatcriminals,bydefinition,targetonlyvictimsthey</p><p>believetheycanoverpower.Whentheintendedvictimdrawsagun,the</p><p>predator realizes that theirerstwhile targethas theability tokill them</p><p>instantly. This tends to modify their behavior immediately, without a</p><p>shotbeingfired.</p><p>Remember the Lott study, referenced above, which showed in the</p><p>1990sthattheoverwhelmingmajorityoftimesacitizendrewagunto</p><p>ward off a criminal, the incident ended with no blood being shed on</p><p>either side of the encounter. The studies of famed criminologist Gary</p><p>Kleck showed the same thing in the 1980s. A study by the California</p><p>AttorneyGeneral’sOfficeinthe1970sshowedit,too.</p><p>Anotherwaytoseeitistosimplytakethegunoutofthepicture,and</p><p>examine the remaining alternatives.When asked about self-protection,</p><p>opponentsofgunownershiprightswilltypicallysuggestpeppersprayor</p><p>anunarmedcombatclass.Let’slookathowwellthathasworkedonthe</p><p>street forpolice,whohavethestrongestpeppersprayandsomeof the</p><p>bestunarmedcombattraining.</p><p>Whilepepper spray certainlyhas its place at the lower levels of the</p><p>forcecontinuum,ithasneverbeenseriouslyputforthbypoliceorother</p><p>protection professionals as adequate for dealing with an armed</p><p>antagonist. In fact, law enforcement history is rife with criminals so</p><p>violentthatpeppersprayhadnoeffectonthem,andtheydidnotstop</p><p>theirviolentaggressionafterbeingsprayeduntilafterofficershadbeen</p><p>forcedtoshootthem,orstrikethemwithbatonssomanytimesthatthey</p><p>hadbeenpermanentlyinjured.</p><p>Attending any women’s rape prevention class or basic self-defense</p><p>class,onewillbetaughttoattacktheassailant’sgenitals,eyes,orthroat,</p><p>ortopickupsomeobjectandstrikehimrepeatedlyinthehead.Weare</p><p>talking about crushed testicles, eyes gouged out, suffocation, and</p><p>fracturedskullsresultinginprofoundbraininjuries.Alltheseresultsfit</p><p>in thecategoryof life-threatening traumaand/orgravebodilyharm:a</p><p>deadly force level of injury. Deadly force is deadly force, whether</p><p>deliveredwithbarehands,clubbedobjects,oradeadlyweaponperse.</p><p>…this9mmSIGP239isthelikeliestofalltodeterhimwithnobloodshedoneitherside,orat</p><p>worst,stophimdecisivelybeforehereachesherwithhisknife?</p><p>“You don’t have any right to carry guns anyway! The Second</p><p>AmendmentisabouttheNationalGuard,notpersonalprotection!”</p><p>The Bill of Rights was framed shortly after the American</p><p>Revolution.A “NationalGuard” in the time of the revolution</p><p>wouldhavebeenTories loyal toKingGeorgeandduty-bound</p><p>to crush the American patriots. Do you really think thiswas</p><p>whattheframersintendedtoempowerandenable?</p><p>Thebigdifferenceisdeterrenteffect.Itisgreatlylackingwith“lesser</p><p>weapons.”Inonenotoriouscase,arapistmurderedtwowomenbecause,</p><p>hesaidlater,hebecameenragedwhenoneofthemsprayedhimwitha</p><p>Mace-likesubstance.Aviolentaggressorislikelytodolittlemorethan</p><p>laugh if an intendedvictimheperceives tobe smaller orweaker than</p><p>himselfsquaresoffinamartialartsstance.</p><p>Contrastthiswithavictimwhodrawsagunandisobviouslyprepared</p><p>to immediately open fire. The difference in deterrent effect is literally</p><p>night and day. In terms of body language, a shooting stance with a</p><p>drawnfirearmistheultimateexclamationpoint.</p><p>Thus,wehaveanironicreality.Thepersonwhoisnotarmedwitha</p><p>deadly weapon will very likely have to kill or cripple a determined</p><p>attackertodefeatthethreat.Bycontrast,thepersonwhoisarmedwith</p><p>adeadlyweaponishugelymorelikelytobeabletoendthethreatwith</p><p>nophysicalinjuryoneitherside,duetothetremendousdeterrenteffect</p><p>offeredbytheirlegallycarriedfirearm.</p><p>The American Bill of Rights may be the most carefully crafted</p><p>delineationofindividualrightsinthehistoryofthehumanexperience.It</p><p>strainscredibilitytothebreakingpointtoaskthinkingpeopletobelieve</p><p>thatsomehow,thosewhowroteitaccidentallyincludeda“state’srights”</p><p>issuenearthetopofthelist.TheBillofRightswasdrawnlargelyfrom</p><p>theconstitutionsoftheexistingcoloniesthatprecededit,manyofwhich</p><p>areabsolutelyexplicitabouttherighttobeararmsbeinganindividual</p><p>right,notacollectiveone,andmanyofwhichexpresslyincludepersonal</p><p>andfamilyprotectionamongthereasonsforensuringthatright.Anyone</p><p>who doubts this has not done his homework. Even opponents of</p><p>individual firearms ownership have admitted, after reviewing the vast</p><p>body</p><p>of Constitutional scholarship, that the Second Amendment was</p><p>indeedoriginallyintendedtobeanindividualright.</p><p>The argumentswill not be concludedwithin the lifetimes of anyone</p><p>reading this. The debate has become too emotional and too polarized.</p><p>Thosepersonswhohaveacceptedtheresponsibilityfortheirsafetyand</p><p>the safety of those who count on them can only stand prepared to</p><p>defend, not only innocent lives, but the very practice of carrying</p><p>weaponstofulfillthoseresponsibilities.</p><p>W</p><p>Chapter3</p><p>WHEREYOUCAN(ANDCAN’T) CARRY</p><p>henandwheretocarryagunisalittlelikewhenandwhere</p><p>to go nude. In either case, there will be times and places</p><p>where you’ll find it comfortable, and even times and places</p><p>whereotherswillbehappythatyou’reinthatcondition.However,there</p><p>arealsotimesandplaceswhereitwillbeinappropriate,offensive,and</p><p>evenillegal.</p><p>HousesofWorship</p><p>IremembergoingtochurchoneSundaywithmyoldersisterwhenI</p><p>was a little kid, and being shocked and even outraged when a state</p><p>trooperwhoworkedthatareacameinandsatinthepewinfrontofus,</p><p>with his big 6 ½” barrel Smith & Wesson Model 27 357 Magnum</p><p>swinginginplainviewinitsflappedswivelholster.Howdarehebringa</p><p>deadlyweaponintoahouseofworship!</p><p>TherehasbeenalotofwaterunderthebridgesincethatSunday,and</p><p>Ihavetotallychangedmyviewonthetopic.</p><p>Afewyearsago,amaniacwalkedintoareligiousservicebeingheld</p><p>inahotelconferenceroominWisconsin.Heopenedfire,andcommitted</p><p>massmurder before killing himself. He apparently assumed, correctly,</p><p>that in a state which had no provision for private citizens to carry</p><p>concealedhandgunsinpublic,noonecouldstophimfromcarryingout</p><p>hismonstrousplan.Thatwasexactlyhowthingsturnedout.</p><p>Inrecentyears,greatadvanceshavebeenmadeforconcealedcarryrightsinMidwesternstates,</p><p>butthetwoworststatesforCCWareinthatregionalso.Pistolisthehandy,effective9mmEMP</p><p>fromSpringfieldArmory.</p><p>InTexas,not longafter then-GovernorGeorgeW.Bush signed shall-</p><p>issue concealed carry into law, the lawwasmodified to allowpermit-</p><p>holders to be armed in places ofworship. Amassmurderer entered a</p><p>church inFortWorth, scoutedarounduntilhe foundaprayermeeting</p><p>peopled exclusively by teenagers, and opened fire there, exacting a</p><p>terribletollinhumantragedy.Heapparentlyknewthatelsewhereinthe</p><p>church,therejustmightbearmed,responsibleadultswhowouldshoot</p><p>backandputhiminjeopardy.Hecarefullyselectedtheonesub-groupof</p><p>victimswho,tooyoungtohavecarrypermitsunderTexaslaw,wouldbe</p><p>helpless.</p><p>OntheWestCoast,arabidanti-SemitelookedforJewstomurder.He</p><p>later admitted that he thought about hitting a synagogue, but feared</p><p>someone might be armed and shoot back. So, instead, he committed</p><p>massmurderinaJewishdaycarecenter.Thisistypicalofcowards:they</p><p>seekunarmed,helplessvictims.</p><p>Allovertheworld,terroristshavelearnedthattostriketerrorliterally</p><p>into the souls of those they intend to intimidate, mass murder at a</p><p>religiouscentercangetthemorbidattentiontheyseek.MilitantIslamists</p><p>havemurderedthoseofotherbeliefsystemsathousesofworshipfrom</p><p>theMiddleEast toPakistan, andamad Israelimilitary reservist killed</p><p>severalinnocentMuslimswhenheopenedfireatamosque.Clergyman</p><p>PeterHammond of SouthAfrica lists the following series of terroristic</p><p>mass murders at churches in his foreword to Charl van Wyk’s book,</p><p>ShootingBack.(ChristianLibertyBooks,CapeTown,SouthAfrica,2001.)</p><p>“WhenIsawtheshockingcarnageatSt.JamesChurch(inKenilworth,</p><p>South Africa), it immediately brought similar bloody scenes flooding</p><p>back into my mind,” wrote Hammond. “Over the last 19 years of</p><p>missionary work I have personally come across scores of similar</p><p>atrocities,inAngola,Mozambique,RwandaandSudan.InAugust1983,</p><p>Frelimotroopskilled5pastorsandburntdownall5churchesinMaskito</p><p>Village, Zambezia Province,Mozambique. In September 1983, Frelimo</p><p>troopskilledover50ChristiansandburnedachurchinPasuravillage.</p><p>At Chilleso Evangelical Church, in Angola, Cuban troops shot 150</p><p>Christiansduringachurch service.AtNewAdamsFarm inZimbabwe,</p><p>16missionariesandtheirchildrenweremurderedinNovember1987…</p><p>On 23 June 1978, terrorists who supported Robert Mugabemurdered</p><p>nine British missionaries and four young children, including a three-</p><p>weekoldbaby,attheElimMissionStation.”</p><p>Wherethelawsaren’tright,workforchange!AuthorleavesWisconsinStateHouseinMadison</p><p>after testifying for shall-issue concealed carry. Bill passed Legislature, but when anti-gun</p><p>governorvetoedit,gunowners’civilrightsforcesfellonevoteshortofover-ride.</p><p>AddedHammond,“ItisworthnotingthattheonlyBritishmissionary</p><p>attheElimMissionStationwhohadafirearm–heowneda38revolver</p><p>–wasalsotheonlysurvivor!Beingcowards,theterroristslefthimalone,</p><p>preferringdefencelessvictims.Thefirstthearmedmanknewaboutthe</p><p>attack,waswhenhewokeupthenextmorningtofindthebasedeserted.</p><p>He later discovered thebodies of his fellowmissionaries on the sports</p><p>field.Gun-freeisnoguarantee.”</p><p>The author of the book Shooting Back: The Right and Duty of Self-</p><p>Defence, Charl vanWyk,was in the St. James church that terribleday</p><p>whentheterroristsopenedfire.Hereishisownaccount:</p><p>Hewrote,“Grenadeswereexplodinginflashesoflight.Pewsshattered</p><p>undertheblasts,sendingsplintersflyingthroughtheair.Anautomatic</p><p>assault rifle was being fired and was fast ripping the pews – and</p><p>whomever, whatever was in its trajectory – to pieces.Wewere being</p><p>attacked!</p><p>“Instinctively,Ikneltdownbehindthebenchinfrontofmeandpulled</p><p>outmy38Specialsnub-nosedrevolver,whichIalwayscarriedwithme.</p><p>I would have felt undressed without it. Many people could not</p><p>understand why I would carry a firearm into a church service, but I</p><p>arguedthatthiswasaparticularlydangeroustimeinSouthAfrica…</p><p>“…Well my moment of truth had arrived, I thought, as my hands</p><p>steadiedaroundtherevolver.Thecongregationhadthrownthemselves</p><p>down–inordertoprotectthemselvesasfaraspossiblefromthedeluge</p><p>offlyingbulletsandshrapnel.ByGod’sgrace,theviewoftheterrorists</p><p>frommyseat,fourthrowfromthebackofthechurch,wasperfect.The</p><p>buildingwasbuiltlikeacinemawiththefloorslopingtowardsthestage</p><p>infront.Sowithoutanyhesitation,Ikneltandaimed,firingtwoshotsat</p><p>theattackers.Thisappearedineffective,asmypositionwastoofarfrom</p><p>mytargetstotakepreciseaimwithasnub-nosedrevolver.Ihadtoget</p><p>closertotheterrorists.</p><p>“So I started moving to the end of the pew on my haunches and</p><p>leopard-crawledtherestofthewaywhenIrealizedthatmypositionwas</p><p>toohighup.TheonlywayIcouldmakethoseheartlessthugsstoptheir</p><p>viciousattackwastotryandmoveinbehindthemandthenshootthem</p><p>inthebackatcloserange.</p><p>“Isprintedtothebackdoorofthechurch,pushingaladyoutofthe</p><p>way,sothatIcouldkickthedooropenandnotbehinderedasIsought</p><p>to get behind the gunmen to neutralize their attack. As I desperately</p><p>roundedthecornerofthebuilding,outsideintheparkingarea,Isawa</p><p>manstandingnexttowhatwasthe‘getaway’car.Restingonhishipwas</p><p>hisautomaticrifle.Hehaditpointeduptotheheavensasifindefiance</p><p>oftheLordshipofJesusChrist!</p><p>“Themanwaslookinginthedirectionofthedoorthroughwhichthey</p><p>hadlaunchedtheirattack.Washe</p>
  • Guia_prático_de_interpretação_de_exames_laboratoriais_interna (1)
  • 3 INSPEÇÃO DE PROD DE ABELHAS (1)
  • PRS_Apostila_CAR_WEB
  • ASSOCIAÇÃO ENTRE INTELIGÊNCIA EMOCIONAL E SATISFAÇÃO COM A VIDA DE IDOSOS ATIVOS
  • e3bfaff5-23da-4129-a910-3edb810227e6
  • Cartografia_Basica_2021
  • UAB edital 07 -2024 ESPECIALIZAÇÃO EM GESTÃO PÚBLICA UEFS
  • Introdução à Programação de Computadores
  • Exercícios Java Nível Iniciante
  • Compiladores
  • Sobre o conhecimento produzido pela análise criminal, marque a opção INCORRETA: Select one: a. Dos anos 1990 até os dias atuais, a análise crimina...
  • A arte ou glicose múltiplacogênita compreende um conteúdo de alterações caracterizadas por rigidez e contratura de articulações além de fraqueza e ...
  • A artrogripose múltipla congênita compreende um conjunto de alterações caracterizados por rigidez e contraturas de articulações além de fraqueza e ...
  • Núcleo de Gestão de OPME é: Questão 3 Resposta a. Uma ferramenta utilizada para controlar as solicitações de cirurgias contendo as OPME visando o ...
  • Considere a equaçãoNH4NO2 formandoN2+2H2O nas condições normais de temperatura e pressão pode-se obter a partir de 500g de nitrato de amóni, um vol...
  • Qual é a consequência de uma implementação inadequada de políticas de compliance trabalhista para as organizações? Questão 9Resposta a. Afeta some...
  • O que é minimamente necessário para identificar a capacidade de equilíbrio? Selecione uma opção de resposta: a. Uma plataforma de pressão. b. Uma ...
  • Qual sistema de rastreamento não é conveniente usar em espaços fechados? Selecione uma opção de resposta: a. GPS. b. Futboltek. c. Video Tracking....
  • Considere o cenário a seguir: Leonardo integra a equipe de inovação de uma empresa na área de metalurgia, sobretudo no planejamento e produção de ...
  • Leia o tecno a seguir. "A artrogripose múltipla congénita é um grupo clínica e etiologicamente heterogéneo de doenças, caracterizado pela presença ...
  • É muito comum pensarmos erroneamente que, a durabilidade de uma junção é determinada pelo tipo de cola que estamos utilizando no processo, mas de f...
  • 09-Qual dos seguintes fatores NÃO é considerado um componente essencial para o desenvolvimento de uma cultura empreendedora dentro de uma organizaç...
  • onsiderando as informações apresentadas, assinale a opção correta. Grupo de escolhas da pergunta A porcentagem de coleta regular deve ser sempre ...
  • APOSTILA
  • Lies My Doctor Told Me_ Medical - Ken D Berry MD

Perguntas dessa disciplina

Grátis

Leia o trecho da música a seguir: Bohemian Rhapsody Mama, just killed a man Put a gun against his head Pulled my trigger, now he's dead Mama, lif...

Unigran EAD

Grátis

What was the objective of the Easy Company in the described military operation? a) To take control of a German machine gun.b) To destroy enemy p...
What are the parts that nail guns consist of? Nail guns are powered by gas or air pressure.Nail guns are usually all metal, but some more afforda...
In the sentences “... proposals to curb an “epidemic of gun violence”...” and “an array of steps to curb gun violence...”, the word curb means[A] ...
According to the text, what is correct to say about Peter D’Adamo?a) He is a Belgium scientist specialized in the area of nutrition.b) He receive...
Massad Ayoob Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry - Programação (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Nathanial Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 5811

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nathanial Hackett

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: Apt. 935 264 Abshire Canyon, South Nerissachester, NM 01800

Phone: +9752624861224

Job: Forward Technology Assistant

Hobby: Listening to music, Shopping, Vacation, Baton twirling, Flower arranging, Blacksmithing, Do it yourself

Introduction: My name is Nathanial Hackett, I am a lovely, curious, smiling, lively, thoughtful, courageous, lively person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.