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Four Quick Reminders

1/29/2015

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1. Magazines are always placed downward into the pouch with the rounds pointed away from the support side. This allows the shooter to  grab the magazine, twist the wrist, and have the magazine and magazine well pointed in the same direction. 

2. Magazine pouches are placed on the support side and speed-loader pouches are always placed on the strong side (same side as the holster). These positions allow for use when prone without excessive body movement and at all other times allow the loading hand to drop directly onto the pouch. 

3. Engage all safeties every time.  Not using a decocking/safety lever will result in a failure to fire when the lever is inadvertently engaged without your notice. Train to flip safeties off with every draw and you'll be never be scared senseless because your handgun doesn't fire. 

4. Use every safety strap on your holster. Despite the difficulty breaking-in a new retention holster, they do loosen up. A holster strap can become snapped when the wearer brushes against a wall or car door jamb. If you don't train to disengage the bottom snap every draw, you will find remedial action difficult under the certain panic that occurs when your handgun won't leave the holster. 

The Practics book is coming along, finishing the final edit. Interested readers can go to the Notify Me page to receive an email with specifics prior to the release date.  The book will be available this Spring but the date has not yet been set. 
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Guns are great but so are shoes.

1/23/2015

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Being technically and legally competent to use a firearm for home defense is good. Having immediate access to your weapon at any hour is also good. Having a small piece of wire pushed through the bottom of your foot, causing you to yelp and limp is bad. 

Most defenders need mobility as part of their defense. Practics does not advocate searching when defending is possible. But somebody has to gather the kids or shepherd the household to a safe location. I think most home defenders plan on being bare-footed during an emergency. The very nature of an invasion is that it disturbs the environment it is violating--your home. A clean kitchen floor may not stay clean. A clear stairwell may become cluttered. Once the home has been breached the defender can no longer be certain of its physical condition. Further, the defender may be forced outside the home. Footwear must not be an afterthought. Bedroom slippers are not stable enough for the sliding, pivoting, high-stepping which is likely foot movement during a defense of an invaded home. Many would-be defenders will claim that a little pain won't deter them during an actual criminal encounter. Its certainly true that adrenaline and focus will minimize the distraction of minor pain but it is also true that defenders may not be under the influence of adrenaline throughout the entire episode, and not all pain is minor.  If you have to cross a kitchen floor coated in shattered glass, don't expect that you will be able to tough-it-out. 
 
Keep a pair of shoes by your bed that are easy to get on (hopefully with only one-hand), can be secured without laces, have soft but sufficiently thick soles, are quiet on all surfaces, and don't slip on wet surfaces (crepe soles don't handle liquids well). Firearms are not a cure-all for anything, they're just a tool. So are shoes. Make certain that you have the tools you need in the unlikely event that you are forced to defend your home's occupants. 
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How much carry ammunition?

1/20/2015

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New York Police Department and the FBI have done a good job of keeping statistical records concerning police shootings. In fact, compared to NYPD, the FBI is a little light on data. New York has been tracking shootings for more than a century.  The point is we know that for good or for ill, four rounds pretty much wraps it up.
Bear in mind that most shootings occur within 6' or less, so it makes sense  that  the ammunition expenditure would not be all that great.

Today, most peace officers carry a loaded pistol and two magazines.  That's about 50 rounds. In my opinion its too much.  The likelihood that a reload will be required is more of a serious possibility than a probability but a reload will almost certainly be due to a mechanical failure not the exhaustion of the ammunition supply. The great advantage of the pistol is that it allows a quick reload with less training effort than required for a revolver but a good revolver shooter will still beat a mediocre pistol shooter in a reload.  For a true pistol advantage, the defender needs more magazines with less ammunition. Everyone seems to agree that 2 extra magazines or speed-loaders are sufficient but why does a defender need to carry a box of ammunition?
Heavy magazines are more susceptible to breakage than those which are lightly loaded.  Single stacks take up less space and minimize the snags that happen when those wearing a gun belt are forced to squeeze through tight openings.  If you wear a loaded gun belt often enough your back will not thank you for it--lighter is better and quicker.  Smaller grips and smaller magazines are good for both speed and retention. Safety is enhanced when a pistol can be operated from the shooting grip rather than having it twisted about in the hand.  Size matters. Revolvers were discarded because of the fear of high-capacity weapons but even the bad guys ammunition average in shootings hasn't risen. Its not a question of the presence of ammunition or the mechanical capability of the weapon--it's a matter of time. That hasn't changed.

Let's not go equipment crazy to our own detriment.

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Advice to police applicants

1/14/2015

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A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine told me his kid wanted to be a cop and was asking for some advice. Here's my general advice for those who want to be a peace officer in 2015.

1. Learn to shoot like Roy Rogers and Tom Mix. It is incumbent upon the officer to overcome all physiological and psychological influences and simply shoot weapons out of the bad guys' hands.  If you can master that skill out to 100 yards, you should be fine.  Remember this isn't the wild west, so officers need to be able to shoot like old cowboy-movie stars. 

2.  Learn Hollywood -style fighting. If a 109 pound actress can beat up a half dozen large men, there is no excuse for a commissioned peace officer to lose a fight or to resort to weapons that may cause discomfort or injury.

3. Work only  in areas where the residents are of your race. Part of a civilized society is to reduce all human beings to nothing more than skin hue.   Make sure your color is acceptable before responding to 911 calls.

4. Never become angry. Only degenerate, evil, power-mad psychopaths become angry when someone is trying to beat them to death.  Look in the mirror.

5. Understand that statutory law is a set of guidelines that is most often wrong when it comes to police behavior. Police actions which do not "feel quite right" to the general, knowledgeable, well-informed populace should rightly result in a series of federal maneuvers, civil threats, and prosecutorial misadventures intended to destroy the offending police officer. That's democracy in action. 

My advice to anyone wanting to become a peace officer in 2015 is, in a nut-shell, become a fireman. Everybody loves firemen.

On a serious note, we do have a problem with an increasingly militarized police. The War on Drugs has trampled protections against unlawful search and seizure. Jurisdictions can't wait to regulate every facet of life for the purpose of revenue.  Having armed agents with executive authority riding the population is a recipe for public rage. Nonetheless, America has good cops. Not all are good, of course, being human but the percentage of dishonest cops comes nowhere close to the percentage of dishonest politicians, lawyers, and journalists. As a whole, we've still got a pretty group trying to wring some justice out of law. 


I worked with police from all over the world and American law enforcement is fairly unique in one particular: the poor and weak trust the cops. Look in any inner-city or American backwater and you'll find that those who have the most contact with the police trust them the most. Whether its for impromptu marriage counseling, handling a belligerent child, or helping with an empty refrigerator, those without the means to help themselves call the police. That 's pretty good in a world that tends to wield power like a battle ax , and use law like a bullwhip.  

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Choosing a defensive shooting school.

1/12/2015

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Obviously, I would rather everyone read my books and attended my training. On the other hand, that's really not practical, and frankly, it wouldn't be the best advice for all shooters. Aside from my self-serving interests, finding a good instructor is not a given.  Too many local instructors, the kind that pin index cards to the local range bulletin board, shouldn't be teaching. An NRA instructor certificate does not of itself qualify an individual to train others.  Big name schools fall into another problem--the glorification of self. Shooting a gun is not a religion and some guy's beloved technique is only orthodoxy when broad success has made it so. Fortunately, there are some great local instructors and some wonderful big name schools.  It is the perspective student's job to research and discriminate.

Here's a few things to consider when doing research on a complete defensive shooting class (not a basic shooting course).

1. Marksmanship--defensive shooting requires mastery of non-sighted techniques. However, while most defense shootings occur within a couple yards, some do not. Learning to use sights under duress is essential when the exposed target is reduced. Be wary of those who keep all training within 5 yards on over-sized targets. Teaching accuracy is beyond the ability of most instructors; the easy money is in selling squat-point-jerk. A complete education requires you to be able to fire at a few car lengths (at least) under duress. Don't let anybody talk you out of it. 

2. Angles--stances and positions are worthwhile but defensive shooters may have to fire sideways, from the ground, up and down. Defenders may not be able to square off on the target. A good instructor will know that.

3. Support hand firing--you can't fly away if your shooting arm gets broken or a second attacker grabs your shooting arm. Every defender must be able to draw, manipulate and fire with the support hand. That's common sense and it needs more than five minutes of training.

4.  Entry requirements--if anybody can attend without a minimum of safety, firearm operation, or marksmanship competence, the school is probably a cheap Rambo-target course with all hands on line jerking away shots at a big, close target.  You don't need to pay somebody for that. 

There's a lot of great instructors and schools out there. The NRA is a good place to start.  Do your homework before you commit. 

Good Shooting. 
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CCW's and Police

1/9/2015

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There's always a concern about how police will behave when meeting an armed citizen, particularly at a shooting or crime scene. I can empathize with both sides. Having been the police, I didn't like anything that would delay or threaten me. On the other hand, as a private citizen, I can't stand being treated like a felon because the police don't know me. 

Here's a few things armed private citizens can do to get along with the police:

1. If you have a CCW weapon, put it back in the holster and button your jacket. Have your CCW permit in your hand. Wait for the officer to get out of the car and acclimatize himself to the the scene. Tell the officer you are a CCW holder and are carrying a holstered handgun. Do not show the officer the permit unless he asks to see it. Impatient officers hate having things thrust at them while they're trying to handle a call. The purpose of having the card in-hand is to prevent you from having to put your hands near your belt line. Take it easy and let the cops guide the contact. 

2. If you're a party to an incident and cannot legally conceal the weapon your actions will depend on your circumstances. Obviously, you can't lay down the firearm if it is not safe to do so. In cases where you must keep pointing your gun at  a threat until police arrive be certain to never face the police with the gun in your hand--point it away from the cops. Remember, when we're frightened we tend to face in the direction of our attention, which means many people point guns at cops without thinking. If you have to hold onto the gun, hold it by the barrel with the grip pointing upward and your arm extended to the side. Raise your other arm above your head. Where you are able, place the weapon on a table, porch, or other elevated surface in plain view and step away. Opening a revolver cylinder or locking back a slide prior to the arrival of the police is helpful. Remove the magazine or rounds and place them beside the weapon. Never manipulate the weapon in front of the police without being so ordered. Police will not be happy if you have unloaded a weapon that was used in a shooting prior to their arrival. If you can leave the gun on the kitchen table and meet the cops outside, that's great. But evidence is not your immediate concern, not getting shot is your immediate concern. So, if you're in the street and patrol cars are racing toward you from blocks away, make the weapon completely safe and place it at your feet (provided that the scene is safe).

3. Shut up. Don't tell the cops about your choices in guns or try to talk shop. Relax and focus; the police will eventually get to you. You alone will determine how much credibility you have with responding officers. The less you say and the better you follow directions, the more cops will tend to consider you credible. 

4. The police have a right to your name, age, and address. You must show them your ID. CCW holders are expected to be cooperative in most jurisdiction but that doesn't mean you must forego your constitutional rights. Keep you story to the essentials so that the police have enough to know how you fit into the call: "I heard a loud noise and got my gun and walked into the living room. I saw that man and told him to put his hands up. Then I called the police." Even that's more than ought to be said in a perfect situation but it's a good compromise to avoid having to make bail. After the police have the nuts and bolts of what happened, let them know you'd like to speak with your attorney. If the police have a right to search your house, they'll search it. Don't give them permission for searches but offer to cooperate with a warrant. There's a section on talking to the police in the forthcoming Practics Holistic Handgun ; the idea is polite behavior is always correct but surrendering a constitutional right is almost always wrong. The police are not out to get you but there are many things in your state's criminal code of which you are probably not aware. Ask to see your attorney before questioning or consenting to a search. It is your right. 

5. Be considerate and reasonable. The cop who responds to a call doesn't know you. You don't look any different from the people who have assaulted cops. Give up thinking or saying things like, "If I were guilty would I have...?" The answer is "yes." Criminals, unlike in Sherlock Holmes stories are rarely calculating and reasonable. Your responding officer may be a nice guy or he may be pompous ass but he's still a police officer. He wants to know what happened and make the scene safe. Cops work in an established pattern. Stay out of the way, obey lawful commands, wait your turn, and you'll find it easier to work with the police. 

6. Know the law concerning your CCW. If you have a permit and don't know your legal obligations, you deserve what you get. Qualifying with a handgun is not enough for the moral and legal maze that lies before the armed citizen.  

A concealed carry weapon permit or the right to carry without one, has a moral obligation and legal responsibility. Know before you arm.
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Welcome to Practics

1/8/2015

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Welcome to Practics.  This blog focuses on matters relating to defensive use of firearms and the surrounding social issues.  For my Amazon readers, this is something of a change. The marksmanship blog is still active at www.perfectpistolshot.com but will be replaced on my Amazon author's page with www.practicsusa.com.  I've enjoyed all the correspondence from Perfect Pistol Shot readers over the last couple of years and your emails are always welcome.

Practics is a system of firearm defense that has some unique characteristics:
 
1. Holistic--the Practics system is not a collection of solitary movements, tactics, or techniques. Rather, Practics is  an organization of cohesive and complimentary elements. For instance, the preferred Practics draw lends itself to both aimed and non-aimed fire, for longer distances as well as chest-to-chest encounters.

2. Deadly Force--the practical understanding of the moral and legal use of deadly force is essential to the Practics system. Very often, deadly force training and firearms training are taught separately. Practics uses the police academy method of making complex legal burdens understandable through the guiding principles on which law is created.

3. Sole Defender--Practics  (practical tactics) originates from successful rural American law enforcement practices which have evolved over generations of sole defender experience. Some of Practics is derived from old pattern Marine Corps close combat training but the actual tactics come from proven techniques for single armed defenders. Practics does not use modified team movement tactics, such as SWAT or military because the success of those techniques depends on multiple defenders. Simply reducing team tactics for use by a lone defender may be sufficient for action-shooting competition but will not translate for safe use by home defenders or solitary officers.

4. Realistic--based on the results of more than a hundred years of recorded police shootings, Practics is informed by what works and what fails rather than what is popular. Most law enforcement rounds miss their intended targets even at extremely close ranges. Neither traditional point-shooting nor marksmanship alone are sufficient for defensive shooting.

5. Adaptable--Practics is organized and reasonable but it is not rigid. Most defenders will be able to adapt or modify many Practics techniques to accommodate individual needs and abilities.  Practitioners will be able to further develop the Practics system, keeping it practical and effective.

6. Training based--Practics trains rather than informs. The book, Practics Holistic Handgun, is sufficient to outline an approximate three-week handgun course. We learn by doing.  

Practics Holistic Handgun will be available this Spring in paperback and Kindle formats. For more information visit the Practics web site: www.practicsusa.com

Thanks and welcome to Practics.
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    Author

    Albert League is the author of The Perfect Pistol Shot. He has trained more than a thousand military, police, security, and private firearm defenders.  League is the creator of the Practics system.

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 Practics, Practics USA, "An American Martial Art" and practicsusa.com are the intellectual and trademark property of Albert League. All rights reserved.  
The Perfect Pistol Shot is published by Paladin Press and available in stores and at Amazon.com.