You don’t have to fire your pistol every time you draw it. What if the bad guy suddenly gave up and thrust his hands high into the air and you, using your verbal skills to turn bystanders into witnesses, now have witnesses watching you shoot a man with his hands in the air? What if the bad guy turned tail and ran at the first sight of your gun?
In both situations, the imminent threat has disappeared and you no longer have the right to shoot. But in both situations the imminent threat could reappear very quickly, so you had better have your gun out and be ready.
The difference between brandishing and drawing your firearm in the face of the threat is your ability to articulate that threat you saw was real. If there was no threat and you pull your gun, well, that is brandishing. If there was a threat and you pulled your gun and the threat instantly disappeared, then you have no right to open fire. But you did have the right to pull your firearm.
This is another reason why you need to be the first person to dial 911 after you pull out your gun. If the bad guy runs around the corner and dials 911 and says, “Some guy just pulled a gun on me!” and gives your description, who do you think the police are going to be looking for? What attitude do you think the police will have when they find you?
On the other hand, what if you are the complaining witness and you tell police, “I was threatened by a man in a white shirt and blue jeans. He ran away when I drew my firearm.” That looks much better for you, doesn’t it?
When police get there, you had better be able to clearly tell them what prompted you to pull your gun. If you cannot, you may be cited for brandishing.
Remember please consult your attorney on your rights to carry a firearm, this article is for general information only and is not legal advice.
Proper maintenance is always important, but in a carry gun, it is absolutely vital. Predictably, failures to feed and other malfunctions often follow.
Some guns, seem to “like” to run “wetter” than others. But even modern, polymer frame need some lubrication. And any wheel-gun can benefit from a drop or two of good quality gun oil from time to time. Serious “operators” who go in harm’s way agree that while many of the guns today can function in less-than-perfect conditions, none of them would ever carry a dirty gun on purpose. A defensive handgun should always be clean and properly lubricated. So, what is “properly” lubricated? If you have just come back from a trip to the range, once you have unloaded your gun and done your basic cleaning, just a bit of lubrication on the key parts will likely be more than sufficient. Starting with a revolver, the “key parts” will be the point at which the cylinder rotates around the ejector rod, the cylinder ratchet area, and the trigger group. In some guns, the ejector rod rotates along with the cylinder (Smiths), while in others the rod is stationary (Rugers). Point the gun up to let the oil penetrate. Then, point it down at about a 45 degree angle and spin the cylinder. It should spin freely for several seconds. If it stops after only a revolution or two, some additional cleaning and/or further investigation may be necessary. The trigger group is best handled by turning the revolver upside down and placing a few drops of light oil on either side of the trigger where it meets the frame. Wait a minute or two to let it work its way into the mechanism, then turn it over and add a drop to the base of the hammer. Then, dry-fire the gun several times to be sure it works smoothly. Semi-Auto's should have light oil sparingly applied to the trigger and firing mechanism (something like Rem-Oil spray is excellent). Then apply oil to the slide rails. A few drops at the back of the slide is usually sufficient, and on the frame where applicable. The barrel should have a thin film of lubrication, including on the area of the barrel that locks into the slide. Since a carry gun stays close to the body (at least it should), it stays quite warm even in winter, so an alternative to oil is a quality grease (Rig +P). Unlike oil, it will not evaporate or run out. But apply ONLY to the barrel and slide rails. Other options are Militec-1 and Frog Lube. These are “metal conditioners” which “bond” to metal under heat, and retain lubricity even when dry. Remember to train regularly and clean your firearm. How much do you train? Seriously. Think about your last trip to the range. Did you stand on the line and punch a few holes in a paper target, then call it good? You were shooting, not training. And unless you were really focused on things like grip, sight alignment, and trigger control—you were really just plinking.
Real training is an investment in money and time. Real training involves an instructor who creates a lesson plan or training sequence, watches your performance, and suggests corrective action. The instructor should challenge you to improve and provide instructional guidance when you fail to follow the plan. Now how much would you say you train? I’m going to suggest you get out and find a firearms training school like Trigger Action, LLC or any other well know training school and plunk down the money to attend. I bet you thought buying the gun was going to be the most expensive part of self-defense. Not true. If you want to do self-defense right, training and ammo will be your biggest costs. Deal with it. These training schools will give you solid basics and expose you to a tremendous amount of “atmosphere” about the psychology of self-defense. That atmosphere is best used to broaden your perspective. I don’t expect you to believe and implement everything you see and hear. But everything you see and hear will add to your knowledge base. I am not here to tell you how much you must train. But I would like it if you trained more! Your skills are perishable. And, make no mistake, you need skills. I support the right to keep and bear arms. I support Constitutional Carry, but I’m telling you that with every right comes a responsibility. You have the right to bear arms, but when you do, you also have the responsibility to do so correctly and legally. So, even if the government doesn’t require you to get training, I think you should take it upon yourself to do so. So, I ask again. How much do you train? I found the attached website and booklet about gun facts, it has some good information that you can use to counter some myths surrounding different topics. The website is listed below with a copy of the booklet, if can't open the file, you can get a copy from the link. Below is the description from "Gun Facts" website. Gun Facts™ is a free e-book that debunks common myths about gun control. It is intended as a reference guide for journalists, activists, politicians, and other people interested in restoring honesty to the debate about guns, crime, and the 2nd Amendment. Gun Facts has over 110 pages of information. Divided into chapters based on gun control topics (assault weapons, ballistic finger printing, firearm availability, etc.), finding information is quick and easy. Each chapter lists common gun control myths, then lists a number of documented and cited facts (with over 530 detailed footnotes). Thus when a neighbor, editor or politician repeats some sound bite about firearm control policy, you can quickly find that myth then rebuke with real information. http://www.gunfacts.info/
Springfield 3.3 XD-S 9mm pistols-serial numbers between XS900000 and XS938700 Springfield 3.3 XD-S .45ACP pistols-erial numbers between XS5000000 and XS686300 Several months ago, Springfield Armory issued a recall of their latest pistol, the XD-S. The XD-S is a compact single-stack version of the company's XD series of pistols. Apparently the pistol has the potential to double fire or slam fire during the firing sequence if the grip safety momentarily disengages before the slide returns to battery. In order to reset the trigger, the slide has to cycle and in doing so it catches the striker on the sear. The XD-S has a striker safety plate that should prevent the engagement which is allowing the pistol to fire out of battery. It looks as if the spring on this part or perhaps the sear spring may be too weak to deploy if the shooter's hand comes off the grip safety momentarily while the slide is moving rearward. It sounds convoluted and possibly a difficult scenario to recreate, yet it has happened enough that Springfield Armory issued the recall for the 3.3 XD-S 9mm and 3.3 XD-S 45 ACP pistols. The recall does not apply to the XD or XDM series pistols. Another problem associated with the XD-S pistol are reports of shooters having them fire by simply releasing the slide to chamber a round without having a finger on the trigger. According to Springfield's website, no injuries have been reported to date as a result of either of these defects. With some shooters waiting as long as 6 months for their pistols to be fixed, the XD-S pistols are finally coming back from Springfield Armory. Externally, the upgrade to the XD-S appears to be a roll pin in the grip safety. Inside the pistol there are 3 other upgraded parts, the sear, the sear spring, and the disconnector. While the roll pin present in the grip safety signifies an important upgrade; it can also serve as a visual reminder to inform a potential buyer of the XD-S that the handgun has been through the recall process. If you have a Springfield XD-S, you should send it in to Springfield Armory as soon as possible to have it upgraded. More information can be found at the website that the company established to aid users through the process: http://springfieldrecall.com/RecallUpdate.asp The attacks on “Stand Your Ground” laws, in Florida and elsewhere, are becoming more numerous. This is dangerous because so many people are woefully ignorant about what such laws do, and more importantly, what they don’t do.
One critic on TV called Florida’s law a “hunting license” and hysterically proclaimed that “you can shoot someone, and all you gotta do is tell police that you were defending yourself, and the cops can’t even detain you!” But not one person on the panel challenged him, leaving the casual viewer wondering if his statement might actually be true. Absurd? Of course. Anyone familiar with police procedures understands that they can pretty much detain any person for any reason, for as much as 72 hours, depending on the circumstances. But most people have little or no knowledge regarding law enforcement practices. Reality is quite different. FindLaw is an excellent resource that I often use for basic legal information. They provide a “quick reference” guide to states with Stand Your Ground laws, as well as those with some form of “duty to retreat” requirement: “The following is a list of states that have enacted laws specifically affirming one’s right to stand your ground when defending yourself against a serious imminent threat, with no duty to retreat, so long as you are in a place you have a right to be in. States that have adopted a stand your ground doctrine through judicial interpretation of their self-defense laws are not included in this list: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah As noted above, some states have self-defense laws, either through statute or case law, that are similar to stand your ground laws, but with at least one key difference. These laws generally apply only to the home or other real property (such as an office) and are often referred to as “castle doctrine” or “defense of habitation” laws. These states include: Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia. A substantial minority of states have laws imposing a duty to retreat, with some important variations. The following states impose some form of duty to retreat before deadly self-defense is authorized: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Wyoming Laws on self-defense vary widely from state to state and may have minor, but crucial differences in their language and application. For an in-depth understanding of self-defense laws and how they work in your state, it may be best to check with a local criminal law attorney.” [source: FindLaw] But remember that statutes are merely the tip of the legal iceberg and tell little about how laws are implemented in the day-to-day administration of the criminal legal system. Remember that “the law” is complex, and from the cop on the street, to the prosecutor, the judge, and the jury, it is always being interpreted differently. Transporting a handgun encompasses a wide variety of scenarios, some of which include times where you may not be able to carry your gun concealed on your person but still must get it from point A to point B. What if, for instance, you lost your concealed carry license but still had your gun and needed to drive somewhere with it? In many states, the law may require you to lock the gun in a case and store it in the trunk of your car while transporting it. Or, for more survival minded persons, or those who want to store an antique or classic handgun without any fear of scratching or harming it, a highly protective case may be in order. For years, Pelican has been making world-class protective cases for photographic and other electronic equipment — most recently cases for tablets and notebooks. The Pelican P1075 Pistol and Accessory Hardback Case is a “gun version” of the same Pelican case that houses and protects sensitive electronic equipment from the elements and the shocks and bumps associated with everyday use and beyond. Even if you would never purposely throw an iPad in the ocean, with this case you could and it would be fine. The durable ABS construction combined with the Pick N Pluck™ foam interior allows you to accommodate and protect a variety of gear inside the case. Since the Pick N Pluck foam is customizable, the P1075 easily serves as a highly protective handgun case with a variety of applications. This is more than a glorified gun case, however, providing a handful of useful features, well suited to handgun transport. Handguns by their nature are very tough tools. You’ve probably seen torture test videos online that show Glocks being frozen in salt water or Sig Sauers being dragged behind a pickup truck. Yes, they are tough guns! While that kind of durability has its place, some of us want to keep our handguns in pristine condition as a matter of their care and to maximize operational reliability. In other words, we’re going to do everything we reasonably can to protect these defensive investments. For those interested in maximum protection for a handgun, the P1075 provides high-strength ABS that is crushproof, dustproof, and watertight. With a single latch that easily but firmly snaps open and closed, the two halves of the Pelican P1075 case form an impressive structure for a handgun and offer two points to lock the case in the closed position — usually a requirement for transport in a vehicle when the driver does not have a concealed pistol license. In addition, a built-in automatic purge valve maintains the appropriate pressure in the case while keeping dust and water out. Integrated strap holders allow you to carry the case easily using the included shoulder strap. You might get away with carrying the case on the notion that people will assume it holds your iPad or notebook. At some point, however, if you never open the case nor set it down, it might look suspicious. Measuring 12.38″ x 9.75″ x 2.13″ — just slightly larger than a piece of paper in two dimensions — the case proved easy to store in a car trunk, in a briefcase or messenger bag, or even between two mattresses at home. These are hardly harsh environments but I appreciated that I could grab the case and literally throw it in a bag or bin and not hurt the contents. The Pelican P1075′s compact size and exceptional protection and durability would be a welcome and fitting addition to any survival kit. Or, I could store it in the spare wheel well in my trunk and have an extra pistol and ammunition fairly close by any time I’m in my car. The P1075 and cases like it have virtually limitless applications for concealed carry, providing a safe and secure means of storing or transporting a pistol or two, spare magazines and ammunition, and other gear. It retails for $72.95. What else would you put in a case like this? What makes you think you are ready to handle anything that comes your way? Is it that gun on your hip or in your purse? Think again. Preparedness is about training. Training is about repetition. Being ready is about believing it can happen to you and taking the steps needed to act properly when things go off the rails.
I heard a story recently that generated a big laugh for everyone but me. A friend was telling me about his relative who was jogging along a country road. The woman came over a small rise and there in the roadway were some sheep. One of the animals decided to charge our fitness-conscious heroine and before the woman knew it the full force of a 200-pound animal slammed into her hip, throwing her off balance and to the ground. The woman yelled at the ram, kicked and flailed her arms, but the ram hit her again before stepping away. According to the storyteller, the woman waited for the ram to turn its back, then jumped to her feet and sprinted a couple hundred yards until she thought she was safe. She then admitted, “I had pepper spray the entire time and never thought to use it.” That’s because under stress we revert to our default setting. For her it was screaming, kicking and hitting, all of which did nothing to hold a determined attacker at bay. Why didn’t she grab for her pepper spray? Because she had never trained to reach for her pepper spray. She bought it, hung it on her jogging shorts and went running, very likely thinking to herself, “If I ever need this, I’ll just pull it out and spray it.” Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Under stress you will only do what you have practiced doing. How often do you practice drawing your pistol from concealment? My guess is most people hang a gun on the belt and go about their daily business. How many of you run scenarios through your head at least sometime during the day? In my work as a police officer, I have thankfully never been involved in a deadly force incident. Yet, I regularly run “what if” scenarios through my head. What if the driver during the next traffic stop decides to come out shooting? I roll each step through my head, from exiting my vehicle for better cover to the radio transmissions I would make in such circumstances. I even remind myself to switch on my portable radio as I get out of the car. Run some scenarios through your head. What would you do if you were walking across the parking lot to your car and two men approached you? Where would you look for cover or an escape route? What would you say to them? Where is your cell phone? At what point would you draw your gun? Play all these elements through BEFORE the time comes and you will give yourself a massive advantage. Think about it. Stay safe. Train hard. Have you ever met one of those guys who just KNOWS that he’s right about your pistol, your caliber and your method of carry? You know the guy I’m talking about. No matter what you say, do, or carry, “you’re wrong and it will cost you your life.”
Now, in my professional capacity, it’s my business to help you make the most of whichever gun you decide to carry, in whichever caliber you choose to shoot, and whichever holster you decide to carry it in. That’s one of the reasons I really love my job. You see, in order to provide you accurate information about gun, I get to learn about as many guns as I can, I almost said I get to learn about ALL guns, but that would be false. I will never be able to cover them all. What I can say is this: Regardless of what you carry and where you carry it, the two single most important elements are your "Training and Preparation". Whether you carry a Kel-tec or a Kimber, a Charter Arms or a classic Colt, the most important thing you can do is train to use that gun as effectively as you can. We can’t all be Navy SEALs. There is no such person as James Bond or Jason Bourne. But you can rise to your potential and be prepared everyday. A .32 ACP may not knock a vicious attacker backward. But it will put some holes in him and he won’t know it is a .32ACP when the shooting starts. He will just know the odds are no longer completely in his favor. That might be enough to insure you can escape. If escape isn’t an option, at least your gun — any gun — gives you a chance. And if you learn to do things right, those holes you are putting in your adversary will help you when no one else can. So instead of fighting about which gun is better, simply resolve to carry a gun everyday. Stay safe, Train hard. As temperatures rise carrying a gun becomes just that much more uncomfortable. It can press against your skin, rub you the wrong way and become a gathering point for sweat. None of that sounds very fun. Take all these things together and you might end up deciding it’s too hot to carry. Let’s not make that mistake ¾ criminals strike in the heat as well.
So, what can you do about the heat? Not much on the meteorological front, but on the gun side, you can do a lot. First off, you might want to switch to a summer rig. I know, you trained, “Same gun, same place, every time.” But that does not mean you can’t come up with a warm weather rig, train up on it and carry it through the summer. Maybe you can switch to a small pistol for summertime carry. Look for a holster or method of carry that fits your fashion and lifestyle. Look for a holster with decent backing. The area that touches your skin will be of the most concern. Some companies go with suede, others with space-age polymers. Find one you like and let it work for you. Another option would be to wear a t-shirt under your cover shirt. Yes it adds a layer, but will not make you all that much hotter and if you place the shirt between your skin and the holster the comfort level jumps way up. Maybe you could go with a pocket holster and a small auto pistol like a .380 or 9mm. Fanny packs are out there, but people who see them often think “gun.” That goes for good guys and bad guys alike. Some people complain that such packs are not fashion forward, but consider this: Will the person who ribbed you about your fanny pack be ribbing you after you produce a pistol and save the day? I don’t think so. If it works for you, fashion be damned, carry a fanny pack. Summertime carry might take a little experimentation, but it is worth it if you have your gun when you need it. Carrying a gun is not only a big responsibility, but is also hard work. In the summertime it can be hard, hot, uncomfortable work, but don’t let that deter you. |
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