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REVIEW!COLT NEW AGENT daovol.8, ISSUE 7 OCTOBER 2011THE ULTIMATE RESOURCEFOR THE ARMED CITIZENACTIVESHOOTER!• SHOULD YOU ENGAGE?• NAVIGATING MASS PANIC• PREVENTING FRIENDLY FIREWARNING SHOTS:DO OR DON’T?SIMULATINGMOVING TARGETSHANDLING POLICEENCOUNTERSusconcealedcarry.com

Mark Walters and Tim Schmidt Uncover TheInside Secrets of Over 33 of the Most PopularConcealed Carry Holsters On The Market!When you absorb the information in this system,you’ll save $1974.21 by NOT having to buy holstersthat will end up collecting dust in your holster drawer...Concealed Carry Basics Volume 2:The Ultimate ConcealedCarry Holster GuideHere are some video screen shots and sample workbook pages from Concealed CarryBasics Volume 2: The Ultimate Concealed Carry Holster Guide. Tim demonstrates thedraw from sportcoat concealment while Mark gives his introductory talk in front of ourgiant table of holsters.One of the more fascinating aspects of our 35-page workbook is our detailed 5-pointrating system. Each holster was rated on 5 different variables. This rating was thenweighted and an average overall rating was given!Here’s what you’ll get when you orderConcealed Carry Basics Volume 2: The Ultimate Concealed Carry Holster Guide.2-Disc DVD Set: Over 2 hours and 20 minutes of detailed analysis and commentaryon over 33 of the most popular concealed carry holsters. Mark and Tim take turnsdiscussing all the ins and outs of the holsters that work and the holsters that DON’Twork!35 Page PDF Workbook on CD: The workbook contains even more detailedinformation and photos of each holster that is covered on the DVDs. Each workbookpage contains a review summary, a five-point ratings graph, information on the companythat makes the holster, and how you can go about getting one for yourself.Audio Interview on CD: After Mark and Tim spent three grueling days under thehot camera lights, they sat down and recorded a “behind-the-scenes” audio interview.You’ll have your own CD of this recording where Mark and Tim talk candidlyabout their own personal carry-holster experiences.PAYMENT INFORMATIONCheck or Money Order Enclosed(Payable to USCCA)Please charge my VISA MasterCardAmEx DiscoverNOTE: Charge will appear as US Concealed Carry Assoc.Card # ________ - ________ - ________ - ________Expiration Date_________________Signature___________________________________Mail this formwith payment to:USCCA StoreN173 W21298Northwest PassageJackson, WI 53037The USCCA “BulletProof” 100% money-back guarantee gives youa full year to return ANY of our products if you are unhappy!

tIM’S THOUGHTSACROSSTHEEDITOR’S DESKTaking Joy in the Journey“It is better to suffer wrong than to do it,and happier to be sometimes cheatedthan not to trust.”– Samuel JohnsonHere’s a picture of the Schmidt kids on the first day ofschool! As you all know, these kids and my wife are thereasons I’m a responsibly armed citizen!I Don’t Love Guns.I Just LOVE What My Gun Protects…Iguess that headline isn’t 100 percent true, becauseI really do love guns. The point I’m trying to makehere is that many people forget that the firearm isonly a tool. It’s simply a means to an end. I carry a gunbecause it’s one of the most effective tools that I’m awareof for self-defense. I carry a gun because I’ve made thepersonal decision that the person who is 100 percent responsiblefor the safety of my loved ones is named TimSchmidt. I carry a gun because I don’t think I’d be able tolive with myself if I was ever in a situation where I couldn’tprotect my wife and kids. I carry a gun because it is oneof the many personal protection layers that I’ve createdfor myself. I carry a gun because while I expect and hopefor good and perfect outcomes, I understand that evilwill always exist in our world. I carry a gun because mydaughter and my wife each believe that no matter whathappens, her daddy and her husband will always be ableto protect her. I carry a gun because I want to teach mykids that it will someday be their responsibility to protecttheir loved ones. I carry a gun because I LOVE life. I carrya gun because I am a responsibly armed citizen.Single-Action isn’tfor everyone...POCKET PISTOL REVIEW!KAHR P380Think about the loneliest, most bitter, most unhappyold person you ever met. That person,somewhere along the way, decided not to trustanyone, ever again. And they paid for it with their life.Only the shell kept breathing.One of the many reasons I enjoy being prepared toprotect myself is because it lets me keep the luxuryof trusting people—most of the time and in mostplaces. If you are unprepared to respond to dangerand unable to protect yourself in practical ways, theonly real defense you have against evildoers is tosuspect everyone, distrust everyone, hate everyone,reject everyone pre-emptively. That’s no way to live!But when you have the skills and tools to protectyourself if you get it wrong, you don’t need to huddleto yourself in fear. You can choose trust.Keeping a firearm handy is like keeping a sparetire in the trunk of the car. Without the backup plangiven by the hardware, you might fret about the road:is it tearing up the tires you’ve got? How many mileshave you driven? Is that a piece of glass up ahead?But when you have a spare tire and the skills to use it,your mind becomes free to think of other things andyou can take joy in the journey.Stay Safe,JOIN NOW!USConcealedCarry.com877-677-1919Become a USCCA member and have Concealed CarryMagazine delivered right to your door, along withmembers-only access to the USCCA website, forums, PDFdownloads, and more!volume 7 FeB/mAR 2010THE ULTIMATE RESOURCEFOR THE ARMED CITIZENA looK ATIneXPensIveHolsTeRsHOLSTER SAFETYESSENTIALSSHOPPING FORA CONCEALEDCARRY PURSEPOINTSHOOTINGOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM• Smooth Light Double-Action (LDA)…but we still love the 1911.• Snag-free grip safety & hammerless design• “Covert Black” DuraCoat® finish• Ultra Bright Fiber Optic Front Sight• Ramped match-grade barrel• Ultra-thin grips• Available in 9mm and 45 .ACPusconceAledcARRy.com3

CONTENTS OCTOBER 201136FEATURES202324262932Down but not out; disableddoesn’t mean unable.Colt New Agent DAOby Duane A. DaikerRobar’s CustomColt New Agent DAOby John HiggsWhat Do I Bring To Class?by Steve CollinsComfort in Trainingby Rob PincusHandling Police andArmed Citizen Encountersby Duncan R. MackieAdvanced Handgun /Defense Training Internationalby Terrie Williams and Don LarsonKeep yourself alive — from the50 bad guy and the cops.3740445054The Challenged ShooterPart V: Advanced Trainingby Peter GrantHome Defense Checklistby R.K. CampbellTactical Defense Institute’sActive Shooter/Killer Coursefor Civiliansby Chris BirdActive Shooter Responsefor the Armed Citizenby Greg EllifritzWalking Backwardby Don StahlneckerSigned articles in Concealed Carry Magazine reflect the views of the author, and are not necessarily the views of the editors at Delta Media, LLC. Concealed Carry Magazineand the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, Inc. are registered trademarks of Delta Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2004-2011 by Delta Media, LLC. Reproduction,copying, or distribution of Concealed Carry Magazine is prohibited without written permission.4USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

COLUMNS13CCM PROFILEKiera Gladmanby Oleg Volk16JUST ASKShoot the Attacker in the Leg?by George Harris18THE ORDINARY GUYIs Your Destiny BasedPurely on Luck?by Mark Walters55BEHIND THE LINEMoving Targetsby Tom Givens57ARMEDSENIOR CITIZENIntelligent Choices forConcealed Carry:Five Do’s and Don’tsby Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D.60IT’S JUST THE LAWThe Stay Out Of Jail Cardby K.L. Jamison, Esq.62BALLISTIC BASICSClearing Presents Dangerby Tamara KeelDEPARTMENTS03TIM’S THOUGHTS03ACROSS THEEDITOR’S DESK06LETTERS TOTHE EDITOR07TRUE STORIES08THIS IS USCCA10LESSONS LEARNED11DRILL OFTHE MONTH12STUFF WE LIKEABOUT THE COVERFRONT coverPhotographer: Oleg VolkModel: Tennessee geologist Jessie Steineckeholds a 30-shot Keltec PMR30 pistolchambered in .22WMR. Although it’s not visiblein the photo, she’s wearing a Glock sportholster that also fits the PMR30.back coverCharter Arms .38 Special Undercover Literevolver rides in a Sideguard IWB holster, whileCharter Arms .38 Special Undercover LiteSouthpaw lies alongside a left hand tuckableSideguard holster.OCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COMSTAFFPublisherTimothy J. SchmidtManaging EditorKathy JacksonArt DirectorBetty ShontsCirculation ManagerLaura OttoAssistant Circulation ManagerNikki BublitzCopy EditorJohn HiggsPhotographerOleg VolkColumn EditorsDuane A. Daiker • Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D.Tom Givens • George HarrisK.L. Jamison, ESQ. • Tamara KeelDuncan Mackie • Rob PIncusMark WaltersContributing WritersChris Bird • R.K. CampbellSteve Collins • Greg EllifritzPeter Grant • Don LarsonDon StahlneckerTerrie WilliamsUSCCA Inc. Board of AdvisorsMichael Bane • John FarnamTom Givens • Rob PincusPublished for U.S. Concealed Carry by:N173W21298 Northwest Passage Way,Jackson, WI 53037(877) 677-1919 • Customer Service(262) 677-8877 • U.S. Concealed CarryConcealed Carry Magazine (USPS: 022-302, ISSN:1550-7866), Volume 8, Issue 7, October 2011 Issue.October 7, 2011. Published 8 times a year, monthlyexcept combined issues: Feb/Mar; May/June; Aug/Sept and Nov/Dec. Membership is $67.00 per year. byDelta Media, LLC, N173W21298 Northwest PassageWay, Jackson, WI 53037. Periodicals postage paid atJackson, WI and additional mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:Concealed Carry Magazine, N173W21298 NorthwestPassage Way, Jackson, WI 53037.5

LETTERS TO THE EDITORI have never been a fan of Velcro closureson things like fanny packs andwomen’s purses for concealed carry[“Five Great Carry Finds” by KathyJackson, CCM Aug/Sept 2011]. Velcro isnoisy and there may be situations whereyou don’t want to alert the bad guy youare drawing your weapon. For instance,if you are in a store and see a holdup inprogress, opening a Velcro closure willlet the would-be robber know there is apotential threat coming from anotherquarter. If you are lucky he will not firein your direction before you have yourweapon out. I prefer a nylon zipper ina fanny pack if I am not carrying in myusual belt holster. It is much quieter.Richard HarrisAccess to a Velcro-closed gun compartmentis significantly faster than access toa zipper-closed one in most situations,and also more visually discreet than theprominent locking zipper on most carrypurses. Every carry choice involves tradeoffs like these, which is why it’s so importantto understand your equipment andhow to use it most effectively. ~ EditorI enjoyed the article in the July issue ofConcealed Carry Magazine about theMagpul Dynamics advanced trainingclass. I was particularly intrigued bythe targets featured in the pictures thataccompanied the article. The gangbangersI get, but what’s up with theone on page 38? The angry housewifeholding the big kitchen knife? What’sher backstory? I’m thinking, if I’m lookingat a threat like that, it’s gotta be oneof the following:1. It’s my crazy ex-wife, and she won’tlet me see my kids.2. I’m breaking into a woman’s house,and she takes umbrage at this.3. I came home smelling like perfume,but it’s not her brand.Seriously, I love the magazine – keepup the great work!Bill BellThis letter cracked us up! But there’s aserious point here: never assume that anassailant will fit a certain profile or looka particular way or be a member of agiven demographic—that can blind youto an actual danger. In real life, lethalthreats come in both sexes and all ages.~ EditorIt looks to me like the photo on page4, repeated on page 36 [“MagpulDynamics: Realistic Training for aViolent World” by Brian Hallaq, CCMJuly 2011], creates an obviously verydangerous position for the instructoror whoever the person to the right ofthe shooter is. The shooter draws righthanded while blading the target, afterstanding with his back almost to the targetmeaning he had to cross some or allof the person’s body to his right. In myview this is a dangerous practice procedure,unless the instructor or spotterstarts out to the right side of the shooterand moves with him. The caption says;“immediate reaction to a threat fromthe rear” which is good to practice, butnot with an instructor or observer toyour side that your loaded gun has topass while leveling on the threat. Also,on page 37, the shooter’s weapon handis not compromised. The shooter’s righthand is free and his gun is holstered onthe right side. All this shooter had to dois back up, as the “bad guy” holds hisleft arm, draw with his free right hand,and shoot one handed. I may be missingsomething, but the photos to me,show poor practices for illustration.Russ ThomasWriter Brian Hallaq responds: A picturetells a thousand words, but oftentimesnone of the context. With respect to theengagement from the rear, the drill waspart of a larger lesson segment relatedto operating your firearm (safely) in acrowd of people, specifically keepingin mind where the muzzle would be.As a result, from the picture, you mighthave the impression that the shooterwas facing uprange at full extension,and simply swiveled 180 degrees to therear, which would (of course) be unsafeas to anybody in line with the shooter’smuzzle. In fact, the actual drill calledfor bringing the gun close into the bodyDue to volume received, not all letterscan be answered. Letters may beedited for space and clarity.Send your letters to:Concealed Carry Magazine, Attn: EditorN173W21298 Northwest Passage Way,Jackson WI 53037Or email:editor@usconcealedcarry.cominto a compressed low ready (positionSul), and then orienting the muzzlearound your body to the rear to engagethe threat. The lesson was valuable, inthat we cannot assume that a violent encounterwill take place from only one direction,and with no innocent persons inthe area. Thus, we have to train on howto orient our firearm in multiple directions,while maintaining safe muzzle directionsaround innocent people. At notime during the class did I see a studentor instructor sweep the muzzle of a firearmnear another human being.In the second picture you mention, theinstructor is not playing the role of a badguy, but rather showing, in a hands-onmanner, the proper way to disengage theretention devices of the deputy’s holster.I can see the confusion if you are assumingthat the instructor’s hold on the student’shand was meant to simulate theproblem to be solved, however that wasnot the case. There was no “force-onforce”aspect to the class. The instructorswere very “hands-on” as depicted in thephoto of me being mashed into the sandwhile shooting from urban prone, howevernothing should be read into thatinstructional style to presume that theyallowed themselves to be swept with afirearm.Correction:In “Five Great Carry Finds” (Aug/SeptCCM), the price of the Protector pursefrom The Concealment Shop was incorrectlyreported. The correct priceranges from around $120 to over $200,depending on size and features chosen.6USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

TRUE STORIESCARRY A GUN... IT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE.The purpose of the True Stories column is to report criminal encounters as they actually happenedto real people, not idealized or sanitized versions of such events. Sometimes armed citizens makemistakes, even bad ones, under the extreme stress of a deadly threat. We invite our readers to discussthese specific situations, and consider other ways the situations might have been handled, on theUSCCA discussion forums at www.uscca.us/forum. [ COMPILED BY DUNCAN MACKIE ]Armed Citizen NabsBad Guy in SeattleA Seattle, Washington resident wasat a bank ATM at 9 p.m. on a Saturdaynight when an argument between twonearby men resulted in one of the menbeing shot. The resident, who was legallyarmed, drew his pistol on theshooter, took control of the situation,disarmed the suspect and held him forpolice. While Seattle police are praisingthe “unusual … and surprising” actionof the armed citizen, they also say it isnot recommended, and that citizens doso at their own risk.Columbia, South CarolinaClerk Kills Would-be RobberWhen a female clerk went to set upfor breakfast at her Days Inn motel,43-year-old Vincent Carson put a knifeto her throat and announced a robbery.When her assailant pocketed his knifepreparatory to binding her with plasticties, the clerk pulled a pistol concealedbeneath her shirt and shot him in thechest, killing him. Police investigatorsreported that the female clerk acted appropriatelyin self-defense.Walgreens Fires Pharmacistfor Foiling Robberyand Saving LivesWhen two armed men bent on robberyentered his store in Benton,Michigan at 4:40 a.m. on a Saturday,Pharmacist Jeremy Hoven immediatelydialed 911. Before the call couldbe answered, one of the armed robbersjumped the counter and accostedHoven. Hoven drew his legally-carriedconcealed pistol and opened fire onthe robber, who fled with his accomplice.Investigating police say theywould have done the same as the courageousand armed pharmacist did, butWalgreens doesn’t share that opinion.It fired him for violating store policy onhow to handle robberies. Local citizensare reportedly outraged at the hero’streatment by the big-store chain, andare talking of boycotting Walgreens.In a similar situation across the country,an armed robber entered Haven’sPharmacy in Medford, Long Island,New York on a recent Sunday afternoon.Local citizens arereportedly outraged atthe hero’s treatment bythe big-store chain, andare talking of boycottingWalgreens.After shooting the four employees in thestore to death, the robber stole a largequantity of drugs. None of the four storeemployees who were killed were armed.Good police work by local New York lawenforcement arrested a suspect in thekillings a short time later, but too late todo the dead victims any good.New Haven, Connecticut ManFoils Street Robbery,Holds Suspects for PoliceThree men intent on robbery accosteda lone man on a New Haven streetabout 10 p.m. on a Saturday night.When they demanded money, the intendedvictim pulled his legally-carriedgun and held the robbers at gunpointfor police. All three would-be robbers,one aged 19 and the other two juveniles,were arrested.Homeowner ShootsDisgruntled Employee WhoDrove Pickup into Living RoomHearing a loud crash in the front ofhis Clearlake, California home, a homeownerseized a pistol and went to investigatethe noise. He found a formeremployee had driven a truck into theOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COMfront of his home. The employee got outof the truck and advanced on the homeowner,threatening to kill him all thewhile. The homeowner tried to flee, butthe assailant followed him, whereuponthe homeowner fired on his attackerseveral times, killing him. Police havereferred the matter to local prosecutors,which is routine in California.Armed Customers FoilDetroit, MichiganBarber Shop RobberyThings didn’t go as planned for twoarmed men who entered a barber shopand announced a robbery. Unknownto them, two of their intended victimswere legally armed, one of whom tookadvantage of the barber’s smock coveringhim to draw his pistol. When one ofthe robbers fired a shot into the floor tospeed up his victims in handing overmoney, that customer emptied themagazine of his semi-automatic pistol,killing one robber and putting the otherto flight. The dead robber had a long rapsheet and was out on parole for armedrobbery. No charges have been filedagainst the citizen defender.Drunk Florida BurglarBrings Knife to Gun FightAlerted by his daughter at 4:15a.m. to the sound of breaking glass, aGreenacres, Florida homeowner wentto investigate. Wisely, he took a .44Magnum revolver with him. He founda drunk 19-year-old who had taken uptwo large knives from the homeowner’skitchen. Rather than fleeing whenconfronted by the armed homeownerpointing a large-bore revolver at him,the knife-wielding man rushed him.The homeowner fired, killing the intruder.No charges are pending againstthe homeowner, who acted in self-defensewhich was clearly within the envelopeof Florida’s Castle Doctrine.7

Always be aware of your surroundings,but do not have the macho “I have agun” mentality. You are not Dirty Harryor John Wayne. No one needs to knowyou have a gun except yourself.Jeff in IowaPHOTO BY B. SHONTSBuy the biggest gun you can comfortablycarry and vary the holster toconceal it. If a gun is too small, or toolight to shoot comfortably, it may deteryou from spending good quality rangetime with it, causing a dangerous lackof proficiency. A full-sized gun with theright holster can easily be concealedunder even the lightest clothing. I haveconceal carried full-sized handgunsthrough several Arizona summers.Scott WillsonChoose your weapon(s) just like youdo your shoes or other clothing. Donot choose or use anything that doesnot actually fit your body. If possible,get help from a knowledgeable personwho is not trying to sell you products ifyou are not sure what this means.Dennis in UtahGet training and more training. Goodtraining will create the mindset requiredto carry and teach you the skillsthat will start your mental awarenessand a good trainer will go into the legalramifications of the use of deadlyforce. Never ever take your pistol outof the holster unless you intend to useit. I have seen too many people, ratherthan avoid a situation, think the sight ofa pistol will make bad guys run in fear.Sam JonesI had this exact conversation with a femalebusiness associate just a coupleof months ago. She mentioned wantingto get a permit at the suggestionof her husband, who had not exactlybeen a patient or wise instructor. Mycomments to her complimented theconcern he obviously had for her safety,and I added that usually spousesare not the ideal first-time instructorwhen it comes to guns. I strongly suggestedshe take a basic handgun safetyclass first and then go for the permitif she still wanted to. I was able to recommendlocal instructors who I knowwill take the time to provide careful andconscientious instruction.Steve in North CarolinaGet educated on the responsibility,safety and legal aspects of carrying afirearm, then get some training in usingand proper gun handling. Rent onefrom the range while training. Learnhow to choose a pistol that fits, thenbuy your gun and get your permit. Agun you can’t shoot and carry wellwill end up sitting at home where it isworthless.Dave KyleYour carry permit only gives you permissionto carry a gun; it does notgive you permission to use a gun. Youget no free passes with the legal systemif you ever shoot someone. You thinkyou have a lot of responsibilities now?Just wait until you start carrying a gun.Using a firearm has to be your last possibledefense option.Tom in NevadaI’ve been carrying a concealed weaponas both a law enforcement officer andas a civilian for over 18 years. I practicedrawing and dry-firing from my concealedrig at least four times a week. IOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COMThis HK P7 M8 is an unusual choice for concealed carry and may not be foreverybody. Select your weapon carefully and become proficient with your choice.also head to an outdoor shooting rangeto practice a variety of drills (includingthe Drill of the Month in my USCCAmagazine) with live ammunition at leastfour times a month. I am driven to dothis because my worst fear is firing myweapon at an attacker and missing mytarget. Injuring an innocent person dueto lack of training or practice would behard to live with. So practice with yourconcealed carry handgun! Practice seriously… and practice often!Gene in Southern NevadaNext issue’squestion:Oopsies! Did you do somethingembarrassing, related to concealedcarry? What happenedand how did you handle it? (Inorder to protect the really embarrassedfolks, for this issueonly, we will accept anonymousentries.)Send your comments to tips@usconcealedcarry.com.Each entry mustuse fewer than 75 words, and must besigned either with a complete name orwith a first name plus location. Due tovolume received, not all submissionscan be acknowledged. Entries may beedited for length and clarity.9

THIS IS USCCALessons LearnedA Halloween Surprise[ BY USCCA MEMBER JOHN L. ]Around 10:30 p.m. on October 31, 2009, my wifeand I were sitting at home with our lights off.We did not want any trick-or-treaters, becausewe live on a dangerous street.We heard the fireworks from thefootball game that was endingnear our home. Someonestarted ringing our doorbell excessively.My dogs started barking and ran to thefront door. I gave a puzzled look to mywife because we were not expecting anyone.I walked to my front door and slida chair I keep by the door up under thedoor knob.When I turned on the porch light, ahooded thug at my door started yelling,“Let me in!” I noticed another hoodedthug standing about ten feet behind him.I yelled, “Get off my porch and out ofmy yard! I am calling the police.” He thenproceeded to kick my door trying to getin. I was leaning as hard as I could on thedoor to keep them out. Then two of mydogs ran to the back door and startedraising Cain there. I knew then there wassomeone at the rear of my house too. I dialed911 and told the operator that someguys were trying to invade my home andtold her my address.I need to clear something up. Whenmy son was in grade school, I caught himhandling one of my rifles, so I moved allof my firearms to my father’s safe. Okay,back to the lesson. I realized that despitethe threat of police, and even after thethug heard me call 911, he was still determinedto invade my home. I lookedat my wife and yelled as loud as I could,“Get my gun!” At that point, the twothugs at my front door turned and ran. Iproceeded to turn on every light in, andoutside my home.My wife and I waited for the police toarrive. Fifteen minutes later, the phonerang. It was the 911 operator.She asked, “Do you stillneed the police?” I said, “Noma’am. When the gun storeopens in the morning, I willnever call 911 again.” I thenhung up the phone. Aboutfive minutes later the phone rang again.It was the 911 operator calling back to tellme that a police officer was on his way.Another three minutes passed and I sawthe officer pull into my drive.Twenty-three minutes after the initialcall the police arrived (there were morethan one hundred law enforcementofficers less than eight hundred yardsfrom my home at the game). I told himwhat had happened and asked him toplease look around my yard and myelderly neighbor’s yard (the directionthe thugs ran). They reluctantly lookedaround my home, but would not searchmy neighbor’s property. Then the officersleft. They did not take any pictures of thefootprints on my front door and therewas never a report in our hometownpaper.I feel the reason these criminals chosemy home and chose to do it at that timewas that there was a college footballgame three blocks from my house. Theyknew as soon as the game was over, thehundred police officers would be busyfor a while managing the traffic andspectators. Also, my house was completelydark.The next morning my wife (who hatedguns) said to me, “I think we need to get agun.” I could not agree more. Since then,my wife and I are well armed. We joineda gun club and started training. We bothhave our CCW from our county sheriff’soffice for the State of Alabama. I currentlyshoot IDPA and have become a NRA certifiedRange Safety Officer. I joined theUSCCA after listening to Mark Walterson Armed American Radio. He suggestedthat all law abiding gun owners shouldbe armed and join the USCCA. I am alsoa Shield member of the USCCA.The only other thing I have to say is,don’t become a victim or allow yourselfor your family to get in the situation myfamily found ourselves in. Get trainedand legally arm yourself. HDO YOU HAVE A STORY FOR “LESSONS LEARNED?”Concealed Carry Magazine pays $100 each for true personal experiences told byUSCCA members. Close calls, near misses, and defensive gun uses (with or withoutshots fired) all teach important lessons! Submissions must be shorter than 600 words;we reserve the right to edit for clarity and space considerations. Send your stories toLessons@USConcealedCarry.com©iSTOCKPHOTO - SCUPLIES10USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

THIS IS USCCADrill of the MonthThree Seconds or Less[ BY KARL REHN OF KR TRAINING ]This drill originated from the commonly citedstatistic that the average gunfight is three shots, inthree seconds, at three yards.Each string has a par time of threeseconds. The skills tested oneach string correspond to thetasks a skilled, trained shooter shouldbe able to perform in three seconds orless, at three yards and seven yards. Useof a single par time for all strings makesthis drill quick and easy to run.I recommend using an IPSC target,but the drill can be shot on any humanoidtarget that has both a bodyand head region. The IPSC target workswell for this drill because its head boxhas two scoring zones, with the A-Zonein the head corresponding to the ocularwindow. The complete drill takes20 rounds. When complete, the targetshould have three hits in the head, 17hits in the body. Hits in the A-Zone areworth five points, B- and C-Zones areworth three, D-Zone hits are worth one.Misses are minus 10. Maximum score is100 points. Passing is 90 points or better.When the start position is “ready,”you can use either a low ready (gundrawn, gripped in both hands, armsfully extended, gun aimed below target)or a compressed ready (gun drawn,gripped in both hands, arms pulledclose to chest with the muzzle levelwith target). HKR TrainingBryan, TXwww.KRTraining.com(512) 633-8232DISTANCE START POSITION TARGET ROUNDS3 yards Hands at sides, gun concealed.Body 3Take one step to the left as you draw.3 yards Hands at sides, gun concealed.Body 3Take one step to the right as you draw.3 yards Ready Head 23 yards Hand on gun, draw and shoot one handed. Body 37 yards Hand on gun.Body 3Step left or right, draw and shoot two handed.7 yards Ready Head 17 yards Hand on gun, draw and shoot one handed. Body 27 yards Gun in non-dominant hand (only), in ready position Body 3TOTAL: 20OCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM11

THIS IS USCCASTUFF WE LIKEEditor note: The following businesses make concealed carry gear that USCCA members or writers recommend.These are not paid advertisements. They are personal recommendations from us to you. None of the businesses onthis page have paid any money to be placed here. If you come across a product you’d like to see featured on this page,please send an email to products@usconcealedcarry.com.BABY UpLula Magazine LoaderPeople with weak thumbs have long enjoyed using the UpLulaLoader from MagLula to make the job of filling the magazinea little easier. Comes now the Baby UpLula, a magazine loaderdesigned to fit most .22LR, .25, .32, and .380 ACP single-stackmagazines. It doesn’t work with conversion magazines (rats!),nor with those that feature projecting side pins such as theRuger Mark II. But it’s a godsend for those who hate strugglingwith stiff magazine springs on their .32 or .380 carry guns.MagLula, Ltd. • www.maglula.com • Cost: around $30 from most outletsDeSantis Mini SlideThis minimalist outside the waistbandholster provides an open top and openmuzzle design, with a retention screwto adjust tension. The pancake designhugs the wearer’s body, sucked into thetorso with a gentle curvature and heldsnug with molded belt slots. The slotsfeature two lines of stitching for addedreinforcement between the holster andthe slots, while the holster provides stiffmolding that conforms to the firearm.Editor Kathy Jackson notes, “My favoritething about this well-made holsteris that because it has an open muzzledesign, it allows me to use firearmsof the same make but different barrellengths—such as my Glock 19 andmy Glock 26—without needing to purchaseseparate holsters for each gun.”DeSantis Holster andLeather Goods Co.www.desantisholster.comCost: $6512GunVault Micro VaultAlthough small, this portable safe fromGunVault will neatly store two smallframehandguns, or one larger handgunalong with a spare magazine andsmall flashlight. It comes with a steelcable you can attach to a solid pieceof furniture in hotel rooms, or underthe seat of an automobile when youtravel—but be aware that the vault itselfis a bit too heavy for easy suitcaseuse (GunVault makes another product for that need). The Micro Vault also includesbolt holes so you can bolt it against a wall inside a closet or somewhere else wellhiddenin your home. Best feature: the “handprint” combination lock providesfast, intuitive access even in the dark.GunVault • www.gunvault.com • Cost: $145Church Security Alliance“We believe church is a place people come to feel safe,” explains Church SecurityAlliance founder Glen Evans. “You and I know a threat can pop up at any moment,but most people who go to church don’t think that way. But there are menand women who have the sheepdog mentality and they really want to protectthose people who are attending church.” That’s where the Church SecurityAlliance comes in, with training resources and online support for church securityteam members or those interested in forming such a team. One feature: alow-cost risk assessment kit that helps ministries focus on their most pressingsecurity issues, allowing local churches to develop specific plans that best fit theneeds of their own congregations.Church Security Alliance • www.churchsecurityalliance.comUSCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

CCM PROFILEKiera uses a UBGholster withan aggressivecant that aidsconcealability onher small frame.“Have a planwhen you go tothe range.”KieraGladman[ BY OLEG VOLK ]In a world of the toughand the tactical, KieraGladman isn’t.She’s about as low key and unlikethe stereotypical gunny as canbe. A college student, she livesquietly in St.Paul, Minnesota with herhusband and cats. Her main hobby isplaying music. A casual glance at herconservative attire doesn’t tell just howmuch firepower is concealed beneath.And even a closer look doesn’t tell thefull story of this decorated gun owner.Kiera was first introduced to guns byher father, an avid hunter. While shehad not hunted, she learned the basicsof firearm safety and handling. Not beingthe first in the family to carry, Kieragot little attention from her adoptionof the practice, just quiet approval. Sheand her family members do joint rangetrips, try each other’s guns, and sharewhat they learn.She studied firearms more formallyin late 2009, taking a beginner-tocarrypermit handgun class offeredby Andrew Rothman. Kiera plans todo additional training this summer.She’s joined International DefensivePistol Association (IDPA) and attendsmatches for more exposure to a varietyof defensive scenarios. Her approach tolearning is very matter of fact, gun handlingbeing just another skill to acquirein life. Kiera does firmly believe that everyperson has the right to use appropriateforce to defend against an attacker.She recently wrote a paper for herbusiness writing class to allow carry onOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM13

PROFILEcampus by students with carry permits.Small and dainty, Kiera went throughthe usual gun selection process, tryingto find a compact weapon that wouldstill be controllable and adequatelypowerful. She settled on a Taurus PT-111 Millennium Pro in 9mm, a 12-shot,slim handgun that gives her a total of 36rounds with the two spare magazines.Kiera doesn’t top off her magazine afterchambering the first round. Recently,she added a backup Taurus TCP .380 forsituations where more perfect concealmentis required. At the same time, she’sbeen shopping for bigger and morepowerful guns, with Springfield XD in.40 S&W being the front runner at thistime.I mentioned earlier that Kiera is ahighly decorated gun owner. Her firsttattoo was done before she even turned18. She has always loved tattoos, so itwas natural to keep acquiring themover the years, even though she originallywanted “only one.” Some of themshow mythical creatures—a phoenix,When not wearing a belt, Kiera uses Undertech UnderCover Women’s CompressionShorts to conceal her Taurus TCP.a unicorn, a dragon—while others aremore reality-based, like chrysanthemums,scarab beetle, paw prints and araven. Each has a story behind it, like aroadmap of her life’s events or an avatarto represent profound moments of realization.Somewhat to her surprise, shefound people as accepting of her art asof her arms.Have you ever had to use your firearmin a defensive situation?Picking on an armed gardener may lead to pushing up daisies!14USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

PROFILEThankfully, I have never been in aposition where that level of force wasneeded.What training methods do you employ?I practice drawing, ejecting and replacingthe magazine, and target or aimingmethods. I practice drawing from mycarry holster and ejecting and replacingmagazines at home. I plan my rangetrips more thoroughly than I used to.I think it’s important to have goals forimprovement, so that I practice singlehanded with dominant and non-dominanthand as well as two-handed grip,use a variety of targets and distances,and started doing some timed exercises.I also started using the “thumbsforward” grip, after it was suggestedby another shooter a few months ago. Ifind it very effective. I’d like to also getinvolved in IDPA for experience in morerealistic scenarios.Do you have any recommendations?I recommend working with non-dominanthand to get at least a basic comfortlevel. I can’t promise it will ever beneeded, but if you break your wrist orarm ... well, it’s just a good idea to havethe ability to use either hand.How long have you carried a concealedweapon?I got the carry permit in October of2010.What weapons do you carry?I carry a Taurus PT-111 Millennium Proin blued finish. My particular modelhas a 12+1 magazine capacity, thoughI seldom chamber the extra round. Twoextra magazines give me a total of 36rounds. I like my Taurus PT-111, butsometimes I want something a littlesmaller or for backup, so I’m lookinginto getting a Taurus TCP or Ruger LCPto supplement.What type of ammunition do youcarry?Hornady Critical Defense 9mm Luger115gr. FTX.What concealment holsters do you use?At this time, I am using exclusively aUBG holster (www.ugbholsters.com)and a double magazine pouch for thePT-111. The holster is the Regulatormodel in basic black leather and I loveit. Beautiful, durable, and the cantis perfect for a behind the hip location.Undertech UnderCover Women’sCompression Shorts work great for theTCP.What do you do for a living?I recently earned a CertifiedAdministrative Professional titlefrom International Association forAdministrative Professionals. I am now afull time student at St. Mary’s Universityof Minnesota, and will graduate at theend of the Fall 2011 semester. I am activelyresearching Master’s degree programsand plan to start full time in thespring of 2012 toward a graduate degreein Holistic Health, Business, or HumanResources.Next on her shopping list:a dedicated gun belt.A good friend to humans and beastsalike, Kiera has been an effective gunrights ambassador. She even wrote apaper for her business writing course insupport of legalizing campus carry.Do you have any advice for our readers?Learn your pistol, learn your ammo,learn your laws, and have a plan whenyou go to the range. Practice understress if you can, so you know what youradrenaline does to you. Even somethingas simple as using a timer (whichmight be on your cell phone even) canelevate stress levels enough to affectyour grip or how quickly you can ejecta magazine. Research methods to increaseconcealment if you carry concealed.If you’re online, I highly recommendlooking up videos on YouTube.There are many superb educationalvideos on everything from holsters,grip styles, the use of edged weapons asbackup, IDPA competitions, and evenmundane topics like how to keep yourfirearm secure when using a public restroom.HOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM15

JUST ASKShould you shoot yourattacker in the leg or aimfor his weapon?Shoot the attackerin the leg?[ BY GEORGE HARRIS ]I’ve gotten some interesting questionsas of late that are a little off thebeaten track but are valid in thatthey have been asked in the highestdegree of sincerity and seriousness.Let me be completely clear thatI am answering these questionsas a regular every day citizenof the United States and am givingmy opinion as to how I personallywould view each situation. It is in noway legal advice as it is impossiblefor me to know all of the laws andregulations that apply to the readersof this fine magazine, not to mentionthat I do not hold a law degree.With that out of the way, these seriesof questions are interrelated, althoughI will answer them individually.Should I plan to shoot my attackerin the leg or try to shoot the weapon(knife, gun, club) out of his hand so Iwon’t kill him?There are multiple angles of approachon this one. Unless you can consistentlyhit a small moving target thesize of a gun while you too are in motion,at the distance that you envisionmaking the shot, I would reconsiderthat plan. In the dynamics of combatwith other humans it is unlikely thatprecision shooting would be an option.The second point of considerationis that the reality of another humanlosing their life by your hand hasn’tbeen thoroughly thought through.Once the trigger is pulled and the projectilelaunched, you have no controlover the damage the projectile inflictsto the target. For example, there are16USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

JUST ASKjust millimeters of difference betweena painful flesh wound that would inall likelihood heal without complicationand a breach of the femoral arteryof the upper leg which often resultsin death.I would suggest that the possibilityof another person dying because ofyour actions should be reconciled inyour mind before finding yourself in afight for your life and trying to make adecision where an instant means thedifference between surviving and notsurviving.A final thing to remember is thatthe good guys don’t always win. Thereis no “right” or fairness in nature. Theperson who is mentally and physicallyprepared for the situation at handusually comes out on top.PHOTOS BY B. SHONTSIf I have to shoot someone should Ishoot to wound or shoot to kill?See the above answer for the likelihoodsof being able to make thatchoice. Your main objective is to stopthe action that may cause bodily harmor death that is being directed at you,with whatever means you have available.Once the action directed at youis stopped (allowing you to escape orotherwise control the situation) youcome to a critical decision point. It isessential that you study the law thatapplies to your section of the countryparticularly in this instance. In somecases, should you continue your protectiveaction after the attacker hasceased the aggressive action on you,you then become the bad guy in theeyes of the law. Remember, “the law”trumps fairness, “doing the rightthing,” and moral or ethical concernsin a court room darn near every time.Why can’t I just fire a warning shotto let my attacker know that I meanbusiness?Not a good idea for many reasons.All fired projectiles have a terminalresting place. When a warning shot isfired, where ever it ends up and what itdamages is your responsibility. I knowof two people who have been hit, onefatally, by bullets shot into the air bypeople far away with no thought ofwhere the bullet would actually comeShould you fire a warning shot to letyour attacker know you mean business?to rest. [Editor: See also K.L. Jamison’scolumn, “Warning Shots” in the Aug/Sept issue of CCM.]In some locales you will be chargedcriminally by just producing the gun,whether you fire it or not, particularlyif your adversary doesn’t have what isdeemed to be an equal level of force.Police and others tend to fire backwhen they think that they are beingfired upon. Firing a warning shot verywell may result in drawing fire ratherEDITOR’S NOTE:than intimidating your adversary notto fire. HGeorge Harris has dedicated his life to the studyand education of others in firearms and tacticstraining. As a military shooter he earned thedistinction of becoming Double Distinguishedwith the Service Pistol and the Service rifle.George retired after 21 years as Co-Founder andDirector of a well known firearms academy tocontinue the pursuit of his passion for firearmstraining and program development.This column from longtime writer George Harris addresses questions thatconcern new shooters and people just getting started with concealed carry.Email your questions to questions@usconcealedcarry.com.OCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM17

THE ORDINARY GUYlated to the deaths of so many innocentlives, in the name of “safety.”To my left that day at the AtlantaWaverly Renaissance Hotel andConvention Center was the GCO recruitmenttable. Manning that tablewere two fellow GCO members, one ofwhom, Dan Agramonte, I had come toknow over the past year, and anotherindividual, a man named Buddy whomI had not met before, and whose storywould also remind me of why we are allmembers of the USCCA, NRA, GOA, SAF,and others, along with our respectivestate organizations. Notwithstandingmy own incident years earlier when Iwas forced to draw my weapon on twopunks hell-bent on taking a car onemorning at a traffic light, here I wasstanding between two people who, likeme, understood what it means to possessthe tools necessary to defend oneself.Unlike Suzanna Hupp and me, Buddyhad actually been shot. After being givena ride and upon exiting the vehicle,those people he thought were goodSamaritans then robbed him at gunpoint.During that robbery and whilerunning to escape, he was shot frombehind. (His full story will appear in anupcoming issue of CCM.)So there I was, being greeted by GCOmembers, signing books and talkingfreedom with like-minded individuals,one to my right who had witnessed themurder and executions of 23 people includingher parents, and another to myleft who had taken a bullet—a bulletmeant to kill him—for his wallet.Buddy gets it. Suzanna Hupp, shegets it. I get it. You get it. But I wonderedwhy others don’t. Not just “anyold other,” but others who have alsofound themselves the victim of a violentcrime. The person who came to mindwas Colin Goddard. Colin was shot fourtimes by the Virginia Tech shooter a fewyears back, but unlike 32 of his friendsthat day who died defenseless, coweringunder a wall of lead, unable to fightback and defend themselves, Colin survived.However, unlike Buddy who nowmans a recruitment booth at gun showsand dedicates his time to defendingour right to keep and bear arms, ColinGoddard now parades around thecountry as a voice for gun-haters andfreedom-haters.Why?Why would someone who has beenforced to cower under a desk, play deadand then escape the building by fleeingout a second story window, woundedby a madman, not feel the same desireto never again be defenseless in the faceof pure evil? What could possibly makethat person tick? I don’t pretend to havethe answer to what makes gun-haterstick but I do know that when confrontedby logic and reason, they will be unableto answer the question with reasonand logic. (I know this because I askedColin Goddard personally during a briefencounter last summer.) Then again,there is nothing reasonable and logicalabout the anti-gun crowd.Although I can’t explain what goeson in the head of someone who wouldrather die than fight back, I am prettysure of one thing. If we were able toraise the victims of the Luby’s Cafeteriashooter, or the Virginia Tech lunatic,or the Ft. Hood shooter, and ask thosevictims if they knew then what was goingto happen to them, if they wouldn’tprefer to have been armed and able todefend themselves, I feel 100 percentcertain that I know their answer. I can’timagine that even one of them wouldtell me they would prefer to lie downand die rather than fight to survive ifgiven the opportunity.It is a shame that someone like ColinGoddard, after surviving such a harrowingexperience, would come down onthe losing side of the argument—and itis the losing side of the argument as evidencedby years of failed gun-controlpolicies; policies that enabled a madmanto murder 32 of his colleagues andthat continue to allow mass shootersto prey on the publicly advertised, defenselessvictims in a publicly advertised“gun-free” zone.No, unlike Colin Goddard and theother gun-control nuts, I am at peacewith my decision to carry a firearm, justlike you, Suzanna Hupp, and Buddy. Iknow that I have made the right decisionand should the unthinkable happen,I am confident that an armedresponse is justified. Unlike ColinGoddard and Suzanna Hupp who bothsurvived by pure luck, I refuse to leavethat destiny completely to fate! HMark Walters is a NRA certified instructor,co-author of the book Lessons fromArmed America, and a vocal SecondAmendment activist. He is the nationallysyndicated host of Armed AmericanRadio, which airs Sunday evenings at8-11 pm EST (5-8 pm PST) from coastto coast. Mark encourages fans to writehim at mark@armedamericanradio.org. Visit him at www.armedamericanradio.org.Some shooting survivors, like SusannaGratia Hupp, campaign for gun rightsto ensure individuals will have themeans to fight back.Why wouldsomeone who hasbeen woundedby a madman,not feel thesame desire tonever again bedefenseless in theface of pure evil?OCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM19

The Colt New AgentDAO looks like a 1911,but lacks a thumb safetyand grip safety.New AgentDAOAnother stallion from the Colt stable[ BY DUANE A. DAIKER ]Few gun manufacturers can boast the history of Colt.Producing such classics as thePeacemaker, the 1911A1, thePython, and the M-16, Colt hasalways been a leader in the firearms industry.In more recent years, however,Colt has not been strongly focused onthe concealed carry market. I was veryhappy to see a shift in that focus, in theform of the Colt New Agent DAO (DoubleAction Only).1911? Not Really.The New Agent looks like a sub-compact1911 pistol, but it certainly is not. TheNew Agent is built on a three-inch 1911frame, so it shares similar dimensions,and is chambered for the traditional1911 load: .45 ACP. But beyond these basicsimilarities, the New Agent DAO functionsmuch differently than a traditionalJohn Browning designed 1911 pistol.20While traditionalists will probably findmuch to criticize in Colt’s newest interpretation,I think the changes have a lotof merit.Most notably, the New Agent DAO is,as the name suggests, “Double ActionOnly.” Colt has eschewed the traditional1911 single action design in favorof a modern double action trigger.Reminiscent of the double action thatColt last delivered in the “Double Eagle”series of 1911 knock-offs, this true doubleaction trigger is smooth, but heavy.Since this New Agent is DAO, the commonsafeties found on a single action1911 (a grip safety and a thumb safety)are not necessary. This makes the NewAgent a true “point and shoot” pistol thatis quick into action. The new design doesaway with the traditional 1911 beavertaildesign, since the flush-fit hammer staysfar from the web of the shooter’s hand.Eliminating this structure translates intoa slightly shorter overall length and easierconcealment.Perhaps the most striking feature ofthe New Agent DAO is the lack of traditionalsights. Some say the gun doesn’thave sights, but that is not true. The pistolfeatures a “trench sight” that consistsof a 1/8 inch wide shallow trough thatruns the entire length of the slide. Thepractical effect is a very smooth top endwith nothing to snag on the draw. In fact,the whole pistol is nice and smooth forease of carry.The New Agent has essentially thesame dimensions as an “officer’s size”1911, with a three-inch barrel and shortenedgrip. Magazine capacity is sevenrounds, and the pistol takes standard1911 magazines—so magazine availabilityis not an issue. In fact, the NewAgent will accept seven, eight, or evenUSCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

Basic InformationBrandColt’s ManufacturingModelNew Agent DAOAction Type Double-ActionCaliber.45 ACPCapacity 7 + 1 roundsTrigger Pull 10 lbs.Weight, empty 25 oz.Weight, loaded 31 oz.Barrel length 3”MSRP $885COLT NEW AGENT DAO SPECSGun Size InformationLength 6.5”Height 5”Grip girth 1.25”Short grip 2.5”Long grip 3”Sight radius 5.5”Trigger reach 3.75”Concealment index 13Trigger safetyThumb safetyGrip safetyDecockerMagazine disconnectLoaded chamber indicatorCocked status indicatorSeries 80 Firing Pin Block4 4The single clip of the Alessi APXallows just enough movementto make appendix carry morecomfortable.above: The New Agent has smoothlines for comfortable carry and asnag-free draw from concealment.right: The Alessi CQC/S holds the gunclose to the body and is extremelycomfortable for all day wear.ten round 1911 magazines if desired. Ina nice touch, Colt includes two sevenround factory magazines.The pistol comes with light-coloreddouble-diamond “slim fit” grips. Thegrips are functional and attractive.Unfortunately, they are not standard1911 grips, so aftermarket choices maybe somewhat limited.If you are concerned that this NewAgent may be difficult to disassemble—as 1911s tend to be—you need only rememberthis is not really a 1911. Fieldstripping the DAO is very easy and canbe accomplished without tools, a thirdhand, or super-human strength. The lackof a barrel bushing greatly simplifies theprocess, and anyone should be able fieldstrip the gun for cleaning.Better for carry.Clearly Colt’s focus was to design a gunthat is easy to carry. The New Agent DAOis very nicely sized for a pistol that packs7+1 rounds of .45 ACP. Colt has also eliminatedthe snag points that can make asemi-auto pistol difficult to carry—likethe sights, the thumb and grip safety,the beavertail, and the spurred hammer.This gun’s deep concealment mission isquite obvious.For testing, I carried the New Agentin a pair of concealment holsters fromAlessi Holsters. Although Lou Alessipassed away in 2009, his company continuesa 35-year tradition of making highquality leather holsters for armed professionals.In order to capitalize on the deepconcealment qualities of the New Agent,I used an APX inside the waistband holster.The APX is very thin and has a singletalon clip to hold the gun in the appendixposition. This rig was perfect for the NewAgent, and made for easy deep concealmentwhile still providing quick access.I also used the CQC/S, an outside thewaistband belt holster with belt loopsthat snap for easy removal without takingoff the belt. The CQC/S held thesmall New Agent high on the belt andtight against the body, making for easyconcealment, even with a light cover garment.Both Alessi rigs worked great, withthe APX being more deeply concealed,but less comfortable. The New Agent’ssize and design simply make the gunvery easy to conceal in a quality holster.Not bad to shoot either.Speaking objectively, this should be ahard gun to shoot. It is a small gun, in amajor caliber, with a heavy trigger, andminimalist slights. Speaking subjectively,however, it’s really not bad at all. I guesssometimes the whole is less than thesum of its parts.Despite its small size, the New Agentis not particularly light, which helps absorbsome of the recoil. The pistol alsoOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM21

COLT NEW AGENT DAOAmmunitionRoundsFiredErrors /MalfunctionsPracticalAccuracy*@ 10 yds.Winchester PDX-1 – 230 gr. JHP Bonded 40 0 4Speer Gold Dot – 230 gr. GDHP 40 0 4Winchester White Box – 230 gr. JHP 50 0 5Commercial Reloads – 230 gr. JRN 50 0 5* Note: “Practical accuracy” means the reviewer fired the gun while standing, and then placed a circle of aknown size around the resulting group using the USCCA Official Gun Review Excellence target.Disassembly is easy, requiring no toolsand only a quick peek at the owner’smanual.This pistol accepts standard sevenround1911 magazines, and comesstandard with two factory magazines.lacks any sharp edges, levers or a spurredhammer to bite into the hand. While recoilwith hot factory defensive loads iscertainly noticeable, it’s not painful orparticularly unpleasant. Anyone who isnot particularly sensitive to recoil shouldbe comfortable with this pistol. The NewAgent is much easier to shoot than alightweight snubnose revolver with hotloads.The trigger is quite heavy, weighing inat about 10 pounds. The trigger pull isreasonably smooth, but feels quite heavyat the end of a lengthy travel. I noticedthis much less if the trigger was pulledthrough its entire travel with authority.However, I did find some difficulty whenpulling the trigger slowly during accuracytesting. Clearly this gun likes to befired quickly and with a purpose—theway a self-defense gun should be fired.The trench sight on the New Agentis certainly a bit unusual. Without adoubt, the minimalist sighting systemmakes the top end of the pistol sleekand smooth for carry. All in all though, Iwould rather see this pistol feature a setof low profile fixed sights. I don’t generallyfind well-designed sights to be thatmuch of a liability for carry. I hope Coltdecides to offer a traditional fixed sightversion of this pistol in the future.The trench sight, however, does work.At shorter distances, I tended to simplysight down the top of the slide withoutfocusing on the trench itself. When moreprecision was required, I would actuallysight down the trench. While perhaps notas easy to see as traditional fixed sights,I found the accuracy to be quite good atdistances of 50 feet or less. My only realcomplaint with the trench sight is thatthe point of impact was about six incheslow at 10 yards for my eyes. Clearly this issomething that could be addressed withenough familiarization with the weapon.Most importantly, however, the pistolran flawlessly. I used four differentbrands of ammunition, including commercialreloads, without a single malfunctionof any sort. Three-inch 1911sare notoriously unreliable, which makesthe perfect function of the New AgentDAO even more impressive. Based uponmy experience with this gun, I am confidentthat it will work for me when calledupon.ConclusionI am very happy to see a new and innovativeconcealed carry gun with the Coltprancing pony engraved on the side.The New Agent DAO is a high-qualityconcealed carry gun in a major caliber.It looks like a 1911-style pistol, eventhough it is not. In many ways, it may bebetter than a similarly sized 1911, at leastfor its intended purpose.The New Agent DAO is not inexpensive,with a suggested retail of $885.Street prices are likely to be lower oncethe gun has been on the market for awhile. At least when you spend this kindof money, you can be confident that Coltstands behind their products with excellentservice.I have never been a huge fan ofOfficer-size 1911 pistols, but I am a fan ofthis New Agent DAO. Colt has simplifiedthe platform, smoothed the exterior forconcealed carry, and increased reliability.What more could you want from thecompact 1911 that isn’t a 1911? HDuane A. Daiker is a contributing editorfor CCM, but is otherwise a regularguy—not much different from you.Duane has been a lifelong shooter andgoes about his life as an armed, responsible,and somewhat opinionated citizen.Duane can be contacted at Daiker@RealWorldCarryGear.com, or though hisfan page on Facebook, and welcomesyour comments and suggestions.Prices as of August, 2011ContactsAlessi Holsterswww.alessigunholsters.com(716) 706-0321Colt Manufacturing Company, LLCwww.coltsmfg.com(800) 962-2658Speer Ammunitionwww.speer-ammo.com(800) 627-3640Winchester Ammunitionwww.winchester.com(618) 258-2000*The New Agent DAO was provided by Colt with an option to purchase at a reduced price. The Alessi holsters were provided by Alessi at nominal cost. The factory ammunitionwas provided by the respective manufacturers at no cost.22USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

PHOTO BY ROBBIE BARRKMANRobar’s Custom Colt New Agent DAO– Not your father’s 1911[ BY JOHN HIGGS ]Pick up a high end wristwatch and you will probablyfirst look to see the brand.If it’s a Rolex or an Omega, it’s a qualitytimepiece with a long pedigree,built to exacting standards. WhenI picked up the New Agent DoubleAction Only (DAO) pistol the first thingI noticed was the rampant Colt, thetrademark of an American companywith a pedigree that dates back to 1836.Turning the pistol over, I found theRobar logo, a sure sign that this pistolhad been customized and refinished toexacting standards.At Robar, all custom finishes are doneto the same high standards requiredby Robar’s NADCAP aerospace certificationthat qualifies the company tocoat—among other things—the internalparts of Apache combat helicopters.The customized Robar version ofColt’s New Agent features a Robar highvisibility rear sight and Novak frontsight, melt job on sharp edges, triggerjob, beveled magazine well, throatedbarrel, and polished feed ramp.The custom two tone finish is blackPoly-T2 on the slide with NP3 on theframe, barrel, internals, and both Coltseven-round magazines. Poly-T2 is thelatest finish from Robar and is availablein gun metal grey, black, tan, olive drab,and dark green. It is a PTFE based epoxycoating that provides lubricity and protectionfrom corrosion. NP3 is a combinationof Electroless Nickel and embeddedTeflon. It is extremely durable,very slick, and highly corrosion resistantwith a hardness factor of about 48-51Rockwell. When two NP3 coated surfacesrub together, the friction is drasticallyreduced, and no liquid lubrication is required,which means that less dirt andgunpowder residue stick to the gun.I shot the Colt at conversational distancesout to around twelve yards.Groups were tight, with the standardColt seven-round magazine emptiedinto one ragged hole. The Robar installedsights are easy to pick up, andprovide a classic black on black sightpicture. There were no failures to feedor eject, although a couple of times, Igoofed and tried to fire a double tap beforethe long double action trigger hadtravelled far enough forward to reset.That’s simply operator error, and once Igot used to the trigger and stopped tryingto treat it like the traditional 1911single action, everything worked fine.I field stripped the pistol and wipedall the surfaces with a dry piece of paperkitchen towel. The pistol looked veryclean, and only required a run throughthe barrel with a BoreSnake, since thebore is probably the only surface notcovered with NP3 or Poly-T2.It’s entirely possible that this particularpistol will still be shooting on thesecond centennial of John Browning’soriginal design. HJohn Higgs is the copy editor for CCMand a freelance writer. Find him at:www.junkyard-dog.netOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM23

WHAT DO IBRING TO[ BY STEVE COLLINS ]When you attend your first training class, whether it’sfor firearms or anything else, there are always somebasic things you need to have with you.Most courses have a syllabusthat will state the minimumrequirements of equipmentto take the class. Even non-gun coursesoffered these days (including defensiveknife, force on force, and hand to hand)have their own specialized requirements.There are certain items, though, thataren’t listed on a requirements page thatcan make training much more comfortablefor the student.First and foremost, you’ve got tohave an open mind and a positive attitude.You’re coming to learn somethingnew, so don’t show up andbadmouth the instructor or the curriculum,or try and impress the instructorwith your vast knowledge.I’ve learned something at every classI’ve ever attended, military or civilian.Sometimes, I learned what not to do!If you’re attending a firearms class, rememberto bring your gun! I’m not tryingto insult your intelligence, but in the rushof things, sometimes it happens. If possible,bring a spare gun. You’re going tobe pushing your gun hard and fast, and atraining class is where you’ll find out howwell your equipment works or doesn’twork. Parts can break, and if you have aspare, even if it’s a different gun, you justswitch over and continue training.You need to bring plenty of sparemagazines for your semi-auto, or speedloaders for the revolver. Nothing is moreaggravating than waiting for someoneto refill their one extra magazine in themiddle of a training drill. Magazines arealso the number one cause of malfunctionsin the semi-auto, so if one goesabove: The small bag isgood for a short class, butthe large Dillon PrecisionRange Bag is neededfor two days or moreof training. It will holdeverything you need, andthen some!CLASS? It can make or breakyour training time.down, and you have plenty more, noworries. You’ll also need a way to carrythem. Magazine pouches are made byjust about every holster maker out there,and having at least three carriers on yourbelt is usually sufficient.Bring plenty of ammunition! I usuallybring one-third more than the course syllabuscalls for. It’s easier to allocate fundsfor ammo at home base than to have toscramble around after the first day ofclass to find a shop that has some trainingammo. Trust me on this, the nearestbig box store (which is usually a longways away) won’t have enough ammofor you, so bring your own. Test fire yourammunition in your gun before you go,and make sure your firearm functionswith that particular ammo. This is alsothe primary reason many trainers recommendbuying quality factory ammunitionand bringing that to class, sincefewer problems usually occur with factoryammo than with reloads. Let me putit this way: I’ve reloaded my own ammo24USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

Extra magazinesand speedloaderswill keep youshooting. Highcapacity guns canget by with 3-4magazines; lowercapacity guns willneed more.above: The hat will keep thesun off your head and out ofyour eyes. Don’t be shy withthe sunscreen; apply it liberallythroughout the day. First Aidkit is for the minor scrapes thatinevitably come from long hoursof training.left: Redundancy is good! Havinga backup gun for trainingwill keep a minor glitch frombecoming a major obstacle.Test fire your ammunition in your gunbefore you go, and make sure your firearmfunctions with that particular ammo.for more than 25 years, and I still buy factoryammo to go to a training class. It’sjust one less thing to worry about.Having your own first aid gear is somethingI highly recommend. Trauma gearusually is, and should be, on site duringtraining, but having your own boo-bookit for small scrapes is something everybodyshould have. When you startdoing hard physical training, especiallytraining that entails physical contactwith a partner, small band aids and athletictape are, in my opinion, essential.Knee and elbow pads are great to havefor a rifle class, since you’ll probably bekneeling or going prone. Forearm padsare good for knife or stick training, anda mouth guard and protective cup forhand to hand training.Since most classes are conductedoutside, bring adequate clothing for theweather. Even in the summer I pack arain jacket and a parka. Good, durableclothing is what you need. Jeans with solidbelt loops that will hold a heavy dutybelt, or military style BDU-type pants arewhat you need. A good hat in the summertimewill keep the sun from blisteringyour head, and keep the sun out ofyour eyes. On that note, nothing willmake you more miserable than sunburnduring a training class, so don’t forget tobring sunscreen and use it generously. Idon’t care where you came from, everybodycan get sunburned to some degree.Use a high SPF sunscreen, 45 or better.Bring something to eat and drink. Youmust stay hydrated during training, evenin cold weather. A Camelbak is perfect,since it goes on your back and stays outof the way, but even bottled water is fine.Bring a case of it in the back of your car.Bring two cases, and you’ll be everybody’sbest friend! Dehydration leadsto body aches, headaches, the inabilityto concentrate, and can take you out oftraining. Having something to eat is alsoimportant. Your body needs energy, sobring snacks to training. It’s helpful ifyou bring your lunch with you, as manyranges are far from local restaurants, andlunch time is usually short. This is yourtime to eat and relax. You don’t want tospend it driving.These are just some of the things I’veseen over the years of being a studentand instructor that make training muchmore comfortable and enjoyable. Theremay be other things you need, so makea list of them, and go through it as you’repacking. It’s your class, and only you canmake sure you have what you need to besuccessful. If you’re in doubt about whatto bring, make sure you give the instructora call. They will be more than happyto help you, since they want you to havea great experience. HSteve Collins owns S & L Training in SWMissouri, teaching concealed carry anddefensive firearms and tactics. For moreinformation on training opportunities,contact him at sandltraining2011@gmail.com or visit www.sandltraining.com.OCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM25

Comfort inTraining[ BY ROB PINCUS ]In an earlier article, I explained that I start every classwith a short presentation on the concepts of Safety, Comfortand Competency and how I deal with them in the trainingenvironment.Iwent on to explain that I approachsafety simply as the idea that theexpected benefits of any endeavorshould clearly outweigh the known orperceived risks of that endeavor or it isn’tworth doing. From that premise, we canform rules and procedures and designdrills that are appropriate for any givensituation. In this article, I am going to discussthe next concept from my standardpresentation: Comfort.Comfort is incredibly important to thelearning process. If you aren’t comfortableboth physically and intellectually,you are not going to be able to get reallygood at whatever it is you are training for.(Keep in mind that I am not really talkingabout the temperature of the training areaor being well fed.) I define those two typesof comfort in this way:Physical comfort: You are actually ableto perform the skill being taught, as it isbeing taught.Intellectual comfort: You understandwhy you should perform the skill beingtaught and why you should perform itthat particular way.The first part, physical comfort, is verystraightforward. I often cite the exampleof having your arms fully extended whileshooting. This means exactly what it says.I teach people to fully extend both armsand even to have “active shoulders” towardthe front, putting the gun as far outas possible (combined with a forwardbend at the waist) and putting the gun inand parallel with the line of sight (we’llget into why in the next section of the article!).During my morning presentation I letstudents know that if they are not ableto perform the skills I am recommending,they should let me know and we’lleither figure out why, and get them doingit right, or I will modify my recommendation.That last part is always a bit of asurprise to some students who expect aninstructor to dogmatically insist that studentsdo things in a certain way, regardlessof circumstances that might make thenormally “best” option less desirable (oreven impossible) in some specific cases.Let’s say that I have a student who hadan injured arm that never healed prop-26USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

Physically being capable of gettingtheir upper body into a perfectdefensive shooting position is great,but is this student intellectuallycomfortable with why he shouldshoot in this position?erly and they simply could not straightentheir arm fully. Obviously, I would be anidiot to insist that they miracle their armstraight despite this physical limitation. Iwould be just as much of an idiot if I suggestedthat they wouldn’t be able to use afirearm to defend themselves with one oftheir arms bent. In this case, I would simplymodify my recommendation to themand suggest that they “extend as much asthey can.”Not every “I can’t do that” situation is assimple. “I like doing it this way” is not thesame thing and, usually, irrelevant. Thosesituations are dealt with through the nextfacet of comfort, making the student intellectuallycomfortable with why theyshould change.Sometimes, the hardest parts of dealingwith physical comfort have to do withgear. When someone shows up to a classthat they have paid a significant amountof money for and are investing a significantamount of time in (typically, I figureOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAG.that the tuition, ammunition and gear fora two day CFS Course runs about $1500minimum, and oftentimes much morewhen you factor in travel), it is interestingthe resistance they put up againstthe suggestion that they spend an extra$50-80 on a decent holster that will allowthem to physically perform a skill moreefficiently (or even more safely!). As Iwrite this article, I recently had a situationwhere a student had tried to save a fewdollars by buying off-brand magazinesfor his defensive pistol. About 80 percentof the time the off-brand magazines didnot drop free when he hit the magazinerelease. We switched some mags aroundand his mags stuck in other students’ gunsand factory mags worked just fine in his.Obviously, he could not perform a slidelock reload as efficiently as possible if heneeded to pull the magazines out manually,so I suggested he toss the cheap onesand invest in ones that work properly. Thestudent in question immediately agreedthat was the best course of action. But, inthe past, I’ve had students resist such advice,actually considering modifying thetechnique (and potentially compromisingsignificant amounts of time during afight!) instead of spending $100 or so (lessthan eight percent of their course investment)on three proper magazines!There are, of course, times when wecannot simply change gear and we are leftwith modifying techniques; such as whena gun may not fit someone’s hand wellenough to be used properly, but the gunis issued to them and they have no choicein the matter.Let’s take a look at a more complicatedtype of comfort: Intellectual. WheneverTo be a true teacher, an instructor really needs to be ableto explain things to their students in order to help themunderstand why something is important, not simplydemonstrate it or call commands on a shooting line.you are trying to acquire or refine a skill,you must try to understand it and theconcepts behind it. Not everyone wouldagree with this approach, of course.Some would rather just let the instructortell them exactly what to do and not bebothered with the whys of the situation. Idon’t particularly enjoy those types of students.I enjoy and respect the person whowants to understand what they are doingat a deeper level than just how it looks onvideo or how it compares to the personnext to them. When I am explaining thisconcept to classes, I often mention that ifwe had to choose either two days of lectureor two days of shooting drills theywould probably be better served by twodays of lecture. After all, even if we do twostraight days of shooting, they will need topractice and refresh their skills from timeto time in the future because the skills areperishable. If, however, they spend twodays gaining knowledge and understandingabout what to train, how to train andwhy they should train that way, they canuse that knowledge for the rest of theirlives to guide their practice and futurelearning.Especially with my military students,I sometimes have to stress that StandardOperating Procedures (SOPs) aren’tnearly as important as the concepts thatunderlie them. If one understands theconcepts behind the SOP, they can adaptand evolve the SOP as necessary. Luckily,most of my military students are seasoned,professional, special operationswarriors. These men are generally thinkerswho are truly interested in being thebest they can be. I acknowledge that, atthe 18-year-old-fresh-off-the-farm basic27

COMFORT IN TRAININGtraining level, there is a place for the “justdo it the way I am telling you” approach toinstruction, but for the tip of the spear orfor the private citizen paying good moneyfor instruction that they have chosen toseek out to protect themselves and theirfamilies, thorough answers and explanationsshould be the standard.As an individual interested in developingyour ability to defend yourself orothers, you should not simply go throughsome set of motions because any expertsays so. If you watch me do something ona video, adopt it as your preferred technique,and are approached one day at therange and asked why you are doing it, “Isaw Rob Pincus do it” is a pretty weak answer.The skills you are developing couldbe the difference between life and deathand you owe it to yourself to understandthe process that leads to those techniques.So, the key to Intellectual Understandingis asking, “Why?”When you ask “Why?” directly to aninstructor, you should get a real answer.If you are told that the technique beingrecommended is “just another tool foryour toolbox” ask why, of all the “tools”out there, that one in particular is worthlearning and practicing. If you’re toldthat the technique is “not the way, justa way,” ask the instructor why, of all theways, they are choosing to teach youthat one. If you are told that it is the waythat works for a certain person or team,ask the instructor about the context inwhich the technique has been used, askif there are videos of it being used in actualcircumstances that would be similarto your probable self defense situations.If you are told that, “it is just the way itis done,” you might want to suddenlyremember that you left the stove on.Ultimately, I believe that, in the privatesector training industry, your instructorowes you a real answer to help you understandwhy the technique he is teachingis worth doing. I prefer answers thatcome from physic, physiology/anatomy,neurology, or empirical evidence (suchas videos, not hearsay). These types ofanswers can be quantified and comparedto your knowledge and experiences sothat you can make an educated decisionabout what to train and how to train it. Inthe aforementioned case of fully extendingyour arms, here are my Why Answers,28PHOTO BY B. SHONTSIf a student is not physically capable of fully extending one of their arms because ofan injury, of course they can still defend themselves with a gun!from the categories I mentioned:Physics: The frame of the gun needs toremain as still as possible relative to themotion of the slide in order for the gun tocycle as reliably as possible.Physiology/Anatomy: The arm is strongerand more stable when it is extended,which supports the stability of the frame(see above) and helps manage recoil. Bypushing the shoulders forward and lockingthem out as well, the tendency to havethe gun rotate up at the shoulders underrecoil is mitigated. Combined with a forwardlean at the waist, this position alsorecruits the entire mass of the upper bodyto help control recoil and facilitate a rapidstring of fire.Neurology: “out” is one commandfrom the motor cortex to the muscles ofthe body. It is not a fine motor skill thatrequires an exact partial extension wherethere is no bio-mechanical lock. It is alsonot a complex set of motor skills, such aspushing out with one arm while pullingback with the other.Empirical evidence: In the absence oftraining and in spite of prior training forother things, most people in gun fights extendtheir arms fully in and parallel withtheir line of sight anyway (or just one armwhen shooting one-handed). In the trainingenvironment, I have observed thismethod being very successful in improvingthe shooter’s time to first shot and totaltime for combat accurate strings of fireunder plausible fighting circumstances.One last note on this topic: I alwaysmention that, while I will be passionateand emphatic about what I think is thebest information to put out on the topicsthat I cover in class, I am also alwaysquick to mention that I will gladly admitthat I have been wrong, I have changedmy mind, and I am open to discussion. Iconstantly look for opportunities to learnnew things, replace old information, andhave my material challenged. In fact, Ithink that any instructor who has beenat it for more than a couple of years andcan’t readily tell you a few things that hehas changed his mind about should betaken with a grain of salt in all matters.Sometimes ego, complacency, or ignorancecan prevent someone from evolving‐andthis is a great disservice to studentsand our community.When I discussed the concept of safety,I mentioned that I think it is ultimatelythe instructor’s responsibility to balancerisk and benefit appropriately. When itcomes to comfort, however, it is a sharedresponsibility between the instructor andthe student to work together in an exchangeof information and knowledge,so that the student can get the most outof any given training investment. Thatexchange of information, featuring honestexploration of what you are physicallycapable of, and high integrity discussionabout why techniques are being taught,will lead to a high level of both physicaland intellectual comfort and help you toprepare as well as you possibly can to prevailin a worst case scenario. HRob Pincus owns I.C.E. Training andteaches firearms classes throughout thecountry to students interested in learningmore about using firearms in self defense.The developer of the Combat Focus shootingprogram, Pincus also hosts and writesfor Outdoor Channel’s wildly popularshow “The Best Defense” and “S.W.A.T.Magazine TV.” His work has appearedin Police, Tactical Response, SWAT, andGunWorld.USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

[ BY DUNCAN R. MACKIE ]It’s great to live in a country free enough to allowlaw-abiding citizens to carry concealed pistols forpersonal protection.I’ve lived in places, both here andabroad, that don’t do that, and I cantell you from personal experiencethat what we have for concealed carryis better! However, there are times whenbeing legally armed can raise some interestingquestions, such as when weinteract with police.Many people go a lifetime in theUnited States and never do more thanencounter police, literally, in passing.For many more, their only encounterwith police is a traffic stop or accident,with or without a ticket. While we allworry about being victims of crime, itHandlingPolice and ArmedCitizen Encountersis still relatively rare, statistically speaking,for the average law-abiding citizento be a crime victim and encounter policein an investigatory capacity. SinceCCW holders are among the most lawabidingof citizens, the most likely policeinteraction for them is the trafficstop.Some states require CCW holders tonotify police they are armed on contactwith them. Many more states donot have such a requirement, but is ita good idea anyway? The answer mayvary depending on whom you ask, butregardless of what state I’m in I err onthe side of caution and tell law enforcementofficers (LEOs) that I am carrying.My reason is simple: I have yet tomeet the cop who likes surprises. Iprefer to tell them I’m carrying, ratherthan have them find out on their own.Thinking back to my own time in blue,I encountered people who had CCWsand I appreciated their telling me theywere armed. I did not appreciate thefew times I had to find out about it onmy own! Besides, most cops don’t knowwho we are when they encounter us intheir official capacity as guardians ofpublic order and safety. Anything I cando to demonstrate good faith is good forboth me and the officer.Consider the respective roles in interactionsbetween police and armedcivilians. That of the police is to enforceOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM29

POLICE AND ARMED CITIZENSthe law and maintain order among acitizenry that has a range of legal rightsand privileges that police are obligedto respect and protect in the course oftheir duties. At the same time, policemust protect their own safety and thatof the public. For their part, legallyarmedcitizens are entitled to exercisetheir Second Amendment rights, andare also obliged to exercise those rightsresponsibly. The cop knows himself tobe a good guy, but he does not necessarilyknow that those he encounters inthe course of his duties are good guys.Add a gun to the equation, and thecop’s danger radar goes to instant highalert. Police are bound by their duty tothe public, and their duty to their ownsurvival, to take precautions when encounteringpeople with guns. All thistaken together makes sensible courtesyand sober caution the order of the daywhen we find ourselves armed in thepresence of police. It also means weshould give some leeway to police whenwe encounter them while we are armed.Depending on their agency’s policies,police may have less operationaldiscretion in encounters with armedpeople than I did when I enforced thelaw. They also often operate in an environmentthat is more forgiving whenofficers use deadly force against whatthey reasonably perceive to be threatsfrom armed citizens, even when thoseperceptions later turn out to be wrong(such as the Amadou Diallo incident inNew York City, where Diallo was shot 41times by NYC Police after they mistookhis wallet for a weapon). This means ifpolice know you have a gun, and thinkyou are a threat to them or others, youare more likely to be shot. We can argueall day about whether this is good orbad, but I submit it is a fact of life, andthat both sides of the badge will be betteroff if the armed citizen errs on theside of caution and behaves prudently,politely, and respectfully when encounteringpolice while armed.Cops are like us; they want to gohome after work with their movingparts intact and no extra holes in them.Cops also deal with the full spectrum ofhumanity for a living, often in adversarialand hazardous circumstances.While most of that humanity is honest30Just because YOUknow you’re thegood guy doesn’tmean the cops do.and law-abiding, and the vast majorityof police-citizen interactions benign, asmall minority is sufficiently dangerousto have feloniously killed an average of62 police officers nation-wide annuallyin the 14 years between 1996 and 2009,and to have injured on average 56,405police officers in those same years (accordingto the FBI’s Uniform CrimeReports). There’s a reason most cops,especially the good ones, are suspicious.They must bring that suspicion tobear in every interaction they have, andthey must be especially careful whenguns other than their own are present.Handling police andarmed citizen encountersEvery situation is different, but here’swhat I do: First, I lower my tinted windows,and if it’s a night-time trafficstop, I turn on my interior lights. I tellany passengers to let me do the talking,to keep quiet, and to keep theirhands in plain sight. My hands stay infull view on the steering wheel, and Imake no sudden moves. I present mydriver license and CCW to the officerwhen he approaches me. With myhands in plain sight, I tell the officer,calmly and politely, that I have a CCW,that I am carrying and where the pistolis, and I ask what they want me to do.The last time I did this, the NevadaState Trooper returned my CCW sayinghe didn’t need it, and then went back tohis car to write me a speeding ticket. Hebrought the ticket back to me, asked meto sign it, returned my driver license,and we both went on our way. He saidnot a word about my gun. Alternatively,you can take Massad Ayoobs’s adviceof handing over your CCW with yourdriver license and let the officer take itfrom there, and answer any subsequentquestions politely and honestly.If it’s a non-traffic interaction, I politelyand calmly tell the officer at thefirst opportunity that I have a CCW, thatI have it on me and where on my body Ihave the pistol, and ask what he wantsme to do. If the situation permits, I providemy driver license and CCW, as in atraffic stop. In any event, I answer questionspolitely and honestly; I do whatthe officer says, slowly and carefully;and I keep my hands in plain sight,without making any sudden moves.Your experience may vary by jurisdictionand their policies (both writtenand unwritten) about citizens withguns, and by the attitudes of individualofficers. Some LEOs may take possessionof the gun until the contact is over,USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

POLICE AND ARMED CITIZENS©iSTOCKPHOTO - NATAQFive Stay-Alive TipsCops get nervous in thepresence of guns other thantheir own. Never reach for a gun inthe presence of an officer. Nevereven look like you may be reachingfor a gun. It can get you shot.Don’t argue with the officers,even if it seems like they’rebeing jerks. You can sort things outlater.returning it at the end of the encounter.Some officers may prone you out,handcuffed, until the end of the contactor until they are satisfied you are not athreat. Some may react like the NevadaState Trooper I encountered, while stillothers may want to talk about guns andcarry gear. The one constant is that bothparties are armed, and like it or not, policewill likely view you with suspicionand caution until they are satisfied thatyou are not a threat or that the threat isneutralized.I recall a traffic stop I made one summernight. I approached the vehiclecautiously, flashlight in my weak handand my strong hand on the butt of mypistol, checking the car’s interior as Iapproached, and keeping my light onthe driver’s hands while asking for hislicense and registration. My light followedhis hands as he opened his glovebox to retrieve his registration, andthe light caught the butt of a pistol. Ishouted for him to “Freeze!!” while myservice revolver came out of its holsterand went up against his ear. I orderedhim to slowly grasp the butt with thumband forefinger and to very slowly bringit out of the glove box and give it to meever so carefully! It was a tear-gas pistol.We had an interesting discussion aboutcops getting jumpy when they see guns,especially at night during a traffic stop. Ialso suggested he might consider alertingofficers to its presence to keep fromhaving revolvers stuck in his ear–orworse!Police-citizen interactions are nota good time to debate the legal meritsKeepyourhands inplain view.Obey whatever orders policegive you.Don’t make sudden moveswhen armed in the presenceof police.of concealed carry and police attitudesthereto. We armed citizens know weare good guys, but the cops don’t knowthat. Granted, some cops can be heavyhanded,even badge-heavy, but in myexperience, many, if not most, are progunand pro-concealed carry, and willbe as nice to you as you and the situationwill let them be. Still, some copsdon’t like armed citizens, and some canmisunderstand and misinterpret (oreven ignore) laws regarding concealedcarry. Having been on both sides of thebadge, my advice is to be polite, be cooperative,obey the officer’s order, anddon’t argue with them. Even if you are inthe right and the officer is in the wrong,arguing can be interpreted as beinghostile and uncooperative at best, andas resisting police at worst. If you thinkthe situation was handled wrongly, getthe officer’s name and take it up withpolice management after the fact.If you have used a gun in a defensivesituation and police are arriving, makesure the gun is not in your hands. If youmust stay pointed-in to maintain controlof the bad guy(s), be still and obeypolice commands to drop the weapon.Don’t argue, just drop it immediately.The good guy syndromeCops see themselves as the good guys.They are sworn to protect, serve and arrest;they are trained and experienced;they have uniforms, badges, and guns.A legal presumption of good intent andproper action cloaks much of what theyofficially do. As legally-armed citizens,we know we are certified good guys,OCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COMtoo, because we went through trainingand at least two criminal backgroundchecks to get our guns and carry permits.We can unconsciously bring that“good-guy” attitude into our interactionswith police. I think we need to becareful with that. The following storywill illustrate why.In the summer of 2010, Eric Scottwent shopping with his fiancée at theCostco in the Summerlin area of LasVegas. He had a CCW and was armedwhile shopping in the store. Costco hasa corporate no-guns policy, althoughthis Costco was not posted to that effect.During the course of his shopping,an employee noticed he had a weapon.The employee alerted store management,who called police to report a manwith a gun. Three officers respondedand ordered the store evacuated so theycould wait outside the store entrancefor the man with the gun to come out.A store employee waited with them topoint out the man in question. WhenScott and his fiancée left the store, policeordered him to freeze. Details aboutwhat happened next are murky, evenafter a lengthy and thorough policeinvestigation. It does not help that theseveral store surveillance cameras werenot working that day. Witnesses reportedseeing and hearing different things.At least one witness reported hearingScott say, “I am disarming.” Seeinghim move his hands and thinking hewas reaching for a gun, the three officersshot him dead. A coroner’s inquestfound the shooting justified.I live in the Summerlin area, andregularly shop at that Costco (it is stillnot posted for guns). I wasn’t there, butbased on the press reports, I surmiseEric Scott fell tragic prey to the goodguysyndrome, in that he knew he was agood guy, and unconsciously assumedpolice would understand that he wasacting safely and responsibly to defusethe situation by peacefully disarming.Instead, it cost him his life.Interacting with police while armeddoesn’t need to cost you your life. Keepyour hands off your gun, be polite,keep your wits about you, use commonsense, give police some leeway, andit should be a non-event for you andthem. H31

Throughout theclass, students usedthe close-in readyposition Farnamprefers. Somestudents found thatcanting the gun tothe side as shownrelieved tension insore wrists.Advanced Handgunfrom John Farnam of Defense Training International[ BY TERRIE WILLIAMS AND DON LARSON ]July brought high temperatures and even higherhumidity to Minnesota.John Farnamdemonstrates closeup self defense forhis students.It also brought John Farnam, Presidentof Defense Training International,to the Monticello Gun Club for anAdvanced Handgun class.Thirteen students were registeredand came together Friday night, July 15,for a “meet and greet” dinner with Mr.Farnam, his colleague Dr. Len Breure,Bob Jahn of REJ Firearms Training, andJon Thompson of Riverside SportingGear. The latter two gentlemen wereinstrumental in bringing John Farnamto Minnesota. It was at the dinner thatJohn told his students that he “wantedus to fail!” He wanted us to understandthat if we did everything perfectly everytime, we weren’t pushing ourselves hardenough. It put an interesting spin onthings, and opened the door to goodnaturedjokes and humor through thecourse of the two-day class.Dinner gave us an opportunity to meeteveryone in the class. We had been toldto be prepared to spend a minute or twotalking about our background and whatwe were looking for from the class. Theclass roster included competition shooters,CCW and NRA Instructors, a law enforcementinstructor, and a holster manufacturer.John was also interested inwhat our primary and backup guns were,and whether we had brought a knife. Hemade a point of interacting with eachperson as we made our introductions.Before we left that evening, we had anidea of what to expect from the class over32USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

CLASS INFOSCHOOL:Defense Training Int., Inc.Chief Instructor:John FarnamCourse title:Advanced Defensive HandgunCost: $625Duration: 20 hoursPhotos by Rob from RobDoar.comabove: Student Don Larson practicesthe Farnam technique for keepingstrangers from getting too close.above right: Farnam teaches students touse Position Sul before reholstering.right: Farnam fine-tunes studentTerrie Williams’ grip. Farnam teachesstudents to keep their hands high on thegun for best control.the next two days. John explained, “Thisis a fighting course,” and added that hewould “push us to the breaking point” sowe could see our own capabilities.Some techniques John teaches andexpects students to use in his class differsomewhat from those of other wellknowntrainers. Isn’t the reason we trainunder different instructors to learn newtechniques? At some point, we can takeall the techniques we’ve learned andincorporate them into something thatworks for each of us individually. No oneperson has the market on what’s best foreveryone.Advanced Handgun is not just standingin front of a target making holes in it.Neither is it only about speed out of theholster. It’s a combination of presentationand accuracy. As John says, “Slow issmooth and smooth is fast.”After breakfast together Saturdaymorning, we headed to the range as agroup. Day One started with a safetybriefing. John and his assisting instructorsexplained that this was an advancedclass, and the range would be “hot” forthe entire class. Guns were expected tobe loaded and stay in the holster unlesson the firing line. During dry-fire exerciseour back-up guns (BUGs) were expectedto be loaded, so we were armed at alltimes. We practiced handling single andmultiple “stranger approaches” and deescalatingthose types of situations. Johnbelieves in “getting off of the X” and constantmovement unless firing. What Johnstresses most is “keep moving,” and “stayin the fight.” If there were two recurringphrases throughout the weekend, theywere: “Don’t just stand there like a pottedpalm!” and “Quit dithering!”Once on the range, John checked ourgrip and stance, and offered suggestionsfor changes to both, also on thumb positionand trigger finger placement. Wepracticed trigger reset with a partneruntil each student was comfortable andhad mastered the technique. John likesthe “close in” ready position so there’sless chance of someone being able tograb your gun, and the “Position Sul” beforeholstering. We were introduced to apress-check that works in both light anddark conditions.Each shooting drill began in an “interviewstance,” on the move, with theOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM33

john farnam’s advanced handgunabove: Students practiceresponding to a hostagesituation.right: Guns set up with variousmalfunctions allowed studentsto practice solving problemsand clearing trouble.challenge, “Police. Don’t move. Dropyour weapon.” After that, we followedcommands that were given. We were instructedto shoot in four-round bursts,and then assess. Shoot, using the triggerreset, move, assess, and then shootagain.Targets used were IPSC cardboard silhouetteswith no markings on them. Wewere told what proper shot placementshould be, and after each shooting drillwe were invited to tape our own targets,taping only the holes that we ourselvesweren’t satisfied with.John incorporates real life scenariosinto his drills and uses role-playingamong the students as a teaching method.We were not only told and shownwhat to do, but we practiced and interactedwith each other to master thetechniques. His Four Ds of DefensiveShooting are:1. Deflect his (your assailant’s) focus2. Disrupt his plan3. Disable his body4. Destroy his will to fightBecause of the weather, breaks for waterin the shade were important. Johnused these times to explain his philosophieson training and self-defense usingboth lethal and less than lethal methods,avoiding confrontations, and dealingwith law enforcement and attorneys(what to say and what not to say.) He andLen shared with us information on theequipment that they personally carry,and why.Bob Jahn was a student in JohnFarnam’s Basic/Intermediate Handgunclass in 2007 and writes: “It was an intenseexperience. John is not remotelyinterested in being politically correct nordoes he like everyone’s guns, knives orself-defense practices. If he likes somethingyou know why; if he thinks it isjunk, he calls it that and tells you why itis. If it is new, he has generally tried it andhas an opinion as he is always trainingand testing guns and gear.”We learned and worked on the transitionfrom primary gun to BUG, then toknife. We also practiced John’s techniquefor switching the gun from one hand tothe other—strong to support and back.John has an interesting drill that involvessetting up targets across the width of therange at different distances with differentscenarios. We started with our primarygun, transitioned to our backup,then to a knife. Both strong-hand andsupport-hand shooting techniques wererequired.After dinner together that first day,we returned to the range for some lowlight drills. As dusk (and the swarms ofmosquitoes) came, we worked with allof our equipment in the dark. This gaveus an opportunity to practice the presscheckJohn had taught earlier in the dayand learned the advantages and disadvantagesof the different flashlight techniquesin use today.Day Two again started with breakfasttogether, and once at the range, a reviewof the drills from the day before, thenpractice for the afternoon’s test.Two interesting exercises gave each ofus an opportunity to shoot a variety ofguns.Tables were set out on the range andeach participant placed their primarygun on the table with an extra full magazine.Each student fired two shots fromeach gun on the table.When everyone had finished, John,Len and Jon set up three sets of threeguns each. In each set of three, one had adummy round somewhere in the magazine;one had a stovepipe; one was setup with a double-feed. In each group,the exercise was to pick up the gun, fireit or attempt to fire it, then fix whateverwas wrong, and move on to the othertwo guns in the group. Although Glocksoutnumbered other brands, each groupoffered a variety.During one of the breaks from the34USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

john farnam’s advanced handgunclockwise from upper left:Farnam works with a student duringgun retention practice, allowing thestudent to deal with attacks fromvarious angles.Farnam teaches students to useleverage-based principles to maintaincontrol of their own handguns or todisarm hostile others.Student Mary Albrecht practicestransitioning from knife to handgun.sun, we learned disarming techniques,practicing with blue (dummy) guns. Welearned techniques to disarm peopleknown to us in a non-hostile situation,as well as strangers in a self-defense situation.We were paired up and ran somedrills, with John setting up the scenarios.Also included were one-handed drills,should one be injured and lose the useof one hand. We learned several methodsof clearing malfunctions, reloading,and racking the slide with both stronghand and support hand. These skillswere taught and practiced with unloadedguns, and then the drills were run livefire.The range part of the class ended witheach student taking John’s test; a timedshooting exercise that included movement,malfunctions, and reloads, allwhile getting acceptable (to John) hits.The test added some heat to an alreadyhot day!Throughout the days we spent withJohn, we heard much of his wit andwisdom. He managed to have words ofwisdom intertwinedin every drill. Beforewe headed for dinner,John told us his adviceto all CCW licensees:1) Be in bed by teno’clock! Police regardthose who are up andabout late at night as lessrespectable, and moredangerous, than “normal”people, who sleepduring the night and areactive during daylighthours. A “nocturnal”lifestyle is fraught withperil and unhappiness!2) Have a “normal” appearance. Policeofficers automatically focus on “unusual”things and circumstances. That’stheir job! Simply looking normal goes along way toward putting police officers atease. Who insist on covering themselveswith tattoos, dyeing their hair purple,and having a “face-by-Ace-Hardware”will discover that they garner a great dealof attention, most of it unwanted.The class officially ended with dinner,much like it started. However, wherewe gathered on Friday as strangers, wedined Sunday night as friends. HTerrie Williams is a firearms instructor inMinnesota. She offers Minnesota Permitto-Carryclasses and private firearms instruction.Her company website is www.trainingoptionsllc.com.Don Larson is a NRA trainingcounselor and firearms instructor inMN. He can be contacted at www.frontlinefirearmstraining.com.OCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM35

PHOTO BY OLEG VOLK • A-HUMAN-RIGHT.COMA downed shooter who cannot geta standard sight picture or use atraditional pointshooting index canstill get her hits using a modern laser.36USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

The Challenged Shooter:PART VAdvancedTraining[ BY PETER GRANT ]In the previous article,we covered a typicalrange session fora disabled shooterusing relatively shortperiods of activitybroken by frequentrests, and rotatingbetween shooting attargets and working onweapon handling andpresentation skills.Most shooters will need tospend several weeks at suchbasic drills to gain proficiency,particularly because physical limitationssuch as pain or fatigue will usuallylimit the length of time available.As the shooter grows more proficient,ranges can be extended. Insteadof shooting at 5 to 10 yards, take thetargets out to 20 to 25 yards (not forgettingto include some close-range workas well, since this is the most likely distanceover which defensive encounterswill take place). Also, depending on thestudent’s progress with dummy or practiceweapons, try including some workfrom the holster, fanny pack or othercarry device. Speed is not the primaryobjective; rather, strive for smoothnessand stability, particularly if the shooteruses a wheelchair, walking frame,crutches, or a walking-stick.I mentioned in an earlier article thatmany disabled shooters have difficultyOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM37

the challenged shooterbringing the gun to a braced shootingposition where they can use the sights.Some can do so, but only for short periods.A laser sight is a very useful accessoryfor such shooters, and will be essentialfor those who can’t use the sightsproperly due to severe disability. I’vehad wheelchair-bound students whocouldn’t lift their arms for more thana few seconds, and couldn’t maintainan extended-arm shooting position atall. I taught them to rest the grip of thehandgun on their thigh, place the laserdot on the target rather than using thesights, and shoot from that position.In a defensive situation, the aggressoris unlikely to stand still like a papertarget and wait to be shot. He’ll likelybe moving toward his would-be victim,and perhaps from side to side as well.It’s important to teach shooters, particularlythose with limited mobility, tohit targets under such circumstances.I’ve developed a few techniques to dothat. The simplest, for the early stagesof training, is to tie balloons and paperplates to target frames so that they’refree to blow around in the breeze.Students can practice shooting at themuntil they can hit them reliably.Once shooters have developed basicskills, more challenging moving targetscan be introduced. I like to use racquetballor tennis balls, as they’re strongenough to absorb multiple hits from .22LR projectiles, but heavy enough not tobounce too far under the impact. (I usedto use ping-pong or table-tennis balls,which are smaller and more challengingtargets, but this got too expensive,as each ball would disintegrate afteronly a couple of hits.) I start by rollingthe balls on the ground in front of theshooter, who places the dot of the lasersight on the moving ball and shoots.Once he can reliably hit them comingfrom behind him, I’ll move out to theside of the range and throw them acrosshis front, from both left and right, untilhe can hit a crossing target with ease.Of course, this takes a great deal ofpractice. Given their physical limitationsand restrictions on the duration ofpractice sessions, I encourage disabledshooters to think in terms of shootingat least 5,000 rounds of .22 LR ammunitionbefore considering themselvesThe aggressoris unlikely tostand still likea paper targetand wait to beshot.proficient. Some need rather less thanthis, but few will need more. As a graduationexercise, I ask them to shoot atmultiple balls on a wooden table-likesurface, 20 feet in front of them. I makethe surface out of cheap plywood, withplanks forming raised edges at least sixinches high so that the balls can’t roll orbounce off, and support it on saw-horses.I expect a competent shooter to hit arolling ball with at least eight out of tenrounds in less than five seconds, even ifusing an improvised shooting position.This skill translates directly into defensiveshooting. A .22 LR round deliversvery little energy compared tothe baseline defensive rounds of .38Special, .380 Auto or 9mm Parabellum.However, if put in the right place (suchas the central nervous system), it canstill stop an attacker. I teach shootersto aim for the inverted triangle formedby the outer points of the eyes and thebase of the nose. The facial bones insidethat triangle are relatively thin andeasily penetrated. If a shooter can hit arolling tennis ball at 20 feet, he can easilyput his bullets into that triangle atthe same range, even if his target (theattacker) is moving. I submit that aftertaking a few hits there, even the mostdedicated mugger is likely to reconsiderhis choice of victim—that is, if he’s stillcapable of thought!To the best of my knowledge, threeof my wheelchair-bound students, allincapable of using anything more powerfulthan a .22 LR handgun, have hadto use their firearms in self-defenseafter I trained them. All three appliedthis technique. All three are still with us.Their attackers failed. That gives me awarm, fuzzy, happy feeling.Of course, if the shooter is capableof handling the recoil of a more powerfulfirearm, he should start to trainwith it once he’s mastered the .22 LR.However, more powerful ammunitionis also much more expensive, so it’s unlikelythat the .22 LR will gather dust onthe shelf! I usually advise my studentsto shoot at least 100 rounds of .22 LRper training session, and then graduateto their larger-caliber weapon, firingenough rounds through it to remain familiarwith its recoil and any differencesin operation. Most of them seem to fireno more than 10-12 rounds throughtheir larger-caliber weapons each session,purely for reasons of economy;but because they’re shooting far morein .22 LR their skills remain at a suitable38USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

the challenged shooterlevel. This applies particularly to thosewho’ve chosen two weapons similar inall respects except caliber.I’ve mentioned shooters who usewheelchairs, walkers, sticks or othermobility aids. I point out to such shootersthat any attacker is very likely to tryto dump them on the ground, believingthey’ll be helpless without their mobilityaid. This makes it a good idea, if thestudent’s physical limitations permit,for them to actually try falling over, aslightly as possible. They can learn howto fall, how to support themselves, andhow to move around and deploy theirweapon from its place of concealmentonce they’re down. I’ve found thatmany disabled people are accustomedto being treated with kid gloves by others,and treating themselves the sameway. They’re never allowed to fall or facethe possibility of falling, so they have noidea how it will feel or what they cando to minimize injury if they go down.Knowing how to get out of (or out fromunder) their wheelchair, or disentanglethemselves from walker, crutch or cane,is important in a defensive situation.After all, the first thing an attacker islikely to do is to try to put them on theground!Obviously, for such training, floorpadding should be provided, and you(and others if necessary) should bestanding by to help the student fall withminimal risk of injury. The object isn’tto hurt them, but to let them figure outhow to handle themselves in an unfamiliar,possibly dangerous situation.Depending on their physical limitations,this may take a lot of practice overa long time. Let the student figure outthe movements that are most practicaland efficient for them. In this situation,one size does not fit all! The early stagesof such training, using plastic trainingguns, can be done at home, of course,transitioning to the range for live firepractice.As part of this training, the shootershould be taught to become more awareof his or her surroundings. They shouldnavigate around obstacles, avoid situationswhere they can be pinned againstwalls, steer around potential troublespots like the entrances to alleys orshadowy doorways, and so on. This isn’tparanoia, just good common sense. Infact, many criminals watch their potentialtargets closely to look for signsof alertness. If they see that someoneis observant and prepared for trouble,they’ll often seek easier prey.Once shooters have reached an acceptablelevel of performance, they canbe left to proceed at their own pace.Sometimes disabled shooters mayform a group at a local range orthey may organize further trainingsessions with visiting instructors.I always encourage suchsteps, which can draw manymore people into a fun and usefulsport. Also, once you’ve helpedone disabled shooter discoverthe fun and utilityof mastering afirearm, you won’twant to stop. Thegleam in theireyes when theyrealize they’renow capableof defendingthemselves isample reward.I started thisalmost by accident,and I’venow beendoing it formore than twodecades. I hopeeveryone readingthese wordsdoes likewise! HPeter Grant is a retiredchaplain, now a full-timewriter. He has been exposedto conflict situationsaround the world formuch of his life, and hashad to defend himselfagainst unlawful attackon more than one occasion.He has trained disabledand handicappedshooters on two continentsfor more than twenty years. Hewrites about firearms and self defense,and many other topics, on hisblog at www.bayourenaissanceman.Blogspot.com.Although only a relativefew are disabledthroughout life, manyexperience temporarychallenges such asbroken bones or recentsurgeries. People withvisible injuries mightbe considered attractiveprey, but those who arearmed and prepared canprotect themselves despitechallenges.OCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM39

Home Defensechecklist[ BY R. K. CAMPBELL ]40USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

Peace officers practicelikely scenarios in ahome environment andso should you.As an NRA and state certified instructor, I realizethat personal defense is deadly business.As a professional I check mygear on a regular basis. I havea program for keeping upwith my personal handgun, concealmentleather, spare magazines andedged weapons. I am certain thatall are worn properly and accessiblewhen going about my daily business.Most of us have a similar program.But when it comes to home defense,most of us are less prepared. We areawakened by a sound in the night. Itmay be a bump, it may be glass shattering,or it may be a takeover robberyin the early stages. We fumblefor our handgun. Is the chamberOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COMloaded? Do I need to cock it? Whereis my light?Personal defense in the home isdifferent than personal defense onthe street. You may be highly awareon the street. In the home you aremore relaxed or even asleep. Many ofthe tragic depredations by our proteinfed, ex-con criminal class occurin the home. In a home defense situationthe range is short and gunhan-41

name of article hereJennie Graff, Belle Magazine,is practicing a home defensescenario and learning a greatdeal about gun handling.This Beretta M9 is kept at homeready in a Milt Sparks SummerSpecial holster.dling is more important than marksmanship.Practice must be applicable to theproblem. Being able to stand and delivera gunload into a man-sized targetis fine as far as it goes, but dealingwith a shadowy figure that is shootingback is another matter. Thugs are operatingin teams in increasing numbersand there is simply no room forerror. You must prepare for the worst.This means running likely scenariosthrough your mind and practicingyour reaction.There is no need for live fire inthe home; you have practiced oftenenough at the range. Finding a structurethat approximates the home onthe range is ideal, but you need topractice tactical movement in thehome. Tripping and falling over furnitureshould not happen in the placeyou are most familiar with. You alsoneed to have a plan to bring the sidearminto an advantageous position. Itshould not be a challenge simply tofind the handgun.Let’s look at the likely adversary.While the law sometimes isn’t clearlyin favor of the home defender, manyhomeowners do not completely understandthe law. Regardless of whereyou live, study the law carefully. As anexample of local mores, the commonprowler isn’t always even chargedwith a crime. Attempted burglaryis a rather difficult charge to prove.Trespass is a misdemeanor at best.Those outside of the home are prowlersand they simply do not constitutethe same level of threat as someonewho is breaking into the home.It is not a good idea to step out ofthe home and confront a prowler.They may be out to steal something,they may be looking for entry, but42USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

HOME DEFENSE CHECKLISTThe authoris practicinghome defensetactics in areasonablefacsimile of ahome.Gun locked or not? Itis your decision, butan important one.do not expose yourself to such danger.They are possibly on drugs or ina drunken state. Confronting theseindividuals will escalate the situationand make it more difficult for both thepolice and for your family to handlethe situation. It is a much better ideatactically to stay in the home and takea position that gives you a clear fieldof fire. Avoid target markers such asstanding in the doorway silhouettedby light. Be prepared to illuminate thetarget.The 911 call is important. If youhave a prowler, officers will respond.Ask the dispatcher to tell you the officer’snames or call letter. When theyknock on the door you will be ableto confirm they are indeed the cops.That is pretty important. There aregangs pretending to be peace officersto gain access to a home. Whilewe like to think we will not be fooled,some of these gangs are very good atwhat they do. Always call 911 to confirmthe identity of anyone wishing togain access to your home.Another good clue for home defendersis to keep a handgun readyon the person at all times. While thisis a tall order, if you are serious aboutsecurity consider the advantage ofbeing constantly armed. At the least,several handguns stashed about thehome are an advantage (providedthey are only accessible by trained,responsible adults).At this point, we need to discusssafety versus access. If you have smallchildren in the home you must becertain that the handgun is secureagainst their inquisitive nature. TheThink hardabout homereadiness andremain alertto danger.gun safe is perhaps not the best ideafor the ready gun. After all, if you arein a hurry and punch in the wrongcode the safe will lock you out for fifteenminutes—not a good place to be.As one example, my grandson is threeyears old. His arms are short and heis not strong enough to lift a mattress.Having a pistol in the middle of themattress makes it safe from his busyhands. (Not that he wanders aroundunescorted; after all, kitchen knivesand a hot stove may also be present.)But when I prepare for rest at night Ido not leave the piece under the mattress.That would seriously impedeaccess. Rather, I move it to the edge ofthe mattress or where it will be accessible.The Night Sentry from DiamondProducts is another excellent option.You simply take the holster youhave worn all day and mount it onthe Diamond Products holster that isslipped under the mattress. Other options:loop a holster belt and holsterover the bed. Be aware that one handwill stabilize the holster while the otherwill draw the gun. This is a trade offbetween speed and accessibility.Another question: when is the gunlock applied? When the gun is storedor at all times it is not on the body?Better practice unlocking the piece ifyou think you will have it locked whenoff the body. Think hard about homereadiness and remain alert to danger.You owe yourself no less.When an intruder comes to yourhome you are the first line of defensefor your family. The police are thesecond line of defense. You must beprepared to react responsibly and decisively.Have a plan in place. Practiceobtaining the handgun or long gun.Practice making it ready. Your life, andyour family’s lives, may hinge on yourintelligent preparation. HR K Campbell is an author with over40 years shooting experience and morethan 30 years police and security experience.He is the author of three booksand hundreds of magazine articles.He devotes his time to learning moreabout personal defense and the humansituation.OCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM43

Tony Rose of Dayton,Ohio, shoots aroundthe left side of abarricade.Tactical Defense Institute’sActive Shooter/Killer Course for Civilians[ BY CHRIS BIRD ]As a concealed handgun license instructor in Texas,I have always advised students not to becomeinvolved in third-party disputes.It is a good general rule. You arearmed primarily to protect yourself,your family, and perhaps closefriends. You are not a police officer.Recently, however, I have come tobelieve there is at least one exceptionto the rule. If you are in respondingdistance of what police call an activeshooter and you are armed, you have achoice. Do you head to the sound of thegunfire and try to save some lives or doyou run in the other direction like everyoneelse?At Virginia Tech the police did everythingright, but it still gave the shooter10 minutes in which he killed 30 studentsand faculty in Norris Hall. In 2007,when I was updating my ConcealedHandgun Manual for a fifth edition, Ispoke to Sheriff Wayne Rausch of LatahCounty, Idaho, about Virginia Tech.Latah County includes a 10,000-studentcampus of the University of Idaho.In most cases Rausch felt that armedcitizens should only use their guns todefend themselves and their families,but added, “An active-shooter situationis certainly an example of an exceptionwhere I would like to see the armed citizenget involved.”When I was updating my book fora sixth edition, I was put in touchwith John Benner of Tactical DefenseInstitute, a shooting school in thewooded hills of southern Ohio. Bennerteaches a three-day course for civilianson how to deal with active shooters. Hecalls it an Active Shooter/Killer course.“We are all active shooters but we arenot active killers,” he said.The active killers he was referring toare the people who take guns usuallyinto “gun-free zones” and murder asmany people as they can before they arestopped. They are the killers of VirginiaTech, Columbine, Luby’s cafeteria, andFort Hood.The students were a varied group includingdoctors, medics, fire fighters,44USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

left: Melissa Rippe coached byDick Wheeler. The cones representinnocent civilians between herand the active shooter. As shepasses in front of one, she pointsher gun down as she movessideways to engage the shooter.PHOTO BY DAVID BOWIEright top: Chris Bird practices shootingdown an active shooter.right below: David Bowie demonstratesshooting down an active shooter.and law enforcement officers as well asinterested civilians. Of the 23 students,five of them were women.Benner is an avuncular man in hissixties who usually has a large cigarclamped between his teeth like a trademark.He is a Vietnam veteran and for20 years was the head of the HamiltonCounty, Ohio, multi-jurisdictional SWATteam. He was assisted on the ranges andin the shoot houses by up to a dozen assistantinstructors most of whom wereactive or retired law enforcement.On our first morning in the classroom,Benner said the police responseto active shooters has changed over theyears. “We are slow learners,” he added.SWAT teams and police marksmenare useful in hostage situations but theyOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAG.45

problem is solved by you guys,” he said,referring to civilians.Benner gave us some statistics aboutactive shooter/killers in the UnitedStates: 98 percent act alone, 75 percentwill have more than one gun, and90 percent will commit suicide at thescene of their killings.If you decide to become involved,other people may be depending on youto save their lives. “To them you are themost important person in the world,”Benner said.As you head for the sound of gunfire,you are likely to encounter victims whomay be wounded and begging for help.You must pass them by because yourprimary mission is to put the shooterout of action. Some victims may try tograb you or cling to you. You have tofend them off.After lunch we did some accuracytraining on figure targets at disabove:Lindy Sherman pushes through acrowd of sandbags to engage the activeshooter.below: I shot the guy on the right holding thewoman around the neck. He didn’t appeararmed, but you can see from the patches onhis face that others had shot him too.are not the solution to active killers—where seconds count. This was demonstratedat Columbine High Schoolin Littleton, Colorado, in 1999, Bennersaid. The first police officers on thescene set up a perimeter to contain theincident and waited for SWAT. It was 45minutes later that the SWAT officers enteredthe building and by that time thetwo student killers had committed suicideafter murdering 12 other studentsand a teacher, and wounding 24 others.At Virginia Tech, the shooter chainedand padlocked all the entrances toNorris Hall, which slowed down thepolice response. Even if the first officeron the scene goes in and confrontsthe shooter, there will probablybe a response time of several minutes.Therefore the best solution to an activeshooter is to train civilians, Benner said.“Seventy-five percent of the time the46USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

above: Upstairs in theforce-on-force house. ErnieHusted takes on a terrorist.Instructor and SWAT teamcommander Chris Wallaceis on the left. An innocentcowers in the corner.right: Cathey engagesthe active shooter. DavidBowie is supervising. Theyellow tubing extendingfrom the barrel indicatesthe gun is unloaded andsafe.If you decide to becomeinvolved, other people maybe depending on you tosave their lives.tances from five to 30 yards. Then wefaced small, head-and-shouldersshapedsteel targets which we shotwhile moving forward, sideways andbackward. We practiced rounding cornersand shooting from cover.A group of us went with David Bowie,a police officer and owner of BowieTactical Concepts, to one of the live-firehouses where we practiced scenarioswith empty guns. One of us would playthe part of the active killer while othersplayed victims, cowering or hiding fromthe shooter. Each of us got a chance toplay the good guy or gal.The next morning, Ed Lovette gaveus a presentation on developing ouralertness. Lovette has been a firearmsinstructor for the New MexicoState Police, a CIA officer and a columnistfor Combat Handguns magazine.He taught us how to detect bothcriminal and terrorist surveillance.Lovette described the attack in 2008in Mumbai when 10 members of aPakistan-based terrorist group madethe attack on India’s financial center,killing 166 people and wounding 308.Greg Ellifritz, a burly police trainingofficer from Columbus, Ohio gave us alecture on bombs, recognizing and tryingto cope with them. He said bombsare the trend with terrorists.“It’s the cool thing for active shootersto do now,” he said. They want biggerand better body counts and high explosivesare how they get them, he added.Homicide bombers and other activeshooters tend to have emotionless eyesand walk robotically as though they arein a trance. The only way to take out asuicide bomber is with head shots, as abody hit may set off the bomb, Ellifritzsaid.In the afternoon we practiced makinghead shots on the figure target. This wasfollowed by “shooting down an activeshooter” aiming for the upper chest. Weadvanced from 10 yards to three, firingas fast as we could make good hits.We trooped along to the live-firehouses where we had to identify andshoot down the active shooter. Whenit was my turn to take on the shooter,I arrived in the doorway of the lastroom on the right and could see several“people” targets facing me. The nearestguy was pointing an empty beer bottleat me. It could have been mistaken fora gun. At first glance none appearedarmed, but behind the white guy withthe beer bottle was a black guy wearingbib overalls whose right hand was notvisible. As I moved to the right I saw thegun in his right hand and I shot him inthe chest three times.I saw a guy holding a woman in frontof him, possibly as a hostage. I shothim in the head three times. This wasOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM47

TDI ACTIVE SHOOTER COURSEPHOTO BY JOHN BENNERAuthor puts a pressure bandage on Ernie Husted.a mistake. There was no evidence thathe was armed, but I could see by thepatches on the guy’s face that I hadn’tbeen the only one to shoot him.After going through several otherscenarios in the first live shoot house,we moved on to the second shoothouse where more scenarios awaitedus.After dinner, we returned to theclassroom where Greg Ellifritz demonstratedanother of his skills, TacticalCombat Casualty Care. This may beuseful during or after a shootout. Youmay get hit even if you win an armedencounter, so you need to know howto treat yourself or others. You mayhave to take care of yourself for a littlewhile until the medics get there.Ellifritz said most battlefield deathswere the result of blood loss, so mostof the session dealt with stoppingbleeding. We practiced putting onpressure bandages and tourniquets.We started our third day on therange. Benner explained that if weare heading for the sound of shootingwe may well be heading upstreamin a river of panicked victims trying toget away from the shooter. He recommendedkeeping our guns holsteredwhen heading for the sound of gunfirein case we are mistaken for the shooterand so no one can snatch our guns.When drawn, guns should be held closeto the body so they are easy to control.We practiced pushing our way throughhalf a dozen chest-high sandbags representingvictims then we advanced ona target, shooting rapidly as we closed.We moved on to scenarios usingAirsoft pistols that shoot plastic BBs.They sting when they hit you. Westarted at the two-story force-on-forcehouse. Wearing a black facemask andarmed with an Airsoft pistol that lookedlike a Glock, I stood outside the house.Instructor Chris Wallace told me that Ihad just dropped off my kid at the daycarecenter. At my age, that was a bit ofa stretch. I had just stepped out of thebuilding when I heard shooting–Go!I pushed my way into the “daycarecenter.” I was in a large room with acounter on the far side separating itfrom another room. I could see the“killer” on the far side of the secondroom beyond the counter. He wasshooting his Airsoft pistol at others inour group whom I assumed were representingchildren or daycare staff. Ishot him in the back several times.Other scenarios included an attackon a doctor’s office and two “terrorists”coming from different directions yelling:“Allahu Akbar” (God is great).At a clearing in the trees on the otherside of the property we practiced outdoorscenarios. Two shot-up old carsand a van were parked in the clearingwhich represented a Wal-Mart parkinglot. In the first scenario, I faced oneshooter while the next student hadtwo shooters to contend with. Oftenterrorists will work in pairs with thebackup one attracting no attentionunless the first one meets resistance.Another scenario involved two terroristswho took AKs out the back ofone of the cars and headed toward the“Walmart store.” Two students shot themen even though they had not shot oreven threatened anyone.One of the things that impressed meabout TDI was the number of studentswho have returned again and againfor training. Only a handful of us hadnot been to TDI before and some studentshad been back a dozen timesor more. Ernie Husted said this wasthe tenth time he had been to TDI. Hekeeps coming back to keep his skills refreshed.“My responsibility as a concealedcarry permit person is to keep my skillset up to the very best of my ability if I’mgoing to carry a weapon. The quality ofthe instructors is top notch. I’ve neverseen an instructor down here ever beanything except patient,” Husted said.Christina Baird was there with herhusband. She said this was her secondtime at TDI. “I work in a facility whereI have lots of employees. It’s not in thebest area of town, so I feel this gives mean edge if something were to happen. I48USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

TDI ACTIVE SHOOTER COURSECLASS INFOSCHOOL:Tactical Defense InstituteChief Instructor:John BennerCourse title:Active Killer-Shooter, CivilianCost: $525Duration: 3 daysleft: Two terrorists have just takenAK-47s from the back seat of thecars in the Walmart parking lot.below left: Female student whodidn’t want her name usedengages both terrorists. One isdown.below right: Both are down andshe picks up the AK from the bodyof the nearest terrorist.was tired of being afraid. So being heregives me that opportunity where I canface my fear head on and learn how todo something about it.”Melissa Rippe and her twin, LindySherman, are both from Cincinnati.They are more interested in shootingthan their husbands. “Our family callsus the tactical twins,” Rippe said. Shedescribed herself and her sister as TDIaddicts. She and Lindy have been comingto TDI for three years.“We just started coming back everyclass they had almost,” she said. “Theywere phenomenal about teaching usfrom square one exactly how to do itright and we had a ball.” HChris Bird is the author of “TheConcealed Handgun Manual” now inits sixth edition. He is also author of“Thank God I Had a Gun: True Accountsof Self-Defense.” Both are published byPrivateer Publications and are availablefrom the publisher at 888-700-4333 orfrom bookstores nationwide.CONTACTTactical Defense InstituteWest Union, Ohiowww.tdiohio.com(937) 544-7228OCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM49

After you neutralize theshooter, do you wantto look like this to theresponding police?Active ShooterResponse for the Armed CitizenOn January 8, 2011, Jared Loughner shot 20 peoplein the parking lot of an Arizona grocery store.In law enforcement terminology thistype of crime is called an “ActiveShooter” event. In this kind of incident,one or more shooters are tryingto kill as many people as possible. Theshooters may or may not be politicallymotivated. Most of these events lastonly a few minutes and end up with theshooter(s) dead, often committing suicideshortly after encountering any formof resistance. The most common locationswhere these events take place arechurches, schools, the shooter’s workplace,and public shopping areas.This isn’t a new phenomenon. Readers50might remember Charles Whitman andthe Texas Tower incident in the 1960s.While active shooting events aren’t new,there seems to be an increase in theirfrequency of late.Most people don’t consider howalone they really are if they get caughtin the midst of one of these shootings.Statistically, most are over in less than fourminutes. Unless there is already a cop atthe scene, there won’t be time for one toarrive. Police response has been, with acouple of exceptions, relatively inconsequentialin past active shooter incidents.They arrive in time to clean up the mess.Of the incidents that were stopped bypeople at the scene (as opposed to incidentswhere the shooter was not resistedin any way) two-thirds of the shooterswere stopped by citizens, not cops.And in half of those cases the citizenswere unarmed! Just like what happenedin Arizona, a few citizens with incrediblecourage jumped on the shooter andstopped his rampage.If you find yourself at the scene of anactive shooter event, there are lots ofthings to consider. While this list isn’tcomprehensive, it does provide somefood for thought.Do I engage or not?This is the big decision. Just because youare carrying a gun doesn’t mean you haveUSCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

It’s much safer to haveyour weapon holsteredby the time police arrive.[ BY GREG ELLIFRITZ ]a duty to protect everyone. It will almostalways be safer for you to escape withoutshooting. If you engage, many negativeconsequences can result. It’s a decisionyou have to make in advance and it isn’tan easy one. Do I get out safely or do Irisk my life to save others? Tough call.FirearmsThis is truly a “come as you are” event. Iknow many people who carry long gunsand a bunch of ammo in their cars tohandle an active shooter. I hate to breakit to you, but it isn’t likely to happen.Look again at the time frames involved.These events are over quickly. You justwon’t have time to get the zombie-killingAR-15 out of your trunk.That means you have to solve theproblem with whatever you have onyour person. How many of you carry alittle .380 or .38 snubby? Do you want toget into an active shooter gunfight withthat weapon? Realize that shots may belong and there will be lots of innocentpeople running around the shooter ina panic. There may be more than oneshooter. Can you make the shot with thelittle .380 you threw in your back pocketbecause you were just going to the grocerystore? If you are going to be in thisgame you’d better have a real gun. Thatmeans at least having a mid-size pistol(think Glock 26 size or bigger) all thetime. Otherwise, you are stacking theAnother option is tokeep the gun concealedin your hand as youseek cover.deck against yourself before you evenstart.If you do get caught with a mouse gun,work on getting as close to the shooteras possible while keeping your gun hidden.Consider quickly moving towardheadshots. You need to put the guy downquickly and you probably don’t have awhole lot of rounds to spare.At what distance can you guarantee aheadshot with your carry gun? You needto know. Put yourself on a shot timer. SetOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM51

ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSEit for two seconds. Start with the gun inhand, 10 feet from the target. Make theshot. If you make it in the two-secondtime frame, move back five feet. Keepdoing that until you can’t reliably hityour target in two seconds. That’s yourmaximal engagement distance. Realizeyou will have to close to that distance inan active shooter event in order to makesure you don’t hit any innocent people.Most cops I train start missing shotsaround the 25 foot range. Do you stillwant to engage knowing you’ll have torun up within 25 feet of somebody who’strying to kill everyone he sees?Does this mean you should only shootheadshots? No, I’m not advocating thatat all. I think headshots are a great choicewhen using a smaller caliber weaponthat doesn’t hold much ammo. If I havea full size gun with 8-15 rounds, I mayshoot center mass. It really depends onthe circumstances. Either way, I use thesame range standard. If you can make atwo second headshot on the range, youcan probably make a two second centermass shot at the same distance underthe stress of someone shooting at you.If you end up in a terrorist activeshooter event with a small pistol, don’tforget about the idea of “battlefieldpickup.” Shoot one terrorist and take hisAK-47 (or whatever else he has) to shootthe rest of them. Any rifle is a whole lotbetter than a .38 snubby. You may alsobe able to get better armament from adowned police officer if this is a longerengagement. Yes, these tactics can causesome problems, but I’d rather deal withsome legal issues after the shooting thanbe killed because I couldn’t make a 50-yard shot with my .25 automatic.If you are going to employ this strategy,you had better know how to operateall the guns you could possibly encounter.Get some friends who own guns thatyou haven’t seen and have them showyou how they work. That knowledge maysave your life someday.You couldcarry any ofthese weaponsconcealed, butwhich would yourather have inan active shootersituation?TacticsThis is a huge issue that really can’tbe adequately addressed in the writtenformat. Recognizing that, I willgive you some of the more importantthings to consider and leave itup to you to figure out how to addressthem or to seek further training.How do I get to the shooter when everyoneelse is running away from him?It’s like swimming against the current.Do you have “people moving” skills thatcan get you through the crowd?How do I conceal my gun when workingmy way to the shooter? If you don’tconceal it, you may be mistaken for theshooter by a cop or another CCW permitholder. It’s difficult balancing the competingneeds of staying low profile, yetready at the same time. In the Arizonashooting, one of the men who respondedwas armed. When he heard the shots beingfired, he unholstered his 9mm pistol,and put it in his pocket (with his handstill on it) as he made his way to confrontthe shooter. That was a very smart move.He had instant access to the gun, but noone else saw it.How can I make sure there isn’t morethan one shooter and what do I do ifthere are multiple attackers? Some ofthese active shooters are terrorists.They may have “handlers” or protectorswatching the crowd for armed people.Those handlers will remain low profileand they will wait until you pull yourgun and focus on the shooter. When youdo that, they’ll shoot you in the backof the head. How do you prevent that?Do you have the patience and knowledgeto exploit opportunities to act? Inmany active shootings, the shooter isbrought down when his gun malfunctionsor he is in the act of reloading. Itmay be smart to immediately seek coverand wait to act until you see one of theseopportunities. Do you know what a malfunctionedgun looks like? Can you recognizewhen a shooter is reloading?Get help! If you are in a physical confrontationwith the shooter, try to get asmany people as possible to help you.Often, in times of intense stress, bystandersfreeze and don’t know what todo. Sometimes a little encouragementis all that is needed to spring them intoaction. As two men tackled the Arizonashooter, they noticed he was trying toaccess a magazine to reload even asthey were fighting. The men yelled outto Patricia Maisch, a 61-year-old womanwho was lying on the ground nearby.They told her to take the magazine awayfrom the shooter. Despite her advancedage and fear, she did just that. In thatsingle action, she did as much to incapacitatethe shooter as the brave menwho wrestled him to the ground. Call outfor help. You just might get it!52USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSEHow do I avoid gettingshot by the police?This is a very real danger! As you whipout your CCW gun and shoot the killer,a cop is arriving. He sees a whole bunchof bodies and you holding a gun. Whatwould you do if you were in the cop’sshoes?If you choose to act, get your gun outof sight as soon as the threat is neutralized.Holster it. Keep your hand on thegun if you think you need to, but don’tbe in a high-profile shooting stance.Position “Sul” is useful here too if thethreat is still active.You may have to deal with the shooter’sgun as well. If you disarm the shooter,the same rules apply. Get the gun outof sight as soon as possible! Don’t throwit away; there may be other shooters inthe crowd who can use it against you.Quickly make it safe and hide it. If youkeep it out, people will assume that youare the shooter.Get to cover! Not only cover from theshooter you just dropped, but also coverbetween you and the police! Start lookingfor the responding cops. Be ready todrop your gun, show your hands and getdown on the ground. Know what is comingand follow the cops’ orders quickly.Yelling out that you are a CCW permitholder isn’t likely to keep you frombeing shot. People experience auditoryexclusion under stress and simply don’thear things well. Cops on the scene willbe judging all of your actions while attemptingto figure out who you are. Theperson trying to help victims isn’t as likelyto be mistaken for the shooter. Yellingthings like, “Get down, he has a gun!”“Get away from him, he’s still armed!”and “Somebody call 911” are better thanscreaming that you have a CCW permit.If you have family or friends with you,have them call 911. Make sure they tellthe police that you are the good guy anddescribe what you are wearing. If the policeknow there are other good guys withguns on the scene before they arrive,they will be looking for them. That maykeep you from getting shot.Medical skillsAfter the shooting is over, there will belots of injured people who need help.Everyone should know how to treat battlefieldinjuries. Paramedics will not beallowed to enter the scene until the policeare sure that there is no more danger.In a simple shooting, the gunshot victimsmay be on their own for upwards of15 minutes before the first wave of EMSis allowed in. Some gunshot wounds cancause a person to bleed to death in lessthan four minutes. Do the math. If youor someone you care about is a victim,you’ll want to be able to provide somebasic trauma care until the pros getthere.Battlefield trauma is different fromthe standard injuries most people see.Uncontrolled bleeding is the leadingcause of preventable battlefield death.Worry about this first. Plug the holes!Grab whatever you can find, place itover the wound and squeeze hard. Ifthere is spurting arterial bleeding, makea tourniquet and apply it 2-3 inchesabove the wound.Battlefield first aid isn’t hard. If youcan stop bleeding with improvised pressuredressings and tourniquets, patcha sucking chest wound, prevent a tensionpneumothorax, and know how toposition a casualty to keep his airwayclear, you will save lives. There are trainingclasses available. What I describedabove can be learned in about fourhours.This article isn’t a comprehensive reviewon active shooter strategy. WhatI hope to do is familiarize some of youwith the issues and get you to thinkabout your response. Get some trainingand stay safe! HGreg Ellifritz is the full-time tacticaltraining officer for a central Ohiopolice department. He holds instructoror master instructor certifications inmore than 75 different weapon systems,defensive tactics programs and policespecialty areas. He can be contacted atGreg1095@yahoo.com.©iSTOCKPHOTO - LIVING_IMAGESOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COMA cop arrivesand he sees awhole bunch ofbodies and youwith a gun...53

The BadThis is the way people instinctively move backward, butit’s a recipe for disaster. Notice how the shooter is alreadyleaning backward off balance. With each step the shooterlands on his heels. It’s hard to stay balanced walking onyour heels. Try it yourself if you don’t believe me. If thisshooter runs into something, he’s sure to fall over.The GoodThis is a stable posture. Notice how even though theshooter is moving backward, the shooter’s posture suggeststhat he is ready to sprint forward. The shooter’sbalance stays on the forward foot. The rear foot extendsback like a scouting party, making sure everything is safebefore the rest of the body moves in. If the rear foot runsinto something, the shooter won’t trip. Shooter steps toefirst, then rocks onto heel. Each step it’s toe heel, toe heel.Walking Backward[ BY DON STAHLNECKER ]How often do you practice walking backward?Every day I practice walking forward.Why, first thing I do in themorning is get up and practicewalking to the bathroom. Then I usuallypractice walking over to the coffeemaker. After that, if everything isstill going according to plan, I practicewalking to the shower. And all of thatis just my warm up. But walking backward?That I don’t practice so much.When I do it’s usually only one or twosteps, sometimes three, but almostnever more than four. Even then abouthalf the time I screw it up. Just yesterdayI nearly squished a three-year-oldkid when I took a step back in a crowdedline at the grocery store. My skillsare definitely honed for forward.I bring this up because while we allknow that a life and death fight is adynamic thing with few participantsstanding casually still, we are usuallyforced to practice our shooting skillsat ranges that don’t allow us to movewhile we shoot.So what is a person to do? Practice athome. Not with a real gun, of course,but you can use a toy gun, a banana, orjust your finger. The idea is to practicemoving while pointing at something.Moving forward or even sideways iseasy. It’s moving backward that willgive you the most trouble. But movingbackward may be exactly what you’llhave to do. What if you’re stuck in along hallway or between parked cars?The bad guy is not going to allow you tochoose your ideal environment. Whichmeans that learning how to quicklymove backward without falling overis worth some practice. After all, themiddle of a gun fight is not a good timeto trip over some poor little three-year-old kid. H54USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

BEHIND THE LINENo access to targets onmoving tracks? No problem.You can simulate trackingyour gun’s sights with astatic target array.Moving Targets[ BY TOM GIVENS ]When the bullets start flying, the feet start working!During gunfights it is very commonfor participants to runtoward cover, run toward exits,or simply run because they arebeing shot at. Therefore, the ability toreliably hit a moving target is an importantskill in the defensive gunner’srepertoire. Before learning to hit movingtargets with a handgun, your studentsshould first be made aware ofsome basic principles that will apply.First, they need to forget much ofwhat they may have learned in the pastwhen wing shooting ducks, geese orclay birds with a shotgun. To hit theseaerial targets the shooter must swingOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COMahead of the target, a process called“leading.” That’s pronounced leed, notled. This is because game birds fly veryquickly. A dove can hit 40 miles perhour, so a fair bit of lead ahead of thebird is needed to assure that the flightpath of the bird and the flight path ofthe shot charge intersect. Human beingscannot move nearly that fast. Attypical defensive distances, a humantarget cannot move fast enough toneed any appreciable amount of lead.The reason people miss moving targetswith the handgun is not lead, butrather it is stopping the swing the instantthe gun fires. This invariably resultsin the bullet passing right behindthe intended target. This is caused by achain of events that most people don’treally think about until it is pointed outto them.When your brain makes the decisionto fire the handgun, the shot doesnot take place instantaneously. Rather,a whole series of events has to takeplace, as follows:The command impulse has to traveldown the spinal cord from the brainto the brachial nerve, then the radialnerve to the finger; the trigger finger’smuscles have to contract; the triggerhas to move through its arc, which maybe a half inch or more; the sear has torelease the hammer or striker, which55

BEHIND THE LINEStatement of Ownership, Management,and Circulation(Text version of USPS Form 3526) (Required bySection 3685, Title 39, United States Code)1. Publication Title: Concealed Carry Magazine.2. Publication Number: 1550-7866. 3. FilingDate: October, 2011. 4. Issue Frequency: Every45 days. 5. Number of Issues Published Annually:8. 6. Annual Subscription Price: $67.00.7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Officeof Publication: N173W21298 Northwest Passage,Jackson, WI 53037, Contact Person: TimSchmidt, Telephone: (262) 677-8877. 8. CompleteMailing Address of Headquarters or GeneralBusiness Office of Publisher: N173W21298Northwest Passage, Jackson, WI 53037. 9. FullNames and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher/Editor:Timothy J. Schmidt N173W21298Northwest Passage, Jackson, WI 53037, andManaging Editor: Kathy Jackson: N173W21298Northwest Passage, Jackson, WI 53037. 10.Owner: Delta Media, LLC N173W21298 NorthwestPassage, Jackson, WI 53037. 11. KnownBondholders, Mortgagees, and Other SecurityHolders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or Moreof Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or OtherSecurities: None. 12. Tax Status: N/A. 13. PublicationTitle: Concealed Carry Magazine. 14.Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: October3rd, 2011. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation(Average Number of Copies Each Issue DuringPreceding 12 Months). 15a. Total Numberof Copies: 54,000. 15b. Paid and/or RequestedCirculation (1) Paid/Requested Outside-CountyMail Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541: 51,263.(2) Paid In-County Subscriptions: 195. (3) SalesThrough Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors,Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution:0. (4) Other Classes Mailed Throughthe USPS: 0. 15c. Total Paid and/or RequestedCirculation: 51,458. 15d. Free or Nominal RateDistribution (1) Outside-County as Statedon Form 3541: 267. (2) In-County as Statedon Form 3541: 16. (3) Other Classes MailedThrough the USPS: 68. (4) Free DistributionOutside the Mail: 232. 15e. Total Free Distribution:583 15f. Total Distribution: 52,041. 15g.Copies Not Distributed: 1,959. 15i. Total: 54,000.15j. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation:98.9%. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation(Number Copies of Single Issue Published NearestFiling Date). 15a. Total Number of Copies:45,000. 15b. Paid and/or Requested Circulation(1) Paid/Requested Outside-County Mail SubscriptionsStated on Form 3541: 21,778. (2) PaidIn-County Subscriptions: 178. (3) Sales ThroughDealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, CounterSales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution:0. (4) Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS:0. 15c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation:41,56. 15d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution(1) Outside-County as Stated on Form 3541:245. (2) In-County as Stated on Form 3541: 15.(3) Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: 57.(4) Free Distribution Outside the Mail: 200. 15e.Total Free Distribution: 517 15f. Total Distribution:42,473. 15g. Copies Not Distributed: 2,527.15i. Total: 45,000. 15j. Percent Paid and/or RequestedCirculation: 98.8%. 16. Publication ofStatement of Ownership. Publication Required.Will be printed in October issue of this publication.I certify that all information furnished onthis form is true and complete. I understandthat anyone who furnishes false or misleadinginformation on this form or who omits materialor information requested on the form may besubject to criminal sanctions) including finesand imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (includingcivil penalties).56then must move forward to strike theprimer; the primer has to detonate,lighting the powder charge, which hasto burn and generate gas pressure, sothat the bullet is kicked loose from thecartridge and accelerated down thebarrel until it exits; and then the bulletmust fly from the gun to the target.That’s a lot of stuff going on. Althoughthe increments of time involved maybe very small (micro-seconds) oncewe add them all up it becomes an appreciableamount of delay between thedecision to fire and the actual launchof the bullet. So, if you stop your swingas your brain says “Fire!” your bulletwill get to the point where the targetwas, and not where it is now.Many larger police firing rangeshave “runners,” mechanical movingtarget systems that move a silhouettetarget along a track or on wires to allowtrainees to learn to keep the gunswinging. You may not, however, haveaccess to such a system. No problem.All you have to do is learn to keep thegun moving while you track the sightsand work the trigger smoothly. Thiscan be easily done with a static targetarray, as illustrated.Set up three to four targets in lineabreast of each other, fairly closelyspaced (see photos), at 5-6 yards asa starting point. Fire two rounds ateach target, working your way acrossso that all targets are engaged in oneFire two rounds at each target,working your way across so thatall targets are engaged in onecontinuous string.continuous string. The key is not toshoot pairs, but one continuous string.In other words, the shots should notsound like 1,2 … 3,4 … 5,6 … 7,8. Theyshould sound like 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Onceyou can fire 8 rounds in a non-stopstring on four targets, you can swingalong with a running target and keepyour sights on the target as you fire. Inessence, if your target and your gun aremoving along at the same speed, youare shooting an essentially stationarytarget.Set this up and give it a try with yourstudents. With a bit of practice theywill be able to keep the pistol movingand get good hits. They will then beable to do the same thing on a runningtarget if the need arises. HTom Givens is the owner of Rangemasterin Memphis, TN. For over 30 years Tom’sduties have included firearms instruction.He is certified as an expert witnesson firearms and firearms training, givingtestimony in both state and federalcourts. He serves as an adjunct instructorat the Memphis Police DepartmentTraining Academy, the largest inthe state. Tom’s training resume includescertification from the FBI PoliceFirearms Instructor School, NRA LawEnforcement Instructor DevelopmentSchool, NRA Law Enforcement TacticalShooting Instructor School, Gunsite499 under Jeff Cooper, and more.USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

ARMED SENIOR CITIZENTake training with thebest in the business.Intelligent Choicesfor Concealed Carry:Five Do’sand Don’ts[ BY BRUCE N. EIMER, Ph .D. ]Concealed carry is not for folks who lack or do notexercise good judgment and restraint.Even a right must be exercised responsibly,and carrying a gun isa grave responsibility. In previousarticles, I have discussed my beliefthat carrying a gun is not for everyone.If you carry, you should do so intelligently.If you go armed and act stupidly,you may lose your right (or privilege)to carry. Make intelligent choices andcarry responsibly.Five Do’s of IntelligentConcealed Carry1. Be A.W.A.R.E.Being A.W.A.R.E. entails being Alert,being Willing, having a good Attitude,being Ready, and being Even tempered.Be Alert. You need to watch your 360so you can see trouble coming in advance.Action is faster than reaction,so if you see trouble coming, you canstack the deck in your favor. That mightmean just leaving.Be Willing. You need to be willing todo whatever you have to do to survive alethal force confrontation. You need tobe willing to use deadly force if you findyourself in the gravest of extremes. Thiswould be when you believe your life, orthat of someone under the mantle ofyour protection, is in imminent dangeras a result of your being confrontedby a person (or persons) presenting animmediate and unavoidable threat ofdeath or grave bodily harm.Have a good Attitude. Be thoughtful,willing to learn, humble, and reasonablyfriendly, although certainly notoverly friendly. Lawful concealed carryis for the “good guys and gals.” Lawfulconcealed carry is for those who arepro-social, not anti-social.Be Ready. A gun will do you no goodif you are not ready. Being in a state ofreadiness entails being alert and awareso you can observe what is going onaround you. You have to be observantto notice something out of the ordinary.Once you observe something isOCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM57

ARMED SENIOR CITIZENout of kilter, then you will orient to itin order to rapidly analyze the situationand decide what to do. Ditheringmeans death. Once you decide, youmust act.Be Even tempered. You mustn’t beimpulsive, angry, or rash. These qualitiesdo not go together with carrying agun. They do not go along with thinkingclearly or rationally. Remember thatwe carry a gun for self defense, not tointimidate or punish.2. Be invisible.This means that you do not want todraw unwanted attention to yourself.It is best to go unnoticed. Be polite. Itis better to dress plainly dull and boringthan it is to dress spicy and exciting.“Speak softly and carry a big stick,” toquote President Teddy Roosevelt. Goodpeople who go unnoticed are less likelyto get in trouble. Also do your bestto avoid “hot spots.” These are placeswhere hot tempered people butt heads,such as bars late at night and politicalrallies or confrontations.3. Know your equipment and practicewith it regularly.If you are not intimately acquaintedwith your equipment (read gun, holster,and other accessories), how willyou be able to operate your equipmentsmoothly and efficiently in an emergency?Do you get this bullet point? Theidea is to drill and practice regularlywith your equipment so that its deploymentbecomes second nature—that is,a habit. If you are a musician, you get toCarnegie Hall through practice. If youcarry a gun, you get to survive throughpractice.4. Practice safe gun handling.Guns are dangerous. Always handlethem with a focus on safety. That meansyou should (a) always handle all gunsas if they are loaded, (b) never pointa gun at anything you aren’t willing todestroy, (c) keep your finger off the triggerin a stable “register” position at alltimes, unless your gun is on target andyou have made the decision to shoot atthat moment, and (d) positively knowyour target and what is around and behindit.Practice soundweapon retention.5. Know the laws and always carryyour license to carry.Ignorance is no excuse before the law.Know and follow the law. Sure, the lawscan be confusing, especially in anti gunrights, heavily gun controlled statessuch as New Jersey. But, as gun lawyerKevin Jamison, says, “It’s just the law.”Many laws do not make sense. Butyou need to know what they are. If youbreak the law and are caught, you canlose your gun rights. Recognize that ourhard won gun rights, unfortunately arevery fragile; that is, they can be easilytaken away though a stupid mistake.Five Don’ts ofIntelligent Concealed Carry1. Don’t be impulsive.Impulsiveness and guns do not mix. It’slike mixing guns, drugs, and alcohol.If you cannot control your aggressiveimpulses or your rage, you probablyshould not carry a gun. You need tokeep a cool head. Hot heads get in trouble.Add a gun and you have the makingsof a news flash. You must learn tostop, think, and act appropriately.Don’t get into fights when you arepacking heat if you can help it. Whenyou are packing heat, wherever you gois hot. So, if you get into a fist fight, youPractice safe gun handling. Keep yourfinger off the trigger until ready to fire.Become intimately connected with yourpersonal defense gun.58USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

ARMED SENIOR CITIZENBe alert, be willing,have a good attitudeand be ready.are adding the potential for the introductionof deadly force into the mix.That is a bad thing. I have read aboutguns falling onto the floor in tussles(bad weapon retention), and guns beinggrabbed (also bad weapon retention).Nothing good will come of this.2. Don’t advertise for your favorite gunmanufacturer.Don’t let people know what you arecarrying, where you are toting it, oreven that you are carrying. You don’twant anyone to have the drop onyou. You want to retain the elementof surprise—your trump card. If youwant to advertise for your favorite gunmanufacturer, apply for a PR job in thefirearms industry.3. Don’t develop “guncourage.”Have you ever heardof “canned courage?”Have you ever heardof anything good comingof it? No and no.Similarly, gun courageis destructive. Neverthink you should goanywhere with a gun(unless you have noother choice), whereyou would not dare togo without one. We donot carry to intimidate,except to intimidate aviolent criminal intofinding something todo other than preyingon us.4. Don’t ever lose yourgun!Hold onto your gun.Practice sound weaponretention. You cannotafford to lose yourgun. If anyone otherthan someone you authorizegets their mitts on your gun,you are in for big trouble! So, carry ina secure retention holster. Keep yourroscoe accessible but at the same timewell concealed and out of sight. If youhave trouble with this, consider pocketcarry. It is the easiest way to securelytote a concealed handgun out of sight.Last but not least, don’t become complacent5. Don’t become complacent.I have written about the dangers ofcomplacency in a previous issue. Itbears repeating. Complacency andfalse confidence can spell R-I-P. Don’trest on your laurels. Shooting is a perishableskill, so practice regularly. Donot neglect to maintain your carryguns. Inspect and clean them regularly.Don’t be the guy whose carry pistol accumulatesseveral ounces of lint andgreasy mush. Don’t develop false confidencebecause you are armed. If youare caught in Condition White, that is,unaware, what will your gun do for youwhen you are way behind the reactionarygap?SummaryWe have examined five key dos anddon’ts of intelligent concealed carry.The major point is that concealed carryof defensive handguns is not for folkswho lack, or do not exercise, good judgmentand restraint. Carrying a gun is agrave responsibility. Carry intelligentlyand retain your precious right to keepand bear arms. HBruce N. Eimer, Ph.D., psychologist,NRA-certified law enforcement firearmsinstructor, and founder of the onlineforum www.DefensiveHandguns.com, teaches concealed carry classesfor the Florida, Virginia, and Utahcarry permits. Bruce provides privatefirearm instruction and co-authoredthe book, Essential Guide toHandguns. Visit his website at www.PersonalDefenseSolutions.netCONTACTSDon Hume Leather Goodswww.donhume.com(800) 331-2686Glockwww.glock.com(770) 432-1202Massad Ayoob Groupwww.massadayoobgroup.comemail: mas@massadayoob.comSmith and Wessonwww.smith-wesson.com(800) 331-0852OCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM59

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO MAKE SENSE ... IT’S JUST THE LAWWestern Missouri Shooters Aliance PresidentSheila Stokes-Begley multi-tasks with gun andphone in self-defense. Adding a third task,making a coherent statement, can be tricky.The Stay Out of Jail CARD[ BY K.L. JAMISON, ESQ. ]The boyfriend had drunk all of the lady’s beer andsmoked all of her cigarettes.His continued company was notan adequate substitute for theloss of these pleasures and shekicked him out. In retaliation he triedto kill her. She shot him stone dead. Thepolice officer asked why she had killedhim. “Well, he drank all of my beer andsmoked all of my cigarettes ….” At thispoint the boyfriend’s body was wheeledpast and she was struck dumb withshock. There being no further response,the officer wrote up his report: “Suspectstated that she killed him because hedrank all of her beer and smoked all ofher cigarettes.” The lady was acquitted,but it could have been avoided.In the aftermath of a shooting, thestandard legal advice is to remain silent.The standard legal advice is also to call911. This conflicting advice is not logical.However, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmesfamously stated, “The life of the law isnot logic, it is experience.” Experiencehas shown that both statements aregood advice. The trick is to bring orderout of this adversarial advice. We havean adversarial legal system kept in reasonableorder by a set of written guides.In the aftermath of a gunfight the necessaryguide is a “Stay Out of Jail” card.These cards provide guidance to speak,but not too much, and to shut up.One attorney warns that half of thecharges against people after a self-defenseshooting are due to commentsduring 911 calls. Failure to call 911 istaken as an indication that one is not avictim. It is a peculiarity of our systemthat one has an absolute right to remainsilent only after being arrested. 1Following the gunfight, the citizenwill suffer a roller coaster of conflictingemotions. Under stress blood retreatsfrom the frontal lobes of the brain; this iswhere 10,000 years of human civilizationlive. It retreats to the primitive, centralpart of the brain. This is the part wherethe basic urges live: sex, anger, fear, andaggression. If one tries to make a statementand all the brain can process is sex,anger, fear, and aggression, the resultwill not be pretty. No one would suggestmaking a legal decision while under theinfluence of a chemical. Adrenaline is avery powerful chemical and will not beout of the body for a good three days.Unless the statement is focused, it willstray into ugly territory. The card helpsfocus the statement.Massad Ayoob, an experiencedcombat and post combat legal defenseinstructor, teaches a list of statementsfor the victor to give the authorities.An experienced self-defense authorsuggests, “I’ve just been attacked. Sendan ambulance and police to (location).” 2This version has the advantage of brevity,but does not include some of the detailappellate courts unrealistically expectin a 911 call. The Western MissouriShooters Alliance distributes a “StayOut of Jail Card” 3 which summarizesMissouri Weapons and self-defense lawand a list of six statements to give to the911 operator:1. Location2. He tried to kill me3. I was afraid for my life4. I defended myself5. Send an ambulance6. The scene is safe. 4Location must be the first statement.If the call is lost, the authoritiesknow where to start their inquiries. Inone case the operator misunderstoodthe street number and sent respondersto 65 th Terrace instead of 56 th Terrace.Computers insist we provide our email60USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

...IT’S JUST THE LAWaddresses twice to avoid mistakes; weshould do as much with human operators.“He tried to kill me” is the flagshipstatement.“I was afraid for my life” is somethingthat should be assumed from “He triedto kill me,” but is not. Fear is requiredfor a self-defense claim. I heard a prosecutortell a jury that my client neversaid that he was afraid until he spoke toa lawyer. This was not entirely true; theprosecutor was lying to the jury, and thejudge was letting him get away with it.“I defended myself” must be statedat the earliest possible moment. Courtsand juries are suspicious of defenseswhich appear for the first time at trial.The prosecutor is allowed to mentionthis surprise at trial, despite what mostbelieve to be an absolute right of silence.“Send an ambulance” is often taken asan assertion of moral superiority, but itis more. Several cases have held that actionstaken to save the life of the psychopathafter the unanticipated shootingindicates the citizen’s intention beforethe shooting. 5“The scene is safe” assures the respondingofficer that he is not walkinginto a gunfight.The 911 operator will continue to askquestions, beginning with medical questions.The victor will be in no conditionto diagnose the assailant’s condition.These questions are designed to get thecaller to continue giving information—information which will be used againstthe caller.The responding officer will want moreinformation. Clearly, something needsto be said to preserve the defense case.The Stay Out of Jail Card advises the acronym,SHIELD: 6• Remain Silent• He attacked me• I am Innocent• There is the Evidence• I want a Lawyer• Don’t resist or consent.Silence is the basic principle.Statements must be brief.“He attacked me” introduces the partiesto the responding officer, who wasnot a party to the 911 call.“I am innocent” is another one ofthose statements which must be madeat the earliest possible moment. Failureto claim innocence can be mentioned incourt.“There is the Evidence” points outperishable facts essential to the defense.The CSI team will not be called to pickup every hair and fiber. If forensic teamsdid in reality what they do on that show,their budget would last about a week.Point out cartridge cases, blood spatter,any injuries, and witnesses who mightdisappear later.“I want a lawyer” is important. Unlessone asks, one does not get a lawyer. Evenif the family lawyer is pounding on theinterrogation room door, unless you askfor a lawyer the police do not have to lethim in.“Don’t” is another broad principle.Don’t resist, it looks suspicious and theywill just bring enough police to makeit happen. Don’t consent to searches,questioning or tests of any kind.When one finishes the statements onthe card it is time to remain silent andrequest a lawyer. However, police officersbelieve that a request for a lawyeris evidence of a guilty conscience. Somereason must be given to assuage theprejudice. Police get sued all the time.Telling the officer that a lawyer is wantedout of a fear of being sued will strike aresponsive chord. Jurors easily understandthe fear of lawsuits. We all heard ofBernard Goetz who shot four assailantsin a New York subway, was acquitted ongrounds of self-defense, and was thensued for $43 million‐and lost.Carrying cards such as the Stay Outof Jail Card has been criticized as showingan intent to engage in a gunfight.Certainly, carrying a gun and spare ammunitionwould overwhelm the impactof such a card. Many attorney businesscards carry advice to remain silent andrefuse consent when encountering police.The ACLU prints a substantial cardgiving advice in various circumstances.I am not aware of any case in whichthese cards were mentioned as a factor.However, in an age in which bumperstickers, T-shirts and tattoos are placedin evidence, certainly some vindictiveprosecutor will attempt to place such acard into evidence. The WMSA Stay Outof Jail Card has the advantage of containinggeneral legal advice about theThe “Stay Out of Jail” card provides aframework for the critical 911 call.purchase and possession of guns as wellas self-defense. It contains very strongadvice on the importance of manners. Itis therefore easier to defend than strictgunfight advice.The need for such cards has beenridiculed. Some commentators cannotbelieve that a citizen can perform competentlyin a gunfight, but collapse intoa sea of nerves afterwards. I do not findthis difficult to believe; I have seen it.The card is not a perfect solution.However, perfect is not required. In aninsane situation every little bit helps. HKevin L. Jamison is an attorney in theKansas City Missouri area concentratingin the area of weapons and self-defense.Please send questions to Kevin L.Jamison 2614 NE 56 th Ter GladstoneMissouri 64119-2311 KLJamisonLaw@earthlink.net. Individual answers are notusually possible but may be addressedin future columns.This information is for legal informationpurposes and does not constitutelegal advice. For specific questions youshould consult a qualified attorney.1. Doyle v Ohio, 426 U.S. 610 (1976).2. Alan Korwin After You Shoot, Bloomfield Press Scottsdale AZ 2010. There will bemore on Alan’s extended advice in the next issue.3. Text is at www.WMSA.net. The card is distributed free, but if it keeps a personout of a dollar’s worth of trouble, he is asked to send us the dollar.OCTOBER 2011 n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM4. Full disclosure, I was a major contributor to this card and teach these six statementsin my DVD Missouri Concealed Carry and Self-Defense Law see www.LearnToCarryProductions.com.5. It doesn’t make any sense to me either; it’s just the law.6. Developed independently of the SHIELD program offered to USCCA members.61

BALLISTIC BASICSToo muchconcern forcontrolling thecartridge; notenough concernfor controllingthe pistol.The slide isfirmly controlledand the muzzlepoints safelydownrange.Clearing Presents DangerCan I share a pet peeve with y’all? Sometimes theway people clear their loaded pistols gives me thewillies.No, I don’t mean the really badway, where they forget to dropthe magazine first and go puttinga hole in the berm when they reflexivelydrop the hammer on their now“unloaded” gun; I’m talking about waysthat look fine on the surface, but mightactually be, well, less than optimal inthe safety department. The reason thatthese two methods bother me is thatthey seem to put a lot of attention onthe ejected cartridge and not enoughon the pistol: Too much focus on unloadingthe gun, and not enough onunloading the gun.One way looks really stylish andflashy: I’m talking about the one wherethey run the slide briskly, sending thecartridge on a glittering rainbow trajectoryand then deftly catch the ejectedround in midair. I’ll admit that it looksneat and all, but while they’re tryingto play Joe Cool, with their attentionfocused on that glittering pieceof flying brass, an appalling numberof them forget that ... Hey! Ken GriffeyJr.! You’ve still got a pistol in your otherhand while you’re trying to run downthat pop fly! It’s all too easy to fumblemuzzle discipline when you’re focusedon pretty, shiny, flying things.The other clearing method that givesme the willies is one which looks muchmore methodical and careful thanthe “catch the flying cartridge” one.I’m talking about where the shootercarefully places their hand over theejection port so that the precious liveround, costlier and more delicate thana Fabergé egg, can be gently cradledin the palm of the support hand as itrolls free of the ejection port. Whichis great, but again, too much attentionis being focused on the ejectedround and not enough on, you know,the gun. Besides, with you trapping itin the ejection port, if your hand onthe slide slips, you could get a palmfulof red-hot brass shards whenthe primer gets jammed up against[ BY TAMARA KEEL ]something sharp by the closing slide.Alternatively, when the shooter usesthe second method, it’s possible forthe round to not fully eject and bounceback toward the feedway. When thishappens, if the slide is run briskly again,the primer can come in contact withthe ejector in some pistols. Either way,the result is the same: burns, brass slivers,and maybe even stitches. Anybodywho’s Range Officered enough matcheshas probably seen it, or knows someonewho has.Look, gravity works. I know that preciouscartridge cost a whole quarter,but just let it fall on the ground. It’sokay to watch where it falls out of thecorner of your eye, but most of yourattention should be focused on safeingand securing the pistol. A little dirtwon’t hurt the cartridge, and it’ll still beright there where it landed when you’redone, okay? HTamara Keel has been shooting guns asa hobby since she was eighteen. She hasworked in the firearms business sincethe early 1990s. Her pastimes includecollecting old guns, writing, and beingbossed around by house cats.62USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n OCTOBER 2011

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PHOTO BY OLEG VOLK • A-HUMAN-RIGHT.COMThe right to possess firearms for protection implies acorresponding right to acquire and maintain proficiency intheir use; the core right wouldn’t mean much without thetraining and practicethat make it effective.7th Circuit Court ruling in Ezell v. Chicago (July 6, 2011)