Two Is One...

I posted this on Facebook last night, but I figured it bore repeating.

So, our microwave died. Well, technically, our backup microwave died. The actual microwave that came with the house died two weeks after we moved in. It was fixed under the home warranty and lasted another year.

The backup microwave (which was our primary microwave at the house in MA) died today with little warning. So now we're on the backup backup microwave, which is a $50 deal we bought at *least* 15 years ago for our pop-up camper.

Two is one, y'all...

One of my co-workers humorously opined:

What about the second emergency auxiliary backup. Come on man, be prepared!

To which I replied,

That's called a Coleman stove.

I have two of them. 

And the thing is, all of the above is true, and unremarkable, really.

Our VA house had a built-in microwave in the kitchen. We had a recent microwave in our house in MA, so we moved it down - no sense giving it away, it worked fine, and you can always use a backup, right? The little microwave was in a box of stuff we pulled out of our pop-up camper when we sold it in 2007. Other than being a little dusty, it worked fine.

I wasn't kidding - the built-in microwave died within two weeks of us moving in. We followed up on the home warranty, and had a repair visit where the repair guy basically replaced the electronic controls (including a new panel) and it was working again. It lasted a little under a year, and then died again - in a different way. Since we never moved the backup microwave off the counter, we just continued to use it.

And then last night, *that* microwave gave up the ghost. As I was in the middle of preparing dinner. Remembering the second microwave, I frantically beat feet down to the basement storage, retrieved it, cleaned it off, and within 15 minutes we were enjoying freshly nuked green beans. At some  point this weekend we'll sashay to one of the box stores and pick up another countertop microwave, and I'll look into removing the built-in to see if I can find a replacement.

As for the Coleman stoves, well, one is the liquid fuel variant that I inherited from my parents. It's at least 40 years old, but - since it's a Coleman stove - still runs like a top. The other one is newer, runs on propane and is half-grill, half-stove (single burner). It's quite useful for cooking hotdogs while boiling water for dehydrated meals (BTDT) and also has a griddle attachment so we can have pancakes and bacon while camping (we're not savages).

It's one of the great things about being an outdoors-type person. All that gear you use when camping? It's great SHTF gear. If you're into backpacking, that's even great for bugging out gear. Even if you don't camp, having a propane stove and lantern and a six-pack of fuel stashed away somewhere is a fantastic safety net for power outages and the like. 

Or when your microwave gives up the ghost.

That is all. 

Being Careful...

So, over this past weekend we took the kids to the amusement park. I've mentioned this before. I put this picture up on Facebook earlier, when I came across it, but wanted to mention it again for emphasis:

That's a single .22 LR round, placed next to the medicine bag in which it was found. No, I have no idea how it got in there. The medicine bag here is the giant, "all-family, all-week" bag - this is the one we take when we're all going away for more than a couple days. It's not the single bag I take when I'm flying on business or the medium bag I bring when TheBoy and I go camping.

Point is, this isn't a bag that might have ended up inside a range bag, or inside a large bag that also had a range bag in it. This is a stand alone bag, one that's kept ready and rotating in an area nowhere near ammunition storage. I could understand if the small bag had a round in it; that one has made several trips for blogshoots and such.

I can't stress the importance of checking your gear whenever traveling for just this reason. I have no reason whatsoever to expect that there would be a loose round of ammunition in this medicine bag, yet here it was. Had I been flying, this could have gotten quite ugly. Heck, had I stopped in New Jersey, New York, or Massachusetts, where a permit is required to possess ammunition, it could have resulted in charges.

If you're a gunnie, check your gear, then check it again...

That is all.

Nightmare Scenario

Part of your defensive plan, be it inside the home or outside, should involve "wargaming" potential scenarios. They should be realistic - no invading ninjas - and (ideally) more than one possible solution can/should be devised.

The following scenario is one of my "nightmares":

Partygoer shot when he returns to wrong Las Vegas house

A man who briefly left a birthday party at a nearby home and thought he was returning to the celebration but went to the wrong house in Las Vegas was shot by the homeowner who objected to the late-night intrusion, local media reported on Friday.

The shooting victim was hospitalized after the incident early Thursday morning with wounds that were not life threatening, said Officer Jesse Roybal, a Las Vegas police spokesman. Police did not identify the man, but local media reported that he was in his 20s.

It's worse, now, because we live in a crowded subdivision and many of the houses do, in fact, look the same. Actually, TheBoy had an incident where he called Mrs. G. at work to say he couldn't get into the house. He tried the code on the garage and it didn't work, so he went up to the door and tried his key, only to find out that it didn't work as well. He wasn't panicking when he called the Mrs., just letting her know.

He later called back, feeling sheepish, because he was at the wrong house...

We all think we know what a bad guy will look like; what a scenario that might involve deadly force will look like; etc. The stereotypical bad guy, complete with black mask, will be breaking a window to gain access to the house, etc. Except that, as this story shows, sometimes it's just a confused, drunk kid. Sometimes it's someone that just made a poor decision.

Now, they compounded their poor decision by arguing with the homeowner, that's for certain. I'll give the homeowner the benefit of the doubt and believe that he honestly felt threatened by the inebriated person on his porch. It's certainly no stretch - I don't know how charitable I would be if someone were pounding on my front door in the wee hours of the morning, either.

In the case of both parties involved, they got very lucky. The young man who was shot appears to be out of danger, and the homeowner that did the shooting doesn't have to live with having killed someone for making a mistake. I can't second-guess the homeowner, here; I wasn't there, I wasn't privy to the exchange, and anything I can come up with is conjecture and guesswork.

What I can do, though, is add this scenario to the list of "what-if" scenarios to think about. What if there's someone pounding on the door in the middle of the night that doesn't belong there? What if they manage to gain entry? What if they wake the kids and scare them? Nothing ratchets up the tension and adrenaline like your family being in danger.

Lots of things to think about...

That is all.

Another dispatch from...

(image courtesy of Robb Allen)

Reaction Time.

So, Wednesday I had a very unique experience. On the highway heading back from the outdoor range, it was rather windy. I watched the 18-wheeler just ahead of me struggle with the wind, and decided that it might be a good idea to put some distance between us. I gave the Earthf**ker a bit of gas (ahem), and started around the rig, when all of a sudden all holy hell broke loose.

In the sudden rush of acceleration, my dashboard-mounted GPS unit came loose and fell off the dash. I didn't think anything of it, because all of a sudden the truck just out and out died. No power whatsoever. Fortunately I was going straight on the highway at sufficient speed that controlling the truck wasn't too hard, but I had a swaying rig next to me and I was losing power.

Folks, that's never a good place to be.

I'm trying to decide whether I should signal the rig or just wait for him to catch up, when out of the blue the brain put two and two together. Falling GPS + path it took off the dashboard = look at the ignition to find that the GPS had impacted the key and shut the truck off. Reach down, twist the key back into the "on" position, and twist it enough to kick the motor back to life and everything was right in the world.

Didn't even stack traffic up behind me all that much (of course, there wasn't much traffic to begin with).

It's amazing how you react to different situations, it really is. At a previous trip to the range, I managed to pick up a nail in the rear driver's side tire, and I had a hell of a time deciding to s**t or get off the pot - whether to get it plugged or see if it sealed itself (since I could *hear* air leaking out, I found a garage real quick. Yes, I know, I need to get a tire repair kit for the truck, it's on the list). Something that, at worst, would have resulted in needed to toss the spare on had me absolutely flummoxed; yet Wednesday I was on the highway next to a shaking 18-wheeler with no power and the decision process was smooth, fluid, and decisive.

As terrifying as it was at the time, I'm glad it happened. It's good to know how you'll react in a tough situation, and having an impromptu training situation present itself with no warning (like problems crop up in real life) gave me a glimpse into how I perform under pressure. And, I'm happy to report, I didn't f**k everything up and die.

And sometimes, that's all you can ask for...

That is all.

"Just Give Them What They Want"...

That's a common refrain when talking about crime and criminals. We hear it a lot, sometimes from police chiefs after a successful DGC addition. They'll caution the public that they don't recommend confronting the goblin, that they consider it best to give the attacker what they want and comply with demands, etc. There's just one problem with this line of thought: sometimes the bad guy shoots you anyways.

Worcester store clerk shot in face in ‘senseless’ violent act during seven-hour crime wave in city

WORCESTER — Police continue to investigate the shooting of a Honey Farms store clerk on Vernon Street where two masked men entered the store and shot the clerk in the face after stealing money from the cash register.

The shooting, about 12:30 a.m., was part of a violent seven-hour span in the city, in which two people were shot, two officers were injured apprehending a man with a gun, and another Honey Farms convenience store was robbed. Police are not linking the two convenience store robberies at this time, but also have not ruled out a connection.

The clerk did everything like he was supposed to. He didn't fight back. He handed over the money. And, as the bad guys were leaving, they shot him in the face anyways. Even after giving them what they wanted, he was still nearly killed. Tell me how this could have gone worse had the clerk decided to give the crooks a .357 Magnum round instead of the cash...

Even better, since this is Massachusetts, I wonder how much time the shooter will actually spend in jail. No doubt the charges of possession of a firearm without a valid permit will be the first things pleaded away; I strongly suspect that the attempted murder charge will get dropped to assault and battery or something lower. I'd be shocked if the shooter gets more than a couple years for this. Because, hey, he didn't kill anyone, right?

It continues to amaze me that people really put their faith in the intentions of those bent on using violence to get what they want. Here you have the perfect storm of what should have been a textbook convenience store robbery: older clerk, late at night, bad guys come in brandishing a firearm - this should have been easy. Clerk hands over the money, they leave, the insurance company sorts it out in the morning. For reasons known only to the shooter, though, they decide to shoot the clerk in the face even though he'd already complied.

He did what they told him to do, and they shot him anyways.

Think about that the next time some chief of police - who has access to machine guns, don't forget - tells you that the best thing to do is give them what they want. What if they want you to die? I'm not comfortable placing my life in the hands of some violent thug with a stolen handgun. Mssrs. Smith & Wesson, OTOH, have been reliable friends and partners and deliver a .355" projectile where it's supposed to go with precision and accuracy - I'd rather rely on that.

The only person you can count on when the ball drops is you. Never forget that. The police are minutes away; the bad guy may very well want you dead; and other folks may be too scared, self-absorbed, or otherwise occupied to lend a hand. "Give them what they want" is such shockingly bad advice, because it presumes that the goblin pointing a gun at you is operating on the same rational parameters as the rest of society. They're not. They're violent predators. They *might* take the money and leave - or they might shoot you in the face because you might be able to identify them, you didn't move fast enough, or they just felt like shooting you in the face.

When you allow a goblin to decide your fate, you're putting your life on the line - literally.

That is all.

Thanks to Brad_in_MA for the hat tip!

Have. A. Plan.

So, yesterday, the bank in my town got robbed. Not a "this is a robbery, put all the money in a bag" written on a note robbery, but a "waving a gun around in the air" robbery. Young kid, 18-24ish, suspected in a couple of other robberies in neighboring towns. This punk:

This is my bank. It has been my bank since the mid-1970s. Name's changed a few times as it has been bought and sold, going from a locally-owned bank to a chain, but the tellers are the same folks that have been there for years. I don't go in the bank all that often, with direct deposit and all, but still, this is a punch in the gut.

I live in a small town next to a moderate-sized city. Crime in my town is limited to petty vandalism, an occasional B&E on a house where the occupants are on vacation, and speeding cars. Our last murder was a domestic violence death in 1992; before that it was the early 1970s (and also domestic violence involving a town police officer). We're not often the victims of violence here in my sleepy little 'burb.

Point is, if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere.

The idea of "crime doesn't happen here" or "this is a good area, you don't need to worry about protection" is a fairy tale. Crime doesn't stop at a town's borders, or respect certain zip codes. Sure, some areas have lower crime rates than others, but assuming that you're safe simply because of your location is little more than wishful thinking. Even in the best of areas, criminals can and will find their way in. Honestly, it's surprising it doesn't happen more often in the "good" areas simply because more people are likely to be in a lessened state of awareness.

Which brings to mind my point, the title of this post. Have a plan. This is a bank I patronize. It is possible I could have been in the bank when this happened. I suspect in this case I would have held back, at the ready but not drawn, and observed and been ready to act if something changed. He flashed the gun but was not pointing it at any one; if he started pointing the gun at patrons or tellers then the situation may require action.

I'll give the tellers credit here, though - the call came into the police station at 2:13 PM; the actual robbery happened at 2:15 PM. They saw this guy come into the bank in a hoodie and ski mask and hit the silent alarm immediately. Unfortunately he was gone by the time the police arrived a few minutes later, which drives home the frequent refrain that when seconds count, the police are only minutes away. Fortunately for all involved, he didn't actually assault anyone.

It could have gone much, much worse - I know I'll be keeping this scenario stored away for review the next time I find myself getting a little too complacent...

That is all.

Be Careful...

This was a pretty sobering story.

Ex-Navy SEAL died pursuing his passion

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — The former top Navy SEAL sniper who authorities say was killed at a Texas shooting range was devoted to maintaining camaraderie and helping his fellow veterans find their way after leaving active duty. 

Chris Kyle, author of the best-selling book "American Sniper," and his friend Chad Littlefield apparently were doing just that Saturday when, officials say, they were shot and killed by former Marine Eddie Ray Routh.

Chris was doing what he does, taking a fellow vet to the range, when that vet succumbed to his demons.

My buddy Matt DeVito of Downrange Firearms Training said it best this morning on Facebook:

I posted this last night on my instagram account and decided I should post here as well... 

When we wake up in the morning the news will be showing pictures, and tell a story of one man's "struggle" and how he rose above hardships to become... a "hero" and "inspiration" for others. It will tell tales of his bravery, his fame, his illustrious career doing what he loved. What the news will fail to talk about is the real hero, who's life ended so abruptly. A man who disobeyed direct orders, and put his own life on the line to save others. A man who left the safety of his post, to teach young Marines how to clear buildings, so he didn't have to watch any more American servicemen be carried on bloodied stretchers. A man who overcame his own bouts of PTSD, so that he could continue to help others who suffered from the same afflictions. A man who defined the word BRAVERY. Americans have become a society of takers and not makers, praying to false prophets and idolizing fake Gods. Someone who takes lives in cold blood is held up high on a pedestal, and continues to make millions of dollars living his daily life. Yet a man who takes a life, in defense of countless other lives, is demonized, for keeping people he will never meet, on distant shores, in cubicles and offices far away from the cries of battle, safe and free. I've seen a lot of the hatred spewed around the internet, celebrating the death of Chris Kyle, calling it "karma". It's saddened and sickened me, that the same people that Chris fought for, would be so quick to use the rights he defended with his own blood, sweat, and tears, to make a mockery of his life. 

If you know a veteran, thank them for their service. Thank them for putting on a uniform every day, not just on Sunday, and putting themselves in harm's way, so that you may have the freedoms you enjoy.  

RIP Chris. A TRUE Hero and warrior. Your legacy and spirit will live on.

(reprinted with Matt's permission. Thank you for your strong, powerful words, Matt).

Thank you, Chris, and all who serve and have served.

It's a sober reminder whenever we bring new people to the range that we do need to be extra-vigiliant for a number of reasons. If it's a new shooter, we want to make sure first and foremost that they are safe; secondly that they have an enjoyable time. If it's a returning shooter, same as new only with more emphasis on the second part. If it's someone you don't know... I know I've passed on a few requests simply because they made the hair on the back of my neck stand up; maybe I missed an opportunity or two but when that voice talks, I listen to it.

Be careful out there, folks - especially if you happen to be a 2A supporter, as this is the third we've lost in a month's time (Noveske, Ratliff, and now Kyle)...

That is all.

There Are No "Safe" Areas...

Mrs. Doubletrouble sends in a pair of stories that couldn't be a better study in the post title.

First off, a story of assault from somewhere you'd expect it:

Woman speaks out after violent 'T' stop attack

CHARLESTOWN, Mass. (WHDH) -- A woman was injured in a violent attack just steps from an MBTA station in Charlestown.

The victim said a man punched her in the face and sprayed her with mace.

“I saw him look at me and I just knew it wasn’t going to be good,” said Michaela, the victim.

Maced and beaten for her purse, and realistically she got away pretty lucky. She wasn't raped. She wasn't killed. He got her purse and left; he could have grabbed her or simply beaten her unconscious - or dead. Another purse snatching/violent assault at an urban public transit station - probably happens hundreds if not thousands of times a day all across America.

She even saw the attack coming - so this wasn't some clueless college kid who was in Condition Opaque with her nose in her iThingie. She fought back, thinking he was going to rape her, which lead to a more savage attack - although it's also possible that it helped stave off something worse. She tried to follow her attacker, but he took off in a vehicle, and police have few leads to go on. He's probably done this before and will do it again and again until he gets caught.

Because here in MA, we discourage self-help - and don't own firearms anyways.

However, it's not just urban areas where these types of attacks can happen, as this second story illustrates:

Doctor, wife attacked during NH home invasion

BEDFORD, N.H. (WHDH) -- Police say a would-be burglar broke into a family’s home in Bedford, New Hampshire and attacked the husband and wife.

New Hampshire police continue to investigate the violent home invasion that occurred in an upscale Bedford neighborhood Saturday night.

Bedford is a tony suburb outside of Manchester, NH. Now, there's a lot of unanswered questions with this story - the police refuse to comment, the FBI has been involved, and folks are tight-lipped about what's going on. Any speculation would be pointless, but the basic facts are that two people were brutally attacked in their own home, so bad they both require hospitalization. Even in an upscale, expensive, upper-class neighborhood, there was still a violent attack. All the "good neighborhood" in the world didn't stop this.

At least where this is in NH, the neighbors are talking about arming themselves. Now, that's closing the barn door after the horse escaped for the doctor, but if this attack gets some of the neighbors to start thinking of taking responsibility for their own security, all is not in vain. Now, it's quite possible that one or two might go out, buy a shotgun and a box of ammo, and never think about it again, but at least they're thinking in the right direction.

As opposed to: ZOMG! Let's pass a law outlawing bad people!

That is all.

How I Spent My Afternoon...

Doubletrouble was kind enough to offer me some time with his chronograph for some ammo testing.

Naturally, this happened:


Those of you that know about chronographs know that this is supposed to be straight...

Fortunately, Doubletrouble has both a vice vise and an anvil...

That is all.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Better To Have It and Not Need It...

Many folks sent in this interesting story out of Utah:

Man buys knife, stabs 2 at Salt Lake City store

SALT LAKE CITY — A man stabbed two people at the Smith's Marketplace grocery store in downtown Salt Lake City before being subdued by a bystander.
...
According to a witness, it appears one man was stabbed in the side of the head and another was stabbed in the stomach. The exact condition of the victims is unknown, but police believe the injuries are very serious and possibly critical.

Okay, some lunatic started stabbing people at random. Kinda scary, kinda shocking, but certainly nothing out of the ordinary, right? Well, except for this part:

Police say a bystander with a concealed carry permit witnessed the attack and stepped in to keep it from escalating.

Now, first off, good on you, John Q. Concealed Carry Permit holder. You managed to stop a violent criminal without firing a shot, which is pretty much the gold medal in the Concealed Carry Games. Secondly, I'll admit to having conflicting feelings here. I like to say/think that my concealed carry firearm is there for the defense of me and mine; I have no desire to play cop, I just want to make it home. I also don't believe I could just stand by and watch someone brutally attack people at random if I have the means to stop him. I'd like to think I would act just as this person acted.

Lastly, it highlights that evil doesn't call ahead to let you know when you're going to need to be carrying. You won't get an invitation to a mugging. Crazy people don't take out classifieds on Craigslist alerting the public to their intent to freak out in front of a supermarket. Again, very much like having a fire extinguisher in the home or a first aid kit in your car - you never know when a mouse is going to chew through a wire or a kid's going to topple off the monkey bars at the local playground.

It's good to be prepared, and part of being prepared is carrying your guns whenever possible...

That is all.

Thought Exercise...

What would you do if caught in a situation like this?

Saturday night flash mob takes over Jacksonville Walmart

A huge house party broken up by police in a North Jacksonville subdivision didn't end there Saturday night as hundreds of young partygoers ignited a flash mob at the Lem Turner Road Walmart Supercenter.

They caused havoc that was recorded and posted on YouTube until Tuesday afternoon, while one person reported being shot during the party.

According to the report, "hundreds" of teenagers flooded the store, throwing things around, riding shopping carts, and causing minor damage. No injuries were reported, although there is mention of gunshots heard outside the store. Oh, and petty shoplifting occurred. At the end of the article, other events similar to this are mentioned, including a supermarket in Portland OR and two convenience stores in MD. There's also the WI State Fair mob, with allegations of racial assaults against fairgoers being part of the mob's motivation.

While this is not as yet a common occurrence, it does bring up quite the conundrum for the concealed carrier. Some point to these instances as the need for a high capacity sidearm, claiming that the person armed with a five-shot revolver or 7- shot pocket 380 is at a significant disadvantage over someone with a 17+1 capacity wundernine. More extreme examples involve armed spouses, cover, etc. - not that it's ever a bad idea for both parties to be armed, mind you.

Honestly, if you're in the middle of one of these mobs and they don't scatter after the first couple of shots - and their friends getting shot - whether you have 5 rounds or 17 off the bat is the least of your worries. You drop a couple attackers with a J-frame and more keep coming, they're going to come if you've got a G19, too. Given the recent incident out of Florida (and thanks to the many folks who sent this in!), it's likely that the first sign of armed resistance is going to send the attackers running the other way - whether you've got a 6+1 pocket 380 or a full size schutzen-blaster with 20 rounds.

That's not to say you shouldn't have a plan for a large(r) group, though - many of the home invasion stories that turn into DGC additions have anywhere from 2-5 participants. The plan for an assault outside the home is different than the plan for an assault inside the home, naturally; since goblins don't phone ahead and tell you when, where, and how many will be attacking you, the plan should be flexible. In the above case, a wait-and-see  approach would have worked. Find your way to a defensible position - barricaded in the bathroom works just fine - and call 911.

Be prepared to fight, but hope you won't need to - and carry your guns.


That is all.

Thanks to Stretch for the story!

In Defense of the Pocket Pistol...

With summer rapidly approaching, more folks are starting to transition to pocket carry in the warmer weather. With the mosquitoes and black flies of summer (okay, late spring on the black flies...), a reminder of the warm weather, some toters find themselves paring down the carry hardware to something that can be hidden in a pocket - and along with that, someone will be commenting that if you can carry a pocket gun, you can carry a "real" gun.

Now, I understand the line of thinking here; heck, I used to espouse it. Never carry a handgun in a caliber that doesn't start with "4" and end in "5", right? If six rounds of .38 Special is good, then 18 rounds of 9mm is 3X better, right? A gun with a full sized grip in a "major" caliber is what you want on your side if the ball drops and things go all pear shaped, right? Something that'll put the bad guys down at 25 yards is what you need, either a full sized 1911 or a wundernine with eleventy billion round capacity.

See, the problem I kept running into was that those guns tend to stay home in the safe, whereas something like these:

would be far more likely to come along for the trip. I don't carry the Colt Jr., but there's a lot of folks out there that'll toss a Baby Browning or Beretta Jetfire in their pockets on a hot summer's day. The other two find themselves in near-constant rotation from about this time of year through September - basically any time that a cover garment would be suspect or just too darn hot.

The fact of the matter is that, statistically speaking, all handgun calibers suck. If you were really concerned about threats, you'd carry a rifle - or, better yet, barricade yourself in your armored home with something in the minigun family. But since we do tend to venture outside of the home on occasion, and toting a rifle is frowned upon in many locations, we wind up carrying handguns. And the facts of the matter are that, statistically speaking, *any* gun is better than no gun, and *any* handgun caliber is going to require multiple hits to a specific area to have any effect.

Whether that round is a .380 ACP, 9mm, or .45 ACP is of far lesser importance than a) having the gun on you in the first place, and b) being able to shoot it sufficiently well that you can make the best use of the gun's capacity. Insert old saw about "the .22 you have on you is better than the .44 at home in the safe" or "a hit with a .32 beats a miss with a .45". Having a firearm - any firearm - on your person with which you are reasonably proficient and prepared to use will greatly increase your chances of surviving the worst - whether that firearm is a .32 or a .44 Magnum.


Just be sure to actually carry it - and try to take it to the range sometimes, too!

That is all.

Park, Out of The...

That's where Robb hits it in his latest "reality check" post:

I think I see your issue

Just go read the whole thing. It won't take you long. Robb interjects a whole lot of common sense in the whole re-holstering debate. In a previous post dealing with why he feels that Condition 3 carry is a bad idea, the notion had been addressed that one of the reasons some folks give for carrying in Con3 is that if there's a round in the chamber, it's possible that a piece of clothing could wind up in the trigger guard when re-holstering, causing a discharge. Robb's point - and I agree 100% - is that no one gives out prizes for "Fastest Re-Holster" in the real world.

Look, if you're involved in an incident where you've had to draw your firearm in real world context, it means that you either shot someone or were just about to shoot someone. More than likely, you are going to have adrenaline pumping pretty damn hard, and performing *any* task is going to take a considerable amount of effort. If you honestly and truly believe the threat to be over - to the point where you are going to put your gun away - then you can take an extra five seconds and make sure you're putting it away correctly. Those five seconds won't kill you. Shooting yourself in the leg because you were rushing could.

I look at this in the very same vein as the "racking your shotgun will alert the bad guys to your position" argument. While it is certainly true, it is hardly "real world" - the average joe is excruciatingly unlikely to be invaded by operators that are going to triangulate his position based on the sound of a shotgun being brought into battery. More than likely, it's going to be a tweaker looking for some cash to grab or electronics to nick quickly to pawn for drug money, and the sound of the shotgun will either have zero effect or you'll get lucky and it'll scare them off. In either case, you've got a loaded shotgun in your hand in case the worst happens. Even if only 10% of the goblins breaking in run, isn't it worth one round to try to be that 10%?

Robb's point is that it's mindset that's the important thing here, and again I agree completely. If you have drawn your sidearm from concealment, it had better be because you perceived an immediate and imminent danger to yourself and your loved ones. It shouldn't be "I heard a noise" or "I thought I saw something over there"; it should be "holy crap that 300 pound biker with a machete is coming right for us!" If you get lucky and the sight of you drawing scares off the 300 pound biker with a machete, great - you win without firing a shot. If you think he's still around, don't reholster. If you're confident enough that the threat is gone and you want to put the gun back, take a few extra seconds and do it right.

I practice drawing from a concealed holster because *that* is the action that I want to be smooth, muscle memory. I want my draw to be fluid, nearly effortless, and require a minimum of brainpower and a maximum of my hands and arms knowing where they should be because I've done it a zillion times. It should be like dialing a familiar phone number, where you do it without even thinking about the number itself but the pattern your fingers make on the phone. Drawing your sidearm from its hidden place should be very much like that. I don't practice putting my firearm back in the holster, because I can take my time and do it properly. The extra five-ten seconds to untuck my shirt, look at the holster, and carefully put my firearm back inside are worth not risking an accidental discharge that could put me or others at risk.

Some things need to be done fast, some don't - getting the gun out should be done fast; putting it back not so much...

That is all.

That's What Dreams Are Made Of...

Well, for me at least.

Last night was a new one for me. Instead of the standard "I'm smoking again", "I lost a bunch of teeth in a fight/accident/something", or "I've skipped every class this semester and finals are tomorrow", there's a new dream that's been added to the repetoire of issues my subconscious deals with while I rest.

I lost my wallet.

I didn't just lose it, though. I set it down on a counter in a public place, and when I went back to

get it, it was there - with everything missing. MA LTC, credit cards, motorcycle registration; everything was gone. I *knew* everything was gone. I had about 10 minutes of absolute panic while I thought about everything that would need to be canceled, having to go to the RMV; re-submitting for my LTC; etc. Then the secondary stuff, like contacting the various businesses that are connected to the credit cards that would be canceled; etc.

I'm sure there's something about preparedness that brought this about. I keep a pretty comprehensive list of what I carry around on a USB stick that sits in the fireproof/waterproof safe - but it doesn't do me any good if I'm on the go. I suspect there's a larger issue - no matter how prepared you think you might be, there's always something that could come up that you haven't covered. It's how you deal with sudden unexpected changes that can make or break a situation.

At least this time I wasn't in my underwear...

That is all.

Firearms Primer for Preparedness

MD Creekmore sends along a concise primer on the different types of arms one may consider in their preparedness training:

Firearm Preparedness Primer

It's a pretty comprehensive look at the many different options available, and well worth a look for someone new to firearms as a "Reader's Digest Condensed Version" of what's out there. Any one of the categories could (and often is) a tome unto itself, and this primer delivers a quick overview. Long arms, handguns, and ammunition is covered, as well as training one might need.

Well worth a read!

That is all.

Why We Prepare...

Because, as this article sent in by SCI-FI shows us, there are still plenty of folks out there that mean us harm and will hurt us in any way possible (also covered by #1 blogson)...

Foreign hackers targeted U.S. water plant in apparent malicious cyber attack, expert says

Foreign hackers caused a pump at an Illinois water plant to fail last week, according to a preliminary state report. Experts said the cyber-attack, if confirmed, would be the first known to have damaged one of the systems that supply Americans with water, electricity and other essentials of modern life.

Companies and government agencies that rely on the Internet have for years been routine targets of hackers, but most incidents have resulted from attempts to steal information or interrupt the functioning of Web sites. The incident in Springfield, Ill., would mark a departure because it apparently caused physical destruction.

The hackers apparently gained control over the software that controlled a pump in the Springfield, IL water distribution network. They used this control to repeatedly cycle the pump on and off until it failed. Whether the water supply was in danger or not is immaterial; the fact is that someone not intended to have access to this system gained access and was able to cause damage. It might be a pump today; what happens if it's a control valve that shuts off all access tomorrow?

Be prepared. While we like to talk and joke about the Robot Joe Biden zombie apocalypse, taking simple precautions to have common supplies readily available in stockpiles isn't a bad idea. No, we're not likely to actually face the walking undead, nor a full scale invasion by the Chi-Coms/Zetas/Klingons - but we might very well face a cyber attack by a faceless enemy tens of thousands of miles away that renders us unable to access fresh water for a few days or weeks. Having some supplies laid in for such an emergency will make your life a *LOT* easier than being in the mindless hordes clearing out store shelves once the news breaks...

Besides, having supplies stockpiled means you'll have time to load magazines and polish your colander for the end-of-the-world party...

That is all.

Don't Carry Around the House?

Yankeefried sends in a story that might make you re-think that policy...

Update: Man describes details of bear attack

Rich Moyer will tell you this himself - with his bandaged arms and legs, coupled with his hospital scrubs and his 6' 6" frame, he looks like he's wearing a Halloween costume. That is exactly what the woman at the grocery store checkout line assumed Monday afternoon. Moyer corrected her with a two word response that he said made her smile before she recoiled - "Bear attack."
...
Moyer told CBS 21 News that no sooner had he let the dog out, he heard it howling and running around the home. That's when he opened the patio door and called for the dog to come in. "She came in, right through the house. Right on her tail was the bear, right into the house," Moyer said.

Now, I don't mind telling you that I've run through more than a couple of home invasion scenarios in my own little version of "what would I do if..." None of them involve ursines. Most black bears run 250 - 350 pounds or so, and come equipped with claws and teeth unlike that which homo sapiens possess. Now, granted, the .380 ACP or .38 Special snubbie that I normally keep on hand for two-legged varmints won't much faze a black bear, but it beats going mano-a-oso with a critter twice my size.

Be careful out there in there, okay?

That is all.

Be Prepared...

Impact uncertain as Hurricane Irene aims at New England; Gillette stadium concert canceled

Hurricane Irene could sweep ashore in New England this weekend, dousing the state with torrential rains, and lashing it with damaging wind gusts, while heavy surf pounds the coasts and water rises in streams. But it’s still “highly uncertain” exactly where and how hard the storm will hit, National Weather Service forecasters said this morning.

Country music star Kenny Chesney isn’t taking any chances. Promoters today announced they are rescheduling his Gillette Stadium concert. The Foxborough event will be held this Friday, instead of Sunday as originally planned, according to a statement posted on Chesney’s website.

Oh yeah. The local news is going absolutely batshit insane over hurricane Irene. This has all the drama and fury of a Nor'easter snowstorm, coupled with the possibility of this being the biggest hurricane to hit New England in over 80 years. Naturally, it's being hyped endlessly as "ZOMG KILLER DEATH HURRICANE WILL LAY WASTE TO ALL OF NORTHERN HEMISPHERE ZOMG!!!!11111oneoneone". I'm surprised there aren't angry mobs storming the Boston weather bureau right now demanding that they stop the hurricane in its tracks.

Of course, this brings to mind the age-old question: Bug in, or bug out? Personally, I've lived through a bunch of "hurricanes" in New England, and basically the sea water's just too cold for hurricanes to last long. Gloria back in 1986; Bob in 1991; even Hugo was supposed to wallop us good, and none of them amounted to much more than just an extra-wet summer storm. Even the meteorologists are hedging their bets, with lots of "it depends" and "storm track" and other weasel words like they throw in when they're predicting eleventy billion feet of snow and we get a dusting...

It's a good idea, though, to take a few common sense precautions just in case. I'll freeze up a half-dozen ice blocks in the big freezer downstairs (grab a plastic storage bucket; fill ~ 3/4 to top, put in freezer. Blocks last longer than cubes) in case we lose power - we can consolidate all the frozen food in the freezer downstairs and use coolers for the refrigerated stuff. Bring out the candles and flashlights; make sure there's batteries for everything that runs on 'em. Test the sump pump and make sure it's working properly; other than that, there's little to do ahead of the storm other than to keep a clear head and take a few basic precautions.

It's pure luck, mind you, that I still have several dozen loaded AR magazines from the Northeast Bloggershoot... ;)

That is all.

Gotta Love Capitalism!

Because it brings us neat stuff like this:

Doomsday bunkers for under $10,000!

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- A company that sells luxury doomsday shelters is branching out with a new "economy class" bunker that costs $9,950.

Vivos is building the cheaper facility to accommodate the growing number of people worried about "life-extinction events" such as super volcanoes and asteroids but can't afford to shell out $35,000 for the fancier model.

I love that they have both "economy" and "luxury" doomsday shelters. That's the American way right there - you provide options for everything! Here's a company that has identified a need and developed a way to make money off of that need - the very essence of the American dream. What cracks me up is this, though:

All told, Vivos has more than 10,000 "members" in its apocalypse community -- some of whom have merely "applied" for spots in the bunkers and others who have plunked down refundable $5,000 deposits.

Refundable? You get your money back if the world fails to end?

That is all.

Perspective...

You know, it's funny how your perspective changes over time.

Five years ago, I almost never carried a reload. If I was carrying a revolver, I had the five rounds in the cylinder and no more. Semi-automatics were limited to whatever was in the box +1. Over time, I came around and started carrying extra - for revolvers, a six round speed strip. Then an eight round. For semi-autos an extra magazine; wherever possible a higher capacity than what's in the gun (i.e. for the G30, a G21 magazine).

Well, the past two weeks I've been carrying the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 or the Ruger LC9, neither of which shipped with more than one magazine - or have magazines in stock at MidwayUSA. I've been reduced to carrying a P3AT magazine with the Bodyguard - it doesn't work in the BG, but at least it holds .380ACP rounds better than loose in my pocket... And I've felt utterly naked walking around with just the capacity of the firearm I'm carrying - even though I used to routine carry that way.

It's funny how we can be programmed to change our thinking 180º, isn't it?

That is all.