The Truth about Handgun Self Defense

How it all began

2009-06-10T20:15:00.000-07:00

My wife and I got married way back in 2005. Aside from our wedding, the day had one other extraordinary thing happen --I found myself in the peculiar position of having to pull my gun in order to protect the life of another person.

We were at a friend's house at around 10pm. We were just leaving in fact, when we heard a commotion at the intersection about 100 yards away. At first I ignored it, then I heard, "Oh my God, he's killing me!" I thought maybe it was just a boyfriend/girlfriend thing. But after the third scream in 10 seconds, I decided to investigate. When I ran up I saw two cars, one in front of the other. At the drivers door of the front car I saw a guy beating this poor little girl pretty badly while she continued to hang onto her purse. He ran back to the car in back and got in the drivers door.

I don't honestly remember pulling my weapon, I do remember my finger tightening around the trigger. At that point the loop halted. I was convinced that the girl had been in fear for her life and I believed it was possible that we were both in danger. But something didn't seem right.

So I released the trigger without discharging. Finger off the trigger, I could see the driver of the car just past my front sight. I slowly came to the realization that someone else was in the car... a passenger. Apparently the "beater" had gone over the driver and into the passenger seat.

NOTE TO SELF: Always carry a light source.

The rest of it is a blur, my friend was behind me on her cell phone, her roommate was a 911 operator and I remember hearing her say, "Tell them Mike is the one with the gun, don't shoot him." Then after what seemed to be hours (but was probably only a few minutes) I heard her say that there was a patrol car approaching. I could see him on the other side of the car, lights out, slowly approaching. I lowered my weapon, still not sure of what might come out of the car (the internal loop in my mind had already decided that if a flash came from the car, I was pulling the trigger, passenger first then driver). As the officer exited his patrol car I holsered and put my hands up.

The passenger of the car as it turns out had a long rap sheet, the driver admitted that they had followed the girl from her work and were trying to find a place to do the bump-and-run. I learned a lot that night, a lot of it was how not to handle a situation. After that night I started taking street survival courses, learning how to use the mind as a weapon first and foremost. And then how to properly apply the tools of the trade.

I'm sure other people could have handled it better. I beleive I could handle it better today, since I am better prepared. This is the way I remember it -- it's not pretty but it's real. And to quote my wife, "one less person was a victim because I decided not to just stand by and let it happen."

Gun Control and Self Defense

2009-06-10T11:51:00.000-07:00

By William Pehush

In days following the election of President Barack Obama many Americans reacted to the change in leadership by running to their local gun shop where they set new records for firearms and ammunition sales in the United States. Now the new president's voting record on the issue of gun control might be cause for alarm, but so far he's dealing with issues like nation healthcare, the environment, and foreign policy. In this article I won't take a stand on whether or not you should own a gun, which is up to you as an individual, but rather what role firearms play in self defense.

More often than not people think that because the have a gun they're safe, but that couldn't be further from the truth, because unless you train regularly with your weapon it can actually be a liability. Also remember targets don't shoot back, so you had better be ready for a gun fight not just target practice. Many times criminals will run away if they encounter an armed victim, but you have to be ready for those who won't go so quietly. Firearms ownership might be a right in the United States, but it is also a privilege, and if you carry one you need to be ready.

Perhaps you're one of the many responsible gun owners out there, and you know what to do if some bad guys invade your free space. Many of you argue that you need your guns to protect yourself until police arrive, and you'd be right, but what do until you can get to your gun? Your gun might only be only a few feet away in a secure location, but until it is your hand it isn't part of yourself defense solution. You can't solely rely on your gun to keep you safe, but you can make it part of your overall self defense training.

If you haven't prepared yourself for hand to hand combat you're not really prepared for close combat, so if you want to be ready to protect yourself you need to ready for an up close down and dirty street fight where there are no rules and the winner is the person who doesn't die. You might carry a gun that can take down a stampeding buffalo, but if someone gets in your face or catches you by surprise you might not get the chance to use it. Now if you take the time to learn a few simply self defense techniques you can fight off an attacker and give yourself some room to escape or pull your weapon and do what you need to do.

In the film Enter the Dragon martial arts legend Bruce Lee said, "any damn fool can pull a trigger," and you're much smarter than that, so be ready for a real fight. If you just rely on a weapon you have already lost the fight, but if you know multiple ways to defend yourself you will be ready for whatever happens. If a criminal tries to disarm you'll be ready, and if your weapons are locked in a safe you will be able to fight off an attacker until you can get to them while your family runs to safety. Firearms play an important role in self defense, but they aren't your only tool.

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David's Story

2009-06-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

My wife and I had gone to visit my in-laws on a Saturday afternoon in December of 2006. After being there for a few hours and eating dinner we arrived home at 7:55 pm. As I pulled into my driveway, I deactivated the burgarlar alarm. Doing this causes the keypad inside the home to beep. This alerted the two crooks that were inside my house that we were home.

Inside, I found a mini blind that was still bent where one had apparently peeked out after hearing the beep. Fortunately for us, they decided to exit the house rather than confront us. They had found my S&W .357 magnum that I kept in the house for protection. I'm guessing that they thought that I may have had another gun that I carried with me and didn't want to be in a gun fight. In actuality, I didn't have another gun then nor a carry permit at that time. We would have been at their mercy.

We had a monitored alarm but the "expert" alarm salesman told us that for that room we only needed a glass breakage detector because crooks would just break a window to get in. They didn't break a glass. They simply used a screw driver to pry open a window and they were in. That was taken caren of when we got our insurance settlement. EVERY entrance has a contact on it now plus another glass breakage detector.

That night I decided that if I couldn't be sure of being safe entering my own home then I was not going to be unarmed any more when I went anywhere. I signed up for a class right after I got the insurance settlement and bought a replacement gun. I had my permit ASAP and now wear my gun from the time I get out of the shower in the morning until the time that I go to bed at night. Then it is on the nightstand.

I'm not out to save the world but if need be I will intervene in a life or death situation. My wife does not drive so 95% of the time she is with me and doesn't feel the need for a carry permit. She has started shooting, though, and can handle all of my guns now. We were lucky once and if I am in another similar situation I would be happy if I was lucky again but I sure don't want to count on luck anymore. Now I am prepared. I hope that my gun is never out of the holster in a "hostile" manner. I never want to have to shoot anyone but I realize that if I am ever in a situation where a shooting is needed, then I am physically and mentally ready to do what ever is necessary.

Copyright 2009 David Birdsong

Jewelry Salesman Defends himself

2009-05-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

In my neck of the woods recently there was an out of state jewelry salesman that was accosted by four thugs. Two of them had guns, as did the jewelry salesman. He protected himself pretty well, in fact I read just this morning that one of his assailants died yesterday.

Read more here:http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/jul/13/man-shot-jewelry-salesman-dies/

This is yet another example of why guns are needed by law abiding citizens.

Handgun Conceal and Carry Options Pt 1

2001-06-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

By Terry Hipp

Many states have implemented some type of personal protection legislation that allows a citizen who does not have a criminal record and passes certified training to carry a handgun for personal protection. While statistics show the chances of actually using a handgun for self defense remain incredibly low, many people find carrying one allows them to feel more secure. Inevitably, handgun permit holders must decide the best method to carry a handgun for defensive purposes. In order to determine this, let's examine the dynamics that surround self defense shootings.

Traditional carry systems for civilians interested in personal safety are long overdue for a change. Many of these systems are cumbersome and risky. They are designed primarily to hold weapons, not secure them from others. At the same time it is imperative people have the ability to quickly retrieve defensive weapons they need for any given situation, particularly under high stress. These principles have direct application to off-duty and plainclothes criminal justice professionals as well as civilians.

The holsters, fanny packs, briefcases, backpacks and clothing on the market today specifically designed and marketed for conceal/carry purposes have several major drawbacks.

For fanny packs, briefcases and backpacks: why not use all that empty space to organize other items I might need?

Lethal force is usually not the appropriate option in a confrontation with a potential assailant, yet that is what most of these items concentrate on; the gun. They all have some type of method to secure a handgun. But where are the holders for pepper spray, a flashlight, baton, impact instrument, stun-gun, handcuffs or a kubaton?

For fanny packs; a perception exists that someone with a fanny-pack is likely carrying a concealed weapon. Fanny packs are no longer chic in terms of fashion and popularity. So why would someone have a fanny pack except to carry a concealed weapon?

For belt systems and holsters: under high stress the body loses many of its fine and complex motor skills. Locating, un-holstering, aiming and firing a handgun require fine, complex motor skills. Many of today's holsters (and holders for other items like pepper spray) require the owner to unzip, tear away, unsnap, rotate, push down or some other combination of movements to retrieve their handgun and other defensive weapons.

For these reasons it seems clear that there is an arguable case for re-thinking how to carry a handgun and other defensive weapons.

Lesson in physics and body mechanics: The body works best in forward movement, not to the rear or sideways. The closer to the center of the body; the stronger your movements are going to be. The center of the body is where the wrists intersect when standing straight and letting the arms hang down in front of the body, crossing the wrists over each other, below or near the abdomen. This area is described as your center, and it is vital in understanding how it works in self defense tactics.

Holding and striking power is most effective when the center of the body is brought into play. For purposes of this discussion, we will concentrate on holding power. This principle is best demonstrated by holding a 10-pound weight in your hand at arms length - with your arm fully outstretched. Chances are good that your arm will grow weary very rapidly. Now hold the same weight near your center. It is much easier and more balanced holding the weight near your center (or waistline). Ergonomically then, it makes sense to involve the strongest part of the body, the center, for tasks involving carrying and holding. Additionally, carrying weapons in the waistline area allows quick location and retrieval of the weapon as opposed to pants pockets, a purse or bag, or the ankle area. This is one good reason that law enforcement personnel use waist belt systems to carry their duty gear.

In theory the risk of having your handgun or other defensive weapons taken from you drop significantly by carrying these items near the center of your body for one primary reason: if an adversary tried to grab your handgun from its holster on your waistline, you would naturally grab it as well in an attempt to hang on to it. You are better suited doing this by using your center as part of this defense.

However, these waistline/belt systems can get hung up or snagged on things when moving around or running. Additionally, a quick visual study of waistline belt systems reveals something interesting to a discerning eye. With a little practice, it is fairly easy for an adversary to remove a handgun from a holster, or take pepper spray from its holder. All the adversary needs is an understanding of how these holders work. In fact, all handcuffs, mace or pepper spray, batons, flashlights and the like are universally held in holders that either have an open-top, snap-top or Velcro-top. Although carrying weapons in this manner allows the owner quick weapon acquisition, they also allow the adversary quick removal of the same items.

We are faced with a double-edged sword here. Carrying a handgun or other defensive weapons using "waistline retention" allows a stronger defense - yet you remain vulnerable to these same items being removed quickly by an adversary. We need to look a little deeper.

Terry Hipp is a career veteran of the Criminal Justice System. He serves as the CEO and Sr. Director of Training and Education at Assault Prevention LLC.

For more than 25 years, Assault Prevention has helped individuals, groups, and organizations proactively plan for successful mitigation of unexpected violence and emergencies-and as a result, bring about a sense of control to their daily lives.

Since 1980, Assault Prevention has educated the public about personal safety issues. Nearly 20 years ago, they expanded our services to include individual and group consultation and instruction, including personal safety, defense, and awareness training; corporate threat assessment of physical facilities, intellectual property, and key personnel; and presentation of local, national, and global trend research and analysis. They also offer specialized security.

Mr. Hipp may be contacted at http://assaultprevention.info/

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What's Your Story?

2001-05-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

I got tired of hearing anti-gun people (hoplophobes) asking, "Why don't I hear stories about people defending themselves with guns?" The answer, of course, is that the media is extremely biased against the second amendment.

So I decided that I would write about my experience and then I would also ask for others' experiences as well -- a repository of sorts, so that when we get asked that stupid question by the uninformed, we can point them in a direction and say, "there ya go."

So I invite you to email me with your stories and I will post them exactly as you send them, or you can post as a comment to one of my blogs. Let's show the anti-gunners the truth.

michaeljsimpson@gmail.com