National Preparedness Month Day 22--Firearms

We touched on this topic briefly in the post on self defense but the idea of firearms and preparedness is so intertwined that it deserves its own post.

First of all, do you need firearms in order to be prepared?  In the US you would probably get a resounding yes, in other countries they may see this as illegal/unnecessary/too much of a hassle.  I have always owned firearm as has nearly everyone I know and I don't see them as "bad" per the media soundbites, but rather as a tool.

That said, there are many people who probably shouldn't own firearms.  If someone in the home is mentally ill or suffers from depression, if there are domestic violence or anger management issues with any family members, if someone in the home is a felon, or if you simply hate guns and everything to do with them, by all means don't have guns in the house.  People with guns in the home are exponentially more likely to see their firearms used for suicide and occasionally murder than they are to use them for self defense if any of the aforementioned conditions are present in the home.

For people who choose to have firearms, here are several things to consider:

• Take gun safety, intro to firearms, and personal protection classes first before you purchase a gun.  This gives you a lot of information about owning firearms (at which point you may choose not to own one which is fine) and it also gives you access to a variety of firearms so you can decide which ones you like and would want to own.
• Have the proper equipment when shooting.  Hearing protection and eye protection are critical; you will add to your shooting bag as you go along (targets, tool, cleaning kits, etc).
• Everyone in the family should learn about firearms, in an age appropriate manner.  This includes the wife and the children even if they never intend to use guns.Knowing how to safely handle a firearm is critical for everyone who will be near one.
• Commit yourself to practicing (a lot) with your firearms.  If you take one class, buy one handgun, and never use it until someone tries to break into your home 20 years later, you will have issues.
• Consider a variety of firearms for various purposes.  Having a handgun, rifle, and shotgun covers most of your bases.  Also consider a variety of ammunition for various purposes (they will teach you about this in class).
• If you choose to carry concealed outside of your home, learn about city/county/state/federal laws which pertain to this.  City and state laws in particular can vary widely.  You will also want to have a concealed carry license if this is required in your area.
• To get in some practice while having fun at the same time, consider joining a shooting league, participating in USPSA/IPSC, even getting into specialized shooting (black powder, clays, etc).
• Most importantly, figure out how you will secure your guns from kids, guests, and thieves that might break into your home.  There are a variety of gun safes, quick release boxes, gun locks, etc. that you can use.
• Finally, continually expand your knowledge of firearms.  Learn how to clean and care for your firearms, consider a reloading class, take advanced firearms classes if possible, etc.

3D Printed Guns

Starting next week, Americans will be able to legally download the plans for 3D-printed guns.  Some have called this the "end of gun control" and law enforcement has some concerns about the whole situation.  While the prototype gun was a one-shot plastic deal, the future looks to be wide open as far as the kinds of guns that can be made.  There have already been instances of 3D printed guns being used to commit crimes, and there are several issues that authorities--of many countries--are concerned about.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out...

March Challenge #19 Firearms

We've previously talked about how you can protect yourself, however the ownership and use of firearms deserves its own challenge.  If you decide to own and use firearms (and this is strictly a personal choice) there are a number of things you need to do:

• Determine which kinds of firearms you want to own.  A good way to do this is to take a course or two (see next point) and/or hang out at the shooting range and try a variety of firearms.  What may be the perfect handgun for one person may not be exactly right for you so trying a variety of guns will give you a better idea of what you want to purchase for yourself.
• Take some classes--from a beginner firearms course to tactical shooting to close-quarters combat to reloading--in order to enhance your firearms knowledge and skills.  Trying to figure this out yourself with a YouTube video or learning from an (annoying) SO probably won't work out so well.
• Build up your arsenal over time.  A nice 9mm handgun is a good first purchase but .22s are fun to shoot at targets (plus the ammo is much cheaper), a shotgun may be a better choice for home defense, and having a nice rifle on hand is also good.
• Have a way to safely store your weapons.  We have secure yet easy to access places in each room of our house for weapon storage.  We take extra precautions when we will be having children (or mildly irresponsible adults) as visitors to our home.
• Stock up on ammo.  Even though ammo has become astronomically expensive compared to, say, 20 years ago, having a good supply of it on hand is always a good idea.
• If you are looking for a new hobby and shoot a lot, consider learning how to reload your own ammo.
• Know the firearms laws in your town/city/county/state as well as federal laws so that you don't inadvertently find yourself in legal trouble.
• If you plan to carry concealed, become licensed to do so according to the laws of your area. 
• Practice shooting.  A lot.  
• Support the shooting sports by joining a shooting league or other shooting competitions.  Become a member of your local shooting range.  Put your time, effort, and money towards shooting by becoming a member of the NRA, volunteering at your local range, participating in an open carry event, or otherwise supporting the Second Amendment.
• Always, always, always practice gun safety and teach your children to do the same.
• Put your shooting kit together.  Get a shooting bag, throw in some hearing and eye protection, some targets, and all the other goodies that make up a useful shooting bag that you can take to the range with you.
• Learn how to disassemble and clean all of the firearms you own.  And always keep your firearms clean and ready to go.
• If you are going on vacation, add in some interesting shooting stops (like here, here, and here).
• Always be willing to learn from other people (there is a wealth of shooting knowledge to be gained from many of the people you will meet whether at the range, in class, or at gun shows...and a few goofballs so be aware of that as well).
• Always be aware of your shooting environment.  Most people at most shooting areas are safe shooters most of the time...other times not so much so you need to be on higher alert when shooting than, for example, when you go fishing.
• Clean up after yourself.

Four Commandments of Gun Safety Fail

I learned a couple of things this week.  Namely that Jose Canseco is my neighbor and that an adult who owns firearms violated every one of the four basic rules of gun safety, all in the scope of one newspaper article.

When someone blows off their fingers while cleaning a firearm, it is obvious that they disregarded one or more (more likely ALL) of the simple rules of gun safety which include:

1. Watch where the muzzle is pointed.
2. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded even if you are sure it isn't.
3. Be sure of the target and what is in front of and behind it.
4. Keep your finger outside of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.

I figured it would be simple to pull up a YouTube video to show you the proper way to clean a handgun but it turns out that wasn't so.  One guy was waving the pistol all over the place when he was getting started on the process, another guy had a set of pistols pointing AT HIM before he got started so that wouldn't do either.

I came across this video which was OK as it will show you how to strip and clean a pistol however there are a couple of problems I have with the video which you should keep in mind.  First, the guy is correct in keeping the firearm pointed away from himself but when you are pointing the firearm away from yourself you want to make sure of what is in front of where you are pointing the gun (you don't want to be working on your garage workbench and have the firearm pointed towards you kid's bedroom, for example.  Downward is a nice angle.).  And second, after he drops the magazine he then sticks his finger into the trigger guard before making sure that there is not a bullet chambered.  This is bad.  Drop the magazine then pull back the slide to make sure the chamber is empty before even touching the trigger.

Cleaning a firearm shouldn't be a dangerous endeavor if one simply follows a few common sense rules.

Concealed Carry vs Open Carry

If you haven't been over to the CNI website, you may have missed this Daily Insight link which gives a pretty good explanation of concealed vs open carry.  IMHO, here are the situations where concealed and open carry are appropriate:

Open Carry

• When you are participating in an open carry event.  When lots of people are carrying openly at an open-carry event in order to make a legal/political point, you may see a boatload of firearms however the threat level from said firearms in very low.  And the public won't, in general, feel threatened.
• When you are making a tactical point.  I found it at first surprising that many clerks at corner-type stores in high-crime areas in Florida carry openly.  After a quick pondering of this situation, it only makes sense that #1 the average robber will think twice about robbing these stores and #2 should the need for a quick draw arise, open carry will enhance the carrier's ability to do so.
• In areas where open carry is part of the culture.  In many rural areas, open carry isn't that unusual.  An openly carried firearm is less a political point than it is a standard tool, commonly used for whatever purpose (ie: firearms during hunting season, open carry when working on the range, etc).
• For advertising.  Oddly enough, one of the few young women I have ever seen--in an urban area--openly carrying a firearm was also wearing a polo shirt with the name and info about the shooting range she worked at.  It made a surprisingly good advertisement for said range.

Concealed Carry

• When you don't want to scare the public.  This should be the default almost any time you are carrying in public these days, since, when the public sees someone carrying a firearm openly, they automatically think "mass shooter".  No need to draw that sort of negative attention to yourself.
• When you want to keep a low profile.  Again, another default.  Personally I see no need to openly carry just to prove a point (yes it is my legal right to openly carry but why advertise to everyone that #1 I am armed, #2 I probably have a nice collection of firearms at home, and #3 I am to be perceived as a threat).
• All the time.  Carrying a concealed weapon is a serious choice.  The carrier needs to get a concealed carry permit and needs to educate themselves on all facets of concealed carry (not the least of which is regular training with the weapon).  Then the decision becomes when you should carry and the answer, not surprisingly, should be regularly and often.  Having a concealed carry weapon is like using a seat belt--you never know when you will need it but when you do need it, you will need it NOW.  Note that you should never think "I need to carry my concealed weapon because I am going into a bad neighborhood/I am entering into a possibly dangerous situation/I may run into a person who is a threat to me.  If any of those situations arise, you should have the forethought to NOT put yourself into the situation to begin with.

And more info here:

• Open Carry
• Handgun Law
• USA Carry

Should You Carry a Firearm in the Woods?

This question tends to come up quite often and, depending on who you ask, you are likely to get a number of answers--everything from no never to yes always to yes or no depending on the situation.

Although I have friends who range from those who don't own a firearm, don't want to own a firearm, and would never carry a firearm anywhere to people who are never more than a foot or less away from their firearms AT ALL TIMES, I'm one of those yes or no depending on the situation people.  In almost all cases, the reason I carry a concealed weapon is for threats from two legged animals, not the four legged variety.

When I am in the woods, I am of two minds when it comes to carrying a firearm.  If I will be camping I always bring a firearm with me as there is more of a threat from people coming up to a remote spot in their vehicle.  Also, driving to a spot in the woods allows for me to carry my firearm of choice and ammo (no weight restriction), and there is often a spot or two I can hop out and do a bit of shooting along the way.

On the other hand, when I am hiking or backpacking, I never feel the need to take a firearm with me.  First, the added weight is more of a liability than an asset, and second, I figure that someone who is hunting a person for whatever nefarious purpose (to commit a robbery, etc) isn't going to haul themselves ten miles down a trail to do so (and then have to schlep their ill gotten gains back out on foot).

But what about wild animal attacks?  Having never been the victim of such an attack (knocking on wood), I can say that I use a number of other measures in an attempt to prevent such an event.  I have my trekking poles, a fixed blade knife, and bear spray.  I keep a clean camp and try not to smell like fried bacon as I hike down the trail.  I make plenty of noise (apparently my singing could route a bear at a hundred yards...or so I've been told), and I try to make myself as aware of my surroundings as possible.

Yes, people have been attacked by wildlife and yes, I'm guessing in that moment anyone in their right mind would feel better with a firearm in their hands, but logically, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to carry a firearm in the minuscule chance that you will need it.  Add to that the minuscule chance that the firearm you are carrying will take care of the threat (a black bear will probably laugh at your choice of firearm since the tiny .380 that fits in your pocket won't get the job done and if a cat wants a swipe at you, you won't even hear it coming until the swipe has been taken...then try to draw...).

As with everything firearms related, it is a personal preference where you need to weight the pros and cons of your decision to carry or not carry.

Should You Buy Your Child a Gun For Christmas?

For the masses who are now quite urbanized and whose only effort to put meat on the table has to do with the grocery store, that question is like asking if you should put plutonium in your kid's stocking for Christmas.

Back in the dark ages (when I was a kid), it was a no-brainer to get your kid a gun for significant occasions.  We lived in a rural area, EVERYONE had guns (across the back window in their pickup truck, behind the front door, on the back porch, next to the bed, etc), and it was basically a right of passage that people didn't miss out on.  Around five years of age, a kid would get a BB gun for Christmas.  A few year and much practice with gun handling later, a .22 rifle would follow.  As kids got older and more into the sport, their Christmas wish list got a bit more extravagant (30.06, 9mm handgun, and then the stuff that made the adults laugh...a Desert Eagle, an AR...basically stuff that cost more than a few mortgage payments).  By the time you were an adult, you may have amassed a pretty good assortment of firearms--many that you used for practice, others that you used for hunting, some that you even used for competition if you were so predisposed.

Which brings us to the present day where giving a gun to a kid is closely correlated in most people's minds with death/prisons/gangs/etc.  This is an unfortunate mindset because I know a lot of kids who are expert hunters, can do some nifty things with gun-smithing and reloading, and a few who have even earned college scholarships with their firearms skills.

Here are my "guidelines" of a sort for buying firearms for kids:

• If the firearm is not for MY kid (nieces and nephews for some reason usually ask me for firearms for birthdays/Christmas/graduation etc) I will only give it if it is explicitly OKed by their parents, I KNOW that their parents are very safety conscious/very experienced with firearms, and the kid is knowledgeable with firearms AND an overall responsible kid (there are a couple of kids in the family tree I wouldn't trust with a water gun).
• The firearm has to be age appropriate and appropriate to the recipient's handling skills.  There is a progression for owning firearms and it begins with the basics--a bb gun, a 22 rifle, a .410 shotgun--before they move on to the big stuff.
• The recipient needs to have a safe place to store the firearm (a locked gun cabinet that they can't access without a parent's permission in most cases) and a safe place to use it (with a parent at the range or while hunting).
• I need to be relatively certain that the recipient will practice with their firearm regularly (there is no sense in having a gun you never practice with and don't know how to use).
• The recipient needs to actually SHOW me they have learned some skill with their firearm (knowing how to handle it safely, how to take it apart clean it and put it back together, for grandkids who live across the country I get the occasional target in the mail with impressive cluster shots on it ).
• The firearm can't go to someone who lives in a house where there is someone with: a felony record, a history of mental health issues, a history of domestic violence issues, a history of very poor judgement, etc.  That's just asking for trouble even if the kid is a model citizen.
• The recipient has to go through a firearms safety course (yes I or one of my sons may impart a great deal of wisdom when it comes to firearms use and safety to the grandkids but kids are way more prone to listen to someone "new" than to someone they hear harping on gun safety ad infinitum).  Every bit of knowledge they can get is good.
• Besides regular practice, I encourage the recipient to participate in youth shooting leagues, volunteer at the gun range, go hunting with a responsible adult, and otherwise make owning a firearm part of a lifestyle not just something to have to show off to their friends.

Fortunately (knocking on wood) our kids and grandkids, nieces and nephews have been responsible gun owners.  Many grew up to be good hunters, a few put their skills to work with the military, and others decided they weren't that into firearms which is OK too.  Safety can not be stressed too much when it comes to kids and firearms.  Finally, if you do decided to get your child a firearm for Christmas, don't forget to include eye and ear protection. 

This Could Have Ended Badly

You may have already heard about this story where the 12 year old girl was able to shoot an intruder who broke into her home.  I was kind of cringing as I read the article because there were so many ways this could have gone wrong.  While I am happy that the outcome was as it is--the kid was able to defend herself and and bad guy got caught--here are some qualms I had as I read the post:

• It is common for potential burglars to ring the bell or knock on the door to determine if someone is home before they break into a house.  When no one answered, the burglar assumed no one was home and broke in.  A better option would have been for the girl to yell through the door that her dad was asleep and he would have to come back later.
• A gun was available to a 12 year old.  Yikes.  There are a handful of 12 year olds that I would trust alone with a gun (and my boys aren't included in this group because at 12 years old their judgement could be mature and stable one day, childish and "what the Hell were you thinking?" the next).  So while allowing unsupervised access to a firearm saved the girl in this situation, more often than not, kids getting their hands on a firearm without adult supervision is a stupid--and often deadly--thing to do.
• The girl called her mom first.  In a scary or dangerous situation, everyone should know to call 911 first.  You want help on the way ASAP.
• The girl shot the intruder through the closet door.  Yes, I know she had a reasonable assumption that it was the bad guy that she was shooting at but it could have ended up that the bad guy left and her mom came home and went to the closet where she told her daughter to hide and this would have turned out very badly.  tldr; shooting through a door or anything else that doesn't give you a clear view of your target is a bad idea.

The bottom line: yes it is a good idea to teach your kids how to shoot a firearm.  As soon as your kids are able to, they should learn about firearms, know how to take care of them, and know how to handle them safely.  However...you want to take as many precautions as possible so that a child would never find themselves in the above situation including teaching them what to do when a stranger comes to the door, having a security system with a panic alarm, and having a "safe room" that would be difficult and time consuming for the burglar to get into.  Fortunately this story had a happy ending...

20 Things About Firearms for Noobs

I got an email from some friends in Japan who will coming by to visit in a couple of months.  The first thing they want to do?  Go shoot a gun.  Now ordinarily I would be thrilled to take friends out to the local range and do some plinking (or just show off my arsenal...ahem...collection) but with these friends (actually nephews of a good friend who have never even seen a firearm in person)...not so much.  It isn't that I don't like these guys, I just don't like new shooters much.  They scare me.  No matter if they are from a foreign country that has outlawed firearms for the general public or they are from the good 'ol US of A and have just never been exposed to firearms, there is a lot that new shooters need to know before they ever pick up a firearm (unfortunately it is often the opposite that happens--newbys go shooting with friends and have exactly zero knowledge of firearms and in order to not look bad in front of the guys, they try to bluff their way through the experience.  Scary).  So here's some stuff for new shooters to consider:

1. Memorize the Four Commandments of Firearms Safety.
2. Take a basic firearms class from a firearms instructor (not your buddy from work, not from a video on YouTube, but an actual class with actual experienced and well-trained instructors).
3. Rent (or borrow) firearms before purchasing your own. It is easy enough to go buy the first nice handgun or rifle that you set eyes on, but it's quite another thing to practice with and use a firearm that just doesn't work well for you.  By renting or borrowing firearms first, you get to "try before you buy" and will learn what types of firearms work best for you.
4. Decide if you should even own a firearm.  I believe that firearms offer the ultimate in personal protection but they also require the ultimate in responsible use.  Some people aren't ready for this, and some people are morally opposed to firearms and yet others think they will just use a firearms to "scare" a burglar or something.  Know why you are getting a firearm and know that in a worst case scenario (which could actually happen) you may use it to kill someone.
5. Always use eye and ear protection when you or others are shooting.  You would be amazed at how fast an eye injury can happen when shooting or how quickly you can lose hearing in your ears if you don't protect them.
6. Buy a firearm that meets your needs.  Often it won't be the most expensive firearm or the firearm that all of your friends own/want or even the firearm that your favorite gun magazine is raving about this month.  Firearms are as individual as shooters so what works for others may not be optimal for you.
7. Buy your firearms from a reputable dealer (there are reasons to buy firearms from private parties or firearms that are untraceable but for beginners, let's step into gun ownership on the right foot).  Don't buy a firearm from some guy you don't know and definitely have reservations about buying a firearm that is less than half the price of what you should be paying.  You don't want to end up with lousy product and you don't want a firearm that has been used in a crime.
8. Take care of your firearms.  Learn how to clean them properly, learn how to disassemble and assemble them properly, learn how to (safely) fix jams, etc.
9. Don't learn your shooting skills from TV or movies.  Much of what you see in regards to firearms in these venues is great for theatrical affect, not so much in real life.
10. If you are going to carry concealed, get a concealed carry license for your state.
11. And the corollary, know your state laws in regards to firearms (ie: you often can't carry firearms into bars, casinos, and federal buildings, etc) and the laws regarding firearm use for personal defense (laws vary dramatically by state).
12. Buy lots of ammo.  You will use more than you think.  For bonus points, learn how to reload your own ammo.
13. Practice A LOT.  If you own a firearm, you must practice with it often.  A firearm is more dangerous to you if you buy it, stick it in a closet, on pull it out years later to use it in an emergency.  Practice often.
14. Always keep your firearms within your control or locked up.  Far too many firearm injuries and deaths are caused by firearms being left where people who shouldn't access them (like kids) find them and play around with them and end up shooting themself or someone else.  This should never happen.
15. Know how to safely transport your firearm to and from the range.  You should learn this in your firearms class, if not, find a knowledgeable friend to show you how.
16. Never use or carry your firearm when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  That is a felony waiting to happen.
17. Continue to educate yourself about firearms even after your class has ended.  With the proliferation of blogs, websites, magazines, et al. about guns these days, you can study something new about firearms every day and never run out of material.
18. Hang out with knowledgeable (and responsible) gun owners.  You can learn quite a lot that way, end up with lots of new firearms to try out, find good deals on firearms an ammo through the grapevine, and meet some interesting new people that way.
19. Support the NRA and other organizations that support your right to own firearms.  Really, without constant vigilance, firearms rights can disappear and you won't even know what happened until it is too late.
20. Share your knowledge with others.  After you have become a skilled and experienced gun owner, don't hesitate to share this information with others (this is what makes me take newbys to the range even if it isn't one of my favorite things to do).  The only way to keep gun ownership alive and make it a safe sport for all is to have more experienced gun owners help new gun owners.  Often I have found that people who are fairly opposed to gun ownership have never actually been shooting (banning guns sounds so...safe...in theory).  Once they get a taste of target shooting, however, they often change their minds.

12 Reasons Why You Should Own a Gun

As I was signing into the blog today and wondering what I should write about, the first thing that greeted me was a comment from Anonymous (I wish he'd left a name so I could give him credit for what you are about to read).  The comment was in response to this post about why you shouldn't have a firearm in your home.  While I still believe that there are circumstances in which some people really shouldn't be in possession of a firearm, the twelve reasons why you should own a gun as outlined by Anonymous below are spot on...

1. Because You Own a Fire Extinguisher. Bad things happen. You can still call 911, but when seconds count, you need to act quickly to save your life and the life of those you love. 
2. Because Shooting Is An Olympic Sport. Shooting is an Olympic sport and the United States holds more gold medals than any other nation. 
3. Because Most Americans Own Guns. You’ll be in good company as a gun owner; nearly fifty percent of households in the U.S. own a firearm. 
4. Because You Respect The U.S. Constitution. Sometimes you won’t like it when people exercise fundamental freedoms protected by the Constitution, such as freedom of speech. But that simply doesn’t matter: The Supreme Court ruled that every person has a constitutional right to own guns. So respecting the Constitution means respecting the right of others to exercise those constitutional rights. 
5. Because You Are More Likely to Die By Falling. There were 613 fatal firearms accidents in 2007, one-half of one percent of all fatal accidents. You’re more likely to die by driving, poisoning, drowning or falling than by a gun accident. 
6. Because Guns Stop Burglars. Last year, the CDC estimated that Americans used guns about 498,000 times to frighten away intruders attempting to break into homes. 
7. Because Gun Bans Increase Murder Rates. After D.C. banned handguns in 1984, the average murder rate jumped 73 percent while the U.S. murder rate fell 11 percent. 
8. Because Guns Don’t Cause Murder. A New York Times study of 1,662 murders in the city found that 90 percent of the killers had criminal records. Murderers are not ordinary, law abiding adults. Instead, virtually all murderers are extremely aberrant individuals with life histories of violence, psychopathology, and substance abuse. 
9. Because Gun Owners Win Political Battles. Gun rights groups have donated $22 million in political campaigns over the last decade, while gun control groups gave $1.8 million. 
10. Because Ignorance is Dangerous. At current homicide rates, 1 in 240 Americans will be murdered this year. You need to know how to operate a tool that will immediately stop a threat and save your life and the life of those in your household. 
11. Because Guns Don’t Make Countries More Dangerous. Switzerland has one of the world’s highest gun ownership rates and also one of the lowest homicide rates. In contrast, the countries with the world’s worst homicide rates—South Africa, Columbia, Brazil, Mexico, Philippines, Taiwan—also prohibit law-abiding citizens from owning guns. Compare the 20 per 100,000 homicide rate in Russia, which bans guns, with the 2 per 100,000 rate in neighboring Poland. Compare gun-free Luxembourg’s 9 per 100,000 murder rate with Germany and France with rates of 0.93 and 1.65. 
12. Because Gun Control Laws Don’t Increase Safety. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences failed to identify even one gun control measure that had a statistically significant reduction in violent crime, suicide, or gun accidents. The Center for Disease Control reached the same conclusion in 2003.

And in Today's News...The Number of Home Invasions is Up

Actually I just caught this story at the tail end of the news this morning.  Seems that as the economy heads south, the number of home invasions tends to increase, as they are doing now.  Among some that you may have heard of recently:

•  3 Arrested in Deadly Home Invasion Robbery
• Suspect Pleads Not Guilty in Deadly Burglary
• 5 Arrested After Home Invasion Robbery

I could go on and on.  There are literally hundreds of home invasion robberies that have made the news in recent months, many that end with the home owners being injured or killed and others that end with home owners taking action and killing the intruders. 
I am hoping that if this ever happens to you, YOU will be the one that comes out on the winning side of the deal.  Here's how:

• Be properly licensed to carry a concealed weapon (note that if you will only have firearms in your home and you won't be carrying them outside of your property, you may not need this license; check with law enforcement in your jurisdiction).
• Buy a firearm (or two or three).  Of course you will want to seek advice from someone who is knowledgeable on this topic before just running out and buying a gun.  There are many types and sizes of firearms and you want one that you are comfortable shooting and that will get the job done effectively.
• Seek training.  There is a world of difference between target shooting in the back 40 and using a firearm in defense of your life inside your home.  If you plan to use a firearm for protection, it behooves you to be properly trained to do so (training will cover such things as your rights and responsibilities when it comes to using a firearm defensively, proper ammo, knowing what is behind your target, close-quarters combat techniques, and local rules and regulations).
• Practice.  And practice.  And practice.  If you plan on using a firearm for self defense, you absolutely MUST practice with it (on a weekly basis IMHO).  The only thing worse than having no firearm to protect yourself is having a gun you bought years ago which has been hidden in the back of your closet for more than a decade which you have never practiced with (or only practiced with a couple of times over the course of years).  You must be intimately familiar with your firearm if you are going to use it in a life or death situation.
• Be a good firearm owner.  This means that you properly store your firearm, that you clean it after each use, that you can strip it and put it back together by yourself, that you can safely load and unload it, and that you have practiced with it often. 
• Take other steps to keep your home from being a home invasion target: make the outside look as unappealing as possible, don't let strangers into your home, don't brag about all of the goodies you have in your home, etc.

As the world gets more chaotic, there are more and more people who will take the risk of barging into someones house and taking what they want, usually at the end of a gun.  If you ever find yourself in this position (and I really really hope you don't), you need to be prepared.  And not just you but everyone in your family as on occasion it has been children who have had to respond to home invaders which is unfortunate but nonetheless happens.  As the old adage goes, expect the best but prepare for the worst; in this case, the worst can be really bad if you aren't prepared.

A Bit More on Defensive Shooting and I'll Hop Off My Soapbox

Last week I threw up this link up on the blog.  Otherwise known as the defensive shot heard 'round the internet, it pointed out one of the most basic reasons for owning a firearm, namely, the protection of yourself and your children.  Here's some follow up links pertaining to this story:

• The 18 year old almost made this mistake (the gist of the article being that if you have to stop and ask about the legality of defensive shooting at a critical moment, you are wasting valuable time and putting yourself in even more danger, so know the laws BEFORE you need to know them)
• An "Aftermaths" contact form (something we usually don't think about ahead of time)
• After you draw your gun (again, more stuff you should think about before you find yourself in a self defense situation)

Yes, Stockpiling Firearms for Future Bartering/Selling Is a Good Idea

I got a couple of comments from this post which I thought I would address here.  Seems some people think it is a crazy idea to stockpile firearms for future use--such as bartering and selling--which on the one hand does sound kind of crazy (why arm people who could use the arms against you?) but on the other hand makes complete sense.  Here's why:

• Firearms are easier to value and sell as compared to, say gold.  I have yet to ever sell gold to a random person but have bought, sold, and traded firearms with people many times in the past.
• I can shoot exactly two firearms at a time.  So even if I stockpile a couple hundred firearms, I will only be able to shoot two at a time.  With the spouse, that would make four.  The other 180 firearms will be just sitting there doing nothing.  Might as well make them usable...by holding them as hard assets that could be used to provide for the things I need via bartering or selling.
• The possibility of total societal collapse where I would use my firearms as barterable/saleable items is about 2%.  The possibility of personal collapse (extended illness, extended job loss, divorce that leaves me with nothing, etc) where I would use my firearms as barterable/saleable items is about 98%.  It is the 98% that I mostly prepare for.
• Should the 2% happen and societal collapse is upon us, I would still be able to decide who to sell/barter my firearms too.  It's at that point that I would hope to be living in a community/with people as a "tribe" so to speak who would (most likely) be people who I could trade/barter my firearms with and who would be unlikely to use them against me.

Of course there is always a downside to stockpiling firearms, namely the need to maintain them, secure them, etc. but in the grand scheme of things, I would much rather put my money into usable assets such as firearms, food, tools, etc. than into, say, a pile of US bonds which may eventually be worth less than the paper they are printed on.

Firearms and TEOTWAWKI

I was chatting with a guy I know from the range today. He informed me that he is basically stockpiling firearms with "the end of the world as we know it" in mind. Whatever that means. So here are a few of my concerns (some of which I voiced, others of which I didn't):

Once you have an arsenal of firearms, what if:

• you run out of ammo? (I would suggest a side hobby of reloading and stocking up on the components needed for reloading and of course saving your brass whenever you practice)
• TEOTWAWKI is actually an earthquake, flood, mudslide, etc and your home becomes unlivable. What do you do with your arsenal then (as in how to you move your firearms to a new location, which new location would this be, how would they be stored at your new location, etc)
• you have too many varieties of weapons? (problems may include difficulty in securing the variety of ammo needed, not having enough of the ammo you use the most because you are purchasing ammo for all of your other weapons, other family members being unfamiliar with the different weapons--remember it may be them, not you, using said weapons--and your own unfamiliarity with practicing with the weapons if, for example, you have 100 different firearms)
• they are all registered to you and the authorities come calling for them? (my friend has about half of his firearms purchased by/registered to him and half bought from private citizens with only a receipt to link the weapon to his name)
• your huge stash of weapons becomes common knowledge (not so much of a problem now--depending on what neighborhood you live in--but this could definitely be a problem with society run amok and people who know about your stash becoming desperate)
• something happen such as your arsenal gets buried in a land slide and you end up with zero firearms when you need them most? (Time for a plan B. What is your plan B?)

Those are a few of the things that ran through my mind as I was talking with my friend. I guess the main point is that, of course it is better to have a firearm than not have one in a survival situation, however just because you have a firearm doesn't mean you are finished being prepared, you need to consider all of the other possibilities as well.

Thinking About Buying a Firearm for Protection? Here's 20 Questions to Ask First

The recent shooting in Arizona made quite a few people suggest that congressmen, and others, should run out and buy a gun for protection. If you have been considering buying a firearm for personal defense, here’s 20 questions you should ask yourself first:
1. Is everyone in relative agreement about having a firearm in the house for protection? If one spouse wants a firearm and the other is adamantly opposed to it, these issues should be worked out before you make your purchase.
2. Are there any situations in the home which would preclude safely having a firearm? If there is domestic violence, mental illness, alcoholism, or someone who is suicidal living in the home, having a firearm in the mix is probably not a good idea.
3. Are there any convicted felons in the home? Legal issues regarding a felon in possession of a firearm, even if it is registered to another member of the household, should be addressed before purchasing the firearm.
4. Are you aware of the laws and local sentiment regarding having and using a firearm for protection in your locale? Laws vary widely and so does the sentiment of the prosecutor/DA should you actually end up killing someone on your property. Know these things ahead of time.
5. Do you have a safe location in which to store your firearm? Hidden behind the clothes on the top shelf of the closet is not a good answer. With firearms ownership comes the responsibility to keep it away from those who shouldn’t have access to it (your kids, your kid’s friends, guests in your home, burglars, etc).
6. Are you willing to take a “firearms for personal defense class”? Even if you went shooting every day as a kid or frequently used a firearm in the military, personal defense classes cover many topics that are specific to the kind of use you are thinking about.
7. Are you willing to make the investment of time and money to practice regularly? I’m talking about at least 50 rounds per week at the nearest firing range. This is a big commitment of time as well as money but it is imperative if you intend to use your firearm as a means of protection.
8. Are you aware of any registration/licensing you may need to do if you buy a firearm? Again, laws vary by jurisdiction and you may also want to carry your firearm concealed off of your property which could necessitate a concealed carry license.
9. Are you aware of how owning a firearm will impact how others react to you? This could include everything from other parents not letting their kids play at your house because they know you have a firearm to making you a target for burglary if your kids brag about the “arsenal” you keep in your home.
10. Are you willing to take someone’s life? Hopefully and most likely this will never happen but owning a firearm for personal defense means you are willing to use it to kill someone. There is no “I’ll just use my gun to scare someone or “wing” a burglar”. When it comes to the point that you are pulling out a weapon to defend yourself, the probable outcome is someone will end up dead and while the movies make using a weapon to defend yourself look glamorous, it is actually anything but.
11. Do you know what kind of firearm(s) you want to purchase? Each type of firearm/weapon caliber has a purpose in self defense from close quarters pistol combat to shotguns and rifles for particular purposes. It is a good idea to go to a firing range and try a variety of firearms as well as seek the advice of experts before you make your purchase.
12. Are you willing to take care of the nitty gritty details of firearms ownership? Including but not limited to keeping your firearm clean and in good working order, education yourself about the differences in the ammo that is available for your weapon, maybe taking a foray into reloading, etc?
13. Are you willing to continue your education in personal defense? A basic personal protection class is just that, pretty basic. You usually get an overview of firearms, an overview of local laws, a bunch of safety tips, and some range time. This in no way covers everything you need to know about using a firearm for defense which is why continued, advanced training is a necessity.
14. Would you consider participating in other types of gun owner activities? There is no better way to expand your knowledge of firearms and related firearm topics than going to gun shows, reading firearms magazines and websites, joining a shooting club, hanging around other shooters, making friends at the local gun shop, etc.
15. Have you considered a number of “worst case scenarios” and thought of ways to address them? There’s too many to list here but just look up “gun accidents” and you will find not accidents but lapses in safety, education, supervision, and skill. How would you address these in your household?
16. Do you know the limit of your firearms knowledge and skill? There’s no shame in being a newbie, that’s how everyone starts out, but it’s a wise person who realizes they can’t teach their own kids or spouse about shooting until they have improved their skills. It’s a wise gun owner who isn’t ashamed to admit they don’t know something instead of just guessing at an answer that could have catastrophic consequences.
17. Would you be a responsible gun owner? Some people just aren’t. The ones I am speaking of get drunk then haul out their firearms to show their friends, they have anger management issues that haven’t been addressed, they “brag” about their guns to anyone who will listen, they think they are safe shooters even as they sweep their friends while finding their target during practice. You get the idea.
18. Are you willing to publicly support firearm ownership? No longer are we secure in our right to own firearms. It takes everyone who is supportive of firearms rights to “support the cause” whether you join the NRA, volunteer to teach a hunter safety course, or discuss your views with your politicians and vote accordingly. If our rights aren’t protected and defended, pretty soon we won’t have these rights.
19. Will you completely disregard anything you have seen in the movies or on TV in regards to firearms use? The shooting you see on TV or on the movie screen is generally a stylized version of what people, who have often never even held a real firearm, think shooting should look like. It’s hardly realistic and copying some of the crap you see on TV could get you killed. Seek out knowledgeable firearms trainers as your life could depend on it.
20. Are you willing to review/enforce participation in all of the above points for everyone in the home? Even if you know and faithfully follow all of the advice above, if you aren’t the only one living in your house you need to ensure that everyone has considered and practiced the above points from attending classes and practicing to having safety uppermost in their minds when handling a firearm.

That’s a pretty comprehensive list of things to consider. A few decades ago these things weren’t even thought about as it was pretty much a given, at least where I lived, that every house had a shotgun behind the door, a pistol next to the bed, and a rifle hanging in the back window of their truck. These days, especially with fewer and fewer people growing up around firearms, a lot of thought needs to be put into the whole firearms for personal defense question followed, of course, by a lot of education, training, and many considerations for safety.

Fewer Firearms, More Ammo

I was checking out the Survivalist Forums today and one post discussed how many and what kinds of firearms one should have. While I am all for having a nice armory, there are a couple of things to consider if you aren't independently wealthy. First, firearms cost money. Good firearms usually cost more. Second, you can only fire so many weapons at once. Here's my quick take on firearms.

• Have a small selection of firearms for multiple purposes (a rifle, shotgun, and handgun for starters).
• Choose firearms with the type of ammo they use in mind. It's a good idea to choose firearms that use common types of ammo that is easily available. The more unusual and unique the firearm/ammo, the more difficult it will be to find ammo.
• The wider range of firearms you have with varying types of ammo needed, the more your resources will be spread out. Better to have fewer basic firearms with lots of ammo for each.
• Choose quality firearms. Cheap piece-of-crap firearms are more likely to fail than quality firearms. Quality firearms also tend to hold their value better.
• Spend much more on ammo than you do firearms. You don't want to have more firearms than ammo...after you run out of ammo you will need to resort to beating someone with your useless firearm or running, both bad options.
• Having a few spare firearms above the small cache that you usually use can be good for bartering.
• Stock up on ammo! The more you have, the better off you will be for a number of reasons. The cost if brass isn't getting any lower. Ammo is also a good barter items. Unless you reload your own ammo, you are subject to the whim of the market on both price and availability. You never know how long you will have to hold out on your own with only the ammo you have.
• Do your own experiments to find the best firearms/types of ammo that work for you. While it is fine to read up on these things and it's nice to get opinions from friends, the best way to figure out what works for you is actually trying a variety of firearms and experimenting with various types of ammo.

10 Range Tips for New Shooters

This long three day weekend is turning out perfect. Perfect weather and a perfect opportunity to enjoy some of the first fun activities of the summer including camping, fishing, and my favorite, shooting. Here's some tips for those who are new to shooting and using a shooting range. I always recommend shooting at a range if possible; it's safer since ranges are engineered to contain projectiles and it's often supervised which increases safety for everyone. Decades ago many people could shoot out their back door but with growth taking over nearly everywhere, this is no longer possible in many areas.

1. Let people know you have arrived at the range. Usually you need to register or sign in, but even if it is a gravel pit with a padlock on the gate and you have the combo to get in, let others know you are there--at least when you go down range to change targets, they will keep an eye out for you.


2. If you are new to shooting, bring someone with you who is an experienced shooter. If you don't know anyone, arrange for shooting lessons (local shooting ranges and firearms dealers should be able to provide you this information). Even though people with zero shooting experience can go out and buy a gun, it is not as simple as it looks on TV--you need some safety tips and supervision when you get started so you don't hurt yourself or others.


3. Come by yourself first. I cringe when I see a father who has never handled a firearm before bring out his three kids and an armload of new weapons he has just purchased. Much like you wouldn't want your kids in the car when you are learning to drive, you don't want any distractions when you are learning to shoot. After you get some experience then bring out one kid at a time until each of your kids gets some experience. Again, it is hard enough to supervise one new shooter let alone three or four.


4. If you don't know something, ask. Yes it is the fate of men to enjoy figuring things out for themselves--and not wanting to look like a dork by asking dumb questions--but in this case, the information you glean could save your life. Where's the brass bucket is a common question to start out with. What are these lights for? Umm...you switch them on before you go down range so people won't start shooting in your direction before you get back. You get the idea.


5. When the range is cold, keep your paws off of your firearms. At most ranges you will be shooting with others. When it is mutually agreed that all fire will cease so people can go down range and change their targets, unload your firearm, open the action, lay it down on the bench, and don't touch it until the range is hot again. This is a good time to reload your magazines.


6. NEVER sweep anyone with your firearm. If I had a nickel for every time I've seen this done over the decades... It's a wonder I haven't gone into cardiac arrest because my heart about stops when I see this happen. Mostly this is a mistake new shooters make--they get excited or nervous, or just plain forget they have a deadly weapon in their hand and when they turn around, so does their firearm and it usually ends up pointing or sweeping past other people and it is very disconcerting to be on either end of this transaction. The only direction your firearms should ever point is straight down, straight up, or straight at your target. No where else.


7. Safety should always be paramount. You can tell who the really old shooters are--they can't hardly hear anything which means they started shooting before basic shooter safety precautions were common. Always wear hearing and eye protection anytime you are near the line. Never drink alcohol before or during shooting activity. Don't act like a fool--if it's something you've seen in a shoot 'em up action movie, it probably isn't something you want to do at the range.


8. Be social. Shooters are an overall great bunch of people. Most can provide lots of tips tricks, and helpful information if you pay attention. After you get to know them, they may even provide some reloaded ammo and the opportunity to use their cool firearms. Like any social group, people develop a reputation based on their actions and attitude--you want to be known as the good guy who is respectful, responsible, and helpful, not the "idiot guy who thinks he's Rambo".


9. Bring your own targets. You may want to call ahead first and ask about targets. Many ranges offer target stands but require shooters to bring (or buy at the range) their own targets. The range may also have requirements about what targets can be used. Paper--good. Glass--bad. Beer cans--well we used to shoot at them in the old days but at most ranges these don't qualify as targets anymore. Exotic targets can also be used at some ranges (these are the fun ones that move, jump, etc) but you usually need to get permission from the rangemaster first.


10. Clean up after yourself. It's a pet peeve of many shooters when other shooters leave their brass all over the ground for others to sweep up or they destroy targets and targetstands and leave them in the middle of the range. Gee thanks.

Ammo Shortages

If you are a regular shooter (at least in the US), you have probably noticed ammo shortages are pretty much the norm lately. While I don't usually encourage people to buy things when everyone else is buying said item in a panic (thus lowering supply and increasing demand/price), having plenty of ammo on hand is fairly important. Here's some ideas:

• Learn how to reload your own ammo.
• Find out when you local ammo outlets (WalMart, sporting good stores) get their regular shipment (ie: Wednesdays) and make it a habit to stop by the store each week on your way to work or on your lunch break.
• Purchase a firearm or two that use unusual (and thus less in demand) ammo.
• Make friends with your local ammo outlet owner or manager (a more realistic possibility when dealing with smaller shop owners) and have them put some ammo aside for you when new shipments come in (note that everyone is probably doing this so whether or not this tip works is not guaranteed).
• Take what ammo you can get. Even if you don't own a .380, if you go to the store and they don't have the caliber ammo you are looking for but have a stack of another type of common ammo (ie .380), pick some up to use for barter.
• Take what ammo you can get part 2. While you may be looking for a specific hollow-point, high grain ammo for protection, if they only have low grain, jacketed ammo that you would usually use for practice, grab it anyway. Some ammo is better than no ammo.
• Buy ammo when you travel to a foreign country and bring it home with you (legally).
• Purchase ammo from a foreign country and import it (legally).
• Wait until the shortages subside and then buy your ammo.

A Small Rant About Firearms Ownership

Usually I am very supportive of firearms ownership. The only people who I think absolutely SHOULD NOT own guns are the mentally ill and the stupid. Note the stupid gun owners in this article. They are idiots for the following reasons:

• They "forgot" they had a gun. Firearms are deadly weapons. As such, you need to know where they are at all times. If you don't want this responsibility, sell the guns to someone who is more responsible.
• They did not educate their child about firearms. I never leave a child, unsupervised, with any kind of weapon. However, if you own a firearm (and even if you don't because you never know when your child may come upon a gun so they need to know what to do), you need to educate your child about proper firearms handling and use. It's kind of like if you live near any type of water (swimming pool, lake, river, etc)--common sense says that you need to teach your child to swim even though you never intend to let them swim unsupervised because with kids you never know what situation they may find themselves in.
• They "hid" their firearm in a box. Unless your firearm is in your immediate possession, it needs to be secured. Which means that kids and anyone else in your home cannot pick it up and shoot themselves or anyone else with it. Secured means, um secure. Duh.
• They never used the firearm or checked on it. Responsible firearms owners know where their firearms are at all times. You shouldn't have to guess where you left it and by all means, if you own a firearm for any reason (defense, hunting, target shooting) you need to use it regularly. If not, you will pull it out in a defensive situation and either hit someone other than your intended target or said intended target will take it away and use it on YOU. You also need to check on your firearms regularly to make sure they haven't disappeared. Firearms are more often stolen by family, friends, and household help then they are lost to a burglar.

I don't have to guess how this event will impact the family. I have seen way too many parents of dead kids. No matter how the child died, even if by natural causes, the parents think they could have and should have done something to save their child. When a child is lost to a senseless, stupid accident due to the parent's negligence, I have no doubt that these people will blame themselves thoroughly and forever. Fortunately their child is still alive. Many parents aren't that lucky in this situation and what follows for these people is deep depression, divorce, job loss, PTSD, sometimes suicide...and that's just within the first couple of years of a child's death.

The Four Commandments of Firearms Safety Explained

There is no excuse for the "accidental" discharge of a firearm (which mostly has fatal results). Every time there is a news report of someone involved in an accidental shooting, you can be sure that they broke one (or more) of the Four Commandments of Firearms Safety. Here they are:

1. Treat all firearms as though they are loaded. Simple. If everyone did this, there would never be someone saying "I didn't think it was loaded" as they watch their friend or family member hauled off to the hospital or morgue. Anytime you pick up a firearm to check it out, whether it is at a gun store or handed to you by a friend, your first task is to clear the weapon and make sure it is not loaded. I don't care if the firearms instructor or gun store owner tells me a firearm is unloaded, it is my job to ensure that it is so. That being said...
2. Never allow the muzzle to cover (point at) anything you are not willing to destroy. This is a simple concept that actually takes a lot of care and attention to do. If I had a quarter for every time I've seen someone with a firearm inadvertently cover someone with their weapon, even if it was just for a millisecond, as they are moving to their target (I've even seen very experienced people do this), or swing around in excitement (new shooters) not paying attention to the fact that their firearm is moving around with them as they turn to talk to a friend who ends up with a weapon pointed at them, I would be rich. This rule needs to be followed 100% of the time whether holstering your weapon, drawing your weapon, firing your weapon, carrying your weapon, et al.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until your sights are on the target and you are ready to fire. This is a dead giveaway--when I see a shooter with their finger on the trigger when they are carrying the weapon, picking up their weapon, or holding their weapon, I know this is a sign of a very inexperienced shooter (and I really don't like being anywhere in the vicinity of an inexperienced shooter unless they are under my direct supervision).
4. Be sure you have an acceptable target, know its surroundings, and what is beyond it. This is another common cause of firearms "accidents". Some idiot "thinks" they see a burglar walking around outside their home and they fire their weapon in the general vicinity--this often leads to the death of a friend, family member, or a neighbor. Why? Because the shooter did not have a clear view of their target. You cannot guess at your target--whether you think you are shooting at a burglar, shooting through the door at something, or shooting at what you "think" is a deer that you actually couldn't see very well. There is no excuse for not clearly identifying your target BEFORE pointing and firing. Drive by shootings are another example of breaking this rule--gang banger #1 fires at rival gang banger #2, not paying attention to the surrounding area and what is beyond their target which means someone in the house behind gang banger #2 or the grandmother walking a few feet away from gang banger #2 gets hit.

Four simple rules. By following these rules at ALL times the number of "accidental" firearms will be reduced to almost nil.