SOTG - Student of the Gun

You are the Threat to the State

Self-Defense Tools

Just recently a student of the gun offered the advice that we change the term 'gun' to 'self-defense tool' and that the fresh new verbiage would stymie the anti-gun crowd. On the face of it the suggestion would seem to have merit. However, we need to understand who and what we are up against.

Self-defense tools are exactly what the anti-gun people are trying to legislate out of your fingers. They genuinely do not believe you have the right to self-defense. Any defending of your home and hearth must be administered by a 'professional', that is, a government agent or employee.

Read more: You are the Threat to the State

Kid’s Bedroom Gun Safe: Rob Pincus is Correct

Far too often, we as lawful gun owners, experience a blatant attempt to divide and conquer us. The "divide and conquer" form of physical and psychological warfare has been used, often successfully, for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

If your enemy is strong, one of the most favored ways to engineer his defeat is to get him to either divide his forces from a practical or geographic standpoint or to destroy your enemy's morale by encouraging dissention among the ranks. The lawful American gun owner is under attack today like no time in recent history.

Another example of the divide and conquer ploy is underway on the heels of the NRA Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas. One of the guest speakers at the NRA meeting was Rob Pincus, a veteran instructor and a name familiar to most readers in this audience. During one of the numerous seminars held at the Annual Meeting, Rob suggested that it might be a prudent idea to install some type of Quick Access Gun Safe / gun vault in your kid's bedroom in the event of a home invasion emergency.

The Huffington Post online and their sycophant minions have taken what would seem to be thoughtful, if not at least thought-provoking, advice and served it as more fodder to their anti-gun, Obama Zombie readers. Not surprisingly, their emotionally driven, reactive audience erupted in a cacophony of hate-filled Facebook posts and tweets reinforcing yet again how 'tolerant' and 'open-minded' they claim to be.

During Pincus' remarks he stated that in event of nighttime home invasion, it would be a natural instinct for a parent to rush to their child's bedroom to ensure their safety. If the only home defense firearm is stored in the master bedroom that could potentially put the defending parent in a position where they find themselves with their child but minus the tool they would need to defend said child or children.

A recent home invasion in Texas put a mother and her child in a precarious position. The small child was asleep in another room and between the child and his mother were three felons. Fortunately, the mother was able to retrieve a gun and fight the armed intruders, saving both her life and potentially the life of her child.

While most in the reading audience would not see Rob's advice as reckless, those that wish to see the American citizen disarmed 'for the good of the children' took vocal offense and responded with venom and vitriol.

Read more: Kid’s Bedroom Gun Safe: Rob Pincus is Correct

Are You Playing at Self-Defense Part 2

A .22 Pistol is the best thing for a Woman...?

While .22 Long Rifle handguns as fantastic training tools and an excellent way to learn the basics of marksmanship, they are not the best fight stoppers in the world. It is true that, as my friend Walt Rauch once advised, "No one wants to leak, not even bad guys." Regardless, there is no reason that a healthy adult woman cannot carry and employ a centerfire handgun.

Not so long ago I had a woman told me that when the subject of a defensive handgun came up one of her male co-workers told her to buy a .22 and load it with "dumb-dumb" rounds. Yes, that was the exact term he used. Dumb-dumb rounds aside, the purpose of defensive shooting is to force the attacker to stop, not to bleed to death twenty minutes later.

Read more: Are You Playing at Self-Defense Part 2

One Box Workout™ for Rifles: Part 2

This review, as it has a "Part 2" in the title, is naturally a follow up to the previous One Box Workout for Rifles. In the interest of clarity and comprehension, if you haven't read the first part, now might be a good time to do so.

Having taken the time to focus on the basics, it is time to move on to something a bit more dynamic. The world is not a static place and we need to practice moving about effectively and prudently with a rifle in our hands.

Read more: One Box Workout™ for Rifles: Part 2

Are you Playing at Self-Defense Part 1

Before we begin, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge Sheriff Jim Wilson and admit that he's the one who got me started using the phrase "Playing at Self-Defense". I have no idea if Jim originally coined the term, but he's the first I can remember saying it.

Concealed Carry: Myths and Misunderstandings

It's been said that all the best stories begin with either "Once upon a time" or "No S***, there I was". There are other tales that begin with "I was talking my buddy and he said..." Over the years I suppose I've developed a cringe reflex from all the times I've heard someone begin a conversation with such verbiage.

Read more: Are you Playing at Self-Defense Part 1

Being a ‘Gun Owner’ is not enough

The sun is shining brightly through my office window, my family still slumbers downstairs on this chilly winter morning, I'm not quite through my first cup of coffee and I am already annoyed.

As a part of my daily routine, I rise early, brew coffee, let the black lab out to do his thing, and sort through emails, etc. before commencing the day's business. Frequently I will peruse the firearms related wires and formalized gun blogs. During today's perusal I came across yet another assertion that it is not just conservatives and Republicans who "own" guns. The implication is that we right-wing, conservative types need to be "inclusive" and recognize that left-wing, Democrat voters are gun owners as well. My response is, as Col. Sherman Potter used to say, "Horse Hockey!"

Read more: Being a ‘Gun Owner’ is not enough