Parker Decision Credited To Liberal Academicians: The New York Times
begins. "In March, for the first time in the nation's history, a federal
appeals court struck down a gun control law on Second Amendment grounds.
Only a few decades ago, the decision would have been unimaginable." The
article goes on to credit the writings of Lawrence Tribe, Akhil Reed
Amar and Sanford Levinson for having influenced the court.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/us/06firearms.html?_r=1&hp=&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all
---
Satisfied Glock Customer: As I have not been shy about sharing material
on the shortcomings of Glock pistols, it's only fair that I share this
report of one user's experience with his G19 and Glock's current
customer service.
http://www.stoppingpower.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13632
---
From John Farnam:
29 Apr 07
Another gun accident, this time in CA:
"A patrol officer from a LA suburb, with only a few weeks on the Job,
accidentally shot himself four weeks ago. He is returning to normal duty
next week.
He was walking out the front door of his girlfriend's house, with her by
his side. He reached into his right/front pocket in an effort to
retrieve his car keys. Sharing that same pocket was a G27, not in a
holster but loose in his pants pocket.
You guessed it! As he pulled them out, his keys caught in the trigger
guard and made contact with the trigger. Both pistol and ammunition
functioned normally! A single bullet went through the bottom of the
pocket and entered his thigh. The trajectory passed through the outside
of his thigh, exiting just above his knee. The wound was actually little
more than a streak mark, as, happily, the bullet did not penetrate
significantly. He'll inherit a sexy scar to show people at parties, but
no permanent disability.
The officer's first assignment next week is to the range, for remediation!"
Comment: PISTOLS CARRIED CONCEALED, OR OPENLY FOR THAT MATTER, NEED TO
BE SECURED IN WELL-DESIGNED (PROTECTED TRIGGER AND TRIGGER GUARD),
HIGH-QUALITY HOLSTERS, NOT LOOSE IN POCKETS OR RATTLING AROUND IN THE
BOTTOM OF HANDBAGS. Carrying loose guns in pockets is fairly an
invitation to disaster, as this young lad discovered. Fortunately, his
"lesson" was not fatal. Many others have not been so lucky!
/John
(It's hard to add much to this one, other than to point out that there
was a time when it was considered state-of-the-art for holsters to be
cut so that the trigger guard was exposed, Such holsters [e.g., Tom
Threepersons' design] were developed for single-action revolvers, which
are carried uncocked, and transitioned into use for double-action
revolvers, during the time that officers were trained to start the
trigger stroke before the sights were aligned with the target.)
30 Apr 07
Handgun Training in the Philippines, from a friend there:
"I was recently asked to assist with defensive handgun instruction. The
instructor is an acquaintance, and two of his students had just narrowly
escaped a kidnapping attempt.
However, I had to check my candor when the instructor emphasized the
need for chambers to be empty whenever a pistol is carried. The reason
given was: 'When we are aware enough of our surroundings, we will always
have plenty of time to chamber a round. The rest of the time, the
pistol will be 'safe.''
During the first break, I spoke in private with my friend and said:
(1) Racking the slide is normally a two-handed procedure. Those of us
unlucky enough to have our support hand already critically occupied will
find your technique unusable, at a most inconvenient time!
(2) While we all struggle to remain 'switched-on' (condition yellow) all
day, there will be moments wherein we are less alert than we should be.
Having to rack a slide AFTER being caught with our pants down will not
contribute to our happiness!
(3) When the student loads his pistol and then discovers he doesn't need
to shoot immediately but does need both his hands, what does he do with
the pistol? Does he holster it in its loaded condition, having never
been trained to carry a loaded pistol?
He flat refused to even mention carrying a truly loaded pistol, saying
that it was too dangerous for beginners. Of course, to him all students
are forever 'beginners,' as he indicated he never allows loaded pistols
on any range, no matter whom he is training. I countered that during my
experience with hot ranges (including yours!), I had never observed a
single ND.
I then thanked him for inviting me and abruptly departed, wanting
nothing more to do with this fraudulent 'training.'
Serious guns are loaded! Who can't get past this primary axiom needs to
reconsider his interest in the entire subject."
Lesson: Competent teachers don't pussyfoot about the subject of serious
weaponcraft! We tell students, in plain English, (1) What kind of
commitment our craft entails, (2) What sacrifices will be required, and
(3) What gains can reasonably be expected. We develop correct habits,
so our students can fight effectively with any weapon. We push them,
making sure that "safety" is a function of the mind, not the result of
some gadget. Delusion is not part of the professional gunman's calling!
/John
(Empty-chamber carry, as part of the Israeli doctrine, seems to be
traceable back to Fairbairn and Sykes. It is popular in institutional
environments where pistols are issued and returned at shift changes.
John has confirmed that, to his knowledge, a certain nationally know
firearms trainer, who has published several books and countless magazine
articles, is still running cold ranges at his school.)
1 May 07
Comments on personal weapons management, from a pilot who is one of our
students, currently stationed in Baghdad:
"I couldn't help but to respond regarding this subject, as I am
currently dealing with the same nonsense. I am here in the Green Zone
as part of an aviation unit.
Base commanders have decreed that there are three condition for personal
firearms (rifles and pistols), Green, Amber, and Red.
While in the Green Zone, personal weapons must be 'Green.' We would
call it 'storage-mode,' no magazine inserted, empty chamber. One may
carry rifles and pistols and have a charged magazine or two with him,
but they may never be inserted into magazine wells.
'Amber' we would call 'transport-mode.' Charged magazine inserted, but
no round chambered. The only ones authorized to carry in Amber are
Security Forces, and only when they are actually working as such. At
all other times, they are expendable peons like the rest of us.
'Red' is what we would call 'carry-mode,' but it is only theoretical, as
no one may have a weapon in that condition. Weapons are NEVER actually
carried in 'Red.'
At the chow hall, Ugandan security guards (who don't speak English)
check to ensure holstered pistols (which are all in storage-mode anyway)
have the decocker (the call it a 'safety') down. There is a clearing
barrel beside the entrance, but one is no longer mandated to 'clear'
weapons upon entering. Such 'clearing' used to be a requirement, but
there were so many NDs, the more-or-less continuous noise disturbed
diners! In addition, since such NDs automatically give rise to Article
15 sanctions, too many troopers, after experiencing an ND, would simply
drop their pistol and run away. Embarrassing!
Since my unit regularly flies over hostile territory, I make it a habit
to go 'Red' with my M9 pistol prior to each flight. Unfortunately, I'm
the only one who does! Other pilots laugh, saying, "I'll just load it
when I need it!" However, there has never been any training with regard
to going from Amber to Red, so such empty bravado is all theoretical,
since they have only talked about it. None have ever actually done it!
Well, I recently had to have a chat with my desk-bound Battalion
Commander with regard to this very subject. He stated that the threat
level did not 'justify' having a loaded gun in the cockpit! He made it
clear that none of us were authorized to "go Red" until we're shot
down. He added, 'All you have to do is just pull that thing, the
"slide, right?, back, right?' I concluded that no further discussion
was necessary. I continue to, now surreptitiously, 'go Red' prior to
each flight. As the Great Philosopher said, 'There is nothing to be
gained by arguing with idiots!'
It is truly a sad state of affairs that I'm an officer, wear the
uniform, have an issued pistol, ammunition, magazines, but '... Oh,
don't load that gun. That would be unsafe!'
Back in the States (where I don't draw combat pay) I carry, concealed, a
fully-loaded pistol, just as you taught me, every waking hour, only to
arrive in a "Combat Zone,' draw 'combat pay,' and have to deal with
this insanity!"
Comment: Desk-bound managers (masquerading as "leaders'), who, because
they've never been exposed to competent small-arms training, don't know
what they don't know, but unforgivably, don't want to know what they
don't know are smothering real warriors who want to enlighten others and
advance the Art.
With "leaders" like these, we don't need enemies!
"In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him.
Everything else is rubbish!"
Eddie Rickenbacker, WWI Flying Ace
/John
2 May 07
Same thing in Afghanistan, from a friend and student who is there now:
"No different here! I am also routinely instructed by Army gate guards
to download my weapons as I return from Indian Country. Interestingly,
European posts require no such silliness!
I have foolishly tried to reason with these young lads at the gate,
because I spent twelve years wearing the same, Infantry uniform,
including the First Gulf War, and, of course, carry every day as a
Federal Officer back in the States.
I should know better! Says I, 'I am expected to wander about with empty
weapons?' 'Yes, sir, that's the rule.' is the mechanical reply.
As soon as we are through the gate, we stop, recharged our guns, and go
merrily about our business. This has become SOP. However, I now make
it a habit to bring some kind of gift for the overworked, unappreciated
gents at the gate. Since then, my comings and goings have become a
good deal smoother and vastly quicker.
The idea that anyone, anywhere, would carry firearms for serious social
interaction, yet do so with them in any condition other than ready to
fire at a moment's notice, is so stupid no 'discussion' appears
necessary, at least among the sane. I know I am preaching to the choir,
but it is frustrating nonetheless. Even in my own stateside
Organization, we have grasseaters who insist, if a Special Agent is
going to carry a gun in the office, he do it concealed. The message is
clear, 'Those things are frightening, and, if they must be around, at
least make it so we grasseaters can pretend they don't exist.'
Bureaucracies everywhere have a habit of attracting and nurturing
herbivores. This would not be nearly the problem it is if they would
just sit down and shut up, allowing those of us who stand ready to
engage VCAs to do what we do. Sadly, who don't lead the way, just get in
the way!
I am off my soapbox now."
Comment:
"They have given us into the hands of new, unhappy lords
Lords without anger and honor, who dare not carry their swords
They 'fight' by shuffling papers; they have bright, dead, alien eyes
They look at our labor with laughter as a tired man looks at flies
And the load of their loveless pity is worse than ancient wrongs
Their doors are shut in the evenings; and they know no songs"
The Secret People
G.K. Chesterton
Leaders select objectives, then direct others to achieve them.
Managers direct others to achieve objectives chosen by a third party.
Administrators direct others, using means selected by a third party, to
achieve objectives chosen by a fourth party.
All three circumstances are part of an officer's life, but real officers
yearn only for the former. Unfortunately, many military "leaders" are
little more than managers, and many of those have consciously chosen to
reduce themselves to the level of permanent administrator, because it is
safer for their careers than risking real decision-making. They know
that they will only be held to account an act of commission, i.e.,
making a decision that has a poor result. They will never be held to
account for an act of omission, i.e., refusing to making a decision,
even when that also has a poor result. In such an environment, which is
the safest posture for the "career officer?" Do nothing.
Become an administrator.
The entire philosophy of any armed force should be TO ESTABLISH TRUST,
well earned and deserved, at all levels. The foregoing encourages
precisely the opposite, destroying trust and creating "leaders" who
predictably dodge decisions by referring them "upstairs." When routine,
this practice promotes micro-management, which in turn degrades trust
and slows tactical, decision-making loops. Over time, we find ourselves
with a stilted, uninspired army, where those on the ground realize that
they will not receive timely decisions from above, and that decisions
that finally do come down will be long-since irrelevant to the actual
situation before them. Troops, in turn, gradually begin to regard their
officers, correctly, as disconnected, dithering buffoons who care not a
whit for the Cause or the troops. Accordingly, they surreptitiously
disregard their officers and keep as much decision-making as possible
away from them. They also withhold information. Isolated, delusional
officer/administrators continue to strut about, thinking everything is
swell, until something blows up in their faces. Then, he priority
immediately switches to assigning blame!
Such a sterile, hyper-politicized, ponderous, disconnected army is no
match for an inspired, committed, agile, flexible force, even one
smaller and less technologically sophisticated. History is replete with
examples!
All of Western Civilization had better look up and see what is
happening, lest we become yet another example, and are unceremoniously
relegated to the dustbin of History!
/John
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
