16Dec04

On personal weapons, from a friend in Country:

"Personal guns (pistols) are still a awkward issue here. Senior comm anders, it seems, are incapable of formulating sensible policy. Most are still death ly afraid of guns, all guns, but epically pistols. Mid-level and junior commanders are more progressive, but even they really don't want to confront the issue, so they mostly stick their collective heads in the sand.

While they are trying to make up their minds, on your advice, I carry my pistol (and blades) concealed all the time. Guns are supposed to be =80 unloaded, with magazine removed,' everywhere on post. However, when a holster is not visible, everyone assumes you don't have a pistol. I am happy to let them think that. I gave up on the M9 (too big!) and now carry a G19. Much better!

Black Hills 77gr HPBT works well. It makes the 223 work about as well as it

is ever going to. Vastly superior, in both penetration and terminal performance, to the 62gr we still have in the system. Marines are in the pr ocess of switching over to it, but sufficient quantities are still not available. "

Comment: The American mind, unique in world history, will invariably find innovative and daring solutions to life's challenges, no matter what the circumstances, and we do it with dash and without apology. Americans always have. God bless America!

/John

16Dec04

Dogs and OC, from a friend and student!

"There is a German Shepherd in our neighborhood with a bad reputati on. He is aggressive and territorial. Not surprisingly, he is owned by a demented , little old man. Last week, the dog pinned a neighbor to the side of her ca r before the man could get it under control. The dog routinely lunges, bitin g and growling, to the end of its leash at anyone he can see. It was only a matter of time before this dog and I would confront each other. Well, the time came yesterday!

As I was returning home after walking our own dog (a Lab puppy), I saw the little old man and his dog coming up the street towards us. I got my Fox OC in hand and moved to the other side of the street. Sure enough, the German Shepherd lunged straight at me, yanking the leash out of his owner's hand. As trained, I immediately moved off the line of force, and laid down a zig-zag ' screen' of OC in front of me. As the dog reached the cloud of OC, h e yelped once, did a mid-air about face, and scurried back to his owner, whining, sneezing and pawing at his eyes and muzzle! The man grabbed the leash and s curried away with his floundering dog, mumbling over his shoulder something about unreasonable neighbors.

Now here's what else happened without conscious thought: At the critical moment, I dropped my own dog's leash, dropped the OC bottle (after spraying the screen,) retracted my left hand, indexed and cleared my pistol from its holster. As I realized that the offensive dog was retreating, I stopped in the ' rock-and-lock' stage. When the man gained control and scurried away , I quickly reholstered. I don't think he ever saw my pistol. I executed a step-and-scan before reholstering.

Moving off the line of force, getting my hands free, initiating a proper draw, stopping and reholstering all were automatic; I did not do any of this on conscious command. Training and preparedness works. So does Fox!"

Comment: When it is least expected, you're elected! Competent trai ning pays off. There is no substitute for being properly equipped, trained, and having the personal resolve to finish the fight. Good show!

/John