26July05

Equipment comments from a friend and instructor in SA:

"A student arrived last week carrying a rusted Beretta 92F, with no spare magazine, propped into a sleazy, chicken-hide holster that was falling apart . His words to me were, '... I've never needed more than one m agazine.' 'Never ' ended ten minutes into training! By the end of the first day, his holster had disintegrated the rest of the way. It amazes me to see how many individuals are prepared to bet their lives on JUNK!

On the positive side, several cops brought Rs (SA's version of the Kalashnikov). Over-engineered, they are heavy, but reliable. Others broug ht Winchester Defender shotguns. All work without a hitch through three days of heavy shooting. Good gun!"

Comment: There is no substitute for good, well-maintained equipment. Even in Africa, it is astonishing to see the casual attitude some still have tow ard their own safety. How bad does it have to get?

/John

26July05

Comments on close encounters, from one of my instructors in Europe:

"Defending against an attempted weapon disarm is defending against a murder-in-progress. No other way to look at it. One should plan on respon ding immediately with gun or blade. However, autoloading pistols are vulnerable to malfunctions when pressed against flesh (which is why J-frame, snubby revol vers will never go out of style).

Knives don't suffer from such limitations. It doesn't matter from which sid e I get assaulted, one of my knives will cut/stab whatever piece of alien flesh is touching me. Whatever my attacker does after that, he'll probably let go first. That generates options for me. Sure, it requires determination and commitment, but that's the point of fighting, isn't it? My blades are all located so that at least one is available to whichever of my hands is in th e best position to respond (whether I have guns on me or not).

Knives enable us to cover the most dangerous of possibilities. We all need to keep them on us constantly and know how to use them effectively.=80

Comment: Couldn't agree more!

/John

27July05

Independent Action:

A friend and student recently found herself in an awkward and uncomfortable

situation while in the company of a "friend-of-a-friend." S he was unharmed, but she found herself in a strange place, with a person who had grossly misinterpreted their relationship.

When she later talked with me, she had this sage advice:

MAINTAIN YOUR OPTIONS FOR INDEPENDENT ACTION.

Be able to transport yourself. Keep track of where you are and, when stranded, what you need to do to get back to a familiar place.

Whenever entering a building, or any confined place, immediately locate exits, find escape paths, identify objects that can be used for cover, and l ook over the crowd.

Don't depend on others for your own personal security. Have your w eapons with you. Be prepared, and have the personal determination, to use them wh en necessary. Maintain your good health. You have few options without it.

Have credit cards and cash with you, so that you can function when stranded . Always be able to independently: rent cars, stay at hotels, eat at restaurants, make airline reservations.

Have a flashlight. When you find yourself in a dark place, your options dr y up pretty fast without a flashlight.

Have your own cell phone. Be able to communicate immediately with those wh o can help you.

Don't be "trusting." Beware of people you don =99t know really well. Don't hesitate to abruptly disengage and separate, even when it seems impolite.

What comes through from the forgoing is the necessity of MAINTAINING PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE, maintaining the ability to take effective, unilateral action. Those who are victimized are invariably: naive, adolescent, unobservant, unprepared, unalert, unarmed, counterfactual. Most of all, they foolishly believe someone else cares about them more than they care about themselves. They need to grow up. With luck, they'll get the chance!

/John

27July05

Another Domestic Manufacturer:

JLD in Connecticut is now manufacturing the HK-91 (308) battle rifle here i n the USA. I handled a copy yesterday, and it was very nice. JLD has been i n business for three years. The first runs of what they call the PTR-91 had feeding problems, because the guns were too tight. They have since been loosened up, and current production copies are good, utility rifles.

The best model for our purposes is the Kurz/Tropical, featuring a short barrel and short stock. Collapsible stock is also available.

Our area's premier gunshop, Jensen=80=99s in Loveland, CO (addres s below), has a good supply, and they also have a twenty-round magazines at $2.00/copy! As k to talk with Dave.

Jensen's 246 E 4th St Loveland, CO 80538 970 663 5994

/John