10Nov06

As I indicated back in September, NY state troopers will upgrade to the G37

in 45GAP Caliber. Change will be complete by the end of next year.

Interestingly, the superintendent said yesterday that the change was not du e to any inadequacy associated with the 9mm round (admitting that would, of course, raise question as to why the 9mm was selected in the first place!). Instead, he made this curiously damning statement:

"... research from the FBI (yes, let's blame them!) shows th at in most police shootings, regardless of how many rounds an officer may fire, only on e or two shots actually hit the target in the torso. By increasing the size of th e rounds troopers use, we're are hoping to increase the likelihood of incapacitating the intended target."

Here is his statement translated into plane English:

"So, since you people can't hit anything anyway, we'll just give you bigger guns. Bigger caliber, not improved training and higher standards, is alway s the solution to personal incompetence."

I wonder how many of his troopers enjoy that slur being directed at them. Unfortunately, individual excellence scares the snot out of most appointed administrators. Competent people must make them nervous!

/John

10Nov06

On pistols and calibers, from a friend in SA:

"Much has been said about pistol caliber choice. In South Africa, most citizens can only own one gun for defensive purposes. Most select a pistol , so they can have it constantly with them. Our VCAs use military rifles smuggl ed in from the north or stolen from police. So, at the outset, those targeted

for violent crime are outgunned and usually outnumbered. The only way to victory is through exceeding personal competence and icy determination.

It is for this reason that I recommend to my students handguns that have a high magazine capacity. Multiple attackers, using military rifles, can oft en be defeated or driven off, only by keeping them at bay at extended ranges until such time that help arrives or the gang of VCAs decides to disengage a nd go after easier pickings.

G19s and 17s are extremely popular here, for precisely that reason. We would love to shoot people with the 45GAP too, but that ammunition is not available here, and we would run out too soon anyway. Nine-shooters don't cut it here. 'Stopping power' is a good thing, but it avails one n othing when he runs out of ammunition before the fight is over."

Comment: Once again, "Where you stand depends on where you sit! =9D Over here, we train and equip our civilian students mostly for short gunfights, o n the assumption that their challenge will likely be a singular VCA, armed with a

pistol or edged weapon. When circumstances change, we may have to change o ur approach too!

/John