Newsletter for July 2004

Inside this issue:

Stick for Self-Defense DVD Now Available
Common Sense Meets Reality in Criminal Gun Use
The Offensive vs. Defensive Mindset
48 school deaths highest in years
Is the "Typical" Gunfight Now a Myth?
 

“Many self-defense students ask me if there is a ‘right time’ to fight back and if they should wait for that perfect moment before striking out at an attacker.  The answer is that fighting back should be done at the first available opportunity.  The longer any situation plays out, the more likely the assailant will have developed control over you and your environment.  Do not wait to act, and never let yourself be taken to another location.  Statistically, if a criminal tries to move a victim to a different location it is because he need additional privacy for a longer duration crime.  This is likely to be a sexual assault or murder scenario.  Whether male or female, you will never have a better chance of escaping a dangerous situation than in the first seconds of an attack.”

Mike Gillette

Training Director

National Law Enforcement and Security Institute

Stick for Self-Defense DVD Now Available

We have been getting a lot of requests from Defend University members for informational and instructional videos on self-defense and personal protection areas.

So, the newest Self-Defense Network cable show will air "Stick for Self-Defense".  The half-hour show features 2004 world stick fighting champion Steve Paul going over the strategies and techniques for using a stick, baton or stick-like object for self-defense against an attacker armed with a knife, bottle or club. 

There is no fancy footwork, terms, or twirls here -- just a crash course in how to effectively defend yourself when all you have is a stick or baton.  Steve teaches strategy, targets, using the police (expandable) baton and he teaches 3 drills for increasing the dexterity and effectiveness of your strikes.

There is also a segment which features real-life video of two Texas state troopers trying to subdue a suspect by using strikes from their expandable batons.  See why they would have had better luck if they would have followed Steve's advice.

To get more information on the show, go to Defend Gear. 

Common Sense Meets Reality in Criminal Gun Use

Surprise, surprise.  What your common sense tells you about criminals getting guns is true -- very few of them obtain them legally.  Are you shocked?

According to the Bureau of Justice Studies, a survey of state prison inmates showed where they obtained their guns used for their criminal deeds:

• 80% obtained them from family, friends, a street buy, or an illegal source;

• 12% from a retail store or pawnshop;

• Less than 2% from a flea market or gun show.

I guess there is about 6% that is somehow not accounted for by our government, but the important point of the study is that your common sense has always told you that the bad guys don't get their guns legally -- and that's matched in reality.

So don't buy into the notion that your neighborhood gun show is a nest of illegal gun running activity.  It also means that you should accept responsibility for your firearms and make sure they are properly secured. 

And that means from family members as well as from burglars...

 

The Offensive vs. Defensive Mindset

You hear a lot of martial artists, cops and soldiers discussing "offensive mindset" i.e. you should attack, attack, attack.   Others maintain that you should not strike the first blow -- you should avoid, evade and keep your defenses intact.

But which is really the best mindset for self-defense?  Go here to see the rest of this article or go directly to the Articles section.

48 school deaths highest in years

The 48 school-related violent deaths this school year from from August through June is more than in the past two school years combined and more than in any year in the past decade.

The 2002-2003 school year saw 16 violent deaths in and around schools, down from 17 the previous year, according to National School Safety And Security Services.  The statistics includes not just violence by students but any homicide or suicide on school property, on the way to or from school or while attending or traveling to or from a school-sponsored event. That's the definition used by the federal government.

Is the "Typical" Gunfight Now a Myth?

There is a long-standing assertion in training circles that the "average" gunfight takes place at arm's length, in a  dimly lit environment, and totals 3.5 shots.

However, a number of items converging together seem to indicate that the modern gunfight involves more rounds than the traditional average.

Our friend, Michael Mayles, an international military and police firearms and tactics trainer (and certified Rape Escape instructor) says he has noticed the trend worldwide.  

He attributes the trend to several factors:

1. Increased magazine capacities in most handguns and military style rifles;

2. "Copy Cat" mentality of people who have viewed movies and cinema features showing the hero expending a never-ending stream of bullets;

3. Television news coverage of dramatic gun battles like the North Hollywood Bank Robbery;

4. The change in law enforcement circles from "two shots and assess" to "keep shooting until the threat is down".  

I agree with Michael in his observations.  I would also add:

1. There was a massive personal protection arms race following the ultra-violent crack epidemic in the 80s and early 90s which can been seen in the huge shift to the semi-automatic pistol from the revolver in law enforcement.  The duty weapon carried by police also has a profound influence in what many people choose to carry for criminal or personal defensive reasons.  In the 70s and 80s, the "cool" handguns were the .44 Magnum and the .357 Magnum.  These revolvers only carried 6 rounds.  In fact, in my first police academy in 1985, I was issued a Smith & Wesson Model 10 .38 Special revolver.  With two speed loaders on my duty belt, I carried a total of 18 rounds.  Today, my Glock carries almost that amount in one magazine.  I can carry a total of 45 rounds in magazines on my duty rig.   The high-capacity auto is considered to be the cool pistol to carry.  

2. Ironically, the U.S. legal restriction of keeping a magazine capacity to 10 rounds has encouraged the production of smaller, more concealable handguns with 10-round capacities.  It used to be considered "overkill" to have a 1911-style automatic which carried 8 rounds of .45. 

3. There is a very, very natural tendency for people under stress to continue shooting until their slide locks back and their pistol is empty.  If you have a quality handgun with a high-capacity magazine, it is possible to fire a dozen times in 2 seconds.   You can see actual evidence of this in the video, Gunfight Simulation for Self-Defense.

4. Michael's point on the effect of movies and TV on most people is well-taken.  In a recent counter-terrorism class, we had the opportunity to view captured video tape of al-Queda operatives training.  If the subject matter was not so deadly serious, it might have been laughable.  It became obvious that the terrorists on tape were mimicking the movements of movie and TV stars as they conducted live-fire room clearing exercises.  Their tactics had little or no connection with modern tactical teams, but the liberal use of the "high Sabrina" carry and the dramatic "straight arm roll out" from cover had "Charlie's Angels" and "Starsky and Hutch" written all over it.  

What this all adds up to is that, if you are in a gunfight to defend yourself or your loved ones, you should expect to trade significantly more than 3.5 rounds with your attacker.  I'm not saying this is good or bad by itself, but you should be aware that the "typical" gunfight is changing.   Knowing what you will probably encounter gives you a better chance of developing a plan to deal with it.

Go here if you want to access the newsletter archives.

Train like your life depends on it.  Someday it might.
 

Brad Parker