One of the scariest self-defense situations is a false sense of security. You know what I’m talking about. We’re human, so we’re superior not only because we have opposable thumbs, but because we can think, strategize, reason, and hope. The hope part, while awesome and critical to our long-term survival, can also get us into […]
Is Self-Defense Homicide?
If you kill someone in self-defense, are you guilty of homicide? Well, yes, technically speaking, but we’ll get into that more in a minute. You know as well as I do that lawyers get paid by the page, so any discussion of the legal issues surrounding a self-defense incident could break the internet. We just […]
What’s Best For Home Defense? Pistol, Rifle or Shotgun?
I just had a wonderful opportunity to directly compare pros and cons of different guns (or weapons systems as my instructors say) for home defense. You see, I just (barely) graduated from Tactical Pre-School. They were threatening to have me repeat, but I don’t think any of the instructors wanted me back for another session. […]
Handgun Laser Myths.. Busted!
Years ago, I had a feeling that lasers were a good thing for a self or home-defense gun. I’d only used them on the range for practice, and at home dry firing, but it just seemed so sensible to me. All of the “marketing messages” sounded pretty rational. “You can focus on the threat and […]
Mad Gun Science: Is Birdshot Effective at Indoor Distances?
We gun folk are exceptionally guilty of repeating hearsay and assuming it’s truth. You know how it works. If some hypothetical scenario gets repeated enough, it becomes the truth. This week’s Mad Gun Science experiment has to do with the idea of using birdshot for home defense. This one has two “hearsay” truths. Birdshot is […]
A Handgun Laser Primer
If you want to start a bar fight, just bring up the topic of using lasers on handguns. Although they’ve been mainstream for years, there’s still an amazing amount of controversy, disinformation and downright bunk floating around out there. With that in mind, we figured it’s time to do a series of articles that together, […]
Benefits of Using a Handgun Laser
Last time, I discussed the types of handgun-mounted lasers and how they operate. Now, let’s take a look at the “why” behind mounting a laser on your handgun. In other words, what are the benefits? Next in this series, we’ll talk about what some consider drawbacks. I consider most of the perceived drawbacks myths, but […]
Four Things You Can Do With a Rifle – Besides Hunt
Barbara is more of a hunter than I am. In this issue of First Shots News, she’ll tell you how to get started. While I hunt a little bit, mostly ducks and geese, she’s hard-core and chases down ill-tempered wild boars with flint knives. That’s what I’ve heard, and I’m sticking by that story. My […]
Turn Your Handgun Into An Effective Home Defense Tool
When it comes to home defense, cheating is an acceptable, and desirable, strategy. If you’re ever forced to defend your loved ones in your home, and you find yourself in a fair fight, you tactics suck, or so the saying goes. Put into practical and actionable terms, when preparing your home defense strategy, it makes […]
Shooting Myth: A Laser Will Only Give Away Your Position!
I’ve been a big fan of lasers on handguns for years. At first, this was because they sounded great on paper. After actually running around shooting in the dark at various training events and nocturnal competitions, my “fanboy” meter has maxed out. But to be really clear, I want to stress that I am talking […]