Taking a Dremel tool to a firearm is almost always frowned upon. And I agree. However, butchering a holster might be entirely appropriate, depending on the reason. The other day I shared a story about how the extremely challenging Air Marshal Pistol Qualification test exposed some opportunities for gear improvement. The need for top speed […]
I Hope I Never Have to Draw…
In the comments section of a concealed carry article I wrote a while back for another publication, I read the following: “I HOPE I NEVER HAVE TO DRAW BECAUSE I CAN’T…” Needless to say, the opening words of that particular response got my attention, and I had to read on. This particular individual had chosen […]
Self-Defense Shooting: What To Do When Police Arrive
Early one Sunday morning in November, 2018, police responding to reports of gunfire at Manny’s Blue Room Lounge in Robbins, Illinois shot and killed an armed security guard. As with most violent encounters, facts remain murky to this day. Not because of a conspiracy or cover-up, but because things happen fast in the heat of […]
Concealed Carry Case Study: A Retail Store Robbery
I just read a story in the news about a foiled robbery attempt where a concealed carry permit holder intervened and stopped the crime. It made me pause and reflect on the types of decisions with which anyone who carries a concealed gun can face in a moment’s notice. On a Tuesday morning at about […]
Carry a Cheap Pistol… In Case You Have to Use It?
Since the official word of 2018 seems to be “sanctimonious,” I want to call out an important issue: nice gun shaming. If you choose to carry a gun that costs more than a used Hi-Point, you might be judged as fiscally irresponsible, wasteful, or at a minimum, extravagant. Both of these are solid carry guns. […]
What You Need to Know About Driving with Firearms
Suppose you’re planning a road trip and intend to transport a firearm in your vehicle. You’re a law-abiding citizen, and of course, there’s this thing called the Second Amendment that should cover you, right? Well, not exactly. In part, because the Founders of the United States believed that most laws should be made locally, states […]
Are You Acting in Self-Defense Legally?
Did you know that there are over 20,000 gun-related laws on the books throughout the United States? Did you know that more are added daily? Did you also know that you are responsible for knowing and adhering to every single law that’s in force wherever you happen to be standing at any given moment? Also […]
Springfield’s EMP: The Scaled Down 1911
I like big guns and I cannot lie. But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate luxury in a smaller package. I usually carry a full-size gun. While some of the pistols I like to tote around might be called “compacts,” they’re not exactly small, unless you consider double-stack 9mm pistols like the Sig Sauer P229 […]
Changing Magazines: Embrace the Reality
Rationalization is a powerful thing. The temptation to convince one’s self that “it’s good enough” or that you’ll “do it later” is right up there with other irresistible forces of nature like gravity and checking your smartphone while waiting in line. It’s so tempting to rationalize training shortcuts, especially when the routine in question is […]
3 Common Misconceptions About Handgun Sights
What’s that old saying? A lie, told often enough, becomes truth? We gun people are often guilty of a related thing. That would be passing along hearsay comments over and over, until they become assumed fact. Some of the things that I’ve heard a thousand times relate to gun sights. You know, observations like “Big […]