When things go wrong
This post is a little different because the subject is a submarine, specifically the USS Connecticut, a US Navy nukuler attack submarine. The Connecticut had an incident in the South China Sea on Oct 2, 2021. Initially, there was speculation on the internetz that it had collided with a Chinese submarine. However, it turns out that the boat simply crashed into an underwater terrain feature, which the Navy calls an “uncharted bathymetric feature.”
The Sub Brief YouTube channel has an excellent video on what happened and what went wrong.
What does a submarine running aground have to do with Personal Protection? The stack up of numerous problems, some of which had been going on for quite a while, and others that were immediate, caused the grounding.
Just one thing after another and this is how casualties happen. Casualties are very rarely isolated incidents, they cascade. This casualty, this collision cascaded all over the boat from the sonar being destroyed forward to the engine room believing they had lost propulsion to the machinery room catching on fire. Everybody’s having a bad time all of a sudden because casualties will cascade and that’s what’s happening here. Immediate actions of this crew is outstanding and probably is what saved the ship because whenever they were losing … buoyancy, sinking past 74 feet without propulsion, they were screwed. That is a dying submarine. Whenever you do the emergency blow and you still have negative buoyancy and you don’t have propulsion, well guess what, you know you better start making plans for the next life because you’re almost done with this one.
https://youtu.be/IPr7Yrwgly4?t=2396
Laxity, failure to pay attention to detail, and poor or absent communication all contributed to what could have been a tragic loss of a submarine and its entire crew.
Executive Summary [from the Final Investigative Report]
14. (U) On 2 October 2021, CONNECTICUT grounded on an uncharted bathymetric feature while operating submerged in a poorly surveyed area in international waters. This mishap was preventable. It resulted from an accumulation of errors and omissions in navigation planning, watchteam execution, and risk management that fell far below U.S. Navy standards. Prudent decision-making and adherence to required procedures in any of these three areas could have prevented the grounding.
Here is a short summary of the incident and findings of the investigation. https://news.usni.org/2022/05/24/investigation-uss-connecticut-south-china-sea-grounding-result-of-lax-oversight-poor-planning
The link to the full redacted investigation report is here. https://news.usni.org/2022/05/23/command-investigation-into-uss-connecticuts-south-china-sea-seamount-grounding
Consider how many things can stack up to cause additional problems in a Personal Protection incident as you watch the video.
Revolver History – Merwin & Hulbert
#wheelgunwednesday
The Merwin & Hulbert revolvers of the Old West period aren’t very well known today. Forgotten Weapons has an excellent video about them.
The innovative engraving style and extensive use of nickel plating were unique features of their revolvers. Being able to eject the empty cases while keeping unfired rounds to do a tactical reload made them an excellent choice for gunfighting.
Keeping tabs on Unintentional Discharges
One of the ways I keep an eye on Unintentional Discharges is via Google Alerts on a weekly basis. Although I prefer the LAPD definition of Unintentional Discharge, the most common phrase found in the news is ‘accidental discharge,’ so that’s what my search is set for. I know that “negligent discharge” is the common vernacular in the firearms community but as Marty Hayes of Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network https://armedcitizensnetwork.org/ has pointed out, ‘negligent’ has a specific meaning in legal terms that does not fit the circumstances of most UDs. Consequently, I don’t use ‘negligent discharge’ except when the applicable legal definition fits the incident. If we’re going to pick nits about the difference between ‘clip’ and ‘magazine,’ let’s pick nits consistently.
Here is this week’s list:
Google Alert – “accidental discharge”
From: Google Alerts (googlealerts-noreply@google.com)
To: me
Date: Wednesday, May 4, 2022, 08:06 PM EDT
“accidental discharge”
Weekly update ⋅ May 5, 2022
3 Piqua PD officers injured in accidental discharge incident – WDTN.com
3 Piqua PD officers injured in accidental discharge incident … PIQUA, Ohio (WDTN) — A firearm was accidentally discharged inside the Piqua police …
https://www.wdtn.com/news/local-news/3-piqua-pd-officers-injured-in-accidental-discharge-incident/
‘Accidental’ Gun Discharge Hits Douglassville Woman – The Sanatoga Post
… Police from the Troop L Barracks in Reading reported Friday (April 29, 2022), in what they said was an “accidental discharge of a firearm.”.
https://sanatogapost.com/2022/05/02/douglassville-woman-accidental-firearm-victim/
Victim of reported accidental shooting ID’d as 64-year-old – Bring Me The News
The man who died after being shot in the head as a result of a reported accidental discharge has been identified. The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s …
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/victim-of-reported-accidental-shooting-idd-as-64-year-old
Capitol Police incompetence: Officer suspended over accidental gun discharge | Just The News
The accidental discharge comes as Capitol Police are already under fire for a series of mistakes. The department ordered the Capitol to be …
Soldier who accidentally killed comrade is convicted of manslaughter | The Times of Israel
Staff Sgt. Yonatan Granot, killed by an apparent accidental discharge from another serviceman’s weapon in the Jordan Valley (Courtesy).
https://www.timesofisrael.com/soldier-who-accidentally-killed-comrade-is-convicted-of-manslaughter/
Union Township woman wounded accidentally, state police say – The Mercury
Troopers said the incident was an accidental discharge of a firearm. The woman was taken to the Reading Hospital, where she was treated for …
https://www.pottsmerc.com/2022/04/29/union-township-accidental-shooting/
Uncle allegedly shoots 4-year-child in Taylor in accidental shooting – The News Herald
… remains under investigation, Canning said preliminarily it appears to be a case of gross negligence — an accidental discharge of a firearm.
Incident Reports & Arrests April 22-26 – The Post-Searchlight
Accidental discharge of firearm reported on the 200 block of Hales Landing Rd. · Criminal trespass reported on the 700 block of E. · Burglary reported …
https://www.thepostsearchlight.com/2022/04/28/incident-reports-arrests-april-22-26/
Lake Lillian Shooting Victim Identified | KDUZ
The initial news release said at 10:34 p.m., a person called the sheriff’s office to report an accidental discharge of a firearm that hit Coulston …
https://kduz.com/2022/04/29/lake-lillian-shooting-victim-identified/
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Why we shoot pistols one-handed
A very interesting article is available on the NRA Sporting Sports USA website. There are some relevant historical details about the development of pistol technique in it.
https://www.ssusa.org/content/a-short-history-of-american-target-development-and-evolution/
U.S. Cavalry troops were required to shoot dismounted on the Army Target “L”. Even though they carried sabers and carbines, revolvers and pistols were the primary arms of the cavalry. Just as foretop men aloft in the rigging during the days of sail was [sic] admonished, “One hand for yourself and one for the ship,” so it was with the cavalryman, one hand for the horse and one for the pistol and that is why conventional pistol shooting is a one handed affair. After qualifying on foot, troops were required to repeat the course of fire while on their horse.
The Army Target “L” was pretty big, six feet tall and four feet wide. A five-inch aiming black, worth ten points was surrounded by seven concentric circles at intervals of 8.5 inches, 12 inches, 15.5 inches, 19 inches, 22.5 inches, 26 inches, and 46 inches and of descending value nine through three points. Any hits on the remainder of the frame were worth two points. On the left side were large numbers, five through two, from top to bottom, and six through nine on the right for scoring purposes.
The influence of the US Army Cavalry on the use of the handgun in our country cannot be underestimated, although mostly forgotten a century later. The Cavalry was the branch of the Army that led the development effort for the 1911 pistol. Cavalry doctrine of that time is the reason the 1911 has a spur hammer, manual safety, and grip safety. Those are details for another time, though. Teaser: the 1911 was NOT designed to be carried ‘cocked and locked,’ contrary to popular opinion.
Gun Safety 2022 – Part V
#mindsetmonday
In addition to the Four Rules, store firearms and other weapons where they are not accessible to unauthorized persons. Guns are not boxes of Kleenex and require a higher level of security for their storage.
My personal ongoing data gathering indicates that every single day, on average, a child gains access to an improperly stored firearm and then incurs or causes a gunshot wound. While this is small number compared to some other types of ‘accidents,’ the other types don’t generally result in large amounts of blood that has to be cleaned up. The level of psychological trauma to the responsible parties cannot be imagined by the rest of us.
The saddest aspect of these incidents is how preventable they are. Numerous easy and inexpensive ways to secure firearms either at home or in a vehicle are readily available. There’s no excuse for not using them.
The balance of the post is on my Patreon page and is publicly available.
Philadelphia robbery kidnapping and sort of home invasion
They tied his hands with zip ties around his back and threatened to kill him if he made any sudden moves. That’s when our victim realized these individuals were not police officers
Police Chief Inspector Scott Small
The FBI calls this ‘a clue.’
Legally speaking, this was a kidnapping.
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=18&div=0&chpt=29
According to police, the 25-year-old victim was able to free his hands and grab a gun from his pocket. The victim fired several shots toward the men, striking the police impersonator three times.
The three hits resulted in the kidnapper/POlice impersonator to be neutralized and dead. The Rule of Three appears again. Good thing he had his pistol in his pocket.
Serious Mistake – Chasing and Shooting
#shortbussunday
#yourenothelping
Girl, 9, shot at mall while awaiting Easter bunny; police say shopkeeper fired at thieves
The initial report is that the shopkeeper chased shoplifters into the mall and shot at them. The shoplifters were not hit but a little girl bystander was.
CHASING AFTER THE END OF A CONFRONTATION
When a criminal confrontation ends and the criminal flees, there’s a strong instinct to chase the attacker and continue the conflict. Armed Citizens need to recognize that this instinct exists and resist the urge to chase. Instinctive as it might be, chasing and prolonging the confrontation can result in legal problems and has the possibility of a tactical failure.
Serious Mistakes Gunowners Make
There’s a reason I include Serious Mistakes Gunowners Make free with all my books. If you would rather just purchase it at the reduced priced price of $4.99, here’s the link.
Serious Mistakes Gunowners Make https://store.payloadz.com/go/?id=2617872
The Oscar Slap
The timeline of the Oscar Slap has much value in the study of Personal Protection and Self-Defense. It has been preserved for posterity and study on video. The Guardian provides a short clip that shows it.
- Chris Rock makes his joke about “GI Jane 2.” = O second
- Will Smith laughs = +1 second
- Jada Pickett Smyth rolls her eyes = +3 seconds
- Chris Rock says, “Uh oh,” meaning Will Smith was already on his feet = +10 seconds
- Will Smith slaps Rock = +15 seconds
From the first indication something was going to happen, five or at most six seconds transpired.
Note the distances involved. Smith and Rock were no more than 25 feet (Near Phase of Public Space) apart.
Note also that Smith didn’t do a “Tueller Drill” on Rock. He walked purposefully but not even at a rapid pace to cover the 20 to 25 feet of ground.
Dr. Phil says “What bothers me? No one – no security or anybody came on the stage to protect Chris, and no one in Will’s camp – nobody stepped up to save him from himself.”
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/dr-phil-reveals-bothers-him-080152453.html
Dr. Phil’s guest Exavier Pope, an attorney, legal analyst, and host of the podcast SuitUp, common tated, “He had a whole runway. That’s a lot of cooling time, not just for Will Smith but for anyone to have stopped him.”
Five seconds is NOT “a lot of time,” especially for something as unexpected as a Battery (Cal. Penal Code § § 242, 243) during a high profile televised Black Tie event.
Also observe that it took less than 10 seconds for Will Smith’s laughter at the joke to turn into violent action. The term “trigger” is appropriate.
When it’s least expected, you’re elected.
–John Farnam
For anyone who thinks this was staged, look at Will Smith’s face when he shouts “Keep my wife’s name out your f**king mouth” near the end of the clip. That’s genuine anger. BOLO for it and keep your distance.
In Memoriam: The Newhall Incident – April 1970
At 11:55 p.m., April 5, 1970, two Officers of the California Highway Patrol stopped a car for brandishing a firearm at another vehicle hours earlier. Minutes later, they and two other CHP Officers would lie dead in the parking lot of the restaurant where the stop took place. Their murderers would escape into the night, virtually unscathed in the gunfire.
Why I Like to Measure Things
#measurementmonday
Why do I like to measure things? Because until I do, I don’t really know what’s inside.
I dislike soupy oatmeal. Although I followed the package instructions, it still turned out like soup. When I used the package measurement, it didn’t. Measuring the actual amount of water from the package’s marker doesn’t hold as much water as it says and which the directions specify. One half a cup is quite a bit less than two-thirds of a cup.
What does soupy oatmeal have to do with personal protection? How would we know whether we’re “good shooters” https://youtu.be/qB7NKXEKewM?t=599 unless we measure our own level of competency?
There has been debate within the training community for a long time about standards of competency. Those arguments will probably never be settled. One possible starting point could be the level of marksmanship necessary to pass the NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting Course. To pass the Course, a shooter needs to be able to make five hits inside a 4 inch circle four times at 10 feet, no time limit.
The NRA doesn’t require that a shooter make the standard in four consecutive attempts. Someone keeping or carrying a pistol for personal protection probably should consider being able to do it every single time. Shooting the BOPS test would at least give you an idea of where your competency is. Here is a target for you to use.
My Fundamentals of Pistol Shooting Tier https://www.patreon.com/TacticalProfessor?fan_landing=true is $1 a month on Patreon. The kickoff post, Dry Practice Circle Drill, is available to the public without subscribing. https://www.patreon.com/posts/64582173
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