#walkbackwednesday

It makes me happy that my thoughts about the explicit difference in the missions of Law Enforcement and Private Citizens are becoming mainstream. I appreciate the various members of the training community who are amplifying my concept that Breaking Contact is the fundamental mission of Private Citizens in self-defense or defense of others. My colleague John Correia has produced an excellent video about a recent incident with numerous learning points in it.
My initial takeaways from the ASP video.
- pay attention and recognize when you’re in a transitional space
- when your gas gets started pumping, step around to the other side of your vehicle
- purposeful compliance until your counter-attack or escape opportunity arises
- counter ambush (i.e., counter-attack)
- different missions between law enforcement officers and private citizens
- the mission for a private citizen defensive encounter is to break contact
- only hits count (close range precision marksmanship)
The close range precision marksmanship of this incident are particularly noticeable in the video. Although Mr. Red was only double arm’s length (5 feet) away, he was also in profile. His target area in total was no larger than a sheet of paper in portrait mode.

Mr. Black was about triple arm’s length (8 feet) away. Like Mr. Red, he was also a profile target and his target area was not very large.

The ability to hit an eight inch circle or even smaller target at close range with the first shot can be essential to survival. Regardless of what one thinks about using the sights under stress, it’s obvious that Captain Joyner had his pistol in his eye-target line. He did this despite both attackers being within proxemic Social Space. An important note about Captain Joyner is that this wasn’t his first rodeo; Oakland is a tough place.
Over his career, Joyner was involved in five shootings as an officer
KTVU
Breaking Contact is one of the fundamental concepts of Thinking Clearly about Self-defense and Personal Protection https://www.payloadz.com/go?id=3377208 It’s a strategy in the sense of doing the right things, as opposed to tactics, which are doing things right.
CCW Safe https://ccwsafe.com/ did an excellent series of blog posts about the concept of Breaking Contact. The key principle and goal is contained in the first post.
Our goal in personal protection is to force a break in contact. We want them to go away, or we want to go away. One or the other.
- Part 1 – https://ccwsafe.com/blog/breaking-contact-pt-1
- Part 2 – https://ccwsafe.com/blog/breaking-contact-pt-2
- Part 3 – https://ccwsafe.com/blog/breaking-contact-pt-3
- Part 4 – https://ccwsafe.com/blog/breaking-contact-pt-4
- Part 5 – https://ccwsafe.com/blog/breaking-contact-pt-5
My article about the basic philosophy of breaking contact is here.
The Oakland POlice Department has posted a clear picture of the getaway vehicle.
Tactical Professor books (all PDF)
- Thinking Clearly about Self-defense and Personal Protection https://www.payloadz.com/go?id=3377208
- Real Shootouts of the LAPD https://realshootoutsofthelapd.com/
- Serious Mistakes Gunowners Make http://seriousgunownermistakes.com
- Indoor Range Practice Sessions http://indoorrangepracticesessions.com
- Concealed Carry Skills and Drills http://concealedcarryskillsanddrills.com
- Advanced Pistol Practice http://bit.ly/advancedpistolpractice
- Shooting Your Black Rifle http://shootingyourblackrifle.com
- Package deal of Thinking Clearly about Self-defense and Personal Protection, Serious Mistakes, Indoor Sessions, Concealed Carry, and Shooting Your Black Rifle (50% off) https://store.payloadz.com/details/2644448-ebooks-sports-shooting-drills-package.html
Purchase of any book includes Serious Mistakes Gunowners Make.