Open Carry v. Doofus Carry
A video is circulating on the Interwebz now about an unfortunate situation in which a man’s gun was snatched from him in a gas station. He chased the thief and was subsequently shot with his own gun.
Although I am not a fan of Open Carry, let’s analyze the situation in a little more depth. The proximate cause of the snatch was that he simply stuck his gun in his back pocket unconcealed and then walked into a crowded environment where a bunch of lowlifes were coming and going.
As a result, a ne’er-do-well nonchalantly walked up behind him and simply grabbed the gun out of his pocket.
The carry technique the man was using is more correctly described as “Doofus Carry,” having two parts. There’s no back story to the incident but it wouldn’t be surprising to find that his usual carry technique is in the side door pocket of his car. If so, then when he pulled into the gas station and saw a bunch of lowlifes going in and out, he decided to stick his gun in his pocket when he went in. He probably didn’t stick it in the front of his waistband because he had a striker fired gun and was concerned about ‘shooting his junk off.’
Sticking a gun in a back pocket is not the same thing as having it in a proper holster attached to the belt.
If my hypothesis is correct, it leads more credence to something the late Pat Rogers often said:
“Your car is not a holster.”
To reiterate, I’m not advocating Open Carry. But, if you’re going to carry a gun, at do it right. Have a decent holster and belt. Use it all the time when you leave home. If it’s uncomfortable and you don’t like wearing it, get a better holster or consider getting a more comfortable gun. “Your gun should be comforting not comfortable” is possibly the most ridiculous statement that’s ever been made about firearms.
The one good piece of advice in these retellings is that if your gun does get taken from you, Let it go. https://www.patreon.com/posts/let-it-go-107811846 The thief is now armed and you’re not. Chasing the felon means you’re going unarmed to a potential shooting. That’s a Serious Mistake. Don’t be foolish and assume the thief isn’t familiar and experienced with guns. As this incident shows, that’s the formula for a Negative Outcome.
If you like my work, join me on Patreon where I post more in-depth articles about shooting, marksmanship, and incident analysis.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – November 2024
This month we have a Good story of thwarting a gun grab, a Bad story about muzzle direction, and awareness, and an Ugly story about stupidity.
Since November is the month of Veterans’ Day, the musical selection is “La Storia di un Soldalto” (The Story of a Soldier).
https://www.patreon.com/posts/good-bad-and-117021444
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY – NOVEMBER 2024
The Good
DA: Aurora convenience store guard shot gunman in self defense
The video of this incident is quite dramatic and demonstrates that Open Carry is not a deterrence to assault and theft. The criminal deliberately targeted the guard to get his gun. Fortunately, the guard gave the criminal a bullet instead of the gun in the struggle that followed the grab attempt.
The Bad
A DRAMATIC video shows a referee firing a gun at a competitor at point-blank range and hitting him in the bum [i.e., ass] after allegedly not putting the safety on.
“Muzzle direction is the primary safety; always has been, always will be.” –Bill Rogers
The Ugly
McAlester Football Coach Forrest Mazey was charged Friday for a July incident involving a handgun at a cabin in McCurtain County.
Aiming firearms, loaded or not, at other people to scare them is not funny in the least. It’s stupid and ugly.
Enjoy!
If you like my work, join me on Patreon where I post more in-depth articles about shooting, marksmanship, and incident analysis.
https://www.patreon.com/TacticalProfessor
The GBU isn’t drawn from The Armed Citizen column of the official NRA Journals but the November edition of The Armed Citizen is attached. Rather than an obsessive interest in ‘the worst case scenario,’ it shows what the vast majority of Defensive Gun Uses really look like.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – October 2024
Whoops! I just realized that I had not posted the unlocked version of October’s The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
This month we have a Good story of taking care of oneself, a Bad story about failed parenting, and another Ugly story in which the authorities failed to protect someone they could and should have.
The musical selection for October is Metallica’s cover of The Ecstasy of Gold. Metal covers of songs from Westerns are rare and this is exceptionally good.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/good-bad-and-115130383
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY – OCTOBER 2024
The Good
A Hubert woman who fatally shot her ex-boyfriend in self-defense earlier this month will not face charges, according to the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office
“the woman fired five shots from a .380 caliber handgun. He was struck by all five shots.”
The Bad
Baby shot and killed by toddler who got hold of loaded gun in parked car
The child who fired the shot was 3 and the victim was 10 months old.
The Ugly
A Minneapolis man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting his neighbor for pruning a tree he believed was on his property line, court documents show
This is a follow up on last month’s Ugly incident; bear in mind that it doesn’t take much to set some people off. Just as in last month’s incident, the authorities took no action against the shooter before the incident despite him having active warrants.
Enjoy!
If you like my work, join me on Patreon where I post more in-depth articles about shooting, marksmanship, and incident analysis.
https://www.patreon.com/TacticalProfessor
The GBU isn’t drawn from The Armed Citizen column of the official NRA Journals but the October edition of The Armed Citizen is attached. Rather than an obsessive interest in ‘the worst case scenario,’ it shows what the vast majority of Defensive Gun Uses really look like.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – September 2024
The September edition showcases Negative Outcome. There’s also a link to a superb live rendition of The Ecstasy of Gold by The Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/good-bad-and-113039247
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – September 2024
The Good
Retired Army colonel shoots robber [who] shot him 3 times, Cullman sheriff says
If you have a malfunction, don’t throw your pistol away; that’s a Serious Mistake. A better title for the article would have been ‘Army Colonel Shot 3 Times by Robber He Shot After Throwing His Pistol Away.’
The Bad
Two articles this month are worthy inclusions for the Second Edition of Serious Mistakes Gunowners Make. One relates to Improper Storage and the other to Chasing and Shooting
Important Safety Tip: Don’t Store Firearms In Your Oven
We would think this goes without saying but apparently not.
Man arrested after allegedly chasing and shooting man who siphoned gas from his car
When the criminal breaks contact, we need to do the same thing; break contact. In terms of mindset, frustration and guns should not occur in the same sentence.
The Ugly
3 women killed, gunman dead in Hawaii after dispute between neighbors leads to gunfire
People are unpredictable. Just because your cause is righteous doesn’t mean a Negative Outcome won’t occur. Having a wacko drive a front end loader into your home and then starting shooting people is definitely a Negative Outcome.
Enjoy!
If you like my work, join me on Patreon where I post more in-depth articles about shooting, marksmanship, and incident analysis.
https://www.patreon.com/TacticalProfessor
The GBU isn’t drawn from The Armed Citizen column of the official NRA Journals but the September edition of The Armed Citizen is attached. Rather than an obsessive interest in ‘the worst case scenario,’ it shows what the vast majority of Defensive Gun Uses really look like.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – August 2024
The August edition showcases mindset and tactics. This month, I’m including some supplemental incidents that came to light after the initial post.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/good-bad-and-111172309
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – August 2024
The Good
Robbery suspect pepper-sprayed Norwalk store owner, who shot him
Just because you start out behind the Power Curve, that doesn’t mean you can’t regain the initiative. Keep your wits about you and fight through it.
The Bad
DC man who said he shot 13-year-old boy in self-defense convicted of manslaughter
In military terminology, if you go outside, you have turned a Defense, in which you have a 3 to 1 advantage, into a Movement to Contact, in which the odds are, at best, even and possibly against you. In legal concept, the odds definitely turn against you. Maintain your advantage, don’t squander it.
The Ugly
Suspect shot by Bystander during Attempted Carjacking
The original incident is a candidate for the Good. But the comments on the Yahoo article are Ugly.
Enjoy!
If you like my work, join me on Patreon where I post more in-depth articles about shooting, marksmanship, and incident analysis.
https://www.patreon.com/TacticalProfessor
The GBU isn’t drawn from The Armed Citizen column of the official NRA Journals but the August edition of The Armed Citizen is attached. Rather than an obsessive interest in ‘the worst case scenario,’ it shows what the vast majority of Defensive Gun Uses really look like.
Some relevant incidents from August surfaced later.
Good
SELF-DEFENSE: Boy who killed Cape Coral mother’s boyfriend will not be charged
“Police say when the brother got to the home, Mess Jr. was standing outside with a solid wooden rod and brass knuckles.
Detectives say Mess Jr. started beating up the brother in front of the young boy.
According to police, the boy got a gun and pointed it at Mess Jr. as a warning. However, police say the man kept beating the boy’s uncle.
‘At that point, the son was in fear for his uncle’s life,’ police said.
The young boy fired multiple shots, killing Mess Jr.”
Sad that the boy had to kill the man but Good that the facts of the case vindicated him.
Bad
Cincinnati area smoke shop manager sentenced for role in fatal shooting during break-in
“CINCINNATI (WKRC) – The manager of a Delhi Township smoke shop was sentenced to eight to nine years in prison for firing on a group of burglars during a break-in.
Thacker opened fire immediately and kept firing while the burglars were running and driving away.”
https://local12.com/news/local/cincinnati-area-smoke-shop-manager-sentenced-role-fatal-shooting-during-break-in-delhi-township-tony-thacker-vip-travis-johnson-amontae-carter-crime-accomplice-prison
Chasing criminals and shooting at them after they have broken contact places a righteous defender in a very precarious legal situation. Once they remember they’re late for their root canal, let them go, lock the door if you can, call the POlice, and get your gun out of sight. Preplan and mentally rehearse your post-confrontation actions just as much as your actions during the confrontation.
A 2-year-old accidentally shot and wounded his mother’s boyfriend, police say
“According to a preliminary investigation, the man was getting ready to leave the house Monday morning and had put the gun on a nearby chair when the toddler accidentally fired the gun”
Firearms are relentlessly unforgiving of even the smallest lapse of attention, such as putting a gun down on a nearby chair.
‘Smart and loving’: Colerain family mourns teen killed by friend in apparent accident
“My friend has a .2 long rifle. [sic] There was a bullet in, right, and you need to shoot it to prime it, and I didn’t know it was primed, and I had it, and I accidentally pulled the trigger.”
Rule #1 – All guns are always loaded
Ugly
Detective: Liberty Township grandmother said ‘sorry not sorry’ after shooting 6-month-old granddaughter
“I asked her, ‘Why her grandbaby?’ And she said, ‘That was not my grandbaby.’ And at one point she said, ‘Sorry, not sorry,'” [the detective] said.
She pleaded guilty to felonious assault last month.
https://www.fox19.com/2024/09/17/grandma-pleads-guilty-after-shooting-5-month-old-grandchild-2023/
I have no words.
Evolution Security Podcast 169
We had a very interesting conversation this week on the Evolution Security Podcast https://evosec.libsyn.com/ep-169-claude-werner-the-tactical-professor .
Things we talked about.
- Negative Outcomes
- The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
- The Cost of Killing https://thetacticalprofessor.net/2016/07/24/the-cost-of-killing/
- Social Space Gunfighting Class
- Dr. William Aprill and psychology
- ‘shooting better’ rather than ‘slowing down’
- Practicing with Black Rifles https://thetacticalprofessor.net/2019/07/31/shooting-your-black-rifle-the-book/
- And more.
If you like my work, join me on Patreon where I post more in-depth articles about shooting, marksmanship, and incident analysis.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – July 2024
No incidents from Chicargo in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly this month. There is one in The Armed Citizen column though, a bicycle robbery.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/good-bad-and-109150993
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – July 2024
The Good
Prosecutor says deadly shooting in downtown Anderson appears to be self-defense
Many, perhaps most, shootings take place in Social Space. This appears to be one of them.
The Bad
[Unintentional] shooting at Kentucky gun store under investigation
Another story emphasizing the importance of safe gunhandling by observing Fundamental Rules at all times. A combination of Rule Two (Point in a safe direction) and Rule Three (Keep finger outside trigger guard) violations caused the death of an innocent bystander. Rule One (All guns are always loaded) applies no matter where you are, even when examining a gun taken out of a display case.
The Ugly
Two women involved in custody battle shot dead
People sometimes get insane over child custody. Every unpleasant custody battle story I read makes me glad my parents weren’t like that.
“A 65-year-old retired probation officer from Chicago fatally shot her grandchild’s mother on an Upper East Side street Friday just yards from Gracie Mansion, then turned the gun on herself, NYPD detectives said.”
Enjoy!
If you like my work, join me on Patreon where I post more in-depth articles about shooting, marksmanship, and incident analysis.
https://www.patreon.com/TacticalProfessor
The GBU isn’t drawn from The Armed Citizen column of the official NRA Journals but the July edition of The Armed Citizen is attached. Rather than an obsessive interest in ‘the worst case scenario,’ it shows what the vast majority of Defensive Gun Uses really look like.
Surveillance Detection – It’s a Real Thing
Surveillance Detection is a lifestyle not something you pull out of your pocket on occasion. It’s better to avoid trouble than to get out of trouble.
“[A couple] had just returned home from Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with $3,300 in winnings when they were ambushed[, shot, and robbed]. Now two men are facing charges in the attack.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/08/16/hard-rock-casino-robbery/74830644007/
Doorbell video on NY Post
More Doorbell video
Robbers – Tristin Wright, 36, and Marcus Jenkins, 34
“Sheriff Judd said Jenkins has 53 previous felony charges and 18 previous misdemeanor charges and has been to state prison five times.”
There are a lot of low lifes out there and they won’t cut you one bit of slack. Notice that this attack escalated to ‘gun violence’ almost immediately.
Riverview couple urges vigilance after being ambushed
“Delacruz owns his own security company and says situational awareness is always top of mind, but he got lost in the moment enjoying a great date night.”
Here is a previous post about the principles of Surveillance Detection.
https://thetacticalprofessor.net/2024/01/03/surveillance-detection-principles/
Stupidity in the Gun Community
Seen on a Facebook forum I’m a member of.
Original Post
Wife carry’s [is] an LC380ca. She has an issue with the mag release due to long finger nails. Gun shop says they don’t make an extended one. Other than trimming nails does anyone have any ideas. Thanks
Various stupid responses from Common Tater ‘gun experts’ aka Mr. Potato Heads.
Common Tater One
Divorce. Wtf
Possibly Reasonable comment
Bodyguard
Common Tater Two
Every guy remembers the day he said,” she’d be better with talons on her hands”, NOT
Common Tater Three
Trade in for girl with dirt under her nails.
Common Tater Four
a different gun if she does not want to cut her fingernails
A sensible comment
Are LC380 parts shared with any other Ruger models? Maybe a different model with larger aftermarket support is compatible
Common Tater Five
She has a choice: long fingernails or personal safety. 🤷
Common Tater Six
Buy a bigger gun…🌴👮♂️🌴🤣
Common Tater Seven
Revolver if she cant do mag releases due to nails
Claude Werner
It may not be her nails. My LC9S is the hardest gun I own to get the magazine to drop out consistently. It’s a good gun in every other respect but the mag drop is always a problem.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – June 2024
Unsurprisingly, my hometown of Chicargo leads the post this month. Fortunately, the incidents fell in the Good category. Safety and mindset are fundamental in the other incidents.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/good-bad-and-107216506
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – June 2024
The Good – Shenanigans from Chicargo
Chicago concealed carry holder scares off armed carjackers in Irving Park
Bonus! The second happened a few blocks from the gas station (probably gone by now) where I worked after school in my Senior year. It wasn’t a great neighborhood then but apparently has gotten much worse now.
Chicago concealed carry holder shoots 3 men who attacked him in Belmont Cragin
The Bad
School District of Palm Beach County employee accidentally [shoots himself] during ‘training exercise.’
This story points out the importance of safe gunhandling at all times. Guns are relentlessly unforgiving of carelessness.
The Ugly
Minnesota dad told landlord he ‘already dug a hole’ before executing daughter’s boyfriend for suspected abuse
The number of people who feel that gunfire is the solution to most every problem astounds me. Many tools are only for a very specific task and guns are one of those tools.
Enjoy!
If you like my work, join me on Patreon where I post more in-depth articles about shooting, marksmanship, and incident analysis.
https://www.patreon.com/TacticalProfessor
The GBU isn’t drawn from The Armed Citizen column of the official NRA Journals but the June edition of The Armed Citizen is attached. Rather than an obsessive interest in ‘the worst case scenario,’ it shows what the vast majority of Defensive Gun Uses really look like.
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