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.
Recoil Management and Trigger Manipulation
#fridayfundamentals
“The purpose of the drill is to practice recoil management and trigger manipulation.”
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/jim-cirillo-s-1-2-3-6-drill/
Sometimes we take things for granted. A more thorough explanation would have been that for each shot, the shooter does four things in sequence.
- Acquire an acceptable sight picture
- Press the trigger smoothly and fire
- Reset the trigger in recoil while the sights are returning to the target
- Take up the slack in the trigger as the sights settle on the target, and finally
- When an acceptable sight picture is acquired, smoothly press the trigger to fire again
If you like my work, join me on Patreon where I post more in-depth articles about shooting, marksmanship, and incident analysis.
Trump Assassination Attempt and DEI
Here’s an opinion that will no doubt annoy many people who have been common-tating about the attempted assassination of President Trump.
A female Secret Service Agent muzzling the crowd and having difficulty re-holstering has exactly zero relationship to the fact that an attempted assassination took place. Sorry folks, a low level field agent’s lack of competence in non-shooting tasks with her issue weapon has nothing to do with the planning and execution failures that took place prior to the shots being fired.
The investigation into the attempt need to focus at a much higher level; all the way up to the head of the Secret Service, her immediate subordinates, and the Supervisory Agents who were responsible for planning the protection of the President. If the planning and execution had been done right, the female Agent in question would never have needed to draw her pistol and none of us would have been the wiser.
Focusing on DEI at the USSS will only distract from much larger issues. Simply the fact that her issue holster is so obviously inappropriate for female agents in the field is an example of bureaucratic incompetence and the allowance of POlice cosplay during training.
Whether this whistleblower’s comments are addressed, one way or another, in the upcoming hearings will be of much more importance than the USSS hiring practices. This EP operation was planned by people who were hired long before Cheatle became Director.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/majority-trump-security-detail-were-171218007.html
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – May 2024
Gunplay and confrontations can often result in Negative Outcomes, whether well-intentioned or not. This month’s Good, Bad, and Ugly stories are all about Negative Outcomes. There’s a useful warning in each of them.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/good-bad-and-may-105306627
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – May 2024
The Good
Murder charge dismissed for Mobile man after hearing
The Bad
1 dead, 3 injured in gunfight during car break-in in Downtown Atlanta
This story sadly echoes the fate of Hollywood actor Johnny Wactor who was killed by felons trying to steal his catalytic converter.
The Ugly
Houston attorney shot and killed after fight with upset McDonald’s customer
Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote “Therefore no good deed is unrewarded, and so every good deed merits some good.” A countervailing viewpoint is often attributed to Clare Boothe Luce – “No good deed goes unpunished.”
Enjoy!
The GBU isn’t drawn from The Armed Citizen column of the official NRA Journals but the May 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.
Tactical Tip of the Day
If you go into a Wings takeout joint and a guy has a gun with an extendo tucked in his belt, leave immediately.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Disturbing surveillance video shows the moments two men started shooting at each other at a DeKalb County wings restaurant, all over a few dollars.
Deep Dive Into California
Doing more research for my Shooting Illustrated series about using CCW Qualification Courses as training structures led to exploring the California Qualification Courses. California has an unusual system in that the State mandates the requirements for the issue of a Concealed Carry License but the Licenses are issued by County Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police. The requirement for live fire is specified in California law but the actual Course of Fire is delegated to the issuing authority.
“SECTION 1. Section 26165 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
(b) A licensing authority shall establish, and make available to the public, the standards it uses when issuing licenses with regards to the required live-fire shooting exercises, including, but not limited to, a minimum number of rounds to be fired and minimum passing scores from specified firing distances.”
As a result, there is a wide variety of “live fire shooting exercises” among the issuing authorities in California. In some cases, the requirement is a relatively simple untimed Qualification Course of 10 to 18 rounds. In other locations, a long, elaborate, and difficult to administer scheme is perpetrated to make the process and qualification very difficult. A few Sheriffs require their Course to be shot twice, once for ‘practice’ and once for qualification.
Some are clearly designed to be five shot revolver friendly, others not so much. Without a shadow of a doubt, having to shoot 50 rounds through a J Frame for practice and then another 50 rounds for qualification in a three hour period is not conducive to good shooting. When the Course of Fire includes a timed requirement at 15 yards and the target is the 7 ring of a B-27, it’s even more difficult. That’s not setting applicants for success.
The most interesting thing I found related to the fact that any weapon carried has to be listed on the License and qualified with. The issuing authority determines what is an acceptable weapon. The Contra Costa County Sheriff has a long list of unacceptable weapons with some surprising inclusions.
- Prohibited firearms include any single action only firearms. This includes any semi-automatic handgun made by any manufacturer built on the Colt 1911 configuration.
- Firearms with attached laser sights, flashlights, red dots, and sighting systems [???] are not acceptable.
- Firearms which have been modified, including modifications to triggers, slides, safety mechanisms, conversions, and magazine releases are not approved.
- Any modifications to firearms after issuance of a permit may result in revocation.
- Glow in the dark or luminescent sights are acceptable. (That’s generous).
- Acceptable firearms include revolvers or semi-automatics with a caliber of not less than .32 or greater than .45. So you recoil sensitive folks who have a hard time shooting the qualification with a centerfire handgun are out of luck.
- Weapons will be inspected for suitability by an Office of the Sheriff Range Master at the time of qualification.
The Course I like best is San Diego County’s. It’s clearly designed to be workable with a J Frame.
- 3 yards: three rounds strong hand, two rounds support hand
- 5 yards: five rounds two hands
- 7 yards: five rounds two hands
Unfortunately, San Diego County does not comply with Penal Code § 26165, subd. (b).) and make available to the public “the minimum number of rounds to be fired and minimum passing scores from specified firing distances.” However, the structure is readily available from secondary sources. Passing is either 12 or 13 hits out of 15 shots; sources vary.
The one I find the most obnoxious is the course used by Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff, Orange County Sheriff, San Jose Police Department, and Santa Monica Police Department. Not because it’s the hardest because it’s not. Their Course is shot at 3, 5, and 7 yards like San Diego’s. It’s also untimed like San Diego’s. But the requirement is to shoot 24 rounds at each distance. What is the point of shooting 24 rounds at 3 yards? That’s only to make it fatiguing, more expensive, and annoying.
Although many thought that the Bruen decision https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/new-york-state-rifle-pistol-association-inc-v-bruen/ was going to make things better in California, it’s not clear that the situation has improved. This notice appears on the Alameda County Sheriff’s CCW webpage. “NOTICE: As implemented by SB2, psychological service fee has increased to $400, effective immediately.” That’s just the cost to get a shrink to write that you’re not a wacko. All the other fees are on top of that.
I feel for our brothers and sisters in California. It used to be a pretty nice place to live but no more.
Here are my Shooting Illustrated articles.
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/organizing-your-shooting-practice/
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/shooting-practice-for-a-criminal-encounter/
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/three-shots-in-three-seconds/
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/home-defense-pistol-skills/
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/tightening-your-accuracy-and-performance-standards/
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/practicing-precision-and-transitions/
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – April 2024
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is an iconic movie in American cinema and arguably the best of the ‘Spaghetti Westerns.’ Rather than my usual boring rants about Serious Mistakes, Negative Outcomes, http://seriousgunownermistakes.net and excruciatingly detailed analyses of Armed Citizen incidents, I’m creating a short collection of a Good, Bad, and Ugly incident each month. Here’s the April 2024 issue.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/good-bad-and-103337883
My Patrons get first look at it on the last day of each month. The following month I unlock the Patreon post on the last Monday and link it here for my blog Followers. I observed Memorial Day, so today’s the day to unlock the April 2024 edition.
My hope is that it will be both educational and entertaining. The movie soundtrack is outstanding so a snippet from the soundtrack is part of each month’s post also.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – April 2024
The Good
85-year-old Idaho woman who killed intruder committed ‘heroic act of self-preservation’
The Bad
Fayetteville man struck and killed while attempting to stop carjacker in Lumberton
The Ugly
It’s hard to know where to start on the Ugly for this month. It was an unbelievable month. Chronologically, they run like this.
Customer pulls gun on Burger King employee for giving him a discount
Las Vegas lawyer and wife killed amid custody fight for children from prior marriage, family says
Katy man charged with shooting at neighbor speaks with ABC13
CPL holder claims self defense in Kroger incident that led to felony assault charge in Oakland County
Enjoy!
The GBU isn’t drawn from The Armed Citizen column of the official NRA Journals but the April 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.
Tightening Your Accuracy and Performance Standards
My latest Shooting Illustrated article is up.
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/tightening-your-accuracy-and-performance-standards
The New Mexico Competency Demonstration was the final exercise in my Revolver Operator Course. Those who had snubs were encouraged to shoot it with their little guns. Shooters can put variations in it to make it even more relevant for Personal Protection practice. In ROC, I made it simple; five shots with two hands, five shots with the Primary Hand Only, and five shots with the Support Hand Only. For the article, I put a little different spin on it.
Here are the images that weren’t used.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – March 2024
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is an iconic movie in American cinema and arguably the best of the ‘Spaghetti Westerns.’ Rather than my usual boring rants about Serious Mistakes, Negative Outcomes, http://seriousgunownermistakes.net and excruciatingly detailed analyses of Armed Citizen incidents, I’m creating a short collection of a Good, Bad, and Ugly incident each month. Here’s the March 2024 issue.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/good-bad-and-101430615
My Patrons get first look at it on the last day of each month. The following month I unlock the Patreon post on the last Monday and link it here for my blog Followers. Today’s the day to unlock the March 2024 edition.
My hope is that it will be both educational and entertaining. The movie soundtrack is outstanding so a snippet from the soundtrack is part of each month’s post also.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – March 2024
The Good
Woman shoots 2 alleged intruders, killing 1, inside West Philadelphia apartment, police say
The Bad
The Bad section this month was difficult to decide which incident to use but the most tragic won out.
Mother accidentally shoots, kills daughter when searching for keys in purse, police say
The Ugly
Kentucky man accused of shooting roommate for eating last Hot Pocket, police say
Enjoy!
The GBU isn’t drawn from The Armed Citizen column of the official NRA Journals but the March 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. Naturally, my hometown of Chicargo is prominently featured.
Friday Fundamentals – Terminology
#fridayfundamentals
In reply to the Back to Basics WheelgunWednesday post, a pertinent question came up.
“I was ‘hammering’ instead of firing a ‘controlled pair.’
What do you mean by hammering?”
Great question – thanks for asking. Sometimes we trainers take our subject matter knowledge for granted. Several concepts developed by Jeff Cooper have remained constant despite having been formulated nearly half a century ago.
Fundamental Terminology
- Flash Sight Picture
- Controlled Pair
- Hammer
Flash Sight Picture
The concept of accepting that perfect sight alignment is not necessary to achieve an acceptable hit. Shooters often assume that they need to obtain a perfect sight picture for acceptable hits.
That’s not necessarily the case, depending on the distance to target.
https://thetacticalprofessor.net/2015/02/06/89081/
https://thetacticalprofessor.net/2015/10/02/friday-fundamentals-segment-2/
Controlled Pair
Achieving an acceptable sight picture on a target, firing a shot, bringing the pistol down in recoil, obtaining a second acceptable sight picture, and firing a second shot.
Hammer
Achieving an acceptable sight picture on a target, firing a shot, bringing the pistol down in recoil, and firing a second shot using only a physical index to the target without regard to achieving a second sight picture.
Note that the term ‘double tap’ is obsolete because it could refer to either a controlled pair or a hammer and so is inadequate as a description. Others have written in-depth articles about Cooper’s concepts so I will just link to them.
Flash Sight Picture
Chris Baker
Jim Wilson
https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/sheriff-s-tips-understanding-the-flash-sight-picture
Hammer v. Controlled Pair
Jim Wilson
https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/whatever-happened-to-the-double-tap
Darryl Bolke via Greg Ellifritz
Chgowiz wins a free book of mine for asking a great question.
tacticalprofessor 
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