Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
This Is How To Be Persuasive: 7 New Secrets From Hostage Negotiation
Some very useful information about becoming more persuasive.
A Practice Video – A Robbery In A Mall Food Court
Here is a great tactical analysis of spotting suspicious behavior by comparing it to the “normal” environment. This process is described in detail in the book Left of Bang.
Facing the Active Killer: The choice is yours.
Dave Spaulding’s thoughts on active killer response. You also need to watch his short video about why you should obtain professional firearms training.
The Fruit Knife Trick
For those of you who remember the “bag trick” I teach in my knife classes, here is another interesting variation. The Victorinox fruit knife is recommended by a lot of instructors as being a very cheap, disposable self defense blade with a very innocuous look.
The Ferguson Effect Strikes the Chicago PD
” …in Chicago, as in many other cities, officers are coming to the conclusion that the risks of these violent contacts are prohibitive and that a prudent regard for one’s livelihood demands a less zealous approach to combatting crime. No, the cops aren’t afraid of getting shot or stabbed or otherwise injured in an altercation, they’re afraid of becoming the next YouTube sensation when an arrest goes wrong and fails to unfold in a manner approved by cowardly department brass, unprincipled politicians, and ignorant “community leaders,” all of whom exhort the cops to go out in the streets and stop the madness, but to do so without hurting anyone.”
Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs
This is a great book if you are interested in the true history of the drug war in America. It explains the original racist goals of drug prohibition and why the drug war has failed. The author then describes has travels around the world, how other countries handle the drug issue, what works, and what doesn’t. One of the best researched books I’ve read on the topic of drugs and addiction.
Clerk Grabs Gun from Armed Robber
Feigning compliance and waiting for a better opportunity to act is almost always a better choice than drawing your weapon against an attacker’s already drawn gun.
Dress For Safety Not Just Comfort
One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing people wear clothes that are completely unsuited for fighting and/or running when they are in a location where the risk of violence is high.
HEBREW HOGGER 2016: Training and Pork-Raiser
Some of the best trainers in the business are getting together to put on a one-day training session with all of the tuition money going to support my friend Eli Miller. Eli is a decorated US Army medic who now owns a thriving heirloom pork farm in Alabama. Earlier this year, Eli was involved in a defensive shooting. It was a justifiable use of force and the police did not charge him. The legal defense fees to protect against being criminally charged and civilly sued are bankrupting Eli’s farm.
I would be teaching at this one myself, but I have an upcoming surgery scheduled and will still be laid up on the date of the event. This is a very inexpensive way to get quality training from some of the best trainers in the world and support a good cause at the same time.
Identity vs. logic
An article that perfectly explains why I closed the comments on this site and refuse to argue with people on the internet. A logical argument won’t work when people care “more about symbols, about tribal identity, about the status quo” than they do about the truth. The constant parade of comments from ignorant people was driving me nuts. I think my blood pressure has dropped 20 points since I shut off all the comments here.
40 years of terrorist bombings – A meta-analysis of the casualty and injury profile.
The abstract of this article is free and full of interesting information about the injury patterns in terrorist and suicide bombings worldwide since 1970. If any of my doc friends with a PubMed subscription can get me the full text, I would greatly appreciate it.
Casing a Joint: Why You Should Sit Facing the Door
Some tips from ITS Tactical about safety practices you can implement in your day to day life. In addition to their recommendations about sitting near an exit with a view of the front door, I also like to sit where I can see the cash register as well. If there is any type of robbery, that’s where it will occur.
Police body cams fail to curb officers’ use of force; linked to surge in assaults on cops – study
Some of the unintended consequences of police body cameras. It shouldn’t be shocking to recognize that criminal suspects don’t want to be filmed and are more likely to attack an officer who is wearing a camera. Full text of source study HERE.
Inside School Shootings- What We Know
Some high quality information about the rates of fire in numerous recent school shootings. After you read that one, you’ll want to check out 10 key factors to keep active-killer response on the cutting edge.
Law Enforcement Case Law and What it Means for You
The case law you absolutely MUST understand if you are a police use of force trainer.
A burglar, a boy, and bullets aplenty: how not to respond when life isn’t at stake.
Shooting at unarmed fleeing criminals is no good…even if you are a kid.
Ground Fighting: Your Goal is to Get Up Fast
“I believe everyone should include getting off the ground as fast as they can into their training. This includes if you fall, get knocked down, or thrown. Learn to get up fast, and do so while watching your opponent and remaining in as safe a position as you can. You don’t want to take a knee or kick to the head as you attempt to get up. A blow like that just might put you back down for good.”
Katie Couric Accused of Doctoring Interviews In Anti-Gun Film
I don’t know why anyone consumes the “programming” (interesting word, isn’t it?) of the mainstream media. With the constant parade of stories about factual inaccuracy and bias, why would you think that anything reported is actually correct? I cancelled my newspaper subscription 15 years ago when I realized all the reports about incidents in which I had been involved were completely wrong. I had the sudden realization that I shouldn’t assume that any of the other stories were being reported accurately either. I got rid of television nearly five years ago. It was the best move I’ve ever made for my mental health. For more reasons to give up your television, read 6 Giant Corporations Control the Media.
For more on the Katie Couric issue, you’ll also want to read about John Lott’s experience being interviewed for the same program.
* Some of the above links (from Amazon.com) are affiliate links. If you purchase these items, I get a small percentage of the selling price.
