Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
Criminals Look Different From Noncriminals
Trust your instincts. Science says you can identify criminals by the way they look.
Open a Homak Digital Gun Safe with a Straw
A handy piece of information for those of you who own this kind of safe.
Wheelguns – Clint Smith on Revolvers I (History)
An amusing and informative look at the history of centerfire revolvers for you folks in what Clint calls “The Polymer Generation.” Part Two is worth watching as well. Part Three is about revolver carry options.
Reloading: Essential or insignificant?
Dave Spaulding’s thoughts on practicing reloads. Pay attention here. Dave has one of the fastest pistol reloads out of all the trainers I know.
Preventing Holiday Delivery Theft and the Hidden Security Benefits of Amazon Lockers
Good advice here from ITS Tactical. If you live in close proximity to one of these Amazon lockers, you should definitely consider using them for your holiday package deliveries.
Three Tips To Keep Your Ruger 10/22 Running Like A Top
The Ruger 10/22 is a rifle that everyone should own. It does a lot of things really well. This article will keep your 10/22 working properly.
Vision and Shooting…and Aging (Part 1)
One of the best articles I’ve ever seen about coping with age related vision loss as related to defensive firearms use. Read Part Two also.
Why I Don’t Like Ultra-Compact .380s
Very important information to consider before choosing something like the Ruger LCP as a defensive weapon. H/T to Grant Cunningham for finding and sharing this article.
Traveling Armed Part 5: When You Get Screwed
Dave Merrill shares his recent experience dealing with the TSA while flying with a pistol in checked luggage. I can attest from personal experience that the TSA agents are trying to open gun cases to ensure they are “secure.” If your case opens, you won’t be flying with your gun.
Lock Picking For The Survivalist [Infographic]
Everyone should learn the basics of lockpicking. Here is some more information that will be useful.
Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America
What I’m reading…
This book is a fascinating look at how crime is perceived in the inner city slums and how cops work against the odds to solve gang homicides.
Long Barrel, or Short? The Effectiveness Trade-Off Between 14.5″ and 20″ Barrels
An incredible amount of in-depth information comparing the difference in effectiveness between long and short barrels in the AR-15 rifle/carbine.
Bart Simpson Does Heroin
A paramedic’s graphic description his encounter with a heroin addict. You would be shocked at how common this scene is. My police department responds to situations like this a couple times a month (and I work in the “nice” part of town).
The author’s follow-up post “Facing Addiction in America” details some of the statistics.
“Seventy-eight people die of an opiod overdose each day in our country.
Only 20% of people who need opiod use treatment are getting treatment.
The estimated cost to the country of opiod drug abuse is $193 billion a year.
Heroin overdoses tripled between 2010 to 2014. Heroin overdoses are 500% higher than they were in 2014. Overdoses were more than five times higher in 2014 (10,574) than ten years before in 2004 (1,878).”
I never saw a single person using heroin in my first 10 years as a cop. Now 90% of the people I arrest are heroin addicts. Most people have no clue how bad this problem is. To better understand the problems of addiction, check out THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF SUBSTANCE USE, MISUSE, AND ADDICTION.
The 5 Best-Selling Handguns of 2016
What’s your guess about the top selling handgun this year? It’s clear that CCW carriers (rather than recreational or competitive shooters) are driving the trends.
How Close is Too Close?
You’ve probably heard about “The Tueller Drill.” Many people have misinterpreted this data and drawn faulty conclusions in the 30+ years since the original experiment. Here is the original write up from Dennis Tueller himself.
This Is Why You Don’t Shoot Them In The Leg
Shooting someone in the leg is not “safe” or “less lethal.”
Episode-1836- Richard Ryan on Crime and Violence in Today’s World
I’m a little behind in listening to my downloaded podcasts and just heard this one from July. It’s worth your time. Richard Ryan shares a whole lot of sensible information about how to keep yourself safe in a dangerous world. Richard’s book Master of the Blade is one of the few knife books that I recommend.
Fire in Tennessee — Narrow Escape
Weapons Man debriefs a harrowing escape from the recent wildfires in Tennessee. These videos and his analysis are worth reading for anyone living in wildfire country.
* Some of the above links (from Amazon.com) are affiliate links. If you purchase these items, I get a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.
