Concealed means concealed
It is imperative that the firearm you choose to carry remain concealed at all times.
If your handgun is recognizable through your clothing, or is seen as you move throughout your daily activity, is it no longer concealed.
If you flash open your coat to show your friends that you’re carrying, technically your action could be construed as “exhibiting” a firearm, which is against the law.
- Single action revolver
- Double action revolver
- Single action semi-automatic
- Double action semi-automatic
Hierarchy of needs (with apologies to Maslow)
- Attitude
- Tactics
- Skill
- Equipment
Attitude (yes, I’ve been accused of having one)
I WILL survive, no matter what
I am angry that this guy is trying to kill me
I will do whatever is necessary to prevail
The will to win is not as important as the will to prepare to win – Bear Bryant
Paranoia is total awareness – Pfarrer
Most victims are actually volunteers
“The fight will be what it will be, not what you expect it to be or what you want it to be.”
“Sometimes peace lies on the other side of war.” – C. Calvert Ward
Tactics
Avoidance is the best tactic
Engagement sequence
Cover and concealment
Movement
It takes five minutes to dress like a commando, and years to become one – Howe
Following victory, it is best to reload
Try to position yourself to see both the downed suspect and the arriving officers
Skill
The will to win… and
A fight is a poor place to learn new skills
The more you sweat in training the less you’ll bleed in a fight
Embrace luck, but don’t count on it – Paul Howe
The equilateral triangle
- Speed
- Power
- Accuracy
Holsters
The (competing) needs
- Concealability
- Speed/Access
- Comfort
- Security
- Leather vs nylon vs kydex
- Off body carry
What saves good guys’ lives
The ability to:
- Draw from concealment quickly and smoothly
- Fire two rounds quickly and accurately
(Most civilian gunfights are not that tactically challenging)
However, ability degrades 50% in combat (Chuck Taylor). Therefore, practice!
You will not “rise to the occasion,” you will default to your training
What to practice
- Drawing (especially from concealment)
- Sight picture/sight alignment
- Reholstering
- Trigger control
- Double taps
- Reloading
Dry fire
80 percent of ability can be obtained through dry fire
Rules for dry fire practice
- Unload the gun
- Be sure the gun is empty
- Unload the #$*@! gun!
Competence
The four levels of competence:
- Unconscious incompetence
- Conscious incompetence
- Conscious competence
- Unconscious competence
Home defense
Home defense plan
Just as you have a plan for a house fire – have a plan to save yourself and your family if someone were to threaten you in your home.
Best to ensconce with family
Call 911
Be prepared to repel boarders
Don’t clear the house by yourself
Out and about
Dress appropriately (choose the gun and then the clothes, not the other way around)
Avoid bars and the seedy part of town
Be aware at all times
Cooper’s color code:
- White
- Yellow
- Orange
- Red