How to Protect Yourself Until the Police Arrive: Using Firearms to Defend Yourself and Your Family 0938895109, 9780938895107

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HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF UNTIL THE POLICE ARRIV '

f

USING FIREARMS TO (. DEFEND YOURSELF

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF UNTIL THE POLICE ARRIVE

Using firearms to defend yourself

and your family

First Edition

by Daniel L. Barber

Published by:

oy D.L. BARBER \/ENTURES

Published by: D.L. Barber Ventures P.O. Box 620

Lafayette, CO 80026 U.S.A.

Copyright

© 1996 by Daniel L. Barber

First Edition - 1996

10987654321

Manufactured in the United States of America

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 95-094793

Barber, Daniel L.

How to protect yourself until the police arrive: using firearms to defend yourself and your family / by Daniel L. Barber. - 1st edition

ISBN 0-938895-10-9 1. 2. 3. 4.

Softcover $15.95

Self Defense I. Title Firearms Justifications of Using Deadly Force Firearms and Home Safety

All rights reserved. It is a Federal offense to transmit or reproduce this book in any form or by any means without the written permission of the author, except for the inclusion of

brief quotations for a review.

The text does not intend to represent the views or policies of any law enforcement agency that may employ the author.

The text is the authors opinion on how home and personal defense should be conducted and has been based on his police and civilian firearms training experiences. In order not to offend

anyone,

the terms

"him",

"he",

"suspect", "defendant", and "badguy" are intended to be used generically for simplicity. We all know that suspects can be of any gender, race and age.

WARNING - DISCLAIMER This book has been written with the intent to educate and entertain on the subject matter. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering legal advice. If legal or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional in your area should be sought. Every effort was made to make this manual as accurate as possible. Laws are different from state to state. There may be mistakes both typographical and in content. This text should be used as a general guide on this subject matter and not as the ultimate source on the use of deadly force or self defense. For specific questions on this topic and firearms laws in your area, consult your local attorney and law enforcement agencies.

Every person that owns afirearm should have a thorough knowledge of their local, state, and federal laws on self-defense and on the appropriate use and carry of concealed firearms on their person, in their home, business and vehicle. This manual does not intend to take the place of actual firearms training given by certified firearms instructors. I suggest you should also complete a firearms safety and proficiency class for a good working knowledge of your firearms. If you do not research your local laws, and if you use a firearm in a criminal manner, you could be held criminally accountable and prosecuted for your actions.

I am not telling you to use a firearm for protection. If you decide to do so, it is at your own risk. The author, publisher, distributors or dealers accept

no liability for any injuries to persons or property resulting from the application or use of the tactics or procedures presented or implied within this text.

You may return this book to the publisher for a full refund if you do not wish to be bound by this warning-disclaimer! Consult your firearms owners manual.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Many years ago, Dan became concerned about the ability of the public defending themselves properly against criminal acts when using firearms as deadly force. Since then, Dan has trained hundreds of police officers and citizens in the use of firearms and in helping them to understand the justification of using deadly force to protect themselves. Dan believes that an "armed public" must have an education in firearms before they can properly and effectively protect themselves. It is important that the "bad guy" is the one that goes to jail instead the of "uninformed victim."

Dan's credentials include over 19 years in law enforcement in Colorado and California, three years in the US Army, college level teaching certificates, police academy instructor, range master, police armorer and helicopter pilot. Dan and his partner won the 1988 and 1989 2-man team National Police Revolver Championships. Dan’s many marksmanship awards include winning the 1993 Colorado Police Revolver State Championship. Dan is also a civilian handgun safety and shooting instructor, and has had dozens of articles on police officer survival and firearms training published in professional publications. In 1986, Dan wrote "Law Enforcement Firearms Training", now in its 4th edition, and

is currently employed in law enforcement as a Detective in a Special Investigations Unit in the Greater Denver Metro area.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As many of you know, any big project cannot be completed alone. Many thanks to the following professionals with whom I am proud to work.

Cover and chapter illustrations by Detective Steve Ainsworth, Boulder, CO

Guidance and suggestions by: Lt. Steve Prentup Lt. Joe Gang

Set. Patrick Haugse John Pickering, Esq. Boulder, CO

CONTENTS Chapter List of Illustrations is Is there really a need to protect ourselves? 2: Justifications for using deadly force

: Know your local firearms laws

2D

: Home firearm safety

ao

: Handguns: Selection, Ammunition and Shooting Techniques

69

: Shotguns: Selection, Ammunition, and Shooting Techniques

93

: Rifles and Carbines: Selection, Ammunition and

105

Shooting Techniques 8: Home defensive tactics

113

9: Carrying a concealed weapon

rs

10: Scenarios:

129

What if......

Glossary

137

Index

147

Order Information

151

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page

10 17 36 37 38 40 4] 44 45 46 47 49 50 52 53 54 55 58 59 60 61 64 65 66 67 70 71 72

Topic

Author two badguys center of mass accidental deaths finger off of trigger safety locations parts of revolver parts of revolver parts of semiautomatic pistol parts of semiautomatic pistol parts of single action pistol parts of single shot pistol lower cocked hammer safely shotgun smoothbore and rifle bore types of shotgun actions parts of shotgun bolt position of semiautomatic long guns bolt position of pump long guns types of rifle actions parts of rifles bolt action positions on long guns lever action rifles gun cabinet for storage cable locking device trigger locking device shot pattern on target types of semiautomatic pistols types of revolvers revolver ammunition

73 74 75 76 80 82 82 84 85 86 88 89 90 94 95 97 100 101 102 103 104 107 108 110 111 128

semiautomatic pistol ammunition ammunition components types of bullets expanded bullet isosceles stance handgun one hand hold handgun two hand hold dominant eye handgun sight picture and sight alignment trigger finger placement handgun kneeling position handgun flashlight position handgun flashlight position shotshell components spread of pellets pellet size comparison

shotgun standing shooting position

shotgun sight picture shotgun flashlight position » shotgun pellet pattern rifle kneeling position rifle ammunition components types of rifle cartridges rifle standing position

rifle sight picture and sight alignment shoot the worst threat first

1 IS THERE REALLY A NEED TO PROTECT OURSELVES?

Since you are reading this book, I would guess you have already made your own personal decision to own a firearm. My purpose in writing this book is to provide you with information that will assist you in making responsible decisions in the use of that firearm. The reality of law enforcement is the police cannot be everywhere at the same time. The police are mainly reactive and not proactive. By the time the police are notified of a threat to your safety, the crisis may be over when they arrive at your house. In the real world the police can only augment your own steps to insure your personal safety. They cannot guarantee it.

Using a firearm to defend yourself is a personal choice. As you know, the subject of firearms is very controversial. We will hear the negative news from the media when a person uses a gun to kill innocent people. It will also get media attention when achild is accidentally killed or injured when

a2 handling a firearm that was not secured properly by its owner. This is not a "gun" problem, it is a "people" problem.

Anti-gun advocates will state that "if one life is saved", then it is worth a gun ban. I respond that many more lives will be lost with a gun ban. We must look at the lesser of two evils. Lets be reasonable. Lets not take away the guns and punish the responsible majority, lets punish the few who are negligent and irresponsible or criminal. It is a very small percentage of our population that is preying on and victimizing the majority of the population. I believe banning guns will not stop crime. I also believe banning guns will keep firearms out of the hands of the law abiding citizen. Remember the saying, "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns!" Many states are voting in "concealed weapons" legislation that will allow good law abiding citizens to carry weapons on their person. These good citizens will be able to protect themselves and their families when necessary.

Many people say that banning guns will stop deaths by firearms. I disagree with this concept as a whole. Yes, one accidental death is too many and through responsible gun ownership we should make an effort so there are no accidents. It is also unfortunate that some people will use firearms as a means of carrying out their crimes and for committing suicide. Unfortunately, it is these individuals that give the responsible majority a bad name. It is these individuals that give the anti-gun people fuel to keep their campaign in the news. I do not think we need a weapons ban, but I do believe there

13 needs to be some regulation of firearms in this country. I do not see a need for citizens to own machine guns but I do see a right and a need for firearms in recreation and self defense. What we need is for our courts to enforce the laws that we have on the books! What we need is to keep violent offenders in prison! We do not need new laws, we need enforcement of the existing laws to keep the criminals in jail once we have caught them. A small percentage of the population, juveniles and adults, are out of control with guns, alcohol and drugs. Our laws tie the hands of law enforcement so that we cannot always deal with offenders effectively. Society is concerned with how the juvenile got to be this way and blames the upbringing or lack of a good role model and inner city life. No matter what created the criminal culture, we need to deal with

the person committing criminal acts swiftly and decisively. If we need more prisons, then that is the cost we have to pay to keep our streets safe. If the badguy commits violent crimes, then he should not have a place in society. If we can figure out what causes criminal activity and we can prevent it in the future, I am all for it.

Lets look at repeat adult violent offenders and juvenile violent offenders. Past behavior can be a good indication of future behavior. Juvenile offenders grow up to be adult offenders. Ask yourself ifthe badguy thinks of people's rights as they are raping and killing them! Ask yourself if the fourteen year old that kills an elderly woman for her social security check was thinking of her life and rights! I think not! Repeat violent offenders have clogged up our system. They have terrorized neighborhoods, created gangs that prey on us, and even prey on themselves in territory or drug disputes with

14 drive-by shootings. We become victims when badguys try to take our property, our money, and our lives. We must be educated so we can properly protect ourselves from these attacks.

Using a firearm for self defense is the last resort. I certainly hope that you are never in that position. The fact of the matter is, the police cannot be everywhere. When they are there, they only supplement your personal security measures. If your life is ever in danger, you will probably have to protect yourself. I am not a radical trying to get a following so that vigilante groups can run rampant. I am arealist! I am a police officer and a good citizen that is tired of seeing good people victimized by a very small percentage of our society. First we are victimized by the criminal act. Then we are victimized again by having to pay for his trial, to feed, clothe, incarcerate, and keep him in good health. Then we are victimized a third time when we let him out and he again commits violent acts on society! It is a vicious circle and we are the losers! I do not want to see vigilante groups shooting and hanging people for wrong doing. Due process must be preserved. I hope that people will vote in a government and criminal justice system that will take repeat offenders out of our society.

The private citizen has the right to use firearms to defend themselves against criminal actions in order to avoid being a victim of a violent act which in itself displays imminent and. unavoidable threat to life. The firearm is the most effective means of defense against deadly force. The firearm is still the best equalizer against a greater adversary.

2 JUSTIFICATIONS FOR USING DEADLY FORCE

We must have an understanding about deadly force and the consequences of using deadly force to fully comprehend the reality of the situation. In any given situation, the use of firearms, (deadly force) is a last ditch effort. Believe me when I say that every person should try to avoid a shooting situation whenever possible. The use of a firearm in a deadly force situation is only used whenever there is no other alternative. If you can flee, scream, scare off the suspect, or call 911 and avoid a shooting, I encourage you to do so. A firearm is only used when the threat of losing your life or the life of another is imminent. Your life must be in danger at the moment you use deadly force. You have to believe that this threat is real,

imminent and unavoidable. You have no other choice but to use deadly force in self defense!

Federal, state and local laws regarding the use of firearms, concealed weapons on your person or in your vehicle, in your home and at your business, vary greatly. You should be familiar with the laws, ordinances, and regulations for the

16 state, county and city you live in. In most areas, you can legally possess firearms concealed or unconcealed or available to you on your property, and in your home or business. However, in some parts of the country you may need a permit or license to even own a firearm. If you have questions on the use of or possession of firearms, simply call your local law enforcement agency or district attorney's office and ask them. You may also want to do some of your own research at your local library.

In the old days you could shoot fleeing felons. Many laws are still on the books allowing the shooting of fleeing felons, but today's court decisions indicate you can only use a firearm to combat deadly force whenalife is in danger. The reality is, there are bad people in this world that prey on the rest of us. It is these people that force the issue. You need to decide before a situation occurs whether you could take another person's life when the badguy is intending to take your life or the life of a loved one. I hope that you never have to make the decision to take another persons life. If you could not take a life in self defense, then you would probably be better off not owning a firearm for this purpose. If you have a firearm and cannot defend yourself, while you are bluffing or pointing it at the suspect, the suspect could take the firearm away from you and probably use it against you. You need to decide now, that it is going to be the badguy that goes to jail or the morgue, and that you and your family will not be another victim in this violent society.

17 Have a plan and be prepared before you find yourself in a bad situation with no idea as what to do next!

When you use a firearm in deadly force, you are shooting at the suspect to protect yourself and to stop the threat. You intend for the situation to become neutralized so that no harm or further harm comes to you or your family. If you have to shoot, you will shoot center of mass, which is the upper body torso area in order to incapacitate the suspect. You will continue to shoot as long as the suspect is a threat. Once the suspect has stopped being a threat, continue to watch the suspect until the police arrive and take control of the scene. If the suspect survives after you have defended yourself, he can thank modern medicine for saving his life. But you have survived!

We shoot center of mass because the torso is the biggest target and contains the vital organs.

When

a

The center area is the

bullet passes through the center of mass vital organs it will eventually incapacitate the suspect and he will no longer be able to continue the assault. When hit by one bullet, this incapacitation could be immediate or it could take several minutes. Because of this you may need to continue to shoot center of mass until the suspect is indeed incapacitated. It doesn't matter if the suspect is dead or not, what truly matters

18 is that the threat is stopped and the badguy stops being an aggressor. It is only in movies where the cop shoots the gun out of suspects hands. In training, law enforcement officers taught to shoot center of mass and that is what they intending to do if they ever have to defend themselves others. We want to stop the threat!

the are are or

As civilians, you must also use the same theory while defending yourselves. You will shoot center of mass until the threat is stopped! This is no time to be gentle, forgiving or tolerant! The threat could be over once the badguy turns and runs away, simply gives up or is injured and stops trying to harm you. The following guideline for using deadly force against a deadly force threat is fairly generic everywhere. In this guideline, a badguy using deadly force: . must . must . must . and WN

have the ability to take your life, have the opportunity to take your life, place you in jeopardy of having your life taken, you must be in fear of losing your life

If the above criteria is there, you should be justified in using deadly force to protect yourself or others. Let me state that when IJ describe a scenario and that you are shooting to protect your life, that it will also apply to protecting the life of another person.

ABILITY

You must believe that a suspect has the ability to take a life before you are justified in using deadly force to stop that person. Let's look at what ability actually is.

A suspect with a weapon, (knife, firearm, club, etc) in his possession has the ability to take your life. A suspect that is very large or stronger than you could also cause you great bodily harm even without a weapon. But depending on the situation he may not have the opportunity.

OPPORTUNITY

©

A suspect that is 50 yards away from you with a knife (or baseball bat, brick, etc) in his hands does not have the

opportunity to harm you. A suspect with a knife (or baseball bat, brick, etc) in his hands that is standing close to you does have the opportunity because at that close proximity the suspect can harm you.

It has been proven that a bad guy that attacks an officer with a knife in his hand, and he is less than 20 feet from an officer

who has a holstered handgun, will probably stab the officer before the officer can get his handgun out of the holster and fire at the bad guy. Any bad guy, with a weapon within 20 feet of you is a major threat if he attacks you! A suspect with a firearm has the opportunity to harm you from great distances. But the suspect has to also place you in jeopardy of being harmed.

20 JEOPARDY If a suspect has the ability to harm you and the opportunity to harm you, he must then place you in jeopardy by taking an action toward actually harming you.

If a suspect with a knife at 50 yards yells that he is going to kill you, you are not in jeopardy until the suspect actually tries to close the distance between you and is close enough to actually stab you with the knife.

A suspect with a knife that is 10 feet from you and he raises the knife in a manner that you believe is intended to harm you, places you in jeopardy. If a suspect has a gun, you are not in jeopardy until the suspect attempts to aim or actually aims it at you. If the suspect does this, then I believe that you are in jeopardy of being shot.

Now that you are in a situation where a suspect has the ability to harm you, has taken the opportunity to harm you and has now placed you in jeopardy, you should be in fear of losing your life.

IN FEAR OF LOSING YOUR LIFE Once the suspect has the ability and opportunity to harm you and has placed you in jeopardy, a reasonable person would believe that the person is intending to kill you or your loved ones.

21 It is this belief that is important. If you do not think that the person is trying to harm you, then you are not in fear of your life and deadly force would not be justified. If you are in a situation and about to be attacked by an armed suspect, a reasonable person would conclude that you are in fear of losing your life.

These four criteria will be scrutinized thoroughly by law enforcement investigators. If you can articulate that you believed that the badguy was going to take your life just before you defended yourself with a firearm, it should be easy for the police to clear your case in self defense. Remember, if the threat is gone, so is your justification for using deadly force.

Now beware, that after you have been involved in a shooting, it is very likely that your firearm may be confiscated and you may be taken to the police station early on in the investigation. This is normal. You may even be arrested and go though a booking process where your fingerprints and photograph are taken. If you have met these criteria, your self defense shooting should be justified as self defense. It may also be advisable to invoke your constitutional right to remain silent and seek legal counsel. It is also possible that you could be sued in civil court by the criminal that survives or the family of the deceased criminal. I am sure that you have read or heard about criminals or their family members winning in court with civil suits even after law enforcement agencies had cleared the person that was defending themselves from any wrong doing. These cases

22 have occurred. All deadly force cases are different and judged on their own circumstances.

You may also want to call your home insurance company and ask them if you are covered by your insurance if you have to defend yourself. Many insurance companies have wording in their policies that say you are not covered by "intentional acts or criminal acts." Have them clarify this wording for you. I believe that the "intentional act" of defending yourself is different than an "intentional criminal act". Remember that damage to property or your pride is not a reason to use deadly force! If your insurance does cover you, the insurance company may determine that it is less expensive to settle out of court and pay off the plaintiff even when you were cleared of any criminal acts by law enforcement. This does not seem right, but it happens. Know your state and local laws and consider the consequences before using deadly force to protect yourself.

Beware that negligence on your part may also be a criminal act. You have the right to defend yourself, but not with "reckless disregard for the safety of others". This could include usinga firearm while intoxicated and making a wrong decision or if you do not secure your firearm properly. This will be an issue if a child gets hold of the firearm and shoots themselves or another child!

Unfortunately, you are never going to know if your decision to use deadly force was proper as a matter of law until its too late. The sobering truth is that no use of deadly force is justifiable until a judge or jury tell you it is. By then there is no way to turn back the clock. The use of deadly force must be the absolute last resort. Your decision to use deadly force

ZS will be second guessed by the police, the District Attorney and perhaps a judge and a jury. If you guessed wrong, you may be convicted of murder. If the situation is not serious enough to risk a murder charge, do not pull the trigger!

Most "officer involved shooting incidents" of a civilian results in an investigation by a "shoot team". A shoot team is made up of police officers from other departments and members of the district attorney's staff. Every act of the police officer and the badguy is put under a microscope and examined by the shoot team to determine if the shooting was appropriate and necessary. A shoot team investigation may take weeks or months examining circumstances to which the officer may have had only seconds to react. Any civilian who resorts to the use of deadly force will find his actions placed under the same microscope as did the police officer. It is not a pleasant experience.

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3 KNOW YOUR LOCAL FIREARMS LAWS

I do believe that law abiding citizens should have the right to protect themselves with firearms. I also believe that it is up to the citizen to know the laws and to act responsible. If a person with a firearm acts in a negligent or criminal way, that person will be held accountable for his/her actions. This chapter will describe firearm related laws. These are generic and I expect that you will research your Federal, State and Municipal laws in order to have a better understanding of what is considered criminal actions.

Different jurisdictions may call these criminal acts by a different name. I am trying to make the reader aware that if he/she does not act properly when brandishing a firearm, they may end up in jail. Let's keep the bad guy in jail, not the good citizen that is trying to protect themselves or their loved ones. Some states have different laws and may require permits to own firearms. It would be difficult to keep up-to-date on the firearm laws in each state. I suggest that you contact your law

26 enforcement agency, attorney, gun shop, and firearms range for information on your local gun laws.

The following list of criminal statutes is intended as a general guideline to help direct you in your research of your local laws.

1st Degree Murder

A person commits the crime of Murder in the First Degree, if after deliberation, premeditation and intent, he causes the

death of another person. 2nd Degree Murder

A person commits the crime of Murder in the Second Degree, if he knowingly causes the death of another person.

Manslaughter

A person commits the crime of Manslaughter if that person recklessly causes the death of another. Criminally negligent homicide

Any person who causes the death of another person by conduct amounting to criminal negligence commits Criminally Negligent Homicide. (Criminal negligence is the failure to exercise that degree of care which a reasonable person would exercise under the same circumstances, a careless or reckless act resulting in injury or death).

Dy, Ist Degree Assault

A person commits the crime of lst Degree Assault if, with intent to cause bodily injury to another person, causes bodily injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon.

2nd Degree Assault

A person commits the crime of 2nd Degree Assault if with intent to cause bodily injury to another person, he causes or attempts to causes such injury to any person by means of a deadly weapon. 3rd Degree Assault

A person commits the crime of 3rd Degree Assault if he knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another person, or with criminal negligence he causes bodily injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon. Menacing

A person commits the crime of Menacing if, by threat, physical action or by use of a deadly weapon, he knowingly places or attempts to place another person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury. Reckless Endangerment A person who recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to another person commits Reckless Endangerment.

28 Trespass

A person commits Trespass by entering or remaining, without permission, on the land owned by another person. (If you target practice on land that is not public, without permission, you may be trespassing)

Illegal firearm

No person shall possess a firearm silencer, machine gun, short shotgun with a barrel less than 18" and an overall length less than 26", short rifle with a barrel less than 16" and an overall

length less than 26". Possession of a defaced firearm

No person shall possess a firearm that has the serial number removed, altered or defaced except by normal wear and tear. Defacing a firearm

No person shall deface, alter or remove the serial number of a firearm. Prohibited use of weapons

A person commits a crime if: He knowingly and unlawfully aims a firearm at another person, or

27 He sets a loaded firearm as a booby trap and leaves it unattended, or

He has in his possession a firearm while under the influence of liquor or drugs, or

He draws or exhibits any firearm in a rude, angry or threatening manner, or He, in any manner, unlawfully uses a firearm during a fight or quarrel,

Illegal discharge of a firearm

A person may commit the offense of Illegal Discharge of a Firearm when: A person knowingly or recklessly discharges a firearm into any dwelling or any other building or occupied structure or into any motor vehicle. or A person fires a firearm in the city limits, or A person fires warnings shots during an altercation, or A person fires at any aircraft.

Unlawfully providing or permitting a juvenile to possess a handgun

Any person who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly

30 provides a handgun to any person under the age of 18 that is not at a hunters safety course, or engaged in practice at a range or where firing is not prohibited, or engaged in organized competition, or hunting or trapping, or traveling to and from these activities, or at their own home or property, commits the crime of unlawfully providing or permitting a juvenile to possess a handgun.

Some states may require guardian supervision or written permission for minors to possess firearms or ammunition when under the age of 18.

Ammunition

It may be illegal to use ammunition that is armor piercing, explodes or has tracer bullets. Know your laws. Other types of ammunition or bullets may also be illegal. Additional Laws:

Some states may require you to get a permit for ownership prior to purchasing a firearm. Some states may have a "waiting period" from the time you purchase a firearm to the time that you can pick it up. This time period allows the local law enforcement agency to do a background check on your criminal history to confirm if you are allowed by law to own a firearm. A person may commit a crime, if without legal authority, has a loaded firearm in his possession, or causes a loaded firearm

31 to be carried transportation.

or

brought

to

any

facility

of public

I suggest you do not attempt to carry a firearm onto commercial aircraft.

I also suggest you do not attempt to carry a firearm into another country unless you have the proper permits and authorization. It is illegal to bring a handgun into Canada and Mexico, even when traveling in your own vehicle. Justifiable Homicide

Murder is justifiable when committed by any person who is protecting themselves or others when the threat of losing your life or the life of others is imminent and unavoidable When using deadly force to protect yourself, "bare fear" alone is not enough for a defense. Deadly force may only be used when a reasonable person believes a lesser degree of force is inadequate. The circumstances must be sufficient that a reasonable person would believe that death or serious bodily injury is imminent, and that the badguy has the ability and opportunity to harm you or another, and has placed you or another person in jeopardy, and you are in fear of losing your life or the life of another.

"Make My Day" Laws:

Some states recognize that citizens have a right to expect absolute safety in their own homes. Laws state an occupant of a dwelling is justified in using deadly force against a badguy

SY that has unlawfully made entry into their dwelling and when the occupant has a reasonable belief that the badguy is intending to commit a crime against any person. A person may use reasonable and appropriate force against

a badguy when protecting property, but may only use deadly force in defense of himself or another.

You are not justified in using deadly force if you are the aggressor, you must be defending yourself. Once the badguy withdraws and is no longer a threat, you must be certain that you do not become the aggressor. Carrying a Concealed Weapon (CCW) Laws: These laws will vary from state to state:

In many states, a person may carry a concealed firearm in his own dwelling, property or place of business, without a CCW permit.

In many states, a person may have a firearm in their private automobile or other private means of conveyance, without a CCW permit, for lawful protection of such person or another person, while traveling, camping, etc. A person may carry a concealed firearm if that person has been issued a CCW permit. These permits may not be authorized from one state to another state. There are locations in each state that are illegal to carry a firearm, even with a legal CCW permit. Some of these locations may be schools, state buildings, courts, etc. Again,

33 know your local laws. In some states a person may be allowed to have in their possession a firearm, while using reasonable and necessary force, while making a lawful citizens arrest.

If you fire a warning shot at a suspect, you may get arrested for discharging a firearm within city limits, or for reckless endangerment. If done safely, you may be able to get this case dismissed in court. But, you will probably have to get an attorney to help you do this. If you were acting in self defense, the Court may rule in your favor. Hunting

When hunting, abide by the hunting regulations for the state you are in. Each state has its own laws for having loaded firearms in vehicles and for being on a roadway with a loaded firearm. The definition of a loaded firearm will also vary from state to state.

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Trigger guard @

Chamber

Depress trigger guard to open the breech

Parts of a single shot handgun

48 usually not have a safety. Bolt actions will have a safety. Safety check on bolt action:

While keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger, activate the safety and lift up on the bolt and move it rearward. If a cartridge is in the chamber this should extract it. Leave the breech open so you can look and confirm that the chamber is empty. Single shot break action

The single shot break action will usually have an external hammer that you have to cock before you pull the trigger. A single shot break action will either have a lever on top, on the side of the receiver or you may even have to squeeze the rear of a trigger guard to open the handgun.

Safety check on break action:

While keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger and you hold the receiver, release the latch and the barrel will swivel down from the receiver and expose the chamber with the base of the cartridge in it. Simply reach down and remove the cartridge. Leave the breech open so that you can confirm that it is empty. "Lower a cocked hammer safely" This will apply to most firearms that have an exposed hammer. Once the hammer is cocked it is ready to shoot. If you do not shoot, follow these directions to safely lower a

49 hammer on a loaded chamber without firing the firearm.

While pointing the firearm in a safe direction, hold the firearm with the strong hand and hold the hammer back with your strong hand thumb. Take your thumb from your weak hand and place it between the hammer and the firing pin. Press the trigger with your trigger finger and let the hammer down slowly with your thumb on it. Lower it onto your weak hand thumb. If the hammer should slip from your grasp, it will fall on your weak hand thumb and pinch it instead of firing the cartridge. Keep lowering the hammer and as it touches the weak hand thumb, slowly remove the thumb as the hammer is lowered until the hammer is fully down and your thumb is out of the way. (If you do not want to use your thumb, use a pencil or stick.)

Modern semiautomatic pistols may have a mechanism called a decocking lever. This is usually located at the same places a safety may be. It is not actually a safety. It is a lever that allows you to safely lower the hammer to a decocked position simply by moving the decocking lever. Shotguns and Rifles There are several main differences between

a rifle and a

shotgun. The shotgun has a smooth bore and shoots a shotshell that contains many pellets. A rifle (and handguns)

50 has a bore with spiral lands and grooves and shoots a cartridge with a single projectile. The spiral lands and grooves gives the bullet a spin which gives it stability and accuracy. Shotgun pellets are usually effective out to about 50 yards and will usually only travel a few hundred yards. A rifle bullet can be accurate several hundred yards and can travel for miles. A handgun bullet will also travel great distances.

smoothbore - shotgun

Groove

Land Shotguns and rifles actions are usually a single shot with a single barrel, two shots with a side by side or over and under barrels, semiautomatic, pump action, lever action or bolt

action. Single barrel or double barrel shotguns Single barrel or double barrel shotguns operate the same. They may have external hammers that need to be fully cocked

51 before firing or there are internal hammers that are cocked when you open and close the breech. There will be a lever either on the top or on the side of the receiver that needs to be moved to open the breech. Single and double barrel firearms with external hammers will not usually have a safety but the double barrel firearms with internal hammers will. Safety check:

While keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger, activate the safety and simply push the lever and allow the barrels to swivel downward and open while you hold the receiver. This will expose any ammunition for you to simply reach down and extract. Leave the breech open so that you can look to confirm it is empty. Semiautomatic shotguns The semiautomatic shotguns will automatically fire a shotshell, extract and eject it and reload the next one from the magazine for every time that you pull the trigger. It will keep doing this for every trigger pull until you are out of ammunition. They will have up to four shotshells in the magazine for every time that you pull the trigger. It will keep doing this for every trigger pull until you are out of ammunition. They will have up to four shotshells in the magazine tube and possibly one in the chamber. Some firearms can be modified to carry more ammunition in the magazine tube. Safety check: While keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction and your

Double barrel - over and under

Types of shotgun actions

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Bolt positions on a pump rifle or shotgun

56 finger off the trigger, activate the safety, depress the bolt operating handle and pull the bolt backwards until it locks open. This will extract any shell that may be in the chamber and let it drop out. Now reach up into the bottom of the receiver with your fingers. Press the shell stops (metal bars which are located along the insides of the receiver) near the base of the shotshell in the magazine tube. Pressing the shell stop will release the next shell in the magazine tube. Repeat this until the magazine tube is empty. Leave the bolt rearward and look into the chamber to confirm that it is empty.

Pump Action Shotguns The pump action shotgun is manually operated. During the firing process, you will manually pump back the fore end (slide) to extract and eject the fired shell, and then load the next shell from the magazine into the chamber when the fore end is moved forward on the pump cycle. There will be up to four shotshells in the magazine tube (unless modified to carry more) and possibly one in the chamber. Safety check:

While keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger, activate the safety, and find the slide release normally located along the bottom of the receiver in front of or behind the trigger guard. Depress this release and slowly move the fore end to the rear. This will extract any shotshell that is in the chamber and allow it to fall out. Now reach up into the bottom of the receiver with your fingers.

Press the shell stops (metal bars which are located along the insides of the receiver) near the base of the shotshell in the

DY, magazine tube. Pressing the shell stop will release the next shell in the magazine tube. Repeat this until the magazine tube is empty. Leave the bolt to the rear and look to confirm that the chamber is empty. Bolt Action Shotguns and Rifles

The bolt action shotgun and rifle operate very similar to each other. The ammunition is kept in an internal or removable box magazine or in a tube magazine. You must manually operate the bolt handle to load or unload the firearm. The firearm will usually hold about four or five rounds. If the firearm is a .22 rifle, it can have many more cartridges in the removable or tube magazine. Safety check:

While keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger, activate the safety and simply pull up on the bolt and move it rearward. This should extract any cartridge that was in the chamber. Now take out the extra rounds that are in an internal magazine or an extractable magazine. If the magazine can be removed, locate the button or latch and remove the magazine. If there is an internal magazine, move the bolt back and forth until all the ammunition has been removed from the magazine. Leave the bolt to the rear and look to confirm that the chamber is empty.

Single Barrel or Double Barrel Rifles

The single barrel or double barrel rifles operate the same as single barrel or double barrel shotguns. See the previous

Types of rifle actions

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62 paragraph on single barrel or double barrel shotguns for operating procedures on making them safe.

Semiautomatic rifles

The semiautomatic rifle will automatically fire a cartridge, extract and eject it and reload the next one from the magazine for every time that you pull the trigger. It will keep doing this for every trigger pull until you are out of ammunition. The semiautomatic rifles will normally have cartridges in a removable magazine and possibly one in the chamber. Safety check:

While keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger, activate the safety and locate the button or latch release and remove the magazine. Then grab the bolt latch and pull the bolt backwards until it locks open. This will extract any shell that may be in the chamber and let it drop out to the table. Leave the bolt to the rear and look to confirm that the chamber is empty. Pump Action Rifles

The pump action rifle is manually operated. During the firing process, you will manually pump back the forearm (slide) to extract and eject the fired cartridge, and then load the next cartridge from the magazine into the chamber when the forearm is moved forward on the pump cycle. The pump action rifle will normally have cartridges in a removable magazine and possibly one in the chamber.

63 Safety check:

While keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger, activate the safety and locate the button or latch release and remove the magazine. Then find the slide release normally located along the bottom of the receiver in front of or behind the trigger guard. Depress this button and slowly move the forearm to the rear. This will extract any cartridge that is in the chamber and allow it to fall to the table. Leave the forearm to the rear to leave the ejection port open so you can see the firearm is empty and safe.

Lever Action Rifles

Lever action rifles operate very similar to the pump rifle. The main difference is that the operation is by the lever and not the forearm being pumped back and forth. The ammunition is kept in the magazine tube. The rifle functions by the cocking lever being pulled downward and forward away from the stock. It is closed by simply returning the lever to its original position. With each full movement of the lever, a spent casing is extracted and a new cartridge is chambered.

Safety check:

While keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger, activate the safety and move the lever in a downward motion and then look into the chamber as the bolt is moved rearward exposing the chamber in the barrel.

64 Securing your firearm

There are many ways to store and secure your firearm. These methods include but are not limited to safes, gun cabinets,

trigger locking devices, and gun cases. You should go to a gun store and seek the most suitable alternative for your needs. You may also store firearms in areas of the house that are not readily accessible, such as attics. When firearms are in storage, it is always a good idea to store ammunition separately from the firearms.

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For home and personal defense, you have to decide what firearm you want for protection and how are you going to secure it. If you store it in a locked up area with the ammunition in a separate location, it may not be readily accessible for quick response. On the other hand, you do not want to have an unsecured loaded firearm sitting in your night

65 stand drawer if you have children in the house. You need to determine your situation. An option is to put your handgun in one spot and your ammunition in another. If you wake up from a deep sleep, you will have to be fully awake to get the firearm, get the ammunition, and load the firearm before you

A cable lock is one way to secure your firearms confront a suspect or investigate a problem. You definitely want to be fully awake when you are handling firearms. You would not want to confront a person in the dark of your house while armed and find out that it is your child coming home late from a date.

There are lock boxes available that you only need to punch in your code on a few buttons to open. You could keep a loaded firearm in this secured device. The box can actually be bolted to your closet wall. A simple way of preventing a firearm from being fired is to lock the trigger area or to put a cable lock on the firearm. For

66 example, a bicycles vinyl coated cable lock can be threaded through the revolvers frame to keep the cylinder from being closed. This cable lock can also be threaded through the open ejection port of a semiautomatic pistol and out the magazine well. Both of these suggestions are inexpensive and will make the handgun inoperable. You will need the key or combination to unlock the lock and to remove the cable. This cable lock will also work on most rifles and shotguns.

I suggest that you go to a gun store and see what options you have for gun security in your home that will allow you quick accessibility for home defense.

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Notes

S HANDGUNS: Selection, Ammunition and

Shooting techniques Many people think that the handgun is the best firearm for self defense. I think it is a good choice, but may not be the best choice for everyone. The most common types of handguns used for self defense are modern revolvers and semiautomatic pistols. The advantages of the handgun: i easily concealable a lightweight By portable 4. comes in many sizes and calibers The disadvantage of a handgun: . it can be difficult to shoot accurately ze seems to be easiest to have accidental discharges at some calibers may be ineffective for self defense Handguns come in many sizes and calibers. The biggest mistake that a person will make is to choose the wrong

a eoVy Large frame pistol - .45 ACP

Small frame pistol - .25 ACP

Medium frame

pistol - .22 LR target

Semiautomatic pistols come in different sizes and calibers, here are a few examples

Large frame .44 magnum

Medium frame .38 Special

Small frame.38 Special

Revolvers come

in different sizes and

calibers, here are a few examples

72 handgun for their needs. A person may purchase a handgun that is too small in size and too small in caliber for self defense. Another mistake is to choose a handgun that is too large in size and weight and the caliber is too powerful for them to control. The caliber of the handgun should be marked on the barrel or frame.

38 Special

22 Rimfire

.44 Magnum

3857 Magnum

Types of revolver ammunition The small semiautomatic pistols that are sometimes called Saturday Night Specials are too small and the calibers are not powerful enough to quickly incapacitate the suspect. These calibers are usually a .25ACP, a .380 ACP or even a .22 Long Rifle. These calibers are easy to control, but the individual handgun may be too small for the hand. These small calibers are capable of killing people, but unless it is a direct brain or spine shot the suspect may not be quickly incapacitated. Remember, we are shooting at the largest target presented by the bad guy which is the torso to stop the threat.

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Types of semiautomatic pistol ammunition Other handguns are much too large and powerful for the average person to handle. Many of the large frame revolvers such as the Smith and Wesson N Frame in a .357 or .44 Magnum are impressive but very difficult to handle for shots in quick succession. A person may argue that with a large handgun such as the .44 Magnum only one shot will be needed. I argue that if you miss with the first shot, you will probably miss with the rest of the shots because the caliber itself is hard to handle. For most people, a medium frame revolver in .38 Special or semiautomatic pistol in .9mm will be sufficient. These handguns are easier to shoot properly and the calibers are powerful enough to usually stop any aggression.

74 Most of the firearms will be quite loud and startling. They have a heck of a muzzle blast and a significant recoil or kick. Don't be scared of these firearms. The more powerful firearms will recoil quite heavily and are not pleasant to shoot. The moderate sized calibers Bullet are controllable and can be shot quite Case effectively with practice.

Powder

Just like in tennis, bowling, and many other sports, your equipment is sized to

your grip. The same oes for handguns. e e You do not want a handgun so small that

nae .22 Long Rifle Rimfire

.38 Special Centerfire

your hand can almost Handgun ammunition components

completely conceal it and you don't want a handgun so large that your hands can barely go around the grip. Handguns are more difficult to shoot accurately than the other firearms. This is because you are holding it out from your body and trying to align the sights and keep the sights where you want them as you manually pull the trigger back with your index finger. This process is difficult for some people to master. With proper training, handguns can be shot quickly and accurately.

75 The correct selection of the proper ammunition for self defense is also important. Let me explain the components of the ammunition and how they work. The four main components are the bullet, powder, case, and the primer. The primer is in the base of the case. When the primer is hit by the firing pin, it ignites the powder which is inside the case. The powder burns, creating gas, which expands and forces the bullet out of the case and through the barrel of the firearm.

The bullet is the projectile that comes

semi BOScUNgh

Full wadcuiter

out of the barre! and strikes the target or Muollow suspect. This bullet ; : ; 4 point is weighed in grains and this will be on the box label. First Types of handgun bullets select the correct caliber that your handgun is chambered for such as .38 Special. Then look for the correct bullet weight that you want. The bullet weights can be 110 grain, 125 grain, 148 grain, etc. Generally speaking, the heavier the bullet, the more penetration you will get. You will also feel more recoil as the larger bullet is fired. The bullet will also come in different types. These include full metal jackets, hollow points, roundnose (ball), wadcutters,

semiwadcutters, etc. The bullet type has it's own purpose. For example, the wadcutters cut a very nice round hole in a paper target that is easy to score for pistol competition. The full metal jacket bullet does not deform very easily and functions flawlessly in semiautomatic pistols.

76 What we want is to choose the bullet that will work best for us in self defense. A bullet that works best in self defense is one that expends its energy in the body and helps to incapacitate the assailant. A full metal jacket or lead roundnose (ball) bullet may not deform and may go right through the torso of the badguy. In theory, this will not release as much energy as a bullet that will mushroom when entering the torso. The bullet that mushrooms should expend its energy within the body without over penetrating (going all the way through the body) and should help to incapacitate the suspect quicker. Sure, a bullet passing through the body does harm, but unless the suspect is incapacitated right away, he may still be a threat.

A hollow point bullet is designed to mushroom when entering a medium such as gelatin, ducseal Expanded Unfired or even flesh. A problem bullet bullet with mushrooming (expansion) is that a bullet usually needs to be going over 1000 feet per second in order to mushroom. Many of the handgun calibers do not push bullets this fast. Cartridges such as the .25 ACP, .380, .38 Special and the .45 ACP

are

generally not going this fast. Cartridges such as the 9mm and the .357 Magnum usually are going this fast or faster. I would suggest that no matter what your caliber of choice, select the heaviest bullet that you can, whether hollow point or round nose.

I suggest that you go to a sporting goods store and a shooting range and try several different make and models and calibers. Find someone who is knowledgeable and have them help you

a7 with your shooting techniques as well as in finding one that fits your hands properly. Beware of people that want to be helpful but don't know what they are doing. If you are a small person, I doubt seriously that a S&W Model 29 in .44 Magnum is for you, no matter who suggests it to you.

Go ahead and shoot the little guns and small calibers as well as the big guns and bigger calibers. I think that you will understand what I mean when I talk about choosing the correct size and caliber for your needs. If I had to make a suggestion on a reliable and proven revolver, I would try to locate a medium frame Smith and Wesson (S&W) revolver such as a Model 15, Model 10, Model 19 or 66 or a Colt Diamondback, or a Ruger GP100 in .38 Special and use a 158 grain hollowpoint bullet. I would also select a 4" barrel. The shorter barrels will have a more noticeable muzzle blast. Whatever you choose, be certain that it is well made and reliable. You don't want to risk your life on a piece of junk! If you prefer the semiautomatic, I might look for a Glock 17 or 19, a Smith & Wesson Model in the 3900 series or 5900 series, a Beretta or even a Colt Government series in .9mm

and use a 147 grain hollow point bullet. If your choice is a 45ACP, I would look at a Smith and Wesson, Sig Sauer, Colt

or Glock. I would possibly choose a full metal jacket (FMJ) bullet that is in the 240 grain weight or a hollow point bullet of at least 185 grains.

I have said that calibers such as the .38 Special, 9mm or SACP are better in terms of controllability for incapacitating the badguy. to stop the threat as soon as possible. If these are

78 still too much for a person to handle in terms of weight and recoil, then don't overlook a less powerful or lighter handgun. Any firearm is better than no firearm! If you are slight of build, have a physical handicap or less strength in your arms or hands, then by all means try a smaller handgun. Try a .22 Long Rifle or a .380 ACP. They are lighter in weight, have almost no recoil and can be shot very quickly and accurately. Many medium sized semiautomatics like the Smith and Wesson Model 422 or a High Standard or Ruger in .22LR caliber hold at least eight shots. A person that has trained with this handgun and can shoot it accurately can definitely turn away a badguy after the victim has shot him multiple times. If you choose a .22LR, you may want to find the fastest bullet you can with a solid bullet that has more weight for better penetration.

Before you depend on a certain type of ammunition to work reliably in your handgun, go to the range and practice with that brand of ammo. Make sure that it chambers properly from your magazines and that the semiautomatic pistol functions properly.

No matter what you end up purchasing, the bottom line is to shoot accurately. You will need to go to the range and get proper instruction on how to shoot properly. No matter what caliber you choose, correct shot placement in the center of the torso is what is going to incapacitate the suspect the quickest.

You must be able to handle the handgun with a skill level where you are not fumbling around. Get instruction so that you can load, unload, reload, operate any safety devices, clear the chamber and become intimately familiar with how the

WY, handgun operates. You do not need an accidental discharge from fumbling around with the handgun when you need to be proficient with it to protect yourself. Shooting Techniques: Handgun

There are many sources to completely discuss proper shooting techniques in depth. I will only briefly discuss these techniques in a manner that I have found helps to quickly see results with new students when shooting at the range. Practice these techniques at the range. It has been proven that you will do ina stress situation what you have practiced over and over again at the range. Basics

Let's breakdown the basics of handgun shooting. These fundamentals include the six main steps, the grip, the stance, trigger control, breathing, sight alignment and sight picture.

The Stance

Ihave found that it is far easier to achieve handgun shooting success by using the two hand hold. The two hand hold is stronger and steadier than a one hand hold. The most common two hand hold position is the Isosceles position. Another stance is the Weaver stance which is a modified Isosceles stance. The Weaver stance has its place but I think for new shooters that the Isosceles is easiest to learn. Stance is not so important when you are hiding and shooting from behind cover. Practice a good stance when at the range.

lsosceles shooting stance

8] The Isosceles position has the shoulders in line with the feet and hips and the shooter is facing the target. The handgun is held at eye level with the arms making the two equal sides of the triangle. The shooter can use the push/pull method to help steady the handgun. The weak hand pulls slightly back, while the strong hand pushes slightly forward. The push/pull can be done with the shoulders so that the arms won't tire so quickly. This helps to steady the muzzle as it moves across the target.

The Grip: One Hand and Two Hand holds

The grip is the actual placement of the hand on the handgun's stocks. It may feel awkward at first, but will become more comfortable as you practice and improve. The one hand hold is not as steady as a two hand hold. Being realistic, there are times when you will have your weak hand doing something else while your strong hand holds the handgun. Tasks such as turning on a light or opening a door will require you to use a one hand hold. Use a two hand hold whenever possible, but also practice a one hand hold while shooting. You should also practice while holding a flashlight with one and two hand holds.

For the one hand hold, the webbing of the hand between the thumb and the index finger should be as high on the stock as possible. The most frequent mistake I see is the shooter gripping the stocks too low. The hand should be adjusted high on the stocks but in a manner that will allow the first pad of the index finger to rest on the front of the trigger. In most cases, you may find that placing the trigger on the pad so that it is touching the first joint will be more helpful with trigger control. The grip pressure should be very firm but not so firm

82

that your hand begins to shake. I believe the trigger finger placement is more important than the hand grip placement on the stocks. Adjust your grip around so that your trigger finger

83 placement has the pad or first joint on the trigger. Large hands will have no trouble doing this. Small hands may not reach far enough. In this case you will have to use a two hand hold and/or get a smaller frame handgun.

The two hand hold simply allows the weak hand to support the shooting hand. Put thumbs on thumbs and fingers on fingers. Follow the directions for the one hand hold and then support the shooting hand with the weak hand. Do not put your weak hand thumb over your strong hand as it may interfere with the revolver's hammer or the slide on the semiautomatic pistol. Breathing

Breathing comes somewhat naturally for most of us. Even though it is a necessary function, it can hamper the shooting process. This is important while practicing. You may not be able to control your breathing very well in a stress situation. As you aim at a target and breathe at the same time, the handgun sights will move up and down across the target. You must take a short breath and pause to steady the sights momentarily when you are ready to fire. As you run out of breath, the sights will begin to wander around worse than before. If this happens, resume breathing and start all over again until you perfect your rhythm. Shoot during the pause when your sights are steady.

Dominant Eye

Your dominant eye is the one that you will aim with. You can find out which eye is dominant with the following procedure.

84 Hold your index finger out in front of you and point it at an object a distance away (such as a lamp across the room). With both eyes open, look at the finger pointed at the lamp. Close one eye, and without moving your finger, notice if the finger is still on the lamp or did it appear to move to the side of the lamp. Now close

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dominant eye is the one that ( keeps your finger on the lamp, while the weak eye will appear to move the finger to the side of the lamp. Usually, a right handed person will have a right dominant eye and a left handed person will have a left dominant eye. It is not uncommon for a right handed person to have a left dominant eye and for a left handed person to have a right dominant eye. This is not a problem fora pistol shooter. You will see that it is a problem for a shotgun or rifle shooter. The Sights

Sight alignment is sometimes hard to explain to new shooters. In simple terms, you center the front sight post within the rear sight notch. The top of the front post is level with the top of the rear blade. There are equal amounts of light between the sides of the front post and the sides of the rear notch.

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86 Sight picture is where you place a proper sight alignment on your target at the location that you want the bullet to hit. Your focus is always on the front sight, not the target. It is impossible to focus on the three different distances at the same time. These three distances are the rear sight blade which is your arm length away, the front post, which is about 8-10 inches further away, and the target, which may be 25 or 50 yards down range. By focusing on the front sight, you can still see the rear notch and the target well enough to make sure that you are sighting properly. During practice, you should be so intent on focusing on the front sight that you can see every detail of the front sight. Now that you have a proper grip and sight picture, you want to assure that the bullet is going to hit where you are aiming by using proper trigger control.

Trigger Control

I think that sight alignment and trigger control are the two most important techniques in shooting. No matter how well you master the other techniques, if the sights are off, Trigger finger placement or you jerk the trigger, the shot will not strike the intended point of aim. Trigger control can be one of the hardest techniques for shooters to understand. I will try to explain it in simple terms. Your function as a shooter is to support the handgun, aim it at the target, and control the

87 trigger press. You do not make the handgun fire. All of your concentration is on keeping the sights on the target and pressing the trigger. Grip the handgun firmly, continue a slow trigger press until, finally, it fires on its own. Loading the handgun:

Modern Revolver: While keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger, locate a thumbpiece on the side of the handgun which will release the cylinder and allow it to swing open. Put cartridges in the chambers. Close the cylinder.

Semiautomatic Pistols: While keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger, depress the magazine release and take out the magazine by pulling it out of the magazine well from the bottom. Lock the slide in the open position. Place your cartridges into the magazine. Place the magazine firmly into the magazine well. Now hold the handgun by the grip in your strong hand, and depress the slide stop to allow the slide to go forward. The cartridge will move into the chamber when the slide goes forward.

Single Action Pistol: While keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger, open the ammunition loading gate located on the side of the frame next to the cylinder. Pull the hammer backward to a half cock position, rotate the cylinder until an empty chamber is exposed in the gate window. Place cartridges in the chambers and then close the gate. Carefully lower the hammer.

88 Firing the handgun:

While facing your target. Place the handgun in your strong hand with the webbing between your thumb and index finger high up on the grips. Your other hand is supporting your strong hand with fingers wrapped around fingers on the front of the grip under the trigger guard and thumb on thumb on the side of the pistol. The arms are extended with the handgun held at eye level while your shoulders are in line and square with your feet and hips in an Isosceles position. Using your dominant eye with your focus on the front sight, align the rear sight and place the sights on the target where you want the bullet to hit. (Try to shoot double action if you can. Those that can't, place your thumb on the hammer spur, pull it backward until it catches and stays back. The handgun is now ready to fire.) The index finger of the strong hand is placed on the trigger near the first joint. Hold the pistol steady, breathe normally and start to press the trigger with a slow, steady, and consistent press. Slightly hold your breath as the trigger is continually pressed

Handgun kneeling position

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maintaining the sights on the target. Continue to press the trigger slowly rearward and the handgun will fire on its own. Never make the

89 handgun fire by jerking or snapping the trigger. Control the trigger press slowly and consistently rearward until the handgun fires by itself. As you improve with practice, the press will become quicker, but try to maintain a steady, consistent press. Start with good shooting habits and keep them!

Today's powerful flashlights are a good source of artificial light. The flashlight can help in three areas: 1. Being able to identify the badguy 2. Possibly momentarily blinding the badguy 3. Allowing the citizen to use the sights whenever possible I prefer to teach flashlight techniques that use a two-hand hold. These techniques support both the handgun and the flashlight.

One flashlight technique that I like is one in which the flashlight is brought along side the strong hand. The weak hand still controls the flashlight with the thumb on the on-off switch. The weak hand

put thumb to thumb QE

thumb will be pressing

Aflashlight and handgun

against the strong hand

shooting position

thumb as the hands are held together. This technique produces a supported position that is comfortable and easy to get into for a quick shot. Another flashlight technique that I think is good can be

90 awkward to get into in a hurry without practice. The flashlight is held in the weak hand palm with the light end past the little finger on the tube extending past the thumb. The on-off switch is operated by the fingers. The weak hand is crossed underneath the strong hand. The strong hand is actually a one-hand hold that is resting on the other wrist. This position puts you into a good Weaver-type of stance. The flashlight beam direction is easier to control when _ the flashlight is used in a supported _ position with the handgun. You point the handgun and beam together at your target.

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A flashlight and handgun shooting position

People should also be aware that during night shootings, you can see your sights during the brief fireball from the muzzle blast. This could help you to redirect your line of fire during the times that you are exchanging shots with a badguy and there is very little existing light in the area.

The chances are that you may confront a badguy in your home at night. You should practice flashlight techniques at the

91 range at night so you are not startled by the noise and fireball from the muzzle blast. First, practice slow shots on a single target. Your goal should be to keep all your shots in a 6" diameter group at 15 yards before you progress. If you can keep a 6" group at 25 yards you are doing very well. After you can keep a reasonable group on a single target, progress to quicker shots on asingle target. When you can keep good groups at this, then single

and multiple shots on multiple targets, all the time utilizing proper stance, two hand hold, correct sight alignment and a controlled trigger squeeze. Practice shooting from different positions. You may want to try shooting from a kneeling or standing position from behind a wall which you may use for protection. Practice at night and while using a flashlight.

Practice shooting at distances similar to the distances in your rooms and hallways, probably at less than 25 feet or about 7 yards! At seven yards, you should be able to keep 6 shots in a 3 inch group. Accuracy is paramount! I believe that bullet placement is more important than what kind of handgun or caliber that you shoot the badguy with. Practice, practice, practice! Aim for center mass, and keep shooting until the threat has stopped!

Accuracy can overcome caliber and power, but power and caliber cannot overcome accuracy. Consult your individual firearm owners manual for safe operating procedures.

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