I read a story last week about an East Dublin, Georgia police officer who shot and killed a man on a traffic stop. Without even touching the circumstances of the shooting, there was a serious training issue in the 2010 case. The officer had not been through state-mandated use of force training in the prior year, and because of that did not have the legal power … [Read more...]
Dry Fire Practice – Snap Caps
Dry fire practice can save your butt. Seriously. Spending a few minutes every day working on trigger control and sight alignment through dry firing can translate into huge improvements on the range. Probably the biggest problem anyone has with shooting is trigger control. Learning to master that is probably the biggest thing you can do to become more accurate. One of the … [Read more...]
Pedestrian Stop Shooting Video
Walking backwards almost got a North Carolina deputy killed. At about 4:15 am on August 29, 2009, Guilford County (NC) Sheriff's Corporal J. Mecham made a pedestrian stop on a suspicious person later identified as Daniel Roy Smith. Unknown to Corporal Mecham, Smith was an escapee from a halfway house where he was serving time for a federal bank robbery conviction. … [Read more...]
Another Law Enforcement Training Death
In what has become an unbelievably hard circumstance to realize, another police officer has lost his life during a firearms training exercise. On September 15, 2010, St. Joseph, Missouri police officer Dan DeKraai was killed in the line of duty while attending force-on-force training for the Department’s SWAT Team. At the time of his death Officer DeKraai was a four year … [Read more...]
Basic Shooting Skills
Basics. They can be boring to teach and tedious to practice. But, the basics have to be mastered and practiced to enhance your odds in a tough situation. If you think of your training as a pyramid, the basics are the foundation for the skill set. Without strong basics, the structure will collapse under pressure. Take handgun skills. The basics include … [Read more...]
NRA’s Law Enforcement Activities Division
There was a time, not too long ago, that most police officers were hunters and NRA members. As the country has become more urbanized, there have been fewer officers that have been involved in hunting and the shooting sports. And while the National Rifle Association membership numbers have been climbing, it seems that fewer officers in my region have been actively … [Read more...]
New Firearm Site: Guns Holsters and Gear
Based on several conversations I have had with some of my readers here and some people in the firearms industry, I have started a new firearms and gear site at GunsHolstersAndGear.com. The new web site will focus on, that's right, Guns Holsters and Gear. There will also be general shooting information, self defense articles, and Second Amendment issues. I hope that … [Read more...]
In The Gravest Extreme by Massad Ayoob
In the Gravest Extreme by Massad Ayoob was a phenomenal book written by police training expert Massad Ayoob. Although the book is now out of print, the tome still holds many valuable lessons. Ayoob wrote this book as an introduction to the defensive use of firearms way back in 1980. Ayoob discusses the legal implications and practical aspects of owning and using a firearm … [Read more...]
Is the Use of Light a Use of Force?
Several years ago, I read an article called "Use of Force and High Intensity Tactical Police Flashlights: Policy Concerns." Since then I have seen it re-printed in various other locations. In the article, R. Paul McCauley, Ph.D., a criminology professor at a university in Pennsylvania, opines that: I don't know what background, if any, McCauley has in modern police … [Read more...]
Identify Your Target: Use Your Flashlight
It is well established that as police officers, we often work in diminished light situations. Even officers assigned to day watch have to go into dim areas, such as abandoned buildings, warehouses, and closets, looking for suspects. Police officers have been trained, however, that using your flashlight can make you a target. Therefore, many instructors have encouraged police … [Read more...]