Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
AAR: Two Years of Coaching a Self-Defense Class
My friend Mark Luell discusses how he structures the self defense training curriculum he teaches. Read about his approach to “constraints-led learning” techniques. If you’ve ever taken any of my classes, you will recognize the process Mark describes. His lesson plan notes are a gold mine for any of you who teach self defense or combatives.
Is Car Carry a Mistake? – The Armory Life
The answer is “YES.” You might also like Kevin’s other article titled Why Firearms Training Classes are (Mostly) Useless.
UPDATED: New Survey on the Rate that People Carry Concealed Handguns
Screenshot
In Kevin’s article above, he discusses my experience as a cop who stopped a lot of concealed carriers for traffic stops. Very few were actually carrying guns. Here’s a deeper dive into that idea.
“Overall, the survey determined that the percent of Americans carrying increased from 24.3 percent in December 2024 to 29.8 percent in May 2026.”
I think those statistics could only be true if was defined as “carry” “occasionally throw a gun in the glove compartment of your car.”
The One Mag Assessment — Citizen-Defender
A great shooting drill from John Murphy.
lethal force against a mob
Uncle Mas gives us a legal history lesson. For some more history about our founding fathers, read A Sixgunner’s Fourth Of July.
Need a little more history? Try Women of the Old West Hidden Weapons – Damsels with Derringers.
Murder in the US Fell Dramatically in the First Half of 2026
Some more good news about our nation’s crime rate.
Interview With Active Shooter Incident Expert, Lt. Col. Ed Monk
If you are interested in the topic of active killers, you need to study Ed Monk’s work. Start here. Then buy Ed’s book.
The ABC’s of keeping our daughters safe
Good research about the true ways our children are victimized and how to protect them. Part One and Part Three in the series are good reads as well.
🇺🇸 The FIRST American Metallic Handgun Cartridge – The .22 Short! VS .22 Long & .22 LR Snubby Test
I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen a gelatin test of the .22 short or .22 long cartridges. This one was a bit surprising to me. For some more .22 ballistic testing, read Snubby .22 Test! The Most Advanced .22 LR Ammo? CCI Uppercut .22 LR Ballistic Test VS Blazer 9mm JHP. I’d definitely stay away from the uppercut round as a defensive selection out of short barreled handguns.
I use State of the Art Technology
Is there a role for nostalgia in equipment selection?
Cops Die Younger. Here’s What’s Killing Them.
Some articles for my police readers. Start with the one linked below. Then check out these others:
The training behind Officer Chris Munn’s calm under fire
Looking For Work – Proactive Vehicle Stops – American Cop
Off-Duty Gunfight: Winning Then Losing – The Tactical Wire | The Tactical Wire
Mate Selection for Modernity
This is a long, but fascinating read for any of us who are in the modern dating market.
“More generally, there’s a disconnect between what women want and what is actually available to them. Whereas greater male attainment increases the number of romantic options a man has, greater female attainment reduces the number of options a woman has.
This imbalance in the sexual marketplace is not a good thing. A society teeming with lonely women and sexually frustrated men is one hurtling toward disaster. It is imperative that we, as a society, think carefully about solutions to this burgeoning crisis.”
Self-Defense and the Law: Should You Engage or Stand Down?
Massad Ayoob’s advice about when to engage and when to retreat. You might also like Massad’s thoughts on Self-Defense and the Law: Weapon-Mounted Lights for Concealed Carry
Reloading Techniques for Your Handgun
Rich Nance writes a long article with lots of tips for a better reload. Rich’s book belongs in your shooting library.
Red Dot Pistol Drills: 5 Exercises to Improve Speed & Accuracy
For those of you who carry red dot sights on your defensive pistol.
Trembling, Still: The Awful Clarity of a Mind in Eclipse
What I’m reading…
Jenkinson is the world’s leading authority about the subject of death and dying. He believes that utilizing the death process as a way to better the world is an important idea. He wrote one of my favorite books (Die Wise). That book has seriously altered the way that I will be dying when my time here runs out.
The author has been recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This book is a serious look at how he’s putting his own theories to practice as he embraces the terminal disease process he’s personally experiencing.
Mouse Guns
Is there ever a time to carry a tiny pistol?
Smith & Wesson Revolvers DON’T Have a QC Problem | Swift/Silent/Deadly
My recent experiences echo Justin’s.
If you do have a functioning Smith and Wesson revolver, check out the following article for some unconventional defensive ammunition choices. Top-Quality .38 Special Ammo for Snubbies.
This Is How To Read People: 5 Secrets Backed By Research
A good article about sizing people up. Pay extra attention to “identity claims.” A criminal will often self-identify as such if you are just paying enough attention to catch the clues he is giving off. When people show that they are aligned with various criminal subgroups by the way they dress, their manner of speech, their tattoos, and their mannerisms, you shouldn’t be surprised when they adopt the mores of that same criminal subgroup.
Conceal Carrying During Pregnancy | The Fourth Trimester (Part 2) ⋆ Primer Peak
For my female readers of child rearing age.
“Don’t Go Out That Fucking Door!”
Matt Larsen discusses how drones have changed the modern battlefield and how that fact paradoxically demands more hand to hand combat proficiency.
Remembering Marc Krebs: More Than an AK Builder – Firearms News
An industry icon has passed away. I never met Mr. Krebs, but I’ve shot quite a few of his rifles. Most were works of modern art.
Quote to Ponder:
“If there is a solution to the problem, there is no need to worry- implement the solution. If there is no solution, there is no sense in worrying either.”
– Dalai Lama
Some of the above links are affiliate links. I earn a small percentage of the sale price from qualifying purchases.
