Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.
Domestic Terrorism in America: Understanding the Threat and Being Ready
Jeff Gonzales shares some valuable info about domestic terrorist attacks.
The ATF Proposed 34 Changes Aimed at “Modernizing” Gun Regulations
I hate to link to an anti-gun site, but none of the pro-gun web pages are covering this historical change. Despite what The Trace has to say, this is good for gun owners and fixes a lot of the problems we have with the ATF. Why aren’t the gun websites covering this? Not a single pro-gun article in the first four pages of Google search results. A friend recently stated “We don’t celebrate our wins.” I have to admit he’s correct.
Humanity Is About to “Fork”
“The first and most immediate fork is already happening right now, today, as you read this.
AI has handed every human being on the planet an extraordinary set of tools: the ability to build software, design products, generate content, start companies, and pursue ambitions that previously required teams of specialists and millions in capital.
Some people will pick those tools up and build. They’ll become creators, entrepreneurs, and innovators. They’ll use AI to amplify their vision and bring it into the world. They will be the architects of the next economy.
Others will watch. They’ll consume: watch Netflix, play video games, scroll social media… be passively entertainment. The tools will be available to them. They simply won’t pick them up.
I’m not making a moral judgment here. I’m making an economic and existential one. In an AI-native world, the gap between a creator and a consumer is not the gap between rich and poor. It’s the gap between someone with exponential leverage over reality and someone without it.
The question is not whether AI will transform everything. It will. The question is whether you’re the one doing the transforming… or the one being transformed.
This is the most urgent fork because it’s already open. The divergence started the day large language models became publicly available, and it’s widening every month.
The longer you wait to get on the creator side of this fork, the further behind you’ll fall.”
I think the “creator versus consumer” fork is evident in areas besides just AI. There’s some deep thinking in this article.
If you’d rather listen/watch this information, check out this podcast. And if you want a deeper dive, this is the book I’m currently reading.
THE FIVE POINT CHECK LIST, REVIEWED
Despite some attorneys in disagreement, I firmly believe that Massad Ayoob created the definitive list of statements that you should make to the police after a defensive shooting.
The Monsters Rise…
If you’ve read this page for long, you’ll know I don’t publish political content. The link above and the link below are rare departures. Why?
I think our nation is too polarized. Many of us tend to completely discount solid information if it comes from an author that isn’t on our political team. That’s ignorant. Let’s do a thought experiment. Michael Bane did the podcast linked above. Most of the podcast content is about politics and political identity. Michael makes his political affiliations very clear. That’s likely to offend 50% of potential readers to the point where they never get to the best content.
At around the 36 minute mark, Michael discusses how you might best navigate an attack in a hotel ballroom similar to the recent White House Correspondents dinner. And on a humorous note, I’m happy to serve as Michael’s “backpack gorilla” in the event of future attacks. It’s good information. Did you get to it or were you too angered by the political stuff up front to make it to Michael’s recommendations?
Now let’s look at Conspiracy Theories, Terrorism, Propaganda, and Whatever-the-Heck that thing was earlier this week. The author mostly writes about Asian history, but this article starts out in a very political manner that will offend the 50% of the population who enjoyed Michael’s political rantings linked above. But as you read, the author discusses one of my articles and proposes a reasonable theory about why we haven’t seen many large scale terrorist attacks from Islamist terrorists in the USA since 9/11. Even more importantly, he introduced me to the “Lego” videos that the Iranian government is using to spread discontent against the USA all around the world.
How did I not know about these “Lego videos?” Fortunately or unfortunately, my algorithm has spared me from that content. I’m glad I know about the videos now. It’s useful information that I bet many of my readers have never heard about either. Scroll to the end of his article to see the videos and an explanation about the motivation behind them. Would you have made it to the end if I hadn’t told you where the good stuff was?
An Official Journal Of The NRA | Beretta’s 1301 Tactical vs. A300 Ultima Patrol Shotguns: Which Should You Choose?
A comparison of the two most popular defensive shotguns on the market today.
Don’t Be A Tactical Hobo
I personally embrace the concept of looking like a bum. I’m retired. I have no one I need to impress. My mental energy is better used creating useful content and improving my knowledge and skills than it is trying to match my pocket square to my tie. With that said, I know some of you like to look good. This article/video covers that topic very well.
10 Tips to Properly Conceal Carry when wearing a Men’s Suit, Blazer, or Sport Jacket
One more fashion article for those of you who don’t wear a polyester uniform to work.
May Rangemaster Journal
This edition has an important announcement from Tom as well as a couple of alternate takes on situational awareness that you’ll want to check out.
On the topic of situational awareness, you might also like You’re Not Alone Out There: Situational Awareness on Remote Trails.
Finally, your situational awareness is useless unless you know what to look for. Read Pre-Attack Indicators: Reading the Language of Violence
The DOPE Drill: Combining Speed and Accuracy
A shooting drill for your next range training session.
The Cult of the EDC Concealment Pistol Weaponlight
For what it’s worth, I carried a WML for most of my career as a cop. I have one on the gun I keep on my bedside table. I do not carry a WML for CCW. I agree with the author that not everyone needs a light on his gun. I disagree with his assertion that if the light isn’t the brightest on the market, it’s virtually worthless. If I can identify my target and the threat it provides, I’d say the light is bright enough. A pitch black night in a rural field calls for different equipment than a well-lit grocery store parking lot.
Round Peg in the Round Hole
I write a lot on this site about how terminal ballistics affects weapon “stopping power” in the context of being attacked by a human. Here is some terminal ballistic advice for a hunting context. On the topic of shooting animals, you might also like the article .45 ACP for Bear Defense? Honest Talk from the Woods
Restraint Escape Carry: 16 Ways To Go Undetected
Some sneaky ways to hide your escape tools. You should also read Covert Escape Tools: Pocket Preps.
Why aren’t you carrying pepper spray?
Caleb asks an important question. He’s right on with his advice to buy the small container from POM. If you like a larger container, the Sabre Red is an excellent choice as well.
Hamer’s Hammer: The Remington Model 8
If you a student of the craft of gunfighting, you absolutely must know about Frank Hamer’s exploits. Get your history lesson here. If you want to study the man a bit more deeply, read Texas Ranger: The Epic Life of Frank Hamer, the Man Who Killed Bonnie and Clyde.
Eight Of The Strangest Self-Defense Pistols Ever Conceived
Interesting historical weapons. I actually own a couple of the “bicycle pistols” but hadn’t ever seen some of the others.
Defender Sends Armed Robbers Packing, But At What Cost?
Reading the newspaper articles, it seems that this was an assassination attempt rather than a robbery. It also looks like the woman on the sidewalk at the start of the video was also involved. Think through how you might respond to something like this. Presumably, he also has loved ones in the car with him. Would the passengers in your car know what to do if you were shot in an attack like this?
PAUL GOMEZ, THE URBAN AK, AND THE CENTURY ARMS AK63D
Sherman shares some of Paul Gomez’ unpublished writing about the “Urban AK.” Paul was an encyclopedia of knowledge about the AK. I’m glad he was able to share it with me in an after hours AK shooting session following one of Craig Douglas’ ECQC classes more than 20 years ago.
For Dr. House’s more recent work, check out A REAL NON-SHILL GUN REVIEW: THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY 10-8 PERFORMANCE MASTER CLASS.
Stop Watching the Clock, But Don’t Ignore the Constitution
For my police readers, especially those of you who conduct officer-involved shooting investigations. My cop friends should also read Shell Game Shenanigans and Untrained Investigators.
Looking Back To Move Forward: Situational Awareness Training Old and New
My late friend Marcus Wynne’s thoughts on situational awareness.
How to Use Super Glue for First Aid
I teach this topic extensively in my new “Off Grid Wound Care” class. Two points in addition to Daisy’s advice in the article. Vet Bond is the chemical equivalent of Derma-Bond at 1/3 the cost. The primary difference between that and standard super glue is that the Vet Bond won’t sting as much and it lasts about one day longer than super glue.
Best practice is to glue in three successively wider layers when closing the wound no matter which cyanoacrylate you utilize.. Glue the skin edges together and then let it dry. Add another layer of glue over the top (and slightly wider) of the first dose. Repeat one more time when the second layer dries.
Come to class and you can practice it.
What Criminals Know That You Don’t
Alex shares lessons learned from one of John Hearne’s courses.
Quote to ponder:
“The things that we think are so important in our life, when we die, just end up being shit someone else has to throw away.”
– John Welbourn
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