U.S. Concealed Carry
“Armed American Report”
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August 8th, 2008
Dear Friend,
I am VERY excited about this week’s newsletter! I am bringing you an EXCELLENT article from our very own Concealed Carry Magazine Editor, Kathy Jackson, as well as another awesome piece of gear to review, hilarious cartoon, and compelling self defense story!
Let’s get right to it!
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== USCCA Laugh of the Week ==
See all of Chaim’s Cartoons at his website:
http://www.chaimcartoons.com/
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== How to Transform FEAR Into a Powerful Ally ==
Have you heard about my most recent exclusive report? It’s called “How to Transform FEAR Into a Powerful Ally”.
It’s a fascinating look at what fear is exactly, what causes fear, how to eliminate it, and how to turn it around on your adversary!
Visit this location to learn more about “How to Transform FEAR Into a Powerful Ally”.
I’m offering this report to you all at a special discounted rate, and I’m backing it up with my Bullet-Proof Promise. That means that if you aren’t happy with your purchase for ANY reason at all, I do EVERYTHING I have to, to make it right with you.
I am so proud of this report… I believe it will sell its self!
That’s why I have complied a small PDF of the report’s introduction pages! You will need Adobe Reader (a free internet program) to be able to open it, but most computers come with it. Here’s the link to the Introduction!
http://uscca-downloads.s3.amazonaws.com/fear-intro.pdf
In case you didn’t hear- I’m giving a copy of this report for free to all the people who decide to join the USCCA at the website+magazine level!
But you have to hurry… they aren’t going to last for very long- I’ve already sold three hundred of them!
| Remaining Reports (Updated Daily) |
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== “Could You Really?” ==
by Kathy Jackson
A few years back, a female relative approached me with some concerns she had. “Kathy,” she asked me, with somewhat elaborate casualness, “your husband tells me you’ve been taking a lot of shooting classes…?”
“Yep,” I told her, “I’ve got another class coming up in March, an advanced class which I’m taking over again because I didn’t do as well on the test at the end as I’d hoped. It’s pretty challenging stuff.”
She shot me a weird, sidelong glance, and then said, “Well, as long as you enjoy it. You know, guns really scare me. I like shooting at paper a little bit, but … I’d never be able to shoot it, like at another person I mean. And guns really do scare me.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
“My husband kept telling me I should carry one, back when I was doing all that driving every weekend by myself. But I thought, you know, I’m not going to use it, I really wouldn’t.”
I told her, “I understand what you’re saying. I think you’re safer without a gun than with one, if you aren’t sure you could use it.”
She said, “Yeah, that’s it exactly. It really would get taken away from me and used against me, if I wasn’t willing to use it.”
“Well, that’s true. If you don’t think you would use it if you needed it, you shouldn’t carry a gun.”
She nodded. “Anyway, um, er (stammer stammer stutter), I wanted to ask you. Do you think you could use a gun, like that? Really?”
She obviously expected me to say no, or to have some problem answering. Instead I took a deep breath and jumped in with both feet. “Yes, I could.” She blinked. I added, “I wasn’t sure at first, but I got thinking about the kids. If someone tried to hurt or kill one of my babies –”
She said, “–you’d tear his head off!”
Laugh. “Yeah, I would, too. Wouldn’t have to think about it at all. Don’t touch the kid.”
“But, what if it was just you?”
“Just me? Well, growing up without a mom would hurt the kids, wouldn’t it?”
She was quiet for a minute, then said, “Yeah, I can see how you could get there that way.” Then she changed the subject so abruptly that I had to wonder if she’d just decided that I was the moral equivalent of an axe murderer.
Obviously all such conversations are not nearly so peaceful and non-confrontational. Whether it’s a relative, a friend, or a co-worker, answering concerns like this can be a difficult task. On the one hand, you want to reassure them that you’re still a normal and civilized human being. But on the other hand, it doesn’t feel good to lie to yourself, or to anyone else, while you’re trying to work this sort of question out in your own mind.
Probably the best advice I can give you on that score is to try to avoid such conversations in the first place if you can. Don’t advertise that you’re a gun owner or that you’re thinking about getting a gun, unless you are willing to field questions like this from people who really won’t understand. Especially if you are still working out the issues in your own mind, it can be really awkward and difficult to deal with the same questions from others.
Although “protect the kids no matter what” is hard-wired into most parents, not everyone has children. Furthermore (I’ll probably get kicked out of the Women’s Club for saying this so baldly), I’m of the opinion that my own life would be worth defending, even if I had never had children. You don’t need to have kids in order to justify your right to save your own life and protect your body. So even though I pulled the for-the-kids card in the conversation that started this article, it’s not really the line of thought that resonates most strongly for me.
Another way to answer the question could be to point out that every animal on the planet, from the lowliest worm up to the largest carnivore, has a built-in reflex to protect its own life. Human beings have this reflex, too. When you were a kid, did you ever try to hold your own breath until you passed out? Most people can’t do it. Even if you are one of the very rare people who can, your body takes over for you and starts breathing again as soon as your conscious mind is out of the way. This is important because it’s very easy to claim, when you are sitting in your living room calmly contemplating different options, “Why, I’d let him kill me before I would ever fight back.” But your body, threatened with death, will have different ideas. It has a built-in reflex to fight back and defend itself. So, when you know death is the alternative, you will fight to protect yourself if you can, using whatever defenses you are able. If you have an effective defense tool within reach, you will use it. **1
The drawback with using this angle is that while the defensive-instinct argument is absolutely true, it simply isn’t convincing to people who have never been near death themselves. And it may be difficult to discuss in polite company, because most people have some level of denial about what they are and are not capable of doing under stress. But it may be worth mentioning, if you think you can get away with it, because it’s a meme that people will think about later if they are honest with themselves.
“Could you really…?” sometimes means the person asking the question really believes that nothing could be worse than taking the life of another human. Maybe they are thinking that the worst that could possibly happen, if they didn’t defend themselves, is that they would die. For a Christian who believes in the reality of heaven, or for other religious people, that’s not such a threat.
But is death really the worst possible thing that could happen? Not to my way of thinking! I don’t want to sicken you, my gentle readers, with grisly and unnecessary tales of disgusting events. You read the newspapers and watch the news as often as I do. Having your loved ones tortured and slowly killed in front of you, while you watched helplessly — that would be one thing far worse than dying outright. Living with yourself after something like that might not even be worthwhile. I’m sure you can think of other horrible possibilities along the same lines, and if you can’t, I want your imagination. My own is too vivid.
Sometimes the question means that the person asking it believes that no human being, no matter what he has done, really deserves to be killed for his actions.**2 That’s not a debate to get into here, but I will say that such an argument usually shows that the person making it does not understand the nature and purpose of self-defense. Contrary to what Hollywood might have us all think, self-defense is not about revenge, and it’s not about punishing the attacker. It isn’t even about justice. Someone who defends herself is not passing judgment on her attacker. She is only trying to survive until society’s watchdogs arrive to stop him and then (eventually) to pass judgment on him.
Occasionally the “Could you really…?” comes from a man who has quaint notions about women’s physical capabilities and odd beliefs about any woman’s emotional resolve. Were it not for the fact that women ask this question of other women nearly as often as men do, I might be tempted to slap the sexist label on the question itself. It isn’t. But there’s no denying that sometimes the question comes from men who are motivated by some very offensive ideas. I’ve never found a good way to deal with such people except to ignore them and move on. You can’t please everyone!
Footnotes
1. By the way, this is one more reason it’s a really, really bad idea to carry a gun unless and until you have squarely considered and accepted the final consequence of using a gun to defend yourself. If you carry it but intend to use it only to bluff, and your bluff doesn’t work, you may find yourself in the position of having killed an attacker despite your original intention never to fire the gun. That’s emotionally and psychologically a bad place to be.
2. See the article entitled, “Does an Attacker Deserve to Die?” for more discussion about this.
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== The Insider ==
‘By DeSantis Holster‘
USCCA GEAR REVIEW
This week I’m having a look at another DeSantis rig, called “The Insider”. This holster is a leather Inside-the-Waistband (IWB) set up- this particular one is for a right hander.
I’m going to be frank with you- for the sub-compact GLOCK with a magazine extension… I just can’t really make this holster work! But- I think it would be GREAT for a smaller handgun with a shorter handle, and it’s not TOO bad with the GLOCK without the magazine extensions…
The reason for this, is that the holster is designed to keep your pistol LOW in your waistband. Here, let me show you a nifty design that I made… the red stripe simulates a belt!
As you can see, with a small pistol, this would probably work well, and keep your weapon very hidden. The glock is just too long though. Your waist is round, and wedging the whole length of the handle in between your body and pants plus belt… it just isn’t that comfortable.
The other DeSantis holster shown here, the “ProStealth” positions the handle just above the belt line, which adds to the comfort drastically.
I will say this though- the ‘Insider’ is a very thin holster. It also has VERY good retention. I haven’t totally broken the ‘Insider’ in yet, but already the pistol slides in nicely, and it has that great ‘leather friction retention’ that we all know so well.
Honestly, if I could move the belt clip down about 3/4″, I would be very happy to use this holster. It’s certainly very well made (as all DeSantis rigs are).
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== USCCA Members-Only ==
Forum Highlights
Every Member has complete access to the USCCA forum, which is constantly being accessed by members sharing information, knowledge, insight, and fun. With well over sixty-thousand posts and growing by the hour, this is one heck of a valuable resource!
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Sight Paint by ‘yukon065′
I have a Ruger GP100 stainless with a 3″ barrel and fixed sights. The front sight is really hard to see in bright sunlight, but Ruger doesn’t make a replacement sight for the fixed sight model. Is anyone familiar with an after market sight that will fit this weapon, or familiar with any of the sight paints on the market?
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Alternative to GunVault Safe
by ‘tenthmountain’
Anyone have a recommended alternative to the GunVault instant-access type gun safes? I’ve just had the third one fail on me (would not lock). The company has always been good about sending a replacement, but I have lost confidence in them.
I’m looking for something that has room for 2-3 handguns, plus a few spare mags. Should have a keypad that can be operated quickly and safely in the dark without the need for keys (a backup key in case the keypad fails is a plus). Mechanical or battery powered would be OK. Prefer one that can be drilled into the floor or otherwise secured.
Main purpose is to keep the handguns away from children. The house has an alarm, so I don’t need something really big and heavy.
Thanks.
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Your Carry Ammo Is To Old by ‘20676JohnC ‘
How can you tell when your carry ammo is to old to carry?
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Need Honest Opinions! by ’soundlzrd’
I am just looking for recommendations for carry ammo. I see it is going to be much more expensive, judging by the prices on magsafe. What do you all carry?
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Winchester white box by ‘Phil-billy’
Was at a local gun store and got to talking to the guys about the white box ammo. One fellow claimed that there are two versions of it. There’s the one that you’ll find at reputable gun shops and he says that there is a cheaper version, or rather a lessor quality version distributed via Wal-mart. Does any one know whether this is true or not? Thanks guys.
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One rifle: which one to buy? by ‘bikerbill’
Given the current conditions, my wife (!!!) suggested that we add a rifle to my collection of handguns, both for SD and for hunting if needed … I’m not a rifle guy, don’t know much about them and have never hunted … I’d love to hear your suggestions … if you could have just one rifle that would be used for both hunting and SD, which would it be? And please keep it real; I’m not spending $3,000 on some wonder weapon … $800-$1,000 would be my limit.
Thanks …
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Prioritizing you preperations by ‘fast_rope71′
There a over one hundred forums each with thousands of threads and millions of comments of preparing for the discomfort of lifestyle interruptions.
Many folks will go into great detail down to the brand of dental floss that one should have on hand.
Here is my method of prioritizing:
Needs:
1: Protection from the elements. - They can kill you faster than lack of food and water. Light, Fire, shade, insulation, a wind barrier. Only you can decide what is right for you.
2. Water - In normal climates you have about 3 days to find a good drink. If you are in a hot arid region you may well have less.
3. Food - A man’s got to eat. Women and children too. (Pets need to eat until they become dinner)
4. Hygiene - Infection is still the leading cause of death. Keep yourself as clean as you can.
5. Protection - the most interesting area to explore, but also the least likely to be required in most situations.
6. Entertainment - Idle minds are fertile ground for insanity. Idle hands are the devil’s playground.
7. Purpose - This can arguably be put anywhere depending on your preparations or lack thereof. None the less, it is still something we need to remain healthy.
Pretty much everything else is details. Feel free to correct me if you think I am wrong. I live for debate and learning new things, rethinking that which I already (think) I know.
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== “Concealed Carry on Campus ” ==
USCCA VIDEO OF THE WEEK
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== “Tim-spiration” of the Week ==
USCCA PHOTO OF THE WEEK
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USCCA QUOTE OF THE WEEK
- Sometimes a good quote will inspire or motivate you. Sometimes, they’ll just put a smile on your face! Here is the quote for this week…
“A government which robs Peter to pay Paul, can always count on the support of Paul”
-George Bernard Shaw
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Self Defense Story OF THE WEEK
- Every day, thousands of Armed Americans use their firearms to preserve human life. Let this section of my newsletter serve as a record of this fact!
- “Woodland Hills intruder shot, killed”
found at:http://www.claytoncramer.com/gundefenseblog/blogger.html
One of several men who stormed a suburban home Friday was shot dead by one of the residents, who blasted the intruders as they entered, in an incident police were calling a home-invasion robbery attempt.
Three or four men kicked in the door of the house in the 24300 block of Burbank Boulevard, setting off the gunfight, Los Angeles police said. Aside from the one intruder killed, no one was injured.
“Obviously, these residents here do have a right to protect themselves,” said Los Angeles police Lt. Steven Sambar. “Those people are extremely lucky.”
Police were searching for two or three other suspects, described as African-American men in their 20s.
Gunfire and screams pierced the neighborhood’s usual quiet about 2:45 p.m., after the men first knocked on the home’s front door - then kicked it in, Los Angeles police Sgt. Jeff Nuttall said.
Inside was a couple in their 60s and their two sons in their 20s. At least one of the sons was armed, and he opened fire, hitting one of the intruders.
The man died in the doorway, clutching a revolver, Nuttall said. His identity was not immediately available.
The intruders shot back, but didn’t hit anyone, then fled. They may have escaped in a silver sedan, Sambar said.
Inside the home, shell casings from various firearms littered the floor and bullet holes peppered the walls, he said.
Police detained a man about a block away but said he was not considered suspect.
Investigators have no reason to believe the suspects knew the victims beforehand, Nuttall said.
Asked how often victims of home invasion are able to chase off their attackers, Nuttall said: “Unfortunately, it’s very rare.”
Violent crime is rare in this middle-class neighborhood of single-family homes, LAPD Lt. Steven Sambar said.
“We don’t have that type a crime in this area, so it’s very unusual,” he said.
A police barricade stranded neighboring residents, who were unable to return home for several hours until authorities finished combing the scene.
Only a car crash a couple of years ago had caused so much commotion here, said Sharon Friedman, a resident of eight years. “That was the most exciting thing that ever happened here,” she said.
“You don’t ever see any policemen around here,” said Carmen Kaplan, 68, who has lived in a nearby house for 37 years. “I tell everybody I live in the safest part of the Valley ever. My kids grew up here. I walk here every night.
“It’s just a very sad thing.”
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Closing Thoughts
Whew, what an edition of the Armed American Report! I hope you enjoyed!
Don’t forget about my newest exclusive report: “How To Transform FEAR Into a Powerful Ally”! They are going fast- only about 1,100 copies left!
Visit this link to learn more!
Don’t forget to check out the report’s Introduction!!
http://uscca-downloads.s3.amazonaws.com/fear-intro.pdf
Tim Schmidt
Founder - U.S. Concealed Carry
http://www.usconcealedcarry.com
