New links for fingerprinting

DPS has changed the requirements, electronic fingerprinting is now the standard. Note the new links under “CHL Links”.
I am not going to be adding new content nor posting class schedules until the security situation improves. If you pay attention to the local news you know how bad it has been for the last year. If you need to schedule a class, give me a call or email me.

As promised some links

http://www.texaschlforum.com/index.php

http://glocktalk.com/

http://www.ar15.com/

http://www.warriortalk.com/

http://www.gunbroker.com/

http://www.riflesonly.com/index.html

http://pistol-training.com/

http://www.combatshootingandtactics.com/

http://www.krtraining.com/

http://westernrifleshooters.blogspot.com/

http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/

http://everycitizenasoldier.org/

These are but a small example of what is out there, however I have learned some useful info at all of them. Do make up your own mind as to the validity of the information presented, please respond and not react.  We are all adults here and the ideas presented within are perfectly valid within the armed individuals worldview.

Updated Clayton’s Link

The excellent Clayton Cramer self defense blog has been redone, I have updated the link, enjoy!

Still here….

And been having some medical issues with an appendage.   I am waiting on my students to attempt a class for this sat Dec 12 for RENEWALS ONLY.   If no takers, I will be back to regular schedule in January.  There are changes coming from DPS, will update in a bit.  Thanks!!!

And a new religion is born

Kirpan

Some of my loyal readers (all two of you) may have heard of Sikhs.  Sikhs represent an eastern religion that among it’s tenets demands that it’s adherents be ready to defend the innocent at any moment.  The weapon of choice is the Kirpan pictured above.

Now there are news out there about a change in California law that will legalize the carry of Kirpan’s by observant Sihks.

Sacramento, California: In a landmark legislation, the California State Legislature has unanimously passed a bill to train law enforcement personnel about Sikhs and the religious significance of ‘kirpans’. The legislation (AB 504) was unanimously passed by the California State Legislature. The bill moves to Governor Schwarzenegger, to sign it into law.

“AB 504 is an important bill that recognises the state’s responsibility to protect religious freedoms, while ensuring public safety,” said Assembly member Warren Furutani, who introduced the bill in the state legislature this year.“The Sikh community should not live in fear of arrest by law enforcement for carrying the kirpan,” he added. 

The bill defines a kirpan as a blade that resembles a sword and is required for the practice of the Sikh faith.

While several police and sheriff’s departments have recognised the need for this type of training and have been conducting it on an ad hoc basis, the bill would standardise the process statewide, the legislation said.

The training would specifically advise officers “how to recognise and interact with persons carrying a kirpan.” The Sikh Coalition, a Sikh advocacy group, hailed the passage of the bill as a historic occasion.

“Should it become a law, this would be the first law pertaining to kirpan in the US,” the Sikh Coalition said.

It said the legislation arose out of a number of Sikhs being arrested for carrying kirpans because the police mistakenly believes them to be in violation of concealed weapons laws.

“Our hope is that being educated about kirpan and its religious significance will decrease the number of wasteful arrests,” the coalition said.

“Given Sikhs’ long history in California, as well as the fact that this state has the highest number of Sikhs nationwide, it is entirely appropriate that California take this pioneering step,” said Neha Singh, Western Region Director of the Sikh Coalition. “We hope that the education will help reduce the number of Sikhs needlessly being arrested for practicing their faith and focus the energy of law enforcement on actual threats to the public safety,” Singh said.

The bill requires the commission on peace officer standards and training within the Department of Justice to make available to all the law enforcement agencies training content on how to recognise and interact with persons carrying a kirpan, as specified.

It requires that the training content includes instruction on how arrests of Sikhs carrying a kirpan have historically been treated and the alternatives to those arrests and detentions that have successfully been used.
Link.
Can I be the first to preach of the Church of Gunpowder? We have many saints, ranging from Colt to Glock. We do not require any tithe or for that matter any particular adherence to any article of faith found in Gun Digest or Gun World. Our proselytizing consists of taking folks to the range, that is the only  article of Faith.  We are not a jealous faith, we seek no converts from established religion.  You can be at peace with your faith and still join us for worship, we seek to add more light ( and flash, bang and smoke) to your  existence.

If you have ever savored the feeling of that perfect shot, or that perfect gun then you already are a member.  If you want to learn what shooting an old winchester or colt feels like, you are hearing the calling.  Give in, let the patron saints guide you.  If you want to become a member, let us know, you probably already have a brother or sister in the faith as an acquaintance

Once we have enough public members, then lets get recognized so as to allow us the open and legal practice of our religion.  Your patron saint may call for the veneration of a short barreled rifle or perhaps old blackpowder revolvers are more in tune with the saint Sam Colt.  Your choice our religion.

Till next time.

I am about to stop allowing women use Beretta .380′s

in class. Don’t get me wrong, some of the best shooting I have seen done by a student was done with one of these fine handguns. However if you are weak, older, infirm, arthritic, or suffer from  injuries to your hands, Beretta .380′s in the open slide version are almost impossible to rack and load.   The problem for many people is the open top on the slide coupled with the puny amount of real estate available on the back of the slide for gripping.

Beretta 84F .380 with slide locked back

Note how little space there is for grip at the back of the slide, especially once you discount the rounded part of the top of the slide.  Together with the pinch of the slide meeting the barrel, it appears to that many folks have trouble making this little gun load.  It’s a shame because the gun is a very accurate little piece, but it’s design is not well suited for use by everybody.  You may ask   “Well, what is well suited?”  There is no one solution to that question, I would recommend lot’s of shopping and handling many different weapons before making a decision.  The decision should be made by the actual user of the weapon, not by any body else.

Ease of use and dependability should be very high on the list when evaluating what you want in a defensive pistol, if you cannot easily manipulate the weapon or if it is not reliable are deal killer’s in my book.  I should have my training post up later this week.  See you in a bit.

Some more ideas to consider

When I teach my CHL classes I attempt to cover more than what the state requires. Specific thoughts and ideas regarding training (can’t have too much), weapons (it’s not what the clerk is trying to sell you, it’s what works for YOU), holsters (lifestyle and gender driven holsters are a post all by themselves) less than lethal alternatives (pepper and tasers), mindset (much more important than what most people think).
I am working on a series of posts covering all of the above topics, later this week I will have training up for your consideration.

Texas State Aquarium in CC

is not posted 30.06. A good time was had by all. Class is scheduled for this Saturday June 20th.

Congrats to a fine officer

Iv Garza has been chosen as Roma PD Officer of the Year. Considering the fact that Roma PD has stood head and shoulders over the rest of Starr counties law enforcement for years just makes the award that much more impressive.
Officer Garza stands out in a department full of exemplary officers, the citizens of Roma sleep well knowing their safety is in such capable hands. Thank you gentleman, all of you, for your devotion to your community and city.

Everyday heroes

There is more than a bit of irony and huge amount of sadness regarding today’s shooting at the Holocaust Museum. Ponder for a bit the ironies involved in having an African-American security guard stop a nazi whackjob from mass murder at a museum dedicated to preserving the memory and lessons learned about Nazi’ism and other collectivist isms from not so long ago.
The sadness regarding the guards death and the fact that it happened in a victim disarmament zone-had the initial attack not been stopped we would probably be talking about a much larger number of victims.
Stephen Tyrone Johns sets an example of what Americans should strive to be. His behavior is expected from our soldiers on battlefields far from our shores, yet his sacrifice happened in our nations capital. Let us pray for this brave man’s family and friends. Men of such character are sorely missed when taken from us before their time.
Pray also that we may be as bold and brave if our turn to man the barricades comes and we do justice to what others have done before, often at the highest possible cost.
More info here.