Found this article a couple of months back on gunfights that changed law enforcement tactics. Some I expected, such as the 1986 Miami shootout and Columbine. Others I’d never heard of.
It’s interesting from a gun fighting standpoint.
Category: Guns
About British Crime Stats
Coming from that bastion of conservative thought known as the BBC comes an article “Crimes Unreported As Public Lose Faith In Police.”
Really? Less than 8% of crimes reported lead to an arrest? And they’re short 10k prison slots? People not reporting crimes because they can’t trust the cops to solve them?
Yet, this is the model that is thrown in our faces when they want to take our guns.
Gun Control Is Racist
This is a short video from the Virginia Citizens Defense League and starring my friend, Kenn Blanchard.
Take a minute of your day and watch.
State of Podcasts 2020
Previous Podcast Posts:
This is the third year I’ve reviewed which podcasts I listen to, how I listen to them, and when I listen to them. Part of it’s my own curiosity at how my podcast habits change. I’m also curious what others think about the same podcasts and which podcasts come and go.
I list the podcasts into some broad groups, with any annotations about frequency I listen to them or general impressions. I listen to my podcasts in Overcast. I prefer Overcast because the app deletes podcasts I’ve listened to, plus it has a smart speed feature which will speed up if it hears dead air. Generally, I listen to my podcasts at 2X speed.
I used to use three playlists, but I’ve consolidated it down to one playlist. I was finding over the past year that I wasn’t listening to my history or writing playlists. So, now I’m just down to my Daily playlist. This is a playlist of what I want to listen to during my commutes, work, and other times. I used to have certain podcasts for certain days/times, but the volume and rate with which I go through podcasts makes that difficult. Some are “promotable”, which means they go to the top. The rest are filler, and I’ll get to them when I can – or just delete them if they don’t capture my interest.
My podcasts as of March 2020:
Comedy/Entertainment
Friendly Fire – Three guys watching and critiquing war films. Sometimes they get a bit too much into the art of film, or into the wokeness world, but I generally end up enjoying what they bring to the film. This is filler.
The Incomparable Game Show – Rotating panels playing rotating series of obstensibly board games. Often hilarious, sometimes dangerously so when driving. It’s filler.
Penn’s Sunday School – Penn prognosticating on the world with a few of his friends and/or guests. Hilarity ensues. This is a promotable.
The Rewatchables – Variety panel of guests discussing a movie that is considered highly rewatchable. It’s filler.
Roboskull Cast – A Robotech podcast where the hosts go through the episodes and the new comics. One has seen the series, one is watching it, and neither were old enough to watch in ’85. It’s filler.
Economics / Libertarian Theory
Cato Events Podcast – Recordings of various panels put on by the Cato Institute. I’ve heard a lot of very interesting discussions and arguments. Some, not so much. I would recommend listening even if the subject doesn’t seem interesting. I’ve been surprised by what I learned. It’s filler.
Econtalk – Economist Russ Roberts does great interviews with a wide variety of guests and topics. I’ve been learning a lot on economics, and some wildly different topics. This is a promotable.
Free Thoughts – Interview podcast on libertarian issues and theories. It’s a filler.
GAO Podcast – GAO discussing some of their reviews they’ve done on federal agencies. This is filler.
Make No Law – Ken White delves into the case law around the First Amendment and free speech. It’s a promotable when it infrequently drops.
Pop & Locke – This one looks at pop culture media (books, TV, movies) through the libertarian lens. It’s filler.
Power Problems – A Cato podcast focusing on foreign affairs. It’s a filler.
The Pursuit – The first season was a great overview of government seizures of private property, with the second going into various abuses of power by the government. It’s filler.
Short Circuit – From the Institute of Justice, this one discusses notable cases that IJ is arguing. I put it under libertarian theory rather than politics because it discusses legal libertarian arguments rather than issues of the day. This is filler.
So To Speak – FIRE’s podcast discussing free speech issues. The guests and legal theories put this more into theory although it sometimes delves into the issues of the day. This is filler.
The SoHo Forum Debates – Oxford-rules debates on a variety of issues. It’s a filler.
The Tom Woods Show – A mainstay of the Mises wing of the libertarian world interviews and discusses events and theories. It’s filler.
Words & Numbers – Two economists from the Foundation For Economic Education discuss different aspects of economics from a libertarian perspective. Sometimes dipping into issues of the day. It’s filler.
Guns, RKBA, and Prep
Assorted Calibers Podcast – The spiritual successor to the Gun Blog Variety Cast. Weer’d Beard and Erin Pallette are the real reason I listen to this, but the other segments are generally pretty good. I’m also a patron, and listen to the Mag Dump round tables, Film Tracks, and Blooper Reels. This is a promotable.
Concealed Carry Podcast – This is a good podcast that will do interviews or just discussion from the hosts. It’s filler.
Firearms Nation – Interview podcast with leading competition shooters and others to discuss both competition and practical shooting techniques and strategies. It’s a filler.
Geeks Gadgets and Guns – A couple of geeks discussing guns and other geeky stuff. It’s filler.
Gun and Gear Review – This is a good review podcast for new stuff in the gun world. I enjoy the reviews and the banter between the hosts. It’s filler, but may go to promotable in the next year.
Guns Guide To Liberals – This is a good podcast focusing on how to talk about guns and RKBA to those who don’t share our views. It’s a promotable.
Handgun Radio – This one I’ve been enjoying. Especially the in-depth histories of different firearms companies. It’s a promotable.
Handgun World – This one is filler on my Daily playlist. Bob has good information, but sometimes his views annoy me, particularly when he goes off on rising evil. This one’s filler.
Managing Uncertainty – This podcast is mainly focused on risk management from an organizational standpoint, but I find it’s useful as a prepping exercise as well. It’s filler.
MichaelBane.TV On The Radio – This is the successor to DownRange.TV podcast, with Michael opining on the gun world. It’s filler.
Polite Society Podcast – Good information, but often too long if I have a backlog. This one is filler.
Save The Second – Podcast on the current issues with the NRA and the fight to reform the organization. It’s filler.
Self-Defense Gun Stories – I like the analysis of what went right and wrong from a variety of professional trainers. This is another I recommend to new shooters and those who are thinking about using a gun for self-defense. This one is filler.
Skip’s Tactical Solutions Podcast – Avery’s a new voice in the gun podcast world, and I find some of her insights fascinating. It doesn’t hurt that she’s local. I may end up taking a class from her if I can scrape up the cash/time. It’s filler.
This Week In Guns – Three hosts talk on issues in the gun world. It’s a promotable.
Trigger Words – Just subscribed to this one and haven’t made up my mind. It’s filler.
History
Hardcore History – Dan Carlin’s storytelling on various historical events is spellbinding. This is promotable on the infrequent occasions new podcasts show up.
Hardcore History: Addendum – A companion to the Hardcore History podcast where Dan Carlin does segments outside his normal narrative style. This one is promotable.
The History of WWII Podcast – This one is going through WWII chronologically, with interview episodes interspersed. It’s filler.
Revolutions – Really good series on various revolutions. Each season goes through one of the more pivotal revolutions in history, starting with the English Revolution. This is a promotable.
Intellectual Dark Web / Interview
The Femsplainers – Christina Hoff Summers and her sidekicks discuss free speech, free thoughts, and feminism of the issues of the day. It’s a promotable.
The Long Game – Long interview form podcast with different former and current politicians. This is definitely on the progressive side of the aisle.It’s filler on my Daily playlist.
Popular Front – A look into smaller conflicts going on or unusual aspects of modern warfare. It’s filler.
Quillette Podcast – Interviews and articles focusing in on free speech issues and cancel culture. It’s filler.
The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie – Reason editor interviews a variety of guests. This would be an even better podcast if they had a different host. It’s filler.
The Portal – Eric Weinstein discusses a variety of subjects with guests. Very high-intelligence demanding. It’s filler.
The Rubin Report – Long form interview with an eye to free speech and social justice zealotry issues. It’s a promotable.
Unregistered with Thaddeus Russell – Thaddeus interviews a varied list of guests. Some are very interesting, some less so. It’s a filler.
War College – An interesting look at politics and military issues through interviews with specialists. It’s filler.
Politics of the Day
Advisory Opinions – David French and co-host from The Dispatch discuss legal issues and theory on the politics of the day. With some pop culture on the side. It’s a promotable.
The Argument – The New York Times takes the Left, Right, & Center format, takes one big step to the progressive left, and discusses the issues of the day. Sometimes frustrating, but a good look into the minds of on the political left. It’s a promotable.
Cato Daily Podcast – A good quick bit in various topics from a libertarian viewpoint. This is filler.
Contra Krugman – Bob Murphy and Tom Woods tear apart a Paul Krugman column using Austrian economics. It’s filler.
The Dispatch Podcast – Kind of like The Editors, but for The Dispatch. It’s a promotable.
The Economist – I listen to the Economist, because it provides a different perspective and reports on areas that barely hit my normal feeds. This is a promotable.
The Editors – Editors from National Review discussing the issues of the day. Part of my keeping an idea of the conservative side of the issues of the day. It’s a promotable.
The Federalist Radio Hour – Editors of the Federalist website interviews guests about the issues of the day. This is filler.
The Fifth Column – This is a really good roundup focusing on the issues of the day and how the media reports them. It’s a promotable.
Left, Right, & Center – This covers the week’s political events with a progressive, a conservative, a left-leaning centrist, and often some guests. This a promotable.
LRC Presents: All the President’s Lawyers – I picked this one up because Ken White is one of the hosts. It’s a different perspective on Trump’s legal issues than most of my normal feeds. It’s a promotable.
Mad Dogs and Englishmen – Charles Cooke. That’s why I listen to this podcast. It’s a promotable.
The One With Greg Gutfield – Greg does interviews in the way only Greg can do. Currently promotable.
Part of the Problem – Rabid anti war libertarian comedian Dave Smith is interesting. He’s certainly challenging some of my ideas. Particularly when he beers over to the conspiracy theories. Promotable.
The Political Orphanage – Politics of the day with a heaping helping of humor. It’s a promotable.
The Remnant With Jonah Goldberg – Politics of the day from The Dispatch’s Jonah Goldberg. It’s promotable.
The Reason Roundtable – Four editors from Reason discuss the issues of the day. It’s a promotable.
Squirrel Report – Three former bloggers talking over the issues of the day. Amusing with gusts of hilarity. It’s promotable.
Science and Skepticism
The Prism Podcast – A dentist and a pediatrician interview guests and discuss skeptical topics. It’s a filler.
Skeptics Guide to The Universe – This was my first science podcast and really helped forge my skepticism. It’s a promotable.
Science Salon – Michael Shermer interviews scientists, scholars, and other intellectuals on a variety of topics. It’s filler.
Skeptoid – Another one that helped in developing my skeptical outlook. It’s filler.
True Stories
Cults – This goes through various cults that have popped up. It focuses mainly on North American cults in the twentieth century, and generally covers the cult over two episodes. Generally, I wait for both parts to drop and then listen to them together. This is filler.
Espionage – This one talks about particular spies in history and some of their methods. Generally each spy is given two episodes. I wait for both parts to drop and then listen to them together. This is filler.
Hostage – This podcast goes through a particular hostage event. Most are done in two-part episodes, and I generally wait until both parts drop to listen to them together. This is filler.
This Is War – The host relates a combat veteran’s story interspersed with the veteran providing his/her own insights. This is the brutal personal side of combat and its effects on a person – both physical and emotional. It’s filler.
The Way I Heard It With Mike Rowe – After growing up with Paul Harvey’s “The Rest of the Story”. this one is a wonderful substitute. It’s a promotable.
Tech
Clockwise – Two hosts and two guests discuss four tech topics in thirty minutes. Generally enjoyable. It’s a promotable.
Daily Tech Headlines – Good summary of big tech stories. It’s promotable.
EDC Post 2020
Another in my series of seeing how things change year over year. I tend to carry a lot of stuff. It helps that I wear cargo pants pretty much every day.
Wallet
I use a Saddleback Large Leather wallet.. I keep one of those credit card multi-tools inside it. Mostly because I’ve had the damn thing for probably twenty years, and my wallet feels empty without it.
Keys
I have a key ring that uses little caribiners to attach keys or other items. In addition to my keys, I have:
- Kingston 32GB Flash Drive – Because you never know when someone has a file they want to give you
- Gerber Artifact – I’m not sure if Gerber is still selling these, but their Shard would be a good substitute
- Surefire Sidekick – This flashlight is often the most convenient and gets the most work
“Urban Kit”
This is one of a Maxpedition pocket pouch that I stash useful stuff. I keep the following:
- First aid kit – Coleman Mini First Aid Kit– This handles handles minor emergencies, and I like the tin as a container.
- Scissors and tweezers – Because sometimes a knife isn’t the tool for every situation
- Bic disposal lighter – Must Have Fire
- Lightning to 3.5 mm adapter – in case I need to use wired headphones
- Anker lipstick battery – useful recharge for all of my little electronics
- Short lightning cable for phone – Three foot or less, just long enough to use the lipstick battery
- 2 Spare CR123 batteries – Mainly for my flashlights
- Reusable twist ties
- Lightning to micro USB adapter – So I can recharge my lipstick battery and not have to carry a second cable
- Emergency cash – No, I’m not going to say how much
Pocketknife
For my day job, I’m carrying a Leatherman Skeletool. It’s a bit “friendlier” when dealing with coworkers.
For going out, I carry a Kershaw-Emerson CQC-10 along with a Gerber Dime multi-tool.
Flashlight
For the day job, I carry an older Streamlight ProTac.
The rest of the time, I use the bigger 750 lumen version.
Pepper Spray
I carry a small Sabre Pepper Spray for when I need something between strong words and deadly force.
Earbuds
Currently, I’m using a pair of Apple AirPods. Expensive, but worth the cost IMHO. Also, expensive enough that I can’t justify getting the new ones with wireless charging until these wear out.
Phone
I’m using an iPhone XR. I have the 256 GB model because I cram it with audiobooks. Lots of audiobooks. I use a simple case that has the texture of a MagPul P-MAG.
Watch
I’m using a 44mm Series 5 Apple Watch. I like the always on feature.
Pen
For the day job, I carry a Smith and Wesson M&P tactical pen.
Otherwise, I carry a CRKT tactical pen.
Sidearm
Unless I’m going to someplace I’m not legally allowed to carry, I generally have my Smith and Wesson M&P9 (First Gen) equipped with a Streamlight TLR-1 and Trijicon night sights. I keep it and the spare magazine loaded with 124-grain Speer Gold Dots (since that’s what the local cops use). I’ve switched to using a Bravo Concealment kydex IWB holster after the leather on my hybrid started folding over and preventing good holstering.
Friday Quote – Barry Eisler
The two most important things to do for self-defense are not to take a martial arts class or get a gun, but to think like the opposition and know where you’re most at risk.
Remington Shutters Its EBR Wing
According to TTAG Remington shut down Bushmaster, DPMS, and TAPCO.
I noticed it when I was trying to get to the Bushmaster site to get the specs for an ACR. I thought it was a glitch. Not so much.
Unpossible!
A felon gets a visit from the local deputies over threatening statements. Then, he told them something interesting.
The man showed deputies hazardous materials in a self-proclaimed powder room.
Hazmat and the bomb squad collected suspicious chemicals, many of which were precursors for making explosives. About 2-3 pounds of homemade TATP, a highly sensitive organic peroxide explosive, was also found. The TATP was safely detonated at an east Manatee County gun range that night.
Please tell me how all the laws surrounding felons from procuring explosives were effective.
My Email To My House Rep
Representative Gregory,
I am concerned about the rash of gun control legislation introduced this year and working its way through the legislature. Most of these bills are designed to make it harder for the citizens to purchase, own, carry, and use the firearms they have decided best suit their needs. These needs include hunting, recreation, and perhaps the most important of all, protection of themselves and their loved ones. As a member of the judiciary committee, I urge you to help stop these bills.
HB 117 – Mental Health Evaluation to Carry – This creates an undue financial and time burden on those who can least afford it. Moreover, these are the people who are often in most need of licenses to carry concealed.
HB 245 – Child Care Facilities to Become Gun Free Zones – If we have learned anything over the past decade, it’s that gun free zones do not prevent guns from coming in. Only who will be possessing the guns.
Expanding what facilities are required to be “gun free” will not expand safety, but only expand the number of people left defenseless.
HB 289 – Background Checks to Buy Ammunition – This also creates an undue burden on those who can least afford it, and those who are often in need of purchasing ammunition. Further, as the experiment in California has shown, it causes undue delay in people being to acquire ammunition. Further, the users have already been through a background check to purchase the firearm.
HB 311 – Threats – This is a poorly drafted bill that will unnecessarily ensnare people who are involved in the most common of defensive gun uses where the defender brandishes, but does not fire the weapon. This would be a potent weapon in the arsenal of unscrupulous prosecutors.
HB 451 – Universal Background Checks – This is a bad bill because it does not define transfer as a sale, but merely possession. Hence, if I were to loan my pistol to a friend during a shooting session, we are both in violation of the law. Further, almost all guns sold in the state of Florida are done through licensed dealers which already require a background check. Finally, the only way this will work would be a state-wide registration of guns to monitor transfers. History has proven over and over again that registration is the first step to confiscation.
HB 627 – Banning all Assault Weapons and Large Capacity Magazines – Simply put, this would ban most of the firearms the citizens of Florida use for their defense. The definitions of Assault Weapons are so broad, that they fit most of the common weapons used for protection. The features the law bans are the same features that make it easier for a person of lesser strength or ability (women and the disabled) to use them for protection.
HB 809 – This increases the costs for renewing concealed carry licenses by reducing the renewal from seven to five years, and requiring a costly eight hour class each time the license is renewed. Again, this is a burden for those who can least afford and often most need these licenses. Further, over thirty years of data on Florida license holders show them to be more law abiding than even the police. Adding to their burdens does not somehow make them more safer.
HB 6009 – Removing State Preemption – This is a needlessly dangerous bill that would make Florida a patchwork of varying gun laws, and would ensnare people in local felonies for the simple act of crossing an invisible line. There are 67 counties in Florida and hundreds of municipalities. It would be impossible for the average citizen to be aware of all of the laws.that would explode if this bill became law.
HB 6049 – Elimination of Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground – This removes a critical protection for those who are defending their lives against a criminal, whether in their home or out in public. This would require them to know, in a life-and-death moment, if there is a safe way to flee. Even in their own homes. Even if they are with loved ones who can’t. This would be another tool for unscrupulous prosecutors to use against people who were simply defending themselves.
I hope this helps you and your staff understand why these bills are of such concern to myself and the thousands of gun owners in your district.
Sincerely,
Derek Ward
Thanks to Miguel for his list of bills, as well as everything else he does.
SHOT Show 2020
No, I’m not there. Not sure if I would go if I could. I don’t do good in those kinds of crowds.
First, I will always recommend Guns, Holsters, and Gear’s exhaustive SHOT page for the latest and greatest.
Some thoughts:
It’s nice to see so many new revolvers. I like them from a nostalgic standpoint, even if I wouldn’t carry one. I don’t have the pull for the new Colt Python (especially not at that price point). I wish we were seeing more .22 revolvers. Yes, Taurus announced a new one, but I don’t trust their quality control. You never know if you are getting the greatest pistol ever or a danger to life and limb. (Yes, that’s hyperbole, but not much).
I’m kinda interested in Ruger’s Ruger-57 5.7mm pistol, and I wonder if it will set off a renewed interest in that cartridge. I’ll be honest, it’s not something I would carry, but it would be something I would keep in my safe for range trips.
I’m really interested in the S&W Shield 9EZ, but not for me. My mom really liked the 380EZ, and I want to see if she likes this one. Mostly because 9mm is a much better, more plentiful, and often cheaper cartridge.
Speaking of 9mm cartridges, I’m interested in Speer’s new Gold Dot. I’m using the standard Speer in my normal carry gun, but I’m thinking of these for my smaller M&P and my Sig P225.