January 29, 2010
Hello friends, another solid edition of the USCCA’s Armed American Report for you. Let’s dig in.
by the USCCA
There’s something very, very powerful about carrying a concealed weapon…
It’s that feeling you get knowing that you are able to protect yourself and your loved ones should trouble occur.
It’s a powerful feeling.
To know deep in your gut that you are trained and prepared to act in the face of danger.
And to know that you are contributing to the security of your community.
Friends, I’m writing to you today to warn you.
That feeling you get when you carry can be great… but it can also be deadly.
Here’s the reason:
Your Concealed Weapon Can’t Protect You
Against the Threats You Aren’t Trained to See
Carrying a concealed weapon can make you feel pretty safe and well protected.
And that’s the problem. Because “believing you’re safe” is the first step to missing potential threats that are all around you.
No, I’m not talking about a large masked thug rushing at you on the street. That’s a pretty easy threat to spot, and one that almost never happens.
I’m talking about threats that are much more subtle and far more likely. And because of that, much more dangerous.
Good, Better, Best
“…taking them to the range to shoot at paper targets may hone their entry level skills, but it will do little to save them in a real life scenario…”
by Patrick Benner
(Good)
For decade’s, firearms instructors have been taking their students out to the range and setting up paper targets and helping their students hone their aiming and firing techniques. (THIS IS GOOD)
(BETTER)
Some instructors engage their students in skill-based tactical exercises at professional ranges where the student is placed under pressure such as firing from doorways, hallways and up & down stairways. Students have to make shoot and don’t shoot decisions with split-second timing. (THIS IS BETTER)
(BEST)
Either of the above scenarios would be great for a student that simply wants to learn how to use his or her firearm for target practice or even competitive shoots. However, instructors today are training an ever growing number of individuals who use their firearms for personal defense–and more so for home defense. So taking them to the range to shoot at paper targets may hone their entry level skills, but it will do little to save them in a real life scenario.
Professional ranges and their competitive time training may quicken their actions, but it does not take into account the psychological pressure that you are under in a darkened room, in your bed, tucked snuggly under the blankets and half asleep when someone kicks in your front door, awakens you from a sound sleep and demands all your valuables! What races through your mind? “Where’s my gun? Can I reach it? Is it loaded? Should I or shouldn’t I confront this individual?” Are you even awake enough and alert enough to make a life and death decision? None of this happens at the range, professional or otherwise. But, it is all too critically real.
You’re not going to be challenged on the range, at your desk or in line at the grocery store. It most likely will happen at night. In your car at an intersection or as you complete your transaction at the ATM and turn around with a hand full of cash, or as I said earlier, at home in bed half asleep. I call this “Murphy’s Law at Muzzle Velocity.”
In another article article, I spoke of taking a new student through the proper gun, proper holster, legalities and proper range training aspects. After that, I try to encourage students to move onto reality training techniques. For example: After all of one of my students level one training, she confided in me that now that she is trained, she would “put the gun in the nightstand” where it would be when she needed it. I asked if she preferred lilies of orchids at her funeral. Her bedroom windows were only two feet off the ground and the nightstand six feet from the bed, closer to the entry window than to her hand (get the picture?). She would most likely be assaulted with her own gun. We’re about real life tactics and training. If you’re going to keep your gun in the nightstand, you have to be able to get to it before the attacker gets to you. That’s it! It’s that simple! It has to be loaded and un holstered. Seconds count!
The gun in your glove compartment can’t help you if someone opens your driver-side door and yanks you out by the scruff of your neck. Your gun should be in a shoulder holster or waistband holster. It has to be where you need it, when you need it. Tucking your gun away in the zipper compartment of your purse will not help you when you’re grabbed from behind at the ATM. I practice these drills with students and I show them that I can get from their front door to their bedside before they can even throw off the blankets. I can pull them from their car before they can reach for the glove compartment. And, when my arm is around their neck cutting off their air supply, they’ll need both hands to pull me off of them just to catch their next breath. So a zippered purse is out of the question. All of these sound cruel but we know they are brutally real. I teach my students to think in terms of real life. Because, a wise man once said “It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it”. (THIS IS BEST!)
Patrick Benner owns Armed and Ready, a civilian training/instruction company in Vermont. You can e-mail Patrick at: maj.benner@verizon.net
USCCA Toon of the Week
Gun Rights Are About More Than Guns
Gun Rights Roundup
by Buckeye Firearms Association
If you’re reading this newsletter, you firmly believe in gun rights. You’ll fight for gun rights, debate about gun rights, and support the idea of protecting gun rights.
But have you ever thought about what that really means? What are gun rights? What exactly are you trying to protect with all the fighting, debating, and supporting?
Wikipedia says this: “Gun politics is a set of legal issues surrounding the ownership, use, and regulation of firearms as well as safety issues related to firearms both through their direct use and through legal and criminal use.”
Is that what it’s all about? Legal issues? Owning guns? Crime?
I don’t know about you, but that rings hollow. I think gun rights are about a lot more guns. I think it runs deeper than that.
When former NRA President Charlton Heston held aloft a muzzle loader from the Revolutionary War and in a loud, firm voice declared to the world that it could only be taken from his “cold, dead hands,” every gun rights supporter knew exactly what he was talking about. And it wasn’t about that rifle.
It was a challenge. But it was also a prayer, a voice lifted up in steely resolve calling to Americans like you and me who hold in our hands something more powerful than a gun, something that must be cherished and guarded each day. It’s something no one has ever invented a word for but which we all know to be true.
Gun Rights Roundup is a joint venture of Buckeye Firearms Association and USCCA. We will keep fighting until every American enjoys their natural right to carry and self-defense. For more news on pro-gun law, politics, and events, click here to subscribe to Buckeye Firearms Association’s FREE Newsletter.
Coming Up On Armed American Radio
The Official Voice of the USCCA
by Mark Walters
TED NUGENT JOINS MARK WALTERS ON ARMED AMERICAN RADIO THIS SUNDAY NIGHT 1-31-2010 FOR ONE SOLID HOUR!
STOP the presses. My original blurb announcing the guest lineup for this weeks Armed American radio show changed at the last minute! PLEASE JOIN ME THIS SUNDAY 1-31-2010 on Armed American Radio as I will be joined for ONE SOLID hour with TED NUGENT! That’s right, Uncle Ted will be on Armed American Radio for a solid hour to give you his thoughts on YOUR RIGHTS and freedoms. Trust me ladies and gentlemen, this is one Armed American Radio broadcast YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS! No one, and I do mean NO ONE speaks louder for your freedoms and second amendment rights than Ted Nugent and WE WILL BE TAKING YOUR CALLS LIVE THIS SUNDAY! Check out www.armedamericanradio.org to see the video of this weeks upcoming broadcast and remember to CRANK UP THE VOLUME!
In addition to the Nuge, TN State House Representative Curry Todd will join me to discuss the activist judge who tossed out the restaurant and bar right to carry law passed by the TN Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. Mr. Todd will tell us just exactly what they plan to do about this freedom hating judges decision in an effort to restore the rights of law-abiding citizens!
I am also happy to announce new cities joining the AAR family in Kingman, Arizona, Bullhead City, Arizona, Del Ray and West Palm Beach Florida…Your prescription for freedom has been filled. Welcome to the broadcast! More cities to come folks,I just can’t give them away yet!
Please visit me at www.armedamericanradio.org for up to the minute information and don’t forget to join the growing list of fans at FACEBOOK by visiting Armed American Radio over there, too!
This interview has been in the making for months and I am thrilled to bring this incredible freedom fighter, author, patriot, lifelong outdoorsman, NRA board member and AMERICAN ROCKER to YOU on ARMED AMERICAN RADIO!
Ted Nugent and I will see YOU on the radio THIS weekend, 1-31-2010 at 8-11pm EST, 5-8pm PST.
For Gosh Sakes BE THERE FOR THIS ONE!
Mark
Quark 1232 Tactical Flashlight
USCCA Gear Review
by Chris Fry - USCCA Member
Another trainer and friend of mine recently pointed me to a new series of “tactical” flashlight offerings from 4sevens.com. For some reading this you already know about my light and gear habit, so it will be no surprise to hear I immediately contacted 4Sevens for a light and liked it so damn much I decided to do a review. Be warned, I am no professional gear reviewer. I have included the information I think is important prior to purchasing a tactical light.
I received my Quark 1232 Tactical flashlight early last week and have been carrying and testing it out ever since.
4sevens owner David Chow used his experience and knowledge as well as the feedback from Candlepowerforums.com members to create a light that he hoped would meet everyone’s demands. The Quark Series is the culmination of his efforts. Quark is a new series of flashlights produced and manufactured by 4sevens.com and their team of engineers over the last five years. 4sevens.com has been around for awhile and I have purchased a couple Fenix flashlights and a Nitecore from them over the last couple years and have been very satisfied with every purchase.
What’s in the Box?
First, I have to say that for the price of this light (which I will touch on again later) they spared no expense. The packaging itself is high end and I was immediately encouraged by this fact. Sometimes we see things we want and when we finally get them the cheap packaging is a bad omen for the product in general. This was not the case with the Quark 1232 Tactical.
Included in the package is the light body itself, instruction, manual, integrated and reversible clip, a set of CR123 batteries, a set of replacement O-rings (another very nice feature) for the bezel and tail cap, a quark grip, belt holster and lanyard.
Specifications
The Quark 1232 Tactical comes with an impressive array of options. It takes the standard CR123 batteries that most “tactical” lights do and although costly the performance of these batteries is better according to 4sevens literature than the lights which run AA. The emitter is a Cree LED XP-G R5, it has 5 current regulated output levels, 3 flash modes (strobe, sos and beacon), momentary activation and level memorization. The body is fully knurled aircraft grade aluminum with a Type III hard anodized finish with IPX-8 waterproofing and comes with a reversible/removable pocket clip. The lens is impact resistant glass with a dual coating, a sapphire coating on the outside and anti-reflective coating on the inside for maximum efficiency and durability.
Output settings and runtime are generous with the 8 basic output levels/modes available and the option to program the light for 2 specific user-defined modes. See below for exact output specs:
Moonlight: 0.2 lumens for 30 days
Low: 4 lumens for 5 days
Medium: 22 lumens for 20 hours
High: 85 lumens for 4.5 hours
Max: 230 lumens for 1.8 hours
Strobe: 230 lumens for 3 hours
Beacon: 0-230 lumens pulse for 23 hours
The Quark 1232 tactical light measures 4.5 inches in length, it is 0.86 inches in diameter and weighs 1.8 ounces.
It is very comfortable in the hand and enough of the light protrudes from the front and rear of the hand to facilitate striking with the light when justified.
One feature I really prefer on my lights is a “clickie” tail cap. This offers the user the ability to momentarily touch the tail cap and emit a burst of light without having to fully click the light on. I recently got another tactical light for more money than the Quark and while it is nice a big negative is that the light has to be clicked fully on prior to operating any of its special modes such as the strobe feature or low level navigation mode.
The Quark also comes with a protruding tail cap where the switch sits higher than the actual body. See picture above (you can buy a “flat” tail cap if that’s what you prefer). I also prefer this type of tail cap as it facilitates easier function of the light from various flashlight/gun techniques such as the Roger’s/Surefire or Hargreaves lite-touch techniques.
The Quark 1232 tactical comes with a unique “grip” that I have never seen before. It looks and feels like bicycle inner tube which loops around the bezel and tail cap forming a horseshoe grip. It seems pretty durable but I am not convinced of any tactical application for this type of grip. Once on and in the hand it does not facilitate switching grips or provide the ability to remove the light from the working surface (palm) of hand momentarily to perform tasks such as magazine changes or manipulations. This may be why a lanyard was also included. It bears more testing on my part.
Personal Impressions
This is a solid light and meets all the requirements I look for in a “tactical” flashlight that I may have to depend upon in a bad situation. It is rugged, having survived 2 drop tests from shoulder height onto the concrete floor at the range. It also survived 1 throw test where I threw it from my porch out onto my paved driveway. It is waterproof having been dropped into a puddle of water and left there for several minutes, rolled around, submerged and then ran flawlessly. I cannot say how many feet underwater it is waterproof to.
The Quark 1232 tactical output is a tightly focused bright white hotspot with excellent throw. Beam spill is also good providing a large corona of light with which a large room or area can be viewed. The user interface is simple with only a twist of the bezel to change between your two user-defined output modes. Programming the two user-defined modes took me a few minutes but 4sevens manual and website with YouTube video helped with the process.
Quark 1232 Tactical hot spot on right, 190 lumens
Surefire L4 Digital Lumamax hotspot on left, 120 lumens with slight donut effect
Offering 190 lumen max output this light is more than capable of location, identification and engagement of potential threats. Even the high output setting emits 85 lumens which are well above the industry accepted standard of 60-65 lumens for indoor tactical usage.
Conclusion
Overall I am very pleased with this light. When I first got it and noticed the cylindrical body I was a little worried about the potential for the light to roll if dropped. However, design and placement of the removable/reversible pocket clip prevents this. 4sevens offer some great products with this new Quark line taking the lead, in my opinion. Especially nice is the price point of the Quark 1232 Tactical compared to some of the other “tactical flashlight” industry offerings. I have paid a lot more for a lot less.
Price: $69 + Shipping
About Chris Fry
Chris is the owner and director of training and curriculum development for Modern Defensive Training Systems in Utica, NY where he conducts courses in reality driven practical combatives, extreme close quarters physical defense, tactical folding knife and edged weapon combatives and combative pistol, carbine and shotgun skills. Chris has been an active instructor with Progressive F.O.R.C.E. Concepts in Nevada since 2003, servicing law enforcement, military and select government agencies. Chris is a certified AR15/M4/M16 and Glock armorer, contributor to various online firearms resource websites and a frequent presenter at national and international personal protection and small arms training conferences for both citizens and law enforcement. For more information see: www.MDTSTRAINING.com
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ATTENTION USCCA MEMBERS!
How would you like to have your gun or gear review published in this Armed American Report?
To have your review considered for publishing, simply email your word document with photos as separate attachments to gearreview@usconcealedcarry.com
Reviews should be between 800 and 1600 words long. Photos are encouraged and should be in .jpg format and less than 500 kb in size (each).
I look forward to reading your submission.
P.S. -Be sure to include your full name and email address so I can email you with questions or comments.
Quote of the Week
“To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them…”
—Richard Henry Lee, 1787
Letter to the Editor
Have something you want to get off your chest? Post it here, and share it with the Armed American community.
Russ T. Roxboro, NC
Sorry to disagree with you Tim, regarding your statement that the job of the police is not to predict where the next armed robbery will occur. Sadly, that statement just reinforces the reactive nature of police work as the public sees it. Only the larger departments, have “Intelligence Units” that believe it or not can be proactive by developing strategic (long range) intelligence through the analysis of previous committed crimes, the use of informants, and other techniques such as “profiling” when allowed to do. Tactical deployment of police can then prevent or interrupt the criminal activity before or as it happens. Being allowed to do so, isn’t politically correct. So as I said, sadly, most police action is reactive and after the fact. In some cases serious bodily injury, loss of valuable property or fatality to the victim occurs. Then only through extensive investigation is it possible, some of the time, to arrest and prosecute those responsible for the crime. Prediction of certain crimes by certain persons, groups or gangs is possible, certainly not with 100 % accuracy, but the citizenry and the politicians have to allow such proactive conduct by the police for that to occur. I doubt I’ll see such a change in my lifetime, and so I chose to be as best prepared as I can, to protect myself, family and my property. Best Regards
–
After my wife and I received our CCW we needed a place to practice. The only place is the police range and you must have special permission and have your own targets and stands. I asked and got the permission and then with a little ingenuity I made the target stands. My wife, who by the way, carries a 357 magnum revolver as her concealed weapon, and I went to the range where I proceeded to unload and set up the target stands. She looked at me quizzically and asked why there were two stands. The look on her face when I told her that one was hers was priceless. It is the only stand on the target range that is stained and polished and receives a weekly dusting. By the way, with her 6 shots at 7 yards the bullseye is gone.
–
Mike W.
Regarding the post “MORE REVIEWS FOR OTHER BODY TYPES” I am 5′11″, 325lbs. I sympathize with the problem of finding a comfortable IWB holster. I daily carry 1911-style .45’s. A Springfield V-10 Ultra is on me most often, but I also carry a full size Combat Commander or a Combat Elite. After several purchases….I found the Galco Royal Guard series is the most comfortable. The RG218 fits the smaller Springfield. The RG 212 fits the full size Colts. Over time, I have found real leather to be the most comfortable vs. the Serpa-style of hard material or even ballistic nylon. for what it’s worth…
Submit your letter to the editor HERE, and I might share it next week!
USCCA Forum Highlights
Every paying website 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!
If you have never logged in but are a member, visit THIS location to watch help videos, including how to find out your username and/or password!
*******************
This week in the Forum Highlights I’m giving you an example of the responses members get from their posts. I want you all of you who aren’t yet members of our exclusive online members only forums to not only get a taste of the questions and other posts, but also the wonderfully informative replies.
Reasons Mature Men Conceal Carry
I was reading another thread and was just wondering if most mature men, that now conceal carry, have military in their background. I do but it is not the reason I conceal carry. I would have done it any way because I learned very young how important it is.
I also wonder if diminishing capabilities are another factor influencing our carry. I know I sure recognize my lessened alpha-male prowess. I have diabetic neuropathy in both hands and feet and are real unstable on my feet. I have decided to work on my overweight status and physical conditioning. Exercise brings much pain and I am in pain this morning. Diminished health may also be an influencing factor. There are no more fist fights, in my future, if you “know-what-I-mean!
My main reason was protection of my wife and myself, in that order. It would really upset me if I knew it was my fault my wife, or daughters when around me, were physically harmed because of my lack of means and ability to protect them.
What say You?
Well, I don’t know if I’m in the right forum, but here goes. I am looking for information from someone who is part of a church security team. Our church is in the beginning stages of starting one. So far, we have never had an incident, but we want to be a head of the game. I’m kind of looking for help in establishing a church policy for our team members who have a CCW permit. I figure that someone out there has already done this so we don’t have to re-invent the wheel. I know there are lots of organizations out there and that for $299.00 a person you can sit in a seminar and learn that stuff, but we are a small church, and I personally don’t have that kind of money at the moment. I would appreciate any help that I can get. It’s looking like my husband and I will be heading this thing up. Thanks Everyone!
A new AR in 5.56 or an M1 Carbine?
I have resisted the urge to buy a black gun for a long time. One of the reasons is I already have a perfectly good M1 carbine including several 30 round and 10 round GI magazines that all work and there are Picatinny rails available to install an ACOG type sight and all the current goodies for a lot less than a new or used AR. During WWII I have read special ops troops, US and Allied, actually preferred the Carbine. Neither they nor I need something that will guarantee a kill at 300 plus yards/meters and they felt its stopping power at close range was more than adequate.
So my question is: If I already have a perfectly good carbine why should I spend a whole lot more for an AR? Has anyone actually compared the two for the purpose of home defensive use.
I have no varmint hunting opportunities in central FL and I am not going to compete or hunt with it. My question is about use as a home defensive weapon only. Obviously I would use it for whatever else appeals such as plinking etc but defensive use is my question.
Video of the Week
Love guns? Write a song about it! That’s what this guy did…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TC2xTCb_GU
USCCA Photo of the Week
All Photos of the Week are taken from Mr. Oleg Volk’s
website:
http://www.a-human-right.com/.
It is a fantastic site. Please check it out!
USCCA Self Defense Story
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!
January 15, 2010
Mission, Texas
From: KRGV
Homeowner Shoots Intruder
An 11-year-old shot during a home invasion is expected to recover. But one of the men involved in the crime is now in a San Antonio hospital.
Sheriff’s deputies say he was shot in the neck, as he and two other masked men tried to rob a home. It happened overnight in Mission on Minnesota Road and 8 Mile.
The men allegedly forced their way into the home. We’re told the family barricaded themselves in a bedroom. Deputies say the home invaders shot through the door and hit the 11-year-old.
The homeowner had a rifle and fired back, hitting one of the men. The homeowner’s son was the child hit. The 11-year-old is in the hospital and expected to recover.
Closing Thoughts
Last Week’s Question: ANSWERED.
“I hear and read a lot on the need for carrying a big 45 but I don’t especially like the 1911 and I’m more comfortable carrying a Kel-Tec P11. primary with a P32 loaded with Xtreme Shock ammo. Is this enough firepower, or am I wimping out?”
Bruce, Wellington, NV
As someone who has carried concealed for quite a number of years, here are some realities I have come to accept. If it’s not comfortable to wear, you will begin to find reasons not to carry it. Caliber is not as important as it was in times past. With the new ammunition available, opinions have truly changed regarding caliber. When person (good or bad) looks at the business end of a weapon in the “heat of battle” all bores are at least 2″ in diameter. Psychologically, perception is reality.
Anonymous:
My concern for the reader who asked “my primary cal.for carry is .32. Am I wimping out”? If I may, “sir I applaud your courage to carry anything less than a ,45. No, you are not a wimp at all. It takes more courage to carry something that most likely be ineffective than one which has has an excellent 1 shot center mass stopping record. I encourage you to check a ballistic chart any of the well known ammo manufacturers to reach an informed decision, Statistics continue to show ,”handgun defense cases occur at 6 feet our less”. Justified use of lethal force tends to have very short distances and time limits,do take care my brave friend !!!
Paul from Austin
Hello, in regards to the gentlemen carrying a Kel-Tec P11 and P32. I don’t believe for one minute you are wimping out by not carrying a .45. I don’t think it is as important as to the round you are shooting as it is the steadfast placement of that round. An Accurate deadly shot with your P11 or P32 is better than a miss with your .45 or .50 AE. A properly controlled and well placed shot is paramount to the round you are shooting.
This week’s question. Have an answer? Use the “Ask Tim” form below to give an answer- I’ll share them here next week!
I am having rotator cuff surgery to repair my right shoulder- my primary shooting hand. I’ll lose true range of motion for several months while I rehab it. I have been practicing with my left hand somewhat I have 2 sidearms (Taurus millennium pt 145 ACP 45 10+1 and a Taurus 38 spec 5rd J frame 2″) both conceal carry holsters BUT FOR RIGHTHANDED CARRY ONLY. Should I invest in two left handed holsters or just learn to draw from them differently (ie, Cavalry style)?
Do you have a pressing concern? Use the ‘Ask Tim’ contact form found at this page to let me hear your advice. Just use the graphic below!
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