As you can see, we’re rolling out with a fresh new look to the Armed American Report!
Wasn’t it Jefferson who said that Armed American Report designs should regularly be watered by the blood of old templates? 
The new look and feel was designed to be much easier on the eyes and more organized. I know I like it a lot more than the old one, and I hope you do as well!
Tell me what you think of it, or if you have any problems with it!
Practice to Prevail: A Practice Regimen to Hit Where You Aim
“…Remember that perfect practice makes permanent…”
by Gary Hoff
Those of us who have a license to carry a concealed handgun should understand that it is our responsibility to be proficient with the handgun and have the ability to deploy the handgun when it is required. Merriam – Webster’s online dictionary defines proficient as “(implying) a thorough competence derived from training and practice”. That means that we are competent in employing the handgun and hitting the target.
Training is acquired from reliable organizations employing experienced instructors, usually with a background in law enforcement, military or extensive civilian experience. You are encouraged to seek this professional training. Practice is what you do to maintain the skills that you acquired from the professional trainers. Of all these skills the ability to efficiently draw the handgun and to hit what you aim at are paramount. Without these two skills everything else that you learned in professional training is worthless. Who cares if you can “slice the pie” around a corner or shoot from a car if you can’t hit what you aim at.
What follows is a practice regimen that has helped me. It is not expensive, laborious, nor boring and it helps me maintain my “trigger time”. Hopefully you can use this regimen as well.
Where to Practice?
There are three answers to this question: at home, at an outdoor range, or at an indoor range. Many ranges today now employ “safe range rules” which limits what you can do in the way of practice. For example, drawing from the holster is pretty much out of the question at many ranges. Practice at home usually involves only dry fire practice where no live ammo is involved (holes in that new plasma TV set are frowned upon).
So what’s best? It depends on where you live and the facilities available to you. Routine dry fire practice at home is strongly encouraged and helps maintain grip/sight/trigger control. As far as the live fire range is concerned, I prefer the indoor range. It’s convenient, targets can be changed at will, range can be varied, warmer in the winter, etc. When I go to practice, I go to concentrate on that practice, not stand around during the practice time and wait for the “line safe” command so that I can change targets.
Hit What You Aim At
Two important components of a handgun that determine whether or not you will hit what you aim at are the sights and the trigger.
As the distance to the target increases, sights become more important. However, at less than seven yards, the common self defense distances, sights have less importance and may not be possible to bring into action or they may have magically disappeared. In one training class that I attended, the front sight on my Glock 30 was knocked off and lost. You won’t have time to fix the problem in a real gun fight so I didn’t take the time in the course. After a few minutes of shooting, I learned how to shoot my G30 without a front sight and get hits. I finished the day without the sight.
The trigger is another matter altogether. Any trainer will tell you that trigger control is central to getting hits at all ranges. If you are shooting at less than seven yards and you are missing the target, it is your trigger control that is at fault. Special ammo, special sights, “sticky grips” won’t help you. You are jerking the trigger, pushing the trigger sideways, slapping the trigger or over gripping the gun with the strong hand rather than simply pressing the trigger straight back along the axis of the bore. Spend your money on practice ammo and professional training.
Two basic trigger finger positions. The one that works depends on your hand size and the size / shape of the gun. Gun is a Glock 30.
Pressing the trigger straight back requires the proper finger position on the trigger and moving only the trigger finger. This in turn depends on the size of the gun, the size of your hand and fingers, and the design of the grip. Picture 1 shows the “pad” and the “first joint” of the finger on the trigger (thumb is down to show the trigger finger). Generally you will be instructed to use the pad of the finger for most semi-automatic handguns and the first joint for most revolvers. Good info as far as it goes but it doesn’t take into account the relative size of the hand and the gun.
In my case, I shoot my carry guns, the Glock 26 and the Glock 30, exclusively. These are small guns and I have large hands with long fingers. I found that when I use the pad of the finger, I will invariably throw the shot low and left (shooting right handed). When I move the first joint to the trigger my shots hit point of aim. Thus, I shoot with the first joint of the finger on the trigger.
The point is to find out where you have to place your finger to manipulate the trigger straight back along the axis of the bore. To do this, start with dry fire practice (NO AMMO and the gun double checked to be sure that it is empty, including the chamber, every time you pick it up). With the gun pointed in a safe direction and an aiming point established, slowly press the trigger until the firing pin is released. The sights should stay on the aiming point (make the aiming point very small so that it is easier to see the muzzle moving off the point of aim). If the trigger press doesn’t feel comfortable and relaxed adjust your finger position until you achieve success. Make sure the last three fingers of the strong hand do not over grip the gun.
Make your practice slow, deliberate and concentrated. When you begin to speed up, or your concentration wanders, quit for the day. Remember that perfect practice makes permanent. Once you achieve repeatability in dry fire practice, move to the live fire range.
Range Practice Routine
Firing live ammo at the range adds the dimension of recoil to your practice. Recoil will move the gun off the aiming point on each shot. This will require you to reset the aim of the gun each time. A common reaction to this is to grip the gun tighter. This will cause the gun to waver more as you try to line up the shot, causing more problems in hitting your target. Keep your hand/grip uniform from shot to shot. I like to use the full size silhouette paper targets. Shots off the aiming point are more likely to be on paper and you will then know where they are going. I add a 3” orange sticker to the target as an aiming point. This ensures that each shot fired is at the same aim point. If you can’t see where your shots are going, the practice is nothing more than throwing lead down range.
Typical indoor range set up. Note computer control on the left for this new range. Range picture courtesy of Vandalia Range & Armory (www.vra-ohio.com). Target is the “Crazy Bones” from Thompson Target.
My practice regimen is simple: 200 rounds over a one hour period shot in the following manner. Start at 25 yards, fire 100 rounds in 10 round strings, 50 rounds per target. Then move to 15 yards, fire 50 rounds in 10 round strings. Finally, move to 7 yards and fire 50 rounds in 10 round strings. Evaluate the shots after every 10 round string.
All shots should be centered on the aiming point. If the shots are strung out low and left [right-handed shooter] you are probably jerking or slapping the trigger. If the shots are high or low, the problem may be your sight alignment. Remember that to get center hits the trigger must come straight back along the axis of the bore. Mark the shots with a marker, reset the target at distance, and shoot another string of 10 and evaluate.
Why start at 25 yards? Because at this range you will quickly know how well you are operating the trigger. Trigger error can be harder to see at seven yards. If your shots are on point of aim, great. If not, slow down, concentrate and get your skills tuned in.
What accuracy should you strive for? All shots in one hole at 25 yards, of course! Well that’s not going to happen so let’s be practical. The distance between the nipples on a human’s chest is about 9”. That is my goal at 25 yards; all 50 shots per target within a 9” circle. Simple mathematics will show that 9” at 25 yards is about 5.5” at 15 yards and about 2.5 – 3” at seven yards. So now each target can be evaluated against accuracy goals. Certainly shot spreads smaller than this are desired and easily achievable. Live fire practice will reduce this spread but under no circumstances should the spread be larger.
What can the targets tell you? At longer ranges, if the shots are centered around your aiming point, you need to work on both sights and trigger to improve accuracy. If the shots are scattered, for example, low and left (for a right handed shooter), then you need to work more on the trigger. Being critical of your results here will help you progress.
I should point out that my range practice is usually done with a two hand hold and an isosceles stance (natural for me, not preaching). Periodically I will practice with the strong hand or weak hand only. For one handed shooting I reduce the distance to 15 yards maximum, burn 100 rounds and then move to seven yards for another 100 rounds.
Two targets, shot at 25 yards (top) and 7 yards (bottom). The 25 yard target has a 9” circle drawn around the bulk of the shots. Note shots low and left in both target
Drawing Practice
Now that you can hit what you aim at, you must learn to efficiently draw the gun from the holster. I will not cover clearing a concealment garment so that you can get to the holster. That is a topic for a whole other article. I want to concentrate on practice to make the draw smooth and efficient. The draw stroke that I use is a four step process (adapted from the noted firearms instructor Dave Spaulding). It has been covered in many magazine articles and book chapters. The four step process is to bring the hand to the gun and get a firing grip on the gun. Pull straight up to clear the holster (this will raise the elbow). Drop the elbow orienting the gun to the target. Push the gun straight to the target, acquiring sights and a support hand grip as you go. If you are going to shoot, then the “shot” should break just as you reach full extension and are on target.
But how do you know if you are “fast and efficient”? You will achieve this if you are “consistent and smooth”. You can achieve this with a shot timer that has a “par” time setting and dry fire practice. Par time is simply a fixed amount of time to get a task done. Like golf, par is hitting only the required number of shots to get from the tee to the hole. The timer should also have a delay built in so that the start “beep” is random. This is dry fire practice; NO AMMO anywhere; GUN IS UNLOADED!
Start slow; set the par time for five seconds At the start beep, draw the gun, bring it on target and align the sights before the second, or stop beep. Pick a target out about seven yards in front of you. Stay on target for a few seconds (looking for other bad guys). Then reverse your drawstroke and reholster the gun.
Repeat this practice until you can get “sights on” within the five second par time with a smooth, uniform draw. Then move the par time to 4.5 seconds. When consistency is achieved here, reduce the par time to four seconds, then to three seconds and so forth. You should be able to get the draw and shot off within about 1.5 seconds. If you start hurrying the draw (and you will know when this happens) stop the practice and come back later when you can concentrate. Sloppy practice results in sloppy, period. Remember, “consistent and smooth” results in “fast and efficient”.
You might ask why not just bring the gun up on target and pull the trigger, hearing the click of the firing pin before the second stop beep of the par time? This is not recommended since this will train you to fire the gun every time that you bring the gun on target. To recognize why this is a bad idea, consider what would happen if police were trained to fire every time they brought their gun up on target. So, do not train to fire every time you bring the gun up on target.
A Couple of Other Comments
During drawing practice, you must develop the ability to draw the gun, get on target and reholster without looking at the gun and holster. That is, do the practice without taking your eye off the target. Remember, you have to pay attention to the bad guys and you can’t do that watching yourself draw or reholster the gun. Another point: if you can’t reholster the gun without holding the holster open with your support hand get another holster! Saving money by buying a cheap holster is a waste of money. Never, ever muzzle yourself; not even your fingers! You may have ten fingers but there is no reason to sacrifice them.
This same draw practice should also be used to practice magazine changes. Pull the slide back to slide lock. At the start beep, drop the magazine, get a fresh one from your magazine pouch and insert it into the gun. Use the slide stop lever to release the slide. Get on target and “sights on” before the stop beep. Start with a par time of three seconds and work your way down. Again a 1 – 1.5 second time is admirable.
In Conclusion….
Whether or not you seek professional training (and I strongly encourage you to do so), you still need to practice hitting what you aim at and deploying the gun when necessary. Carrying a concealed handgun for your defense is a grave responsibility. You must be proficient with that gun. The practice regimen that I have presented isn’t very expensive nor is it very time consuming. Feel free to use it as is or modify it to suit your own needs. But remember, sloppy practice results in sloppy, period. Stay safe, and check 360.
Author Bio
Gary Hoff has recently retired after 41 years in the steel industry as an engineer/metallurgist. He began taking professional handgun, shotgun, knife, and open hands self defense courses in 1998. Most of these classes have been taken at the Tactical Defense Institute (TDI - www.tdiohio.com). He has also completed Handgun Level Three course at Storm Mountain Training Center in Elk Garden, WV (www.stormmountain.com). He has currently accumulated a total of 430 training hours, including 330 hours of handgun training. Gary is also a member of IDPA and regularly shoots monthly and regional matches. He is an NRA Certified pistol and home defense instructor.
USCCA Laugh of the Week
Coming Up On Armed American Radio
The Official Voice of the USCCA
by Mark Walters
Armed American Radio continues its march across the United States of America now as a NATIONALLY SYNDICATED RADIO PROGRAM adding affiliate stations to the growing list of cities every week.
Last week we added new listeners at 99.1 KKTF, the station with Nevatitude in Carson City Nevada, KBYR in Anchorage Alaska and Mountain Talk 97.1 in Mountain Home Arkansas as well as our flagship Intelligent Talk 920 WGKA in Hotlanta, GA.
Help us get AAR in YOUR city by calling your local talk station and ask them to FEED YOUR HEAD with the nationally syndicated Armed American Radio Network! Until then, listen live every Sunday at 8 PM Eastern on www.920wgka.com. Armed American Radio Network with host Mark Walters, brought to you every week by the USCCA!
Subscribe to, and download our podcasts here: www.ArmedAmericanRadio.org
Review of Blackhawk’s Night-Ops Sentinel PL-3 XTR Illumination Tool
USCCA Gear Review
Blackhawk bills this light as a High Performance CREE LED Compact Illumination Tool. Well let’s see how it holds up. I test things according to the perspective of a civilian user. I want to know how it will hold up for me. Law enforcement and military would obviously have some different parameters for testing products to determine their suitability for use.
This light was tested for water intrusion using warm tap water in a Pyrex measuring cup with a squirt of dishwashing liquid put in the water to act as a surfactant. As I have indicated in other articles about these types of lights, I use a surfactant because it helps water get into places where it normally wouldn’t be able to go without it.
Blackhawk does need to work a bit on the tolerances of the tailcap of this light. Just a slight turn counterclockwise of the tailcap and the light will shut off if the switch is in constant on position. As long as the user makes sure that the tailcap is tight, there won’t be any issues. However if the tailcap is even slightly loose it is an issue.
SureFire uses the method of slightly loosening the tailcap as a lockout feature for some of their lights so that they will not accidentally come on in a pocket or bag. Loosening the tailcap on the Sentinel PL3 XTR just a tiny bit makes the light shut off if the tailcap switch is in the constant on position My SureFire L4’s tailcap has to be loosened quite a bit more to have it not come on.
There was no mention in the manual that came with this light as far as loosening of the tailcap being a lockout feature of this product. In fact, the owner’s/user’s manual included with this light was not written very well. No company should assume that a consumer knows how to correctly use their products.
Some may say, “But it’s just a flashlight.” Sorry but that doesn’t fly with me. This light, in the words of Blackhawk Night-Ops right on the package, is that it is a, “High Performance CREE LED Compact Illumination Tool.” The manual also indicates that the light IS NOT A TOY. These lights can get hot while in use, they can possibly cause eye damage, and lithium batteries can be more dangerous if shorted than both carbon zinc and alkaline batteries. Plus, many users of these lights are relying on them to perform flawlessly in life or death situations.
The Sentinel PL3 XTR puts out 65 lumens of light with the typical hot spot in the center surrounded by a halo of lesser intensity light. It’s bright! Shine it in your eyes accidentally, and you will be seeing spots for awhile. The light has a 3 watt CREE LED capable of producing the 65 lumens using only one CR123A Lithium battery.
No moving parts except for the switch and no filament to burn out. In fact, these modern LEDs are expected to last for 100,000 hours of use. I do like how the user manual breaks down that large figure into something we can understand a bit easier when it tells of how using the light for 40 hours a week without fail would have it last for 48 years! Of course you will go through a lot of batteries; a hundred thousand in fact since this light only has a one hour runtime per battery. However, SureFire’s E1B Backup which is similar in size to this light, and also only uses one battery only, has a 1.3 hour runtime at 80 lumens. So the time of use per battery is appropriate for the class and output of this type of light.
The Sentinel PL3 XTR is tiny and bright. It is the perfect size to hide away. It disappears in my hand just waiting to light my path or to surprise someone who gets too up close and personal. At 65 lumens, it is bright enough to temporarily blind an attacker’s dark adapted eyes. A lumen level of 65 is bright enough to get someone to look away even during the daylight hours. Just enough time to gain an advantage.
The user manual alludes to Type III anodizing in an explanation of how it is harder than Type II, but does not specifically state that the Sentinel PL3 XTR is coated in the Type III process. It just describes the two different processes. However, the finish is flat black and flawless. There is checkering in three places on the light, but it doesn’t add much to the ability to grip this light. The checkering on my SureFire L4 offers a better gripping surface.
The Sentinel PL3 XTR has a more tightly focused center hot spot than the SureFire L4. Depending on your tactical intent for these types of lights, it may be an advantage. At 65 lumens, that hot spot is a great retina burner. Hitting myself in the eyeballs with the photons being emitted from the Sentinel had me seeing a big yellow spot shaped like a donut with another small yellow spot in the center of the donut hole. It’s painful. I haven’t met anyone that can see to continue their fight with one of these bright LED lights shining in their eyes.
The Sentinel PL3 XTR is 3.7 ounces with the battery installed. The length is a tiny 3.75 inches, and the diameter of the bezel end is 1.125 inches. Remember folks that tactical illumination tools like the Sentinel PL3 XTR are not toys and should be kept out of the reach of children. They are very bright. So bright that it is possible to cause eye damage.
They also put out heat when left on too long. Some more than others. Plus, they are powered by high-output lithium batteries that explode and burn if shorted. Yes, there is the same warning for standard carbon zinc or alkaline batteries, but these lithium cells should really only be handled by responsible adults. In fact any time someone sees the word “tactical” in a product description, it is a good idea to only have a properly instructed adult handle or use the product.
At five minutes of continuous use the little Sentinel PL3 XTR barely got even the tiniest bit warm. I like that because my SureFire L4 gets hot. The L4 gets uncomfortable to hold after being on for awhile. In testing two different Blackhawk Night-Ops lights, I have noticed that they do run cooler than the SureFire lights I have been privileged to test.
The Sentinel PL3 XTR has two o-rings to seal the tailcap. The tailcap is quite a bit easier to turn than the one on my SureFire L4. I actually don’t like that. I like the tighter feel of turning the tailcap on the L4 better than the Sentinel, especially since it only takes the tiniest bit of turning to loosen the tailcap and the light, when the switch is on, will shut off.
The switch on the Sentinel PL3 XTR is harder to press to constant-on than the switch on the L4 is. Both lights are easy to activate with a slight push for momentary use. The switch on the Sentinel PL3 XTR doesn’t protrude from the tailcap as much as the switch on the L4 does. Some might like that better.
At $149.00 the Sentinel PL3 XTR isn’t cheap, and that is because it isn’t made cheap. It is made of aircraft grade aluminum with a beautiful hard anodized flat black finish. It has a 3 watt CREE LED that emits 65 blinding lumens of photons from the business end. There isn’t any indication in the manual as to the type of glass at the bezel. The pocket clip is in place to carry it bezel up in a pocket.
If you have a loved one that won’t carry a weapon, maybe you can convince them to carry a Sentinel PL3 XTR. It’s better than nothing. Much better than nothing actually. It is easy to hide in the hand, and a shine into unsuspecting eyeballs can give just the amount of distraction needed for someone to get away or switch to a more physically harmful means of self-defense if necessary. Plus the crenellations at the bezel are good enough to bust up the face of an attacker if this light is wielded by a determined individual.
If I had a daughter who wouldn’t or couldn’t carry a gun, I would certainly provide her with one of these types of lights. If she would and could carry a gun, she would have one of these to also carry with her. I can think of an almost endless list of scenarios that a small bright light would be useful. And based on the experiences I have had with those of the female persuasion asking me if I can fix this or that electronic device that they have dropped and broken, I like that the Sentinel PL3 XTR is built like a tank.
I dropped it from a height of 6 feet onto wood laminate flooring several times. I dropped it on its bezel end, its side, and its tailcap. It still works just fine. When I was messing around testing how much loosening of the tailcap it takes to have the light not work, I held it in my hand and slammed it down on its tailcap quite hard. It didn’t faze it.
It’s a good little tactical light. I’d probably adjust the size of the o-rings a bit to make the tailcap a little stiffer to turn, and I would definitely write a better user manual that has more clarity and instructions. Other than that, I like this offering from Blackhawk Night-Ops. Check them out at www.blackhawk.com
A Must Read…
USCCA Exclusive
Dear Tim,
I am not writing to ask a question, I am writing to say thanks for the Beat the Ban. I thought I was ahead of the curve, but only realized I had been putting off buying what I may need and what I really wanted before the Obamanation takes place. I wanted to beat the ban.
I was going to joke and say your Beat the Ban cost more than 17.00 dollars, hell I bought a Saiga 12 Shotgun overpaid but got it anyway and to 2 RRA AR15s at retail cost due to having a gunsmith relationship. I also bought some fantastic 5.56 ammo and over 2k rounds of practice ammo.
My next purchase will probably be an SKS or AR47. I have read a great deal more about my rights to arm myself and to protect my country from a threat.
Thanks for placing me ahead of the curve and your book only cost me over 2800.00 dollars in guns and ammo. Well lets just say it was a good investment in my family’s future! Best to you and your family and may you continue with success and great health.
-Mike P.
Proud USCCA Member
Proud Member of the NRA
Proud American!
This is a DIGITAL PRODUCT on PDF and MP3, so you get this timely information instantly delivered to your inbox, so you can Beat the Ban ASAP!
Quote of the Week
“I wish I had a gun!”
-Heard over and over again spoken by victims of violent crime who were caught unprepared.
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== Survival Update == |
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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!
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Hi–this is my very first post ever. I really apologize if this question has been answered before. About me: I’ve been very impressed with USCCA, and this is exactly the kind of group I’ve been looking to find for years. Most people I meet are completely satisfied with the direction the USA is moving, and even if they’re not–they would never do anything about it. I’m determined to be different.
Enough about me. Here’s my biggest question: I’ve been contemplating bugging out since 2006 (when the Dems got control in the House and Senate). I’ve been talking to a guy who made serious bug out plans in 1992 when Clinton was elected, and particularly after the Waco/Janet Reno fiasco. But the question that hasn’t been answered for me by anyone yet is this:
***If it does actually come down to bugging out–where on earth is there to go?***
The USA is one of the last bastions of freedom in the entire world. Governments all over the globe are clamping down on freedoms… ESPECIALLY the freedom and right to self-defense. No matter how well prepared we are, if we have nowhere to GO, we’re still screwed, right?
The only ideas I’ve heard so far are: New Zealand and Switzerland (which sound great but very hard to get into), and perhaps Costa Rica (has moderately lax gun laws and seems friendly to US Citizens.)
Any thoughts? I’m coming up with a blank. Where are y’all planning to go if necessary?
*******************
I am 5′8″ 160lbs; I carry a Sig 239 9mm in a Blade-tech nano IWB Holster. I am currently using a 1.5″ Wilderness Belt.
I realize there are no real comfortable IWB holsters, but I am really having a hard time with mine. I am carrying at 3-3:30 and it bothers my opposing side! I have moved it to 4-4:30 and it is much more comfortable, but I can’t seem to conceal the gun grip; it pokes right through my shirt. I know I see it because I’m focusing on it, but I feel anyone who looks would be able to see it. I live in Phoenix, so I don’t have heavy clothing covering it. My holster seems like a very decent holster and is much better than the 1st holster I used, but it almost seems as if i need much more cant to keep the grip pressed against my side.
Is this something that could be corrected with a higher-end holster, i.e., miltsparks? I am considering carrying appendix, but it’s still uncomfortable when you sit, don’t know whether to carry at 11 or 2 and rather not have the gun pointed at my boyz.
Any advice would be appreciated.
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10 Year Old Boy Shoots Home Invading Scumbag
Attaboy!
http://www.wafb.com/global/story.asp?s=10741492
Video of the Week
This young guy is great! Older and wiser is a term often used, but this young guy is wise, and apparently old guys like Barney Frank aren’t.
The Financial Crisis… Simplified
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT2Wg7lVYAs
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!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Spring Branch, Texas
From the Houston Chronicle of July 16, 2009
Spring Branch Teen Kills Home Intruder
A teenager shot and killed an armed intruder who broke into a Spring Branch home where the youngster was sleeping early Thursday, police said.
Houston police said they believe the shooting was a case of self-defense.
The incident happened shortly before 7:30 a.m. Thursday at a house that was being remodeled in the 9000 block of Kerrwood, northwest of Hammerly and Bingle.
Neither the teenager’s name nor the dead man’s name were immediately released.
Neighbors said there had been at least three break-ins at other houses in the neighborhood recently, but police were not immediately aware of any prior burglaries at the modest wood-frame residence where Thursday’s shooting occurred.
A small security camera mounted on a front corner of the residence does not work, and the current occupants did not install it, Houston homicide investigators said.
The teenager had been spending the night at the house to protect the residence and was asleep when the intruder, armed with a pistol, kicked in the back door, said Sgt. Bobby Roberts of the Houston Police Department’s Homicide Division.
The teenager fled to another part of the house where a gun was kept and stayed there, Roberts said. When the armed intruder entered the room, the teenager fired at him. The wounded intruder then made his way back through the house, collapsing and dying inside the residence, Roberts said.
Recent Rise In Crime
Neighbors said crime has increased in the area in recent years, mostly break-ins and burglaries. “It’s disturbing, but there’s nothing you can do about it,” neighbor Terry Vick said, referring to the fatal shooting.
Ginny Evans, who has lived in the area for less than two years, said she was stunned by the shooting. “I can’t blame him. I’d shoot (an intruder) if he was in my house,” said Evans, adding that she had given her pistol to a friend, but now plans to either ask for it back or buy another one. “It’s real scary,” she said, “and it’s sad.”
Closing Thoughts
Tim, I was at my local Goose Hill store and they were trying to sell me a Ruger LCP, However, they do not have any 380 Ammo for it, and cant say when they will have. Should I stick with a 9mm for concealed carry?
Thanks in Advance
-Dale
Dale, a very good question. I have seen a few boxes for sale online, but due to the laws of supply and demand, they are VERY expensive.
Don’t buy the gun for a concealed carry weapon in the short term- it may be 5 or 6 months before .380 comes back down in price (and even becomes available, period). If you have the extra money, and can afford to have a gun laying around idly, I would use the .380 scarcity as a bargaining tactic.
Offer them less, because you won’t be able to use it until .380 comes back.
I’m not sure what they’re asking, but I wouldn’t pay any more than $300 for an LCP right now. You might even be able to do $250- or even less, if the owner needs to sell.
I hope this helps!
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!
Tim Schmidt
Founder - U.S. Concealed Carry
http://www.usconcealedcarry.com
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