Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
Ezr 8:21-23
Nehemiah and Ezra were tasked with rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem after it fell into disrepair. First Nehemiah interceded for his people. He confessed Israel’s sins and admitted their wickedness. Nehemiah honored Yahweh by preparing the Jews to defend themselves with armed force in the face of enemies that were conducting terror operations in the form of guerilla warfare to undermine the rebuilding of the temple:
Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, “Be not ye afraid of them! Remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”
Nehemiah 4
In Samuel’s time, the Philistines inaugurated weapon control by regulating the metal-smith trade. Something had occurred beyond depriving Israelites from rebelling against the Philistine occupation. Palestine, known as Philistia in times past, was a cross-roads where cultural values battled for supremacy. Israel had forfeited more than the ability to make swords- the people had been deprived of the knowledge of who they were:
Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears. But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.
History and culture, along with education, decides who determines the meaning of words and symbols. The importance of this fact cannot be underestimated. The conduits that deliver education, technology, news and entertainment will determine who will control the resources of government, including the power to deploy armed force and the cultural information that shapes the minds of coming generations:
Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
1Samuel 13
Isn’t the situation described above relating to ancient Israel’s loss of cultural sovereignty comparable to modern attempts to place America and other nations under UN gun control treaties? What is less obvious is that Samuel inaugurated a school in which he taught men to be prophets and lawyers, judges and warriors. For years, before and after Israel threw off its oppression, the people were taught the forgotten heritage; i.e., how God had raised up men like Joshua in days gone by. How the people had repented and called out to Yahweh- a name that was rarely pronounced and is still virtually unpronounceable because of the terrible awe with which the name is endued.
The building of the Republic in the earliest days of the New England colonies was considered to be a rebuilding of the walls of holy Jerusalem. The Puritan forefathers consciously designated the cities they carved in the wilderness a New Jerusalem:
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that (the strategy of our enemies) was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
Neh. 4
“Everyone with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, everyone had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.”
Nehemiah instructed the leaders to prepare the workers so that when they heard the warning of a trumpet they would swarm to the gaps in the walls prepared to fight and ”our God shall fight for us.” By protecting themselves with swords and spears and not depending on Persian troops offered to them, the builders demonstrated that they were trusting in an all-powerful God with tools in one hand and weapons in the other hand! We need to pass on the warrior heritage of Israel to our children!
The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country.
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The Appleseed Program is designed to take you from being a simple rifle owner to being a true rifleman. All throughout American history, the rifleman has been defined as a marksman capable of hitting a man-sized target from 500 yards away. This country was founded and won by riflemen who fought and beat British forces.
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The fact that the King County Sheriff’s office and other Washington State law enforcement agencies are being forced to eliminate officers has raised the issue of whether we citizens may have to defend ourselves from violent predators. Is Sheriff Sue Rahr’s recent suggestion that citizens should protect themselves some new kind of vigilantism that may deprive others of Constitutional due process?
Let us start with the premise that no one should ever threaten to give another person a lead enema. State Sen. Tim Sheldon’s colorful advice to his Mason County constituents is ill-advised. It is illegal to shoot fleeing criminals unless it is readily apparent that the individual has perpetrated certain violent offenses that present clear danger to the community. Common sense dictates that any violent encounter is better handled by an individual trained to evaluate the legal and tactical considerations involved with stopping a fleeing felon.
By getting trained professionally, you will learn that when you are legally justified in holding a perpetrator at gun point, you should aim at the front of the pelvis not the backside! A predator can traverse 21 feet with a knife or other contact weapon before you will have time to react and effectively stop your attacker.
By aiming at the pelvis you can shatter the pelvic bones and stop the attacker’s forward momentum while also directing the shot downward so that your shot will not hit someone beyond your assailant. The psychological intimidation of a pistol aimed at the groin is another advantage of maintaining such a “low ready” stance. Try to remain behind cover if possible and never approach a person that you are holding at gunpoint. Many violent predators train constantly and they probably know more tricks than you do.
You should not ever present a weapon unless you are imminently threatened by someone presenting deadly force. Should you shoot to kill or just to wound? The right answer is that neither option is correct. You should shoot to stop deadly violence.
Shooting to wound an armed assailant is for Hollywood cowboys. Stopping a perpetrator usually means aiming for the center of body mass; i.e.; the middle of the chest. Head shots are reserved for suicide bombers and hostage-takers. Two shots will often sufficient to prevent the assailant returning fire. Despite your well-placed shots, you may need to reload in order to keep shooting until the threat is stopped so carry what you need where it is accessible. Warning shots are foolish and inadvisable.
Do not be misled by talk that emboldens illegal and ignorant vigilantism. Citizens can contribute much toward good government by reminding politicians that they work for us. If we tolerate crazy talk coming out of Mason County people will soon be trying to give enemas to professional politicians. Nobody wants that.
The Law Office of Mark Knapp is offering legal seminars on these and related issues at no charge for groups of ten or more. Send an e-mail to knapp.m@comcast.net for more information.
They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.
Judges 5:6-9
The Song of Deborah memorializes a great battle in which volunteer militias delivered ancient Israel from oppression. The Old Testament pattern was very familiar to the drafters of the U.S. Constitution. The tendency of a people to slide into carelessness and the need to remain vigilant framed the writings of men like James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. David Kopel has written an article, “To Your Tents, O Israel,” in which he examines the Scriptural roots of the Second Amendment and America’s Biblical roots.
Lack of vigilance leads to over-reliance on government; attitudes developed via easy living breed unpreparedness and invite disaster and political oppression:
Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof….
Judges 3:1 -4
The following is an excerpt from Judge Gould’s concurring opinion in Nordyke v. King, a new Second Amendment case. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that armed self-defense is an inalienable right enforceable against cities and states:
The right to bear arms is a bulwark against external invasion. We should not be overconfident that oceans on our east and west coasts alone can preserve security. We recently saw in the case of the terrorist attack on Mumbai that terrorists may enter a country covertly by ocean routes, landing in small craft and then assembling to wreak havoc. That we have a lawfully armed populace adds a measure of security for all of us and makes it less likely that a band of terrorists could make headway in an attack on any community before more professional forces arrived.1 Second, the right to bear arms is a protection against the possibility that even our own government could degenerate into tyranny, and though this may seem unlikely, this possibility should be guarded against with individual diligence.
The Ninth Circuit’s opinion sets forth the history of the American Revolution and the militia and Minutemen’s efforts to stop British statists from confiscating and/or destroying powder and ammunition stored in communities around Boston- the match that set the colonies on fire:
“Indeed, the attempt by British soldiers to destroy a cache of American ammunition at Concord, Massachusetts, sparked the battles at Lexington and Concord, which began the Revolutionary War. For the colonists, the importance of the right to bear arms “was not merely speculative theory. It was the lived experience of the age,” states the Nordyke court.
I just returned from an Appleseed weekend during which almost 2,000 folks of all ages and backgrounds learned how to become riflemen (and women) with vivid accounts of Revolutionary era heritage. Along with boot-camp style rifle drills on ranges all over the USA (exactly 234 years after the shots heard around the world- i.e., April 18th, 1775), we learned that American leadership tried to avoid confronting British troops, the militaristic superpower of the day. But with aimed fire that reached out and killed Redcoats at 250 yards, the American patriots, after great provocation, eventually volunteered to demonstrate their discipline under fire.
Our times are like Joshua’s time because we have held back from driving out the enemies that seek to destroy our way of life. But a new generation must learn to make war. We are preparing even as our U.S. leadership invites war into the gates of the city. By reverting to the pre-911 mentality, the Obama administration is ensuring that a terrorist attack is more likely to occur in the near future than at any time since September 11, 2001.
See Appleseed Project: Fred’s Plan to Save America.
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LE Targets’ DST-5 is very effective for live-fire drills. (Photos Dave Spaulding)
The following excerpt is from Law Officer Magazine. Entitled What Should I Practice? Dave Spaulding explains the drills he performs in order to stay ready for personal defense:
One of the most common questions I receive from readers or students is, “What should I practice?” It’s a legitimate question, especially with skyrocketing ammunition prices. Recently, I was at the local Wal-Mart buying some Winchester White Box 9mm ammo (the cheapest I can find) and paid $19.23 for 100 rounds. I noticed that .40 S&W of the same brand was $28.12 and .45 ACP was just under $30!
This no doubt affects law enforcement agencies in how much ammunition they can purchase, but also the individual officer who might want to keep his skills sharp while paying the mortgage, car payment, buying groceries, clothing and all the other things necessary for daily life. Since blowing up ammo needlessly is certainly recognized as expensive, we need to shoot our limited ammo supply wisely.
I’m a firm believer in fundamentals, and while many officers get bored practicing basics, these basic skills are necessary to prevail in a fight. I don’t know who said, “Advanced skills are the basics mastered,” (many have laid claim to it), but it’s true. Thus, practicing basics is a great place to start.
A Dry Run
Fortunately, many fundamental skills are mastered without firing a shot. Dry fire is the best way to improve draw, reload, malfunction clearances (using dummy rounds), shooting around cover (with a mirror at the opposing side to see how much you expose of yourself), one-hand manipulation, unconventional shooting positions (kneeling, prone, on the side, “roll back", etc.) and any other skill that doesn’t require actual trigger manipulation. The purchase of a dry fire training aid such as the Beamhit) can give first shot feedback via a laser fit into the barrel of your carry gun.
Before beginning any dry fire training program, make double, triple and quadruple sure that your gun is empty and that no live ammo is in the room with you. A capable dry fire pad, such as the one manufactured by Safe Direction, is a very good idea. That way, if you suffer a “brain fart,” the round will be captured harmlessly and a valuable lesson learned.
The Real Deal
Now that we’ve narrowed the skills needed for live fire practice, let’s look at when we do need live ammo.
The two skills that must be practiced live fire are trigger and recoil control. Trigger control is the most important skill required for accurate shooting and the most difficult to master. In a nutshell, the index finger on the shooting hand presses the trigger to the rear, working independently of the rest of the hand, without interrupting muzzle to target alignment.
Think about how many times a day you open and close your hand, using the thumb and fingers in concert with one another. Then you can get some idea of how complex this action really is! Taking this into consideration, is it really hard to understand why shooters squeeze their whole hand when they shoot, something I call “milking the grip?”
Independent trigger control requires intense concentration and needs to be mastered before all other skills. It must be practiced regularly, as it’s the most perishable of a skill set that’s already very perishable. Luckily, recoil control isn’t quite as difficult and is really a function of upper body position and applying forward force to a pistol.
To the Range
With the previous thoughts in mind as I head to the range, I start out with a few timed drills to see where I’m at. I like to do these drills “cold,” as I believe they are a better indicator of performance than after I have shot for a while. Remember, it’s unlikely you’ll have just come from a practice session at the range when your gunfight occurs. You’ll more than likely be “cold” as well.
I shoot these drills at 20 feet on the Law Enforcement Targets’ DST-5 target. Only hits in the 8″ Primary Neutralization Zone in the high chest count. I consider live fire a confirmation of the dry practice drills. I do each drill twice—anyone can get lucky and perform a single session well. One after another is more telling.
These are the drills I perform:
One shot from ready in 1 second;
One shot from the holster in 1.5 seconds;
One shot, reload, one shot in 3 seconds;
Draw, two shots, reload, two shots on two targets in 4 seconds;
“Bill Drill” of draw and shoot six shots looking for a consistent time between each shot in 3 seconds or less;
El Presidente’ Drill (10 yards on three targets, turn 180 degrees, shoot two shots on each target, reload, shoot two shots on each target again in 10 seconds or less; and
John Farnum’s “DTI Dance” (see January 2008 issue of Law Officer).
These drills take 15–20 minutes and consume 70 rounds. You may decide to shorten this test to conserve ammo. To me, they give an idea of where I am lacking and what to work on. But don’t shoot any faster than you can hit! A “lucky run” isn’t educational, only deceiving. These drills should be learning points, not ego gratifiers. Also, you have just spent around $20—make it worthwhile.
Trigger Focus
I then shoot several magazines focusing on trigger control, which, as previously stated, is one area where dry fire does not suffice. I start at 10 feet, shooting the small dots on the bottom of the DST-5 target, going agonizingly slow, trying to shoot one jagged hole. I focus completely on what my hands are doing, making them control the trigger and not milking the entire grip, find the reset point and then smoothly pressing through the trigger action.
I also take note of my body position, making sure my shoulders are over my toes. I move back 5 feet at a time, shooting 5 to 6 rounds at each distance, trying to stay on the 3″-dot, concentrating on “sight, press.” Somewhere around 30–35 feet, I start to miss the 3″-dot and move to the larger, 5″-dots and work my way back to 50 feet or so. By this time, I have fired 100 rounds, give or take, so if the ammo supply is low, I stop.
More Practice
If I have additional ammo available, I then work on delivering the gun to the target from one of several “ready” positions, ensuring the delivery is consistent and feels right. The felt aspects of shooting are grossly under-rated. I then move to the draw stroke, making sure it’s consistent and direct to the target. Think of the draw stroke as an upside-down L with the gun coming up and out from the holster, directly to the target.
Lateral movement should be part of this drill. I also work on picking up the front sight in my field of vision as quickly as possible. Make sure you practice with the same carry gear that you use daily, including a concealing garment. Add a few drills, which simulate combat conditions, while kneeling or from extreme close quarters, and you will have a reasonable 200-round practice session.
No, these drills do not account for all of what might happen in a gunfight, but understand there’s no way to prepare for any conflict. History has shown that the person who prevails in armed conflict is the one who can keep his head and decide which of their practiced skills will solve the problem at hand. The officer that never practices is the one who will fail to decide. Stay safe, stay alert and practice your skills often.
Dave Spaulding is a 28-year law-enforcement veteran, retiring at the rank of lieutenant. He currently works for a federal security contractor. He’s worked in all facets of law enforcement—corrections, communications, patrol, evidence collection, investigations, undercover operations, training and SWAT—and has authored more than 800 articles for various firearm and law enforcement periodicals. He is also the author of the best-selling books Defensive Living and Handgun Combatives.
WHICH WEAPON IS BEST FOR PERSONAL DEFENSE?
By Mark S. Knapp, Attorney
A weapon has to fit your personal defense strategy. For example, a young man that has spent years studying martial arts may not feel the need to carry a pistol. On the other hand, a single mom or a grandfather that lives out in Grays Harbor County may wish to have a shotgun or pistol to protect the home.
The choice of strategies and weapons is personal; you need to look at your environment, training, life philosophy and personal budgetary issues. And you owe it to those that love and depend on you to strategize. To avoid planning for and dealing with potential violence is also a choice called denial.
People sometimes say to me, “Yes, I will protect my family if I have to!” Do you have a CPL? Access to a weapon? Have you taken the time to learn to shoot? It doesn’t take years and years and years but you don’t want to learn to shoot while you are being assaulted! Every homestead, sheep camp and ranch in America had a shotgun near to hand- truly the weapon that won the West. Your wife can use a 20-gauge, however, more effectively than a 12-gauge because there is less recoil and the stopping power is about equal to the 12-gauge if you choose the right ammunition.
Most shotguns and rifles are too long to utilize within the confines of your home during an emergency. Stay in a safe place, usually the bedroom, behind cover and call the police. If you have to leave your safe room to help others in your family, a short tactical shotgun will work. If you decide on a 12-gauge, a Remington 870 is quite suitable and the price is about $300.00.
If you want to protect your family away from home then you probably need to carry a pistol. Even if you do not own or carry a pistol, you should obtain a Concealed Pistol License. The CPL will normally permit purchasing a pistol without the mandatory five-day waiting period.
If you are like the majority of gun owners that don’t practice much, get a small .38 revolver. Revolvers go bang every time you pull the trigger. Revolvers normally have only five or six shots, however. The semi-automatic GLOCK is popular because of its price and quick deployment when concealed. But look at the SPRINGFIELD XD. It has a well-engineered trigger, cycles well and has features that are not available with most pistols in the $500.00 range.
If you have not shot a great deal, you may learn faster with a smaller caliber. Many law officers are using .40 caliber pistols. The recoil is manageable and your hits stop the bad guy(s) immediately. Go to a range, rent guns and see how each weapon feels in your hand before you buy. More than ever before, seniors, women and minorities that are targets of hate crimes are beginning to realize why pistols are still called equalizers in the New West.
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Embracing Our Revolutionary Heritage
There are still many good shooting ranges and clubs in King County and all over Western Washington. It is difficult, however, to find a range where you can shoot rifles from distances of 600 yards. Nevertheless, the Cascade Rifle and Pistol Club in Ravensdale provides a 600 yard range for members and for competitions.
Paul Bunyan Shooting Club in Puyallup has a 600 yard range which is only available during competitions and certain practice times. Like other outdoor ranges, Paul Bunyan and Cascade also have pistol and shot gun ranges but the next closest range that comes close to 600 yards (outside of Fort Lewis) may be Eatonville. Fort Lewis has a few ranges open to the public. There is some red tape, however, that may discourage all but the most determined.
A convenient alternative for busy urbanites is to go to an indoor pistol range like Champion Arms Indoor Shooting in Kent. Such ranges are also utilized by law enforcement for various activities and competitive pistol matches. IPSIC and IDPA matches have become very popular. Racing through a maze of targets develops accuracy along with the ability to function and perform critical tasks (such as reloading and clearing jams) while adrenaline pumps into your system.
Urbanization has put pressure on some clubs to give way to development. We need to remind our elected officials of President Theodore Roosevelt who believed strongly that marksmanship was the key to military preparedness- so strongly that he created a government department (now the nonprofit Civilian Marksmanship Program) to encourage civilian marksmanship.
I am scheduled to attend an Appleseed Shoot in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho later this month and will be reporting back after the two day event. The goal of the Appleseed Project is to make every American a rifleman that hits targets at 500 or more yards and to increase appreciation for America’s Revolutionary era heritage.
There are still many avid shooters in King County, including “liberal” Seattle. In fact, despite preconceived notions that liberals are anti-gun, gun politics are the true third rail of American politics. The conventional wisdom that a pro-gun stance will alienate swing voters and soccer moms is dubious and needs to be tested. We talk to many South King County moms and grandmothers that are obtaining their Concealed Pistol Licenses for the first time.
Tell your elected representatives that we need more ranges with more space and not to lean on the ones that we have. There are now many successful Democrats and Republicans in the Evergreen State that whole heartedly support armed citizens’ rights.
Rep. Skip Priest, for example, has a solid rating from the NRA and attracts a good cross-section of voters in our area- an area that epitomizes suburban patterns of swing voting. Tell your candidate of choice that gun rights are a bipartisan matter. Then get out to the range and meet your neighbors. Embracing America’s Revolutionary War heritage may be a welcome antidote to all the bad news about the economy.
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In 1871, a former Union officer, Col. William C. Church, wrote a series of articles in a United States Army and Navy magazine. He was acting as a watchman sounding a clear call for training in marksmanship. Col. Church quoted another veteran officer who complained, “The general ignorance concerning marksmanship which I found among our soldiers during the Civil War appalled me.”
Col. Church went on to propose that an association be formed “to promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis….”
On November 17, 1871, the organization known today as the National Rifle Association of America was formed in order to answer that need. With notable exceptions, the Southern soldiers were much more adept at sharpshooting during the War Between the States and this had become a matter of great concern. The reason for the disparity in shooting skills seems to have been because the Northerners were urban dwellers and Southerners tended to be farmers and mountain people that lived in rural areas so the Southerners were more familiar with the handling of firearms and many more Southerners than Northerners supplemented their diets by hunting for wild game.
In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt signed into law the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice, thus beginning a legislative agenda that eventually led to creation of the Director of Civilian Marksmanship. The purpose of these legislative initiatives was, “That every facility should be offered citizens outside of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and organized militia [National Guard] to become proficient in rifle shooting, and that this purpose can best be accomplished by means of rifle clubs.”
Pres. Roosevelt, an avid shooter, thought that it was necessary for the nation’s defense to provide rifles and facilities for civilians to develop good shooting skills via competition and other programs. This philosophy continued up until fairly modern times. Then the concepts of mutual assured destruction and other modern military theories combined to convince leaders in the United States government and the Armed Forces that small arms have very little relevancy to modern warfare.
MAD, the doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction, became the underlying premise in many areas of official United States policy. The international structure for limiting nuclear arms by means of treaties (SALT Treaty, etc.) with the Soviets was super-power parity in which the parties agreed that each side in the super-power struggle would forfeit the right of deploying Antiballistic Missiles (ABMs).
In other words, the US leadership under Nixon and Kissinger agreed not to use missiles to protect the US population from our enemy’s missiles in order to hold each other’s populations hostage to a nuclear strike; i.e., we abdicated defense of the civilian populations by forfeiting our defensive posture against nuclear attack while theoretically ensuring our ability to destroy the Soviet populace by a retaliatory strike. Most of us never understood this because of the complicated bureaucratese that grew up around the professional apparatus surrounding such a diabolical arrangement.
(Continued)
PermalinkDoes it make any difference to our national security whether or not civilians learn how to shoot before enlisting in the United States Armed Forces?
