Pinching Pennies

One of the most commonly asked questions after we demonstrate a piece of gear or a firearm in one of our courses is "How much does that cost?" Let's face it: budget plays a larger role in more purchasing decisions than most people would like to admit. There is some fantastic equipment out there for survival, emergency preparedness, shooting, and self-defense that is very expensive (and often over-priced), and therefore not feasible for a lot of average citizens. One of the reasons that Independence Training was created was to deliver cost-effective training options to the average person, and in doing so the instructors here all try to maintain a certain level of affordable gear that we use in class and on a daily basis. In fact the vendors and manufacturers that we do business with are specifically chosen based on the quality of their gear as well as the price point of their merchandise.

With all that said, there is some equipment out there that is just not quality-built, and I wouldn't bet my life on it, or the lives of my loved ones on it. With the "tactical" movement so huge, there are a plethora of companies out there who produce packs, vests, holsters, ammunition magazines, and even firearms that are just not worth the money you will put down for them. There are many people out there who will buy equipment that will never get used - it sits in closets or in cabinets and provides a certain "peace of mind" to the owner that they'll "have it in case they need it." They won't train with it, and they likely won't need it, so the particular build quality of that $20 backpack from eBay or the $10 holster from the swap meet isn't necessarily of particular interest to them. But the sheepdog doesn't think that way.

You see, the sheepdog knows that there's a time and a place to pinch pennies. Training ammunition is a great example of a place where you can save a few dollars and get a product that is just as effective as the more expensive stuff. But when it comes to buying equipment that your life may depend on - such as medical supplies, firearms, or quality load bearing equipment - now is not the time to debate over $20. As an example, there's a company out there called BLACKHAWK! and they make many different packs, vests, holsters, and various other types of quality equipment. You know how they got their start? Former Navy SEAL Mike Noell, founder of BLACKHAWK!, was operating overseas and working his way through a minefield. The straps on his pack suddenly busted, dropping his gear to the ground . . . . in a minefield! Luckily nothing happened, but Mike swore then and there that he would create a quality pack for soldiers, sailors, and Marines so that they would never have to worry about that kind of equipment failure from his gear. And when he got home he designed a new rock-solid pack and his now international company was born.

Now this is the part where most people say "But I'll never be navigating a minefield, so I don't need a $200 pack!" And they're probably right - they don't need a $200 backpack. But the chance is very good that they'll need more than that $20 backpack if they have to carry anything further than a few miles, or under adverse conditions, or have it last more than a few months. In my time in the outdoors, in the training world, and also operationally, I have broken and wore out a lot of gear. Most of the time, it was because I or someone responsible for my gear was trying to save a few bucks. Luckily my life was never on the line when my equipment failed, but let me ask you this: what is your life worth? Now of course this is an impossible question to answer, because the answer isn't really realistic. But if you had to bet your life on a piece of equipment, what would you be willing to pay? Would a $40 difference matter if it meant your life could potentially be saved?

I don't want to come off here sounding like you need to buy only the best - again, one of our focuses here at Independence Training is to encourage people to maximize the use of what they have, whether that's a $200 handgun or a $1000 handgun. Work within your budget, certainly, but also put a realistic priority on your purchases. Would you want to skydive with the cheapest parachute? Climb a rock face with the cheapest harness? While those pieces of equipment would most likely still work just fine, I want to ensure that equipment that has a direct correlation to my safety is as good as I can possibly get.

Recently, I took a friend of mine out gun shopping for his very first firearms purchase. As we're standing there discussing the pros and cons of each model of shotgun, I figure that, like many other buyers, the least or second least inexpensive shotgun was probably catching his eye. Were these bad choices? Not at all. Would I bet my life on either of them? Absolutely. But the benefits of the slightly more expensive shotguns were of particular use to this friend of mine, and certainly made for a more quality shotgun. It was about this time that my friend turned to me and said "If you were buying your first shotgun, which one would you get? And don't just pick based on price, because this is a lifetime purchase for me." At this, my mouth spread into a grin - here was someone who got it! Not only will this shotgun outlast him, his kids, and his kids' kids, but his life may literally depend on its functionality one day, and he was willing to skip a few weeks of eating out for lunch in order to make sure that he got a piece of equipment that was made to last.

So I picked out a shotgun for him. It wasn't the most expensive, not by a long shot, but it wasn't the cheapest one, either. And now he has a shotgun that will take care of him as long as he takes care of it. And so it should be with you - every purchase decision which results in the procurement of gear that will or may potentially be used under extreme conditions, whether a screwdriver set, a holster, or a rifle, should be weighed against your budget but also against the potential it has to keep you breathing or living happily.

Is there anything wrong with carrying a $10 first-aid kit, or putting a $20 red dot on your $800 carbine? No - they are still functional and may meet your needs. But if one day your needs are higher than that equipment can deliver, you do not want to find yourself in an emergency where you are saying "I wish I would've spent the extra few bucks."


Stay Aware, Stay Safe, and Train Hard.

Reading is Fundamental

As an avid reader, it amazes me how fewer and fewer people these days seem to enjoy sitting down with a good book. Even with devices out there such as the Amazon Kindle, which can hold up to 1,400 books in a space barely larger than the palm of your hand! As someone who is continuing along the path to being a better sheepdog, I am a student of how the past, the present, and the future may influence my life, my liberty, and my safety. I am a pupil of those who have experienced things which I have not, and that also makes me an observer of those who do not share my beliefs, since I must learn all I can about their way of life. There is so much knowledge to gain from so many sources, and the internet is certainly a great resource for doing so. That being said, it is important to ensure that the advice and/or knowledge you gain which you want to incorporate into your life comes from reliable sources who actually know what they are talking about, or at the very least have some experience on the subject matter.

Over the years I have read a great many books, and while so many of them have been excellent sources of both entertainment and education, there are a few that stand out as exceptional, and certainly applicable to what we teach here at Independence Training. I'd like to give you a short list of just a few of these titles, and if you end up reading them, or have already read them, please leave your own review in the comments section below.

"On Combat" - Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. This book is for civilians as much as it is for law-enforcement officers and military personnel. Part of our concept of Sheep, Sheepdog, and Wolves is derived from this book, and I recommend it to every responsible citizen that I meet. Grossman does an excellent job of detailing, in plain language, the effects of lethal force encounters, from slowed time and altered realities to parasympathetic response and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At one point in the book, Grossman takes a side path to talk about one of his major areas of study - the effects of media violence on kids - and while this section is interesting by itself, I didn't feel it had a place in "On Combat," but that's my only major gripe.

"Lone Survivor" - Marcus Luttrell. The story of a Navy SEAL mission in Afghanistan gone awry, Luttrell was the lone survivor of his team after a massive enemy ambush. Wounded, outnumbered, outgunned, alone, and way behind enemy lines, Luttrell evades capture, aids the resistance, and ultimately survives. Now a spokesperson for the NRA as well as a motivational speaker and national icon, Luttrell is the embodiment of the warrior spirit. I recommend this book not only as a glimpse into the harrowing combat situations that our special operations fighting men encounter, but also as a look at how mindset and determination are the ultimate deciding factors any rough situation.

"When All Hell Breaks Loose" - Cody Lundin. Most urban survival books fall into one of two categories: over-the-top survivalist or fictional zombie apocalypse. Cody has his own category: realistic. Whether it's a power outage or an economic collapse, this book will show you how to make the most of what you have, and how to survive despite potentially overwhelming odds. His often comedic approach to the proper preparation and mindset needed to get the job done will keep you engaged throughout the book, and there are lots of illustrations and pictures, as well.

"After You Shoot" - Alan Korwin. What you do after you use lethal force in a self-defense situation is a topic that not many people consider. Most see themselves as getting a pat on the back from the police and then going about their merry way, perhaps a little shaken up but none too worse for wear. The reality, however, is much different than that, and if you carry or keep a firearm for self-defense, you need to read this book. Period.

"How To Win On The Battlefield" - Rob Johnson / Michael Whitby / John France. Battlefield tactics aren't necessarily something that I recommend as reading material to our students, but in this case the book is so well put together and so clearly written that I highly advise it. There's a lot to learn about overwhelming your enemy by studying battles from history, and with sections such as 'Counter-Attack' and 'Deception and Feints', a lot of the information contained in this book falls right in line with what we teach in our courses. While it's geared towards a larger force, the tactics and techniques outlined can still be used against a handful of attackers.

"One Second After" - William R. Forstchen. The only fictional novel on this list is the story of life and survival in American after an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) essentially sends us back to the Dark Ages. This book portrays such a realistic look at the effects of EMPs that it has been discussed amongst members of Congress and at the Pentagon as a book that every American needs to read. This book could have gone on for another 500 pages and I would have happily continued to read it.

So there's a few books for you to consider, and I hope that you will take the time to purchase or borrow them and then spend the time necessary to digest them from cover to cover. Remember, being a sheepdog is not a destination - it's a journey, and it's a journey that you need to be well-informed on.


Stay Aware, Stay Safe, and Train Hard.

Carry Condition: it makes a difference

Depending on the type of firearm you carry, you may have multiple choices when it comes to carry condition; which is to say that you may be able to carry with safety on, safety off, chamber empty, chamber loaded, hammer back, magazine loaded, etc. Many of my students ask my opinion on this, and except for a few rare circumstances, my response is the same: "Locked, Cocked, and Ready to Rock." Why carry a firearm if it's not ready to be used? If you need your firearm, you need it RIGHT NOW! I have seen and heard the arguments favoring the carry of handguns with an empty chamber; safety is paramount amongst them. Some of the reasons I hear include: "What if my child gets a hold of my gun?" Why does a child have access to your guns? "If the bad guy takes my gun away from me, I will have time to attack him before he can shoot me." Are you capable and physically ready to be involved in hand-to-hand combat? Consider this instead: You draw your handgun in a self-defense scenario but your other hand is carrying your child or shielding a loved one and you need to shoot NOW! Perhaps an attack comes suddenly and without warning, and the bad guys are on top of you and within bad breath distance; you must use your handgun in close quarters, tight to your body, and there's no room or time to rack the slide. Or maybe you accidently hit your magazine release during your draw - the magazine hits the ground, the bad guy knows it, and now you have ZERO rounds in the gun.

I have watched as people tried to demonstrate to me their ability to draw and manipulate the slide in one smooth motion. That is until I start yelling at them. Or I "cripple" one arm. Or I attack them from very close distances. Or they are fighting from an improvised position. Or it's dark, rainy, and cold. Suddenly their motor skills start to deteriorate, and with that certainly goes the ability and often the opportunity to rack the slide as part of the draw technique.

Consider the following video, taken from security footage at a jewelry store in Agra, India. The store owner is carrying a firearm with the chamber empty, but when armed robbers burst into the store and he draws his firearm in self-defense, his ability to get a round into the chamber and drive off the attackers suddenly becomes a task that he cannot master, as he tries in vain not just once but twice to manipulate his slide and load his weapon.

**WARNING** This video contains violent images of a man being shot and ultimately killed. But if you carry a firearm for self-defense, you need to see this. (If the video doesn't load, you can see it on our server by clicking here.)

The most important part of owning a firearm for self-defense is actually having access to it, such as carrying it! It still surprises me how many of my students do not carry regularly - I carry my firearm the same as I carry a spare tire in my truck, a medical kit nearby, or chapstick in my pocket. When I need it, I NEED IT! What condition you carry your firearm in is just as important, however. I wouldn't think to carry a flat spare tire so that I could air it up when I needed it. I wouldn't carry a medical kit not stocked with the life-saving tools I need most. I wouldn't carry an empty chapstick tube, and I certainly won't carry an empty firearm. And neither should you.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe, and Train Hard.

Limitations of your Training: are you willing to accept them?

It's June 20th, 1994, and Dean Mellberg enters the Fairchild Air Force Base hospital carrying a MAK-90 rifle. He heads straight to the office of Major Thomas Brigham and Captain Alan London, both of whom had recommended that Mellberg be discharged from the Air Force following a psychological evaluation. Mellberg opens fires on the two men, killing them both. He then starts walking around the hospital and shooting at everyone, eventually wounding 22 people and killing an additional 2, including an 8-year-old girl.

A quarter of a mile away, Senior Airman Andrew Brown was patrolling base housing on his bicyle, part of his duties with the 92nd Air Force Security Police Squadron, when he gets an emergency call on his radio about trouble at the hospital. As he pedals into the parking lot, he sees Mellberg in the parking lot shooting randomly at people who are trying to flee. Andy ditches his bike, draws his 9mm Beretta handgun, and drops into a kneeling position. He then orders Mellberg to stop, to which Mellberg replies by turning and opening fire on Andy, who fires 4 rounds at Mellberg. Two rounds hit Mellberg - 1 shot in the shoulder and the other literally right between the eyes, killing Mellberg instantly and ending his reign of terror. The distance between the two men was 70 yards.

Massad Ayoob, famed firearms instructor, has this to say about the event:

There are those who will tell you pistols are short-range weapons, and it is indefensible to fire them at distances as far as 70 yards at armed and violent perpetrators. That's bullshit. Andy Brown's experience is a classic example.

 There are those who will tell you you can't hit an opponent 70 yards away if you're only armed with a pistol. That's bullshit, too. On a June afternoon in 1994, Andy Brown proved it, firing a Beretta 9mm issue pistol. The witnesses confirmed at the moment of truth that Mellberg, age 20, was firing at Brown, then 24, with a rifle as Brown simultaneously returned fire with a pistol. Mellberg missed Brown. Brown hit Mellberg with 50-percent of his gunfire and killed him where he stood. End of story.

 When you are the one who is under fire––and, more important as I read Andy Brown's perceptions, when helpless innocent people are under fire and you have sworn an oath to protect them––"minimum" training and practice is not enough. Andy Brown had taken his oath so seriously he bought the closest gun he could afford to the relatively expensive Government-issue Beretta, simply to practice with on his own time, at his own expense. Anyone who doubts this dedication on the part of this individual member of the United States Air Force to serve those within the mantle of protection went above and beyond the call of duty, is probably too clueless to enter a discussion of the matter.

 Even the staunchest advocates of un-aimed "point shooting" agree at longer distances, the sights must be used if you expect to deliver a fight-stopping hit with a handgun. Andy Brown did so, and proved the validity of "focus on your front sight" as the tactic that will win such a fight.

 Andy's experience highlights a fundamental principle of surviving any life-threatening experience: focus on the task, not the goal. Seeing a deadly, well-armed killer shooting at him 70 yards away, a distance he perceived as half that or even closer, Andy didn't think "Oh, my God, I gotta somehow survive!" No, he thought about focusing on his front sight and carefully pressed his trigger straight back, and he hit his opponent with two out of four shots at a distance many would consider "out of range" . . . . and he killed the killer and stopped the mass murders. Starting with a 75-round magazine in his rifle, Mellberg had already shot 26 people at the time Andy Brown stopped him with a bullet literally between the eyes. Andy remembers now, "There were 19 rounds left in his gun at the time he went down. It made me feel good I stopped him before he took any more victims."

Ayoob is absolutely correct (as usual) in that "minimum" training and practice are just not enough. There are plenty of scenarios where just having a weapon won't give you the opportunity to engage with it, just as there are plenty of scenarios where one armed citizen can make all the difference.

In my experience, many people who get their concealed weapons permit, or who attend one training course, or who shoot just a few times a year, have their firearm as a sort of 'talisman' against the bad things in the world. They can put it by their bed, strap it on a belt, put it in their pocket or in their purse, or otherwise have it near them as a sense of comfort or security. Proficiency and practical application are concepts that they don't consider; they don't ask themselves, "What are the limitations of my skills and what are the limitations of my equipment?" While there are many "armed" citizens in this great nation of ours, a relatively low number of them could probably effectively draw and engage an attacker, much less multiple attackers, assuming they are even carrying their firearm.

So the question you must ask yourself is this: If the time comes to use your firearm to save a life, will you actually be ready to do it? Only you truly know what your mindset is and what your firearms skills are. But don't lie yourself - because when the time comes, I'd sure rather be like Andy than Mellberg.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe, and Train Hard.

The Sheepdog: it's a lifestyle, a mindset, and a system of steadfast beliefs

If you've been through one of my courses, then you've heard me refer to the "sheepdog lifestyle." That idea gets explained throughout the training course, but it has not been explained here in my 'Journal of a Sheepdog,' leaving some people wondering and others emailing me asking for an explanation.

I came upon this idea a number of years ago while reading Lt. Col. Dave Grossman's book entitled "On Combat." It is a fantastic book and I recommend it to everyone - whether you are an armed citizen, a law-enforcement officer, or a member of the military. There is a section of Grossman's book that I would like to share with you here, as it will explain in full detail why I chose the sheepdog to help explain the lifestyle and mentality that I cultivate in my students and in my own life.

(This portion of "On Combat" has been re-printed with permission from the Warrior Science Group, Inc)

On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman

Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always,even death itself. The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for?" - William J. Bennett, in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy November 24, 1997.

One Vietnam veteran, an old retired colonel, once said this to me:

"Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident." This is true. Remember, the murder rate is six per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another. Some estimates say that two million Americans are victims of violent crimes every year, a tragic, staggering number, perhaps an all-time record rate of violent crime. But there are almost 300 million Americans, which means that the odds of being a victim of violent crime is considerably less than one in a hundred on any given year. Furthermore, since many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, the actual number of violent citizens is considerably less than two million.

Thus there is a paradox, and we must grasp both ends of the situation: We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.

I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. To me it is like the pretty, blue robin's egg. Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful. But the egg cannot survive without its hard blue shell. Police officers, soldiers, and other warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful? For now, though, they need warriors to protect them from the predators.

"Then there are the wolves," the old war veteran said, "and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy." Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.

"Then there are sheepdogs," he went on, "and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf."

If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed.

Let me expand on this old soldier's excellent model of the sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids' schools.

But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they chose the path of denial.

The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheep dog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.

Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn't tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports in camouflage fatigues holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, "Baa."

Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.

The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door.

Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Remember how many times you heard the word hero?

Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed right along with the young ones.

Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, "Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes." The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, "Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference." When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.

There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population. There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said that they specifically targeted victims by body language: slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose their victims like big cats do in Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself.

Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe that most people can choose which one they want to be, and I'm proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.

Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When he learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd dropped his phone and uttered the words, "Let's roll," which authorities believe was a signal to the other passengers to confront the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, business people and parents - from sheep to sheepdogs, and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground.

"There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men." - Edmund Burke

Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn't have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision.

If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior's path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.

For example, many officers carry their weapons in church. They are well concealed in ankle holsters, shoulder holsters or inside-the-belt holsters tucked into the small of their backs. Anytime you go to some form of religious service, there is a very good chance that a police officer in your congregation is carrying. You will never know if there is such an individual in your place of worship, until the wolf appears to massacre you and your loved ones.

I was training a group of police officers in Texas, and during the break, one officer asked his friend if he carried his weapon in church. The other cop replied, "I will never be caught without my gun in church." I asked why he felt so strongly about this, and he told me about a cop he knew who was at a church massacre in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1999. In that incident, a mentally deranged individual came into the church and opened fire, gunning down fourteen people. He said that officer believed he could have saved every life that day if he had been carrying his gun. His own son was shot, and all he could do was throw himself on the boy's body and wait to die. That cop looked me in the eye and said, "Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself after that?"

Some individuals would be horrified if they knew this police officer was carrying a weapon in church. They might call him paranoid and would probably scorn him. Yet these same individuals would be enraged and would call for "heads to roll" if they found out that the airbags in their cars were defective, or that the fire extinguisher and fire sprinklers in their kids' school did not work. They can accept the fact that fires and traffic accidents can happen and that there must be safeguards against them.

Their only response to the wolf, though, is denial, and all too often their response to the sheepdog is scorn and disdain. But the sheepdog quietly asks himself, "Do you have and idea how hard it would be to live with yourself if your loved ones attacked and killed, and you had to stand there helplessly because you were unprepared for that day?"

It is denial that turns people into sheep. Sheep are psychologically destroyed by combat because their only defense is denial, which is counterproductive and destructive, resulting in fear, helplessness and horror when the wolf shows up.

Denial kills you twice. It kills you once, at your moment of truth when you are not physically prepared: you didn't bring your gun, you didn't train. Your only defense was wishful thinking. Hope is not a strategy. Denial kills you a second time because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by your fear helplessness and horror at your moment of truth.

Gavin de Becker puts it like this in 'Fear Less', his superb post-9/11 book, which should be required reading for anyone trying to come to terms with our current world situation: "...denial can be seductive, but it has an insidious side effect. For all the peace of mind deniers think they get by saying it isn't so, the fall they take when faced with new violence is all the more unsettling."

Denial is a save-now-pay-later scheme, a contract written entirely in small print, for in the long run, the denying person knows the truth on some level.

And so the warrior must strive to confront denial in all aspects of his life, and prepare himself for the day when evil comes. If you are warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be "on" 24/7, for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself...

"Baa."

This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheephood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth.

(Find out more about Lt. Col. Grossman and 'On Combat' here, and order it from Amazon here.)

In my discussions with students, fellow instructors, and random citizens, I have heard a few different interpretations of the sheepdog idea. Some have told me that a sheepdog was the wrong animal to choose, since it is an example of control to the sheep. Others have said that the whole idea is ridiculous, since it is not their way of life to help anyone but themselves. And still others have told me that they do not believe in a "greater evil" and therefore they don't see the point in preparing for something that may never happen. To all of them I respond with this:

The sheepdog is not a literal example, it is an idea that there is something beyond letting life come to you on its terms. Being a sheepdog is not carrying a gun, stocking up on food, or going into battle - while those may be elements of a sheepdog's life, they are not what make the sheepdog. It's a lifestyle of hardwork and preparation, whether for a life and death situation or a promotion at work. It's a mindset that says I will not give up, give in, or go down without a fight; I will stick to my beliefs, take care of my family, and pursue liberty at all costs. I will help others when I can, and I will live a life of honor and integrity. Is this an idea that is being lost? Yes, I believe it is. And that is why it is so important that those of us who are willing and able continue to live the sheepdog lifestyle, and to teach our children and others who will listen about it.

As part of my sheepdog lifestyle, I do carry a firearm, but I also have a fire extinguisher in my home and vehicles, I keep medical kits as close as possible, and I have a quality spare tire in my truck. I keep extra food, extra water, spare batteries, and every other conceivable supply that I use on a daily basis, and I practice and train in every way I can. Why? Because I am ready. For what? Everything I can be. Because I am a sheepdog - let the wolves come if they dare.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe, and Train Hard.

Gardening with a Gun: are you ready to defend your castle if needed?

I was having a conversation with one of my students a few weeks ago concerning mindset, and she mentioned that since she had begun training with me she had a new confidence about being able to defend herself. She had tried to relate this boost in confidence to a friend of hers, only to be surprised when she was meant with a very passive attitude from her friend. During a conversation about emergency preparedness, the friend had told her “Well if someone wants what I have, I’ll just give it to them.” My student left her friend a little stunned when she asked “Well what if they want to rape your daughter or kill your husband? What if they want more than you are willing to give?”

This passive outlook on self-defense is something we may all encounter from people at our jobs, our recreational outlets, even in our churches and sadly enough, even amongst out friends. Since I have become an instructor I have found that not all gun owners are ready to defend themselves – for some it is just a hobby. And as any of you who have trained with me know, simply owning or carrying a gun DOES NOT make you a sheepdog. In emergency situations it is your mindset that will save or doom you, but you can prepare before an emergency to help your mind and body react the way you need them to, and sometimes that may mean you need to be prepared to take a life in order to defend yours and your family’s. I once had a conversation with a fellow shopper in a gun store who told me "I won't need to bake bread, I'll just take bread."

To give you a better example of what I'm driving at here, I’d like to share an article with you from a woman who is a really squared away citizen. Her name is Marjory Wildcraft, and her DVD is a great investment for learning more about self-sustainment on your own land.


(The following article is reprinted with permission from author Marjory Wildcraft of Backyard Food Production.)

Well guns aren’t really that useful for digging or anything like that. But do you need a gun if you are becoming self-reliant? Let me tell you a true story that happened to me which had me re-think the whole concept of security.

Back when we were first starting to sell the DVD Food Production Systems for a Backyard or Small Farm I had a very shocking experience. When I say shocking, I mean I was really dumbfounded, and almost couldn’t speak for a long time.

I was at a local shop talking with the owner about carrying the DVD in his store. He was congenial enough, but looked me right in the eye and told me “I will never need to grow food”. I told him that you never knew what was coming and being able to grow food could be a crucial skill. He flatly told me he would never have to grow food. I asked him why, and he said “because I have this”, and from under the counter he pulled out a big black semi-automatic gun.

I stared at the gun not understanding, and I asked him ‘What do you mean?”

“Well, if anything happens” he said, “it is like this; with this gun I can get all the food I need from people like you who grow it”.

Several customers who had been listening in on the conversation agreed with the shop owner. They were ordinary looking people and I would have never guessed they would have this kind of thinking.

Now I live in Texas, which has a proud tradition of gun ownership. Buying, selling, and swapping guns is easy and legal – in fact, it is a major pastime for many Texans. And while Texas may be on the more extreme end of the spectrum, that kind of mentality exists in some form everywhere.

So I began a project of researching guns and self-defense. Within the history of recent periods it is well documented that crime and violence go up as economic conditions go down. And there certainly are scenarios where law and order break down. Having some level of defense is an important skill.

Here is a short summary of the major points and useful resources I have discovered about self-defense. One of the first things I found is gun owners are strongly opinion-ed and they rarely agree. Most of them were very friendly and offered lots of help in my process of trying to find what weapons I might need and how to use them. But be aware there is a lot of conflicting information out there.

Getting some basic training is essential. Of all the videos I’ve seen, I found the series produced by The Outdoor Channel titled “The Best Defense” to have the most useful and specific information for a novice gun owner.

Of the many trainings that are available there are some that are free or low cost. We attended an excellent training done over a weekend where they teach rifle marksmanship and an entertaining dose of revolutionary war history. The training is sponsored by a group called Appleseed. As of 2010, the course was free to women and children, and only $75 for men. They welcomed beginners and a majority of the rifles were inexpensive .22 caliber. To find an Appleseed event near you click here.

As a woman, I found that I felt comfortable with the .22LR caliber as a first handgun and rifle. Lower startup cost, relative quiet, and low recoil helped my skittish nerves and fear of these powerful new tools. As I gained more experience and got comfortable with gun safety and operation, I moved up to a 9mm handgun. Over half of all hand guns sold in the US are 9mm and with that much popularity the caliber is likely to be available as long as ammunition is available.

Another very common and versatile gun is the shotgun. By far, 12 gauge is the most widely available size. If you are only going to have one gun, I have to agree with the experts’ recommendation of the 12 gauge shotgun with a shorter barrel as an all around weapon. The first time I shot a 12 gauge it was loaded with heavy buckshot and I almost fell over from the noise and recoil and I was afraid of them for a long time. Later, a friend introduced me to low recoil rounds, and after some testing, I realized that even simple bird shot loads (which are fairly light) would be highly effective in home – or garden – defense scenarios. My 11 year old son can also handle the 12 gauge with lighter loads.

Hopefully, you and I (or my son!) will never get to the point of needing a weapon to defend our gardens and livestock. But it sure is something to think about – and prepare for. Actually, I have been finding it a lot of fun to go shooting.

(Visit Marjory’s website and sign up for her newsletter at Backyard Food Production.)

As Marjory pointed out, firearms training is essential for everyone (both novice and experienced) and the Appleseed events are a great place to start. There is sure to be one near you, so visit their website and check it out. You do need to be aware that they are more of an organized shooting event than a training course, so it’s best to seek elsewhere for personalized instruction and formal training events - such as Independence Training.

Will we ever get to the point where society will break down and we’ll need to defend our homes, our supplies, and even our lives from marauders and thugs? I don’t know – I certainly hope not. But do not fool yourself into thinking that there are not genuinely bad people out there who will take what you have and have no qualms about harming you or you family in the process. And with crime on the rise and the economy continuing in a downward spiral, knowing how to take care of yourself is becoming more important than ever. Growing your own food is certainly a way to take care of yourself, but if you decide to do it, you may consider gardening with a gun.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe, and Train Hard.

Self-defense is for everybody: there is no age requirement or age limit for a ready mindset

For those of us who lead the lifestyle of preparedness, the 'sheepdogs', we know how important training is to building real-world skills. But too often we forget that our family and friends need the same training as us, and we need to bring them into our way of life. Luckily for this young girl, someone in her life did just that.

****
Girl loads rifle to spook burglar
11-year-old ready to defend herself

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - When three teenage burglars pried open the door of a northwest Albuquerque home they had no idea they would be met by a brave little girl, police said Wednesday.

Alyssa Gutierrez, 11, took matters into her own hands Tuesday when police said when Miguel Marquez, Eduardo Zubiate and Jesus Quintana broke into her home.

Gutierrez armed herself with a loaded rifle.

"I was planning, if they came right next to me, I would shoot them," Gutierrez said.

But Gutierrez, who will start sixth grade next week, never got the chance because she'd spooked the burglars.
Gutierrez said her cousins went to run an errand around the corner from their home and were gone for a few minutes when she heard the backdoor rattle.

"I thought it was (my cousin) Zachary playing a joke on me so I just turned the TV louder and ignored it," Gutierrez said.

But on the other side of the door were the burglars who pried open the door with a crowbar. Gutierrez believes that they'd seen her cousins leave and chose to break into the home when they thought no one was there.

She said when the Marquez, Zubiate and Quintana got inside, she heard them talk about stealing guns in the home. Gutierrez and her family told KRQE News 13 that they knew one of the suspects and believed the group targeted the home to steal their guns.

"My heart kept on pounding and pounding," Gutierrez said.

She said she slid to the floor from the couch when she saw the trio, but quickly decided that hiding wouldn't do her any good because the masked intruders had seen her.

"They had a rifle so I was thinking, 'What should I do? 'What if they shoot me?'" Gutierrez said.

That's when she made a beeline for her mother's room.

"I ran back into my mom's room and grabbed her little pink rifle, and there was two bullets in there," she said.

With the loaded rifle, Gutierrez said she checked the bathroom and then the living room ready to defend herself.

She said she ran to her mother's closet and called 911.

But while Gutierrez protected her home, she had no idea the suspects had jumped the fence and that an off-duty APD officer driving passed her home had spotted them.

Police arrested the three teens and their alleged getaway driver, Abraham Bustillos, minutes after the break-in.

Gutierrez said she feels lucky because just a few days ago she had learned how to shoot a rifle.

"I felt proud of myself," Gutierrez said.

****

And she should be proud! More and more people these days, especially young people, have taken a frighteningly passive approach to their own preparedness - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. I often hear "someone else will protect me", "that's what the cops are for", and of course my favorite "that won't ever happen to me." But it happened to this young girl, and instead of becoming another statistic, she had the mindset and the determination to come out of the fight on top. She kept her wits, analyzed her situation, and most importantly, she had a plan of action. Was she trained heavily in firearms and tactics? No - but she clearly has already chosen a ready mindset for her life.

There is no age requirement for you to begin teaching your kids about the ready mindset. How they should react to emergencies, how to stay calm, and to deal with certain situations are just a few of the topics that you can cover. Make a family night out of it - once a month, or more often, come up with scenarios to run your family through. Maybe it's a house fire or a gas leak, maybe it's a home invader or a natural disaster, or maybe it's even a medical emergency. Make it a fun activity but serious enough that it's effective training. Now repeat that training often enough to keep everyone fresh on the information or any changes in procedure. They may not find themselves in those exact situations, but teaching them ready mindset will help your family to react to any emergency, no matter where they are or what is happening.

Another angle to look at this story from is that in certain states, this brave young girl having access to firearms would be illegal. Is it legal in your state? You need to find out - and if it's not, you need to vote differently. What if this rifle had been locked up? Could she have run for it? Maybe. Would the intruders not have harmed her? Maybe. But what if she was your daughter - do you want to take that risk? I want my children, and my wife, and my friends, and my family to all be ready and able to respond to an incident like this, and I do everything I can do to transfer my training and my skills over to them. Because you may not always be there to save the day, and remember: when seconds count, the police are just minutes away.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe, and Train Hard.