Tip of the Month

In humor, there is truth
There has been a huge increase in the passing of endless reams of jokes on the internet. Some of the jokes are pretty funny and many come dangerously close to the truth. One funny email about shooting makes the circuit every few months, and is worth an examination for its basis in truth.

Recommendations for your next gunfight:

1. Bring a gun. Better to bring two guns - and all of your friends who have guns.

TRUTH - How many investigative and administrative-type cops do you know who don't wear a gun everyday at work? I know a lot of them. And waiting for backup whenever possible goes without saying.

2. If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a long gun and some friends with long guns. Explosives can substitute for a few friends, but not all.

TRUTH - A long gun is a much better choice for a gunfight 99 percent of the time. This one reminds me of another good joke-an old time Sheriff showed up at the church social wearing his revolver. An elderly lady asked, "I see you brought your sidearm, Sheriff, are you expecting trouble?" The old lawman politely replied, "No ma'am, if I was expecting trouble I'd have brought my rifle."

3. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun the caliber of which does not start with a "4."

TRUTH - I'd venture to say more than half of U.S. officers now pack something that starts with a "4," either a .40 or a .45. This is a dramatic change from the past preponderance of .38's and 9mm pistols.

4. Use a gun that works every time. "All skill is in vain when an Angel pisses in the flintlock of your musket."

TRUTH - Reliability is much more important than accuracy.

5. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice or three times. More is better. Ammunition is cheap. Life is expensive.

TRUTH - Pistols are really pretty feeble in the overall scheme of firearms. More than one shot is cheap insurance. More than 5 or 6 shots might require explanation.

6. Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.

TRUTH - Wyatt Earp said it best. "Fast is fine, but accuracy is final."

7. If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough or using cover correctly.

TRUTH - These days the difference between most shooting stances almost requires stop-frame video to recognize the fine distinctions. Shooting from a stationary position makes you an easier target - learn to shoot on the move.

8. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. Lateral and diagonal movements are preferred.

TRUTH - Several studies prove your survival chances increase with distance - so use it.

10. If you aren't shooting, you should be reloading, communicating, and running.

TRUTH - Training Guru Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch puts it this way, "If you're not shootin' you should be loadin'. If you're not loadin' you should be movin'. If you're not movin', somone's gonna cut your head off and put it on a stick."

11. Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be more dependent on the "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun.

TRUTH - This is how an officer who hits center-mass 100 percent of the time on the range can miss with every shot on the street. Effective gunfighting comes much more from mental preparation than physical preparation.

12. Someday, someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it, because it is empty.

TRUTH - Always carry at least one reload with you, even off duty. A backup gun is also a good idea.