He Teacheth my Hands to War
February 6th, 2010Angry Wiener Dogs Shall Fall and Perish at my Presence
Had a great Saturday morning prayer group meeting, with the usual round of “coincidences” during and after.
We discussed firearms part of the time. We’re going to start going to the range. I may be required to get a little basic security training, so when the bad guys show up, I will know the proper way to become hysterical and incontinent. When I got my permit, my “class” was pretty rudimentary. It consisted of a Cuban telling me things like, it was really okay to shoot guys who aren’t close enough to harm me, provided they’re really big and black. Only he didn’t use the word “black.” If you get my drift.
Diversity is not everybody’s cup of tea, I fear.
I am having Truglos put on my carry piece right now. I put some on my dad’s new Glock, and they look great, so I figured it was a good idea. When are you most likely to need to shoot someone? When it’s dark. And the factory sights just don’t work.
People say the luminous sights will let the bad guy know where you are. Hello? If he doesn’t know where you are, you have no business aiming a gun at him. Situations where you would be justified in shooting a criminal who is unaware of your location are pretty rare. Personally, I’m more concerned about being able to aim than about letting the crook know where I am. And I think the ear-splitting explosions and bright muzzle flashes might tip him off anyway.
I’m going to break down and get a belt pack type of deal. I generally carry in a pocket, which is way better than not carrying, but sometimes I want to be better prepared, and a belt pack is a step up. It’s not as good as a real holster, but life can’t always be perfect.
If I ever end up going with a holster, I guess I’ll get a bigger Glock in .45 ACP. You know what they say. “Go big or go home.” But the 9mm is wonderful. You can carry 21 rounds of very effective ammunition with very little inconvenience.
While I was at the gun shop today, a guy came in with his wife or girlfriend. She carries, and he presumably carries, too, and he was walking a pit bull. Here is a guy who can wear any kind of watch he wants, anywhere, any time. And his Air Jordans will never leave his feet.
I can understand why insecure people like pit bulls, but it seems like a poor self-defense choice, especially when combined with a pistol. You can’t control the dog. You can’t aim while you’re holding a dog leash. And it sounds like a good way to get your pet shot or cut up without achieving much in terms of protection.
It’s also illegal to own a pit bull here.
I’d rather live among neighbors who all had submachine guns than among people with dangerous dogs. About one percent of dog owners (if that) are responsible enough to train and control their animals. And a gun can’t jump a fence and shoot you while its owner is at work.
One nice thing about carrying is that I don’t have to worry much about the irresponsible dog owners around here. They have to worry about me. If necessary, I can shoot their dogs, and if a dog gets loose and runs toward me while it’s being walked, I’ll be shooting in the general direction of the owner, and I won’t be liable for what happens. In fact, if I kill an innocent person, the dog owner, not I, will go to jail and get sued.
Something to think about when you buy a stupid, aggressive, loyal, territorial dog and fail to train it.
I think it should also be legal to shoot small yappy dogs on general principles, but I haven’t gotten anywhere with my legislation drive.
How do we know the Koreans aren’t onto something? I’m just saying we need to be open-minded.
February 6th, 2010 at 2:22 PM
The dog is to keep people away or distract them so you can shoot them while they’re shooting the dog.
But keeping people away is the first best use. Especially since most people couldn’t hit the inside of a barn from more than 10 feet away.
-XC
February 6th, 2010 at 2:23 PM
Doubtful. Encouraging people to shoot at your dog, when the dog is between you and them? I mean, maybe, if you’re really stupid.
February 6th, 2010 at 3:43 PM
A friend who retired from the Highway Patrol said, at the range they first ran a mile,then shoot . About as accurate as in real life & death situations….Young, tender pit bull meat might be worth a try on pizza.
February 6th, 2010 at 3:53 PM
Some of the Florida patrolmen look like they only run to Burger King.
February 6th, 2010 at 4:14 PM
Run a mile? Your Burger King customers will shoot after the Emergency Room releases them.
Save time and trouble, sprint fifty yards then try to find the front site. You’ll think you need a prescription for tranquilizers.
Running may not even be necessary. Try getting an acceptable site picture after thirty pushups. If you can you are among the legion in better shape than I.
February 6th, 2010 at 4:27 PM
I thought the whole reason for buying a gun was to be able to defend yourself when you’re too fat and weak to fight.
February 6th, 2010 at 4:46 PM
Now that I think about it, that belief justifies much of my current lifestyle.
February 6th, 2010 at 7:59 PM
I’d guess the idea is to get them pumped up and breathing hard, as they might be in a fight; get them used to “This is shooting for score; THIS is shooting for your life”.
February 6th, 2010 at 8:00 PM
And 9mm with premium hollowpoints isn’t bad at all; I think Ayoob checked some records and found the load with the best stopping record was 115-grain +p
February 6th, 2010 at 8:22 PM
I think that’s what I got. Cor-bon something or other.
Now I need a Galco “Miami Special” so I can carry the .38 Super when I dress up. Once a year.
February 6th, 2010 at 10:48 PM
Firehand guessed right. Fight or flight happens, the stress reaction absent good training is a racing pulse, respiration, blood pressure. There went your fine motor control and you are left with big gross movements and the things that were repeated many times. With luck you repeat your training rather than excuses. If not you do your impression of Barney Fife struggling for his bullet screaming, “Nip it in the bud!”
February 6th, 2010 at 10:55 PM
I don’t mean “you” personally. I meant that stress is expressed in any person in observable symptoms. Training is the way to address its effect. Would that no one get to the Barney Fife reaction.
February 7th, 2010 at 3:32 AM
It’s funny, a lot of people are fond of bad mouthing the 9mm.
One group I have found that doesn’t bad mouth the 9mm are the people who have been shot with one.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:56 PM
9mm with ball ammo has a record as a lousy fight stopper; with good hollowpoints, works pretty well from the records.
The line I once read is “Under stress you do not ‘rise to the occasion’; you fall to the level of your training”