My Time at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute

I recently attended the 4-day defensive handgun training at Front Sight. I now feel more confident and knowledgeable about how to safely carry and positively use my gun. I know if I need to I can present my gun very quickly and safely.

The instructor to student ratio was initially 3-to-40, but dropped to 2-to-40 after the lead instructor informed us that we were doing well enough (due to a number of returning customers) that we lost an instructor to another range. Keep in mind that not all 40 students are "on the line" at once. The class is split into two relays of 20 each. The second relay acting as coaches for the first and vice-a-versa. The use of student-as-coach really helps cement what's being learned by reinforcing skills. You stand behind another student on the line and keep an eye on them for safety and to remind them of the skill being taught. It's a really good method. Interestingly, there were a large number of women. I'd guess women made up about a third of the entire class. There were lots of people taking lots of different courses (shotgun, AR-15, Uzi, handgun, et al.)

The instructors are always there to quickly correct problems and offer encouragement. It somehow means a lot to receive a compliment from these very accomplished teachers (and I don't use the word teacher lightly).

The 4-day course covered a lot of ground; proper sight picture, presentation technique, reholster technique, how to tell if you're trying to shoot too fast or too slow, how to read your hits (are they low? to the right? to the left?) and correct the gripping flaws that cause those hits, how to make a safe weapon, reloading tactically, emergency reloading, clearing malfunctions (types I, II, and III) under time, how to handle a target that doesn't stop, drawing from concealment under time, house clearing techniques and a hot walk through where you put rounds on targets, a night shoot, light techniques and discipline, competition against your range partners and against the other ranges. I'm sure I'm missing something, but I consider *all* of these highlights. Additionally, there aren't many places where you're allowed to do these things due to safety concerns.

There were a number of general all-student lectures. The best of these revolved around the usurpations against the 2nd Amendment. See previous blog posting.

In addition to the price of the course (you can go your first time for a very reasonable fee) other costs revolved around food, lodging, and ammo. They recommend 800-rounds for the 4-day course. I think I used up most of that. My buddy and I drove to FS from O.C. Cali. with lots more ammo than necessary. Other expenses may include a belt holster (paddles are not recommended due to possibility of shifting), tactical light (either hand-held or weapon rail), extra magazine (three recommended) and 10-hour days not including the drive.

I stayed in Vegas right off 160. It took about 40-minutes each morning to drive there. Pahrump, the other direction on 160 is only about 20-minutes. Didn't stay there due to getting free hotel in Vegas . . . plus better food choices. They do have a couple of microwaves where you eat lunch. Don't eat PB&J everyday like I did. No running water, no refrigerators, port-a-potties only with foot-pumped water for washing hands.

Highly recommended.

P.S. The links you see on the right were put there before I went to Front Sight. It was part of a deal Dr. Piazza had to get a free certificate for training. I am not in any way affiliated (other than recommending Front Sight by linking to them) with Front Sight. I am a very happy customer.

Being a Hypocrite - Government Style

There's nothing I hate more than a hypocrite. And now, thanks to the state government of Michigan, I am one.

The state in which I live requires that I register a handgun and that if I want to carry it concealed I have to apply for a permit. In other words, the state of Michigan has infringed the rights identified (not granted, mind you) in the Bill of Rights. The Second Amendment of the Constitution says my right to defend myself are second only to my right of opinion. The state of Michigan says otherwise. They have to grant me permission.

So, to save myself and my family the trouble, I jumped through their hoops and applied for all the necessary licenses to bear arms. If I were not so concerned for providing for my family, I'd take the chance on carrying without the state's permission. Afterall, it's a right that can't be infringed as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and the state has no grounds on which to base it's illegal laws. I should do as the residents of Vermont and Alaska can; carry because the states don't infringe that right.

But . . . I don't. That's being a hypocrite government style.

You're a Winner

I've finally figured out what makes the man-made global warming crowd so adamant that they're willing to forgo any call to debate. The need to be a winner. Their entire lives were spent being told we're all the same; no winners, no losers.

Now, in the real world where competition does exist, they need to identify with something. They need to belong, something they've been denied their entire lives. So, they latch on to something that boosts their self-esteem, another thing they've been denied. It's time to direct those energies into something useful, like learning logic and reason.

It's time for an intervention. "It's not your fault. It's not your fault. It's not your fault . . ."

Despite what you've been taught you're entire life, you're a winner.

To All Veterans Past and Present

I think Patton said it best in a poem entitled "A Soldier's Prayer", "Let me not mourn for the men who have died fighting, But rather let me be glad that such heroes have lived."

This week America lost another one of its giants. Charles Lindberg died at the age of 86. A Marine, Lindberg was present during the FIRST flag raising on Iwo Jima (recently renamed Iwo To). This sparked discussion around "heros" and bravery and the continuing loss of "the Greatest Generation". The talk also went so far as to question todays military and could they have performed so valiantly under such conditions.

As Veterans we must remember that each one of us took our opportunity to follow in their footsteps. Don't let the fact that we no longer storm beaches or heavily fortified islands in the same manner detract from the fact that you volunteered yourself into harms way. The battlefield is more often different, but just as dangerous.

The simple act of voluntarily signing up for military service involves tremendous risk as seen by the mass media's reporting of conscientious objectors simply trying to pay for college, forgetting that their first obligation was to country. We had no idea (at least those of us that signed up during "peacetime") what lay ahead. For some of us that meant ending up in wartime. For others, the risk was just as great even when the time was completely "peaceful". The training still took place, the dangers still lurking, the potential for war constant.

While we continue to lose the people from my Grandfather's (a retired Marine WWII and Korea vet) generation, they are being replaced by volunteers willing to risk their lives so that others may continue to live a life most take for granted. Let's be sure to honor the passing generations, but not at the expense of those walking in the footsteps of giants.

My Rights - Your Wants

“He is a man of sense who does not grieve for what he has not, but rejoices in what he has.” —Epictetus

A Right is something that costs others nothing. A Right is part of being, it is not something purchased. I can't follow the line of thought that there exist "rights" that must be funded by taxpayer dollars. Those are not Rights.

While it's certainly comforting to think of "free" government programs that provide "rights" to the public, they are far from free and even further from Rights.

Liberty for Free

Nothing like having someone else supply you the opportunity for liberty.

Iraqi People need to finish throwing off the chains of tyranny. The biggest disappointment for me is that the Iraqi people haven't stepped up. At some point, and I base this on not only our history (in getting away from Geo. III), but many other places as well, France, Russia, et al., the People end up taking responsibility for themselves and rise up. At some point, they look around and see the things happening on TV or listening on the radio or viewing pictures or reading newspapers and pamphlets that life doesn't have to mean living in mud huts while the emperor sports new clothes. At some point, everywhere, people discover liberty and will go to any length to achieve it. Unfortunately, we didn't do a good enough job of showing them that side of what it is we're doing there. They see the violence, not the liberty being offered them. It will take a generation or two or three to get them into the proper reference. It took at least five-years after the end of the Revolutionary War to come to terms with a Constitution. It takes time. Revolution also takes much more than a half-hearted effort. It takes an effort that requires conviction; a conviction I'm not sure they yet have.

Spazengers

I'm coining a new term, at least I hope to; spazenger. A spazenger is the all-to-familiar can't-wait-to-wait airline passenger.

They're the ones that absolutely can't wait for the person in front of them to use the open check-in kiosk, "there's nobody using that. Are you going to use it? Look, no one's using it."

They're the ones providing the extra bins in the security gauntlet for you to place your belongings in. If you're not fast enough, they do a rope-a-dope routine trying to figure out if they can get around you without you noticing. You're obviously too slow unpacking your laptop and removing your shoes, you wouldn't possibly notice the person behind you becoming the person in front of you.

They're the ones getting to the gate before the gate agents arrive. They wonder off to burn some time returning to the gate during the pre-board boarding process. The spazenger is the one that rushes to the front of the line wondering if his section has already boarded.

The spazenger takes on many forms, a few of which I've described. Feel free to supply your own definition. If you've ever traveled, you've undoubtedly had a run-in with a spazenger.