I Haven't Shot It

"...When you make the decision to carry a gun for personal defense, you must also come to terms with this fact: Your firearm may someday end the life of another person...."

Recently, a friend of mine stated, "I bought a 357 revolver but I haven't shot it in fifteen years." He bought it for self-defense. How many people buy a handgun and stick it in a drawer? The gun is never cleaned. It is never shot. Some are never loaded. Yet, it is there to provide protection for its owner if needed. Do you see something wrong with that picture?

Some people have the idea that if someone is breaking into their home, automobile, or place of business, they will retrieve the pistol and it will not only fire, but they will hit only what is threatening them. I am afraid most of us get our gun knowledge from Hollywood. That source is an inadequate teacher. In fact, such ignorance can get you killed.

How many folks buy an automobile and let it sit unused in their garage? How many purchase a car but refuse to learn how to drive? "Oh, I'll learn to drive when I need to take someone to the hospital." Sure you will.

If you are going to buy a firearm for personal protection, either to carry on your person or to keep at home, in your car, or business, take a handgun course. A good starting place is a class to obtain your carry permit. Once you have gained that permit, you need to take at least one advanced class. Is it expensive? Perhaps, but what price tag do you put on your life or that of your loved ones?

It has been proven that if you can stand and hit the bull's-eye at seven or ten yards, you will lose about 65% or more proficiency when your life is threatened. If you have no prior training or target practice, you will hit something, but probably not the criminal. Remember, the bad guy isn't concerned about where his bullets go, you should and must be. If your rounds go past the felon and hit an innocent person, you are legally responsible. You may be shot by the criminal and then sued by the innocent party.

You may think that you can buy a handgun and holster, strap it on and carry without some training. First, it isn't always comfortable to carry a gun. Second, in the beginning you will think everyone knows you are carrying. It will take time to build confidence. Third, if you don't have the practice of keeping your "cotton pickin' finger off the trigger," you may accidentally blow a hole through your holster and ruin a pair of trousers when reholstering! In a worse case scenario, you could shoot yourself in the leg. Fourth, it takes practice to throw back a shirt or coat, draw, get your sight picture and shoot in a life or death situation. That is why practice, practice, practice is needed. In a life threatening situation, you will revert to your least amount of training. If you have none, what would that be?

If you own a semi-automatic pistol, the dresser drawer or car glove box is not a good learning place. A semi-auto firearm may fire more rounds than a revolver and be easier to reload, but if the firearm's weaknesses are not learned, it can become little more than a paper weight. When you load the magazine, make sure you load the cartridges in the correct direction. Yes, ignorance happens! When you insert the magazine into the handle of the pistol, make sure it "clicks" to show it is fully seated. If not, the first round fired will dislodge it and it will fall to the ground. If you are a novice under fire, you will be perplexed as to why your gun will not fire when the trigger is pulled the second time. You need to know what to do if your pistol jams and why it did. Many jams are caused by "limp-wristing." You did not have a firm grip on the gun when firing. You need to practice reloading when the slide locks back after the last round is fired. All of these items are elementary if practiced. Without practice, it can mean the difference between a gun that functions and one that doesn't. Which would you rather have?

I used to have a neighbor that was an agent in the FBI. The department decided to issue a new firearm. It was the Springfield 1911. After being issued the pistol, the local office went to the range and put 1,000 rounds through the gun each day for two days, just to learn how to use it. That is a good lesson to us. If you are going to purchase a pistol, I have one word for you--Practice! Your life may depend upon it!

Ray Hawk is a minister, a member of the NRA, IDPA, and the Tennessee Sports Foundation in Jackson, Tennessee. He is also the webmaster for the Tennessee Sports Foundation web site.

January 15, 2009'

To parents, students, prospective students and parents of American Kenpo Karate University:

My name is Jane Doe and my daughter, Janet, has been taking karate from Mr. Walker for 2 years. When Janet is taking class, I sit in the back of the University and study for my college classes. I often stop to watch my daughter in class or to listen to Mr. Walker give the class instruction. One of the things I have always enjoyed the most about Mr. Walker's teaching style is that he will often instruct students on "street-wise" information. I have always enjoyed listening to this information. I never thought that it would one day save me from a violent crime.

On the 5^th of this month, I was grocery shopping for a few items in Live Oak. It was latter than I usually go, about 9:45pm. As I was leaving the store I noticed a gentleman standing by his truck on his cell phone. I also noticed in the corner of the porch of the store a young gentleman watching me leave the store. At first I thought he was a worker from the grocery store but then I noticed he did not have on a uniform. I quickly assessed the situation and felt that I should approach the car with caution. If the other man had not been in the parking lot, I would have gone back in the store to ask someone to walk me to my car. I was thinking before I approached the car of what to do. I decided not to open the main part of the car but opened the trunk and quickly threw in the items and my purse as well. As I saw the man approaching, I quickly shut the trunk. I had my keys tightly in my hand with one keys sticking up so that I could use it as a weapon if need be. He asked me if I would give him a lift up town. I firmly said, "No!" and started to walk away. He walked back to the porch and I quickly got in my car and drove off.

Today, a week and a half after the incident, my friend at work showed me a newspaper article where a man at the same store on the same day [15 minutes after the man approached me] had given a man a ride and was robbed at gunpoint. That could have been me!

I am very thankful that Mr. Walker teaches his students to be "street-wise" and I am very glad I listen in class. Thanks Mr. Walker for saving me from an act of violence!

Jane Doe

This parent contacted the police and is helping identify this criminal. The man she mentions in the parking lot by his truck talking on his cell phone ended up being the one to give the younger guy a ride and ended up getting robbed. Someone else was robbed in a similar fashion at night in the WalMart parking lot 2 days earlier and they believe it was the same robber.

What we teach is not just about kicking and punching is it?? Yours in Kenpo, Tim

Timothy Walker, PSTD
4th Degree Black Belt
American Kenpo Karate University, Inc.
Branford, FL
386-935-3777   AKKUinc@juno.com
www.AKKUinc.com

My instructor, 9th degree black belt Lee Wedlake has been a black belt for over 30 yrs. A member of Mensa, Lee has authored 6 books with the 7th soon to be released. He was a competitive IPSC hand gun shooter and has trained at the famed ESI body guard school. He also has a love of flying and is an FAA certified flight instructor and Major in the Florida Civil Air Patrol and is now the director of Standards and Evaluation for all the 200+ CAP pilots in the state.

I share this with you so that you know where the level of expertise I give my student come from and why I take some weekends off. I am proud to have Mr. Wedlake as my instructor and friend and families friend. My wife Debbie tested for her purple belt in Lee's school "3 weeks" before Rachel was born. Rachel and Joshua spent a great deal of time in Lee's Fort Myers school. I would teach or attend class with babies in tow, diapers in my karate bag and them sleeping in back or bonding with others so I could pursue my kenpo training. Read Mr. Wedlake's latest blog below. I am mentioned and you will have a better understanding why I do what I do.
    Tim Walker

Know it all? by Lee Wedlake  Oct 08'