Modern Self Protection Podcast

Click to Subscribe

Christmas is here! Thank God 2020 is almost over...

Are you traveling for Christmas? Do you want to stay safe while you are doing so?

Crime is up across the country. People are pissed about the entire Covid lockdown thing and starting to take it out on each other. Law Enforcement is busy with riots and Covid calls. They are getting overwhelmed by changing policies daily on what they are suppose to do or not do. This makes them less motivated to do proactive police work. Proactive police work is one of the things that keeps the crime rate down.

If you are going to a big city I can guarantee crime is up this year over last year. And dirtbags have families they want to give things to just like you.

This podcast is all about tips to keep you safe while you travel. Included are:

• Hotel Safety
• Airport Safety
• Awareness
• Shopping Safety
• Vehicle Safety

Listen to the podcast to get some great tips on keeping you and your family safe during the holiday season.

To see full show notes go to ModernSelfProtection.com

Yesterday somehow I only uploaded part of the podcast... here is the second half of the show.

Thanks for listening and staying with me.

Stay Safe,

Ben

Click to Subscribe

Today: I got a message from a listener asking about changing his carry gear for the season. This question comes up every year and I don't think about it until about this time of year because it doesn't get cold in San Antonio until about now. Last week we had our first real cold front and I had to change the way I dress. Here are the things I think about when I'm changing my clothes for the season: • Jacket Carry • Smaller vs Bigger Gun • Changing Holsters • Changing Ammo • Gloves • Draw Change • Where you wear your gun • Everyone Looks like a Bag Guy

See the rest of the notes at ModernSelfProtection.com/314

Click to Subscribe

I went to the range on Black Friday with a friend just to shoot the bull and some steel. We went to Lonestar Handgun here in San Antonio where they have lots of steel out on the pistol line that we can just shoot at while talking.

I was worried that on Black Friday it would be a mess. Too many people in too small a place. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. But there is always one…

Unfortunately, I think it was a member of the range staff and I could see his mistake coming even if he didn't. As range staff, instructors, and "firearms experts" we should be setting the example of how we want people to act on the range and how new shooters should act with a firearm.

For some reason he kept going back behind the counter and then walking to the line with a handgun pointed down, slide locked back, and filled magazine in his other hand. The first time he almost waited until he got into the booth before inserting the magazine and letting the slide go home to chamber a round. If I did that they would call it a safety violation and I'd expect to be at least talked to.

After the third or fourth time, he kept loading the magazine sooner and sooner while walking around the counter towards the firing line, he lifted the gun up in his workspace pointing the gun down the line of shooters, including me and my friend.

I tried to say something nice, but the sound of gunfire overwhelmed the words. And the fact that he was now looking back at the other range staff saying something.

A loud "hey, watch where you point that thing" came out before I could think of something more kind to say. He pointed the gun down range and that was the end of that. I'm always afraid I'll get blowback when I say something, but I guess I'm big enough looking that no one really wants to mess with me.

If you have been around guns at all in your life, try to be the example of how guns should be handled any time you have one. There is always someone watching.

Range Safety Just a recap of some of the safety stuff to follow. We could all use a refresher from time to time.

Treat every gun as if it were loaded. Always point the gun in the safest direction possible. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire. Know your target and what lies beyond. Some of you will notice that I have been changing number 2. The original from Jeff Cooper, the father of modern pistol fighting, was "never point the gun at anything you don't intend to destroy." I don't like never's, but like always when I'm trying to teach my brain to do something. No, I'm not implying that I'm smarter than Cooper, just that on the shoulders of giants we can see further. I've studied his work for almost 20 years.

Those four safety rules apply everywhere, always. They don't change at the range, because you are an "expert" or an "advanced shooter" or any other BS reason I've heard. They always apply to everyone… always.

I use those safety rules at the range with friends, at high-speed low-drag spec ops schools I've been to, and in combat. They work.

Everything else is range etiquette. Some ranges will call them "range rules" or "safety rules" but they are just a way to respect other shooters.

Some of the simple basics should be:

• Only unbag or unholster your firearm when you are on the firing line and there is no one downrange. • Never touch your firearm when there is someone downrange. You wait until everyone is back. • Load firearms on the firing line only. • Leave actions open when the gun is sitting on the table so everyone knows the condition of the firearm. • Don't rush in or out. • Make sure the muzzle of the firearm is always pointed down range even when bagging and unbagging the firearm. • Stay in your lane. Unless someone is doing something incredibly stupid, leave them alone. • Don't move guns from bay to bay unbagged. • The only proper way to move a gun off the firing line is in a bag, box, or holster. • If it is loaded it should be in your hand to shoot, or in a holster that protects the trigger from being accessed until removed. Long guns should have the safety on when not firing and should not be bagged with a round in the chamber. I'm sure I forgot a couple, but if you stick to the safety rules and the above etiquete, people will appreciate going to the range with you a lot more.

Check out ModernSelfProtection.com/313 for more info

Click to Subscribe

Today: This is my story of how I survived Covid-19. It was my mind set that kept me out of the hospital and allowed me to recover. I used "affirmations" that included cursing at myself every hour on the hour for about four days. The four days that I probably should have gone the hospital. But even in my depressed mental state I knew that going to the hospital upped my chances of not surviving and having more problems with Covid. I refused to let this kill me or send me to the hospital. And now I'm back to work and back to life. I'm about 95% right now and still recovering. I'm hoping another week and I'll be back to working out.

Announcements • Upcoming Courses o Click here for current course list. • Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner. When I need ammo, it's where I go. Check it out. Great prices and a really easy site to use. • ShootersClubMembers.com o Get Better for only a couple bucks a month o Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better. o Free Video on the front page o Discounts to courses and holsters o Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them? o Sign Up Here! • $75 Annual Membership • $8 Monthly Membership

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner. Stay Safe, Ben

Click to Subscribe

Today:

After working at the gun shows on the weekend for the last 3 months I've found stupid again.

Most of the things I've forgotten about, on purpose I think.

This show we talk about some of the stupid that is out there and the things that just won't die.

Our Stupid List:

• Racist Government form 4473
• Lack of Courage to sign the form to get a gun
• Handgun stopping power
• Which gun is made for women
• Everyone needs the same gun I have
• I can pass a background but don't want to
• Shoot him in the knee
• Little lightweight revolvers for little ladies
• Reasonable gun control stops bad guys from getting guns
• I saw that gun at the store down the street for less
• Recoil
• Shooting in complete darkness
• I want a do-everything gun
• Found the advanced formula for the gun that does everything better

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner. When I need ammo, it's where I go. Check it out. Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

Click to Subscribe

Today:

I invited Frank Sharp Jr from Fortress Defense Consultants to join me to talk about the "great boogaloo" sort of…

We continued our conversation from two weeks ago. We restarted our conversation with Kitting Up and fighting. Frank starts with talking about decision making and one of my favorite tactics, patience.

Do you really need to fight? There may be a time when you can't avoid it, but should you fight right now? Do you have to fight right now?

If you think you are going to fight, how ready are you for the fight? What's your physical shape look like? When is the last time you wore your kit around? How long and how far can you move, stand, and fight under a combat load?

We also talk about what to stock up on right now. Ammo and firearms are still at a premium and if you don't have a lot now is a hard time to get either. What is in abundance right now that you can stock up on? Toilet paper? Maybe… What is around your area that is cheap and in abundance. Maybe that is what you should be looking for to put in your storage.

We try to answer the hardest question for you, at what point can you not avoid the fight? Where is your line in the sand? Figure it out now.

I'll be taking Frank's course in January. Here is a link to the class. If you want to just be on the range training with me, this is a good class to take. If you want to get training from me check out my courses here.

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner. When I need ammo, it's where I go. Check it out. Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

Click to Subscribe

Today:

I invited Frank Sharp Jr from Fortress Defense Consultants to join me to talk about the "great boogaloo" sort of…

We laugh about the term and the thought of an all out Civial War in the US. The country is just too big and diverse for another actual Civil War that has two sides squaring off and going at it. If the fighting kicks off, it is going to be local. You will be fighting amongst your families, friends, and neighbors.

Frank Sharp Jr and I talk about how bad that could be for the country and how a lot of people just don't understand what it is going to be like. It isn't going to be go fight for a couple hours and then Netflix and chill for the rest of the night. It is going to be bloody and horrible in the places that have fighting.

If the fighting kicks off, we could lose all sanitation, trash disposal, running water, and electricity in our country. Most of the people talking about fighting don't have a plan for this. These are the things that the movies don't show you.

Frank Sharp Jr and I come to the conclusion that most of the knowledge that people have about medicine, law enforcement, and fighting come from TV and movies. And most of those shows are completely wrong.

For those of you with training, you laugh at the fighting just like I do. So don't get your knowledge from the movies when it comes to how war is going to be. After being in combat I can tell you that Saving Private Ryan and Blackhawk Down are the only movies that even come close. And only parts of those movies are correct.

Next week Frank and I will continue the discussion about kitting up and going to fight and why it isn't a good idea, and more importantly we hope that it doesn't happen.

I'll be taking Frank's course in January. Here is a link to the class. If you want to just be on the range training with me, this is a good class to take. If you want to get training from me check out my courses here.

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner. When I need ammo, it's where I go. Check it out. Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

P.S. I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out

Click to Subscribe

Where were you when the planes hit on 9-11? What did you feel that day? How did those feelings change in the following weeks?

I want you to remember that feeling of unity in the following couple weeks. How the country stood up together against one thing. Nothing else mattered. All the petty BS went away… even when the media tried to bring it back, we rejected it.

Everyone became patriotic overnight. American flags were everywhere, and everyone smiled at them.

Remember that feeling today. Remember how great it was when everyone stood together.

Try to spread that feeling and go talk to people. If we all look for that one thing in common we can find that one thing that links us.

No matter who you are and who that other person is, we all have more in common than not. If we find that one thing we have in common with someone else, we can build bonds, make friends, and make the world a better place.

This also works for your self-defense. Your friends are more likely to help you and stand with when bad times come. You'll get involved and help friends, but strangers, or "those" people you might not.

Make friends, make yourself and your family safer, and make the world a better place.

What do you have to lose? Go try it.

Stay Safe,

Ben

Click to Subscribe

Today:

Kyle Rittenhouse is a divisive figure in the world. And will continue to be.

But what can we learn from the shooting? Tactically, how did he do? Legally, is there anything we could do better?

We need to analyze these incidents as learning tools so that you don't end up in the same spot.

You may think Kyle did a good job during the shooting, but he is still in jail right now. And probably will be there for a long time. The trial could take years and they probably aren't going to let him out on bail because of the politics around the shooting.

It looks like they will try him as an adult for murder. He will be sweating his life and freedom for years. He may end up like Jorge Zimmerman and will forever be on the run from people that want to kill him because of the incident. And one of those people may succeed and get him in the end.

How can we avoid this? Was it a good idea for him to kit up and go out?

More importantly, learn from him when you think about kitting up and going out. I'm not saying you should, or should not go. I'm saying that you should know all the risks involved and understand what could happen.

We also go through both shootings and the tactics there. How could have Kyle avoided both shootings all together? Is there something he could have done better once the shooting started?

All questions to answer and know before you decide to go or not go.

Announcements

• Upcoming Courses
• • Click here for current course list.
• Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner. When I need ammo, it's where I go. Check it out. Great prices and a really easy site to use.
• ShootersClubMembers.com
• • Get Better for only a couple bucks a month
  • Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better.
  • Free Video on the front page
  • Discounts to courses and holsters
  • Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them?
  • Sign Up Here!
• $75 Annual Membership
• $8 Monthly Membership

OUTLINE:

Kyle Rittenhouse Shooting; Murderer, Victim, or Defender?

Kit up and go fight?

Look at it tactically and legally

Tactics

• Avoidance
• Stupid places at stupid times with stupid people doing stupid things.
• Awareness on point once the fighting started
• De-Escalation
• Escape

Timeline of each choice

• Decided to kit up and show up
• Borrowed a rifle
• Training he had
• Equipment (beans, bullets, badges, bad guys, batteries)
• Before the shootings
• • Emotionally involved
  • Yelling at someone that is yelling at you
  • Pissing contest
  • Arguing with stupid: don't argue with a stupid person, they will bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
• Shooting incident 1
• • separated from the group
  • Running
  • Things were thrown at him
  • Shots fired can't see everything
  • Phone call
  • Running away
• Shooting 2
• • Running again with gear on
  • Falling
  • People on top of him
  • • Field goal kicker
    • Skateboard guy
    • Shooter
  • stopping power of 556 round
  • Moving away
  • Police interaction
• Aftermath
• • The rifle is where?
  • Go home
  • Calls local police and turns himself in
  • Talk with a lawyer?

Legally

• Borrowing/loaning a rifle for self-defense
• Possession and supplying a rifle to a minor
• Being in a large group of armed men to protect property
• Stand your ground
• Murder vs homicide
• Murder 1, 2, and 3 and manslaughter
• Shooting 1
• • Not enough video to tell for sure
  • Item threw at him
  • The mob itself; ability, opportunity, jeopardy
  • Innocent people don't run
  • Multiple incidents
• shooting 2
• • Self-defense unless he says something stupid
  • Mob running after him this time yelling get his ass and other things
  • Falls down disparity of force
  • Kick to the head while on the ground
  • Skateboard to the head
  • Gun pointed from someone yelling get him
• Disengaged for next event
• Police interaction
• • Need help
  • Maybe don't let them tell you no
  • Rifle still visible

Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner.

Stay Safe,

Ben

P.S. I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out