Is safer.
On Friday, Uncle posted on the topic of the violent and racist flash mobs that have become more and more regular. This one was not an actual “flash mob”, more of an open ambush scenario.
One of the things I saw in the comments section was a continuation of the idea of “more is more” in ammunition capacity. It’s a wonderful idea I can get behind. As proof, I’ve gone from an 8+1 1911 to a 13+1 Browning HiPower. I’ve also upped my practice time due to the lower cost of 9mm versus .45ACP.
However, one of the things I didn’t see mentioned by the guys in the post’s comments writing about having their spouse also carrying. If one person carrying 52 rounds of 9mm is good, two people carrying 52 rounds of 9mm is better.
And now, with this idea breached, how much tactical training do you and your spouse do together? I don’t mean sharing a lane at the range. I mean talking about a “What do we do if X happens?” plan.
Let’s not think of a mob scenario to start. How about just a simple “Goblin pops around the corner with a knife/gun demanding your wallet and her purse as you walk down the street” scenario.
In the pause between that paragraph and this one, through the magic of the intarwebs, I hear multitudes of “Double draw and fire, bro. Dead goblin count plus-one.” Yeah. Right. Sure. Keep telling yourself that, stud. I hear most ER’s have free wi-fi. When you’re there getting stitched up/zipped up, or worse, your wife is, write me and tell me how that plan worked for you.
Now that we’re back in the real world, do me a favor and actually think about that scenario.
I don’t care how fast your draw is, he’s already got his out. The only time you’ll win that one is against paper at the range. So, he’s got you beat on the draw, so now all you have left is to out maneuver him, and because forward means pain, there are only two directions you can go: Left/Right and Backwards.
In Scenario Reaction #1, you and your spouse move sideways or diagonally in opposite directions. The goblin will have to choose one to focus on, and the other engages. This has its risks, of course, because there is little time for the element of surprise. Because a draw is not something that can be done subtly, somebody is going to have be waving their arms or jingling keys or something to hold the goblin’s attention.
In Scenario Reaction #2, you and your spouse act just as he is expecting you to act: Like victims. You put your arm around her and move her behind you. You continue to to act like a victim talking to the guy with the “Please don’t hurt us” speech while she is behind you, unseen by the goblin, drawing her pistol. The biggest risk in this scenario is that you are fully exposed, and if he sees her drawing you may have to act as a bullet sponge for her (but you already promised to do so at that altar, remember). Also, you now have a person on both sides of you with a weapon. However, if you and your spouse practice this maneuver, which direction to move so she can fire and when, this second danger can be lessened. An upside is that even if only you are carrying, she can grab it while she is behind you.
Whichever scenario you choose, or you come up with one of your own, so long as you practice together, life together will be better and may last longer. Which is a good thing.
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The husband and I regularly discuss tactics. Particularly at home, given the rather unpleasant area we are currently living in. We’ve got certain plans of action and verbal commands that we practice. We hadn’t thought much about it, but when taking a defensive handgun course the instructors gave us some extra homework since we were a couple and we took it to heart.
We plan and prepare for the personal protection of ourselves and our home as a family. My daughter has known what to do in case of a fire or INTRUDER since she was three years-old. Now as a teenager, she has become and equal member and asset in our personal and home protection plans.
We all have and practice with basically identical 9mm handguns that we use in the home and for concealed carry (for us they are Ruger SR9’s and SR9c’s). We also have matching rifles and shotguns. That way should something terrible ever really happen, we can exchange guns and or magazines and ammo without any problems and everyone has first-aid training too. We shoot and train together fairly regularly because it’s a favorite family activity and the last time our home alarm system went off, it took the sheriff’s deputies 25 minutes to arrive out where we live.
Too often the “man” of the house is ready for anything, yet the rest of the family will likely become a handicap or collateral damage in a shoot-or-be-shot situation without training or knowledge of what to do. If you get the rest of your family on your “team”, you now have a built-in force multiplier. Have a plan and involve your entire family as if their lives depended on it… because they do.
Dann in Ohio
Nowhere near enough. We’ve had a couple of discussions, especially after our son was born, but they mostly involve priorities. It’s her job to get the boy out of danger and my job to either pave the way or cover her retreat. But that leaves a whole lot of room for ugly scenarios.
I’m hoping to get us to a class together soon.
On another note, Mec-Gar makes 15-round Hi-Power magazines that occupy the same space as the factory 13-rounders. MidwayUSA has them for about $30, IIRC.
I like the crying “ohmyeeeGawddon’thurtme…pleeeeeeeese” while ditching everything in my pockets on the ground and backing up/moving away.
Smokes, lighter, other lighter, cell phone, wallet, gun…wait, no. The gun stays in my hand while he’s (hopefully) distracted by all the loot on the sidewalk…squeeze, squeeze, squeeze; repeat as needed.
Cormac, this clip comes to mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pcVDmX4ho4
I’m screwed. My wife’s disabled – just walking slowly in a straight line with a cane (and at times with a walker) is the best she can do No sense in even talking through this with her – she couldn’t react quickly enough if her life depended on it (and it may). Also has arthritis so bad that she can’t shoot a gun. Tried once with a .32 ACP mouse gun. Had to stop from the pain after 5 rounds.
Cormac, I’ve seen the “droppin’ shit” scenario work IRL. The goblin had a knife and caught a knee to the face when he bent down to pick up the dropped wallet. Not sure how it would work for a “Goblin w/gun” scenario, especially if he demands you pick it up.
Philip, I’ve tried the MecGar 15’s. I got 12 in them and they refused to feed the first two of those rounds. I’m confident in my shot placement skills and am fine with the 13.
Bill, you’re not “screwed”, you just need to think creatively and find a way to use her disability and a positive. For instance, she could fake a seizure/panic attack, which can send you into a “panic attack of concern” trying to help her as a distraction. Bad guys hate it when their plans go FUBAR and they rarely have a Plan B besides “Run!!!” This would, of course, rely on the goblin having at least 1% of his humanity left to work, but may be worth a try. Otherwise, with her being the weaker party, have her start the “dropping shit” game and work from there.
Dann & Heather, keep up the practice.
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