Hoosier Firearms Review

I’m a tactics guy. I’m more about making the motions more efficient, no matter what the gear is. Now you’re asking, “But Nick, don’t you like all the high-speed tacti-cool gear that’s comin’ out now?” Sure I do. I’m a gear nerd, too. The downside to all that gear, however,  is you have so much of it to learn how it incorporates into your regiment and training, you can’t keep up with it all and a lot of it is unnecessary.

Those of us in the armed community feel that it’s important to receive some form of training. I highly advocate this as well. Train and train often. Learn as much as you can from different instructors. As always, keep things simple. When it boils down to it, it’s you and your gun. That’s it. You might use a flashlight here and there, but in most cases, you won’t while in training unless you train specifically in low-light situations.

One of the first things I tell my students that the best way to win a gunfight, is to avoid one altogether. Remember, you’re not looking for a fight. You’re aiming (no pun intended) to be on the defensive.

“What?!” You say. “That’s just crazy talk. Why do I spend all this money to train and spend so much time reloading brass to go to these expensive classes?” Because there are times you CAN’T avoid a gunfight. That is why you train. For everything else, there’s this thing we call “situational awareness.”

Situational awareness is exactly that. It is being aware of what’s going on around you, at all times. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to be Superman and have heightened senses or having your head constantly on a swivel. That doesn’t hurt, mind you… but it’s not necessarily what’s called for.

If someone looks suspicious, or something doesn’t feel right, do your best to distance yourself. Also, go with your gut instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it isn’t. Get out fast. If you’re with family, gather them quickly and go. Do not waste time. It could be nothing at all, but better safe than sorry.

We also have a very difficult task. Winning the hearts and minds of the general public. Sadly, most people only see what’s put in front of them on a television screen. They are conditioned this way, and not given all sides of the story.

We can’t do this by being hard-edged about it. Yes, we need to be firm and steadfast about our rights and our ability to keep and bear arms. Save the teeth for the politicians and the bad guys. We need to reach out and grab our greatest resource: The People.

There’s a saying that, “An armed society is a polite society”. I believe there is truth to that. In the same hand, this is how we win the hearts and minds of the people. We show them that we’re just normal people. Everyday Joes and Susies just like them. The only difference between us is that we decided we’re taking charge of our own security and safety. We decided that we aren’t going to be victims.

There are some heroes of our culture that have made it to mainstream. John Stossel immediately comes to mind for me. He’s done many news pieces for ABC that were staunchly pro-gun over the years. He’s since left ABC and has moved to the Fox Network. This is an awesome move in my opinion.

We have a culture all our own. It’s my honest belief that we owe it to the rest of the world to share our culture with them. Sure, they may not catch on at first, but it’s a chance to show them the freedom that we know, what it’s worth, and why it’s so dog-gone important.It’s not about the gun itself. It’s the freedom behind it. We have the choice to carry it. We choose to be independent people. Some people want to be protected by someone else. That’s okay, but that’s not for us. At least, not for me.

We can’t force this on people, however. We’re on the receiving end of that enough as it is. We can bring people around through facts, education, and overall exposure.  One of the best programs to do this with is the Appleseed Project. It’s relatively inexpensive, it’s a great history lesson, and it also ties in why Marksmanship is so important to the American Culture as a whole. You can get more information on their program at http://www.appleseedinfo.org .

So, to recap… here are a few points to remember:

• Keep your gear simple and don’t over-complicate things.
• Train, and train often. Your gun is a constant, it’s your skill that must improve.
• Be aware of your surroundings and move to avoid conflict when possible.
• Be kind, respectful and willing to educate.
• Expose people to the Culture in any and every way possible. Show them it’s not what they see on the television.

Stay safe.