I had a roommate once who couldn’t believe that I had never before punched someone, let alone that I had never been in a fight. His family is really into martial arts, and he has trained since a he was ten in Muay Thai and Tae Kwon Do, and he spent most of high school knocking out other amateur fighters in martial arts tournaments and backyard boxing matches. He took it upon himself to train me in the fundamentals of hand to hand combat; he taught me how to punch by having me hit the couch cushions as he held them up. Hopefully I will never need to use these techniques in a physical confrontation, but if I do the time I spent training with my roommate will pay off if I am ever in one of those situations.

Self defense is probably as much a matter of mental preparation as it is technical skill. Although some technical skill is beneficial when defending yourself from an attacker, the main challenge lies in responding to an unexpected attack with confidence. When you’re in a situation when your personal safety could be compromised, you usually arrive in that situation unexpectedly, and the assailant has the significant advantage of surprise. By training in hand to hand combat, you will have a better chance of responding confidently because you will be able to trust in the training that you have received in similar, simulated situations.

There are many options available for people who are interested in learning hand to hand combat in preparation for situations in which they would need to defend themselves. Structured martial arts, such as Muay Thai or Judo or Jiu Jitsu, give those who study it a formal and stylized approach to hand to hand combat that is centered on a particular philosophy. Selecting a martial art to study has the advantage of being centered on a certain style of fighting, so those who study martial arts can select a discipline that they feel is suited to their natural abilities and their preferences for fighting. For example, a friend of mine from high school studied Tae Kwon Do for years because he is very tall and has long legs, so the use of powerful kicks in Tae Kwon do suits him well and allows him to engage attackers from long distances. Muay Thai brings you in close to your opponent and uses quick and powerful blows to inflict massive damage in minimal time, so it would be a good match for someone who has a healthy amount of aggressive energy and is willing to unleash that on an assailant. Researching other martial arts styles can help you find a style to focus on that plays to your natural abilities.

Another sport that has become popular in recent years is MMA fighting. While most people do it as a sport it has become a popular in self defense and training. The skills these fighters can be used if you become involved in an altercation. You could take classes at a local gym that focuses on MMA or you can buy MMA exercise equipment and teach yourself.

Outside of defined martial arts styles, there are many classes taught on self defense that focus on practical techniques and real-life situations rather than focusing on a style of fighting. Most communities will have these classes available, and they are a good way to help you feel confident in yourself and able to defend yourself when it is necessary.

It seems like everyone in the state supports it except for Chicago, which unfortunately constitutes a large population of the state and therefore carries a strong weight in the legislature. And then there is Gov. Pat Quinn who has already declared that he will veto any concealed carry bill that comes to his desk. And that should make an ordinary citizen feel nice and cozy at night since the governor walks around with armed bodyguards wherever he goes, seemingly assuming that his life is worth more than the average citizen of the state of Illinois. That seems quite absurd since the governor of Illinois seems to spend more time behind bars than the average citizen in recent years (half of IL governors since the 70′s have all spent time in jail on charges of corruption) leading me to think that they are willing to do things for themselves that they won’t do for the citizens that they don’t care about. But hey–you have a 50% chance that Quinn won’t end up in jail.

So instead of using a gun to defend yourself, the state of Illinois has a much better recommendation–use your keys, or a comb, or better yet–throw up on the guy and maybe he won’t want to rape you anymore. Or maybe that just pisses him off and instead of raping you he just kills you. But we all know how safe Chicago is, so maybe they know best. Until they get someone with a brain and a heart in office there, we recommend moving to any of the states surrounding Illinois that actually let you protect yourself against a criminal. If that’s not a good option, keep fighting the good fight and make sure to transport your gun according to the law.

It’s always good to have more options when looking into concealed carry decisions–especially different features in the gun they choose to carry–, and now there’s another option available in concealed carry weapons. Heizner Defence came into existence last year as a collaborative venture between Heizner Aerospace, firearms industry veteran Ray Kohout and other financial backers. Its purpose was to establish itself within the law enforcement and CCW markets, with the intention of distinguishing itself from its competitors by applying technology and experience developed in the aerospace sector to firearms production.

At the National Association of Sporting Guns Wholesalers (NASGW) expo held at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno in early November 2011 Kohout introduced the ‘DoubleTap’ pistol, the company’s first weapon for the concealed carry market. As you would expect from people with a background of work in a the high tech industries, the designers Heizner Defence have gone back to the drawing board to develop a product which they believe is both innovative and yet still meets the basic requirements of a good CCW, in that it should carry punch, be easy and comfortable to use, and be reliable.

Small is Beautiful

The DoubleTap is very modest in size. Its makers describe it as the smallest and lightest tactical pocket pistol in the world. The weapon has a 3.0 inch barrel, is 3.9 inches high, 5.5 inches long, and only 0.665 inches wide. As you will be aware, with a concealed weapon size can matter, and a smaller weapon can usually be carried much more discretely. It comes with the option of a titanium or aluminium frame, and as you would expect from the weapons dimensions this means it is indeed very light. The empty weight of the titanium frame is just 14 ounces, and the aluminium version only 12 ounces. The weapon has an over-under double barrel, and can be chambered in 9mm or .45 ACP. The barrels are fully interchangeable, and there is the option for the barrels to be ported to reduce muzzle rise and recoil. The weapon carries two rounds in the chamber and there is a compartment in the grip to carry two spare rounds on a strip for rapid reloading. Heizner have seven patents pending on the design of this no-snag hammerless pistol, including the double action ball bearing trigger system.

Getting the Message Right

Heizner will be aware that they are entering a very competitive market, but seem confident that they will be able to establish a place for themselves, reportedly targeting a first year revenue figure in excess of $10 million, and with plans on introducing other handgun variations over the next couple of years. The company’s hi-tech pedigree and ambition to bring that experience to firearms manufacture will hold appeal for many, and the skilful way in which they have handled the introduction of their first offering certainly demonstrates that they are no slouches when it comes to marketing. In addition to the usual full and half page ads to promote the DoubleTap in all the right magazines, Heizner Defense has also been developing its own image by issuing ongoing press releases about the formation and development of the company over the past year. Added to this, they have adeptly primed the market through the new media by offering early design material and previews to a select number of bloggers and others within the internet firearms community.

The strategy seems to have gone well. There is currently a good deal of chatter about Heizner and the DoubleTap on websites such as The Firearm Blog, and there appears to be a genuine enthusiasm for the company and the weapon to be a success. No doubt in part that stems from the basic American preference for a diverse and dynamic market place, and perhaps also from the knowledge that when a new player takes to the market, with fresh and innovative ideas, that acts as a stimulus to existing players to begin upping their game. It is also pleasing to see a company in any sector committed to manufacturing in the US, with Heizner reportedly recruiting 20 to 30 workers at its new production facility.

Via: Ammo.net

A common issue with concealed carry permit holders is deciding whether or not you can/should carry your gun at work. One’s place of employment is typically one of the top 3 places where you spend your time. There are also many issues that can affect other people’s decisions to turn violent (money issues can lead to desperation or anger in some people and situations).  While the issue is extremely complex, you can usually boil the issue down to three factors—

1. Does the law allow you to carry at work? The law usually leaves that decision up to the employer. However, the law will vary from state to state on the amount of freedom left to the employer and how strict the punishment will be for failure to comply. For example, in some states parking lots are specifically mentioned in the law to allow employees to leave a firearm in their car, while the building itself is left up to the employer. Obviously, in some areas, the law outright bans concealed carry at work by means of restrictive laws in general.  OSHA, the government agency that regulates workplace safety offer some general safety guidelines, but defers to local, state, and federal laws for issues specifically regarding firearms. There are also companies that offer OSHA trainings regarding general workplace safety and other more specific issues involving safety at work.
2. The next issue is whether or not your employer will allow you to carry your gun.  Most bigger companies often will have a fairly comprehensive policy guidebook that addresses this issue. My personal opinion is that many of these companies restrict firearms because of policy either a founded in ignorance about guns or ignorance about the laws and understanding regarding the responsibility for use of guns. There are, however, companies and places of employment that have an understanding on the issue and intentionally restrict the possession of firearms based on their belief that it will make the workplace safer or simply reduce the stress and issues that they will encounter. I was formerly employed at a company that restricted firearms from their premises where I personally heard the Chief Counsel for the company state that they would never enforce the policy because the owners and executives at the company all had a positive attitude towards firearms and frequently possessed them on the premises themselves. The handbook at the company also specifically restricts firearms in parking lots, where state law specifically requires companies to allow guns to be locked in your vehicles in the parking lots. Essentially, the policy was in place in the event that there was an incident the company could claim that according to the company handbook firearms were prohibited and if that policy was followed, the “incident” would not have happened. This seems to be common in the corporate world. Keep in mind as an employer, however, that some states may have different feelings in that regard. If someone is injured or killed and were prohibited from being in possession of a firearm that may have helped them the company could hold some liability. This is always a tricky issue for businesses (especially a business where customers are present) because it may drive away business regardless of what your stance is. In Wisconsin, businesses are facing the issue of deciding how they want to proceed now that concealed carry has been passed into law.
3. The third aspect to this decision is whether or not you can conveniently or socially carry a gun at your place of employment. While a concealed gun should not be noticed, there are sometimes circumstances where it may be seen or put you in a difficult situation. Whether you are simply bending down to pick something up and your shirt lifts up just enough to see your pistol, or if you exercise at work and need to adjust or remove your firearm, or carpool to a place where you cannot carry your gun, to the event that you may actually need to use it, there are circumstances where you may expose your firearm.  Additionally, the security and risk of your place of employment needs to be considered. If you work in a building with armed guards, metal detectors and other security measures, the decision process is different than if you work as a pizza delivery man.

There are other issues that may need to be considered that are usually specific to your circumstances, but these are the big three that usually come up when looking at the decision of whether or not to carry a gun at work. Unfortunately, it is more than a personal decision that and has several complex factors that need to be considered and is often made difficult because of a lack of understanding and fear. But as we continue to work with employers and lawmakers we can make a difference in the attitude and laws regarding guns in the workplace.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – May 17, 2011 – Rick Ector, a Detroit native and a nationally accredited Firearms Instructor, has launched a blog on the Internet to encourage citizens to openly carry handguns. The blog is entitled “Detroit Open Carry.”

According to Ector, the time has arrived for city of Detroit to break ties with the racist roots of gun control. Ector stated, “Gun laws have always been most strict in cities with large numbers of black people. Detroit is no different in that regard. In 1925, Dr. Ossian Sweet was acquitted of defending his home from a mob of people who were upset with the gall of a black man who dared to integrate a white neighborhood.”

Ector, was referring to the Michigan court case which many have credited as being the genesis of the 1927 Michigan Firearms Act. This law created County Gun Boards, required the licensing of handguns, and made acquiring Concealed Pistol Licenses (CPLs) and handguns difficult for most black people.

Also, Ector concedes that there is another reason for pushing open carry in Detroit. He added, “Crime here is out of control and the local police department can’t be everywhere. A citizen wearing a firearm in a holster will serve as a visual deterrent to bad guys looking to rape, rob, and murder.”

In general, it is legal in the state of Michigan for a person 18 years of age to display his own registered pistol in a completely visible holster without a special permit, as long as he does not venture into a state designated pistol-free zone.

Rick Ector is a Detroit based grassroots gun rights advocate and a National Rifle Association (NRA) credentialed Firearms and Personal Protection Trainer, who provides Michigan CCW Classes training in Detroit for students at his firearms school – Rick’s Firearm Academy of Detroit.

Ector is a recognized expert in firearm safety and has been featured extensively in the national and local media: Associated Press, UPI, NRAnews, Gun Digest, The Politics Daily, Fox News Detroit, WDIV News, WXYZ News, WWJ Radio, WJR Radio, The Detroit News, WJLB, WGPR, and the UrbanShooterPodcast.

For more info about Open Carry in Detroit and Detroit Michigan CCW Classes, please contact:

Rick’s Firearm Academy of Detroit
Web: http://www.detroitccw.com
Email: info@detroitccw.com
Phone: 313.733.7404

With around 140 men defending Rorkes Drift, you would be pardoned for guessing they had little possibility of survival, especially thinking about what happened to their colleagues at Isandlwana. All the same, together with in addition to being especially courageous soldiers, the defenders of Rorkes Drift were in possession of a weapon what would let them have an edge over the Zulus. The weapon in question was the Martini Henry rifle.

The .45 calibre rifle was capable of inflicting nasty injuries and when fired at a range of under 200 yards, a round could possibly very easily pass through a body and hit the person behind as well. The Martini Henry was a single shot, breech loading rifle and gave the British a large advantage over the Zulus who were just carrying their short stabbing spears (iklaws).

Although the Martini Henry was at fault partly for the defeat at Isandlwana, if properly maintained, it absolutely was an excellent weapon. To single the rifle out as the reason for the defeat at Isandlwana is extreme as there were a great many additional factors which contributed to the defeat.

At Rorkes Drift, the Martini Henry was vital to the British. As a store, there was a lot of ammo plus spare weapons plus the defensive area was a good deal smaller and for that reason was less difficult to defend in comparison to the position at Isandlwana. Brought to the British Army in 1871, the Martini Henry could fire up to 10 rounds per minute in the hands of any skilled soldier. The Martini Henry possessed a highly effective range of much more than 500m which resulted in providing the British could set eyes on the Zulu warriors, they could possibly begin eliminating them long before they got near enough for hand to hand fighting.

Despite the tremendous odds at Rorkes Drift, the British only lost roughly 10% of their men yet at the same time, they laid to rest almost 400 Zulus and it was viewed a similar number might have later died of their injuries. The British had beaten off the Zulu attack and were grateful to the Martini Henry rifle.

The first people who utilized Archery originally were the Egyptians. Several archery equipments discovered by archeologists were found in the Egyptian ruins. But it’s not just the Egyptians who were bold enough to make use of this skill, Mongolians were able to use Archery as well. It has been considered as one of the most important and useful gears for war. Goths and Visigoths from Europe were also familiar with this type of skill. In movies with primordial warfare, archery is often associated especially as a war tool by people in America, Africa and the Arctic regions.

Bows and arrows were primarily used for hunting and open field warring during medieval times and yet, these same tools were also used both for sports and recreation. Ancient people didn’t only live to hunt and eat, but they also delight on spending their time on popular sports. Though this skill has been present for a long time, it was only in 1870 when the Royal Toxophilite Society in England has promoted it as an amateur sport. Since then, this sport has become popular among archery lovers. The great leap for fully recognizing Archery as an Olympic Sport was during the years 1900, 1904 and 1920. But for some odd reasons, the game was only reintroduced to the public in 1972 and it was that same year when Archery was put into application.

There are different ways how bow and arrow used for archery were materialized. Its primary material was wood but there were some who used metal, and ligaments from animals as materials. The big difference is seen on modern bows though these are specifically meant to enhance the scientific engineering for accuracy. Yet, there are still some who prefer to use conventional materials in equipments for archery.

Today, there is a wide variety of bow and arrow available for the modern archery lovers. Variation may differ on the materials, sizes and cost of each. No matter, this is enough to make sure that anyone who loves archery has the freedom to find the right pair for them.

A Compound Bow is a type of equipment used for Archery that is composed of pulleys and cables. This was popularized in the 1970s. A most popular type of Compound Bow is the Crossbow, which we all have heard of.  But the most popular type is the Straight bow, which came from the English Longbow. Though it’s popular, what is commonly used in the Olympics is a re-curved bow. It’s not only used for Olympics, but it’s also the most highly used bow by modern archers. It’s basically made for high precision and quality.

You can find different types of archery bows or pistols for sale from your favorite sports store or online store. You can also find various types of pistols from the mentioned places too. Whichever sports you prefer, do what you can to enjoy the thrill of sports. Try Archery for a change and you could be experiencing the best time of your life that most people are already enjoying!

Idaho’s whitetail deer populations in Idaho have also have grown. Their distribution, concentrated inforested areas of northern Idaho, has broadened in recent years. Mule deer populations in Idaho are rebounding from the past drought and the extreme winter weather of the year 1992. The number of mountain lions are extremely solid. Record book cougars have been taken recently. Hunting for moose is yet again on the rise. Antelope, mountain goat and bighorn sheep hunts are of interest to many. The state of Idaho keeps on offering excellent black bear hunts usually happens in fall and spring.

Idaho’s non-wilderness regions are accessed by backcountry roads, while wilderness areas can be accessed by horseback or on foot. Most Idaho outfitters provide archery, rifle and muzzleloader hunts. Tailored services range from drop camps to fully guided trips. Rooms are available in comfortable cabins or fishing lodges.

Spring Bear Hunts

Idaho spring bear hunts, with a good Idaho outfitter, give you an opportunity to experience great hunting challenges. For one, the terrain is ideal for spot and stalk hunting. As suggested by its name, you are going to head out to the mountains and wait, scope the sides of the hill searching for these beautiful animals. Then you can carefully stalk him right up until you are in a perfect position to shoot. Even using this approach can be considered a challenge for newbies therefore you do want to have someone along with you who is knowlegeable about hunting and quite a bit about the bears.

Deer and Elk Hunting

Those who book through an Idaho outfitter will see their deer and elk tags simple to obtain. Every year the Fish and Game Commission sets aside and/or allocates several elk and deer tags for hunters who are non-resident who book with accredited Idaho outfitters. This does mean that Idaho outfitters have tags long after surrounding states, such as Montana and Wyoming, have sold out. Elk hunting often commences in the month of September. The hunting in October and November are best for deer and elk combination hunting as the game moves in for winter and the deer enter their rut.

No other state in the lower 48 has as much hunting variety and quality as Idaho. Idaho is sparsely populated with huge forest areas, canyonlands, and mountain wildernesses. And hunter congestion continues to be unlikely to happen.

Now, if you’re ready for some hunting adventure, start your search for the best Idaho outfitters today , visit http://www.sheppranch.com for more information .