I would never say it’s a great idea to engage in a gunfight against a rifle-wielding attacker if you have a pistol, but you can win like this policeman if you combine good tactics and technique with a little luck!

If you value what we do at ASP, would you consider becoming an ASP Patron Member to support the work it takes to make the narrated videos like this hero policeman keeping his community safe? https://get-asp.com/patron gives the details.

Want to learn more? There are 8 additional lessons, 3 class starters for instructors, and links to more information about this video on our website: https://get-asp.com/9w3b

Attitude. Skills. Plan.

(music in the outro courtesy of Bensound at http://www.bensound.com)

Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

To paraphrase the adage, when the prey are armed, armed robbers go hungry! There are some good lessons here for all of us as we seek to protect ourselves and our loved ones from armed robbers.

If you value what we do at ASP, would you consider becoming an ASP Patron Member to support the work it takes to make the narrated videos like this armed robber getting his comeuppance? https://get-asp.com/patron gives the details.

Want to learn more? There are 8 additional lessons, 3 class starters for instructors, and links to more information about this video on our website: https://get-asp.com/vifl

Attitude. Skills. Plan.

(music in the outro courtesy of Bensound at http://www.bensound.com)

Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

How much have you trained to protect yourself against an armed robber? This off duty officer did a pretty fantastic job of practicing Active Self Protection principles to stop this armed robber cold. This is pretty much textbook, so it’s a good template for us to train from!

If you value what we do at ASP, would you consider becoming an ASP Patron Member to support the work it takes to make the narrated videos like this armed robber getting his just desserts? https://get-asp.com/patron gives the details.

Want to learn more? There are 7 additional lessons, 3 class starters for instructors, and links to more information about this armed robbery on our website: https://get-asp.com/71d3

Attitude. Skills. Plan.

(music in the intro and outro courtesy of Bensound at http://www.bensound.com)

Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

This store owner did a lot of things right. Unfortunately, needing to chamber his defensive firearm cost him his life. We need reminders like this, unfortunately.

If you value what we do at ASP, would you consider becoming an ASP Patron Member to support the work it takes to make the narrated videos like this reminder to keep your defensive firearm chambered? https://get-asp.com/patron gives the details.

Want to learn more? There are 8 additional lessons, 3 class starters for instructors, and links to more information about this video on our website: https://get-asp.com/uzjp

Attitude. Skills. Plan.

(music in the outro courtesy of Bensound at http://www.bensound.com)

Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

Perhaps nothing is as scary and chaotic as a mass shooter. This real-life mass shooter from the Cascade Mall in Burlington, WA was caught on camera committing his evil; I share it not to glorify the mass shooter but for the lessons it teaches good people about survival.

UPDATE and additional lesson on this mass shooter…there was an off-duty Sheriff in Macy’s that night, but HE DIDN’T HAVE HIS GUN ON HIM. That makes me so upset. Carry your dang firearm, friends. Everywhere. https://get-asp.com/1c1j

If you value what we do at ASP, would you consider becoming an ASP Patron Member to support the work it takes to make the narrated videos like this mass shooter attack? https://get-asp.com/patron gives the details.

Want to learn more? There are 8 additional lessons, 3 class starters for instructors, and links to more information about this mass shooter on our website: https://get-asp.com/nvl1

Attitude. Skills. Plan.

(music in the outro courtesy of Bensound at http://www.bensound.com)

Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

These carjackers certainly weren’t prepared for the fight they got! The news story says the victims were unharmed while 3 carjackers ended up taking the Room Temperature Challenge, and that’s about as good an outcome as our Active Self Protection​ can get us!

If you value what we do at ASP, would you consider becoming an ASP Patron Member to support the work it takes to make the narrated videos like these carjackers taking the Room Temperature Challenge? https://get-asp.com/patron gives the details.

Want to learn more? There are 8 additional lessons, 3 class starters for instructors, and links to more information about this carjacking attempt on our website: https://get-asp.com/yll1

Attitude. Skills. Plan.

(music in the outro courtesy of Bensound at http://www.bensound.com)

Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

This off-duty officer handled his business against these armed robbers! I think he did a great job practicing Active Self Protection​ in keeping himself and his wife safe against these armed robbers. They got what they paid for!

If you value what we do at ASP, would you consider becoming an ASP Patron Member to support the work it takes to make the narrated videos like this officer overwhelming the armed robbers? https://get-asp.com/patron gives the details.

Want to learn more? There are 8 additional lessons, 3 class starters for instructors, and links to more information about this officer on our website: https://get-asp.com/4hzr

Attitude. Skills. Plan.

(music in the outro courtesy of Bensound at http://www.bensound.com)

Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

Sometimes it’s just fun to watch an aggressor have the tables turned on him. That said, there are some good Active Self Protection​ lessons about social violence as well as the four controls we work on in our training!

If you value what we do at ASP, would you consider becoming an ASP Patron Member to support the work it takes to make the narrated videos like this aggressor getting knocked out? https://get-asp.com/patron gives the details.

Want to learn more? There are 8 additional lessons, 3 class starters for instructors, and links to more information about this aggressor on our website: https://get-asp.com/ddh4

Attitude. Skills. Plan.

(music in the outro courtesy of Bensound at http://www.bensound.com)

Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

Burglars are usually looking for valuables and not confrontations, but these armed burglars were ready for a fight. Thankfully the homeowner had strong enough Active Self Protection​ to handle her business!

If you value what we do at ASP, would you consider becoming an ASP Patron Member to support the work it takes to make the narrated videos like this armed homeowner besting these armed burglars? https://get-asp.com/patron gives the details.

Want to learn more? There are 8 additional lessons, 3 class starters for instructors, and links to more information about this [ATTACK] on our website: https://get-asp.com/hw53

Attitude. Skills. Plan.

(music in the outro courtesy of Bensound at http://www.bensound.com)

Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

I have never seen a gunfight that is not scary, chaotic, and FAST. We show these at Active Self Protection​ to train our minds to make unknown situations known, and part of that is knowing what is cover and what is only concealment!

If you value what we do at ASP, would you consider becoming an ASP Patron Member to support the work it takes to make the narrated videos like this gunfight? https://get-asp.com/patron gives the details.

Want to learn more? There are 8 additional lessons, 3 class starters for instructors, and links to more information about this gunfight on our website: https://get-asp.com/s8w5

Attitude. Skills. Plan.

(music in the outro courtesy of Bensound at http://www.bensound.com)

Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

Boy, friends, you may not get to see a more perfect example of the Five Ds in action than this. This is Active Self Protection at its finest! Would you have the skills to win this fight with a gunman?

If you value what we do at ASP, would you consider becoming an ASP Patron Member to support the work it takes to make the narrated videos like these armed robbers getting their just desserts? https://get-asp.com/patron gives the details.

The Five Ds are a tool that we use at ASP to organize our training and preparation for defending ourselves against an armed attacker when we are not armed ourselves. (or if we are armed but outdrawn such that we must deal with the problem with our hands) Deflect, Dominate, Distract, Disarm, Disable. We pursue them from first to last, in order, to give us the best chance of successfully defending ourselves against an armed opponent. Deflect their force multiplier, Dominate as much as possible (best is the whole person, second is the arm with the tool, last is the tool itself), Distract the attacker (usually using pain, redirection, movement, etc.), Disarm the attacker, and Disable the attacker.

Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

This video first appeared on our website and Facebook page in January 2015.

When would you have acted against these armed robbers? I think this South Carolina CWP holder did a great job of practicing Active Self Protection to keep himself and everyone in the barber shop safe!

News story of the armed robbers meeting effective resistance (with link to the surveillance video) available here: https://get-asp.com/zgps

What does this incident teach us about confronting armed robbers?

1. Keep your firearm on your person! Plenty of people keep a firearm stationed near them under the counter or on a desk or in the glove compartment of their car, but in the moment of need you can’t ever be sure that you can get to it if it’s not on your person. These armed robbers gave an opportunity that ONLY was accessible to someone whose firearm was on their person, ready to go. So keep your firearm on your person at all times.

To learn more, head to our website for lessons 2-7 from this armed robbery: https://get-asp.com/zgps

Attitude. Skills. Plan.

(music in the intro and outro courtesy of Bensound at http://www.bensound.com)

Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

If you want to start a “grab your popcorn” debate in the gun world, a good way to start is by talking about carrying with the chamber full (condition 1 for 1911 lovers) or empty. (condition 3) At Active Self Protection we believe that each person has to make that decision for themselves, but as for me and for what I teach, I believe that the best way is to keep the chamber full if possible. This video is why.

Why is chamber full a better defensive setup?

1. Chambering a round takes both hands. Everyone teaches chambering with both hands because that is the fastest way to do it, until some goofy holster makes the rounds again that is impractical and not helpful for concealed carry. If your support hand is engaged in a bad guy or holding a child or is injured in earning your draw or otherwise engaged, you’re out of luck. Sure, range masters will teach using the rear sights to hook on the edge of your boot or belt or whatever, but those are small targets and someone is stabbing you or bashing your head in.

There are four additional reasons why chamber full carry is preferred on our website, so head there for more: https://get-asp.com/hi9g

Attitude. Skills. Plan.

Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

It amazes me how fast this encounter goes from verbal to physical to deadly. How would you have practiced Active Self Protection if you were the intended victim?

News story with details and the decision of the DA: http://get-asp.com/7a86

What lessons do we learn from this encounter?

1. Racial violence is real in America, and it is terrible. To paraphrase Martin Luther King, Jr. I long to live in a country where people are judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character, and that desire goes all ways. These attackers were despicable all around, and violence based on ethnicity or race has no place in our society. None.

2. Thank God that Williams had his firearm on him that day. Four or five angry drunks bent on doing someone harm could quickly have put him in the hospital or killed him. Unless you’re Bruce Lee, one person against 4 attackers is a losing proposition if you don’t have a force multiplier like a firearm.

3. Gunfights are close quarters, mean, nasty fights. This was three shots at under 3 yards while moving and trying to avoid being hurt. That’s the reality of a gunfight, so once you’ve mastered basic marksmanship make sure to train in those skills. You’re likely to need them if you need your firearm.

4. Williams showed good restraint. In the face of slurs he kept his cool. I don’t blame him for not shaking the guy’s hand because he could well have seen it as a front for an attack, and that’s exactly what happened. He drew his firearm in the face of danger but retreated and sought not to use it, which was fantastic. When the time came, he shot until the threat stopped which was exemplary. This is a textbook case of what we train for as armed citizens.

5. The caliber debate is shown to be silly here. This attacker was fatally wounded by a .40 S&W, and yet died 6 miles from the scene and ran away. The myth of “stopping power” is just that: myth. Anything that passes the FBI ballistic protocol is acceptable, so carry what you’re best with and feel good about. And a psychological stop is as good as any other stop!

6. Generally, as a first blush, the one who calls 911 first is seen in the eyes of the law as the victim. Don’t overshare with 911 because the call is recorded and is evidence, but tell them where you are, what happened, and that you need police. Williams did a great job of being ready and being non-threatening when officers arrived, and they did a great job of not coming in ready for a fight.

7. Note as well that it took a good 5 minutes or more for police to arrive; the old adage, “When seconds count, the police are just minutes away” is utterly true and any cop will tell you that.

Attitude. Skills. Plan.