Month: June 2019

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: http://invictaselfdefense.blogspot.com/2013/08/improvised-weapons-for-self-defense.html

Following my article on that weapons are legal for self-defense , I thought it would be a good idea to talk about how to improvise your own weapon for self-defense functions. Allow me to state that for one of these items to work in a self-defense scenario, you need to be brutal in your strikes, and hit just like you mean it. You are in control of your own security, and you might not have many chances to strike or use your improvised weapon, so you need to make them count. 

Purses are both fashionable and practical

Improvised weapons: 

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: http://invictaselfdefense.blogspot.com/2013/08/why-we-freeze-during-assault-fear.html

And. . .well, we all know how the story ends. 

Stress is an evolutionary survival mechanism, though it causes us to do some bizarre things, including freezing during violence. Odds are, it will most likely occur, which makes sense as most people’s last response is to fight.

  There are lots of reasons why folks freeze though, so let’s go through some of these: 

• Too many stimuli – your mind is taking in so much information at a fast rate that it is unable to process what it’s seeing effectively. Because many people have never been in anything even approaching a self-defense situation before, your brain has no reference experience, and because of that, it takes your brain time to locate its bearings. In the time it takes your mind to do that, some damage can be sustained by you. 
• Disconnect between 9-5 brain and combat-brain – unless you are in the military or in law enforcement, hardly any people train themselves to be able to shift from their 9-5 mind into combat-mode at the drop of a hat. It takes some time to shift into combat mode between your mindset. Unfortunately, the longer this takes, the longer your freeze will be, and the greater the likelihood that you could sustain injuries from the attacker. 
• Ethical struggle – this is especially common in martial artists/military/law enforcement people. You may have trained for years, though capacity and capacity are not mutually exclusive. Just because you have gone through the motion of the way to break someone’s knee over and over doesn’t mean that when it comes down to actually doing it that you are able to go through with it. This ethical struggle often causes trained individuals to pause before defending themselves. An assault is not the time to work out your ethics; spend time well beforehand thinking about what you could or couldn’t do in any given situation. Have a few go-to techniques which you feel comfortable relying on, and that you are aware that you could perform in the heat of the moment without the smallest hesitation. 
• Evolution – running away from a predator can often trigger the chase-reflex inside them. Part of the reason that you freeze is that this survival system helped our cave-dwelling grandparents survive some pretty frightening predators, and this attribute has been passed down to us. Your brain is on autopilot during a high-adrenaline condition, and the only thing it tells itself during a freeze is,”this has not gotten you killed yet, so keep doing it.” This sort of behavioural looping pattern is also seen during other phases of an attack, particularly if you continuously punch an attacker in the arm, by way of instance, though it is not doing anything to them. Again, your mind is simply saying,”this has not gotten you hurt yet, so just keep doing it.” Unfortunately, behavioural looping can also get you killed if you don’t break out of the loop and do something different. 

Yell loudly to break a freeze and get the eye of people nearby who can help

• Talk yourself out loud – paramedics often do this in the early stages of their career, and talking yourself by what you’re trying to do can be the trigger to ground you back into the fact of the situation:”Strike to the face hard, hit to the sternum”, etc. 
• Yell, proceed – Loudly vocalizing or moving parts of your body (such as in kicking) can occasionally bring you back into the present moment and from the freeze. You’d be surprised how aware you can feel throughout a freeze, so tell yourself to do SOMETHING! Yelling, of course, has the added benefit of drawing attention to what’s happening, and having people either come over to assist, or call the police.  New Hampshire: YMAA Publication Centre, 2011. 

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: http://invictaselfdefense.blogspot.com/2013/10/5-halloween-safety-tips-for-ladies.html

It is the time of year – the leaves are changing colours, the air is getting cooler, and Halloween is quickly approaching. With Halloween, there are parties drinks to drink, and the opportunity to dress up. It is with increasing popularity that women are gravitating towards sexy and revealing costumes, so I believe that this is a terrific time of year to keep in mind some important safety tips when you are out and about, enjoying your Halloween festivities: 

1. Watch your drinks – Keep your drink with you at all times. Walk around with your hand covering the top of your cup so that it deters someone from slipping something in it. If someone will buy you a drink, walk to the bar and have the bartender pass you the drink personally. If you need to put your drink down even for a second, just buy a new one (it’s not worth the risk). Roofies are surprisingly easy to acquire and they are cheap. According to one American study, date rape accounts for nearly 60% of all reported rapes (Vis-A-Vis, USA, 1992.) .  Buddy System – Do your best to party with a friend, and ensure you each look out for each other. If your buddy is taking an inordinately long time in the bathroom, go check on her

if your friend appears like she has had too much to drink or things look out of kind, get her to safety; make certain you each get home safely; go to and from the party together if possible. Where and when possible, take a cab. There have been a number of assaults in cabs of inebriated girls. If you’re drunk and by yourself, make an obvious phone call to a friend or boyfriend,”I will be home in 10 minutes. I’m in a taxi at Queen W and Dufferin St.” Little acts such as this can prove to be powerful deterrents.  Cover up while in transit – I have no problem with wanting to dress in your sexiest costume, but just bear in mind that there are inherent dangers that are associated with choosing to do so. Firstly, while you’ll garner attention, you will also attract unwanted attention, which you want to be prepared for. I wish the world was different, but it isn’t. As part of your preparation, do what you can to minimize this unwanted attention by throwing a jacket or sweater over your costume when getting to your destination . When you are in a controlled environment (i.e. the party), it is easier for you to rely on the help of friends, security, and (hopefully) other party-goers if you need help.  Communicate boundaries efficiently – If you’re chatting with a cute guy, and it is the end of the night, and he is searching for more action than you’re prepared to give, make certain you convey that appropriately and effectively. “No. I don’t feel comfortable doing anything tonight.” If he presses you, be firm and simply say,”No” with your voice trailing down at the end, to show that you mean business. It’s important that the words that you say fit your vocal pitch. If your voice goes up at the end, or shows flightiness or flirtatiousness, then he’ll disregard the words you’re saying in favour for the pitch that you’re communicating. Words and pitch constantly have to match, so if your words imply business, ensure that your pitch also communicates that.  Place your phone and earbuds off – predators rely on the ability to exploit vulnerabilities, and also the fact that your eyes are on your own phone, or that you can not hear him coming from behind because you’re listening to music puts him at a marked benefit. If you’re traveling by yourself, it’s particularly important to put your phone away so that you can use your eyes to scan around your environs and know where people are in relation to you. Keep your ears open – do you hear someone walking behind you? Many women ignore the need to turn around and see who’s walking behind them from the misguided fear that they will hurt the man’s feelings or look silly for looking. It is always better to look – if he’s a nice guy who means you no harm, he will probably just feel bad for you; if he’s a potential threat, now he understands that you a) know what he looks like, b) can identify him in the future if you have to, and c) he no longer has the element of surprise working for him. 

Have fun, and be safe! 

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: https://www.offthegridnews.com/self-defense/3-military-approved-techniques-that-will-make-you-a-better-shooter/

What advice would you add? Share your hints in the comments section below:

Breathing

With a handgun, your grip should be the exact same each time you shoot. There are many unique ways to maintain a handgun. My recommendation would be to practice with all of them until you find what works best for you. I also like to put a little tension on the weapon by pulling a little with my forward hand against my secured elbow. For me, this limits recoil and makes it easier to reacquire a goal.
Editor’s note: the writer is an active duty officer in the military.

The article 3 Military-Approved Techniques That Will Make You A Much Better Shooter appeared on Off The Grid News.

While you’re breathing and your arms are in your shooting position, they will naturally move up and down slightly. This causes your weapon to move up and down slightly, which throws off your aiming ability. There are two simple ways to fix this problem. Either hold your breath momentarily to steady your aim or shoot in between exhaling and inhaling. In a controlled situation, shooting between breaths is preferable, but in a high-stress scenario, holding your breath will work, as well.
A fantastic trigger squeeze will save you a great deal of heartache at the range. (Image source: Pixabay.com)
These 3 simple tips will probably improve your shooting ability. When I just need to practice shooting, I usually shoot four rounds at a time and judge each iteration to see what I want to improve. You will find that it becomes easier and you enhance each iteration that you take. Practicing shooting using these ideas will allow you to build muscle memory so that in the event the unpredictable does happen, you will be ready to correctly engage the threat.

One can break proper shooting technique down into three main categories: shooting posture, breathing and trigger squeeze.

If you are new to shooting or are unhappy with your shooting abilities, here you will find some basic shooting techniques to be a better shot.
So far as your body position, you want your elbows locked, and you ought to be in a slightly crouched position so that the weapon is at eye level. Similar to what was mentioned above, get used to shooting at exactly the same body position every time, since it will make aiming come a lot easier. Usually, when someone has trouble aiming down the sights, it is due to their body position. Regardless of weapon, get comfortable shooting at the identical position. You’ll be amazed how simple it becomes to aim.

The final tip might be the most significant. A good trigger squeeze will save you a great deal of heartache at the scope. Jerking the cause back will cause you to twitch the weapon slightly, which results in inaccuracy. Many people teach you to”pull the slack” out of the trigger, which means pulling the trigger back to the final positive block prior to the firing pin goes home. Exercise in your unloaded weapon.

Because I’m directing this article at both skilled shooters and beginners alike, I should say something very important at the beginning. Please ensure that you have zeroed your weapon and know how to properly and safely operate it.

Becoming a better shooter requires more than just going to the range and shooting.

Shooting position refers to how you position your body and your weapon while you’re shooting. Having a long gun, there are a couple of key things to bear in mind. The weapon should be securely positioned against your own body, in the pocket between your shoulder and your chest. Your head needs to be pressed against the stock of the weapon in a cozy spot that it is easy to return to every time you shoot. Aiming down the sights becomes much easier and more natural when you place your head in exactly the same way each time. Your non-firing hand needs to have a light grip, but also should be slightly pulling the weapon into your shoulder.
Most weapons have a small stop in the trigger, before it participates. After”pulling the slack” out of the trigger and then firing the weapon, keep the trigger held back momentarily. This prevents a jerky release, which once again moves the weapon slightly and interferes with your ability to continue looking down the sights to reacquire your target. Then, slowly release the trigger back to that positive block, ready to shoot again. If you’re expecting the recoil, you will jerk the weapon and have an inaccurate shot.

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: https://www.offthegridnews.com/self-defense/concealing-your-guns/

How Can We Fight Gun Confiscations?

Taking advantage of some unique hiding places when hiding your guns might help you to avoid illegitimate confiscation efforts.

Concealing Your Guns Tip #6: False Plumbing

The one difficulty with this hiding place is that your guns aren’t readily accessible. But then again, if your guns have been confiscated, you probably don’t need to be grabbing a gun every time you check the door at night.

The drawback to this as a hiding place is that if they try to do a thorough search, this is probably one of the first truly hidden places that they would look. Even then, they likely wouldn’t move all of the tiles, so in case you can find a place that’s not as likely to be checked, that’s a good place to use.

Since there is no record of personal sales, you could claim that you have sold one or two firearms that you have hidden away. Additionally, you could keep hidden away any firearms you have purchased privately or that you’ve made. The question then becomes, where would you hide those firearms to keep the authorities from finding them?
Any cursory search by those police officers is only going to be of the obvious places that people usually keep their guns : a gun safe or cabinet, nightstand, closet, and under the bed. It’s doubtful that they’ll go much farther than that.

Concealing Your Guns Tip #4: In the Walls

No Database Is Perfect

The best way to be certain that your guns aren’t found is to bury them in your own backyard. Depending on the size of the guns, you can either bury them in five-gallon buckets or sealed into PVC pipe. Either way, the container should be waterproof and moisture-proof, thereby protecting the guns from damage. Even so, you’ll want to oil them down well before burying them.
Finally, you can hide an awful lot of things in plain sight. You are probably using your basement, attic, or garage for storage. That means a lot of miscellaneous boxes with a great deal of miscellaneous stuff in them. Someone would need to empty plenty of boxes to find those that you hid your firearms in.

There is a lot of space between your home’s walls. While hard to access, if you’re doing a remodeling job you could hide some guns within the wall and make note of where they are. You would have to make a hole in the wall for them later, but it would be well worth it.
Technically and legally, there is no nationwide gun registration. However, some states have their own registration legislation. In addition to that, I am not sure how much we can trust the federal government to adhere to that law. First off, all gun purchases have to be called into the NICS for a computer background check. Furthermore, the BATF checks the records of gun sales in all gun stores across the nation. So, there is still the possibility that they are creating an illegal database of gun possession. That wouldn’t surprise me at all.
This is terrific for long guns, which can’t just be hidden inside a false heat register. Nevertheless, of all of the options I’m mentioning, this is the toughest one to access your firearms. Because of this, you want to be sure that any guns you conceal this manner would be ones that you won’t need until you’re in a survival situation.
Another option is to go along with law enforcement, but only to a point. In other words, give them some of your guns as a law-abiding citizen but not all of them. Of course, succeeding in this requires the government not know what guns you have.
The recent shooting of Gary Willis has shown that the liberal left is still hell-bent on taking away our guns. Gary’s only crimes were to get in a debate with a distant relative and then not be willing to turn over his firearms to law enforcement officers when they came to confiscate them under a red flag arrangement. The same could happen soon to any of us.
Nevertheless, their database can not be perfect. Private transactions still don’t have to go through the NICS system, so there is usually no record of them. Nor is there any record of homemade firearms. So when you have made an AR-15 from an 80% lower, there is not any record of it existing.

Concealing Your Guns Suggestion #1: Bury Them

Do you have any more tips or suggestions for concealing guns? Let us know in the comments below.
Few people will take another glance at this false ductwork, not seeing it for what it is. Rather, they’ll look around and past it as they attempt to see what else is there.

This raises the question of how to resist such confiscations effectively. Taking a stand and resisting the authorities might be a excellent way to produce a statement.
Just like we were speaking about fictitious ductwork, you can create false plumbing and it’ll work for the same reason. Notwithstanding, this only works in unfinished basements. What you need to do here is to add a 2nd four-inch drainpipe in the basement. It should span from the ceiling to the ground, exactly like the existing one. Put it on the other side of the basement so that it isn’t easy to compare it to the present one.
After the police served their orders on Gary Willis, there were only two officers present. That makes it seem like they’re not performing Gestapo style home inspections, but instead they are expecting citizens to cooperate and turn over their firearms. If that’s the case, they’re more likely to believe it when someone says that they don’t have a particular firearm or that they’ve sold it. Consequently, if you hide the guns rather well, odds are that nobody will discover them.

Concealing Your Guns Suggestion #2: False Ductwork

Few people understand the ductwork in the basement or attic of a house. This lack of understanding gives you the opportunity to add false ductwork to your house and connect it to the existing ductwork. It doesn’t need to be connected to permit air to pass, but only to look like it is part of the original. To do so, you need to find the exact same kind of material and create your new ductwork seem like the old. In essence, try to make it look like it goes somewhere.

Concealing Your Guns Tip #3: False Heat Registers

You may also enjoy reading an additional Off The Grid News post: How To Pack Heat With Absolutely No One Understanding
The important thing here is to put the heat register close to the floor so that you can set whatever gun you’re going to put in there on the floor. That way, you can get the firearm hidden under the height of the register but nevertheless easy to grab. Only put 1 gun per register so as to scatter them out and make them harder to find.
Many people’s basements are completed with a hanging ceiling. If your home is among them, you have a ready-made hiding place today. All you’ve got to do is to move a ceiling tile and put in a shelf to the side of the present floor joists for the floor above. You can hide a lot there on a number of shelves without anyone knowing where it is.
Following through with the idea of a false ductwork, you could also add in fictitious heat registers. Simply cut a hole in the wall and add one that you can buy at your local home improvement store. The warmth register will be held in place by a couple of screws, but as they are only into drywall, they can easily be removed. The great part is that by removing them you gain access to the space inside the wall.

The post Concealing Your Guns: 7 Strategies to Keep Them Safe And Out Of Sight appeared on Off The Grid News.

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: http://martial-arts-self-defense.blogspot.com/2015/10/ben-carson-challenges-sheep-i-would-not.html

Republican Presidential Candidate Ben Carson creates a daring but accurate statement concerning the Oregon massacre.  “I would not just stand there and let him shoot me,” Carson said on Fox and Friends Tuesday morning. “I’d say,’Hey guys, everybody…
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