Get training

And carry your guns.

Me, using NightCafe. Yes, it’s AI. I’m a thug, not an artist.

Another church shooting. Damn it.

The 72-Hour Rule applies, but I’d like to address the elephant in the room.

Worship services — particularly of the Christian variety — have become the soft target of choice for the critters during the current cycle of violence.

I say “Soft target of choice” because a good many Christian churches have chosen to forget some of Christ’s more … sticky … lessons¹, and have either forbidden the carry of the least of our weapons in their houses of worship, or have declared that only chosen “Security Teams” may carry.

Pfagh.

I seriously suggest that if your place of worship is one such, that you stand up at the next service, tell the guy at the pulpit that you refuse to allow your family to go to a place that removes your ability — and duty — to protect them, walk your family out, and go somewhere with saner weapons policies.

Enough of you do this, and your local church will stop being stupid.

If you can’t do this — for whatever reason — I strongly recommend that if you’re in a State where you can without criminal consequences if you get caught — just ignore their idiot policy.

And get training.

Start with an NRA course, so that you can go to a training class and handle your firearm safely, and if your State is sane, get your State’s Licence to Carry. If you have your State’s “He’s A Good Guy” card in your wallet, it may give your church an excuse to be more lenient on their idiot weapon policy for you.

Then get actual training. As always I suggest Gunsite 250, followed by the Massad Ayoob Group MAG 40 class. Yah, that’s an expensive course of training. You know what’s more expensive than that training, though? Funeral² costs to bury your wife. Or your children. Might want to keep that in mind.

If Gunsite and MAG aren’t your thing, Thunder Ranch, CSAT, DTI, and a host of others will do. Use Google wisely when you go looking for a school.

If you don’t want to travel, find a local firearm range that hosts travelling trainers — Mead Hall is a good example — and get training from folks like A/TaC, CDR, WPS, TMACS, Shivworks, and a host of others. Again, use the internet and research.

When you’re getting training, don’t forget first aid³. If you can talk Kelly Grayson over at MEDIC Training Solutions into restarting his Shooter Self-Care course, it’s world class, as is anything run by Caleb Causey over at Lone Star Medics, and the guys at Dark Angel Medical aren’t slouches, either.

As always, don’t forget legal insurance, and having coffee with a tame lawyer.

I’m going to tag some folks on social media, and see if we can get some more suggestions and recommendations in the comments.

Ian

1. Remember when you see one of those kitchy “What Would Jesus Do” thingies — beating people with whips, suplexing them into the street, and fast-pitching tables and chairs at them is an option. Just saying.

2. Average funeral costs in Texas.

3. I’ve been to the range, and I’ve seen local church attendees. Honestly, you need to learn CPR and how to use an AED as much — or more — as tourniquets and wound-packing, because … damn.