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WHATS IN THE NEWS

SQUIB

A squib, also known as a squib load, is one of the most dangerous events that can occur while firing a gun. What the heck is a squib load?  According to the National Rifle Association’s Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting: “A squib load occurs when the cartridge develops less than normal pressure or velocity after ignition of a cartridge. Squib loads can cause a bullet to fail to exit the muzzle and become lodged in the bore.”

As you can see in the photos above and below the failure to cease fire after the squib load, and the bullet becomes lodged in the bore, can be catastrophic.

  

In the following video recorded at an IDPA match the shooter was running a practice drill. At approximately 1:10 the shooter begins and then at 1:39 there is a soft report of the load with a light puff of smoke. It was fortunate that the CSO had an extra second to react to the squib load and tell the shooter “STOP STOP STOP”.

The lesson here is BE CAREFUL OUT THERE. If you are shooting a string of fire, you’ll only have a split second to make the decision not to fire the next round and avoid a serious injury and/or a destroyed gun.

 

HOW TO IMPROVE THE NRA

The NRA is a great organization that has done a lot of good toward introducing and training people of all ages and backgrounds to firearms and the shooting sports. It is also true that they tend to cater primarily toward their majority demographic, the caricature of which might be called an OFWG (old fat white guy).

That being said there are certainly many people outside that demographic who are NRA members but I feel they could do a lot more to attract a younger and more diverse group of people by changing the way they market themselves and the type of events they host.

Dan Zimmerman of The Truth About Guns shares the story by Wendy, who shares her thoughts for how to improve the NRA. I highly recommend you Click to Read: One Reader’s Six (Well Seven) Part NRA Improvement Guide.

 

APPROPRIATE USE OF FORCE

There has quite a bit of debate in the news and on the internet regarding the proper use of force in the shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. Many people have questioned the use of a firearm against an “un-armed man”. They ask, why not use less-lethal means of subduing an attacker?

The human body is fragile and it doesn’t take much force to the head to critically injure or kill someone. A threat of great bodily harm or death, to be in fear for on’es own life, doesn’t require your attacker to be armed with a firearm. Follow the link to read a great explanation of the risk associated with head injuries and the necessity to respond with lethal force when threatened with being attacked. Click to Read: One Punch Homicide And A Police Officer’s Safety

 

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