Kenn Talks About Weapon Retention

This week on the Urban Shooter Podcast, the pro-gun variety show, on iTunes; I talk to John Pierce of Open Carry.org, and the narrated serial “Zombie Strike” hits its 50^th chapter.  We are celebrating the USMC’s 235^th birthday along with Veterans Day to all that have served.  We start the show off with a big shout out to all active duty on bases and stations around the world.  I share a rant about interfaith groups and ambulance chasers that target gun stores.  Barbara Baird from Women’s Outdoor News contributes and shares some good news about her son.  The open carry discussion reminds me of the need for weapon retention.

This subject would probably work better on TV but I bring it up so that you will start to think about it.  Or maybe search the archives on this site, Michael’s (the Dude) team may have already addressed it.  The Dude is busy.

I’ve been a bodyguard, crossing guard, lifeguard, security guard personal security professional, or some type of mall ninja most of my life.

Protecting people as I have, I have a healthy fear of crowds.  It’s so much easier when you are in the WIDE OPEN spaces.  But if you live in an urban area, i.e. a city, let me tell you, people can get hurt in crowds that you are trying to protect.  Especially me.

I took a course once from someone at the federal police academy I attended once, whom I think was famous but I have CRS right now and can’t remember stuff, but the class was intense and involved something called weapon retention.  It was done in a defensive training room, with mats, a blindfold.  You had to walk into and through a crowd of sadistic older cops that would be hazing you, patting you, punching you, and before you got through, someone was going to grab your firearm.

You had to learn to stay in possession of your firearm in a hostile crowd, or from an opportunist.  We used some kind of aluminum alloy dummies that didn’t give.  There were a lot of hurt knuckles and fingers.  Blood was drawn on occasion and you could end up on the floor, fighting sometimes.  When you had it going on, you could do some cool stuff that made you think you were Steven Seagal.  But sometimes, you lost your gun.  The worst or best at it, were other law enforcement and of course bad guys that practice this.  Once you do it all day, you will be surprised how fast you can be taking a gun out of someone’s holster.  It’s ok if you flunked physics, believe me when I tell you that action is always faster than reaction.  As the defender, you are starting from zero.

All the talk about open carry brought this item back into my mind.  How many of open carry supporters, activist and doers, prepare for crazy person looking to take your sidearm if given the chance?

Losing your gun would suck.  In class, we started out in sweats but the next day worked out in coat and tie.  Pancake holsters, and most holsters are good for comfort, long wear, stylin’ and profiling but absolutely STINK in keeping unauthorized hands from breaking the snap and removing your sidearm.

How do you prevent someone from ruining your day?  Consider getting a holster with built in retention features.  The only one that comes to mind is the Serpa by Blackhawk.  That thing works great for keeping bad guys from taking your firearm but you have to practice using it to be proficient.

If you are open carrying your firearm and will be any place other than the wide open spaces, I recommend you consider getting a Serpa holster from Blackhawk.

You should find someone that knows a thing or two about weapon retention to give you the benefits of his or her education.  Don’t sleep on this.  If this was a video podcast, I might attempt to show you that what you do in defense is like aikido using gravity, pivots, fulcrums, body movement, joint locks and stuff Steven Seagal might do in the movies.  But less flamboyant, hardly noticed once done correctly but highly effective if you can get control.  Its’ not something you can learn from a mall ninja in a few minutes.  A good class will take at least a day.  You will have sore muscles, sore wrist, hurt fingers, and be very cautious the next time you go out in public.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy episode #191.  If you carry openly, please consider weapon retention.  The life you save may be your own.  You can hear the hour long podcast below.

Rev. Kenn Blanchard

Pastor of Patriots, Paladins and Pistoleros

Host of The Urban Shooter Podcast