New, Free Use of Force Blog

Ian Kinder;1629956 said:

Ian Kinder;1628869 said:

http://www.livesafeacademy.com/safetyblog/

Post 1 – Handgun and Caliber Selection
Release Date: 4-1-14

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My response to someone who was emphasising the importance of shot placement over caliber.

Begin response:

Yep X, my uncle was shot in the head with a .25 ACP while conducting a traffic stop and almost died. Regan was almost killed with a .22 LR. All bullets are dangerous. But we always want to stack the ballistic odds in our favor when we can because we don’t have the luxury of precise shot placement in close, rapid engagements that involve a lot of stress and movement. I’ve never seen a dead body with tight groups. One of my students was told at a gun store to get a .25 ACP and just unload the magazine into the assailants hip. Another student, a few years before she took my class, was assaulted by a 300 pound ex-boyfriend who broke down her door and beat her to a bloody pulp in her bed right in front of her eight-year-old daughter who was hiding under the covers. She had a .25 ACP in her nightstand, but she decided not to use it because she was afraid that if it didn’t work he would kill her in front of her daughter and then kill her daughter. Frankly, I agree with her. I would not want to depend my life on a .25 ACP to stop a 300 pound guy on top of me beating me either. Whenever we are involved in violence there will always be circumstances beyond our control, or we wouldn't be involved in violence in the first place. It’s always best to stay within the popular self-defense calibers when possible. However, I have many clients that can only shoot a .22 magnum and I’d rather have an elderly client use a .22 magnum than have no gun at all.

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