Emergency Communications – California Fires – some planning points:

Excerpts from ARRL:

“The massive and barely contained Thomas Fire in Southern California has consumed more than 230,500 acres, and the emergency has caused residents in fire-threatened areas to evacuate. Amateur Radio volunteers remain active supporting communication …

“Loss of primary power has required using the solar power backup capabilities, but, unfortunately, the heavy smoke has made that backup less than fully reliable,” … . In addition some sites are down because of power outages, and at least one hilltop site was overrun by fire.

…In addition to power loss to repeater sites, solar panels charging off-grid batteries have been affected by the huge plumes of smoke blocking the sun.”  Read more HERE

Some Planning Points. Have Solar Backup. Have spare battery backup.  Be prepared to use simplex.

The Shingletown Emergency Radio Plan  incorporates: 2 meter (repeaters and simplex); HF (voice and Digital) CW (2 meters and HF). Here

Emergency Communications – Cell Towers and thieves

You have your firearms for self defense – but what about emergency communications in a disaster?

What if thieves were to steal the batteries from your local cell tower(s)?  The impact is that when the electricity goes out, the cell tower runs on battery power. When the thieves steal the batteries, – you don’t have a cell phone.

Also, with the large scale fires in Southern California, cell towers were burnt to the ground.

Does your community have an emergency communications plan?  (HERE)

Read the article about thieves stealing batteries here:

Thieves Target North Jersey Cell Towers, Sell Batteries As Scrap Metal

Islamic Terrorist Attack NYC – Be alert.

Islamic inspired Terrorist Bomber  – NYC Subway (“4 hurt”):

According to police, it was “absolutely an attempted terrorist act.” The bomber, now identified as 27-year-old Akayed Ullah, was walking in one of the tunnels underneath NYC’s Port Authority when the bomb went off. ..  living in the U.S. for 7 years. .. a Bangladeshi immigrant, and police say the attack was definitely a terrorist act, inspired by ISIS. FDNY says a total of 4 people were hurt in the bombing … all non-life-threatening injuries…” [NOTE wording – “attempted terrorist act” … “4 people hurt”   such wording appears to be an attempt to diminish the attack.  Why?]

Read more HERE

The enemy is in our country. They will be striking at the time and place of their choosing.  Our government officials (federal and state), have facilitated the importation and distribution of these enemies within our country, and in YOUR neighborhoods.

Be alert for:  vehicle attacks; stabbings, explosive devices, forest fires, sniper shots (even in remote areas) …  Islamic based terrorism has issued directives for their operatives to use all of these methods, and others.

Tueller Drill / Reactionary Gap Drill – Range Record

During my full course for initial CCW (14 hour holster class), I have each student perform the Tueller Drill. Since my class size is limited to no more than 4 students, I take the time for this vital training during the full 14 hour holster course. California law requires a 12 hour course of instruction.

The Sheriff has advised (in a prior meeting with all county wide CCW instructors) that CCW holders were drawing their firearms “too soon”.

In my view, merely discussing the Tueller / Reactionary Gap Drill is not sufficient. Students need to actually conduct the physical drill in an effort to  bridge the gap which exists between a  mental thought process and the physical world.

One must also recognize that the Tueller Drill is most likely the best possible situation  you will be in.  It only gets worse! During the Drill, the student is expecting the “attack” and the “attacker”, during live fire drill,  is observing the student and making sure he doesn’t trip. In the real world, the attacker will be hitting you like a steamroller, and you will not be expecting the attack. You may experience a denial response during which you find yourself  questioning whether the attack is really even happening.  Further, a determined adversary may continue to stab or bludgeon you even after you have shot him in vital organs which “should have stopped him”.

This exercise not only helps students recognize when they should or should not draw their firearm (which is a different standard than when you should fire the shot), but also the critical importance of the Color Code of Mental Awareness.   It also brings into focus other training factors, such as: moving  off of the line of attack, recognizing pre-attack indicators, the importance of on body carry,  the importance of a good / proper holster, positioning of the firearm on your body, etc… .

The drill also brings into focus that your attacker is in fact closing distance. Thus, your method of drawing and deploying your firearm must take that into account.  It may be that the attacker is in full body contact with you by the time your firearm is out. Have you practiced for a body  contact shot with weapon retention? Or,  did you go full extension and “hand the gun” to the attacker as he closed on you? Or, as you draw the firearm is it pointing at the ground – so firing a shot will not even hit the attacker when he is 1 foot in front of you? Are you blocking the knife with your “off hand”?

Also, a range record may be useful for your Attorney to use in explaining your training, and showing why you drew your firearm when you did.

My range record sheet has changed over the years. Attached is the current copy HERE