Touchy subject, isn't it? But in today's day and age, it is one that is on many people's mind. Most importantly, it is on the mind of our members who continuously ask me about my stand.
I own guns. I also have a carry permit. I carry whenever and wherever I am legally allowed. I would hate to see that right taken away from me.
I understand why people are afraid of it. I do not agree, but I understand. People fear what they do not know, or what they are not educated about. It's natural. If people are fed their information from movies, or only read the sad headlines in the media, there is no surprise why they fear people carrying firearms.
But firearms in general, and handguns in particular are tools. Just like the pocket knives most people carry around. It is meant to do a very specific job, and thank god for that. Take for example the police officer who carried his handgun off duty with him always, until one day he decided nothing happened before and it won't happen today. This officer went to church that morning and witness as a shooter entered the building and began firing at people. Among the six casualties was the officer's son. This officer, who could legally carry a handgun and could have stopped the threat, lost a son that day.
Now, I am sure some of you will read this and point out to the fact that the suspect had a handgun. Furthermore, you would assume that if the laws were stricter this incident could have been avoided all together. WRONG. Any law, by definition, will be followed by law-abiding citizens. Do you honestly think that the criminal element will be at all restricted by any type of gun-related regulation?
If these laws are put into effect then the shooting at the Trolly Square Mall in Salt-Lake City, Utah would have ended with many more dead then it did. Thanks to another off-duty officer who was having a Valentine's Day dinner that February 13, 2007 day, the suspects were shot and killed. If it wasn't for him the carnage would have been much worse since the suspects were heavily armed.
Would you like to be that person witnessing your son/daughter/wife/husband/loved one get killed because you were too dumb to realize that if you had a gun you could have saved them? Could you live with yourself after that? It is amazing to me how all these pro-gun-restriction people never had a family member or loved one be a victim of a violent crime. As soon as something bad happen they change their minds. Do you really want to wait that long?
And let me point one more piece of information: do a search and see what country has the highest percentage of crime (terrorism aside, just civic crime, like robberies, murder, rape, etc.)? Now compare that to the gun laws in that country. Let me tell you what you will find, statistically speaking, the stricter the gun laws the higher the crime. After all, why would I worry about robbing you when I know you are unarmed?!? And true, correlation does not prove causation, and we must not interpret that the gun laws are the true cause for the crime, but we can not ignore this fact.
And lastly, the second amendment. It defines a militia. It has been around since the wild wild west days (and before). And it has one very specific purpose: to protect citizens from its own government. I will not dwell into the whole small government versus big government issue, but the bottom line is that when other rights will start being taken away, and they will, just look at what is going on around the globe these days, do you want to be a slave or fight for your freedom? And if fighting is your choice, how will you do it if the government restricted your right to own or carry a gun?
So, I am all about my right to own and carry my handgun. That said, and this is important, personally I have no problem with making a safety course and mandating minimal qualification standards. If safety is what people worry about, let's address that by educating and training. Treat the problem, not the symptoms.
Stay safe!
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Chief Instructor
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
GTOA
Masada Tactical instructors just returned from the Georgia Tactical Officers Association yearly conference, held in Macon, GA.
I became affiliated with GTOA through my affiliation with NTOA (National Tactical Officers Association). The two organizations are private entities that promote training and education to tactical officers (SWAT).
For example, the conference this year had classes in tactical handgun, carbine, tactical medicine, assaulting a Semi-Trailer, and integrating K-9 into SWAT.
Masada Tactical taught two classes during this conference: High Risk Handgun Defenses and Ground Fighting Tactics for SWAT. The two classes were very well received and feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
In addition to the classes we had the opportunity to meet many of the 150 SWAT operators that came to this conference. Many of which expressed the need for dedicated training for SWAT. Many stated that although they train pretty extensively with their weapon systems they receive very little training in hand-to-hand combat, and even less in skills that are applicable to their mission and account to the gear they carry.
I have been back in MD for 3 days now and we have already been contacted by several agencies regarding training. Some want to host instructor courses, some want to have us come in and train them, and yet others want our advice on several tactical approaches that we developed in-house.
So GA was good. And it appears as though it'll be getting better. From Northeast GA to mid-state, officers now know of Masada Tactical, LLC and are eager to have us teach them more.
Coming up in the next few months are law-enforcement ICS training programs in TN, GA, AL, and MD!
Stay tuned for more information.
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/
I became affiliated with GTOA through my affiliation with NTOA (National Tactical Officers Association). The two organizations are private entities that promote training and education to tactical officers (SWAT).
For example, the conference this year had classes in tactical handgun, carbine, tactical medicine, assaulting a Semi-Trailer, and integrating K-9 into SWAT.
Masada Tactical taught two classes during this conference: High Risk Handgun Defenses and Ground Fighting Tactics for SWAT. The two classes were very well received and feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
I have been back in MD for 3 days now and we have already been contacted by several agencies regarding training. Some want to host instructor courses, some want to have us come in and train them, and yet others want our advice on several tactical approaches that we developed in-house.
So GA was good. And it appears as though it'll be getting better. From Northeast GA to mid-state, officers now know of Masada Tactical, LLC and are eager to have us teach them more.
Coming up in the next few months are law-enforcement ICS training programs in TN, GA, AL, and MD!
Stay tuned for more information.
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Train as you fight...or do you?
I got a call the other day from someone at the academy level asking me why I took the recruits for a run wearing boots. Really? You don't know why? When was the last time you saw a police officer? was he wearing tennis shoes, shorts, and an athletic performance shirt? I don't think so!
The title phrase above gets thrown around a lot: "Train as you fight, Fight as you train". Makes sense, right? If we want to be fully prepared for the fight, we should duplicate as many of the variables as possible, from the environment, to the clothes we may wear during the encounter, to the physical and mental/emotional stress we will face.
I always lived by that motto. At Masada Tactical we'll train in street or tactical attire, we'll take classes to the street and pavement, and we'll run so many drills to stress you out that you'll truly think you are in a fight for your life.
So I truly get annoyed when "educated and experienced" men, who oversee the police training academy question the reasoning behind running in boots. Seriously! And don't try to tell me it is a health risk, because everything is. You run the recruits through emergency vehicle operation classes which include high speed pursuits and other dangerous maneuvers, you teach them how to use firearms, and defensive tactics, and you whine about a 2 mile run in boots. For god's sake!
There is a liability issue to consider when training recruits. No doubt. An injury, especially an avoidable stupid one, is unacceptable, but do you truly think I am not aware of that? And for the record, the liability due to "Failure to Train" is the one that concerns me more. The fact that one of my recruits may get seriously injured or even die on the street because I did a lousy job in providing him with the best tools and training protocols....and all because we didn't run them in boots.
So, I will continue to run them in boots. I will also run them in full gear. That's what they will wear on patrol and that's how they'll train.
For more realistic and true training check out our classes at Masada Tactical.
http://www.masadatactical.com/
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
http://www.masadatactical.com/
The title phrase above gets thrown around a lot: "Train as you fight, Fight as you train". Makes sense, right? If we want to be fully prepared for the fight, we should duplicate as many of the variables as possible, from the environment, to the clothes we may wear during the encounter, to the physical and mental/emotional stress we will face.
I always lived by that motto. At Masada Tactical we'll train in street or tactical attire, we'll take classes to the street and pavement, and we'll run so many drills to stress you out that you'll truly think you are in a fight for your life.
So I truly get annoyed when "educated and experienced" men, who oversee the police training academy question the reasoning behind running in boots. Seriously! And don't try to tell me it is a health risk, because everything is. You run the recruits through emergency vehicle operation classes which include high speed pursuits and other dangerous maneuvers, you teach them how to use firearms, and defensive tactics, and you whine about a 2 mile run in boots. For god's sake!
There is a liability issue to consider when training recruits. No doubt. An injury, especially an avoidable stupid one, is unacceptable, but do you truly think I am not aware of that? And for the record, the liability due to "Failure to Train" is the one that concerns me more. The fact that one of my recruits may get seriously injured or even die on the street because I did a lousy job in providing him with the best tools and training protocols....and all because we didn't run them in boots.
So, I will continue to run them in boots. I will also run them in full gear. That's what they will wear on patrol and that's how they'll train.
For more realistic and true training check out our classes at Masada Tactical.
http://www.masadatactical.com/
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
http://www.masadatactical.com/
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Workplace Safety
Active Shooters seem to get all the attention these days. Further more, schools seem to be the ones that are highlighted as the main targets.
Reality is that active shooters have been around for ages (and before firearms, active threats were around using edged weapons and alike). And although schools get our attention in terms of "emotional" targets, they are not the main areas of operations for these criminals by a long shot.
Think of recent months and you will recall events such as the Discovery Channel in DC, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and other workplaces like fertility clinics, churches, and office buildings, even police departments, had their share of gunmen running rampage through their hallways.
This blog is not meant to be an informative one as previous posts. It is more to get people to share their thoughts about how safe (or not) is their workplace. Do you have security present? Do you have policies in place to deal with disgruntled employees? Follow up on terminations of employment? Are weapons banned at your workplace? Are there background checks done to employees? Is the area in which you work safe? If you walk to your car, is it a safe process or do you need escort?
Let us know! I will follow up on this post with some ideas on how to enhance your workplace safety next week.
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/
Reality is that active shooters have been around for ages (and before firearms, active threats were around using edged weapons and alike). And although schools get our attention in terms of "emotional" targets, they are not the main areas of operations for these criminals by a long shot.
Think of recent months and you will recall events such as the Discovery Channel in DC, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and other workplaces like fertility clinics, churches, and office buildings, even police departments, had their share of gunmen running rampage through their hallways.
This blog is not meant to be an informative one as previous posts. It is more to get people to share their thoughts about how safe (or not) is their workplace. Do you have security present? Do you have policies in place to deal with disgruntled employees? Follow up on terminations of employment? Are weapons banned at your workplace? Are there background checks done to employees? Is the area in which you work safe? If you walk to your car, is it a safe process or do you need escort?
Let us know! I will follow up on this post with some ideas on how to enhance your workplace safety next week.
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/
Monday, January 31, 2011
Empty hands, tools of opportunity, and straight up weapons
I train in self-defense. I am confident my skills will keep me safe. That said, if I have the opportunity to utilize a tool that can enhance my chances, why shouldn't I use it?
We all heard the maxim "Don't bring a knife to a gun fight", but the same holds for any kind of fight. Chances are that you were attacked, that you are taken by surprise, and that you are outnumbered and under-equipped compared to your opponent, right? So why not have something that can increase your chances of winning that fight?
Last week we hosted a seminar with Guy Rafaeli, a knife and stick fighting instructor from Israel. A forth degree in Silat and Kali, Guy taught many skills that one can perform with a stick. An eye opener for many of us.
I always carried knives on me. I even carry a gun on me most of the time. But you know Murphy, he doesn't play fair, and chances are that when I will need my tools they will not be anywhere around to be found. Fortunately, our work environment and the urban setting in which we live in lends itself to many tools of opportunity, from pipes, to bottles, and other sharp and blunt objects.
So, as I said, I am confident in my skills and abilities empty handed, and most of the time I carry a secondary self-protection device, but if and when I need one, I am sure to be able to utilize sticks and knives to protect myself.
Starting March 2011 Masada Tactical will offer designated classes in knife and stick fighting. These are not Kali/Escrima/Silat classes, but rather practical application of using those tools and in-line with the Israeli Combat System mindset.
Join us!
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/
We all heard the maxim "Don't bring a knife to a gun fight", but the same holds for any kind of fight. Chances are that you were attacked, that you are taken by surprise, and that you are outnumbered and under-equipped compared to your opponent, right? So why not have something that can increase your chances of winning that fight?
Last week we hosted a seminar with Guy Rafaeli, a knife and stick fighting instructor from Israel. A forth degree in Silat and Kali, Guy taught many skills that one can perform with a stick. An eye opener for many of us.
I always carried knives on me. I even carry a gun on me most of the time. But you know Murphy, he doesn't play fair, and chances are that when I will need my tools they will not be anywhere around to be found. Fortunately, our work environment and the urban setting in which we live in lends itself to many tools of opportunity, from pipes, to bottles, and other sharp and blunt objects.
So, as I said, I am confident in my skills and abilities empty handed, and most of the time I carry a secondary self-protection device, but if and when I need one, I am sure to be able to utilize sticks and knives to protect myself.
Starting March 2011 Masada Tactical will offer designated classes in knife and stick fighting. These are not Kali/Escrima/Silat classes, but rather practical application of using those tools and in-line with the Israeli Combat System mindset.
Join us!
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Law-Enforcement (and military) Standards
The new recruit academy started yesterday. Today they had their first fitness assessment, and for the first time since I got here, there is only one person who is sub-par! The majority of the class is in decent to good shape, some are mediocre, and as mentioned, one is slightly behind. Good news, right?
It took a while and many fights with the administration to establish standards for entry. But as we make this progress I hear of many agencies that are so hungry for bodies that as long as one passes the polygraph test he/she will most likely be hired.
Not only that, academies do everything they can to retain whatever bodies made it into the academy. tests are manipulated to assure that the weakest link can still pass the tests, extra work and training is provided, and when in doubt we pass the recruit and award him/her the certification.
But are we doing anyone any favors? Are more bodies, regardless of what shape, are truly better than fewer and better officers? Is the liability associated with poor officers worth the risk?
And as the title states, similar events are taking place in the military. From issuing cards for when a soldier is mentally or emotionally stressed, to approval for service of questionable individuals (whether criminally or medically).
Are we doing ourselves a favor or shooting ourselves in the foot?
What do you think?
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/
It took a while and many fights with the administration to establish standards for entry. But as we make this progress I hear of many agencies that are so hungry for bodies that as long as one passes the polygraph test he/she will most likely be hired.
Not only that, academies do everything they can to retain whatever bodies made it into the academy. tests are manipulated to assure that the weakest link can still pass the tests, extra work and training is provided, and when in doubt we pass the recruit and award him/her the certification.
But are we doing anyone any favors? Are more bodies, regardless of what shape, are truly better than fewer and better officers? Is the liability associated with poor officers worth the risk?
And as the title states, similar events are taking place in the military. From issuing cards for when a soldier is mentally or emotionally stressed, to approval for service of questionable individuals (whether criminally or medically).
Are we doing ourselves a favor or shooting ourselves in the foot?
What do you think?
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/
Thursday, January 6, 2011
What Do I know?!?
I am not that creative, I took this heading from a forum discussing handgun schools and instruction, but I wanted to relate it to what we do at Masada Tactical.
So what do I know? And more importantly, is what I know of any value to our members? Is it relevant? Is it current? Is it applicable to the needs of my students?
I truly think that one of the most special aspects of what we do at Masada Tactical is that we are ever evolving. Sometimes to a fault and to our members' dismay, our skills change. A technique that we taught a year ago may be replaced by another today. And no, it's not that we are undecided, but rather than we improve, we grow, and we continuously research and develop new skills to meet the needs of our members and other clientele.
We began with a good foundation. We borrowed heavily from Skornik Israeli Combat, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Krav Maga, and other arts. But right from the start we made it our goal to keep evolving and modifying skills so our members receive the very best.
It got to a point that skills developed by us at our schools are now taught and introduced to other systems and curriculum worldwide.
Our evolution is not random either. It is the result of our unique position as lead instructors with various law-enforcement and military units that allows us to get continuous feedback as to how our skills fare out on the street. It allows us to take skills that are not quite perfect and re-design them so the flaws are adjusted. If our initial system was a beta version, we are now on the 10.2 version of the new and improved ICS curriculum.
I challenge anyone out there to show me a better technique for any specific situation than what we use.
So what do I know? I know we work relentlessly to assure our members have the best tools possible. I know we test every technique to assure everyone and anyone can execute it. I know that time and time again we are told that what we teach saves lives. I know we will keep improving and strive for perfection as long as we are around.
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/
So what do I know? And more importantly, is what I know of any value to our members? Is it relevant? Is it current? Is it applicable to the needs of my students?
I truly think that one of the most special aspects of what we do at Masada Tactical is that we are ever evolving. Sometimes to a fault and to our members' dismay, our skills change. A technique that we taught a year ago may be replaced by another today. And no, it's not that we are undecided, but rather than we improve, we grow, and we continuously research and develop new skills to meet the needs of our members and other clientele.
We began with a good foundation. We borrowed heavily from Skornik Israeli Combat, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Krav Maga, and other arts. But right from the start we made it our goal to keep evolving and modifying skills so our members receive the very best.
It got to a point that skills developed by us at our schools are now taught and introduced to other systems and curriculum worldwide.
Our evolution is not random either. It is the result of our unique position as lead instructors with various law-enforcement and military units that allows us to get continuous feedback as to how our skills fare out on the street. It allows us to take skills that are not quite perfect and re-design them so the flaws are adjusted. If our initial system was a beta version, we are now on the 10.2 version of the new and improved ICS curriculum.
I challenge anyone out there to show me a better technique for any specific situation than what we use.
So what do I know? I know we work relentlessly to assure our members have the best tools possible. I know we test every technique to assure everyone and anyone can execute it. I know that time and time again we are told that what we teach saves lives. I know we will keep improving and strive for perfection as long as we are around.
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)