Just a quick note about being...

a dangerous old man. The Appleseed Shoots tell stories about the 19th of April, 1775, and a couple of the favorites are about Dangerous Old Men. But visiting some blogs have made me aware that the real gun toting crowd isn't just about guns and bullets, but exercising the whole body to train for the need how ever the situation breaks. It isn't just malfunction drill, or dummy rounds or caps, it is about no light, too much light, silence and deafening explosions and blasts rocking and eyes closing tight for dust or fear. Loading with the weak hand, reloading with one hand, is the magazine in a position to get to it, or is it under a couple of layers of clothing, at the end of a limb you can't get another limb to? Lots of things to consider, to practice, to test and to try. Most of all to be ready to struggle without wasting energy, without burning up the necessary fear found chemicals.

So, start with warm ups, stretches, reps for muscle movement of body weight, for span and control. Stop and clean up, eat and go to work, come back and warm up, stretch, reps for max weights on muscle groups, then switch to dry fire drills, malfunction drills, target engagement, concealed positions, room clearing, roll down, roll up, roll right, crawl low, crawl high, see how deep you can get with the worms and the grass, finish with dry fire from all positions - prone, sitting, kneeling, squatting and standing. Should be done four or five times a week, but then most of the gun carrying public don't really think they need to be ready for the real bad guys - and we all know how much fun real work is - very satisfying, but not fun.

So the next time you see a cop run down a thief on foot, remember how many times he should have been practicing running and sprints with gear on - instead of hoping AirFOUR News helicopter is video taping the perp... I guess my message to myself is whatever I am is what I am bringing to the crisis - can I swim well enough to rescue someone? can I run far enough fast enough to break away from someone that wants to harm me, can I get outside and out of my porch lights in time to memorize the car and its plates, and occupants - before I shoot them (and where would I shoot them and what is beyond the target that may need to live to see tomorrow). And most important, is everyone I love safe at the end of the day.

Time for another Honey Lemon tea for my cough and congestion. Take care out there.