Cruel Hand Luke

If the good Lord is willing and the creek doesn't rise...... :pleased:

  As I said before.....concealed guns don't make people nervous. THe reason concealed guns don't make people nervous is because no one sees them.....it is the people waving them around that makes people nervous.   If the sign does not say "pursuant to TCA 39-17........guns are prohibited" or something to that effect prohibiting possession at all then it does not really matter and again, no one is gonna know whether your gun is loaded or not if they don't even know you have a gun ......   Some people (like the ones she mentioned) just have not figured out that a gun shop is not a GUN RANGE...... and that they don't need to be pulling their gun out for show and tell. Loaded guns need to stay in holsters unless you are using it to defend yourself. Loaded guns do not go off in holsters....they go off in people's hands.  Everyone remember when the guy at the gun show in Atlanta pulled out his LOADED pistol to show a customer and his son how the gun fit in one of the holsters he was selling? The kid was shot and killed.....http://savannahnow.com/stories/082302/LOCgunshow.shtml       If they NEED to bring it into the shop for repair or holster fit, etc then it NEEDS to be empty for the safety of all the people in the store. Few things make me as nervous as an unknown guy in a gun store hauling out his pistol for show and tell. If you are going to bring it in for show and tell then unloading it beforehand is the smart thing to do.   But if you are just there to shop and  are not needing to hand it over to the employees there to get work done on it then just keep it in the freakin' holster and keep it covered and no one will say anything because they do not KNOW you even have it.    I have never been harassed because of carrying a gun. And I TRULY carry 365 days a year and have for almost 20 years. Why have I never been harassed? Because nobody that does not need to know ever knows I'm armed. If I were just going in there to shop with my pistol concealed then I can either choose to unload  (which is HIGHLY unlikely), choose to ignore it (far more likely) or I would simply choose to not enter.  Pretty simple. 

It is pretty simple....you either follow the rule or not.    If you ARE there to try out a holster or to sell your gun or to get work done on your gun  then unloading it before you go in makes an awful lot of sense.   Keep in mind that there is not an "IQ test" to buy a gun and there are a lot of people with frankly SCARY gun handling habits out there. Do YOU want to be the guy behind the counter when Bubba who has "been around guns all his life" hauls out his 1911 with finger on the trigger pointed at you asking if you have a holster for his gun?     The rules like that are there for the safety of the employees when people bring guns into the shops. I have heard of several instances where people fired supposedly "unloaded" guns into the floor or into the shelf pulling it out of a holster or out of a gun case to show it to the salesman behind the counter. I have also heard of instances where the SALESPEOPLE fired supposedly unloaded guns into the floor while clearing them.....just because you own a gun or work in a gun store does not necessarily mean you know how to safely handle a gun.    As to the folks who are not coming in to buy a holster ? Just leave it  holstered and covered and don't worry about it. Unless they are going to pat you down then don't worry about it. In fact if they never SEE it then whether it is loaded or not will not be an issue now will it? 

Hey Prag, are you going to the match on June 1?

2Alpha...check your messages. 

Welcome from another Ooltewah resident!

Added a Force on Force in South Carolina in October.....   Up to date list of my Suarez International classes....http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/search.aspx?find=harris

Nice rifle. 

Suarez International Defensive Pistol Skills    August 3-4, 2013 Chattanooga, Tennessee Instructor: Randy Harris Price $400   All training must begin with fundamentals. This comprehensive fundamentals class is designed to prep you for the more advanced courses such as Close Range Gunfighting. Through a carefully designed and detailed curriculum we are able to bring you up to a level of skill in a short two day class that previously would take over 4 or 5 days to achieve at other schools. You will learn a complete presentation of the modern combative technique of the pistol which will put you in good standing for any defensive situations you may encounter in the real world. No experience or prior training is needed to attend this class and it is specially suitable for beginners, or as a tune-up for accomplished shooters.     DURATION: 2 days   TIME: 9:00AM to 5:00PM (CST) Range location is on CENTRAL TIME.     PREREQUISITES: NONE   AMMUNITION: PISTOL: Approximately 300 rounds (Minimum)   YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape)   REQUIREMENTS: Modern Defensive Pistol, Holster specifically made for that pistol and designed to be worn on the belt at the "strong side", 3 Magazines and One Magazine Pouch, A Belt of the same width as the belt loops for the holster and magazine pouches, Range Safety Gear (Eye protection and ear protection)     For more info and to register....http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/aug3-2013-defensive-pistol-skills-chattanooga-tn.aspx#.UYE-JrWkqsM

email sent........ Honestly from a personal standpoint the preemption is more important to me than the blade length. I carry a fixed blade shorter than 4" and travel a bit and as such am more concerned with my EDC knife running afoul of a law requiring shorter blades in certain municipalities than I am concerned with not being able to carry a 5" blade or a switchblade. So passing this law is a definite improvement. Now next year maybe we can get the rest of the package passed. 

Welcome from Ooltewah!

August 31 - September 1, 2013 0 TO 5 FEET: PISTOL GUNFIGHTING Chattanooga, Tennessee Instructor: Randy Harris Price $450   This revolutionary class focuses on integrating the pistol into the fight at zero to five feet. This is what some trainers call "The Hole" and their entire perspective is to "Get Out Of The Hole". We don't worry about "getting out of the hole" because the reality of it is that you won't. Instead, we get comfortable in there...we set up a nice cozy camp there and learn to thrive where other men fear to walk. We make the other guy want to get out of the hole he finds himself in as we start to rip his head right off his shoulders. This will be a very thorough study on how to prevail and not get killed at this distance interval. We will do a great deal of technical work to ingrain the correct skills and then work them extensively via force on force exercises. You have never seen training and information like this before.  While I do want to make sure guys are in reasonable condition to handle this, you don't need to be a hard core athlete to do this. We will play hard. . . . but within reason for the attendees we normally have in class. SOME TOPICS: Dealing against the drawn gun. What are all the options? We will look at everything from running away, to drawing and killing him, stabbing him with a knife, to disarming him and shooting him with his own gun. Dealing against the drawn knife. Both from "hold up" type situations to actual attacks. You will deal with them with the gun in hand (this one is really cool), and with empty hands, leading into a draw and shots as part of the fight. Dealing with a fight in hallways, elevators, phone booths and cars. All empty handed, and with one leading to the other. Dealing with more than one bad guy. How to position and maneuver to deny them the advantage, as well as how to immediately escalate and take them out. The combined use of various tools such as knife and gun, knife and light, light and gun, gun and stick. Not only the how, but the why as well. These and other topics will make this one of the hottest classes available to civilian operators. This course requires prior attendance at an intermediate level Suarez International Pistol class.       DURATION: 2 days   TIME: 9:00AM to 5:00PM(CST)   PREREQUISITES: Students must be in reasonable physical condition and have attended a Suarez International Intermediate pistol class   AMMUNITION: Approximately 250 rounds (Minimum) for your carry pistol and 400 (Minimum) good quality biodegradable pellets for airsoft pistol. NO STEEL PELLETS   YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape)   REQUIREMENTS: Pistol, holster, at least two magazines, and the usual range safety gear (ear and eye protection). Bring an airsoft pistol with the necessary gear (pellets, facemask, etc. - all of it is available at http://www.onesourcetactical.com)   If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate the call us anytime. Call Suarez Headquarters if you would like to get in contact with your instructor or the class host. 928 776 4492     More info and to register for this class .....http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/aug31-2013-zero-five-pistol-gunfighting-chattanooga-tn.aspx#.UW_0BrWkqsM

July 6-7, 2013 CLOSE RANGE GUNFIGHTING Chattanooga, Tennessee Instructor: Randy Harris Price $450   This is our flagship course and goes as far as you can safely go on a square range with live-fire pistols. The dynamic curriculum surpasses the traditional handgun methods commonly taught in most institutions and focuses of the use of the pistol in aggressive close range applications likely in individual civilian street encounters. The class begins with a tune-up of the fundamentals, then we progress quickly to new skills such as Proactive and Reactive Manipulations, Shooting While Moving Off The X, Reality-Based Multiple Hostiles Engagement, 360 degree CQB Movement, Danger-Close Fighting, Bilateral Shooting, 360 degree After Action Assessment Methods, and Integrating the Flashlight and Other Tools into the Firing Platform. This is the life-saving material that is often ignored in many other programs. In two days, you will receive more information than most armed professionals ever get! We must point out that THIS COURSE IS NOT FOR THE NOVICE SHOOTER. If you have not received basic instruction, or have a question about your skill level, please call us first.     DURATION: 2 days TIME: 9:00AM to 5:00PM(CST) PREREQUISITES: NONE AMMUNITION: Approximately 500 rounds (Minimum) YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape) REQUIREMENTS: Modern Defensive Pistol, holster specifically made for that pistol and designed to be worn on the belt, 3 Magazines and Magazine Pouch, A Belt of the same width as the belt loops for the holster and magazine pouches, Range Safety Gear (Eye protection, and ear protection)   If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate the call us anytime. Call Suarez Headquarters if you would like to get in contact with your instructor or the class host.     For more info and to enroll....http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/july6-2013-close-range-gunfighting-chattanooga-tn.aspx#.UW1u3rWkqsM     For a review of this class written by a TGO member....http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/64032-aar-suarez-harris-close-range-gunfighting-chattanooga/    

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the kind words.   Hearing a review like that from a guy of Paisan's experience is humbling indeed. I just try to do good work and help folks become more prepared to deal with potentially dangerous encounters.    Paisan, (and Mav) I hope to see you again in the future...maybe at the Zero TO Five Feet class at the end of August?....http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/aug31-2013-zero-five-pistol-gunfighting-chattanooga-tn.aspx

This one is coming up in about 2 weeks.   This is a great way to get started for those who have not had any training and an excellent refresher/skill builder for those who have. 

I have a Kestrel from RMJ Forge....http://www.rmjtactical.com/tactical_tomahawks_page_3.htm. Ryan makes EXCELLENT hawks. And he's a nice guy too. He and I went to high school together. Even back then he was making knives. 

If the good Lord is willing and the creek don't rise.... :D   Yes we are on for the last weekend in April!

This one is just about full I can probably take 2 more for this class. If anyone was on the fence about whether to sign up or not....there is still time and a spot or 2 available!

We use airsoft guns due to the cost involved and availability of sims rounds.   You might shoot 500 rounds of BBs in the class... You can get that for a few dollars......500 rounds of Sims would be crazy expensive. 

May 4-5, 2013 FORCE ON FORCE GUNFIGHTING Alexandria, Alabama Instructor: Randy Harris Price $ 450 Ever wonder what you'd do if a psycho with a knife charged at you? Or how you'd really handle a multiple adversary situation? FIND OUT FOR CERTAIN IN OUR INTERACTIVE GUNFIGHTING TRAINING!! Force on Force is the future of personal combat training. This course is Pure CQB Gunfighting Skills, and will connect what you do on the range with what you must do on the street to win a fight. Typical marksmanship-based gun training leaves many questions unanswered. There is a great deal that you still don't know about street combat if all you've done is shoot paper targets on a shooting range. Even the many "shoothouse" exercises at many gun schools are still woefully inadequate in preparing you for a street confrontation. But in this class, the training is pure street reality featuring high intensity, short duration combat at close range against live human beings with modern force on force technology. It is specifically designed for the private citizen and focuses on civilian street situations. Learn to defend against a single adversary bent on cutting you with a training knife, as well as against multiple adversaries suddenly drawing guns and firing at you. Learn what it takes to overcome home invaders, takeover robbers, hostage takers and active shooters! In today's environment, everyone has a need to know. The training is open to ALL civilian students AT ANY SKILL LEVEL, and is the sort of class you can attend over and over again to maintain your edge!! Fight-focused NOT Gun-focused! DURATION: 2 days TIME: 9:00AM to 5:00PM (CST) PREREQUISITES: NONE AMMUNITION: Approximately 600 (Minimum) good quality biodegradable pellets : NO STEEL PELLETS YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape) REQUIREMENTS: You MUST have a gas-operated airsoft pistol for this class. Electric or spring-operated guns are not suitable. A paintball mask/helmet, hooded sweatshirt and gloves are necessary. NOTE: Bring an adequate supply of CO2, green gas or propane and silicon lubricant to charge up the pistols. An extra magazine is important in case there is a problem with the primary. LOCATION: Private Range 670 Glenvale Rd Alexandria, AL 36250 256-238-2575 GPS N 33°45’33.69” W 85°50’48.34” For more info and to register......http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/may4-2013-force-on-force-gunfighting-alexandria-al.aspx#.UUNS_Bykp9B  

This one is right around the corner...just over one week to go! Don't miss this chance to take your skills to the next level.   Hope to see you there!!!

This one is coming up next month!   This is the "basic " class everyone is looking for. You not only learn to shoot better (And I promise you WILL be a better shooter), but you also get the complete package of mindset, awareness,  dealing with unknowns who approach you, concealed carry, reloading your pistol, malfunction clearance, a REAL WORLD stopping power lecture,   and much more.   This is a great way to get started right to begin with and avoid all the "training scars" and bad habits you often end up with from the  "gunstore commando " cliche stuff that people think is real because they read it in a gun magazine or saw it on TV....    Hope to see you there!

Pattywak, Lord willing there will be more in the future. 

Sounds like this just might be something you might be interested in.......http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/oct19-2013-zero-five-pistol-gunfighting-columbia-mo.aspx#.UTJrFzCkp9B....If so I'll be offering one here in Chattanooga later in the year......probably August or after. 

If George Zimmerman had any hand to hand skills he probably would not be in the situation he is presently in......   If your ONLY answer to a problem is to be able to pull a gun I hope you never have a problem when you are somewhere that you are not armed.   At the same time, at arms length, going for the gun BEFORE you have created space or controlled the opponents limb closest to the weapon you are probably going to end up in a weapon retention/disarm situation....anyone remember Julie Jacks?   The better skilled you are...the better skilled you are ...period. If you have good guns skills AND good hand skills then you are far better off than if you JUST have good gun skills.  But you do not have to be a 10th degree blackbelt super ninja to be functional . You just need to know some basics and then apply it with extreme violence.  Learn 3 basic strikes, a default head cover (to keep from getting knocked out) proper body mechanics (to make it less likely to get knocked down) and you are well on your way to handling most REALISTIC street situations that are not "mutually agreed upon combat". Combine those with accessing your gun (or knife)  while under attack and you'll be you'll be far and away ahead of most folks.