…in the news this week about a man who was cleaning a firearm, and accidentally shot and killed his own son. Although the article doesn’t mention what type of firearm was involved, the usual online chatter has already begun. It’s all the gun’s fault, of course. A faulty design, no doubt, probably one of those which require the user to pull the trigger as a preliminary step to disassembling the gun. But this mishap wasn’t… Continue reading →

…st of your energy into showing people how guns work, how to store guns safely, and how to use them wisely. Unless your students really need a psychiatrist rather than a firearms instructor, the rest will take care of itself. Gunhilda Dear Gunhilda, I enjoyed your book, The Cornered Cat. I think it would be helpful for my husband to read, but really doubt he will read a book written for women. Do you know of any male equivalent books? Any titles… Continue reading →

…erous to fire ammunition of the wrong size for your gun. Most firearms have the correct caliber stamped on the side of the barrel or frame. If yours does not, don’t simply guess at the correct ammunition size. Take the gun to a gunsmith or to the gun store from which you purchased it, and have an expert measure your firearm’s chamber. Generally speaking, caliber refers to the size of the bullet a gun will fire, and also usually… Continue reading →

…e account below was written several years ago, but the sentiments in it are no less true today. Despite the title, it really isn’t about why I started carrying a gun full-time, but about why I keep doing so. Carrying a gun can be uncomfortable. The gun literally and figuratively gets in the way of some activities. There is a constant and slightly uncomfortable awareness that the folks around me would be unhappy with me if they knew I had a… Continue reading →

…nd guarantees that the cylinder is open completely for the next step. Step Three: invert the gun, and eject cases Turn the gun muzzle-up. This is perfectly safe because your fingers have replaced critical firing parts of the gun. The gun could never fire with the cylinder out. Gravity is your friend here. It is important that the gun is straight up and down. You want gravity to help drop the cases completely free of the gun. You don’t want… Continue reading →