Weapon Retention and Disarming

I recently took a course on weapon retention and disarming. Not only was the class an eye opener, but I spent the better part of four hours taking a beating. I highly recommend that anyone who carries a firearm for work or for personal self defense enroll in one of these classes.

People may ask, why do I need to take a class like this? If you carry a firearm and you are in a confrontation, the suspect will have access to at least one gun, YOURS! Professional criminals and terrorists TRAIN HARD and long to be able to disarm armed personnel like us. You must be able to defeat them.

Many people will say “I would just shoot him!” Since most confrontations occur at arms reach, there will not be time to draw and present your weapon. You will have to be able to defend your weapon, retain control, disengage and shoot as needed.

I have attached some pictures from a recent event in California which illustrates the point. The subject was acting suspiciously on a state highway. A Highway patrolman approached him to ask what he was doing. He immediately ATTACKED the officer. A violent struggle ensued with the trooper, a deputy, and an EMT trying to prevent the officer from being DISARMED. Note the magazine on the ground from the troopers Smith & Wesson 4006. His weapon is now non-functional with the magazine out. The trooper employs classic retention techniques and is able to maintain control of his weapon.

Cops get shot all the time with their own guns. They wear retention type holsters. Most of us who carry concealed do NOT. Our retention skills must be excellent since we are out in public and anyone who can spot our gun, can try and take it.

The class I took was comprehensive and as mentioned before-very physical. I learned how to defend my weapon in the holster from the front, back, sides, and on the ground as well as how to defend my gun when it is grabbed from the front, back, and sides. Probably the funnest part of the course was learning how to disarm someone who has a gun-or worse yet-your gun but is within reach. I came home with bruises that I wore for a week but also lessons I’ll not soon forget.

Oh, and that guy who tried to get the California Highway Patrolman’s gun?

Busted.