In the spirit of the Testament/Overkill show back in February, here’s headliners Testament (again) with some old footage: Into the Pit, Raging Waters, and The New Order, from Germany’s 1988 Monsters of Rock show. It cuts off at the end, but still some cool old footage.
In her book Effective Defense, Gila Hayes described a simple test:
Some people refer to it as the “forty-five” drill, some the “4×5” or “5×4” or “4^5” or “5^4”. Claude Werner has a “5^5” variation, adding “repeat the drill 5 times to eliminate luck and ensure consistency”. Greg Ellfritz made a “6×6” varation. However you label it, doesn’t that seem to mesh directly with multiple hits? small area? close range? quickly? It’s quite a simple drill, and looks like it can fit the bill.
Looks are deceiving tho, because it doesn’t require you to draw from a holster. If the data shows that most incidents are going to be in public spaces, that means you need to be carrying the gun (i.e. it’s not on a table, in the nightstand, in the glove box, etc.), which means it’s in a holster, which means it’s concealed (under clothing, in a bag, etc.). So this implies you know how to draw and present a gun from concealment. That’s actually two implications: drawing from concealment, and being able to carry concealed in public.
If you’re going to carry concealed in public, in most states in the USA that means you need to have some sort of concealed handgun/weapons/carry license/permit. Many times that means you have to pass some sort of shooting test. To receive a concealed handgun license (CHL) in Texas, there is a shooting test. Notice the test is structured around getting multiple hits, (somewhat) quickly, from various “close” ranges. It’s a bit better than Gila’s test since it works different amounts of shots and different distances. But it fails on a few counts. First, the B-27 target and “within the 8-ring” is akin to hitting the side of a barn; that’s not “in a small area”. Second, just like Gila’s, there is no drawing from a holster. Did you catch that? The Texas test for obtaining a license to carry a concealed handgun — which implies a need to draw the handgun out of concealment — doesn’t require you to show you can draw the gun from concealment. Note, I’m not advocating changing the test because there are reasons why it is the way it is. But do these tests truly provide you with the needed skills? or a false sense?
I will say this.
Both of these tests are something I could label “sub-minimal”. That is, they are reasonable tests, but not quite to the standard we’re trying to define.
I believe the primary reason for Gila’s test isn’t so much a proficiency test as a shopping test. That is, if you get a gun, you need to be able to do her test with that gun. If you cannot, that is probably not a suitable gun for you. All too often I see a woman that comes to class with the gun her husband or boyfriend gave her: she has small, weak hands, and he gave her a Sig P226 which she simply cannot operate — she would easily fail Gila’s test. As soon as we swap her with a more reasonably fitting gun, her skills and abilities didn’t change, but now she could pass Gila’s test. If you read the linked-to article on the 6×6 variation, Greg Ellfritz struggled with the Ruger LCP because it’s too small a gun (fit) for him. So perhaps consider this test more of a good way to suss out appropriate equipment than skill.
But certainly, if you cannot perform Gila’s test (or I’d say Claude’s variation, to ensure you didn’t get lucky on the one run) or if you cannot clean the Texas CHL, and you cannot do these consistently and on-demand, then certainly you do not have the minimum competency. These aren’t enough due to shortcomings in the drills themselves, but they are a rung on the ladder.
So if these are “sub-minimal”, what might be minimal?
(This post is part of a multi-part series. For now, you can find other published parts of the series by looking at the “minimum competency” tag or category).
Gee… do I have to get out of bed today??
Wendler 5/3/1 program, cycle 21, week 1
Yeah, the diet, the lack of carbs… it’s getting to me.
Didn’t want to get out of bed. Didn’t want to walk to the gym. Didn’t want to lift. Didn’t want to do a damn thing. But you do it anyways.
The 7/5/3 approach? Wasn’t going to happen. It may not happen because of the lack of carbs. Or maybe deadlifting. I don’t know… just not happening.
I did all deadlifting, save the top work set, without a belt. I also moved very slowly. I know one problem I have is my knees open up and my hips close. It should be that my knee joint AND hip joint both open up. So like, instead of stiff-legging the weight up, I should be squatting it up, y’know? That’s one reason I’m not upset about the reset AND trying to pick assistance work accordingly. Bottom line: my hamstrings are weak! So today I moved slower to try to ensure proper form, and really be sure to “sit back” and not let the hip angle close… squat it all up.
Oh I felt it.
The deficits? Shit. I thought I might do 5×10 @ 225. Ha! Just wasn’t going to happen. If I think 10 reps are important, I probably should drop down to 185. But it was more important to have the form, to really squat it up. I dunno if I’ll stick with this weight for lower reps or drop the weight and go higher. We’ll see… but I suspect may drop and higher, if that hits my hamstrings more.
I was feeling it back there, so called an audible and did a couple sets of higher rep leg curls superset with simple crunches on the floor. 2-1-2 sort of tempo. Oh, the hamstrings ached after this. I stretched and rolled for a bit before leaving, and I need to ensure I roll my hamstrings all weekend long.
I gotta keep going… .but man… I’m feeling out of gas. The next week is going to be rough.
So then, what is minimum competency? The Texas Legislature and Department of Public Safety think the TX CHL Shooting Test is minimum. Karl Rehn formulated the “3 Seconds or Less Drill” that’s based around the typical gunfight, and this test gets used in the various Defensive Pistol Level 1,2,3 classes at KR Training. I could be remembering this wrong, but I swore one of Tom Givens’ students only took Rangemaster’s Level 1 class and was able to successfully defend themselves. Claude Werner seems to come up with different statistical analyses of gunfight realities, and one could argue it’s mostly (only?) important to have a gun and draw it.
Defining “minimum competency for defensive pistol” is hard.
However, just because it’s hard doesn’t mean we should avoid doing it.
I think before we can answer the question, it’s important to define and frame the problem. If we’re going to define minimum competency for a self-defense situation, then we need to first know what is a self-defense situation. We’re not hunting. We’re military nor police (tho it’s possible there’s some overlap). We’re talking about private citizens going about their daily lives, but having to deal with robbery, assault, burglary, rape, etc. and refusing to be a victim of such crimes.
Tom Givens has examined incidents of FBI and DEA agents, along with the 60+ student incidents he’s had. What are the common threads?
What Tom’s data concludes is that a typical private citizen “incident” is:
I know I lean on Givens’ teaching and data a good deal, but Tom’s a top-notch researcher. Certainly to an extent he’s biased, but what Tom is biased towards isn’t necessarily “pro gun, rah rah rah”. Rather he has a bias towards helping people stay alive in the face of a violent world (like Memphis, TN), and to do so you better have a solid, methodical approach towards finding the Truth and what really works; anything else will get people killed. So I consider Tom’s research serious and genuine. Besides, you don’t have to take his word for it: the data is out there, so you can see for yourself.
Another way to look at it? It’s the ability to get:
Unfortunately, if you just say that, everyone’s going to define it their own way. So we need to have clear definitions and create standards based upon the clear definition.
Next, we’ll start to formulate a definition. In doing so, we’ll come to see how the acceptable minimum is higher than you think.
(This post is part of a multi-part series. For now, you can find other published parts of the series by looking at the “minimum competency” tag or category).
Oo… I think the diet is kicking in. No gas.
Wendler 5/3/1 program, cycle 21, week 1
So this is the first day upon resetting, and trying a more “7/5/3” approach. Higher volume. All in all, not bad, but I wasn’t into it… just too much on my mind regarding work.
The more interesting thing? After set 2 of the rows, my body told me “out of gas”. My body said no more, we’re done. I wanted to do more, I wasn’t tired, wasn’t exhausted… I think I’m running low on glycogen now (it’s day 3 of “no carb”). My body was just telling me we’re almost out of gas, so you better stop now to preserve what we have. I of course kept going, but it was interesting. Heck, the walk home I was totally drag-assing it and kinda “condition white” spaced out. So yeah, I think I’m nearing the onset of ketosis. Huzzah.
In other news… it was a fun critter morning. Finally saw a skunk… and that owl was back, perched atop the house upon my return. Stopped and watched him for a bit, then he watched me and eventually flew off. I think seeing all the critters in the quiet of the morning is one of my favorite things about going to the gym in the early morning. Almost no people, but lots of cool animals. 🙂
Minimum Competency.
Minimum – the least or smallest amount or quantity possible, attainable, or required.
Competency – the ability to do something successfully or efficiently.
When it comes to the use of a pistol for self-defense, minimum competency would be the least amount of skill and ability needed in order to use that gun to successfully defend yourself.
What would that be?
I got to thinking about it. I see people at gun ranges that blaze away at a target 3 yards in front of them, and they are barely hitting paper. I see people slow plinking, taking one slowly and carefully aimed shot, checking their target, taking their time to set up again for another shot, repeat. I see videos of people attending “tactical band camp” training, throwing lots of lead, but are they hitting anything? are they doing anything effective? I see people passing their Texas CHL shooting test, and their B-27 target looks like it was peppered by a shotgun blast. I see people who are really good at shooting competitions, but struggle with defensive concepts.
Will this cut it? Is this enough true skill and knowledge to survive and win? Or is it a false sense? Sometimes in life it doesn’t matter if our assessment of our competency is different from the reality. But in a case like this, when your life is what’s at stake, you need to be soberingly aware of your skill and ability.
As friend and fellow KR Training Assistant Instructor Tom Hogel likes to say, “you don’t know what you don’t know”. If you don’t know what it takes, if you don’t know what you can and cannot do, well… what’s that going to get you? So, I started to think about what a minimum set of drills would be to try to illustrate this concept to folks. That is, if you shot these drills and could not do them cleanly on-demand, then you don’t have the minimum competency. That someone who thinks “I’ve got what it takes”, you give them this drill(s), have them shoot it right then and there, and if they cannot do it no they don’t have what they think they have.
This isn’t to say once you can do these drills then you are done and can rest here; no, because this is minimum. Karl Rehn likes to point out something he learned from Paul Ford (former Austin Police SWAT member). Paul pointed out that in a gunfight you will do about 70% of your worst day at the range. Think about that: take your worst day (under the ideal circumstances of the range), and now make it a lot worse, and that’s how you’ll do. If this is how it goes, how good do you think you really need to be so when the flag flies and your skills degrade to being “worse than your worst”, then that level is still high enough to get you through? So, you must train well beyond these minimums.
But that said, if you cannot perform to the minimum, the sooner you can know that the better. The sooner you can work to remedy it.
Hasn’t this already been defined? Well, maybe. Take a look at this extensive collection of handgun standards. If we have so many standards, do we really have *a* standard? Well, we do have to consider these standards are likely within a particular context, e.g. qualifying for police, carry permits, etc.. Furthermore, every trainer out there wants to have their own set of standards and performance assessment, but are their standards truly testing something? are they well thought out towards achieving a particular end? or did they just string together a bunch of stuff so they could slap their name on a drill? And is there really a “standard” or “drill” that is trying to answer the question I’m asking?
Ultimately, my motivation is trying to bring some cold truth to folks. I speak to people all the time that passed the Texas CHL shooting test, maybe even got a perfect score. They are quite proud of their accomplishment, and consider that the end – that they have passed the CHL test, they know all they need to know, that they are as proficient as they need to be, and will be able to handle themselves should they ever need it. I speak with people who grew up around guns, learned to shoot in the back pasture, but it’s evident from watching them they really couldn’t shoot their way out of a paper bag much less deal with a response to being assaulted. I’m no expert, but I’ve learned enough to know that I don’t know. Furthermore, I know it’s better to have your bubble burst when it doesn’t matter, than to see your world fall apart when everything is on the line. If I’m in the business of helping people protect themselves and their loved ones, I’d like to see what I could do to come up with a simple way to help people assess if they truly have the minimal skills or not.
The next some postings will be a short journey to examine this question: what is the minimum competency required for defensive pistol use?
(This post is part of a multi-part series. For now, you can find other published parts of the series by looking at the “minimum competency” tag or category).
Ego… it forced my hand, the gears change.
Wendler 5/3/1 program, cycle 21, week 1
I had weird sleep patterns over the weekend, so I napped too late Sunday evening and thus couldn’t get to bed properly. Slept like crap. But I knew once I got under the bar all would be better.
For the most part it was.
I did as many sets without the belt as I could, only belting up for the last 2 sets. I liked that. But I could tell… this wasn’t going to happen.
Last couple reps of the last set? I didn’t hit depth. I was afraid of getting stapled. I shouldn’t have been afraid, either dump the bar, or if I only got 4 good reps then so be it. But alas, I didn’t.
In the end, I know it’s all ego. This cycle would have me squat 305 — breaking that 300# mark is HUGE in so many ways. Then if I keep going at 10# per cycle, that means next cycle is 315… 3 plates! Whoa! And if I look at my deadlift, I’m very close to 4 plates. I just want to keep on going! This gets me closer to my 1000# total goal, especially before the end of 2013.
I knew a reset was coming. I think it’s here.
I didn’t want to do it because I wanted to hit my numbers. I want to meet my goal. I don’t want to get derailed from my goals.
But to keep chasing them now is only going to lead to fail in some way or another.
I will get to my goal. Maybe not before the end of 2013, but if I just keep on, eventually I will get there. Does it really matter when? Well yes, to some degree because to get there 10 years from now really isn’t workable. But so long as I see the progress is right and reasonable, I will get there.
But I think a reset has to happen. Not just for the weights, but because…. of my weight.
I’m up to 240#. That’s not all muscle. In fact, I betcha I could stand to drop at least 40# of that — just fat. I’m tall (6’3″) and sure that doesn’t look like much but shit… that’s a wheel! That is a lot!
I can feel it. My gut is not where I want it to be. I hate feeling it when I bend over. I really am in love with AIWB carry and having a gut inhibits that.
I thought about all this really heavily over this past weekend. I think I’ve just been delaying the inevitable pending a good reason, and I think the good reason has arrived.
I don’t like the fat.
I am stalling and need a reset.
I think finally it’s time to let things come together.
So, I’m going to recalculate my maxes, drop back. Strive to build a little more muscle, but still lift heavy. To that end, I might try goign 7/5/3 instead of 5/3/1 — that we shall see. Yes, I’ll just start now. Leave this squat session in the books, and start with my benching on Wednesday.
I’m also going to have to get hard on my diet. This is my killer.
I don’t know what I’ll do precisely. Anabolic Diet? Apex Predator Diet? Carb Nite? Carb Back Loading? whatever. In the end, they’re all about the same: high protein, high fat, almost no carb, but occasionally you refeed on good carbs (and maybe a little junk). I still am not settled on which route to take, because having a protocol that I can follow and fits the other aspects of my life, great. But right now it doesn’t matter because they all basically start the same way: 1-2 weeks of no carb to get the body into ketosis. The main question for me is… how much?
I see 2 ways to calculate it. So if I need 40% protein and 60% fat (essentially) well… I can figure “needed kcals” and that’s supposedly for me something like 4350 a day. Then I figure protein and fat from there? Or do I figure that I need say 250g of protein, then figure that is 40% of what and calc from that end of things? That I don’t know yet…. but htere’s no question, I cannot “just eat” I do need to figure the amounts right…. because the world we live in has been so anti-fat for too long and so has my own diet, that I really need to figure out and ensure I get enough… else I know these dietary approaches fail.
Anyways, it all just starts now.
No figuring. No stalling. No delaying. No more thinking about it and figuring.
I need to do this shit now, because I’m tired of it. 1000# will come, just not as soon as I want…. and it’ll be even sweeter because I’ll be lighter and leaner, with better form, and better overall strength. So hey, life’s journey rolls on.
Defensive Pistol Skills 1 @ KR Training is about the most difficult and intensive course. Why? Because it represents a big paradigm shift.
Most people come to class with an understanding of how to stand on a square range, in a lane, in a stall, and punch holes in paper at a leisurely pace. The vast majority of students also come with a TX CHL, but the shooting test there isn’t much more than the same “plinking” (more or less). DPS1 introduces concepts like drawing from a holster, from concealment, moving, and having to shoot fast — and accurately — under pressure. It’s a big shift, a lot of information, and an eye opener to folks.
That said, this past sold-out class was a pretty good one. A lot of eager students. Again, a lot of couples in this class too, both husband-wife and father-son types of things. Very good stuff.
Instead of talking about the class, I want to talk TO the class. That is, if you were in this class, here’s some things I want you to take home in addition to whatever you personally took from the class.
Yes, ultimately it’s the person operating the gun and not the gun, but the right gun and accessory gear makes a big difference. If nothing else, the wrong gear is certainly going to hinder you.
Most students had good holsters, but y’all could use some improvement on belts. Gun belts are wider, thicker, more sturdy. Remember what we said about getting the initial grip on the gun in the drawstroke? A good belt is going to support you against that initial grip. As well, all the weight on your belt from the gun itself to the spare mag pouches on the opposite side? that belt is going to support and distribute that weight better. There are lots of good belt makers out there. I’ve got some leather belts from TheBeltMan, but these days I’ve been wearing a “The Wilderness Original Instructor Belt“. While I really don’t find nylon and velcro all that fashionable, I cannot deny the practicality of the belt, especially since I can get precisely the fit and tightness I need since it’s “infinitely adjustable” vs. 1″ spaced holes.
And guns? Your small guns suck. Sorry to be blunt. Small guns have their place, but most people don’t need small guns. You think you need a small gun for concealed carry — I sure did (Karl cured me of that). But most people do not need a small gun. And even people that might have gun fit issues can likely still get a gun that’s larger than they think. You’ll be able to shoot it better, manipulate it better, and so on.
We had numerous people shooting 1911-style guns. It was complicated. Lots of dohickies to work. The smaller 1911’s were tough to get your hands on to manipulate. Everyone had trouble locking the slide open because they just couldn’t reach the slide stop lever (gotta flip/twist the gun in your hand). All sorts of issues. Switched folks to one of the various polymer-framed guns (Glock, XD, M&P) and all their problems went away. Simple point-and-click interface. Better fit. Larger size. All good things.
Don’t think the gun will make you an expert shooter, but do realize the wrong gear will make you a poorer shooter. Don’t be married to your gear. This is an excuse to go shopping. This is an excuse to buy another gun. Why are you complaining? 😉
In a fight, yes speed matters, but accuracy matters more.
Yes, we worked to make the point that in the 0-5 yard range you don’t need a perfect sight picture, but you at least need to get the front sight in the target area. You cannot blaze away. You cannot shoot faster than you can see, nor faster than you can get acceptable hits.
You must get acceptable hits.
You cannot get unacceptable hits.
Read this. Yes… go read it now. Burn the phrase “unacceptable hits” into your mind. Work to only get acceptable hits.
How to get acceptable hits?
Well, while everyone passed the “3 Seconds or Less” test, it was passing for DPS1. Just about everyone in class will need more work to pass the same test at the DPS3 level (tighter scoring area, higher minimum score). The biggest thing is getting those acceptable hits. Just about everyone can get the speed, but what you need is the accuracy.
Regarding speed, you don’t need to go any faster. You need to use your time more efficiently.
When you hear the timer’s start beep, MOVE! Move quickly and get the gun out of the holster quickly. This is not time to mosey. If you have a 3 second par time and use 2.5 of it to get out of the holster, you don’t have much time left to shoot. What also happens is you mentally realize you’ve wasted all your time, so you then rush the shot and everything goes to shit and you blow the shot. Instead, get the gun out of the holster quickly. If you move and get things out in say 1.5 seconds, now you have 1.5 seconds to make the shot — which is more than enough time, and you will know it, and you won’t rush, and you can make the shot. Clear leather/kydex quickly.
But once you get the gun quickly out of the holster, you must change gears and slow down. Throwing the gun out there isn’t going to help you. Your eyes need to find that front sight. This is why the 4-count drawstroke needs to move in an L-shape, up the body, out from the body; not bowling, not fishing. While yes, to go from point A at your hip to point C at extension is shorter distance, it’s visually slower since your eye still needs to find the front sight. If instead you pass through point B at your chin/neck/upper-chest, that whole press-out from B to C lets your eyes have time to find the front sight. And as soon as they pick it up and have enough sight picture, you can fire (even if not at full arm extension). So there’s much speed gained here not from moving fast, but from moving efficiently.
This efficiency comes because things are happening in parallel instead of serially. Another example of that is pressing the trigger in as you press the gun out. For the sake of discussion, if it takes you 1 second to press the gun out and 1 second to press the trigger in, do this serially and you’ve taken 2 seconds to make the shot. If instead you do this in parallel (simultaneously) it’s now taken you 1 second to make the shot — and you didn’t move any faster. In fact, you could actually move a hair slower and still make the shot in less overall time!
Remember what I said above about how DPS1 is a big paradigm shift? This effort to do things simultaneously is probably the biggest and most difficult paradigm shift for people to make. But work on this. Going faster doesn’t necessarily mean going faster.
To get this way, you don’t have to throw lead. You can and should dry practice.
Use a timer.
Relax.
Breathe.
Work on the skills you need to improve. Everything we did in class? Do it dry. The drills, the strings, the skills, just work on them dry.
With a timer.
And be patient. Improvement will come with time and practice.
Drink water.
Wear sunscreen.
Start eating better and hydrating yourself a few days before class. It takes time to build things up in your system. You want to do well and stay focused in class, and with the Texas summer setting in and temps getting up near 100 degrees now, you need to be prepared and take care of yourself.
In the spirit of the Testament/Overkill show back in February, here’s headliners Testament with the title track off the latest album, “Dark Roots of Earth” peformed live at Wacken 2012
The [Austin] City Council passed Resolution 20130228-035 based on concerns about gun violence. The resolution language includes direction to the City Manager to explore methods for collecting data about the use of firearms in the commission of a crime.
In response, the Austin Police Department has compiled data into a report about trends in gun violence. That report is attached for your review. Based on nationwide statistics collected by the FBI, Austin remains one of the safest U.S. cities of our size. This fact is reflected in the comparatively small number of crimes that involve a firearm.
H. A. ACEVEDO
Chief of Police
Austin’s Mayor and City Council are notoriously anti-gun. It doesn’t matter what reason and facts show, they just hate guns (made evident by their past actions both in and out of the council chambers). So they passed a Resolution about “gun violence”, tax dollars were spent, and the findings have been posted.
Basically, it shows that gun violence isn’t much of a problem in Austin.
Let’s see if their own findings will affect their future actions, or if they’ll ignore it and keep riding that horse.
That said, let’s look at some things:
The report disclaims and caveats the data. How different reports run at different times can get different results. That there are numerous cases in APD’s records system that include no weapon data at all. The way various guns are labeled causes a problem (to call a gun “automatic” is problematic, because a lot of older folks refer to semi-automatic guns as “automatics” or “auto-loaders”, but a lot of other people see the term “automatic” and think “fully-automatic”… this is both a statistics and a perception/reporting problem). So, it’s really hard to be certain of the integrity of this data. I’m sure bother sides of the debate will use this fact as a way to discount the study’s data and press on with their agenda.
Regardless, let’s look at the data provided.
The study looked at part 1 violent offenses (murder, attempted murder (aggravated assault), robbery, rape) and disorderly conduct.
Less than 1/4 of these offenses used guns.
Right there’s the money: guns are used in less than 25% of the offenses. That means 75% of the offenses used something else. I know news media and politicians like to make it out like it’s some major catastrophe, but the data isn’t there to back up the hysterics. Oh sure, it would be nice if the number of part 1 violent offenses was 0 (gun or no gun). But the point is, they want to see if “gun violence” is a problem, and it seems the far greater problem is “not-gun violence”.
Handguns are the most commonly used firearm type. Yet, “they” want to ban rifles. I’m not saying they should ban handguns (or rifles or much of anything). But if thinking a ban on X would reduce or eliminate a problem (perceived to be caused by X), shouldn’t you actually ban X instead of Y? and leave Y alone?
There’s a lot of aggravated assault in Austin. You have to remember, that used to be called “attempted murder”. All this means is someone tried to kill you, but didn’t succeed. But you may be injured, maimed, crippled for life. Don’t think it’s something “more friendly” or “more desirable” as far as crimes go. So I don’t know what that says about Austin… that there’s a lot of attempts to kill people, but they don’t succeed. Maybe it’s because the overwhelming majority of them don’t involve a gun? They involve something else… so why don’t we address why assaults are occurring, instead of looking at an object used in the commission of them? Maybe… just maybe… it’s not about guns.
Another fun take-home are the maps showing where most crimes happen. East of I-35; along the I-35 corridor between 71 and the river (esp. the Riverside area), and again around the 183 intersection (esp. the “northwest” quadrant). Read: avoid these places.
All in all, the report is pretty straightforward. It’s mostly a presentation of data, and opinion doesn’t really come until the end conclusions.
First, Austin remains one of the safest cities, if you measure “safe” by “number of violent crimes”. Not an unreasonable measure, but 1. there’s still more than many people would consider acceptable, 2. what about all the other crimes? property crime, burglary, etc. are pretty high.
Crime incidents involving the use of a firearm remain relatively low for the City. As a result, the limited data makes it challenging to formulate effective preventative measures.
Indeeed there’s not a lot of data. They looked at 3 years of data and with “so few murders”, it certainly is hard to formulate a plan.
But maybe that’s just it: maybe there doesn’t need to be a plan.
First, the summary statement above is loaded, because the wording shows they want to formulate effective preventative measures against crimes involving guns. They don’t want to formulate effective preventative measures against crime… no, it’s against guns. But the data shows that there’s just not as much involvement of guns in crimes as the City Council was hoping for, so there’s not much for them to do and go on. Darn the luck, but we’ll keep selectively researching until we get data that backs up our agenda!
Here’s a tip. What the data does show is there’s still a lot of violent crime in Austin. Focus less on the tools used in the crime, and focus more on the crime itself. I don’t see why it matters so much if someone tried to kill me with a knife vs. a gun vs. a car vs. poison vs. their bare hands. Isn’t it enough they tried to kill me? Why don’t we focus on the whole “not killing me” part? Why are we so hung up on HOW people were killed? This isn’t a game of Clue. Instead of being so discriminatory towards certain traits about people, let’s focus on the root issues to really solve the problems.
Stuff From Hsoi 