It’s been long known that when under extreme stress (including when under attack) the human body will undergo a series of involuntary changes as part of the “fight or flight” mechanisms built into our systems.

Anecdotal evidence from the last five wars (including the current two) plus a number of law enforcement studies, have all confirmed that these effects happen, yet very few delve into why they happen. The largest collection of data was compiled by Dr. Alexis Artwohl and Loren Christensen in their book “Deadly Force Encounters,” and subsequent research papers by Dr. Artwohl, which included interviews with 157 police officers involved in deadly force shootings.

Highlights from the study are shown in the chart, which shows that approximately 80 percent of the officers interviewed experienced the most well-known physiological effects, including tunnel vision and diminished sounds, and that more than 50 percent experienced time distortions or memory loss. Most surprising, more than one in five experienced false memories; that is, they remembered something that never actually happened.

These and other physical and psychological effects have long been attributed to adrenaline or other natural chemicals that flood our bodies during extreme stress, but the “fight or flight” mechanisms that are part of our systems go well beyond a simple chemical dump by our adrenal glands. They exist as a true survival mechanism that is hardwired into our brains, as surely as an electronic fuse will trip when a short occurs.

In this four part series, we’re going to go well beyond explaining what kind of physiological effects you’re likely to experience during a critical incident; we’ll explain why these effects occur and how you can work them into your training regimen. To do that, we’re going to explore the inner workings of the brain and nervous system, as well as offer a visual explanation for each for these amazing effects.

As you read the detail surrounding the remarkable transformations that we’ll undergo during critical incidents, pay particularly close attention to the “Training Tips” that we’ve outlined for each topic. These tips are designed to help you embrace each of the physiological effects into your training plan, so they’ll work to your advantage, rather than your disadvantage.

This is part one of a four-part series, with content and illustrations derived from the book Concealed Carry Fundamentals (www.keyhousepress.com) by Michael Martin.

The “Switchboard” Thalamus

Our senses (things like sight, sound, and touch) provide sensory and emotional input to our brain, which is routed through a structure called the thalamus. The thalamus used to be thought of as nothing more than a relay station, simply passing signals from the senses to the sensory cortex. Now, scientists think of the thalamus as more of a “switchboard” within the brain, making determinations about where input is routed, and which information is filtered or blocked. As it receives sensory input, the thalamus routes that input to the cortex (the long route) and the amygdala (the short route). Under periods of extreme stress, scientists believe that the thalamus can block any sensory input that it doesn’t consider necessary to the situation.

The “Thinker” Sensory Cortex

The cortex not only allows us to plan and reason, it also contains sub-structures to interpret sensory input that has been routed from the thalamus (the “Switchboard). Like the thalamus, the sensory cortex will selectively process or ignore input based upon the task at hand. For example, when we’re focused on a TV program (visual input) we don’t always hear our spouse’s request to take out the garbage; or, when we’re focused on a radio program in the car (audio input), we might ignore the visual input of a stop sign and blow right by it. When we’re under extreme stress, this selective processing and prioritization becomes pronounced.

The “Engineer” Motor Cortex

The motor cortex receives most of its instructions from the thinking and planning part of the brain, but the amygdala (the “Fire Alarm”) also has a direct connection to the motor cortex for those times when it’s necessary for us to do something right now, such as freezing, ducking, raising our hands, or crouching.

The “Fire Alarm” Amygdala

Sitting next to the thalamus is a tiny, almond- shaped structure called the amygdala. The amygdala contains most of the brain’s alarm circuits designed to react to any imminent threat passed on by the thalamus. When its alarm circuits are tripped, the amygdala has a direct connection to the motor cortex (that is, it skips the reasoning and planning part of the brain) in order to take immediate action (such as making us duck if something is thrown at our heads), and to the hypothalamus (the “Pharmacy”), to kick our endocrine system into gear. “Evolved” alarms are contained within the amygdala, such as a fear of large, roaring carnivores, while “learned” alarms are accessed by the hippocampus (the “Scrapbook”) such as a fear of snakes with rattles

The “Pharmacy” Hypothalamus, Pituitary gland & Adrenal Gland

The sympathetic nervous system involves two additional structures in the brain, namely the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, as well as the adrenal glands, situated on top of the kidneys. Upon hearing the alarm bells fired by the amygdala, the hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland to release ACTH and endorphins into the bloodstream. ACTH alerts the adrenal glands to release adrenaline (also known as epinephrine), and endorphins act as a natural painkiller by blocking the body’s pain receptors.

The “Scrapbook” Hippocampus

The hippocampus provides access to our memories and personal experiences, including any “learned” threats. That recall will include more than just a visual snapshot of the learned threat; it will also recall information about the context and situation surrounding the object. For example, if an individual had been attacked by a thug wielding a baseball bat, the sight of another individual carrying a baseball bat might fire the alarm circuits if the rest of the context met other stored criteria, such as an aggressive facial expression on the part of the person with the bat. On the other hand, a baseball bat in the hands of a smiling little leaguer most likely would not fire those circuits.

The Brain and Central Nervous System

The brain is made up of a variety of interconnected structures, but the ones we’ll concentrate on are those involved in sensory input and sensory processing, reasoning and planning, movement, and the brain’s “alarm circuits.” We’ll also take a look at a key component of the nervous system called the sympathetic nervous system. To make it a bit easier to understand, we’re going to use everyday descriptive terms (such as the “Switchboard”) in addition to using the technical term (such as the “thalamus”).

Training Tip No. 1

Practice your stance using the body position that the short route will force you to take anyway. Square your body to the target, and take up a short crouch. When drawing from the holster, begin with your hands up near your face in the startle position, rather than at your sides. Include point / intuitive / index shooting as part of your training regimen, in addition to sight shooting. In other words, you’ll need to be prepared for your motor cortex forcing your eyes to lock onto a six-foot tall attacker, rather than a 3-millimeter wide front sight.

Training Tip No. 2

Learn to manipulate your firearm’s controls as though you were missing your fingertips. That means ignoring your slide release, and racking (or releasing) the slide by grasping it between the palm and four fingers of your support hand. If you want a taste of what your hands might actually feel like under the affects of adrenaline and extreme stress, try this: Run through a malfunction drill (using dummy rounds mixed with live rounds), after soaking your hands in a sink full of water and ice cubes for a minute or two. The resulting hand shake and lack of feeling will give you a small taste of the real thing.

The Brain’s Long Route and Short Route

Of the components discussed, the amygdala (the “Fire Alarm”) is responsible for initiating the body’s “fight or flight” defenses whenever it receives sensory input that matches predefined alarm circuits. Sensory input reaches the amygdala from the thalamus (the “Switchboard”) along two paths. One path is a direct connection, while the second path is first routed through the sensory cortex (the “Thinker”). The route through the cortex is known as the long route, and the direct connection is known as the short route. The components along the long route are often referred to as the higher brain, while the components along the short route are often referred to as the lower brain or reptilian brain. Although input is passed from the thalamus along both paths, in most cases, the lower brain remains passive, and our movement and other activity is driven by our higher brain as it processes and “thinks about” the input that it’s receiving.

Side effects will include a loss of manual dexterity in our extremities (most importantly, our hands) and our hands may shake from the loss of blood and the influx of adrenaline.

In cases where the information flowing along the paths matches a predefined alarm circuit, the amygdala effectively throws a switch, and within microseconds, it executes a series of tasks that may include signaling the motor cortex (the “Engineer”) to duck into a crouch, rotate toward the perceived threat and lock our eyes on that threat; and it might send a message to the hypothalamus (the “Pharmacy”) to get adrenaline and endorphins moving into the system. Much faster than it would take to think through the situation, the short path through our brain has already prepared us for fight or flight, and it might have already saved us from serious injury or death if it froze our motor cortex before we stepped in front of a speeding bus, or ducked our head to protect us from a flying rock.

The Effects of Adrenaline & Endorphins

As mentioned in the introduction to the structures of the brain and nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system is responsible for releasing adrenaline and endorphins into the system. Adrenaline immediately prepares the body for “fight or flight” by increasing blood, oxygen, and glucose to the major muscles including the heart. It increases heart rate and oxygen consumption by the lungs, and it dilates the pupils.

Side effects will include a loss of manual dexterity in our extremities (most importantly, our hands) and our hands may shake from the loss of blood and the influx of adrenaline. In addition, the lack of blood on the surface of our skin and the effect of endorphins released by the pituitary gland will provide us with an elevated pain threshold. This can allow us to fight long after we might have given up from injuries, but it also means that we’ll need to check ourselves and loved ones for injuries in the immediate aftermath.

Adrenaline immediately prepares the body for “fight or flight.”

Next month’s topic: In part two, we’ll explore how the physical structure of the eye and the filtering ability of the brain combine to cause tunnel vision and heightened visual clarity. We’ll also look at the causes of auditory exclusion, and how we can work that expectation into our training regimen.

[ Michael Martin is a firearms instructor and author, living in Woodbury Minnesota with his wife Sara and two little boys, Jack and Sam. Michael is the author of “Concealed Carry Fundamentals” and “Minnesota Permit to Carry a Firearm Fundamentals,” www.keyhousepress.com. Michael is also the owner and director of Minnesota Tactics (www.mntactics.com), a firearms training organization specializing in introducing beginners to the world of self-defense, firearms, and the shooting sports. Michael is also a certified NRA instructor, and a member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI). ]

FIGHT OR FLIGHT: Summary of Physical and Psychological Effects

Effects of the Brain’s “Alarm Circuits”

• Reflexive Crouch
• Hands Elevated to Protect the Face
• Head Turned and Eyes Locked on Threat

Effects of Brain’s Signals Being Prioritized or Filtered

• Tunnel Vision
• Heightened Visual Clarity
• Diminished Sounds
• Slow Motion Time
• Memory Loss
• Memory Distortion or False Memories
• Inability to Count

Effects of Adrenaline and Endorphins

• Increase in Strength
• Heightened Pain Threshold
• Decrease in Fine Motor Skills

Whether you’re learning to draw from the holster or learning the Macarena (you know who you are) repetition of any task begins to build new pathways into the cerebellum, connecting individual movements into a continuous series of movements for near automatic “playback.” Similar to how a film projector can take individual still frames and make them appear as though they flow together into continuous movement, the cerebellum can do the same thing with these repetitive tasks. The key here is that you’ll need to practice them until they become repetitive.

Last issue, we discussed the types of memory distortions that commonly occur during critical incidents including slow motion time, loss of memory, and false memories.

In this issue, we’ll wrap up the series with an explanation of what muscle memory is, and we’ll answer the question once and for all, “Is action faster than reaction?”

What Exactly is Muscle Memory?

We’ve all tossed out the phrase muscle memory when talking about learning a repetitive skill, regardless of whether that skill is playing golf, playing the piano, or drawing from the holster. Unfortunately, muscles themselves have no memory, so, where exactly are these repetitive skills being stored? The answer is the cerebellum. When a certain skill or movement is practiced repeatedly, pathways are actually modified in the cerebellum to store and link individual movements, similar to how individual still frames are stored and linked on a spool of film. The more the skill or movement is repeated, the stronger the pathways linking the individual steps. The result can be near automatic playback of the stored memory of movements.

These hypothetical situations all beg the question, “Is action faster than reaction?”

As an example, new students learning to draw from the holster will learn that there are four steps involved, and they will practice those movements in four distinct steps. But after thousands of repetitions, those four movements have become fluid, and the “experts” may not even be able to answer the question, “How many steps does it take to draw the handgun from the holster?” To them, the process is fluid and automatic. (They might even say, “It takes just one step.”) No one knows how many times a task or series of tasks will need to be repeated before it’s ready for “automatic playback,” but suffice to say, it’s going to be more than plinking at the range a couple of times a year. Dry firing, drawing from the holster with a cleared firearm, and virtual simulations are all ways that these pathways can be built, all without a shot ever being fired.

Is Action Faster than Reaction?

If an attacker unexpectedly lunges at you with a knife, can you draw your firearm in time to stop him? Can you out draw an attacker if he already has a firearm pointed at you? When the threat ends, how quickly can you stop shooting? These hypothetical situations all beg the question, “Is action faster than reaction?”

If we’re going to prepare ourselves for the reality of shooting in self-defense, and the reality of defending our actions in court, it’s critical to understand the limitations of human reaction time, and how those limitations should affect our preparation and training, as well as our defense in a court of law. To help prepare ourselves for those realities, we’re going to take a look at two studies which analyzed reaction times to visual stimuli. The first study analyzed vehicle braking reaction time, while the second study analyzed the reaction time required for shooters to start shooting and to stop shooting. The results of both studies will help to answer the questions posed earlier.

Braking: How Long Does it Take to Stop?

Let’s take a look at a study analyzing the reaction times of drivers to a braking maneuver. In the article “How Long Does It Take To Stop? Methodological Analysis of Driver Perception-Brake Times” published in 2000, researchers concluded that “reaction time” is actually a sequence of multiple stages. For our purposes, we’ll group them into the following components:

Perception/Cognitive Processing Time.

This is the time required for the individual to receive, recognize, and process the sensory signal (auditory, visual, etc.), and to formulate a response. Referring back to our brain schematic, it’s the time required for the sensory input to pass the “Switchboard” (the thalamus) and get processed by the “Thinker” (the sensory cortex).

Motor Reaction Time.

This is the time required for the individual to perform the required movement, such as lifting the foot off the accelerator and applying the brake. In other words, it’s the time required for the “Engineer” (the motor cortex) to request movement, and the muscles to respond.

If an attacker lunges at you with a knife, can you draw your firearm in time to stop him?

In this study, researchers tested braking reaction times under three different scenarios: when the braking maneuver was expected, when it was unexpected, and when it came as a complete surprise. The “expected” scenarios occurred when the person being tested knew that the test was to measure their braking reaction time, and they were prepared to brake as quickly as possible when signaled to do so. The “unexpected” scenarios occurred when the person being tested had to react to common but unexpected signals, such as seeing the brake lights of the car in front of them. The “surprise” brake maneuvers occurred when something completely unexpected occurred during the scenario, such as an object suddenly moving into the driver’s path.

As shown in the chart, when a braking maneuver was unexpected or came as a surprise, the perception/cognitive processing time that occurred before movement began ranged from just over one second to 1.2 seconds. Even when the maneuver was expected, the perception/cognitive processing time was 0.5 seconds before movement began. Before analyzing these numbers further, let’s take a look at the “Tempe Study,” which analyzed police officer reaction times to start and stop shooting.

The Tempe Study

In 2003, 102 police officers from the Tempe, Arizona Police Department underwent a series of tests conducted by Dr. Bill Hudson and Dr. Bill Lewinski, to measure their reaction time to start and stop shooting based upon visual stimuli. In these experiments, the officers were expecting the stimuli, and they knew they should start and stop shooting based upon the stimuli, so the perception/cognitive processing time, and motor reaction time were kept to an absolute minimum.

…researchers determined that the average officer required between 5/10ths and 6/10ths of a second to react to the light going out, and to stop pressing the trigger.

Experiment #1: Time to press the Trigger

The first test was designed to determine the officers’ average response time to press the trigger based upon the visual stimulus of a light. Results indicated that the officers, on average, took 25/100ths of a second to react to the light, and another 6/100ths of a second to press the trigger, for a total response time of 31/100ths of a second.

Experiment #2: Time to Stop Pressing the Trigger

In this experiment, the trigger press was to begin when the light went on, and end when the light went out. During this test, the researchers determined that the average officer required between 5/10ths and 6/10ths of a second to react to the light going out, and to stop pressing the trigger. Since the trigger could be pressed much faster (6/100ths of a second) than the officers could react to the changed conditions (at least 5/10ths of a second), each officer pressed the trigger at least twice, and sometimes three times after the light indicated they should stop shooting.

Multi-Tasking and Its Effect on Reaction Time

In both studies, researchers concluded that the more an individual was multi-tasking or the more complex the required movement was, the longer the reaction times would be. That conclusion is echoed in a summary of multiple driving studies compiled by the National Safety Council, where the NSC concluded that driver multi-tasking added an average of 0.6 seconds to the response time required for braking. During the Tempe study, multitasking was limited (the officers were only focused on the light and trigger press), however the researchers pointed out that during critical incidents, officers were very likely “moving, pointing, ducking, seeking cover, shooting, processing, reacting emotionally, etc.,” which would affect their overall ability to start and stop shooting.

Conclusion

Based upon the results of both studies, it’s clear that “reaction time” is more than just the time required to draw a firearm, press a trigger, or press a brake. Reaction time also includes at least one-quarter of a second, and as much as 1.2 seconds of perception/cognitive processing before any movement takes place (and that’s in ideal, controlled conditions). Taking those numbers and placing them in the context of self-defense, let’s try to answer the questions posed earlier:

…our full reaction might take more than three seconds, which is enough time for an attacker to cover more than 50 feet.

If an attacker lunges at you with a knife, can you draw your firearm in time to stop him? That depends on how close the attacker is. Since attacks are almost always a surprise, we should assume that we’d need 1.2 seconds to perceive and process the fact that we’re under attack, plus the time required to draw our firearm and align it with the attacker. Let’s assume the motor reaction time takes two seconds (the time to orient toward the attacker, and draw our firearm from concealment). That means that our full reaction might take more than three seconds, which is enough time for an attacker to cover more than 50 feet. So the answer to the question is, “Are you more than 50 feet away from the attacker?” or better yet, “How closely were you observing your surroundings?”

Can you “out draw” an attacker if he already has a firearm pointed at you? No. Based upon the results of the Tempe study, we can conclude that an attacker will require just 6/100ths of a second to press the trigger, while we’ll need as much as 1.2 seconds of perception/cognitive processing time, before any movement can begin, including drawing our own firearm, or ducking behind cover. Our best bet in this situation is to count on Jeff Cooper’s description of an inadequate or inept attacker.

In summary, the short answer is that action always beats reaction.

When the threat ends, how quickly can you stop shooting? Based upon the Tempe study, the answer is at least 5/10ths of a second when multitasking, and longer when engaged in multiple tasks simultaneously, such as moving, seeking cover, etc. Asked another way, “Once the trigger press has started, if the attacker throws down his weapon, can the defender stop himself in time?” The answer is no. The test indicated that the time required to react to the changed condition was more than eight times the time required to abort a trigger press–once the trigger press began, it was simply impossible to stop it, even if the situation had changed.

In summary, the short answer is that action always beats reaction. While automated responses (responses governed by the “short route” through the brain) can be near instantaneous (such as ducking into a crouch when a loud noise occurs), the cognitive responses discussed here (responses governed by the “long route” through the brain) are not instantaneous. Because of that, we must compensate by:

Being hyper-aware of our surroundings and the individuals within our protective bubble.

Preparing for an attack before it occurs by increasing our distance, orienting toward the possible threat, taking cover, and/or preparing to access our firearm.

Making intelligent decisions about our equipment and carry techniques – for example, too many holster retention devices, or too many layers of clothing, can slow a response.

[ Michael Martin is a firearms instructor and author, living in Woodbury Minnesota with his wife Sara and two little boys, Jack and Sam. Michael is the author of “Concealed Carry Fundamentals” and “Minnesota Permit to Carry a Firearm Fundamentals,” both available on www.keyhousepress.com. Michael is also the owner and director of Minnesota Tactics (www.mntactics.com), a firearms training organization specializing in introducing beginners to the world of self-defense, firearms and the shooting sports. Michael is also a certified NRA instructor, and a member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI). ]

“What am I going to do if a disgruntled employee comes plodding down the hall with a shotgun?”

Visualization or imagery is one of the most effective tools available to you for mental conditioning.

This is vital to success in a fight. Under stress, your subconscious mind will immediately take over and direct your body to do whatever the subconscious has been programmed to do. If you have been programmed through training to respond correctly, you will. Panic is simply the lack of a pre-programmed response. Since your subconscious doesn’t know what to do, it does nothing. (When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout!) Obviously, your odds of surviving improve drastically if you have pre-programmed the correct tactical responses before a crisis.

How do we program these correct responses until they become automated? There are three ways. First, you could engage in about a dozen gunfights. You would then be adept at making rapid, sound tactical decisions, if you are still alive! We don’t recommend this method because the test comes first, and the lesson afterward. This is a painful and expensive way to learn.

The first question is, “What did the victim do to put himself in this situation?”

Bismarck said, “A smart man learns from his own mistakes, a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” This is especially true in this business, where mistakes can be fatal. The easiest way to learn from the mistakes of others is to read a big city newspaper each day as you eat your breakfast. Look in the local news and select two instances reporting the criminal victimization of some unfortunate person. Take five or ten minutes to read these two accounts and actually analyze them. Ask yourself two questions, and make yourself come up with an answer.

The first question is, “What did the victim do to put himself in this situation?” Once you learn a bit about criminal behavior, you realize that above all, criminals are opportunists. They capitalize on circumstances created by inattentive, complacent, lazy, and unobservant victims. Very soon you will learn to recognize the behavior or activity on the part of the victim that facilitated or even precipitated the crime.

This will hold true in probably 95 percent of the cases you study. Once you have identified the specific victim behavior that caused the attack, you are reinforcing in your subconscious the understanding that this is negative or harmful behavior. Day after day, by doing this, you are programming your subconscious to avoid that type of behavior. If you don’t present the opportunity, the criminal cannot take advantage of it.

The next question is, “All right, I was careless and got into this mess, how do I get myself out of it?” Make yourself think up a solution to the tactical situation. In this manner, you are getting practice every single day in making tactical decisions. If you make tactical decisions every day of your life, they will come easily to you if you find yourself in dangerous circumstances. If you have never practiced this decision making process, how do you expect to do it well under extreme stress?

The last technique in imagery we will discuss has to do with mentally rehearsing confrontations, to prepare beforehand for a confrontation. In your mind, as a normal, healthy person, there is a very fine line between reality and fantasy. A psychopath no longer has this distinction in his mind and his fantasies become his reality. A normal mind blurs this distinction under several circumstances. If you are an avid reader, for instance, you “see” the action of a good novel or historical account unfolding in your mind as you read. You form mental images of the characters and events, as if you had seen them yourself. How many times have you wakened from a vivid dream and taken a few seconds to orient yourself? These are examples of that blurred distinction between reality and fantasy.

Airline pilots periodically receive training in a flight simulator, which is an enclosed box mounted on hydraulic jacks. Upon entering the simulator, the pilot is seated in a cockpit seat, a control panel is arrayed before him, and the “windshield” has a back-projected image on it, just like the view from a plane. As the pilot applies control movements to the stick and so forth, the “plane” responds with motion.

If you work in a retail environment, ask yourself, “What am I going to do when they stick this place up?”

Within a few moments, the pilot’s brain is fully convinced that he is flying a plane, although intellectually he knows he is bolted to the floor of the training building. At some point, the control panel will advise him of an emergency, and the “plane” will simulate the movement involved, as in a sudden dive. The pilot must immediately take corrective action to keep from “crashing.”

Although they are in no real danger, these guys come out of the simulator white knuckled and sweating, because the mind blurred the distinction between reality and fantasy. If, at some future date, the pilot is confronted with that actual emergency in a real aircraft, he will automatically respond, quickly and correctly, because his brain has learned that the correct action will save its life.

You can do the same thing with your mind in a self-defense context by using visualization exercises. Go to a quiet room and sit in an easy chair. Relax, and clear your mind of all thought (easy for some of us!). Now, in your mind vividly imagine a tactical scenario. Think of it as a daydream, if you like, but get into it and project yourself into the action. For every imagined action by the bad guy, direct yourself through a proper reaction. “If he does this, I’ll do that.” Always direct the action to a successful outcome.

Let me give you a couple of examples: If you work in a retail environment, ask yourself, “What am I going to do when they stick this place up?” Visualize your workstation and the surroundings. Where is cover? What direction could you fire in without endangering coworkers? Is there an escape route available? Don’t wait until a hold-up man is standing across the counter from you to think about this. If you are a boss, ask yourself, “What am I going to do if a disgruntled employee comes plodding down the hall with a shotgun?” Is there any other way out of your office? Is there any real cover available? Where is the secretary? You might find you want to rearrange your office. Find out now, not while under fire!

If you are faced with a life-threatening crisis in a form you have never seriously considered or given any thought to, you will likely hesitate just long enough to lose.

There are really only a dozen or so ways for a thug to criminally victimize you. White collar crime has endless opportunities for innovation, but street crime is pretty straightforward. Over a period of time, you can visualize your way through just about all of the likely forms of street crime and have pre-programmed responses filed away in the back of your subconscious mind ready for deployment if faced with a similar circumstance.

One last area to address is that of targets used in practice. Beware of doing all of your shooting practice on bull’s-eye targets or only vaguely humanoid targets that look more like a milk bottle than an attacker. Do some of your work on targets that look like a real, live, armed, threatening human being. Your subconscious needs to be accustomed to seeing your sights superimposed on such an image, otherwise you may lock up the first time you put your sights on a real assailant.

If you are faced with a life-threatening crisis in a form you have never seriously considered or given any thought to, you will likely hesitate just long enough to lose. If, on the other hand, you take a little time to practice these simulations, you can program ready responses and be able to retain control of yourself and your actions. Your mind needs to know that there is a way out, and that you know what it is. This avoids panic, and allows you to act decisively, which is your salvation.

[ Tom Givens is the owner of Rangemaster in Memphis, TN. For over 30 years Tom’s duties have included firearms instruction. He is certified as an expert witness on firearms and firearms training, giving testimony in both state and federal courts. He serves as an adjunct instructor at the Memphis Police Department Training Academy, the largest in the state. Tom’s training resume includes certification from the FBI Police Firearms Instructor School, NRA Law Enforcement Instructor Development School, NRA Law Enforcement Tactical Shooting Instructor School, Gunsite 499 under Jeff Cooper, and more. ]

Peace officers practice likely scenarios in a home environment and so should you.

As an NRA and state certified instructor, I realize that personal defense is deadly business.

As a professional I check my gear on a regular basis. I have a program for keeping up with my personal handgun, concealment leather, spare magazines and edged weapons. I am certain that all are worn properly and accessible when going about my daily business. Most of us have a similar program. But when it comes to home defense, most of us are less prepared. We are awakened by a sound in the night. It may be a bump, it may be glass shattering, or it may be a takeover robbery in the early stages. We fumble for our handgun. Is the chamber loaded? Do I need to cock it? Where is my light?

Personal defense in the home is different than personal defense on the street. You may be highly aware on the street. In the home you are more relaxed or even asleep. Many of the tragic depredations by our protein fed, ex-con criminal class occur in the home. In a home defense situation the range is short and gunhandling is more important than marksmanship.

Jennie Graff, Belle Magazine, is practicing a home defense scenario and learning a great deal about gun handling.

Practice must be applicable to the problem. Being able to stand and deliver a gunload into a man-sized target is fine as far as it goes, but dealing with a shadowy figure that is shooting back is another matter. Thugs are operating in teams in increasing numbers and there is simply no room for error. You must prepare for the worst. This means running likely scenarios through your mind and practicing your reaction.

There is no need for live fire in the home; you have practiced often enough at the range. Finding a structure that approximates the home on the range is ideal, but you need to practice tactical movement in the home. Tripping and falling over furniture should not happen in the place you are most familiar with. You also need to have a plan to bring the sidearm into an advantageous position. It should not be a challenge simply to find the handgun.

This Beretta M9 is kept at home ready in a Milt Sparks Summer Special holster.

Let’s look at the likely adversary. While the law sometimes isn’t clearly in favor of the home defender, many homeowners do not completely understand the law. Regardless of where you live, study the law carefully. As an example of local mores, the common prowler isn’t always even charged with a crime. Attempted burglary is a rather difficult charge to prove. Trespass is a misdemeanor at best. Those outside of the home are prowlers and they simply do not constitute the same level of threat as someone who is breaking into the home.

It is not a good idea to step out of the home and confront a prowler. They may be out to steal something, they may be looking for entry, but do not expose yourself to such danger. They are possibly on drugs or in a drunken state. Confronting these individuals will escalate the situation and make it more difficult for both the police and for your family to handle the situation. It is a much better idea tactically to stay in the home and take a position that gives you a clear field of fire. Avoid target markers such as standing in the doorway silhouetted by light. Be prepared to illuminate the target.

The author is practicing home defense tactics in a reasonable facsimile of a home.

The 911 call is important. If you have a prowler, officers will respond. Ask the dispatcher to tell you the officer’s names or call letter. When they knock on the door you will be able to confirm they are indeed the cops. That is pretty important. There are gangs pretending to be peace officers to gain access to a home. While we like to think we will not be fooled, some of these gangs are very good at what they do. Always call 911 to confirm the identity of anyone wishing to gain access to your home.

Another good clue for home defenders is to keep a handgun ready on the person at all times. While this is a tall order, if you are serious about security consider the advantage of being constantly armed. At the least, several handguns stashed about the home are an advantage (provided they are only accessible by trained, responsible adults).

At this point, we need to discuss safety versus access. If you have small children in the home you must be certain that the handgun is secure against their inquisitive nature. The gun safe is perhaps not the best idea for the ready gun. After all, if you are in a hurry and punch in the wrong code the safe will lock you out for fifteen minutes—not a good place to be.

Gun locked or not? It is your decision, but an important one.

As one example, my grandson is three years old. His arms are short and he is not strong enough to lift a mattress. Having a pistol in the middle of the mattress makes it safe from his busy hands. (Not that he wanders around unescorted; after all, kitchen knives and a hot stove may also be present.) But when I prepare for rest at night I do not leave the piece under the mattress. That would seriously impede access. Rather, I move it to the edge of the mattress or where it will be accessible.

The Night Sentry from Diamond Products is another excellent option. You simply take the holster you have worn all day and mount it on the Diamond Products holster that is slipped under the mattress. Other options: loop a holster belt and holster over the bed. Be aware that one hand will stabilize the holster while the other will draw the gun. This is a trade off between speed and accessibility.

Another question: when is the gun lock applied? When the gun is stored or at all times it is not on the body? Better practice unlocking the piece if you think you will have it locked when off the body. Think hard about home readiness and remain alert to danger. You owe yourself no less.

Think hard about home readiness and remain alert to danger.

When an intruder comes to your home you are the first line of defense for your family. The police are the second line of defense. You must be prepared to react responsibly and decisively. Have a plan in place. Practice obtaining the handgun or long gun. Practice making it ready. Your life, and your family’s lives, may hinge on your intelligent preparation.

[ R K Campbell is an author with over 40 years shooting experience and more than 30 years police and security experience. He is the author of three books and hundreds of magazine articles. He devotes his time to learning more about personal defense and the human situation. ]

My lazy beagle Toby was loudly barking as I’d never heard him before.

Standing to the left of the door, with the gun close to his body, the author prepares to push open the door and quickly take a step back to his original position.

Usually I would have waited a minute or two to see if I heard any footsteps, strange noises, or a window breaking, but I didn’t have time to spare. My mother, who had cancer, was bedridden on the couch on the main floor of our house and I needed to get to her before a potential intruder did.

I cleared the house as quickly and safely as I could, and my mother was fine. I never found out what Toby was barking at that night, but I have no doubt he scared away a burglar.

Having my mother restricted to the main floor of the house made it necessary to leave my bedroom that night and make sure she was okay. However, if it’s 3:00 a.m. and you hear a window break or you know someone is trying to enter your house, the last thing you want to do is leave your bedroom to go and confront the person. In the ideal world you would get your family together into your designated safe room (such as your master bedroom) and wait there until the police arrive.

Of course, we don’t live in an ideal world. Perhaps you’re like I was and you have a family member living on the first floor or even in the basement. If this is the case you have no choice but to leave your bedroom; therefore it’s necessary for you to know how to safely clear your house.

The author slightly leans to the left as he’s clearing a corner, so an intruder will hopefully see the gun first before the rest of his body.

If you’ve ever seen the police clear a house, you know they always go in with a minimum of two people. But you and I likely won’t have the choice to grab someone else at 3:00 a.m. to come help us, so here’s how you properly clear a house by yourself, even though it’s a dangerous situation you want to try to avoid at all costs.

First off, if you hear a noise in the middle of the night and you need to clear your house, you had better be able to take one or two steps from your bed and have access to your gun, which should be “cocked and locked.” In other words, the gun should have a round in the chamber so all you have to do is pull the trigger to shoot. Right next to your gun should be your flashlight. I use a SureFire G2X Tactical light.

Many houses have enough ambient light for you to maneuver around without the need to have the flashlight on all of the time, so just use it for target identification purposes so you don’t accidentally shoot the wrong person. (Also, read Tom Givens’ excellent article Flashlight Techniques for Home Defense in the July 2011 issue of CCM.)

Once you’ve got your gun and light, it’s time to leave the bedroom. If you’ve got a traditional house, you’ll likely end up entering a hallway. Stay close to the wall on the one side of the hallway and avoid walking down the middle, so you minimize your outline and make yourself less of a target.

Try and expose as little of your body as possible. If the intruder happens to have a gun, you don’t want to be an easy target!

As you slowly move down the hallway you’ll probably come across a bedroom or bathroom door. What should you do? If you’ve got a family member living in the basement and time is important, and you’re pretty sure nobody made it upstairs, then just move on past the door. I know this isn’t tactically correct, but we’re talking about a real life scenario here. If you’ve got your daughter sleeping in the basement, then no parent is going to take the time to clear every upstairs bedroom when they hear an intruder on the first floor or proceeding down the basement stairs.

However, if you don’t have to rush downstairs, you’ll certainly want to check the room ahead. But before you attempt to open the door (or any door in your house for that matter) you need to pull the gun close to your body so the inside of your wrist is practically touching your rib cage. In other words, instead of having your arm fully extended, your elbow should be bent about 90 degrees. This position gives you more control over the firearm in case someone was to try and reach for it. Another reason you bring the gun in close is so that you don’t accidentally point the gun at your other hand while it’s opening the door.

Assuming the door you’ve approached is on your right, you’ll want to stand against the right side wall, with your gun close to your body, while reaching for the doorknob with your other hand. (Do not stand in the doorway. You should be reaching across while remaining against the wall.) If the door opens away from you then turn the doorknob and give the door a solid push and immediately take a step backward against the right side wall again. If the door opens towards you, pull the door swiftly towards you and again take a step backward.

If you approach a door from the right hand side, take small steps in a semi-circle, until you eventually end up on the left side. Once you’ve accomplished this and have scanned as much of the room as possible, it’s time to enter.

Once you’ve opened the door it’s time to “slice the pie.” This is a method used to clear corners and doorway entrances where you clear each area in small slices. For instance, if you had just pushed your door open and stepped back you would be standing against the right side wall. Obviously, from this position you can’t see into the entire room and you certainly don’t want to take a step into the doorway and fully expose yourself.

So, you would begin to take small side-steps in a semi-circular motion. In other words, if you’re on the right side of the door, you’ll end up on the left side by going in a wide semi-circle around the doorway entrance. Each time you take a side-step, have your body slightly lean in the direction you’re headed so that if an intruder is in the room they will see the muzzle of your gun first and the rest of your body won’t be exposed.

Each time you take a step, give a brief pause so that you can scan as much of the room as possible and you can determine if that part of the room is clear. Once you end up on the left side of the door, you’ve done as much as you can to clear the room from the outside. Also, I realize slicing the pie may seem confusing, so please refer to the diagrams I created, which should make this process clearer.

Don’t forget to have patience while clearing a corner. This is not a time to rush unless a family member is on a lower level and you must immediately reach them.

Now that it’s time to enter the room, you’ll want to quickly step through the doorway and move to the opposite corner. For instance, if you’re entering the doorway from the left side, move to the right corner and give a quick look over your shoulder to make sure nobody’s hiding in the left corner. Don’t forget to check all places an intruder could be hiding such as under a bed, in a closet, under a desk or under any other large object.

Once you’re satisfied the room is clear it’s time to continue moving through your house. The next obstacle you’ll run into is the stairs. But before you just stand at the top of the stairs and make yourself an easy target, you’ll want to slice the pie just as you did with the doorway so you can make sure nobody is waiting at the bottom of the stairs to attack you. Again, start on one side of the wall and take small steps in a semicircle so you can see a little bit more of the stairs each time.

Once you do a full scan of the stairs, make your way down, while at the same time scanning everything you can see. The stairs are a nightmare because you’ve likely got a room entrance at the bottom of the stairs to your left and then you’ve got a large hallway to your right with a number of openings too.

Since there is no way to see into the room on the left while going down the stairs, try and scan as much of the hallway to your right as possible. Once you get to the bottom, slice the pie for the room on your left while constantly glancing over your shoulder to see if anyone is approaching on your right. As you can see, it would be very easy to get ambushed while going down the stairs (which is just one of the many reasons police officers always go in teams of at least two while clearing a house).

Amanda Hanson demonstrates how the gun should be close to the body before attempting to open a door. This helps to prevent someone from grabbing the gun out of your hands. Notice, she also has her finger off the trigger.

You’ll clear the rest of your main floor just as you cleared your top floor when first leaving your bedroom. Every time you come to a corner or a door, you’ll want to slice the pie so you’ll hopefully see the bad guy before he sees you. If you have a basement, you’ll systematically clear it the same way too. Also, remember to have patience throughout this entire process. Each time you take a semi-circular step around a corner or doorway entrance, pause and scan the area from the floor to the ceiling.

Perhaps most importantly, since clearing a house is such a dangerous activity, you need to practice it as often as you can. For example, last month I got back from a ten day vacation in Utah. I knew my house was secure and no alarms had gone off, however, when I got back to my house from the airport I didn’t just rush in and plop myself down on the couch.

Instead, I opened my front door and took a step back and sliced the pie. Next, I cleared my entire house to make sure it was empty. Not only is this good practice, but I had been gone for ten days, so there’s always a possibility someone could have been hiding in my house.

The author’s clearing tools of choice: Glock 19 9mm handgun and SureFire G2X Tactical light.

Another good activity is to practice clearing the house with your spouse or kids. Tell them to go hide somewhere and play a fun game of hide and seek. When you’re searching for them you’ll want to pay attention to see if they see you first or you see them first. Also, if you’re slicing the pie, have them point out the moment they see you or what body part they see first. This will help determine if you’re doing it correctly—the muzzle of the gun is the first thing they should see, not your legs. Obviously, if you do play this game, don’t go around with a real gun. Use your finger or use a plastic training gun instead.

Again, I can’t emphasize enough that clearing a house by yourself is the last thing you want to do. If you still don’t believe me, and you’re the macho type with a huge ego, then play the hide and seek game I mentioned above. After your spouse has surprised and “killed” you for the tenth time, you’ll fully realize that if possible, waiting in your safe room while the police clear the house is the much smarter option.

[ Jason R. Hanson is a former CIA officer and Eagle Scout. He currently runs the Concealed Carry Academy in Fairfax, VA and offers the Ultimate Concealed Carry Experience. For complete details, visit www.ConcealedCarryAcademy.com ]

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In the wake of the shooting spree in Tucson, Ariz., gun sales across the country are soaring. But many first-time and longtime gun owners aren’t aware of an added layer of protection — self-defense insurance, which could save tens of thousands of dollars in court costs.

Many gun owners wrongly assume their homeowner’s insurance policies include self-defense coverage, says John Freeman, a criminal defense attorney in Troy, Mich. There are more than 250 million privately owned firearms in the United States.

“These gun owners are really operating without a net,” Freeman says. “Even if they are defending themselves, there are often (criminal) charges. I think this is an area that’s under-served in the gun community.”

Self-defense insurance is sold by just a handful of companies in the United States, including one insurer endorsed by the National Rifle Association. These policies offer coverage in cases when a gun owner shoots his weapon while defending himself or his property and causes injury or death.

Self-defense insurance can cover legal fees in case a gun owner is sued over injuring or killing someone during an act of self-defense.

In most instances, homeowner’s policies contain a provision that excludes coverage for injury or damage caused intentionally by the insured person, says Steve Mannion, a New Jersey attorney and director of Sheepdog Academy, a firearms training firm. For example, if someone is injured because a gun is accidentally discharged while the owner is cleaning it, the homeowner’s insurance likely would cover it. But if the person intentionally shoots an intruder, most homeowner’s policies wouldn’t pay out, Mannion says.

While not all self-defense cases are deadly, gun owners should brace for criminal charges anytime they brandish a weapon to defend themselves, says Dennis Golden, president of IM-Safe LLC, a self-defense company in Simsbury, Conn.

“As soon as you’re involved in something like this, you’re opening up Pandora’s box,” Golden says. “You need to do anything you can to protect yourself. Bad guys like to sue people.”

Few policies sold

One of the best-known policies for self-defense is provided through the National Rifle Association; that coverage is underwritten by Lockton Affinity of Overland Park, Kan. Of the NRA’s roughly 4 million members, fewer than 10,000 carry this coverage, says Jeff Hewitt, senior vice president at Lockton Affinity, an affiliate of Lockton Cos.

“There’s just an educational hurdle with it,” Hewitt says. “People just think their homeowner’s insurance will cover everything.”

The NRA-endorsed coverage offers a $100,000 policy for $165 a year and a $250,000 policy for $254 a year. The policy pays legal fees for criminal and civil defense as long as the person is not guilty.

In the case of someone found guilty in criminal court, the coverage would not pay criminal or civil legal fees. But if a person is found not guilty, the policy would pay the criminal and civil costs but would not cover settlement of a civil lawsuit.

Other insurance companies have begun selling similar policies. Bill Hopkins, president of MMD Brokers LLC in Albuquerque, N.M., says his firm began selling self-defense insurance policies about 18 months ago. A policy is sold only to someone who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon. MMD Brokers offers one policy with $100,000 in coverage and another policy with $250,000 in coverage.

A case of self-defense

Experts point to a 2006 Iowa Supreme Court case as an example of the need for gun owners to carry self-defense insurance. The court ruled that a mother of three who shot and killed an intruder acted intentionally. Therefore, her homeowner’s and farm insurance policies didn’t have to pay for her defense in a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the intruder’s survivors.

Tracey Roberts was at her home in rural Iowa with her three children on the evening of Dec. 13, 2001. While she was upstairs preparing her 1-year-old daughter for a bath, she heard noises downstairs. When she looked downstairs, she saw two people coming toward her — Dustin Wehde and an unidentified second intruder.

Among the National Rifle Association’s roughly 4 million members, fewer than 10,000 carry self-defense insurance.

Roberts took her 1-year-old into a room where her 11-year-old and 3-year-old sons were watching a video. Roberts was grabbed from behind and pulled into a hallway by the intruders. Wehde and the other intruder then assaulted Roberts. She was choked with pantyhose.

Roberts then woke up on the floor of the guest bedroom. She heard yelling down the hallway and ran toward the noise. Roberts was grabbed again and assaulted by the two intruders, but she freed herself and ran into her bedroom. While Wehde was standing over her and grabbing at her, she opened a gun safe between her bed and dresser and pulled out a 9mm gun. She managed to fire the gun and hit Wehde, who fell to the floor. The other intruder fled the house.

After shooting Wehde, Roberts took the 9mm pistol and a revolver, which also was in the gun safe, and rushed to the bedroom where her children were. The kids were fine. Roberts then saw a figure moving near her bedroom and instructed the figure not to move. The figure continued to move, so Roberts fired a warning shot from the revolver. When the figure kept moving, she fired the revolver several times at the figure. She then closed the bedroom door and went downstairs, where her oldest son called 911.

Wehde died from the gunshot wounds inflicted by Roberts. Roberts was not charged in criminal court. The civil case was dismissed, but she wanted her insurance company to pay her civil legal fees.

The Iowa Supreme Court upheld earlier court rulings that Roberts’ policies with AMCO Insurance Co. and Allied Property and Casualty Insurance Co. would not cover her legal fees because she acted intentionally.

Self-defense insurance facts

What is self-defense insurance? Self-defense insurance typically will cover a person’s legal expenses if he is charged criminally in a self-defense shooting case and is not guilty or the charges are dropped. Some policies also will cover a civil defense, but not all policies will make a payment for a civil settlement.

Where can I get it? It’s typically available from so-called “surplus lines” carriers, which write coverage that isn’t widely available, Hopkins says.

Should I buy this even if I use my gun only for hunting? Insurance companies say that if there’s even a chance you may use the gun for self-defense, you should look at buying a self-defense policy. Hopkins, the president of MMD Brokers, recommends that people who carry concealed weapons give serious consideration to such coverage.

If a homeowner shoots at an intruder because a child of the homeowner is in danger, most self-defense insurance policies won’t pay out.

Can I purchase this in every state? Not necessarily. All states have different rules.

For example, Kentucky and Alaska have restrictions on out-of-state “surplus lines” insurance carriers, says Terry Chodosh, a retired Secret Service agent and president of LEOSA Self Defense Protection in Southern California, which offers self-defense insurance to retired police officers. New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Montana and West Virginia all have rigorous regulations for companies that sell insurance online. California doesn’t even recognize self-defense insurance coverage.

Are there different policies if I’m a retired police officer? Yes, the NRA just launched a special plan for retired officers. Retired police officers can buy a policy with a $25,000 limit for $50 a year. Chodosh’s firm sells plans only to retired cops. Retired officers can buy a $300,000 policy for $250 a year or a $500,000 policy for $300 a year.

Does this insurance cover defense of others? Not usually. These policies typically pay out if the policyholder is defending himself. Mannion, the New Jersey attorney, says that if a homeowner shoots at an intruder because a child of the homeowner is in danger, most self-defense policies won’t pay out.

When does the policy pay out? Most policies won’t pay out until the person is acquitted or the charges are dismissed in court. However, Chodosh’s policy will give an immediate payout of $5,000 once a retired police officer is charged. Again, Chodosh’s policy is available only to retired cops.

Will this cover all of my court costs? Each policy has a maximum coverage, with most policies not exceeding $500,000. The cost of a criminal defense or civil defense can vary widely, Mannion says. He points out that even minor charges can cost up to $90,000 to defend.

Are medical payments included? Not usually, but a few policies do include medical payments. Hopkins’ policy for retired cops will make payouts of up to $10,000 for medical expenses.

Is there a vetting process? All self-defense policies require that the insured person legally possesses a gun. In some instances, stricter rules are in place.

–Lisa Shidler