March 26, 2017 -- A Quick Run Around The Web

"Deputy Uses Distance to Stop Threat"--Active Self Protection (4-1/2 min.)

Alternate title: a pistol beats a sword.

Firearms/Self-Defense:

• "Utah Drops Concealed Carry Age Requirement Down To 18"--Concealed Nation.
• "Why The Gun Is Civilization"--The Munchkin Wrangler. Key point: 

       Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that’s it.

       In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

       When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gangbanger, and a single gay guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.

Persuasion does not necessarily rest on reason: most persuasion is actually emotional. But it is otherwise a good essay. Read the whole thing.

• I found the foregoing essay via a story of its practical application: "The Story of a Gun that Saved Two Lives"--Tin Can Bandit's Gunsmithing. An 87 year old man on oxygen used a revolver to defend he and his daughter from a meth-addled estranged son-in-law.
• "Say 'Hello' to my Little Friend"--Telluric Group. A drill for the snubby revolver or other low capacity firearm, with downloadable target.
• "Beyond the One Percent (part 1)" and "Part 2"--KR Training. Part 1 has some thoughts on firearm ownership versus the number of people that practice regularly or obtain additional training. Part 2 looks at the differing motivation and goals of many shooters, and discusses the various "tribes" within the shooting community. His take away, however, is that "motivating people that aren’t currently interested in doing more than the state’s minimum may require appealing to higher level needs as opposed to a fear-based approach that emphasizes 'safety' as the main reason to attend." There will be additional parts as this series is from a rather long presentation made by the author to the training community.
• "Grip Adjustment"--Stuff from Hsoi. Thoughts on gripping the handgun, including concentrating on using the pinkie finger. 

Other Stuff:

This may become the photo of the year. (Source)

• A recent counter-protest to a Trump rally didn't go so well for Black Bloc members seeking to disrupt the rally. The Black Bloc members attacked, and experienced what it is like when the other side punches back twice as hard and the police aren't protecting them. Several articles (many with some excellent photographs) follow:

• "Three people are arrested after Trump supporters are doused with pepper spray as they clash with protesters during Make America Great Again march in Huntington Beach"--Daily Mail.

• "Trump March, Rally In Huntington Beach Turns Violent As Protesters Attend"--ABC 7.

• "Violence erupts at pro-Trump rally in Huntington Beach"--Los Angeles Times.

• Some additional thoughts from Vox Day.
• More, please: "Shocking video shows a Philadelphia police officer picking up his bike and hitting an anti-Donald Trump protester during a rally"--Daily Mail.
• The science is never settled: "An Unexpected New Lung Function Has Been Found - They Make Blood"--Science Alert. Experiments with mice found that the lungs were responsible for the production of the majority of platelets circulating in the blood.
• OPSEC Alert: "Prosecutors Have Pulled Data From More Than 100 Phones Seized From Inauguration Day Protesters"--Tech Dirt. These are from phones that were all "locked," and there is no indication that law enforcement had any problems with getting to the data. And if law enforcement can do it, be sure that other people or organizations can do so as well.