Pistol Braces For Dummies

Or The ATF Fucks Donkeys

TL;DR - A pistol brace does make the AR-15 a steadier platform when compared to one configured in a manner that literally no one does. 

 The combination of another mass shooting with House hearings on pistol braces has sparked a lot of discussion, mostly between those who don't understand what they are and how they're used.  This will be the abbreviated and simplified version of the story.  I hope you'll find it somewhat useful.

Our story goes all the way back to 1934, when the National Firearms Act was passed.  Firearms subject to the NFA included shotguns and rifles having barrels less than 18 inches (later changed to 16") in length, certain firearms described as “any other weapons,” machine guns, and firearm mufflers and silencers.  The condensed version is it was meant to tightly regulate the weapons favored by gangsters at the time, along with a few others thrown in because who the fuck knows.  In order to legally own one of these items, you were required to have a tax stamp from the ATF.  It's literally a stamp and it cost $200 in 1934, which was a ton of money.  A tax stamp still costs $200 today.  Possessing an item on the naughty list is a felony, with real federal jail time.

Based upon the above criteria, any rifle with a barrel length under 16" (and other criteria I don't care about) is considered a short barreled rifle (SBR).  However, if no stock is present (a bare buffer tube), the gun is considered a pistol.  The only people I've seen shoot a gun with a bare buffer tube are complete dimwits, because you can't hit shit. 

At some point in the past decade or so, a manufacturer designed a pistol brace for use by disabled persons that would allow them to shoot an AR-15 using one arm.  

On the left is a picture of the brace alone with the one below illustrating the proper use of the brace. 

The original manufacturer submitted the design and documentation to the ATF for consideration and received approval.  This arrangement allowed a barrel shorter than 16" to remain categorized as a pistol.  

In reality, while the brace could be used for its intended purpose, it was a workaround to avoid having to register a gun as an SBR and pay $200 each.  Everyone knew it and the ATF even issued an opinion that guns with braces could be "fired from the shoulder occasionally".  And millions of braces are shouldered on the occasion the guns they're on get fired.  

Then came the Boulder supermarket mass murder, where the shooter used an AR-15 with a pistol brace and President Biden lost his shit about it because, being frank, he doesn't know shit about guns.  But he communicated that he wanted them gone.  And so, ATF decided almost overnight, that the device they had approved would be a felony.  We're currently within a 120 day period where brace owners must take action by either surrendering or destroying the brace, or because ATF is so kind, you can register your gun as an SBR.  Obviously, the fourth option is fuck the ATF and continue to use the gun as is.  I've heard some are planning to SBR every fucking gun they own for free, because fuck the ATF.

Does a pistol brace make an AR-15 more lethal by making it a steadier firing platform?  When compared to the pistol arrangement pictured above, absolutely.  However, only complete morons shoot their AR equipped in that manner (with a bare buffer tube).  You know what makes an AR-15 even more steady?  A rifle stock like the one to the left.  You can buy a stock for under $20 and install it on a buffer tube in 15 seconds. That's the real alternative to a pistol brace.   

One might argue that doing so would make the person a felon, by creating an SBR, to which I'd point out, if they're planning on committing mass murder, they probably don't care.  

Oh, if I've been unclear, FUCK THE ATF

This entry is part of my "Gun Series" that focuses on providing insight into the gun debate and gun violence.  You can find the other entries in the series HERE.  

About the author: Sean R is a recovering conservative who owns a consulting firm specializing in strategic marketing.  He's been a competitive shooter since the early 90's and holds a High Master classification in PPC and a Master classification in USPSA.  As an instructor, he taught courses in gun safety and competition.  He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his overly vocal dog, Sadie.

Gun Homicides: The Numbers

Preface:  I'm a shooting enthusiast and competitor who recognizes we have some issues related to them in our country.  As a professional marketing exec, I'm very data driven and make decisions based on facts.  Finally, I'm a marginally talented blogger with some shit to say.  So, digging in to gun related data and writing about guns in general is a natural extension for my blog.  I write about things that interest me and do so for my own enjoyment.  So, I don't have the first clue how to monetize what I've written and have no interest in doing so.  My only goal is those who read my blog feel as though their time was well spent or at least not wasted. 

A word on suicides:  In my opinion, suicides are completely different animals than homicides, because they're self-inflicted.  The motivation for taking your own life is dramatically different from that of taking another's, so I don't include them in my numbers.  

Gun Homicides:  The Numbers
Like most other folks, I hear about the gun violence problem in the media and have become concerned.  We're bombarded by the message that thousands of people are being gunned down in mass shootings every day.  I wanted to understand if this was true or bullshit, so I spent a lot of time slicing, dicing, and validating gun related homicide numbers.  Some of my results can be found in several previous entries, but it's become so spread out, I have difficulty remembering where or if I shared a certain tidbit.  I've decided the stats deserve their own entry that can be referred to as needed and updated as I receive new data.  

I'll begin with some basic data, followed by info on mass events, and finish up with semiautomatic rifles.  I've tried to be light on commentary and heavy on charts and graphs; it's still long.
Sources and methodology are cited at the end to avoid cluttering the thing up.  I apologize that some of the visuals may run large; there's a lot of info.  Also, while I may have a certain position on guns, data doesn't lie.  The material below hasn't been massaged to affect a desired outcome; I've been willing to let it take me wherever the truth lie.  

Chart 1 shows gun related homicides by year, from 1988 through 2021, represented in both absolute numbers as well as per 100k.  You can see the murder rate was much higher in the early 90's, then dropped precipitously until it settled at its lowest between 2009-2014.  From that point onward, it's been on an upward climb.

Chart 1

Chart 2 represents gun ownership versus gun homicides per 100k during the same period.  Gun ownership has only varied by about 24% whereas homicides per 100k has swung more than 50%.  Since 2017, the murder rate has increased 27%, whereas gun ownership is unchanged, save the small dip in 2019.  

Chart 2

Gun Related Homicides by Firearm Type
Table 1 shows gun related homicides by year from 2012 through 2021.  The raw data that came from the FBI included a significant number of "Firearm Not Specified".  This spreadsheet shows how I allocated that chunk across the Handguns, Rifles, and Shotguns (complete methodology at the end).  The FBI has indicated the 2021 figures were understated; apparently, they changed reporting methods and not all LE organizations were signed up yet.  

Table 1

Chart 3 is a visual representation of the data.  NOTE:  Rifles means ALL rifles; assault rifles will be a subset of that number and addressed below. 

Chart 3

Table 1.5 is a clean version of the calculations in Table 1, with the addition of homicides committed by all other weapons, for context.  Apologies if it's a bit of an eye chart.

Table 1.5

Mass Murders / Mass Homicides and Mass Shootings

The figures below use the FBI's definition for mass homicides and the generally accepted definition of mass shooting.  I previously devoted an entry to the topic which you can find HERE.    As you'll see, the number of fatalities from mass events is a pretty small chunk of the total.  They fluctuate between 1.6 - 4.2% of total gun related homicides.  Mass murders run between 0% and 0.7% of gun related homicides.  

Table 2 shows the stack up of mass shootings, mass murders, and others by year.  Chart 4 shows the same data in, you guessed it, in a graphical format.    

I must admit to being surprised, when I put this data together for the first time.  We've been conditioned to believe a false reality.

Table 2

Chart 4

AR-15's

Everyone wants to see the data on AR-15's because it's the evil black rifle and kills a small town every week.  I have a feeling some are in for a bit of disappointment.  The data for mass murders is known, whereas the percentage of the whole has been calculated, using the best logic I could conjure while on the throne.  I outline the methodology below.

NOTE:  For mass homicides, I've lumped all semiautomatic rifles together in the AR-15 bucket.  This  consolidates a bit of a spread out category, so I'm not forced to break out AK47's, SKS's, AR-10's, etc.  Also, it would be intellectually dishonest not to do so.  For reference, the number of incidents since 2000 would have dropped from 35 to 25, with the number of fatalities going from 413 to 295. 

Since we're talking about mass events, I'll start there.  

Graph A shows the breakdown of fatalities in mass murders by use of AR's versus other guns.  The AR number is much smaller than many think it is.  Note that it didn't become popular until very recently; many believe its use began to spike immediately following the Assault Weapons Ban's sunset.  You can clearly see the impact of the Pulse Nightclub in 2016.  In 2017, the numbers were particularly high as well, due to the Vegas Strip and Texas First Baptist killings.    

Table A provides the detail, except I limited it to the last ten years.  

Graph A

Table A

School Mass Homicides using AR-15's, while horrifying, aren't as common as some would lead you to believe.  There have been five of them.

1989    Stockton Schoolyard Shooting                    6 fatalities

2012    Sandy Hook Elementary                              27 fatalities  
2018    Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School    17 fatalities
2022    Robb Elementary, Uvalde                            21 fatalities

2023    Nashville Covenant School                          6 fatalities

There have been 15 school mass homicides where an AR-15 (or similar) wasn't used, with a total of 126 fatalities.

(updated 3/27/23)  

AR-15:  Overall Impact

Finally, let's circle back to where we started and revisit the overall numbers.  Table B below has the same data as Table 1.5, except I've broken the rifle numbers into AR and non-AR homicides.  The breakout numbers are calculated; methodology at the bottom.  The numbers are inflated, in my opinion, but I wanted to avoid claims I was working an agenda.  Graph B is the visual representation of the chart.  Note how other homicide methods compare to the AR-15.  More people are killed with knives and blunt objects per year than semiautomatic rifles.  On a positive note, fewer people are being strangled to death every year. Again, apologies for the eyechart.

 

Table B

Graph B

One omission some may identify in these numbers is the category of school shootings.  While I think school shootings are particularly heinous, there's no solid data on them, beyond the mass murders I mention above.  The listings of school shootings I've reviewed are rather broad in their definition of what a school shooting is, perhaps to boost the numbers in support of a particular narrative.  To me, a school shooting is when an outsider or student enters the school with the intent of killing others.  Someone being shot in a school parking lot at midnight or a student accidentally firing the gun in their backpack are not school shootings.  Unless a solid data source comes my way, I prefer to avoid the topic altogether, from an analysis perspective.  

Sources:
Chart 1 & 2:  CDC data, Violence Policy Center: Gun Ownership in America, November 2022

Table 1 & 1.5 and Chart 3:  Homicide data - FBI

Table 2 and Chart 4:  CDC, Gun Violence Archive, Mother Jones mass murder database

If you pick through the various FBI pages, you can find the old spreadsheets, such as the one I used as my base.  However, a few years ago, they migrated to a crime explorer that sucks, because you can't mass download data.  https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/webapp/#/pages/home

My data is a combination of spreadsheets I'd downloaded as well as hand copying data from the explorer.

Mass murder data - Mother Jones Database

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/12/mass-shootings-mother-jones-full-data/

Note: MJ includes mass events with 3 fatalities to be a mass murder versus the FBI's definition of 4 fatalities.  My version of the database has been scrubbed accordingly.  

Mass shooting data - Gun Violence Archive

https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/

Methodology:

Table 1 - You can see where I tried to integrate what was in the "Firearms, type not stated" bucket, which represented a not insignificant number.  For example, it was 3,300 in 2019.  The logic I used was if handguns represent X percent of the grand total, then I'll consider handguns to be X percent of the Not Stated as well.  I did the same with rifles and shotguns.  There are still a lot of "other" guns unaccounted for, but I didn't want to run the risk of skewing the data in such a way to make it not meaningful, if my logic was wrong. 

Table 1.5 includes my numbers calculated in Table 1, along with a pure extract of straight FBI data.

Graph 2 - CDC data

Table 2 - Because GVA's mass shooting number includes the MJ mass homicide number:
Total homicides - mass shootings = non mass events (other)

Mass shootings (GVA) - mass homicides (MJ) = true mass shootings

Chart 4 - data came directly from Mother Jones Mass Shooting database.  

Table B - AR-15 related fatalities were calculated in the following manner:

        AR Fatalities = 

        Total Rifle fatalities - 100 to account for hunting accidents; AR's are rarely used in hunting

        Subtotal x .7 (which I think is being incredibly generous)

        + Fatalities from mass murders where AR-15 was present

    

4/23/23 Update

A note on datasets:  I've been relying exclusively on data from the FBI for overall numbers as well as breakdowns by weapon type.  However, they freely admit to screwing the pooch on implementation of a new reporting platform in 2021, noting the numbers for that year are understated.  Furthermore, they don't make their historical data available.  The dataset that everyone uses for their analysis comes from the CDC, but their numbers are 25% higher than the FBI's, until 2019.  Seriously, CDC's top line is exactly 25% higher than the FBI's from 2012 through 2018.  In 2018, the gap jumps to 29%, increasing to 33% in 2020.  A gap pegged at 25% says to me that one of the sources is bullshit and fudged upward or downward, but neither shares their methodology, so identifying the bullshit source is beyond my capabilities.  Therefore, going forward, I'll be using CDC data for top line numbers and FBI stats for their breakout of gun type and consider both to be bullshit, but they're what's available, kids.  

This entry is part of my "Gun Series" that focuses on providing insight into the gun debate and gun violence.  You can find the other entries in the series HERE.  

About the author: Sean R is a recovering conservative who owns a consulting firm specializing in strategic marketing.  He's been a competitive shooter since the early 90's and holds a High Master classification in PPC and a Master classification in USPSA.  As an instructor, he taught courses in gun safety and competition.  He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his overly vocal dog, Sadie.

The AR-15

I've written about the AR-15 multiple times, but always dribs and drabs within an entries of greater scope.  In the interest of consolidation, I've decided to pull everything together into one entry that'll be easier to find.    

Garden Variety AR-15 with 16" Barrel

Some History

Eugene Stoner designed the AR-15 back in the late fifties as a military rifle.  It went nowhere until the early 60's, when a derivative, the M-15, was finally adopted by the US armed forces.   The main difference between the two were the firing mechanisms.  The M-16 was a select fire weapon, meaning it could fire in semiautomatic mode (one shot per trigger pull) or fully automatic mode (the gun would continue to fire as long as the user kept the trigger pressed).  Yet another derivative of the platform remains as the standard rifle for our current armed forces, the M-4.  Again, the main difference lies in the fire control mechanism.  Full auto is hard to shoot accurately and sucks for trying to hit multiple baddies.  So, the M-4 removed that capability in favor of a three round burst; basically full auto but only three rounds at a time.  

The AR-15 was designed to fire the .223 cartridge, although that was updated to the 5.56 x 45 (bullet diameter and case length in mm), which operates at a slightly higher pressure.  Going forward, I'll refer to this cartridge simply as the 556.  The 556 was adopted by NATO as their standard rifle cartridge.  The AR-15 can also fire the 300 Blackout cartridge, which was developed for special forces specifically to be suppressed.  All it takes is a barrel change.  

Even though the AR originally stood for Armalite Rifle (named for the company Stoner developed it with), the patents ran out in the 1970's, allowing others to build the guns.  However, even as late as 2000, there were still only three manufacturers building the gun in any quantity.  There wasn't sufficient civilian demand (prior to the AWB) for any others to tool it up.  In other words, no one wanted them.  On a side note, a gun isn't an "AR Style" rifle; it's either an AR or not.  Same as a four door sedan automobile; it is or it isn't.  

Having been adopted by NATO, military use alone has made the AR-15 the most popular rifle in history, but it's also become incredibly popular with the civilian market, post AWB.  

There is also an AR-10 platform, which looks identical to the AR-15, but was designed for accommodate the much larger 7.62 x 51 (mm) cartridge.  It's a beefier rifle, but there are still a number of common parts between the two sisters.  

Stripped AR-15 Lower Receivers; these are considered firearms

Why is the AR-15 platform popular in the civilian market?  

Here's my own list of factors:

- The AR-15 platform is very user friendly with a high level of reliability.  

- It's fun to shoot - I've shared this before, but I dated three women (one became my now ex-wife) who were vehemently against the evil AR-15 being on the civilian market.  (I tend to date left leaning women; they're smarter and more attractive)  I told each one they weren't allowed to have an opinion on the rifle until they shot one.  I loaded each one up and took them to my club (after providing them with safety instructions, of course), where I allowed them to shoot my AR as much as they wanted.  After shooting the gun, each one asked, "when can we go again?'

- Low cost of entry and feeding - You can buy a complete AR-15 rifle for $550 as of March 2023.  You won't find another semiautomatic rifle for less, except perhaps a garbage surplus SKS.  You can buy a 9mm semiautomatic pistol for less ($300 and up), but a 45 ACP gun will cost at least as much as an AR.  On the ammunition side, according to Ammoseek.com, 556 ammo can be purchased for as low as $.30 per round, at the moment.  Before the pandemic, it was closer to $.20.  For comparison, 9mm is around $.20 / round, 45 ACP is $.31, and 7.62x51 (the next most popular rifle cartridge) is $.65 per round.  Worth noting is these are rock bottom prices and apply to lower quality ammo you wouldn't want to put through my guns.  Much of the ammo's low cost can be attributed to the 556's NATO standardization, meaning it's the caliber that's used by almost all NATO militaries and many others.  Therefore, there's a LOT of it being manufactured, which drives down costs.  I've become fond of the ammo that comes out of Israel, because of its quality and accuracy. 

-The 556 NATO round is inherently accurate; with a quality barrel and ammo, it'll put 5 rounds in a group the size of a quarter at 100 yards.  In fact, the round is good out to 600 yards and beyond.  I have an AR-15 built specifically for bench rest shooting and with the scope, weighs enough you'd never be able to use it as a battle rifle. 

Benchrest Competition AR-15

- Light recoil.  Properly tuned, the gun barely pushes back when you pull the trigger.  In other words, it's easily used by all shapes and sizes of shooters.

- High capacity - while the standard mags hold 30 rounds, there are also some that hold 100 rounds.

- Joe Biden's Assault Weapons Ban -  Nothing makes people want something quite as much as telling them they can't have it.   

- Interest in military weapons and equipment

- Infinite customization makes the platform incredibly versatile - With an AR, you have options galore.  Barrel lengths from 7-20", different handguards, multiple types of triggers to choose from, numerous sighting options, from basic iron sights to holographic to a regular rifle scope. As an example, a quick check of an AR specialist online retailer shows approximately 480 different available hand guard options (!).  Because the parts are all built to one basic specification, building a rifle is pretty easy for anyone with some basic gunsmithing tools and a technical aptitude.  It can also be a lower cost option.  I built all of my own AR's.  

The danger of this configurability is the AR-15 is essentially Lego for grownups, and you can find yourself in a never ending cycle of upgrades.  Because individual upgrades aren't insanely expensive ($550 for an Eotech sight on the high side), it's easy to invest a large sum of money without realizing it.  A personal example would be the AR I built for $600.  I began upgrading and now have close to $5k into the gun, not including tax stamps; there are only two parts from the original are still on the gun.  I built another gun with the spares.     

Top tip:  Never total up what you spend on these guns; you don't want to know.

AR-15 "Backpack Gun" with folding stock

Why does anyone need an AR-15?

First off, I hate that question, because it's dumb.  No one needs an AR-15 any more than they need a Porsche.  However, these guns are particularly suited to certain purposes, just like Porsches, so that's the question I'll answer.

Again, here's my own list of applications where the AR-15 excels:  

- Certain types of hunting, such as for feral hogs.  These are an invasive species and do a great deal of damage to crops, livestock, etc. so killing them is encouraged wherever they exist.  In some parts of the country (i.e. Texas), they've reached infestation levels, which means if you find one, there are frequently several more in the bush ready to charge you, which they frequently do.  Plenty of videos on Youtube on the subject.  A semiautomatic rifle with high capacity helps the hog hunter take the animal as well as protect themselves from its friends.  

- Home defense - Some may think an AR-15 is overkill for home defense, but it's a solid option for a few reasons.  First, the 556 round is less prone to overpenetration of walls than most pistol cartridges.  In other words, it's safer; you're less likely to have rounds leaving the room / house, should you miss your intended target.  Second, if you hear someone busting down your door at 4 a.m. it's better to stay put and defend your bedroom, versus try to clear your house.  There's no better solution for a "last stand" gun than one that offers 30 rounds (or more) of serious stopping power.*  Of course, that's because it's difficult to buy a Howitzer as a civilian. 

- Competition - If you shoot sports such as 3 Gun (where pistols, rifles, and shotguns are used throughout the matches), without an AR, you're just participating and not competing.    

- General range use - As noted, it's one of the lowest cost rifles to buy and feed, plus it's fun to shoot.  Buying a different rifle or even handgun would cost you more and not be as fun, so why would you do such a thing? 

Example Application

It's true that AR-15's aren't the only option for some of these tasks, but it's frequently the best one.  

I'll use home defense as an example.  Aside from the AR, there are three options for this purpose.   

Handgun - The only handguns with sufficient stopping power to make an aggressor cease RIGHT NOW are those that shoot magnum rounds (i.e. 44 magnum), which have a lot more recoil, lower capacity (most are 6 shot revolvers), and are harder to shoot accurately under stress.  These guns are not easily used by all shooters.  Also, reloading a revolver takes a lot of time, versus a gun with a box magazine.  You could choose a less brutal caliber, such as 9mm with a box magazine, but stopping power would be significantly compromised.  All of these options easily pass through walls.

Another rifle - Because there aren't many rifle caliber options with lower power than a 556, a larger caliber would be required.  The most common are 7.62x39 or 7.62x55, which would have amazing stopping power.  However, trust me that you don't want to fire one of these guns indoors; it would feel like a Norse god was seeking vengeance.  Also, the gun itself would be much heavier, with significantly more recoil, blinding muzzle blast, and lower capacity.  Like the handguns, these rounds easily pass through walls.  There is the option to go with 300 Blackout, which is less powerful, yet still offers solid stopping power; but you're still shooting an AR-15.  FWIW, my home defense gun is an AR chambered in 300 Blackout, with a suppressor.

Shotgun - The old saying goes that nothing stops a home invader in their tracks like the sound of a shotgun being racked.  Regardless, a shotgun holds fewer rounds, takes a long time to reload, has much greater recoil (12 gauge), and is loud as hell.  This is another option that's not so user friendly to novice shooters.  Also, your home defense gun should always have a round chambered, which means you won't make the cool noise in the first place.  

Any of these three will likely prevent an attacker from harming you, but the AR-15 is the best option. Some may think this to be overkill; that the likelihood of experiencing a home invasion is infinitesimally small.  The truth is it isn't overkill and the likelihood of you being a victim of a home invasion isn't zero.  The only home defense activity the AR falls short on is maneuverability and concealability, just like shotguns and other rifles.  Only experts can navigate through a house with a rifle.  Check that, only experts should try to clear their house, regardless.  The concealment comes into play when someone rings your doorbell at 3 a.m.  At that hour, there's a much higher potential the person isn't a welcome guest.  But you don't want to freak friendlies out with a rifle slung across chest.  So, I bring along a handgun.  One night, my neighbor was close to shitting himself when he saw the pistol I had hidden behind my back.  

I encourage you to read my blog about shot placement and cartridge stopping power here for additional context.  

How Evil Is The AR-15?

...and how many people has the platform killed?  The rifles haven't killed anyone, so I'll focus on how many homicides in which they were used as the murder weapon.  

Starting with mass murders, since 1990, AR's were used in 34 incidents through 2022, resulting in 402 fatalities.  There were 74 incidents where an AR wasn't used, resulting in 542 fatalities.  The tide has turned since 2018, with AR's used in 17 incidents resulting in 151 fatalities, versus 14 incidents where other guns were used, resulting in 95 fatalities.  Since 1989 (when the database began tracking mass murders), AR-15's were used in incidents resulting in a total of 417 fatalities.  Again, mass murder data.   

Rather than continue to vomit numbers, I suggest you check out my entry that's devoted to charts, graphs, with a bit of analysis.   Gun Homicides:  The Numbers.  You'll see that AR's are used for X% of all homicides.

So, for those who remain unconvinced the AR isn't the mass murderer it isn't, I'll finish up with some thoughts on how many lives would be saved, were the AR banned.  Should it magically disappear, a large portion of the shootings where it's used would take place, except with different guns.  For the sake of argument, I'll go with a 45% reduction in deaths.  That brings the number of lives saved to 1,094 again, for the past DECADE.  

It may seem cavalier to minimize a thousand lives saved, but it really is a drop in the bucket, when viewed within the context of overall gun related homicide, which accounted for one hundred THOUSAND deaths over the same decade.  

This brings us back to those whose absolute focus is to ban the platform.  They clearly don't care about decreasing gun violence, because doing so wouldn't make a dent, not to mention, banning would flat out not happen, as I wrote about HERE.  

Oh, the rifle isn't evil, just scary to some. 

This entry is part of my "Gun Series" that focuses on providing insight into the gun debate and gun violence.  You can find the other entries in the series HERE.  

About the author: Sean R is a recovering conservative who owns a consulting firm specializing in strategic marketing.  He's been a competitive shooter since the early 90's and holds a High Master classification in PPC and a Master classification in USPSA.  As an instructor, he taught courses in gun safety and competition.  He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his overly vocal dog, Sadie.

Stopping Power, Shot Placement, and Other Basics

 When discussing defensive gun use, there are a number of crucial factors that can't be covered in a tweet.  This entry will touch on the ones I find important, with the intent of providing practical knowledge to the non-shooter (and novice shooters).  This entry is a companion piece to the others in my gun series, particularly as it applies to the AR-15.  What it isn't is legal advice.  Always practice proper gun safety and know the laws in your area regarding protecting yourself with a firearm.  

It's 3:30 a.m. and you're fast asleep in your bed with your model wife, when you're awakened by what's definitely the sound of your front door being crashed in.  You're walking back to your car, after an amazing dinner out with your model wife, when you're confronted by three men, one holding a gun.  In both instances, you've made your attackers aware you have a gun, and they haven't run off.  Frequently, that's all it takes to stop an attacker, but not in these cases.  You're being forced to use your firearm for defensive use.  What are some of the things you need to consider?

Shot Placement
Where are you going to aim your gun, when you pull the trigger?  Maybe you want to avoid killing your attacker, so you'll aim for their leg.  Or you want to end the confrontation by putting a bullet in your attacker's head.  Before you answer, let me tell you what your body's doing in the moment before you pull the trigger.  Under such a life or death situation, your body is pumping a shitload of adrenalin into your system.  Adrenaline is an amazing substance and assists with energy, rapid decision making, and other critical activities during a life or death situation.  At this moment, your fine motor skills are completely destroyed and you have tunnel vision.  Unless you're in Delta, the right answer to the question you'll aim for center mass.  Attempting to hit a specific part of your attacker will result in missing it, so you aim for the largest portion of your attacker's body, the torso.  

Stopping Power - It's All About Trauma
You've fired a controlled pair of rounds into the attacker's chest, but it hasn't phased them.  They're continuing their attack and now, you're panicking.  Two more rounds haven't had any more impact on the bad guy than the first two.  This scenario isn't uncommon, believe it or not.  When a bad guy is shot by a handgun in the movies, they mostly drop dead on the spot.  However that rarely happens in real life.  Remember the adrenaline pumping through your body?  It's happening to the bad guy too and acting to suppress the pain from being shot; there may be additional substances coursing through their body further assisting in that action.  There have been studies of shooting victims, where a large portion reported not even being aware they were shot until someone pointed it out.  

In order to stop an attacker with your gun, one of three things must happen.  Sufficient trauma must be done to their body to make it stop working.  The "electrics" or "hydraulics" must be rendered inoperable.  This of course, assumes the attacker didn't run away when the bullets began to fly his way.  

"Electrics" refer to the brain sending signals to the rest of the body.  A successful head shot will stop those signals and end the fight immediately.  "Hydraulics" refer to blood being pumped by the heart and a direct hit will also end the fight rather quickly.  Again, very difficult shots to make under pressure.

That leaves us with trauma.  How much trauma is required and where?  How does a bullet create trauma?  As I mentioned, my example of the bad guy continuing their attack even after being hit by four rounds is real.  There have been numerous documented (and recorded) instances of people being killed by attackers full of 9mm hollow point ammo in their chest.  The attackers mostly died, after the fact, but in the fight, their body didn't tell them they were dead.  

I'll start with how a bullet creates trauma.  When a bullet hits a human, it creates a permanent wound channel similar in size to the bullet's diameter.  However, there's also a shock wave created by the bullet which results in a temporary wound channel.  The size of this trauma depends on bullet type and energy delivered.  Ammunition manufacturers develop their defense products to maximize both of these via a bullet design with a hollow point, which mushrooms as it travels within the target.  Under ideal circumstances, a hollow point bullet can expand to twice its diameter.  Their goal is to put as much of the round's muzzle energy to use creating trauma as possible and penetrate 12" in ballistic gelatin.  

Hollow point bullets after expansion

In the case of rifle ammunition, these wound channels are more dependent on muzzle energy bullet design.  Some rounds, such as 556 NATO will tumble through the body, creating a massive wound channel.  You may notice rifle ammo utilizing hollow point bullets, but that's solely for improved accuracy; they don't expand. 

Firing rounds into ballistic gelatin is a standard practice of measuring these cavities.

Simulated wound cavities with various handgun rounds

Simulated wound cavity with 556 NATO ammo

With exceptions of head shots or a lucky kneecap shot, most handgun rounds don't create sufficient trauma to guarantee an immediate cessation of an attack.  However, by virtue of the energy it delivers, a single rifle round will literally destroy the part of the body where it hits, often rendering the attacker's body inoperable.  The picture above illustrates this perfectly.  In some cases, the lack of power of something like a 9mm can be overcome with the sheer volume of fire from modern pistols, which can hold 19 rounds or more.  

Ballistic Performance Data for Various Cartridges

Cartridge and Gun Choice

Returning to your situation, did you choose wisely, when you bought your carry gun?  When deciding on what cartridge and gun combination to rest your life on, always choose the most powerful (creates the most trauma) option that fits within the form factor as dictated by your circumstances.  Your choice during the summer, when concealing a large gun is almost impossible, will be different than what you choose for winter, when almost any gun will disappear under a heavy coat.  Obviously, concealment isn't relevant for home defense use.  

There are also other consideration that come into play with specific cartridges.  For example, going down the list, we can immediately cross off 7.62x51 and 44 Magnum as viable defensive cartridges.  They're so brutal and you'd regret using either as a home defense gun due to how loud they are as well as the muzzle flash.  Certain cartridges were optimized for specific minimum barrel lengths.  556 NATO requires at least a 12" barrel in order to stabilize the bullet, but its performance suffers in anything under 14.5", so you're stuck with a long gun (for home defense, obviously).   It's also particularly loud, so a suppressor is almost mandatory, making the gun even longer.  I own a 556 gun with a 10" barrel and it's a certified fire breather, sounding like the god of thunder when I shoot it.  However, 300 Blackout was designed to be shot through an 8" barrel, which makes for a smaller package as a home defense gun.  

Let's not forget safety.  Even the weakest handgun rounds will over penetrate through walls like they weren't even there, which can endanger others in the home or even the neighbors.  The most extreme example happened with a friend who was shot with a 22 Long Rifle (100 ft. lbs.) through a two inch thick oak door!  Bullets from 556 and 300 Blackout aren't very good at penetrating sheetrock (walls) and tend to stay in the room they're fired in.

Ultimately, the 556 NATO definitely represents the most potent, safest home defense round, when packaged in an AR-15.  The same can be said if you carry a gun in your vehicle for emergencies.  It will end any bad guy or mob's aggression in a hurry.

My own choices are 38 Super for personal defense and 300 Blackout as a home defense round. My logic is what I lose in performance versus the 556, I gain in the smaller form factor and not blowing out my hearing (even with a silencer, 556 is still loud indoors).  

By no means are my choices the best for everyone.  There are any number of combinations and calibers that will do the job.  There are many that have a 9mm pistol for everything and that's fine. 

This entry is part of my "Gun Series" that focuses on providing insight into the gun debate and gun violence.  You can find the other entries in the series HERE.  

About the author: Sean R is a recovering conservative who owns a consulting firm specializing in strategic marketing.  He's been a competitive shooter since the early 90's and holds a High Master classification in PPC and a Master classification in USPSA.  As an instructor, he taught courses in gun safety and competition.  He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his overly vocal dog, Sadie.

Epstein and Justice For Dummies

Whenever the GQP is on the back foot over allegations of wrongdoing, there seems to be a renewed interest in the Epstein case by the right wing looneys.  The motivation is obvious, because the alleged list includes many influential democrats.  The looneys scream for justice because no one's been arrested except for Jeff and Ghislaine.  More accurately, they get themselves all lathered up over putting some democrats in jail.  I've decided to explain the reality of the situation, best I can, once and for all.

First, the list is bullshit.  You can tell this by how it grows each time it reappears; hell, I think the latest one has Franklin Roosevelt on it.  Also, there's literally no base evidence from which to compile it; it lacks any sort of provenance.  Again, bullshit.  

Second, even if we enter the right wing looney fantasy world and consider the list real, it literally proves nothing beyond these people visited the island.  

It would require one to be a complete fucking moron to think charges would be filed, much less a court convicting someone based on their name appearing on a fucking list of visitors.

What would be required is actual evidence of wrongdoing.  This means eyewitness accounts, victim testimony, video evidence, etc.  Even better to have testimony from the victims themselves, that the defendant hurt them while they were underage.  But this apparently doesn't exist.  Beyond the pedo pair, only perp I'm aware of the victim testifying against them is Prince Andrew.  Again, NO FUCKING EVIDENCE of a crime occurring.  Perhaps some exists, but it hasn't been revealed and I refuse to speculate.  

The best part about the right wing looney fantasy is they're all for punishing the shit out of someone whose name is on a list, but vehemently deny their Cheeto Face Idol was involved, despite the numerous photos of him with Epstein.  If there was a person who'd want to visit the island, it's Trump. Considering his obsession with his daughter, it wouldn't surprise me if Epstein had an Ivanka lookalike just for the bastard.  If the list represents flight manifests, Trump wouldn't show up, because he'd insist on flying his jet powered whore house.  

Others who'd fly their private jets would be Bill Gates and Oprah; they're much nicer than Epstein's.  I'm sure there are others on the list who own jets as well, but I'm not inclined to go through it again.  None of these would appear on the bullshit manifest list, either.   

In summary, those who think the list they've seen is real are gullible fucking morons.  Likewise, those angry no charges have been filed are again, total fucking morons.  Use your brains, idiots.  

Thanks for reading!

An Evening With His Toy

 Warning:  This post is definitely NSFW and contains explicit descriptions of sexual intercourse between two consenting partners along with mild BDSM themes.  If either offends you, please close the window.  If you are under the age of 18, please close the window.  If you are named Jason, please close the window.  

Below is a true story about one particular evening with a former sub of mine.  She was fun.  

Per his instructions, she rang the doorbell at exactly eight p.m.  Looking through the side glass of the door, he could see her standing in her tie closure spring coat, with her conservative knee length skirt and flats; she exuded confidence.  To anyone who passed by, she looked all the part of the accomplished university professor she was, the epitome of prim and proper.  Well, a very attractive university professor.  At just under five feet tall, and weighing ninety pounds on an off day, she was petite in every way.  Most of her friends knew her for her keen intellect, endless optimism, and joie de vivre.  Only he knew of her other side; the side he created at her request.  He opened the door and she glided past him, not stopping until reaching the great room.  Catching up to her, he helped her with her coat.  Her attire underneath was a pleasant surprise; she wore a flowered, yet completely transparent top, her pert breasts unspoiled by a bra.  She knew he loved such surprises and did her best to please him, because that was her job.  She was his dirty slut, his property, and she took that role very seriously.  

As he admired her form beneath the gauzy material, he took note that her nipples already resembled little pebbles, in anticipation of what was to come.  He had a few twists to throw her way tonight that would excite her that much more.  Some nights would involve reminding her of her place, which would find her being shoved her to her knees and made to worship his cock, right in the foyer.  When she misbehaved, he would order her to finish him there, then turn her around and push her back out the door.  That always left her feeling both used and unfulfilled and she loved it.  But not tonight; he would put his toy to proper use.

As always, he offered her a glass of wine, knowing full well her Muslim beliefs would prevent her from accepting.  It always struck him that she refused to imbibe, yet welcomed, no, demanded the decidedly non-traditional treatment he would be subjecting her to shortly.  They sat on the sofa, chatting about this and that.  He enjoyed their interaction and could find an evening of deep conversation with her fulfilling on its own.  While they talked, he could see her become physically unsettled to the point where suddenly, she became the aggressor, straddling, then wrapping her arms around him and kissing him passionately.  Her body was giving off the unmistakable message of 'take me to bed and fuck the hell out of me'.  While such behavior was not in line with their roles, he very much did appreciate an aggressive woman, on occasion.

He grabbed her hair and yanking her head back, admonished 'not so fast, you seem to have forgotten something.  We'll take it to the bedroom.'

She was well acquainted with the most direct route and eagerly led the way, like a child who wants her parents to catch up so they can get on the roller coaster.  She stopped in the large, open area of his bedroom, and stood there, looking at him intently.  She knew what was expected of her, but being manhandled by him turned her on more than if she'd done it of her own volition.  A few seconds later, she got her wish, as he roughly shoved her to her knees. 

'You know you need to prove your worthiness as my whore and possession, before I touch you.  Now get to it.'

He barely got the words out before her hands were on his zipper, extracting his hardening cock.  She was on fire tonight and dispensed with the tease, instead devouring him to the root.  

'You've become such a good little cocksucker.  Perhaps I should share you with a few of my young subordinates, so you can show off your skills.'

She knew he was creating a mood and that he understood such an act was a bridge too far for her, for now.  That didn't prevent her from gushing a little over the thought of being used by multiple men.  And she really was proud of how well she'd learned to service a man, since he took ownership of her.  

Her eyes were glazed over with pure lust as she worked his now rock hard manhood with her lips, tongue, and hands.  He could see she was in her own world of desire and had to snap her back to reality, before she brought him to the point of no return.  She had become such a cum slut, that he barely recognized the naïve woman he'd begun training a few short months ago, incapable of providing a a pleasurable blowjob.   

He grabbed her arm, yanked her to her feet, then roughly shoved her, face down, on the bed.  Moving forward until he trapped her with his body, he snarled, 'God, you're such a whore...you come over here just to have my cock in you.  And you won't be happy unless you leave with my hot cum somewhere inside you.  Even if you didn't want it, I own you and can take whatever I wish.'

With that, he flipped up her skirt and shoved his cock inside her.  To someone observing the scene, it would genuinely appear as though she was being taken against her will, particularly the way he had to force himself inside her.  The truth was that this woman was petite in more than just stature and was always a tight fit.  Penetration took a bit of effort, even when she was soaked, as she was now.

Once inside, he began to slam himself into her, fucking her hard and fast, making sure to hold the angle he knew ravaged her sensitive g-spot.  She howled with pleasure as he took her.  It turned her on so much when her owner took what he wanted, her helpless to resist.  She could only let herself be in this position with a man she trusted completely, and her owner had earned that trust in spades.  

He grabbed her hair and yanked her head up so he could speak right into her ear.  

'Everyone else sees you as a respected university professor, but only I know what a slut you are.  What would your colleagues think if they discovered what you've become?  A dirty little plaything, who lives to be used like a whore, however I want, then tossed away until I wish to use you again.  You're nothing but a fuck toy.'

He kept hammering her, alternating between spanking her ass, pulling her hair, shoving her face into the bed, and twisting her arm around her back as he degraded her.  Each move was more extreme than the one before and he knew he was causing her pain.  This pleased him, not because he was a sadist, but because he knew pain, and lots of it, heightened her pleasure.  He derived pleasure from taking his lover places she'd never been before and pushing her limits.  Once again, he thought how reckless he had been, neglecting to establish a safe word, but such a precaution always proved unnecessary.  No matter how brutal he was with her, she always wanted more.  

'What are you?'

'I'm your whore...all of my holes belong to you.'

'And when can I use them?'

'Whenever you want!  I belong to you!'

She screamed nonstop as he pounded her and would orgasm every time he told her what a whore she was.  After he felt she'd been properly fucked in that position, he waited until he felt her building to another orgasm, then pulled out and told her to finish getting undressed.

She was frustrated and completely on fire, but she didn't dare complain.  She knew he wasn't done using her.  But she needed to cum, just the same...now.

'Lie on your back with your legs spread apart, like a good slut.  You know...your natural position in a bed.'

She complied.

'I think it's time for you to demonstrate what I've taught you about your body', he said as he sat down in a large leather chair in the corner.  'Show me that you know how to make yourself orgasm.  Give your owner a bit of a show, like a good girl.'

And like a good little fuck toy, she began rubbing her fingers around the lips of her battered pussy.   She maintained intense eye contact with her lover as the pleasure began to wash over her.  As much as she wanted to give him a proper spectacle, she needed a release.  With that, her opening act ended and she drove two fingers deep inside her sex, working her g-spot vigorously until her hips spasmed in climax.

After her body relaxed, she had a contented expression on her face and beckoned him to the bed.  Once he climbed in, she acted as like a sleepy kitten and snuggled up to her owner.  He held her and delivered kindness, a little laughter, and tenderness.  He hadn't yet heard the word aftercare. 

As they chatted, he saw she had something on her mind and looked at her with an expression that told her to just tell him.  In a barely audible and timid voice, she asked 'will you..to my butt tonight?'  He'd introduced her to anal sex a few encounters ago and she found she loved it better than vaginal intercourse.  

'You want me to fuck your ass?'

She nodded.

'If you want me to fuck your ass, you need to ask properly and not like an innocent little girl.  You're so far from innocent at this point...'  Chuckling, he let the remainder of the sentence hang unfinished.  

She looked him in the eye and said, 'Will you please fuck my ass tonight, sir?'

'Much better.'

With that, they began to kiss passionately, him holding her tightly, occasionally nibbling at her tiny neck.  Without much in the way of conscious thought or intent, he found himself inside her again, and rolled so she could ride him.  This was one of his favorite positions, because he could watch her pretty face, as she rode him.  It also allowed access to twist her nipples and give her the pleasure pain she craved.  

That reminded him of one of the presents he'd bought for her, and rolled over far enough to retrieve it from the bedside table.  She watched him as he brought the devices up and attached them to her nipples.  She breathed in quickly from the pain and thought to herself, 'Fuck, they hurt...it feels so good!'

'Thank you sir...I love them.'

With that, she began riding him in earnest.  The clamps hurt so good and he would occasionally apply downward pressure to the chain running between them, to further heighten her sensation.  She howled in both pleasure and pain as her hips moved.  Her already tight pussy gripped his hard cock with greater intensity as she neared her next orgasm.  He knew she wouldn't last much longer and she didn't.  She wailed at the top of her lungs and pounded his chest with her tiny fists as the wave of pleasure ripped through her body.  

He pushed her off of him and pulled her to the side of the bed, yanking her to the floor, and bending her over the bed again.  

'Do you want my cock in your ass?'

She nodded and gave a little 'mmmhmm'.

'No, I want to hear it.  Beg me for what you want.'

'Please fuck my ass; I need to feel your cock everywhere. Please fuck my ass!'  

While she was begging, he retrieved a bottle of lube from the nightstand, and put just a few drops on his cock.  She seemed to like it more when it hurt going in.  Grabbing her hips, he guided himself into position and drove his cock home, causing her to scream. 

'Is that what you wanted, slut?'

She could only wail in reply.

Once he built a bit of a rhythm, he began with the pain and degradation she loved so much.  This time, it brought out a little professorial monster.  Gone was the submissive, replaced by a unrepentant hedonist, completely on fire.  She began to taunt him.

'Are you spanking me?  I can barely feel it.'

He spanked her harder, leaving more pronounced welts on her ass with each swat.

'Surely, you can do better than that.'

He went safeties free and began wailing on her as hard as he could.  Administering more pain would require slugging the woman.  Yet, she continued to taunt him.  He began to wonder what he'd created.  But that was enough impudence from his possession; she needed to be taught a lesson.  Rather than continuing to spank her, he grabbed her hair, pulled her head up, and wrapped his hands around her delicate neck.  He'd never choked a woman before and he was a bit tentative at first.  Another taunt came and he tightened his grip, never letting up his assault on her ass.  He knew how her body reacted to every stimulus and could feel both pleasure and a touch of panic.  Perfect.  After a minute of so of this, she settled down and he removed his hands from her neck and paused fucking her.  With the restriction removed, she gasped for air.  She wasn't sure if she liked being choked or not.  It was definitely something she wanted him to do again, just to make sure.  

Reaching into the nightstand, he retrieved the other present he bought for her.  A remote control vibrating egg.

'Put this in your pussy...feel what it's like to have both holes occupied.'  

She complied and slipped it inside.  He could feel it on the other side of the wall between.  He recommenced his attack on her ass, with all the intensity he could muster.  No longer was he fucking her for her.  She sensed what was happening and how he was using her ass to make himself cum.  She began screaming, pleading for his hot cum.  That was the final check in the launch sequence; neither could stop it if they wanted to.  As they were barreling toward the grand finale of the evening's events, he turned the vibrating egg to its highest setting.  

That was all it took to push them over the edge with a vengeance.  She let out one final scream, then began to lose control of her body.  The combination of sights, sounds, and sensations drove him over the edge.  He snarled one last thing to her.

'I'm fucking cumming in your ass, whore. Take it like the cumslut you are.'

He flooded her ass with his load just as her orgasm reached its zenith.  Just as he pumped the last of his seed into her, what little control of her body she had left disappeared and she went completely limp.  Had his arms not already been around her, she would have dropped like a wet towel.  Instead, he held her until she regained a bit of control of her legs,  then assisted in getting her into his bed.  After her eyes refocused, she looked at him in awe and told him that was the most intense orgasm she'd ever had.

'Can I come over tomorrow night and do it again?'

Giggle Switches - The Real Gun Problem No One's Talking About

In the shooting community, the term "giggle switch" refers to the select fire lever that takes a gun from semiautomatic to full auto fire.  Shooting full auto makes most grown 12 year old men practically giggle, hence the name.  A 1986 amendment to the Gun Control Act banned any further manufacture of full auto weapons not for military use. Therefore, there are a finite number of machine guns and that makes them expensive.  A garden variety Uzi will set you back 40k$!!!  Even a garbage machine gun, like an M11, will set you back $10-15k.  Also, legally obtaining a machine gun requires a lengthy and costly background check.  Owning an automatic weapon without the proper tax stamp is a felony and carries a lengthy prison sentence. 

Of course, not everyone wants to go through that hassle and some semiautomatic guns are super easy to convert to full auto.  The traditional gun for conversion was the AR-15, but it's been eclipsed by Glock pistols, which is even easier to convert.   

The part that instantly turns a semi auto into a full auto is an auto sear and the Glock version is becoming way too popular.  In fact, getting a Glock auto sear is a piece of cake.  If you have a 3D printer, there are plans on the web for you to print them.  If you don't, they're made by the thousands in China and shipped here.  Because they're small and frequently not identified by customs, they slip through without issue.  

The video below shows what an auto sear is and how easy it is to install.  

Here's a better picture of one hanging off the back of a Glock pistol.  

Full auto Glocks are extremely dangerous in two different ways.  First, in close quarters, they concentrate a lot of rounds into a tight space, which has been deadly for law enforcement attempting to gain entry into homes or when attempting to arrest a suspect.  The bad guy can literally spray bullets at their target; statistics say one will hit an area not protected by body armor.  

The greater danger comes from lack of control.  Because a long time friend is a gun dealer in Pennsylvania, I've had the opportunity to shoot a few full auto guns, including an M11, AK47, and M16.  On full auto, these guns were impossible to control beyond the first few rounds.  Keep in mind the last two were rifles, which can be held by both hands.  For that reason, today's battle rifle, the M4 (an M16 variant) has no full auto option; only three round bursts.    

Now, imagine the recoil forces in a pistol, where you don't have two hand holds.  The dork in the video below provides a perfect illustration - watch the gun jump around in his hands.

The inability to keep the gun on target, while dumping a 50 round mag, dramatically increases the risk of standers by being hit with an errant round.  And let's be honest, the individuals who use these guns aren't at the shooting range, honing their skills.  They've always been the type to spray rounds, which was already deadly to bystanders with semiauto guns, but with full auto, it's become even more perilous to be nearby when they decide to shoot someone.

My typical entry concludes with my thoughts on a path forward, but I don't see one with these devices.  They're cheap, easily obtained or made, deadly, and way too easy to get ahold of.  

This entry is part of my "Gun Series" that focuses on providing insight into the gun debate and gun violence.  You can find the other entries in the series HERE.  

About the author: Sean R is a recovering conservative who owns a consulting firm specializing in strategic marketing.  He's been a competitive shooter since the early 90's and holds a High Master classification in PPC and a Master classification in USPSA.  Additionally, he's served as an instructor for gun safety and competition courses.  He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his overly vocal white dog, Sadie.