SafeMind LLC

04/22/2026

Perhaps you've been following this, but I'll break it down.
A woman, late at night, heard a noise at her door and alerted her husband and called 911. He woke, grabbed his pistol and went outside to investigate and to ensure that whomever was trying to break in didn't.
Cops arrive due to another 911 call about the same prowler. They are posted up on the street, with only their headlights and spotlight on, no flashing reds and blues.
Husband sees these cars, makes the decision to fire a warning shot into the air and PD responds by sending 9 random shots towards him, striking him once in the leg with the other projectiles hitting occupied homes.
Prowler is found, and arrested, and has 35 convictions (9 felonies and the remaining misdemeanors). Husband is arrested for a variety of offenses including aggravated assault on a police officer.
The grand jury declines to prosecute three times, however, the Maricopa County Attorney chooses to crucify him and make an example of him. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
Essentially, other than someone losing their life, the worst possible situation.
This one was simple to prevent. If you hear an intruder, stay in your house. If the intruder comes in do what you feel that you have to do to protect your family.
Don't go outside.
Don't fire warning shots.
Don't talk to the police.

Your Defense is Personal

Facing prison, trauma surgeon Kris Johnson speaks out about a chaotic 2022 night when he fired a warning shot to scare off a prowler and was shot by Phoenix police.

04/03/2026

It's like watching a zombie movie.

The days of the Good Samaritan are coming to an end. Instead of getting out, call 911, provide good information and be a good witness.

Your Defense is Personal

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1NcVUP58Rc/

03/20/2026

If you are using an exercise tracking app, such as Strava, be aware that if you set your profile to public the whole world, literally, can track your patterns of life, including those who may be interested in you for malicious reasons.
Learn from this instance of a French sailor on board an aircraft carrier.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1gEWVfaQEN/

Your Defense is Personal

On March 13, a sailor aboard France's nuclear aircraft carrier — the FS Charles de Gaulle — went for a morning jog on the ship's deck, logged it on Strava, and left his profile public. The GPS map attached to his 7km run showed the carrier's exact position in the eastern Mediterranean, in waters France hadn't publicly disclosed. Within hours, the image had been picked up by Le Monde and was spreading across the internet. One morning run. One public profile. Mission compromised.

This isn't a one-off. In 2018, Strava's global heatmap accidentally traced the perimeters of classified U.S. military bases in Syria and Afghanistan — bases the government had never acknowledged publicly. In 2024, journalists identified members of Macron's security detail by following their running routes. Each time the story breaks, defence departments issue new guidance, Strava updates its settings, and everyone moves on. Clearly not everyone got the memo.

For the rest of us, the lesson is less dramatic but still worth taking seriously. A public Strava profile can reveal your home address, your daily routine, and everywhere you run regularly — information that's more useful to the wrong person than most of us realise. Strava does have privacy controls, including activity defaults and a privacy zone feature that hides your home location, but none of it is switched on by default. Head to Settings → Privacy Controls and spend two minutes sorting it out. You're probably not hiding a warship, but your front door is worth protecting too.

03/12/2026

"The gun is going to move". This truth is always discussed with both my new, and experienced, shooters.
Even Olympic biathletes can't hold their rifles perfectly still, especially in wind or as they slow their heart rate following a stint in the skis.
Being ok with the movement, and knowing how to manage it with intentional movement and vision, as well as understanding your acceptable hit area is what gives you grace as the gun does what it's going to do.
Learning how to work with the movement is your key to success as a hunter, competitor or recreational shooter.

Your Defense is Personal

02/24/2026

If this isn't a reminder about the third rule of firearm safety, I don't know what is.
Even if you are a criminal it's wise to always keep your finger off of the trigger until on target and ready to fire.

https://ktar.com/arizona-news/suspect-killed-phoenix-officer-hurt/5826847/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQK9nFjbGNrBAr2SmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHri0GSUdDrQenXmK2qxNjdp7eLxAVgJkWXh06dDpBjAoWoaAO6IBF0U6tXqt_aem_KR6tY3LcKd-zJgSffRjR2A

Your Defense is Personal

A suspect was killed and an officer was wounded when the suspect’s gun went off while he was being tackled in south Phoenix, police said.

02/24/2026

I believe that the most underappreciated "accessory" (necessity) for one who carries a concealed firearm is the holster. Lots of choices, most of them bad, dangerous or just completely useless. Many designed to get between you and your money and not to reliably, safely and comfortably designed to carry a pistol.
This vid breaks it down, with a touch of humor. Check it out.

https://youtu.be/Il-B7s1PKWg?si=LrKwIh9JVZv1gsTA

What does your holster say about you?

Your Defense is Personal

Alright y'all, today we're having some fun with 15 different gun holster choices and what each one says about you. From Uncle Mike's nylon special to custom ...

02/21/2026

I am extremely selective in who I choose to learn from, with regard to shooting teachers. While there are many excellent ones out there, this class impacted me in ways that are difficult to describe.
Two days of looking in the mirror and constant shooting integrity checks, with complete accountability of every action, and every shot. It's hard. It's painful. However, it's necessary if you carry a firearm to protect yourself or those that you love.

The result is that I will hold myself, and my students to a much higher standard, and, perhaps, recommending to some that they rethink their decision to carry a firearm unless they can commit to these standards.

Take the opportunity to learn in the No Fail Pistol class. It'll change your life.

Thank you Chuck for this transformative experience.

Your Defense is Personal

02/13/2026

Wanna get shot? This is how you get shot.
I am not a fan of the Byrna pepperball gun. First, it isn't effective (translation, it sucks) and it resembles a firearm. You point at someone it would be reasonable for that person to believe that you are pointing a real gun and they may be justified in shooting you.

Just say no

Your Defense is Personal

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AZpCPYyhi/

02/05/2026

What's often missing from Stop the Bleed training is scenario based practical application of the skills, knowledge and tools.
We continue this learning by moving into Care Under Fire, the first component of TCCC/TECC.
The priorities change during an active violence incident. To be successful in these tragic situations is critical to know these priorities.

How do you train?

Your Defense is Personal

02/02/2026

We all had that moment in time when we decided to take our own safety and security seriously.
For some it's a close call with a potentially violent person, for others it's uncertainty in our world. Either way, once that decision is made seeking instruction on how to use your defensive tool of choice, including the legal, and moral, framework that guides its use, is critical.
Some things are just not easy to figure out on your own, that's why we are here. To help you learn.

Your Defense is Personal

01/21/2026

I know it's hard, but sometimes you just have to bite your tongue.
Some people can be quite unpredictable. Some people don't value life. If you get cross with someone who exhibits these characteristics they may bring violence to you.
Don't let your ego drive your actions. It could go south quickly, with you on the losing end.

Your Defense is Personal

https://www.azfamily.com/2026/01/20/man-shot-killed-after-confronting-line-cutter-phoenix-quiktrip-pd-says/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPdsbFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5RnNJUWgzalBiVjd1bzIwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHopglfFGB0cZmx8UDpU5yYbKhP3CN91cl0xK_TnzivS3wIrBp-sMXnNnT2S1_aem_uxwRNJiSJIsh2Q0WCjopQQ

New court documents detail how a homeless man allegedly shot and killed another man who attempted to confront him about cutting the bathroom line at a Phoenix gas station.

01/07/2026

Carry. Your. Gun.
It doesn't matter where you are.
It doesn't matter what you are doing.
It doesn't matter if you are in a "safe" neighborhood.
It doesn't matter if you are with your family.
It doesn't matter if you are in your car.
It doesn't matter if you are on a bike.
It doesn't matter if you are walking the dog.
Criminals don't care and are opportunists with a low impulse threshold. If they see something they want, they may try to take it.

Carry your gun. Know the laws of self defense. Be very capable with your firearm. Have less lethal tools, as well.

Your Defense is Personal

https://www.azfamily.com/2026/01/07/bicyclist-stabbed-attempted-robbery-scottsdale/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPLoi5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFvdHE2UzJNU3htaXpwbDFJc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsu2-Lx8qsO6PiYnDtu0aRpAPQT3f8UJ7xzEsUFTA4ESLFWiw3XSvN3IRXBq_aem_0GgD_LC0Q-H5J4vSGiyaTQ

Detectives are investigating after a man was stabbed during an attempted robbery in the East Valley overnight.