SafeMind LLC

11/27/2025

Today I had the opportunity to teach two amazing young ladies the art of the AR. Both had shot before, with their father, but they wanted to learn more about this particular firearm and take the next step into their shooting journey.
Working with young folks is extremely rewarding. They come with no ego, are always super safety conscious and eager to learn. These two are no exception and also brought incredible self awareness and the ability to articulate very specific feedback regarding their learning experience.
Strong work, ladies!

Your Defense is Personal

11/17/2025

Throwback to TD1 of a two day Precision Rifle - Field craft course.
My students all had good time on their rifles so the focus was on "environmentals"; terrain, wind, and lighting.
We'll put another opportunity together for the spring of '26.

# longerangeshooting

11/12/2025

While declaring that you don't want uninvited visitors is appropriate, telling them that they will be shot and killed isn't.
Let's pretend that the home owner used lethal force against someone on his property. Do you think that this sign can, and will, be used in his prosecution?

Be smart. This ain't it.

Your Defense is Personal

11/12/2025

Life is hard and we can't do it all on our own. When we are thrown a serious curve ball it often takes the tribe to support those who need it.
Last year a friend, and student of mine, Rodger Loar, suffered a stroke, leaving him mostly hemiplegic (paralyzed on one side). Rodger is a life long shooter and firearm enthusiast, and was the pastor of the church where my kiddo went to pre-school. He's a good man, and needs the tribe to come together.
I am hosting a fund raising match to help Rodger and his family. This is a fun, outlaw match, on the evening of Wednesday, December 3 at Ben Avery Shooting Facility. All of the proceeds will go to him and his family.
Even if you have never shot a pistol match, come on out and give it a go. It's fun, challenging and for an amazing cause - one of us.
Here's the link:
https://practiscore.com/man-in-black-charity.../register
If you have questions please hit me up.
Your Defense is Personal

11/06/2025

It's all about vision.
You can't shoot what you can't see.
However, shooting isn't a photograph but a motion picture. It's not about a single moment in time but what happens before, during and after each shot.
From a student's first moment with me, through their development, we put shooting into a vision and movement context. Otherwise, their progression will be slow and lacking the tools to improve.

Your Defense is Personal

10/25/2025

Often, violence is unpredictable and nearly impossible to prevent. First, a random, normal interaction with a stranger, then an attack that would be challenging to defend against.
While we don't know what happened, or what words were said, this could happen to any one of us. Perhaps we can use this tragedy as a reminder that the words "I'm sorry, my bad" can go a long way to diffuse a potential situation and that even good actions, and words, may not be enough.
Many years ago a good friend of mine was leaving a bar in Scottsdale and there was a fight out front. He wasn't involved in it, and was walking away from the area, when he was hit from behind, causing him to fall backwards and hitting his head on the curb. It fractured a couple of cervical vertebrae and severed his spinal cord, leaving him as a low level quadriplegic. Fate may find you.

Your Defense is Personal

TJ Pizzitola, 29, was one month away from becoming a father. Police say he was killed after a suspect blindsided him and punched him from behind.

10/18/2025

There's more than shooting when learning to compete. It takes work, on and off the range. Dry practice, equipment maintenance, reloading and cleaning up the range, leaving it better than you found it.
Sounds like lessons for life.

Your Defense is Personal

10/13/2025

There are some lessons to be learned here.
-Skinny pedal on the right, once again, could have saved the day
-Win the race to 911. I don't believe that this gentleman called 911, but the Fire Chief did. Thus, the Chief got to control the narrative, and the outcome.
-Although it doesn't appear that the victim said, or did anything, to initiate this incident, it's best to S**U if you have an urge to make a comment to someone you don't know. You don't know if that person is normal or an unhinged lunatic like the Chief is.
-Nothing good happens at the "stop and rob". Convenience stores have a high rate of bad stuff happening. Why go?
-The police are not your friends. Full stop. Yeah, many of my friends are cops, but they were friends first. An officer that is questioning your about a potential crime isn't here to do you a favor.

I'm eager to see the second part of this.

Your Defense is Personal

This is part one of the ABC15 (in)Defensible investigation. Watch part two here: https://youtu.be/hxuOqvSTensYoung construction worker Matt Massucci was acc...

10/12/2025

Many of us need to listen to music while walking, hiking or running. The downside is that it significantly reduces your awareness of what's going on around you, particularly behind you.
Whether a cyclist trying to pass, or a creeper creeping, this young lady has some solid advice.

Your Defense is Personal

10/09/2025

I've often mentioned "the skinny pedal on the right" as the primary defensive tool when dealing with a car jacker.
It's faster, it almost always works, and it doesn't take any more training than you already have.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Cw96KqCzV/

Your Defense is Personal

10/05/2025

Imagine that you are driving home from the range and stop at the "stop and rob", aka, convenience store for a slurpee. While paying for the drink a robbery commences and you believe that you are in imminent jeopardy so you use lethal force to defend yourself.
During the investigation it's noted that you are wearing a shirt that states that you love violence.
Does this help, or hurt, your claim of self defense?

Your Defense is Personal

09/27/2025

My family and I drove by this just after the shots were fired.
Road rage.
What is your threshold to get out of your vehicle and approach another driver when angry? Mean words? The finger? Lack of turn signal?

Your Defense is Personal

Around 2:15 p.m., police responded to the area of 7th and Missouri avenues for reports of a shooting