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Earlier this month, I attended an instructor class put on by the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA). I know what you're thinking: "Mike, isn't that class a bit basic for you?" My response to that is we should never be afraid to go back to the basics. It gives us practice and perspective and there's always something to learn by hanging out with other instructors.
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I found the USCCA doctrine very close to the defensive pistol doctrine I am accustomed to teaching, with a few minor differences. They are a large, well-funded organization that has access to experts in the shooting, legal, and training fields. Adaptive Defense Concepts is now an official USCCA partner. In addition to certifying instructors, the USCCA offers some other benefits. Members have access to their Protector Academy app that offers online courses and videos, drills, and gives locations of local ranges and instructors.
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The USCCA is supported by Delta Defense, an insurance agency that offers self-defense liability policies. Membership in the USCCA includes a membership card with emergency hotline number that hooks you up with local attorneys that are vetted and self-defense friendly.
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If you are interested in USCCA membership, click the link or image below to receive a free gun law map - which, (full disclosure), will also authorize USCCA and its affiliates to make or allow the placement of marketing calls and emails.
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WINTER CLASSES
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The snow is already flying for some of you - my friends up in The Jemez Mountains are getting hammered this week apparently. How can you stay in practice when you don't want to risk hypothermia? By participating in some of our online classes, of course!
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This year, for the first time, I am offering a condensed online version of my AR15/M-16/M-4 Armorer class. This class will take place over 3 or 4 evenings. To get the most out of this class, there are some inexpensive tools to purchase (less than $100 worth) available from several online sources. I'm still finalizing all the details, but if you are interested, shoot me an email.
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UPDATED ARMORY
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After fighting with the plugin I have been using for the armory page for years, I have finally thrown in the towel on that particular application and upgraded to a different plugin. This new one seems like it will work much more reliably. A new addition on the armory page are the Adaptive Defense Armory complete uppers with various options like charging handles, bolts, and muzzle devices. Check them out below!
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Complete Upper - 20" Rifle Length
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These upper receiver groups begin with a T-marked government-contract M-4 upper receiver laser engraved with our logo. Barrel flanges are lapped and \"trued\" for top-notch accuracy. Builds feature mid-length Adaptive Defense Armory handguards and gas blocks with black nitrided gas tubes. Uppers are headspace checked and test-fired.
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- Barrel: Chrome-lined and phosphated 1-7 twist HBAR profile or Nitrided Stainless 1-8 twist medium contour.
- Bolt: No bolt, Phosphated mil-spec bolt, Nitrided \"enhanced\" bolt
- Charging Handle: No charging handle, USGI, or Adaptive Defense Co-branded \"Rack\" charging handle by Battle Arms Development.
- Flash Hider: None, USGI A2, or Adaptive Defense \"Rook.\"
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Complete Upper - 18" Rifle Length
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These upper receiver groups begin with a T-marked government-contract M-4 upper receiver laser engraved with our logo. Barrel flanges are lapped and \"trued\" for top-notch accuracy. Builds feature mid-length Adaptive Defense Armory rifle-length handguards and gas blocks with black nitrided gas tubes. Uppers are headspace checked and test-fired.
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Barrels are Mk12 SPR/DMR contour 18\" nitrided stainless barrels with a 1-8 twist.
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- Bolt: No bolt, Phosphated mil-spec bolt, Nitrided \"enhanced\" bolt
- Charging Handle: No charging handle, USGI, or Adaptive Defense Co-branded \"Rack\" charging handle by Battle Arms Development.
- Flash Hider: None, USGI A2, or Adaptive Defense \"Rook.\"
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Complete Upper - 16" Midlength
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These upper receiver groups begin with a T-marked government-contract M-4 upper receiver laser engraved with our logo. Barrel flanges are lapped and \"trued\" for top-notch accuracy. Builds feature mid-length Adaptive Defense Armory handguards and gas blocks with black nitrided gas tubes. Uppers are headspace checked and test-fired.
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- Barrel: Chrome-lined and phosphated 1-7 twist Government Profile, Chrome-lined and phosphated 1-7 twist HBAR profile, Nitrided Stainless 1-8 twist medium contour.
- Bolt: No bolt, Phosphated mil-spec bolt, Nitrided \"enhanced\" bolt
- Charging Handle: No charging handle, USGI, or Adaptive Defense Co-branded \"Rack\" charging handle by Battle Arms Development.
- Flash Hider: None, USGI A2, or Adaptive Defense \"Rook.\"
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WHAT NOW?
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I try to keep partisan politics out of these emails, but this is relevant to shooting and self-defense so here goes:
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What did the recent election tell us? President Trump won not only the electoral college but also the popular vote. Conservatives won the House and Senate and majority of available Governor's seats. A lot of Americans are unhappy with the direction our country has been taking over the past term and they made that known at the polls. For gun rights, this is potentially good news. We likely won't see any successful federal anti-gun legislation for the next 4 years and state anti-gun legislation will be an uphill legal battle.
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This is an opportunity that shouldn't be wasted. Since the 1930's "Shall not be infringed" turned into bans on machine guns, silencers, and short barreled rifles. Then forms to track firearms purchased. Then background checks and illegal registries maintained by the ATF. "Assault weapons" bans. Waiting periods. Taxpayer dollars funding anti-gun causes. SWAT-style raids for minor infractions. Each of these infringements has chipped away at the edges of the Second Amendment for too long.
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We have not had an opportunity like this for decades, and we can't count on an opportunity like this again soon, so here's what I am recommending:
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Continue to write your representatives at the state and federal level to push for pro-gun initiatives like national concealed carry, a national ban on red-flag laws, the "hearing protection act" and laws that would remove silencers and short barreled rifles from the National Firearms Act, repealing the National Firearms Act, and most importantly reforming the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. These initiative might not succeed - most of them probably won't - but this is a time when a good offense can be the best defense.
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In the meantime, this is not a time to drop our guard. It's still several weeks until the inauguration and a lot of damage can be done in the meantime, and might be done out of spite - not just legislatively, but by a whole lot of disenfranchised anti-gun folks. The last time President Trump was elected, gun and ammo prices dropped drastically in what the industry called the "Trump Slump." I'm not sure that will happen this time, at least not any time soon. Ammo prices are still slated to increase due to international issues affecting the supply chain. IF President Trump can help end the war in Ukraine, and prevent us from getting into new conflicts (which he did in his first term), that means all the ammo and component production that was diverted to supporting this conflict will have nowhere to go but back to support the commercial market. That could result in a sudden and dramatic decrease in ammo prices. I'm much happier with ammo fired at paper and steel targets than at people - many of whom have been compelled to fight by their governments. There's a lot of if's there.
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In the meantime, I would recommend continuing to train, stay equipped, and stay prepared. Domestic crime and street violence may get worse before it gets better and given President Trump's campaign promises, there are some groups of people who have an incentive to promote social unrest and even domestic terrorism. Don't drop your guard!
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