SOTG 157 - TSA Agent Admits Molesting Passengers After He is Fired

SOTG 157 – TSA Agent Admits Molesting Passengers After He is Fired

The TSA is at it again. This time instead of stealing from travelers’ bags or ogling them with naked body scanners, TSA agents formulated a plan to allow a homosexual male agent to feel up male travelers that he found attractive. Yes, that is the country in which you live.

Our SWAT Fuel Warrior of the Week wants to discuss the choice of 9mm versus .40 S&W.  Professor Paul delves into the pros and cons of carrying a full sized pistol as a Every Day Carry defensive tool.


SOURCES:

From rightwingnews.com:

Few trust the TSA. While the need for security is undeniable, few trust the government agency that operates with too little oversight and who’s personnel hold entirely too much power in their hands. Now, according to the Daily Mail, two TSA employees’ actions have cast yet another pall upon the agency.

From www.studentofthegun.com:

April 14, 2015, a man holding his three month old infant son was attacked by a gang of teenagers in the middle of the day at a gas station in Memphis, Tennessee. The man was beaten and bruised but he managed to shelter his infant with his body.

August 26, 2014, Ralph Weems IV was attacked while trying eat at a restaurant in West Point, Mississippi. The assailants were a gang of black men screaming about “justice for Michael Brown.” Weems was beaten so severely that he was put into a coma and doctors fear he will have permanent brain damage.

You are reading this article because you are either a gun carrier or are considering carrying a gun. What I am going to ask you now is to consider what kind of gun you are carrying or thinking about carrying.

Many years ago my friend Walter Rauch (former Secret Service agent and one of the founders of IDPA) opined that American men like to “talk .45’s, shoot 9mm’s and carry .38s.” With the rampant popularity of the compact .380 pistol during the last decade, I would surmise that the last part of that statement could be modified slightly.

A few years ago I attended an event put on by a friend at Gunsite training academy called “Pen lights and Pocket Guns.” For three days we used .380 ACP pocket guns and .38 Special snub-nosed five-shot revolvers as well as the small “Backup” light from SureFire. Basic range drills on paper silhouettes were a pretty standard affair; stand, aim, shoot. However, after the day one warm-ups we moved on to the live-fire shoot houses in the day time and then at night.

On the third day we had to fight “the robot” (a remote controlled armored chassis with a cardboard or plastic target man on top). The shoot house required us to move around, use cover and engage multiple threats at varied distance. Engaging the robot was naturally a greater challenge as it could move and charge you very quickly and it was unpredictable.

After three solid days of training, everyone present had learned many lessons and were left with lasting impressions. “Pocket guns are there to protect your virtue.” stated one instructor. Another said that “A pocket gun is what you carry when you can’t carry a real gun.”

During the lowlight shoot house drills it was readily apparent that the point and shoot method offered by experts becomes a dicey operation, especially when the target at the end of the hallway is holding “your daughter” and trying to get away with her. Regardless of the target, small guns are tough to get good hits with under any type of realistic stress. Reloading a pocket .380 or even a .38 DA revolver under stress is quite the challenge, even for skilled shooters. Many of the participants found themselves with empty guns in hand as the robot kept charging after taking only marginal hits.

The moral of the story is this: a pocket gun is better than no gun at all. However, if you are serious about coming out on top of a violent encounter, a full-sized gun is a more prudent choice.

Frequently I hear excuses about how it is not practical or possible to carry a “big gun.” Men and women alike give themselves reasons to either not carry or carry something marginal. Again, A GUN is better than NO GUN, but let’s consider the two incidents mentioned above. Both situations involved multiple attackers mercilessly beating their victims. It was shear luck and good fortune that prevented the infant in story number 1 from life-threatening harm. In story number two the victim will likely live but carry the results of the attack for life.

Put yourself in that position. Two, three, or more thugs decide that they are going to beat you to death. What would you rather have in your hands; a compact .380 that holds six shots or duty-size gun that hold 15 plus rounds? Are you willing to bet your life on the fact that the gang of thugs will be impressed by the .380 and run away? Do you think they will even notice as they are stomping you into the asphalt?

Step 1: Polymer is your friend

The Springfiled M1911A1 TRP is a solid, straight shooting pistol. That gun weighs 42 ounces empty according to the manufacturer and holds eight rounds. The new TP9SA pistol from Century Arms weighs 26 ounces empty and holds 18 rounds of ammunition.

Whether your bias has you hating or loving polymer guns, carrying one extra pound of pistol weight, or more practically, carrying around one less pound of weight makes a big difference. Solid steel guns are tough and the extra weight helps dampen felt recoil, but they pull down on your pants all day long.

Step 2: Buy a Quality Holster

Flimsy, soft plastic or stitched nylon holsters are inexpensive and they help keep the dust off of your gun, but that is about it. Ever wonder why your gun is constantly shifting around as you carry it? The first item to consider is your holster.

A quality holster should be rigid and built with high-quality stitching or riveting. If the weight of the gun is enough to pull or stretch the holster, throw it out and buy a good one. It is only your life we are talking about. Crappy holsters lead you to the bad habit of either not carrying your gun or taking it off all the time. Both are dangerous habits to develop.

Step 3: Quality Belt

Get out a crowbar, pry open your wallet and purchase a quality belt from the same company you bought you holster from. If the holster company does not offer belts that is called a “clue.” Putting a fighting gun and a quality holster on a $5.oo Walmart belt is ridiculous and amateurish.

Dress belts are not designed to support two pounds of gun, 12 hours a day. That belt will eventually break, most likely at an inopportune time. I was young and dumb once. I bought a saddle brown leather holster from Galco and thought I could get by with a leather dress belt of matching color. Wrong! I was working on protection assignment and somewhere around 2 a.m. the belt broke. Lesson learned on my part.

Step 4: Cover Garment Selection

One of the biggest excuses for not carrying a full sized pistol is the fear of “printing.” No, I do not expect you to carry a G17 in a swim suit. However, if you are wearing pants or shorts with belt loops you can get away with it with a bit of forethought.

There are numerous companies producing light-weight button down shirts with tailored/hemmed shirt tails. Try the layer method. Put a T-shirt on over the holstered pistol and then don one of the aforementioned shirts. Ta da! you now have loose fitting layers over your full sized pistol and it will not print. If it is cool or cold, your jacket or sweatshirt will do nicely.

As for cover garments, dark colors print less than light and patterns are good for masking the silhouette of your favorite blaster. Yes, it takes a bit of effort and thought, but it can be done.

There you have it folks, four easy steps that you can follow. I apologize to the few of you whose excuses I just deflated. It is your life, do as you will. Hell, leave the gun on the dresser if that makes you feel comfortable. As for me, I will do my best not just to be an armed citizen, but a citizen armed with an effective tool.


Student of the Gun Podcast Radio Logo1400x1400

Student of the Gun Radio airs every Monday through Thursday  at 9 a.m. EST and can be found by going directly to www.StudentoftheGunRadio.com.Those using mobile devices can follow us with iTunes or Stitcher. SOTG Radio is a Think On! production.

Student of the Gun is the #1 source for education, enjoyment and enlightenment of real-world firearms including: training, videos, radio, books and articles. A beginner once, a student for life. www.studentofthegun.com

Being a Student of the Gun is not about being a novice or beginner. Student of the Gun represents a lifelong journey of education, enlightenment and the enjoyment of firearms. Each episode will introduce the viewer to new and interesting firearms as well as the latest gear to go with them.

We will travel throughout the United States, seeking the advice and expertise of the best firearms trainers available. Sometimes deadly serious, sometimes just for fun, Student of the Gun will always strive to educate and entertain our viewers while offering them an insiders’ look at the worlds of firearms.


About the Host

Paul Markel: Host of Student of the Gun Radio

Paul Markel: Host of Student of the Gun Radio

Paul G. Markel has worn many hats during his lifetime. He has been a United States Marine, police officer, professional bodyguard, and small arms and tactics instructor. Markel has been writing professionally for law enforcement and firearms periodicals for nearly 20 years, and has hundreds of articles in print. A regular guest on nationally syndicated radio talk shows, Markel is a subject matter expert in firearms training and use of force.

Markel has been teaching safe and effective firearms handling to students, young and old, for decades and has also worked actively with 4H Shooting Sports programs. Markel holds numerous instructor certifications in multiple disciplines; nonetheless, he is, and will remain a dedicated Student of the Gun.


About the Co-Host

Jarrad Markel: Co-Host and Producer of Student of the Gun Radio

Jarrad Markel: Co-Host and Producer of Student of the Gun Radio

Not just another pretty face, Jarrad Markel has experience and training beyond his years.
Jarrad has been training to be a fighter since elementary school when he first learned the art of collegiate wrestling.

Now skilled in Jujitsu, Judo, Muay Thai, Sambo, the Way of the Fighting Pistol and Fighting Rifle, Jarrad is a well-rounded, tactical athlete with several professional MMA fights under his belt.

More than a brute, Jarrad has brains as well. He is the lead editor and videographer for Student of the Gun and works directly for Think On! Productions creating a wide variety of video material. In addition, Markel is a skilled web & blog designer, building material for the Internet side of the house.

The following two tabs change content below.
Paul G. Markel has worn many hats during his lifetime. He has been a U.S. Marine, Police Officer, Professional Bodyguard, and Small Arms and Tactics Instructor. Mr. Markel has been writing professionally for law enforcement and firearms periodicals for nearly twenty years with hundreds and hundreds of articles in print. Paul is a regular guest on nationally syndicated radio talk shows and subject matter expert in firearms training and use of force. Mr. Markel has been teaching safe and effective firearms handling to students young and old for decades and has worked actively with the 4-H Shooting Sports program. Paul holds numerous instructor certifications in multiple disciplines and a Bachelor’s degree in conflict resolution; nonetheless, he is and will remain a dedicated Student of the Gun.

Latest posts by Professor Paul Markel (see all)