We are excited to offer a full line of course offerings here at Southwest Missouri Firearms Training.  If you are interested in any of the courses shown below, click here.  If you would like to schedule an existing or custom class for your group, contact us by phone or send an email.

During a recent class, I was reminded of a very important concept.  While we focus on proper technique, we may forget to focus on the thing that matters – shooting well.

One of our students was struggling with good shot placement.  We worked on grip, stance, sight alignment and picture, trigger squeeze, breathing to relax, and even changing our desired point of impact to a clear area of the target.  The shooter still had great difficulty placing his rounds.  Finally, he started

shooting exceptionally well.  He later told me that he had begun shooting with only one eye open.  While we’ve all been taught that shooting with two eyes is better than one because we maintain a greater field of vision, if we can’t place our shots, it doesn’t matter.  The student promised to work on shooting with both eyes open.  But, we shouldn’t focus on these types of activities to our detriment.  Shooting with two eyes open is better than with one unless you can’t hit the target.  In short, if after you understand the fundamentals and then you need to adjust, then do what works.  That’s the same reason we teach multiple grips and stances – to make you a better shooter.

I don’t recall that I’ve talked about this before, but the best deterrent that we have in our home to guard against home invasion is not our guns, intruder detection systems or external lighting.  It is our dogs.  We have 170 pounds of German Shepherds and soon to be 115 pounds of American Bull Dog.  We love them and they love us.  They are spoiled to the core and loyal to a fault.  There is no question in my mind that they

would fight to the death to protect us.  Many of you have heard me say this before (I borrowed it from my brother) – our dogs are treated extremely well.  Their job is to catch the first bullet if the bad guy gets the opportunity.  Rest assured, if someone attempts to illegally gain access to our home, our dogs will get them.  If our dogs should die defending us, it is almost a foregone conclusion that they will have provided us with the opportunity to defend ourselves with great vigor.

If you do not own a four-legged protector and are committed to providing the best deterrent possible, consider getting a large breed dog that you can love and who will die for you if necessary.  If you are interested in American Bull Dogs, there is a great kennel near Tulsa providing the very best in the blood line - http://harmswaykennel.wordpress.com/.

None of the information contained in this publication is to be considered legal advice.  If you have specific legal questions about the meaning or application of the law, contact your attorney. 

The Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA) protects those who are transporting firearms for lawful purposes from local restrictions which would otherwise prohibit passage.  Under FOPA, notwithstanding any state or local law, a person is entitled to transport a firearm from any place where he or she may lawfully possess such firearm to any other place where he or she may

lawfully possess it, if the firearm is unloaded and locked out of reach.  In vehicles without a trunk, the unloaded firearm shall be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console. Ammunition that is either locked out of reach in the trunk or in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console is also covered. FOPA also seems to provide for necessary stops, like gasoline and rest. 

Travelers should be aware that some state and local governments treat this federal provision as an “affirmative defense” that may only be raised after an arrest.

While Tom and I were discussing what he was going to write in May’s newsletter, he told me I should write something, so here am I. I thought  I would write about how to make the perfect coconut cake, since it is my favorite.  I like the recipe that I am going to share because it is not easy, therefore when you finish it, you will know that a great accomplishment has been made. 

Now, before I go any further, I’m really not going to write about making a cake, even though I could, I want to encourage the ladies in their handling and shooting of firearms. Just like being a good cook, everything takes practice and

that includes being comfortable enough with your firearm so you can practice with it and become a fine markswomen.  But, before we can get to the shooting, we have to have the mind set.  Ladies, you must know that you can protect yourself and your family should the need arise.  One lady told me she could definitely protect her children, if she had to.  Ok, what about herself?  Let’s say an intruder forces his way into your home and your children are not home from school yet. Are you going to allow the intruder to kill you and then your children when they come through the door to see their momma?  Bad guys kill  and they don’t care if you are a man, women or child or even a family pet.  If you do not have the mind set that you can and will protect yourself and your family, and you are not willing to work on it, don’t bother reading the rest of this because it will waste your time.

Many times I have heard women say that they don’t need a gun or to learn to shoot because their husband has a gun and will protect the family.  You know, I am very glad for those ladies whose husbands never leave their sides, not one time to go to work, the store, the gym and so forth.  But for the rest of us it’s time to get our game on!  And wait, I’m not talking about G.I. Jane or anything, just being Sue Average and knowing how to protect your self and your family.

I am going to recommend that you NOT run out and purchase a firearm. Instead, purchase a BB gun. Yep, that’s right, a BB gun that shoots little bb’s and that resembles a hand gun.  I think you should buy one even if you own a firearm because we are going to work on shooting the BB gun and if you live in the city limits, shooting your firearm for practice, is prohibited.   Once you get your BB gun home take it out of the package, read the owner’s manual and carry it around with you WITHOUT BB’s in it.  Carry it  everywhere you can in the house; put it in your back pocket when you mow the yard, place it in your lap when you watch TV and so forth.  I will say don’t take it out in public for lots of reasons, just make it your new friend in and around the house. Try this for a week or two.

Next I would set up a target area in your back yard or basement or maybe an unused room in your home. Get a cardboard box, drape a blanket or towel over it, and use it for the back stop.  Make your self some targets with a bulls eye, tape it to the towel or blanket.  Put on some safety glasses, make sure no one else is in a place where they could be hit, and shoot at your target.  If this sounds like something you are interested in, send me an email to shari@swmofirearmstraining.com and I will provide additional info on fundamentals.  Practice as often as you can, of course being safe and knowing your surroundings.  Practice, practice, practice and hold your new friend as often as you can until you are very comfortable with it.

Next, come out on May 28 (weather permitting) from 11:30am-12:30pm and shoot before our open range begins at 1pm . If you own a firearm or have access to one, bring it out or if you need to rent one from us, then we can do that. There will be no cost to come out and shoot, only to rent one of our firearms and  that is really just to cover the cost of the ammunition.  This wont be a class, per se, it will be an exercise that will get you familiar with the sound of a firearm which happens to be a very startling sound for ladies. It took me a long time to not fear the noise and once I had no fear of the noise, the shooting the firearm was not scary. I will need to know who is coming, and renting and so forth so I can properly plan my time. I look forward to hearing from you! ~ J

Should 21-year olds be permitted to carry concealed weapons; specifically, handguns?  That question is currently being debated by the Missouri Senate as they review House Bill 294.  If passed into law, the bill would, among other things, lower the concealed carry age to 21.  Most other states have set 21 as the magical age to allow the carrying of concealed weapons.  

One would think that if 18 is the age at which we legally treat people as adults, then the law should be changed so that 18 year olds could purchase handguns and their associated ammunition.  Further, they should be able to carry concealed weapons.  Conversely, if they are not responsible enough to carry concealed weapons, they are likely not responsible enough to be treated as adults in other situations. 

Unfortunately, the latter situation is where we find ourselves.  The nonsense that has been perpetuated over the past 20 or 30 years about self-esteem, where one esteems themselves above others, has produced an entire generation of victims.  Nothing is ever their fault, things are not fair, and as a result, they are not ready for the grave responsibilities associated with carrying a weapon.

In business and other areas of life, I have found that if we treat younger people as adults and then hold them accountable when they act as if they are not, their behavior will change.  Teaching our children to serve others, instilling our values at very early ages, and reinforcing those values by the way that we lead our lives will result in mature and responsible 18 year olds.  I recently read an article where an elderly man was asked about the differences between him when he was a young adult and the young adults of today.  He stated something similar to, “when he was 17 years old, he was fighting in Guadalcanal during World War II, not plugged into a computer or phone talking about something utterly irrelevant.”

I say, let’s change the law and allow 21 year olds to carry.  Let’s demand that they act responsibly and treat them like adults when they screw up.  Begin teaching them and their siblings about Christ, His service and His sacrifices where He esteemed us higher than Himself.  Teach them absolutes like right and wrong, how to live honorably, how to forgive and extend mercy, and how to stand unwaveringly for their principles regardless of the cost.  Who knows, maybe if we do these things, 18 year olds will be responsible enough to carry weapons.  Better yet, maybe they won’t have to.