IFC’s Warrior Wednesday this week features, Chuck Haggard, also known as the Legendary Lawman. With more than three decades of very active service in Topeka, Kansas, Haggard has become the “go-to” guy nationwide for training on less-than-lethal tools, including pepper spray, Tasers, and impact weapons. IFC chair John McLaughlin is a certified Pepper Spray/OC instructor through Haggard’s coursework.
In this wide-ranging interview, Chuck takes a deep dive into the evolution of pepper spray in both police and civilian use and why he recommends it for use between a “harsh word and a gun.” Also, check out John’s videos on pepper spray here:
IFC’s John McLaughlin shares how developing a Dry Practice checklist can help keep you safe while becoming more proficient with a firearm while not firing an actual shot. John’s 8 step checklist is:
Unload your firearm yourself. Place ammunition in a safe location well away from your dry practice area.
Use a temporary target like a post-it note with a black square drawn on it, or a sized down target printed out at home. Place it on a wall capable of stopping an inadvertent round/discharge. If this is on the main floor of the house it may be a good idea to close curtains to avoid neighbors calling the police about someone with a firearm.
Set a reasonable time limit for dry practice. Some people do ten dry presses every morning while others commit to 10-15 minutes each day. If you get tired or interrupted stop your dry practice session.
Verbally announce to yourself that dry practice has begun.
Perfect practice makes perfect. If you stumble, relax and slowly return your weapon to the holster and try again.
Verbally announce when dry practice has concluded.
Remove your temporary target.
Reload as required for your daily carry routine. Remember Dry Practice has concluded.
In today’s Warrior Wednesday, John McLaughlin continues his discussion from last week on less than lethal self-defense, including Tasers, Stun Guns, Collapsible Batons, and Pepper Spray. John’s opinions on defensive tools are his own and do not imply an endorsement for any particular brand or method by the Iowa Firearms Coalition. We encourage all law-abiding Iowans to take not just firearms training but engage in classwork covering less than lethal options, managing unknown contacts, and verbal de-escalation. Today’s video includes actual footage of law enforcement defensive encounters where lethal force was required after non-lethal options failed.
IFC Chair John McLaughlin says if your pepper spray is more than a year or two old, throw it away! Even though most pepper sprays have a shelf life of up to four years, real-life testing shows you don’t want to stake your life on an aging product. The propellant evaporates and valves can start to go bad in just 24 months. McLaughlin is a certified OC/Pepper spray instructor through Agile Training and Consulting.
Canadian firearms instructor Bill Scott let’s IFC members know that Canada should serve as an example of why you don’t let politicians gradually strip away your civil rights. Scott, who owns Chinook Shooting in Alberta, takes IFC Chair John McLaughlin through the lengthy process of being eligible to buy a firearm in Canada, and explains why using a firearm to defend your life comes with many more risks than in the U.S. Scott says Iowans need to “dig in” and defend your rights. Under Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, gun buyback programs are being pushed, but new pro-freedom groups are being formed to push back against government overreach using the courts in Canada.
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