“Movement is life”

“Always be seeking to improve your position”

These two catch phrases stuck with me.  Brett, our newest instructor and a recently retired Lt. from LASD mentioned to me in passing that this has always been the mantra at the Sheriffs dept.  

Recently though thoughts have tended to move toward the idea of remaining static to improve accuracy, thereby reducing potential liability from errant shots.

Frankly I think this is an ill advised evolution.

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Accuracy is something that comes with dedication and practice.  Accuracy suffers if the trainee is not adept to shooting on the move.  Accuracy also suffers if they never bother to practice in the first place.

This may sound contradictory, but our goal in a gunfight is not to shoot our opponent.  Our goal in a gunfight is to survive.

The most efficient means of surviving a gunfight usually involves putting enough lead into the threat to stop them while at the same time avoiding incoming rounds.

The last point is serious.

I may execute a perfect Mozambique drill on the bad guy and ultimately stop him, but if I stood still and allowed him to do the same to me, ultimately resulting in my demise what have I accomplished?

Movement is life.

Every time I get off the “X” I pay into an insurance policy that has me as the beneficiary.  

It is extremely difficult to hit a moving target.

Be a moving target.

Typically when someone is trying to get rounds onto a moving target they become static and focus less on their own movement and more on their shooting.

Works for me!

I’ll be moving to cover, and bad guy will be standing still shooting rounds in my direction.  

Thanks for making my job easier and not moving pal.  

“Always be seeking to improve your position.”

This should not be relegated to the moment of combat.  Quite the contrary.  I want to be at the most tactically “improved” position against a potential opponent before the opponent even shows himself.

When I walk into a building or a room I want to know where the exits are, and what type of people are in their with me.

Rarely am I going to be comfortable being blocked from exits, or being in a place where I do not know, or have any means of advanced waring that a threat has manifested.  

Wild Bill Hickok felt this way every time he played poker.  Until that one fateful day when it was not convenient for him to have his “gunfighters” seat at the table.

That decision ultimately cost him his life.

I will not survive a gunfight because my gun is more expensive than the other guy’s.

I will not survive a gunfight because I have superior clothing or gear.

I will survive a gunfight because I have superior tactics.