Wednesday Wisdom: 4 February 2026

Medal of Honor: Thomas Patrick Noonan Jr

Lance Cpl. Noonan moved from his position of relative security and, maneuvering down the treacherous slope to a location near injured Marines, took cover behind some rocks. Shouting words of encouragement to the wounded men to restore their confidence, he dashed across the hazardous terrain and commenced dragging the most seriously wounded man away from the fire-swept area. Although wounded and knocked to the ground by an enemy round, L/Cpl. Noonan recovered rapidly and resumed dragging the man toward the marginal security of a rock. He was, however, mortally wounded before he could reach his destination. His heroic actions inspired his fellow marines to such aggressiveness that they initiated a spirited assault which forced the enemy soldiers to withdraw.

 ____________________

After Contact is Broken

Rico Gray, Marissa Alexander's estranged husband, attacked in her own home. She says he cornered her in the bathroom and attempted to choke her, but she managed to fight her way free and escaped to the garage. At that point, she broke contact with her attacker. But then, Alexander retrieved her pistol from the glove box of her car, and she went back inside. There, she found Gray in the kitchen, and she fired what she described as a “warning shot,” a single round that missed Gray by several inches.

Despite the fact that Alexander was in her own home and no one was harmed, she was charged with aggravated assault enhanced by the discharge of a firearm — a charge that carries a hefty mandatory minimum sentence.

 ____________________

Threatening Deadly Force: Musings on “Brandishing” and “Warning” Shots

More on the topic of presenting a weapon (also known as brandishing) and “warning shots.”

 ____________________

What is a Pig Butchering Scam?

The term 'pig butchering' refers to the process where scammers develop a relationship with their victims, akin to fattening a pig for slaughter. They gain the victim's trust, enticing them with promises of substantial returns on investments or cryptocurrency. Ultimately, once this trust is established, victims are coerced into sending money, leaving them in a vulnerable financial position.

Key Characteristics of Pig Butchering Scams:

-- Trust Building: Scammers often initiate contact through random messages or social media, fostering a relationship over time.

-- High Returns Promises: Victims are lured with enticing offers of substantial profits and fast returns.

-- Isolation Techniques: Victims may be discouraged from discussing their investments with family and friends, further enabling the scammer.

 ____________________

So, Iran. Part 2 What are we dealing with?

 

The Mullahs are the chunks floating at the top of the pit. While Islam in Iran is of the Shi’a variety, the mullahs are a subset of the Twelver sect of same.

Twelvers believe that there is a Twelfth Imam, hidden by God, who will one day return and kick off the Day of Judgement, where the righteous will ascend to Heaven, and the sinners will be turfed into hell. Where the Iranian mullahs diverge from Twelver orthodoxy is that they believe that if the entire world is aflame in war and conflict, it will force the Twelfth Imam to reveal himself and start the whole punting process. In essence, they think they’re jogging God’s elbow — and it’s their holy duty to do so. There are about 300,000 of these little bugsnipes, but I think only about 200 to 300 are the main drivers of Iranian State Fanaticism.

 ____________________

Cooper's Thoughts  

The "double-action" self-loading pistol has certainly grabbed the attention of the law enforcement establishment, presumably because it is "safe." Incidents with the US police over the past few years have demonstrated that the trigger-cocking auto is noticeably less safe than the single-action version, as well as less safe than the revolver. Of course, safety is a curious concept when applied to lethal weapons. To the extent that a firearm is safe, it is useless, but in the Age of Litigation everyone seems more concerned about lawsuits than about getting the job done, and since people properly qualified in firearms are rarely found in lawsuits various problems appear. 

For example, in Lexington, Kentucky, recently the county coroner ruled that when a police officer making an arrest used the hammer-dropper to make the weapon safe, and shot the suspect through the head, the fatality was "unintentional." It is probably true to say that the cop did not intend to kill the suspect, but what he was doing pointing his pistol at the head while he dropped the hammer is another matter. That hammer-dropper does not always work. We thought everybody knew that. Certainly the Walther people, who invented it back in 1935, formally cautioned their users about it in writing. 

Funny we did not have all this trouble with accidental discharge, either with revolvers or with single-action auto-pistols, in my youth. Apparently nitwittedness is one of the flowers of the Age of the Common Man.

 ____________________

Privacy for Everyone vs. Mass Surveillance for Crime Prevention

Have you ever heard the phrase “I have nothing to hide”? It’s often used by people who advocate government surveillance as a means of combating crime. According to this logic, however, anyone who is not a criminal has nothing to hide and therefore does not need an encrypted communication channel. This assumption is not only wrong, but also quite dangerous.

The common “nothing to hide” argument suggests that government surveillance only serves to prevent crime, so that law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear. However, mass surveillance is not suitable for fighting crime, and all individuals should use services that protect their data.

 ____________________

Barrett MRAD Covert—the Clandestine Convertible

At the heart of the MRAD Covert it’s an MRAD, so the form, fit, and function are exactly the same as the MK22, which just happens to be my favorite platform for long-range work. Oh, did I mention that the Covert is compatible with all the other MRAD barrel conversion kits? The Covert is fun as hell to shoot and packs up small in the Eberlestock pack, giving you a new option for a truck gun, or anywhere else you like taking rifles and not look out of place with a long-ass rifle case.

 ____________________

Why Professional Training?

The training industry has generally done a poor job in educating shooters about why they might need professional training. The problem is compounded greatly by state-required classes for concealed carry permits, which a great many people still think of as “real training.” These classes can provide good information, and in most cases they’re probably better than nothing, but their primary purpose is NOT to train the students how to defend themselves.

On the contrary, the primary purpose for these state-required classes is to assure political leaders that people who acquire a CCW permit in their states will not endanger the public. This is a far cry from being sure that the permit holders are themselves safer and better able to defend themselves from criminal attacks.

 ____________________

Shots Fired: Skokie, Illinois 08/25/2008

Officer Tim Gramins let loose with a barrage of rounds hoping that what he might lose in accuracy would be compensated for by its suppressive nature. Didn’t work. In this free-for-all been struck 14 times. Any one of six of these wounds – in the heart, right lung, left lung, liver, diaphragm, and right kidney – could have produced fatal consequences, “in time.” Pistols are relatively poor fight stoppers. Sometimes. even assailants with fatal wounds can continue fighting and killing for a significant period.

 ____________________

If Your Gun Falls, Let It Drop

If you happen to lose control of your firearm while it is in your hand or if your pistol falls out of your holster or your hand during a draw, let it drop. It is extremely dangerous to try and grab the weapon in the air. There is a chance you will get tangled up in the trigger and pull the trigger in the process causing the firearm to fire.

This is a training issue, as the natural response for most people is to try to catch something they fumble. Richard Evans did just that when he dropped his cellphone and a shotgun moments after confronting a thief on his property with life-changing consequences. 

 ____________________

If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed. 

Wednesday Wisdom: 28 January 2026

Medal of Honor: Drew Dennis Dix

SSG Dix's personal heroic actions resulted in fourteen confirmed Viet Cong killed in action and possibly twenty-five more, the capture of twenty prisoners, fifteen weapons, and the rescue of the fourteen United States and free-world civilians.

 ____________________

Firearms Selection, Ammo Selection, and Trigger Modifications

Firearms selection for concealed carry. There are several things to think about here. Performance, skill level, capacity, comfort. First off, we recommend looking at your area law enforcement and what they carry. Law enforcement has strict guidelines and policies on what they carry. These are based on evaluation and testing on the function and performance of firearms in various conditions. Police officers have to have firearms that are reliable and function properly. Therefore, we highly recommend you look at reliable and proven firearms for your self protection.

 ____________________

Men Indicted for Posing as FBI Agents to Commit Fraud

The members of this conspiracy posed as agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). They allegedly convinced the individual to purchase $255,287 in gold and give it them, falsely thinking it was going to a government agency for safe keeping.

Fraudsters posing as lawyers scammed a friend of mine’s elderly mother out of $40,000.00 by claiming one of her grandsons had been arrested and needed money for legal representation. Talk to the elderly in your life and warn them about unknown people asking them to do anything with their money.

 ____________________

So, What About Iran?

 

If the mullahs fall, the entire global stage will change — drastically so, in some spheres — yet the Legacy Media is desperately pointing everywhere but Iran.

If the mullahs fall, one of the top two drivers of international terrorism … goes away. Without the mullahs supplying cash, weapons, and training terror groups that have had the world on edge for 40 years … lose their major support. And yet … crickets from the Media. Sigh. So, your Humble Scribe will try to fill in the gaps. The biggest question I get is: “What next?”

That’s a good question. Broadly speaking — very broadly — there are two major players positioned to fill the gap if the mullahs fall. One one hand you have the exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. I would have held that Pahlavi didn’t have snowball’s chance in hell of becoming a power player in post-mullah Iranian politics, but he’s made some pretty canny moves; and seems to have garnered support. On the con side he’s got baggage from his father in the form of memories of SAVAK (the former Iranian secret police).

On the other hand, you have Maryam Rajavi and the People's Mujahedin of Iran. Much as I favor the wicked twinkle in her blue eyes, Maryam started out as a Marxist-Muslim — and we’ve had quite enough of that bushwa thank you very much. Plus, about ten years ago she publicly made nice-nice with Mahmoud Abbas, who was the Palestinian President at the time. Since the mullahs are only reason the Palestinians have enough ass to be a nuisance, that’s a concern.

 ____________________

Operation Paperclip: The Secret Post WWII US Intelligence Program

By 1945, the war in Europe was drawing to a close. German Field-Marshal Wilhelm Keitel would sign documents of unconditional surrender on May 8 of that year. However, the war in the Pacific was still raging, and as Allied soldiers advanced into Germany, they found themselves in possession of an unusual asset: German scientists who had helped to advance the regime’s wartime technology.

These scientists were considered strategically valuable, and America wanted to harness their knowledge not just to help bring victory in the Pacific but also to bolster postwar scientific research and prevent the scientists from emigrating to countries that had remained neutral during the war, or to areas now controlled by Soviet forces. Hence, Operation Paperclip was born. 

 ____________________

Teutonic Sexgun: Korth Mongoose

Korth uses a roller trigger system so both the double- and single-action trigger pulls are as slick as glass. Most double-action revolvers these days are trash—this one broke at 8 pounds and was Astroglide-smooth. The crisp single-action break was 3 pounds. The cylinder latch is ingeniously located beside the hammer where it can be actuated without shifting your firing grip. The cylinder swings out past the 90-degree point, making it easy to load. Machined aluminum speed loaders are available.

 ____________________

When our Oaths Became Theater

How American courts transformed citizenship from allegiance into entitlement, and why that decision is now colliding with reality.

Minnesota’s fraud scandals did not begin as a debate about ideology, immigration, or race. They began with something quieter and more revealing: the realization that large sums of public money could be diverted through tight, internally loyal, social networks without triggering decisive institutional resistance. Oversight hesitated. Enforcement stalled. Every actor involved can point to procedures followed and boxes checked. Yet the purpose of the system, to safeguard the public trust, failed. Minnesota is not the cause. It is the exposure.

 ____________________

An Aggressive Email Scam to Watch Out For

This article is about a very aggressive email scam. I have received some of these aggressive phishing emails and since I do not do the things the e-mail alleged, I knew it was a scam. This scam begins when you get an email in your inbox from a random email address (usually Gmail). The subject line is your name. The text in the email is your name, phone number, and home address. This can be a little disconcerting from some random Gmail address. But there's more: an attached PDF with your name on it.

 ____________________

A History of Cryptography From the Spartans to the FBI

When Operation Trojan Shield concluded on June 8, 2021, the results were staggering: Over 800 arrests were made across 16 countries, and nearly 40 tons of drugs were seized, along with 250 guns, 55 luxury cars, and more than $48 million in currencies and cryptocurrencies. At the core of the sting — one of the largest of its kind — was a proprietary messaging app called ANOM. The app, marketed as a secure, encryption-based communications platform, offered features beyond those of ordinary devices, such as the ability to remotely wipe all messages and data from a captured phone, effectively destroying all incriminating evidence.

The problem for users was that ANOM was run by the FBI. Its privacy protection mechanisms were a façade: All communications were copied and relayed to participating government agencies.

Interesting article providing a quick overview of cryptography. If you want privacy and to secure your communications in 2026, use THREMA and/or Proton. Both are Switzerland-based and not beholden to the US (such as Signal, WhatsApp) or the Russian (Telegram) Governments.

 ____________________

Revisiting The “Warning Shot”

“Except (perhaps) in the retaking of escaping prisoners, to fend off a dangerous “protected” species threatening at distance, or certain maritime encounters, a warning shot is so universally frowned upon it likely cannot be “justified” to a prosecutor, judge, and jury. But, Bob Dylan might just be correct, the times they are (maybe) “a-changin.”

 ____________________

The Development of the Spyderco Jumpmaster Knife

One potential danger of a military static line jump is that a paratrooper might become a “towed” jumper upon exiting the aircraft. Rather than deploying his parachute, the static line tows him behind the aircraft where he can potentially impact the fuselage and be knocked unconscious. When this occurs, the jumpmaster must act swiftly to cut the static line and free the jumper before he is injured so he can deploy his chute manually. To do that, the jumpmaster must have a knife that can be drawn in an instant and sever the heavy static line with a single cut. This challenge was the inspiration of the original Spyderco Jumpmaster knife. This article details its development. 

____________________ 

If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed. 

Wednesday Wisdom: 21 January 2026

Breaking Contact by De-escalation and Disengagement

His slow retreat, his defensive display, and his verbal commands all failed to break contact with Crofut. What is unclear is why Strebendt suddenly stopped those efforts 80 feet away from the car. If Strebendt had been committed to a strategy of breaking contact, he could have double-timed his efforts to disengage. Most likely, he would have quickly disappeared into the darkness, and the deadly encounter could have been averted. Instead, Strebendt apparently reacting to Crofut grabbing the barrel of his rifle (forensics found Crofut's DNA on the barrel), shot Crofut in the head.  Strebendt later sat in jail while his lawyer fought to reach a plea deal that potentially spared him decades in prison. 

 ____________________ 

How to Spot Cell Phone Spy Software (and What to Do)

More on cell phone spy/surveillance apps. Although most people do not need to worry about the more sophisticated spyware applications like Pegasus, some of the commercial versions can be a concern. This info is particularly important for someone who has been in an abusive relationship. A frequent competitor in my SSD-A Short Range Match had a former boyfriend stalking her. He would appear at restaurants and other locations she frequented with suspicious regularity. Her abusive “ex” may have installed spyware on her phone without her knowledge.

 ____________________ 

Using Patrol Vehicles for Cover

Written for police, however, applicable for the private citizen as well. How do you use your patrol vehicle to provide cover while under fire, and do certain areas of the vehicle offer more or less protection? There is no clear-cut answer that could apply to every scenario. As with any form of cover, it depends on the situation and terrain.

 ____________________ 

Hotel Security in Bad Places

I traveled, worked, and lived on the economy, in high threat, “bad places” for over twenty years while in the military and as a federal civilian employee. This article contains good advice.

 ____________________ 

Minocqua Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Money Laundering

I am always amazed that otherwise intelligent people fall for this stuff. Don’t get scammed. If it is substantially outside a reasonable expectation of performance (e.g. Nancy Pelosi’s stock picks), there is probably something amiss.

Kromray admitted that between September 2018 and March 2025, he used social media and other online communications to falsely portray himself as a successful trader in stocks, mutual funds, cryptocurrency, and the foreign currency exchange market (forex). Kromray also used social media to display wealth he allegedly acquired from trading, including images or references to expensive watches, a large home, tropical vacations, and exotic sports cars. During meetings with investors, Kromray told them that they could expect a monthly rate of return of approximately 4% to 8%, with the potential of earning up to 30% a month.  

 ____________________ 

Nothing From Government Is Free-- That Goes Double If Government Tells You It's Free

There’s been a lot of grumbling here recently about how bad the kids have it, financially. Lot of breathless examples of what the latest generation would have to make to equal what [Insert Random Generation Here] made. This grumbling is being used to justify a head-long dive into the khazi that is communism socialism Democratic Socialism. 

 ____________________ 

I Have This Old Gun: The Ruger Mini-14 GB

Ruger introduced a new version of the Mini-14 in 1979 that was equipped with a special barrel profile. Unlike the standard model, the 18.5" Mini-14 GB (for “government barrel”) incorporates a muzzle brake and a combination front sight block/bayonet lug capable of mounting the USGI M7 bayonet. Other than that, the GB is no different than the standard model insofar as it is built on the same investment-cast receiver, uses the same adjustable rear-sight assembly and is capable of semi-automatic fire only. 

 ____________________ 

Ruger AC556: The totally legal, totally select fire Mini 14

While we’re on the topic of Mini-14s, let’s look at the Ruger AC556. Who hasn’t looked at a Mini-14 or Mini-30 rifle and thought, man this baby would be a blast on full-auto? Well, it would seem great minds think alike because Sturm Ruger did just that back in the 1990s when they made a little-known variant built around this concept. The US State Department purchased the AC556 for the Diplomatic Security Service and I had the opportunity to carry and use them in the early 1990s. They were almost impossible to control on full auto and the muzzle blast from the short barreled versions was horrific. 

____________________ 

Aliaj v. Fort Lee Police Department

After a misunderstanding led to Elsid Aliaj’s wife being subjected to a three day hold and mental health evaluation, Aliaj found himself face to face with Fort Lee Police Officers at his door. The officers, without warrant or other order, claimed they were there to confiscate Aliaj’s guns. Fearing arrest for non-compliance, Aliaj turned over his lawfully owned firearms. But after explaining that the guns were his and not his wife’s, and that he had a safe to store them that his wife did not have access to, law enforcement officials refused to return his lawfully owned, and constitutionally protected, property.

 ____________________ 

The Martial AR-7

Back in the late 1950’s Eugene Stoner figured he would expand on his repertoire of futuristic firearms utilizing modern materials like aluminum and plastic to create the ultimate survival rifle with a focus on downed pilots. The goal was small, in size and caliber, compact when taken down, the ability to float, and could hold enough ammo to procure food. The AR-7 was eventually born. 

____________________ 

If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed. 

 

No Dot? There Should Be a Dot. Where's the Dot?

As the timer sounded for a stage in a recent Sensible Self Defense Short Range Match, I drew my pistol and—No Dot. Instead of immediately going to iron sights, my brain sorta went: “No dot? Hmmmm, where’s the dot? I have a good grip so there should be a dot. Where’s the dot?” After a couple of seconds dithering, I started using the iron sights and finished the stage with zero points down. The Safety Officer for that particular stage was a good friend of mine who is a retired firearms instructor for the Treasury Department. When I finished the stage said: “I thought you fell asleep.” (It is nice to have supportive friends.)

Is there a lesson here? I think so. I learned that I need to practice immediately going to iron sights if I present the pistol and do not see a dot. After all, that is what back-up iron sights are for; however, I never practice using them because my optic sights are very reliable. In fact, prior to this instance I cannot remember the last time I drew my pistol and there was no dot.

In 2025, I attended a class that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS or state police) instructed. The Texas DPS qualification as of August 2025 uses the DPS proprietary target which has a scoring area somewhat similar to the FBI QIT-03 target. One thing I found interesting about the DPS qualification course of fire was the use of iron sights only in Stage #1. Troopers fire ten rounds in Stage #1 from the ten-yard line as follows: From the ready position, turn the pistol optic off and holster. On command, draw, fire 6 shots, move one step right, and fire 4 additional shots, two-handed grip.

The DPS Firearms Training Unit designed this stage to remind troopers that if they draw and do not see a dot, go immediately to irons. What a novel idea. The first thing I plan to do in future practice sessions is to turn off the dot and conduct several draw/fire sequences using iron sights.

If you enjoy reading these please subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. Your information will never be distributed.