Review: gunFIGHT!

Richard Nance has written a book that may save a life. Although its content is written from a law enforcement perspective by a highly skilled active duty cop, the techniques and information he conveys apply to the average citizen that carries a firearm.

In gunFIGHT, the author addresses a broad spectrum of what to expect and how to prepare if one is ever engaged in a life and death battle. Along the way, he explains many of the physical, mental, and emotional problems one can encounter in their struggle to win. Things such as the OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) are defined and shown to be an important part of surviving the street.

One of the issues Nance tackles concerns the disproportionate amount of training time continuing to be spent firing from distances that are statistically far less deadly. Zero to five feet is always the deadliest distance for cops (FBI LEOKA statistics). While many instructors and firearm aficionados posit the theory that shooting from farther distances enables you to be able to hit a closer target more easily, the fact is mastering the fundamentals is of little help when engaged in a gunfight at arm’s length. In that close personal space, inside five feet, marksmanship takes a back seat to one’s ability to fight with your gun.

Throughout gunFIGHT, the author illustrates and explains myriad techniques and methods on how to attack or defend yourself in a violent confrontation. One of the things I particularly liked about Nance’s approach is that he explains the methods he has chosen are simply that, his method. He rightly informs the reader his way is not the only way to do something. The unique aspect of police training is there are plethoras of ways to do things, think of these techniques and tactics set out on a buffet table. Upon that table are countless ways to make someone into a confident successful warrior. For the individual cop who steps up to that table, it’s his job to find what works best for him. Generally speaking, there is not just one way to do something. Pick what works for you and move on to the next training method.

gunFIGHT covers much more than the gun itself. Nance explains how to handle situations before they escalate to a gun battle. We all know how things ramp up when our bad guy realizes he’s going to be arrested. Putting your hands on someone and applying cuffs can likely lead to a close quarter assault. If you haven’t trained to prevent or contain that attack, expect things to go south quickly. The author explains techniques such as striking with your gun, fighting from the clinch, fighting from the ground, and even handling multiple assailants.

I alluded to the fact that Nance’s book is a great resource for the armed civilian as well as LE. With ubiquitous debates concerning our Second Amendment rights, more people are walking around armed. However, their mindset may be one of feeling safer simply because they’re carrying. The reality is these folks encounter the same dangers cops do simply by going through their daily routines - shopping at the mall, going to movies, standing in line at the bank, etc. If the armed citizen decides to take action, it’s likely that encounter will be “in close”. Thus, without such preparation such as training to shoot in close quarters, handgun retention, strikes with and without your weapon, the battle can be lost quickly.

One important component of winning any fight is mindset. I’ve taught and written about this subject for years. Richard Nance explains the importance of having a winning mindset, and rightly states, “Being mentally prepared to defend yourself is the most important survival mechanism.”

Whether your attack is with a firearm or something else, you must be prepared to use deadly force. Knowing how to use deadly force and actually using it are two separate matters. When I taught new agents at the FBI Academy, our deadly force lecture usually resulted in finding one or two trainees who admitted they wouldn’t be able to take someone’s life. Thankfully, these otherwise qualified individuals were honest and dropped out of the program.

If you’re a street smart cop, you recognize that training never ends. Every time you attend an in-service or read an article, you should take at least one thing away from that training. If you’re like me, you’ve created an at home library of LE related books and articles for quick reference. If you don’t have a shelf with such books, Richard Nance’s book, gunFIGHT, is a great tome with which to start your library. Whether you’re a rookie cop or a salty vet, my sense is that you’ll find at least one thing in this book that might help save your life. The book is available on Amazon; autographed copies may be purchased at http://www.wartac.com/.

Stay Safe, Brothers & Sisters!