Author Archives: Randall

New SCCY CPX-3 .380 Pistol

In 2016, SCCY Industries will be coming out with their first .380 ACP pistol, the CPX-3.  The Daytona Beach manufacturer’s new handgun will utilize SCCY founder Joe Roebuck’s patent-pending Quad-Lock system to stabilize the barrel and improve accuracy over their previous DAO guns.  The Roebuck Quad-Lock will likely be featured on future SCCY’s. While maintaining the general looks of their 9mm Parabellum CPX-2 pistol, the CPX-3 will be just slightly smaller.  A CPX-3 holds 10 rounds in its double-stacked magazine, so it will not be a micro-380.  Pre-production photos show the “Dash 3” obviously bigger than a Ruger LCP or Kel-Tec P3AT.  For those who feel those latter guns are … Continue reading

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Florida Companies | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Uprising in The Villages!

About sixty retired police officers in The Villages turned out at their Rialto Theater this morning to protest the opening of Quentin Tarantino’s new film.  You may remember Tarantino infuriated cops with his statements at a Black Lives Matter rally in New York City last October. Said the film director, “When I see murders, I do not stand by. I have to call a murder a murder, and I have to call the murderers the murderers.”  The NYPD Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association urged people to boycott Tarantino movies.  I do not stand by. Well, thanks Q for being there and putting your life on the line for all of us. Protesting … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Politics | Leave a comment

Ruger American Pistol

Sturm, Ruger & Co. has announced the debut of their newest striker-fired pistol–the American.  This is a full-sized handgun with all the latest amenities:  adjustable grips, 1913 accessory rail, ambidextrous controls, three dot sights, and a black nitride slide coating. I can’t help but like the name and I am surprised it has not been used before on a semi-auto.  Bill Ruger’s company seems to have a winning touch and the American will likely continue their streak.  Here’s the press release: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is proud to introduce a new line of full-size duty pistols. Designed with the latest U.S. Military standards in mind, the Ruger … Continue reading

Posted in Firearms, Street | Tagged | Leave a comment

Indian River Sheriff’s Office OIS

Indian River County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Lester pulled over this suspect, who was riding a tagless scooter, at oh-three-hundred.  After appearing to be minimally cooperative, the convicted felon sucker punched Lester, then took a revolver from the small of his back and shot the deputy.  Dep. Lester returned fire and chased the suspect on foot.  In the audio, you can hear the difference between the badguy’s .357 and Dep. Lester’s .45. IRCSO K9 Falko found the suspect, who had two of Dep. Lester’s bullets in his gut, hiding at a packing plant.  Dep. Lester is in stable condition with a gunshot wound to the leg.  The suspect, who had done … Continue reading

Posted in Firearms, K9, Street, Tactics | Leave a comment

St. Petersburg Police K9 Officer Passes

Longtime St. Petersburg Police K9 Handler James Olson passed away in his home last week.  He was 48 years old.  Jimmy, as he was known by those of us who worked with him, was a consummate police officer, K9 handler, son, and father. It was my privilege to have spent time down at the Compound with Jimmy and the great guys at SPPD K9.  I trained my second and third dogs down there and I was a better handler for the experience. Ofc. Olson’s funeral was today and I was honored to accompany my K9 Unit.  About forty dog teams attended and,

Posted in K9 | 1 Comment

A Christmas Concert

My daughter’s college held a Christmas Gala last week where she was a member of the chorus. It was a beautiful show celebrating the season’s good will toward men (and women). The audience was filled with festively-dressed folks, many of them smiling seniors. Was it wrong for me to be thinking about radicalized violence? A Christian event drawing over a thousand people could be a prime target in these particular times. Once seated, I discreetly checked out the tactical options. Should something go down, where were the exits people would attempt to funnel through? What would constitute cover and/or concealment? How could an attack unfold, given the layout of

Posted in Misc., Off Duty, Tactics | 2 Comments

Gun Violence Remains in Decline

The story here, for me, is the Centers for Disease Control publishing data showing current gun deaths at rates lower than the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.  The Mainstream Media would have you believe we are suffering through the worst gun violence in American history.  In fact, the Washington Post Blog’s headline for the above graphic was, “Guns are now killing as many people as cars in the U.S.”  Wholly suggestive. The Pew Research Center published their own graphics based upon the same CDC information.  Although Pew used slightly different measures, the trend was consistent.  Gun violence fell in the 1990s and has remained steady at pre-1970

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Florida Deputy Indicted for Manslaughter

Broward Sheriff’s Deputy Peter Peraza was indicted Friday by a grand jury for manslaughter in an on duty shooting. He is the first Florida law enforcement officer to be indicted by a grand jury since 1991 for an officer-involved shooting. In July of 2013, Dep. Peraza responded with other deputies to reports of an armed suspect walking in an apartment complex. The suspect refused to drop his rifle and did not comply with the deputies’ commands. Deputies stated that the suspect pointed his rifle toward them. He was shot and killed by Peraza, who fired three bullets. It was found that the suspect’s weapon was an unloaded air rifle. The … Continue reading

Posted in Legal, Officer Safety, Street | 2 Comments

“Enough is Enough!”

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey is not afraid to give an opinion.  I think his observations have gone viral because they make us reflect on America and safety.  Gun sales in Florida have risen since the San Bernardino Islamic terrorist attack.  FDLE reports firearms purchase background checks were up 73% last Saturday and 86% Sunday, compared to the same dates a year ago.  People do not feel safe. Randall

Posted in Concealed Carry, Defensive Tactics, Firearms, Off Duty, Officer Safety, Politics, Tactics | 5 Comments

Terrorists and Cops Part Two

Two weeks ago, I wrote about terrorism migrating to our shores in the aftermath of the Paris attacks.  Then came the ISIS-inspired San Bernardino massacre.  Sadly, a homegrown extremist shooting occurred sooner than anyone thought would.  Local, state, and federal agencies responded swiftly to contain and extinguish the threat in SoCal. One of my colleagues complained Thursday that many departments have a “it won’t happen here” attitude toward agency preparedness.  He suggested more active shooter, tactical combat casualty care, and improvised explosive device training for all officers.  I would listen to him.  He has experience as a U.S. Army explosive ordinance disposal technician and combat medic.  Yeah, he’s seen the … Continue reading

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty, Officer Safety, Protective Armor, Street, SWAT, Tactics | 1 Comment

Stop Being a Jackass

C’mon, keep it down back there!  Norman, Okla. Ofc. Kyle Canaan gives a Marchman ride to a wayward donkey.  Like many of our customers, he pooped in the car.  The ass was reunited with his chiropractor.  Seriously. Randall  

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Chicago PD Murder Charges

I have watched Chicago PD’s officer-involved shooting video from October 2014.  A few things come to mind about the totality of the circumstances.  Officers are responding to a commercial burglary call where a suspect was detained by a citizen, but is now on foot in the urban area.  The suspect is armed with a knife.  He is now evading police on the street. The suspect sprinted through a fast food restaurant parking lot, stabbed the front tire of a police car, and damaged the windshield of another.  If you forward to 4:53 in the video time (not the PD time stamp), you get to the perspective of a cruiser entering … Continue reading

Posted in Knives, Legal, Media, Misc., Officer Safety, SWAT, Tactics | 4 Comments

Florida Open Carry Bills in the Legislature

Imagine you are working road patrol in your uniform and marked squad car at the scene of an urban disturbance when you see a man walking up behind you on a crowded sidewalk.  As he moves closer, you see he has a 9mm handgun in plain view, tucked into his waistband over his shirt.  You make eye contact, but, despite your unease, you cannot stop and ask him about the pistol because that would be against the law.  Does this make sense? Under 2015 Senate Bill 300, and its companion, House Bill 163, open carry of firearms would be legal in Florida if the person possesses a state-issued concealed carry … Continue reading

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Legal, Media, Officer Safety | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Orange Deputy Beats Mickey

Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Keith Rogers was a hit in the Magic Kingdom.  From OCSO’s Facebook page: Deputy Rogers is a celebrity in the eyes of this Tewksbury, MA. youngster! His mom Jennie Ann (who is also a police officer) writes:  “A big thank you to this Deputy for taking the time to sign an autograph for my 6-year-old son Shayne at Disney’s Hollywood Studio. Who needs Mickey’s autograph when you can have an OCSO Deputy’s?”  We couldn’t agree more! Thank you Jennie Ann for sending this to us.  We love to hear from our citizens and visitors. Take that, Mouse! Randall  

Posted in Misc. | Leave a comment

Terrorists and Cops

As extremist violence proliferates around the globe, it will be local law enforcement who directly confronts the threat in this country.  The coordinated attacks on civilians in Paris last Friday by eight terrorists wielding AK-47’s and suicide bombs could well have been perpetrated in any of our cities right here in the USA.  Are you prepared to be the badge on ground zero when it goes down? While law enforcement has been criticized for “militarization,” those same armored vehicles, tactical equipment, and rifles, are exactly what we need to counter threats like

Posted in Officer Safety, Street, SWAT, Tactics | 7 Comments