Primary & Secondary Article Library
Explore the Primary & Secondary Article Library: practical writing on firearms, defensive training, law enforcement, equipment, tactics, mindset, and the people who contribute to the professional training community. Articles are organized to help readers find durable information, professional perspectives, and useful resources by subject.
Search and browse the complete Primary & Secondary article archive. Filters update automatically as new material is published.
P&S ModCast 247 — Chokeholds, Restraint, and Law-Enforcement Training
Michael Brown, Cecil Burch, Chuck Haggard, Matt Larsen, and Matt Landfair discuss chokeholds, neck restraints, law-enforcement training, use-of-force policy, medical risk, and public perception.
Read articleP&S ModCast 246 — Enemies Foreign and Domestic
ModCast 246 examines policing and public perception during June 2020, including legitimacy, public trust, accountability, media narratives, leadership, and operational reality.
Read articleInstigating Change In Law Enforcement
I have noticed some trends while watching media, the public, and fellow police officers react to events over the past 20+ years as a police officer. There…
Read articleBaselines #3
Once we have our first baselines as laid out (see parts one and two) there are a ton of other skills that need to be trained, practiced and…
Read articleBaselines
I am LE and I have a decent baseline of competency with a pistol. What would you say a good basic competency with a rifle would look like?…
Read articleLow Power Variable Optics: The Close and The Far
The world of Low Powered Variable Optics (LPVO) has bloomed in recent years with their increased use in both sporting and professional roles. Just about every optics company worth…
Read article“But it’s on the Internet! It Must Be True: Why Most ‘Ballistic Test’ Videos Fail to Accurately Show Body Armor Performance
We will now continue our discussion on Body Armor from an earlier article. Specifically, we addressed some common terms that are used in ballistic testing of body armor: V0,…
Read articleSomething About Shooting in the Dark
Up front I need to let you know that this isn’t going to be another article on how to hold your flashlight. There are probably around three thousand…
Read articleCommunication Confusion
One of the most neglected aspects in Close Quarter Combat (CQB) training is communications. What I mean by this is- How to correctly pass information so that the…
Read articleTurning Corners, What’s the Rush?
My first military CQB (Close Quarters Battle) training experience was not actually in a room or building, but instead in a trench. Back in 1990 (yes, I am…
Read articleHow do we Defeat a Threat Projectile With Body Armor? Science of Course!
Last week, we discussed that if we need to purchase armor, we need to start with the ‘why’ behind that armor’s need. This week, we are going to continue…
Read articleThe Folly Of The Four Man Stack
“CQB is a war of angles.” The first time I heard this was back in 2004 from Rich Mason, owner and head instructor of DARC (Direct Action Resource…
Read articleSo you Need to Buy Body Armor? Start With ‘Why’
Note: This is the first in a series of articles I will be writing on body armor and helmets. This article is geared toward the Law Enforcement community.…
Read articleControl the Hall Control the Floor
In close quarter battle (CQB) the standard practice with regards to hallways with most U.S military, standard operating procedures (SOPs) is to treat halls very much the same…
Read articleWWDLD? (What Would Dave Landis Do?)
Matt asked me to start a series of short articles on leadership, and specifically leadership in the law enforcement world. Frankly, some of the issues are unique to…
Read articleThe Flex Cummerbund and the Birth of Arbor Arms
A firsthand account of how field problems, maritime requirements, prototyping, and user feedback produced the Flex Releasable Cummerbund Kit and helped launch Arbor Arms.
Read articleLeadership Lessons From 15 Months as a Police Sergeant
Sgt. Jimmy G. Holford III reflects on credibility, accountability, preparation, communication, decision-making, and what taking care of officers actually requires.
Read articleLaw-Enforcement Use of Government-Surplus Equipment
Evaluate law-enforcement surplus equipment through documented need, lifecycle cost, training, policy, transparency, public trust, and measurable public-safety value.
Read articleP&S ModCast 112 – Primal Violence 2
Matt Landfair, Varg Freeborn, Chuck Haggard, and Chuck Pressburg discuss criminal violence, dangerous assumptions, awareness, preparation, and professional judgment.
Read articleSemper Paratus Arms AR-15 Armorer Course AAR (2017)
A firsthand review of William Larson’s 2017 two-day AR-15 armorer course, including inspection, assembly, troubleshooting, gauges, and preventive maintenance.
Read articleLaw Enforcement Emotional Survival
Every LEO, whether a rookie or a 30-year veteran, needs to learn emotional survival and how to prioritize their life. I wasn’t exposed to the concept until 14…
Read articleLegal Aspects of Warrant Service with NVG
Editor’s note: This article reflects information available when it was originally published. Laws, policies, products, personnel, technical standards, and recommended practices may have changed. Verify time-sensitive details through…
Read articleBattlesight Zero
Those who carry guns for a living know the world isn’t a nicely manicured flat range and threats will present at differing distances. You won’t have an opportunity…
Read articleRunning the Irons.
Iron sights have been part of shooting since the very least April 19th 1775. Aiming was a major part of our tactics that helped defeat the British unaimed…
Read article