• My job is staring at a computer screen. Half my hobbies involve staring at screens. For vacation, I have to get out and do something physical.
• As an independent adult, eventually one who will have one or more dependents, I need to learn how to reasonably and effectively protect myself and others from violent crime. Most people who take self-defense seriously do so because they have been attacked; wouldn't it make sense to be prepared before the event, not after? An annual week at LFI is a good way to prepare.
• As someone who has always been interested in emergency preparedness since Boy Scouts ("be prepared!"), it's fun.
• Learning from a world-class master (regardless of subject) is a rarely-matched experience.

Everyone gather 'round to hear the theme song for August '96 LFI-II : "Don't Forget The Guns"

We spent about 75% of the time on the range learning proper techniques for shooting under normal and abnormal circumsances.
On the line: me pointing out proper shoulder angles to my partner.

Assistant instructor Debbie was kind enough to let us try her H&K MP5 submachine gun.

Yours truly firing full auto for the first time. (Note the flying brass in the upper right corner.)

Class photo after five intense days.

Topics studied (in no particular order)

Videos

• Saftey
• Officer shooting case study
• Building search (necessary hypocricy)(use dog)
• Use of cover
• Knife demonstration
• Off duty officer survival case studies
• Responding officer case studies

• Answering officer's questions
• Discovering officer down
• Place/purpose of shotgun
• Home arrangement (bookcases)
• Slugs vs. buckshot vs. birdshot
• Never break the law
• Using elevators
• Armed robbery (if they just want stuff, let them)
• Keep priorities straight
• Current criminal trends

• Basic draw
• Weak hand only (several methods)

• Various grabs of drawn gun
• Various grabs of holstered gun
• Disarming attacker (= Russian Roulette w/3 chambers)

• Basic body/head shots
• Avoiding bystanders (kneeling, to head)
• Weak hand (for building search)
• Weak hand (when disabled)
• Switching hands
• While moving (toward, across, away)
• NH Police Pistol Qualification
• Bowling pin shoot
• Team steel plates
• Lying down (sides, between knees, over head)
• LFI double-speed qualification

• Under arm (pain free)
• Using body armor (low pain)(vest only)
• Proper shoulder use
• Alternate sides
• Speed reloading
• Baracades

• Teuller Drill review (attacker covers 21 feet in under 2 sec)
• Modified Teuller (attacker covers 12 feet under 1 sec)(taped for trial)
• Moving Teuller (you run away; some escape, usually reached under 4 sec)
• Moving silently
• Moving on stairs
• Handcuffing
• One hand reaload (strong & weak hand)
• Hostage rescue
• Suicidal trespasser

Carl Donath