1.4 Million Gang Members In US And Growing

[moonwhimcaptain of 1,000]

1.4 MILLION Gang Members And More Pour Into The United States Every Single Day
The American Dream
January 21, 2012

A vast army of heavily armed criminals has embedded itself in every major city in the United States. In fact, nearly every community in America is now affected by these thugs. Drugs, theft and brutal violence are all part of the every day lifestyle of the members of this army.


They aggressively recruit our young people and floods of illegal immigrants are joining their ranks. Once civil unrest erupts in America, they will go on a crime spree that will be absolutely unprecedented and they will burn large areas of some U.S. cities to the ground. So who am I talking about? I am talking about the rapidly growing gangs that are terrorizing cities all over the nation.

The FBI tells us that there are now 1.4 million gang members involved in the 33,000 different gangs that are active inside the United States. The number of gang members in the U.S. has increased by 40 percent since 2009. Just think about that. That is absolutely astounding. Just since 2009, the number of gang members has increased by 40 percent. The FBI says that 48 percent of all violent crime in this country can be directly traced to gangs and that this is a national crisis that is progressively getting worse. Unfortunately, the federal government refuses to secure our borders and is allowing new waves of illegal immigrants to enter the United States every single day. A substantial number of those illegal immigrants end up involved in these gangs. Yet the federal government just stands by and allows it to keep happening. One day, the foolishness of this policy will be evident to all.

In many areas of America today, families live behind windows that have bars on them and they won’t ever go out at night because it is just too dangerous. There are some communities that have pretty much been entirely taken over by the gangs, but instead of addressing the problem the federal government continues to spend a massive amount of resources checking out what might be in our underwear at U.S. airports.

Meanwhile, criminal gangs are thriving. They are becoming incredibly powerful and increasingly sophisticated. The following is from an FBI press release….

Gangs are increasingly engaging in non-traditional gang-related crime such as alien smuggling, human trafficking, and prostitution. Gangs are also engaging in white-collar crime such as counterfeiting, identity theft, and mortgage fraud.

You can find much more background information about gang activity in the United States from the FBI right here.

You have probably heard of some of the largest of these gangs.

For example, the 18th Street Gang is the largest gang in the state of California. It is said that they have 15,000 members in California alone, and that on average they are responsible for at least one major crime in Los Angeles County every single day.

It has been reported that police in Los Angeles are extremely hesitant to ever venture into the areas most heavily controlled by the 18th Street gang. They are absolutely brutal and they do not back down to anyone. The following is whatWikipedia has to say about the 18th Street Gang….

A US Justice Department report from 2009 estimates that the 18th Street gang has a membership of some 30,000 to 50,000 with 80% of them being illegal aliens from Mexico and Central America and is active in 44 cities in 20 states. Its main source of income is street-level distribution of cocaine and marijuana and, to a lesser extent, heroin and methamphetamine. Gang members also commit assault, auto theft, carjacking, drive-by shootings, extortion, homicide, identification fraud, and robbery.

Another very prominent gang that you may have heard of is the Latin Kings. It is reported that they have 18,000 members in the city of Chicago alone. They are believed to be the largest Hispanic gang in the entire nation.

One of the gangs that has law enforcement authorities the most concerned is MS-13. There are chapters of MS-13 in 42 states now, and if you cross a member of MS-13 there is a good chance that you will lose a limb or be hacked to death with a machete.

This tough economic environment has made it even easier for these gangs to recruit new members. Today, there are way too many young people sitting around with nothing to do.

Back in the year 2000, more than 50 percent of all Americans teens had a job. This past summer, only 29.6% of all American teens had a job.

When you have lots of teens and young adults sitting around with nothing but time on their hands, bad things are prone to happen.

As the family unit continues to decline in America, young people are looking for a sense of belonging. For many youths, a gang becomes a new “family” for them.

But unfortunately, these new “families” do not exactly teach “family values”. Instead, they teach our young people about how to be brutal and violent.

And we are seeing evidence of this out on the streets every single day. For example, a group of 6 young thugs recently attacked a 64-year-old Vietnam veteran in Philadelphia and beat him up so badly that he almost died….

Kate Schaefer, the victim’s wife, told Eyewitness News, ‘They just smashed every bone in his face. I can’t tell you the words. I guess I was just happy that he was alive.’

During 2011, we saw a large increase in “group crime” behavior. Some of the incidents have been absolutely horrific. For example, the following is how one local ABC News affiliate described the “flash mob” attacks that took place at the Wisconsin state fair earlier this year….

Milwaukee police said that around 11:10 p.m., squads were sent to the area for reports of battery, fighting and property damage being caused by an unruly crowd of “hundreds” of people. One officer described it as a “mob beating.”

Police said the group of young people attacked fair goers who were leaving the fair grounds. Police said that some victims were attacked while walking. They said others were pulled out of cars and off of motorcycles before being beaten.

Can you imagine taking your kids to the state fair and having them witness that?

But this is just the beginning.

These gangs are becoming very organized and they are becoming very heavily armed.

The FBI says that rifles, machine guns, grenades and even artillery rounds are being found in the possession of gangs more frequently than ever.

Some examples of this were recently posted on military.com. These gangs seem to have a particular affection for AK-47s….

In late July, 27 AK-47s were stolen from a Fort Irwin warehouse, officials said. Those close to the case, who would speak only under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the subject, said investigators believe gang members were involved in the theft.

Sadly, that same article noted that members of the U.S. military have even been arrested for trying to sell weapons to these gangs….

In November 2010, three former Marines were arrested in Los Angeles for selling assault weapons to members of the violent street gang, Florencia 13, according to the NGIC report. That same month, a Navy Seal from San Diego and two others were arrested in Colorado for smuggling about 18 military-issued machine guns from Iraq and Afghanistan to be sold and shipped to buyers in Mexico.

Those that want to steal guns are becoming increasingly bold. For example, 21 machine guns were stolen a while back right out of an LAPD training facility.

Down in Miami, thieves have become so bold that they have actually beenbreaking into parked police cruisers and stealing guns and ammo out of them.

When people are stealing guns directly from the police, that is a sign that it is very late in the game.

Our politicians spend so much time talking about the violence in Afghanistan and Iraq, but the truth is that the area right along the U.S./Mexico border is far more dangerous.

Just check out the following information from CNSNews.com….

According to the Mexican government, from January through September 2011 2,276 deaths were recorded in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, which borders Texas and New Mexico.

A Nov. 2011 Congressional Research Service (CRS) reportstates that over nearly the same period – January through October 2011 – 2,177 civilians were killed in Afghanistan, where a U.S.-led war against the Taliban is underway. It did not provide a breakdown of responsibility for that period, but said that in 2010, 75 percent of civilian deaths were attributed to the Taliban and other “anti-government elements.”

Per capita, a person was at least nine times more likely to be murdered in Chihuahua last year than in Afghanistan.

Many of the areas along our border with Mexico are open war zones.

But do we hear about this much in the mainstream media?

Of course not.

Just across the U.S. border lies the city of Juarez, Mexico. Juarez is considered to be one of the most dangerous cities on the entire planet because of the brutal drug war being waged there. In fact, Juarez is the murder capital of the western hemisphere.

But most Americans have never even heard of Juarez.

Complete and total chaos reigns in vast areas of northern Mexico, and yet most Americans don’t even realize that there is a problem.

Overall, more than 35,000 people have been killed since the Mexican government declared war on the drug cartels back in 2006.

You would think that would warrant some significant news coverage.

But no, the mainstream media can’t talk much about that because then the people might actually start demanding that we secure our borders.

Amazingly, instead of securing our borders the Obama administration has been busy sending guns down to the drug cartels in Mexico.

That is what this whole “Fast and Furious” scandal is all about. As I have written about previously, ATF agents purposely allowed thousands of guns to be sold to individuals that they believed would get them into the hands of Mexican drug cartels.

But so far, nobody in the Obama administration has been held accountable for this.

During 2009 and 2010, 70 percent of the 30,000 guns that were recovered by authorities in Mexico were determined to have come from inside the United States.

That is a major problem.

These Mexican drug cartels and the gangs that work with them have become very heavily armed and they have become very bold.

It has been reported that Mexican drug cartels are now openly conducting military operations inside the United States. Scouts for the cartels maintain strategic lookout bases in the hills of southern Arizona, and the federal government has even put up signs that warn tourists to say out of certain areas. The cartels very much try to avoid any confrontations with our border patrol or with our local police, but once they are approached they are not afraid to open fire.

One very frustrated border patrol agent told Fox News the following about what is going on in his area….

“To say that this area is out of control is an understatement.”

So how in the world can the federal government allow this to go on?

Well, a big part of it is that Barack Obama does not want to do anything that could scare away his Hispanic voters.
In fact, he is doing just about everything that he can to portray himself as “Hispanic-friendly”.

A few months ago, I wrote about how the Obama administration has announced that there will now be a case-by-case review of all deportation cases involving illegal immigrants. Those involving “criminals” will be prioritized and almost all the rest will be thrown out.

Yes, you read that correctly.

If you are an illegal immigrant and you have not been convicted of a crime that means that you almost certainly get to stay in this country.

So that is basically a big green light for even larger waves of illegal immigrants to enter this country.

That means that the ranks of the gangs will swell even more.

The chaotic drug war that is going on in northern Mexico has spread into many areas of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. With each passing day, the gangs that are embedded in all of our major cities are getting stronger. They are a ticking time bomb that eventually will go off.

One day, when mass civil unrest erupts in the United States, the gangs will have a field day. Given the opportunity, most gangs will gleefully indulge in brutal violence, looting, arson, rape and mindless property destruction.

Sadly, this all could have been avoided.

Instead of strip-searching old women at airports, this is what we should have been dedicating our law enforcement resources to.

Instead of spending billions of dollars spying on the American people, the federal government should have spent billions of dollars on securing our borders.

Unfortunately, we made the wrong choices as a nation and so now we are going to pay the price.
Ban


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[Fairmindedcaptain of 1,000]

This is definitely troubling.

I'd like to focus specifically on what the article said about gangs buying or stealing military weapons. As I understand it many gangs make it a priority to try to recruit retired soldiers, and even enlist their members into the army for training and military connections. It wouldn't surprise me if many of these gang members infiltrating the army have been weaseling into quartermaster or logistics positions and smuggling weapons to their gangs.

When the Soviet Union collapsed many junior and senior officers who were already fairly corrupt had a field day selling soviet weapons and ammunition to other countries or militant groups within their own borders. I imagine if the US experienced a similar collapse we'd be seeing more of the same. Our nation is the most heavily armed in the world, and if all those weapons were to fall into the hands of the already rampantly growing gangs things would get nasty quick.

All the more reason for honest citizens to make being armed and able to defend themselves a priority.

[durangoutcaptain of 1,000]

- 2 12 ga Riot guns + 1000 rounds buck shot and slugs
- 2 Semi Auto "assault weapons" in 5.56x45, 7.62x39 or better yet .308 + 2000 rounds
- 2 1911 45ACP pistols + 1000 rounds ( 9mm or 40 cal is OK if +p rounds are used)

Do you have your minimum battery ready???

[jonesdecaptain of 1,000]

- 2 12 ga Riot guns + 1000 rounds buck shot and slugs
- 2 Semi Auto "assault weapons" in 5.56x45, 7.62x39 or better yet .308 + 2000 rounds
- 2 1911 45ACP pistols + 1000 rounds ( 9mm or 40 cal is OK if +p rounds are used)

Do you have your minimum battery ready???

I sure wish the Feds would change things so that good people had an incentive to arm themselves instead of policy like the drug war that helps people doing bad to arm themselves.

How about getting rid of the drug war, moving all of that funding to legal businesses instead of violent gangs, and then establish an income tax deduction (or even better, a tax credit) for firearms, ammo, supplies, etc.

That would shift the balance of power in a direction I imagine the authors of the Constitution would appreciate...

BTW, good choice of firearms... and I'd say stick with .308 for a battle rifle (especially a HK91 or M1A), and for the pistol 1911s are great (my most prized sidearm is a Springfield 1911 TRP) but the Springfield XD and Glock are also great little pistols (and have safety setups that are less prone to forgetting in a panic). For shotguns the Remington 870 is a great budget pump action, but not nearly as fun as a Saiga 12 with a 20 round drum under it...

[PunaGabecaptain of 100]

Bring it on Im ready for these fools.

[Deborah000captain of 100]

I have a question. Is a 22 rifle the best gun for a household to keep for protection?

[Fairmindedcaptain of 1,000]

I have a question. Is a 22 rifle the best gun for a household to keep for protection?

I would say it's probably one of the worst actually. For one thing rifles in close quarters are awkward and someone who knows what they're doing might be able to get the barrel out of the way before you can shoot. Then .22 has very little stopping power and it would take several shots to take a person down unless you hit something critical, and an assailant pumped on adrenaline is a lot harder to stop. Even law enforcement officers using large calibers like .45s are taught the double-tap, partly for accuracy but also because two shots have a far better chance of bringing an assailant down. With .223 rounds such as the military uses I understand it's three shots considered necessary to bring an enemy down.

My recommendation would be a higher caliber pistol, 9mm, .45, or .40, loaded with jacketed hollow point rounds for personal defense. JHP isn't quite as good for penetrating body armor, but if you run into assailants well enough equipped to be wearing flak jackets that's probably big trouble anyway . Another consideration is that JHP reduces the risk of through-and-throughs. A shotgun is also a good choice for self defense in close quarters, although again you have the issue of someone shoving the barrel aside before you can shoot.

Another consideration is that an assailant closer than ten feet can close the distance before you can pull the trigger. Be very wary of anyone getting close enough to try anything.

I'll admit my knowledge isn't the best on this forum. In general topics there's the thread for gun nuts . Bobhenstra is very knowledgeable about guns and can probably advise you better.

[Deborah000captain of 100]

Thank you, Fairminded. I actually have skimmed the For Gun Nuts thread, but just glazed over at all the information that seemed somewhat like calculus to me. I guess I am just looking for an "easy button" for this topic.

[jonesdecaptain of 1,000]

I agree with Fairminded, a .22 is really not that helpful. It's adequate for hunting small animals, but not much more.

Heavier rounds like .45 ACP may seem too much for people with smaller hands to handle. It's true that 9mm has a lot less recoil (and .22 has almost no recoil...). Some things that help with this are a heavier gun (more gun weight, less gun movement when it fires) and holding the gun properly.

A 100 pound woman can effectively use a big handgun, like a .50 AE for example (a little excessive for most needs), if she knows how to hold it properly and use good push/pull isometric tension. A 250lb man who doesn't know how to hold it can have the same gun kick back into their forehead.

Whatever you get, good training is critical to effectively using the weapon. FrontSight does a great job but can be pretty pricey (a couple grand for a week). Right now they have a "FrontSight Patriot" thing going on and you can get one week of training plus their great dry practice manuals for $150. Here is the link:

http://www.frontsight.com/patriot/

Their main facility is in Nevada, about an hour west of Las Vegas.

[Deborah000captain of 100]

I can see that I have a lot to learn about the "right" weapon. And yes, hands on training would be very helpful.

We have a gang problem here in the small city of West Virginia, where I teach in a city high school, and I worry for my students. Many out-of-state adult drug dealers come to this area and recruit the teenagers to be their drug runners and enforcers. For some of the kids that is their only reason to come to school. To steal and to deal. I have had two iphones stolen todate.

I can usually pick out the kids with the neck tattoos, and "the hood" behaviour; but sometimes they surprise me. Last year I had a student that was a model student - never a problem at all to me, that has not only robbed at gunpoint a young couple with their baby in our city park, but was also just sentenced to prison for murder in a different case. I didn't know.

And it is not just the boys - some of the girls are also involved. Most of my 'gangster' kids like me because they know I care about them and I try to help them if I can, but mostly It is a "watch your back" situation for my students and myself.

[jonesdecaptain of 1,000]

That sounds rough Deborah. Unfortunately gangs seem to love using teenagers for the more legally dangerous jobs because kids are less aware of legal risks and for many things in many places don't have the same legal liability as adults do. It's a really sad unintended consequence of these laws.

Of course, stepping back a bit, if we could defund gangs by getting rid of drug laws that force all of the supply to flow through a violent black market, we might not have these problems in the first place.

For personal defense, definitely look for a local trainer and get some help. Also check on the laws in your area related to carry, weapon limitations, etc. In most places even teachers can't carry guns in schools (another bad law), but you may be able to leave it in your car and have pepper spray (like the Tigerlight T100 pepper spray flashlight) with you between the building and the car.

Anyway, many places that do training and most gun ranges rent guns. After getting a little instruction on holding the gun well, try a few different guns and different calibers (9mm, .40 and .45). Some handguns require a lot more training and practice to use effectively in defensive situations. Revolvers are particularly rough this way, a lot harder to use effectively. Glock and Springfield XD are both great guns for beginners, and are loved by experienced marksmen too. The 1911 is a great design, and much easier to manage effectively than a revolver, but a bit tougher than the more modern Glock or XD designs.

Whatever you go for, if you're planning to use it for self-defense in an actual potential situation, be sure to get training. Any time you pull a weapon you are in effect escalating a situation, and sometimes that's all it takes to get shot at instead of left alone. Actually, being a teacher and knowing these kids is probably the best protection you can get when it comes to gang encounters. Anyway, it's another reason for training... sometimes it is a good idea to pull a gun and deter violence and sometimes it will make things worse, and a good experienced trainer can help you more effectively understand alternatives and evaluate situations.

If you ever do have to use your gun it also opens you to huge legal liability, so that's another thing to consider and plan for. For example, if you shoot someone... don't call 911, call a lawyer and have them call 911. Even a 911 call can, and likely will, be used as evidence against you. The same goes for anything you say to cops, and they are trained to find guilt in what you say not innocence, so don't try to prove your innocence by saying things... let your lawyer take care of that. There are certain things like having a concealed carry permit that help in legal situations, and being a teacher will probably help too.

If you know and trust a police officer they are a great resource for advice. If you don't know the officer or don't trust them, remember that they are trained to lie to get information from you and are not the best resource for legal or practical advice. Asking about gun advice in the wrong way could be enough to trigger an investigation.

You probably know some of this already, but anyway some thoughts to consider. It's not an easy or simple topic, especially not these days.

[Deborah000captain of 100]

Thank you, Jonesde for the information. I am thinking about getting a concealed carry permit, but mostly I am looking for home protection. I like your Glock and Springfield XD suggestion for beginners. That might be a good place to start.

[patriotsaintcaptain of 1,000]

Here is my advice for beginners (for what its worth)

For self defense it's important to consider the defense situations you are trying to prepare for. All guns have advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to get the gun(s) that will meet your needs. Here's a breakdown of some guns and where they might be best utilized

1. Autoloader Handgun

The autoloader has some great features. Depending on the caliber you choose you can many rounds in a magazine (mine has 15). The polymer framed guns are also very durable. Some of the disadvantages are that they are more complicated to use for the beginner, have more parts to maintain and cannot sit at rest for extended periods. What I mean by that is if you leave a magazine loaded for an extended period of time, the springs can take a "set" causing feeding problems. This is generally mitigated by owning more than one clip and rotating them out for daily carry use. Great for concealed carry or home defense.

2. Revolver

IMO this is a great option for a beginner. They are extremely comfortable, have fewer parts that can cause a malfunction and can be left at rest nearly indefinitely and be ready to fire when you pick it up again. Many people don't like the fact that you have fewer shots with a revolver (6-8 is common), but with a speed loader and a little training, you can reload just as fast as someone switching magazines. If you don't believe me, just check out Clint Smith's revolver video over at Thunder Ranch. This is the type of gun I'm buying for my wife. She doesn't like shooting my autoloader and wants something uncomplicated. Great for concealed carry or home defense.

3. Shot Gun

This is my go to home defense gun. Home defense models will normally have a shortened barrel (18.5") and come in a variety of actions ranging from break open, to pump, to semi-auto. Check magazine capacity on your gun. I like to load mine with buckshot, with the last two shots being slugs. One advantage to the shotgun in the home, is that if get the right load you will have less risk of shooting through walls and endangering other family members etc. There is still risk involved, but much less than with a slug or handgun bullet. Many home defense models don't have a proper stock. Stay away from these. Only in the movies can you shoot from the hip and have a pattern that fills an entire hallway. Aiming is still important!

4. Rifle

Worst gun for home defense, but everyone should own at least one. I say they are worst because they are not intended for close quarters combat. They are wonderful for what they are intended to do however. Not only can you hunt with a rifle when TSHTF, but if you need to bug out or even coordinate some type of security effort with your neighbors, this will be the gun to have. Tactical varieties are preferable, but hunting rifles will work as well. Many argue over whether to get the .223 or the .308. Either is fine and will allow you to buy cheaper bulk ammo. The .308 will reach out farther, but you can carry more rounds with the .223, so it depends on how you see yourself using it. If I'm staying in one place...I want a bigger gun generally speaking! If you want something in between the 6.8mm spc is a great round. It is basically a .270 round developed for use by the special forces.

5. A note on ammo

Many people use special +p ammo or other fancy defense rounds in their handguns. I do not, because these loads have a higher malfunction rate that regular ammo. They are also way more expensive (2-4 bucks a shot sometimes). Many argue about increased stopping power for these rounds, but it's not the bullet, but rather the marksman that has the stopping power. Chuck hawks (a prominent gun blogger) has this to say on the subject,

"I cannot stress too heavily that the primary determinant of stopping power is BULLET PLACEMENT. A cool, deliberate marksman with a little .32 Walther PPK will beat a panicky, inaccurate man with a .357 Magnum or $1200 customized .45 auto every time. Whatever firearm and caliber you select, you must practice firing hundreds - thousands - of rounds in realistic defensive scenarios until you can confidently make disabling hits on your target. Tactics and marksmanship win gunfights - not having the latest 'wonder bullet' in your gun."


In short. Find the gun that best meets your needs and that you can comfortably shoot and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. Pick a caliber that you can shoot well rather than a popular caliber. Like chuck said.....better to shoot a .32 that you are accurate with than buy a .357 that you can't shoot without flinching and therefore never practice with.

[Deborah000captain of 100]

Wow! Good Overview. Thank you Patriotsaint.

[markbaskercaptain of 100]

Have you ever noticed how gang members are initiated into their gangs? Often times they receive or go by new nicknames. They learn gang signs and handshakes to identify other members. They take an oath of membership, with their associated penalties. They are expected to commit themselves to the cause of the gang with their time and efforts.

Doesn't the scripture say Cain was taught how the ways of things in secret would always operate.

I always believed gangs are the devils substitute for religion.

[durangoutcaptain of 1,000]

Have you ever noticed gang members are initiated into their gangs? Often times they receive or go by new nicknames. They learn gang signs and handshakes to identify other members. They take an oath of membership, with their associated penalties. They are expected to commit themselves to the cause of the gang with their time and efforts.

Doesn't the scripture say Cain was taught the ways of things in secret would always opperate.

I always beleived gangs are the devils substitute for religion.

Nephi would say they are a part of the Great and Abominable Church.

[jonesdecaptain of 1,000]

Thanks for your comments patriotsaint, those are some great points. Over time I've questioned my beliefs on a couple of these... details below...

2. Revolver

IMO this is a great option for a beginner. They are extremely comfortable, have fewer parts that can cause a malfunction and can be left at rest nearly indefinitely and be ready to fire when you pick it up again. Many people don't like the fact that you have fewer shots with a revolver (6-8 is common), but with a speed loader and a little training, you can reload just as fast as someone switching magazines. If you don't believe me, just check out Clint Smith's revolver video over at Thunder Ranch. This is the type of gun I'm buying for my wife. She doesn't like shooting my autoloader and wants something uncomplicated. Great for concealed carry or home defense.

I used to be a huge fan of revolvers, mainly because of their versatility. It's amazing to get a lightweight .44 magnum like the S&W 329 PD or a small .357 magnum like the Ruger SP101 (two of my first handguns). These are capable of firing heavy magnum rounds, even if when firing those rounds the 329 PD leaves your palm sore and the SP101 has a small hand grip so your trigger finger tends to get slapped. They are smooth and comfortable for .44 special and .38 special rounds, which make them great for closer range defense, and in a pinch you can step up to heavier ammo for survival hunting or for shooting through cover (like walls, windows, doors, etc). The idea of no safety is also nice so that in a pinch you can't forget it and lose valuable seconds.

However, after I started using an auto pistol more (namely a good quality 1911 .45 ACP) and did a bit of defensive handgun training I was convinced that being able to rapidly fire multiple rounds without the aim-killing long trigger pull of a double-action in a revolver trumped every benefit of revolvers for personal defense. Also, Springfield XD and and Glocks (depending on safety pattern you buy) have safeties you don't have to remember because one is on the back of the hand grip and the other is on the trigger. Even for my 1911 I learned that a higher grip with the thumb over the safety is both more stable for repeated firing, and makes it impossible to forget the safety.

The clip spring worry from leaving it loaded has been around for a long time, but is generally a non-issue. The thing that wears down springs is repeated flexing, not being compressed. Spring steel (especially modern stuff) will only permanently change shape if push past a certain point, ie overloading a magazine.

"I cannot stress too heavily that the primary determinant of stopping power is BULLET PLACEMENT. A cool, deliberate marksman with a little .32 Walther PPK will beat a panicky, inaccurate man with a .357 Magnum or $1200 customized .45 auto every time. Whatever firearm and caliber you select, you must practice firing hundreds - thousands - of rounds in realistic defensive scenarios until you can confidently make disabling hits on your target. Tactics and marksmanship win gunfights - not having the latest 'wonder bullet' in your gun."


In short. Find the gun that best meets your needs and that you can comfortably shoot and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. Pick a caliber that you can shoot well rather than a popular caliber. Like chuck said.....better to shoot a .32 that you are accurate with than buy a .357 that you can't shoot without flinching and therefore never practice with.

Practice is definitely a big deal, perhaps second only to good training. It's easy to practice bad habits that take a long time to correct. By the time I got some professional feedback I had a couple of bad habits, but fortunately not too bad. I'm planning on some more advanced training soon... and hoping I don't have too many more bad habits uncovered!

Anyway, a good way to avoid bad habits, and a much cheaper way to practice, is dry practice. There are a few good articles about this online, and other resources like the dry practice manuals from FrontSight. A great thing about dry practice is that you can do things that would be a bit dangerous or not allowed when on a range. The key for safety is to carefully check your firearm first and speak out loud that you are beginning dry practice to avoid becoming careless when your gun is actually loaded. There are other safety tips and good practices, but the main purpose of all of them is to make sure your gun is really empty, that no rounds or loaded clips are around that you might accidentally pick up, and that when you are doing live fire practice you have it mentally segregated.