Living On The Edge

WELCOME TO THE NO BS ZONE OF TEDDY JACOBSON


I have been thinking about what to write in this commentary all afternoon and there are some things that happened that brought me to this subject. There are people like me that I have been associated with, and I also liked to live on the edge. What I personally mean is that I know what it is, to come very close to death many times. I know what it takes to survive on the streets, if I had not had this very sense of survival I could not explain it. Looking at me you would never in your life ever dream what I have been through all these years. I feel very comfortable associating with the type of person that understands what I am saying. The average 9 to 5 person that goes home to watch the grass grow is not going to understand me at all.


I have a cousin that I grew up with in Brooklyn that now lives in Israel. He is 68 years old and has been in the Military of the United States and the State Of Israel. He does not own a gun of any kind. He has become very close to G-D and he goes to the Synogogue every day. He rides the buses never knowing if there is a suicide murderer on the bus ready to push a button. He told me he scrutinizes everyone that is already on the bus and everyone that gets on the bus. This is a terrible way to live but he will not change. I have tried to convince him to buy a handgun but he refuses, why, can only be understood by another religous or spiritual person like myself. He has complete and total faith that G-D will protect him regardless of what happens. I understand the mentality of people like him because I come from the same background but I have resorted to never be a victim. My way of life is more like be prepared for anything and deal with it.


The other day I received a gift from a very good friend of mine. I got a Cold Steel knife that is called the "Vaquero Grande" . This is the most awesome folding knife I have ever seen, it is almost 14 inches long when opened. It has a serrated blade that is 6 inches long. This knife is frightening just to look at knowing what it can do. It is not legal in Texas to carry a folder this large but I am thrilled to now own it. The legal limit for a carry knife in Texas is a blade that is 5 1/4 inch long and you are not allowed to have a blade that has a double edge.


I have never felt comfortable unless I had a handgun close by since I was 18 years old. It is a way of life for me and I understand that when something happens, it happens very quickly. You must be prepared mentally to take decisive action if a social event goes real bad. Having a knife is just as important to me as owning a gun of any kind. I never worried about carrying lots of ammunition, I always was concerned about my selection of what cartridges I would carry. When I worked for the Police on a Friday nite there was usually a shooting at the local lounge that was in the ghetto. Of course the dispatcher would say code 3 , which was always expedite response and use my flashing lights and siren. After a while I got real tired of this BS and asked myself why should I rush into the middle of a shoot out so I just took my time so that when I got there the shooting was over and I just had to call the ambulance or the coroner. There were empty cartridge cases everywhere, it looked like the floor of an outdoor gun range. They had all calibers on the ground, it did not mean a thing cause I was not about to make these kind of people rightous and live the good life.


This society has many sides to it that the average person has no clue to what is really going on. Once they become a victim its a different story. In order to get real you have got to be exposed to some of the dangers this life offers and until that time you will never truly understand what I am talking about. I get email from all over the world and so many people are now going into harms way, some get it and others do not. If you do not prepare not only mentally but in the selection and use of the proper weapons your chances of survival go way down. There are a great many people that are very tempted to go over seas to work as civilian contractors or in construction work but before you sign on the dotted line you better think this through. In most cases you will be restricted from carrying any weapons and that includes a knife. I am not talking about military people as they all are armed.


I must own about 35 holsters of all kinds and most are useless to me when it comes to concealed carry situations. You have got to think things thru as to what kind of handgun you want to carry and once you have made that final selection, how will you carry it. Most people still want to feel that macho BS and be able to say they carry a full size govenment 1911 pistol. A 1911 pistol is an excellent choice for some people under some circumstances. Thats all well and good but its hard to conceal for some people. There are some very good options out there that make a lot of sense. I have never been one to carry a lot of ammo on my person, I do like the option of carrying 10 rounds of pure hell in my mini Glock. I talk with a lot of people that find that mini Glocks to thick for them and they prefer a single stack arrangement. It does not matter what you select but what does matter is your being very familiar with your carry handgun and learn to use it properly. You better get your head straight when you decide to carry a handgun because you can never call that bullet back.


I like to carry a neck knife also. I find it very comforting to know that I have it with me at all times. They are not super expensive and a good one will hold a razor edge. I honestly believe that this is a part of my every day routine when I go out anywhere. Its got to be second nature as it is just another tool for survival in an emergency. Carrying a neck knife has no bearing on a good folder that you may want to carry. The more things that will help you survive is just insurance. We are living in unusual times and they are not going to get any better, its to a point that the news can make you sick at what is going on everywhere. Back in the 1950 era we had rough areas but things were different, its hard for me to explain how much better I lived then with much less money and material possessions. There were street gangs everywhere in New York in the 50's but it was different than the problems we are faced with today.


The current young generation in my opinion are living in a fantasy world. NOW that does not include everyone but most do not have a clue what they are really faced with. Talk to a young soldier that has just come back from Iraq or Afghanistan and see what they say. If you knew them before you will see how they have changed mentally. In this current world the only way to survive is to learn what these dangers are and to train your mind which is more important than anything. Your mind is your best weapon, unless you realize that you are doomed to failure. I don't care how many 1911 pistols you have or use at the target range or carry, ITS YOUR MINDSET THAT WILL SAVE YOU.


We are living in very dangerous times and I believe that 2005 and 2006 will be a rough ride. I will deal with it any way I must, you must get you mindset right and then your weapons must be carried and kept very clean. NEVER CARRY A FILTHY WEAPON. IT COULD COST YOU YOUR LIFE. Training must continue at the gun range but more important is too get some exposure to the real world out there. If you know a Policeman talk to him or her and ask questions about there life on the streets. Go to a court one day and sit in a court room and listen to the various cases being tried. Listen to me before its too late. Go to a VA hospital and talk to some of the wounded, there are some vets that will tell you about what they have been through, others will not. I could see how my son Charles had a different attitude when he got back from Bosnia.


That last paragraph you just read will help you more than some of these BS chat rooms, SOS, And what would you buy ?? What Caliber do you like ?? HELL, JUST CALL THE LOCAL CORONER AND SEE IF YOU CAN WATCH AN AUTOPSY.
That will give you something to remember the rest of your life. You want to survive in a real fight, listen to me, stay away from the keyboard rangers. Think about what I am trying to tell you, having and owning a weapon is not the complete answer, its all mental training. The rest is BS. Again I will tell you never carry any ammunition unless you seal your primers.


The most violent book I ever read is the BIBLE.


AUTHORS PERSONAL NOTATION:
This commentary as well as all my previous commentaries are my personal opinion and my personal viewpoint.


Teddy Jacobson / Pistolsmith (semi retired)
www.actionsbyt.com
281 277 4008
tjacobson@houston.rr.com
jaj45f@alltel.net
www.actionsbyt.blogspot.com/



I would never even consider going anywhere if I could not carry my weapon of choice.