International Personal Self-Defense Blog by Robb Hamic

City Councils across NM oppose Air Force low-level Osprey, C-130 flights

Albuquerque, NM- October 14. Many City Councils across NM are opposed to Air Force plans to conduct low-level Osprey, C-130 training flights over areas of the state. 

"Mountainous terrain best supports development of special operations mobility skills," said the Air Force news release. The statement says the proposed flight area — in New Mexico, stretching from the Farmington area southwest to Clovis and taking in the Santa Fe and Albuquerque area as well as Taos, Rio Arriba, San Miguel and more rural counties — was selected due to the varied topography and weather, proximity to Cannon AFB, and lack of large civilian populations."

The mentality of most of my fellow New Mexicans is very frustrating to comprehend. It is not important to them to allow our military to fly and train in areas that will benefit our own national security. That is not even taking into account the countless lives that may be saved by training our military in a region that is has very similar terrain to that found in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The people that are opposed to these training flights don't understand what it takes to keep our country safe. It does not matter whether it is guarding the borders, policing our streets, or fighting terrorists abroad, there is always something to complain about. The police are too rough, we shouldn't use torture, why are they profiling muslims, the planes are too loud, they scare my sheep....etc

According to KRQE News, "Santa Fe County Commission Chairman Harry Montoya says he's introducing a resolution opposing the proposal at Tuesday's meeting". If Santa Fe Co. passes this resolution, they will join the city of Las Vegas and Taos county in opposing the flights. I live and work in Taos Ski Valley and in Albuquerque and personally feel proud when I see a fly over from a military aircraft. I often see Osprey flying near Albuquerque and used to see F-16s and refueling operations over Taos Ski Valley before the Tacos from KAFB mission ended earlier this year. 

I personally don't care if the low-level flights are too loud for some dirty hippie living in a grass hut in Santa Fe. The liberal attitudes in this state need to change. These people need to wake up and recognize that the world is a rough place. If we don't allow our warriors to be the best trained and equipped in the fight, they won't prevail. New Mexicans cannot continue to oppose these training flights. The missions of the military bases in the state will keep dwindling. The effect on the state's economy would be significant, including loss of civilian jobs and all of the other benefits from the thousands of military personnel that live on those bases and spend their money in our cities. 

Ryan Fellows is the co-president of Summit Self Defense specializing in providing the most up to date training for todays warriors. Ryan has earned credentials as an NRA Firearm Instructor, NRA Law Enforcement Firearm Instructor, Range Safety Officer, Israeli Combat Shooting™ Instructor, Glock Certified Armorer, and Close Quarters Combatives Instructor.

ryan@summitselfdefense.com

505-463-7820

Summit Self Defense™

 

 

The knife threat- learn something from an authentic Israeli Krav Maga Instructor

Robb Hamic had a recent article published in the International Association for Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor's (IALEFI) Magazine, the Firearms Instructor.  The article was entitled: "Law Enforcement Academies should do more to Educate Officers about the Knife threat."

He is a normal contributor to this publication and normally writes about gun deployment issues, Israeli Combat Shooting™ and officer safety issues.  Many officers and military personnel are losing the fight against the blade and it is important to understand the consequences.

Excerpt:

By: Robb Hamic, CLET

All rights reserved © Robb Hamic

Worldwide knife crime is escalating at alarming rates.  Stabbings in the United Kingdom have reached an all-time high of one every four minutes (130,000) per year in 2008.  In fact, an actor set to play the next Harry Potter was recently attacked.  American actor, Christian Slater, was attacked by a deranged man with a knife and was saved by his bodyguard in London.  UK knife crime is being called epidemic and it was almost impossible to sort through all of the potential research as it dominates the Internet.  Additionally, Japan saw a 40% increase in knife crime in 2007.  Six Chinese police officers died in one knife attack in July 2008. 

Knife crime effects law enforcement in the United States.  Department of Justice statistics state that 1,040 law enforcement officers were attacked with knives or cutting instrument in 2007.  The statistics show that between (1998-2007) 11.4% of officers attacked with knives sustained injuries.  113 Florida Officers sustained attacks in 2007.

I went to the Police Academy in 1995 and the extent of my training on knives was “to stay away from them,” or “don’t cut yourself with one while searching a subject.”  I learned the Tueller Drill, along with the rest of American law enforcement, which teaches officers to draw their weapon and issue verbal commands if they see a person with an edged weapon within twenty-one feet.  The studies have shown that a determined attacker can close the gap to reach the officer within 1.5 seconds.  This study illustrated the importance of officers having their handgun at the low ready and being prepared to defend themselves.  We’ve all seen the video but not many of us expected to encounter a person with real knife fighting skills.  Personally, I thought my gun would be my primary defensive weapon against a potential attack.    Unfortunately, there was no further knife training but I saw them on the streets everyday.  I can’t count the “stabbing” calls that I was sent to as a rookie.  Suspects carried knives and I took countless knives from people whom I arrested.  I had to defend myself from a few knife attacks as a cop.  

One night, I was on patrol and saw a man crossing a highway with a gun.  Myself and another Deputy confronted him from cover.  He dropped the gun and started running.  We both chased him for over a mile and my partner tackled him by the legs on the side of the roadway.  The man was under the effects of crack-cocaine and therefore very strong.  We engaged him and attempted to handcuff the suspect but he struggled and attempted to deploy a knife from under the loosely fitting sleeve of the jacket he was wearing.  It was an eighteen-inch sharp kitchen knife and I was shocked at the sight of this large weapon.  Fortunately, I had my shotgun in hand and delivered a “butt stroke to the head of the attacker” at first sight of the knife before it was fully deployed.  It was good to have the shotgun, despite having to run with it for such a long distance.  I know now that I was very lucky because I didn’t know anything about knives.  Many police and military personnel haven’t been as lucky. 

I made it my business to learn more.  I consider myself a professional student and I train constantly.  This summer I spent almost a month in Israel training with the Israeli Krav Maga Association under Grand Master Haim Gidon.  I am an authentic Israeli Krav Maga Instructor and I teach a variety of gun deployment methods including Israeli Combat Shooting™, tactical handgun and carbine gun deployment, Combat Focus Shooting™ and a host of other curricula.  Interested agencies, military or private individuals can contact me by email at: robb@summitselfdefense.com.  Visit my website: SummitSelfDefense

United States, England and Canada issue travel advisories for Jamaica!

 Jamaica Tourism is set to take a hit after several countries issues travel advisory following violence in Jamaica. Tourism in Jamaica could take a huge hit according to experts if things are not controlled as quickly as possible.

Violence in the streets of Caribbean nation Jamaica started over the planned extradition of an gang leader to the US. Supporters of the Christopher “Dudus” have set up roadblocks throughout the Kingston city to prevent the arrest. Following the violence Jamaica Government has declared limited state of Emergency. Police and soldiers have come under heavy fire from the coke supporters, which killed 2 police officers.  

Following the violence US, England and Canada has issued travel advisories for their nationals asking them to stay away from Jamaica for sometime due to security reasons. However, advisory is not issued for entire country but for a certain area of Kingston city.

Following the violence hotels occupancy fell in Jamaica, several concerned tourists has been calling hotels for update on the situation or for canceling their booking. Leading hotel in Jamaica has reported some cancellation since the violence and fear more to come in the coming days.

Travel Alert

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs

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This information is current as of today, Tue May 25 2010 07:42:04 GMT-0500 (CDT).

Jamaica

May 24, 2010

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Kingston, Jamaica and its surrounding areas because of escalating violence, shootings and unrest.  Jamaican Defense Forces are engaged in an operation to arrest an alleged drug and weapons trafficker.  Access to the Norman Manley International Airport has been blocked on an intermittent basis by gun battles between criminal elements and police.  A number of air flights into and out of Kingston have been canceled.  The Government of Jamaica has imposed a State of Emergency in Kingston and St. Andrew.  The possibility exists that unrest could spread beyond the general Kingston area.  U.S. Embassy Kingston is taking extra security precautions, including cancelling official travel by USG personnel into Kingston.  This Travel Alert replaces the Travel Alert issued on May 21, 2010 to warn U.S. citizens against travel to Kingston and to provide updated information on the security and airport situation.  This Travel Alert expires on June 23, 2010.

U.S citizens presently in Jamaica should monitor local news and radio frequently before venturing out from their homes or hotels.  U.S. citizens traveling to or from the Norman Manley International Airport should use the South Camp Road route.  U.S. citizens should contact their air carriers regarding flight status before traveling to the airport.  U.S. citizens are urged to exercise heightened security awareness and maintain a low profile during this State of Emergency.  U.S. citizens in Jamaica are advised to monitor local news reports and consider the level of security present when venturing outside their residence or hotel. 

U.S. citizens living and residing in Jamaica or the Cayman Islands are advised to register their presence in the country through the U.S. Department of State's automated online registration system,https://travelregistration.state.gov.  U.S. citizens may also register by visiting the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy or our consular agencies in Montego Bay and Georgetown, Cayman Islands, during business hours.

Emergencies involving U.S. citizens can be reported by contacting  the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section, located at 142 Old Hope Road in the Liguanea area of Kingston, telephone (876) 702-6450; after hours emergency telephone (876) 702-6000;  Consular Section fax (876) 702-6018; and e-mail at KingstonACS@state.gov.  The U.S. Consular Agency in Montego Bay has moved and is now located at Whitter Village, Ironshore, telephone (876) 953-0620.  The U.S. Consular Agency in the Cayman Islands is located at 118 Dorcy Drive, Suite B-1, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, telephone (345) 945-8173. 

U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy’s website at http://kingston.usembassy.gov and the U.S. Department of State's travel website at www.travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution Messages, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.  The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review "A Safe Trip Abroad," found athttp://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html, which includes valuable security information for living and/or traveling abroad.  In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

The Mexican Kidnapping business in 2009

Mexico City, Mexico-  The underworld violence sweeping Mexico only occasionally touches the country's wealthy families, but when it does the outrage gets results.

Demands mount for police cleanups. Anticrime actions become more effective, if only briefly.

That seems to be happening once again in the aftermath of the kidnap and slaying of Fernando Marti, a Mexican magnate's 14-year-old son.

"The death of this boy signals the social decomposition which we've reached," billionaire Alfredo Harp — himself a former kidnap victim and a Marti family friend — said in full-page advertisements placed in the capital's newspapers. "Mexico doesn't deserve this reality, neither do the coming generations.

"Change is urgently needed," he wrote. "Enough already!"

President Felipe Calderon agreed. In a nationally broadcast address Thursday morning, Calderon called on Mexico's Congress to mandate life sentences for kidnappers, especially law enforcement officials.

"This cowardly act demonstrates the urgency of putting a halt to these criminal bands," Calderon said."It's necessary to stop those whose cruelty knows no limits."

The dead youth's family until recently owned a chain of sporting goods stores and health clubs. He was abducted June 4 at a phony police checkpoint while being driven to school. As many as 15 abductors, wearing federal police uniforms and flashing badges, persuaded the boy's driver and bodyguard to get out of the vehicle.

Although his family paid at least $5 million in ransom, and offered more, the boy's body was found in a car trunk last Friday.

"My son crossed paths with soulless men, people for whom there are no words to describe," Alejandro Marti, the boy's father, told mourners who attended a memorial Mass this week.

The body of Marti's driver had been found in another car trunk a day after the kidnapping — a single marigold stuffed into his mouth as a calling card. A bodyguard, at first reported killed as well, now appears to have survived attempts to strangle him and is being protected by the authorities.

Two Mexico City detectives — including a decorated commander whose nickname is "The Terminator" — have been arrested in connection with the killing. Fourteen others have turned themselves in for questioning.

Former or active-duty police officers have often been implicated in kidnappings over the years as well as in narcotics smuggling and other organized crimes.

"The problem is corruption, collusion, the relationship the police have with the kidnappers," said lawyer Jose Antonio Ortega, who heads a Mexico City activist group pushing for improved public security.

Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard ordered his police to bring the killers to justice. And Calderon observed that the crime has moved the country. "It has," he said, "filled many families with mourning, because many families live with this problem of kidnapping in Mexico."

Nearly 8,000 abductions have been reported in Mexico, and an untold number of others were not reported since 1994, according to Jose Antonio Ortega, a lawyer who heads a citizens group pushing for judicial reforms.

More than 650 kidnap victims have been killed by their captors in that time, many after a ransom was paid.

Harp was among the victims. A former part-owner of Banamex, Mexico's largest private bank, Harp was kidnapped in 1994 by suspected leftist guerrillas while being driven to work. He was released 100 days later after paying a reported $50 million ransom.