A friend of mine, fellow shooter and instructor, recently sent me a new copy of Ed McGivern’s “Book Of Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting.” A great gift, especially considering my copy has pages falling out; it’s been well read. Inside was a note from Charles. “Section I,” it read, “stands today as it was back then!” It finished with, “100 years of experience – have we not learned?” Of course, this sent me to Section I, an often-overlooked part of this classic book on lawful use of handguns for both law enforcement and armed citizens. And yes, Charles, you’re correct; this is even more important today.
Published in 1938, McGivern’s book on revolvers shooting is mandatory reading for all handgun shooters. (My new copy was printed in 2007; it’s still available.). Study of this book and careful application of McGivern’s doctrine will improve your skills - even if you’re not a fan of double-action revolver shooting. Yes, it’s “old,” but as with any classic still worthy of your attention – and applicable to current times.
Section I of “Fast and Fancy,” is titled “Pistols, Revolvers and the Law.” McGivern explains the necessity for lawful use of firearms – “… the pistol and revolver, and (this is most important) the effective and intelligent use of them, have always played a very important part.” – for an “organized society.” Section I is only four pages in length, but there’s lots to digest. “My own efforts and activities in developing, improving and advancing revolver shooting and methods of instruction have ever been, and always will be,” McGivern states, “in support of and in behalf of law enforcement …”. As we all know, and McGivern reinforces, the best way to respond to hard, violent offenders who are ready and willing to kill is a well-trained police force.
The law-abiding armed citizen is also critical to maintaining order. McGivern warns us against being fooled by regulation of our Constitutional rights, which result in removing firearms from law-abiding citizens. This results, according to McGivern, in “… making it absolutely safe at all times and places for the crook to attack him, his home, his family, or his property.” In other words, the chance the attacker’s “victim” may be armed reduces the number of assaults. “The officer of the law will also be “hemmed in” and handicapped …,” he adds, “ … by provisional restrictions, technicalities, and red tape, by public remedy specialists … .” This is more a concern today than ever before.
It’s important we protect our rights to use firearms in a lawful manner, both as armed citizens and professional law-enforcement. “If such liberty is taken from us,” McGivern forewarns, “it will be through our lack of activity in defense of our constitutional rights ….” A law-abiding, well-armed citizenry and professional, well-trained law-enforcement officers are mandatory for an organized, safe society. Both must be prepared to respond to the sudden appearance of violence. Let’s make sure to ensure our protection.
Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy. He is the author of The Book of Two Guns, AR-15 Skills and Drills, has a regular column in American Handgunner and makes some cool knives and custom revolvers. Visit Shootrite’s Facebook page for other details.