Category: Gear and Equipment

This category features reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for firearms gear, tactical equipment, concealed carry accessories, holsters, lights, safes, and other essential tools. Learn how to choose the right equipment to enhance safety, effectiveness, and preparedness both on and off the range.

Gear and Equipment, Legal & Law, News, Situational Awareness

Non-Dominant-Hand Taser: A Must for Police & Security

Mark Schneider

Thesis: Law enforcement officers and armed security professionals should carry their Taser on the opposite side of the body and use a non-dominant-hand draw and presentation only. This small change corrects predictable human performance failures under stress and significantly reduces the risk of misidentifying a firearm for a Taser during critical incidents.

The Human Performance Problem

In every high-stress encounter, the body undergoes extreme physiological and psychological reactions that can drastically impair decision-making and coordination. These responses occur automatically — regardless of training or intent.

Physiological Effects

  1. Adrenaline Dump: The body releases a surge of adrenaline, triggering the fight, flight, or freeze response.
  2. Tunnel Vision: Vision narrows, and focus locks on the threat while peripheral awareness fades.
  3. Auditory Exclusion: Hearing diminishes or shuts off entirely during intense stress.
  4. Loss of Fine Motor Skills: Precision movements — such as distinguishing between a firearm and Taser — become extremely difficult.
  5. Depth Perception Problems: Spatial judgment becomes unreliable.
  6. Time Dilation: Time appears to speed up or slow down during life-threatening situations.

Of these, loss of fine motor skills is one of the most dangerous. Under pressure, officers may not have the dexterity to tell the difference between similar-feeling tools on their duty belt. Combine that with the fight response, where the dominant hand instinctively goes to the firearm, and you have the conditions for a deadly mix-up.

Psychological Reactions to a Threat

  1. Fight: The body instinctively prepares to confront and neutralize the threat through aggression or defense.
  2. Flight: The mind and body attempt to escape danger.
  3. Freeze: Temporary paralysis as the brain overloads with stimuli.
  4. Posture: Displays of aggression or dominance without physical engagement.
  5. Submit: Yielding to avoid harm or conflict.

During “fight,” the brain defaults to gross-motor actions. Fine discrimination — such as choosing between a handgun or Taser — becomes unreliable. This is why the dominant-hand instinct must be separated from less-lethal tool use.

Why the Non-Dominant Side Works

  1. Prevents instinctive firearm grabs: When the dominant hand is already dedicated to lethal force, the non-dominant hand provides a distinct motor pathway for less-lethal deployment.
  2. Creates clear muscle-memory separation: The reach, grip, and draw motion are different — reinforcing identification under stress.
  3. Reduces cross-draw confusion: Cross-draw setups demand small, similar movements and are the most common configuration involved in Taser/firearm confusion cases.
  4. Improves safety and clarity under pressure: The brain associates each side of the body with a specific role — firearm on one side, Taser on the other.

Real-World Case Studies

1. Kim Potter – Daunte Wright Incident

Former Minnesota officer Kimberly Potter intended to use her Taser but instead drew her firearm, fatally shooting Daunte Wright. This case demonstrates how stress and similar placement lead to tragic confusion.
Read more →

2. Tulsa County Reserve Deputy (2015)

A 73-year-old reserve deputy accidentally shot a suspect with his handgun, believing he was deploying his Taser. This incident highlights how age, stress, and cross-draw setups compound the risk.
Read more →

3. Connecticut Officer (2024)

A Connecticut officer was arrested after firing his gun at a suspect, thinking he had drawn his Taser — again showing how easily these mistakes happen under stress.
Read more →

Force Science Institute Findings

The Force Science Institute has documented 19 cases where officers mistakenly drew their handgun instead of their Taser — all involving cross-draw or same-side configurations.
There have been zero known cases of a mistaken discharge when the Taser was carried on the opposite side and drawn with the non-dominant hand.
Source →

Equipment Recommendations

  • Non-Dominant-Side Carry: For right-handed shooters, carry the Taser on the left hip or vest side; for left-handed shooters, reverse the sides.
  • Distinct Color Marking: All Tasers should be visually distinct. The Hogue HandALL Hybrid Grip Sleeve (yellow) provides a bright, unmistakable contrast that reinforces device identity during a high-stress moment.
    Hogue Grip Link →
  • Holster Choice — Serpa / Blackhawk Recommendation: Use a retention holster style (for example, Serpa/Blackhawk-style) configured for the non-dominant hand only.
    • Example: If an officer is right-handed and carries their firearm on the right hip, the Taser holster must be a left-hand configuration designed for left-hand draw and presentation only — and vice versa for left-handed officers.
    • These holsters typically require a rearward motion and a positive retention release before the device can be removed, not a straight-up pull like many firearm holsters.
    • That enforced difference in removal motion, combined with opposite-side placement, dramatically reduces the chance of an instinctive, straight-up draw grabbing the wrong device.
      Blackhawk Taser Holsters →
  • Uniform Standardization: Require the same holster orientation, draw method, and presentation routine across the agency so every officer’s movement is predictable.
  • Regular Training & Verification: Monthly equipment checks and supervised practice runs ensure compliance and build correct muscle memory.

Non-Dominant-Hand Draw Only — My Professional Recommendation

Non-Dominant-Hand Draw Only — My Professional Recommendation (updated opening)
As someone with 13 years of armed security experience and an Axon Taser Certified Instructor, with multiple real-world Taser draws under my belt, I strongly recommend that all law enforcement officers and armed security guards adopt a strict non-dominant-hand draw and presentation policy.

Here’s why:

  • During a fight-or-flight event, your dominant hand will automatically be used for gross-motor actions like drawing your firearm, striking, or defensive control.
  • Using your non-dominant hand for Taser deployment forces a unique, deliberate motion that keeps it physically and mentally separate from your firearm draw.
  • This method leverages gross-motor movement (which remains functional under stress) and prevents confusion between two similar-feeling devices.

In short:
Carry your Taser opposite your firearm, draw and present it only with your non-dominant hand, and train that motion until it’s instinctive.

  1. Lt. Col. Dave Grossman – Grossman Academy: grossmanacademy.com
  2. Alexis Artwohl, Ph.D. & Loren W. Christensen – Deadly Force Encounters Vol. I & II: alexisartwohl.com
  3. The Force Science Institute: forcescience.com

Policy & Training — Immediate Action Items

  1. Policy Language (deploy immediately):
    “All issued less-lethal devices (Tasers) will be carried on the officer/guard’s non-dominant side (belt or vest). All Tasers must be marked with agency-issued bright yellow identification. Only the non-dominant hand may perform the draw and presentation of the Taser. Cross-draw configurations for Tasers are prohibited. Any deviation requires written, mission-specific authorization.”
  2. Training Module (complete ASAP):
    • 1 – 2 hour classroom: physiology/psychology overview (Grossman, Artwohl/Christensen, Force Science).
    • 2 hours practical: gross-motor non-dominant draws, presentation drills, retention drills, and scenario stress inoculation.
    • 2 live-simulation: practice draws under movement/exertion to reinforce correct motor patterns.
  3. Supervisor Checklist: Confirm yellow markings, opposite-side placement, and appropriate retention holster (Serpa/Blackhawk style or equivalent). Document monthly practical checks.
  4. Use-of-Force Reporting: Require explicit documentation of which device was used, which hand performed the draw, and why — creating accountability and tracking compliance.

Practical FAQs

  • Q: What about left-handed officers? A: Apply the same rule in reverse — Taser goes to the opposite side of the dominant hand; draw is the non-dominant hand.
  • Q: Won’t switching cause temporary confusion? A: Require immediate training and supervised adoption. The short re-training period is a small price to prevent catastrophic mistakes.
  • Q: What if my duty belt or vest layout doesn’t allow it? A: Use a standard issue retention holster and adjust belt/vest loadout — safety takes priority over convenience.

Take the Next Step

Concealed Carry, Firearms Training, Gear and Equipment

Why Laser Attachments on Handguns Are Useless for Self-Defense

Mark Schneider

Hollywood has convinced a lot of people that lasers are “tactical” and make you a better shooter. They don’t. Outside of military use—where a soldier with night vision might use an IR laser to identify a target—laser sights are more of a liability than an asset on a handgun. For concealed carry, security, and home defense, they’re distractions that build bad habits and fail under stress.

Here are 7 reasons laser attachments on handguns are dumb for real-world self-defense, and why you should focus on training, fundamentals, and proven gear instead.

1. Hollywood vs. Reality – The Laser Fantasy

Movies and TV give people the wrong idea. A perfect example comes from Breaking Bad’s finale, “Felina.” Walter White intimidates Gretchen and Elliott with what looks like sniper lasers trained on their chests. In reality, it’s just Badger and Skinny Pete with pointers.

It looks cool, but it’s pure Hollywood fiction. Real lasers don’t project glowing beams through the air, they don’t magically intimidate bad guys, and they don’t replace good shooting skills. That kind of thinking is why many people chase gimmicks instead of focusing on real training.

2. Lasers Distract From Fundamentals

Lasers cause shooters to fixate on the dot instead of practicing sight alignment and trigger control. Accuracy comes from:

  • A proper sight picture
  • A clean trigger press, crisp break, and smooth reset

But instead of building those skills, shooters end up “chasing the dot” like a cat with a toy. The result is sloppy shooting and wasted practice.

3. Lasers Are Only Zeroed for One Distance

A handgun laser is only accurate at the distance where you zero it. Set it at 21 feet and it’s “on” there, but move back to 45 feet and it’s already off.

Why? Because the laser beam and bore line only intersect once. Past that point, the bullet’s trajectory and the dot don’t match. That makes a laser unreliable across the wide range of distances you might face in a defensive encounter.

4. Most Laser Systems Are Junk

The truth is, most handgun laser systems are cheap, unreliable, and not built for real use. They drain batteries, lose zero, and add bulk to your firearm.

If someone asked me what the “best” laser system is, I’d point them to the Steiner DBAL-A3. But here’s the problem:

  • It’s designed for rifles, not pistols
  • It’s meant to be used with night vision in battlefield conditions
  • It costs more than most people’s entire handgun setup

Yes, it’s quality gear—but it has zero application for concealed carry or home defense. Everything else you see on the shelf is mall-ninja tier junk.

5. Real Self-Defense Encounters Are Close Range

Lasers don’t match how self-defense shootings actually play out. According to the USCCA’s “3–5 Rule” and our own breakdown in Average Gunfight Statistics:

  • Gunfights last about 3–5 seconds
  • Involve about 3–5 rounds fired
  • Happen at about 3–5 yards (9 to 15 feet)
  • FBI data shows over 50% of officers are shot at 0–5 feet

At those ranges, people are point shooting or using a flash sight picture. By the time you hunt for a glowing dot, the fight is already over.

6. Stress Kills Fine Motor Skills

Lasers require fine motor skills—flipping switches or pressing activation buttons. The problem? When you’re under an adrenaline dump, fine motor skills disappear.

Your body goes into survival mode: tunnel vision, auditory exclusion, shaky hands, loss of dexterity. You’re left with gross motor skills only. The idea that you’ll calmly flip on a laser in that moment is fantasy. Fundamentals and training are what will carry you through—not a battery-powered gimmick.

7. Most People Won’t Train With Them

Lasers demand practice. You’d need to train until activating and using the laser was muscle memory. But the reality is that most gun owners don’t train enough with their draw stroke, reloads, or malfunctions—let alone a laser.

Without reps, that laser is just dead weight hanging off the rail. Worse, it builds false confidence without the skills to back it up.

Conclusion: Train Skills, Not Gadgets

Laser attachments on handguns aren’t just unnecessary—they’re distractions that fail outside of one distance, collapse under stress, and encourage sloppy shooting. Unless you’re a soldier with NVGs running an IR system, lasers don’t belong on your firearm.

If you’re serious about self-defense, spend your money on training and your time on building fundamentals. Sight alignment, trigger control, and fast, accurate shooting will save your life. A laser won’t.

Call to Action

If you’re ready to focus on real skills over gimmicks, here’s where to start:

Disclaimer

This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It reflects the personal opinions and professional experience of the author. It is not legal advice, tactical instruction, or an endorsement of any specific product. Firearms ownership and use carry inherent risks. Always follow the law, practice safe handling, and seek qualified training before carrying or using a firearm.

Concealed Carry, Gear and Equipment, Guide

How Often Should You Replace Your Self-Defense Ammo?

Mark Schneider

/̵͇̿̿/’̿’̿ ̿ ̿̿ ̿̿⌖ Why Changing Your Carry Ammo Matters

If you carry a firearm for personal protection — whether as a concealed carry permit holder, armed security guard, or off-duty law enforcement officer — you’re trusting your life to that ammo. But how often should you actually rotate or replace your self-defense ammo?

It’s a question we hear often in our Denver firearms training classes, and it’s simpler to answer than you might think.

⏳ So, How Often Should You Replace Your Carry Ammo?

General rule:
✅ Every 6 to 12 months, you should replace your defensive hollow points with a fresh set.

Even though modern ammunition is durable, your daily carry environment can wear it down over time.

💧 What Happens to Ammo When You Carry It?

Your carry ammo gets exposed to:

  • Temperature swings: Going from a hot car to cold outdoors stresses your ammo.
  • Moisture & sweat: IWB carry soaks your gun and mags in sweat, which can corrode brass or primers.
  • Lint & debris: Dust and pocket lint can work into your magazine and feed ramp.
  • Repeated chambering: Every time you unload and reload, the top round gets pushed into the feed ramp. Too many times, and you risk bullet setback — shortening overall length and raising chamber pressures.

🔍 Why Rotating Ammo Is Important

Switching out your self-defense ammo helps:

✅ Ensure reliability — so primers aren’t compromised by sweat or oil.
✅ Prevent bullet setback — reducing risk of excessive pressure.
✅ Build confidence — because you shoot your old carry ammo and verify it functions perfectly.

🛠 How Often Should You Rotate, Based on Your Environment?

SituationRecommended Ammo Rotation
Daily concealed carry (IWB/OWB)Every 6–12 months
Hot, humid climates / heavy sweatingEvery 6–12 months
Occasional carry / home defense onlyEvery 12–24 months
Security / law enforcement dutyFollow agency policy (often 12 months)

🔥 Pro Tip: Shoot Your Old Carry Ammo

When you rotate your ammo, don’t just toss it — take it to the range and shoot it. This lets you:

✅ Confirm your firearm cycles your defensive load reliably
✅ Stay used to the recoil & POI of your chosen hollow points
✅ Avoid wasting money on expensive ammo

📝 Quick Ammo Inspection Checklist

Every month or so, give your carry ammo a quick look:

✅ Check for corrosion or tarnish
✅ Look for dents or deformities
✅ Compare bullet seating depth to a fresh round — setback is a problem
✅ Make sure primers aren’t oily or compromised

If anything seems off, swap it out immediately.

⚖️ Bottom Line: When to Replace Carry Ammo

  • Rotate your self-defense ammo every 6–12 months.
  • Inspect it regularly for corrosion or setback.
  • Shoot your old carry ammo to verify performance.

Being proactive means your firearm is always loaded with ammo you can count on when your life depends on it.

🚀 Additional Resources & Training Opportunities

🛡️ Protect Yourself Legally With Self-Defense Insurance

Carrying a firearm is a serious responsibility. Make sure you’re legally protected if you ever have to use it in self-defense.
Compare our top self-defense insurance plans here.

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Learn more about our professional security guard courses.

🎯 Get Your CCW Certification

Ready to carry legally in Colorado? We provide comprehensive concealed carry (CCW/CHP) courses, including live-fire qualification and thorough legal instruction.
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🛒 Shop Quality Gear

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