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This is my pistol. There are many like it, but this one is mine. It is a part of my life. I must master it as I master my life. Without my pistol I am useless. Without me my pistol is useless. I must fire my pistol true. I must shoot straighter than my attacker. I must shoot and stop him before he kills me. I will. My pistol and I know that what counts in a fight are not the rounds we shoot, the blast of our shots, or the flash of our fire. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit.
As my pistol is a part of me, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its ammunition and its holster. I will keep my pistol always ready, even as I am always ready. My pistol is my constant companion. I will take care of my pistol and my pistol will provide me with the power to protect myself and others.
My pistol and I are the defenders of our family, our community, our Nation and the Constitution. We are the masters of evil doers. We are the saviors of my life as God is the savior of my soul.
So be it, until victory is ours and evil is conquered. Before God I swear this creed.
Larry Mudgett is a long time Rangemaster and Instructor at Gunsite. Larry and his wife Stacey also run classes in Utah through their own school, Marksmanship Matters. Larry retired from the LAPD after nearly 35 years where he served as the Chief Firearms Instructor at the LA Police Academy for 13 years and the Chief Firearms Instructor and team member for LAPD SWAT for 14 years. Larry also served as an Infantry Light Weapons Sergeant in the First Air Cavalry in Viet Nam 1967-1968. Larry trained the first USMC Special Operations Training Group at Camp Pendleton and was an adjunct firearms and hostage rescue instructor for the DOE Central Training Academy for 10 years. He currently teaches Rifle, Carbine, Pistol, Double Action Revolver and Single Action Revolver.
Learn more at marksmanshipmatters.com.
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Larry’s credentials are very impressive.
I did learn that same creed, as a US Marine Corps rifleman in boot camp in 1959 when I trained and qualified with my M1 Garand rifle.
“This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine….It is not the rounds we fire or the noise we make but the hits that count…….etc, etc…..