Who is a weapon carrier and who carries a weapon? This is easy to answer: police, military, judiciary, customs, bodyguards, security personnel, guards, hunters and possibly particularly vulnerable persons. The large group of pure gun owners usually do not carry their guns with them - this is also not legally possible - and if so, only to a limited extent.

During my research, which I mainly carried out in Austria - but is most likely similar in every country - I came across the following headlines:

• Two seriously injured: Man allegedly snatched gun from police officer
• 36-year-old snatched gun from policeman and shot!
• Drunk woman tried to snatch gun from police officer
• Vienna-Meidling: 17-year-old tried to snatch gun from police officer
• Vienna-Leopoldstadt: Man tried to snatch gun from policeman
• 28-year-old tries to snatch police officer's service weapon
• And and and

You can already recognize a clear pattern here. In some cases, the weapon can be prevented from being snatched, but often the reaction of the person carrying the weapon is too slow and he cannot prevent it.

If the attacker succeeds in wresting the weapon, he poses a potentially fatal danger to himself, the officer and the general public. In a high percentage of cases, the snatched firearm or another firearm (e.g. other officers are involved) is ultimately used. Most end with serious injuries or fatalities.

My experience!

In my experience of working with authorities and special units worldwide, the topic of "weapon protection" urgently needs to be dealt with more extensively. It is a personal concern of mine to address this issue specifically and to be able to offer solutions to this problem. And believe me, it can happen to anyone who carries or owns weapons.

In order to be able to treat problems, it is important to know the circumstances and the initial situation.

The discharge of a firearm can arise from a wide variety of situations. It is important for the trainee to know his scenarios. Of course, the individual starting position must always be taken into account, such as whether a short and/or long gun is involved, what the team's mission is (if authorities are involved), the size of the team and the location also play a major role, to name but a few.

The initial situation and circumstances: Is it a direct grip on the weapon, does the grip on the weapon happen out of a scuffle or during an attack, standing or on the ground, what are my tasks, am I threatened and forced to hand over the weapon, am I attacked with a weapon and much more.

Weapon protection means keeping control of your own weapon!

The SAMI-X PRO "Weapon Protection Program"

The training program I have developed is designed exclusively for a special target group to learn how to protect a weapon - without prior knowledge and in a short training period. My concepts are based on modern teaching methods, gentle and at the same time practice-proven techniques, as well as applications that can be combined both in individual use and in teams, are the central building blocks.

The SAMI-X PRO weapon protection program consists of 3 modules with 10 training hours each. Each module is thematically complete and builds on the next. The participants learn different tactics and strategies, prevention, tasks and mission, weapon protection alone and in a team, techniques for defense and preventing attacks with weapons, and techniques for the "worst case scenario". The concept behind the courses is that a trained officer/weapon carrier has already successfully trained in many such situations, has gained experience and knowledge and knows what to do. This allows him to react more confidently and surprises are limited for the officer.

Losing control of your weapon is actually the worst case scenario that can occur. Training to prevent this is at least as important as shooting training and weapon handling. If you are disarmed, the weapon can be turned against yourself and/or other people - and this is usually the case.

From this short course content overview you can see which topics are covered in our modules (short/long gun):

• Communicating our concepts and teaching methods
• Communication of training ideas
• Proportionality
• Legally compliant training and order situation
• Protection of those affected
• Prevention (preventing the weapon from being grabbed in and out of the holster)
• Technical basics
• Weapon protection in SUL, NORTE, safety posture
• Weapon handling
• Weapon retention during attacks
• Accesses with weapon protection
• Safe supply of the weapon without using the weapon
• Preventing disarmament
• Weapon protection training while standing, moving on the ground or against a wall
• Teaming and weapon protection
• Safe exchange of weapons (baton, pepper spray, long/short weapon, etc.)
• Defense against attacks from all directions (with weapon protection)
• Defense against weapon attacks (with weapon protection)
• Close Range Training
• Protection of third parties
• Fixation and control techniques
• And much more

Of course, we also adapt our courses and modules individually to the requirements of the respective target group. It makes a difference whether they are police officers or hunters or marksmen, for example.

I would like to emphasize once again how important it is to focus on this topic. "Weapons protection" in more detail. Perhaps I have made you a little more interested in this topic or encouraged you to look more closely at this issue. If you have any questions about our training modules and courses (our courses), please write to us.