2009-6-19 FIREARMS TRAINING SAFETY: Tactical Response's owner, James Yeager's Response

[ArtisanTony]

I stopped watching the video when he said "Firearms are designed to kill people" What an idiot. A huge percentage of firearms are designed for sport. This guy is a nut case.

[hiredgun30]

amen james..... u spoke the gun gospel.. !!!!!

[JamesYeager]

Thank you SO MUCH for posting this. I get a lot of students from your referral. Thanks!

[SCTexas]

@JamesYeager Now this is funny.

[armedmo1]

Why anyone would train with these folks is beyond me. The video in question showed one of the most egregious, blatant, negligent, irresponsible violations of safety protocol that I've ever seen in my life. Excuses only serve to make this guy look even more irresponsible.

[thumper505]

@armedmo1 , what safety protocol was broken, there are only four safety rules in the use of any gun. And none of them where broken!!!  If your talking about range rules they are different for each range I have ever been to. this is why police, military and civilians can't handel firearms in public. I have never been in a fight for my life at a range, the fight always happen in the real world where there are other people around. Ieave the fight to the warriors because you don't know shit.

[armedmo1]

@thumper505 If you have to be told what safety protocol was broken, then you probably shouldn't be handling firearms in the first place. The first rule of gun safety is to ALWAYS point the gun in a safe direction. Clue: A safe direction is NOT the direction in which a live camera man happens to be stationed.

Judging from your lack of knowledge and logic, the words "warrior" and "idiot" must now be synonymous with each other.

[thumper505]

@armedmo1 your an idiot, no one ever pointed a gun at the instructor, so how's it not a safe direction, In public will you not draw a gun because people are down range, your logic is stupid, If you think that when the time comes to defend yourself or others you will be able to shoot into a crowd of people and hit only the bad guy? or maybe you think that the bad guy will get into the car with you and go to the local range where you can put him safe direction down range, your full of shit.

[armedmo1]

@thumper505 First off, a person who can't form a complete sentence and otherwise butchers the English language to the extent you have, has no credibility to call someone else an "idiot". Secondly, I suggest you find the original video and watch it. The camera man was stationed between two targets while students were shooting at them. Yes, that is an unsafe direction. This was a shooting range, NOT a real life-threatening encounter. You'd be well advised to learn the difference. Moron.

[thumper505]

@armedmo1 So where do you go to get the training for a real life threat?, training has to be three things, Realistic, Recent, Relative. I know the Instructor in the video, at no time was there a weapon pointed at him!, I carry a gun everyday, I do drills where people are behind me shooting at the same targets, If you think everyone will be on line when the fight starts you nuts, And before you talk like your an expert , Tactical Response been training since 1992, NO student has ever been shot

[armedmo1]

@thumper505 There are many high-level trainers out there that off world class tactical training. Guys like Mas Ayoob, Clint Smith, Randy Cain, Todd Green, Tom Givens, Ken Hackathorn, plus any number of others. Kinda funny how NONE of them allow human beings to be down range when shooters are at the line firing their weapons. Face it, these guys screwed up. Rather than man up and admit it, they've tried to cover up with pure nonsensical BS. Complete non-professionals.

[spamllpitdept]

lol anyone got a link to the video of that photographer on the range?

[mpsmith47304]

Holy....

Dude just man up and admit you screwed up.

[SRTspeed5]

What a shit head.

[dajini]

James Yeager is a fucking retard. He's just so damn sure that he's correct that there's really no way to show him just how wrong and dangerous his "teaching" tactics are. Why the fuck would you pay for a tactical response class when there's plenty of other courses out there taught by instructors who have real world experience and aren't complete fucksticks?

[ntbutcher]

It just cant be justified to me. Its unnecessary.

[FishinForBabies]

he went full retard.

never go full retard.

[madcapHPS]

The theory is sound, the execution is flawed =)

[wildjenna92]

82nd abn has liver cancer from butt fucking mad rhythm eric the hun is gay and loves nigger cock

[joej12a]

FU AROCK!

[wwxcaptchaos]

+87

[jbrown2396]

What the fuck is your problem?

[Shellshock1918]

You should be ashamed.

[ouelletteb19]

Yeager you're a fucking retard if you think you can't be safe or improve being safe with firearms training you fat fucking moron.

[weedhopperqts]

that beer belly is so high speed .... not

[glenbear48]

Pathetic.

[Coldshot1977]

I am AMAZED at the lengths this gentleman is going to in order to justify his unsafe teaching and training methods. I would be worried about ANYONE who choses to subscribe to the types of training methods this so-called instructor uses and promotes.

I am far from an internet commando, I train very regularly and put approximately 500-to-600+ rounds down range per week on average.

[PittyPablo02]

I love it when everyone fights, dance monkeys dance!

[jastraugmxde]

You´re getting this all wrong -> TR ist mainly running firearms-training for normal students i. e. civilians with no firearms background. I would not recommend nor attend a class who is supposed to participate in such a downrange-photo-stunt. If by accident the "photo-guy" downrange is shot, the student will most likely be charged. The blame lies with the Instructor who encourages such a behavior rather than concentrate on the basics. The "Warrior Code" would do you no good in a court of law.

[hikinmike805]

Train the way you train and be proud of it, what are the complainers gonna do send you a rude message on youtube

[MrChadbag]

The Yeager/TR asslickers and bum buddies are sure busy giving thumbs down to all the reasonable and sane posts who point out how stupid this episode is and what a "great warrior" Yeagers is (NOT!). Guys, go get real training from real trainers like Vickers, or EAG/Pat Rogers, or Magpul Dynamics, or any other number of real been there done that guys who are not jokes. Then we will see if your blind allegiance to Yeager will stand the test.

[ShininRock]

IF Mr. Yaeger has any liability insurance, I'd wager a bet that he wouldn't have coverage any longer if his carrier saw this video. What do you call a shooting school without liability insurance? A cheap imitation.

Secondly, If I were a recipient of Mr. Yaegers "training"- I would NOT want to have my ass in a sling over a use-of-force issue, and have a DA showing a jury the stuff that's associated with Tactical Response. Your "group photo" giving the one-finger salute will be very impressive.

[treyphish83]

realistic training.... blah hahahha

[MrChadbag]

The three comments below are the complete IALEFI disclaimer and are not my own words.

[MrChadbag]

Furthermore, his follow up to this complete act of idiocy in an attempt to justify his actions again speaks for itself and does not merit any comment.

[MrChadbag]

"Although Yeager claims to be a member of IALEFI on his web site our records confirm that he is not a current member nor has he ever been a member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, Inc. The precarious procedures and practices displayed in this video defies all intelligent logic and are not worthy of comment as they speak for themselves. "

[MrChadbag]

IALEFI Disclaimer

A number of IALEFI members have voiced their concern regarding the exceptionally unsafe firearms training practice demonstrated in a video which has seen widespread distribution recently featuring James Yeager who purports to be an IALEFI member.

[ShininRock]

Ever since Gulf War I, the market has been flooded with ex-military "combat veterans / firearms experts" starting up new shooting schools. Most of them know very little and more often than not are trying to re-invent the wheel. Save your money and go somewhere like Gunsite or Thunder Ranch. Most of the other schools are just cheap imitations.

[thmsmgnm]

Bullshit,

over the last 15 years there have been a number of good school and instructors comming onto the training scene.

If you think Thunder Ranch and Gunsite are the repositories of all firearms training goodness and wisdom you are being foolish and short sighted.

[MrChadbag]

Look at Magpul Dynamics, EAG Tactical, Vickers Tactical, and several other tier 1 training establishments.

[snakeii0]

Take a look at SCTexas' videos, and you'll see some unsafe actions, such as clearing malfunctions with the finger still on the trigger.

So do you EVER do any real training, or just plinking at the range with your cigar totin', peter puffing boyfriends?

Go fuck yourself scat eater.

[SCTexas]

Wow, the junior high student put his airsoft toys down long enough to insult me.

Guess you have lost this argument and you still have not addressed the questions Snack-EE-Yo.

[MrChadbag]

I do train with top tier 1 trainers. Which is why I won't train with JY and TR. They are more concerned about "Warrior" ethos than in minimizing risk and being safe. This has nothing to do with 180 range rules. Many of the trainings I have been at have not had 180 range rules yet were very safe in doing so. They don't pull stunts. So you TR lovers, go back to your mental masturbation and the rest of us will train with the top tier 1 guys who have been there and done that and are very safe

[SCTexas]

JJust figured out another Question:

Since Yeager defends this live fire training as WARRIOR Ethos - or some other BS term (I suppose he has the patent on that), why is he trying so desperately to pull the video of the photog off the internet?

[snakeii0]

-9 on my comment.. from all the pussy wannabes that can eat shit. Go home to your mommies.

Go watch James Yeagers response to his justification, listen to his podcast, along with Jay's (the photographer) response. But I bet you are too liberal to spend some time to even listen and watch with a open mind.

[SCTexas]

You keep posting, but you don't answer the only critiscism that I have made: How do you explain this level of risk taking to a Criminal or civil jury?

How do you justify it?

So why don't you go back to your Junior High buddies and their airsoft guns in teh backwoods until you can answer the only question or critiscim that I have made of this training and Yerager.

[PittyPablo02]

I would say that everyone is responsible for themselfs I never made him stand down range so if something bad did happen he took that risk of his own accord, just like if I where to for example put a round in to my leg when I drew from the holster I took that risk of my own accord when I decided to draw from the holster so it is my fault I shoot my leg for example.

[SCTexas]

The problem with that scenario is that you will be investigted and judged by a possibly anti firearms rights District Attorney who might charge you with criminally negligent homicide for shooting next to Mr. Photographer and merely participating in the activity.

Not to mention being sued by the man's family and being judged by a firearms rights ignorant jury.

[PittyPablo02]

That same risk is involed when you use deadly force to stop a home invader from hurting you and your family, The judge or jury can always say you did the wrong thing and went to far it is something you have to be prepaired for when ever you use a firearm in any situation. I know a few people who shoot johnny crack head who broke in yeah they didn't get charge crimminally but johnny crack head's mom got them later in civial court. It is just a risk that comes with firearms now a days.

[PittyPablo02]

I have taken two classes with TR it is not like he was dodgeing bullets by anymeans when he was taking pictures. It was almost the samething as doing a live fire fire team rush in the Marine Corps except the cameraman didn't move.

[SCTexas]

there is a big difference between doing something silly and hurting yourself and doing something that may be percveived as unnecessarily risky and being judged by a jury of your people who are not your peers.

[usmc82361]

The bottom line with the use of firearms is, "you are responsible for your own safety!" This means watching your immediate environment, regardless of the type of training that you are involved with. I have attended advanced carbine and pistol courses where I have seen LE officers refuse to participate in some drills because they didn't "know" their fellow students!? Most reputable trainers pre-screen their students properly and only allow experienced individuals to participate.

[SCTexas]

I wonder why Yeager would want these videos pulled off the internet, especially the one of the photographer downrange, when the exhibit the "Warrior Ethos" that he claims to have a patent on?

[BriannChris1]

James Yeager, Please post the video back up on YouTube so everyone can see

[db9979]

What is your dog in this fight?

[chromeluv]

I am curious to what your affiliation with TR is? You seem to be pretty involved in those who think Yeager is a joke?

[db9979]

I've been to one of TRs classes so I actually can speak from experience as to the professionalism and quality of training provided by TR. Unlike yourself and your fellow dissenters to whom have never attended a class.

Those who can, do, and those who can't spend all their time posting on the internet critiqueing those who do.

[chromeluv]

You know nothing of my background or history, so you cannot speak intelligently on that.

Nor have I "dissented" from anyone or anything. I am a like minded individual looking into the events that seemed to have transpired.

I am just curious why you are so adamant in defending this situation.

[db9979]

Well if you are like minded then don't listen to these armchair commandos. Make your own educated decision but don't limit your self to inside the box thinking.

[synergy303]

Yeager failed the only gunfight he ever got in, he is an "armchair commando" of the first order, and has no business teaching "warrior ethos".

[db9979]

And you suck dick so what does that make you?

[BriannChris1]

I train and YOU, James Yeager, are NOT safe. Please post the video back up on YouTube so everyone can see

[bluebadger100]

liveleak dot com/view?i=db0_1245629888

[db9979]

BriannChris1 what is your dog in this fight? If you don't like the way TR trains the don't go to TR and keep training with you airsoft buddies and leave the real training to men.

[SCTexas]

Snackio

If Y wasn't censoring the comments I would not have uploaded the video.

So tell me snackio . . . What makes you qualified to have any opinion at all on anything?

You still have not answered my question about what you would tell a jury if you were involved in shooting some in this manner?

[snakeii0]

See my post below...

BTW, numb nuts, its Snakeii not Snakio, learn how to read. If you want someone to take you seriously, at least show them respect by not slamming their name/nickname.

I've had combat arms, base defense training in the military. I've fired guns, hunted since I was strong enough to lift a gun. And I also seek out knowledge from various instructors, I'm not biased like you and your buddies are.

Go back to training on your 180 degree range, scat eater from Texas.

[SCTexas]

Look Snak-EE-YO, or whatever you call yourself,

Running around the back woods with your Junior Highschool boys and their airsoft gun doesn't count as "Combat arms" training.

BTW: You still have not answered the question that I posed to you about how you would explain this "Warrior training" to a Jury, grand or Petit, criminal or Civil.

So how about you put your Junior Highschoool english skills to work and answer the real question?

[snakeii0]

Sorry to disappoint you but I've never fired a airsoft gun. Closest thing to "fake" combat was while using MILES, which uses real weapons in case you didn't know.

The answer to your question, the same as what happens to a assault team member when they get hit during a live fire scenario. Whats the different between that and a photog sitting on line? Nothing, except that the photog is stationary and so is the shooter.

If you had any intelligence, you would figure that my nick means snake eyes.

[SCTexas]

The fact that you call yourself "Snake eyes" tells everyone that you are proabakly some Jr. High wannabe running through the woods with an airsoft gun.

Next thing you are going to tell us is that you are some super secret operator just back from an over the border operation into Iran or pakistan.

So your gonna tell the criminal jury what when you squeeze a round into the photographer?

[snakeii0]

Rather than just taking Yeager's video and reposting it, why don't you grow a set and create your very own video so you can harp on us with your (lack of) wisdom? Tell us YOUR point of view, tell us what YOUR experience includes (other then watching SWAT, CSI and other Hollywood crap). Playing with your GI Joes, paintball and nerf guns, also do not count.

[SCTexas]

See above snackio,

My point of view is that Niether Jim nor you have answered the one comment that I ahve made: What do you tell the jury, criminal or civil and the man's family if the guy downrange gets shot?

How do you justify ihe risk?

Come snackio, you are qualified enough to call me out so anwer my one question?

Crickets . . . . . . ?

[todmann67]

Probably the same thing you'd tell them if someone was wounded during one of the many live fires I did over the summer, at night, non-illuminated with people moving on my flanks and to my front. From what I saw, it appears that the photographer was outside of the shooters 300 mils. This is the minimum distance we (Marines) use in training and combat. It accounts for shooter and weapon error, the shooter would need to make the effort to point their weapon at the photographer.

[crofrog]

If you think DRE's serve no purpose or are always unsafe, well there's just no helping you have fun with your gun masturbation.

[cggunz33]

Ok, so let me get this straight. TR and JY have no problem with what was shown. Rather than admit that is was probably the dumbest thing they have done he goes on the offensive to defend it. There was NO TRAINING value at all in what was going on. Plain and simple.

And to top it off we someone who basically failed his team mates in Iraq (where he had no business at all) now teaching "High Rick Contracting" courses? WTF, over? People quit drinking the Yeager-Aid and wake up.

[VolDep45]

From the video: Rule four (1:24): "Be sure of your target and what is beyond it, and in front of it, AND BESIDE IT" ("that's the way we teach it").

Refering to the previous video he states (1:39), "None of the four firearms safety rules were broken with the cameraman standing downrange."

Does anyone else see a contradiction to these statements?

[anythingshiny]

no..being aware of your target, beyond etc...does not mean you cannot make the decision to fire..it means be aware.

[MrChadbag]

Yeager is the joke.

[MrChadbag]

Yeager is a blow hard wanna be. He failed in Iraq, failed as an LEO, and fails as a trainer. The people in the photographer downrange video lack basic skills and sure as hell should not be shooting with a person between the targets.

And people DID break the rule of not sweeping (point your gun at nothing you don't want to destroy) on the draw as well as close enough to the photographer -- a jerked or snatched trigger or other "miss" could have killed the guy.

[bubbiesdad]

The big problem is that when he failed in IRAQ, several people died.

[SCTexas]

As Dave Letterman said . . . If I have to Explain the joke . . . .

[A7005ext]

Yeager makes total sense. If you cannot handle this in a highly controlled training atmosphere, maybe you should reconsider carrying a gun.

[VolDep45]

Risk Assessments were developed and incorporated because killing someone during training is never acceptible. Is a good picture really worth this type of risk?

Would you or anyone else be willing to look the photographer's widow, orphan, parents, or other loved ones in the eyes and tell them he died/was injured/was paralyzed for one hell of a photograph!!

Who would be willing to step up and support the loved ones for the rest of their lives?

[Blackfork6]

Inexcusable. If you ever see a situation like this on a firing line, call a cease fire. If the line officer wants to argue about how safe it is, leave. These guys are going to get someone killed at their range or elsewhere. This is not safe and loading on BS about it is insulting.