I was once told by a professor that the phrase “nuts and bolts” means simplicity in both form and function. I really like this definition, as it is a perfect description of how I view my preparation for self-defense. I shun much of the “Tacti-Cool” stuff that I see in the magazines and that is taught in any number of the current generation of firearm training courses. Even though it is not the current trend, I am constantly looking for ways to simplify my individual response to danger more than ever. As I write this article, I am watching the news coverage of the shooting on the campus of Virginia Tech, which is the largest mass murder in our nation’s history. It further reminds me of how an attack can occur anytime, anyplace and that all citizens must be prepared to respond at a moment’s notice. The Hierarchy of Threat Management is Avoid, Evade and Counter, with countering the threat being the least desirable. However, if such a response becomes necessary, your actions must be simple, quick and effective, and your selected personal defense gear must also reflect this.

While I am a big fan of the classic 1911 pistol, I admit that my daily carry gun reflects this self-imposed nuts and bolt standard. I prefer a gun that I can point and shoot without a lot of complexity, a gun that has a reasonable amount of ammo (handguns don’t have firepower, an AC-130 Spectre Gunship has firepower, pistols just have capacity) that can allow me to escape and evade a threat without having to perform the complex motor skill of a reload while moving, which, trust me, is what I would be doing! I think that we can all agree that simplicity, accuracy and reliability are necessary features in any defensive handgun and if you have a gun that fills these requirements, then you should stick with it and practice, practice, practice. However, if you have not found a personal carry gun that fits your individual needs, I have a gun that you might want to check out. The Taurus 24/7 PRO is a new pistol that offers a number of worthwhile features that deserve your consideration.