I think I get overly upset

[Malexander]

I think I saw an episode of CSI where they caught the guy based on piece of burnt flesh that was fused to a shell casing from the gun that had been fired in the 'gansta' style.

Looks bloody stupid as far I'm concerned and I don't think you get overly upset. Whenever someone has a skill or specialised knowledge that other don't have it's perfectly natural to get a little annoyed that they aren't doing whatever it is correctly. Especially if it's unsafe.

 

[Sigma 40 Blaster]

I don't know when it started originally but the sideways thug shooting style was popularized and proliferated through the movie Menace II Society when I was in junior high/high school in the early 90's I think.

As far as getting angered by it...get a life and a grip my friend.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I don't know how it started, or why these people insist on continuing shooting this way, but I'd like to meet the guy who started it and slap him across the head. Idiots.

My guess is that it is a product of biological display behavior. Lots of animals, when threatened or when aggressive, engage in display behaviors that are meant to intimidate or fool the opposition into believing that the animal is bigger, stronger, etc. Such behaviors might be very good for display purposes, but not necessarily for actual fighting.

The gun held high would appear to be a classic attempt at trying to project oneself as being bigger than they really are. The gesture also attracts the eyes away from the person with the gun to the gun itself. It is a distraction.

The gun is held sideways because it is much easier to cant the gun downwards from a high hold than with a gun held in the traditional upright position.

The end result is that the person with the gun projects a larger perception of himself as well as having the added bonus of the threat of the gun that is pointed downward at the person being intimidated.

Why slap the guy across the head for coming up with the notion? Since the firing position is less than ideal as the gun is poorly aimed and poorly supported, the result has been fewer successful shootings by bad guys. Personally, I would rather have a bad guy use the homeboy technique against me than a traditional trained shooting stance.

 

[BobMcG]

Why slap the guy across the head for coming up with the notion?

Really. Tell 'em to keep up the good work instead.

Since the firing position is less than ideal as the gun is poorly aimed and poorly supported,

Absolutely. Beautiful.

Personally, I would rather have a bad guy use the homeboy technique against me than a traditional trained shooting stance.

Anyday.

 

[The Tourist]

biological display behavior...when threatened or when aggressive, engage in display behaviors that are meant to intimidate or fool the opposition

Oh, I agree. And I've even tried to use the technique, (ahem), with varying success.

And that's the point. It is as you say, a behavior meant to fool the opposition. For most of the serious gun guys here, it doesn't fool anyone.

In fact, it might very well subliminally "trigger" a response from the good guy being attacked.

Imagine if the good guy was trained in IPSC or IPDA matches, and very accustomed to see a silhouette target flip around, depicting a bad guy. I've often wondered about this myself. During periods of stress and duress, you act as you were trained.

As I have stated before, in talking to my black friends about this nagging issue of brandishing, it sometimes doesn't mean what it appears to mean.

For example, in the R Kelly "closet" video, Mr. Kelly produces a nickel plated .38 Super. My firends tell me that he had no intention at all to use the pistol. It is simply a gesture to show the people he is talking to that he is serious.

Needless to say, I pointed out to my friends in our debate what the term "brandishing" means in the real world--and the probable response.

This is why they tell 'first responders' to get as many facts as they can before brazenly going into a dangerous situation. Many times the first responder dies, as well.

 

[Yellowfin]

I've had a couple of encounters with less than professional pistol behavior at the local range. It's almost painful feeling the need to teach someone basic gun safety and how not to be a moron. Every time it makes some figures I've read from time to time on illigitimacy rates and somehow my mind correlates the two.

 

[The Tourist]

from time to time on illigitimacy rates

You should talk to my wife, who is a teacher. She got bitten by a student last year--severely enough to require medical attention and a series of rabies, hepatitis and HIV tests.

I have heard her define the present educational system as 'crumbling.' She intends to retire early, if possible. So there you go parents. My wife--all of her training, all of those awards, numerous cases of her sitting with children during surgery when the parents didn't even show up--walking out the door because little Johnnie wasn't taught limits.

And these children will age and buy cars and guns. They will breed and create other children who buy cars and guns. Good luck, America.

I live in a bedroom community of Madison, Wisconsin with upscale homes and schools. We are now enduring a spate of drug issues (and last week one drug related fight involving eight people over turf) because the Chicago gangs are expanding.

So, Yellowfin, you hit the nail squarely. But at the crux is freedom and my right to own and enjoy firearms against the very real freedom of a banger to be uneducated, mobile and also enjoying firearms.

My solution? Last night I went to our financial planner to craft a strategy to get my wife out of this condition with early retirement. I will not allow her to work one day more than she can stand it.

 

[costabile4601]

Won't be adopting the "gansta" style anytime soon...

As a parent bringing my kids to the range I:

#1 - Agree that it's the given right of morons to shoot anyway they want (yes, *sigh* , even 'gansta' style).

#2 - Believe that I need to explain to my kids that there is a purpose and process in learning how to shoot firearms. Our purpose is not served by casually handling a weapon in a mannor that does not maximize our ability to hit the downrange target. The process of learning to handle a weapon correctly enables us to use that weapon effectivly and efficiently if we're ever called on to do so (whether for sport or defense).

"Gansta style" doesn't meet the criteria unless I want to train the kids to hold up a convenience store.

 

[workinwifdakids]

Oh reaaaallllllly...

For example, in the R Kelly "closet" video, Mr. Kelly produces a nickel plated .38 Super. My firends tell me that he had no intention at all to use the pistol. It is simply a gesture to show the people he is talking to that he is serious.

I'd love to see a white guy get away with that.

"Gentlemen, I emphatically state that I will do everything I can to ensure that our underground aquifers remain free of harmful pollutants. And to be certain you take me seriously, watch as I brandish this Sig P210-6, signed by Eddie Bauer."

I apologize in advance for being culturally insensitive by only seeing the muzzle of the gun, rather than the ethnic greeting behind it.

 

[cold dead hands]

While I do not know where the gangsta style of handgun holding came from I do know that it hasn't made the transtion to rifles. I have yet to see a sideways AK in any movie or crime footage.

Depending on the the gun gangsta style holding can work well provided you are shooting left handed with an auto loader. It just doesn't work with revolvers. My brass was sent a few feet to the right of my fight foot and I hit the target with great accuracy. Is this how I shoot? No, but it was fun to see if the Hollywood crap might have some merit. It does, but I like to think that most of it had to do with fact that I was very familiar with the gun to start with. I am sure Homie G who never fired that stolen glock he picked up for $100 last week is not going to do as well.

By the way, I see plenty of moronic white folks trying to imitate the gangsta lean and I do not know how they can't realize that it makes them look ever dumber and more pathetic than they were before the decided that they were ''hard''.

 

[homefires]

Gangsta style comes from people that don't know how to control climb! They start shooting from one side of the victim and let the firearm move sidewase! With a full auto, it could be useful and practical. With a semi auto it just shows lack of know how and some Macho want to be thing.

 

[hogdogs]

I would prefer all gangsta's shoot this way! It would vastly improve my survivability!
Brent

 

[Webleymkv]

I believe it originated from the "Israeli Technique" in which the gun is carried condition three. The gun is drawn and brought close to the chest sideways, the slide is then grasped and the gun is pushed away from the chest thereby chambering a round. The gun is supposed to be brought into the upright position before firing but apparently the 'Gangstas' forget to do this. Also, I've shot with the gun sideways before in order to test the reliablility of my CZ-75. It did not jam.

 

[Doublestack]

I remember hearing this quote, but cannot remember who said it. One of the gun writers I think, who tested out this type of hold at the range.

" Conclusion: the gangsta-grip is the best thing to happen to criminals since handcuffs!"


Just about says it all.

DS

 

[Sigma 40 Blaster]

YOU never did it????

You never tried shooting sideways??? Not even once??? LOL.

I was alone at the range (for the first time in a while) and with a fresh target at 15 yards I decided to give it a serious shot with my PX4 in .40 in semi-rapid fire mode.

The results were pretty funny, all 14 hit the paper but none were lethal hits or stoppers except 2 (usually I get 10 - 12 GOOD hits * -0 or -1 shots on an IDPA practice target * rapid fire at that distance). I'm gonna try to convince my IDPA planner to set up at least one string of fire shooting like that...never hurts to be familiar with all tactics no matter how useless right??