Crisis Response Options presents a comprehensive look at conflict prevention and resolution from the perspective of an experienced police firearms instructor and special response team negotiator. Being a good shot is cool, and being a smooth talker is nice, but being both is better.

Acknowledgements

No one can claim expertise in any discipline without standing on the shoulders of those who came before. Poor notetaking and a less than perfect memory over the years prevents me from attributing all the ideas I’ve had to their original source, but on this page I’ll do what I can to give credit where credit is due. In no particular order, these are people who I’ve had the pleasure of training with, or whose words have influenced my perspective. If you enjoy any of what you see here, please look them up for an even deeper dive.

Greg Ellifritz of https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/, one of the most thoughtful people I’ve ever met, with fascinating perspectives on everything from self-defense to making the most of life.

Tom Givens of rangemaster.com. I’ve been to my fair share of instructor courses, and his was the best, hands down.

Cecil Burch of https://www.iacombatives.com/, for a well-rounded perspective on personal safety. His close contact course with Independence Training is the curriculum most people need but aren’t getting.

Craig Douglas of https://shivworks.com/, who artfully provides the “wake-up call” so many “gun people” desperately need.

Scott Jedlinski of https://www.modernsamuraiproject.com/, where I learned to “find the dot,” and the important difference between unfamiliar and unnatural.