Homage

It seems hard to imagine that it’s already been a year since Col. Jeff Cooper has passed away. I never met the man, but his words are ever present in my life since the first time I read them. I’m not going to write a biography blog about him. I’m sure that’s been done extremely well by others. Much has been written by many people far more eloquent than me. There are stories about his life and articles about his teachings all over the net. One quick scan through a Google search will bring just about any detail of his life to your fingertips, but behind all that is the people that he empowered and imparted his knowledge to that he didn’t even know.

I’d never heard of “Col. Cooper” before a couple years ago. Links to his commentaries and interviews were given to me when I started looking into purchasing my first gun. I knew absolutely nothing about “The Rules” or “Condition Levels”. It was all foreign to me, but I was so intrigued by this man who seemed to be able to handle difficult questions as easily as his sidearm. I read just about everything I could get my hands on and put the education I was getting into action. I practiced those rules until I breathed them. I know I’m a safe shooter because of him and I’m extremely picky about who I shoot with. Having drilled those famous “Cooper’s Rules” into my family, I owe their safety and the safety of the shooters around me to the words of Jeff Cooper.

That’s not all. Having been in sticky situations with a shady character that made it known my routine goings and comings were monitored, I was introduced to that looming “Goblin”. I knew that if Goblin did “x”, I would have to stop him. I also learned that my best protector was me. You can’t carry a cop, or your spouse, or a strong friend in your pocket all the time. You have to depend on yourself and know how to defend yourself because you might find yourself alone and up against a bad situation. I have the confidence that I can protect me and mine, because he gave me the information.
Thank you, Col. Cooper. I’m in your debt.