I really don't mean to be repetitive, but here's my take on this more than reasonable alternative to "locked and loaded". Whether the history of the draw was related to the weapons of the time is immaterial, as the draw continues to be used to this day by millions. In fact, police departments and SWAT are revisiting the method here in the US.
The primary objection by the L&L crew is that it requires two hands. I see this as a straw man, since for me, and most minimally trained common CCW carriers, if a BG is close enough to grab your arm, this is a mighty bad time to draw and have to fight for retention.
A Quick and Dirty Summary
Chamber or unchambered is a choice. The professional will often (but not always) prefer the former. The inexperienced CCW user will often (but not always) prefer the latter.
Choosing requires consideration of risk/reward. In any gunowner's life the likelihood of being hurt or killed, or of killing a loved one by accidental or negligent discharge is far, far, FAR higher than than by being unable to draw or fire in a hand-to-hand situation. Keep in mind the professional is FAR more likely to engage in close combat: he/she seeks out BG's, stops them, touches them. LE seeks out trouble, and often finds what he's looking for.
Not true for the common CCF carrier, who just wants "pretty good protection". He/she is NOT going to approach trouble, in fact will work very hard to have awareness and get away, call 911. In almost all cases, he/she will have time to retreat, draw and brandish if they must. And will find the Israeli method effective 99% of the time.
OTOH, AD/ND - which does happen to professionals too - is a VERY big deal for the new, casual CCW carrier. The chance of accidentally being shot or shooting an innocent with your gun is so much higher that it's not just not in the same ballpark, it's not even in the same universe. The risk is relatively huge in comparison and that is of great and legitimate concern to the common carrier.
The Israeli method - with its unchambered gun - is a VERY safe alternative to locked and loaded insofar as AD's/ND's.
Here's what I'd say to the common carrier:
In all truth, you will probably never even have to draw your gun on a human being. Most of the time you'll be able to avoid trouble and walk or run away. But if even in that very rare case you do feel forced to draw your gun, it is highly unlikely you will have to fire it. And even if you do have to shoot your gun in true self defense, it is highly likely you'll have the time to do, repeatedly.
Now I must be honest, there is a very, very small chance you may be surprised and end up in actual or immediate hand-to-hand combat where you can't draw or fire your gun. You are not really prepared for this. If you draw your gun there's a big chance it will be taken away from you, and the first thing the BG is gonna do is to pull the trigger. This might be the one time you don't want to expose your gun. Better to escape somehow, then draw it.
The bottom line is this my friend. By using the Israeli method you will be protected in all but the rarest circumstance, a circumstance you are little prepared to handle anyway, and in a situation where any weapon you use may well be used against you. At the same time you will greatly reduce the very real, incredibly more likely tragedy of an accidental discharge that will hurt or kill you, or a loved one.
And another thing for those who carry guns with safeties: if you ever do have to draw and fire, you will suffer a level of stress and panic that you can't imagine. You may feel faint, go blank, your hands will shake and you will lose fine motor skills - the kind that activating a safety requires. You will be confused. Is it on, is it off? Which gun am I carrying, the one where it's up, or the one where it's down? Is the safety already off? Did I forget to actually load the chamber? This is a time where you don't want to be concerned with safeties or whether the chamber really is loaded.
The Israeli draw is a good alternative that you should consider.
It uses gross motor skills that are not likely to fail under stress. You will not have to fumble with safeties. You will simply draw, load and fire, just as fast. Best of all, this is a simple skill that has been taught to millions of ordinary citizens - men and women - and that is known to be fast, safe and reliable under stress.
Most new carriers can learn to draw, rack and fire 3 to the head (at close range) in 1.5 seconds or less, fast enough.
A professional is different. What you may never face, he faces everyday. And he is trained to take the risks. He may well have to draw and fire in a close combat situation. He knows how to retain his gun. He has a backup gun. He has Mace. He has a fighting knife. He has a comealong. And often even a bulletproof vest.
He is paid and trained to take risks that you will do your best to avoid. He goes forward when you should go back. As it should be. He may choose to carry locked and loaded - take the risks of an AD/ND - because is he paid and prepared to do so. You are not and probably will never, ever be.
My friend, this is not a pretty picture. With your inexperience you may choose to carry "locked and loaded" cause that's all you've heard from the forum gunslingers. You may choose to risk fumbling under stress, plus the GREATLY increased chance of an accidental discharge. If you do draw your gun in close combat and even manage to make it off safe, you face the very real risk of being disarmed and being shot with your own gun.
Or you can choose the Israeli method, which greatly improves your chances of survival overall from all causes, accidental or intentional. Do know that you're not alone - although the method was designed for easy and reliable use by millions of ordinary citizens, more and more professionals carry this way too.
If you hear that "locked and loaded" is the ONLY way, you have been badly misinformed. Don't be intimidated into a practice that for the inexperienced CCW carrier is intimidating in itself. Some of you - rightfully - are bothered by the increased accidental risks of "locked and loaded" to the extent that you don't carry, and choose to leave your gun at the bedside for HD.
Don't let this intimidation stop you from carrying!
The Israeli method will allow you to carry in relative safety from accidents, but still retain the ability to engage your gun very quickly, reliably and effectively in all the sensible conditions in which you choose to use it. It is forgiving, reliable and safe even when you may be scared. A great relief! If you choose this method you will be in good company.
