FEATURED AUTHOR
ED LOVETTE

Like many of you, I grew up with guns. My dad was a career marine and an avid outdoorsman. From about the time I could walk, I was his hunting and fishing buddy. Most of our time outdoors was spent in the South, where, in those days, the 12-gauge shotgun, usually the A-5 Browning, was the firearm of choice for everything from deer to doves. Nearly everyone also had a .22 rifle. High-powered rifles and handguns were mostly for the military and police.
I suppose this explains why I never became much of a rifleman. During my military service, the M16 gave me a real appreciation for something short and light if I was going to have to carry it very far. And my real favorite in the short and light department was the M1 carbine. But if trouble was brewing, I felt better (and still do) with a reliable 12-gauge pump shotgun close at hand. My handgun experience was limited to the .22 Hi-Standard my dad had and the 50 or so rounds I put downrange with the Colt 1911 .45 ACP while in the army. This was soon to change, big time.

From the military I went into law enforcement (after being a vacuum cleaner salesman, a correspondence course salesman, an employee for a finance company, and a sales rep for a food distributor while interspersing my growing collection of job skills with periods of unemployment; I was not a hot commodity in the civilian job market). I can truthfully say that (like the book title), everything I really needed to know I learned while I was in law enforcement. Among many other things my 10-year career in law enforcement did for me, it began a lifelong interest in the defensive handgun, and it got me started in writing.

After working for several departments, I was able to land a job as an instructor at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. This was to change my world forever. It was my responsibility to become a serious student of the gunfight survival trinity--mind-set, tactics, and shooting skill. I was educated by some of the best street cops that New Mexico had to offer. Any effectiveness I had as an instructor was their doing, and I owe them a permanent debt of gratitude. In 1982, after a rewarding seven years at the academy, I realized a life-long ambition when I was hired by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). During my career with the agency, my time was about equally divided between assignments in training and operations. My law enforcement experience served me well, especially since the intelligence officer, like the police officer, often works alone. And while the intelligence officer is seldom armed, when he is, like the police officer, the handgun is his primary weapon.

As for the writing, I have Jeff Cooper to thank for bringing me to the attention of Combat Handguns (another tale in itself). While I'd had articles published in most of the police publications, once I linked up with Combat Handguns I stayed pretty faithful to it, as it has to me. In fact, 2003 is my 10-year anniversary with the column I write for Combat Handguns, now called "Survival Savvy."

So as a result of my two chosen professions, I spent a lot of time with the handgun. Throughout all of this, I developed a real fondness for the short-barreled revolver. It has proven for me, and a great many others, to be the perfect blend of reliability, concealability, power, simplicity of operation, and quickness into action.

Q&A

Paladin: Tell us the story about Colonel Cooper bringing you to the attention of Combat Handguns.
Lovette: I met Cooper at Gunsite in the late ’70s. I was in one of the very early classes (Robbie Barrkman was in my class). Anyway, Cooper asked me if I would write something for his newsletter, which I did. Shortly thereafter, I received a letter from him saying that he was negotiating with a new firearms magazine for a senior position on their staff. He sent this letter to all the people he wanted to work with him on the magazine. I remember the phrase, “I want your very best efforts.” I guess the chemistry wasn’t right and he didn’t get the job, but he graciously suggested that those of us who were interested should submit articles to the magazine anyway. It was soon published as Combat Handguns.

Paladin: What can you tell us about your assignments with the CIA?
Lovette: That I can't discuss.

Paladin: Do CIA operations officers have to resort to their handguns often?
Lovette: Again I'm unable to comment on that. I will say that there is an awful lot of misinformation floating around on the Agency. For those interested in the current facts, I can recommend Bob Woodward’s book Bush at War.

Paladin: What were some of the practical shooting tips and lessons taught to you by the cadre of New Mexico Street cops?
Lovette: Perhaps surprisingly, thinking back, there was very little to do with the weapon and quite a bit to do with individual tactics, situational awareness, reading people, controlling vehicle stops, being more determined and better prepared than your adversary, making decisions based on the info at hand and then acting without hesitation, and so forth.

Paladin: Where can someone find good training in the use of the snubby revolver today?
Lovette: Funny you should ask that. Just last week I talked with Lt. Dave Spaulding of the Montgomery County, Ohio, sheriff’s department. He had just returned from a visit to Smith& Wesson, where they were showing some of their new products. According to Dave, the S&W Academy is making a strong comeback, and they are conducting revolver courses for both police and the private citizen.

Paladin: Besides writing for Combat Handguns, what occupies your time these days (business and fun)?
Lovette: My interests have stayed pretty much the same through the years. I greatly enjoy the company of my bride of 35 years. We both cherish those all-too-brief visits with the grandkids. As you can see from the photos, I enjoy hunting and fishing. My favorite couch potato sport is reading, with particular interest in intelligence issues and operations, especially those involving the World War II Office of Strategic Services.

SNUBBY REVOLVER:
The ECQ, Backup, and Concealed Carry Standard