Dennis tueller s study went so far beyond him that his name has become inextricably linked with what is erroneously called the 21 foot rule, as if an arbitrary distance could be established beyond which an assailant armed with a contact weapon was no longer an immediate threat, or put conversely, justifying use of deadly force if an. Aug 24, 2017 if you have a gun, how do you defend or protect yourself against a knifewielding attacker, considering the tueller drill. So, is the 21foot rule a forensic fact or a police myth. They then started developing drills to teach the skills needed for this situation. Dec, 2016 the tueller drill is often one of the reasons why people insist that you need to carry in condition one with a round in the chamber. Feb 07, 2017 i have known of the tueller rule 21 foot rule for quite some time, well before my first canceled carry training class as certified with the state of new mexico, where i have a canceled carry permit. This discussion deals with contact weapon situations. They grab a knife and rush you in your very own real world tueller drill21 foot rule test. Lt tuellers initial insight into combat ranges for police officers was ground breaking, but like many ground breakers from marx to freud, his work is revered far too long after it has been found. Martinellis more realistic, practical and safer gun assault positioning gap tactic during encounters with suspects wielding.
Aug 01, 2012 the tueller drill is a selfdefense training exercise to prepare against a shortrange attack when armed only with a holstered handgun. All about the 21 foot rule or tueller drill and knife or sword versus gun. This is a discussion on tueller drill aka 21foot rule within the ccw forums, part of the firearm forum category. The foot drills by russ ebbets, dc russ ebbets, dc, lectures extensively as a lead instructor for usa track and field and is the editor of track coach magazine, the technical journal for usa track and field and the author of the novel supernova, on the famed running program at villanova. For many officers and situations, a 21foot reactionary gap is not sufficient. The tueller drill teaches you all kinds of wonderful things, but how many people have turned it into the. For more than 20 years now, a concept called the 21foot. I have known of the tueller rule 21 foot rule for quite some time, well before my first canceled carry training class as certified with the state of new mexico, where i have a canceled carry permit. I am confident that tueller would hang his head and shake it. If references to the teuller drill are in your notes from that class, id say that could make a pretty compelling case that you had knowledge of. The tueller drill itself was merely a starting point for important situational awareness. Martinelli too had heard the 21foot rule being misstated by experts on all sides. With that, i still think the 21foot rule is a poor use of terminology.
In ten years that instructor may or may not be able to testify with absolute certainty that he or she told you about the tueller drill 21foot rule. Sep 03, 2014 2 tueller never imagined when he designed his simple. Jul 17, 2017 the tueller drill is a selfdefense training exercise to prepare against a shortrange knife attack when armed only with a holstered handgun. The 21 foot rule is that 21 feet is the average distance a person with a knife can cover in the time it takes for someone to pull their gun, aim, and shoot. Remember that really fascinating article you wrote about the tueller drill. May 09, 2016 somewhere along the way, the term 21foot rule started getting thrown around in law enforcement training circles. Somewhere along the way, the term 21foot rule started getting thrown around in law enforcement training circles. Sep 14, 2017 on average it took the attacker just 1. If you can react, draw, and make a couple of hits in 1. Back in the academy we all had to do the tueller drill and were shown the 21feet rule. Many times trainers would cite the tueller drill telling students that an attacker with a club or edged weapon had to be within 21 feet in order for deadly force to be justified. The tueller drill is often one of the reasons why people insist that you need to carry in condition one with a round in the chamber. Shown above, author richard mann practices the tueller drill, a practice drill developed under the auspices of the 21 foot rule, with the mgm targets attack target. It would be safe to say then that an armed attacker at 21 feet is well within your danger zone.
A more stressful arrangement is to have the attacker begin 21 feet 6. Because of a prevalent misinterpretation, the 21 foot rule has been dangerously corrupted. Back in 1983, tueller set up a drill where he placed a suspect armed with an edged weapon 20 or so feet away from an officer with a holstered sidearm. Most people in the defensiveshooting world have heard of the 21 foot rule, often practiced as the tueller drill. Here is a link to the article, an interview with dennis tueller, and a video showing what happens when you underestimate a guy with a knife. The first issue i have with the 21foot rule is the belief that it is somehow rooted in police doctrine or a legal standard. Most people in the defensiveshooting world have heard of the 21foot rule, often practiced as the tueller drill. The teuller drill has been misinterpreted over the years since it was first demonstrated. Beginner, intermediate and advanced gun classes safety measures.
John tueller, a firearms instructor with the salt lake city police department. Tueller drill blue mesa shooting academy class photos. When properly understood, the 21foot rule is still valid in certain limited circumstances. Tueller never imagined when he designed his simple firearms training drill that 30 years hence, the 21 foot rule would eventually become a police doctrine that is taught and testified to hundreds oftimes a year. The tueller drill is a selfdefense training exercise to prepare against a shortrange knife or melee attack when armed only with a holstered handgun sergeant dennis tueller of the salt lake city police department wondered how quickly an attacker with a knife, or other melee weapon, could cover 21 feet 6. He then directed the armed suspect to run toward the officer in attack mode. This is a discussion on tueller drill aka 21 foot rule within the ccw forums, part of the firearm forum category. We were told that in the event of an edged weapon attack. Now, more agencies are training their officers in dr. Revisiting the 21foot rule weapons police magazine. Oct 27, 2017 debunking the 21foot rule in law enforcement deadly force training nbc news covers forensic criminologist, police expert and use of forcedeadly force researcher drron martinellis research that is debunking the outdated 21foot rule in law enforcement deadly force training. Busting 3 myths of the 21 foot rule dry fire training. The 21 foot drill is reevaluated and put in perspective from the source himself, the creator, dennis tueller who. Removing the number 21 and the word rule would go a long way toward dispelling the myth.
The tueller drill is a selfdefense training exercise to prepare against a shortrange attack when armed only with a holstered handgun. Dennis tuellers study went so far beyond him that his name has become inextricably linked with what is erroneously called the 21foot rule, as if an arbitrary distance could be established beyond which an assailant armed with a contact weapon was no longer an immediate threat, or put conversely, justifying use of deadly force if an. As the public, the media, and law enforcement professionals grapple with the persistent postferguson issues, you on the street are surely scratching your heads. Trainer steve tarani tells us during the third hour of last sundays gun talk radio program that updated training indicates that the tueller drill often misnamed as the 21foot rule now dictates that when facing an average gunless male aged 1832, the minimum safe distance is 30 feet. Beginner, intermediate and advanced gun classes safety. The tueller drill revisited armed citizens legal defense. Mike seeklander and michael janich look at different. So, is the 21 foot rule a forensic fact or a police myth. Nbc news covers forensic criminologist, police expert and use of forcedeadly force researcher drron martinellis research that is debunking the outdated 21foot rule in law enforcement deadly force training. How close is too close by dennis tueller the good guy with the gun against the bad guy with the knife or machete, axe, club, tireiron, etc. Revisiting the 21foot rule chemical agent instructor.
Self defense threat and the tueller distance 21footrule. Dec 26, 2015 the tueller drill and the 21 foot rule. The 21 foot rule tueller drill revisited wisconsin. If you have a gun, how do you defend or protect yourself against a knifewielding attacker, considering the tueller drill. When to shoot specific physical actions and reactions. Tueller drill the drill whereby you practice the idea of the 21 foot rule with soft training weapons and plastic handguns ideally so even if the person with a gun could shoot the person with the sword or knife before they get cut, the question remains whether or not. The tueller drill is a selfdefense training exercise to prepare for a shortrange knife attack when armed only with a holstered handgun. Ccw resources shield defense firearm training wisconsin. The 21 foot rule essentially states that in the amount time it takes an average officer or person openly carrying to recognize a threat, draw his weapon and fire 2 rounds at center mass, an average assailant charging at you with a knife or blunt weapon can cover a distance of 21 feet. This 21 foot principle is also supported by the tueller drill, named after sgt. The tueller 21 foot drill quantifies time and distance and serves to. Aug 21, 2014 it is interesting to note that even tueller does not know where the term 21 foot rule came from. This 21foot principle is also supported by the tueller drill, named after sgt.
For many officers and situations, a 21 foot reactionary gap is not sufficient. A battle is brewing among law enforcement leadership organizations about whether and how to change police useofforce policy and training to be kinder and gentler. Its worse than the tueller drill in most cases by the time you realize there is an attack the criminal will likely be. Tueller drill and the 21 foot rule the self defense company. Debunking the 21foot rule in law enforcement deadly force. The article is generally credited for first establishing the importance of the reactionary gap within law enforcement circles.
It is interesting to note that even tueller does not know where the term 21 foot rule came from. If you have a gun, how do you defend or protect yourself. The easiest consists of setting a target at 7 yards, and putting two rounds center mass in 1. When properly understood, the 21 foot rule is still valid in certain limited circumstances.
The article discusses how someone armed with a contact weapon such as a knife or club can close with and attack a police officer from 21 feet away in the time it takes the officer to draw and fire his weapon. Jul 07, 2017 the first issue i have with the 21foot rule is the belief that it is somehow rooted in police doctrine or a legal standard. However, neither tuller nor caliber press ever used the term 21foot rule. Somewhere along the way, the term 21 foot rule started getting thrown around in law enforcement training circles. But what ramifications does this have for the armed citizen. I would add that your attacker really doesnt need to have a weapon. The tueller drill is a selfdefense training exercise to prepare against a shortrange knife attack when armed only with a holstered handgun. So in theory inside of 21 feet the person with the knife has the advantage. Similarly, evan marshal of the one shot stop fame for good or ill. The foot drills by russ ebbets, dc russ ebbets, dc, lectures extensively as a lead instructor for usa track and field and is the editor of track coach magazine, the technical journal for usa track and field and the author of the novel supernova, on the famed running. Debunking the 21foot rule in law enforcement deadly. I think that the 7 yard rule comes from the tueller principle. As dave smith at calibre press would say, that term was a sticky idea. Dennis tuellers study went so far beyond him that his name has become inextricably linked with what is errone ously called the 21foot rule, as if an arbitrary.
Litigation, gun control, purses, tueller drill 2a news. However, neither tuller nor caliber press ever used the term 21 foot rule. With that said if one takes a cc class and the instructor is certified they should be teaching law as much as testing your shooting abilities. Because of a prevalent misinterpretation, the 21foot rule has been dangerously corrupted. The 21 foot rule is the notion that you need 21 feet between you and a knife wielding attacker to effectively draw and fire your weapon. A great deal depends on his ability with that gun and the proximity of his opponent. The tueller drill is a selfdefense training exercise to prepare against a short range knife or. Tueller of the salt lake city police department who conducted timed experiments to determine how quickly an attacker with a knife could cover 21 feet. When the tueller drill 21foot defense is defined out of existence posted by andrew branca monday, september 2, 2019 at 2. You see, the tueller drill simply says that it takes roughly 1. There are a lot of ways to run a tueller or 21 foot drill.
Knife v gun video 21 foot rule stuff police forums. Its a rule originating from research by salt lake city trainer, dennis tueller rule states that in the time it takes the average officer to recognize a threat, draw his sidearm and fire 2 rounds at center mass, an average subject charging at the officer with a knife or other cutting or stabbing weapon can cover a distance of 21 feet. The tueller drill scenario from the best defense youtube. It was determined that an attacker could cover that distance in 1. To this day both dennis tueller and the folks at caliber press have denounced the notion of such a rule. Hence, the 21 foot rule concept was born and soon spread throughout the law enforcement community. Dec 28, 2010 all about the 21 foot rule or tueller drill and knife or sword versus gun. Dec 14, 2011 the article discusses how someone armed with a contact weapon such as a knife or club can close with and attack a police officer from 21 feet away in the time it takes the officer to draw and fire his weapon. The tueller drill and the 21 foot rule the 21 foot rule is the notion that you need 21 feet between you and a knife wieldingattacker to effectively draw and fire your weapon. Back in 1983, tueller set up a drill where he placed a suspect armed with an. Sergeant dennis tueller, of the salt lake city, utah.
1199 180 227 403 182 533 710 55 950 806 896 582 1313 546 1310 364 1441 448 1303 1507 223 429 1176 1371 1489 283 1366 166 943 17 906 165 769 989 376