Massad Ayoob's Blog

THE AMERICAN SHERLOCK

On a recent plane flight, I enjoyed reading Kate Winkler Dawson’s “American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the birth of American CSI.” Crime Scene Investigation is a constantly evolving field and one with which those of us “in the business” need to stay current. “American Sherlock” is an apt title for Dawson’s biography of pioneering evidence […]

SAYING GOODBYE TO A GREAT COP AND SHOOTER

Herman Davison passed away recently, and we lost a good man.  In the early Seventies, I spent some time with him as he made his rounds as a New Hampshire Department of Fish & Game officer. I was doing a story on him for New Hampshire Outdoorsman magazine. He dealt with the public firmly and fairly, mixing compassion […]

FOR 1911 NERDS

If you are interested in the seemingly timeless 1911 pistol, spend a couple of hours sharing this deep dive into the gun’s development and the fine point details of its construction and subtle modifications through World War I.   If you’re not a firearms nerd, it will probably put you to sleep faster than Nembutal.  If […]

THE PAIR AND THE SPARE

This article appears in my long-running Handguns column in the current issue of GUNS magazine, now on the newsstands. It’s the serious (read: high round count) shooter who really needs the pair and the spare. But if the budget allows, it’s good to have at least the spare. When bird hunting season opens, if you […]

R.I.P. Super Dave Harrington

We lost an American hero early this month, long before his time. David Harrington earned his Super Dave nickname back when he was in Army Special Forces. It came partly from his physique – he always looked as if he had stepped off the cover of a bodybuilding magazine —  but also for his martial […]

TRADITIONAL OR MODERN?

Old style guns or new? Modernity has its advantages, but long-term habituation gets a vote too. Here’s a piece I wrote for Backwoods Home magazine on the topic, back in the day. What’s your take on the matter? Your comments, as always, are welcome here.

HOW JURORS SEE US…AND OUR GUNS

How do jurors see armed citizens who have to shoot criminals in defense of self or others? And how does the type of gun we use impact their impressions? My old friend Glenn Meyer retired from a distinguished career as a psychology professor, during which he was involved in a number of mock trials reflecting […]

GOOD ADVICE FROM A LAWYER

[image error] My reading is primarily non-fiction, so I’m pretty picky about which novelists I’ll spare reading time for. One is Scott Turow, a former attorney whose fiction set in courtrooms rings true to my own experience after years as an arresting officer, police department prosecutor, and expert witness. His latest, this year’s “Presumed Guilty,” ran true […]

WHICH GUNS WOULD YOU SAVE?

Let’s say some horrible day one of those giant wildfires is sweeping toward your home. Grab up your loved ones, important papers, and life landmark mementos…and what guns would you feel compelled to rescue during the evacuation? My fellow writer at GUNS magazine, Clayton Walker, had to face exactly that recently. Let us know which […]

STAY COOL DURING SUMMER SHOOTING

When the outside temperature gauge on my vehicle registers 108 degrees as it did here recently, I pay attention. We Americans are going through a nasty heat wave all over the country. I’ve always preferred outdoor ranges to indoor, but this summer I’m limiting my “gun in the sun” time as best I can. I’ve […]