Excerpts from the Writings of Jeff Cooper – July 2025
Excerpts from the Writings of Jeff Cooper – July 2025
I am often criticized for not “sticking to my guns” and veering off into politics, sociology and history. That criticism may be valid, but the more I see of it the more I become convinced that history and conflict are synonymous. This seems to be inherent in the nature of man. According to Clausewitz, war is politics carried out by other means, and war, of course, is conducted with weapons, hence weaponry remains fascinating and completely a part of the human story. Whenever I read fiction I reflect that fiction writers are rarely properly grounded in weaponry, and this causes much of their fiction to fall flat. Certain notable exceptions were Rider Haggard, Stewart White and Ernest Hemingway. They may not have got their weaponry sorted out correctly every time, but at least they tried, and that is more than you can say about most current tellers of tales.
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.2 No.3 March 1994
The problem is that only enthusiasts shoot well. Not many public employees are enthusiasts. This lowers both standards and potential, and gamesmanship is no help.
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.2, No.3 March 1994
According to a news item in the AIM Report, Major Robert Hines, of the DC Park Police, maintains that Vincent Foster, who was found dead in the park, was in possession of a “38-caliber 1911 Colt army revolver.” Now there is a collector’s item for you!
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.2, No.3 March 1994
According to the politically correct (for that read “Cravenly Intimidated”) it is now considered unsatisfactory to make a fuss over Christmas. Christmas, after all, is a celebration both elitist and Eurocentric. One of the cards we just received greeted us in four languages, three of which mentioned Christmas specifically, while the other in English did not, wishing us only “Season’s Greetings.” To find a prefabricated Christmas card today which actually says Merry Christmas on it is quite difficult. Another sign of the times, it would seem. Be that as it may, we take this means to wish you all in the Orange Gunsite Family a Very Merry Christmas and a Full Measure of Joy in the Celebration of the Birth of the Redeemer. Those others whose political or religious faiths prevent them from sharing our joy at this season elicit our sympathy, but not to the extent to have us change our traditions.
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.3, No.15 December 1995
In further pursuit of the “dumbing down” of America it now appears that you can be considered to have scored a perfect score on the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) even if you commit four mistakes. Here we have a concept which goes beyond the realm of education and into that of theology. A “perfect” paper must be free from any mistakes whatever. Any error renders it, by definition, less than perfect. I do not know who comes up with exercises like this, but it would certainly indicate that at least some responsible members of our educational establishment no longer pay any real attention to what they say. We have noticed this in conversation, but we are still somewhat surprised to see it extended to the matter of scholastic aptitude.
(We get this exotic information from the excellent newsletter put out by family member Doctor Arthur B. Robinson, President of the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine.)
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.3, No.15 December 1995
I have recently been called to task by Doctor Kurt Welgehausen for my use of the word “gender” in place of “sex.” The professor makes it clear to me that gender and sex are not synonymous. To quote, “I think that the current reluctance to use the word sex comes from the current and frequent misuse of the word to mean sexual intercourse, as in ‘they had sex,’ which I find to be an abominable phrase.”
I must agree, and I am glad that somebody has the interest in the matter to write it up.
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.3, No.15 December 1995
I have had the opportunity now for a couple of years to evaluate the Glock pistol with sufficient care to give me justification in an opinion. I have not used one much myself, but just enough to know that it is not for me. However, I have some good friends in law enforcement who have pretty much set matters straight. My conclusion is that the Glock pistol is a very good choice for hired hands, but not for serious pistoleros. Its proper place lies in the public sector, and the dedicated shottist is rarely found therein. (Note: That is shottist rather than shootist. Look it up.)
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.3 No.13 November 1995
Applications for our pistol classes show an increasing lack of combat spirit in our prospective students. We need more tigers and fewer sheep – of all ages and both sexes. Man does not do battle with his gun alone; he fights basically with his soul. Marksmanship and gun handing are in themselves not enough – mind-set is what wins. And while we can help with that, the client must in essence supply his own pizzaz.
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.10, No.8 July 2002