Bill Robinette is no newcomer to firearms. When he was eight years old, his father started teaching him how to fire BB guns and .22-caliber rifles. By the time he was in his early teens, Bill had acquired a .410 bolt-action shotgun for bird and rabbit hunting.

Shortly after graduating from his Detroit high school in 1968, Bill enlisted in the Marine Corps and did a tour in Vietnam. While still in boot camp, he qualified as high rifle in his platoon, and received the Leatherneck High Rifle award. Those skills served him well shortly thereafter.

Not long after he arrived in theater, a call went out to combat line companies. There was a need for qualified Marines to attend Scout Sniper School, After attending and passing SS school outside Danang, Bill was assigned as one of his company's scout snipers. He volunteered for, and made, numerous sorties as a member of a four-man "killer team." On one such patrol, he had the opportunity to use his Colt 1911A1 on two Viet Cong who came into the team's hide. The two men were so close to the team's location that Bill had to use his .45 to dispatch them. He reports, "It was a good thing I hit them with the first three rounds, because on the fourth round, the gun jammed--very old gun, rattled a lot. By the time the smoke cleared, we were up and on the move at a very rapid rate back toward our platoon CP."

Two Purple Hearts later, Bill's tour was over and he returned to Detroit, where he joined the Detroit Police Department. Out of the Police Academy he was assigned street patrol, then transferred to the Mounted division, and finally to the Police Photographic unit. Along the way, he volunteered for the Underwater Recovery Team, and was assigned to that team as an additional duty for 24 years. He also became a SCUBA/Technical Dive Instructor with the Midwest Technical Recovery Team, a task he still does today, although he retired from the police department after 29 years on the job.

Bill has had a CCW permit since his retirement, and carries his sidearm religiously. He encourages family and friends to do the same, to acquire a permit along with training, and to do a lot of practice.

One incident happened at his home that caused his wife to want a handgun available in the bedroom. He was out of town on department dive training, leaving his wife at home alone. Around three in the morning, she was lying in bed with the lights out when she heard noises in the house and thought Bill had returned earlier than expected. The noise stopped, then suddenly the bedroom lights flared on, and she saw a stranger standing in the doorway. The man then flicked the lights out and ran. This scared her half to death! She grabbed the phone and locked herself in the bathroom to call 911. In the closet Bill had a .38 snubnose that his wife was familiar with, but at the time, she did not feel the need to keep it close to the bed. She does now, and also has a 9mm for home defense.

Bill is an avid hunter with bow and firearms, and enjoys the outdoors immensely. He enjoys shooting all types of long guns, as well as his collection of handguns. Bill adds proudly, "I've passed this trait on to my son, who is also a former Marine and served in Desert Storm as a machine gunner. He loves hunting, shooting and fishing more than anything. We both enjoy the shooting sports together."

Bill enjoys going out on private property to stay in practice. He often sets up silhouette pistol targets at various distances and practices on multiple targets. He has also attended some local "Advanced CCW" classes that emphasized shooting and reloading while moving to cover. Taking knowledge from the classroom to the range, Bill practices various shooting positions he learned in those classes. As so many others have observed before him, Bill laments, "I really wish there were more local ranges that allow this kind of training on a regular basis, rather than the static shooting and punching paper that most ranges allow."

CCM: Was there a specific incident that caused you to carry a gun?

No, just grew up around guns and carried them most of my life. I feel very comfortable and safe carrying my handgun.

CCM: Have you ever had to use your firearm in a defensive situation?

Yes, my father was involved in an injury auto accident on a major freeway. His car was towed off the freeway and onto a service drive and left there afterwards. I went to retrieve his property from the car. While doing so I was approached by a man who stated he had the keys to the car and wanted $20 for them. I was able to get close enough to him to grab him and attempt to get the keys. When I did, he yelled out to some nearby friends and they charged me. I released this fellow and pulled out my S&W snub nose .38 and held it at the ready. All of a sudden they all put on the brakes and did an about face and ran. This was after one of them yelled, "He's got a gun!" I notified the police of the incident immediately. There were several other instances but not as interesting.

CCM: What training methods do you employ? Do you have any recommendations?

The police training was just 'so-so.' I started seeking realistic training and found several instructors that would teach different realistic "street" training exercises. Move, cover, shoot and reload stuff. I took this training and started practicing until I could be very proficient with my carry weapon. I recommend anyone carrying to seek training that is realistic to actual close quarters incidents, not just paper punching. Another training aid is to put out some cans, clay pigeons or other similar objects at different distances and engage them in random order, getting used to your weapon(s).

CCM: How long have you carried a concealed weapon?

I carried a .45-caliber 1911A1 while in Vietnam, and while employed with Detroit Police Department for 29 years. Upon retirement, I received my first CPL and have renewed every three years (now every five years). So I've been carrying for 36 years now.

CCM: What weapons do you carry?

Kimber Ultra carry II in .45-caliber, and a Glock 23 in .40-caliber. Sometimes I carry a Kel-Tec P-11 in 9mm.

CCM: What type of ammunition do you carry?

Mostly Speer Gold Dot, or Golden Saber. Sometimes Cor-bon Pow'r Ball.

CCM: What concealment holsters do you use?

Over all the years, so many different ones I can't count. I've gone to the Galco "Ultimate Second Amendment" inside the waistband, and also Uncle Mikes' "Side Kick." I have several Fobus holsters I use in the winter.

CCM: What do you do for a living?

I'm now a Medical Examiner Death Investigator, a SCUBA diving Instructor for the Midwest Technical Recovery Team (MTRT) and USCG licensed charter boat captain.

Do you have any advice for our readers?

Don't be self-conscious or worried while carrying your weapon. Most people I know that carry worry that they will be discovered carrying their weapon. Dressing for concealment is very easy with the right clothing, even in warm weather. Using the right holster works wonders; in the waistband holster with a light shirt (light material) with print pattern or dark color shirt works very well. In very warm weather I wear a sleeveless tee shirt and a light button shirt (unbuttoned) over it. In all the years I've carried concealed, I've never been made. A weapon is no good to you if you don't carry it. Conceal it and wear it comfortably, so carrying is no chore and causes no discomfort.

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