According to sources, James “MF” Yeager passed away this morning, September 2, 2022. He’d been fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) for some time and that is believed to be the cause of his death, although no official statement has been released.
James was perhaps best known in the gun industry for Tactical Response. However, he had quite a colorful background prior to his teaching years. In the early 1990s, Yeager worked in a range of drug task force units and undercover squads. By 1996, he was still in law enforcement, but working as a patrolman and K-9 handler for the Big Sandy Police Department. He’d later spend a couple years as Big Sandy’s Chief of Police.
Other time spent in law enforcement including in roles as the Firearms and Tactics Instructor with the Camden Police Department, among others. During that time, in the early 2000s, James also worked on protective security details in Baghdad.
This past Spring of 2022, he traveled to the Ukraine and offered his services training around 150 soldiers. According to Tactical Response, the city was 95% surrounded when he went in with his team to lend a hand.
Over the years, James was involved in countless aspects of the gun industry. He was always working, even as the ALS progressed.
Here’s what Yeager’s bio doesn’t say about him. It doesn’t mention the fact that if he knew you and saw you at an industry event, he acted like it was the coolest and greatest moment ever. His personality was larger than life. When James was in the room, he held everyone’s focus. People might not have agreed with everything he said or did, but the fact remains he worked hard, taught passionately, and treated those around him as friends even if he barely knew them.
It was James’ wish not to have an official obit. He did not want anyone to cry over him, and not to make “dumbass social media posts on my birthday.”
James was, above all else, a force to be reckoned with. If you knew him, you knew he was a cool dude. We are saddened to hear of his passing. Rest in peace, James “MF” Yeager.
For those who would like to attend, there will be what his friends are calling a Big Ass Party at the range in Camden, Tennessee, on September 10th and 11th. A bonfire will be started at 6 PM. Attendees are invited to show up as early as Friday evening, September 9th, to set up camp. Tactical Response states they will be running the team room by alumni weekend rules, but people will be allowed to camp around the range, but not past the firing line. It’s not a memorial, it’s a party.
