There aren’t too many people who hold multiple doctorates, but my friend Art Joslin had two: a Ph.D in Music, and a Juris Doctor law degree. I met him several years ago when he took one of my classes, and he became inspired to teach armed self-defense. He was already an accomplished shooter and martial artist, focusing particularly on teaching Krav Maga. He came to focus more on self-defense law, and we watched proudly as he went through law school and earned his J.D.  He was preparing to take the bar exam. He impressed me and Marty Hayes enough that as Marty segued toward retirement, Art took over his role co-teaching the Massad Ayoob Group Deadly Force Instructor class with me.  Marty, the founder of Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network, was sufficiently impressed that he brought Art in to take over ACLDN’s legal affairs section and he was preparing to move from his home in Michigan to Washington state where the Network is headquartered.   

Then Art was diagnosed with liver cancer.

Art, who had recently lost his beloved wife to cancer, fought the deadly disease courageously. Last November when he and I taught a Deadly Force Instructor class together in Pennsylvania, he was still optimistic. Exhausted by the brutal therapy regimen, he nonetheless held up his end of the class, from lecture to moot court.

At the end of 2022, he received the terminal diagnosis and was told he’d be lucky to make it to the first of March. On the morning of February 22, 2023 he passed away peacefully in his sleep. His son James had been taking care of him, and when James gave me the death notification, he told me that Art hadn’t eaten in three weeks. The doctors were amazed he survived as long as he did, and attributed it to Joslin’s strong heart.

I’ll buy that. Art Joslin had a strong heart in more ways than one.

The bio ACLDN published when Art came on board is better than anything I can write. You can find it here.

We are diminished.  Rest in peace, Brother Art. We lost you altogether too soon.

18 COMMENTS

  2. Sorry to learn of Art’s passing. I’m sorry that I never had the chance to take a class with him. Thoughts and prayers to his family.

  7. I had the honor of sitting next to Art all week in Detroit this past summer. I really and truly enjoyed every minute of the class, just as much, the friendship I built with Art.

    We had a little too much fun there in the back row…and netting at least one “would you guys just be quiet” that week. Sorry, Mas 🙂

    This is heartbreaking.

  10. I am sorry to hear the loss of this clearly great man. Though most of us did not know him personally, it is still all our loss – because we as a society have lost a great contributor to the good of our society. Being a cancer fighter and survivor myself, I will be inspired by Art Josin to continue to live my life fully and productively.
    Sincerely,
    John Mohan, RN

  13. Art was a friend for many years before I finally got to meet him face to face over a steak dinner in Las Vegas at Shot Show several years ago. He’ll be greatly missed.
    Rest in peace my friend.

  14. As a fellow Michigander, I can say that our state will miss Mr. Joslin. As a fellow musician, with Art being a singer, I can also say that the world of music will miss him.
    I like to think that he has been reunited with his wife, who also suffered from the horrible disease that is cancer.

  15. Deepest condolences, Mas. This is a reminder to us all to fully appreciate, while we can, the good people in our lives with whom we are blessed. May Art rest in peace and may the joy of knowing him overwhelm the sorrow in the hearts of those he touched.

  16. I will miss Art in so many ways, this is sad news indeed. I took my NRA Instructor classes from him over 10 years ago and last year my MCRGO Instructor course. I took the MAG 30 course that Art hosted about four years ago with him and his son.

    My deepest condolences to his family. He will be missed.

  17. Mas,
    Meeting Art at that Deadly Force Instructor program in P.A., I got to spend some time talking to the man, who was already a friend on Facebook. I knew of his cancer struggles and was hoping to hear that his screens were good and he was in remission, then this sad news. Second Amendment, and armed self-defense supporters lost an able voice, and attorney! We are diminished… Sincerest condolences to Art’s family and friends. RIP

  18. Very sorry to hear of the loss of a very accomplished and respected human being. I did not know him, but as Mas stated, we are diminished. His life is a lesson to us all to cherish every day and to strive to excel in all we do.

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