More training? Shut up and carry your gun already!
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 9:58 am
This is going to a little rant about training.
With current events being what they are I have recently been in several discussions in person, at the range and in other social media regarding training and CC. Some are falling victim to the "no training = no CC" mentality.
I have talked to many people who are already gun owners and proficient shooters that say they need more "formal" training before they will pursue LTC which always puzzles me. Some already have LTC and refuse to carry without more "formal" training.
I have spent time at the range with these people and like myself they are what you might consider to be "self-taught", which for me means at some point I have been shown the basics of handgun marksmanship by a friend or relative in a non formal setting and/or learned somethings on my own and I have been shooting for years. One or two hours of free instruction for a lifetime of benefit. Teach a man to fish....... Combine that with whatever information or tips from video/internet/youtube/book instructions you might pickup along the way and you have more than enough to safely and effectively CC. (If you are doing it the same way the pro's do it and are getting the desired results, do you really need someone else to tell you you're doing it right?)
I sincerely think that they are definitely lacking something, is not skill or proficiency, it's something but it's not something that you can buy with a training class or any tactical gadget. It is the PROPER MINDSET-the warrior spirit, the survivor mentality, situational awareness, the acceptance that there is evil in the world and acceptance of personal responsibility to defend against it, general self-confidence and courage. Either you are born with it or without it. Fortunately these things, if you aren't born with them, can be developed over time but there is no magic talisman, training or gadget that you can buy to attain it. I have never taking formal training beyond LA and TX CHL/LTC classes which really don't teach a skill only test some basic level of proficiency yet I possess (IMHO) the proper mindset and skills.
The other problem is they think "formal" training is going to offer them something that it just can't deliver, some 100% guaranteed survival or victory in stress situation. There is no magic talisman you can buy, amount of training, special gear or gadget to make that happen.
I have gained more from actually CCing than anything else. It is a transformative process that is extremely benefical on so many levels. But it is a process that happens by doing it not just a taking a class and your'e done thing. (EDC system is a trial and error process)
The other thing they confuse is practice vs training. Practice is doing what you learned and creating muscle memory. Training is the active instruction from another person and guidance, or learning something new.
I am not saying don't take classes or formal training. The path to enlightenment is a continuous process and one should never stop trying to improve but there are many paths you can take! Formal training is not the only way! And you don't have to achieve mastery before you carry. Mastery can take a lifetime! (and Mastery will take some training but mostly practice).
I PRACTICE often as well but PRACTICE is not TRAINING. There is not someone teaching me new things and guiding me. At somepoint there is a diminishing return on TRAINING, as you get further from the basics. I think advanced tactics while worth learning are not the most applicable to most situations. I believe in the K.I.S.S. principle and it's because under stress as a non-operator, non-ninja, non-combat vet that's all your gonna be able to do at best.
And are you practicing on a static target not shooting back or in a stress situation with bullets coming back at you? The reality is there is more to CC than marksmanship, its what you do under stress or making the right decision to pull the trigger in the first place. No one can teach combat experience. Even training scenarios, while good aren't the same as the real thing.
We should never stop improving but you are doing yourself a disservice by going about unarmed waiting until you achieve some training holy grail. If you have basic marksmanship and the proper mindset -the warrior spirit, the survivor mentality, situational awareness, the acceptance that there is evil in the world and acceptance of personal responsibility to defend against it, general self-confidence and courage you have all you need to effectively defend yourself and not risk others any more than LEO's risk the general population by doing so. An understanding of the the Mindset, Tactics, Skill, Gear mantra and when stuff happens, "get off the X" , take cover, shooting while moving is also beneficial.Start somewhere and continue to improve. You can try to achieve the training holy grail but in the mean time CARRY!
ETA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tlGRfAzrso
With current events being what they are I have recently been in several discussions in person, at the range and in other social media regarding training and CC. Some are falling victim to the "no training = no CC" mentality.
I have talked to many people who are already gun owners and proficient shooters that say they need more "formal" training before they will pursue LTC which always puzzles me. Some already have LTC and refuse to carry without more "formal" training.
I have spent time at the range with these people and like myself they are what you might consider to be "self-taught", which for me means at some point I have been shown the basics of handgun marksmanship by a friend or relative in a non formal setting and/or learned somethings on my own and I have been shooting for years. One or two hours of free instruction for a lifetime of benefit. Teach a man to fish....... Combine that with whatever information or tips from video/internet/youtube/book instructions you might pickup along the way and you have more than enough to safely and effectively CC. (If you are doing it the same way the pro's do it and are getting the desired results, do you really need someone else to tell you you're doing it right?)
I sincerely think that they are definitely lacking something, is not skill or proficiency, it's something but it's not something that you can buy with a training class or any tactical gadget. It is the PROPER MINDSET-the warrior spirit, the survivor mentality, situational awareness, the acceptance that there is evil in the world and acceptance of personal responsibility to defend against it, general self-confidence and courage. Either you are born with it or without it. Fortunately these things, if you aren't born with them, can be developed over time but there is no magic talisman, training or gadget that you can buy to attain it. I have never taking formal training beyond LA and TX CHL/LTC classes which really don't teach a skill only test some basic level of proficiency yet I possess (IMHO) the proper mindset and skills.
The other problem is they think "formal" training is going to offer them something that it just can't deliver, some 100% guaranteed survival or victory in stress situation. There is no magic talisman you can buy, amount of training, special gear or gadget to make that happen.
I have gained more from actually CCing than anything else. It is a transformative process that is extremely benefical on so many levels. But it is a process that happens by doing it not just a taking a class and your'e done thing. (EDC system is a trial and error process)
The other thing they confuse is practice vs training. Practice is doing what you learned and creating muscle memory. Training is the active instruction from another person and guidance, or learning something new.
I am not saying don't take classes or formal training. The path to enlightenment is a continuous process and one should never stop trying to improve but there are many paths you can take! Formal training is not the only way! And you don't have to achieve mastery before you carry. Mastery can take a lifetime! (and Mastery will take some training but mostly practice).
I PRACTICE often as well but PRACTICE is not TRAINING. There is not someone teaching me new things and guiding me. At somepoint there is a diminishing return on TRAINING, as you get further from the basics. I think advanced tactics while worth learning are not the most applicable to most situations. I believe in the K.I.S.S. principle and it's because under stress as a non-operator, non-ninja, non-combat vet that's all your gonna be able to do at best.
And are you practicing on a static target not shooting back or in a stress situation with bullets coming back at you? The reality is there is more to CC than marksmanship, its what you do under stress or making the right decision to pull the trigger in the first place. No one can teach combat experience. Even training scenarios, while good aren't the same as the real thing.
We should never stop improving but you are doing yourself a disservice by going about unarmed waiting until you achieve some training holy grail. If you have basic marksmanship and the proper mindset -the warrior spirit, the survivor mentality, situational awareness, the acceptance that there is evil in the world and acceptance of personal responsibility to defend against it, general self-confidence and courage you have all you need to effectively defend yourself and not risk others any more than LEO's risk the general population by doing so. An understanding of the the Mindset, Tactics, Skill, Gear mantra and when stuff happens, "get off the X" , take cover, shooting while moving is also beneficial.Start somewhere and continue to improve. You can try to achieve the training holy grail but in the mean time CARRY!
ETA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tlGRfAzrso