Tag: training

Gun Safety vs. Gun Control

Despite what you’ve heard, gun safety and gun control is not the same thing and the two cannot be used interchangeably.  They are in fact, completely opposite. So when you hear someone talking about ‘gun safety’, you need to step back and figure out who they are and what they are really referring to.  Simply put, one assumes you are a responsible law-abiding person; the other does not.

Gun control is pretty easy to understand. It’s the government wanting to limit the ability of law-abiding citizens to purchase, posses and use firearms.  Sadly, the reasons they tell you don’t even matter since their intentions have nothing to do with it.  They tell you it’s about public safety and that you, your family and your community will be safer if you don’t own firearms, or certain types of firearms, ammunition and accessories, or can only have the precious few they currently approve of IF they are unloaded and locked up in your home. They tell you having less guns will mean less crime and that this is the only way for you to feel safe.

Of course there’s a big difference between ‘feeling safe’ and actually being safe. What they aren’t telling you is that all of the laws and rules they are putting into place to take away your right to purchase, posses and use firearms will do absolutely nothing to stop criminals, thugs and terrorists from getting and using their guns against you.

Instead of being able to protect yourself and your family, you are supposed to rely on your local law enforcement agency to protect you. But that too is a fallacy. As much as your local LEO may try, they can only respond AFTER you have been victimized. AFTER you have been assaulted, robbed, raped or murdered, and AFTER you or someone else manages to get to a phone to call and AFTER the police respond – somewhere in the 5 to 45 minute range, or more depending on where you are – they’ll do their best to figure out who victimized you. And that is supposed to make you feel safer.

Keep in mind the government that says public safety is best served by you not having firearms to protect yourself and your family is the very same government that is decriminalizing crime, reducing penalties for other crimes, redefining offenses like assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer; battery with serious bodily injury; solicitation to commit murder and rape/sodomy/oral copulation of an unconscious person or by use of a date rape drug as non-violent crimes so the offender can get out of prison earlier. The very same government that says eliminating bail and mandating those arrested to be released within 12 hours is fairer to ‘justice connected individuals’. And that too is supposed to make you feel safer.

Gun safety on the other hand is just what you would expect it to be, being safe with firearms.  Gun safety doesn’t say the only way you can be safe is to take away everyone’s firearms, it says the firearms you purchase, posses and use can be done safely.

If you talk to someone about gun safety – real gun safety – you’ll hear them talk about information, training and personal responsibility. You’ll learn how firearms and ammunition work. You’ll learn about how to pick up and handle firearms safely. You’ll learn about the law and what your responsibilities as a firearm owner are. You’ll learn that alcohol or drugs and firearms are never to be mixed. You’ll learn about safe storage based on the needs of you and your family.  You’ll learn about training to use firearms safely, confidently and accurately. You’ll learn about how to keep you and your family safe and ways to avoid becoming a victim. You’ll learn and live by the four basic firearms safety rules like your life and everyone else’s depends on it.

  • Treat all firearms as if they were loaded.
  • Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
  • Never place your finger on the trigger until your sights are on target and you have made the decision to fire.
  • Know your target, what is in front of it and what is beyond it.

Real gun safety isn’t a fantasy; it lives and breathes every day in every corner of this country by millions and millions of law-abiding families. All these people know that firearms can be purchased, possessed and used safely no matter if their intent is for hunting, sport, collecting or self-defense.

Keep this in mind the next time you hear someone talking about ‘gun safety’. Are they really talking about safety, or have they hijacked these words as a prelude to their real objective, gun control – and taking away your right to purchase, posses and use firearms.

The choice is yours – for now.

Bob

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2nd Amendment: Not For Those Under 21

With a few strokes of his pen, California’s Governor decided the Second Amendment no longer applies to residents under the age of 21. With this, California becomes just the latest state to strip away rights from 18, 19 & 20 year olds that have never committed a crime or intended to do so.  How easily we forget the United States Constitution no longer applies here in Kalifornistan.

Following the lead of other states after the tragic shooting in Parkland, Florida, California has determined the only remedy (other than all the other ones they implemented for this purpose) that would have prevented the loss of life in Florida. Therefore, the risk of allowing 18, 19 & 20 year olds to have firearms is just too great and this ‘minor’ infringement is acceptable. Never mind the fact that anyone of ages 18, 19 & 20 is old enough to vote, get married, sign contracts or join the military. In California, they are now not old enough to own a firearm.

The Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms. The entire legal argument of restricting handgun purchases to those 21 and older is that this did not violate the Constitutional rights of anyone under 21 since they still could purchase, possess and use rifles, shotguns and ammunition. By now eliminating that right, as private companies, municipalities, states and the nation are now beginning to do, it is a clear-cut violation of the rights of 18, 19 & 20 year olds.

18, 19 & 20 year old adults make up less than 8 percent of our population. And while many claim this age group is more involved in politics than ever, they also vote at the lowest rate of any age group. That makes them an easy segment of society to target.

But being California, there are exceptions – otherwise known as deferred bans – to this rule.  The exemptions are for law enforcement, the military and those with a valid hunting license.  The first two are easy to understand. Unless you carve out exemptions for law enforcement and military, you risk backlash for all your other so-called ‘public safety’ laws, which naturally also exempt law enforcement and military. But why then an exemption for those who have a hunting license?

The hunting license exemption serves a couple of purposes. First, it allows the State to claim there isn’t an all out ban on 18, 19 & 20 year olds owning firearms, thus satisfying the Constitutional requirement of not banning all firearm ownership. Second, and just as importantly, it helps to further the false narrative that the Second Amendment is about hunting.

Our last Presidential election was full of false claims of support for the Second Amendment. It was always ‘I support the Second Amendment but…. ‘ where the but was generally a call for infringing on that Second Amendment right with “reasonable, common sense” gun control measures. Then of course, there was the pledge of support for hunting. Even though most gun control elitists abhor hunting, they conceded that hunting is a long held tradition in our country and until they regulate it out of existence, they’ll support it as a valid reason to own a firearm under the Second Amendment.  Of course, self-defense will never be a valid reason to the gun control zealots.

The Second Amendment was never about protecting the rights of hunters or having a “valid reason” to own, posses or carry a firearm.  The Second Amendment was written to preserve the preexisting, inalienable right to possess and bear arms – period. It was written as a limitation on the government, not on the individual, hence the terminology used is “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

For those of you wondering why the fight for the latest appointment to the Supreme Court has been so important, I’ll remind you to take a look at laws like this. Denying an entire class of law-abiding people their Second Amendment rights because of the actions of a deranged individual – unless they have a hunting license – is not constitutionally valid.

The first of what I hope is many lawsuits against these unconstitutional laws have already started their way through the lower courts on their way to a Supreme Court who may now be receptive to hearing it. At the same time, lets also hope that every firearm and hunter education trainer out there is planning an expanded schedule to help our 18, 19 & 20 year olds obtain their hunting licenses so they can continue to exercise their right to bear arms while this is sorted out.

Bob

#oddstuffing,  #Constitution, #BillOfRights, #SecondAmendment, #GunControlFails, #CaliforniaGunControlScheme, #HuntingLicense, #FirearmTraining, #HunterEducation, #YoungAdultRights, #mewe, #medium, #oddstuffing.com

He Was Look’n At Me!

There are far too many who are more than willing to get into a fight with little or no provocation. Of all the rationalizations I’ve heard, my favorite and the one I’ve heard the most is the infamous “He was look’n at me!” Somehow, somewhere looking at someone became enough of an instigation to beat someone to pulp as anything else. I’d like to say we as a society can do better, but that just doesn’t seem to be an option.

Sadly, this isn’t something new. For as long as I can remember, and I’m guessing long, long, long before that, picking a fight with someone over the most trivial nonsense has been some people’s preferred way of life. While typically a male characteristic, females can be just as quick to strike out as males.

The cause? It could be anything. Alcohol/drugs, ego and mental health issues generally top the list. There’s also unchecked and misdirected anger, violent upbringing and general disrespect for anyone other than themselves. But even if we understand why, we still need to have to deal with the threat they cause.

Many of us in the Second Amendment community carry a firearm for personal protection. This is great, and there is no better deterrence against violent assault. But to use your firearm – and use may range from just warning your potential attacker you are armed to gripping, holding, aiming or even firing – you have to be faced with a threat sufficient to justify a firearm’s use. Not every situation is a deadly force one and you need to be prepared to respond with non-lethal / less-lethal options.

How many of you carry a non-lethal option as part of your EDC (everyday carry)? I am always amazed at how many people – including off-duty law enforcement – carry a firearm but not a non-lethal option. And no, a knife doesn’t count, that’s lethal force. I’m talking about something like pepper spray, mace, Taser, stun gun or impact weapon – and the training to use it effectively.  Hand to hand defensive techniques or some form of martial arts is also important as a last line of defense.

However, there’s something more important than all the weapons and other things you bring with you, it’s how to NOT get in the fight in the first place. It starts with being aware of your environment and continually accessing any possible threats to your safety.  If you do perceive a threat, you need to be willing and able to remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible.

As critical as all of the defensive techniques are, there’s one skill that can’t be over stressed. It’s your verbal skills. Sometimes called conflict de-escalation techniques or verbal Judo, it’s your ability to talk someone out of the fight they want to have with you. It requires preparation and quick thinking, but it can be very effective. Maybe you have to eat a little bit of crow, swallow some pride or simply walk or run away, but NOT being in the fight is what counts.

If you’re thinking there’s nothing wrong with a good fight to defend your honor or the honor of someone with you, here’s something to consider. Unless your name is Chuck Norris, there is always going to be someone out there bigger and badder than you. Even if you know you can kick that special idiot’s ass, how about his / her three friends who are going to show up out of nowhere? What if one or all of them have weapons you didn’t count on? Is it worth getting into the fight then if you have a chance to resolve it another way? It’s not about not being manly, macho, strong, brave or tough enough, it’s about being smart.

Now let’s say you’ve done everything right to avoid a dangerous situation, did everything you could to de-escalate to no avail or simply had no warning of an impending attack. At that point, keep this saying in mind. ‘If you’re gonna fight, fight like you’re the third monkey on the ramp to Noah’s Ark and brother it’s starting to rain.’ It’s all about your survival at that point and the third monkey isn’t going down easily.

I’ve seen a lot of fights that have started from a ‘look’ or a few angry words. Tension escalates pretty quickly from there and the whole situation goes to crap faster than you can ever imagine.  You need to be prepared, not just from a defensive techniques perspective, but also with proper situational awareness and verbal skills to avoid the situation in the first place.  Believe it or not, it’s a lot harder to NOT get into a fight than it is to just start swinging.

Get the training you need to defend yourself, but be sure your education includes as many techniques to not get into the fight as it does to get yourself out of it. That’s what real safety is about.

Bob

#oddstuffing,  #Constitution, #BillOfRights, #SecondAmendment, #GunControlFails, #SituationalAwareness, #LessThanLethal, #EDC, #Safety, #Security, #Training, #SelfDefense, #ThirdMonkey, #mewe, #medium, #oddstuffing.com

To Each His Own

As always, the world of self-defense and firearm training is a varied one. There are those who take the profession seriously, and those who do not. A recent addition to the drama was a so-called ‘instructor’ who’s methods and instructional techniques went beyond unsafe and straight into gonna get someone killed. Ever defiant of the establishment, even after his training credentials were yanked by the NRA, he perseveres since he, and only he, knows better than the rest of the industry. He really IS that good, just ask him.

Some say firearms in general and firearm training is inherently dangerous. I disagree. It most certainly can be, but it is not without something specifically added to it to make it so. The most common additive is of course human error. And when the errors occur, lives can be lost.

First, and foremost, let’s talk about what is considered safe. Those of us in the training industry LIVE by the Four Basic Firearm Safety Rules:

  1. Treat all firearms as if they were loaded.
  2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
  3. Never place your finger on the trigger until your sights are on target and you have made the decision to fire.
  4. Know your target, what is in front of it and what is beyond it.

No matter what you do after that, if you follow those four rules you and the people around you won’t get hurt.

Like many instructors, some of the training sessions I facilitate are designed to nudge people outside their comfort zone both physically and mentally. But that doesn’t mean they are unsafe. You never push anyone past what they are capable of and never, ever cross the line of safety. Yes, we may walk right up to that line and swear at it, spit in its face and beat it like it owes us money, but we don’t cross it. The line IS the line.

Firearm safety like most things is progressive. Things the industry used to do 30, 20 or even ten years ago we would never do today. Why? Because people have been hurt and killed in training. Fortunately, the industry learned from its mistakes and we’ve all become safer as a result. But not everyone buys into this way of thinking. There are some instructors out there who think that because nothing bad has ever happened to them doing things this way, it never will. They are above it all and say to each his own.

For example, force-on-force training is an incredibly valuable tool to prepare for real life encounters, yet every year a number of law enforcement officers and civilians are seriously injured or killed while doing it. It’s not because the training itself is dangerous, it’s because someone violated the rules.

Instructors who conduct this type of training are fanatical about safety. Even the slightest violation of the safety zone is enough to shut everything down, re-search everything and everyone, and then start again from scratch. Often the students or observers see reactions like this as unnecessary, but experience in the industry has proven otherwise. Regardless of how valuable the training is; it is not worth a human life.

Quality, cutting edge training doesn’t have to come at the cost of safety. And anyone who believes they are above the standards, knows better than everyone else in the industry or has a lackadaisical attitude towards safety is playing a very dangerous game. Maybe nothing will happen and nobody will ever get hurt doing what they’re doing… maybe. But if you play that game too long it will eventually bite you, or shoot you, right in the ass.

If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. If your firearm instructor doesn’t take safety seriously and only responds to industry criticism with flippant remarks and boasts of their own tactical prowess, then it might be time to find a new instructor.

Train hard, but train safely.

Bob

#oddstuffing, #SecondAmendment, #Safety, #Training, #VodaSucks!, #YouKnowWhoYouAre, #patriotpatchco, #mewe, #medium, #instagram, #oddstuffing.com

The First Shot

No matter what kind of firearm owner you are, be it hunter, competitor, collector, professional sheepdog, home defender, prepper, or all of the above, we all took that critical first shot. While so many around us are spreading the false narrative about how all guns are evil, I want to focus on that first shot and why it makes such a big difference in our lives.

No matter how many firearms we now have or bullets we have sent down range, we all started somewhere. Those of us who advocate for recognition of Second Amendment rights understand the incredible responsibility that comes with firearms ownership. A proper beginning leads to the right path.

Everyone has seen the YouTube videos of someone shooting a huge handgun, shotgun or rifle – using the absolute worse form possible and getting a face full of gun in return for it. Yes, some of them are funny as hell, but imagine if that was your first shot. How eager would you have been to continue shooting? How comfortable would you be picking up a firearm for self defense? Is it possible an experience like that could shape your opinion of firearms, skewing it towards how unsafe they are?

Sadly there are a lot of people whose first shot went this way. One of the ones I’ve spoken with is the wife of a friend. He is a shooter and she is not. When I asked why, she shared the story of the old boyfriend who took her shooting and gave her a huge, loud and uncomfortable firearm. That was the first and last time she touched any firearm.

By far the most time honored way people get their first shots is through family members. Typically parents, most often still the father – however that is changing – grandfathers or uncles who help little ones understand firearm safety, proper use, care and the essentials of marksmanship. Handing down the tradition of firearms like this helps ensure not only the respect of the firearm, but for the Second Amendment itself.

There are also a number of organizations that teach firearms safety and marksmanship such as the Project Appleseed, 4-H, Boy Scouts, the NSSF First Shots and the NRA FIRST Steps and Women On Target programs, as well as many affiliated private companies and instructors. They all share the same primary goals, teaching safety and responsibly.

My own path started on my grandfather’s farm in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. No idea how old I was at the time, but I was pretty young. I remember seeing my grandfather’s rifles in a glass front case in the dining room. To this day I have no idea if it was locked or not. I would never have considered trying to open it myself. I was taught not to. One day my grandfather put a raccoon that had been shot on the farm on top of a fencepost. From what I learned later about my grandfather’s hunting ethics, I have no doubt said raccoon had taken one liberty too many in the cattle barn. He explained the rifle to me, showed me how to hold it, aim properly and shoot. The only thing I recall of the rifle was the checkering on the stock. It was rough and beautiful. I’m sure it must have been a .22. I took the shot and it hit the very top front edge of the fencepost and deflected up and into said raccoon. I still maintain it was a valid hit. Years later I bought my first rifle, a Ruger 10/22, which now belongs to my son. Several revolvers and pistols later, I entered law enforcement and began receiving formal training and cementing my addiction to things that go bang, pop and pew.

As we are trying to secure and advance firearms owner’s rights, let’s not forget what brought us to this point and that our primary obligation is for safety and responsible ownership.

If you are willing to share your first shot experience in the comments, I would love to hear it. Hopefully everyone’s stories will help inspire families to pass on this tradition to the next generation or for individuals to seek out the right training to take that all important first shot.

Bob

#oddstuffing, #2A, #SecondAmendment, #firstshot, #projectappleseed, #4H, #boyscouts, #nssffirstshots, #nrafirststeps, #nrawot, #thankyougrandpa, #mewe, #medium, #instagram, #oddstuffing.com

Firearms Training – Caveat Emptor

Every so often during conversations on firearms training, there is a focus on who is qualified to teach it.  Some contend the only ones who can adequately prepare you – a legally armed civilian, possibly with a concealed carry permit out in public or protecting your family in your own home – for a self-defense encounter are former Delta, SEALs or Spetsnaz operators. Really?

These true, professional operators are highly trained and experienced in unconventional military missions such as counter-terrorism and covert operations. It takes years to learn their trade and they relentlessly train to hone that skill. They are the best of the best of the best and they’ve earned it the hard way. That being said, it is highly unlikely you will learn how to effectively infiltrate, stalk and kill your enemy in an eight-hour Saturday class – nor would you really want to.

So where is this coming from? From what I can see this originates in a couple of places. One is the now all to frequent revelation of someone in the industry who hasn’t been exactly truthful about his or her background. Some exaggerate their military experience ‘just a bit’ to be more credible while others fall right into the stolen valor category.  Beware the instructor who can’t publish his photo or last name because of ‘security concerns’.

The other is from so-called experts who are trying to make a name in a competitive market. By spouting off some tactical jargon, referencing unverifiable affiliations and criticizing instructors they’ve never met or training programs they’ve never been to, they hope to build a following based on their critique of others.

It’s true a lot of absolutely exceptional instructors have military or law enforcement backgrounds. But keep in mind this is merely a foundation, not the final word of being a competent instructor. Just because someone served in the armed forces doesn’t mean they are either qualified OR a good instructor for the military, LEO or civilian market.  US military training is excellent for what it is intended for, military operations.  But not all military tactics are suited for, or legally justified, in the civilian world. Applying them to your self-defense situation may get you convicted, sued or worse.

Here’s another secret, you don’t have to be former military to be a great firearms instructor. I’ve been to a lot of training over the years and was surprised to learn some of the top-notch trainers out there have never been in the military, yet they still teach front line military, law enforcement as well as civilians. Hard to believe? It shouldn’t be. These are individuals who have made a commitment to their profession and are always learning, training and updating themselves and their programs. They are at the forefront of the industry which is why they are sought out by the people who need these skills the most.

I’ve said this before and I’ll repeat it here. Finding a good, qualified instructor and training environment is critical. Specifically when it comes to self-defense training, you need an instructor who will provide a realistic, challenging and safe program.

Here are a few things you should look for:

• Do the instructors have applicable and current certifications?
• Do the instructors have a relevant background and experience to teach this type of training?
• Do the instructors continue to participate in student and instructor level training themselves?
• Can the instructors provide student references?
• Do the instructors carry the proper insurance?
• Are the instructors willing to discuss their background, program and your needs with you?

When it comes to self-defense firearms training, you need to look past the armchair quarterback evaluations, vague references to experience or training and unverifiable war stories. It’s not only your time and money; it could very well be your life. Caveat Emptor – Let the buyer beware.

Bob

#oddstuffing, #2ndamendment, #firearmstraining, #caveatemptor, #operator

Terror vs. No Fear

Terrorist attacks in America. In all likelihood, there will be more just as there always have been. How we respond to this is what makes the difference.

There is no one single accepted definition of terrorism, however the commonalities include the use of violence, in a surprise attack, to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature. The perpetrators count on soft targets, catching victims unaware, unprotected and unprepared. The shock, the horror, the extreme violence causes us to be in fear for our safety – the very intent of the terrorist act.

While the terrorist commits the act, the instilling of the fear in the population is the part we bring to the table ourselves. After any attack, the broadcast media follows the “if it bleeds it leads” programming plan and covers the gore from every possible angle. Social media spreads uninformed opinions around the world like wildfire. With all of this it’s very easy to be overwhelmed with the violence and be overcome with fear.

So why don’t we approach this in a different manner?

For comparison, every time there is an earthquake around the world those of us in California take it as a warning and an opportunity to better prepare. We check our bug-out bag, our bug-in supplies and our emergency plans. It’s almost second nature. An earthquake somewhere else gives us a chance to make sure we are prepared. Think of a terrorist attack no differently and use this opportunity to learn and to prepare.

Post-attack we will do what needs to be done. We will care for those who are injured. We will mourn those who did not survive. We will seek justice for those who were responsible. But we must, and I mean MUST learn and prepare. Please note the “we” I am referring to is not the government, military or law enforcement, although they too must learn as well. I’m referring to ALL of us – the people who are actually in harms way, the ones who are the targets.

What did you think about after the attacks in Orlando or San Bernardino? You probably asked yourself – what would I have done if I was in that club or office building? If you did, that’s actually a good thing. It may sound morbid to try to learn from the death of innocent people, but ignoring it isn’t going to help keep you alive. You need to be prepared. Being prepared means having the tools and knowledge on what to do.

If you’re counting on someone else to protect you while you’re out in public, you are wrong. First responders are going to get there after the worst has already occurred. If you’re at a restaurant, theater, store or just walking down the street, you need to know how to take care of yourself. How are you going to respond to an active shooter? Do you have the means to fight or escape? Do you know how to take care of yourself if you are injured?

If you haven’t had training in self-defense, now is the time. If you haven’t had training in first-aid, now is the time. If you haven’t included training in situational awareness and not becoming a victim that you can use in your every day life, now is the time.

Remember, YOU and ONLY YOU are responsible for ensuring the safety of you and your family. When something happens, YOU will be the one to take care of EVERYTHING until help arrives.

Let me add one more component to this. What if while you were getting the knowledge and tools to prevent or stop attacks and deal with the aftermath of the attacks that do occur, others were doing the same? What if you were in a restaurant, theater or store with others who were able and willing to defend themselves?

Maybe it’s time the terrorists feared us.

Bob

#oddstuffing, #2ndamendment, #training, #nofear

Why Do You Train?

A whole lot of people are buying firearms right now, many of them for the first time. Nationwide, 2015 is on course to be a record year in the U.S. as estimated by background checks through the NICS system. California already exceeded its busiest firearms buying year. Much of this current rush has been brought about by criminal attacks around the country as well as local, state and federal governments all demanding new draconian gun control laws. Sadly, all of these new proposed laws would have done nothing to prevent the tragedies we’ve seen unfold, but instead are designed to punish the law abiding and make it harder for them to defend themselves.

While I am deeply saddened by why it is happening, what is occurring is encouraging. More and more people are taking charge of their own safely by purchasing firearms for self-defense. But having a firearm for protection doesn’t stop there. Buying the tool is only the first step. Training in the proper use, care and legal aspects of the firearm is the responsible thing to do.

I hesitate to say firearms training should be made compulsory, as a right guaranteed by the Second Amendment shouldn’t be conditional. Imagine if you had to take public speaking classes in order to exercise your First Amendment rights. It would also begin a slippery slope of progressively difficult hurdles to ownership. If a mandated four-hour firearms class is a good idea, then eight hours would probably be better, and 16 hours would be even better than that, and so on and so on. Very quickly you would price the ‘privilege’ of owning a firearm out of the hands of many in the community. That’s not much of a right. However I do feel getting training is the correct thing to do. Used properly, a firearm can save your life. Used improperly it can take it. It’s really that simple.

Owners who are new to firearms should be seeking out the training as part of the purchase. In an ideal world, your firearm’s manufacturer and local dealer would help facilitate or even include it with the purchase. Standard training would include the Four Basic Rules of Firearm Safety, basic usage and marksmanship, care of firearm and the law. These things apply to everyone, everywhere. Beyond this, training depends on your intended use.

Training is important. We train to acquire new skills, maintain or improve existing ones and to prepare us for the time when we need to use our skills in real life. There really is no shortcut; training takes time, commitment, resources and the proper mindset to develop the mental and physical proficiencies. Trained skills are also perishable. Just because you could do something years ago doesn’t mean you can do it at the same level today.

Finding a good instructor and training environment is critical. Specifically when it comes to self-defense training, you need an instructor who will provide a realistic, challenging and safe program. Here are a few things you should look for:

• Do the instructors have applicable and current certifications?
• Do the instructors have a relevant background and experience to teach this type of training?
• Do the instructors carry the proper insurance?
• Do the instructors continue to participate in student and instructor level training themselves?
• Can the instructors provide student references?
• Are the instructors willing to discuss their program and your needs with you?

Then there’s this little concept called ‘the fundamentals’. There’s a tendency for those who take advanced level classes to dismiss basic / fundamental level training as being below them. That couldn’t be further from the truth. All those higher-level skills are built on a solid foundation of the basics. You are never too high-speed to practice at that level.

Firearm ownership and use is a right, but it is your responsibility to use it properly. Good training and practice, practice, practice will help you achieve your goals.

For me, I train to protect myself. I train to protect my family. I train so that I can train others. Why do you train?

Bob

‪#oddstuffing #training‬, ‪#‎2A‬, ‪#‎rights‬, ‪#‎responsibility‬, ‪#‎safety‬