It’s a double-edged sword…
If you’re ever forced to defend yourself with your firearm, a jury is going to take a hard, long look at how much training you’ve received and how often you practice.
The less training you do… the more it looks to a jury like you “just don’t care enough” about your legal responsibilities when taking a life…
But strangely, the more training you do… the higher the standard you may be held to for your actions!
In other words, you’ll be expected to have “known better” because you were “more trained”.
But wait, it gets worse…
Juries may now examine the TYPE of training you’re doing – and here’s the thing… your local gun range may be part of the problem, because…
Here Are 10 Gun Training Skills You Should Master… But CAN’T Get At The Range!
I know it doesn’t sound justifiable, but a recent court decision may suggest that without this training, you may even be held legally liable for the injury or death of someone in your line of fire (the criminal himself? a bystander? the neighbor who was sleeping in her bed across the street? a responding police officer?)
In Canton v. Ohio, the Supreme Court ruled against the city involved after a citizen was injured — because the responding officers hadn’t been trained properly for the situation they faced.
That’s right…
Police Are Now Being Held Legally Liable For How REALISTIC Their Firearms Training Is!
Now, I’m NOT saying that adding more “reality-based gunfight training” is a bad thing.
However, police everywhere will be even more pressured to “do more… do better… with less funding”… and STILL come under legal scrutiny because their training doesn’t simulate the actual challenges they will deal with on the job.
But this doesn’t just affect cops… this also affects YOU – the armed citizen…
You see, even “experts” who can shoot a 1” shot group at the range are completely clueless on what to train for in order to defend against a criminal ambush on the street, or even a home invasion.
And a prosecuting attorney could argue that if you had done more than just go down to the local range and practice target shooting at static, “square range” targets, the criminal “victim” may not have been shot like some paper silhouette.
Does that mean that if you shoot a bad guy who is trying to rob you… rape your wife… invade your home… or is just hell bent on murder… he could SUE YOU for being inadequately trained?
I’d like to say, “No”… but stranger things have happened, and as we always say…
“Owning a gun is NOT enough!”…
You have to back it up with tactics… and realistic training for such gun-fighting skills as…
- Shooting “On The Move”: Real-world gunfights are dynamic… you will have to move around, seek cover and avoid your attacker.
- Shooting Moving Targets: The bad guy isn’t going to be standing still either… and shooting a moving target is nothing like shooting stationary paper targets.
- Using “Fatal Funnels”: “Fatal funnels” are narrow, confined areas like hallways that make engaging attackers much easier.
- Shooting In Low Light: According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, 61 percent of home invasions take place at night… and if you can’t see your target, you can’t safely shoot at it.
- Quick “Shoot, Don’t Shoot” Decision Making: During a real-life gunfight you will be forced to make very quick decisions about whether or not to shoot.
- Multiple Attackers: Don’t assume that it’s going to be you and one attacker exchanging fire… you could be fighting against two or three armed attackers… or more!
- Detaining The Bad Guy After The Fight: Once the fight is over you need to know how to detain your attacker for the police… and doing this the wrong way can land you in legal hot water.
- Armed Retreat To A Safe Room: If you have a safe room in your house, don’t assume that you’ll be able to get there without a fight.
- Fighting To Your Weapon: Similarly, just because you have a gun on you doesn’t mean you’ll be able to immediately access it, for example if you are ambushed and have an attacker on top of you, you might have to fight to your gun.
- Simulated “Stress Shooting”: Real-life gunfights are stressful to say the least… so introducing stressors into your training is absolutely essential if you want to have any kind of chance to win and survive.
These are obviously NOT the typical type of skills you’re going to be able to practice at your traditional one-lane shooting range.
But are you seeking out this training from a local private range or searching for a national course that can provide you with these life-saving skills?
It may sound expensive, but face it… if you were to lose someone you love at the hands of some filthy meth-head who invaded your home, no amount of money in the world will bring them back.
Doesn’t it make sense to locate ways to master these tactics now while they can serve as your protection?
Your family’s lives could depend on it.
The Most Realistic “Gun-Fighting Range” Is Closer Than You Think…
What I’ve found is that you can actually train these skills much more effectively using at-home, “reality-based” gun training drills…
By incorporating specific dry-fire drills at home, you’ll get much better training cause… well, first of all… it’s YOUR home, right?
As long as the gun isn’t loaded you can do basically anything you want there.
Setting up your own “tactical range” for dry-fire in your home, you can now do any ONE of the 10 drills listed above that most local ranges would NEVER let you do.
Plus, you don’t have to pay all those high-priced range fees and high-ticket ammo prices (let alone travel to some remote location for a course).
But most importantly is the fact that these drills WILL make you a far better protector of those you love – even more so than those guys who are spending all their time down at the live-fire range.
This isn’t “target practice”… this is as close to the real thing as it comes… and it’s all done in your own home!
Skyrocketing numbers of first-time gun owners and a increase in the number of “Constitutional Carry” States represents a great start on taking back the streets from lawless criminals. The Spiderman comics quote “With great power comes great responsibility” should remind everyone that basic firearm handling skills (loading, making safe, unloading, clearing malfunctions, muzzle discipline, keeping finger out of the guard and away from the trigger until ready to fire) are perishable skills that are absolutely necessary to master and maintain before moving on to even beginning level shooting and “tactical” skills. Learning to safely, effectively, and efficiently draw and present a firearm on target is foundational, but how often is it practiced at home? Mike Ox’s book is undoubtedly masterclass quality, and the offer on related pages is an INCREDIBLE value. That said, I plead with everyone to take advantage of this offer AND reach out for qualified firearms safety and use instruction on a crawl, walk, run, basis. Nobody came into this life as a firearms master. I also must mention the need for full understanding of the legalities associated with the Law of Self Defense (don’t depend on what you read from so many fantasy warriors on the internet). While you must first win the physical battle, you must also be prepared to avoid spending the rest of your life in prison, and going bankrupt in the whole process. Train as if your life and the lives of your loved ones depends on it – because it really does!
In a “Real Fight for your life” some Fundamentals are critical.
One being your “Draw Stroke”.
So:
W/Empty Gun – Sit on your couch, draw, from holster, 100 times – to a point on the wall.
Repeat that process 10 times – minimum.
Until it becomes “Automatic”.
From a Gun Fighter.
Shooting on the run (moving) with one hand, both eyes open. Fun :o)
Don’t forget to add in some rolling around on the ground, to those practices…..and getting up quickly…make sure you do this Dry Firing….
you do not want anyone to get hurt by accident….If you are alone and
have the room, live ammo is OK,
You can practice with a Springfield BB gun.
I CC a SIG P365. They make and I bought their P365 BB gun for my dry fire practice.
One thing I do do at the range, at the close of my target shooting, is close my eyes move the target closer of farther to me with the toggle and then hold the weapon on the counter and imagine the person screaming and yelling at me the most incredible insane threats and running straight at me swearing and telling me they are going to kill me and skin me alive, etc. Then I open my eyes and take a bead on the target as I draw from the counter (cant use holster) and as fast as I can put 2 in the chest and one in the head. Prevents you from letting anything that is said or being done from freezing you. The extreme language and cursing as well as someone running at you full speed will both freeze you. Best target for this is a full size upper body with a ski mask on and gun in hand. Generic enough for most ranges to allow it.