Via SayUncle, I find a post by Nancy about her decision to carry. Obviously, we’re big advocates of concealed carry, and at the same time we’re also huge advocates of getting proper training if you’re going to carry a gun. Nancy sums up her concerns pretty well with this sentence:
I don’t have much confidence in my ability to draw quickly, but if I wait until I’m flawless, I’ll never have my gun with me.
I think that’s a thought process that a lot of first time carry permit holders should engage in, but far too few actually do. I’ve made the observation countless times of people who’ve received their carry permit and now think that they know everything they’ll need to know about shooting. For these people, their gun will never be much more than a magical talisman to ward off evil.
Nancy’s thought process on the other hand is exactly what we hope to see from new permit holders – she acknowledges her skill level is low, but is determined to practice and raise that skill on her own time frame while still carrying her gun. I cannot speak highly enough of that decision, because it shows self-awareness of skill and the determination to not be a victim.
I don’t believe that there should be an arbitrary skill level a person should meet before they are allowed to carry, since it is a Constitutional right. I do however believe that the responsible thing to do is once you get your carry permit is to understand your own skill and seek out training and practice opportunities beyond “standing on the range shooting.” There are great, reputable instructors all across this country, and even taking 1 or 2 classes can have a huge affect on a shooter’s skill. Nancy is on the right path, and I hope that her path leads her to a class or two.
Bravo for recognizing this. It’s amazing how many people (especially on the internet) are elite operators in their own minds, or simply think firearms are a natural skill, stuck in the first stage of the four stages of competence. In one course, our instructor talked about an individual he knew who hadn’t trained, and ended up in a situation where he could have prevented a multiple shooting, but lacked the skill (and confidence) to make the shot.
Caleb,
Thank you for kind words and the encouragement. If it makes you feel any better, my best buddy is a retired LEO and firearms instructor, so I’m not completely without help. *grin*
It will take a while, but I’ll get there.
The point though is that you found the road to begin with. Way too many people think that the journey consists of “buy gun, get permit, be awesome”. You should rightfully be proud of having the self-awareness to recognize that the path is the point. There’s never such a thing as too fast or too accurate, there’s simply “faster and more accurate.” Good luck!
I read the original post, and I applaud her mindset. More people should think like she does.