Thanks to our media and the prosecution of the innocent, conscientious gun owners often fear that their lawful, responsible behavior puts them at risk for being deemed a “gun nut”. When it comes to training, don’t ever let such fear stop you.
Even though I “grew up with guns” and shoot whenever I can, I also live what I teach. One of my first gun instructors served our country in combat, but told me he continues to train “whenever he can”. He was the first person to tell me that you can never train too much, and no matter how good you think you are, it is important to continue to train. What a lesson for all of us.
Many of my clients have sought my advice on how often to train with their firearm. These clients want to know how their lifestyle choices might affect the outcome of a criminal trial. Because of my criminal law background, I know how to effectively build the prosecution’s case and cross-examine a defendant on trial for using deadly force.
And I can tell you, if you own a firearm, you can NEVER have too much training. While some lifestyle choices can cause an increase in legal fees because your lawyer will have some explaining to do, too much training is not a lifestyle choice that will be a concern. In fact, you had better be deadly accurate with your firearm, because it is the lack of training and knowledge (using the wrong ammo, hitting an innocent person, etc.) that can be detrimental in a criminal trial.
Don’t fool yourself into thinking that because you completed a concealed carry class that you are anywhere near prepared to use your defensive firearm to kill another person. Effectively defending your life requires both firearms skill and mental preparation. If you don’t understand what I’m talking about, read my future blogs on self-defense, take a class on defensive use of a firearm, and read as much as you can on self-defense. A book called “On Killing” by Lt. Col. David Grossman will help you understand how hard it can be to pull the trigger, even when your life is in danger. You will also need to share your acquired information with your family – your spouse, your children, your loved ones – so they too will be prepared for any action you may take. Any family members interested in owning or using a firearm should take training themselves.
No matter how many hours of firearms training you have accumulated, taking the opportunity to learn more “whenever you can” is essential to saving and protecting your life.