Tactical Self-Defense Using Personal Weapons Part Two

Way back in July of this year, I wrote about the proper mindset in carrying and actually using a self-defense weapon, such as a gun. This month, I had a chance to evaluate the way regular proficiency firing is generally conducted. While there are improvements, program designers have not yet totally veered away from making a distinction between sports-shooting and real-world tactical self-defense use of handguns.

While it would really help a shooter zero-in on his target at 25 meters, program designers must conscientiously point out that practicing to shoot at that distance may engender a bad mindset. Which is that in a perceived threat scenario you can fire away long range. I've always lobbied for real-world training. Public endangerment should therefore be considered. The farther away you are from your target the possibility of hitting innocent bystanders increases. This is a self-defense scenario not a combat zone simulation. You will be simulating everyday situation where you might be walking on a street or riding a public utility vehicle. Therefore, you won't be sniping at your perceived enemy.

The better design for a self-defense course involving handguns, for example, would be to be geared up in your office clothes, with your regular bags and accessories. It is important that you have a regular and few bags and receptacles to use. Drawing your self-defense weapon from such repositories must be practiced. The less count you can do it, the better. Familiarity with your weapon is a must, which includes the condition it is in when you carry it with you. For safety and to avoid legal hassles we have always encouraged a "condition 2" for everyday home-to-office-to-home scenario, i.e., no chamber load but with magazine in if it is a pistol and one empty round prior to an armed slot (depending on the rotation) if it is a revolver. (Provided of course, that your gun has the proper license and legal documentation and that you are legally allowed to carry it outside your residence)

One must be able to draw his weapon from awkward positions and to be safety conscious at all times. And again, proper mindset and discernment must be involved. Adrenalin rush can and will paralyze you from responding if your emotional training is inadequate. You can go into shock at the sight of violence and threat. Therefore a training module must incorporate this psychological component.

Remember, Rambo is a fictitious movie character.