Shall Not Be Questioned poses THE question.
…our opponents repeatedly suggest that civilians should not be allowed to carry firearms for self-defense, a key reason being that civilians don’t receive sufficient training compared to police. But then when we seek out the same kind of training as police, they disapprovingly exclaim, “Who needs ‘tactical firearm training’?” So which is it?
NOT TO MENTION most of the police shootings I’ve seen reports on show a sad lack of training, skill and accuracy. (e.g. three officers firing 52 rounds and not striking the assailant)
And my own personal experience some years ago in IPSC competition was the committed civilians consistently out-shot the police. In fact, most of the time, the officers would show up for a few sessions, then not return, as they were given baths had their clocks cleaned severely beaten in competition by the civilians, and their egos couldn’t handle it.
So, which is it?
h/t Sebastian
Guffaw in AZ 
There were three “cops” in the last tactical training I took. Two were active (no idea where or what departments) and one was retired, looking to do some sort of “security.” All three were reprimanded constantly for safety violations, and the retired guy was finally tossed out after he swept the entire class with his loaded gun.
It’s not so much training deficit as it is attitude deficit. They can take all the training in the world, but if they don’t internalize it as anything but an excuse to be aggressors, it’s not going to do them any good.
All “cop” training is about learning and using aggression. That’s their “job,” so the purely defensive training the rest of us go through is more or less meaningless to them. Their attitude, goals, purpose and training are simply different and incompatible. That’s why I discourage my students from taking any training that employs or emphasizes “cop” tactic or uses cop trainers.
So NO… we don’t need “COP” tactical training. We need solid defensive tactical training. It’s a whole different world.
And, on the other hand, it always astonishes me how many untrained individuals defend themselves successfully, often taking the gun AWAY from their attackers and using it on them!!! Training is good… but the will to fight and survive has to come first.
Posted by MamaLiberty | July 13, 2012, 7:58 amAs I’ve come to expect, ML, you are on the money! Thanks!
Posted by guffaw1952 | July 13, 2012, 8:00 amDepends on the person(s), I’ve shot for years with a VA State Trooper, a USSS Instructor, and two (now one) local Fed, and they are all OUTSTANDING both from the accuracy and speed, and from the safety aspects. The trooper regularly shoots his duty weapon, from duty belt, with full power loads and he cleans my clock almost EVERY time… dammit…
Posted by Old NFO | July 13, 2012, 1:20 pmGood to hear it’s not all peace officers!
Posted by guffaw1952 | July 13, 2012, 11:11 pmThe last injury.causing Negligent Discharge at USPSA match at Rio was caused by and inflicted upon (you guessed it) a law enforcement officer. Poor sap put one into his foot whilst speed re-holstering against the orders of the stage RO.
Posted by ExurbanKevin (@ExurbanKevin) | July 13, 2012, 1:27 pmAnd during my Personal Protection Outside The Home class a few years back, I had a Maricopa County SWAT on side of me on the line and a Federal Air Marshall on the other.
And lil’ ol’ me kept pace with them, shot for shot.
I can dig it.
Posted by ExurbanKevin (@ExurbanKevin) | July 13, 2012, 1:28 pmCool!
Posted by guffaw1952 | July 13, 2012, 11:12 pm