Gonzo's Second Amendment Blog: firearms safety

Showing posts with label firearms safety. Show all posts

Maximizing Proficiency: The Crucial Role of Airsoft Guns in Self-Defense Training

In the realm of self-defense, the importance of continuous training cannot be overstated. The ability to use a firearm effectively in self-defense is undeniably a perishable skill, one that demands regular practice to maintain and enhance proficiency. However, the high costs associated with ammunition and range time can often deter enthusiasts and individuals seeking to hone their skills for self-defense purposes.

Discover the world of airsoft guns, a revolutionary alternative offering an affordable and easily accessible way to simulate shooting maneuvers and actions. This article delves into their significance in self-defense training, shedding light on their pivotal role in skill enhancement, enabling home-based practice, and fostering overall proficiency. These innovative tools not only serve as recreations of real-life scenarios but also play a crucial role in honing precision, reflexes, and strategic thinking. Uncover the benefits of integrating airsoft and paintball into your training regimen, revolutionizing your approach to self-defense with these dynamic and practical alternatives.

In the dynamic landscape of self-defense, replicating real-world scenarios is paramount, and airsoft guns provide a practical means to achieve this. Their capacity to mimic the weight, handling, and recoil of actual firearms allows practitioners to hone their skills without the associated risks. Moreover, the interactive nature of airsoft engagements promotes strategic thinking, reflex development, and precision.

Shared From Sportsman's Warehouse YouTube Channel

Home-based practice takes center stage, breaking down barriers to training frequency. With these alternatives, enthusiasts can refine their techniques in the comfort of their surroundings, adapting to various scenarios and refining their response times. This adaptability extends beyond professionals to individuals seeking personal safety skills, broadening the accessibility of effective self-defense training.

In essence, airsoft guns and paintball guns transcend mere recreational tools, evolving into indispensable assets for those committed to enhancing their self-defense capabilities. As we unravel their multifaceted benefits, it becomes evident that these innovative alternatives are reshaping the landscape of skill development and proficiency in the realm of self-defense.

Caution: Prioritize safety when using airsoft guns for shooting practice. Always wear protective gear, use in designated areas, and treat them as real firearms to prevent accidents.

1. Cost-Effective Skill Enhancement

Ammunition costs can quickly add up, making frequent trips to the shooting range a financial burden for many enthusiasts. Air guns offer an economical solution, allowing individuals to engage in regular practice, for as little as a few cents per round, without burning a hole in their wallets.

The affordability of airsoft guns and airsoft ammunition makes it possible for enthusiasts to dedicate more time to refining their shooting techniques. The guns themselves can be obtained for less than $200 for a Glock 19 from Umarex. Even when adding up the costs of CO2 cartridges and airsoft ammunition combined, the cost is still only pennies per round. This financial advantage enables consistent training, ensuring that self-defense skills remain sharp and effective over time.

2. Accessibility: Practice Anytime, Anywhere

One of the primary advantages of incorporating airsoft guns into your training regimen is the ability to practice in the comfort of your own home. Unlike traditional firearms, these alternatives generate minimal noise and do not require live ammunition, making them suitable for home-based training.

This accessibility is particularly beneficial for individuals with busy schedules, as it eliminates the need to travel to a shooting range. Whether you have a spacious backyard or a dedicated indoor area, practicing with airsoft guns allows you to integrate self-defense training seamlessly into your daily routine.

3. Replicating Realistic Shooting Scenarios

While airsoft guns may not precisely replicate the recoil and noise of live firearms, they excel at simulating realistic shooting scenarios. The weight, feel, and handling of these alternatives closely resemble actual firearms, providing users with a valuable opportunity to practice drawing, aiming, and firing in a controlled environment.

By incorporating these realistic elements into your training, you enhance muscle memory and develop a fluidity in your movements. This is particularly relevant in high-stress situations where quick and accurate responses are critical for self-defense.

4. Tactical Decision-Making Skills

Self-defense extends beyond marksmanship skills; it requires sound tactical decision-making. Airsoft guns provide a platform for scenario-based training, allowing individuals to simulate various threat scenarios and practice making split-second decisions.

Creating scenarios that mimic real-life threats enhances situational awareness and decision-making skills. Whether you're facing multiple targets, navigating obstacles, or dealing with low-light conditions, these training tools empower you to develop a strategic mindset that is invaluable in self-defense situations.

5. Safe Training Environments

Safety is paramount in any form of firearms training. Airsoft guns offer a safer alternative, especially when training at home. Since these tools use non-lethal projectiles, the risk of accidental injury is significantly reduced.

This safety aspect is particularly advantageous for individuals new to firearms or those training in family environments. It allows for a gradual introduction to firearms handling without the anxiety associated with live ammunition, fostering a sense of confidence and competence in users.

Caution: Prioritize safety when using airsoft guns for shooting practice. Always wear protective gear, use in designated areas, and treat them as real firearms to prevent accidents.

6. Skill Transfer to Live Firearms

While air guns may not completely replicate the experience of firing live ammunition, the skills developed through their use can readily transfer to actual firearms. The muscle memory, hand-eye coordination, and overall familiarity with the mechanics of shooting translate seamlessly when transitioning to live firearms.

This bridge between training tools ensures a smoother adaptation to live-fire situations, reducing the learning curve and increasing the effectiveness of self-defense skills. As a result, enthusiasts find themselves better prepared to handle real-life threats confidently and competently.

7. Community and Team-Building Opportunities

Beyond individual training, airsoft also offers community and team-building opportunities. Participating in airsoft matches fosters camaraderie among enthusiasts, providing a dynamic and interactive platform to test and improve self-defense skills.

Team-based scenarios create an environment where individuals must communicate, strategize, and execute plans effectively. These experiences not only enhance self-defense skills but also contribute to a broader understanding of tactical teamwork, a valuable asset in various real-world situations.

Conclusion: Empowering Proficiency Through Innovation

In conclusion, the role and efficacy of airsoft guns in self-defense training cannot be overstated. These innovative alternatives offer a cost-effective, accessible, and safe means to hone skills critical for personal safety. By incorporating realistic scenarios and decision-making challenges, enthusiasts and individuals aspiring to use firearms for self-defense can maximize their proficiency without the constraints of traditional training methods.

Shared From the Combat Ready YouTube Channel

As technology advances and new training tools emerge, the synergy between innovation and self-defense becomes increasingly evident. Embracing the alternatives offered by airsoft guns not only addresses the financial barriers associated with traditional firearms training but also empowers individuals to cultivate and maintain the skills necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones effectively. Through consistent, realistic, and engaging practice, the journey toward self-defense proficiency becomes an attainable and enriching endeavor for all enthusiasts.

Maximizing Proficiency: The Crucial Role of Airsoft Guns in Self-Defense Training

Shared From Sportsman's Warehouse YouTube Channel

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Caution: Prioritize safety when using airsoft guns for shooting practice. Always wear protective gear, use in designated areas, and treat them as real firearms to prevent accidents.

1. Cost-Effective Skill Enhancement

2. Accessibility: Practice Anytime, Anywhere

3. Replicating Realistic Shooting Scenarios

4. Tactical Decision-Making Skills

5. Safe Training Environments

Caution: Prioritize safety when using airsoft guns for shooting practice. Always wear protective gear, use in designated areas, and treat them as real firearms to prevent accidents.

6. Skill Transfer to Live Firearms

7. Community and Team-Building Opportunities

Visit my Amazon Affiliate Link!

Conclusion: Empowering Proficiency Through Innovation

As technology advances and new training tools emerge, the synergy between innovation and self-defense becomes increasingly evident. Embracing these alternatives not only addresses the financial barriers associated with traditional firearms training but also empowers individuals to cultivate and maintain the skills necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones effectively. Through consistent, realistic, and engaging practice, the journey toward self-defense proficiency becomes an attainable and enriching endeavor for all enthusiasts.

Firearms Warning Labels

First and foremost, today is Veterans Day, and I want to take this opportunity to personally thank all of my fellow veterans, our law enforcement, and our first responders for your service. You are the reason that we are all safe and free!

It's been a while since Alex Kincaid has posted a video, so I wanted to share this one with you. For those of you that don't know, Alex is an attorney who practices, among other things, protecting Second Amendment issues and gun rights. Please check out her channel sometime. She has a lot of excellent Second Amendment information in her videos and explains the legal aspects of gun ownership, especially legislative issues very well.

In this video, Alex explains laws that several states have put in place to provide "warnings" about the dangers of firearms. Firearms are deadly. No kidding? Sometimes a deadly weapon is the only thing that stands between an innocent victim and a deadly attacker. As she mentions in the video, the purpose of all this is not to enhance firearms safety, but to instead spread misinformation. Incorrect or even outright dishonest information about firearms is often used to promote fear in the minds of gun buyers and even gun sellers to try to deter people from even legally purchasing firearms. By treating everyone as idiots instead of educating them about firearms, we are not only denying their ability to learn and make good decisions but also needlessly instilling in them fear about a tool that should be respected and handled properly. A tool that all by itself does not hurt or kill people, but in the proper hands could be a tool that saves a life someday.

As Alex reads the statistics used by the anti-gun legislators who put these laws into place, please be sure to also read the actual statistics that are shown. I have heard several anti-gun legislators and anti-gun groups try to use statistics from the Violence Policy Center, for example, who are notorious for spinning the numbers to suit their agenda. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of laws like the ones discussed in this video are simply ineffective, as illustrated by the actual statistics from the FBI and others, but at least allow the lawmakers to say that they're "doing something."

This Writer's Opinion: Gun control comes in many shapes and forms from banning certain types of firearms to making firearms ownership so expensive that the average citizen can't afford it, to inciting fear in the public and making them hate firearms. Spreading fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) is yet another gun control tactic, and appears to be a great way to make people hate inanimate objects and even hate the law-abiding people who legally practice a Constitutional right. One of my professors in my Master's Degree program used to say that "Figures don't lie, but liars sure do figure." When I see a lot of these anti-gun groups try to use statistics, especially statistics that aren't even true, I get very concerned.

The key to preventing tragedies such as those involving so-called "accidental" (they are negligent, not accidental) shootings is through education and awareness. Teach your kids about firearms. For that matter, invite your anti-gun neighbors to the range and introduce them to the extremely high level of safety practices that we use around firearms. Open their eyes with education, not with fear.

And in Other News...

Suppressors and Hearing Protection:

In this article (click on the image below) from the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), they cite that the National Hearing Conservation Association has published a paper recognizing the importance of suppressors in hearing protection. As a person who suffers from a world-class case of tinnitus from years of working on jet aircraft and participating in shooting sports, I can tell you that anything that will help prevent or even lessen tinnitus is extremely valuable in efforts to enhance the quality of life, especially in later years. Hearing loss and tinnitus issues for gun owners can be prevented by simply allowing law-abiding citizens to use the normal firearms purchasing processes access to an accessory that can be a big part of hearing conservation programs for hunters and in fact all gun owners. I personally also see this as a very valuable tool in the home defense firearm arena.

To be honest, I have no idea how a firearms accessory such as suppressors even made it as an object that people felt needed to be so strictly regulated through the NFA. Well, yes I do: people have been watching too many James Bond movies. They somehow got the idea that if suppressors were available using the same background check system used to purchase firearms, that we would all run around like a bunch of little James Bond assassins. The thought is that suppressors somehow hinder law enforcement's ability to see muzzle flash and hear gunshots, and will hinder the ability of urban shot detection devices to work properly.

Look, if I'm in my home and a violent intruder crashes through the door and I have no choice but to use deadly force to stop the attack, wouldn't it be reasonable to think that a device that would help prevent my family and me from having our eardrums blown out would be of enormous value? The police are going to be called anyway, and they will be able to investigate. Having a suppressor on a home defense weapon is not going to hinder their ability to do that. Nor is having a suppressor on a hunting rifle going to hinder anything. As for the actual assassins (gang members) running around killing people - hindering law-abiding citizens is not going to help that situation. Those people don't acquire their firearms through normal lawful channels.

Read Full Article Here

Training

Proper Pistol Grip:

In last week's news update, I posted a training video about how to use trigger finger isolation techniques to find the good trigger finger positioning for YOU in order to improve marksmanship. I have seen many instructors who insist that everyone should be using the same trigger finger placement, which in my opinion is simply not true. Everyone has different hands.

This video from former Navy SEAL Chris Sajnog also discusses trigger finger placement but wraps it into the whole technique of properly gripping the pistol. He emphasizes concentrating on proper grip and then letting the trigger finger find its proper position.

This grip and trigger finger placement practice can be easily and effectively done using the LASR App software. Practice proper grip, but also practice with different trigger finger placements as well so that you can see how your grip and the various trigger finger placements affect the actual point of impact on the target. Then when you think you have found your proper grip and trigger finger placement, go to the range and practice under live fire to confirm and build up good muscle memory.

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For more information about the LASR App Training System that you can use to set up this type of practice in a dry fire environment, see my LASR App page and receive a discount when using my discount code.

To receive a 10% discount on Live Fire Drill Cards, a shooter's training log and some great training ideas visit Burnett LFDC!

The Gonz

“The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself, and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.” Alexander Hamilton, "The Farmer Refuted", February 5, 1775

Back to The Fundamentals

When I see a student struggling with defensive pistol handling and marksmanship techniques, it is most often due to not practicing the fundamentals of basic pistol handling. Either they don't know the fundamentals, or they are rushing through each of the phases of proper pistol handling to hastily get the gun up and on the target. But this rushed and "unpurposeful" attempt at pistol presentation is leading to wasted movements and poor marksmanship. Too many times, the student does not have the pistol presented in a good defensive posture, and then the shots tend to be scattered and not as effective as they could be.

The Pat McNamara video below is one of the best that I have found to illustrate the basics of pistol handling. He breaks down the fundamentals of pistol handling into its most basic components. Each of the pistol handling "phases" can be broken down into specific components, each of which is deliberate, has a proper form, and each of which has a very specific tactical purpose. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast, and fast is deadly. Hasty and hurried, especially in a gun-fight, will get you killed.

When watching this short video, all of the phases and techniques he describes are important, but specifically, I would like to draw attention to his comments on trigger finger placement. Trigger finger placement has a HUGE influence on proper marksmanship. I have tried this technique myself. It works. I too was a product of training where the pad of the finger (splitting the distal phalange, as Pat calls it) is the proper placement. But after watching Pat's videos, talking to other competitive shooters, and actually practicing it myself, I have found that actually syncing the finger all the way in, usually until the finger joint is on the trigger, provides a great deal of advantage when it comes to making sure that there is no undue influence on the trigger that would cause shots to be off.

Pistol grip, trigger finger placement, pistol presentation, and firing the shot are all indeed a matter of physics and proper tool usage. Using physics and mechanical principles over wasted and forced movements will win for you every time.

So what can you do? Practice, practice, practice! And not all practice has to be done at the range. Dry-fire practice is an excellent way to practice those movements, such as drawing from a holster, pistol presentation, trigger finger placement, and a smooth steady trigger squeeze. Remember, slow is smooth, smooth is fast, and fast is deadly. Performing that slow repetition, over and over again, will help you with what is referred to as "deep training" to help build muscle memory. Then you can go to the range and put that deep training and practice into play, and then concentrate on marksmanship.

For more on "Deep Training" techniques, by the way, read Tim Larkin's book, "When Violence is the Answer." I have found the methods and techniques discussed in this book to be an anexceptional resource for all types of training, whether it is hand to hand, non-lethal tools employment, or basic firearms handling.

I will be posting some videos soon that will show how I have set up my own dry fire practice area, and how I get the most out of my practice time using slow and deliberate techniques to build up to that smooth and quick defensive pistol delivery. So stay tuned!

To purchase the LASR App that I use in my own dry-fire practice, plus a lot of good dry fire training gear, visit Shooter Technology Group and use my discount code GONZO58.

To Receive a 10% discount on Live Fire Drill Cards, a shooter's training log and some great training ideas visit Burnett LFDC!

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and recommended products.

The Gonz

A Closer Look at Gun Security

The local and national news programs seem to feature stories about shooting accidents (negligence) on a weekly basis. So often the lack of gun security is the reason these disasters occur. Gun security is not rocket science, it is common sense, yet many homes that have firearms do not follow basic steps to ensure proper safety. This lack of responsibility leads many people to call for national gun controls. We have (too many) gun control laws and policies. We just need people to practice proper gun security without it having to be legislated.

Gun security can be as complicated or as simple as you want to make it. The gun security system that works best for you will depend on what type of firearms you own and the purpose of owning it.

For people that own firearms for hunting, gun security usually involves a gun safe. This is often due to the high cost of these firearms. The gun safes protect the firearms from moisture and theft as well as keeping them out of the reach of curious children.

A safe adds greatly to gun security because they are extremely heavy so they are difficult to walk off with, and the locking system stops casual theft. Some gun safes even have a separate area to lock and store ammunition, separate from the firearms. This is one of the key elements in gun security, having ammunition and firearms located in different secured containers.

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Many gun collectors like to display their collections in glass cases. These cases often come with locks however they are not the best method when it comes to gun security because the cases can be easily broken into. Also, these cases are usually lightweight enough that thieves could carry them away.

Handguns present yet another issue. Most of us, especially concealed carry practitioners, keep at least one handgun loaded for home security. We need to keep these handguns secure, yet quickly accessible. So in those instances, we typically keep them in a biometric handgun safe, or one that uses a short combination of button presses to keep them readily accessible when we're not carrying them.

When considering gun security for your home there are a number of factors to consider. You want to make sure that your firearm is not used against you in the case of a robbery. The easiest way to avoid this is to make sure that none of your firearms are left loaded, and that both the firearm and ammunition are locked in separate areas of your home. The exception, of course, being the ready firearm mentioned above. But the handgun safe containing that firearm should be well hidden and will not be obvious to the home invader. You also want to make sure that children that are living in your home or visiting your home do not have access to firearms.

Children are naturally curious, especially about weapons. Often times the shooting accidents (negligence) involve children that are playing with a loaded firearm. Children are going to push, pull and press on all areas of a gun, so they can easily take it off the safety, without knowing what they are doing. Also when playing with a gun, children naturally point and pull a trigger, which leads to disaster if the firearm is loaded. It is important to talk to your children about gun security and to also have them attend gun safety education courses.

The right to bear arms is one of the basic rights of Americans. As with all of our rights, this comes with the need for responsibility. Gun security is using common sense (our version of common sense, not that of the politicians or gun control groups) to ensure the safety of everyone living in and visiting the home that has firearms. Very simple steps can ensure gun safety in your home.

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The Gonz

How To Teach New Shooters

Getting new shooters interested in and comfortable with firearms doesn't need to be too difficult. Some folks have grown up around guns but had never really spent a lot of time with them as an adult. And yet others have never shot firearms at all and maybe grew up in families that did not like firearms. But regardless of experience levels, it is great to get new shooters out to go shooting and get them comfortable around firearms. Many new shooters do extremely well because they have not built up a lot of the bad habits that we old-timers have. They just need some training in the fundamentals and safety, and then some hands-on coaching as to how to improve grip, trigger control, aim, and presentation. I have found that many brand new shooters are like sponges - they are extremely open to and absorb what I am teaching them very quickly.

Today, many of my former students who I stay in touch with are crack shots and can handle a firearm with the best of them. But I know that some people who, even though they just aren't comfortable around firearms, tend to warm up to them and actually enjoy the shooting sports if taught properly. So here are some of the things I have learned along the way, not only teaching my wife and daughters to shoot but in teaching some of my brand new students as well:

Do not pressure the new shooter. This is not military boot camp; you will find that high-pressure tactics are counterproductive. Trying to pressure newcomers to do something they do not want to do or are not familiar with will only ensure that they will never accept it.

Have the appropriate safety gear. Having eye and ear protection ready and explaining their use will help allay any fears. Also, before the firearms are introduced, go over the four basic firearm safety rules:

Every gun is loaded, even if it is disassembled.
Never point your gun at anything you do not intend to destroy.
Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire.
Be aware of your target, what is behind it, and is between you and the target.

Start with a simple, small caliber firearm. Explain and show the basic operating principles of the firearm you use. For teaching long guns, I like either a .22 semi-auto like a Ruger 10/22, or a single shot break action .410. If I am teaching pistol use I prefer to start with a .22 or a .38 revolver. Make sure that if you start with a magazine fed firearm, you still have them try out a revolver to see what they are most comfortable with, and so that you can explain the differences between the two types of firearms.

Do not use humanoid targets until you start to get into defensive shooting. If it's an outdoor range and we are using long guns, clay pidgeons also work well. They break in a satisfying way and are biodegradable. I like to use simple bullseye targets for rifle shooting also. For pistols, a regular target turned around with a paper plate stapled to the center gives a large non-threatening target.

Last but not least, go slow. Answer any questions simply without going into a long technological lecture. The point of the first few sessions is to allay fears and allow your newbie to become accustomed to shooting.

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You will find, as I have, that if you make new shooters feel secure, allow them to go at their own pace and do not pressure them, people new to the shooting sports will rapidly begin to enjoy this activity. My wife and daughters took to shooting like naturals, and now they get better range scores than I do.

Support the NRA and Protect Our 2nd Amendment Rights!

NRA Membership is Affordable!

A one-year regular membership is just $30.00 per year, with savings for multiple years or life memberships.

A full membership also includes your choice of magazine subscriptions to the most informative firearms publications available today.

Additional insurance and other great benefits.

Support the NRA through your membership. JOIN THE NRA TODAY.

You can save on a regular annual membership by joining for multiple years. A one-year membership just $30.00. JOIN TODAY.

The Gonz

Kids and Guns

As a firearm instructor, you might not believe how many times I hear from someone that they would like to own a gun, but their spouse will not allow it because they have kids in the house. On a grand scale, I understand and agree with the reasoning behind this feeling. It's a parent's job to keep their children safe, and no one wants to bring something into the home that is dangerous to their child.

However, while I agree with wanting to keep children safe from harm, I must disagree with the blanket thought that guns in the home are by themselves inherently dangerous. With proper education, storage, and supervision, firearms are no more dangerous than any other tool. I am not in the habit of making broad demands on how others should act. Generally, I teach options and tell the reasons for using each of those options. I can tell you how I deal with this issue of guns in my home with my child and hopefully give perspective to other parents who question guns in the home.

When I was growing up, there were guns in my home. My dad was a firearms enthusiast, and as such always had rifles and at least one handgun in the home. My father subscribed to the old school policy on kids and guns. Dad said, Boy, I've got a gun in that closet, and if I ever catch you playing with it, you'll wish you hadn't. Well, being the bright child I was, I figured that meant as long as I applied my gun handling skills I learned on TV to keep me from accidentally firing the gun, and I put it back EXACTLY as I found it, I could pose in the mirror in my gunfighter stance whenever I was alone in the house. Luckily I never fired the pistol into the mirror or myself. As I got older, dad did take me out shooting once or twice. We even went hunting once, but they never let me have my own gun so I always had that curiosity.

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I imagine that even if there were no guns in my home and if my parents forbid me to even mention guns, I would find someone to let me see one (It happened just like that with a motorcycle, but since mom still doesn't know about that, we won't get into details). The above two examples are the first two of the three most common attitudes parents that I have spoken with have toward children and guns. I subscribe to the third.

In my house, we have a smart and independent little granddaughter who visits us several times a week. She thinks for herself and is not afraid to abandon what she has been told if she thinks she knows better. Plus, our son and daughter-in-law are gun owners as well. What I have to do first is keep her from being able to access the firearms if she chooses to disregard my gun rules, This is not foolproof. Kids have an uncanny ability to find what they are looking for. I am sure at some point in her life she will find the gun safe keys.

For the second step, we have taught her the NRA's Eddie Eagle gun safety rules. This strategy was to teach the child what to do if they find a gun. The rules are simple and effective. Eddie Eagle says if the child sees a gun they should: stop, don't touch, leave the area, and tell an adult. These rules are particularly important, as over 50% of American households have firearms. If she is visiting a friend's house, we do not want her to try to tell another child not to play with a gun, as that might cause that child to point the gun at our child in order to tease her. We want her safely away from an unsecured gun, not to act like she is in charge of it.

The last thing we do is take away her curiosity. My wife and I took her to the range, and she watched her nana shoot a pistol. I sat with our grandchild and explained to her about guns and answered all her questions. This did not work too well because even with hearing protection, my granddaughter thought the handguns were too loud. She did not want to be around them. We then got her a BB rifle. We let her shoot it when she asks to, but she doesn't really like it very much. Furthermore, we don't force her, but she knows if she wants to shoot, she can as long as she asks her nana, her parents, or I take her.

This works well for us. We keep the guns in a locked safe and the ammo locked in a separate room. We taught our children and grandchildren firearm safety rules, particularly what to do if they encounter a gun outside the home. Lastly, we took away her curiosity by exposing her to firearms and what they can do and allowing her the privilege to own her very own BB rifle that she can use when supervised. As she gets older, we plan on increasing her exposure to firearms, but at this point, we think she is only ready for the basics.

As the parent, you are the best judge of what your child is ready for. This is only a guideline for when your child asks about guns for the first time. For us, it was when my wife told me to look out the window, and our little granddaughter was in the backyard with a red rubber training pistol in one hand, a rubber training knife in the other, and yelling Pay attention! I am trying to give you a class! to the family dog. My wife told me I created a monster. It was pretty cute though and served to reinforce in my mind the responsibilities I have for being a positive role model. If I am unsafe in my attitude toward guns, I can be sure my kid will take notice.

Support the NRA and Protect Our 2nd Amendment Rights!

NRA Membership is Affordable!

A one-year regular membership is just $30.00 per year, with savings for multiple years or life memberships.

A full membership also includes your choice of magazine subscriptions to the most informative firearms publications available today.

Additional insurance and other great benefits.

Support the NRA through your membership. JOIN THE NRA TODAY.

You can save on a regular annual membership by joining for multiple years. A one-year membership just $30.00. JOIN TODAY.

Armor Concepts

The Gonz

Acceptable Accuracy - Next Level Training

Bullseye discipline shooting and defensive shooting are very different with regards to the dynamics involved (obviously), but also in what is referred to as acceptable accuracy. As Mike mentions in the video, putting holes in a small group on paper targets for a score is a lot different than putting effective rounds into a bad guy to stop a threat. This video provides a pretty good discussion of the difference between bullseye accuracy and defensive (combat) accuracy. The idea is to stop the threat. More hits to an acceptable level of accuracy within an acceptable are (i.e. "center mass") creates more likelihood of incapacitating a threat.

I have worked with defensive shooting instructors who espouse the "other" theory of defensive shooting, that of putting all defensive shots into nearly the same place. The idea of that philosophy is to create a larger wound cavity in a single place, and a single vital organ. And then there are others who believe that shooting at a faster cadence, placing more rounds on the target with the highest delivery speed that will allow for accuracy, will be more effective in stopping a threat. In other words: Putting all shots into as close to a single hole as possible, versus spreading more shots out over a critical area.

Armor Concepts

But I personally adhere to and teach the philosophy of combat accuracy with a greater shooting cadence versus the idea of trying to put defensive shots all in the same hole. Getting a lot of shots off faster, but still having the marksmanship to put them all in the acceptable accuracy zones (in my humble opinion) will increase the likelihood of putting rounds into vital areas and stop the threat.

Whichever you decide to use, remember to practice, practice practice. Practice both and see which one works for you. Remember: In a crisis situation, you will never rise to super-star performance. You will always fall back to your level of training.

The Gonz

Trigger Discipline!

There are four fundamental safety rules that we consistently teach in our firearms classes: 1) The gun is always loaded until you have verified otherwise; 2) Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction; 3) Keep the finger off the trigger until ready to shoot; 4) Know what is behind your target, and between you and the target. These rules apply to target shooting, and they also equally apply to tactical situations and defensive shooting. Even if you are clearing your home to look for intruders, for example, you need to ALWAYS be cognizant of these four things while looking for the bad guy. And if you are in this situation, I hope your gun IS loaded.

So let's focus on the third safety rule for a moment. Why is it that we teach keeping the finger off the trigger until sights are on target and you are ready to shoot?

Two words: Startle response.

When a person is startled, the natural response is to blink, lean the body forward, bend the arms at the elbows, and clench the fists/fingers. When clenching the fists happens, each clenching finger is able to exert about 25 pounds of force. It only takes about 12 pounds of force to pull the trigger of a revolver in double action mode (hammer down). If your finger is in the trigger and you are startled, you will pull the trigger. If that happens, think about those other safety rules for a moment. Where is the gun pointed when the shot goes of? What is in the line of fire when that happens?

Proper trigger discipline is crucial to ensuring that you will be safe whether at the range or in a defensive situation. Proper trigger discipline is also a matter of building up muscle memory through practice. Beginning with the very first movement of the holster draw, the trigger finger should be indexed along the side of the firearm the minute the hand is placed on the grip of the gun. When at the low ready, the high ready, the retention position, or at the fully extended position, the finger needs to be indexed on the side of the frame. Only when you have a target in sight and you are ready to shoot does the finger move inside the trigger guard. Then simply touch and press the trigger.

Defensive shooting is every bit a matter of safety as it is efficient, tactical movement. Practice, practice, practice. Practice indexing that finger, and practice moving the finger to the trigger. Safely done, dry fire is a key training tool in these methods.

Be safe out there!

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At Northern Colorado Firearms Safety Training, our mission is to foster the proper knowledge, skills, and attitudes for owning and using firearms safely. Our philosophy is that a firearm is only as safe (or as dangerous) as the person using the firearm, because firearms in and of themselves have no ability to spontaneously operate themselves. A firearm is a tool to employ in a variety of appropriate circumstances: sport shooting, hunting, or self defense. American citizens have a protected RIGHT to firearms ownership and self defense. And above all, we teach firearms safety!

Perceived Penalty For a Miss

A phrase that we often use in firearms training is the concept known as the “perceived penalty for a miss” (as in missed shot). This idea of the perceived penalty for a missed shot can apply to any scenario in which you use a firearm, be it home defense, self-defense while out and about, or even while shooting targets at the range. But for the context of this article, I will concentrate mainly on firearm use in home defense.

I am regularly on the lookout for news articles where firearms are used to save lives and protect property. I recently came across an article about a man who shot a home invader, but then ended up accidentally shooting his wife as well. This unfortunate incident clearly illustrates that in the course of defending our homes, not only are we responsible for the safety and protection of our families, but that we are also responsible for what happens as a result of our using deadly force as part of our home defense strategy.

Let me be perfectly clear about my own personal philosophy in this matter: Firearm ownership is an individual right that calls for individual responsibility. I do not endorse in any way, shape, or form the legislating of every single aspect of firearm ownership. Training, firearms storage, and safety are our individual responsibility as gun owners. We already have thousands of laws governing firearms ownership – we don’t need any more. They can’t even enforce the ones we have.

We are individually responsible for taking it upon ourselves to maintain marksmanship proficiency with our firearms, and being able to simultaneously and quickly think past the front sight of that firearm when we choose to engage a threat. In other words, we need to be able to quickly engage and stop a threat, as well as make sound decisions about that engagement based on risks and possible outcomes. Once that bullet leaves the muzzle, it can’t be called back. There will be consequences resulting from the defensive use of our firearm, and the final resting place of that bullet.

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Something that we emphasize in firearms training over and over, and that I also see very heavily emphasized in the advanced tactical training I have taken to keep up my own proficiency, is the idea that this concept of a penalty for a missed shot is very closely related to a fundamental firearms safety rule. The rule basically instructs you to know your target, know what is between you and the target, and know what is beyond your target. If you understand and apply that basic rule, you will better understand and apply good decisions based on the amount of perceived penalty in case you miss your target.

Firearms and self-defense expert Rob Pincus of I.C.E. Training mentions that the perceived penalty for a miss translates to how worried you are that you will miss, or what happens if you miss. What happens if you miss can be a factor of where you are in relation to the threat, in relation to everything else. Are there other people, either seen or unseen, that can be in jeopardy? What is behind that threat? Can you move so that if you shoot at the threat, you shoot towards a more solid backstop where there is less of a chance of over-penetrating into a soft wall and hurting unknown people behind that wall? This is an example of how training is an important factor in helping with decision making and will be discussed in part 2 of this series. But I wanted to give an example of the types of things that come into play when thinking of the perceived penalty for a miss.

As I mentioned above, there will be consequences (outcomes), positive and negative, resulting from the use of deadly force in protecting your home. For all of the scenarios below, a violent criminal enters your home with the intent of doing you and your family harm. You are armed and intend to exercise your natural and legal right to defend your home. So let’s take a look at just a few of the possible outcomes.

Scenario 1: You engage the threat, your bullets hit their intended mark, and the threat is stopped. No other people are hurt or property damaged. The police come to investigate. You are found to be a victim of a home invasion who successfully and lawfully protected yourself and your loved ones.

Scenario 2: You engage the threat; your bullets hit their intended mark, but over penetrated and went through a wall. Or some of your bullets missed the bad guy altogether and went through an interior wall of your house. Another family member or pet may or may not have been on the other side of that wall – you didn’t know that when you fired the shot. You later find out that you also wounded a family member. The police come to investigate. You may or may not be charged with negligence, but you will forever be emotionally scarred knowing that you hurt someone you love.

Scenario 3: You engage the threat; you panic and shoot wildly hoping to hit the bad guy. Your shots miss and go through some interior walls and some outer walls of your house, go into a neighbor’s house, and wound a neighbor. The police come to investigate. You are found to have negligently discharged your firearm and are arrested to face possible charges.

There are many other possible scenarios, and I won’t presume to know or report them all here. But the above illustrate just a few of the very real and possible outcomes. Again, minimizing risk while protecting your family member’s lives is what it’s all about. The ultimate goal is for your family to be safe, and NO lives put in jeopardy. Of course, when the criminal invader chose to enter your home and commit a violent crime, he or she made the decision that they were willing to take the risks of injury or death in doing so. That’s a risk mitigation that is out of your control. But what IS in your control is the ability to decide whether or not to engage the threat with deadly force, and if so to hit your intended target by building marksmanship and proficiency, and making sure that you know your target, what is between you and the target, and knowing what is beyond your target.

Now that you have an overview of the concept behind the “perceived penalty for a miss” and the background behind the thought processes for reducing this risk, we will now discuss getting back to basics and remembering the fundamentals of firearms safety. In particular, the rule of knowing your target plays a big part in minimizing the risk of causing harm to others in a defensive incident.

SHAMELESS DISCLAIMER: The strategies and scenarios depicted in this article are not all encompassing. There are many possible scenarios and strategies – I do not presume to know them all. Your own situation and environment will certainly vary, so you have to use common sense and be able to think through your strategy for yourself. In other words – everything you read here is based on opinion derived from my most diligent research possible, and my own ability to think critically. I am not responsible for other people’s inability to use common sense or sound decision making skills. I and NCFST are not responsible for the actions taken by the readers of this article series.

So having said all that, here are some suggestions for reducing the risk that a missed shot may cause unintended harm. You need to think these through for yourself, and apply them in a way that makes sense for your own unique situations.

Know and APPLY The Fundamentals of Firearm Safety: Think about and constantly remember those basic rules you learned when you were first introduced to firearms. Then, actually APPLY those rules every time you handle firearms. Whether you are going to the range, carrying concealed while out and about, or just having a ready firearm to defend your home, you are responsible for applying these common sense rules. In case you need a refresher, here they are again:

Always assume that every gun is loaded
Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction
Always keep your finger OFF of the trigger until ready to shoot
Always know your target, what is between you and the target, and what is beyond the target.

Know Your Home and What is Around Your Home: Think about all the possible places where a home invader will enter and travel throughout the home, as well as what they might be looking for. Think about where your family members will likely be in proximity to these places, and where you will be in the course of defending your home and stopping the attack. Walk through your house and think about each of the walls – what is behind those walls? Don’t forget floors and ceilings – what’s on the other side of those? A basement, a bedroom, a bathroom, or other frequently inhabited area? Think about those exterior walls. What’s on the other side? Are the houses in your neighborhood close together? Do you live in a townhouse or apartment with a neighbor just on the other side of that wall? What are the walls made of?

Know Your Plan of Action: What will you and your family do if you hear or suspect a break-in or the intrusion alarm goes off? Can you all get to a safe room, or will family members be in areas scattered all throughout your home? Can you all stay barricaded in one place until the police arrive, or will you be forced to go on a “room clearing mission” so that you can secure other family members? “War Game” possible scenarios and think about how to get all of your family members to a safe room in case of an emergency. If that’s just not possible, then think of where you would position yourself in any of your rooms in case you have to shoot. Think of how you can reposition yourself in relation to the invader’s position in order to take a better and safer shot. You need to be aware of your entire home and environment in order to minimize the risk of a bullet missing and going into an area where people may be.

Know Your Defensive Ammunition: Is the defensive ammunition that you use in your home defense strategy going to stop the threat, but also over-penetrate and go where you don’t want it to go? Now is the time to think about other types of ammunition that are possibly better choices for home defense, such as frangible or “safety slug” ammunition. Glaser Safety Slugs, for example, provide optimum penetration, yet fragment very quickly to prevent over penetration. These rounds are a popular home defense round, and are available in many common handgun and rifle calibers. Using a home defense shotgun with a shell containing non-lethal rubber balls as the first round, followed by rounds of bird shot or #4 buckshot is another popular choice. You have to decide what types of ammunition and home defense firearms you are comfortable with.

Know and Constantly Improve Your Own Skills: Being proficient is a huge responsibility, and perhaps the most important of all of these strategies. Becoming highly proficient in firearms deployment for defensive uses may take a lot of your time, but the effort expended is beyond measure in its worth. Do you regularly practice your marksmanship? Do you regularly practice defensive skills such as drawing from a holster or shooting on the move? When was the last time you took advanced formal training beyond just the basics? Continuous training is extremely important. Maybe participate in IDPA or defensive pistol matches on a regular basis.

Wrapping it All Up:

The penalty for a missed shot can be huge if you don’t prepare and you will never completely eliminate all risks. The best you can do is to mitigate the risks to the extent possible, use due diligence in your preparation, and use some common sense in your actions. Armed defense is an individual right, but with rights such as this come great individual responsibility. Prepare, practice, and be sure to get back to those fundamentals from time to time. Know and apply the basic safety rules of gun handling, know your environment, know your plan, and know your equipment. Always strive to improve them.

Be sure to visit the NCFST blog where I have also posted this article series in its entirety. You can also learn more about the use of firearms in home defense by visiting the new sister-site to the US Concealed Carry Association, the Home Defense Association of America.

Be informed, be protected, and be safe!

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