Training Requirements for CCW

D

David Scott

New member
In another thread (on an AD at a movie theater) I got to wondering just how much training is required to get a CCW and what SHOULD be required. Here in Florida you have to take a course (unless you're ex-military), but it covers only basic safety procedures.

It seems to me there's aplace for training that is more thorough than the minimum State course but less intense than a week at Thunder ranch. What should be in a really GOOD CCW qualification course? My suggestions:

* Safety in real world (not just range procedures).

* When and how you may legally use deadly force. Consequences of ignoring same.

* Ammunition selection and effects of hits on various parts of the perp's body.

* Malfunction clearance.

* Holster selection and proper concealment techniques.

* Scenario evaluation and appropriate actions.

* How to behave if someone starts shouting "he's got a gun!" in the Burger King.

* How to behave in a traffic stop while carrying.

* Retention/anti-snatch techniques.

* How your family should behave if they're with you when it goes Condition Red.

Anything else?
 
El Paso county, Colorado: to get a CHL, you must have a DD214 (useless) or pass the NRA Basic Personal Protection course. The course in which I teach is a hell of a lot more intense than the basic: 12 hours of class, 8 on the range, and a presentation by a local defense attorney on gun laws. Range work consists of 50 or more rounds of group shooting (that is, shooting for consistency) at 10 and 25 feet, then shooting for center mass at 10, 25, and 50 feet, 18, 24, and 8 rounds respectively. Safety is absolutely paramount and violators are first warned, then ejected.

To my knowledge, none of the students who have taken this course have ever been involved in an ND or a bad shoot.
 
My NRA instructor also showed some other tactical techniques.

Shooting with weak hand, clip change with one hand, etc.

I hear that you have to be very exacting when calling 911 post shooting. Add to the list know what, how to say, when to break off engagement (BG turns and flee's).

How to stop reading this damned board when I should be working.
 
Once you get bit by the training bug, it is addictive. I'm doing another class in a couple of weeks. I'll report after.

As far as what should be taught, the TX mandatory course focuses on laws and conflict avoidance with some gun and tactics stuff.
There is a shooting test of 50 rounds at 3,7,15 yards.

I wonder if a state agency could actually mandate a tactical course and teach civilians ways to use guns. In fact, even our organizations like the NRA and NSSF are reluctant to recommend guns for selfdefense.

Off the top of my head, I wonder about CCW types. I have quite a few friends who carry but I only know one who has significant training besides me. He was a handgun specialist and a champ in the service.

The rest shoot at cans or B-27s every once in awhile. I plug tactical courses for them as I have friend who teach them also.

I wonder if some people are scared to take serious classes. Of course we are all aces!!
Or maybe we think we will be embarassed.

I'm curious, if you carry - and haven't taken a serious class - why?
 
Most of the classes I've taken were not mandatory but fun. The NRA Basic Pistol Course - Safety, range safety, and practice on the range at 10, 15 and 25 (the 25 was just for the heck of it). And I didn't use my normal day to day carry gun. Some LEO public safety classes - Learned the laws of the state, the town/city I was in, and special laws for the bigger cities (have done this in every State that I have a CHL). Tactical Training - Wasn't exactly training but competition shoots sponsored by the base CATM personal. Basically, courses that are arranged by the CATM folks to test you "under the clock" with different courses of action and gun carry. Can't afford any government courses (besides hunters safety, which also gives good info. on the laws in your county), or even my dreams of going to Thunder Ranch. As for the government mandating classes, I would be nervous of what "standards" they would have. Possibly something to the affect of: Can hit a .00005 inch circle at 1,000,000,000 yards using only a under powdered charge which is set off or activated by rubbing two sticks together. To be able to fire one million rounds, from a 10 round mag. in less then four seconds and every shot has to be in the X ring. And then this written test. Every government test that I'd taken (for rank, DL, etc) has a form that you fill out if you think a question is wrong, worded wrong, or doesn't have the right answer. After a year, you get a reply, either yes, we'll give you credit for that one, or no, you still failed. And what models will they use for the safety release question? On a 1784 BP replica revolver, the safety catch is on if it is in the a) Upper position, b) lower position. Or on the general knowledge portion: The UZI, not the ones imported to the states, but the ones that are issued to the Army in the country they are manufactured, fires how many rounds per minute? And how long does it take this soldier to change mags (they would make the word "clips") under extreme conditions? Remember government schools? If they (the government) creates these tests, I can promise you that no one, NO ONE, will be issued a CHL in theirs or anyone else's life time. Just my $2 peso worth. USP45usp
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>I'm curious, if you carry - and haven't taken a serious class - why?[/quote]

Co$t. Time. Babysitting arrangements.

I really want to take more classes. My CCW class covered stuff I didn't have a clue about, as a rank newbie, and I didn't absorb some of it very well. Am really learning some of it now.

Just re-read Glen's question. Maybe I don't count 'cause I don't have a carry gun yet. I don't actually carry right now.

--Denise
 
I really feel that it`s VERY important to not only be trained, but to have the right MINDSET for concealed carry...

In Mindset, I am referring to the fact that you as the armed citizen have a duty to "Be the bigger man" , another words:

If someone offends you - smile.

If they threaten you - walk away quietly.

If you can`t walk away - run.

Only use show of force when every other tactic has failed, and your life or the lives of others depend on it...THEN-

Be ready, WILLING and ABLE ( here`s where training comes in...)

Don`t let EGO or PRIDE decide when to use a show of force...

And REMEMBER : By you carrying a gun, you have just added a lethal weapon to the equasion...

YOU MIGHT NOT BE THE PERSON WHO DOES THE SHOOTING WITH YOUR GUN, IF YOU`RE NOT CAREFULL !!!

Bad Guys have been known to see a hesitant or unsure victim, and take the gun away and use it on the "THEM"...

So, just be careful and remember that being armed is only 1/2 the battle.

TRAIN...TRAIN...TRAIN...
------------------
SHOOT,COMMUNICATE AND MOVE OUT !

[This message has been edited by GIT_SOME.45 (edited July 07, 2000).]
 
A decent one day class in TX could be had for
$150 for instruction and then maybe $60 in ammo costs.

That's pricey for some. I certainly get told about it when I do too many.

I'm doing an Insights Intensive Handgun course in Austin in a couple of weeks and we are shooting 1500 rounds. That's a buck or two for the ammo, then the course and some lodging.

But even an afternoon on some basic stuff and a reading list would work a lot of good.
 
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