USA -(Ammoland.com)- I am always talking about people who don’t train enough, and those who think they are training, but are not. People simply do not understand the concept of training and what it really means.
Bob Harvey of the South Florida Gun School addressed this issue last week in an article published in Ammoland. I am borrowing some of his ideas here.
There is a major difference between education and training. For instance, most of a Concealed Carry class is education; learning about safety, the law, how firearms work and fundamentals of marksmanship are all education.
Actually, gripping the firearm, getting a sight picture, properly manipulating the trigger, and follow through are the rudimentary beginnings of training. Having done this a few times does not constitute training.
Training means undergoing formal instruction, discipline or drill, and becoming fit, qualified or proficient for a test or skill. Training is something that is difficult to do alone. The best way to train is to submit yourself to the discipline and drill of an expert instructor.
This will get you out of your comfort zone, push you to work harder than you would work by yourself, and force you to become accurate in places and situations under pressure, including clearing equipment malfunctions.
People tell me they go to the range to practice all of the time. It is true they do, but they usually practice what they know and they cannot apply uncomfortable pressure to themselves. This isn’t reality. Neither is operating in a class, but it is much closer.
Qualifying in a marksmanship program exhibits your ability to meet a standard. The problem here is that some people are satisfied to meet the minimum standard. This is wrong. Individuals need to push themselves to meet higher standards and reach to the highest standard possible. It is important to realize in an actual self-defense, your marksmanship skill will degrade.
That is why we have classes of marksmanship to recognize and encourage people to strive for the next higher standard. These classes are (moving from lowest to highest), Marksman, Sharpshooter, Expert, Master and Highmaster. In a stressful situation, it is much better to degrade from an Expert rather than from a Marksman.
The mere achieving of the next class up in itself does not guarantee anything, but it does show diligence and study, which has merit. It also shows that the individual is willing to operate at the edge of their comfort zone. Competing in a league or competition also helps people learn to operate under pressure.
Leagues and competitions help make the operation of your firearm “second nature,” a condition that can give you a real advantage in a contentious situation. As I have often mentioned, a defensive situation is a lousy time for on the job training.
I encourage everyone to take classes. There are instructors such as Massad Ayoob, John Farnham, and Midwest Training Group who teach at the ISRA Range, but there are also lesser known instructors who provide excellent classes. Classes range anywhere from a few hours to several days.
The election of Donald Trump emphasized how much is on the line when a President of the United States is elected. The Supreme Court of the United States was at stake and the future of the Second Amendment rode with it.
We tend to think of the big things but we cannot overlook the entire picture. The appointment of lesser bureaucrats can also wreak havoc on our freedoms. An example of that is Director’s Order 219 issued by Dan Ashe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife appointee, under the Obama Administration. Order 219 banned traditional ammunition, meaning any ammunition containing lead, from being used on federal lands. Ashe’s order included lead sinkers.
This was clearly an attack on the hunters, target shooters and fishermen in the United States. The new Secretary of Interior, Ryan Zinke, reversed Order 219 on March 2, 2017. Secretary Zinke also opened more federal lands for use by sportsmen. Director’s Order 219 is an example of thousands of “regulations” that are nothing more than a noose around the neck of American citizens.
The purpose of these regulations is to promote a political agenda in a most insidious way. Remember that every time there is an election.
The number of active FOID card and ICCL’s for the end of February, 2017:
- FOID’s 2,127,405
- ICCL’s 223,608
I would like to congratulate Tremont Sportsman’s Club for being a 100% ISRA affiliated club; all members of this fine club are ISRA members. I would like to encourage other affiliated clubs to follow this path.
Thanks for being a member.
Upcoming Events:
For more information, visit their website!
- Saturday, March 11, 2017
Care & Maintenance of the Ruger Mark I, II, III, and 22/45 - Saturday, March 18, 2017
Basic Pistol Instructor Lead Training – Phase 2 - Sunday, March 19, 2017
Care & Maintenance of the M1 - Saturday, March 25, 2017
Women on Target Pistol Clinic at Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club (sponsored by ISRA) - Sunday, March 26, 2017
Defensive Carbine Class – Instructor John Newman - Friday, March 31, Saturday, April 1, Sunday, April 2, 2017
DTI Inc. Basic Defensive Handgun Course – Instructor John S Farnam
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