Need For Speed?

Slow Down, Be Happy
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Although not always cool or vogue, the shotgun for example, is still a solid fight changer.
Patterns at 15 feet with a variety of shot sizes show the potential lethal results.

The skill of using firearms and how to train with them is in a constant state of flux, even though the actual tool itself and how to use it effectively hasn’t changed much over the last 100 years or so. Sadly, happily or logically, if you look at your sighting system, keep it properly aligned and discharge the weapon by firing — usually a result of pressing the trigger well — the projectile hits the target, which remains to be the point of the exercise, I believe.

For many of us regular gun homeowners or “Sam and Suzy Homemakers”, much of the remaining gun-related television programming is based on competitions and the shoot-fast, run-and-gun mentality that goes with it — much of which is beyond the average shooter and practical application. I grasp the concept and actually understand TV needs to be active and exciting, even though a 1-hour show is only about 35 minutes in duration after they repeat the redundant commercials again and again.

Watch one and you’ll get it. It’s like watching the goofy State of the Union address, and just when you think it’s over, somebody from the other party comes on and tells us what we just heard like we’re stupid and didn’t understand English or that we all don’t already know that both sides of the political aisle are full of crooks. By now we all get it.

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Solid equipment and good skills with a touch of reality might save the day. A rifle, shotgun or handgun
—whatever you choose—along with a phone, first aid and fire stuff might come in handy.

TV vs. Reality

So, just after the guy on Run & Gun TV tells us we have to shoot fast like the “experts,” another guy comes on and tells us we have to shoot fast. Or what? What happens if we don’t shoot fast? What happens if we shoot to hit the target and then do it as quick as we can — but we hit the target first and foremost?

The speed we need to shoot at is the speed that which we can — and will — hit the target effectively. We could, or should, train to hit the target regularly and then increase the distance and or reduce the size of the target so as to continue to raise the difficulty of the challenge. We get better because we press ourselves. A timer may help us gain skill if used as a tool to tell us where we are. The timer will not tell us if we will be a success or failure in a future gunfight. A timer can show us what we did and repetition will make us do what we are doing in less time because we get smoother — and we get smoother because we practiced.

A timer tells us when to start, but in a real fight, when we hit the target and it doesn’t kill us back, that will be how long it took for us to solve the problem.

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Clint isn’t sure a timer is essential, but a GLOCK, Mossberg 500 and good light might be helpful for home/personal defense.

Modern Warrior vs. Reality

Bluntly, in my older age, I am not often impressed by some of today’s young people, and even less impressed when I am exposed to them for a length of time. Call it creative differences. I have seen some of these people walk around free rifle ammo to walk off the range so they can go play a computer game — and I’m not talking about civilians.

“Blasphemy!” you say. “Anti-American, anti-military. How dare Clint besmirch our people in uniform!” First, I’m not besmirching anyone, per se, but I am by the grace of God telling the truth. There are a lot more important issues civilians need to consider before and after rather than what are the current “cool” military guns and tactics are.

As examples, down your hallway at 3 a.m., the other side may not be impressed with your cool stuff. All tactics on stairwells suck, your strobing light will jack your eyes up as well as the bad guy’s. Do you know where the light switch is on your hallway wall? Did you take the safety off your weapon? Be sure you don’t kill your own kids while looking for a response to a threat — a threat not deterred from killing you despite your strobe and tactical guns and gear.

Always remember: many people have been killed by people they have killed, but who haven’t died yet.

Unlike video games, there is no reset for you or one of your kids lying on the floor with a sucking chest wound. Unfortunately, children and adults just don’t get it sometimes. Combat or conflict has a way of resolving who paid attention and who didn’t, and life can often be a cruel learning curve.

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Operator vs. Skill

Not an operator, or SWAT or 20 years old anymore? Guess what — you don’t have to be. It simply isn’t required and it isn’t a reality or a life. Train and gear up to meet your potential problems and then train up a bit more.

Here is a concept: Get a gun that works, train in fundamentals, maybe shoot an IDPA match or something realistic at the range with like-minded friends who own guns for defense. Then look at the sights, press the trigger, even use a timer, but most of all, remember the ultimate goal was not to be smart enough not to shoot, but good enough that if you have to shoot you can shoot effectively.

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