Backup Gun?
- Thread starter Vehemence
- Start date
The #1 community for Gun Owners in Texas
Member Benefits:
Fewer Ads! Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership Discuss anti-gun legislation Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses Discover free outdoor shooting areas View up to date on firearm-related events Share photos & video with other members ...and so much more!
Member Benefits:
No doubt. LE should be held.to a higher standard. However, based on the frequency LE handles firearms, the mistakes are extremely insignificant as a percentage.
My experience with stupidity with firearms is with the private citizen who think they know firearm safety and the basics of operating a firearm effectively.
Mexican_Hippie
TGT Addict
My experience is that LEO are no more safe nor proficient with firearms than the general population of gun owners.
I guess our experiences have differed quite a bit.
I guess our experiences have differed quite a bit.
breakingcontact
TGT Addict
Austin cops blew holes in their cop cars/launched rounds into the pavement negligently with shotguns either 2 or 3 times last Fall. That seems pretty significant to me.
The idea that you are proficient at something just because you do it a lot is not true. It also makes you overly confident or sloppy. Watch people "speed holster" for no damned reason. Great way to shoot yourself in the leg, which cops do too.
breakingcontact
TGT Addict
Criminals and police would both prefer if we were unarmed. Wait, who's on which side?
breakingcontact
TGT Addict
That's poor logic. I'm very unlikely to NEED my gun at my local HEB, let alone two or three. So I should carry none?
Maybe things are different in California, but in most places I know officers from, the usual gun handling consists of occasional(if any) required training and annual qualification. Most officers that I've spoken with explain that their peers are not "gun guys" and don't shoot outside of work, because they feel as though they are spending their money(which they are under paid to start with) to do something their work should be paying for. This same experience has been expressed to me by officers from a lot of different places and very well respected trainers(who train LE regularly, in addition to civilians).
seeker_two
My posts don't count....
Of course you would.
Agreed,
I have allot of respect for those who go into harms way for others....However a badge does not denote proficiency any more than a drivers license denotes experienced drivers. There are many who want LEO held to higher standards, I agree there as well, but that is going to take better funding in allot of cases. I guess what could be learned here is that credentials are not the end all be all of any trade or skill.
Please don't. If you have a differing opinion I would love to hear it. This is a discussion forum, if you disagree, I'd like to discuss it and hear your experiences.
I am not a law enforcement officer, never have been one, the information I'm presenting was told to me by officers in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, etc. Additionally, it comes from discussions with Craig Douglas, who has trained over 5000 officers at the academy level and countless more via Shivworks classes. Finally, it comes from seeing local officers pass up on FREE spots to numerous local classes.
I know that budgets along the Gulf are pretty thin, but I'm completely unaware of California's. I do understand that finances ultimately control training and can see where this would lead to officers in some areas being more well trained than others.
Last edited:
Suffice it to say that in my 27 years of being a state trooper, and since retirement, working with DPS as a contract consultant in regards to DUI enforcement, my experience in the realm of firearms and tactics would reflect that LEOs generally, not absolutely, demonstrate greater proficiency with firearms than the average citizen, as it should be.
My opinion based on extensive experience, should in no way detract from my support of CC for the private citizen. I simply support a more effective training orientation prior to CC. It really is that simple.
As to funding and it's impact.on training, I say yes that phenomena exist but LEOs which are professional and concerned with their safety, have found a way to maintain their skill level. It is all about attitude.
Last edited:
Can we discuss for a second what you mean by "average citizen"? If I am correct the average citizen has really only fired a firearm once every few years, if only a few times in their life. OD we mean average CHL holder perhaps?
breakingcontact
TGT Addict
Going to try and say this deliberately so as to not go off topic or have TXI jump my case.
You support a more effective training program to increase safety. What does that look like? Who pays for it? And do you not see how opening that door can allow for unreasonable levels of training to be imposed to the point where people dont carry?
This being said, I think the average gun owner and concealed carriers especially should both train more and have more realistic views on their abilities and limitations.
Gun safety course and some basic pistol shooting certification either through the NRA, or some other effective sponsor, as prerequisite to the CHL class. The private citizen would be responsible for fees, as they are for the CHL class.
Fear of "opening the door" is an excuse to do nothing.
Such an endeavor would positively affect and promote more effective advocacy for open carry. Just my opinion.
Last edited:
TundraWookiee
Scruffy Nerf Herder
I think people should be nicer...maybe we should make mandatory training for that. Several members on here can't seem to figure out where certain keys are on their keyboard...lets make mandatory training for that. At what point do we just abandon personal responsibility and legislate the crap out of people with mandatory trainings to force them to be as responsible and productive as we want them to be? Do you see my point? You can't force someone to take things seriously and approach things correctly. Even if you were to demand stricter training, there would still be those who ignore basic gun safety and shoot their foot off. I also agree with NOLA Jack that your viewpoint is fairly skewed. The state that you spent those 27 years in as a LEO probably has a lot to do with your current mindset.
