Owning a gun and getting a CCW is just the first step

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Any Black person who lives in a state where concealed carry (CCW= concealed carry weapons permit) is permitted should take advantage of that opportunity. Basically anyone over 21, who has no criminal background or history of mental illness should qualify for a concealed carry permit. Even if you live in a state like I do that doesn't allow concealed carry, you should still apply for as many out of state permits as you can get. Self defense is a most basic human right which should be excercized by all. With gun ownership however, also comes a heightened sense of responsibility. Anyone who owns a gun, and every one who carries a gun, legally or illegally, should take it upon themselves to acquire some PROFESSIONAL TRAINING. This means going to a certified firearms instruction school ,not shooting at beer cans and bottles with your "Uncle Willie" just because he was in Viet Nam 40 yrs ago. Any school you attend should cover certain topics like: drawing from a holster, tactical and emergency reloads, stoppage clearance drills, multiple target engagement drills, injury drills, contact weapons and body armor drills, etc.
Much too often people carry guns to make themselves feel better, like a child's security blanket. These same individuals more often that not however, would be hard pressed to effectively use that weapon in defense of their own or a loved one's life. Having a weapon and knowing how to effectively use it are as different as night and day. Defensive shooting is a perishable skill. You will never forget how to swim or ride a bike because these are called non-perishable skills. Defensive firearms training on the other hand requires the development of muscle memory. Muscle memory begins to deteriorate over time due to a lack of repetition, so that even if your brain remembers what you should do, your muscles will not, and thus you shooting skills decrease. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR LIVE FIRE PRACTICE.

The most basic and common mistake people make with guns is the false notion that: "I could shoot straight if I had to". No...you couldn't. I don't care how good you are at the range, the stress of someone trying to kill you will automatically cause your skill to decrease. If your skills were just mediocre to begin with what do you think will happen when you are suddenly and unexpectedly faced with life threatening stress. The reason that the police win more shootouts than civilians is because they are better trained. Now consider the fact that on a nation wide scale the police miss their intended targets 80% of the time they shoot!!! Thats right, 80%. So if they miss 80%of the time and they are better trained than the average civilian, what then does that say about the quality of civilian training??? Never confuse having a gun with knowing how to effectively use it.

How many of you add stressors to your firearms training regimen. For that matter, how many even have a firearms training regimen??? The easiest artificial stressor is time, something you will have precious little of when fighting for your life. Below is the qualification test for my beginning defensive handgun course. I encourage you all to use this as a starting point and then shorten the times as your skill increases. If you were a cat it might be different, but since you only have one life, take the time, energy, and expense that is required to adequately prepare yourself for unexpected, life threatening emergencies.
For the test below you will need a quality handgun, a holster, two speedloaders (for revolvers) or magazines (for semi-autos), magazine or speedloader pouches , safety glasses, ear protection, and a hat or cap with a brim (to keep that hot flying brass from landing between your eye and you glasses- it has happened to me before and makes for a dangerous situation when you have a loaded gun in your hand). All drills begin with a loaded gun in the holster.
Basic defensive shooting qualification course 60 rds needed. Load only six rounds in your magazine regardless as to how many rds it holds.

1 st string: Fire 12 rounds in 25 seconds with one reload at 4 yards, six rds. With your strong hand only, reload, then six rounds with your weak hand only.

2dn string: fire 12 rds in 25 seconds with one reload at 7 yards using a two handed grip. (A two handed grip will be used for all other drills).

3rd string: Fire 12 rds in 30 seconds with one reload at 10 yds.

4th string: Fire 12 rds in 35 seconds with one reload at 15 yds.

5th string: Fire 12 rds in 60 seconds with one reload at 25 yds.

Using a standard B-27 silhouette target anything inside the 8,9, or 10 ring is 5 points, anything inside the 7 ring is 4 points, anything in the black is three points. 210 out of 300 is the minimum passing score. Try this test and repeat until you can score a 290 or better, and remember you can't cheat me, you can only cheat yourself and those who depend on you. Remember, there is NO SUBSTITUTE for well placed, aimed fire. Good luck and good shooting.