Many people assume they will be able to protect themselves and their loved ones because they are familiar with firearms and have shot at a range at some point in their life. But firing in self-defense may not be the same as practicing at a range. Are you prepared for THAT type of incident?
Some realities of shooting situations to consider:
The majority of shootings happen in or around a home.
How much training do you have in home defense and room clearing?
75% of all shootings happen within three yards or less.
How much training do you have in firearms retention and close quarters movement?
80-90% of shootings happen at dusk or at night.
How much training do you have shooting in low light conditions?
Almost all handgun engagements require multiple shots.
How often have you fired multiple shots quickly and accurately in high stress situations?
Law Enforcement officers miss almost 80% of their shots under pressure.
How much training do you have shooting under stress?
Bullets often pass through their targets.
Do you know how to quickly identify what is behind the target?
There are different levels of range time. If you are new to this world, then you are probably hearing this for the first time. If you live and breathe this life, then I may not be sharing anything new–yet.
With training, there is normal range time and advanced range time to prepare you for an incident. Let’s break these down a little more and start with the normal range time.
Range Practice
You arrive at the range and unpack your gear in your bay. Everything is perfect, the firearms are clean, the ammo is new. You already have your eye and ear protection on as you load rounds into your magazine. You place the magazine into your firearm and send the paper target down-range. After you get your breathing under control, you raise your firearm. With each shot, you focus on having that perfect stance, sight alignment, and trigger control. Everything happens the way you planned it.
Holster Training
While still in a controlled environment such as a range, you work on drawing from your holster and placing rounds downrange with some added stress such as time, noises, or competition. With each shot, you quickly fine-tune your stance, sight alignment, and trigger control. Everything may not be perfect but you continue to progress as you continue to train yourself to welcome the added stress to meet a goal. Most advanced courses have a goal for you to accomplish your draw-to-fire in under 3 seconds.
Low Light Training
As you get close to (or accomplish) your draw-to-fire near the desired 3 second mark, we can add in a new variable of shooting while moving. This could possibly be in some low light environments, or with obstacles in your path. After all, if you were using your firearm in defense of your household, this is the most likely situation in which you find yourself.
The Incident
No range here, no eye or hearing protection. This is real, and your front door just got kicked in by someone unfriendly. It’s dark, the sound started the adrenaline coursing through your veins, and you realize what this night may turn into. Picking up your firearm, checking that the first round is ready, you prepare to defend your home.
Let’s pause and answer a few questions...
Do you have a household plan in place?
Have you discussed it with your family?
Since you know not to turn on your lights, do you have a bright light ready or can you trust your eyes in the dark?
PARENTS, where are your kids’ bedrooms?
Do your children know to stay in their rooms if they hear a loud noise?
Do they know to leave the lights turned off, so they don’t draw attention?
Back To Our Story
As you quietly get out of bed or you hope the house alarm sounding is enough to persuade the intruder to leave. But the worst-case scenario is more probable as you move to open your door. Opening it, you clear the fatal funnel and exit the room.
The intruder is startled by your presence as he steps out from behind a wall about 6 feet in front of you. Your light glistens off his knife’s blade. He makes eye contact with you, as you speak loudly and clearly, demanding that he leaves your property.
Instead, the intruder adjusts his stance, begins to raise the knife and starts towards you. With your adrenaline is pumping, you quickly fire multiple shots–and defuse the situation.
Or So You Thought…
What if the assailant doesn’t stop? What if your gun malfunctions? What if you need to reload, or you see a second or third intruder? HAVE YOU PLANNED AND TRAINED FOR THESE SITUATIONS?
Take Action Today
Just owning a firearm is not enough to fully protect your household. The above situation happens more often than you think. There are questions that need to be answered and plans that need to be practiced.
How much training have you done by yourself, with your spouse, and even with your children? How are you educating your children to respond if they hear certain noises?
Don’t wait until it’s too late; TRAIN! Put rounds down range. Practice, Practice, Practice!
Sign up for multiple firearms courses or some private lessons. Maybe utilize a firearms simulator, or having an instructor come to your house and help you create an Action Plan.
