It’s an unfortunate puzzle for the armed citizen…
You see, if you’re ever forced to defend yourself and those you love with your firearm, a jury is going to take a hard look at the training you’ve received.
Strangely, the more training you have, the higher the standard you may be held to in your actions.
But what about a lack of training?
Turns out, you can be held liable for what you don’t know but “should” have known and it goes far beyond your shot group down at the range.
I know it doesn’t sound justifiable, but a recent court decision may suggest that without this training, you may even be held legally liable for the injury or death of someone in your line of fire…
The criminal himself? A bystander? The neighbor who was sleeping in her bed across the street? A responding police officer?
In Canton v Ohio, the Supreme Court ruled against the city involved after a citizen was injured — because the responding officers hadn’t been trained properly for the situation they faced.
That’s right: police are now being held legally liable to train realistically for the actual challenges they will deal with on the job.
But this doesn’t just affect cops; it affects you, the armed citizen, too.
You see, some experts who can shoot a shot group at the range are completely clueless on what to train for in order to defend against a home invasion.
And a prosecuting attorney could argue that if you had done more than just go down to the local range and practice target shooting at static, “square range” targets, the criminal “victim” may not have been shot like some paper silhouette.
Does that mean that if you shoot a bad guy who is trying to rob you… he could sue you for being inadequately trained?
Stranger things have happened, and as we always say, owning a gun is not enough.
You have to back it up with tactics and realistic training for such gunfighting skills as…
1. Shooting on the move
2. Shooting at moving targets
3. How to use “fatal funnels” in your home (hallways)
4. Low-light shooting & flashlight use
5. “Shoot – don’t shoot” decision-making
6. Multiple attackers
7. How to keep an eye on a bad-guy after he’s down
8. Armed retreat to a “safe room”
9. Fighting to a secondary weapon
10. Simulated “stress shooting”
These are obviously not the typical type of skills you’re going to be able to practice at your traditional one-lane shooting range.
But are you seeking out this training from a local private range or searching for a national course that can provide you with these life-saving skills?
It may sound expensive, but face it…
If you were to lose someone you love at the hands of some meth-head who invaded your home, no amount of money in the world will bring them back.
Doesn’t it make sense to practice these tactics now while they can serve as your protection?
Your family’s lives could depend on it and with all the great gun training in this nation, you can surely find a place to go.
