ShootingClasses.com Blog

Does Having a Concealed Carry License Permit Prepare You to Carry a Firearm?

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 13:16:22 -0400

At ShootingClasses.com the highest percentage of classes students register for are Concealed Carry Weapons Permit classes. Many students who register for these classes do not even own a firearm or have any prior training, yet they want to have a permit to carry.

Quite often instructors will ask, how do we get students to take additional training beyond getting their concealed carry weapons permit?

It is a fact that within the United States there are more than 22.01 million concealed carry handgun permit holders (Crime Prevention Research Center, https://crimeresearch.org), yet statistics also show that less than 2% of those license holders have taken any training beyond the requirements to receive their license.

Considering that each state varies in their requirements to obtain a carry permit from none (constitutional carry states) to minimal classroom training with no range time required, to a few more hours classroom time and minimal actual range time per individual, it is quite surprising the number of individuals who believe they are now “good to go”.

We have nothing against states adopting constitutional carry as we support this as a right that every citizen has, but also strongly believe that along with this right is the responsibility of every firearms owner to get training beyond basic or concealed carry requirements to properly prepare themselves to carry a firearm.

We have a saying in the firearms world, “You don’t know what you don’t know”. This translates to you don’t know what you don’t know until you are confronted with a situation, and you quickly realize what you don’t know and are not prepared to deal with. This becomes more evident all the time.

An example, a teenager gets their driver’s license and passes the driver’s test and is on top of the world with their new ability. Everything is good until one winter day driving in the snow and ice down a steep hill when an oncoming car loses control and swerves in front of them. The teenager hits the brakes, and their car starts to swerve and go out of control and a head on collision becomes unavoidable. Luckily no one is seriously injured, and the teenager realizes no one taught them how to react when something like that happens.

When a person is confronted with a situation where the use of a firearm is required, stress and lack of preparation is a serious reality check and not the time to wish one had better training.

Watch this video where I break down the phases of training every firearms owner, especially those who carry a firearm, should achieve by taking training course and then reinforce routinely.

PHASE 1 - MARKSMANSHIP VALIDATION AND WEAPONS MANIPULATION

Phase 1 is the building block for all other training. To be truly proficient at Phase 1, you must be "unconsciously" competent in weapons manipulations before you even consider moving on to Phase 2. Being unconsciously competent means you do not have to think in order to react and perform the tasks – you can do it in the dark, on the run or anywhere without a thought.

These classes have a variety of different names, but the skills you need to accomplish remain the same. To move on from Phase 1, you need to take several basic classes and practice until the movements are automatic. It’s not uncommon for people who really want to do it correctly to take five Phase 1 classes before moving on to Phase 2.

Some skills that should be a part of Phase 1 training:

Hit your target
- Shot placement is no longer a hope but a reality. This is marksmanship validation.
Assess and self-correct
- The ability to self-correct on the fly means you realized why you missed the shot and correct the issue immediately.
Loading and reloading
- Operate all controls on your weapon without a thought.
Malfunction clearance
- Operate all controls on your weapon without a thought.
One handed operation with both your dominant hand and your reaction hand
- Operate all controls on your weapon without a thought.
Understand gear, holsters, slings etc., benefits and drawbacks and adjust accordingly
- Operate all controls on your weapon without a thought.
Drawstroke from retention (if applicable)
- Operate all controls on your weapon without a thought.

PHASE 2 - DYNAMIC MOVEMENTS AND TACTICS

Once you have mastered the basic operation of the weapon and validated your ability to shoot accurately, it’s time to move to tactics. This is the phase everyone wants to begin with, but it’s crucial that you complete Phase 1 first.

The goal is to understand why your movements and tactics are important and, when ready, work toward concealed carry weapons permitting. This phase teaches real-world applications. Think tactically, and you maximize your survivability.

Some skills that should be covered as part of Phase 2 training:

Difference between cover and concealment
Understanding of ballistics and bullet placement
Understanding of the effects of distance and angles
Room clearing and the use of lights at night or in low-light conditions
Understanding of vehicle dynamics and how to fight in and around a vehicle
Movement with a weapon and team tactics (if applicable)

PHASE 3 - STRESS MANAGEMENT

We never get rid of fear, nerves, and stress no matter how experienced or well-trained we think we are. Stress management is best described in a famous quote by Mike Tyson, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."

Phase 3 is where everything you learned in Phase 1 and 2 are put to use. This can be achieved by classes that focus on force-on-force training. You are placed in situations against another living, breathing opponent. The stress management comes from a pain penalty delivered by a UTM or simulation round, which is basically a high-speed paint ball.

The more force-on-force training you do, the better equipped you are to think normally in a situation that is not normal and increase your survivability.

This is the final step in truly being trained. Everyone can be trained to shoot a bullseye at 15 yards, but it’s different when the target shoots back. Learn to move, think, and win.

Some skills that should be covered as part of Phase 3 training:

Continued application of tactics and dynamic movements learned in Phase 2
Combined with UTM/SIMMs in the use of tactics against another living, breathing opponent, acquired from multiple force-on-force training classes.

Training is a lifetime commitment and no matter how long it takes to get proficient with all three phases it is always good to go back and take refreshers from time to time to keep fundamentals sharp.

CONCLUSION

Whether you use a pistol, a rifle or a shotgun, these phases apply to you. There are classes specifically designed for each weapon’s system, but the training timeline remains the same. Use this timeline as a general view regarding what to seek in your classes. Remember, this is a very general guideline and not all-inclusive.

And remember: YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!

Find classes now: https://www.shootingclasses.com/find-classes/

Boon Talks About Firearm Training on Empty Cases Podcast

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 15:59:29 -0400

It was a pleasure to join Richard Mann on the Empty Cases Podcast.

We discussed my background and how I got into firearms training. Richard asked about the biggest influences for my tactical maturity. We also went over fundamentals, training, and the importance of practice both with and without ammunition.

I explained situational, spatial, and environmental awareness and how they can be used by anyone concerned for their general safety in the current state of the world.

Interested in taking a firearms class near you? Trainers, register as a shooting instructor.

3 Types of Awareness that will Help in Self-Defense

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 23:30:13 -0400

What is awareness and why is it so important? The self-defense community tends to focus on the hard skills of using physical force as the answer to all problems, with very little focus on avoidance other than paying lip service to the idea. By being aware, we may be able to see a potentially life-threatening situation starting to develop. We can then react to the situation faster, deescalate the situation all together, or avoid it by leaving the area. In order to do this, you will need to develop a high level of Situational, Environmental, and Spatial awareness.

Awareness

The Merriam-Webster definition of awareness is “the quality or state of being aware: knowledge and understanding that something is happening or exists.” We can break awareness down into three equally important categories: Situational, Environmental, and Spatial awareness.

It is important to understand that the human mind can only be in five mental states. These same five states are equal to Jeff Cooper’s color codes of conditions, which you might already be more familiar with:

Unaware = Condition White
Aware = Condition Yellow
Alerted = Condition Orange
Alarmed= Condition Red
Panicked = Condition Black

Two states we never want to be in are unaware and panicked. Ideally, we try to live in the general awareness state, specifically focusing on Situational, Environmental, and Spatial awareness.

Situational Awareness

Situational Awareness is being aware of who is in your vicinity and what they are doing.

An example would be paying attention to everyone who is entering and leaving a restaurant you are at. You are aware of their dress, mannerisms or body language, who they are accompanied by, what they have in their hands, and maybe even what their conversations are about. You might also be aware of what food they are ordering and what they’re paying attention to and why.

Environmental Awareness

Environmental awareness is paying attention to not only your avenues of ingress, egress, cover, and concealment, but atmospherics as well. What is the vibe of your environment? Does it feel festive and friendly or can you sense tension and negativity?

Environmental awareness also includes being aware of weather conditions and any hazards such as a slippery floor or uneven terrain you may be standing on. What if you needed to defend yourself, yet you were standing in snow with patches of ice? This environment could affect your response. Or what if you are wearing slick dress shoes on a well buffed and waxed floor? These are very important details we don’t tend to take into consideration when we think of self-defense.

Spatial Awareness

Spatial awareness is all about proximity: the farther away I am from danger, the more time I have to process what is happening and formulate a more informed response. Ask yourself the following questions. How far am I from the exit, entrance, or hard cover? How close were those sounds of gunshots and screaming? More importantly, do I have to safely use cover and concealment to exit the area or am I so close to the incident that I am forced to defend myself in order to have any chance of survival?

Putting it All Together

So, what could it look like if we put it all together? Let’s go back to that fictional restaurant where we are eating lunch. Because we had good Situational Awareness, we noticed a man adjusting his waistline outside the restaurant window before coming in the main entrance and walking up to the counter—which is out of your view. You hear the man curse at the cashier in a loud tone. Then, you hear gunshots.

Because you were already aware of the suspicious behavior, you already identified how close your cover and concealment was (Spatial Awareness) and move undetected to a brick wall that leads to the location of your closest and safest exit, which is a side emergency exit door (Environmental Awareness). You are able to remove yourself to safety and call 911. You can also be a good witness for the arriving law enforcement.

Next time you are out and about, try to pay more attention to who is around you, what they are doing, and how close they are to you by practicing good Situational, Environmental, and Spatial Awareness. Stay alert and stay alive.

For additional self-defense tips, read more on the ShootingClasses.com blog. You can also find firearms training classes near you that specialize in self-defense.

How to Find Firearms Training Classes Near You with Boon Benton

Mon, 20 May 2019 20:14:22 -0400

Dave "Boon" Benton, Benghazi Hero and ShootingClasses.com Partner, describes the three phases of firearms training and how ShootingClasses.com helps firearms students find all levels of shooting instructors, from basic CCW courses to more advanced training. Watch the video below.

Looking for shooting lessons to advance your skills and knowledge of firearms? Wondering, “Where can I take a concealed carry class near me?” Find a firearms class near you today.

Tools for Better Firearms Coaching

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 18:17:52 -0400

As you get older – and more removed from formal schooling – your style of learning changes. Malcolm Knowles, a U.S.-based adult educator, developed the Theory of Andragogy for adult learners. He realized that adults need effectively designed curriculum and specialized instructions based on how they learn.

When applied to firearms instruction, the Adult Learning Theory helps you as the instructor better transfer your knowledge set to your students. Adults can only digest two to three differing pieces of information at a time. They learn based off their own individual experiences, needs and values.

As part of your own firearms instructor training, learn about the three types of adult learners. A visual learner prefers to see a step-by-step process in order to learn. An auditory learner prefers to listen to a description of the process or concept. A kinesthetic learner prefers to perform a task to learn the process or concept.

When you teach using the EDIP method, you can incorporate experiences for all three types of learning to better reach your students. EDIP stands for Explain, Demonstrate, Imitate and Practice:

Explain – Use only your voice to describe the technique or drill
Demonstrate – Show your students how to do a technique or drill
Imitate – Have your students do the technique or drill themselves after watching you
Practice – Have your students practice the task at 50% speed before building to the regular speed of the technique or drill

Here are some effective techniques you can use while coaching firearms students on the firing line:

Stand beside your student on their strong-hand shooting side to better see their performance and manipulations during the drill.
Be close enough to your student during drills that you could take immediate action if necessary.
During drills, focus on the shooter and not the target. You can check the accuracy and precision on the target after the drill.
Ensure the shooter is adhering to range safety guidelines and correctly applying the fundamentals. For example, look for tendons in the hands tightening before firing, eyes closing before firing and holding one’s breath.
Give constructive criticism, and only fix one thing at a time. Then, give positive reinforcement.
Use simple language and keep it short. Don’t over-coach.

Remember that the role of the instructor or coach is to transfer knowledge to the student. It’s not about what you can do, but what you can get your student to do.

Put your new skills to work and sign up for your instructor account today at ShootingClasses.com.

Interested in learning how to become a firearms instructor? You’re in the right place!

Pistol Immediate Action Tips: Defensive Firearms Use

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 16:22:33 -0500

In defensive use, it’s important to know how to keep your pistol running. Naturally, a pistol will stop running if it’s out of ammo and requires reloading. Other times, there’s an interruption in the pistol’s cycle of operation.

A pistol’s cycle of operation includes loading the magazine, releasing the slide forward (which feeds a round into the chamber and locks the action closed) and then firing the round by pulling the trigger. As the round leaves the barrel, the slide unlocks. The extractor grabs the rim of the case as the slide moves rearward until it contacts the ejector, pushing the empty casting out. The recoil spring pushes the slide forward, repeating the cycle of operation.

It’s important to know the difference between a pistol malfunction and a stoppage.

Pistol Malfunction

A pistol malfunction may or may not cause an interruption in the cycle of operation. For example, when a pistol fires with the safety engaged, that’s a malfunction. You can usually detect malfunctions during function checks, routine cleaning and scheduled inspections.

Pistol Stoppages

A stoppage is an unintentional interruption in the operation cycle. An example would be a failure to feed due to an improperly seated magazine. Stoppages are usually the result of worn parts or improper care and cleaning of the weapon.

Commonly encountered stoppages:

Failure to fire. You press the trigger, the hammer/striker falls, but nothing happens. Some possible causes are a defective round, broken firing pin or worn striker spring.
Failure to feed. There are a few possible causes when a round doesn’t feed into the chamber from the magazine after firing and completing a full cycle of operation. This could be due to an improperly seated magazine, a dirty or dry weapon and or a dirty or worn magazine spring.
Stove pipe/Failure to extract. The spent case does not eject completely from the pistol and catches in the ejection port when the slide goes forward. Some possible causes are a defective extractor, the shooter not proper locking his/her wrists or a worn recoil spring.
Double feed. This stoppage occurs when the slide goes forward during the feeding step of the cycle of operation and tries to feed a round into the chamber when there is still a casing or round in there. This may be due to failure to extract, a defective magazine or worn spring or the shooter not properly clearing another stoppage.

How to Respond to Failure to Fire, Feed or Stove Pipe/Extract

The same response can clear a failure to fire, feed, extract/stove pipe. Immediate action, done high and close to your body, allows for stability and leverage while moving.

TAP the bottom of the magazine to insure it’s properly seated.
RACK the slide to chamber a new round.
SWEEP your safety if your pistol has an external manual safety.
RE-EVALUATE to see if the situation still requires justifiable use of deadly force.

It’s commonly thought that clearing a stove pipe with this method may cause a double feed. This isn’t true. Sticking with one immediate action for most stoppages increases your chance of surviving a deadly force encounter. To rack the slide, twist the pistol in toward your body as you rack the slide to chamber a new round. Assisted by gravity, casings fall to the ground instead of back into the chamber, which could possibly cause a double feed. You’ll be able to visually verify you’ve chambered a new round.

How to Respond to a Double Feed

If you’ve identified the stoppage as double feed and not just battery outage, then take this immediate action:

LOCK the slide to the rear.
RIP the magazine out of the well.
RACK the slide until the stoppage is clear. Leave the slide locked to the rear.
INSERT a new magazine into the well and release the slide to chamber a new round.
RE-EVALUATE to see if the situation still requires justifiable use of deadly force.

Immediate action takes time. You should always do it on the move and off line toward cover, if possible. Or, if the threat’s too close, straight into the threat, utilizing integrated combative skills and using the weapon as a striking tool. With proper care and quality ammo, stoppages may be rare, but you should still practice clearing them.

Looking to learn more about defensive firearms use? Start your firearms class search today.

Three Phases of Defensive Firearms Training

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 14:18:52 -0400

So, you made the moral decision to buy a defensive firearm and train in its proper application and the justifiable use of force. Don't take the local four-hour concealed weapons permit course and think you'll be prepared to defend yourself and your family. It's important to understand the phases of Defensive Firearms Training, which properly prepare you to be competent and safe.

Defensive Firearms Training has three phases:

Weapons manipulation and fundamentals of marksmanship
Applied tactics and dynamic live-fire validation
Force-on-force scenarios

Phase 1: Weapons Manipulation and Fundamentals of Marksmanship

First find a basic defensive pistol course from a credible firearms instructor that covers, at a minimum:

Firearms safety
Drawing from the holster
Fundamentals of marksmanship
Loading/Slide Lock Reloading/Tactical Reloading/Unloading
Clearing stoppages
Justifiable use of force
Concealed carry concepts
Mindset/Situational awareness
Primary hand only shooting
Multiple threats
Shooting on the move
Cover and concealment

Once you can safely draw your firearm from concealment, place accurate shots on an eight-inch area out to seven yards on demand with one hand or two, and keep the pistol running, then look at Phase 2.

Phase 2: Applied Tactics and Dynamic Live-Fire Validation

In Phase 2, you'll learn and practice applying tactics, techniques and procedures during live-fire dynamic drills and scenarios. If you don't have a solid grasp of fundamentals and weapons manipulations, you won’t get as much out of this phase. If you're unprepared, you may even take away from other students in the class who are ready.

Some examples of Phase 2 are:

Low-light techniques
Vehicle defense
Home defense
Extended courses of fire requiring dynamic movement and use of cover and asymmetric shooting positions based on scenarios

Phase 3: Force-on-Force Scenarios

Phase 3 brings it all together. You apply your TTPs and weapons manipulations and fundamentals of marksmanship against living, breathing role players in scripted, controlled realistic scenarios using marking cartridges or paintball. Ideally, you want a course using Simmunition or UTM-converted pistols and ammo, but you can receive good training with paintball or air soft. Ensure the instructor has completed an approved force-on-force safety program. Make sure the appropriate safety gear and procedures are in place. Some things force-on-force training should focus on include:

Managing unknown contacts/De-escalation
Decision making and articulating justifiable use of force under stress
Integrated combatives and in-fight weapon access
Post-medical procedures for you, other victims, and the threat
Interacting with responding LEOs

Training is constant and never stops, but once you reach a competent baseline, it's easier to maintain your skill level. You should practice live-fire weapons manipulations and fundamentals of marksmanship at least monthly. Drawing from concealment, reloads and even some tactics such as clearing structures, low light, and vehicle defense can be practiced dry at home. Attempt to train tactics and dynamic live-fire scenarios and force-on-force as frequently as your budget will allow, but a minimum of once per year.

Looking for shooting lessons to advance your skills and knowledge of firearms? Search firearms training classes in your area.