Reality Of Concealed Carry Weapons Training
With the constant talk about gun
control and the increase of people including many of my students to go out and
get concealed carry permits I decided to spend some time on this subject And
dispel some of the myths about having and using a firearm during a personal
attack. Around the first of February 2013 the students in my weapons class were
instructed to dress in street clothes, bring in their personal unloaded firearm,
and wear it in the holster or however they would usually carry it. It was also
made clear that this kind of training would also apply to any weapon that would
be carried concealed. After spending several months on this one topic the
following was written by my senior student (and wife) after the class was asked
what they had taken away from the class. I feel she and the others completely understood
and got the point of the training. This is what she had to say…
The number of people obtaining Concealed Weapon Permits (CWP) is quickly increasing for valid reasons. I obtained my CWP and am aware of the 8 hour course and its instruction. It reviews the State’s carry laws and reciprocity with other states, discusses the carrier’s discretion when shooting in self-defense situations, responsibility and liability with respect to shooting scenarios, and the course requires each applicant to qualify at a range. The CWP course instruction is mandated by the State and is typically the only “formal” training that most conceal carriers obtain, other than target practicing at a range. While applicants learn the legalities and responsibilities of being a conceal carrier, they are typically not educated on when and how to draw their weapon in a high stress situation. Upon their completion of the CWP course, most conceal carriers obtain their CWP and feel that since they have a gun they are “Good to go!” But, are they really?
I recently spent three months training on gun drills. The training was initially implemented at my dojo due to the increasing number of students obtaining their CWPs. We addressed “what if” scenarios for when we are attacked by someone with a gun or knife and “what if” scenarios of being attacked by someone unarmed, all-the-while we (the victim) were conceal carrying. The initial outcome was not expected. I quickly learned how difficult it was to draw my concealed weapon when the attacker was right on top of me or to draw when I had a weapon pointed at me. It is impossible to reach in my clothes, grab my weapon, draw, point, and then shoot at a subject who just simply has to flinch his finger to pull a trigger. As my instructor said, “You can’t outrun his finger, so you must outrun his mind.”
In our class we were presented with hundreds of “what if” scenarios. We had real guns pointed at our heads, faces, torso, throats, etc. from different angles and distances. Our attackers would yell and curse at us, shove us, strike us in the head with the barrel of their weapon, and even pair up and we would have two guns pointed at us at once. Sometimes we could give the attacker our wallet or keys and he would go away. But, most of the time, even after complying, our attacker would want more or become more aggressive, thus providing us with many different scenarios in which we must respond. In the beginning of our training I, for one, was eager to draw my weapon – after all, I have a CWP!! It ended much like an old western shoot out – who was quicker? It wasn’t me, nor any of us when we were the victim. Trying to get our weapon out from the holster and pointed toward the attacker before he pulled the trigger was impossible….initially. And, for the ladies who carry in their purse, the purse is probably what your attacker is going to demand or initially take from you. If you hand it over you just gave him a loaded gun, possibly another one. And, if that isn’t what he wants, any quick movement toward your purse will cause him to react.
In our training, we learned not to be so eager to draw our own weapon or too eager to grab his. Instead, we were trained to get the subject talking. Ask him, “What do you want?” Get him to yell at you. Get him to command you. While he’s talking he isn’t thinking about pulling the trigger or attacking you at that specific moment. And, while you are “talking” to your attacker is when you set yourself up, get your hands positioned, look at your options, determine which direction you are going to go, and you can close the gap between you and your attacker. This concept of getting him talking provides me the time and opportunity I need to get close to my attacker’s weapon in order for me to retain his weapon. But, just because I get my hands on his weapon doesn’t mean I’m free and clear. We discovered quickly that we needed to always be cautious as to where his weapon was pointed. My moving his weapon in front of my body may cause an accidental discharge, or in the event of a knife I could cut myself, that could be fatal to me. So, we were required to be cautious as to how we positioned his weapon, our weapon, and our body. It is similar to a math problem with hundreds of different variables – only with the correct equation will you obtain the correct answer – except in a self-defense situation, the wrong answer can be fatal.
It was a grueling and exhausting three months of training. My wrists were sore from the weapon being torqued a hundred plus times a class. My grip strength was diminished and my hands were torn to shreds by the sharp edges of the gun sights. I was bruised from head to toe from running into elbows, knees, or the gun itself. It is extremely hard training. It is extremely intense and if it isn’t taken seriously then we are sure not to survive. We were not training to “win” but training to survive. We made it as real as possible, short of putting a round in the chamber. While everyone should undergo similar training, it is clearly not for everyone’s preference. During the training I learned a lot about myself. I learned in order to survive I needed patience. I needed to remain calm. Yet, I needed to make my attacker think I was terrified. He needed to think his intimidation was working. If I looked like a challenge then he was more cautious and would take care of me early. During our training we learned acting skills. I would beg and cry and act confused, all the while setting myself up. This mental training was the most exhaustive and the most difficult of all. We as humans are taught to be proud and stand our ground. Unfortunately, the manner in which we defeat our attacker becomes misconstrued and human nature kicks in and we think that bowing our chest out, gritting our teeth, and flipping on the rage switch is the necessary response. This is incorrect and, quite frankly, the topic for a whole other discussion!
During our training we discovered that we very rarely drew our own concealed weapon. The opportunity was not always there. Instead, we learned to first retain his weapon before we could safely draw ours. When we would “rush” to draw ours we almost always died (got shot). I remember getting tunnel vision and forgetting that my attacker already has his weapon drawn. Or, that my attacker is beating the crap out of me while I’m trying to get my weapon out. It was a very humbling experience as I died a thousand deaths during this training. It was also a very enlightening experience. I carry yet I don’t feel safe because I have a weapon. I feel safer with the knowledge I learned over the past three months. I also feel more aware that at any point can my weapon become my demise, especially if I let my focus be drawing my weapon instead of dealing with my attacker.
My training made me realize the several weaknesses in the conceal carry concept. In South Carolina, most CWP courses are typically taught by retired / former law enforcement officers but the course curriculum is mandated by the State. The training provided to officers by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy is more in-depth than the 8 hour CWP course. Officers are trained on shoot / don’t shoot scenarios, tightening their shot patterns, aiming for specific target areas, rapid fire, shooting from the hip, shooting during high stress situations, and “weapon retention” - a phrase that is spoken often in the criminal justice field. The academy trains officers on how to retain their weapon if they are attacked so their weapon does not end up in the hands of their assailant. Officers are also trained on how to disarm someone with a gun or knife through the use of hand-to-hand combat. It is very difficult training and takes hours upon hours of practice to potentially feel confident in applying a disarming technique. However, the State felt this type of training is important and implemented it into their class for all officers. So, why not blend some of these same weapon retention concepts in with the required CWP course curriculum?
The next weakness I realized was that many CWP instructors teach with a mindset that their students share their similar knowledge and/or experience, but this is simply not the case. Many CWP applicants are civilians with little knowledge about weapons or weapon retention. Officers are used to carrying their “duty” weapon which is typically worn on their hip, in a specially designed retention holster, and in plain sight. Of course, some departments permit conceal carry in ankle holsters and such. However, their main weapon for the duration of their career is worn in a retention holster outside their clothing. Officers open carry because it provides a quicker draw response without the hindrance of their clothing getting in their way - the less obstruction, the quicker the draw, the more likely of their survival. This is a great concept and I understand many states are entertaining the idea of “open carry” for civilians. However, currently in South Carolina, civilians are only permitted to carry concealed - under our clothing, in our purse, somewhere on our person, unseen by others, and purportedly only to be accessible by the conceal carrier.
The irony is that it really isn’t accessible to the carrier. Provided you have the time and ability to expose and draw, you might be ok. But, what about when your attacker is right on you? How easy is it to draw that concealed weapon? In case you haven’t tried, it is extremely difficult – speaking from experience.
In speaking with many CWP carriers, they admit that they never considered how difficult it would be to draw their weapon. They admitted that this was not a topic of discussion during their CWP course. Because many conceal carriers do not consider the “what if I can’t draw” scenario, I feel they are getting a false sense of security by relying too much on their weapon to save the day. I am uncertain as to why CWP courses do not address the furtherance of gun training. Perhaps because gun defense tactics are difficult and require dedication to the levels the average person is not willing to commit or perhaps because most CWP instructors are unwilling to provide that level of training as there is no State requirement they do so. It is unsettling that so many conceal carriers simply do not know the flip side to carrying. We learned quickly during these past three months that just because we have a weapon doesn’t mean we can get to it and use it. I’ve known of many cases, that despite their training, officers lost their own gun during struggles.
So why bother even obtaining a CWP? The purpose of a CWP is to be further prepared to defend oneself, a constitutional right of every American. Self-defense is not just one act or one type of training. Self-defense is an all-encompassing concept. It is just as much mental as it is physical, just as much fist as it is foot, just as much knife as it is gun. CWP courses and conceal carry are just facets of self-defense. They are not the only means of self-defense. Unfortunately I hear all too often “I don’t need that training, I got a gun.” This mindset is ignorant and dangerous. The mere fact they own a gun and can shoot at a paper target does not mean they are proficient enough to use it to defend themselves in a real life, high stress situation. Target practicing is not realistic training for the purpose of conceal carry. Stress factors such as fear, aggression, physical contact, adrenaline, and an armed attacker are absent at the firing range. After all, those paper targets don’t shoot back! I am not inferring that target shooting is a waste of time. Target shooting is also another facet of self-defense. One should never draw their gun without aiming. Nor should one draw their gun if they have no knowledge of how it works.
It only seems appropriate that if one is permitted to carry then they should be responsible and knowledgeable in every aspect of that weapon. I understand that it cannot be expected that all conceal carriers become well rounded, skilled fighters. However, the furtherance of the carrier’s training should at least be discussed, explained, and advised during the CWP course. A conceal carrier should never finish a CWP course and think with any confidence “I got this! I’m good to go.” They should instead finish the course with the understanding that they now know just enough to get them killed, possibly quicker. They should finish the course with the understanding that they need additional training. And, they should finish the course with an understanding of what training options are available and suited for their purpose. A certain way to assure that conceal carriers have a true understanding of their responsibility as gun owners would be to incorporate additional discussion about weapon retention into the CWP training curriculum. Unfortunately, I cannot foresee any physical weapon retention training actually being provided or required by the State. But, CWP instructors could at least be required to acknowledge and discuss the issue of weapon retention. CWP courses need to make civilians understand that to ensure their safety they cannot rely solely on their gun. They must be just as knowledgeable in how to draw as when to draw.
It is my right as a citizen to own and carry a gun to protect myself. However it is my duty and responsibility as a conceal carrier to acknowledge that my mere ownership of a gun will not save my life. Guns don’t save lives, trained people with guns save lives.
The number of people obtaining Concealed Weapon Permits (CWP) is quickly increasing for valid reasons. I obtained my CWP and am aware of the 8 hour course and its instruction. It reviews the State’s carry laws and reciprocity with other states, discusses the carrier’s discretion when shooting in self-defense situations, responsibility and liability with respect to shooting scenarios, and the course requires each applicant to qualify at a range. The CWP course instruction is mandated by the State and is typically the only “formal” training that most conceal carriers obtain, other than target practicing at a range. While applicants learn the legalities and responsibilities of being a conceal carrier, they are typically not educated on when and how to draw their weapon in a high stress situation. Upon their completion of the CWP course, most conceal carriers obtain their CWP and feel that since they have a gun they are “Good to go!” But, are they really?
I recently spent three months training on gun drills. The training was initially implemented at my dojo due to the increasing number of students obtaining their CWPs. We addressed “what if” scenarios for when we are attacked by someone with a gun or knife and “what if” scenarios of being attacked by someone unarmed, all-the-while we (the victim) were conceal carrying. The initial outcome was not expected. I quickly learned how difficult it was to draw my concealed weapon when the attacker was right on top of me or to draw when I had a weapon pointed at me. It is impossible to reach in my clothes, grab my weapon, draw, point, and then shoot at a subject who just simply has to flinch his finger to pull a trigger. As my instructor said, “You can’t outrun his finger, so you must outrun his mind.”
In our class we were presented with hundreds of “what if” scenarios. We had real guns pointed at our heads, faces, torso, throats, etc. from different angles and distances. Our attackers would yell and curse at us, shove us, strike us in the head with the barrel of their weapon, and even pair up and we would have two guns pointed at us at once. Sometimes we could give the attacker our wallet or keys and he would go away. But, most of the time, even after complying, our attacker would want more or become more aggressive, thus providing us with many different scenarios in which we must respond. In the beginning of our training I, for one, was eager to draw my weapon – after all, I have a CWP!! It ended much like an old western shoot out – who was quicker? It wasn’t me, nor any of us when we were the victim. Trying to get our weapon out from the holster and pointed toward the attacker before he pulled the trigger was impossible….initially. And, for the ladies who carry in their purse, the purse is probably what your attacker is going to demand or initially take from you. If you hand it over you just gave him a loaded gun, possibly another one. And, if that isn’t what he wants, any quick movement toward your purse will cause him to react.
In our training, we learned not to be so eager to draw our own weapon or too eager to grab his. Instead, we were trained to get the subject talking. Ask him, “What do you want?” Get him to yell at you. Get him to command you. While he’s talking he isn’t thinking about pulling the trigger or attacking you at that specific moment. And, while you are “talking” to your attacker is when you set yourself up, get your hands positioned, look at your options, determine which direction you are going to go, and you can close the gap between you and your attacker. This concept of getting him talking provides me the time and opportunity I need to get close to my attacker’s weapon in order for me to retain his weapon. But, just because I get my hands on his weapon doesn’t mean I’m free and clear. We discovered quickly that we needed to always be cautious as to where his weapon was pointed. My moving his weapon in front of my body may cause an accidental discharge, or in the event of a knife I could cut myself, that could be fatal to me. So, we were required to be cautious as to how we positioned his weapon, our weapon, and our body. It is similar to a math problem with hundreds of different variables – only with the correct equation will you obtain the correct answer – except in a self-defense situation, the wrong answer can be fatal.
It was a grueling and exhausting three months of training. My wrists were sore from the weapon being torqued a hundred plus times a class. My grip strength was diminished and my hands were torn to shreds by the sharp edges of the gun sights. I was bruised from head to toe from running into elbows, knees, or the gun itself. It is extremely hard training. It is extremely intense and if it isn’t taken seriously then we are sure not to survive. We were not training to “win” but training to survive. We made it as real as possible, short of putting a round in the chamber. While everyone should undergo similar training, it is clearly not for everyone’s preference. During the training I learned a lot about myself. I learned in order to survive I needed patience. I needed to remain calm. Yet, I needed to make my attacker think I was terrified. He needed to think his intimidation was working. If I looked like a challenge then he was more cautious and would take care of me early. During our training we learned acting skills. I would beg and cry and act confused, all the while setting myself up. This mental training was the most exhaustive and the most difficult of all. We as humans are taught to be proud and stand our ground. Unfortunately, the manner in which we defeat our attacker becomes misconstrued and human nature kicks in and we think that bowing our chest out, gritting our teeth, and flipping on the rage switch is the necessary response. This is incorrect and, quite frankly, the topic for a whole other discussion!
During our training we discovered that we very rarely drew our own concealed weapon. The opportunity was not always there. Instead, we learned to first retain his weapon before we could safely draw ours. When we would “rush” to draw ours we almost always died (got shot). I remember getting tunnel vision and forgetting that my attacker already has his weapon drawn. Or, that my attacker is beating the crap out of me while I’m trying to get my weapon out. It was a very humbling experience as I died a thousand deaths during this training. It was also a very enlightening experience. I carry yet I don’t feel safe because I have a weapon. I feel safer with the knowledge I learned over the past three months. I also feel more aware that at any point can my weapon become my demise, especially if I let my focus be drawing my weapon instead of dealing with my attacker.
My training made me realize the several weaknesses in the conceal carry concept. In South Carolina, most CWP courses are typically taught by retired / former law enforcement officers but the course curriculum is mandated by the State. The training provided to officers by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy is more in-depth than the 8 hour CWP course. Officers are trained on shoot / don’t shoot scenarios, tightening their shot patterns, aiming for specific target areas, rapid fire, shooting from the hip, shooting during high stress situations, and “weapon retention” - a phrase that is spoken often in the criminal justice field. The academy trains officers on how to retain their weapon if they are attacked so their weapon does not end up in the hands of their assailant. Officers are also trained on how to disarm someone with a gun or knife through the use of hand-to-hand combat. It is very difficult training and takes hours upon hours of practice to potentially feel confident in applying a disarming technique. However, the State felt this type of training is important and implemented it into their class for all officers. So, why not blend some of these same weapon retention concepts in with the required CWP course curriculum?
The next weakness I realized was that many CWP instructors teach with a mindset that their students share their similar knowledge and/or experience, but this is simply not the case. Many CWP applicants are civilians with little knowledge about weapons or weapon retention. Officers are used to carrying their “duty” weapon which is typically worn on their hip, in a specially designed retention holster, and in plain sight. Of course, some departments permit conceal carry in ankle holsters and such. However, their main weapon for the duration of their career is worn in a retention holster outside their clothing. Officers open carry because it provides a quicker draw response without the hindrance of their clothing getting in their way - the less obstruction, the quicker the draw, the more likely of their survival. This is a great concept and I understand many states are entertaining the idea of “open carry” for civilians. However, currently in South Carolina, civilians are only permitted to carry concealed - under our clothing, in our purse, somewhere on our person, unseen by others, and purportedly only to be accessible by the conceal carrier.
The irony is that it really isn’t accessible to the carrier. Provided you have the time and ability to expose and draw, you might be ok. But, what about when your attacker is right on you? How easy is it to draw that concealed weapon? In case you haven’t tried, it is extremely difficult – speaking from experience.
In speaking with many CWP carriers, they admit that they never considered how difficult it would be to draw their weapon. They admitted that this was not a topic of discussion during their CWP course. Because many conceal carriers do not consider the “what if I can’t draw” scenario, I feel they are getting a false sense of security by relying too much on their weapon to save the day. I am uncertain as to why CWP courses do not address the furtherance of gun training. Perhaps because gun defense tactics are difficult and require dedication to the levels the average person is not willing to commit or perhaps because most CWP instructors are unwilling to provide that level of training as there is no State requirement they do so. It is unsettling that so many conceal carriers simply do not know the flip side to carrying. We learned quickly during these past three months that just because we have a weapon doesn’t mean we can get to it and use it. I’ve known of many cases, that despite their training, officers lost their own gun during struggles.
So why bother even obtaining a CWP? The purpose of a CWP is to be further prepared to defend oneself, a constitutional right of every American. Self-defense is not just one act or one type of training. Self-defense is an all-encompassing concept. It is just as much mental as it is physical, just as much fist as it is foot, just as much knife as it is gun. CWP courses and conceal carry are just facets of self-defense. They are not the only means of self-defense. Unfortunately I hear all too often “I don’t need that training, I got a gun.” This mindset is ignorant and dangerous. The mere fact they own a gun and can shoot at a paper target does not mean they are proficient enough to use it to defend themselves in a real life, high stress situation. Target practicing is not realistic training for the purpose of conceal carry. Stress factors such as fear, aggression, physical contact, adrenaline, and an armed attacker are absent at the firing range. After all, those paper targets don’t shoot back! I am not inferring that target shooting is a waste of time. Target shooting is also another facet of self-defense. One should never draw their gun without aiming. Nor should one draw their gun if they have no knowledge of how it works.
It only seems appropriate that if one is permitted to carry then they should be responsible and knowledgeable in every aspect of that weapon. I understand that it cannot be expected that all conceal carriers become well rounded, skilled fighters. However, the furtherance of the carrier’s training should at least be discussed, explained, and advised during the CWP course. A conceal carrier should never finish a CWP course and think with any confidence “I got this! I’m good to go.” They should instead finish the course with the understanding that they now know just enough to get them killed, possibly quicker. They should finish the course with the understanding that they need additional training. And, they should finish the course with an understanding of what training options are available and suited for their purpose. A certain way to assure that conceal carriers have a true understanding of their responsibility as gun owners would be to incorporate additional discussion about weapon retention into the CWP training curriculum. Unfortunately, I cannot foresee any physical weapon retention training actually being provided or required by the State. But, CWP instructors could at least be required to acknowledge and discuss the issue of weapon retention. CWP courses need to make civilians understand that to ensure their safety they cannot rely solely on their gun. They must be just as knowledgeable in how to draw as when to draw.
It is my right as a citizen to own and carry a gun to protect myself. However it is my duty and responsibility as a conceal carrier to acknowledge that my mere ownership of a gun will not save my life. Guns don’t save lives, trained people with guns save lives.
