[mike1956]

So what you seem to be suggesting is, you're not a "gun guy", just someone who carries a gun with a false sense of security. I'm not surprised, many here are of the same flavor.

That's one of the shortcomings of "gun" forums, in my estimation...

Gun guys often do not really fit in very well.

 

[mike1956]

It's been estimated that about 1% of gun carriers ever take any training other than what's required to get their ticket. It's estimated that in 2019, 6,000,000 people carried a gun daily in the US. Leading one to estimate the number of people who take some formal training with their handgun which would be about 60,000. I seriously doubt 60K people take training but going by the 1% number of those who do seems to suggest just that.

Gun guys= people that carry; people that shoot more than recreationally [ like various pistol matches ]; people who take more than a basics course of handhold, trigger control and sight alignment showing a bare minimum of skills.

It's ALL good, now I'm one who doesn't shoot but once a year when my brother comes down for Xmas, BUT, I've got oodles of time on guns to the tune of 1.2 million rounds through pistols, more high level training on staying alive with a handgun than most will ever attain.

I once stopped shooting for 5 years in the mid 90's. When I picked up the shooting box and went for the first time in that 5 years, the proprioception was still there for all the skills. With the exception of the trigger finger needing more tune up to get to that 5 rds a second again [ 4 per was like oh so ho hum LOL ]

I'm no longer a gun guy, many times not carrying a handgun for weeks during a motor trip with my brother or crossing into Canada or Mexico [ verboten ]. Just taking the PUG 22mag in the tank bag [ which goes every where with me when off the motor.

Whatever you consider yourself, you are likely one of the first guys I call whenever the need or urge to talk to a gun guy arises.

 

[mike1956]

So, that all raises a question, in the context of your own experience and perspective... What is "enough" training?

You said that very few people get ANY training beyond the bare minimum "Concealed Carry Class." And I'd bet dollars to donuts you (or whoever "estimated") are right about that. I have no doubts. Even 1% may be generous / optimistic.

SO... If a gun owner / carrier takes one more class beyond the CCW class.... or four private sessions with a pistol instructor.... Is that enough to spring them from the "prison of Brownie's consternation?" Are they OK at that point, in your eyes? Or do they have to take more? Two classes? Ten classes? Yearly classes?

At what point is a gun person considered "respectable" in your eyes? And is it a reasonable expectation?

More a matter of demonstrable competency and proficiency than "enough", in my estimation.

 

[mike1956]

That all said, even at my level of proficiency, I think I'm ahead of 98% of the rest of the nation's gun owners.

Check out the Dunning Kruger video I posted on that other thread.

 

[mike1956]

A worthy goal, but on my best day I wasn't likely in the top 1%.

You are definitely within that realm when it comes to instructors.