Firearms Training Is More Than Shooting

jmaccauley

There are many CP operators, as well as CP/PPS hopefuls, who believe that attending a basic firearms program will look good on your CV and make you employable. Any training that you attend needs to cover much more than the mechanics of making the projectile flee the confines of the barrel. If proper safety and secure handling are not stressed, we get to hear the stories (sometimes tragic, sometimes funny) of accidental discharges. I prefer the term negligent discharge however, because I firmly believe that the gun doesn't shoot without our assistance. For those who treat the firearm as a familiar and necessary piece of equipment, the safe handling should become reflexive. We give it little thought. For those who may be handling them for the first time, and as a reminder to us vets, these are the golden rules:

1. All guns are always loaded, unless verified otherwise.
2. Never point the muzzle at anything you do not wish to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until ready to fire.
4. Be aware of your target, backstop and beyond.


Here's what happens when we get lax
Last update - 15:51 11/11/2008 Blair's bodyguard accidentally fires gun at Ben Gurion airport By Zohar Blumenkrantz, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel News, Tony Blair
International Mideast peace envoy Tony Blair's body guard caused a fright on Tuesday when he accidentally fired his handgun at Ben-Gurion International Airport.

No one was injured in the incident, which occurred outside the terminal building at around 3:00 P.M. Blair, a former British prime minister, was preparing leave Israel at the time.

Israel Airport Authority security guards and police rushed to the scene after the shot. An initial probe revealed that the incident was due to an error by the bodyguard, a foreign national.

elsiejay

I presume there aren't any Britsh guys available for the job...........

jmaccauley

I believe they were brits. This was written in an Israeli newspaper.

Heno

The BG was lucky discharging a weapon at an Israeli airport could have had fatal consequences for him!

I've seen how Isrealis react to someone even giving a bit of lip to the security in Ben Gurion, they don not f**k about!!

Heno

internationalbodyguard.eu

5. Never believe it won't happen to you. i have seen the most experienced guys make that mistake.

Pistolero

6. Gentlemen, it`s not a Black and Decker power drill, Ladies, it`s not a
hair drier.

7. It has only three functions, to kill, to seriously injure or to threaten.

8. It`s not your friend, and will turn on you at the slightest indiscresion.

9. Learn to shoot and handle it to a very good standard, or don`t bother
at all.

Scab

I have to disagree on point seven, Pistolero, a firearms function is to kill. Anything else you use it for risks killing.

Shooting to wound, threatening, hammering in tent pegs, propping up a table...

Pistolero

You`ve got a point on the first one, seriously injuring is usually a bye product of trying to kill them, or rather `stop` them, depending on the law of the country you are in.

Shooting to wound, I`ll agree is a none starter since no one is good enough to choose their spot, other than centre mass, with a handgun.

Threatening - holding and ordering a subject at gunpoint is using it as a threat.

Hammering in tent pegs, holding up a table etc. I`ve seen some guns that would be better suited to that than using them for defence........

Scab

Perhaps a question of semantics; but whatever you use a firearm form, its design purpose is of nothing more than killing.

senseistuart

practice practice practice........ the right practice. Drills and SOPs down to a tee, tactical and range practices.