Criminals, particularly gang members, are becoming less frightened of being confronted by a citizen with a firearm. I just read an FBI report where exhaustive interviews were held with incarcerated gang members.
Their responses definitely contradicted many of the old-school “truths” that we learn in the course of our firearms training. To condense the report into some of the salient points:
1. Criminals are scared of being confronted with a firearm.
False. Most gangbangers have seen plenty of firearms, have been shot at a few times, and may carry one or more gunshot scars. They are not afraid of a gunfight.
2. If you point a gun at them, they’ll run away.
False. They will most likely shoot you where you stand. If you plan to draw a firearm, you’d better be prepared to fire it immediately.
3. Crooks never practice and are really bad shots. Since I just spent $$$ on a training course, I’m superman, in comparison.
False. Gang members may not use the latest techniques, they do indeed practice, and some are quite good. They use their firearms in confrontations regularly-
you don’t.4. All it would normally take is a couple shots to end a confrontation.
False. More and more confrontations are against multiple assailants, who may not bug out when the shooting starts. That handy little Kel-Tec in your pocket is about worthless in this situation.
This info reiterates, at least to me, some key factors in carrying for self defense.
1. Carry enough gun - sufficient caliber, sufficient ammo capacity. What’s sufficient? Hard to be definitive here, but my regular carry pistol is a Para Ordnance Tac-Four: 13 rounds of .45 ACP, in a Dave Workman Undershirt holster. And I carry a spare mag.
2. If you carry, be prepared to shoot. Some folks carry around a pistol like a talisman to ward off evil. They figure if they ever need to draw, they will not need to shoot. That thinking may get you killed. You might NOT have to shoot, which is fine, but don’t assume that to be the default.
Go to Gang Members Practice More Than Police.
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