“If you decided to carry a gun for self-defense or it’s your duty to carry a gun for your profession, then train to be a gunfighter”
Don’t think that just because you have a gun for personal protection, spent a career carrying a gun for duty, or currently in a career where you carry a gun for your profession, that you are a gunfighter. Even if you carried, or carry, a gun on your hip for an entire career, if you’ve only found yourself on the gun range when you had to qualify to maintain your CYA policies…1) you should be ashamed of yourself. 2) you were really lucky that you didn’t have to use you weapon to protect life or limb and 3) you wasted precious taxpayers’ money by being mediocre in your profession…a.k.a. an oxygen thief.
- If you have chosen a career to protect the public…
- If you have decided to carry a gun to protect your family against a life-threatening criminal act…
- If you’ve made a conscious decision to use a gun as a private citizen or you’re required to use a gun for your profession…
A gunfighter trains with his firearm(s) like his life will depend on it. A gunfighter has the proper mental attitude to do what it takes to become proficient with their firearm of choice. A gunfighter realizes that incoming fire, isn’t friendly. A gunfighter is prepared, right now. In the context of this article, I’m talking about firearms proficiency.
Seek training by a vetted trainer and continue training on a regular basis. In your training, be creative but keep it realistic to your specific threat environment. Keep challenging yourself and never think that “you’ve got it,” or that “you’ve figured it all out.” Ask anyone who’s had to maintain proficiency with their firearms in any capacity, for their chosen profession…firearms skills are perishable.
Develop a positive mindset toward training and always continue to seek self-improvement.
Always think to yourself, “although I’m good, “I can always be better.”
Always seek self-improvement. This is a helpful mindset that applies to life in general but we’re talking specifically about our proficiency with firearms in this article.
A few words about firearms competitions, they create a certain level of stress in a safe environment, they are very useful by being around a likeminded shooting enthusiast and they are a great way to challenge yourself while displaying your weapons proficiency and competency in that specific shooting discipline. However, going to the range with a planned agenda, on what you what to accomplish with your specific threat environment in mind, will always be more beneficial to you in a gunfight than any other type of training or competition. If you have the time and money, do both. Just get the reps in.
With your specific threat environment in mind, you will have “buy-in” on your training, it’ll be fun, engaging and it’ll motivate you to become as proficient as you can. Have some fun with your training sessions and include your family and friends whenever possible.
A thoughtful and planned firearms range session is not only productive, but it is also easier on your budget, more efficient with your time and it’ll make you safer and more proficient with your chosen firearm. So, train and get the reps in, correct reps, don’t just go through the motions. It might seem like work while you seek to develop your proficiency but if you have the right mental attitude, it’ll feel like a labor of love.
Regardless of the discipline, competitive shooting, soldiering, law enforcement, sport shooting, firearms enthusiast, hunting, or as a concerned citizen…anyone worth their salt, will know that a high-level of firearms proficiency and the skills to maintain proficiency are perishable. What does that mean to you? You will have to a make it an important part of your lifestyle to maintain a regular training regimen so when the time comes for you to use your firearm to save a life, or to have a decent score during a competitive event, you will react instinctively based on your training.
As an example, when I was deployed/assigned to war-zones overseas, if possible, I went to a range to conduct a live fire drill before an op. At a minimum, I at least found the time for a few dry fire drills before going out on a mission. When I was back home in the U.S., range time was far and few in between not on a regular schedule and happy hour was a very popular thing to do, every night. “Being seen” at the local bar earned you some cool guy points for sure but when I focused on more important things in life, I “sacrificed” a very popular social event after work for an hour on the range before going home.
It’s easy, you just develop the right mindset and focus on what you value most. I figured that I carry a gun for a reason and my life and the life of those that I love is what I value most, so, to the range I went. Time and money well spent. Now family, fitness and your health should also be an important aspect of your life so find that balance.
Get your eyes and ears and I hope to see you on the range. ~ Ninja
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