Second Amendment-doing it right.

[StephenB]

I support the second amendment and believe there are a lot of responsibilities that go along with the rights conveyed by it. So with that in mind, my wife and I took a two day refresher course over the weekend. We are both licensed to carry firearms. We are not police officers, but since they are required to re certify (we are not) we felt it was the right thing to do.

There were 18 civilians in our course. The most striking think was the averageness of them. Here were 18 people from all walks of life whom you would never suspect of packing heat on the street. One of the ladies was a chiropractor, there was a doctor, a construction worker etc. They looked like the same average people who would sit next to you on a jury. The one thing they all had in common was a squeaky clean background and zero criminal record.

The classroom portion of the first day included lots of material on the laws and responsibilities and duties imposed regarding the use of deadly force. We covered the "reasonable man" concept and preclusion. There was particular emphasis on using a firearm as a last resort, and how to do everything possible to get out of a critical situation without having to draw a gun. The concept of imminent danger was gone over thoroughly. As was brought up in an earlier thread here, you can't shoot a guy just because he's running out of your house with your TV, at least here in New York! Carrying a firearm is an awesome responsibility, and I urge everyone who's considering it to please get educated about every aspect. Split second decisions must sometimes be made, and usually there's no second chance.

We also covered some basic tactical concepts which we would put to use on the range the following day.

Day2:This was the fun day, even though it was raining and cold. We had three instructors for this course. Mike was a retired police officer who had attended about a half million dollars worth of tactical training. He was responsible for training local police academies and special operations groups.
Dave was a retired sheriff with a similar background, and Wendy was a tiny hundred pound pistol packin crack instructor.

I don't know how many rounds we went through, but it was easily several hundred. We were on the range for about 6 hours with some breaks in between. Even though we are both experienced shooters, we learned a lot from this course. I had developed a few bad habits with grip and draw which were brought to my attention. We shot IDPA targets and learned tactics law enforcement uses when faced with a critical situation. These included clearing gun jams, motion, rapid magazine changes, scene evaluation, safety, collateral awareness and lots more.

One of the interesting statistics to come out of the class is that in every city where honest and well trained citizens are carrying firearms for protection, the crime rate has gone down. Our three instructors are involved in a wide circle of police friends and acquaintances, and I got the definite vibe that most police officers are for gun ownership by law abiding and well trained citizens. It was brought up that police response time in many areas of the country is slowing down due to budget cuts and other factors. Thus, self protection is becoming more critical in some cases.

So I think education is the best tool we can use to protect our second amendment rights, and cast them in the best light for those who want to take those rights away. Long live the second amendment! And please...get educated!

(hope I didn't bore anyone with this)

[horizon200]

Glad you took the time to go through training. I personally know of a young man who decided to get his CC permit and ended up in jail just for brandishing the weapon. That permit carries a lot of responsibility!



Oh and remember...guns don't kill people...it's those pesky bullets!

[Mercy]

Originally Posted by StephenB

So I think education is the best tool we can use to protect our second amendment rights, and cast them in the best light for those who want to take those rights away. Long live the second amendment! And please...get educated!

(hope I didn't bore anyone with this)

Thanks Stephen... no not bored at all. I agree with your last statement that education and responsibility is key to protecting our rights.

[ryberg]

Wasn't boring to me, though I think pictures would have helped tell the story.

Good for you for the seriousness with which you take this and the commitment to recertification despite the lack of requirement.

If you want my opinion.

Steve

[StephenB]

Originally Posted by ryberg

Wasn't boring to me, though I think pictures would have helped tell the story.

Good for you for the seriousness with which you take this and the commitment to recertification despite the lack of requirement.

If you want my opinion.

Steve

I would have liked to include some pix, but out of respect for the people taking the course I resisted the urge. One of the points stressed in a carry concealed course is to not draw attention to yourself or the fact that you may be carrying a firearm. You are required by law (New York) to make sure your firearm is concealed. I guess that's meant to keep people from getting alarmed by seeing a glock tucked in some dudes waistband.

As far as I'm concerned, there's no such thing as too much safety or too much training. And for the record, we rarely carry concealed. There's just no need. But there have been exceptions, and having the option is reassuring.

[See Turtle]

Originally Posted by horizon200

Glad you took the time to go through training. I personally know of a young man who decided to get his CC permit and ended up in jail just for brandishing the weapon. That permit carries a lot of responsibility!



Oh and remember...guns don't kill people...it's those pesky bullets!

Or, as Eddie Izzard says, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people... but so do monkeys, if they have guns."

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by StephenB

I would have liked to include some pix, but out of respect for the people taking the course I resisted the urge. One of the points stressed in a carry concealed course is to not draw attention to yourself or the fact that you may be carrying a firearm. You are required by law (New York) to make sure your firearm is concealed. I guess that's meant to keep people from getting alarmed by seeing a glock tucked in some dudes waistband.

As far as I'm concerned, there's no such thing as too much safety or too much training. And for the record, we rarely carry concealed. There's just no need. But there have been exceptions, and having the option is reassuring.

Well call me crazy, but I find the bolded part more reassuring.

And of course I wasn't thinking of any photos that would identify people, more for example of what you saw when looking at the targets or equipment or signage about the importance of safety or what have you. But that's fine, just commenting.

Steve

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by See Turtle

Or, as Eddie Izzard says, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people... but so do monkeys, if they have guns."

love Eddie Izzard!






Education is good....I have taken a gun safety/hunting safety course.

I wouldn't feel comfortable with 5 guns in the house if I hadn't taken it.

[Skiptown]

Licensed to carry and hope I never have to use it.But if I do I know that I will. It is always a last resort to a bad situation. I think that if it comes down to it I would rather have a gun and use it than not have one and wish I had one. It is a crazy world we live in and some one needs to be prepared.

[See Turtle]

Originally Posted by Rissask

love Eddie Izzard!

The Lenny Bruce of the 21st Century.

[STOGEY]

Don't worry Stephen B, President elect Obama will make sure that your second amendment rights will be very brief.

[ryberg]

Yes, I hear he's going to exercise his veto power over the Bill of Rights.

Steve

[STOGEY]

Originally Posted by ryberg

Yes, I hear he's going to exercise his veto power over the Bill of Rights.

Steve

That is true, he believes in the same 2nd bill of rights that FDR wanted to pass during the depression. In which I've heard was void of any 2nd amendment rights that is included in the first addition.

[ryberg]

I must say, you do have some... well, entertaining notions about politics and the way our government works.

Steve

[STOGEY]

Originally Posted by ryberg

I must say, you do have some... well, entertaining notions about politics and the way our government works.

Steve

Are you denying that President Obama has plans to implement FDRs plan for a 2nd bill of rights known as the economic bill of rights?