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by Skiprr
Thu Mar 03, 2011 2:40 pm
Forum: General Texas CHL Discussion
Topic: CHL Scenario Training
Replies: 23
Views: 3050

Re: CHL Scenario Training

Just a note that I, personally, wouldn’t make a huge distinction between what’s been referred to as “tactical” courses and training that’s meant specifically for CHLs.

In truth, many—if not most—schools and trainers offer more courses and content for civilians (using the term not literally correctly, as in exclusion of LEOs) than for professionals. These courses, from basic to advanced, are geared for the civilian who carries a firearm. Many include situational awareness, prevention and de-escalation techniques, as well as other necessities like movement and use of cover. As mentioned, some syllabi are force-on-force, but those classes generally have prerequisites and require completion of more basic courses first.

Like jamisjockey said, an excellent, and cost-effective, place to start is with the NRA Personal Protection Inside and Outside the Home courses. Although not force-on-force, both do cover actual scenarios with recommendations. The NRA range work for these courses is doable by any shooter who has established reasonable competency with a handgun, but they aren’t for complete beginners.

For more dynamic range work, you can travel to well-known schools like Gunsite or Thunder Ranch. Large schools like these offer a wide variety of options, including shoot houses for work defending or clearing a structure.

Many well-known trainers travel to various cities and hold some of their courses at partner ranges where they can be more accessible and therefore less expensive. Gabe Suarez, John Farnam, Rob Pincus, and Craig Douglas are just a few that come to mind.

While these courses are aimed at the civilian carrying a firearm, I recognize they don’t address the OP’s original post regarding shoot, don’t shoot scenarios from the perspective of Texas law. However, IMHO, the law is relatively simple and straightforward. If you understand the law, and you understand the conflict dynamics of Opportunity, Ability, Jeopardy, and Preclusion, what becomes more important is knowing how to take action, and knowing what your limitations are in the options presented you.

I don’t want to imply that shoot, don’t shoot scenarios are unimportant, but I think they have most value for LEOs. As CHLs, we are presented with far fewer situations where deadly force might be an option. We can’t be preemptive as can a LEO; we can’t draw our guns in advance of a threat that's only yet a possibility, nor are we charged with preventing crime or arresting or apprehending the bad guys.

Statistics tell us that, over 81% of the time, if we’re involved in a violent encounter outside the home, it will be at a distance from direct contact to six feet. You get inside that territory and something goes down, things are going to be fast, messy, and completely chaotic.

Know the law thoroughly, in advance, and have a plan for what to do afterward, should you ever have to pull your gun. I highly recommend Charles Cotton’s free seminars through the Texas Firearms Coalition, and think everyone should attend at least once. They provide the practical, informed discussion of the law that I believe every CHLer needs to hear.

But if something happens that truly requires the use of deadly force to defend yourself or your loved ones, remembering the text of PC Chapter 9 is going to be the very last thing on your mind.

There is a reason that you find few of the most experienced members of this Forum chiming in on threads that contain, “What would you do?” with regards to shoot, don’t shoot. The scenarios never (at least, in my five years here I’ve never seen one) contain all the information—situational, geographical, tactical, temporal, and otherwise—necessary to make an informed decision. If all the information were present, making a decision isn’t all that difficult: Never shoot if there is a way you can reasonably avoid doing so; but if you can’t avoid it, shoot effectively and efficiently.

That last part is harder to get right than knowing when to do it.

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