General Categories > Information Arsenal

Time to make some new friends...

<< < (2/2)

JTH:

--- Quote from: Mudinyeri on May 09, 2014, 08:23:46 AM ---First and foremost, the author said "generally".  Speaking in general terms, it is fairly rare for a civilian to have more experience with firearms than someone who has served in the military or in law enforcement.  That's probably not the case amongst NFOA members, but it seems to hold water as a statement about the general population.

Second, virtually all military and LEO do have firearms experience.  I'm unaware of any branch of the service - maybe the Coast Guard is an exception - where weapons qualification is not a part of the basic training.  Active duty law enforcement are required to qualify on a regular, if not frequent, basis with their duty weapon.  Does that make them experts?  Not necessarily.  On the other hand, it does give them more experience than most civilians.  It is certainly rare for a civilian, who has never served in the military or law enforcement, to have experience on the "two way" range.

--- End quote ---

As you say, experience and expertise are not the same thing.  But this wasn't about experience, and we aren't comparing MIL/LEO to the general population.

The claim is often made that military and law enforcement folks are experts with firearms and better instructors than most.  And yet, if you get a roomful of shooters, that turns out to not be true.  After all, we aren't comparing LEO/MIL to the general population, we are comparing them to other shooters and instructors. 

In addition, the idea that belonging to either of those two groups actually confers any sort of expertise with weapons is actually demonstrably untrue.  For example---most military folks spend HOW much time learning how to handle a pistol?  Most LEOs practice with their pistols how much?  (And what percentage of LEOs have trouble passing the state firearms qualification each year?)  What percentage of LEOs actually make it through their entire career without having once fired their sidearm?  A large percentage, yes?

As I said (more than once) there are a number of LEO/MIL people who are demonstrably expert with firearms.  There are also some who are really good instructors, too.

That, however, is a far cry from LEO/MIL experience automatically meaning you are an expert with firearms (particularly pistols), or meaning you actually are a good instructor. 

I must admit, I was waiting for someone to bring up the "two-way range."


--- Quote ---On the other hand, it does give them more experience than most civilians.  It is certainly rare for a civilian, who has never served in the military or law enforcement, to have experience on the "two way" range.
--- End quote ---

It is actually actually rare for a police officer (percentage-wise) to have someone shooting at them, either.  Just sayin'.

I'm curious if you think that experience with military ROE and actions, or LEO arrest altercations, translate over to experience with citizen self-defense situations, other than the fact that there is physical danger in all of those cases?


Amusingly enough, this got posted to Facebook, and I've already collected my first "this guy is anti-military and anti-LEO!" comment from someone.  Which is odd, because I'm nothing of the sort (as my LEO and MIL friends know). 

It seems to me to be blatantly obviously that being in the military or being an LEO does not automatically make one an expert with firearms.  In a similar fashion, it seems blatantly obvious to me that being in the military or being an LEO doesn't automatically give anyone either the knowledge necessary to teach self-defense classes, nor does it give them the ability to be a good teacher.

Doesn't mean they can't, or that there aren't any---but those people, in general, had to do all the extra work themselves to make themselves experts and teachers.  Just like the rest of the people who have made themselves experts and teachers. 

Again, we aren't comparing MIL/LEO to the general population, we are comparing them to experts with firearms, and firearms instructors.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page