Illinois CCW News Update

NW Side man is first concealed carry permit holder arrested in Chicago

3/31/14, 9:58 AM

By: FRANK MAIN Staff Reporter

A 54-year-old Northwest Side man who allegedly pulled a gun during a property dispute is the first concealed carry permit holder arrested in Chicago, police officials say.

William P. O’Connell, of the 7200 block of North Oleander Avenue, lost his permit as a result of the arrest, said a spokeswoman for the Illinois State Police.

In January, a new state law kicked in allowing people to carry concealed weapons as long as they have a permit.

O’Connell was involved in a quarrel over rent money with a 52-year-old man on March 23, police said. O’Connell allegedly pointed a handgun at the man and threatened to shoot him.

Police said the victim and a woman both identified O’Connell, who admitted hiding his gun. O’Connell took officers to a vacant apartment where they recovered a .38-caliber revolver, police said.

O’Connell was carrying a valid state firearm owner’s identification card and a concealed carry license when he was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, police said. He’s scheduled to appear in court on May 8.

The state police have revoked O’Connell’s permit based on a provision of the concealed carry law that says permit holders can’t be the subject of a “proceeding for an offense or action that could lead to disqualification to own or possess a firearm,” said Monique Bond, a spokeswoman for the agency.

Under state law, a conviction for aggravated assault with a gun would disqualify O’Connell from owning a firearm.

Illinois CCW News Update

Proposed increase in concealed carry penalties irk some Illinois gun owners

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by KMOV.com Staff

KMOV.com

Posted on March 25, 2014 at 4:09 PM

Updated Tuesday, Mar 25 at 5:37 PM

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(KMOV.com) — As concealed carry permits go out in Illinois, a state lawmaker is trying to increase the penalties for gun owners who break the rules - specifically at schools.

News 4 has been looking into the details and found out the bills are getting a rise out of gun owners.

Concealed carry is already illegal at places like schools and government buildings. 

But a bill introduced by Democratic Representative Deborah Conroy specifically targets those who carry guns at schools by making it a felony offense rather than a misdemeanor. 

A second bill would raise the fine for carrying concealed in a prohibited place from $150 to $500.

The extra money would be put into the mental health reporting fund.

Many gun owners complain there are already fines and infractions for offender, and the new legislation is overkill.

“You go into a place and someone’s in there and I have to protect myself or my family, I believe in my rights to do so,” said gun owner Amy Miller. “The penalty increasing I think that’s ridiculous.”

Both bills have made it to the firearms subcommittee.

News 4 will follow whether or not they make it to the General Assembly floor for a vote.

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Maintaining Firearm Skills - Article

Maintaining Handgun Skills

by Dave Spaulding 

Combative handgun skills are not really complicated, regardless of what some want you to believe. The skills needed to fight efficiently with a pistol are not magic or even mysterious; what makes the process difficult is trying to apply them while someone is shooting at you.

Have you ever heard someone who has prevailed (not survived…wrong message.) in armed conflict say “I don’t remember drawing my gun” or “I had a malfunction, but I don’t remember clearing it”? When I hear such exclamations I am reassured that firearms instructors are doing the right thing. 

Some call this “unconscious competence” while others use “decisive action without forethought.”

I don’t really care what you call it. To me it is “see-do,” which is what I believe is required to win a gunfight—not shooting tight groups or fast double taps. Such ability comes from practice, repetition of the same skill over and over to the point that it is second nature.

Amateurs practice until they get it right; professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong. Tall order, but it is what needs to be done to fight without orientation, it is necessary to enable a stressed individual to apply needed techniques at a subconscious level.

A prepared combatant needs to be able to draw, reload or clear malfunctions without having to consciously think about it. This frees the conscious mind to deal with the person or persons who are trying to kill you.

Many of the skills needed to fight with firearms contradict what our body does naturally. Skills such as trigger control, front sight acquisition, movement during conflict and the ability to use the fingers to “run the gun” are contradictory to our instinctual desire to focus totally on what/who is trying to do us harm. In addition, the crashing of cortisol and epinephrine into the system creates a chemical cocktail that can interfere with performance via tunnel vision, loss of digital dexterity, auditory exclusion and the like.

Practice and repetition is the prescription to combat these instinctive responses, and it should be further understood that skills are rapidly perishable. If you can’t perform them without conscious thought, you probably will not be able to use them under the stress and duress of armed combat. The good news is that once you have them and they do atrophy, you can get them back rather quickly with, yes, practice and repetition.

Simultaneously, the skills needed should work in conjunction with the body as much as possible as this will make them easier to physically perform—what I call physiological efficiency. For example, I attended a pistolcraft workshop recently taught by a competition shooter. Part of his program was to bring the pistol up in front of your face to reload. His thought was you can watch the magazine go in so you don’t blow the reload.

This is certainly fine when no one is shooting at you, but when someone’s trying to kill you the only way you can keep this from happening is to watch what they are doing so you can counter their actions. If you run out of ammo in the middle of a fight and bring the gun up to your face to reload, you block your view of your opponent. Why would you do that?

Competition shooting is a great pastime and I have competed with great enthusiasm, but it is not fighting. Understand the big difference between combat and competition is rules. If there are rules it is a sport and these rules keep the competition on a level playing field. There are no rules in a fight and in a fight if you are not cheating, you are not trying hard enough to win. Period.

At the same time, training and live fire practice is expensive in both time and money but is essential if your desire is to prepare for an attack. For the law enforcement officer who is duty bound to seek out and interdict dangerous criminals, violence is not a possibility but a likelihood, so be prepared for it. A solid base of fundamental skill is the best way to prepare for conflict as there is no way to prepare for every possible scenario one may face. Seek training to achieve these fundamental skills, practice them so you can perform them on autopilot and then have the mindset. Videos and books can help bolster a solid set of fundamentals, but will never replace hands on training followed up by repetitive practice.

While most people think live fire when they think practice, an excellent way to practice the fundamentals of combative pistolcraft is with dry fire. In truth, you can practice most every skill needed with a regular dry-fire regime. Live fire will always be necessary for recoil and trigger control, but most other skills can be practiced dry.

Think a loaded gun will never “jump” into your dry fire practice session? All it takes is one momentary lapse of concentration and it can happen. One of my students, a very good friend, was dry firing in his bedroom when a loud bang occurred. He told me later he was stunned when it happened. No one was hurt, but his wife was less than pleased as the only damage done was a hole in the dresser as well as through their wedding picture. 

I’m guessing the wife was less than enthused with his choice of dry fire target. This officer is a skilled shooter and a sharp guy, so if this can happen to him, it can happen to anyone.

The best way to avoid this is by ensuring your pistol is truly empty. My favorite way to do this is insert a Train Safe rod into the barrel of my carry pistol. The Train Safe unit is less than $5 and can only be installed by field stripping the gun and placing it down the barrel. Once in place, there is no way a live round can be inserted into the chamber. Another good addition to the dry fire routine is dummy ammunition, available through Brownells and other sources.

Moving, using cover, working from a seated position, even using your vehicle in the garage can be part of your training program. Do not underestimate the value that dry fire can offer.

In the end, it’s up to you as to how much value you place into your dry fire program. By inserting a Train Safe barrel rod and using dummy rounds, the limits of your real world training regime is only limited by your imagination. Don’t let gun club range rules or liability hold you back. Understand and make use of the benefits of a solid dry fire training program. It’s up to you.

Read more: http://www.handgunsmag.com/2011/10/25/maintaining-handgun-skills/#ixzz2uHlGvM3u

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Illinois CCW News Update

Concealed carry requirements fuel debate over gun range

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By Robert Sanchez

An influx of gun owners seeking the training needed to qualify for a concealed carry permit has gun ranges throughout the state struggling to keep up with the demand.

"Some facilities have had people waiting in their cars because they couldn't get them in the building," said Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association.

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Depending on the day of week, target shooters even have trouble getting range time at GAT Guns, which has the largest indoor gun range in Illinois.

"When you come at the height of a Saturday afternoon, there's usually a wait," said Greg Tropino president of the firearms store and shooting center in East Dundee.

Citing that new demand, a Roselle man wants to open a shooting sports facility in Bloomingdale.

"There's going to be between 600,000 and 800,000 people who are going to be looking for a concealed carry permit," said Julian Perez, a certified firearms instructor. "They are going to need some specialized training. We want to be there to provide it for them."

Perez is seeking Bloomingdale's permission to convert a vacant building at 7 N. Circle Ave. into a facility that would have two pistol ranges, a rifle range and a private range. The roughly 42,000-square-foot facility also would have classroom areas, a retail store, a library, a museum, and on-site gun repair and cleaning services. In addition, there would be separate areas for beginners to learn how to shoot using replica firearms.

But the plan has sparked controversy. Nearby neighbors argue that putting a gun range inside the former sheet metal fabricating building would create traffic, noise and other problems.

"We favor him opening a range," neighbor Tony Halachoulis said. "We just don't want him to do it there. Shooting next to a neighborhood like that is our main concern."

Bloomingdale's plan commission is reviewing the proposal and is expected to make a recommendation next month to the village board, which will have the final say.

Regardless of what happens in Bloomingdale, Pearson said there's a need for more gun ranges in the state.

"The ones that we have are doing a fine job, but they're full," he said.

In fact, he said, ranges already were getting heavy use before Illinois became the last state in the nation to pass a concealed carry law. That's because the number of people participating in shooting sports is on the rise.

"Shooting in general is more socially acceptable," said Randy Potter, general manager at GAT Guns. "It's less taboo than it was 10 years ago. So more people are doing it, especially in these urban environments that we're living in."

Taylor Roe, a manager at J.R. Shooting Sports in Aurora, said the business' 10-lane indoor range already was getting plenty of use when Illinois began talking about a concealed carry law.

As part of the law, which was passed last July, applicants must complete a 16-hour training course that includes time on a gun range.

So far, more than 45,800 concealed carry permit applications have been submitted to the state, according to Pearson.

Roe said J.R. Shooting Sports knew demand for range time would jump because of instructors needing to qualify their students for concealed carry.

"I don't know if we ever expected it to be this many people," said Roe, adding that there are waiting lists to use the range on the weekends.

Perez says his proposed facility — dubbed The Range Bloomingdale — would provide suburban residents another location to get gun-safety training and practice shooting sports.

"There's a huge void," Perez said. "My whole goal is to bring professionalism and provide a safe atmosphere for our residents."

Neighbors opposed to the project say they fear that the facility would be so busy that it could create traffic problems.

"Other ranges are filled up and their parking lots are overflowing at peak times," said Halachoulis, adding that neighbors don't want customers parking on residential streets.

In addition, the entrance to the site is off Circle Avenue. So there are worries that the flow the vehicles in and out of the property could be a threat to kids and other pedestrians.

"We're just afraid that somebody coming in and out of that parking lot isn't going to see someone walking by," Halachoulis said. "It's a safety issue."

The neighbors also have raised concerns about the possibility of excessive noise.

A consultant hired by Perez determined the building's ventilation equipment would create noise that's at or slightly below the level already present. The sound of gunshots would be well below those ambient sound levels, the consultant concluded.

Still, Perez is promising to fix any problems that might arise after the facility opens.

Meanwhile, supporters like Bloomingdale resident Jeff Wozniak say the proposed business is needed for the area.

"As a father to two girls … I hope that we as a family can practice both gun safety and marksmanship at a gun facility close to home," Wozniak said during a recent public hearing. "I want to be able to take them right down the street, so they can learn how to be safe when they eventually want to carry."

Illinois CCW News Update

March 20, 2014 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- The I-Team has found that the new concealed carry law fails to address who has liability if there is an incident in a gun-free zone.

As the first 13,000 permits are arriving, no-guns-allowed signs are going up some at businesses in Chicago and across the state. But the I-Team has found that the new state law fails to address who has liability if there is an incident in a gun-free zone.

"You don't know who is coming into your store if you are open to the public, no matter what you are doing and no matter how safe your neighborhood is, anyone could walk in and I'd like them to know they are not welcome," said Chris Connelly, manager, Reckless Records.

Related Content

STORY: I-Team: Illegal concealed carry certification crackdown

STORY: Illinois conceal carry heats up in Springfield, Chicago suburbs

STORY: Some IL concealed carry applicants notified of breach

Connelly is one of many Chicago business owners and managers who are prohibiting guns. His Wicker Park record store and this family-owned pharmacy post the now familiar no-guns-allowed signs.

"We just don't one coming here. There is no reason to come into a neighborhood pharmacy with a gun," said Ozzie Feliciano, owner, Deitch Pharmacy.

Unlike other states, Illinois' law lacks an immunity provision protecting local business owners from liability. So if a sign prohibiting guns is posted at the entrance of a building or business, a person brings in a gun anyway and an incident occurs, the building and/or business can be held liable. Patrons and employees could argue that they didn't have the opportunity to protect themselves because they couldn't carry their own gun. The reverse is also true. If the building or business owner allows guns and an incident occurs, they could be sued by employees and patrons because guns were allowed.

"I wish we had some guidance in another way but unfortunately there will be an incident, it will be litigated," said Michael Cornicelli, Exec VP of BOMA.

BOMA, the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, recently surveyed it's members who represent 80% of the city's downtown commercial office space. One-third responded. Of those, nearly half have chosen to prohibit guns within their buildings, mostly due to concerns about safety. Nearly three-quarters said they are concerned about liability and legal issues.

"We would like to see a provision added that addresses the liability issues. Other jurisdictions, Wisconsin for example, provide that if a building chooses to allow conceal carry or prohibit it, that building owner, building manager's liability for any resulting incident is not any greater for that choice than in the absence of that choice," said Cornicelli.

Public buildings and many public places in Illinois are automatically gun-free zones under the law, but there are thousands of business establishments fending for themselves. Those now legally eligible to carry a concealed weapon feel the law should stand as is.

"They don't like the fact that Illinois is so restrictive. They think they should be able to carry their firearms in more places and I get calls on that every day," said Richard Pearson, executive director, Illinois State Rifle Association.

Those with concealed carry licenses go through state background checks and training to qualify and say they aren't a safety risk. Meanwhile, those minding the store grapple over a new risk they've inherited with the concealed carry law.

"Yes it's absolutely a concern. Excuse the pun but it could all backfire on us," said Connelly.

In the past few weeks, more than a dozen pieces of legislation have been introduced in Springfield to change or reverse parts of the Concealed Carry Act. One bill would ban guns from private property unless a sign was posted explicitly allowing them. That is backed by the Illinois chapter of Moms Demand Action, a group formed after Sandy Hook that supports the 2nd amendment and stronger gun laws.

Additional information:
Illinois Concealed Carry law:http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/98/HB/09800HB0183enr.htm
Illinois Rifle Association: http://www.isra.org/
BOMA Chicago: https://www.bomachicago.org/

10 Most Important Shooting Skills

10 Shooting Skills Every Gun owner Must Know

8/14/12 | by Jeffrey Denning

Want to be a great shooter? Whether you’re in tactical competition or real-world confrontation, developing skill sets found on this list of shooting skills will enhance your performance on the range and under fire.

1. See Fast, Decide Fast

To shoot or not to shoot, that is the question. Deciding to shoot is the crux of the matter, really, and every shot must occur because of your informed decision to shoot. 

Watch the hands for weapons that can kill, know the law, and act fast very fast. Mental reflexes are the foundation here. Are you justified? Is it time to perform? Using shoot/no-shoot target training along with a variety of realistic scenario-based training can help hone this skill. What if-gaming and having a pre-determined tactical mindset will help too.

2. Rapid Target Acquisition

You see the threat, you’ve made the decision to aim center mass, now it’s time to get the sights lined up and on target and whether you’re holding a long gun or a concealed handgun, getting sights on target quickly is paramount to your success in a gunfight. Your vision needs to go from the target/threat to the sights in this scenario and this vision transition is absolutely essential and often overlooked. Using a natural point of aim and your pointer (index) finger to aim, helps with a quick target acquisition or TA.

3. Smooth Trigger Pull

Many people can line up the sights correctly, but as soon pressure is applied on the trigger, the sights wobble. Arc of movement aside, shooters who have the focus to concentrate on both the sights and a smooth trigger all the way through the break, will have the best success. I bet you’ve heard this one a million times: watch the sights all the way through a smooth trigger.

Avoid convulsing the hand, rushing the shot, slapping the trigger or anticipating the recoil. Practice with double action only (DAO) and double action/single action (DA/SA) triggers and realize no two triggers are alike.

4. Multiple Target Transition

Where there’s one threat, there’s often two making target transition clutch. Don’t get tunnel vision. Stop the immediate threat but then scan and transition to the next threat. Remember to scan with your eyes first: eyes, muzzle, target. On occasion practice shooting three targets all at the 7 yard line. Shoot each of them once then follow up with more. Practice 180-degree shooting, as well as with targets at 5, 7 and 25 yards, all less than 30-degrees angle.

5. Flash Sight Picture

A flash sight picture is an imperfect or less than perfect sight picture. When shooting up-close you don’t have to align your sights too precisely. Shooting a six-shot rhythm drill, for instance, will send multiple rounds towards the threat (or downrange) with a better than fair change of landing quality hits on the target. In this case, six very fast nearly bulls-eye perfect shots are better than one slow but perfectly accurate X ring shot.

6. Pie-ing

“Slicing the pie” or “pie-ing” is slowly moving from behind either cover or concealment while maintaining your eyes in line with your muzzle. Pie-ing is different than a quick peek. In order to keep the tactical advantage, you cannot give away your position or telegraph your movements.

Keep your elbows tucked in and don’t stick your muzzle, knee, head or foot out around the corner. Face the wall and bend at the hip. Learn to do it well on the non-dominant side without switching hands. Mastering this skill will give you a huge tactical advantage.

7. Low-Light Shooting

Ideally, your guns should be outfitted with lights and rail mounts to accommodate them. Since you’re not the one initiating the gunfight, but are instead a reactive opponent of someone else’s violent stupidity, shoot-outs never happen when it’s to your advantage and there’s a good chance an attack will be in the dark or in low-light.

Practice with a weapon mounted light, but also practice with a handheld light. Reloads, malfunctions, pie-ing, and opening doors are all vastly different when holding a light.

8. Aggression

Assertiveness and aggression can help you win and survive. Hold the beast in the cage; don’t attempt to spur or promote fighting; try everything you can in order to avoid fighting; but in the end, you’ve got to be aggressive. An aggressive stance and an aggressive attitude will help you maintain positive physical control of your weapon and quite frankly the situation. You will have greater balance, speed and a platform for mobility, in addition to the right mental attitude.

9. Shooting On the Move

Standing still in a gunfight is plain stupid. It’s difficult to hit moving targets—so be a moving target. If you need to shoot on the move, it’s better to learn how to do it well on the range, under minimal amounts of stress. Start with baby steps. Shooting on the move is a good tool to add to your toolbox as a “just in case” skill.

10. Shooting Moving Targets

Just as you should be moving if someone’s taking aim at you, the threats may be moving too. Learn the difference between tracking and ambushing. Depending upon the distance to the target, you may not have to lead the threat/target at all. In fact, if you can’t tell it’s a plausible threat because the distance is too great, you’d better not shoot. That said, shooting paper targets on a static range will almost never simulate shooting real, mobile threats on a dynamic range.

Until next time, continue to hone your skills and keep adding to your tactical toolbox.

http://www.guns.com/2012/08/14/shooting-skills-gun-owners/

Women's Guide to Firearms

Choosing a Firearms Course: A Guide for Women

Fiona Harris

Mon October 5th, 2009

Are you a woman who is considering enrolling in a firearms training course? If you are new to the sport, choosing the right training is as important as choosing the right gun. In fact, it is more important in some ways because your training may determine which gun you ultimately purchase. What should you look for in a training program?

First and foremost, you must select a good trainer. All good trainers have a few things in common: they are certified by the NRA and/or a government agency (such as the concealed carry handgun certifier in your state or a police/justice academy for your city/state); they want you to learn and enjoy shooting sports; and they insist on safety. You can easily verify the certification status of a prospective trainer and many trainers have their credentials listed on their websites or marketing materials. This certification is important because it shows that the trainer is committed to offering professional training, is aware of the latest techniques and products, and will follow industry-wide standards for training. You will also generally receive professionally-prepared materials, such as safety guides, that will be an invaluable reference after the class.

As for the philosophy of the trainer and his/her attitude towards your success, this is not as easy to ascertain. You want an instructor who believes the focus of the training is you and not him/her. Unfortunately, some trainers make the training about themselves - how well they shoot, how many competitions they've won, etc. Not only is this boring for the students, but it does nothing to increase their knowledge or skills. Often you can get a sense of the instructor's focus simply by reviewing his/her website or brochure. If these are not available, check with prior students; ask the trainer for a few names and follow-up by speaking with them. You would do this for a plumber or roofer so why not for your firearms instructor? If the instructor is not forthcoming with references, move on.

When it comes to safety, a certified trainer follows all safety guidelines to the letter. And this is what you should expect as a student. If you decide to attend training with a non-certified instructor, ask him/her to outline the safety procedures beforehand. Avoid situations where whole classes of 20 or more go to the range at once. It is very hard for the instructor to monitor so many people. In addition, personalized attention that is crucial for beginners is not likely with a large group. The broad safety measures that are standard in firearms training are: no loaded firearms in the classroom, hearing and eye protection worn at all times while on the range, only one student shooting at a time. Find out where the range qualification will take place. Proper ranges are the preferred location - they offer maximum safety and will familiarize you with range procedures.

Should your trainer be male or female? It does not matter. If you stick to the guidelines above, you will receive excellent training regardless of the sex of the instructor. Shooting is no longer considered a macho, men-only activity and many male instructors have classes just for women. Today there are lots of great women shooters - and you'll find women on any given day at local ranges. 

Shooting is a fun sport that you can enjoy with friends and family. So get started today by enrolling in a well-considered training course.

10 Shooting Tips

10 Shooting Skills Every Gun owner Must Know

8/14/12 | by Jeffrey Denning

 653 39.5K

Want to be a great shooter? Whether you’re in tactical competition or real-world confrontation, developing skill sets found on this list of shooting skills will enhance your performance on the range and under fire.

1.  See Fast, Decide Fast

To shoot or not to shoot, that is the question.  Deciding to shoot is the crux of the matter, really, and every shot must occur because of your informed decision to shoot. 

Watch the hands for weapons that can kill, know the law, and act fast very fast. Mental reflexes are the foundation here.  Are you justified? Is it time to perform? Using shoot/no-shoot target training along with a variety of realistic scenario-based training can help hone this skill. What if-gaming and having a pre-determined tactical mindset will help too.

2.  Rapid Target Acquisition

You see the threat, you’ve made the decision to aim center mass, now it’s time to get the sights lined up and on target and whether you’re holding a long gun or a concealed handgun, getting sights on target quickly is paramount to your success in a gunfight. Your vision needs to go from the target/threat to the sights in this scenario and this vision transition is absolutely essential and often overlooked. Using a natural point of aim and your pointer (index) finger to aim, helps with a quick target acquisition or TA.

3.  Smooth Trigger Pull

Many people can line up the sights correctly, but as soon pressure is applied on the trigger, the sights wobble. Arc of movement aside, shooters who have the focus to concentrate on both the sights and a smooth trigger all the way through the break, will have the best success. I bet you’ve heard this one a million times: watch the sights all the way through a smooth trigger.

Avoid convulsing the hand, rushing the shot, slapping the trigger or anticipating the recoil. Practice with double action only (DAO) and double action/single action (DA/SA) triggers and realize no two triggers are alike.

4.  Multiple Target Transition

Where there’s one threat, there’s often two making target transition clutch. Don’t get tunnel vision. Stop the immediate threat but then scan and transition to the next threat. Remember to scan with your eyes first: eyes, muzzle, target.  On occasion practice shooting three targets all at the 7 yard line. Shoot each of them once then follow up with more. Practice 180-degree shooting, as well as with targets at 5, 7 and 25 yards, all less than 30-degrees angle.

5.  Flash Sight Picture

A flash sight picture is an imperfect or less than perfect sight picture.  When shooting up-close you don’t have to align your sights too precisely. Shooting a six-shot rhythm drill, for instance, will send multiple rounds towards the threat (or downrange) with a better than fair change of landing quality hits on the target. In this case, six very fast nearly bulls-eye perfect shots are better than one slow but perfectly accurate X ring shot.

6.  Pie-ing

“Slicing the pie” or “pie-ing” is slowly moving from behind either cover or concealment while maintaining your eyes in line with your muzzle. Pie-ing is different than a quick peek. In order to keep the tactical advantage, you cannot give away your position or telegraph your movements.

Keep your elbows tucked in and don’t stick your muzzle, knee, head or foot out around the corner. Face the wall and bend at the hip. Learn to do it well on the non-dominant side without switching hands. Mastering this skill will give you a huge tactical advantage.

7.  Low-Light Shooting

Ideally, your guns should be outfitted with lights and rail mounts to accommodate them. Since you’re not the one initiating the gunfight, but are instead a reactive opponent of someone else’s violent stupidity, shoot-outs never happen when it’s to your advantage and there’s a good chance an attack will be in the dark or in low-light.

Practice with a weapon mounted light, but also practice with a handheld light. Reloads, malfunctions, pie-ing, and opening doors are all vastly different when holding a light.

8.  Aggression

Assertiveness and aggression can help you win and survive. Hold the beast in the cage; don’t attempt to spur or promote fighting; try everything you can in order to avoid fighting; but in the end, you’ve got to be aggressive.  An aggressive stance and an aggressive attitude will help you maintain positive physical control of your weapon and quite frankly the situation. You will have greater balance, speed and a platform for mobility, in addition to the right mental attitude.

9.  Shooting On the Move

Standing still in a gunfight is plain stupid. It’s difficult to hit moving targets—so be a moving target. If you need to shoot on the move, it’s better to learn how to do it well on the range, under minimal amounts of stress. Start with baby steps. Shooting on the move is a good tool to add to your toolbox as a “just in case” skill.

10. Shooting Moving Targets

Just as you should be moving if someone’s taking aim at you, the threats may be moving too. Learn the difference between tracking and ambushing. Depending upon the distance to the target, you may not have to lead the threat/target at all. In fact, if you can’t tell it’s a plausible threat because the distance is too great, you’d better not shoot. That said, shooting paper targets on a static range will almost never simulate shooting real, mobile threats on a dynamic range.

Until next time, continue to hone your skills and keep adding to your tactical toolbox.

Photo credit:

Ken Smith,  InSights Training Center’s Defensive Handgun Level 1 
South Texas Marksmanship Training Center
USACarry.com