Proof that Concealed Carry permit holders live in a dream world, - VPC

Proof that Concealed Carry permit holders live in a dream world, Part One - YouTube:

Uploaded on Apr 21, 2010

The controlled study documented in these videos show that concealed carry permit holders are fooling themselves if they think they will be able to react effectively to armed aggressors. Most CCW holders won't even be able to un-holster their gun. They will more likely be killed themselves or kill innocent bystanders than stop the aggressor. For more details, see "Unintended Consequences: Pro-Handgun Experts Prove That Handguns Are a Dangerous Choice for Self-Defense."
http://www.vpc.org/studies/unincont.htm.
 CCW permit holders don't protect innocent people. They kill them.
Category News; Politics

Part 2:

The controlled study documented in these videos show that concealed carry permit holders are fooling themselves if they think they will be able to react effectively to armed aggressors. Most CCW holders won't even be able to un-holster their gun. They will more likely be killed themselves or kill innocent bystanders than stop the aggressor. For more details, see "Unintended Consequences: Pro-Handgun Experts Prove That Handguns Are a Dangerous Choice for Self-Defense."

Thank you, ABC News and VPC (Violence Policy Center) for showing us the best way to stack the deck against your test subjects to demonstrate the point which you are trying to make.

(1) Other tests [attempting to determine the validity of 'witness descriptions of an intruder'] ... not in this series, but a few years ago ...  show that students in a classroom are unable to even agree on the description of a person who invades a classroom.

(2) Notice that the students in this test are set up.  They're all wearing long-tailed, long-sleeved shirts which make it very difficult to draw a handgun from a holster.

(3) They are all wearing "Storm Trooper" helmets, which limit their vision and distract them.

(4) They are all wearing gloves, which make it difficult to use the tactile sensors in their hands and fingers to both draw and fire a gun.

(5)  The persons being actually tested appear to all be teenagers. When I was their age, I was excitable ... and not eligible for a Concealed Firearm license.  (Rightfully so!)

Having said all of that, the test(s) did make some valid points:

• Yes, if you are going to carry a weapon, you should be trained and experienced.  
• You should practice shooting under stressful conditions.
• You should become familiar with both your firearm, and practice with it frequently.
• You should practice with the firearm that you carry!
• Not everyone should carry a gun.  Some people are just not competent physically, are not committed to the responsibility, or don't have the mindset which allows them to return fire in a self-defense situation ...
• ... or the experience to recognize a self-defense situation

I want to make the point here that not everything the VPC says is total Baloney.  I recognize that their primary mission is to get guns off the streets, and that their efforts are usually pointed toward removing guns from the hands of responsible, law-abiding citizens.   Most of their measures would not result in getting guns away from the people who use them irresponsibly, or illegally.

However, measures such as these videos DO work to encourage law-abiding and responsible firearms owners to think about what they are doing when they choose to carry a gun.

Most people who read these words are regularly appalled by the means by which VPC use toward their announced and their 'hidden agenda' goals, but surely none will object to efforts which might encourage gun owners who carry to practice, seek training, and be very aware of both their responsibilities and their abilities.

Or lack of abilities, in some cases.

If YOU carry a gun, and you don't know how you will perform under stress, I encourage you to find a way to test yourself under 'uncommon' conditions.

FOOTNOTE:
Most frequent readers are aware that I teach an "Introduction to USPSA" class.  The goal of this training is to teach "new shooters" to:

• Practice Safe gun-handling under stressful experiences
• Clearly identify the things they must NEVER do (eg: violations of the Four Rules of Gun Safety)
• Recognize unsafe gun-handling habits, and correct them immediately
• Ingrain new SAFE gun-handling habits, and practice them until they become second-nature

USPSA/IPSC/"PRACTICAL" competition is no substitute for Defensive Shooting training, but for many people it's the best alternative available.  Other pistol-shooting sports which practice, re-enforce and DEMAND safe gun-handling practices include IDPA and SAS .  The stress levels are not always the same, but any venture which requires speed and accuracy and safety are a better option than no training at all.

I have to say that only about 50% of the people who take the training ... purportedly as a first step to actually entering competition .. actually compete in their first match.  And a good 25% of those who do compete in one match, never come back again.

One would hope that these figures indicate that these people recognize they're just not suited for "shooting under stress" ... and that they choose not to carry a gun during their  daily activities.