unloved

And here are more. LEOs are better trained than us armed citizens, right?
Off-Duty Police Officer Shoots and Kills Friend While Demonstrating Weapon (NY)
Baltimore: Off duty LEO draws in haunted house

Another licensed citizen in a state that requires training.
man with concealed handgun carry permit slays family

If I were so inclined, I could fill pages with links. The fact is, states that require training for citizens have just as many incidents of licensees committing crimes, licensees shooting when not justified, and licensees involved in firearms accidents as states that don't require training.

LEOs are more likely to miss their target and hit bystanders than armed citizens are. They're as likely to shoot mistakenly, or unjustifiably.

I have never heard of a legally armed citizen in a justified shooting hitting an innocent bystander. I'm not claiming that it has never happened, but I think the fact that we don't hear Paul Helmke constantly cheering about it is a pretty good indication that it happens rarely, if at all.

My statement that mandatory training accomplishes nothing may have been a little strong. If some people truly learn stuff, that's great. However,mandatory training absolutely does not reduce the number of problems. So, what good is it? Why should people be forced to spend time and money on something that does not accomplish the goal that it is supposed to? It's supposed to make everyone 'safer'. It doesn't. It's ridiculous and I can't believe that so many are willing to not only put up with it, but want to force it on others.

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...he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature. - George Bernard Shaw (paraphrased)

Bart

I had working knowledge of a gun when I was 10 yrs. old. I loaded it, aimed it at the target and squeezed the trigger. I've been doing the same thing for over 50 yrs. Do you possess some knowledge that I don't?

basher052

Do you have a stat to back this claim up? Im not saying its true or not true, but thats a pretty bold statement to make without any supporting documentation.

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Andy

When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson wwwdotcom.com

wormtown

At the risk of encouraging further inflammatory responses:

It depends if your knowledge extends to retention techniques, how to move to cover, order of engagement of threats, threat assessment, moving to cover, proper use of cover, emerging from cover, clearing around obstacles, tactical reloads (how and when), rapid malfunction clearing, and that's just for starters. If you know this and more, than I don't possess some knowledge (and practiced skills) you don't. If you think the above aren't useful or necessary, you may be right, but I'd rather know and not need than need and not know.

PaxMentis

"About 11% of police shootings kill an innocent person - about 2% of shootings bycitizens kill an innocent person. The odds of a defensive gun user killing an innocent person are less than 1 in 26,000"

http://www.gunfacts.info/pdfs/gun-fa...5.1-screen.pdf

Top of page 48...the footnote is to: Shall Issue: The New Wave of Concealed Handgun Permit Laws, C. Cramer, and D. Kopel,
Independence Institute Issue Paper. October 17, 1994

One would have to track down that paper to find the methodology I suppose..

unloved

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...he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature. - George Bernard Shaw (paraphrased)

basher052

Oh sweet Google do-hicky.....thanks for the url too.

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Andy

When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson wwwdotcom.com

Cold Warrior

We all fear those few sensational incidents that are bound to happen, like car wrecks and airplane crashes, concerning mistakes made by CCW people that will be good for TV "news" and maybe even worth a minute or two. This will be out of a population of 305 million people in the USA, by the way. I cringe when I think about a mad mean CCW woman who wants to get her revenge on men.

unloved

Yeah, it's fun isn't it?

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...he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature. - George Bernard Shaw (paraphrased)

Bart

The subject didn't extend beyond "Having Working Knowledge Of A Gun". However, the training, techniques, and practiced skills, etc., that people think they so desperately need today, was considered simple common sense when it came to being armed for self defense when I was growing up. If someone lacks common sense, and think that they need all of the training you mention to feel qualified enough to conceal carry, then I agree with you and they should by all means acquire such. I hope my response is not too inflammatory, it's not my intention to inflame anything , just respond.