I've tried to develop the mental attitude that if I ever pull my gun it will be to shoot it. If the circumstances ever justify drawing it, the need to use it immediately will also have been met.

While it sounds good, I hope I never have to find out.

Mental preparation is often overlooked, but it's really important and entirely abstract until you actually have to shoot someone. I did a few scenarios on the FBI's FATS simulator and it's much harder than I thought even knowing it was fake. I got stabbed on the first run because I waited too long, survived the second because I shot the instant I had the opportunity. I thought it was way too soon but the instructor said it was exactly right.

The second scenario was an active school shooter/hostage situation and I couldn't believe how high my heart rate was when it ended. Based on what I learned I'm happy to analyze situations like this with the goal of learning, but I'll never criticize someone for how they react in real life.

I've been saying that for a little while now...

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
It would be very hard, when as a young person, to shoot someone else, esp. a woman.

I am ready for it now, but was not when I was 20 years old. The young are relatively innocent, as one experiences life they eventually learn how evil and cruel others can be.

You'd be amazed, with the right training, what you'd be able to do at 20 years old when the bullets are flying in your direction!

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:
I've been saying that for a little while now...

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
It would be very hard, when as a young person, to shoot someone else, esp. a woman.

I am ready for it now, but was not when I was 20 years old. The young are relatively innocent, as one experiences life they eventually learn how evil and cruel others can be.

You'd be amazed, with the right training, what you'd be able to do at 20 years old when the bullets are flying in your direction!

If in the military, I would have been able to. But not as a civilian.

From the quote of the header of this thread, go to 2:20:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnFdTXtFdSE

quote:

Originally posted by xd45man:
I hope if I am ever in a crisis situation like this I will remember my training.

You will regress to your training. In the military, we run battle drills again and again until we can't get it wrong.

The scene at the beginning of Enter the Dragon when Bruce Lee talks about feeling and not thinking, this is what he's talking about. It's supposed to become a reaction, not something you think about or hope to remember.