Is there statistical research on what works for PD?

[tstand]

My wife and i are both fortunate in being able to react in the moment to bad situations. We are also pretty good at avoiding bad situations, although I'm learning a lot by reading criminal incident reports for our area.

We are getting a shotgun for home defense, but are reluctant to carry a handgun while out. It would be really nice to know what else would be an effective, defensive carry - such as pepper spray, tactical light, stun gun, etc.

[tombogan03884]

Go with guns. Do you want to bet your lives on half measures ?

[Magoo541]

Go with guns. Do you want to bet your lives on half measures ?

+1

Get armed self defense training from quality instructors, get a permit, good holster belt, carry for 90 days and you'll feel naked without it.  My $.02.

[mkm]

Go with guns. Do you want to bet your lives on half measures ?

+1

Get armed self defense training from quality instructors, get a permit, good holster belt, carry for 90 days and you'll feel naked without it.  My $.02.

I agree with the above, but would like to add a possibly controversial qualifier.  If you are not confident with carrying a handgun, your skills, or your ability to make the appropriate judgement call on its use, maybe you should wait.  Carrying a firearm is a thought out concious decision you have to make and be ready for what having it on you entails.

Either way, carry or not, I suggest you do a couple of things.
1.  Carry a good bright (50 lumen or more is generally recommended) flashlight that is easy to operate.  After carrying one, now two, for over a year, I can't believe I ever went without one.  They have been useful in so many situations I can't count.  Self protection/target identification is one of those situations; thankfully, I haven't had to use it for that.

2.  Buy a handgun that is comfortable to you, shoots well for you, is dependable enough for you, that you are willing to trust your life with, and you can afford to shoot a lot.  Take Magoo's advice on buying quality and train with it.  If you aren't ready to carry now, you will be soon.

[MikeBjerum]

It is going to be the same as law enforcement, and it the effectiveness will proportional to the training and competency.  People are people, and what matters is your ability to use it not your career path. 

Read the requirements laid out for law enforcement, and you will find nationwide that the average officer needs very little firearm training or practice.  Most departments have cases of practice ammunition that goes unused.  By the time an officer deals with all of the training and certification they are required to do annually most do not want to go even to a square range to practice.  When I started teaching EMS and Rescue I did many courses on violent situations.  FBI statistics showed that law enforcement in limited and slow fire situations only hit their targets 25% of the time.  If they went into rapid fire the percentage got far worse.  Fifteen years later when I needed to back off on the training due to other responsibilities the FBI was reporting that LE had gotten worse in their shooting - I think it had sunk to about 22% hits.

Don't worry about what works for others as much as what works for you and that you will practice with.

[Sponsor]

[Magoo541]

I agree with the above, but would like to add a possibly controversial qualifier.  If you are not confident with carrying a handgun, your skills, or your ability to make the appropriate judgement call on its use, maybe you should wait.  Carrying a firearm is a thought out concious decision you have to make and be ready for what having it on you entails.

Either way, carry or not, I suggest you do a couple of things.
1.  Carry a good bright (50 lumen or more is generally recommended) flashlight that is easy to operate.  After carrying one, now two, for over a year, I can't believe I ever went without one.  They have been useful in so many situations I can't count.  Self protection/target identification is one of those situations; thankfully, I haven't had to use it for that.

2.  Buy a handgun that is comfortable to you, shoots well for you, is dependable enough for you, that you are willing to trust your life with, and you can afford to shoot a lot.  Take Magoo's advice on buying quality and train with it.  If you aren't ready to carry now, you will be soon.

Agreed, the thought crossed my mind but I was trying to stay on point.  Not much use around here 

[Tyler Durden]

It is going to be the same as law enforcement, and it the effectiveness will proportional to the training and competency.  People are people, and what matters is your ability to use it not your career path. 

Read the requirements laid out for law enforcement, and you will find nationwide that the average officer needs very little firearm training or practice.  Most departments have cases of practice ammunition that goes unused.  By the time an officer deals with all of the training and certification they are required to do annually most do not want to go even to a square range to practice.  When I started teaching EMS and Rescue I did many courses on violent situations.  FBI statistics showed that law enforcement in limited and slow fire situations only hit their targets 25% of the time.  If they went into rapid fire the percentage got far worse.  Fifteen years later when I needed to back off on the training due to other responsibilities the FBI was reporting that LE had gotten worse in their shooting - I think it had sunk to about 22% hits.

Don't worry about what works for others as much as what works for you and that you will practice with.

as I understand it from the cops who have showed up at IDPA and USPSA matches, the departments don't want to pay the cops overtime to go qualify and/or practice.

The bureacrats, say like the mayor, would rather see the police force out patrolling the streets during their normal straight time shifts.

[tombogan03884]

as I understand it from the cops who have showed up at IDPA and USPSA matches, the departments don't want to pay the cops overtime to go qualify and/or practice.

The bureacrats, say like the mayor, would rather see the police force out patrolling the streets during their normal straight time shifts.

The remainder of that statement is ;
"and they don't care enough about their own safety to practice on their own time. What the hell, they get really nice funerals."

[JoeG]

Where I disagree is on #3 which I take to mean "initiative".

Tom,

What I was referring to is that moment of hesitation that MB has called the "This can't be happening" reaction. It happens in all crisis situations to pretty much everybody. I have seen in at car wrecks, heart attacks and any other incident. You can train yourself to MOVE mentally to get unstuck. It is similar to RP's starting from a flinch response in training. My experience is mainly with accidents not violence where folks that I have trained do the deer in the headlights thing until something triggers their training and then the kick into gear.

I agree that by definition we will start behind the curve in an aggressive situation. The bad guys are often mentally lazy and assume we will give them the sheep response because that is what they always see. Items 1 and 2 applied early through #3 can change the equation.

At that point, it is what tools can you apply?

Joe

[JoeG]

"We are getting a shotgun for home defense, but are reluctant to carry a handgun while out. "


I would argue that you are making an uninformed decision regarding carrying. Go get some basic hand gun training and use the session to get your questions answered. You may still decide not to carry, based on how it fits your lifestyle and personal choices.

Personally I have no interest in pepper spray and such.  Just my opinion.

Joe