The recent shooting down in Tucson has got me thinking.. Id have no problem drawing and shooting someone if there was no crowd. But, at an event like that, with dozens of bystanders including children; I have to admit, I'm not confident in my shooting skills in a stressful situation to guarantee all rounds land on target.
Just wondering what your thoughts are. Its easy to shoot a paper target thats not moving, but hitting a person on the run while being shot at is a different story. How do you physically and mentally prepare for something like that?
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Do you feel comfortable drawing in a crowd?
Jan 09, 2011 12:21 AM #1
Jan 09, 2011 01:37 AM #2
It is hard for a civilized and rashanal person to take a human life,but i gurantee you my friend if you saw that little girl getting shot you would have know trouble putting an end to this kind of horror.It is truley to bad what has happend in this case but a person like this has already made up his mine he's going out with as many as possible.I would NOT have a problem because i know he would keep killing till it was over.
Jan 09, 2011 01:44 AM #3
What TC said. Draw aim squeeze. No second thoughts at all.
Jan 09, 2011 03:48 AM #4
X3
I'd rather chance putting myself in harms way to help end a gun mans rampage then live the rest of my life asking "what it"
I'd rather chance putting myself in harms way to help end a gun mans rampage then live the rest of my life asking "what it"
Jan 09, 2011 10:17 PM #5
It is hard for a civilized and rashanal person to take a human life,but i gurantee you my friend if you saw that little girl getting shot you would have know trouble putting an end to this kind of horror.It is truley to bad what has happend in this case but a person like this has already made up his mine he's going out with as many as possible.I would NOT have a problem because i know he would keep killing till it was over.
Well said....
Well said....
Jan 10, 2011 05:32 PM #6
Putting someone down wasn't the question. I'd like to think we'd all be able to handle removing someone that was taking others' lives.
The crowd is the problem- Collateral Damage
I don't think that's answerable unless you are there and see the people scattering first hand along with the backdrop.
Sure I'd put my life out there to save others, stop the gunman or at least slow him but unless there was a direct line to and behind him I'd use other means.
*which by personal preference, is why I was unarmed (gunwise) at Glendale Glitters Saturday night. Sure I would've felt more secure personally, but the crowd was always too thick. That's more of a stabbing scenario. Plus crowds bring my anger level up and my tolerance level down on top of all that.
The crowd is the problem- Collateral Damage
I don't think that's answerable unless you are there and see the people scattering first hand along with the backdrop.
Sure I'd put my life out there to save others, stop the gunman or at least slow him but unless there was a direct line to and behind him I'd use other means.
*which by personal preference, is why I was unarmed (gunwise) at Glendale Glitters Saturday night. Sure I would've felt more secure personally, but the crowd was always too thick. That's more of a stabbing scenario. Plus crowds bring my anger level up and my tolerance level down on top of all that.
Jan 10, 2011 05:56 PM #7
Not with my current gun. If I was using my friends .45 or .9mm I'm 90% I would take a shot.
Jan 10, 2011 11:43 PM #8
Skatchkins wrote:Putting someone down wasn't the question. I'd like to think we'd all be able to handle removing someone that was taking others' lives.
The crowd is the problem- Collateral Damage
I don't think that's answerable unless you are there and see the people scattering first hand along with the backdrop.
Sure I'd put my life out there to save others, stop the gunman or at least slow him but unless there was a direct line to and behind him I'd use other means.
*which by personal preference, is why I was unarmed (gunwise) at Glendale Glitters Saturday night. Sure I would've felt more secure personally, but the crowd was always too thick. That's more of a stabbing scenario. Plus crowds bring my anger level up and my tolerance level down on top of all that.
That's an interesting take. You have a few valid points but i think i would always choose to have the "opportunity" to draw and fire. Not that i would actually do it in most cases. That being said, crowds bother me as well. I'm not a fan of large groups of people and i can see how that might figure into things.
Bob has a great point as well. What you carry makes a huge difference.
Jan 12, 2011 12:01 AM #9
It would be quite difficult for me, you have to take into account how physically tired you are (assuming you had run from wherever you were beforehand), bullet penetration, and how familiar you are with your firearm.
I know I wouldn't take a shot unless I was sure there was noone else in the possible line of fire. However, if the gunman turned on me, it would most likely be a different story.
I know I wouldn't take a shot unless I was sure there was noone else in the possible line of fire. However, if the gunman turned on me, it would most likely be a different story.
Mar 05, 2011 08:18 AM #10
Practice, Practice, Practice. When you think you're good enough, go practice some more.
When the moment arrives and your training is put to the test, you will fall back on your instincts, reflexes, and muscle memory.
1. If you don't practice in shooting moving targets... you're not going to hit a moving target.
2. If you don't train in "shoot/no-shoot" scenarios, you will struggle to identify the correct targets.
3. If you don't practice with some regularity, you will lack the confidence and expertise in using your firearm.
I get out at least twice a week and shoot for several hours. While I am at home and have nothing better to do , I clear/empty my CCW gun, sit on the couch, and turn on the TV. I grip my gun in a "Low Ready" position and watch TV.
The guy in the pic is NOT me. :p
When commercials come on, I engage my target and dry-fire at moving targets. First commercial, I shoot at male targets. Second commercial, I shoot at female targets. Third commercial I shoot at moving cars. Forth commercial, I shoot every beer can or bottle... and so on. I never shoot at the kids in the commercials unless they have a weapon. :)
The goal is to (with speed) correctly align your sights on the target and work the trigger, while not "jerking" the trigger. If you jerk the trigger, your sights will move off target.
This exercise builds muscle memory in my grip and my trigger finger. It also increases my awareness of my sights picture and speeds up my Sight-On-Target. Lastly, It also allows me to track moving targets and distinguish between Shoot or No-Shoot targets.
It's easy, fun, and didn't cost you $50 in ammo.
Then, I go out to the range and put my exercise to the test. I staple 6 paper plates on the target frame in a 2x3 grid. I number them 1-6 with a fat magic marker. My shooting buddy randomly calls out a number and I shoot that paper plate. Every time I go out, I get faster and faster. Normally, this exercise also requires using different color plates. Then they can call out either a number or a color. I'm color blind so it does not benefit me.
If you don't have paper plates handy, at least always carry a fat magic marker in your shooting bag. You can use 6 25yd rimfire targets and do the same thing. Heck, anything can work, as long as you car write a 1-6 number on it. Just have a fat magic marker in your bag. :p
I guess I could use pictures instead of colors... now my brain is cranking!
Here's a moving Zombie Target I shot at last year. It started at 20 yards and slowly moved closer until it reached the tip of my gun. I used the same target 6 times and shot at specific body areas.
A before and after pic.
When the moment arrives and your training is put to the test, you will fall back on your instincts, reflexes, and muscle memory.
1. If you don't practice in shooting moving targets... you're not going to hit a moving target.
2. If you don't train in "shoot/no-shoot" scenarios, you will struggle to identify the correct targets.
3. If you don't practice with some regularity, you will lack the confidence and expertise in using your firearm.
I get out at least twice a week and shoot for several hours. While I am at home and have nothing better to do , I clear/empty my CCW gun, sit on the couch, and turn on the TV. I grip my gun in a "Low Ready" position and watch TV.
The guy in the pic is NOT me. :p
When commercials come on, I engage my target and dry-fire at moving targets. First commercial, I shoot at male targets. Second commercial, I shoot at female targets. Third commercial I shoot at moving cars. Forth commercial, I shoot every beer can or bottle... and so on. I never shoot at the kids in the commercials unless they have a weapon. :)
The goal is to (with speed) correctly align your sights on the target and work the trigger, while not "jerking" the trigger. If you jerk the trigger, your sights will move off target.
This exercise builds muscle memory in my grip and my trigger finger. It also increases my awareness of my sights picture and speeds up my Sight-On-Target. Lastly, It also allows me to track moving targets and distinguish between Shoot or No-Shoot targets.
It's easy, fun, and didn't cost you $50 in ammo.
Then, I go out to the range and put my exercise to the test. I staple 6 paper plates on the target frame in a 2x3 grid. I number them 1-6 with a fat magic marker. My shooting buddy randomly calls out a number and I shoot that paper plate. Every time I go out, I get faster and faster. Normally, this exercise also requires using different color plates. Then they can call out either a number or a color. I'm color blind so it does not benefit me.
If you don't have paper plates handy, at least always carry a fat magic marker in your shooting bag. You can use 6 25yd rimfire targets and do the same thing. Heck, anything can work, as long as you car write a 1-6 number on it. Just have a fat magic marker in your bag. :p
I guess I could use pictures instead of colors... now my brain is cranking!
Here's a moving Zombie Target I shot at last year. It started at 20 yards and slowly moved closer until it reached the tip of my gun. I used the same target 6 times and shot at specific body areas.
A before and after pic.