Shot taken at a CCW course for citizens in my neck of the woods recently. This one is about 2 1/2 times as long as the one required by the State; it's for people who want to do more than "just enough".
This will begin with something of a rant before it gets to the review. I apologize for that in advance, but I think it needs to be said. This introductory op-ed is my opinion alone, it doesn’t necessarily represent Military.com, etc. etc. ad nauseum.
I’ve mentioned before that I have great respect for the ‘trained and educated armed responsible citizens’ (TEARC) who take the improvement of their shooting skills seriously. I believe I’ve also mentioned that I was pleasantly surprised by the extremely well reasoned opinions offered by some of these shooters about the choices of gear…in fact, surprised might be a weak description. Astonished might be better, if you consider how much I learned from a two hour conversation between Mark W and Manny Z about the relative merits of optic mounts like the LaRue QD Pivot vs. various ways of mounting/wearing gear – information I confirmed afterward, by the way. As for the unfortunate tendency to include such shooters in the ranks of true ‘posers’, ‘wanna-bes’ and ‘mall ninjas’, I think we should all keep three things in mind.
First, there are far more ‘mere civilian’ citizen shooters than former/current military and LEOs, making them essential to a proper and intelligent representation of the Second Amendment. Second, it was people much like these shooters who chastised General Gage so effectively when he tried to enforce the ‘Intolerable Acts’. Third, there’s nothing desultory about them – believe me when I say I’ve been thoroughly and effectively put in my place by many of them (not that I’m any good measure of a proper gunslinger), most recently at Rocky Creek Ranch in Florida and North Point Training Center in Virginia. Ellen P, Ansel F and Russian Tim were better rifle shooters than probably 75% (or more) of the armed professionals I’ve ever known. Tory J and Matt E had less ego invested in the learning process and were more serious about correcting their mistakes than about anyone I’ve ever stood on the range with. I should mention they were all tremendously patriotic and staunch supporters of the military (many in extremely practical and evident ways).
My point? These are people we should not only teaching to, they can be people we learn from, and there certainly should be no antipathy between the two groups…particularly at a time when misguided even ignorant people like Bob Costas and Piers Morgan happily declaim handguns on prime time TV. Politicians are already talking about a new ban, and the President’s second term hasn’t even started yet.
Whew. Deep breath. So that’s it. I think we should be more actively involved, even welcoming, to the TEARC. To that end I asked one to write a review of a recent Costa Ludus handgun course he attended (HE02) in Myakka, Florida early last month.The author (initials E.D.) is a citizen who never wore a military or LE uniform. He is an ardent shooter who is a strong supporter of the military, serving on the board of 1/75′s 1ST Ranger Battalion Sua Sponte Foundation.
He may not be a hardened gunslinger with multiple tours overseas, and he obviously doesn’t represent all civilian shooters, but he is a great example of a TEARC and he’s certainly no Gecko45.
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Costa Handgun Employment 02
Rocky Creek Ranch, Myakka FL 09 – 11 NOV 12
Your day was going far better than you expected. Your boss just gave you a surprise bonus check for making the most widgets at the ACME Widget Factory. And, for the first time ever, the check even contained a comma. After work, you head over to the bank to deposit your new found wealth. While waiting in line, you idly pass the time mentally spending every dollar on the latest tactical cool guy gear that you are sure will secure you a spot on Ninja Task Force 175.
The sound of, “Sir….Sir….Can I help the next customer please?” jars you from mentally perusing the pages of Brownells. You look up and witness the teller’s once friendly face morph into a look of terror. As you struggle to interpret this, a jarring pain erupts through your neck and right shoulder. Things begin to get fuzzy. You hear “Everyone one the ground, hands out! This sh*t is for real!” You fall to the deck and your lights go out.
[click to continue…]