Tactical Shooting skills are a perfect fit for CCW. In fact, the belief that tactical shooting is just advancing, or retreating from an assailant is only part of the picture.
The example stated above was letting a retreating person go. I have news for you, a person can retreat and still be a threat. He can be shooting as he retreats, he can be headed for a third person whom he intends to do harm. Let me give you my description of Tactical Shooting.
Tactical Shooting is the defensive or preemptive use of a rifle, pistol, shotgun, through the use of cover and concealment,movement and tactics. While under stress, still making combat effective hits to neutralize a threat, or remove that threats will to fight.
I have paraphrased this from my Tactical Firearms course I teach Police Officers. If you get in a shooting, I have been there, one thing that is important is movement. It can save your life, we depend on it more than marksmanship. Use of cover and concealment, and knowing the difference between the two are part of tactical shooting. This, along with other factors, such as if I take action will I make the problem worst, or better? Should factor, along with tactics, into your decision.
My first concern will always be regarding being a good witness. Having said that, too many of these creeps kill people when they don't have too. You should consider, do I have some cover, a clear shot? Who is with me, will I place them in danger? If I hit or miss, will my rounds go safely down range?
Some one stated that retreating from a bat, or knife is a time to back off. Maybe, but I have seen a lot of people who have been bludgeoned to death. Let me give you food for thought. If you back off from someone with a knife, make sure you back off at least 60 feet. At twenty one feet, a person armed with a knife can cover that distance in 2.5 seconds. We are not talking about a trained athlete. It takes a trained police officer on average of 2.5 seconds to clear his holster. Translation, which means he hasn't gotten it on target yet. The action, is always faster than the reaction, and distance is the only way to defeat action. It is what we call the "Reactionary Distance". Ladies and Gents, the tie goes to the person with the knife.
As a firearms instructor, defensive tactics instructor, I find that most CCW holders, and most Cops,are in need of some serious training. Too many people think that the skills they possess are enough, and don't know enough about the mental state, skills, tactics of the crooks. FBI studies show from interviews with bad guys who have shot, or killed police officers that on average they practice two or more time a month with there firearms. Most officers, except for SWAT, Narcotics, and a few other specialized units only shoot during qualification once or twice a year. News flash, the distances that officers are engaged and the number of assailants are basically the same for civilians. That's up close and personal, and two or more bad guys. How many of you train on a regular basis to deal with 2 or more assailants?
If you are not burning two to three hundred rounds a month, doing dry fire every day, you are missing the boat. If your firearms training is not designed to meet your needs, such as practice which is practical. For instance, practicing firing from a vehicle while drawing from your concealed carry. Using a flashlight while shooting, like you might in you home. Practice from kneeling, prone, remember cover might be a curb on a street. Working on your tactical reloading, while moving and keeping your eye on the threat. No, you don't have to be a special forces guy, or Swat guy, but you have to practice like you plan to play in the game.
You will conduct yourself in a time of stress, as you practiced. We learned this the hard way! Police officers have been found shot to death with a pocket full of brass. They where picking up brass, instead of watching the crook, reloading, or seeking cover. Why, because every time they practiced, the range officer always yelled at them to pick up the brass after every facing! It was the way he trained, and because if was faulty, it was the way he died.
If I seem passionate about this, I am. I have no intention of having anybody get hurt because they don't have the facts. God Bless each and every CCW person in this wonderful country, but we have to do a better job. That goes for firearms instructors, and people who carry. Standing in front of a target and shooting 10 rings are good for the ego, great for target shooting! When the targets are shooting back, and the pucker factor hits the top of the pucker gauge, you need realistic tactical training. Which will give you the edge when you decided it is time to clear leather.
We also have a duty to others, what about an "Active Shooter" situation at the Mall? Static practice won't take care of that. Tactical shooting practice will give you an edge.
I am not the smartest man in the room, by any stretch. I am a Cop, 27 plus years. I train cops and civilians to use firearms, defensive tactics, and teach Concealed Carry Classes. I hate theory, I only go with what I know works! I want the bad guy to take the fall, not the good guy. So lets prepare for the worst, and pray that it never happens. But if it does happen, woe be unto those!
Scott
Black Dragon Personal Protection/Firearms Training/Unarmed Combat