CPL class
 

I had a CPL class today. I was REALLY surprised at the amount of people there that don't know ANYTHING about a gun or even shot a gun before. Is there a lot of people out there that really don't have a clue on the basics? Is there, in your opinion, a lot of people out there carrying a concealed weapon with no idea on how to use it and the consequences?

In my class there were a bunch of people that didn't know how to operate the gun. I watched one person point their gun at their foot with their finger on the trigger with a hot gun. There were many people that kept their finger on the trigger no matter where they were pointing it. A few pointed it up in the air with a hot gun. Where's the bullet gonna come down if they shot? Plus more and the really basic, dumb, questions asked during the classroom time. 'No question is dumb', some REALLY were.

Kinda scary thinking these people are carrying. They really need a basic class and some range time before a CPL.

I'm a gun guy and believe in the 'right to bear arms' but I was really set back by this. Most weren't NRA members. I think more education or training or maybe a few day class would be better for the 'average' citizen.

I really don't plan on carrying, but it makes it easier for purchases....

NRA membership doesnt mean they have common sense. I know several ppl that are NRA members that I wouldnt be in the same county as them when they have a firearm.

I've taught a few friends how to shoot. Most instinctively keep their fingers on the trigger. I constantly have to remind/correct that. My son now automatically keeps his finger outside the guard until he has acquired the target.

I'm always wary of people at the range, and I watch those around me closely. Over half of them have lousy trigger discipline and I've gently offered some advice to those that appear to be newbie and confused. With some you can tell they don't want advice so I just keep quiet unless they are doing something unsafe.

many just don't grow up around fire arms. and only kn w what they see in the movies. you are right to be afraid.

More intriguing is that why are there so many without a clue. Could be the Obama factor...

I bet that many/most of the people with a CPL never carry a gun, which is fine, especially if they aren't extremely familiar with it. We go to the range frequently, practice safe firearm technique and respect the firearm (and others). Most of the people I see at the range are knowledgeable and safe, but there are always a few exceptions...

When I got my CWP in FL. I had to be certified by a range marshall/instructor that I had taken and passed the written and range courses. To me that is what everyone should have to do. Those people that get their licenses at gun shows scare me.

My CPL class consisted of 11 hours, including classroom and range time with a highly trained forearms instructor. We really got our money's worth and it was an excellent class.

Oops, make that "firearms", not "forearms"!

Nothing scarier than a concealed forearm

A friend of mine was in the Navy. At some point, during basic training, the naval recruits had to shoot/qualify with a .45 semi-auto pistol.

He said, standing next to him, was a kid from "back east", that had NEVER had any type of gun in his hand, in his entire life.

When he raised the pistol to fire he said the kid's hand was shaking so bad, he thought ... "the guy was going to shake the slide right off the receiver on that worn out .45."

I hope you class had range time. Our instructors can deny a person based on firearm handling.

That happened with me twice. I introduced an english guy to pistols while he was on a business trip here. He was shaking when he fired the first shots. After a few hours at the range, he was fine. His main comment, "This is much harder than in the movies." He was referring to being able to hit a target at 5 yrds!

I took my wife to the range, and started her with a .22 pistol. She was shaking and claimed "I think I'm going to faint". She fires the pistol and exclaims "That was nothing." She follows directions very well, and with breath control from yoga, she is quite a good shot.

Yes, we had range time. Shot 60rounds each at various distances and stances. That's where I noticed some unsafe practices. One person even wrote in his notes during class always point the gun in a safe direction. Seriously! That shouldn't have been a note, but common sense, second nature. One person dropped the gun as he was trying to load it. You have the gun in one had and the clip in the other but it managed to get away from him. Never done that personally but I suppose anything can happen.

Of course I don't know everything either but the safety and the basics I got down. They talked a lot about the laws which was more worth it for me.

IMO, I would say there was about 50% in there that should have been taking a basic gun safety class and doing range time before even thinking about a CPL.

Oh well, I just hope they start going to the range more or seek out some basic training.

I was just wondering if you guys felt the same way when you took your classes for a CPL.

I did a private class, so there were no other students. What those other students need is a safety class and range time, and they will be fine.

OTOH, there are a lot of people who get the CHL, but don't carry unless they 'think' they may need it. And the other thing I find stupid is those who carry in condition 3. They see the cop shows where the good guys stand outside the bad guys place, and rack the slide for dramtic effect. Only in Hollywood. You need to learn to carry in condition 1 and be comfortable.

Oh, the other effect I love in Hollywod? Someone carrying an pistol and, again from dramatic effect, pulling the hammer back. If you're in condition 2, the trigger will do nothing.

Especially one's the size of Stallone's.

At the local shop/range there are a lot of idiots without a clue. I saw someone almost shoot the window. I just joined a gun club that's WAY out in the woods and it's great. Everybody know what they're doing, everyone's helpful and it's a very laid back atmosphere.

I stopped going to the local range a few years ago after the people in the stall next to me put a .45 slug through the divider that missed me by a couple inches.

No thanks on that. Now i only get to shoot a couple times a year up the mountains (LOTS of rounds), but at least i don't need to worry about getting shot in the process.

There were bunch of nobbies in the classes I've taken too. Pretty scary stuff that such inexperienced people are carrying. But hey, they have just as much right to defend themselves as the seasoned gun nuts do. And they will certainly be held liable if they screw up. I remember in my AZ class a very young couple from NY that had just moved here. They had just gone to Cabella's the day before the class and bought some .22 target pistol with all the accessories, cleaning kit, handsome carrying case, etc. They had NO idea what they were doing. But at least they seemed really into it and I'm sure they've been to the range every weekend since and probably gotten several more guns by now. I think they also realized from watching a few of us seasoned guys doing 1" groups for our quals. with much larger calibers that there is a lot more to it than how it looks on tv or how the guy at the Cabella's gun counter explained it to them.