How much training should a CHL holder have?

[Purplehood]

from article:
"I had my hand on my gun. I had it in my jacket pocket here.
poised to draw
Zamudio "grabbed his arm and shoved him into a wall"
Then author editorializes making "minor changes":
This is a much more dangerous picture than has generally been reported. Zamudio had released his safety and was poised to fire when he saw what he thought was the killer still holding his weapon. Zamudio had a split second to decide whether to shoot. He was sufficiently convinced of the killer's identity to shove the man into a wall. But Zamudio didn't use his gun. That's how close he came to killing an innocent man.

How hard did he push him? He never even drew, he wasn't close to being "poised to fire"


some good comments here too

"Would a police officer have responded differently? Would the title of the article then have been "Police almost shoot wrong man"?"

"Wow!! Irresponsible journalism with a twist! Now we have journalists taking someone to task for "almost" doing something wrong. "

"I found what I believe is information that gives me the feeling that
this armed citizen was not close to discharging his weapon at an innocent party. Since he
still had the weapon in his pocket. Based on that information he was not near to shooting an innocent bystander. "

On YouTube Zamudio stated only that he "grabbed him by the wrist" until someone told him that he was not the shooter, it was "that other guy". It didn't sound nearly as ominous as what I read above.

[Pyrat]

As with most of these types of articles, the comments tend to be more informed.

[E.Marquez]

How much training should a CHL holder have?

You want the opinion of a 45 year old, 3 CW perit owning, permits previously from 4 other states, 24 year active Army Infantry Sergeant Major, trained at a multidtue of military and civilian firearms , markeinsminship and tactcis facilities? You should stop training, just at, or right after your death. You can always learn something…Sometimes it’s just maintaining proficiency at what your already good at.. Sometimes it’s a new tactic, sometimes it’s you learn you can no longer perform an old tactic as well as you could when you were 22, and you have to develop a new tactic . Learning ( training) should only stop at or just after your death.

[texjames]

I think the Texas CHL class doe's a pretty good job at some initial training, eneough to pass usually anyway.Just about every class i been to there will be
at least one or two people who have never even shot a gun.The instructors always take time to give them some pretty good basics and class discussion helps too.Stuff like dry firing watching TV, practicing mag changes etc. But some range time and practice can sure help.I have also seen some get hands on training with a instructor at the local indoor range before they take the class.

[i8godzilla]

Required Training? ZERO!

How much training is required to assert you First Amendment rights? Are you required to take a special class to say a Blessing for your meal in a public eatery? What classes are you required to take to keep you safe from unreasonable searches? Do you need a special class to keep to exercise your right from self-incrimination?

How about a special class to be a journalist? Ethics and honesty would be at the top of the of this lesson plan!

Just saying...............................

[Scott in Houston]

Required Training? ZERO!

How much training is required to assert you First Amendment rights? Are you required to take a special class to say a Blessing for your meal in a public eatery? What classes are you required to take to keep you safe from unreasonable searches? Do you need a special class to keep to exercise your right from self-incrimination?

How about a special class to be a journalist? Ethics and honesty would be at the top of the of this lesson plan!

Just saying...............................

I agree with this. The government should NOT require it...

However, we as a people and group of individuals should highly encourage it. We should look out for ourselves and our family and push training to them, and also to our neighbor if we think they're not doing it.

It's the people's responsibility and not the government.

[Oldgringo]

Isn't there a government required Hunter Safety training thingy required prior to purchasing a Hunting License?

[MostlyHarmless]

Hi,
This discussion seems to have split into two directions: "How much training should you get?" And, the original question, "How much training should be required?" The answer to the former question is fairly obviously, "As much as you can." I suspect that those who reads this board posses more than the average level of enthusiasm both for their CHL privileges and for seeking out further/ongoing training. But, while we may all agree on that here, how much training one should get was not the original topic question.

Since I'm posting here, obviously I'm one to be concerned about infringements upon my 2nd Amendment rights. However, I recently took my (first) CHL class (from a reputable instructor), and I came away concerned about the demonstrated marksmanship skills and the undemonstrated decision-making skills of my fellow classmates and licensed CHL-holders.

I don't consider myself a particularly good shot. I didn't even own a pistol until a few months ago, but I applied myself, practiced diligently, and achieved a perfect score on the CHL shooting test. My classmates had holes all over their targets yet still easily surpassed the minimum test score. If someone is going to be carrying, as a third party citizen subject to stray fire I want that person to have demonstrated that they are very proficient with it. And even then, such a marksmanship demonstration only covers what happens area after the CHL licensee has decided to fire. The CHL program doesn't really seem set up to train or test the decision whether (or how) to draw the weapon in the first place. I don't know, maybe that's just impossible to do or just me being overly retentive.

I'm new, and I really hope I don't aggravate anyone here -- I certainly don't mean to do so. I'm just expressing how I feel, and I feel a concern that CHL standards could be higher. I'm actually less concerned about the enthusiasts on this message board than I am about what I suspect is a silent majority of less proficient CHL holders out there. I find myself wondering whether it's a good thing that there are not all that many CHL holders statewide and taking a certain amount of comfort in my suspicion that very few of those licensed actually carry regularly. I guess I'd like to see a CHL training class separate from a CHL testing class (the latter is how I'd describe what we have now) -- at least one that's made available if not made mandatory.

[OK, diving for cover now...]

[MostlyHarmless]

Isn't there a government required Hunter Safety training thingy required prior to purchasing a Hunting License?

There wasn't the last time I got a hunting license (been a few years), but I know there's a standard NRA gun safety class -- seems like demonstrated safety skills should be a requirement for the CHL. Maybe my CHL instructor was testing us on that as part of the CHL requirement and I simply wasn't aware of him doing it, dunno.

[anygunanywhere]

Training is a good thing.

There must be no training required.

The militia should be well regulated, but the second amendment says nothing about any requirements to exercise your rights.

The only requirement to exercise your RKBA is that you possess arms.

Anygunanywhere

[4LOKO]

Required Training? ZERO!

How much training is required to assert you First Amendment rights? Are you required to take a special class to say a Blessing for your meal in a public eatery? What classes are you required to take to keep you safe from unreasonable searches? Do you need a special class to keep to exercise your right from self-incrimination?

The country would be better if we had smarter and better educated voters.

BUT!!!

The courts ruled that government fees and tests can not be required to vote, so they shouldn't be required to keep and bear arms, go to church, and so forth.

[Mastodon]

...I feel a concern that CHL standards could be higher.

You're not the only one, believe me.

Bear in mind, though, that - as has been mentioned before - the shooting standards are on-par with that required of police officers (with the noted exception of a timed reload). Now ain't that scary?

If I were in charge, the standards would be a lot higher - not impossible by any manner of means, but not something that someone brand-new to shooting would be able to pass easily.

That said, the CHL-course does a pretty good job for being a starting point; unfortunately a lot of folks seem to believe that once they've passed, they don't have to lift a finger again.

[Beiruty]

Maybe at the CHL course, the instructor has to stress the importance of training. It is ridiculous that some who are in the class to get their CHL and never touched a gun before and wants a CHL and most likely will never touch their gun at the range or in competition. Worse, they expect to use their firearms to counter an Active shooter, mugger, raper or home invasion. TRAINING, TRAINING and more TRAINING, even if it is not mandated by the government, it is your life on the line.