Context Isn’t Just a “Thing”, Its Everything!

When it comes to training, context is critical.  When teaching or preparing training, you must consider the context in which it will be used.  Differences based on application are often minimal but can be extensive.  Nowhere is this more true than in law enforcement firearms training.

Training time is often limited, seldom adequate, and frequently suboptimal. You must be highly focused on what is needed for those jobs.

During most of my career, an “Officer Needs Assistance” call quickly resulted in dozens of officers. Responding from the jail to one help call, a three-minute Code 3, there were no parking spaces available within a two-block radius.

Alternatively, I have colleagues in rural jurisdictions where the single backup was over 30 minutes away.

If you frequent an area where shots ring out several times a day, your training should be different than where a major incident could be a rural ambush.

Areas where predators are the size of a small car will dictate different weapons, calibers, and carry methods.

Training is good; training for your reality is better. All of it requires you to keep context in mind.

Quick Draw McGraw!

This may be the place where context is most critical.

For most concealed carry situations, the need for a one-second draw is minimal.  You choose where you are and when to leave. While surprise attacks happen, they are rare.

That sub-second draw can be critical in a match.

Conversely, for an officer, being able to draw quickly has proven to be lifesaving. As a cop, you are largely reactive and often can’t initiate.

In one recent incident, officers were handling a domestic dispute involving multiple parties. They were assaulted by an armed suspect who shot at them as he entered the room.

Years ago, as my officers were going up a stairwell, a knife-wielding suspect was charging down them. This required a fast presentation and solid hits to stop the threat.

In one recent video, a suspect turned on an officer while starting to draw. The officer beat him on the draw. The suspect decided to turn and run. It may not happen often, but it happens.

For tactical officers, the long gun is often your primary weapon. Being able to transition to your pistol can be critical.  The context of your real-world drives everything.

Pointing guns at people?

Another place where context is critical is pointing guns at people, including law enforcement.  This is also a good example of societal change. When clearing buildings in the 80s and 90s, our “low ready” was just below our line of sight.  Just enough to ensure you could see, but still pointed at a vital area.  If someone popped around the corner during a building search, they were confronted with the muzzle of a gun pointed directly at them. If they turned out not to be a threat, we apologized and moved on.  Felony stops typically involve handguns and long guns directed at possible threats.

Many years ago, I helped investigate an officer-involved shooting as a subject matter expert. During a high-risk stop, an officer shot a suspect due to an unexpected surprise movement that struck them center mass.  These days, common ready positions are not pointed at anyone, yet provide an unobstructed view and ready access if needed.

Without sufficient articulation, the act of drawing your concealed pistol can be a crime in many states, never mind pointing it at someone.

The world today dictates that you must identify an actual threat to present at all. It’s why practicing most presentations to a ready position with the finger off the trigger is so critical.   Pressing the trigger on a paper target every time you present does not prepare you for real-life situations.  Sure, don’t “pull that pistol” unless you mean it, but you are not going to shoot someone every time you present.

One-Hand Shooting

Shooting with one hand is likely the singularly most neglected skill in firearms training today. Unfortunately, it is entirely likely you will do so in a real fight.  Shootings are dynamic, gunfights more so, and it’s seldom a good idea to stand there and go “mano e mano.”  While the classic “my hand has been shot” is a real possibility, it is likely you just need to do stuff with your other hand.

Open or close doors, operate the radio, move furniture, or navigate the world.  It’s inconvenient but absolutely necessary.

You will be fighting your way to safety, not toward danger, and while protecting your family. On your way out, there will be people you need to assist, doors to open, staircases to navigate, hallways, rooms, and furniture.  At the same time, you may be managing your family, likely including children.  The truth is you may only have one hand to shoot with most of the time, making it a good idea to practice it consistently.

Sacrilegious, yes, but “fighting your way back to a rifle” before returning to the fight is probably suicidal or stupid.  You DO NOT want to be the guy running back into an active shooter scene with a rifle as 50 cops roll up looking for a shooter with a rifle.

Bottom Line

What happens during active shooter or other armed encounters is no mystery these days.  Years of seeing both give us a good idea of what will happen here and elsewhere. For other issues, we at least have some history to look at.  Your training needs to match the reality of your world, not the latest match or video.  Practice everything, but not at the expense of what your life needs.