Are you preparing for its intended use?
Firearms classes, tactical training, and survival courses often cover the roles of both Defenders and Hunters. Defenders primarily focus on protecting themselves and their loved ones, while Hunters are tasked with pursuing threats or adversaries.
Instructors should avoid imposing Hunter Mentality on students in self-defense training. There is a fine line between teaching self-defense and encouraging students to seek out threats.
I have seen beginner and intermediate students exhibit a “Hunter” attitude when discussing deadly threat scenarios, which can be risky.
Self-defense with a firearm requires knowledge, training, and understanding of local laws. The goal in a self-defense situation is survival. Proper use of your firearm and necessary skills can give you an edge.
Being a “Hunter” involves more than just owning a firearm; it requires extensive training and situational awareness. My experience over three decades taught me that it takes repeated firearms training, enhanced awareness, and mental preparation to be effective. Quick decision-making is crucial for eliminating threats and staying safe.
This article aims to enlighten those who have chosen to be Hunters. One must be prepared. In active shooter situations, a Hunter-minded citizen or a quick-responding police officer is essential to end the event swiftly.
Carrying a concealed firearm does not automatically make you a Hunter for any specific incident. Many variables come into play before a critical incident.
While carrying a firearm, you need to train to respond effectively. Knowledge and proper use of your firearm put you in a better position, not just possession of it.
In my advanced training courses, I emphasize a “Tactical Mindset” or “Combat Mindset,” which is often more crucial than the firearm itself. Do not force the Hunter mentality; it should be developed through learning and experience.
Whether you are a Hunter or Defender, know your firearm and its use instinctively. In an emergency, there is no time to think. Firearms can malfunction, so quickly recognizing and fixing issues is crucial for survival.
Practicing solely on a static firing range and shooting from a stationary position does not adequately prepare for real-life self-defense scenarios. Training for defensive pistol or rifle incidents should include various shooting positions, inducing malfunctions in firearms, rapid reload procedures, shooting while moving, and shooting from behind barriers, among other activities.
Introducing stress during training can be beneficial for improving skills in firearm use. Although it may not be simple, increasing breathing and heart rate through physical activity before a shooting drill can help. In self-defense situations, individuals often experience an elevated heart rate, adrenaline rushes, and tunnel vision.
Most students who have taken my Defensive Pistol class complete the course by performing drills they did not initially expect to do with their firearm. They practice shooting from various positions they had not previously attempted and learn techniques and skills necessary for accurately shooting while moving.
Most gun owners, including those carrying for self-defense, often lack proper training. Many think simply owning a firearm boosts their chances of survival.
There have been cases where a good guy’s gun was taken and used against them by a bad guy. Proper training can prevent such incidents.
Not everyone who owns a firearm should carry it for self-defense; some enjoy shooting as a sport. However, if you own a firearm for self-defense, is your training sufficient? Owning an EMT bag without knowledge of emergency care is useless. Train to be the best defender possible. It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Your family depends on it.
Get outside your comfort zone. Take that first step and start training like your life depends on it. One day it just might. A good Instructor should not push you beyond your skill level, but he will give you what you need to increase your skill level.
Never stop training, never stop learning and never stop pushing your skills and putting them to the test. I must be the best that I can be because I won’t know the skill level of my opponent.
SIGN-UP TODAY and enhance your skills!!!
NEVER STOP TRAINING!
For any questions regarding my article, email me at
[email protected]
Oz Johnson/Lead Instructor, NRA Certified
JohnsonGroupTAC.com
602-448-8283
