This post is especially intended for novice and/or infrequent
shooters, and particularly those who recently bought guns for protection
in the wake of burgeoning violent crime, Covid, political/governmental instability, etc.
The “Dunning–Kruger Effect” is a bias in
which people mistakenly over-assess their cognitive ability. It's related
to “illusory superiority,” in which people overestimate their own qualities and
abilities in relation to those of other people. Lacking sufficient
self-awareness or gravitas, people fail to accurately evaluate their relative
knowledge or expertise. Therefore, they assume they’re competent although
they’re really not. In essence, they don’t know that they don’t know! The bias can become
especially dangerous in connection with firearms ownership, carry and use of
force. Simply because someone has a license to possess or carry a
handgun, doesn’t necessarily mean that he/she is functionally
capable. Think carefully about this and the following realities …
Be self-examining … your
abilities and judgement aren’t bulletproof.
A gun is not bling or a panacea.
Extreme safety and efficient
gun handling are basic prerequisites.
Shooting at static
paper targets is not akin to real life self-defense shooting.
Your marksmanship
proficiency should be at least on par with local law enforcement qualification
standards. If below that, you’re probably below functional adequacy.
"Micro-pistols"
have inherent limitations and hazards. While they may offer good
concealability, you’re likely to have
“micro” effectiveness with one in a real life, dynamic, self-defense incident.
Don’t assume you actually know what you’re doing after
having taken a 2-hour gun intro course or watched a few YouTube videos
narrated by some “tacticool” dude posing as a Navy SEAL or Jason Bourne.
Your Walmart-like or large group “Concealed Carry for
Dummies” course didn’t realistically or functionally prepare you for the true
perils of gun use. You have no idea what you’re doing! And what’s worse, you
probably don’t realize it or are in denial. And because you’re now handling and
carrying a deadly weapon, you’re especially dangerous.
Even though you might have rudimentary or even significant marksmanship
and gun handling skills, that doesn’t mean you’re “good enough.” Unless you
fully understand all relevant criminal and firearms-related laws,
especially those relating to justifiable use of deadly force, you could easily
wind up in jail. That would be awfully bad in normal times, but in today’s COVID-19
environment it could be a veritable death sentence.
Even if you’re solid in terms of safety, handling,
marksmanship, and legal knowledge, you’re almost certainly lacking adequate
strategic and tactical prowess.
You better get very serious, professional instruction and
training. Incidentally, unless proof of significant proficiency can be clearly
shown, it’s likely that a prosecutor or plaintiff’s attorney will shred you in
a potential criminal or civil proceeding.
Have I wounded your fragile ego? Too friggin’ bad. Or think
this article doesn’t apply to you? 90% probability it does.
You’re armed, and
dangerous! Let … That … Sink … In.
Copyright ©2019-2025 Bruce Edenson. All rights reserved. Issue update 6/19/24.
