When I teach Basic Handgun courses, I get people who tell me that the final reason that they chose the Smith and Wesson Bodyguard (or insert similar model) is because it comes with a laser. Everyone knows you can't miss with a laser, right? After all, wherever the laser is pointing is where the bullet is going to hit, right? You don't even have to worry about those pesky sights when you have a laser, right?

It makes me cringe...

First off, we've already covered (in great detail) all of the many reasons that we don't recommend small handguns (especially for new shooters). I'm not going to go back into that, however it seems like all of these "laser included" handgun models tend to be the pocket carry style of firearm. Definitely not my first choice of weapon that I'd want to bring to a gun fight. However, this rant is specifically dealing with the laser, not the size of the weapon...

It has been my experience that the overwhelming amount of the times that shooters have misses instead of hits is NOT because their aim was insufficient. The vast majority of the time it is because of poor trigger control. Sight systems, albeit a laser, iron sights, night sights, red-dot optics, etc. are all relatively simple systems. You teach someone how they work, and it's not really something you have to go over repeatedly. Simplicity is key.

If you don't know who Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is, you should look him up. He's an internationally recognized scholar, author, soldier, and speaker and one of the world's foremost experts in the field of human aggression and the roots of violence and violent crime. Due to recent events, I think it is important that everyone check out his presentation called "Bulletproof Mind."

There is a never-ending argument about everyday-people training with plate carriers, battle-belts, chest rigs, and similar gear. The argument being that they are somehow "playing soldier" instead of actually honing skills that could ever be of practical use for civilians.

Is this case? Is it useful for civilians to own and train with equipment commonly associated with military or specialized police personnel? Let's take a look at it in greater detail.

In my opinion, too many people buy a gun and visit an indoor gun range, take their new pistol out of the box or the cheap Uncle Mike's holster that they purchased, fire at a static target with a terrible grip and stance, and think that they are prepared to carry their firearm for personal protection. Then, they generally leave that same pistol in the glove compartment of their vehicle and convince themselves that should they ever need it, they'll somehow have time to get to their vehicle and retrieve said firearm with sufficient time to face their threat while armed. Ignorance is bliss.

If you've ever trained with us, then you have inevitably heard our saying that "you will fight with what you have." Your concealed carry weapon should not be the weapon that you train with the least, though it often is. So if you don't take anything else away from this article, please understand that you probably don't train enough with your primary concealed carry weapon. With that said, that's not the point of this rant.