I could go through countless scenarios in which a person with a concealed handgun could be tempted to pull it and start shooting without taking into account the safety of EVERYONE, not just himself. You are, I assume, fairly skilled with a handgun. Very few probably have your level of expertise. In some states I, who have never fired a handgun in my life, can simply buy one and legally walk down a busy street with it concealed wherever one conceals it. I see a crime being committed. What are my rights to intervene? I don't know since I've never been to a class informing me of such rights. Google Fred Yazdi. I decide to fire at the bad guy. Never having fired the handgun, what are my odds of hitting him or an innocent person?
The more knowledge and practice a person has with a handgun the better for all IMHO.
Originally Posted by SpeedRacerXXX
The reality of your fiction. Learning to use a handgun is not difficult. Being good at it and knowing when to use it is much more difficult. However, you have someone pointing a gun at you then you're probably in the clear. If you have something trying to carjack you then you're probably in the clear. If you decide to fire the range will very likely (according to the FBI) less than 15 feet. Here's a dirty secret to keep to yourself....most of the time (according to the FBI) if you display a weapon, show a confidence in your ability, and demonstrate a willingness to use it (whether you will or not) the criminal will run away. You'll never fire a shot. 75% of the time the criminal does not want to get into a gun fire because they don't practice either. So far I'm three for three and have never fired my weapon at someone. I guess that means the next time is for real.
So what do we know now? 3/4s of the time you will not have to fire your weapon. If you do have to fire then the range will be very close. Mister Magoo might have a problem but not a normal person. Civilians are more likely to know who the bad guy is than the police who arrive on the scene.
Like I wrote, knowing when to shoot is usually more important that how well you shoot. Better to know both though. Just think how many times the police shoot to get one or two hits.