I truely didn't know how much I didn't know. I felt confident enough just having a gun on me, and at that point, nothing had challenged that confidence.
Time. Life. Death. Family. Work. Chores. Pets. Sleep.
Guess I could cut down on my sleep.
I think a lot of people just get hung up on not knowing where to start.
Someone who has been around guns their whole life and shooting for 20 years + probably doesn't want to take a basic pistol class because they may feel it's beneath their level.
A new gun owner might be intimidated by the thought of a class because they don't want to seem foolish or green.
I think a lot of times people just don't know what they don't know. They get stuck not trying anything because they don't understand what foundational skills they need to build.
I don't think I'm beter off without training, in fact my confidence shooting handguns is sub-par at best. I just recently (last year or 2) gotten into handgun shooting, and unlike when I started shooting rifles, I have no one to offer advice or help hone my skills.
I haven't taken a class yet due to:
1. I'm poor
2. Never hear about any nearby (NWI within 1hr or so of valpo)
3. Ones that are offered nearby are VERY entry level, and while I may not be that great, I have at least surpassed learning basic gun skills and paying for a class that teaches me where the safety is, etc, doesn't seem like its worth the money to me as much as it would someone who'd never shot a gun before.
4. I'm poor, like really.. college sucks (graduating in a week though!)
Some other responses/excuses I have heard (just some; they are legion!):
But, but, but I could buy another gun for all that money, just to learn stuff I ALREADY KNOW EVERTHING ABOUT...
...There are 37,000 INGO members. Only a couple hundred post in the T&T forum with any regularity. There are more than 3x as many threads in the Carry Issues and Self Defense subforum as there are in T&T. There are 6.5X as many posts in those threads. With so many members concerned and posting about carry topics and self-defense, I'm curious to know why those same folks aren't over here seeking training...
I'll have to think about that, as much as I would love to get some training, I've never been one to ask for charity. If his class costs $365, I might just have to start saving whatever I can.Contact Frank Sharpe: Fortess Defense Consultants
If you really want to learn, I think he can work something out with you. He's based in Crete, IL, but does classes in Rochester, IN and other ranges in NW Indiana. Don't worry about having surpassed what he can teach you because you have not and are unlikely to do so in the immediate future.
That is why when I first saw this I thought it might be better off in General Firearms or Carry Issues and self defense. Go where the people are who aren't training and ask them.The goal in posting this question is to initiate some discussion about barriers to training. Hopefully we'll hear from some real people about their personal reasons. I doubt belittling their reasons and mocking them will generate much real discussion. Not everyone will think the reasons are valid, but they are valid to the people I'm hoping will respond. Maybe we'll be able to bridge the gap for some people, as rhino has attempted to do by suggesting a nearby trainer. Maybe the reasoning will be convincing and even the hard core training advocates will decide some people just don't need it. Either way, I'm not sure posts like those quoted above will further the discussion.
There are 37,000 INGO members. Only a couple hundred post in the T&T forum with any regularity. There are more than 3x as many threads in the Carry Issues and Self Defense subforum as there are in T&T. There are 6.5X as many posts in those threads. With so many members concerned and posting about carry topics and self-defense, I'm curious to know why those same folks aren't over here seeking training.