Quote Originally Posted by Tradd View Post
The old timers are the ones who really scare me. I just sat down and added up how much training I've had. NRA Basic Pistol, 8 hours; IL CCL class, 8 hours (IL requires 16 hours, but I got credit for the NRA Basic Pistol class); Massad Ayoob (very well known trainer for LE and armed civilians) 20 hour class on the legalities of being an armed civilian + 20 hours live fire; 2 x 8 hours for Force on Force classes, using airlift pistols (great for simulating stress under fire), taught by local trainers who work with LE and serve on the state committee that works with schools for active shooter training; 4 hour weapons retention class (aka, how to keep your pistol if a bad guy tries to take it away from you).
I'm an old timer, don't be afraid. I carried a weapon every single day of my life between 1973 and 2005 (and still do at times), attending and conducting countless hours of training including live fire houses and more simulations than I could possibly remember. I'm currently a certified trainer for the ALiCE active shooter program (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) and routinely train my companies employees in a modified version.

The people I find most worrisome are the new CCW holders lacking a history of ongoing training coupled with the desire to let people know they're able to carry. To me, a weapon is a tool. I don't see many master carpenters bragging about their hammer. We old timers who carry for protection, mostly of others, don't either.

To another posters point, if she sees me in a supermarket she'll never know I'm carrying one of the tools of my trade and has no reason to worry about me. A sheepdog never harms the sheep.