Ethics of a NEW handgun owner?

[Zan]

Hi, okay, where do I start?
I'm a new member in this forum, a new owner of the CZ P-01 and new to handguns in general. This is the first time I've owned a firearm although I've shot a friends 9mm before. I'm switching from unarmed to the armed division of the security company I work for. I'm going to be taking the Private Security Firearms Training coarse to receive my firearms certification for private security in a week. The coarse I'm taking is taught by state certified officers and instructors. Owning a weapon like this a major step for me and I wanted some insight and help to become more familiar with the functions, maintenance and performance of a weapon of this type. So let me ask some basic questions and get your answers and opinions to them, then we'll go from there. Also, feel free to add anything you think I should know about.


- As a new handgun owner, did I pick the right pistol to learn on?

- How many of you are certified and when you went through Firearms Certification, what important elements did you take away from that coarse?

- What are 5 or more, important things that you can think of to tell a new handgun owner and a owner of the CZ P-01?

- If you don't own a lock box at home, but use a trigger lock. Where have you found is the best place to store your weapon at home? (Considering both situations of having children and having NO children present in the home.)

- (For Police Officers and Armed Security Guards ONLY please.) What important things should I consider when working with a firearm on the job and what should I know about and research that they probably wont teach me in the Firearms Training coarse?

- Will you list your favorite resources, links or threads on the web to learn more about the aspects (Functions, maintenance and performance) of using a weapon of this type?

I think I'll start with those questions, I know I'll be asking a lot more. If any of you have questions for me, I'll do my best to answer them and be sure I'll be reading through all the posts in this thread. I appreciate the help from everyone who responds.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

I've only been shooting for about six months, but FWIW:

1. Handguns are very subjective tools, IMHO. If it feels good in your hands and has the features you want, it's a good choice. I wouldn't feel bad about it at all, since it was designed for the Czech Police to use and has a very long history (in various forms) of being both accurate and reliable. I have a CZ75 compact, which is essentially the same design, but with a few minor differences.

3. Advice would be to learn all the "Four Rules" and dedicate yourself to always following them, no matter the situation. Always make safety your chief concern and try to take as much knowledge in as possible. This forum, along with some good books, responsible gunowners, and an open mind have helped me tremendously. Learn as much as you can about your particular pistol. BTW, I recommend the .22 Kadet Kit for your P-01 since it makes practice both less expensive and easier. Your shooting will improve greatly with it (and proper technique ). Also use the snapcaps that came with your pistol for dryfire practice (but make sure you lock up all the live ammo in a separate room for safety).

4. I personally don't like the triggerlocks for home storage since it is too slow to take off if I find myself in a HD situation. I only use the triggerlocks inside the house on a few of my bolt-action rifles. Let's say I am working on my rifles in a manner that requires it to be left out of the cabinet overnight (i.e. disassembled, cleaned, oiled and left out to dry). I then put a triggerlock on it just in case someone breaks into the house. Even if they take the time to reassemble the rifle, the triggerlock makes it useless to them (I also remove the bolt and place it in the cabinet for extra safety). I do this for extra safety because I wouldn't be grabbing a bolt-action rifle for HD, I'd grab something else, so the triggerlock doesn't hurt. No triggerlocks on anything I would depend on for HD. Also, ammo is always stored locked.

BTW, sounds like you are already doing a smart thing asking questions so you are off to a good start. Also, welcome to THR .

 

[Powderman]

Wow! You picked the right questions, in my book. I'll try to answer a few. Here goes:

1. - As a new handgun owner, did I pick the right pistol to learn on?

If the pistol feels comfortable to you, then yes, you did.

2. What are 5 or more, important things that you can think of to tell a new handgun owner and a owner of the CZ P-01?

First, remember and live by the four basic safety rules:

All guns are always loaded.
NEVER point a gun at anything you don't intend to destroy or kill.
Keep your finger OFF the trigger until you're ready to shoot.
Be sure of your backstop and what's behind it.

Second, PRACTICE. Practice a lot. Practice until you get sick of it, then practice some more.

When you get your duty rig, go home and set it up.

Make sure your firearm is CLEAR and SAFE. Remove ALL ammunition from the room.

Now, practice your draw from the duty rig, at least 300 times. Don't try for speed, but for smoothness. Draw the same way each and every time.

The proper way to draw and present your service weapon is described in three steps: hand--gun--target.

HAND--Firmly grip the weapon. Release and clear all safeties on the holster as applicable. (the pistol is still holstered at this time.) Bring your non-firing hand to your midsection.

GUN--Smoothly draw your weapon, presenting it at the low ready. At the same time, your non-firing hand should close around your firing hand, thus assuming a good two-handed grip. Trigger finger should be indexed--flat along the side of the trigger guard, NOT on the trigger.

TARGET--Bring the weapon up to target level. Find the front sight.

Hint--To help with your speed shooting at close range, point your non-firing thumb at the target. The pistol will follow.

First, practice each step. Then, incorporate each one until the drawstroke is smooth and steady.

3. - - If you don't own a lock box at home, but use a trigger lock. Where have you found is the best place to store your weapon at home? (Considering both situations of having children and having NO children present in the home.)

For any firearm, if you are at home AND you have children, GET A LOCKBOX. Preferably a safe. AND USE IT.

Children are intelligent. They WILL defeat a trigger lock. A lockbox will slow them down--but eventually they WILL figure it out. The best bet for safety is an actual gun safe, with a key-locking combination dial. Still not burglar proof, but it will deter all but the most determined thief. And it will keep the kids out.

4.- (For Police Officers and Armed Security Guards ONLY please.) What important things should I consider when working with a firearm on the job and what should I know about and research that they probably wont teach me in the Firearms Training coarse?

First thing is to get with an attorney. Your best bet is to try to set something up with the Prosecuting Attorney for your jurisdiction. Go over use of force and deadly force with them. If you go through a Police Academy, you will be taught about the use of force continuum. Listen and listen well.

Drawing your weapon might be common in your jurisdiction. Then again, it might not. But MAKE YOUR FIREARM YOUR ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT. You can always escalate in a force-on-force situation; de-escalating is somewhat harder. And, once you pull a trigger, you can't call the bullet back.

I would also recommend that you do a search for gunshot wounds and autopsies on the internet. There are enough pictures there to tell you EXACTLY what your firearm is capable of doing--and also impress upon you the grave responsibility that you carry on your side. You will be empowered to use deadly force if needed; to actually take human life. It ain't pretty, and movies don't even come close. Yes, firearms are nothing but tools--but they are very good tools, and extremely effective.

Get as much training as you can. Practice, practice, and practice some more. Pay for extra training if your company or department won't.

Stay safe, and remember the absolutely most important thing about law enforcement: that you do your job, ALWAYS within the law you uphold, and that you WILL go home at the end of your shift.

Welcome to the ranks. Good luck, and God bless.

 

[Ivy Mike]

- As a new handgun owner, did I pick the right pistol to learn on?

I would say that you picked an OK pistol to learn with. You did put yourself at a slight disadvantage by going with a full power cartridge. Starting with a smaller cartridge will help teach you the basics without developing bad habits like flinching.

- How many of you are certified and when you went through Firearms Certification, what important elements did you take away from that course?

I carry no certifications per se, but I was required to undergo basic qualifying in order to get my CCW.

- What are 5 or more, important things that you can think of to tell a new handgun owner and a owner of the CZ P-01?

1: Perfect practice makes perfect.
2: Practice with ammo that is about the same weight and power as the ammo you will be carrying.
3: Safety first! Obey all safety rules and NEVER deviate.
4: CZ makes one hell of a gun, but now its up to you to take care of it...so take care of it.
5: Follow all manufacturers directions about use and care of your new investment.

- If you don't own a lock box at home, but use a trigger lock. Where have you found is the best place to store your weapon at home? (Considering both situations of having children and having NO children present in the home.)

A hidden compartment in a room or closet is always good. Most homes have plenty of areas that can be used for this. I've found that the bottom of a cabinet in a bathroom is an easily accessible yet seldom ransacked area should someone B&E. Smartest thing is to teach children about gun safety and what the gun can really do.

 

[Chris Rhines]

All very good questions. Every gun owner, new or old, should ask these.

As a new handgun owner, did I pick the right pistol to learn on?

You didn't pick the handgun that I would have picked, but any gun is better than no gun for learning to shoot. As long as you are committed to learning, you're in with a chance.

How many of you are certified and when you went through Firearms Certification, what important elements did you take away from that coarse?

I have had professional training in shooting and tactics, if that's what you mean. As to important elements I've taken from my training, there are a few:
- Don't get in a gunfight unless you have absolutely no other alternative.
- Aside to lesson #1 - try like hell to avoid people, places, and activities that may lead to getting into a gunfight.
- Keep yourself in good physical condition. Shooting is an athletic task.
- Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
- If you do get caught in a gunfight, get out of it as fast as possible. That may mean running away. Running away is usually a pretty good idea.
- Gun safety, first, last, and always. Even in a fight. Especally in a fight.
- You are legally, morally, and financially responsible for the final resting place of every round that you fire.
- Shooting well is a matter of understanding the basics (align the sights with the target and depress the trigger without disturbing the sight alignment) and being able to perform them on demand, any time, any place, any condition.

There are more, but those are some good general rules...

What are 5 or more, important things that you can think of to tell a new handgun owner and a owner of the CZ P-01?

First, see above.
The CZ P-01 is a pretty forgiving pistol - it doesn't need a lot of detailed care. Buy a lot of ammo, shoot it up, repeat. When you can afford it, get a second P-01 as a spare. Buy as many magazines as you can - loading magazines at the range is a drag.

If you don't own a lock box at home, but use a trigger lock. Where have you found is the best place to store your weapon at home?

Best place to store your pistol at home is in a holster, on your hip. While it may seem a bit strange to carry a gun in the privacy of your home, no other storage method provides the same combination of security and quick access.

For a gun that does not need to be kept at the ready, I'd get a sturdy steel toolbox and lag-bolt it to the floor of a closet. Put your gun and ammo inside, and lock it with a padlock. This will keep casual thieves and curious children away.

Will you list your favorite resources, links or threads on the web to learn more about the aspects (Functions, maintenance and performance) of using a weapon of this type?

Read the manual, to start with (CZ manuals are unusually good.) Then, hang around this forum and ask questions.

- Chris

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Try this tutorial link.

BTW, as a warning to the sqeamish, there are some graphic photos of gunshot wounds on this site. Personally, I thought that as a responsible gun owner, I should be fully aware of what guns can do, but will leave it up to the individual forum member to decide.

 

[Soap]

1- That is a great starting point!
2- I'm not certified...but I've been shooting for 17 of my 22 years on Earth. The most important thing I've learned is to seek knowledge constantly. Never become comfortable with what you know. Start with the Four Rules and then keep going on to advanced gunhandling techniques.
3- Well there are only four things I want to tell you:

RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY

RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

4- With no children: On me or near the nightstand
With children: in a safe with a combination lock or on me.

5- I'm a civilian.

6- This place is great. Try searching for "new shooter", you can probably find some really cool threads. I would also get the video on handguns from Thunder Ranch.

 

[Feanaro]

I think the other questions have been answered or will be. One thing though. There is no way to child-proof a firearm. You can however firearm-proof children. If you have someone else's children over, I think you should make them aware of the situation and secure all your weapons before they come over or when they arrive. Locks aren't a bad idea for rifles that you won't need quickly but for a pistol, get a lock box. It might be a little expensive but a lock is far too slow.

Also, learn how to take care of your weapon. This is a boring task to many people(I throughly enjoy mechanics and working on them but I'm just weird. ) but learn it from the inside out, even if you have to go to a local gunsmith and get him to show you how. A poorly maintained weapon is worth nothing.

 

[cracked butt]

1. don't know much about the CZ, but if you like it, then its sure to be ok for you. I started on a .22 Ruger Single Six, but everyone's experience is different. If you like the gun and it feels good in your hands, you will like to shoot it and will tend to shoot it more. The only regret you might have down the road, is not getting a 1911- it took me 7 years to come around

2. Never had any training except for my dad teaching me how to safely handle and shoot revolvers when I was a kid, didn't get my first autoloader until I was 24 (Ruger MKII), and had the gun shop owner teach me how everything works on it- he even took the time to show me how to strip it for cleaning(he made it LOOK easy ).

3. Know, live, and breathe the 4 rules. Become very acquanted with your pistol before you shoot it. I always feel nervous when taking a new pistol to a range as I feel like a complete newby and feel that everyone is watching and scrutinizing my every move but I've gotten over that psychosis.

4. I store mine in a safe.... even a small cheapo $50 document safe is much better than a trigger lock with kids around- trigger locks in my house collect dust. I have my own personal philosophy about them and feel that they are more dangerous than what they are worth- You treat a gun like its loaded, and keep your trigger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot, but you are going to stick a mechanical device inside the triggerguard? I guess they are better than nothing though.

Kids will figure out how to defeat locks- a little story that I rarely tell people: My dad kept his guns locked up in a cabinet. When I was 5 years old, I was up early one saturday morning watching cartoons- I saw Yosemite Sam with his sixshoters and knew my dad had sixshooters in the cabinet. I thought I'd show my dad what I learned on the cartoon when he woke up and came downstairs in the morning, I knew he kept the key on top of the cabinet, I used a piece of furnture to climb up high enough to get the key, and boy did I suprise him when I sprang out around the corner pointing a .357 magnum at him and told him to 'stick em up'

Realizing that he never taught me about guns, he sat me down and talked about the guns and when I was allowed to and not allowed to touch them. Educating kids about not touching guns goes a whole lot farther than keeping a defeatable lock on them and keeping them in mysterious places.

5. I'm not a LEO or Security agent

6. This sight is the best I've seen when it comes to talking about guns, there are alot of helpful people here, some with alot of technical nowledge on firearms, though I'm not one of them . If you do a search about CZ pistols, you might find a discussion board dedicated to the brand- I read alot on a Beretta and 1911 forums as they are pistols that I'm interested in.

 

[dairycreek]

Hello Zan!

Considering the questions you raise I congratulate you on your initial perceptions. I will give you some answers/opinions on those questions where I might be of assistance. I'll use caps to distinguish my answers from your questions.

As a new handgun owner, did I pick the right pistol to learn on?
AS AN OWNER OF THE P-01 I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT YOU CHOSE WISELY. IT IS A PISTOL NOTED FOR ITS RELIABILITY AND TOUGHNESS AND ACCURACY. IT EMPLOYS A DECOCKER WITH A FAIRLY EASY DOUBLE ACTION FIRST TRIGGER PULL. THAT IS, IMHO, A GOOD WAY TO START AND IS A VERY SAFE ARRANGEMENT.

- How many of you are certified and when you went through Firearms Certification, what important elements did you take away from that coarse?
IF YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE CERTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR CONCEALED CARRY THE THINGS I RETAIN THE MOST ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(1) BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS AT ALL TIMES - DO NOT GET CAUGHT UNAWARES. (2) DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS WITH THE WEAPON. (3) SINCE CARRYING A PISTOL CAN LEAD TO THE USE OF LETHAL FORCE - LEARN THE RULES AND CONDITIONS FOR THE USE OF LETHAL FORCE IN YOUR STATE - WITH AN ATTORNEY OR D.A. IF POSSIBLE.

- What are 5 or more, important things that you can think of to tell a new handgun owner and a owner of the CZ P-01? LEARN HOW TO USE THE WEAPON AND PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. KEEP IT CLEAN AND FUNCTIONAL AT ALL TIMES. WHEN CARRYING YOUR WEAPON MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A GOOD HOLSTER AND A GOOD BELT. FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF AMMUNITION WITH WHICH YOUR CZ FUNCTIONS BEST AND, IF POSSIBLE, USE THAT KIND OF AMMUNITION.

- If you don't own a lock box at home, but use a trigger lock. Where have you found is the best place to store your weapon at home? (Considering both situations of having children and having NO children present in the home.) BOTH SITUATIONS ARE TO BE ADDRESSED THE SAME WAY! GET A LOCK BOX OR A SAFE AND KEEP YOUR PISTOL UNDER LOCK AND KEY WHENEVER IT IS NOT IN USE.

- (For Police Officers and Armed Security Guards ONLY please.) What important things should I consider when working with a firearm on the job and what should I know about and research that they probably wont teach me in the Firearms Training coarse?

- Will you list your favorite resources, links or threads on the web to learn more about the aspects (Functions, maintenance and performance) of using a weapon of this type?
I HAVE FOUND THESE TWO SITES PARTICULARLY HELPFUL.
http://www.czforum.com/ http://www.czusa.com/

HOPE THIS HELPS. Good shooting

 

[Trebor]

Get the best training you can afford and then practice.

I believe the .22 Kadet conversion kit will work on the P01. I'd suggest you buy one and shoot ALOT of .22 to improve your skills. The advantage of buying the .22 kit over a second gun is that you'll essentially be practicing with your carry gun. Practice with a .22 is the best way to really "burn in" the fundamentals.

 

[PCRCCW]

Well your questions are more than answered in very good ways............
Ill just add "Welcome to the Forum and to CZ's......once youve had one, its never enough"

Shoot well...............

 

[VaughnT]

Excellent questions, friend, and it's great to see you asking them.

As a armed professional, let me say that I am very glad to see that you've not only chosen a quality weapon, not the cheapest you could get, but are also interested in learning as much about it as you can. That says great things about you as a person and this industry is better for having you on board.

What can you expect to take away from your training course? Well, that really depends on what you want to take away from it. Personally, I really enjoyed learning about the legal aspects of deadly force, arrest authority, and judgement calls. Shooting the gun is secondary to protecting yourself by using your brain.

The firearms qualification shoot was tremendously pleasurable, but if you're not a competent shooter it might be somewhat disappointing. The best way to look at it is that this is the first step in a long road where improvement is always possible. I'm sure you'll do fine as you've already demonstrated the intellect necessary to become a great shot.

Remember, however, that the gun you have chosen is a good weapon. BUT it is only as useful to you as the holster you carry it in and the belt you carry it on. A $500 gun in a $20 holster is a waste and will likely get you killed. Buy the best gear, money is no option, and you will shoot better and feel better. For my daily needs, I wear a 1.75", 5-stitch Wilderness Instructor's Belt under a 2" Uncle-Mike's Ultra Duty Belt (w/ the 3-point security buckle). The wide trouser belt is proof against all types of weather and really helps to distribute the weight of the duty belt for all-day comfort. The leather belt I had been using didn't do nearly as well!

What gear you wear on your duty belt will determine how you wear the belt, but there is nothing more important than Belt Keepers. You can't have too many of these! With your trouser belt snug to your waist and your duty belt securely fastened to the trouser belt with keepers, your weapon will stay in place, thus insuring the quickest acquisition in times of need. If you have to carry a lot of gear like radios, cuffs, baton, light and reloads, you might also look into a set of duty suspenders.

The holster you choose really needs to be well-built. Those cheap nylon rigs are just that, cheap! I carry my 1911 in a Kydex holster built for my by Blade-tech. It wasn't easy on the wallet, but you cannot put a pricetag on your life.

Another thing to remember is that you will be judged based on how you look. Right or wrong, fair or not, people do not respect people that do not look respectable. If you have a hodge-podge of materials on your belt (kydex, nylon, chewed-up leather) you'll look like a flea market shopping amateur and be treated accordingly. If your uniform shirt is too tight, the buttons straining to fasten around your gut, people will laugh at you.

A good gun, which you have, is the place to start, but there are a multitude of little things that you need to pay attention to. God is very much in the details.

Welcome to the team.

 

[Dienekes]

Go To Gunsite

If you are in for the long haul and want to do it right, spend the money and go down to Gunsite for the 250 General Pistol course. Not only will you get it right the first time, but it will stay with you the rest of your life. Besides. whatever money you spend will be saved by not buying inappropriate guns and gear for the next several decades.

Like many things, it's cheaper and easier to do it right the first time.

I don't get a commission--just know what wasted motion and opportunities do for you.

You only live once.

 

[Majic]

Hop over to the CZ forum and they have a board dedicated to the P-01. All the info you would need about the pistol would be there along with the other CZ models.
http://pub105.ezboard.com/bczechpistols82792

 

[Murphster]

I'll address three points regarding law enforcement/security work. (1) However you train and practice dictates how you'll behave and what you'll do during the stress of a real-life situation. There's a good chance that any bad habit or shortcut will manifest itself. Once you're certain the training you receive is proper, always do it that way. One thing that comes to mind are the training stories involving officers who would dump their empty shell casings (revolver) in their hands while training and then in the after-action reports of a real-life shootout were discovered to have done the same thing while fighting for their lives. Same thing goes for semi-auto magazines. Dump them on the ground. Don't grab them and stuff them in your pocket. (2) Point two would be to keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to fire. Keep it on or alongside the trigger guard. The stress of a situation or a loud, unexpected noise while you're facing a threat may make you pull that trigger when you didn't want to. (3) Learn good weapon-retention techniques. If you're armed, every situation you go to from now on will involve a man with a gun...you. Twenty five years ago, 55% of all law enforcement officers shot were shot with their own weapons. Improved training and better holsters have dropped those figures but it's still a danger. These are three small points out of many and just my two cents worth. You asked good questions by the way. Makes all of us think and that makes us all a bit safer.

 

[Black Snowman]

I'd like to reiterate what I feel are imporant points. "Children are intelligent." "Smartest thing is to teach children about gun safety and what the gun can really do."

My Dad kept a loaded shotgun under his bed ever since I was about 6 and he knew I understood what he was explaining to me. When I was about 11 that loaded shotgun saved me and a friend from a savage beating and possibly death from an unstable neighborhood kid that broke into our home to torment us.

I have a roomate with a 5 year old and I've tought him gun safety and he knows he can handle the guns anytime he wants if just gets his Dad or I to be with him. I trust him enough that I have a loaded rifle sitting next to my bed and I don't worry for a second that something bad will happen because of him.

 

[P95Carry]

Zan ... welcome to you, both as a member to THR and ... a new gun owner.

You did ask some very pertinent questions and by golly .. you have had a fine collection of answers. This may help you realize ... if you already didn't ..... that THR is where you will get the finest cross section of advice and opinion.

Shoot well and keep safe. (The four rules - all the way).

 

[Texas Bob]

First, welcome to THR. The other answers you received will start you off rather well. I will just add a few points. Find any idpa competition in your area and go, I'm sure you'll run into many "new friends" that will assist, however remember idpa is no subsitute for "professional training." Go to school at least once. And lastly, the big question of home security. If I was a BG, I'll just steal your lock box or handgun with a trigger lock. Small safes are not that much money and will hold your valuables when you are on vacation. Once, amatures broke in and ransacked my house in Houston. One of the first questions the "responding officiers" asked was "Sir, do you own any firearms?" When I replied I owned several, before I could finish the sentence both offiers wanted to know if I had a list of make, model, and seriel #'s when I interrupted them saying no firearms were stolen. Both men said as one voice"you own a safe, don't you." That was one of my greatest moments of foresight.

 

[greygun]

I'd like to respond just to your question about guns and children. First of all, teach them the Eddie the Eagle protocol. The NRA sponsors this, and it is taught in most public schools here in Oklahoma. Teach the children that WHENEVER they see a firearm to: 1) STOP, 2) DON'T TOUCH, 3) LEAVE THE AREA, and 4) GO TELL AN ADULT. My kids are 7 and 9, and I have been practicing this with them for years. I will leave a pistol out in some area of the house where they might be. They have never failed to follow the steps. Of course they expect it to be a test, but they are consistently taking the right steps, and that habit is pretty ingrained.

Secondly, I carry a pistol until I climb into bed, and then it goes in the nightstand. My other guns are locked in a safe inside a gun closet. My carry pistol is either on my side, on the table being cleaned, in my hand for practice, or in the nightstand. My children know this, and we have talks all of the time about responsible gun ownership and use. If you teach a child to be afraid of guns, you do him a disservice. Teach respect, and take your kids with you to the range. My boys each have .22 rifles and pistols, and larger guns for when they grow. Shooting together is one of our favorite things to do. They are very fond of asking me why I missed!

 

[Zan]

WOW, how do I respond to this?

OMGosh, WOW! Some outstanding responses in this thread and forum. You guys have helped me in so many ways.
I want to thank everyone who posted thier suggestions, comments and a strong ethic for being a gun owner to live by. I've read every post in this thread and it's quite abit to soak in. But in a whole, I think you guys have given a perspective that is not achievable in just afew firearms training classes. I've taken notes all the way through this thread and gotten ideas for what type of equipement I should be looking for, how to handle certain situations at home and on the job that involve being a handgun owner and also that staying consistant with the familiarity of my firearm and what it can do.
But most importantly, I've heard from just about all of you that being a gun owner is not just a right, a serious responsibility no matter where my firearm is located, as an armed Officer or a CCW carrier. The comments and moral values of this thread will be used as a reference for me to come back to whenever I have questions. And believe me, I'm going to make this forum a regular spot for my questions and comments to other gun owners.

PLEASE ADD MORE IF YOU FEEL I SHOULD KNOW ANYTHING. Thanks again!

(To the Administrator: The is the best forum of it's kind. I'm glad I came here.)

 

[P95Carry]

Zan .... glad to see you are ''hooked''!!

One thing that can be all but guaranteed on THR ..... there is a fine core of people here who enjoy helping out others ... whether with simple opinion, or just hard fact gleaned thru experience.

Hopefully you will stick around and continue to enjoy reading, as well as firing any questions you have when needed.

The search facility is pretty powerful, once you get used to it ... so I have little doubt you may find more than a few morcels of interest there. Certainly, if you seek opinions on a particular model of gun .... you can probably be sure it has been discussed .. somewhere here!

Good luck and stay safe.

 

[Zan]

CZ Forum - Bookmark

Sorry to do this, I just wanted to eliminate multiple links pertaining to my question. Making a post from a thread at the CZ Forums (P-01 Club)

I'll join the conga line as well
I am a state certified armed guard, not sure what location you live in. Here in Arizona, the state licenses either unarmed or armed guards. Armed guards are required 16, soon to be 24 hours of instruction every year. In addition we must shoot and pass the same weapons qualification test as do Dept of Public Safety, Dept of Corrections, Sheriffs Dept etc. with at least a 75% score. Most important lesson learned, be deliberate...not quick. Quick causes mistakes, and since you're reacting from an instinctual place, chances are you won't recognize when you're making them until you make a BIG one .

Becoming familiar with your weapon beforehand will go a long way towards eliminating errors. I work with plenty of folks who walk onto the range, and are putting their first rounds of the year through their weapon RIGHT THEN. They can't clear jams, they can't do tactical reloads, and they're shocked at how their guns react every time they pull the trigger. Worse, they let their Dad/Cop/Friend or Husband/Boyfriend tell them what to buy. They grimace and shrug and gut their way through, and if they're lucky, enough of the splatter has hit the target and they can forget about their gun until next year. I can't begin to tell you how nervous that makes me. They only one who can tell you if the P-01 is the right gun for you is YOU. Clean it, oil it and PRACTICE. Then you'll know for sure. Remember, this isn't a range princess you have your whole lifetime to atune yourself to it's quirks. It sits on your hip to get your butt home alive, if your experience with this pistol makes you hesitate to utilize it for this purpose, sell it or turn it into a range princess

Gun boxes can be had for as little as 20.00 at Wallyworld with drilled feet to allow you to anchor it where you will. It's cheap insurance for you and your family. Having said that, everyone in my family ( wife and 2 daughters) know exactly where my pistols are. I have taken careful steps so that there is no mystique in my house about guns and ammo. They have all fired at least my revolver, so they have respect for the potential damage it can do, without being terrified of having them in the house. Since they were little, I have allowed my kids to explore their curiousity about my guns in a safe way. Unloaded, or dissassembled and under my supervision. Another habit I have, is to keep from advertising I carry a gun for a living as much as I reasonably can. I have a small range bag with an el-cheapo holster inside. At the end of my shift, I drop the mag, empty the chamber, load the loose round into the mag, and place the mag in a loop on the inside of my range bag. The unloaded pistol then goes inside the holster and into the bag as well. This is perfectly legal in Arizona, but may not be in your state. That way, when I get home I'm just carrying my work bag from the truck to the house. I'm not worried about my neighbors finding out, most of them know already. It's the teenager cutting the lawn 6 houses down, or the ex con doing landscape work across the street I don't necessarily want seeing my house has guns in it.

As to lessons about working with a gun on your hip. Much of that is common sence. Never take it out unless a life is threatened. Remember a gun is a tool, just like a hammer, or a toaster oven, what it is NOT is ENTITLEMENT. The size of the barrel is not directly proportional to your weenie. You are not the Law, Vengence is not yours, you're getting paid to do a job, do the job! Remember, many of the folks you interact with will be scared *hitless a gun is in their vacinity. Beligerence on your part will either terrorize them, or piss them off so much they'll be screaming for your job. Calm professionalism will go a long way towards easing the folks you interact with, even if they happen to be screaming at you, in fact especially if they are screaming at you

Hardest lesson learned in 12 years, the worst day isn't the day one of your co-workers is killed on the job, it's the day after. Facing your friends and family and explaining to them why you've got to go back to work. I take a great amount of satisfaction in doing a dangerous job very well, I don't want parades, I don't want respect, I want a paycheck, and I want to get my fat *ss home to my family in one piece. Never loose sight of what matters and you'll do just fine.

czerious