Comments on: Knowledge vs. Skill

By: Ian Argent

Ian Argent — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:47:38 +0000

Almost anyone can be taught to hit minute-of-bad-guy within a couple of magazines; at least at typical handgun defense ranges (under 10 yds).

By: Speaking of Classical Music | Snowflakes in Hell

Speaking of Classical Music | Snowflakes in Hell — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:00:43 +0000

[...] promise not to bore my non-classical-music-loving readers with this part of my life often, but my post yesterday comparing skills and knowledge got me thinking about piano again, so I was thinking back to some old pieces that I had started on [...]

By: karrde

karrde — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:53:14 +0000

I’ll give a hearty “I’ve been there, too” on the musical end.

Another realm in which training will not replace practice is motorcycle riding. I had to take a class, and do a field-test in a parking lot with a real motorcycle, before I passed the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s class.

But the one-time class didn’t make me a safe rider.

It gave me the mental tools I needed to become a safe rider.

By: Innate v. Learned at A Dixie Carpetbagger

Innate v. Learned at A Dixie Carpetbagger — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:17:42 +0000

[...] discussing training versus skill in the shooting world: Shooting is the same. I can spend an afternoon and give someone enough [...]

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:41:55 +0000

Perfect article, Sebastian. As usual. You hit the long spike on the otherwise flat part.

By: John A

John A — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:12:39 +0000

OKm when I first read this post I could not understand just what was being talked about.

Then I read the earlier “Response from Insight Firearms Training Development” post. OK, now I think I get it. I have commented on that post.

By: Jim W

Jim W — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:37:02 +0000

If they were knowledgeable about firearms, gun control groups:

-probably wouldn’t be pushing gun control in the first place. Gun control springs from an irrational fear of firearms, not an intimate knowledge of them.

-would probably belong to the same broad cultural group as the majority of Americans that do own firearms. The main reason gun phobia survives in western culture is because there are large populations of people for whom gun ownership and gun knowledge brings a significant stigma. If the cultural norm is a disdain for firearms, pursuit of knowledge or skill in firearms is unlikely to occur, since such pursuit is usually a group activity involving novice and experienced gun owners. Experienced shooters will keep their knowledge hidden to avoid peer disapproval when they are in such environments.

By: Sebastian

Sebastian — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:14:17 +0000

BobS makes a good point. To get most people to the “I can save my life” point in shooting takes very little knowledge or skill, especially when it comes to self-defense in the home. A gun is a point and click interface, after all. Training for the street is not much more, really. Most street encounters are going to be at very short distances. Most of what you need there is to know when and when not to bring deadly force into the fight.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:14:24 +0000

Too bad the Brady Campaign and VPC don’t even bother with knowledge. They prefer anecdote because if they actually brought honest knowledge to the table, they would be both far more and far less effective. More effective because then they could be arguing from a factual basis to pursue an ideology. I would at least respect them for that.

Less effective because we’ve found once the ignorance they promote, evidence in support of a lack of knowledge, many of their supporters turn against them. Not necessarily to our side but at least neutral on the subject.

I’ve always felt a gun control organization that knows details about various firearms and would work to craft policy with that knowledge would be far, far more dangerous and effective than the groups we square off against because they wouldn’t be depending on lies. Once caught lying, your credibility is shot. Facts can persist and keep you fighting.

By: Bob S.

Bob S. — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:42:08 +0000

Sebastian,

Great post.

I’ll probably get in trouble for saying this but here goes.

In all honesty, the level of skill, knowledge and ability to safely carry and use a firearm isn’t that great.

Basic firearm safety is just that and suffices for the overwhelmingly vast majority of firearm owners.

Getting to the point – through training and practice – where a person can take down a Russian Spetnaz squad is great but only a infinitely minute fraction of the people will need that or anything like it.

I think we need to focus on ability and responsibility over training.
People can get ability and responsibility in any number of ways and that is what is important.