You may find it surprising, but some of the most important lessons I learned at a handgun course at Sig Sauer Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire, had nothing to do with shooting a handgun.
One lesson was not to rely on the police for protection. This was not a slight against the force. The instructor has worked with several officers and would tell you they are excellent at what they do. But the police are rarely in a position to act while an event is unfolding. Often, they can only be there for you after the fact.
I’m not saying you need to have a handgun at home. That’s a personal decision between you and your spouse. What it does mean is that you should do whatever you can to make sure you’re prepared to defend yourself and your family in the event there’s a threat.
I don’t see any harm in understanding how a handgun works. It puts you in a defensive mindset, and believe me, you’ll begin seeing holes in your circle of defense whether you own a handgun or not. You’ll be able to make significant upgrades to your self-defense situation just by learning more about the subject. You simply cannot rely on anyone but yourself for the protection you deserve.
