IS IT BEWARE OF THE MAN WITH ONE GUN, OR MAN WITH ONE GUN, BEWARE?

By: Steve Moses

One of the things that I have noticed during my thirty-year career as a defensive firearms trainer is that many  of the students that show up for class only own one handgun. Let me first start by saying that this is outstanding. Veteran firearms trainer Karl Rehn is a firm believer that perhaps only 1% of those persons that own handguns will actually take a handgun course and train on any kind of regular basis.

There is an old saying that goes something like this: “Beware of the man with only one gun, because he probably knows how to use it.”  The problem I see with it is that it is an old saying that predates modern concealed carry. The operative word in concealed carry  is “concealed.”  Many of our  female students have come to class with full-sized service pistols equipped with red dot optics using holsters more suitable for range use than concealed carry, and when asked if they conceal carry they say no because of the clothes they wear. The consequences of being unarmed at the wrong time can be fatal.

On the flip side, many  of our students that attend our church security team classes show up carrying sub-compact pistols  like the Sig 365, Glock 43, and S&W Shield with their reasoning being that this is the defensive handgun they conceal carry because of its diminutive size and they see no reason to acquire a larger handgun that is easier to shoot and has a greater magazine capacity.  Most find out very quickly that it is much more difficult to meet our shooting standards with the sub-compact pistols than it is with the compact and full-sized pistols. Keep in mind we are talking about a class in which the penalty for failure is relatively inconsequential. The consequences  for failure in an actual active shooter  incident can also be fatal.

As instructors we may want to gently bring to our students’ attention that perhaps they may want to consider either acquiring a smaller handgun that is easier to conceal carry or a larger handgun that is better suited for third-party defense in crowds at possible extended distances. Another possible option for the student who wishes to only own one handgun is a “Goldilocks” pistol like the Glock 19 and 48, Sig 365 XL and XL Macro, or even the S&W M&P 2.0 Compact with 3.6” barrel. There are likely other handguns that are similar.

“The mission drives the gear” is another saying that drives home the importance of having the right tools for the task at hand. If the student’s mission is first-party defense then they likely need to at a minimum have a handgun on their person that is concealable, user-friendly, and reliable at the exact time that their life is in danger. If their mission is third-party defense then they likely need to have on their person a handgun that is not only user-friendly and reliable but one that can be used at extended distances that also has a high-capacity magazine.

One of the things I try to avoid is saying anything that comes across as being critical or judgmental. I will typically point out that the one handgun they own (with the exception of handguns that are unreliable or user-unfriendly) is a good choice for range use and home defense or ideal for everyday concealed carry, and then point out that I am in the same boat they are in which is why I own a larger S&W M&P 2.0 9mm and a smaller Shield Plus and a Ruger LCR.