Temperament Test: Where Does Your Needle Rest?

There are varying degrees of people who choose to obtain concealed carry permits. The same can be said for those who become — or try to become — law enforcement officers, and for better or for worse, there are some distinct parallels between these two groups. Just as there are some people who decide to become or try to become police officers who probably shouldn’t ever be cops, there are some people who probably should not seek concealed carry permits. That is not a criticism of either of these groups of individuals as people. It’s just a fact.

I have trained both groups pretty extensively over the years. The number of police cadets who I have personally trained and supervised in our “open enrollment” police academy across a 30-year period number in the hundreds. The academy training process involves taking them all the way from the application phase through training and concluding with graduation. Graduation or completion is not guaranteed.

Along the way, I’ve felt confident that most of the cadets would eventually get jobs as law enforcement officers and have successful careers. I’ve also been unsure about a certain percentage of others in terms of qualification and was unable to make predictions as to whether these individuals would be successful. In the end, there was usually about 50 percent of that group who succeeded. The rest didn’t.

The number of police cadets who I have personally trained and supervised in our “open enrollment” police academy across a 30-year period number in the hundreds.

This group really had no concept of what policing entailed and did not have the skill sets or mindsets to do the job. Some of them were totally incompetent in firearms handling, so much so that their carelessness — despite our best efforts as instructors — was of concern to everyone else on the range. Fortunately for all involved, we washed them out, and these individuals went on to seek more suitable and successful careers.

However, not all of those who did not belong in the field were inept. The career was just not for them, and a few didn’t discover this until trying it out for themselves.

As an example, one of my cadets from a class many years ago was chosen as the top cadet and was asked to give the graduation remarks for his class. This cadet had all the earmarks of a person who was destined for a long and successful policing career. He was hired for a full-time slot about three weeks after academy graduation by a well-to-do suburban agency.

He was the first cadet from our academy that particular agency had hired, and we knew he would do a great job for them and continue to enhance the reputation of our academy. Unfortunately, he didn’t live up to these expectations. Despite 20 weeks of training and my brutally honest discussions with the class about what policing was really like, it apparently never registered with him. He quit after his very first shift.

The department wasn’t very happy, and rightfully so; they had already purchased uniforms and equipment for him. It wasn’t like the rookie was working in some high-crime area and got shot at the first night. His agency at that time was in a semi-rural area, and nothing consequential had gone on that evening. The recently graduated cadet just realized after a few hours on patrol with his field training officer that policing wasn’t the career for him.

He took a job in the private sector and later became a successful executive with a prominent company. Truthfully, I was shocked when he quit. I thought he was cut out for the job. It was fortunate that he realized quickly that he wasn’t.

Where’s Your Needle?

When “shall-issue” concealed carry was implemented in Ohio in 2004, our criminal justice program ran permit training courses for about two years. Most of the people in the classes “got it” when it came to safe and reasonably competent firearms handling, and most of them did a great job. But the instructors personally questioned whether some people in the classes might be better off carrying some form of less-lethal self-defense device instead of a firearm. We made these recommendations where needed.

Also, some people in the permit classes were not committed to actually obtaining a permit. Instead, the individuals were trying to figure out if carrying a concealed weapon was right for them. While that might seem a sensible thing to do, it actually cuts to the heart of what I‘m talking about. Did the students in question think about the level of determination needed to successfully defend themselves or loved ones with firearms before coming to the class?

The answer in many of those cases was “no” (the same as police cadets who never questioned what police work would be like before entering the academy). I am sure that a few of those students never got their permits after class, but a few of those who did probably shouldn’t have.

To illustrate what I’m talking about, imagine an analog gauge with a needle that points anywhere from zero to 100. The units of measurement represent a concealed carry permit holder’s (or home defender’s) willingness to and capability of using potentially lethal force with proper judgment. Surprisingly, having your needle point at 100 isn’t really the place you want it to rest.

Some people in the permit classes were not committed to actually obtaining a permit. Instead, the individuals were trying to figure out if carrying a concealed weapon was right for them.

On this imaginary gauge, the needle pointing at zero represents the lowest end of the spectrum. Here we find people who should not be considering a firearm for self-defense because they will not use it for its intended purpose no matter what the circumstance. The only reason these people have a gun is to “scare someone away,” and they may not even load a gun that they have. While such an approach may, on occasion, work — bank robber John Dillinger is said to have escaped from an Indiana jail with a “gun” carved from wood and painted with shoe polish — the question is this: What will you do when someone calls your bluff? The answer: probably nothing effective.

This “unloaded” threat philosophy does not only apply to private citizens but also to some police officers. A good friend of mine who was a sergeant at a major West Coast law enforcement agency for many years told me how he found, on a morning inspection, that two officers had no cartridges in their handguns or magazines. When he questioned them about their lack of ammo, each replied with something to this effect: “I didn’t take this job to hurt anyone.” The two officers were disciplined and counseled but not fired, as both should have been. Their needles pointed at zero, and that’s only because you can’t get any lower than that.

While those officers represent the very worst of the worst, I’ve seen plenty of news accounts of other officers involved in particular incidents who probably should have fired shots but didn’t. Granted, all I had to reference were news accounts, which are often inaccurate, but I’ve also viewed actual video footage of these incidents and have found myself yelling, “Shoot, shoot, shoot!” But the only one shooting is the bad guy.

I have to admit that private-citizen permit holders are often more likely to fire warranted shots sooner than many cops these days. But in fairness to law enforcement, there is so much fear out on the streets about having your life and career destroyed by being in a justified shooting that it’s more than impacted officer safety. This is because the news media, social media and politicians criticize the shoot before the investigation has even begun. Too many cops have been made “gun shy” and are sometimes killed as a result. Because of this, I believe that violent criminals are generally more afraid of a determined citizen with a gun than of an average cop with a gun.

The folks whose needles hover around zero can also be thought of as being in the “Please don’t make me shoot you” category. What could be wrong with saying that to someone who intends to do you harm?

Plenty.

As I have told my cadets over many years, when you beg someone to not make you shoot him or her, you have just relinquished control of the entire situation. You have told the individual that you are unwilling to shoot him or her and are pleading with him or her not to force you to pull the trigger. If this is where your needle is pointing, you may want to reconsider concealed carry. No amount of training can bring about this determination. It comes from the heart; from self-examination.

Moving past 50 on your imaginary gauge takes you into another less-than-desirable range. While the zero “Please don’t make me shoot” point is certainly undesirable, having your needle point at 100 (or, as I call it, the “Go ahead, make my day!” mark) is even less desirable.

What’s Your Reading?

Moving past 50 on your imaginary gauge takes you into another less-than-desirable range. While the zero “Please don’t make me shoot” point is certainly undesirable, having your needle point at 100 (or, as I call it, the “Go ahead, make my day!” mark) is even less desirable. This attitude endangers innocent lives, and you can expect to find yourself in legal jeopardy.

Recently, a female permit holder in Lincoln, Nebraska, took it upon herself to intervene after a shoplifter tried to steal a bottle of liquor or two from a Kwik Shop. As the shoplifter was fleeing the store, the permit holder launched a round from her handgun at him, narrowly missing the store clerk and striking the shoplifter in the arm.

Does everyone understand that theft is not a deadly force event? If you don’t, you need to internalize it right now. This woman’s “needle” was clearly pointing toward the 100 mark, and she is in jail because of it. Such people should not have permits.

Backing down from the 100 mark, we run into folks with varying levels of “elevated assertiveness.” These are the kinds of individuals who will involve themselves in third-party disputes even though the best course of action might have been to sit back, observe and call 911. These individuals are sometimes seen by the criminal justice system as trying to take on the role of law enforcement — the old “take the law into your own hands” type.

As the shoplifter was fleeing the store, the permit holder launched a round from her handgun at him, narrowly missing the store clerk and striking the shoplifter in the arm.

In the area where I patrol, I have never observed any generalized animosity toward concealed carry permit holders who are playing by the rules. Our cops understand the need for concealed carry permits, and many of their spouses obtain permits as well. It is viewed overall as a very positive situation.

Permit holders are more likely to come to the aid of officers who are in trouble but must also remember that situations are not always initially clear. Always, always take the time to sort out exactly what is happening before acting.

I am in such a quandary at this point in my life when it comes to intervention — particularly when I have my wife (who is totally blind) and my 5-year-old son with me.

For years, I had always planned that if I were driving around and saw a police officer in trouble, I would jump right into the fray — and I have. But now, with my family around, I believe that I would have to be able to position my car (or my family, if we were on foot) outside of any potential line of fire before I could assist. If I am out alone, I will assist any officers in trouble without a second thought.

I only say this as a reminder that your family’s safety should always be paramount and should override your desire to help others. That may sound cold, but it is the harsh reality and why many carriers say they carry. If you can take factors like your family into consideration first, then your needle is likely pointing at 50.

Shoot for 50

Being positioned squarely between the “Please don’t make me shoot” zero mark and the “Go ahead, make my day” 100 mark is precisely where you want to be in terms of your determination to use justifiable, potentially deadly force.

Resting at 50, you are not likely to have your gun taken away from you and used against you by a criminal, nor are you likely to start cranking off shots at shoplifters or in other situations where such a level of force is neither justifiable nor legal. Instead, you are sitting right on a sweet spot of judicious carry and use of a lawfully owned firearm. You are not likely to be a threat to yourself or others, and your need to fire shots is greatly reduced. All of these are positives.

At the 50 mark, you are willing to shoot another human being if you’re forced into that position, but you do not actively want to. That is an absolutely critical distinction and why it is important that your needle remains dead-center.