Firearm Cog-Dis

Seen on social media:

"If you spend a ton of money on firearms, accessories but dont invest any money into training/professional instruction you are shoving money up a [hogs] ass. At that point the weapon is just a talisman.  You can't buy skill. Idpa or competition isnt training. It does not take the place of learning to function under stress. The guy intent on beating you to death to steal your car [doesnt] give a shit about your power factor or trophies. There is a difference between fighting with a gun and playing with a gun. Get training.  Could save your life one day."

<< Same guy wanted to take a fighting pistol class with a single action .44 Magnum revolver, instead of his GLOCK. >>

Here is the Rifleman's take on the statement:

Taking a training class is good, for sure.  What is left out of the statement is that training class is where you learn the skill, practice is where you hone the skill. And competition is an excellent way to evaluate your skill level after learning and honing. 

That said, the person who made this statement is way off base with regards to the competition mindset. Most competitors will flat out-shoot the typical gun owner.  They are typically much more accurate and much faster.  No, that doesn't necessarily mean they will perform when things get real. However, someone with just a class or two and personal training after that is no less prone to failure under duress. 

Most people who make a statement like this are actually tipping their hand - they know they can be outshot by a competitor and it doesn't sit well with them.  They then try to excuse why that is. This is an example of the psychological defense mechanism called cognitive dissonance.

A better thing to do would be to shore up what you suck at.  Train, practice, and get better.  And, god-forbid, maybe even enter a competition.

This type is seen regularly in martial arts classes.  For example, after their first roll in jiu-jitsu (where they inevitably lose like a rag doll) they will say, "yeah, but in a fight I could punch." The sad thing is, unless they train for a while, they will never see how silly the statement truly is.