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[ BY PETER GRANT ]
This is the first of four articles examining how to teach
a disabled person to defend themselves with a handgun.
We’ll assume the shooter has
not used firearms before becoming
disabled, and is approaching
them with a “clean slate,”
having everything to learn.
First, a word about my qualifications
to write these articles: I’ve trained disabled
and handicapped shooters for
well over two decades, first in South
Africa, then here in the USA. In 2004,
I suffered an injury leading to permanent
partial disability, as described in
the previous issue of Concealed Carry
Magazine, so I’ve had plenty of opportunity
to apply my lessons to my own
needs as well! I’ve worked with shooters
like myself, who were trained and experienced
with firearms before becoming
disabled, and with their help have developed
techniques to overcome such
handicaps. I’ve also trained many novices
who’ve helped me to refine these
techniques and apply them to specific
problems and needs.
Assess physical handicaps
Before a shooter fires a single round,
their disability must be carefully assessed
in terms of how it will impact
their ability to safely and effectively
use a firearm. That doesn’t involve only
pressing the trigger, of course. We must
examine several factors.
This article, and this series, will focus
upon physical disability. Mental
disability is a very different issue, with
many ramifications (some of them legal:
if severe enough, mental disability
can disqualify one from owning a firearm).
If the shooter has any degree of
mental disability or handicap or limitation
whatsoever, I normally won’t train
them unless their medical practitioner
certifies, unambiguously and in writing,
that they are able to distinguish
right from wrong, make informed decisions,
and bear the moral and legal
responsibility of owning and using a
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USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n MAY/JUNE 2011