Do you train like the police?

Not exactly. This requires a proper explanation. Please read. Police work under guidelines that have few parallels to civilian self-defense purposes. Consider: Your first self-defense tactic is to avoid bad areas and situations. A cop's duty requires his presence in dangerous areas. Attired with a uniform, badge, bulletproof vest, and a well-laden duty belt from which hangs a variety of  devices - handgun, handcuffs, baton, pepper spray, stun gun, and radio - the modern police officer literally goes out looking for trouble on every shift. Is that what you want to do - look for trouble?  We would hope not.                                             Your second tactic is to escape, if you are able. When confronted with a hostile aggressor, you should be working on a plan to get out of there!  You have no duty to linger in a dangerous place or situation. When a police officer confronts an aggressor, however, he or she cannot turn and run home. They can and do seek cover, but their duty requires that they stay on the scene, call for backup, contain the area, control the situation, disarm the aggressor, make the arrest, and so on. Police officers are trained in both offensive and defensive tactics. They generally work as team, but a solo officer must be able to defend himself, if attacked. Theirs is definitely a tough, risky job, and we support and thank them!  For your general edification,  read this article: "10 Reasons Law Enforcement Officers Are Different." Here is another difference: A modern American police force acts as a general, auxiliary deterrent to crime by their visible and perceived presence. Policemen are not, and cannot act as personal bodyguards to every citizen. YOU are your own first line of defense against an attacker.  The police show up after an attack or crime has occurred and 911 has been called. Repeat,  AFTER the crime has occurred. Attacks are often brief, brutal, and unexpected. Chances are, you will be on your own with no policeman  to help you at that crucial moment.  If you have developed good avoidance and awareness skills (covered in our CCW class), you will dramatically increase your ability to stay out of harm's way. Still, an attack may occur.  If you have developed  proper mental preparation, speed, and accuracy with a handgun, you will dramatically increase your ability to prevail over your attacker, no matter his size. According to a respected study by John Lott, Americans use firearms to defend themselves more than two million times every year. These were non-police officer instances, just civilians like you and me defending themselves. Here are some interesting stories. Again the police arrived after the crime was reported. Note:  Don't let anyone tell you that  the only person qualified to train you for a civilian CCW class is one who works for (or once worked for) a law enforcement agency.  If you want police-type training, get yourself to a Police Academy.   If you want civilian-oriented handgun training for yourself or a loved one , call upon Semper Firearms Training at 775.475.0180. Remember -  you are your own first line of defense.