I left a training class today because i was concerned about the safety protocols I was witnessing.
There is one thing I don't feel certain about, though I feel certain it wasn't appropriate for this group at this time. We were demonstrating/discussing drawing from the holster and reholstering. The instructor asked that we not look at our holster when reholstering. I can see a benefit of being able to reholster without looking. I can see a benefit of practicing this under the right circumstances, so you can reholster 1-handed (especially an LEO). I can't understand a benefit of telling people NOT to look while you are training them, especially beginners. I am certain that some of the attendees had little to no experience drawing from a holster and/or had a new holster. There was also a variety of clothing being worn, definitely some that could have gotten caught in a holster or trigger.
The point was made that if you look at your holster, you might miss the next bad guy sneaking up on you. I would prefer to emphasize checking your surroundings thoroughly before reholstering, rather than NOT looking at the holster and risking a negligent discharge.
Meanwhile there was no methodical step-by-step instruction of drawing and reholstering. Even when saying "don't look at your holster", there was no discussion of clearing your body with your other hand. Perhaps that was coming later; I left before the ammo came out because of this and some other safety violations I was seeing in the instructor's protocol. In fact, I should have perhaps left sooner. So I'm not regretting walking away, but I am still thinking about the reholstering issue. I was, btw, learning some "tips" from the class. The instructor is clearly a lot better shooter than I am. I was just not comfortable with what I saw as unnecessary risks.
I am wondering if any of you, particularly instructors, advocate teaching students to reholster without looking ?
There is one thing I don't feel certain about, though I feel certain it wasn't appropriate for this group at this time. We were demonstrating/discussing drawing from the holster and reholstering. The instructor asked that we not look at our holster when reholstering. I can see a benefit of being able to reholster without looking. I can see a benefit of practicing this under the right circumstances, so you can reholster 1-handed (especially an LEO). I can't understand a benefit of telling people NOT to look while you are training them, especially beginners. I am certain that some of the attendees had little to no experience drawing from a holster and/or had a new holster. There was also a variety of clothing being worn, definitely some that could have gotten caught in a holster or trigger.
The point was made that if you look at your holster, you might miss the next bad guy sneaking up on you. I would prefer to emphasize checking your surroundings thoroughly before reholstering, rather than NOT looking at the holster and risking a negligent discharge.
Meanwhile there was no methodical step-by-step instruction of drawing and reholstering. Even when saying "don't look at your holster", there was no discussion of clearing your body with your other hand. Perhaps that was coming later; I left before the ammo came out because of this and some other safety violations I was seeing in the instructor's protocol. In fact, I should have perhaps left sooner. So I'm not regretting walking away, but I am still thinking about the reholstering issue. I was, btw, learning some "tips" from the class. The instructor is clearly a lot better shooter than I am. I was just not comfortable with what I saw as unnecessary risks.
I am wondering if any of you, particularly instructors, advocate teaching students to reholster without looking ?