Thanx to Xavier for bringing this to my attention.
I would love to get a hold of the full report. If you have a copy and/or know how to get it (my Google-Fu has been weak today), please let me know.
The facts presented are sobering:
- Handguns are the weapon of choice. None are obtained by “legal” means and no laws stop them from obtaining the gun; in fact, they laugh in the face of gun laws.
- Many offenders have formal training (e.g. military) and most practice on average at least bi-weekly.
- Their training is motivated by thinking police practice a lot. In reality, police don’t practice much at all. Just because their job requires them to carry a gun doesn’t mean they’re proficient with them.
- Offenders don’t use holsters, but they do have backup weapons.
- Offenders have a cold-blooded mindset. They have no problem killing you and killing you first.
And there are many more. Go read.
And I have to agree with Xaiver:
“They practice getting the gun out and using it,” Davis explained. “They shoot for effect.” Or as one of the offenders put it: “[W]e’re not working with no marksmanship… We just putting it in your direction, you know… It don’t matter… as long as it’s gonna hit you…if it’s up at your head or your chest, down at your legs, whatever… Once I squeeze and you fall, then… if I want to execute you, then I could go from there.”
Those are some chilling words. Remember them when you practice. Train like you fight, and you’ll fight like you train.
Stuff From Hsoi 
John,
try
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/html/fdluc/2004/fdluc04st.htm
DOJ Bureau of Justice Statistics. They publish multiple reports concerning felony offenders and offenses.
It’s not the study I’m looking for, but that’s still quite a collection of interesting data. Well worth perusing.
Interesting. Every time I advocate instinct shooting a big “discussion” ensues, and I get told I’ll miss too fast. :)-~ But here is an example of it used to effect.
Still, I have to wonder if this is BS. You’re in prison, why not mess with the man a little bit?
If they train with a gun this much, why can’t they do a little cardio so they don’t get caught on foot?
On the instinct shooting.. I’m not sure this is a good basis to go from. They’re often getting the first hit out of surprising the officer, and at 0-3 yards you don’t necessarily have to have perfect aim to get a hit. And what’s a hit? If he got hit in the arm or leg, it’s still a hit. Plus there’s other data in there talking about basically getting a hit, wherever, dropping you, then shooting execution style. So……
Is it BS? I have wondered about that aspect too. Could they be lying to pump up their “street cred” somehow? You have to wonder. But for now, we just have to take it at face value.
Why no cardio? You can’t run very well when your pants are falling down.
They publish other studies and the DOJ also published the Uniform Crime Report that profiles crime statistics. A lot to look around at.
As for instinct shooting, think about distances involved and the sight picture needed to get good hits! They may call it instinct but if the profile of the gun blocks the target, press the trigger or in their case, yank the trigger. You’ll likely still get hits.
A chilling report indeed. It’s interesting to note how much more use they claim to get than officers. If that’s what we’re up against, it’s critical that we be able to shoot what we aim at, too. http://tinyurl.com/c7e8pg
Scary, if they’re this willing to shoot cops, they’re that much more willing to shoot civilians.
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