There are a lot of strange people in the world. Some people are not that well versed in firearms, weapons or tactics but make laws about them. Some people are versed in these fields and still make really horrible decisions (and sometimes also laws).
Well, here are three things I have heard suggested often by firearms and tactical trainers and/or peers that you should never do. And, please, if you have ever suggested that others do these things, stop today.
1. Yell “please” and hope others hear “police”
I’ve heard some so-called tactical trainers suggest to their civilian students to holler, “Please!” during a lethal gun encounter. They say that in doing so, suspects and bystanders may hear the word “Police!” instead.
There are at least half a dozen reasons that doing this is a bad idea, but I don’t think I have to list them here for the average Guns.com reader.  Suffice it to say, during a defensive gun use, culpability is always in play when it comes to moral, legal and tactical responsibility. In this regard, this “advice” fails on all levels.
2. Get a bigger handgun round
I’ve said it dozens of times over many years: 9mm Luger is an excellent protection round. You don’t need a .40 S&W, a .357 Sig or a .45 ACP.
Starting off with a bigger caliber handgun can be negative for long term shooting habits and, in my experience, the guys who insist that other shooters go bigger usually are not the greatest shooters themselves. The bottom line in a gunfight is that you have to hit your target. Hitting someone multiple times in vital organs with quick, successive rounds is preferable to potentially winging or missing your target. Even if you can handle the recoil on larger rounds, 9mm still allows most shooters to get back on target quicker.
Plus, the 9mm cartridge has come a long way over the past couple of decades with rounds that fill all sorts of niches including (sometimes allegedly) working well on human flesh.
I see too many novice shooters buying bigger rounds when what they really need is more firearms/tactical training and range time, which tells me there are a lot of instructors giving out bad advice.
3. Drag the body back into the property
I was teaching a class once to several citizens when one of the students, an attorney, said that if someone broke into his place then ran off, he’d advise it’s best to shoot them, then drag them back onto your property.
I could not believe that a person, let alone a supposed lawyer, would say that in one of my classes. I guess it’s a legal myth that has been perpetuated over the years, but in the real world that advice is downright stupid.
As you likely know, I work in law enforcement and I can tell you that today’s forensic processing is quite serious. It is highly unlikely you could conceal killing an intruder and then dragging them back on to the property. And lying to police will definitely come back on you. Sheesh.  Instead, here are “8 fundamentals to consider before using force”. Oh, and always, always tell the truth.
Remember to be careful when considering tactical advice. Sometimes it could get you hurt, killed or put into jail.
Safety warning: Jeffrey Denning is a long time professional in the art of self-defense and any training methods or information he describes in his articles are intended to be put into practice only by serious shooters with proper training. Please read, but do not attempt anything posted here without first seeking out proper training.
The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the position of Guns.com.
