In this podcast episode of "Whiskey, Lead, and Steel: Feelings Hurt While You Wait," hosts Lee Curling and Ric Sutton discuss the importance of training with the support hand for less-lethal usage. They touch upon a real-life incident involving a police officer who accidentally shot and killed someone while intending to use a Taser.
Ric shares his experience as a police officer and his practice of carrying non-lethal tools like Mace and batons on his support side to avoid fumbling in high-stress situations. He mentions the importance of training rookies to do the same and discusses how the emergence of belt-mounted Tasers led to some officers carrying them on their gun side, increasing the risk of drawing the wrong weapon in critical situations.
The hosts stress the significance of cross-training and integrating different skills rather than isolating them. They highlight the need for law enforcement agencies and civilians to emphasize training with the support hand for better firearm handling and transitioning between less-lethal and lethal tools effectively. They also touch upon the importance of having the right tools accessible in case a situation de-escalates without resorting to lethal force.
Throughout the conversation, they stress the significance of being prepared for real-world scenarios by adopting comprehensive training approaches that encompass all aspects of self-defense, be it with guns, knives, or hand-to-hand combat.
