I re-qualified, for the 5th time, for my MN carry permit earlier this year.
Went to a new instructor; it was a larger class, 20+ students, vast majority first timers.
It was, for the most part, a good class…but I really had to hold my tongue when the instructor claimed that the only gun worth carrying was a high-cap 9, and carrying a revolver, or a lesser caliber (his words: “A .22 will only tick off your attacker…”; wanted to raise my hand and ask if he was willing to take a double tap to prove it…).
He has other…strong opinions “Don’t carry anything with a safety/-it’ll only get you killed”. Asked him after class how many gunfights he’d been in to form his opinions; seemed that number was zero. My response—“Duly noted” would have made Alan Rickman proud.
Also said he should acquaint himself with the Ellifritz study, and got a blank look.
Won’t be taking another class from him.
Which is a long, dragged out way of saying:
If you simply have a gun, ant can show that you’re willing to use it, the vast majority of gunfights end without shots fired.
If you do shoot—if you get more than one hit, rapidly, the gunfight will most likely end there.
Oh, and the caliber?
Doesn’t. F’ing. MATTER.