Dave Spaulding Fundraiser for Buckeye Firearms Foundation fun and successful
by Larry S. Moore
"Be prepared to play an active role in your rescue" and "If you are not cheating then you are not trying hard enough" were two of the key points driven home by Dave Spaulding. It wasn't about the make, model, caliber or type of gun used but the mindset and skill of the person with the gun. The Buckeye Firearms Foundation fund raising seminar was held Saturday 8/6/11 outside Xenia, Ohio at the Greene County Fish and Game Association (http://www.gcfng.com/).
Spaulding set the tone in the brief classroom session. He presented the critical aspects of mindset and what it takes to win on the street. He next outlined the requirements of how to build the skills to win. Spaulding places a lot of emphasis on mastering basic skills first and then building on those skills. It was quickly out to the ranges to put into practice the principles discussed in the classroom.
While the above two themes, which Spaulding repeated throughout the day, stuck in my head, the coaching on the range sealed the deal for me. The class was anxious to get to the range and put the words into action. I can assure you that I was also somewhat apprehensive about the range time. Would I screw up? Would I measure up? How well would I execute the drills and remember previous training. Fortunately, part of the class dealt with the reality that the concealed handgun license holder is often "the moderately trained person." Switching from my sport of trap shooting and my passion for deer hunting with a handgun to combat tactics for street survival all employ different skill sets and even some direct opposite skills. In short, I am the person that needed this training.
Spaulding put us at ease giving assurance that this is not a competition. He emphasized that in fact survival on the street encounter is not a competition. There is no fair play. Anyone that will assault, rob, maim, rape or kill is not playing by the rules anyway. The effort of the day was totally focused toward improving the individual skills so that we are better equipped to survive an encounter. No one received a "NCIS Boss head slap" – even when I repeated the same mistakes through a couple of drills. We got coaching, guidance, reminders and encouragement from the professional and watchful eyes of Dave Spaulding and Officer Brian Buchanan from Hamilton PD. Spaulding also asked us to watch each other – see the good and the bad. Reinforce what we learned through our actions and observance.
One of the most refreshing approaches for me was that Spaulding didn't say this is my way and the only way. He acknowledged different approaches and skills toward each drill. He clearly demonstrated the pros/cons of each stressing that shooters should be comfortable with different approaches as each situation will dictate different circumstances.
At the end of the day I was shooting better and smoother. I think everyone agreed they learned things, got a bad habit or two (or in my case 3 or 4) corrected. Spaulding proved to be a professional instructor with a good common sense approach to the class. Of course this didn't happen overnight. Spaulding's approach has been developed over many years of his career in law enforcement and training. The class drew from his real life experiences in law enforcement.
Buckeye Firearms thanks Dave Spaulding for supporting us and civilian concealed carry with his instruction. We also thank Greene County Fish and Game Association for the use of their outstanding facilities. The clubhouse and ranges are top quality.
Buckeye Firearms is interested in holding different types of smaller regional or local events. This is important not only for the money raised to continue educational efforts for our gun rights but also to help connect the volunteer leaders of Buckeye Firearms to our supporters across Ohio. For those who came out and supported the event, a hearty thank you! If you would like to help Buckeye Firearms bring an event to your area, please contact us.
Outdoor writer and hunter education instructor Larry S. Moore is a long-time volunteer leader for Buckeye Firearms Foundation and winner of the 2005 USSA Patriot Award, the 2007 League of Ohio Sportsmen/Ohio Wildlife Federation Hunter Educator of the Year and the 2010 National Wild Turkey Federation/ Women in the Outdoors Hunter Education Instructor of the Year.
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