[BLACKJACK]

GOOD POINT, RON - - -

I LIKE THE COMPARISON TO FIRE ARMS. COBRAS AND GUNS ARE BOTH PERFECTLY SAFE IN THE HANDS OF TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED OPERATORS.

THE PROBLEMS OCCUR WHEN AN OPERATOR "BELIEVES" THAT HE/SHE "CAN HANDLE IT".

I HAVE TRAINEES FREQUENTLY WHO HAVE "MODERATE" EXPERIENCE WITH HAND GUNS OR SHOT GUNS AND THINK THEY CAN JUST "PICK-UP" AN MP-5, AN UZI OR AN AK-47 AND BECOME THE "ACE OF THE BASE" IMMEDIATELY.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE TRAINEE WHO COMES IN WITH A "BLACK BELT" IN SOME COMMERCIALLY HYPED DISCIPLINE WHO THINKS HE'S BRUCE LEE AND HE WOULDN'T STAND A CHANCE IN HE11 IN A NORTHSIDE PITTBURGH BAR FIGHT.

COBRAS ARE VERY SIMILAR BECAUSE QUITE A BIT OF "DAILY DRIVING" EXPERIENCE TRANSLATES TO DRIVING A COBRA. HOWEVER - - IT'S THE OTHER 20% THAT THE NEW COBRA DRIVER DOES NOT EVEN EXPECT AND THEREFORE CAN'T ANTICIPATE THAT RISES UP AND BITES HIM/HER ON THE BUTT.

IN ALL THREE EXAMPLES THE CORE OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT IN 20% OF THE INSTANCES THAT OCCUR - - THE RULES ARE CHANGED.

PROFESSIONAL INITIAL, AND ALSO RECURRENT TRAINING (AS YOU SUGGESTED), SHOULD BE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED IF NOT MADE MANDANTORY. PERHAPS THERE ARE INSURANCE UNDERWRITERS OUT THERE WHO - IF PROPERLY EDUCATED - COULD GAIN A LOT OF "GOOD" BUSINESS BY OFFERING DISCOUNTS FOR APPROVED INITIAL AND RECURRENT TRAINING. PERHAPS THE "DISCOUNT" WOULD BE THE IMPETUS FOR SOME DRIVERS TO TAKE THE TRAINING. THE WORLD (OR AT LEAST THE HIGHWAYS AND THE TRACK) WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER/SAFER PLACE.

Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY AND A SUPER - SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON.

BLACKJACK