We know a whole lot of gun owners in Illinois are “thirty rounds every five years” kind of shooters. Sadly that includes some GSL members. If that describes you, you’re relying on hope and luck to overcome a potential lethal threat. Pro-tip: Hope has no survival value.
At our GSL meeting in Sangamon County, life member Benjamin Dillard stood up and shared some great information about a recent training course he attended.
He began by urging folks to learn and grow as a shooter. “If you’ve got questions about guns or shooting, ask the experienced instructors right here,” Ben told the crowd. Yeah, it’s one of the benefits of coming to GSL events!
Then he launched into several valuable “nugget drops.” Ben started by quoting one of his early mentors — a former FBI special agent and firearms instructor who taught at Quantico. The line was pure gold: “Your gun isn’t gonna make you a gunfighter any more than buying a guitar will make you Jimi Hendrix.”
Ouch. But true.
Ben had just returned from a serious two-day tactical pistol and carbine class taught by Bob Keller of Gamut Resolutions in Florida.
Bob Keller.
Keller isn’t some YouTube personality or range cowboy — he’s the real deal: a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant with over 20 years of service, including time in elite Special Mission Unit (SMU) operations. This is a combat-proven gunfighter teaching proven methods, not theory.
The biggest takeaway Ben hammered home? Situational awareness.
“Pay attention to your surroundings,” he said. “That’s how you spot trouble early — and can usually interrupt an attack before it ever starts by doing the unexpected.” Translation, you’ll interrupt the bad guy’s OODA loop before he gets to “Act.” At that point, he’s reacting to you.
He shared a great line from that FBI mentor: “Why do I carry a gun? Because I’m too old to fight and too young to die.” Given the age of those in attendance, that philosophy no doubt resonated, hence the chuckling. Point landed.
Ben then got serious and asked the group a question every responsible gun owner needs to answer honestly: Can you actually shoot someone? Can you kill to defend yourself or your family?
Because without the right mindset, all the cool gear and extensive training in the world won’t save you.
He broke it down cleanly into four pillars every armed citizen needs:
Mindset — Developed and instilled. It’s the foundation. Mindset is knowing you can never give up.
Tactics — Learned through quality training.
Skills — Honed through repetition, experience, and deliberate practice.
Gear — Anyone can buy this stuff in stores or on the internet.
“If you’re missing any one of those four,” Ben warned, “you’re not nearly as prepared as you think you are.”
His advice to every GSL member — no matter your age, sex, physical ability, or current skill level: Invest in real training. Take a solid two-day class from a legitimate instructor. Don’t cut corners with your life or your family’s safety any more than you’d cut corners with your health.
The family-friendly mindset to dealing with criminals and bad actors: Not today, Satan.
And yes, he noted (with a grin) that your average Illinois Concealed Carry class is… let’s just say it’s not exactly “top-notch” elite training.
Ben knows what he’s talking about. As a trainer himself, he teaches to empower good people. He’s worked with a wide range of people including those who have had “Come to Jesus” moments. One, a sharp, attractive twenty-something woman in a wheelchair was fondled at a party. Ben showed her how to shoot a pistol, and how and where to carry it in her chair. Other folks survived violent attacks and were highly motivated to defend themselves afterwards. Feeling helpless sucks, especially when you’re with people who look up to you to provide for their safety too. They all walked (or rolled) away safer, more confident, and truly capable of defending themselves.
The secret to building real skill? Simplicity and repetition.
Dry-fire. Use orange training rounds (use your imagination in the above photo) for malfunction clearing practice, too.
“Dry fire, dry fire, and dry fire some more,” Ben emphasized. Practice your draws, trigger pulls, and reloads with an unloaded gun in a safe area with no live ammo present.
“Don’t practice until you get it right — practice until you can’t get it wrong.” That repetition builds neural pathways in your brain. It turns conscious effort into automatic, unconscious competence.
Other practical tips he shared:
- Keep your eyes on the target and bring the gun up to the target (don’t dive your head down to the sights).
- Maintain a strong, stable stance — stay a little low for better balance.
- Let your support hand drive the gun. With a rifle or shotgun, that support hand also pulls the firearm firmly into your shoulder while directing it onto the target and transitioning between threats.
- Once on the live-fire range, use your time well to execute excellent fundamentals and not further ingrain bad habits.
Ben left the room energized and thinking. That’s what great members do — they don’t just show up; they bring back hard-earned knowledge and share it with the rest of the Guns Save Life family.
If you haven’t taken a serious defensive firearms class lately, make it a priority in 2026. Your gear is only as good as the person holding it — and the person holding it is only as good as their training and mindset.
Thanks for the wisdom, Ben. Keep bringing those Florida nuggets back to Illinois.
Stay safe out there. Train hard. Stay aware.