Just as a disclaimer I'm not trying to be snarky, so please don't misunderstand my tone. I've worked quite a bit of patrol, was a K9 handler, and was a major crimes detective who investigated robberies and homicides (I'm currently a sergeant in administration for a bit...not my first choice).Originally Posted by Robinson
Throwing on hearing protection isn't realistic in these scenarios. I've never seen or heard it done so trying to plan for it or worrying about it when the event happens is a waste of precious time.
You will likely experience auditory exclusion if you shoot someone in your home so damaged hearing isn't that big of a concern.
Do you have kids or a spouse you may want to hear? Do you have a close neighbor you may need to hear? When the autistic neighbor kid who means you no harm but is out of control knocks down your door and his parents are yelling to talk to you should you be able to hear them? How about the 911 dispatcher or the cops that arrive at your house? All of these things are more important.
When you accidentally shoot someone you shouldn't have in the nano-second you had to make a life and death decision and you are sitting before a jury of you "peers" months or years later do you honestly think that jury is going to care about your concern for your hearing when you explain you couldn't hear someone because you had "ear pro" on your head?
Our SWAT team wears MSA Sordin ear pro which is some of the best out there. Trying to communicate with them without separate coms on their channel is a major pain in the ass when they're all kitted up. Don't believe me? Wear your ear pro in a department store wear there is a bunch of ambient background noise and try to have a conversation with your wife. She'll likely want to kill you in less than five minutes. Range vs real world applications of ear pro are very different.
Being able to hear voices, doors close, glass breaking, and so forth is much more important than the minute damage a few pistol pops may give you under the circumstances. If ear pro actually let you do both don't think that for one second all the workers comp liability concerned police departments in the country wouldn't have their cops wearing ear pro constantly or at least every time they clear a building. The reality is that ear pro, while great on the range, is horrible in the real world when you REALLY NEED to hear the small things and when you really need to communicate with other people.
If it makes you feel good and you want it to be part of your household battle plan then knock yourself out. But please give what I'm saying some serious consideration before you do...
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