I think we're due an embarrasing story!
20 years ago, when I was put forward for Firearms Training, I had to fill in a small thesis on my current standing, to be assessed. It was widely known they wanted, stable, God fearing, non-divorced, healthy, teetotal,etc.etc, type people.
Well I was in an inner city which could be quite violent. I was young and daft, and didn't fear anyone. If someone was bigger and stronger than me, I hung on until the calvary arrived. It someone drew a knife, I'd get a chair(Coz its got more reach, if your not keeping up). Anyway, I was happy in my enviroment. But I knew you couldn't outrun a bullet. I had an instinctive fear of guns, and thought as long as I didn't lose face, I could live without carrying a gun.
So on the application, I 'accidently' put that I drunk 30 pints a week. It was true, but everyone else lied, and this admission was certain failure. I can still remember the dope of an instructor, who got me in a side-room and waxed about how he appreciated my honesty, and told me how he wished more people were. Before changing 30 pints to 3 pints and telling me I'd passed!!!
Lucky me! I got the hang of it over the next few years, but thats another story.
Alan