In most places, police officers are only required to go the the pistol practice range 4 times a year. I often go shooting every weekend in the summertime. Does going to the range 4 times a year give you professional shooting ability? Police are paid to shoot, after all.
Question.
(11 posts) (5 voices)-
JohnA1nut
MemberI say this, because most police probably aren't very good shots. I heard on the news about 3 LAPD cops, fired over 60 9mm slugs at a guy between them, and only hit the guy 3 times. This was at almost POINT BLANK RANGE!!!!! I could (and have) done better with my eyes closed!!!!!!!!*
*I was shooting at an indoor pistol range, it was completely safe. They say that if you are truly familiar with your weapon, you should be able to hit fairly accurately with your eyes closed. Not that I would ever try such a thing in real life, mind you.
Sat Feb 16 2008 11:33 am # -
Graham
MemberAh, see, here you make a mistake about the interpretation of a Professional ranking; the police are not paid to be sharp shooters. They are civil servants who enforce the law. Now, perhaps if we were talking about a SWAT team, or a specialist, sure, that's professional. But police officers are not professional gunmen. Just because they might shoot a gun while on the job doesn't mean that's their job.
Sat Feb 16 2008 6:43 pm # -
Grendel
MemberThe range is also a much more relaxed environment than any real life situation. I was in the Marine Corps and had a buddy who was a shooting instructor (professional grade shooter), he often told me that when shooting at stationary targets people would shoot very well, then when moved over to timed pop up or moving targets they would fall to pieces. And that was with only the added stress of limited time and motion added in. Out in the real world there is usually the added element of thinking about the real live person you are shooting or the fact that they are shooting back to contend with. The range is an excellent tool that trains you in how your weapon works and how accurate it is, but if you loose your head all that goes out the window.
I also know that the Marines Snipers shoot all the time, much more than the one time a year that the rest of us shot. So to keep a professional edge to a skill they definitely practice a lot more than average, the same as any other skill. I imagine that police SWAT units are much the same as far as range time is concerned.Wed Feb 27 2008 3:46 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberThat makes perfect sense Grendel. I can drill the 10 ring out with my 22 pistol at practice distance, but I've never tried to hit a moving target with it. The thing that scares me about it though is that I have more practice with my pistol than the average cop. The cop is allowed to carry a gun and I'm not. What sense does that make?
Wed Feb 27 2008 7:05 am # -
Grendel
MemberIn truth the only reason that cops get to carry handguns is because they have to. For a very long time the English police never carried guns, and their armed SWAT equivalent was only called out when there were armed and violent criminals. In the US, it seems like everyone has a gun of some kind, so the police go armed and are still out gunned. And in many states there are laws allowing people to carry concealed handguns with a permit, but without any real training. A number of states don't even require any kind of proof of competence.
Americans are just gun nuts. I have to admit that given the option I would own dozens of firearms, the only thing holding me back is money. And I'm one of the calmer people I know. There are a couple of friends I have that between them own over a hundred guns, ranging from hunting rifles to an AK-47 and a Tommy Gun, all bought legally and registered.Wed Feb 27 2008 11:56 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberAnd in every state that has concealed carry laws, crime dropped immediately after the law was passed. In every state with strict gun control, crime is through the roof. I've heard it compared to trying to stop drunk driving by making it more difficult for sober people to drive. When will they learn? More guns on the street equals less crime. Statistics of all kinds back this up. As Mike would say "I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy." Or, another favorite of his "When seconds count, the police are only minutes away."
Wed Feb 27 2008 5:47 pm # -
Jhiaxus
MemberIf your lucky in this country if you call the police, they at best will take 2 minutes to get to you. If a criminal has it in his mind to blow you away, you'd be dead and gone. I CCW, and I know it makes me *less* likely to lose my cool. I for one take the responsibility of my safety into my own hands. Yes I am a gun nut, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Wed Feb 27 2008 11:19 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberSo we do have at least one thing in common Adam. I too take my safety into my own hands. I don't CCW because I feel that I personally am not mentally stable enough to do that. I fully believe that people have the right to carry concealed, though. I remember a big hoopla that people were saying a CCW law would make it more dangerous for police. Uhh, if someone has it in their head that they want to kill a cop, they will carry a gun whether they have a permit or not.
Thu Feb 28 2008 1:36 am #
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