29 Oct 03

Comments on the SA shooting from a friend with a large, domestic PD:

"Sounds like our PD! Our only requirement for qualification is thirty round s annually. After you chase down the stragglers who are actively avoiding qualification, because they are poor shooters and don't like the associated embarrassment, it can be as long as sixteen months in between qualifications . As a result, our shooting statistics are not a source of joy:

OIS statistics (generated by the FBI) indicate a national average for hit percentages of 18%. Ours is an impressive 6%.

Another statistic you will find depressing relates to lack of weapons preventive maintenance. Last year, during qualifications, five hundred hand guns were immediately deadlined by our armorers! They were conspicuously unserviceabl e upon initial presentation or broke during the thirty-round exercise. These guns were from our patrol officers who came to the range during their tour o f duty. Most involved officers had not the foggiest idea how long they had be en carrying their pistol in that condition. I wonder what these officers' partners were thinking when they realized that they had been working with so meone who has been carrying a 'dead man's gun' for weeks or even months.

It is scary and discouraging for those of us who are trying to keep these guys and gals trained and ready to go. But, we press on!"

Comment: Unfortunately, what is described above is not unusual for a big police department where officers are considered "expendable" by politicians and bureaucrats alike. Thank heaven for dedicated trainers like my friend here, who daily fight apathy from both directions. They do more good than they know!

/John