Firearms training has been a great part of the academy so far and will continue to be. For many of the past weeks we have gotten to go to the range and shoot our guns twice a week. I am one of the few without much experience but I have definietly improved from the first day of shooting. It is awesome to think that we are actually getting paid to shoot for 4 hours at a time. We also get to shoot lots and lots of ammunition that is provided to us in the academy.
The foundation of firearms is safety, which has been engrained into us. Before we shoot each time, we recite the four basic firearms safety rules out loud as a group. This helps us to always be mindful of the potentially deadly weapons we are handling. Another basic concept we have learned about guns is to keep them clean. We are required to clean them after every time we shoot so they will be ready to go for the next time. We are held accountable to this by an inspection of our guns each day we shoot them. I was guilty of having a gun that was not as clean as it should be a few times, but I have now learned how to properly clean it.
We have learned and practiced shooting standing up, kneeling, and lying down. We have gotten to shoot at targets as well as other metal objects that fall when hit. We have done timed shooting in which we have to shoot a certain number of rounds within a specified amount of time. Moving in different directions while shooting, positioning ourselves behind cover while shooting, and making quick decisions while shooting have also been essential to our firearms training. We have even gotten to shoot during the light of the day and the dark of the night. We have great instructors who put in lots of time and work to help us be prepared to use deadly force if necessary during our careers as cops.
Thanks to Deputy Ackerman for the pictures.
The foundation of firearms is safety, which has been engrained into us. Before we shoot each time, we recite the four basic firearms safety rules out loud as a group. This helps us to always be mindful of the potentially deadly weapons we are handling. Another basic concept we have learned about guns is to keep them clean. We are required to clean them after every time we shoot so they will be ready to go for the next time. We are held accountable to this by an inspection of our guns each day we shoot them. I was guilty of having a gun that was not as clean as it should be a few times, but I have now learned how to properly clean it.
We have learned and practiced shooting standing up, kneeling, and lying down. We have gotten to shoot at targets as well as other metal objects that fall when hit. We have done timed shooting in which we have to shoot a certain number of rounds within a specified amount of time. Moving in different directions while shooting, positioning ourselves behind cover while shooting, and making quick decisions while shooting have also been essential to our firearms training. We have even gotten to shoot during the light of the day and the dark of the night. We have great instructors who put in lots of time and work to help us be prepared to use deadly force if necessary during our careers as cops.
Thanks to Deputy Ackerman for the pictures.
On the line getting ready to shoot
This recruit shows good technique as he locks on target
Shooting below cover while lying down
