When were you last on the range training with your duty firearm? If you are like me, and most other security and law enforcement professionals, it’s been a while. Ammunition isn’t cheap anymore, and when we have any time off, it’s rarely enough to spend driving to a range, practicing for an hour or two, then home to spend another half-hour cleaning a weapon. Through the covid/no ammunition months, we all heard the experts tell us about the benefits of dry firing practice, and it is a valuable training aid but it doesn’t replace the experience and training value of firing live ammunition.
Marksmanship, tactical movement, drawing a weapon with speed and accuracy are all perishable skills. That means if you don’t practice, your proficiency will decline. While we don’t often draw our weapon in the line of duty, if that time comes, you don’t want to face a deadly threat with diminished skills and proficiency.
The most obvious reason is that you may fire at your target but miss as these LAPD officers did in the video below. Or just as horrific, shoot an innocent bystander accidentally in the heat of battle like on-duty security officer Moises Castillo did last year in Houston. After a lengthy investigation Castillo was charged with Murder.
Being proficient with our work tools, and especially with our firearms, is essential for security professionals. Finding time to practice and train may be time-consuming and costly, but the consequences of not training are far greater. Consistent training and the constant consumption of information and knowledge is an essential element of working as a security professional.
About Author
