I'm certainly interested in hearing more. The NRA has their Pistol Marksmanship Program that folks can do on their own, (the last stage requires an NRA instructor to witness) but it's pretty much standing and shooting X number of shots in an 8" circle from X feet away. It's not easy, but there is no "realism" involved.AndyC wrote:I'm getting my thoughts together, so forgive the fragmented approach.
I'm disturbed by the general lack of incentive for CHL holders - or in fact any gun-owner - to try and achieve a higher level of skill. Training courses are expensive, money's tight all around - and I happen to like things that folks can practice by themselves and force them to stretch a bit.
I was browsing the federal Air Marshal's pistol standards recently and, although they're not easy, they're achievable by anyone fairly competent with a pistol. I compared them to the standards I expected of my PSD team overseas and was surprised that many were similar to mine - and some were ever-so-slightly easier in terms of the time allowed.
I'm designing a very short, standardized exercise to replicate a real street encounter that can be easily practiced by anybody on their own so as to avoid any "course fees" - and then shot successfully while witnessed in order to qualify. I have very specific requirements in mind for the course of fire, which I'll keep to myself for now, but as a hint, it should be shootable with 2 targets and (right now) about 10 rounds of ammo max. Yes, it's very short and very quick - but it won't be a "gimme".
To make sure that it's something to work for, the idea is that it be shot cold successfully 3 times (on separate days, to make sure that it's shot cold each time) and witnessed as such in order to qualify as a "Gunfighter" or "Gunslinger" (borrowed from The Dark Tower series by Steven King) - perhaps a certificate, embroidered patch or whatever to be displayed with pride.
It doesn't actually make one a gunfighter, of course - it just certifies that someone has met a pretty tough standard.
Thoughts?
Keep us posted! I'd like to take a shot at it. <pun intended>
T.