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Ok, I'm kinda fired up still so bear with me. Today at a CHL renewal class I was qualifying when a shot rang out (out of sequence) and landed in the wall to my left not 2ft from me. Obviously, they will need to requalify, but dang people! Listen, if you're going to carry a firearm you need to learn how to handle it, operate its controls and shoot it! It's pathetic at best that a RENEWAL class would have this issue. The fact that over half the squad I was in emptied the mags when told to fire only one shot. Not once, but several times. I think maybe I'm just disappointed that people who may someday save the life of another would be so irresponsible. Carrying isn't a hobby or novelty. If you don't take it serious, you're putting yourself and others at risk. Do us all a favor and get some training!

Yes, I will volunteer to help anyone near me become proficient with their firearm. I won't spout all this and not back it up.

If I was at that class, I may find myself offering to coach newbies or lazy shooter for Free (sessions). I am not implying I am Master shooter or certified instructor. However, I know the basics and I can manage at range as well as the IPSC and IPDA matches.

age_ranger wrote:Ok, I'm kinda fired up still so bear with me.

I feel your pain. I'd be inclined to walk off the range & find another time to qualify (assuming I didn't shoot back out of reflex! ) - better than dying.

Good for you for volunteering. I've thought about doing the same - but throwing it out there into the interwebs is a little scary. Since I don't teach firearms for a living, I'd prefer the ability to screen who I'd be around...

unfortunately as an instructor i try to stress to everyone new and renewal shoot what you are going to carry.. but more times then not you will bring what you shoot best with or what you think you shoot best with and there you go.. with every thing from jams,stove pipes to poor hand placement to the bleeder..no matter what as an instructor you try to tell them it just dont set in till something stuiped happens..i will even go as far as to try and get them to look into IDPA shoots.. but good luck with that!!!!!

age_ranger wrote:The fact that over half the squad I was in emptied the mags when told to fire only one shot. Not once, but several times.

Sounds like a valid reason to DQ them on the range test. If the instructor didn't, they're encouraging the behavior.

Yeah, definitely DQ'd. I recommended the firearm safety and handling portion be done BEFORE qualification. That way if someone who fails to remain proficient forgets it's not cool to discharfe a firearm across the line of shooters, they'll at least know how to hold it and where it should be pointed.

age_ranger wrote:Ok, I'm kinda fired up still so bear with me. Today at a CHL renewal class I was qualifying when a shot rang out (out of sequence) and landed in the wall to my left not 2ft from me. Obviously, they will need to requalify, but dang people! Listen, if you're going to carry a firearm you need to learn how to handle it, operate its controls and shoot it! It's pathetic at best that a RENEWAL class would have this issue. The fact that over half the squad I was in emptied the mags when told to fire only one shot. Not once, but several times. I think maybe I'm just disappointed that people who may someday save the life of another would be so irresponsible. Carrying isn't a hobby or novelty. If you don't take it serious, you're putting yourself and others at risk. Do us all a favor and get some training!

Yes, I will volunteer to help anyone near me become proficient with their firearm. I won't spout all this and not back it up.

Wow Age - that's just ugly. Was this at BT?

Yeah, Bullet Trap. I should add for the members who aren't familiar with BT that the staff was outstanding and professional. They handled the incident very well and they're the reason I do my CHL business there.

I feel your pain. Hopefully, the instructors had a handle on the situation. I've got some strict rules when I'm running the line. A ND is an automatic trip home. They get one mulligan on shooting out of sequence or failure to follow directions. Pointing a gun at me gets a trip home, after a fair amount of yelling. Now, if I could just whack 'em on the back of the head when they leave their fat finger on the trigger, I'd be a happy man!!!

I am always offering to take someone shooting. If they take me up on it, they get the whole spiel and Range Rule run-down before we shoot. If I find out they are an experienced shooter, well …. I’ve never had one resent my approach.

While I am a certified instructor, it’s not in firearms training. I’ve just been around a long time (and for very good reason) and had good teachers growing up.

You don’t have to be a certified instructor to take someone under your wing and you don’t have to spend a lot of money on classes, though it’s money well spent if you can afford it.

Seek out people who share our interest in the shooting sports and spend time with them.

As my Grandpa always said “You can learn something from everyone, even if it’s the wrong way to do something”.

I am with ya'll. I have taken several new people to the range for the past year for fun. I have always told them that if they are going for a CHL and carry they have to practice using what you carry. I am always open for a trip to the range. If someone reads this and wants to fire some lead down the range at the garland range just let me know. I am not a expert but know safety and good gun techniques.

The off-duty officers my instructor recruited to help facilitate the shooting test made me feel good about my mediocre target. Only had the gun (first gun purchase ever) for two months and he said over my shoulder, "Nice shooting". If that's not an indication of how bad the others were at my test I don't know what is.

If this had happened to me I would demand his/her immediate removal from the firing line with an emptied handgun. Safety is paramount, even if you can't shoot well. As long as your lead is going down range I'll be content.