It’s open season on cops. We’re being ambushed and shot at more than I can ever recall. Thugs seem to be going to their gun as a first option, rather than a last resort. It’s not unusual to have a full assault by an occupant(s) of a vehicle on a traffic stop. Part of this war on cops stems from a sympathetic media that seems to be in the criminals’ corner rather than the cops. It’s popular to hate cops and hold rallies where the most vile signs and chants are tolerated . . . even parroted by media and celebrities (Hands up; don’t shoot).
So in this incendiary environment it’s little wonder that gunfights are becoming the norm. What does that mean for us in terms of training? At the very least, the present combat-like atmosphere dictates that we train for gunfights, not merely qualification.
Real world gun fighting skills are not difficult to learn if we incorporate them into each mandated firearms day. And while we’re on the subject of firearms training, is there anyone among us who thinks our allotted days on the range are adequate? While there are many departments that have adopted combat firearms training into their allotted range days, there are just as many that continue to simply maintain skills dictated by state standards. The training is delivered in blocks of time that focus on archaic gun handling and marksmanship drills, nothing that relates to real world situations facing our thin blue line.
In my humble opinion, training must be realistic, meaning engaging targets from uncomfortable positions, using either both hands or just one, whether it’s the dominant hand or not. Targets need to be difficult to acquire and heart rates must be elevated, demonstrating to the officers not only the importance of being fit, but also the difficulty and importance of using the sights on the weapon.
However, one of the problems law enforcement faces is finding adequate time to train. Quarterly training is not going to make anyone proficient under stress. Departments must find time, money, and facilities for their officers to constantly hone their skills. I know some departments are using simulators to supplement regular firearms training. That’s good - certainly better than nothing at all - but nothing takes the place of live fire. Officers can maintain firearms skills on their own, if only by regularly dry firing their weapons, practicing coming out of the holster, and firing from awkward positions while trying to use the sights.
Using the sights during qualification, versus using them under the stress of being under fire or moving to cover with an elevated heart rate, are two completely different experiences. We know from our own training, as well as from research by Dr. Bill Lewinski from the Force Science Institute (FSI), that acquiring a sight picture when under threat may or may not be doable, since stress changes the body physiologically. However, research by FSI using equipment that tracks eye movement illustrates that sights can be acquired and used even under intense stress.
Granted, at close distances, sights are not necessary, and in fact, trying to use them may put you at more of a disadvantage. At the same time, not using your weapon’s sights when your adversary is down a hallway or up a flight of stairs can be disastrous. Our training has primarily focused on using large easy to see targets, something that may not be realistic in the real world. Additionally, we’re used to static targets. Most shootings involve movement by either the bad guy, us, or both. These factors make the case for not only more training, but more realistic training.
Speaking about realistic training - when I was training new FBI agents and task force cops at Hogan’s Alley we’d spend a few days using paintball guns. After the first scenario was completed, we’d critique the team’s performance - what they did well and what could have been done better. Typically, when one of the trainees wound up getting shot their excuse was, “My visor fogged up,” or, “These gloves didn’t allow me to really feel the trigger.” Hmm. Little did they know their complaints were a great segue for me to explain the realities of real police work. I explained there may be times when your glasses may be fogged, or when you may have them punched off your face. There may come a time when you’re shot in your gun hand (talk about not feeling the trigger!). The reality is range conditions are not going to be present when you find yourself in a fight for your life.
Gunfights are the real deal. Excuses for poor performance don’t mean a thing, particularly if you’re not around to make them. The bottom line is, if you’re more than several feet away from your target, using your sights will improve your chances of winning. The way to do that is to train the way you fight. Don’t spray and pray. Aim and fire. If the sights weren’t important to the accuracy of the weapon, they wouldn’t be on the gun.
Put yourself under stress by doing some sprints, pushups, or some other type of activity that gets your heart rate up and makes you uncomfortable. That’s the condition you’ll most likely be in if a threat appears. You must know how your body will react and what limitations, if any, you will have to overcome.
Stay Safe, Brothers and Sisters!
