Self Defense- Pistol Primer (Introduction)

Editor's Note:  A basic background on handgun use.  Redacted as necessary.

SA Gary S. MORRIS

____ MP Det (CID)

LSA Anaconda, Iraq

18 Aug 06

    

     The following Pistol Training Doctrine proposal and accompanying revised qualification course were drawn up  in response to a forwarded correspondence from MSG___________, __ MP BN (CID), Camp Victory, Baghdad, IZ dated 2 Aug 06.  The topic of the correspondence was the proposed changes to the Army CID Daytime Practical Pistol Qualification Course. 

    

     Nothing’s new under the sun, which is especially true of the firearms training world.  Our current pistol qualification course is far from antiquated, and is readily adaptable to progressive training philosophies which were based upon actual combatant involved shootings and realistic force-on-force training, not bullseye-match-influenced paper punching for a perfect 300 point score.    

     With a bit of tweaking, the current quarterly qualification course could serve to reinforce core gun fighting skill sets for our agents without the associated confusion which would result from the wholesale scrapping of the current course of fire.  

SAFETY

COLONEL COOPER'S FOUR RULES

1.  All guns are always loaded.

2.  Never cover anything you're not willing to destroy.

3.  Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.

4.  Always be sure of your target and what's beyond it.

     Prior to every firearms training block or range, a discussion of the Four Safety Rules should take place.  These rules have been ingrained into the training regimens of all competent law enforcement agencies, and ours should be no exception.  These rules are clear, concise and easily memorized.  They should not be added to or detracted from in any way.  Follow them religiously (with special emphasis upon Rule #3), and the potential for negligent discharges will drop exponentially.

    

     Note.  The M11 (Sig P228)  Pistol has an excellent trigger finger register when firing right handed along the frame, where the back side of the takedown lever can be felt (just above the serial number).  When firing left handed, the takedown lever itself makes an easy-to-find place to keep your trigger finger registered.