Sorry for the delay in my response. I wanted to bring this up in a conversation with other instructors before I cast my response. I feared that I may anger some of my fellow NRA instructors, but as time passed I decided, "screw them" and let my opinions stand for themselves. Also, allow me to preface my statements as personal opinions. If you are a LEO or military, I do not mean any disrespect. I hold all of you in the highest regards. Thank you for your service, past and present.
When it comes to formal training of law enforcement and military, the true disconnect is 'skill retention". This is most true in police officers and civilians who carry Conceal Weapon Permits. I know, CCW holders were not part of the original study, but it should be mentioned. Military have a slight upper hand, but not much.
Most instructors train their students to Point Shoot when certain conditions are met.
1. Engagements under 15 feet.
2. When under a low light condition.
3. Engagements where the assailant is charging you at a distance of 30 feet or less.
That's all fine and dandy, but the problem lies in the amount of training. During law enforcement and military training, they shoot at static targets. There is no imminent threat and they know they are shooting for a score. Once this range requirement has been satisfied, they no longer reinforce this training except for annual or semi-annual requalification. In the military, I don't believe there is a requalification.
Beyond the required requalification, police and military may opt to use the range as often as they deem necessary. Due to budget cuts and lack of manpower, most don't exercise this option (or just can't).
In law enforcement, most officers hardly ever draw their firearm and discharge any bullets. I recall a study completed by the NYPD back in the 90's that had something to the effect that over 60% of their officers fire their guns less than twice a year, and is usually during requalifications. Of those, most require and second attempt at requalification due to poor performance.
Most recently,
Police Chief Thomas Bennett was removed from duty and forced into retirement when he failed to pass his requalification. A score of 70 is passing. He could not get past 40.
During the recent shooting at the
Empire State Building in NYC, the 9 civilians wounded were accidentally shot by the cops!
This seems to be typical of most agencies, as most have adapted a more strategic approach to handling dangerous situations. Since the introduction of the Tazer in 1994, this holds more true. They prefer less lethal and is a great way to reduce the civil suits against the departments.
As our soldiers are fighting in the Middle East, they face more dangers from multiple assailants and most are at a distance with AKs and RPGs. Their primary weapon is their M4 special purpose rifle. Their Beretta or Sig handgun is typically used as a last resort unless your are the designated sniper. Even if they have greater opportunities to discharge their handgun, it does not happen that often.
This also holds true for our CCW holders. Since late-1993 when Arizona adopted a CCW, the classes were longer, the focus was on firearm familiarity, the laws, and especially the shooting. I was one of the first to get the Arizona CCW and I remember having to bring 100 rounds to class. We spent 5 hours in the classroom and 4 hours on the range. As the years went by, the classes got shorter and the focus was moved away from shooting. For a few years I moved out of state. When I returned in 2004 I attended another CCW class to get my permit back. When I asked the instructor how many boxes of ammo would I need, he said 10. I said, "500 rounds?!?" He said, "No. 10 bullets". I paused and said, "what the hell, man!"
Since Arizona enacted the 2010 Arizona Constitutional Carry law, the requirements for obtaining a CCW permit from DPS just got plain STUPID. If you've EVER had a firearm safety course during your lifetime, from any NRA instructor or Game & Fish program, it now qualifies you to get a CCW. Basically, if you attended the Arizona Game & Fish Hunter Safety course when you were 14, it counts. To date, the shortest class the NRA offers is only 3 hours and does NOT involve shooting a handgun.
There are a LOT of instructors offering $39 CCW classes and it's just a money grab. They were use to selling $89 classes. Now that Constitutional Carry is here, they just need some way to make a living. Sell them cheap and get a LOT of people in/out of your classroom FAST!
In summary, this report (granted, it's old) does not come as a surprise to me at all. I bet the current statistics are not that much better.
Ok, just like me there are also instructors out there that actually teach a decent course. We focus on meeting the requirements, then extending the class by putting a gun in your hand and make your fire a LOT of ammo at various targets. Then, we reinforce your training by recommending you take additional courses to improve your skills. It's not just a sales pitch, it's to improve YOUR skills and save your life.
Still, the bottom line is, Get Out And Fire Your Gun at things other than a single static paper targets. Mix it up. Alternate between multiple target and various distances. Just practice safety.
If you are an individual who really want to be better than these statistics, consider joining the Stock Class IDPA. Real life scenarios, and not just target shooting.