Range Qualification
A level playing field
I recently had a disagreement with a certified CCH instructor about passing a student on his range qualification. The instructor failed the student. If I had been making the judgment, he would have passed. No big deal, except to the student.
Here is the minimum range range qualification from an 1NC-DOJ document:
- The student fires 30 rounds of ammunition at a bulls-eye or silhouette target from three, five, and seven yard distances;
- At each yard distance the student shall fire a minimum ten rounds; and
- 21 of the 30 rounds fired by the student hit the target.
A deficiency in the standard is that it doesn't specify the size of the target nor what constitutes "hitting the target". I would infer that if a round is inside or hits the outer scoring ring, it has hit the target. As it is, a passing score is based partly on how the instructor feels about it.
The image shows the actual target in question. 20 rounds appear to be inside the #8 ring. 6 maybe 7 rounds appear to be inside the #7 ring. The student was failed for lacking one more round inside or on the #8 ring. Did the other 6 or 7 shots "hit the target"? According to the NC-DOJ standard, yes. It was a judgment call by the instructor and could have legitimately passed.
Take Away:
The NC-DOJ should be more specific about the target size and what constitutes "hit the target". The outer ring of a 2B-27 target is 15 1/5" x 22", that too large. The next or #8 ring is 11 1/5" x 16 5/8", that's about right. So, as it turns out, I agree that the standard should be more like the #8 ring -- but isn't.
It's not right for a government sanctioned test be harder for some than others. It should be a level playing field.
1 SUBCHAPTER 09F - CONCEALED HANDGUN TRAINING, SECTION .0100 - CONCEALED HANDGUN TRAINING PROGRAM, 12 NCAC 09F .0105 INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
2 The B-27 target is used because, although it's not specified in the NC-DOJ specification, it is listed as an example of suitable targets in the NC Justice Academy publication Concealed Carry Handgun Training, a.k.a. The Red Book.