NCJ Number
196716
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2002 Pages: 42-44,46,48
Editor(s)
David Griffith
Date Published
April 2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article presents five private firearms training programs across the United States offering law enforcement officers on- and off-site specialized and advanced firearms training courses.
Abstract
Law enforcement firearm training budgets are subjected to current economic conditions, and even in the best economic times, a strong tactically based firearms training program for most police departments are hard to sustain. This makes it difficult for law enforcement to maintain the skills necessary to perform their jobs. In response to this continual dilemma, many independent or private firearms training school opportunities have become available in the United States offering an advanced firearms program, but at a high cost. The majority are owned and operated by retired range masters. These training programs specialize in a crossover mix of law enforcement, military, government paramilitary professional, and civilian training. This article describes and focuses on five firearms training centers that have been in the business for a while and have received excellent reputations among the training community. These centers include: (1) Blackwater Training Center, Camden, North Carolina; (2) Front Sight Firearms Training Institute, Las Vegas, Nevada; (3) Gunsite Academy, Paulden, Arizona; (4) Heckler and Koch International Training, Sterling, Virginia; and (5) Thunder Ranch, Mountain Home, Texas.