Training is very important. After watching Facebook videos and seeing how some people in other countries act and handle firearms on ranges, it is very obvious that many of them do not have the same training standards that we do in New Zealand, or at least on Pistol New Zealand ranges.
Some do train similarly to us, and vice versa. Canada has a “Black Badge”, which is a qualification that allows the holder to compete in pistol competitions requiring the drawing of a pistol from a holster.
In New Zealand, we have two different badges that give our members this privilege. One is for action-style shooting disciplines such as IPSC, Action, Service, Speed, or even Wild Bunch, which is cowboy-style shooting with 1911 .45 ACP pistols, based on the movie of the same name. I have just engraved some badges for the next intake, and they are numbered over 6200. Pistol shooting here had been established for some time before the holster qualification became a requirement.
The other qualification is for CAS (Cowboy Action Shooting), which uses single-action revolvers. These need to be cocked every time before they can be fired. The handling of these two different styles requires different skills to master, and we need to continue working on those skills, both to improve and, more importantly, to ensure we do not become complacent and develop bad habits that could lead to mistakes. This is something our club trainers and range officers keep a close watch on, because it is far better to correct issues early rather than allow standards to deteriorate.
As a requirement for holding a pistol licence, we must complete a minimum of 12 shoots a year. In my last submission, I suggested this should be reduced to 6 or 8, as circumstances have changed over time. Our weekends are no longer as free as they were 55-plus years ago, when most jobs were Monday to Friday and weekends were reserved for sport and family. That is without even considering the increasing costs of our sport. The requirement is still 12 shoots per year, and we will wait and see how the new ACT legislation unfolds.
We have plenty of fellow shooters looking out for one another, as we all take our sport and safety seriously. This means safe firearm handling becomes second nature for most of us, but it is still reassuring to have those safety standards continually reinforced. For myself, this overview comes from my club members, and when I travel away for matches, I am checked by other officials as well.
What this proves is how important our clubs and ranges are. The benefits they pass on to those who join help everyone become better and safer in the way they handle firearms. They also provide a safe, controlled environment where people can see the realities of the sport and learn how to shoot properly.
