A Proficiency Test for a Well-Regulated Militia
The 2d Amendment states that a "well regulated militia" is necessary to the security of a free state. What did the framers mean by that phrase? They meant that the militia, i.e. the vast majority of the people themselves, have access to appropriate weapons and trained to their use so that they could quickly and effectively take up arms either on their own initiative or when embodied by order of the government.
In order to test how well the militia are in fact regulated, I'd like to see a test administered to them. It should verify a couple of important things: citizenship, good conduct, and basic knowledge of and proficiency with the main arm and sidearm currently in service (today, the M16 rifle or M4 carbine and M9 pistol). It ought to take about an hour and consume no more 50 rounds. I'd like to see it administered with stock weapons and ammunition by the National Guard, for the simple fact that they own a large supply of said weapons, and one cannot then say that the militia aren't "well regulated" after they've proven their abilities with those weapons! Plus, by establishing an equipment baseline it eliminates any advantage or disadvantage that would come with using one's personal weapons and ammo.
To prove citizenship and good conduct, the prospective shooter must report for his test with a driver's license and a voter registration card, and a certificate of good conduct from his local lawmen. He will also need ear and eye protection, and some means of carrying the proper magazines on his person; the set-up will be left to him.
He then moves on to the firing point where he is presented with a disassembled rifle or carbine. Within a prescribed time limit he assembles it and does a function check, and verifies that the sights are set to mechanical zero. He is issued with 50 rounds, which he loads into three magazines-- 10, 20, 20.
He then moves up to the firing line and under command, proceeds to BZO with a magazine of 10 rounds, for 200 meters. Range personnel will assist only by spotting the groups for him. If he can BZO in fewer than 10 rounds, he keeps those rounds and loads them into the remaining two magazines.
He then engages targets at 100, 75, 50 and 25 meters from different positions, under command, and within a time limit. The target remains stationary, the shooter moves forward to the next line or to the target when told to. There is no spotting from the range personnel, and the targets are scored only once, at the end of firing. The shooter will change magazines when required, without command from the range personnel, and will clear malfunctions as needed. Only in the event of bad ammo or a malfunction beyond his control will he notify range personnel, and if warranted will receive an alibi. (Any saved rounds from the BZO can be applied to this stage to help him cover pulled shots or misses.)
He then moves off the line, turns in his magazines, and under supervision resets the sights to mechanical zero, disassembles the weapon, and does a quick cleaning of the major parts. He then repeats the process with the pistol, of course without the BZO stage.
This is a pass/fail event. The shooter passes all stages in order to pass the event. Perhaps the only grade beyond "pass" will be an honorable mention for those who shoot exceptionally well. I think this is a good test, and a workable one, to establish that an engaged citizen of good character can take a service weapon, assemble it, zero it, and employ it within some basic parameters, then disassemble it and clean it.
What I need however, are the details on the qualification stages. What target do we use? How many rounds per string at each distance? What positions do we require? What's the time limit? What percentage of hits constitutes a passing score? What constitutes a hit-- anything inside the "vital area" of the target? What should the pistol stage consist of? Again, I want the target to stay put and the shooters to move toward it, to save time on scoring. The whole thing has to be SIMPLE and easily understood. I have my opinions, but I'd like to hear yours.
Send me your ideas!
In order to test how well the militia are in fact regulated, I'd like to see a test administered to them. It should verify a couple of important things: citizenship, good conduct, and basic knowledge of and proficiency with the main arm and sidearm currently in service (today, the M16 rifle or M4 carbine and M9 pistol). It ought to take about an hour and consume no more 50 rounds. I'd like to see it administered with stock weapons and ammunition by the National Guard, for the simple fact that they own a large supply of said weapons, and one cannot then say that the militia aren't "well regulated" after they've proven their abilities with those weapons! Plus, by establishing an equipment baseline it eliminates any advantage or disadvantage that would come with using one's personal weapons and ammo.
To prove citizenship and good conduct, the prospective shooter must report for his test with a driver's license and a voter registration card, and a certificate of good conduct from his local lawmen. He will also need ear and eye protection, and some means of carrying the proper magazines on his person; the set-up will be left to him.
He then moves on to the firing point where he is presented with a disassembled rifle or carbine. Within a prescribed time limit he assembles it and does a function check, and verifies that the sights are set to mechanical zero. He is issued with 50 rounds, which he loads into three magazines-- 10, 20, 20.
He then moves up to the firing line and under command, proceeds to BZO with a magazine of 10 rounds, for 200 meters. Range personnel will assist only by spotting the groups for him. If he can BZO in fewer than 10 rounds, he keeps those rounds and loads them into the remaining two magazines.
He then engages targets at 100, 75, 50 and 25 meters from different positions, under command, and within a time limit. The target remains stationary, the shooter moves forward to the next line or to the target when told to. There is no spotting from the range personnel, and the targets are scored only once, at the end of firing. The shooter will change magazines when required, without command from the range personnel, and will clear malfunctions as needed. Only in the event of bad ammo or a malfunction beyond his control will he notify range personnel, and if warranted will receive an alibi. (Any saved rounds from the BZO can be applied to this stage to help him cover pulled shots or misses.)
He then moves off the line, turns in his magazines, and under supervision resets the sights to mechanical zero, disassembles the weapon, and does a quick cleaning of the major parts. He then repeats the process with the pistol, of course without the BZO stage.
This is a pass/fail event. The shooter passes all stages in order to pass the event. Perhaps the only grade beyond "pass" will be an honorable mention for those who shoot exceptionally well. I think this is a good test, and a workable one, to establish that an engaged citizen of good character can take a service weapon, assemble it, zero it, and employ it within some basic parameters, then disassemble it and clean it.
What I need however, are the details on the qualification stages. What target do we use? How many rounds per string at each distance? What positions do we require? What's the time limit? What percentage of hits constitutes a passing score? What constitutes a hit-- anything inside the "vital area" of the target? What should the pistol stage consist of? Again, I want the target to stay put and the shooters to move toward it, to save time on scoring. The whole thing has to be SIMPLE and easily understood. I have my opinions, but I'd like to hear yours.
Send me your ideas!
posted by vmijpp at 9:17 AM
8 comments
