Most of us grew up on laser tag guns, water guns and cap guns and played cops and robbers while having a great time, but when real guns are involved the fun changes to complete terror and dismay.
This past week the sixth class of the Citizens Police Academy met and got some first-class hands on experience on the firearms that the Bowling Green Police Division uses, and actually got to fire 10 rounds off a duty-issued Smith ‘ Wesson .40 caliber auto pistol.
Being a member of the Citizens Police Academy I also got to see what it was like to fire the pistol. My nerves had been on edge all week and when the officer handed me the pistol and showed me how to fire it, my hands started to sweat and the uneasiness was heightened.
The officer said “fire,” so I did.
The first of ten shots landed on the cheek of the firing target. The adrenaline kicked in after the slight recoil and then I squeezed the trigger hesitantly nine more times releasing the, what seemed to be, invisible bullets into the target. The officer showed me the target. Two head shots, eight scattered around the torso. Not too bad for my first time ever holding a pistol, not to mention shooting live ammunition. But I would never want to do it again.
The feeling that goes through you when you fire, is an empowering one, but it is extremely frightening to hold something that can do so much damage to another human being. This is something a police officer has to deal with daily. Not my cup of tea.
It’s hard to keep a constant focus when your adrenaline is running rampant. Daniel Weber, sophomore and member of the Citizens Police Academy tried to focus as much as he could.
“I have shot a few guns before, but this was the first time I’ve ever shot a hand gun,” Weber said. “While I was shooting I was focused on the feel of the hand gun and I was also nervous about the kick of the gun.”
According to the Citizens Police Academy lesson plan, the goal of allowing the members of the CPA to take part in the firearms training is to familiarize them with the firearms issued to Bowling Green Police Officers. In addition to giving them an overview of the firearms training program.
Along with allowing us to fire the Smith ‘ Wesson, Officer Roger Kern displayed some of the department’s other firearms that they can use if need be.
Some in particular were the items that were classified as less than lethal.
“These (firearms) used to be called non-lethal weapons, but they were changed to less than lethal,” Officer Roger Kern said. “I guess it is a more politically correct term.”
A particular one of interest was the gas gun which fires a metal slug with a blue foam rubber tip. When fired accurately, it can hit a target up to 75 yards away in the chest. One use for it is to stop someone who has a weapon and might pose a threat to the officer. If the officer first the less than lethal weapon and it hits a person in the chest, it will bounce off them and render the person disoriented from lack of breath.
“So far I’m having lots of fun with the academy, I’ve learned a lot about laws and procedures practiced by the police,” Weber said. Most people involved in the CPA are criminal justice majors, or people who have an interest in being a part of the justice system, but others simply want to learn more about an officer’s job.”
This was the sixth of 10 classes for the Citizens Police Academy, and in the weeks ahead we will be given the chance to learn self-defense and test our skills on an instructor in a padded suit. Many scary and extremely fun times are ahead. Criminals beware, the members of the CPA are watching you!
