American Handgunner Jul/Aug 1981 - Jeffersonian

MILLETT
Series 100 Adjustable Sight System
The Finest Pistol Sights In The World
This sight system replaces the tactory sights with an all steel.
highly tinished, better fitting unit, which has finer click
adjustments for windage and elevation. ND GUNSMITHING
REQUIRED on rear sight installation.
P~SITIVE ; \
~IGHI ............ \ \D
OE~LECTION ~
SrSTEM
I
i
Mark I Fixed Sight
S&W Kor NFrame 3995
(SpeGIty model & barrell length)
Gold Cup Combo 51 .95
Call Revolver ~9. 95
WHHE OUTlINE
-
-ppe TARGET
This all steel precision made sight fits Colt 1911 Autos and the
Browning P·35 hi-power fixed sight version. (Browning requires
minor dovetail modifications. Mark I Combo 27.95
SEE YOUR LOCAL DEALER
II there is no dealer in your area. please send Cashier's Check or
Money Order. plus sales tax ICA residents I and $2 for shipping
00n&&(1111 au III 1>1J111"CI
16131 GOTHARD ST, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92647
Dept. AH-7 (714) 842-5575
18
Colt Combo 56.95
Browning Combo 56.95
Rear only 44.95
Series 100 Series 100
1911 Colt 45 Combo Browning Hi-Power
SefieslOO
Smith & Wesson K & N Series
Series 100 Sefles 100
Colt Gold Cup Combo Coi:t Revolver
:, ,'~
~
,
:......
. . Ruger '. 39.95
OariWesson 39.95
Serle's' 100 Series. 100 . ... ~ ,
Ruger Revolver Dan Wesson Revolver
Gun Smith's Service iKlt;
Series 100 Sight ~ystem 99.95" '.
Interchangable Sight Picture~
SIGHT SErrlNGS
LUCY CHAMBLISS
THE SECURITY GUARD BUSINESS:
BOOMING BUT LACKING TRAINING
Private security guards at an installation
in Florida last year went on strike for a
raise, and they got o~e-to $11.50 an hour,
Some police officers who have demeaned
security guards with such terms as "Doorshakers;'
may not be making $11.50 an
hour. A career as a security guard looks
brighter now, with constantly improving
pay, conditions and job stability. The private
guard companies are hiring young
well-educated, trained officers who are no
longer "needed" by state, county, and
municipal agencies. .
The upgrading of the police profession
in the last 10 years has resulted in lower
crime ,rat~s, So now some thinking has
been to s!:lve~ollars
by cutting the police
budgets first. Layoffs, both actual and
rumored, makejob secur.ity the prime concern
of many officers who cannot survive
on whims bfwhether governing b9dies will
at best kee,P them on without even a cost of
living raise, or a~ wor~e, fire them. ~
bility insurance for instructors, if they
must provide it themselves, is almost prohibitive
in cost. Insurance has to be
provided by the company you teach for,
but if you are forced to buy it, you simply
have to and include the cost in your teaching
fees. I would not be without such
coverage until the courts stop givingjudgements
for such far reaching liability.
REFRESHER NEEDED
Basic and regular refresher qualification
shooting is bound to be required by law as
the private guards become more numerous,
or company owners are influenced by
firearms oriented personnel who know the
value ofsuch training. Police went through
years of inadequate training until court
decisions convinced agency heads that a
trained officer was cheaper than a lawsuit
awarding thousands of dollars for proved
negligence, lack oftraining, etc. In the private
company, you have even a more competitive
public relations image to deal
wi~h. You are merchandising an unattractive
product 'if your guards frequently kill
or, get killed. .
. NO MORE GRANTS
Government grartsand funds are
shrin)cing,or gcine,so who has the money?
The private sector, w~ich is able to charge,
within competitive bid bounds, what it . ONLY' 5 HOURS REQUIRED
takes to get and keep trained person~el. .In 1980, the Floriqa law concerning
The time is coming f0~ private guards for Watchman, Guard,or Patrol Agency
businesses and individuals who can afford lic~nses required only 5 hours cl'assroom
them. Poiice departments'which took years instruction--':'when to use a gun: I hour,
to build are being cut in half over night. legal limitations: 2 hours, and the rest
The very thin Blue Line left in govemmen- divided between safety and maintenance
tal agencies will have to take care of those of the handgun. Range qualification
not able to hire protection.
requires only. 3 hours, the target can be the
Large and small companies bid on the large Colt silhouette, or equal, and the
government installation contracts for weapon must be the same as used on duty.
guards. Old-fashioned me, thought the The first stage ofthe qualification course is
federal agencies such as Secret Service, or the only real pressure stage, 12 round&1ired
NASA, guarded their own properties. Not in 30 seconds from 7 yards. The rest of the
true, some if not all, obtain their security 30 rounds are fired at 25 yards, some at the
from competitive bidding among private barricade with left and right hand, and
companies.
choosing the sitting, standing, kneeling, or
Some states have unarmed and armed prone position for the last 6 rounds. All
classifications for guards, though I think rounds after 7 yards may be fired single or
the unarmed designation must be disap- double action. There is no mention of
pearing. That position always seemed to periodic requalification. This training,
me as useless as a handgun without a bar- which is very typical of that required in
reI. The firearms training required for any state, qualifies an armed guard to
security guards is inadequate in almost patrol. Before we ridicule this training,
everyone's opinion, partially due to the remember that 20 years ago not that much
unavailability of instructors. Police training was required of either a rookie or
firearms instructors allowed and willing to a veteran officer, in many states, including
teach for private companies on a "moon- Florida. We have improved and so will the
light" basis are scarce. Usually on today's private guards.
legal requirements there is not enough For the three years I have been on the
work for full time employment. Also, lia- (Continued on page 57)
AMERICAN HANDGUNNER • JULY I AUGUST 1981