132.00.13 Ark. Code R. 003

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024

Rule 132.00.13-003 - Minimum Standards for Firearms Qualification

CLEST Minimum Standards For Handgun Qualification For Law Enforcement Agencies

Paragraph I. Law Enforcement personnel are required to qualify with their handgun a minimum of one time annually. Law Enforcement Agencies may choose to shoot the "Model Course of Fire" as outlined in paragraph III or construct their own course of fire ensuring all required minimum tasks/standards are met as outlined in paragraph II. Agencies that elect to construct their own qualification course must submit their course of fire to CLEST for approval 30 days prior to course instruction.

Paragraph II. Required minimum tasks/standards for the Arkansas Handgun Qualification Course;

1. Qualification courses must be taught by a CLEST certified firearms instructor.

2. All agencies must shoot a 50 round minimum course of fire

3. All Agencies must incorporate a minimum of two (2) mandatory reload drills during the course of fire.

4. All Agencies must incorporate a minimum of one (1) malfunction drill during the course of fire.

5. All agencies must incorporate firing from a bolstered as well as ready position.

6. All agencies must incorporate weak, strong and two hand shooting. Reasonable accommodations may be made when dealing with individual disabilities.

7. All agencies must incorporate a time component into their firearms training for a minimum of 75% of the course of fire. Time components may not exceed three (3) seconds per round from a holstered position or two (2) seconds per round from the drawn or ready position. Four (4) seconds may be added to a particular battery of fire when such battery includes a reload drill or malfunction drill.

8. All shooters must score a minimum of 80% to pass their course of fire or meet higher standard established by their agency.

9. All agencies must utilize the B-27 target or other scoring target not to exceed 337 square inches of scoring area (The B-27 scoring target contains approximately 337 square inches within the circumference of the seven (7) ring. The Q target contains approximately 275 square inches of scoring area. Instructors may utilize multiple targeting areas, such as incorporating headshots, as long as no single scoring area exceeds 337 square inches and each target area is scored separately.)

10. Agencies must construct a course of fire that includes the following:

a.	1-3 yard line	Minimum of 10 rounds
b.	3-5 yard line	Minimum of 5 rounds
c.	7 yard line	Minimum of 10 rounds
d.	15 yard line	Minimum of 5 rounds
e.	Agency discretion	Minimum of 20 rounds (Fifteen (15) of the discretionary rounds must be fired from 7 yards or greater. Agencies may choose to fire the remaining discretionary rounds from any distance deemed best for their agency. Agencies may choose to exceed the 15-yard minimum at their discretion).

11. Form F-18 will be completed and submitted to CLEST upon completion of a certified course of instruction. Agencies will maintain firearms qualification records for employees that may be audited by CLEST at any time. Records will be maintained for the duration of an employee's employment plus 5 years.

Paragraph III. Arkansas Model Handgun Course

(Meets all minimum requirements.)

(Fifty round course of fire; B-27 Standard Silhouette)

3 Yards

1. Starting with an empty chamber and a loaded magazine inserted into the weapon, from the holster, draw and fire on empty chamber, execute an immediate action drill, followed by 2 rounds, both hands, in 9 seconds.

2. From the ready, 2 rounds, both hands, in 4 seconds.

3. From the ready, 2 rounds, both hands, in 4 seconds.

4. From the holster, 2 rounds, strong hand only, in 5 seconds.

5. From the ready, 2 rounds, strong hand only, in 4 seconds.

6. From the ready, 2 rounds, strong hand only, in 4 seconds, then a tactical exchange of magazines.

7. From the holster, 2 rounds, weak hand only, in 5 seconds.

8. From the ready, 2 rounds, weak hand only, in 4 seconds.

9. From the ready, 2 rounds, weak hand only, in 4 seconds.

7 Yards

1. From the holster, 3 rounds in 7 seconds.

2. From the ready, 3 rounds, combat reload, 3 more rounds, 16 seconds.

3. From the ready, 5 rounds in 10 seconds.

15 Yards

1. From the holster, 4 rounds in 9 seconds.

2. From the ready, 4 rounds in 8 seconds.

3. From the holster, 3 rounds in 7 seconds.

4. From the ready, 2 rounds in 4 seconds.

5. From the holster, 3 rounds in 7 seconds.

6. From the ready, 2 rounds in 4 seconds.

CLEST Minimum Standards For Patrol Rifle and Select Fire Weapons For Law Enforcement Agencies

Paragraph I. Law Enforcement personnel assigned to utilize a Patrol Rifle are required to qualify with the Rifle a minimum of one time annually. A Patrol Rifle is defined as any center fire rifle primarily designed for Military/Law Enforcement use and has a detachable box magazine (i.e. M-16, AR15, M4, HK MP5, UMP, Ruger Mini 14, Remington 7600P, and or variants.) Sporting rifles, converted sporting rifles, or bolt-action rifles are not considered patrol rifles. ''Select Fire Weapon" is defined as any firearm that is capable of shooting more than one round with a single depression of the trigger. Law Enforcement Agencies may choose to shoot the "Model Course of Fire" as outlined in paragraph III or construct their own course of fire ensuring all required minimum tasks/standards are met as outlined in paragraph II. Agencies that elect to construct their own qualification course must submit their course of fire to CLEST for approval 30 days prior to course instruction.

Paragraph II. Required minimum tasks/standards for the Arkansas Patrol Rifle Qualification Course:

1. Qualification courses must be taught by a CLEST certified firearms instructor.

2. All agencies must shoot a minimum of 20 rounds during their course of fire.

3. All Agencies must incorporate a minimum of one (1) mandatory reload drill during the course of fire. Five seconds may be added to particular battery of fire when such battery includes a reload drill.

4. All agencies must incorporate firing from standing, kneeling, and prone positions.

5. All shooters must score a minimum of 80% to pass their course of fire or meet higher standard established by their agency.

6. All agencies must utilize targets that do not exceed 93.5 square inches of scoring area which is equal to a 8.5" x 11" piece of notebook paper (the B-27 target contains 86.5 square inches of scoring area within the circumference of the 9 ring and therefore meets this requirement as limited to the 9 and 10 ring area.) Instructors may utilize multiple targeting areas (such as incorporating head shots) as long as no single scoring area exceeds 93.5 square inches and each target area is scored separately.

7. Agencies must construct a course of fire that includes the following:

a.	3-7 yard line	Minimum of 5 rounds	7 seconds
b.	10-15 yard line	Minimum of 5 rounds	10 seconds
c.	25 yard line	Minimum of 5 rounds	25 seconds
d.	50 yard line	Minimum of 5 rounds	30 seconds

8. Agencies that utilize select fire weapons are required to shoot an additional 20 rounds in a select fire mode, by firing 2-3 rounds per single depression of the trigger. All rounds will be fired between the 7 and 10 yard lines at the Agencies discretion. Select fire rounds will be scored separately. Minimum passing score is 80%.

9. Form F-18 will be completed and submitted to CLEST upon completion of a certified course of instruction. Agencies will maintain firearms qualification records for employees that may be audited by CLEST at any time. Records will be maintained for the duration of an employee's employment plus 5 years.

Paragraph III. Arkansas Model Patrol Rifle Qualification Course

(Meets all minimum requirements for non-select fire weapons. Officers utilizing weapons capable of select fire must shoot additional rounds as described in Paragraph II.)

Target: B-27 Standard Silhouette

Rounds: 20

Scoring: Shots inside the 9 ring =10 points

Shots outside the 9 ring = 0 points

Center head shots (if applicable) = 10 points

200 points are possible.

160 points, (80%) needed to Qualify.

Stage 1. 50-yard line

1. Starting from the ready position, fire 2 rounds standing, then 3 rounds prone.

5 rounds total

30 seconds

Stage 2. 25-yard line

1. Starting from the ready position, fire 2 rounds standing, combat reload, then fire 3 more rounds kneeling

5 rounds total

30 seconds.

Stage 3. 15-yard line

1. Starting from the ready position, fire 5 rounds standing.

5 rounds total

10 seconds.

Stage 4. 3-yard line

1. Starting from the ready position, fire 5 rounds standing.

5-rounds total

7 seconds

Shots to the center of the head are recommended at this stage so that the shooter may demonstrate that he is aware of the impact change created by the sight over bore phenomenon that occurs with AR15/M16/M4 style rifles at close distances.

CLEST Minimum Standards Precision Rifle

Annual Qualification Course

Paragraph I. Law Enforcement personnel who have successfully completed a Sniper certification course approved by CLEST, and hold a position as a sniper with their respective departments, are required to qualify with the precision rifle a minimum of one time annually. Law Enforcement Agencies may choose to shoot the "Model Course of Fire" as outlined in paragraph III or construct their own course of fire ensuring all minimum tasks/standards are met as outlined in paragraph II. Agencies that elect to construct their own course must submit their course of fire to CLEST for approval 30 days prior to course instruction. A "Precision Rifle" is defied as any center fire rifle .223 caliber/ 5.56 mm or larger with magnified optical scope, capable of one-minute of angle accuracy at 100 yards. One-minute of angle is defined as the rifle's ability to repeatedly strike an intended target with a one-inch accuracy group at 100 yards from a bench rest or similar shooting position.

Paragraph II. Required minimum tasks/standards for the Arkansas Precision Rifle Qualification Course:

1. Qualification courses must be taught by a CLEST certified firearms instructor.

2. All Agencies will shoot a minimum of 10 rounds per course of fire.

3. Agencies must construct a timed course of fire that includes the following shooting distances and minimum rounds:

a.	25 yard line	Minimum of 2 rounds
b.	50 yard line	Minimum of 2 rounds
c.	75 yard line	Minimum of 2 rounds
d.	100 yard line	Minimum of 2 rounds
e.	Agency discretion	Minimum of 2 rounds

4. Time used to complete a 10 round course of fire may not exceed four (4) minutes. Additional time may be added for additional rounds fired in excess of 10 rounds not to exceed 45 seconds per round from distances of 100 yards or greater and not more than 22 seconds per round from distances of 75 yards or less.

5. All agencies will incorporate prone and kneeling positions.

6. The target scoring area will not exceed 7.5 square inches (target diagram provided below is approximately 7 square inches).

7. All shooters must score 100% to pass this course of fire.

8. Form F-18 will be completed and submitted to CLEST upon completion of a certified course of instruction. Agencies will maintain firearms qualification records for employees that may be audited by CLEST at any time. Records will be maintained for the duration of the employee's employment plus 5 years.

Paragraph III. Arkansas Precision Rifle Model Qualification Course

I. Phase One (1 minute 30 seconds time limit)

a. 100 yard line, prone shooting, 2 rounds

i. Begin in the prone shooting position at the 100-yard line. Load 2 rounds and make ready. At the command of fire, shoot 2 rounds into the scoring area of the target. Each shooter will have a total time limit of one minute and thirty seconds to fire the 2 rounds. Phase One time begins at the command to fire and stops upon the last shot.

II. Phase Two (2 minutes 30 seconds)

a. 75-yard line, prone shooting position, 2 rounds.

i. From the 100-yard line, the sniper will run to the 75-yard line, assume a prone position, load and fire 2 rounds into the scoring area.

b. 50-yard line, prone shooting position, 3 rounds.

i. From the 75-yard line, the sniper will run to the 50-yard line, assume prone position, load and fire 3 rounds into the scoring area.

c. 25-yard line, kneeling barricade shooting position, 3 rounds.

i. From the 50-yard line, the sniper will run to the 25-yard line and assume a kneeling barricade shooting position (simulated window), load and fire 3 rounds into the scoring area.

d. Phase Two time begins at the first command to run from the 100 yard line to the 75 yard line as outlined in bullet list "a" and stops upon firing the last round at the 25 yard Iine as described in bullet list "c."

e. Suggested Target, see below. Scoring area can be drawn over the appropriate targeted area of a face target.

Click here to view image

CLEST Minimum Standards For Shotgun Qualification

For Law Enforcement Agencies

Paragraph I. Law Enforcement personnel assigned to utilize a Shotgun are required to qualify with the shotgun a minimum of one time annually. Ammunition to be used is limited to buckshot, slug, or a combination thereof Law Enforcement Agencies may choose to shoot the "Model Course of Fire" as outlined in paragraph III or construct their own course of fire ensuring all required minimum tasks/standards are met as outlined in paragraph II. Agencies that elect to construct their own qualification course must submit their course of fire to CLEST for approval 30 days prior to course instruction.

Paragraph II. Required minimum tasks/standards for the Arkansas Shotgun Qualification Course:

1. Qualification courses must be taught by a CLEST certified firearms instructor.

2. All shooters must shoot a minimum of 10 rounds during their course of fire.

3. All Agencies must incorporate a time component during the shotgun course of fire that does not exceed 5 seconds per round.

4. All Agencies must incorporate a minimum of one (1) mandatory reload drill during the course of fire.

5. All shooters must score a minimum of 80% to pass their course of fire or meet higher standard established by their agency. To accomplish a passing score, 80% of all buckshot projectiles and/or 80% of all slug projectiles must land within the scoring area.

6. All agencies must utilize targets that do not exceed 337 square inches of scoring area. (The B-27 scoring target contains 337 square inches of scoring area within the circumference of the 7 ring.)

7. Agencies must construct a course of fire that includes one or both of the following depending on the agencies selection of ammunition to be fired:

a. Buckshot rounds fired from 10 yards or greater.

b. Slug rounds fired from 25 yards or greater.

Paragraph III. Arkansas Model Shotgun Qualification Course

(Meets all minimum requirements)

Target: B-27 standard Silhouette

Rounds: 5, eight pellet Buckshot

5 slugs

Scoring: Only buckshot pellets or slugs that land inside the scoring rings will be considered as hits. 80% or better is required for both buckshot and slugs. Buckshot and slugs will be scored separately.

Buckshot: 32 out of 40 pellets (80%) inside the scoring rings needed to qualify. Slugs: 4 out of 5 slugs (80%) inside the scoring rings needed to qualify.

Buckshot

Stage 1.15-yard line

1. Load 3 rounds Buckshot.

2. Starting from the ready position, fire 2 rounds standing,

reload 2 rounds, then fire 3 rounds.

5 rounds total

25 seconds.

Slugs

Stage 2.25-yard line

1. Load 5 rounds slugs.

2. Starting from the ready position, -fire 5 rounds

Standing,

5 rounds total

25 seconds

SUMMARY OF RULE

The proposed rule of the Commission establishes a minimum firearms qualification for Hand Guns, Patrol Rifles and Select Fire Weapons, Precision Rifles, and Shotguns for law enforcement agencies in the State of Arkansas.

NOTICE OF RULE MAKING AND PUBLIC HEARING

Pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated § 25-15-201 et seq. notice is hereby given that the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training is establishing a Standard for Handgun Qualification for Law Enforcement Agencies, Patrol Rifle and Select Fire Weapons, Precision Rifle and Annual Qualification Course, and Shotgun Qualification. A public hearing will be held on February 21, 2013 at the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy, 6373 Hussey Road in East Camden, AR 71701. Written comments should be mailed to the Commission at P. O. Box 3106 East Camden, AR 71711.

132.00.13 Ark. Code R. 003

7/25/2013