FIREARMS:

NOTE: The following standardized rules have been adopted by the ACJA-LAE Executive Board as policy for all National and Regional Association sponsored -Firearms Competitions. Each competitor will be asked to sign a Liability Waiver before competing in the Firearms Competition.

Some competitors have, in the past, attempted to alter the Liability Waiver by drawing lines through some of the clauses or adding clauses. These Waivers were drawn up by very competent attorneys who were caring for the best interest of the Association. Waivers that have been altered in any fashion by the competitor will not be accepted!! Any competitor who fails or refuses to sign the waiver form before the firearms competition, or does not have both forms in their possession at the time of the competition; will not be allowed to compete.

1.  Weapons and Security: All competitors are liable and responsible for the care and handling of their own firearms in a safe and secure manner. Weapons will not be publicly worn or displayed at any time except on the firing line.
   
2.  Liability: Competitors are responsible and liable for any misuse or mishandling of firearms. Any incident involving firearms will necessitate immediate expulsion from the conference, and any legal action concerned with the incident will be enforced. Possession of firearms, other than in authorized, specific places, may be a violation of local or state law. ACJA-LAE, its officers and members, Conference Hosts, Range Host and personnel do not assume any liability in the operation of the Firearms Match.
   
   Competitors assume all responsibility and risks upon registering for the event. All competitors are required to signa Waiver of Liability/Indemnification Agreement and Statement of Competency before being allowed on the firingline. The Statement of Competency will attest that the competitor has completed a basic firearms course andachieved a score of 200 on the ACJA-LAE course of fire. Advisors will co-sign for their student competitors. Competitors who are found to not be in compliance with these standards will be removed from the competition. They will also be disqualified from competing in the following year’s National Conference firearms competition and may be subject to further sanctions.
   
3. Eligibility of Competitors: Competitors firing in the match must be active members of ACJA-LAE. Eachmember must provide proof of completing a basic firearms course and having achieved a score of 200 on the
   ACJA-LAE course of fire.
   
4. Notification: Each chapter should provide their competitors with the following information:
   ACJA-LAE Firearms Safety Rules
   ACJA-LAE Firearms Competition Course of Fire
   ACJA-LAE Safety Briefing Power Point Presentation
   The Conference Host Chapter will notify each chapter at least three (3) months in advance if the range facilities tobe used will dictate a change from any of these standards and rules. This notification will also include information on the range facility itself, to include:
   Whether an indoor or outdoor range will be used.
   Whether jacketed ammunition will be allowed.
   Any additional safety rules specific to the range.
   This notification should also include a summary of local laws pertaining to the possession and transportation of firearms.
5. Team Shooting: Teams will consist of three (3) members. Team members need not fire together. One
   target/score will be used for both team and individual scores. No competitor may fire as a member of more than
   one team. Team members need not be from the same chapter or the same classification, although teams will be
   classified by the highest division represented. This only counts for the team competition, competitors should still
   designate their individual classification on the sign in sheets. These "pick-up" teams must select one chapter to
   represent, for the purpose of scoring for the Sweepstakes Award. (Also see #2 Liability above)
   
6.  Weapons: Weapons to be used in the match must meet the following specifications:
   Semi-automatic or double-action revolver, 9mm to.45 caliber (semi-automatics will onlyload 6 rounds per magazine).
   Three to six inch barrel length.
   No electronic or dot-type (i.e., Aimpoint, etc.) sights.
   Trigger-pull not less than two and one-half pounds.
   Weapon must be usable as a standard police duty weapon.
   No after market compensators, porting, or Bull Barrels are permitted.
   
7.  Ammunition: Only factory ammunition is accepted and allowed, remanufactured or factory reloads are permissible. Non-factory reload, magnum or +P+ ammunition is not allowed. Ammunition must be duty or training style (Hollow point, FMJ, round nose, or semiwadcutter), no  competition ammunition will be allowed. Frangible ammunition is allowed at the discretion of the facility sponsoring the competition. All ammunition will be inspected and approved by the Firearm Inspection Officer at the time of the Firearm Inspection. All ammunition must be provided by the competitor unless otherwise noted by the Conference Director. Ammunition will be carried on the person of the competitor. Competitors will not be allowed to set any additional equipment on the ground on the
   firing line. Magazines and speed-loaders will not be loaded prior to the command to prepare magazines or speed-loaders. Revolver shooters will use speed-loaders to load their firearms at all times, even the initial six
   rounds for each stage. This practice will assure a uniformity of status across the firing line, and will increase safety.
   
   
8.  Holsters: While firing will be done from the ready position, weapons will be carried to and from the firing line in a holster. Except when on the firing line and instructed to assume the ready position, the weapon will be maintained in the holster for safety purposes. The holster will be designed to properly fit the weapon carried in it. The holster will be of a type to be worn on the shooter's strong side, with a retaining device, and attached to the belt on the outside of the pants. The holster may be on the waist or the thigh of the competitor, providing that it is not necessary for the competitor to have to bend down to retrieve the firearm. Cross-draw, ankle,  competition, quick-draw, shoulder holsters, or any holster that allows the barrel to point in an unsafe direction are not permitted.
   

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9. Magazines: All competitors will be required to have three (3) magazines or three (3) speedloaders that are designed to be used for their firearm. Revolver shooters will use speed-loaders to load their firearms at all times,
   even the initial six rounds for each stage. This practice will assure a uniformity of status across the firing line, and will increase safety. The command on the line will be to prepare the number of magazines or speedloaders with 6 rounds apiece. These magazines or speedloaders should be carried in an appropriate pouch worn on the belt of the  competitor.
   
10. Alibis: Safety related alibis will be allowed, as determined by the Range Master.
    
11. Once the Command to fire has been given, anything dropped to the ground becomes null and void. No participant or Range Officer shall retrieve anything from the ground until the command to do so is given.
    
12. Scoring: The following scoring procedures will be followed:
    1. Shooters who declare they are a 90% shooter (can shoot 432+ score) and are certified at a Regional Conference or by a chapter advisor may request two (2) targets.
    2. The Range Master will make provisions for scoring of the targets (removed) by independent judges. In any case, once firing is completed a competitor should not handle his/her own target until it has been scored, inspected and signed by the competitor, and the score recorded.
    3. Bullet holes must meet the line of the scoring ring to receive the next highest value.
    4. Early or late shots: A ten (10) point deduction for an early or late shot will be recorded by the Range Officeron the shooter's target and/or score card. A second early or late shot will result in disqualification.
    5. Tie scores will be broken by the highest x-count. Should this also result in a tie, where an award placement is at stake, shooters will be recorded as tied for that place unless provisions can be made for a shoot off. If at all possible, a shoot-off will be conducted.
    6. Challenges: When a shooter feels that a shot, either his/her own or that of another shooter, has been improperly evaluated or scored, the shooter may post a $5.00 challenge fee. The final decision rests with the Range Master, who, if deciding in favor of the challenger, shall refund the challenge fee. If the ruling is against the challenger, no refund is in order and the challenge fee shall be posted to the general account of the conference.
    7. Excessive Hits: If more than the required number of holes (48) appears in a shooter's target, the shooter willbe given the option of firing the course over or having the highest points for each of the number of excess hits subtracted from the shooter’s total score.
    8. A ten (10)-point deduction will be made for each shot fired in violation of procedures. The deduction will Be noted by the Range Officer on the competitor's scorecard or target. (Examples: firing single-action during a double-action stage, right-handed instead of left-handed where specified, etc.)
    9. Any competitor who is removed from the firing line for safety or behavioral violations will be disqualified from participating in the firearms competition at the next National Conference, and may be subject to further sanctions.
    10. Any competitor whose total score is less than one hundred fifty (150) must show proof of re-qualification in order to participate in the firearm’s competition at the next National Conference. Such proof must be provided to the Regional President at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the National Conference.
        
13. Qualified Emergency Medical Personnel will be on stand-by in the area of the competition.
    
14. Awards: Awards shall be given in the six (6) primary classifications (Lower Collegiate, Upper Collegiate, and Professional, team and individual). In addition, a Top Gun award will be presented to the competitor with the
    highest overall score. The "Top Gun" award shall not counted toward the Sweepstakes Award, as the recipient will already be the first place winner in one of the three individual competition categories.
    
15. Safety Briefing: A mandatory meeting shall be held prior to each match, to ensure that all competitors are familiar with these standardized rules, the ACJA-LAE Firearms Safety Rules and any additional safety procedures
    or information specific to the range facility to be used. At this meeting the positions and commands to be used during the course of fire will also be demonstrated and explained. Every shooter is required to attend this meeting before being allowed on the firing line. The meeting shall, whenever possible, be conducted using the National Safety Briefing Power Point Presentation, which shall be included in the conference planning manual. In the event that this meeting is on the same day as the competition, it shall be construed as the beginning of the Firearms
    Competition.
    
16. Required Equipment: The following equipment is required for all shooters in order to be able to compete:
    1. Authorized Firearm
    2. 3 magazines or 3 speedloaders for said firearm
    3. Authorized strong side holster for firearm
    4. Magazine or speedloaders holders attached to belt
    5. Picture ID and Conference Badge
    6. Yellow Copies of Liability Release and Shooting Release
    7. Shooter Scorecard
    8. Hearing Protection
    9. Eye Protection
    10. Baseball cap or a cap with a bill

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