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. No food or drinks will be allowed on the firing line. No alcoholic beverages will be allowed on the range. Anyone involved in the Firearms Competition shall not consume alcoholic beverages during the eight-hour period immediately preceding the beginning of the Firearms Competition. In the case when the Safety Meeting takes place on the same day as the Competition, the beginning of the meeting shall be considered as the beginning of the Competition.

 Firearms to be used in the match must meet the following specifications:

• Semi-automatic or double-action revolver, 9mm to .45 caliber (semi-automatics will only load six rounds per magazine).

• Three to six inch barrel length.

• No electronic or dot-type (i.e., Aimpoint, etc.) sights.

• Trigger-pull must not be 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. 

Ammunition: Only commercially manufactured ammunition is accepted and allowed; magnum, +P, or +P+ ammunition is not allowed. Ammunition must be duty or training style (Hollow point, FMJ, round nose, or semi-wadcutter); no competition ammunition will be allowed. 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.

Holsters:  Weapons will be carried to and from the firing line in a holster. 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, outside of the pants, with a retaining device, and attached to the belt. This means that a cross-draw, ankle, competition, quick-draw and shoulder holsters are not permitted.

Liability Waiver Forms that have been altered in any fashion by the competitor will not be accepted!!!  Any competitor who fails or refuses to sign the Waiver Forms 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. Competitors are responsible and liable for any misuse or mishandling of firearms. Competitors assume all responsibility and risks upon registering for the event.

2. All competitors are required to sign a Waiver of Liability / Indemnification Agreement and Statement of Competency before being allowed on the firing line.

The Statement of Competency will attest that the competitor has completed a Basic Firearms Course and achieved a minimum score of 240 on the ACJA-LAE course of fire (a minimum score of 300 is strongly recommended). 

1. Eye protection, ear protection, and a hat will be worn on the firing line during all firing; there are no exceptions.

2. Only the shooter called to fire will be allowed on the firing line (i.e., no coaches).

3. Pay strict attention to the Range Officers while on the firing line. Do not anticipate the range commands as called by the Range Safety Officer.

4. No loaded weapons will be allowed on the range other than on the firing line; weapons will only be loaded on the firing line, and only after the proper commands have been given.

5. All weapons will remain in holsters or carrying cases until the shooters are on the firing line and ready to fire. Weapons will be pointed down-range at all times when not in a holster or carrying case.

6. No dry firing will be allowed without the consent of the Range Safety Officer.

7. All firing will be conducted from the "Low Ready" position, with the weapon pointed at the ground at an angle of 45 degrees in front of the shooter, down-range with the finger off the trigger (indexed). Weapons will remain holstered until the command "load your firearm, bring it to battery, decock or engage the safety, and assume the low ready position," is given by the Range Officer.

8. Shooters should report to the firing line when called, with all equipment necessary to fire the course; shooters will not delay the start of a relay by tardiness. Tardy shooters will be required to wait until the next available open relay.

9. There will be a safety inspection of all weapons prior to going on the firing line. Weapons determined to be unsafe will not be allowed on the range.

10. Final decision regarding the safety of a weapon will be made by the Range Master or designee (Firearm Inspection Officer).

11. Strict discipline must be maintained on the range. Carelessness cannot and will not be tolerated. Violation of any of the above rules, or the commission of any other act considered by the Range Officers to be unsafe, may result in immediate disqualification and removal from the range.

12. All decisions of the Range Master are final and are not subject to appeal.

13. Each competitor must sign a copy of these rules indicating he/she has read and understands each of the above safety rules. No shooter will be allowed to compete until this signed statement is received by the Range Master. Each competitor must have their copy of said statement and their Release of Liability Form in their possession at the time of the competition, or they will not be allowed to compete.

Each chapter should provide their competitors with the following information:

• ACJA-LAE Firearms Range Safety Rules

• ACJA-LAE Firearms Competition Course of Fire

• ACJA-LAE Safety Briefing PowerPoint Presentation

1. Hearing protection, eye protection, and hat.

2. Authorized Firearm.

3. Three (3) magazines or speedloaders for said Firearm.

4. Authorized strong side holster for Firearm.

5. Magazine or speedloader holders attached to belt.

6. Picture ID and Conference badge.

7. Yellow copies of Liability Release and Shooting Release.

8. Shooter Scorecard

9. Ammo (no ammo will be available for sale on location)

• Range Master: Ranking Range Official, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Firearms Competition, interpretation of rules, and resolution of issues and conflicts.

• Range Safety Officer:  Ranking Range Officer, responsible for announcing the course of fire and each stage, and overseeing the Range Officers on the firing line. 

• Range Officer:  Responsible for directly overseeing the actions and safety of the individual competitor on the firing line.

• Scoring Coordinator:  Ranking Scorekeeper, responsible for overseeing the Scorekeepers and recording of scores.

• Firearm Inspection Officer:  Responsible for inspecting a competitor’s firearm to ensure it meets the specifications for use in the competition, as well as ensuring the competitor has all equipment necessary to compete.

With safety at the forefront, ACJA/LAE will make all reasonable accommodations for the disabled during the Firearms Competition. The shooter must demonstrate safe handling of the weapon. Each individual will be handled on a case-by-case basis, with safety as the utmost concern, and the shooter’s score may or may not be included in the competition.