Lowered Standards Are Killing Public Safety
“They passed the course. That’s good enough.”
No. It’s not. It’s never been.
I’ve been training shooters — law enforcement, private security, and civilian — for decades. And lately, I’ve seen a trend that should terrify every professional:
Standards are dropping. Qualification is replacing competency. And nobody seems to care — until blood hits the pavement.
Let’s be clear:
When we lower the bar, people die.
Check-the-Box Culture Is Getting People Killed
Across multiple states, training requirements for armed professionals are being gutted — quietly.
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Reduced classroom hours.
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Watered-down qualification courses.
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“Requalification” that’s nothing more than a 20-round ritual.
And it’s not just security guards. We’re seeing similar decay in municipal departments, contract security, and armed school personnel.
Why?
To save money. To check a box. To fill a post.
Because putting someone on duty with a gun and a patch looks good on paper — even if they’re not ready to act when it matters.
When the Standards Drop, The Threat Doesn’t
The threat isn’t getting easier.
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Active shooter timelines are getting shorter.
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Criminals are better armed and more emboldened.
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The margin for error in public spaces is zero.
And yet, the bar for armed professionals has fallen below what we demand from the average USPSA shooter.
I’ve trained recruits who couldn’t clear a malfunction without coaching.
I’ve watched “qualified” guards muzzle civilians on a live range.
I’ve seen people pass requalification drills without ever drawing from their actual duty holster.
This isn’t training. It’s liability theater.
You Don’t “Rise to the Occasion” — You Fall to Your Lowest Rehearsed Level
In a real fight, you don’t magically perform at your best.
You perform at the worst level you’ve trained to consistently.
And if that means:
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You’ve never fired under stress,
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You’ve never run malfunction drills,
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You’ve never used cover or cleared a room,
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You’ve never drawn and fired with a panicked pulse…
…then don’t be surprised when a good guy with a gun fails to stop a bad guy with one.
It won’t be about courage. It’ll be about preparation. Or lack of it.
Training Isn’t a Box to Check — It’s a Lifeline
The answer isn’t more regulation.
It’s raising the standard at the ground level — with instructors who refuse to sign off on half-ready shooters.
It’s building policies that prioritize proficiency, not politics.
It’s departments and agencies who understand that firearms skills are perishable, not permanent.
And it’s individuals — officers, guards, civilians — who take responsibility for their own readiness instead of waiting for a memo.
Final Word: If You Sign Their Certificate, You Sign Their Outcomes
Instructors: If you’re letting unprepared students pass because you feel pressured?
You’re not doing them a favor. You’re setting them up for failure — and someone else for trauma.
Agencies: If you’re putting someone on the street who hasn’t been tested under pressure?
You’re gambling with public trust.
Citizens: If you’re carrying with a laminated permit but no training past it?
You’re not armed. You’re accessorized.
⚠️ The mission is deadly serious. Our training should be too.
If you’re ready to raise your standard — for yourself, your agency, or your team — we’re ready to train you like lives depend on it.
Because they do.
