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British Columbia Police Take Readily to Pistol Shooting—

Systematic Programme Set Up by Constable Is Only Two

Years Old—Modern Re-loading Plant—Practice and More
Practice—High Record Gained in Competitions

A FUSILLADE of shots rang out—and
then silence. No, it wasn’t the aftermath
of a South American revolution, but merely
a scene at one of the many B. C. Police
pistol ranges scattered throughout the prov-
ince. Periodically these khaki-clad guardians
of the law pass an efficiency test in small
arms. Tense, tight-lipped, revolver in hand,
they line up at the twenty-five yard mark.
Every man hopes to better his previous
score, and usually does. For here is real
competitive effort that means so much for
morale—and may some day mean the ditf-
ference between life and death. Down the
range, against a sand bank, the targets stand
in mocking uniformity—each one seems to
challenge and dare the officer. “Ready on
the right,” snaps the range officer. “Ready
on the left.” A pause. “Ready on the fir-
ing line.” Every weapon is aimed. A blast
of the whistle. Bedlam breaks loose—it’s
rapid fire—tive shots in ten seconds. To the
oldsters it means measured, rhythmic firing
—to the tyros a breathless ten-second battle
to keep on the target.

Up to two years ago there was no proper

programme of pistol practice—it came into
being with Constable J. A. Young, a mem-
ber of the North Vancouver city police who,
when that body was absorbed into the Pro-

vincial system, was stationed in the interior.
Young is one of Canada’s leading pistol
shots, and when Attorney-General Sloan
heard of his prowess, Young was selected to
establish revolver practice throughout the
force in conjunction with the Police train-
ing school. He modelled the programme
after that of the Los Angeles Police, the
leading police pistol shots. of the continent.
He established a thoroughly modern reload-
ing plant, capable of turning out 1100 shells
an hour, for proficiency means practice,
and practice means lots of ammunition. The
course fired is the Camp Perry police course:
ten shots deliberate, ten shots timed (twenty
seconds for each string of five), and ten
shots rapid (ten seconds for each five), all
fired at twenty-five yards on the Standard
American twenty-five yard target. This
course is fired once every six months, but
many of the men fire it monthly to bring
their grade of marksmanship beyond the
department’s standard —and bring them-
selves in line for team shooting. Marksman
badges are issued to those making qualify-
ing scores of 190, 250 and 275 out of a
possible 300.

Constable Young talks little about him-
self—but his career with a gun dates back
“T used to go out on the
prairie and pot gophers,” he once said.
Fairly proficient with a small rifle, he en-
tered his first competition at a Calgary

to childhood.

Top ranking Police revolver shots of Western Canada are the Provincial
Police shown in this picture. From left to right: Inspector “Bob” Owens,
although not in the expert class is an ardent supporter of the boys; next to
him Const. W. G. Bailey from Fort St. John in the Peace River; Const. J. A.
Henry from Castlegar; Corp. Jake Young, one of Canada’s leading marks-
men; Const. J. F. French from Lillooet; Const. P. Kelsberg from Prince
George; and Sub-Inspector C. Clark of the Headquarters Staff.

When in Vernon—

Stop at the

For Health and Long Life

Eat British Columbia’s Famous
Apples

Kalamalka Hotel

Under New Management

The Management wish to extend Greetings to their

many friends on the Force.

OCTOBER,

1938

Fresh or Cooked, they are the world’s finest tonic and regulator.

a

British Columbia Fruit Board

Kelowna, B.C.

Page Sixty-Three