JD> This weekend I had a scary conversation with a local LEO. He told me 
hat
 JD> his dept only alloted 240 rounds per year for training and 
ualification.
 JD> Now, I'm a poor boy, but I still can usually manage a box a month just 
o
 JD> stay in the hunt. I've got a sick feeling that we are
 JD> creating more victims
 JD> by failing to provide adequate training for our LEOs. 240
 JD> rounds a year!!!
 JD> That's awful.
Many years ago (don't ask how many) I was a communications officer for a 
state wide law enforcement agency.  Part of my territory included the 
community of El Reno which is located on old U.S. Route 66 just west of 
Oklahoma City.  One afternoon I was over there trying to figure out how come 
their radio system couldn't reach Oklahoma City all of the time when I fell 
in to talking with the police chief.  Some how the conversation got around to 
shooting and I mentioned that I'd like to do a lot more shooting but just 
couldn't afford the ammo.  He said "Hell, just bring a bunch of brass over 
here and reload it on our machine.  Powder and primers are in the vault with 
the machine and we have the prisoners cast the bullets.  They can either cast 
and size bullets or they can stare at the walls of their cells, their 
oice."
A week or so later I managed to gather up a paper sack full of .38 Special 
brass and went back to El Reno.  The dispatcher showed me to the vault and 
the reloading machine.  It was a STAR reloader.  Sitting beside it was a 
wooden box about a foot square half full of .38 wadcutter bullets, all sized 
and lubricated.  I set out to reload all those bullets but ran out of cases 
before I did.  I shot those cartridges for months afterwards and became a 
much better pistol shot as a result.
I've always been curious, though, as to just who had the presence of mind to 
buy that Star reloader and put money into the police budget to keep it 
stocked with powder and primers.  Somebody had their brain engaged when that 
happened.
Regards.  Cloyce.
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