CHL question

[tbone8705]

I am new to the forum but need a answer to a question, my wife is fixing to take the course but wants to use her Crimson Trace Laser when she qualifies. I can't find anything that says she cannot use it. Is it ok to use laser sights?

[Pawpaw]

AFAIK, the rules do not mention, much less restrict, what aiming device you can or cannot use.

To be perfectly honest, the shooting test is so easy she could probably pass with no sights at all.

[Teamless]

I agree with Pawpaw, but think your instructor may restricts its use, depending on how they think it should be

[RPB]

I actually mounted a laser on my PT-92 and turned it on during the shooting qualification.... however, I couldn't even see the dot on the target, I took it at an outdoor range on a bright sunny day, the laser was useless.

Mainly. realize time is longer than it seems, you both might try seeing how long each time requirement is while looking at a watch prior to going to class, most people I've seen hurry way too much, worrying time will run out, so they don't aim as carefully. There's plenty of time for each distance, use it. I was second best in my class, wouldda done better but the lady beside me "hurried" and I picked up her rhythm ... so listen to the instructor, and take the time allotted. Ignore how fast everyone else goes.

[wally775]

DPS will not allow laser use when they qualify instructors.
In my class, I would not generally allow their use.
Noting against them, I had one on the G19 I qualified with at DPS training
but I had removed the battery.

In a real life a laser can become a crutch. You can spend precious time looking for that dot.
What if for whatever reason it does not show on target. It could lead to a bad situation.
Learn to shoot with the sites and use the laser as an additional tool.

Don't worry about the time. Really you will have plenty of time on target.
As stated most people shoot to fast.

Good luck.

[garcia946]

DPS will not allow laser use when they qualify instructors.
In my class, I would not generally allow their use.
Noting against them, I had one on the G19 I qualified with at DPS training
but I had removed the battery.

In a real life a laser can become a crutch. You can spend precious time looking for that dot.
What if for whatever reason it does not show on target. It could lead to a bad situation.
Learn to shoot with the sites and use the laser as an additional tool.

Don't worry about the time. Really you will have plenty of time on target.
As stated most people shoot to fast.

Good luck.

I would have to agree to all said....
Get her used to using the sights on gun , even try a set on night sights too

[MasterOfNone]

I do not allow students to use them because:
37 Administrative Code:

RULE §6.11: Proficiency Requirements
(a) The proficiency demonstration course will be the same for both instructors and license applications....

and

RULE §6.73: Equipment
An instructor applicant must bring the following required equipment to training: one non semi-automatic handgun; one semi-automatic handgun; ammunition; ear protection (over-the-ear) and eye protection; other appropriate protective clothing; and other equipment as determined by the department. Handguns must be at least .32 caliber semi-automatic or .38 caliber non-semi-automatic. No optical enhancers will be allowed.

[jcarp02]

When I qualified a couple weeks ago, our instructor specifically said that we could not use lasers. I don't think anyone had them, but he did make it a point to mention it.

[rmr1923]

In a real life a laser can become a crutch. You can spend precious time looking for that dot.
What if for whatever reason it does not show on target. It could lead to a bad situation.
Learn to shoot with the sites and use the laser as an additional tool.

excellent point, and reminds me of a question one of my classmates had for our instructor when i took the course. one guy asked the instructor if he'd recommend a laser for a CCW, with the idea being that if you could draw and aim with the laser from the hip you could get off a shot quicker than if you had to bring the gun up and find the sights. his first answer was that if you're in such a closer-quarters situation where you NEED to fire from the hip, most likely you're going to have the gun pressed up against the assailant. he also had a few of us do an exercise with a plastic training gun. he had us hold it at our hip as if it were in a holster, and then draw the gun up and point it toward the door knob of a door about 5-6 feet away and hold it still while another classmate looked down the sights to see how close each person was to being on-target. in almost every situation, the gun was naturally aimed within 6 inches of that door knob.

he told us he absolutely does NOT advocate firing from the hip in this fashion, but was merely using that exercise as a point to show us that if we did indeed need to get off a quick shot in close quarters, you're most likely going to be able to find your target just as quickly without the laser as with it. there's no way i'd ever fire a handgun from the hip like that if i could avoid it, it doesn't take too much longer to bring the gun up and find the sights. i've practiced doing just that with my gun unloaded (magazine full to simulate the weight of a loaded weapon) several times and can usually be on target right away if within 25 feet. my PX4 subcompact has a nice little finger rest indentation below the slide that makes it easier for me to consistently draw the gun and have my hand in the same position every time.

[MoJo]

In my classes everybody uses the sights on their gun.

I do not use nor advocate the use of a laser. If you can't hit with sights what makes people think the "bouncing red ball" will magically make the bullet go where it needs to be. Several LEOs that I know say the laser is on their guns to 1. intimidate the BG into giving up 2. to point out something to a fellow LEO (bad idea IMHO on a loaded gun) and 3. to look "cool" to the mall ninjas.

FWIW a laser is a valuable tool to teach trigger control while dry firing.

[Pawpaw]

This would be funny if it weren't so sad.

I remember 15+ years ago, when tritium night sights were still relatively new. I read many similar arguments against them in plenty of gun rags. Talks about the sights failing due to broken vials, "those glowing dots will show the BG where you are", and even "we never needed them before, why now?"

Fast forward to the new millennium and we have instructors who will make up their own rules just because they don't like the new technology.

For better or worse, you're not going to stop progress.

[MasterOfNone]

we have instructors who will make up their own rules just because they don't like the new technology.

Though some have expressed their own opinions of lasers, I don't think any of them are making up rules. DPS doesn't allow their use, and the admin rules prohibit them.

[Excaliber]

This would be funny if it weren't so sad.

I remember 15+ years ago, when tritium night sights were still relatively new. I read many similar arguments against them in plenty of gun rags. Talks about the sights failing due to broken vials, "those glowing dots will show the BG where you are", and even "we never needed them before, why now?"

Fast forward to the new millennium and we have instructors who will make up their own rules just because they don't like the new technology.

For better or worse, you're not going to stop progress.

The glowing dots can indeed show the bad guy where you are if you're not sure where he is and it turns out he's actually behind you. They look like 3 fireflies moving in unison.

[Vandelay Ind.]

I have a friend that used a laser to qualify in 09. He said the instructor was yelling behing his back the whole session. The instructor told him he was yelling to throw him off in case his laser malfunctioned. I dont understand that reasoning but whatever. You should call ahead and ask them the rules before she goes

[KC5AV]

we have instructors who will make up their own rules just because they don't like the new technology.

Though some have expressed their own opinions of lasers, I don't think any of them are making up rules. DPS doesn't allow their use, and the admin rules prohibit them.

Agreed. No one is making up rules. When I took the instructor course last summer, they specifically mentioned that lasers were not to be used in our classes.