Re: Was This Class Botched?
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 7:30 am
I like to see that the student is capable of properly loading at least a round or two into the magazine. I am willing to advise/show the student how that is done, which direction the cartridges go, etc. if needed, I then ask that the student properly insert 1 or 2 rounds.
However, I have seen handicapped individuals, as well as some elderly with arthritis, that makes it very difficult, painful, and ultimately VERY time consuming to load each round. I don't feel it is fair to the rest of the class -- or to the handicapped or inexperienced individual, to require they load ALL of their rounds themselves while everybody waits around (possibly in 105 degree full sunshine). Also, if a person were physically incapable of doing so, I would not fail him for the inability to load even a single round. In fact, that might even be regarded as illegal -- in violation of the Americans with disabilities act. You must accommodate disabilities when possible.
I did have one student with a brand-new gun, who knew how to load the magazine, but couldn't get the round to push down the follower. I took the magazine, and even I had a lot of difficulty getting the first round in. It seemed like the follower was purposefully shaped to make the round push off to the side. And the spring was so strong the round would push off before the spring would compress. We both fought with that magazine until the spring started to relax just a bit.
However, I have seen handicapped individuals, as well as some elderly with arthritis, that makes it very difficult, painful, and ultimately VERY time consuming to load each round. I don't feel it is fair to the rest of the class -- or to the handicapped or inexperienced individual, to require they load ALL of their rounds themselves while everybody waits around (possibly in 105 degree full sunshine). Also, if a person were physically incapable of doing so, I would not fail him for the inability to load even a single round. In fact, that might even be regarded as illegal -- in violation of the Americans with disabilities act. You must accommodate disabilities when possible.
I did have one student with a brand-new gun, who knew how to load the magazine, but couldn't get the round to push down the follower. I took the magazine, and even I had a lot of difficulty getting the first round in. It seemed like the follower was purposefully shaped to make the round push off to the side. And the spring was so strong the round would push off before the spring would compress. We both fought with that magazine until the spring started to relax just a bit.