I went to a gunshow today in El Paso, Tx. I need a holster for my Charter Arms 44 Bulldog, so I took it
with me. There was an officer (female, this time) at the front door to inspect all firearms entering the
building. There has always been an officer there to inspect guns and install a plastic strap to any guns
coming in so they can't be operated.
I handed her my empty Bulldog, and almost laughed out loud! She could not open the cylinder! She
absolutely didn't know how! I told her it was a double action revolver and opened just like any other D/A
revolver. That didn't help. She still could not figure out how to open the cylinder! I told her to push on the
cylinder release button. That didn't' help either! She couldn't find it!
I had to take the gun back and show her how to do it. I don't think she was pretending not to know.
That speaks volumes about the training the new police recruits in El Paso receive. She said she didn't think
there was anyone in the department who still carried a revolver. I can believe it!
I told her about the time I attended the El Paso Police Department training for Special Officers and Security
Guards in 1974. The police lieutenant in charge of firearms training at the time absolutely hated semi-auto
handguns. He made anyone carrying a semi to carry it with the chamber empty. He taught racking the slide
after drawing the gun from the holster. She agreed that sounds strange now days.
I was trying so hard not to laugh that I didn't get her name.
When I left the show about an hour later, without a holster, there was a male LEO sitting at the desk.
I didn't speak to him.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
with me. There was an officer (female, this time) at the front door to inspect all firearms entering the
building. There has always been an officer there to inspect guns and install a plastic strap to any guns
coming in so they can't be operated.
I handed her my empty Bulldog, and almost laughed out loud! She could not open the cylinder! She
absolutely didn't know how! I told her it was a double action revolver and opened just like any other D/A
revolver. That didn't help. She still could not figure out how to open the cylinder! I told her to push on the
cylinder release button. That didn't' help either! She couldn't find it!
I had to take the gun back and show her how to do it. I don't think she was pretending not to know.
That speaks volumes about the training the new police recruits in El Paso receive. She said she didn't think
there was anyone in the department who still carried a revolver. I can believe it!
I told her about the time I attended the El Paso Police Department training for Special Officers and Security
Guards in 1974. The police lieutenant in charge of firearms training at the time absolutely hated semi-auto
handguns. He made anyone carrying a semi to carry it with the chamber empty. He taught racking the slide
after drawing the gun from the holster. She agreed that sounds strange now days.
I was trying so hard not to laugh that I didn't get her name.
When I left the show about an hour later, without a holster, there was a male LEO sitting at the desk.
I didn't speak to him.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
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