CQB27
US Veteran
When I was a little boy my daddy used to say "He's had the lick". It was a phrase he used to describe a man in a situation that he thought he initially controlled, only to find that he had no control and the situation had turned horribly bad. "Hey Daddy, did you hear about Mr. Chap Norris? He got drunk and tried to bush hog that steep bank down by his pond. The tractor rolled over and he broke his leg". "Well son, he's had the lick!"
Like I posted in a earlier thread http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/473182-i-saw-my-own-eyes.html, I spend my work days in my department's training division and on occasion have the opportunity to conduct firearms qualifications for retired LEOs who are renewing their LEOSA carry credentials. Today I hosted two gentlemen , AL and Tim, who have been coming to our range for about seven years now to qualify. Both of these fine gentlemen retired form a metro Atlanta police department's detective division. They are dapper, refined, unassuming looking gentlemen.
I have noticed as the years have past they both are beginning to show their age a bit. Both have acquired a stiff gate when they walk, are hard of hearing, and are beginning to have the general appearance of an "old man". I felt a little sad, having seen them progress over the years, and knowing that time is no discriminator and eventually comes for us all.
We headed to the indoor range to knock the qualification out. We actually had beautiful weather here today, but I decided to stick to the climate controlled indoor range. You know, do the old fellers a favor. They got the targets up, loaded their chosen weapons, a Belgium Browning High Power and a S&W Model 19-2 snubby, and I moved the targets to the 25 yard line. I gave them the go, and they both commenced! They fired the standard Georgia Post Qualification course consisting of a total of 30 rounds fired from the 25, 15, 7 and 3 yard lines respectively. When they were done I looked at the targets and laughed out loud! I think I startled Al, because he said to me, in a 25 year veteran homicide detective voice..."What the hell's the matter with you?". I said, "Well Al, I just wasn't expecting such a fine result from two old coots!" Tim quickly chimed in, "A fast hand and good sight picture is no respecter of age Sonny Boy!". We all laughed and backslapped each other like we were kin. I scored the targets. Tim and his 19-2....30 out of 30 in the 10 ring, 100%! Al and his Belgium Browning.....27 in the 10 ring, 3 in the 8, 98%!
Here are the targets, you can see Ole Al had a little fun in the head at the 3 yard line.
Tim's perfect score.
When all the paperwork was done, the range cleaned up, and a few war stories swapped around, we all shook hands and said "see ya next year." Later when I was sitting at my desk doing a little paperwork, my mind drifted off to the mornings events. I began to think how unfortunate it would be for a young thug to see Al or Tim walking down the street and think they were an easy mark for criminal shenanigans. I thought how hard it would it be for the general public and the thugs neighborhood to understand how such a dapper old gentleman had managed to win...and win decisively over a young, strong, determined street criminal. I mean he was younger, bigger, stronger, street tough! Then I thought if any of them bothered to ask me I would just say...."Well, he's had the lick!"
Like I posted in a earlier thread http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/473182-i-saw-my-own-eyes.html, I spend my work days in my department's training division and on occasion have the opportunity to conduct firearms qualifications for retired LEOs who are renewing their LEOSA carry credentials. Today I hosted two gentlemen , AL and Tim, who have been coming to our range for about seven years now to qualify. Both of these fine gentlemen retired form a metro Atlanta police department's detective division. They are dapper, refined, unassuming looking gentlemen.
I have noticed as the years have past they both are beginning to show their age a bit. Both have acquired a stiff gate when they walk, are hard of hearing, and are beginning to have the general appearance of an "old man". I felt a little sad, having seen them progress over the years, and knowing that time is no discriminator and eventually comes for us all.
We headed to the indoor range to knock the qualification out. We actually had beautiful weather here today, but I decided to stick to the climate controlled indoor range. You know, do the old fellers a favor. They got the targets up, loaded their chosen weapons, a Belgium Browning High Power and a S&W Model 19-2 snubby, and I moved the targets to the 25 yard line. I gave them the go, and they both commenced! They fired the standard Georgia Post Qualification course consisting of a total of 30 rounds fired from the 25, 15, 7 and 3 yard lines respectively. When they were done I looked at the targets and laughed out loud! I think I startled Al, because he said to me, in a 25 year veteran homicide detective voice..."What the hell's the matter with you?". I said, "Well Al, I just wasn't expecting such a fine result from two old coots!" Tim quickly chimed in, "A fast hand and good sight picture is no respecter of age Sonny Boy!". We all laughed and backslapped each other like we were kin. I scored the targets. Tim and his 19-2....30 out of 30 in the 10 ring, 100%! Al and his Belgium Browning.....27 in the 10 ring, 3 in the 8, 98%!
Here are the targets, you can see Ole Al had a little fun in the head at the 3 yard line.
Tim's perfect score.
When all the paperwork was done, the range cleaned up, and a few war stories swapped around, we all shook hands and said "see ya next year." Later when I was sitting at my desk doing a little paperwork, my mind drifted off to the mornings events. I began to think how unfortunate it would be for a young thug to see Al or Tim walking down the street and think they were an easy mark for criminal shenanigans. I thought how hard it would it be for the general public and the thugs neighborhood to understand how such a dapper old gentleman had managed to win...and win decisively over a young, strong, determined street criminal. I mean he was younger, bigger, stronger, street tough! Then I thought if any of them bothered to ask me I would just say...."Well, he's had the lick!"
