In addition to serving 1,900 police officers, sheriff's deputies and special agents, the center also has nearly 1,500 civilian members. Between 15 and 18 percent of those are women. The range itself has 20 slots, half for public use and half for law enforcement in-service training. The center also offers classes in personal defense tactics training and concealed weapon license certification. The facility requires all shooters to use nontoxic clean-fire ammunition, and the staff continually stresses safety above all else.
Private instruction is available, and for novices, it's recommended.
My inexperienced companion and I spent an hour on the range with Michael Steen, a range training officer who is also a firearms instructor at Lane Community College. We practiced these steps many times before moving on to sighting and stance. The first principle in gun safety is to always assume that a gun is loaded. Steen also instructed us to remove our fingers from the triggers when not firing, and always to point the gun downrange. With revolver firmly in hand, arms locked and strong, and feet shoulder-width apart, I sighted my first target just five yards away and tried to apply even, steady pressure to the trigger.