BTW, why the disparaging tones regarding the police?

As a matter of fact, I have had some training with the police (and military police). I have met several LEOs and MPs that I would absolutely trust with my life in a confrontation. I wonder how many people posting here have anywhere near their experience and skills? Anyway, I have not met very many civilians with a comparable set of skills.

I have a few friends who are very good shots. They do well at competitions and on hunting grounds. I am not so sure how they would handle themselves under fire. There's more to it than marksmanship alone, the battlefield is not quite the Olympics.

Again BTW, the police officer inside Charlie Hebdo was a veteran, currently serving with the Service de la protection. They are not just your average street cops. Was he armed? I don't know. But again, I suspect he had more street experience than most people here.

What makes me a little uncomfortable about this thread is that some forumites are making pretty bold statements. Yet the people who I know personally can handle themselves in a difficult situation do not generally talk about about their skills online. Makes me wonder.

And no, I don't agree for a second that competition or training for the most part, other than the really hardcore military/law enforcement style comes anywhere close to a real confrontation. Drawing a gun on somebody is one thing. Being in a fight with someone actually trying to hurt or kill you is a little different.

Or maybe not, what do I know. Time to sign off...

You probably do if its the SAS! Most who join the SAS have never even fired or handled a Pistol before. As for the 50' head shot, well there's not much bullet drop at that sort of range even for 9mm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55zawUndP50

Access to ammunition for Training is more readily available in the US than even for the SAS in the UK.

That may be true, but availability of ammo and funds to pay for that ammo are two different things. The last 5 years have seen a big increase in cost and a reduction of availability. Seems like it's easier to find 9mm than quality .22LR. Neither are inexpensive.

I think you can get 1000 9mm FMJs for around $225 in the US, that is more than enough ammunition for the SAS Pistol shooting course. The MoD are and have been very stingy when it comes to training ammunition. That is about the same price as a morning round of Golf at St Andrews and a few pints of beer in the Afternoon.

I've offered before, but if any of you are classroom teachers, or have significant others that are, I have a couple of suggestions on how to harden you classrooms, and couple of ideas that we incorporated at my high school after the Columbine, Co tragedy...

I can't speak to the golf and beer costs, but the best price I'm seeing for brass-cased 9mm target ammo is pretty close to that. Ammoman.com (no affiliation but highly recommended) has Blazer Brass for $244/1000 delivered. You can get steel-cased ammo for cheaper, and ammoseek.com (again, no affiliation but highly recommended) shows another site I don't know selling it for $210 before shipping.

the long term solution... it's painted blue

LOL Mine is painted green.

The references provided by CM are most informative - recommended reading

Here is a key paragraph from the FBI report:

The study identified 21 (13.1%) of 160 incidents where unarmed c
itizens made the selfless
and deeply personal choices to face the danger of an active shooter. In those instances,
the citizens safely and successfully disrupted the shootings. In 11 of those 21 incidents,
unarmed principals, teachers, other school staff and students confronted the shooters to
end the threat. In 10 incidents, citizens, working or shopping when the shootings began,
successfully restrained shooters until police could arrive. And in 6 other incidents, armed
off-duty police officers, citizens, and security guards risked their lives to successfully end
the threat. These actions likely saved the lives of students and others present