NAC648.346. Course of training: Required curriculum; written examination; instruction and training on firing range; request for exemption by certain instructors; substitute course.

     1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, the minimum curriculum for a course of training in carrying, handling and using firearms safely that is taught for the purposes of NRS 648.030 must include instruction designed to teach:

     (a) The legal and civil responsibilities of carrying, handling and using a firearm, including:

          (1) The applicable federal and state laws and regulations and local governmental ordinances related to carrying, handling and using firearms and the use of deadly force.

          (2) The civil and criminal liability related to carrying, handling and using firearms and the use of deadly force.

          (3) The consequences and risks related to carrying, handling and using firearms and the use of deadly force.

          (4) The elements of self-defense, using a weapon in self-defense and the use of force.

          (5) Recent court decisions related to carrying, handling and using firearms and the use of deadly force.

     (b) The terminology related to and the maintenance of different types of firearms and their related systems, including:

          (1) The operational and mechanical systems and parts of a firearm and the related terminology.

          (2) The types of ammunition and their ballistic properties and effective uses.

          (3) The inspection, storage and general care of ammunition.

          (4) The inspection, care, cleaning and maintenance of a firearm.

     (c) Carrying, handling and using a firearm safely, including:

          (1) The safe handling, use and storage of firearms when off duty.

          (2) The safe transportation of a firearm.

          (3) The appropriate methods of safely carrying a firearm while on duty.

          (4) Safety and accessory equipment available to carry, handle and use a firearm safely.

     (d) The fundamentals of safe handling and shooting of firearms, including:

          (1) The fundamentals of operating a handgun.

          (2) The general differences among handguns.

          (3) The proper procedures and devices for loading, unloading and reloading a firearm.

          (4) The fundamentals of shooting, such as the use of sights, sight picture and alignment, control of the trigger, breathing and firing in a single or double action.

          (5) Proper techniques for gripping a handgun and shooting positions.

          (6) Procedures for drawing and reholstering a firearm and techniques for retaining a firearm.

          (7) The various positions for shooting when standing or kneeling.

          (8) The use of barricades or other forms of cover and alternate shooting positions.

     (e) The preparation for shooting at a firing range, including:

          (1) The location of the range.

          (2) The equipment to be used at the range.

          (3) The course of fire.

          (4) Targets to be used.

          (5) Commands at the range.

          (6) Safety and etiquette at the range.

     (f) Exercises to be used at a firing range and the practical use of a firearm at the firing range, including:

          (1) The review of safety procedures and etiquette at the firing range and a safety inspection of all firearms, holsters and accessories.

          (2) Practicing drawing and holstering.

          (3) Dry firing, the manipulation of the trigger and follow through.

          (4) The procedures for loading, unloading and reloading.

          (5) Exercises for firing with live ammunition to practice proper shooting techniques while firing at targets with a firearm of the same type and caliber as the firearm the person will use while on duty.

          (6) Qualifying with a course of fire established by the Board, using a firearm of the same type and caliber as the firearm the person will use while on duty. The course of fire must require firing at least 30 rounds of live ammunition with a passing score of 75 percent, and must include drawing and:

               (I) Shooting 5 rounds of ammunition from a distance of 3 yards in 15 seconds using only the dominant hand;

               (II) Transferring the firearm to the support hand and shooting 5 rounds of ammunition from a distance of 3 yards in 15 seconds using only the support hand;

               (III) Shooting 5 rounds of ammunition while standing, reloading the firearm and shooting 5 rounds of ammunition while kneeling, from a distance of 7 yards in 30 seconds; and

               (IV) Shooting 5 rounds of ammunition while standing, reloading the firearm and shooting 5 rounds of ammunition while kneeling, from a distance of 15 yards in 30 seconds,

Ê on a full-size B27-type target. The scoring areas on the target are the “X” in the center of the target, which receives a score of 10, and the 10, 9, 8 and 7 rings. Any hits outside of such areas do not receive a score.

     2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, the course must consist of:

     (a) Eight hours of training and instruction on carrying, handling and using a firearm safely, including the completion of a written examination designated by the Board, with a passing score of 75 percent.

     (b) A minimum of 5 hours of instruction and training on a firing range during which each person must qualify using a firearm of the same type and caliber as the firearm the person will use while on duty.

     3. The course must be completed within a period of 14 days. Each day of the course must consist of a number of contact hours of training. Not more than 9 contact hours of training may occur on any day.

     4. If a person fails to complete the written examination with a passing score of 75 percent as specified in paragraph (a) of subsection 2 or to qualify using a firearm of the same type and caliber as the firearm the person will use while on duty as specified in subparagraph (6) of paragraph (f) of subsection 1:

     (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b), the person must repeat the course in full before retaking the written examination and firearm qualification.

     (b) At the discretion of the instructor, for good cause shown, the person may retake the written examination and the firearm qualification without repeating the course in full if the person completes such remedial training as the instructor determines is appropriate, taking into account the person’s performance on the previous written examination and firearm qualification. The instructor may charge an additional fee for the remedial training.

     5. If a firearms instructor is unable to provide a course which meets the requirements of this section because he or she provides security on a military installation and has no other reasonable means to provide the training and qualification required for such a course, he or she may submit a written request to the Executive Director asking for an exemption from those requirements and permission to offer a course with substitute training and qualification for persons employed on that military installation. When requesting an exemption pursuant to this subsection, the firearms instructor must provide:

     (a) Proof of his or her inability to provide a course which meets the requirements of this section and to make reasonable accommodations to provide the training and qualification required for such a course; and

     (b) A copy of the proposed substitute training and qualification and a signed affirmation, on a form provided by the Board, acknowledging that any person who successfully completes the course is required to sign a form pursuant to subsection 6.

Ê The Executive Director may, in his or her discretion and on a case-by-case basis, grant an exemption pursuant to this subsection after taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances.

     6. Before a person who successfully completes a course pursuant to subsection 5 may carry a firearm on the military installation on which he or she is employed, the person must sign an affirmation, on a form provided by the Board, acknowledging that:

     (a) He or she is only authorized to carry a firearm of the same type and caliber that he or she is qualified to carry and only on the military installation where he or she is employed; and

     (b) The certification card issued to the person pursuant to NAC 648.350 will be confiscated upon termination of his or her employment on the military installation.

     7. As used in this section, “contact hour” means 50 minutes of instruction in a period of 60 minutes.

     (Added to NAC by Priv. Investigator’s Lic. Bd., eff. 11-18-87; A 10-25-93; R009-10, 8-13-2010; R067-12, 10-23-2013)