Former Fort Wayne Police Chief Neil Moore said it well: “Training takes over.” Shooting, as with other acquired skills, requires proper training and practice. The old saying that practice makes perfect is not correct. Only perfect practice makes perfect.

Navy Lt. Commander Dr. Gary Roberts, world-renowned small-arms expert, makes the following recommendation, “Invest in competent, thorough initial training and then maintain skills with regular ongoing practice.” That good advice applies to any acquired skill, including shooting, which is particularly perishable: it diminishes rapidly with time.

I am frequently asked about advanced defensive shooting training. There are many trainers and training organizations around the country, and one can travel thousands of miles and spend thousands of dollars. My advice is to be sure the training is both reputable and applicable.

For advanced defensive shooting, here are four items a prospective customer should consider. Beware of the following:

•Two shots. If the training involves almost exclusively two shots per target, relevance is highly questionable.

•Standing still: If almost all the shooting is from a stationary, standing position, you will perfect making yourself highly vulnerable.

•Too far away: If the distance to the target is almost always greater than 15 feet, then it is unrealistically long.

•Silence: If the training does not involve shouting commands, again, applicability is in question.

You will not rise to the occasion; rather, you will default to your training. A Chicago officer almost lost her life in a shooting where her training took over.

Because of ammunition costs, training always involved firing one shot, reholstering and waiting for further instructions. When she was forced to deploy her sidearm, she fired only one shot.

The suspect, after being shot once, wrestled the officer to the ground and was gaining control of her sidearm when another officer arrived to save her

Only perfect practice makes perfect. Be sure your training is both competent and applicable. Then, maintain your skills with regular practice.

Shooting is a highly perishable skill.