The National Police Shooting Championships are sponsored by the Nation Rifle Association, and give law enforcement all around America a chance to show off their marksmanship.
The championships are open to both private and public law enforcers along with members of the U.S. military,
according to the NRA.
Here are eight facts and details surrounding the National Police Shooting Championships.
Urgent: Should All Police Officers Have to Wear Body Cameras?
1. The inaugural National Police Revolver Championships were held in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1962.
2. The first champion of the National Police Revolver Championships was Columbus, Ohio, police officer Larry Mead,
according to Outdoor Hub.
3. In 1989, the National Police Revolver Championships were renamed the National Police Shooting Championships celebrated its 50th anniversary in Albuquerque New Mexico.
4. In 2012, the National Police Shooting Championships celebrated its 50th anniversary in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Vote Now: Does Media Coverage Make Police Officers' Jobs More Dangerous?
5. Sponsors of past National Police Shooting Championships include Glock, Brownells, Springfield Armory, FNH, H&K, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer and Colt,
according to AmmoLand.
6. Team matches are also carried out at the event in teams of two or four,
according to the event’s rules. Shooters in each team must represent the same department.
7. Although most shooting events feature handguns, there are some shooting contests for shotgun shooters.
8. In 2014, the location of the championships came under fire from protestors in Albuquerque, after the city's police department was under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for "excessive force" related to the number of police-involved shootings,
according to Fox News.
Tell Us: Does Racism Play a Role in Police Officers' Actions?
Related Stories: