Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Colion Noir has a knack for finding videos that make people on both sides of the gun debate squirm.
His latest target? A police recruitment ad where an officer looks straight into the camera and tells prospective recruits they don’t need to be an expert shooter to become a cop.
That’s a pretty awkward message considering one of the most common talking points from gun-control advocates is that firearms should be left to the “trained professionals.
“So…which is it?” is basically the question he spends the next four minutes asking. The recruitment video starts with a simple question.
Do you have to be an expert shooter or marksman to earn a badge?
The officer doesn’t hesitate.
“No,” she says.
Instead, applicants just have to meet the department’s qualification standards. If they’re struggling, instructors at the academy will work with them until they pass.
“You by no means have to have the perfect shooting score,” the recruiter explains.
Noir says that’s where the whole conversation gets interesting. He understands why departments are making videos like this.
Recruiting is tough. Law enforcement agencies all over the country have been struggling to fill vacancies, and lowering the intimidation factor for new applicants makes sense.
“I get why the ad exists,” Noir says. “Nobody wants to be a cop right now.” But he also thinks it creates an obvious contradiction.
For years, he says, gun owners have heard some version of the same argument: Leave the guns to the professionals. Then a police department releases a recruiting video saying you don’t actually have to be a great shooter to become one of those professionals.
SEE ALSO: Do Cops Shoot Too Many Pet Dogs?
That’s the disconnect Noir can’t get past. One of the more interesting parts of the video is when he shifts away from the recruitment ad and starts talking about training.
According to Noir, he’s lost count of how many police officers have privately told him that plenty of civilian gun owners spend far more time practicing than the average cop.
“In the gun world, that’s not a hot take,” he jokes. It’s Tuesday.” He even tells a story about a friend asking an officer what handgun he carried.
The officer reportedly looked down at his holster and simply answered, “It’s a nine.”
Not the brand. Not the model. Just…”it’s a nine.” Noir laughs at the story, but he says it illustrates a bigger point.
A badge doesn’t magically make someone a firearms expert any more than buying a guitar makes someone Eric Clapton. Training does. Practice does. Actually caring enough to improve does.
To be fair, Noir also goes out of his way to make one thing crystal clear. He’s not bashing cops.
In fact, he says some of the best shooters he’s knows wear a badge. He credits a police officer with teaching him how to shoot and talks about officers he’s trained alongside who paid for extra instruction out of their own pockets because their departments wouldn’t.
Those officers, he says, aren’t the issue.
His criticism is aimed at the assumption that simply having a badge automatically makes someone more competent with a firearm than an ordinary citizen.
That’s a leap, he argues, that doesn’t hold up in the real world. The video wraps up with what is probably Noir’s biggest takeaway.
When someone kicks in your door at 3 a.m., he says, you’re the first responder to your own emergency. Police may be on the way, but they’re not there yet.
That’s why, the conversation shouldn’t revolve around titles or uniforms. It should revolve around preparation. Whether you’re a police officer, a competitive shooter or an everyday concealed carrier, the same rules apply. The people who become proficient are usually the ones willing to keep training long after everyone else has gone home.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.