In New South Wales, Australia, virtual reality is about to help rookie cops tame their fear of handling and using firearms in crisis situations. The costs are high (AUD 1 million for the facility and AUD 850,000 for the computer system), but the hope is that police will learn to handle their guns in settings more "true to life" than can be found in a traditional shooting range.
A lack of proper training has been blamed for the current state of affairs which has seen many new cops frightened of touching their weapons. According to one senior officer, "We have a lot of young cops who are scared of guns."
It is also believed that this inexperience can be a danger to public saftey (take the recent accidental shooting of a 48-year-old woman in Sydney by a constable with only two years on the job).
The problem started with a shortage of old-style shooting ranges and a growth in the number of new recruits. Virtual shooting ranges offer a more realistic training option, allowing police to practice with a number of different firearms in a host of scenarios.
Computer simulations are not, however, going to be used to replace traditional ranges entirely. Still, although a new traditional-style shooting range would cost less, the belief here is that virtual reality will complement already available training options and help to reduce gun fear dramatically among police.
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