Safety Rules

The Law Dawgs and Pistoleros of the Olde West (LDPOW) will conduct these historical re-enactments following the guidelines and safety rules as set forth below:

 

Section 1: Safety Committee. 

The LDPOW will establish and maintain a safety committee comprised of members who are active or retired peace officers who have experience and knowledge in firearm safety and tactics, members who have completed a California State approved firearms proficiency course, members who are experienced horsemen and who have demonstrated expertise in riding, controlling, and caring for horses, and members who have demonstrated experience in the conduct of historical re-enactments.

 

Section 2: Duties of Safety Committee and Membership Committee

 

1. Each applicant will be interviewed as to the applicant's suitability, qualifications, and motivation to be a historical re-enactor. Each applicant/member must be willing and able to acquire historically authentic original or reproduction firearms, holsters, gun belts, clothing, hats, boots, and other equipage for the re-enactment period 1845 - 1895.
   
   Upon discovery, that an applicant or member has had a past or present history of illegal drug use, alcoholism, criminal firearms violations, convictions to include misdemeanor for felony criminal assault and battery, or other felony convictions, said applicant will be rejected for membership in the LDPOW, and in the case of an active member, he or she will be terminated from the LDPOW.
2. Each applicant will serve a three (3) re-enactment probationary period in order to determine if he or she demonstrates proficiency as a historical re-enactor, and if the applicant understands, adheres to and will comply with the safety rules and requirements.
3. Each applicant and/or member must demonstrate to the Safety Committee that he or she fully understands and will comply with the safety guidelines and rules as set forth below. The Safety Committee will, on a periodic basis, conduct refresher courses on the LDPOW safety guidelines and safety regulations.
4. Annually, the LDPOW Safety Committee will conduct safety training for each re-enactor, the completion of said training requiring a passing score, as determined by the Safety Committee, of a written and practical safety test in order for each re-enactor to participate in the subsequent re-enactment season. A failed test may be re-taken a second time. Failure to pass the second safety test, at the discretion of the Safety Committee, can result in the member's disqualification from subsequent re-enactments, or until the Safety Committee is satisfied said re-enactor will adhere to and comply with the safety rules.
5. If a re-enactor commits a firearm or a horse mounted safety violation or other violations as defined in the LDPOW Safety Rules prior to, during, or after a re-enactment, the Safety Committee will conduct a review of the violation and recommend the appropriate action to be taken regarding the offending re-enactor. Said action to include the suspension of the re-enactor from one to three subsequent events and a retaking and successful completion of the LDPOW safety training program. The Safety Committee also has the authority, based on the severity of the safety violation and the response of the offending re-enactor, to terminate said re-enactor from membership in the LDPOW.
6. Prior to each re-enactment, the Safety Committee will inspect each re-enactor's firearms which are to be used in the event to make sure that each firearm is in good working condition and free from any defects. If the weapon is found not to be in good working condition or is defective, it will be removed from use in the re-enactment.
7. Prior to each re-enactment, the Safety Committee will each re-enactor's blank rounds to make certain that the blank rounds conform to the requirements set forth in SECTION 4.
8. Upon completion of each re-enactment, all unexpended blank rounds will be kept in the immediate physical custody of the re-enactor or placed in a storage container inaccessible to the public. Expended blanks may be given to the spectator at the discretion of the re-enactor.
9. The Safety Committee, comprised of experienced horsemen, will certify that each applicant and/or member who is horse mounted as to the horse owner's riding skills, ability to control his or her horse under re-enactment conditions to include being able to control the horse during the discharge of firearms and in the presence of spectators.
10. The Safety Committee, comprised of experienced horsemen, will certify each applicant/member who enters a horse/mule drawn vehicle (stagecoach, wagon, buggy) as to said individual's ability to drive and control his or her animals while pulling said vehicle under re-enactment conditions to include being able to control his or her animals and vehicle during the discharge of firearms and in the presence of spectators.

SECTION 3: Firearm/Weapons Regulations

A.     All firearms used by LDPOW will either be original or reproduction guns for the time period 1845-1895.

B.     All firearms used in the re-enactment will be inspected prior to the re-enactment by the Safety Committee as to the weapon's working condition. If any defects are observed, the firearm will not be used in the event.

C.     Any forearm that is dropped of that falls to the ground, i.e. dirt, gravel, rocks, etc., is out of action and will not be used any further for that re-enactment. Prior to the weapon's use in the next re-enactment, said gun will be thoroughly cleaned so that there is no material lodged in the barrel, action, or cylinders of said firearm. No firing from the prone position; it can cause debris from the ground to act as a projectile.

D.     No member of the LDPOW will allow any member of the public to personally handle the re-enactor's firearm or loaded blank ammunition.

E.      Each re-enactor is personally responsible for his or her firearms. While not in the immediate custody of the re-enactor and/or not in use during the re-enactment, the re-enactor's firearms will be secured in a locked vehicle or storage container. No re-enactor will leave his or her firearm, blanks or gun belt in the custody of a non-member prior to, during, or after the re-enactment.

F.      At no time during the re-enactment will any re-enactor point or discharge their firearm toward a spectator or the spectator area.

G.     No edged weapons will be carried or used during re-enactments; rubber substitutes are acceptable.

H.     No re-enactor will dismount from an animal drawn vehicle, train, or other conveyance with their firearm hammer in the "cocked" position or with their finger on the trigger of said firearm. A re-enactor when running from one position to another will not have his or her weapon "cocked" or finger on the trigger. Do not put a "cocked" loaded revolver, rifle, or shotgun in your holster or scabbard.

SECTION 4: Ammunition (Blanks)

1. The only propellant to be used in percussion or cartridge blank rounds is 3F or 4F black powder or the propellant used in plastic injection rounds with a closed end and built in break-away style that dissolves and opens when fired. Example, the 5-in-1 blank loads which are available at Dixie Gun Works.
2. The only filler material to be placed over the black powder loads will either be Cream of Wheat cereal mix or the florists "floral foam" material. No wadding, Styrofoam, cloth, paper, grease, or any other type of material will be placed over the propellant and approved blank load filler material.
3. No re-enactor will bring or have in his or her possession and "live" ammunition at the re-enactment site or on his or her person.
4. No re-enactor will have in his or her possession any "dummy" rounds (blanks with a bullet, ball, or shot) projecting from the cartridge belt.
5. Smoking around black powder blanks is prohibited.

SECTION 5: Safety Distance

1. Based upon black powder and filler material dispersal rates, the LDPOW has determined through LDPOW testing procedures that the minimum safe distance for the complete dispersal of black powder and the approved filler material for a revolver or pistol is twenty (20) feet.
2. Based upon black powder and filler material dispersal rates, the LDPOW has determined through LDPOW testing procedures that the minimum safe distance for the complete dispersal of black powder and the approved filler material for a rifle or shotgun is twenty five (25) feet.
3. The minimum distance for the discharge of any firearm toward a horse mounted rider is fifty (50) feet with the exception as set forth in SECTION 5-D.
4. If a re-enactor's minimum safety distance closes below the 50 foot requirement for an approaching horse mounted rider, but the distance is more than 25 feet, the un-mounted re-enactor has 3 options: (1) refrain from discharging his firearm, (2) point the firearm skyward above chest level, "12 o'clock position" away from the horse before firing, or (3) wait until the mounted rider passes by for at least 25 feet, then exercise option 2.
5. Do not aim and fire your gun at the head of a re-enactor or a re-enactor's horse.
6. Re-enactors shooting side by side must extend their gun barrels forward at arm length so as to prevent muzzle blast against each other's head.

SECTION 6: General Provisions

1. Prior to each re-enactment, a member of the Safety Committee will notify local law enforcement (city police, county sheriff, and the California Highway Patrol) of the time, date, location of the re-enactment, the identity of the re-enactment group (LDPOW), the specific type of re-enactment, and the type of firearms and blank rounds used for the event.
2. Prior to each re-enactment, the LDPOW will present to the general public, or historical societies or school groups, a written or oral "history" of the event being recreated and the safety procedures followed by the LDPOW in conducting the re-enactment.
3. Each re-enactor will refrain from using profane or obscene language during the dialog "acting" portion of the re-enactment.
4. There will be no consumption of any alcoholic beverages prior to, during, or after each re-enactment until the last re-enactment is over.
5. If a re-enactor is injured during the event, any re-enactor can yell "cease fire" causing the re-enactment to cease immediately.