The guns were out, the targets were set and one could hear the sounds of shots ringing in the distance.

Members of the Selma Police Department were out at the Fraternal Order of Police shooting range last week participating in firearms training, which is needed every year for the official qualification of officers within the police department.

Police Department Lt. John Brock, who is one of the firearms instructors, said that to qualify as an officer with the department, candidates must be proficient in the use of shotguns as well as handguns.

He said with shotguns, officers had to hit targets 32 times, for a score of 71, while with handguns, officers had to hit targets 35 times, for a score of 70, in order to qualify.

Brock said it is rare that officers fail to pass the training the first time. But if officers do fail, they receive additional training until they finally pass.