Firearms Training

In 1934—a year after the Kansas City Massacre that left four law enforcement officers dead, including a Bureau agent—Congress gave FBI agents the authority to carry firearms.

In response, the FBI began a robust firearms training program, which has continuously grown and evolved through the years in order to keep pace with technology and best prepare agents and FBI police officers for the increasing dangers and threats they face while carrying out their assignments, domestically and internationally.

The mission of our firearms training program is to develop and deliver a comprehensive and consistent firearms training curriculum that provides new agent trainees, special agents, and police officers the skills needed to safely and effectively use firearms, if necessary, while performing their duties.  

Our experienced firearms training instructors assigned to the Training Division also offer certification and recertification training to all FBI firearms instructors who provide training to agents in the field and in support of our state and local law enforcement partners.