What do you feed a hungry bureaucracy? Paper. That's what it demands. How do you show competency in what you do? One way is with paper documentation. Save your best target. In the event of a civil prosecution for negligence, you now have some evidence in your favor. Why is this important? Insurance. Yup. Insurance.

Insurance covers you for accidents. Liability lawyers know that, and use it to look for the "deep pocket". That usually means an insurance company. Insurance does not cover you for an intentional act. Let me clarify: if you shoot a burglar in your house because you were in fear for your life, it's a justified act. If you shoot a burglar in your house because you tripped on the rug while holding him at gunpoint, it's actionable in the courts. Insurance will only pay for the latter, not the former. If a liability lawyer can make you look negligent, they can get your insurance company to pay.

Keeping your best target shows competency. Competency is a defense against a charge of negligence. This is feeding the bureaucracy the paper it runs on. Make notes in the margin of the target as to the date, time, place, light conditions, bullet type, distance, rest or support, and hand used. The more you look like a person with his ducks in a row, the less likely a liability lawyer will want you as an opponent on the stand. This makes you less likely to get sued. So does abiding by the law, which requires that you know what the law is. Learn it, at least as it applies to the use of force in self-defense.

While you're at it, make the target you save a bullseye, not a silhouette. Man shape targets make it look like you are practicing an assassination. I know that's silly, but remember that courts have very little to do with the truth. They have to do with what you can get people to believe. Start a manila file folder for your targets. Shoot at least once a quarter, better once a month.

Masaad Ayoob's book, "The Truth About Self Defense" is an excellent treatise on this topic. The more information you have, the better you are armed. Make the study of it a life long pursuit, and you won't be behind the curve. Or in court.