Actually having a clear understanding and ability to demonstrate administrative tasks such as charging magazines and loading the weapon have everything to do with how safe someone is with a firearm. Racking the slide is accomplished the same way whether you are loading the firearm or reducing a stoppage. If you can't load the firearm safely, you more than likely can't safely reduce a stoppage either. And if injury or medical conditions make it impossible, you either need to wait until you've healed or consider another weapon system if the condition is permanent. As a prime example, I disqualified a shooter with carpal tunnel issues in February after she nearly shot me while trying to reduce a stoppage.
The shooter experienced an ignition failure during a single shot string. When the gun failed to fire, she tried to pull the slide to the rear using the "pinch-pull" method but her carpal tunnel issues made this difficult. In reviewing the video of the range, we learned that in her second attemp to grip the slide, she pointed the gun at left breast while trying to come over the top of the slide with her support hand but, her wrist braces were getting in the way. So then she tried the "pinch-pull" method again. Except this time, she stepped out of her booth, spun around 180-degress toward me with the gun held straight and level with her finger on the trigger. I side stepped the muzzle and immediately moved toward the shooter to take control of the gun. She partially realized her error because she lowered her muzzle but was still facing toward me and up range. Before I could get there, she lost control of the slide and I heard a muffled pop the instant before my hand landed on the gun. As I took control of the gun, I found the gun now had a stovepipe stoppage and a smoking case stuck in the ejection port. Thankfully, the only damage was a .32 cal hole in my jeans.
It is amazing how quickly things can go wrong on a range. It is also amazing to me this woman didn't grasp the magnitude of what just happened when she said, "I only put a hole in your jeans." She had been one of the ones who commented that my constant promotion of additonal training was just for Rambo wannabes. She was also one of the people who appeared to not to be paying attention when I covered administrative handling procedures and stoppage reductions in the classroom portion of the class. I signed her TR-100 but only after having her print the world FAIL in the box for the proficiency demonstration. Since she has never come to me to get another TR-100 that indicates she passed the shooting proficiency, I'm sure that she is still someone who thinks her ability to load/unload a gun has nothing to do with how safe she is now that she knows Texas law allows her to have a gun in her car so long as she's traveling.
My point exactly. If you are going to carry a weapon, you must be proficient in its administrative handling, not just marksmanship.
I've also seen it with DA autos and revolvers where someone doesn't have enough strength to pull the trigger and they spasmically point the gun all over creation trying to fire it. That in my opinion endangers the public. But its none of the gov's business to determine this. I just think that the chl instructors out there have a duty to society to disqualify people who cannot safely operate a weapon on their own. It's just common sense, maybe they can suggest alternative weapons to these folks? My grandma at 70yrs young (who grew up shooting and enjoys shooting with me) needed a pistol. Early on I realized a conventional pistol or a revolver wasn't going to work for her, so I sourced a Beratta 380 with a tip up barrel. She can unload it and handle it easily, and shoot it accurately and safely. Everyone has the right to be armed, and its even more important for the disabled or elderly. It just needs to be done prudently, to protect them and us.