International Defensive Pistol Association

International Defensive Pistol Association
Jurisdiction	International
Abbreviation	IDPA
Founded	1996
Headquarters	Bogata, Texas, US
Director	Joyce Wilson
Official website
	idpa.com
	Founders: Bill Wilson, John Sayle, Ken Hackathorn, Dick Thomas, Walt Rauch, Larry Vickers, and Aaron Licourt

The International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA), founded in 1996, is an organization based in Bogata, Texas, that has created a shooting sport based on defensive pistol techniques, using equipment including full-charge service ammunition to solve simulated "real world" self-defense scenarios. Shooters competing in defensive pistol events are required to use practical handguns and holsters that are deemed suitable for self-defense use and concealment garment that can conceal the handgun from view of bystanders.^[1]

The sport came about as a response to the perceived shortcomings in competitions organized by the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) and its migration away from the use of common, un-customized handguns.^[1] It was decided by the founders of IDPA (Bill Wilson, John Sayle, Ken Hackathorn, Dick Thomas, Walt Rauch and Larry Vickers), that USPSA competitions had become too far removed from the reality of defensive shooting situations, using extensively modified guns, handmade ammunition, and speed-draw holsters that were impractical for self-defense. The IDPA founders believed that USPSA matches had become "equipment races", which were heavily dependent on a shooter's gear rather than their ability.^[1]^[2]

In order to keep the sport in line with its founding principles, allowable alterations to the competition gear (including pistol or pistol caliber carbine) are carefully regulated in IDPA. Ammunition capacity is limited compared to some other action shooting sports in order to keep the playing field level for competitors from states that ban higher capacity magazines.^[3]

^ ^a ^b ^c Steier, David (2013). Guns 101: A Beginner's Guide to Buying and Owning Firearms. Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated. pp. 138–139. ISBN 978-1-62636-971-9.
^ Sweeney, Patrick (2009). Gun Digest Big Fat Book of the .45 ACP. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. pp. 367–368. ISBN 1-4402-2403-X.
^ "Equipment and Competition Rules of the International Defensive Pistol Association, Inc" (PDF). 2005-04-15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-03-20. Retrieved 2007-04-17. Depending on the division, limits can be 10, 8, or 5 rounds for semi-automatics (plus one in the chamber), and 6 for revolvers.

[Steier2013-1] Steier, David (2013). Guns 101: A Beginner's Guide to Buying and Owning Firearms. Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated. pp. 138–139. ISBN 978-1-62636-971-9.

[Sweeney2009-2] Sweeney, Patrick (2009). Gun Digest Big Fat Book of the .45 ACP. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. pp. 367–368. ISBN 1-4402-2403-X.

[3] "Equipment and Competition Rules of the International Defensive Pistol Association, Inc" (PDF). 2005-04-15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-03-20. Retrieved 2007-04-17. Depending on the division, limits can be 10, 8, or 5 rounds for semi-automatics (plus one in the chamber), and 6 for revolvers.

[1]

[2]

[3]