Engaging targets for multiple cover positions from one spot
Local Rule Interpretation: Not Allowed
There is some question on the legality of moving to a position where the shooter can see targets from multiple positions of cover at the same time. This reduces the number of times the shooter has to stop and start.
I can’t find rules specifically addressing this situation but after looking into it I believe that it is most likely not legal and we will not be allow it. The revisionist 2022 Down Zero blog post on cover fault line effective lengths stated that shooters “…are free to engage targets at any distance provided they do not enter a new opening and expose themselves to a second array of unengaged targets.” I don’t see that this is directly covered in the rule book but they later use rules 1.2.3.6 and 1.2.4.3 on the use of cover as their justification.
The rules are: “1.2.3.6 Shooting from behind cover is a basic premise of IDPA. Competitors must use available cover in a CoF”. and “1.2.4.3 “Cover” refers to a position where a shooter can engage targets with a portion of their upper and lower body behind an object such as a wall.” And rule 6.3.1 says “Fault Lines must be used by match directors to delineate cover at a cover position to reduce disputed penalties.” which indicates that cover position fault lines are intended to remove subjectivity from cover calls but do not totally define the use of cover.
So moving to shoot multiple positions of cover at one spot (or even just moving far enough to be exposed to any targets at another position of cover) is probably against the intent of the cover concept and by implication is illegal under the current rule book. We will try to avoid stages where this could happen unintentionally but is is up to the shooter to know the unclearly documented rule interpretation.