NCJ Number
194674
Journal
Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management Volume: 24 Issue: 4 Dated: 2001 Pages: 595-604
Date Published
2001
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The article presents the impact of night sites on shooting accuracy among police recruits.
Abstract
The article argues that police shooting accuracy is profoundly negatively impacted by low light conditions due to decreased ability to see the target and due to the decreased ability to see the gun sight. The article also explores whether the use of handgun night sights can improve police shooting accuracy. The authors conducted a study of the effect of night sights on night shooting accuracy under four different lighting conditions: shooting at a front-lit target, shooting at a back-lit target, shooting with a flashlight, and shooting under intermittent lights. Includes an explanation of the function, makeup, and effect of handgun night sights and a description of the night shooting class offered by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board that provided the subjects for the research. Shooting tests were conducted in the four conditions with and without night sights and statistical comparisons regarding accuracy were made and statistical analysis software was used (SPSS PC for Windows Version 9.0). Based on the results, the authors found that night sights generally improved shooting accuracy and they therefore recommend that police departments make night sights mandatory equipment on department handguns. The authors further suggest changes in police marksmanship training to include additional low light or night shooting courses and tactical and strategic shooting courses. 3 tables, 8 references