NCJ Number
145245
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 41 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1993) Pages: 30-37
Date Published
1993
Length
8 pages
Annotation
An increase has occurred in the number of manufacturers offering a wide array of laser gun sight equipment for police and civil use.
Abstract
A laser gun sight is basically an electro-optical device mounted rigidly on or in a weapon which directs a beam of ultrafocused "coherent" light to a point of aim aligned with the axis of bore. The laser's sighting dot may be visible to the naked eye or only to infrared viewing devices. This dot cannot overcome exterior ballistics factors, however, and is not necessarily the exact point of bullet impact. Also, a laser beam does not light up the area surrounding the target. Common laser gun sight power levels of between 4 and 5 mW laser energy provide a beam dot visible out to a practical range of at least 100 yards in dusk to dawn darkness; the lighter the color at point of beam contact, the clearer the shooter's view of the sighting dot. When used on police handguns, current laser gun sight designs based on a single light source are compact enough to permit good gun handling. The benefits and disadvantages of using laser gun sights are discussed, as well as placement and operation procedures, training and familiarization, and psychological factors in laser gun sight use that may deter aggressors.