NCJ Number
137680
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 59 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1992) Pages: 35-36,39-42,44
Date Published
1992
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article presents the general criteria for the selection of police handguns, rifles, shotguns, holsters, and firearms auxiliary items.
Abstract
The author advises that in the selection of a police handgun, the most cost-effective weapon will vary from department to department and from officer to officer. Weapons selection should be job specific and based on statistics pertinent to typical police firearms use, such as the number of shots typically fired in a gun battle, distances fired, and injuries and deaths suffered by officers. Regardless of the weapon selected, the key to its effective use is training that enables officers to fire accurately, safely, and sparingly. The specifications of handguns produced by various manufacturers are profiled in this article. Used primarily for sniper and distance shooting, rifles and carbines are increasingly being carried in patrol cars as backup weapons, although they are dangerous to innocent bystanders because of stray rounds that may travel several miles before their penetrating power wanes. Rifle specifications for various manufacturers are also listed. Shotguns are also used by police as a backup weapon because they are intimidating, can be used in close quarters, do not require accurate aim to be effective, and can be loaded with various types of ammunition. Shotgun specifications for various manufacturers are provided as well.