TECHNIQUES AND COMMON SENSE IN WEAPONS SAFETY (FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT BIBLE, 1978, BY ROBERT A SCANLON - SEE NCJ-49390)

• NCJ Number: 49408
• Author(s): R A SCANLON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Stoeger Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

WEAPONS SAFETY RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR POLICE OFFICERS ON-DUTY, OFF-DUTY, AND ON THE PRACTICE RANGE ARE PRESENTED.

Abstract

A TOTAL OF 22 COMMONSENSE RULES APPLICABLE TO SITUATIONS ON THE RANGE ARE LISTED. AMONG THESE ARE: DO NOT REMOVE WEAPON UNTIL AT THE FIRING LINE, TALK ONLY TO THE INSTRUCTOR ON THE FIRING LINE, NEVER TURN AROUND WITH A LOADED WEAPON WHEN ON THE FIRING LINE, CHECK A DROPPED WEAPON FOR OBSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FIRING, CHECK THE WEAPON TO BE SURE IT IS UNLOADED WHEN RECEIVING IT FROM SOMEONE ELSE, POINT WEAPON DOWN RANGE WHEN LOADING OR UNLOADING IT, CHECK WEAPON FOLLOWING A MISFIRE BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO FIRE IT AGAIN, FOLLOW ALL RANGE SAFETY RULES AND PROCEDURES, OBEY THE INSTRUCTOR, FOLLOW ALL SAFETY PROCEDURES WHEN UNLOADING A WEAPON, DO NOT APPROACH TARGET AREA FROM FIRING LINE WITHOUT A COMMAND FROM THE INSTRUCTOR, AND DO NOT CONSUME ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES PRIOR TO FIRING ON THE RANGE. ON DUTY, THE OFFICER SHOULD USE HIS WEAPON ONLY AS A LAST RESORT. HE SHOULD NEVER FIRE FROM OR AT A MOVING VEHICLE. WARNING SHOTS SHOULD NEVER BE FIRED, AND A WEAPON SHOULD NOT BE POINTED AT ANYONE UNLESS THE OFFICER IS WILLING TO SHOOT THE PERSON IF NECESSARY. SPECIAL WEAPONS SHOULD BE ISSUED ONLY TO THOSE QUALIFIED TO USE THEM. IN COVERING A SUSPECT, PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS. THE OFFICER SHOULD DISARM HIMSELF IN CLOSED-ROOM SITUATIONS WHERE HE ALONE IS INTERROGATING OR FINGERPRINTING A SUSPECT. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN TO AVOID THE THEFT OF THE WEAPON OR LOSING CONTROL OF THE WEAPON TO A SUSPECT. FINALLY, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT OFFICERS SEEK ADVICE WHEN PURCHASING A WEAPON AND A HOLSTER. OFF DUTY, THE OFFICER SHOULD NEVER DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE CARRYING FIREARMS, NOR SHOULD THE OFF-DUTY OFFICER BOAST ABOUT BEING A POLICE OFFICER. THE WEAPON SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE HOLSTER ONLY WHEN IT IS BEING CLEANED, USED, OR STORED. AT HOME THE WEAPON SHOULD NOT BE LAID DOWN OR LEFT AROUND; IN STORING THE WEAPON IT SHOULD BE UNLOADED AND CONCEALED, PREFERABLY IN A LOCKED METAL CONTAINER. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PREVENT LOSS OR THEFT OF A TEMPORARILY REMOVED WEAPON IN PUBLIC PLACES, AND THE WEAPON SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT IN A VEHICLE, EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS LOCKED. BEFORE CLEANING, THE WEAPON SHOULD BE UNLOADED, AND DURING CLEANING THE BARREL SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR OBSTRUCTIONS. (JAP)