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Archive for Firearms Training

Todd Jarrett on Dry Firing

by Richard

January 31st, 2012

Randall caught up with professional shooter and trainer Todd Jarrett at the 2012 SHOT Show. Jarrett, a huge supporter of law enforcement, offered the following advice to police officers looking to improve their shooting skills:

Video Combats Public Myths About Police Shootings

by Force Science Institute

December 29th, 2011

Photo courtesy of Lewisha Jones

In a unique production assisted by the Force Science Institute, law enforcement authorities in an Oregon county have created an online video that explains to civilians the realities of officer-involved shootings and counters prevalent myths fostered by Hollywood fantasies.

In 17 minutes, the program ranges from addressing why officers don’t try to shoot knives out of the hands of attackers to how cell phone and dash-cam recordings can significantly distort impressions of deadly force encounters. In all, the production tackles 7 persistent misconceptions that often lead to unjust accusations of wrongdoing regarding police use of force and provides scientific insights into the true dynamics of life-or-death confrontations.

Categories Firearms Training, Legal Issues, Officer Safety, Video Training
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SIG SAUER P224

by Richard

December 15th, 2011

Over at GunsHolstersAndGear.com, I wrote about a new compact pistol SIG SAUER is releasing called the P224. The P224 is a cut down (literally – take a look at the photos over there) P229 and is chambered in 9mm, .357 SIG and .40 S&W.

Initially, the new gun will come with the DAK trigger, which has a very smooth double action only pull. SIG states a DA/SA pistol will be available later. The gun should be at the 2012 SHOT Show, and we will get some video and more information on it then.

Categories Firearms Training
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The Tactical Weapon Light – Poor Man’s Laser Sight

by Randall

December 5th, 2011

If you already have a weapon-mounted flashlight, then by default you possess a quick firearm aiming device…if you do a bit of homework!

Laser sights are all the rage and I confess to having purchased a couple. But they are not always financially justifiable or even allowed by policy for many coppers. At half the price, a tactical light can give you a similar service in a very close combat situation.

During night fire sessions at the range, some of our shooters began to notice that they were getting a flash sight picture from their handgun-mounted lights. At distances of five yards or less, the flashlights were illuminating center of mass on the targets and approximating point of impact.

A simple test is to unload and safety check your duty gun. Look over the sights at a wall at distances from one to seven yards. Turn on the light. If your sights are properly adjusted, the beam of your flashlight will give you a general aiming point.

Categories Firearms, Firearms Training, flashlights
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“Weapons confusion”: A case to watch

by Force Science Institute

October 8th, 2011

Torres v. City of Madera In a case with important training implications, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the West Coast has ruled that a municipal patrol officer who killed a suspect when she confused her M26 Taser with her Glock pistol was not entitled to a summary judgment in her favor on the basis of qualified immunity.

A jury should have been allowed to decide if her mistake was reasonable, the 9th circuit appellate judges said in overturning a district judge’s decision and remanding the case for fresh action.

“Whatever the ultimate outcome, this case bears watching and studying because of the critical issues it raises regarding training, weapons placement, personal responsibility, and decision-making,” says Dr. Bill Lewinski, executive director of the Force Science Institute. As we have reported previously, Lewinski was involved as an expert witness in the BART incident, a widely publicized mistaken-weapon shooting by a transit officer in the San Francisco area.

Categories Firearms, Firearms Training, TASER
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