AR Sponsor
Posted: 2/7/2006 11:31:22 AM EDT
| hers It is easier to reply with anything to my email address, [email protected] Thanks for your input! |
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PSPFI, The biggest thing I find when dealing with officers, myself included, is that we often fail to give full reasons to other officers. For some reason we expect that they should be on our wave length. Getting the department to authorize a light, or optic often isn't easy if there is a policy that prohibits this. Something to consider is what benefit the department gains from your altering from their "norm". Day shift mentality is prevalent, and you need to phrase your email, or conversation to match who you are talking to. All officers carry a flashlight. Why? Because we need to identify a target before we shoot. This is taught in the earliest stages of lethal force briefings. If you don't know, you don't shot. The lack of light on a carbine goes directly against those same basic principles. When we search a room, building, or alley at night, we are sweeping with light and searching for possible threats. When we do high risk stops, we use a curtain of light to our advantage. There is no effective way to clear a building using a carbine one handed while holding a light. A weapon mounted light is not only more effective in this, but it is the only realistic manner in which we can be expected to perform. Not being able to use a light, means you are jumping into a liability concern as you are unable to do the job the way you were trainined. Next, lets talk about optics. As a firearm instructor, I teach officers the basic fundamentals of marksmanship, as well as more advanced techniques, but basics are basics, and not much changes. How many times have you heard the term "hard front sight focus", or something similar? The answer is that we say it as instructors all the time. To engage at distance and be accurate, we need to concentrate on the front sight. HOWEVER, when we switch to simmunition training, or reality based training, we (instructors) tell our students and officers to "watch the hands". Hands are what contain the threat that will kill you. The question becomes, which is it? Watch the hands, or watch the front sight? Running an optic, we change the equation from concentrating on a front sight, to concentrating on the threat. This is one example of how we can have our cake and eat it too. Optics such as the Aimpoint and Eotech are used by overlaying the dot onto the target. This allows us to see the movement, concentrate on the threat, and engage if needed. There is more that can be talked about, but these are the two biggest points that I can think of off the top of my head. |
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In order to change minds in your Department about the weapons Modifications ---you have 2 battle fronts to consider. First is Liability : Everything revolves around this issue in some manner or another. So all of your arguments must attack this issue from their point of view. Does your proposed changes increase or decrease the dept’s. exposure to liability ? Can you prove your point with examples?? Go outside your dept. to other agencies and learn what they are doing that you like and use those facts as your proof. The more depts.. carrying weapons with these “add-ons” that you can document the better. Hit the safety issue hard. Each modification should increase safety in some manner if you hope to have it accepted. I wrote a report for my agency urging the switch over from revolvers to semi-autos [ yes, I know a long time ago ] he Bottom line: Demonstrate what OTHERS ARE DOING SAFELY……….with facts. Second Training : Sort of relates back to the first issue. You must prove that training would be affected minimally ……….and where training changes would have to occur---show that the changes could be incorporated easily into the established program. Don’t be afraid to submit some training “lessons plans” with your request to allow for weapon accessories. The more complete you make your report or request……..the better its chance of making it up the chain of command. All supervisors like to look good…..so if you offer them a nice , well written report that they can attach their name to………you are on your way to getting those very helpful accessories. Unfortunately it will take a lot of work to change minds…….just saying “ I sure would like to have a light mounted on my AR15” is not going to cut it. What seems like a no brain’er and common sense………..needs to be spelled out in painful detail to get the Brass to come on board. Wish it were different, but that is the real world. JF. |
| Except for SWAT, we have to buy our own AR's. The department dictates what brands can be used and limits us to 16-20 inch barrels. We are required to have a light mounted to the rifle, but we can choose the brand and mounting location. We must successfully complete a 100 yard qualifier at night with gun mounted lights alone. We must also qualify with iron sights, but we can add our choice of electronic optics. |
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