Firearm Safety: Rules and Handling

General Firearm Safety

• Officers face dangers, including firearm use, as part of their job.
• Failure to follow firearm safety rules can lead to serious injury or death.
• Proper training on the specific firearm model is essential before handling, touching, loading, or using it.
• The "primary hand" is the hand used to shoot a firearm.
• The "support hand" assists the primary hand.
• Safety is the most crucial element of firearms training.
• Think before acting around firearms.
• Careless handling or discharge of a firearm endangers oneself and others.

Firearm Safety Rules

• Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
• Never point a firearm at anything you do not intend to shoot.
• Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until ready to fire.
• Keep the firearm on safe until you intend to fire.
• Know your target and what is beyond it.
• Obey all range instructions.
• Load only on the range instructor's command.
• Do not retrieve dropped ammunition.
• Perform unloading procedures, even if the firearm seems unloaded.
• Leave the fire line only at the range instructor's command.
• Stop firing immediately at the ceasefire command.
• Ensure a safety check is performed each time a firearm is issued, returned, picked up, put down, or handed to another person.
• A safety check consists of pulling back on the slide to the lock position to visually and physically verify the firearm is not loaded.
• Never unholster a firearm behind the firing line.
• Keep the finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard when drawing or holstering.
• Always point unholstered firearms in a safe direction.
• Never handle firearms on the fire line while someone is downrange.
• Wear ear and eye protection.
• Do not talk, eat, or drink on the firing line.
• Be courteous and listen carefully.
• If a firearm is dropped, do not pick it up immediately; keep it pointed in a safe direction.
• You are responsible for ensuring your firearm is secure at all times, including off-duty.

State Statutes - Firearm Storage

• Florida Statute 790.174 addresses the safe storage of firearms to prevent access by minors.
• A person who stores a loaded firearm on premises under their control and knows a minor is likely to access it must keep it in a securely locked box or container.
• A person who stores or leaves a loaded firearm on premises under their control and knows or reasonably should know that a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without lawful permission or supervision must keep the firearm in a securely locked box or container.
• Failure to properly store a firearm, leading to a minor accessing and possessing it without supervision, is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
• Failure to properly store a firearm, resulting in a minor gaining access, possessing, or exhibiting it without supervision, is a misdemeanor of the second degree.

Use of Deadly Force

• Chapter 776 of the Florida Statutes governs all use of force by criminal justice officers.
• The legal guidelines apply equally to law enforcement, corrections, and probation officers.
• 776.012 justifies force when making an arrest or defending self or others.
• 776.06 relates to deadly force.
• 776.07 is the fleeing felon justification.
• 776.07 explains correctional or other law enforcement officers are justified in using necessary force, including deadly force, to prevent the escape from a penal institution of someone lawfully detained under sentence, or awaiting trial for an offense.
• 776.07 states that deadly force may be an officer's first and only response in certain situations.
• Use of deadly force still counts even if you shoot and miss the person.
• Decision to use deadly force must be based on a clear reasonable belief of impending danger of death or great bodily harm to yourself or others.
• The decision to use deadly force must be based on a clear, reasonable belief that the officer, a fellow officer, or another person faces imminent danger of death or great bodily harm.
• A firearm should never be fired unless faced with a deadly force encounter.
• Using a firearm represents the highest level of force: deadly force.

Ammunition

• Key components of a pistol cartridge include:
  • Bullet: The projectile that exits the firearm when fired.
  • Case/Casing: Metal or plastic container holding all parts.
  • Primer: Mixture used to ignite the powder.
  • Powder: Propellant.
• The head stamp are the markings on the ammunition head, indicating caliber/gauge, and manufacturer.
• The rim is the edge of the cartridge case that stops the case's progress into the chamber.
• The case holds the primer, powder, and bullet.
• A round/cartridge is the complete ammunition cartridge containing all parts.
• Caliber is the measurement used to identify different cartridge and projectile sizes, determined by measuring the bore's diameter.
• Caliber measurement is the diameter of the inside of the bore of the firearm.
• Ammunition is identified by examining the caliber or gauge on the cartridge head stamp.
• Gauge measures shotgun bores based on the number of bore-size balls of lead per pound.

Ammunition Inspection

• Scrape: An indentation in the case that may weaken it.
• Scrape: An indentation in the case that may weaken the case wall, caused by a layer of the case wall being scratched or torn away.
• Dent: A dimple or depression in the case.
• Corrosion: Layering of the case with oxidation or foreign material (mold, fungi, congealed oil, lubricants).
• Puncture: Actual opening in the case body.
• Ammunition defects include the round not being firmly seated, missing primer, half primer.
• Check ammunition periodically to ensure the casing and rim are free of defects, the projectile is firmly seated in the casing, and the primer is seated properly and free of defect.

Ammunition Maintenance

• Use ammunition from a reputable manufacturer.
• Do not alter the manufacturer's original design.
• Do not use reloads for duty ammunition.
• Avoid using solvents and lubricants while handling ammunition.
• Avoid using solvents and lubricants while handling ammunition, as they may cause a failure to fire.

Handguns

• Handgun refers to either a semi-automatic pistol or a revolver.
• Semi-automatic pistols are the handguns most criminal justice officers carry.
• Semi-automatic pistols may operate differently based upon who manufactured them.
• Familiarize yourself with the part names, locations, and functions of the semi-automatic pistol that you use.

Semi-Automatic Pistol Nomenclature

• Accessory rail: Provides space for lighting and sighting devices.
• Back strap: Portion of the grip placed in the palm of the shooting hand.
• Decocker: Mechanism that safely decocks the pistol.
• Frame/Receiver: Holds the internal parts and slide assembly.
• Front sight: Located on the front of the slide.
• Front strap: Portion of the grip where the fingers rest.
• Front strap: Portion of the grip allowing the fingers of the shooting hand to rest.
• Hammer: Strikes the primer or firing pin.
• Hammer: Strikes the primer/firing pin to ignite the propellant and fire the round.
• Magazine release: Releases the magazine from the frame.
• Muzzle: End of the barrel.
• Muzzle/barrel: Provides a path for the fired bullet.
• Rear sight: Located on the rear of the slide.
• Slide: Houses the firing pin, barrel, recoil spring, sights, and extractor.
• Slide lock/take down lever: Allows quick and simple field stripping.
• Slide stop lever: Locks the slide in the open position.
• Trigger: Activates the pistol's operation.
• Trigger guard: Protects the trigger.
• Trigger guard: Frame that protects the trigger.

Magazine Nomenclature

• Follower: Activates the slide stop and pushes rounds up.
• Follower: Activates a slide stop and pushes the round up to be stripped off by the forward movement of the slide.
• Magazine floor plate: Holds the spring and follower in the magazine.
• Magazine insert: Keeps the floor plate secure and prevents dirt from entering.
• Magazine insert: Keeps the floor and butt plate secure and prevents dirt and debris from entering the magazine.
• Magazine tube: Holds the internal components.
• Magazine tube: Holds the internal components in place including the ammunition.
• Spring: Pushes the follower up.

Semi-Automatic Pistol Function

• Uses energy from the recoil of a single round to extract and eject the fired cartridge and load an unfired round.
• Semi-automatic pistols function by using the energy from the recoil of a single round to eject the fired cartridge and load an unfired round.
• Pressing the trigger in double-action mode moves the hammer back and releases it; slides back, extracting and ejecting the case and pushing the hammer to a fully cocked position.
• As the trigger is pressed in double-action mode, the hammer moves back and releases to strike the firing pin.
• The slide moves back, extracting and ejecting the spent cartridge, and pushing the hammer to the fully cocked position.
• The recoil spring compresses, and when all the energy is used, the spring decompresses, pushing the slide forward.
• The slide returns forward, feeding the next cartridge from the magazine to the barrel chamber, and the hammer remains cocked.
• Subsequent shots are fired in single-action mode, repeating the sequence until the last round is fired.

Cycle of Operation

• Loading: Inserting a loaded magazine.
• Loading: Inserting a loaded magazine into the firearm.
• Feeding/Chambering: Moving the round from the magazine to the chamber.
• Feeding/Chambering: Moving the round from the magazine into the chamber by releasing the slide.
• Locking: Securing the breach of the barrel.
• Locking: The breech or back into the barrel locks into the slide.
• Firing: Ignition of the primer.
• Firing: Ignition of the primer and firing the cartridge.
• Unlocking: Unseating the breach.
• Unlocking: Unseating the breech and the end of the barrel from the slide.
• Extracting: Pulling the spent cartridge from the chamber.
• Ejecting: Pushing the spent cartridge out of the ejection port.
• Cocking: Returning the firing mechanism to the firing position.

Function Check

• Ensures the firearm functions properly.
• Ensured that the firearm functions properly and is usually performed after field stripping, cleaning, and reassembling.
• Performed after field stripping or cleaning and reassembling.
• Steps:
  • Visually check the components.
  • Operate the slide several times.
  • Press the trigger.
  • Insert an empty magazine.
  • Pull the slide to the rear (confirm it locks back)
  • Depress the magazine release (magazine should fall free)
  • Press the slide stop lever or pull and release the slide.
  • Press the slide stop lever or pull the slide to the rear, then release, and the slide should function properly.
  • In a striker-fired weapon, hold the trigger to the rear as you release or cycle the slide.
  • Slowly release the pressure off the trigger until the trigger resets and you'll hear a click.

Handing a Semi-Automatic Pistol to another person

• Always have the safety on, finger outside the trigger guard.
• Secure the magazine, point the firearm in a safe direction, pull the slide to the rear to eject any rounds make sure to lock it, visually and physically inspect it.
• Then hand the person the grip first.
• Hand the person the grip first.
• Workspace: Handgun is pulled in close and in line of sight.
• Workspace is defined as a closed and clear Line of Sight in front of the chest.
• Recoil management is the ability to control the movement of the handgun when it fires allowing the sights to return to the target in a predictable pattern without adjusting grip between shots.
• Recoil management is the ability to control the movement of the handgun when it fires, allowing the sights to return on target in a predictable pattern without having to adjust your grip between shots.
• Grip during and after the draw is essential to good marksmanship and achieving tighter shot groups.
• Proper grip will help you with recoil management.

Loading & Unloading

• Hold the firearm in your primary hand and bring it into your workspace.
• Retrieve a magazine, placing your index finger along the front.
• Use your index finger to guide the magazine to the magazine well.
• Push the magazine into the magazine well with enough force to lock it in place.
• Push the magazine in with a sharp upward motion, using enough force to lock it in place.
• Tug it to make sure it is seated.
• Grasp the slide with your support hand, pull it all the way to the rear, and push the firearm forward.
• Grasp the slide with your support hand and pull it all the way to the rear while pushing the firearm forward with your primary hand.
• Release the slide and let it travel forward on its own.
• Release the slide and let it travel forward on its own; do not ride it forward.
• Decock or disengage safety, if applicable.
• Decock or disengage if applicable.
• Bring the firearm into your workspace, with finger outside the trigger guard.
• To unload, bring the firearm into your workspace with your finger outside the trigger guard.
• Release and remove the magazine, eject the round, and lock the slide to the rear.
• Release the magazine.
• Eject the round.
• Lock the slide to the rear.
• Visually and physically inspect it.
• When the slide locks back because the gun is empty, you must reload.
• Remove your finger from the trigger, and press the magazine release as you bring the handgun into your workspace.
• Then reload the next magazine.

Malfunctions

• A malfunction is a condition that prevents a firearm from operating properly.
• A malfunction prevents proper firearm operation.
• Prevent malfunctions caused by ammunition by inspecting it for defects before use.
• The first step in correcting a malfunction is removing your finger from the trigger.
• Correcting malfunctions: Remove your finger from the trigger, bring the firearm to your workplace, point in a safe direction, and identify the kind of malfunction and the proper technique for correcting it.

Pistol Malfunctions:

• Squib Load: Primer ignites but no burn or partial burn of the powder.
  • There is no method for fixing.
  • A malfunction where the primer ignites, but there's no or partial powder burn. The bullet often fails to exit the muzzle and becomes lodged.
• Failure to Fire: Trigger is pressed, but the round fails to detonate.
  • Corrected with Phase One clearance: Tap, rack, ready.
  • Occurs when the trigger is pressed, but the round fails to detonate.
• Failure to Feed: Cartridge fails to feed into the chamber.
  • Corrected with Phase One clearance: Tap, rack, ready.
  • Cartridge fails to feed into the chamber.
• Failure to Eject (Stovepipe): Fired cartridge case does not completely eject.
  • Corrected with Phase One clearance: Tap, rack, ready.
  • A fired cartridge case does not eject completely.
• Double Feed: Round fails to extract, and another round is fed from the magazine.
  • Corrected with Phase Two clearance.
  • A round fails to extract from the chamber and meets the new round being fed from the magazine.
• Failure to Extract: Pistol fails to extract the spent casing from its chamber.
  • Corrected with Phase One clearance; if unsuccessful, try Phase Two.
  • The pistol fails to extract the spent casing from the chamber.

Clearance Methods

• Phase One Clearance (Immediate Action Drill): Also known as: Tap, Rack, Ready, Fire if Necessary
  • Tap the magazine.
  • Rack the slide.
  • Ready and assess.
  • Fire if necessary.
• Phase 1 Clearance (Immediate Action Drill): Tapping the magazine, racking the slide, and readying the firearm for firing (Tap Rack Ready, Fire if Necessary).
• Phase Two Clearance: Used when Phase One fails or for a double feed.
  • Firearm into workspace, lock the slide to the rear.
  • Depress the magazine and forcibly strip the magazine from the magazine well.
  • Rotate the pistol towards the ejection port side and work the slide back and forth to ensure everything is removed.
  • Push a new magazine in, chamber the round, ready, assess, and fire if necessary.
• Phase 2 Clearance: firearm into the workplace, lock the slide to the rear, depress the magazine and you are forcibly going to shrip the magazine from the magazine well, rotate the pistol towards the ejection port side and work the slide back and forth to make sure everything gets out and then push a new magazine in, chamber the round, ready assess, fire if necessary
• Failure to feed, failure to fire, failure to eject/stove pipe equals "Phase 1".
• Failure to extract "Phase 1", but if it doesn't work, then move to "Phase 2”.
• Double feed always is phase two

Marksmanship

• Accurate shooting develops from knowing and correctly applying the fundamentals of marksmanship.
• To maximize performance, concentrate on the fundamentals and breathe naturally while shooting.
• Concentrate on the fundamentals and breathe naturally while shooting.

Stances

• Offensive Ready (Fighting Stance): Same stance used in defensive tactics.
• Offensive Ready Stance (Fighting Stance): Stance used in defensive tactics.
• Kneeling Stance: Down on one knee.
• Kneeling Stance: Down on one knee stance.
• Compressed Ready Position: Gun compressed to the side, two-hand grip, barrel pointed down.
• Compressed Ready Position: Gun compressed into your side with a two-hand grip in your offensive ready stance, with the barrel pointed downward.
• Two-Hand High Point: Two hands high and up.
• Two-Hand High Point Position: Two hands are high and up, with sights on the target.
• Hip Shooting Position: Within 3-4 feet of a threat, one-handed grip, support hand in a defensive position.
• Hip Shooting Position: Within 3-4 feet of a threat, one-handed grip, support hand in a defensive position protecting the head.

Sight Alignment and Picture

• Sight Alignment: Relationship between the front sight and the rear sight with the shooter's eyes.
• Site picture is the relationship between the eye the front sight rear sight and the target.
• Sight Alignment: The relationship between the front sight and the rear sight with the shooter's eye, occurring when the top of the front sight is level with the rear sight's top edge and centered in the rear sight's notch.
• The most important aspect of aiming is keeping your eyes centered behind the rear and front sights.
• Site picture is the relationship between the eye the front sight rear sight and the target.
• Steps:
  • Look along the top of the firearm's sight plane.
  • Align the tops of the front and rear sights so that they are of equal height.
  • Center the front sight between the rear aperture or notch to create equal lights.
  • Place the sights on the target and then focus on the front sight, keeping the target blurry and the rear sight slightly out of focus.
• Target will be blurry and the rear sight will be slightly out of focus.
• Only the dominant eye should be used to align the sights.
• With proper alignment, the target will be blurry, the front sight will be clear, and the back sight will be blurry.
• Keep both eyes open during firing

Point Shooting

• Technique used when you cannot use the sights.
• Technique used when you cannot use the sights, in which the handgun becomes an extension of your arm and hand. Often used with flashlight-assisted shooting.
• Handgun becomes an extension of the arm and hand.
• Most flashlight-assisted shooting requires point shooting skills.

Trigger Control

• Most difficult handgun fundamental to master.
• Trigger Control is the most difficult handgun fundamental to master.
• Determines a shot's success.
• Results when the trigger finger presses the trigger straight back with increasing, constant pressure.
• Results when the trigger finger presses the trigger straight back with increasing yet constant and steady pressure until the firearm discharges.
• Trigger control determines a shot’s success.

Follow Through

• Maintain sight alignment before, during, and after firing a round.
• Maintaining sight alignment before, during, and after firing a round.
• Maintain proper stance, grip, and finger placement.
• Reacquire sight picture and reestablish it each time you fire.

Flashlight Principles

• Illumination is the flashlight's main function, including movement, navigation, searching, identifying, and engaging a threat.
• Illumination for movement, navigation, searching, and identifying/engaging threats.
• Positively identify a threat before using deadly force.
• Positively identify a threat before using deadly force.
• Allows smooth transition from search to firing mode.

Flashlight Grip

• Watchman Grip: Flashlight held in the support hand with the illuminating end projecting from the index finger side of the hand.
• Flashlight Grip: How you hold a flashlight.
• Watchman Grip: Flashlight held in support hand with the illuminating end projecting from the index finger side; thumb controls the on/off switch.
• Law Enforcement/Tactical Grip: Thumb controls a rear-mounted switch; the index finger controls a side-mounted switch.
• Law Enforcement Tactical Grip: Flashlight held in support hand with the illuminating end projecting forward; thumb or index finger controls the switch.

Flashlight Techniques

• Auu Technique: Watchman grip, handgun, and flashlight next to each other.
• AUU Technique: Handgun in primary hand, flashlight in support hand, using the Watchman grip.
• Harry's Technique: Law enforcement/tactical grip, support hand under the primary hand.
• Harry's Technique: Using the Tactical Grip, cross the support hand under the primary hand, with the backs of the hands together.
• Neck Index Technique: Flashlight brought up to the ear.
• Neck Index Technique: Flashlight up to the ear, gun outstretched.
• FBI Technique: Holding the flashlight far out from the body.
• FBI Technique: Hold the flashlight far out from your body.
• Cleaning tools, solvent lubricants and patches and swabs (caliber specific)

Cleaning the Gun

• Field Stripping: Taking apart the gun to its lowest levels for cleaning.
• Cleaning Tools: Select caliber-specific cleaning tools.
• Cleaning tools, solvent lubricants and patches and swabs (caliber specific)
• Solvents and Lubricants: The use involves products specifically designed for firearm maintenance is very important.
• Solvents and Lubricants: Use solvent and lubricant specifically designed for firearm maintenance.

Cover and Concealment

• Cover: Any object or obstacle that creates a bullet-resistant barrier.
• Cover: Any object/obstacle that creates a bullet-resistant barrier between you and a threat (solid concrete wall, vehicle engine block, concrete telephone poles).
  • Examples: Solid concrete wall, vehicle engine block, concrete telephone poles.
• Concealment: Any object or group of objects that create a visual barrier but may not stop a projectile.
  • Examples: Bushes, trees, and cars.
• Concealment: Any object/group of objects that creates a visual barrier between you and a threat but may not stop a projectile (bushes, trees, cars).
• Consider size, density, location, and versatility when choosing cover.
• Cover can be concealment, but concealment is not necessarily cover.
• Walls and doors are usually concealment.
• Walls and doors are usually concealment.
• Factors to consider when choosing cover: size, density, location, and versatility.
• Size: Should be large enough to fully conceal your body.
• Density: Should be capable of stopping a projectile.
• Versatility: Need options of using side hand support hand, primary hands, and different shooting positions.

Barricade Position

• Position behind cover to fire your handgun.
• A position behind cover to fire your handgun.

Tactical Reload

• Reloading when you want to, not when you need to; preferable to have a full magazine.
• Tactical Reload: Ensuring your firearm is completely loaded before confronting an armed suspect.
• Reload when you want to, not when you need to.

Survival Shooting

• Active Threat/Shooter Incidents: Involve one or more individuals using deadly force to kill or attempt to kill people in a confined area.
• Active Threat/Shooter Incidents: Involve one or more individuals using deadly force to kill or attempt to kill people in a confined or populated area.
• Assume you will respond alone; threat assessment is crucial.
• Assume you will respond alone, so be prepared to act without backup.
• Survival Stress: Body and mind's response to a perceived threat.
• Survival Stress: Body and mind's response to a perceived threat.
• The body's and mind's response to a perceived threat.
• May induce tunnel vision, diminished or amplified hearing, increased heart rate, and loss of fine motor skills.
• Physiological changes include tunnel vision, diminished/amplified hearing, and increased heart rate.
• Rely on gross motor skills.
• Rely more heavily on your gross motor skills.
• Mental preparation: Recognize and develop strategies to manage stress.
• Tactical response: Immediate response, violence of action (speed, strength, surprise, aggression).
• Avoid the urge to stop and help those who are wounded or scared until the threat has been stopped.
• Tactical response: Immediate response, violence of action (speed, strength, surprise, aggression).
• Direct to threat clearing: Bypassing all doors, rooms, or any other potential treats in order to get to the sole location through sight, sound, or intelligence of where the shooter is at.
• Direct to threat clearing: Bypassing all doors, rooms, and any potential threats in order to get to the location through sight, sound, or intelligence.
• Principles of Tactical Response: Immediate response, violence of action (speed, strength, surprise, aggression), moving directly to the threat, bypassing all doors, rooms, and any potential threats in order to get to the location through sight, sound, or intelligence.
• Noise and positive target identification.
• Assess a person who poses a fear of attack and does not assume and hold a surrender position or non-threatening posture.
• Shoot an active threat/shooter that has been identified and recognized as not being able to be safely and immediately captured or contained by lesser means.

Actions Immediately After Neutralizing the Threat

• Assess 360 Security, check yourself, communicate, and provide first aid.
• Tactics to use immediately after neutralizing the threat include assessing 360° security, conducting a self-check, communicating with responding backup, and providing first aid.