Strike Tactical Solutions

Newsletter 2/2007

• Feedback from the SHOT Show By Henk Iverson 
• DTI Quips - Living with guns - By John Farnam 
• Rifle / Carbine Training By Jeff Chudwin 
• Detectives, Off Duty Cops and I.D. By Rocky Warren 
• United We Stand? By Henk Iverson 
• Mind, Body, Spirit: Rugby & SWAT - Unlikely Bedfellows By Louis P. Hayes Jnr 
• Talking Tactics: Unintentional Discharges, Finger OFF the Trigger? By Shannon Bohrer
• The Library - Suggested Reading For Professionals By Henk Iverson 
• Quote of the Month By Henk Iverson 

• Weight unloaded lbs  8.1
• Length " 26
• Barrel length " 18
• Magazine 10 or 20 Metric FAL
• Magazine loaded (10 rds) lbs 0.85
• Muzzle energy ftlbs 2500

Many years ago, while attending The US Army Command and General Staff College at Ft Leavenworth, KS, I submitted a paper entitled, "Living With Guns". In it, I described my sometimes exasperating experiences as an infantry second lieutenant, platoon commander in Vietnam in 1968. I observed that, during that War, although we all had been theoretically trained to operate small arms, nobody had ever taught us how to live with them! Many years ago, while attending The US Army Command and General Staff College at Ft Leavenworth, KS, I submitted a paper entitled, "Living With Guns". In it, I described my sometimes exasperating experiences as an infantry second lieutenant, platoon commander in Vietnam in 1968. I observed that, during that War, although we all had been theoretically trained to operate small arms, nobody had ever taught us how to live with them!

I submitted that individual soldiers need experiences that prepare them, not only to operate, but to actually live with, loaded guns during prolonged periods of intermittent (and sometimes continuous) fighting. One may argue that
such training is dangerous, but without it I contended, our soldiers will continue to accidentally shoot themselves and each other with distressing frequency the moment they enter an area of active fighting.

In Country, I had personally observed many cases of careless gun handling, several of which resulted in NDs, and, as is the case currently in Iraq, there was no shortage of incidents where an ND caused a serious injury or death to
one of our own people. However, despite the fact that such catastrophes were scandalously common, they usually elicited little more than a sarcastic chuckle (or a yawn) from battalion-level brass. They seemed to write off such
episodes as "inevitable". They would remark, "These people have been trained in safe gun-handling. It shouldn't happen".

But it kept happening, and it struck me that sterile, abstract training in "safe gun-handling" did not suffice to prevent it.

In stateside training, individual soldiers were rarely provided with experiences that prepared them for when they would have loaded and ready-to-fire rifles and pistols with them constantly. It was not enough, I contended, to
merely train people how to operate small arms, then hysterically snatch the guns away and lock them up in a vault the other ninety-nine percent of the time.

In training, for example, we never actually carried loaded weapons. We handled them, but they were always empty except on those rare occasions where we actually fired live ammunition on a range. But, even on the range,
circumstances were stilted, artificial, and largely theoretical.

However, the moment I arrived in Vietnam, we not only carried loaded firearms, but we slept with them, ate with them, went to the head with them, flew on aircraft with them, etc. Your small arms were your constant companions, and they were always loaded and ready to fire. All that we had to learn on the fly! None of it was ever even mentioned during our stateside "training."

We learned the hard way that is does not suffice merely to train people how to operate guns. We have to make them into professional gunmen, not just gun operators, but gunmen! Anyway, if you're familiar with USMC and US Army
bureaucracy, you can imagine how far my ideas got. Even today, this issue has still not been addressed in any meaningful way. Soldiers today are instructed to be (on rare occasions) warriors, and naive sheep the rest of the time.

In short, incompetent small-arms training was, and still is, "condition-based." It is predicated on the false notion that unloaded guns are safe, and loaded guns are dangerous. Within this mendacious system of thinking, safe" guns are routinely handled carelessly (no matter what you try to say to the contrary), and "dangerous" guns (on those rare occasions when they are actually handled at all), are apprehensively treated as if they were coated with poison. The
rest of the time, we carry sterile guns and pretend to be armed.

Conversely, competent small-arms training is "system-based. There is only one system for handling guns, as all guns are considered dangerous, all the time. All guns are handled the same way, regardless of their ostensible
condition. In other words, a gun's suppositional "condition" has no bearing on the way it is handled. We have no safe guns! We carry loaded guns on our person at every opportunity, taking full advantage of every chance to experience "being armed" (not just pretending).

This fearless and audacious system of gun-handling, combined with good judgement, and common sense will enable you to live with loaded guns daily and never experience even your first accident. Professional gunmen are
distinguished from pretenders by four main points.

1. We're always armed. Yes, we really live it.
2. We don't have accidents with guns.
3. We don't hesitate.
4. We don't miss.

Unfortunately, Western Civilization, even its armies, is rapidly deteriorating from a proud foundation of logic, reason and courage to an unenlightened state of nescient fear and ignorant mysticism, truly a recipe for chaos.
Details may differ slightly, but the philosophy is indistinguishable from the Dark Ages.

As HL Mencken put it, "I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. Of course, this makes me forever ineligible for public office."

... or, it would seem, promotion!

Rifle / Carbine Training - Information and Related Thoughts
By: Jeff Chudwin.

After finishing another series of law enforcement rifle / carbine basic and instructor classes, sponsored by NEMRT (Mobile Training Unit #3), I offer some thoughts on training and equipment.

 Officers in  recent classes fired over 100,000 rounds of .223 /5.56 m/m ammo and in the end we enjoyed another valuable learning experience. Except for one MP-5 and one SIG 551, all officers used an AR-15 / M-16 / CAR-15 / M-4 type firearm. Since 1991, I have been instructing these classes with some great brother ITOA instructors and two of the finest gunsmith / writers in the country; Pat Sweeney and Ned Christiansen out of Michigan. Pat writes the DBI (old Gun Digest) books and is finishing the book of the AR-15 and Ned runs Michiguns Gunsmithing. These men keep the guns running and repair every problem on site at no charge to the student. It sure a makes a difference and does away with some real frustration of sending guns back to the company for a minor repair or replacement part.

This past July, Henk Iverson (owner Strike Tactical Solutions) joined Sgt. Ed Mohn (entry team leader NIPAS) and myself to offer our first  Advanced Patrol Rifle Class. What does “advanced” indicate? This class is designed for officers who have gained proficiency in the basic gun handling skills and use of the patrol rifle/carbine. With the basics mechanics and safety skills in place, the officer is now ready to put the gear into the activities he will face in the street.  Both Henk and Ed bring great experience to this training as long time SWAT and special team operators.  Henk’s perspective from his years of combat and counter terrorism actions offers a number of variations on weapon handling skills. It was an eye opener for all of us and the level of intensity was raised another level.

This course trains the officer in small unit coordinated actions; moving to live fire exercises that focus on movement, cover, shoot skills, communication in whatever order required. This is something that is lacking in law enforcement firearms / Use of Force Training. Officers outside of special teams are NOT training to work as a cohesive unit. All arrive and act as independent actors. You and I have seen it many times; Unfocused response with numerous units rushing into the unknown. We must change this with training as described above.

We are greatly appreciative of the use both the Harvey IL P.D. and Marseilles National Guard base ranges for the classes. At the Guard base we have access to the 50 - 300 meter computerized pop up range. The shooters enjoy the distance work on knockdown targets that automatically reset and report hits for score. Most officer involved shootings will be at short range but it is a confidence builder to engage targets at 330 yards and get first round hits.

 With the assistance of Officer Mitch Shore (also corporate ITOA member / Shore Galleries) we continued to offer a half day of ballistic demonstrations using the FBI/IWBA protocols for ballistic gel and intervening barriers. The officers get the opportunity to do the hands on testing to see for themselves the terminal effect of bullets against barriers. Many law enforcement shootings involve shooting through intervening barriers such as auto glass, sheet metal, etc.

Bottom line; Federal Tactical .223 in either 55 or 62 grain and the newer Corbon 53 grain DPX are the current street load of choice. In a shooting in our area, responding officers attempted to shoot an armed offender through a car windshield with a CAR-15 loaded with poly-tipped .223 ammo of non-bonded design. The bullets shattered on the glass and did not strike the offender who had just murdered a random victim and shot the first responding officer. An open air shot to the head finished the fight. Bullet type and design are critical issues.

We talked at some length about not only developing the skill of officers but to establish and reinforce the WILL of officers to do EVERYTHING possible to protect their lives. Each officer must burn into their heart the basic belief that self defense / self preservation and the protection of the lives of the innocent is paramount. The unwarranted (because you will not violate the law) fear of legal action is baggage that will get one killed. Learn the law, know your policy, then go out and be reasonable (as the Supreme Court has determined in Graham v. Connor) and DO YOUR DUTY even if / when it requires you to use force.

We had a number of AR type carbines fail to function due to the gas key on the bolt carrier coming loose and causing the weapon to short cycle. The bolt carrier does not get sufficient gas into it to move fully to the rear to extract, eject, cock the hammer, and feed and chamber a live round. The broken seal between the gas key and the bolt carrier has allowed gas to escape outside the base of the gas key. This lack of gas pressure causes the weapon to “short cycle”.

What it looks like is this; an empty case is jammed at the top of the feedway with a live round partially fed underneath. Because of insufficient gas pressure, the bolt has not cycled far enough to the rear of the feedway to come behind the magazine and strip a round from the magazine. Instead, the bolt moves part way back over the magazine and  the bottom of the bolt lugs dig into the cartridge at the top of the magazine and drag it forward toward the feed ramp. The bolt is on TOP of the round, NOT feeding from the rear.(bolt over base failure NOT magazine related)  It appears to be magazine related. It is NOT. A simple check for a short cycle weapon and a check I recommend every time the weapon is field stripped is to simply grasp the bolt carrier and twist the carrier key by hand. If loose, it will move. ANY movement indicates the gas seal is broken.

The repair is simple (have a trained armorer do this); unscrew the carrier key, AFTER removing the bolt assembly, clean all surfaces with a non-petroleum based degreaser, apply Locktight 640-green color  sleeve and bearing or red color 272. (NOT Blue thread locker as it will not take the heat) and reassemble. Tighten down hand tight with an Allen wrench and let cure overnight for best results. You can then restake the area above the cap screws. (see photos of proper staking method)  In classes, we have put them back on the line after an hour and it worked fine.

A new tool designed by Ned Christiansen, the MOACKS, is a mandatory piece of gear to do proper staking in the field with minimal fuss. Highly recommended.

(http://www.m-guns.com/tools.php)

What does all this mean to the officer on the street? When the gas key loosens, the weapon will fail. We checked rifles everyday as we did a daily teardown. The keys appeared solidly staked in place. Yet some still came loose during training.

We never saw this in the 70's and 80's at Second Chance Combat Shoot where hundreds of thousands of rounds were fired through Colt AR-15's. Now we have experienced this problem with rifles / carbines from many manufacturers. It may be a rush to get guns produced and sold. It is INEXCUSABLE that any M-16 / AR-15 type weapon should leave the factory without proper gas key seal. Check yours every time you clean it.

On another carbine we took the bolt out and did a standard check I have the officers do; check the bolt to see that one side is peened (flattened slightly) where the bolt cam pin passes through the bolt. This prevents the cam pin from being put in the wrong side. If the cam pin can be place in from either side of the bolt, the officer can assemble it 180 degrees opposite and the weapon will attempt to eject out the left side of the receiver where NO ejection port exists. THIS IS A BIG DEAL. The rifle fires ONE TIME AND THAT IS IT. Again, a reputable manufacturer sent out a carbine with an unpeened bolt.

We are seeing too many faulty parts and weapons. The AR-15 / M-16 system is a good system when all is built and assembled correctly. I have used these firearms for competition and carry for 30 years. I do not know everything about them but after seeing a million plus rounds fired through a large number of them, I have a fair idea of what the issues are.

I have written extensively about the extraction failures and that the problem is a simple cure; BUY and install an Extractor Defender (D-Ring) from Mack Gwinn at MGI Inc.

This small device has all but eliminated a very common problem of lack of extractor tension in this system. It has been tested to over 20,000 rounds according to Mack and is still going strong. Many are in use by the military and it should be a mandatory part. We put these in ALL of our AR-15 type weapons.

We had a number of failures to function when AR type rifles / carbines went 300-400 hundred rounds without cleaning or additional lube. I know this sound like a lot of shooting to most (it is not in many classes) but it is an indicator of what happens when weapons are not maintained over a period of time. Cleaning and lube continues to present a problem. These weapons do not run well when dirty, hot, and dry. Wet lube attracts dirt and dust and in hot, dry, and dusty areas of operation is a problem. Dry lube such as a moly base has been around for years and offers an alternative. Whatever you choose, check your rifle condition often and keep it clean and lubed.

The one mistake I see shooters making with the EOTech is that they turn the brightness setting  too high and the reticle (aiming indicator / red dot) intensity  blocks out clear visual sighting of the target. Keep it low and clear. The EOTech is in use by our military overseas and has been upgraded to a new throw lever mount and DL123 lithium batteries in the new Model 553. The AA battery model series is recommended. Battery life is now measured at over 1000 hours and the sight has an automatic power shut off.

Other shooters prefer the Aim Point Comp. M series with a LaRue mount or an ACOG. No doubt these are good gear. My preference to the EOTech is simply the difference in looking through a tube  v. looking at a small flat screen.  But again, this is personal preference so long as the gear holds up.

Post Script:  make every effort to advance your training and education. Check the ITOA training calendar for the rifle / carbine FTX’s and upcoming classes.  Access the NEMRT web site for future law enforcement firearms training classes. Make every effort to  train with Henk Iverson and Strike Tactical.  Attend law enforcement rifle / carbine classes offered by other trainers and companies, especially those who support the ITOA. Continued training and education is the key to officer safety and survival.

• Extractor Defender D-Ring: available through Strike Tactical Solutions and Shore Galleries.
• ChamberSafe Inc. www.chambersafe,com / available through Strike Tactical  / Shore Galleries / ATKulovitz and Associates
• EOTech: http://www.eotech-inc.com/
• GG&G: http://gggaz.com/products/madbuis.php
• ITOA: www.itoa.org
• Michiguns: http://www.m-guns.com/contact.php
• Patrick Sweeney Ginsmithing: PatrickSweeneyGunsmithing@comcast.net
• NEMRT: www.nemrt.com
• Rock River: http://www.rockriverarms.com/
• Shore Galleries: http://www.shoregalleries.com/ 847-676-2900
• StrikeTactical Solutions:  http://www.striketactical.com/
• AT Kulovitz: 708-460-1090

Detectives, Off-Duty Cops and I.D.
By Rocky Warren Sgt. (ret)

With the passage of H.R. 218 allowing peace officers to carry their weapons in all 50 states, the identification of “friend or foe” is going to become more of an issue.  Every officer can recount incidents of “blue on blue” friendly-fire casualties.  It’s every officer’s worst nightmare. 

Understand that plain-clothes officers, whatever their capacity, should comply with the commands of uniformed officers.  That uniformed officer has no idea who you are unless they’re staring at your ID or they know you.  Even then, low-light or adrenaline stress may make things very dicey for the officers involved in the situation.  If you’re plain-clothes there’s are simple rules: Don’t shout back.  Don’t wave your hands, your wallet or your cell phone around.  Don’t turn with a gun in your hand.  Just do the smart thing.  Obey the uniforms!  Do what they tell you.  If it’s drop the gun, do it.  File a claim form to get the darned thing re-blued.  It’s not worth your well being or life to argue. 

When you’re working in plain-clothes or off-duty, you most definitely want to be able to identify yourself to uniformed officers.  “Serpico” style chains worn around the neck are not ideal.  Have you ever run with a chain and badge around your neck?  It beats you to death!  Your extended arms will cover the badge when you hold a gun.  Enough officers have been shot with their badges on their belts to prove that wearing it there almost guarantees it won’t be seen.  Holding your ID folder or belt badge clip takes complete use of your support hand.  If you have to open a door, hold a flashlight or take physical control of someone, you stand a good chance of losing your badge and wallet, or being unable to do the technique needed.

Nearly twenty-five years ago, I heard an instructor say they put a shoestring or a leather shoelace on a badge case and looped it over their finger.  Unfortunately, when you do that, the badge twists and turns backward frequently.  Not a good solution.  With a little tinkering, I’ve been using and improving “The Survival Strap” for about 20 plus years.  We all know that the eyes are drawn to the area of the gun.  Why not put your badge right below your gun and where everyone is more certain to see it?

The Survival Strap gives the user the ability to identify to front, rear or both sides and each is a non-threatening very low-key motion.  Again, if the officer demands I drop my gun, it’s going to hit the ground.  But if I can present the badge prior to the officer’s arrival, in a unique manner of presentation, there’s a better chance the officer will see it.

The survival strap also gives options for looping the strap over the index finger, palming the badge, hiding it from casual view and then flipping it over the top of the hand.  Or you can loop it over the little finger and palm the badge facing toward you.  Dropping it out of the palm puts it into view and allows you to draw your firearm with the strong hand, while you can still hold a light, open doors or use that hand to take someone to the ground.

I’ve been trying to get a police equipment company interested in this for years and even had it published in a major magazine years ago.  But my overwhelming wish is that it save lives. Make a Survival Strap.  Today.  Use it in good health.

• United - "Together as ONE"
• We -  "The People of the United States of America"
• Stand - "To stand tall, proudly, strong, to tower above all others"
   
  Now let's ask the question .... how "united" are we REALLY?
  

Read the above CAREFULLY. Is this not what is happening RIGHT NOW in the United States? The war on terror has divided the strong American people and the enemy is using this division to their advantage. They have separated allies from the US. Spain ran with its tail between it's legs away from the fight when the going got tough. There are numerous accounts of battles, where American troops fought insurgents and Spanish troops hid behind cover claiming they are "peace keepers" on a "peace keeping mission" and they are not there to fight.

This is age old war strategy. Use the enemy's weaknesses against him. The Art of War was written more than 2000 years ago. According to Sun Tsu, the primary target of the warrior is the "mind" of the opposing commander. By weakening the mind of the commander, the army is soon to follow.

You might not agree with the wars in Afganistan or Iraq and that is your right, but face the FACTS. We ARE at war. Terrorism is a FACT OF LIFE in the United States. American soldiers are in the war zone, fighting for the FREEDOM that we sing of in the National Anthem, the FREEDOM you and I cherish so much.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. Freedom is fought for. The payment for the right to FREEDOM is made in BLOOD. The blood of the American soldier. I could not believe my eyes when I saw "war protesters" were at a funeral of a US Serviceman, killed in action, loudly protesting the war in Iraq. One of the placcards read " You died because George Bush lied". Where is the RESPECT of these US citizens towards its Military? This action was a DISGRACE, a travesty towards military personnel and their families in general.

Strenghth is in numbers. If we stand together, nothing can stop us from reaching the set goals. If we act as ONE, the enemy has to work so much harder to find a WEAK POINT to penetrate. By standing together, UNITED, we form ARMOR that is not easily pierced. Agree or not agree with the war, but SUPPORT OUR TROOPS.

Officer Smith (not his real name) is in a foot chase with subject in a residential area that borders a business district.  The subject Officer Smith is chasing was reported to be armed, but has not displayed a weapon.  Officer Smith had his issued handgun in his right hand with his trigger finger indexed along the frame, and his radio in his left hand.  Officer Smith’s thoughts were; I am so close to catching him that I should holster my handgun.  Almost at the same moment, the subject turned a corner of a private residence, ran into a large bush, which was against a tall fence and bounced back.  Officer Smith turned the same corner and literally ran into the back of the subject.

Officer Smith and the subject ended up on the ground and Officer Smith then secured and handcuffed the subject.  The subject then asked, “Why did you shoot me?”.  Officer Smith responded, “Why did you run?”  When the collision of the subject and Officer Smith occurred, Officer Smith’s 9mm pistol discharged and a round struck the subject in the lower back and then exited approximately 10 inches higher.  The subject knew immediately he had been shot, whereas Officer Smith did not immediately realize that he had fired his pistol.  Another officer, less than 50 feet away, heard the shot and his initial thoughts were that the subject has shot Officer Smith.

Question #1, How does an officer’s pistol discharge without the intent of the officer? 

In almost every academy, police are taught to keep their trigger finger off the trigger and indexed along the frame.  Until they are ready to fire, that is, if you are going to shoot, then put your finger on the trigger.  When officers are taught this technique, many are just told it is done for safety – period.  It should be taught that the safety of keeping your finger off the trigger is because of Dr. Enoka’s study on Involuntary Muscular Contractions, 1991.

According to the study, there are three factors that can cause an officer to experience an unintentional discharge with a handgun.  The three conditions include:  startle response, balance disturbance and a fair amount of force with the non-shooting hand.  If the officer has his/her handgun out of the holster and the trigger finger is on the trigger when one of these three conditions occurs, the officer’s trigger finger can move the trigger to the point the weapon fires, without an intent by the officer to discharge the weapon.       

Startle Response

If an officer has his/her handgun out  with the finger on the trigger, searching a building, covering a suspect, etc., and an external event startles the officer, the officer’s trigger finger can move the trigger and cause the gun to fire – unintentionally.  An officer is searching a building, using light and noise discipline, the officer reaches for a door knob and just as s/he turns the knob, a cat jumps and screams from under the officer’s feet – and bang.  The result – bullet door – it may be embarrassing, but in most cases it could have been prevented if the officer had his/her finger off the trigger.  

Balance Disturbance

If an officer has his/her handgun out with the finger on the trigger, running after a suspect and trips, losing their balance, the officer’s trigger finger can move the trigger and cause the gun to fire – unintentionally.  Just before a dynamic entry an officer is in line with other officers, with his/her weapon out and finger on the trigger, moving forward next to a wall.  The officer with his/her finger on the triggers stumbles and loses balance – and bang.  The result – bullet leg for the officer in front of the officer that strumbled.  In most cases the unintentional discharge could have been prevented if the officer had his/her finger off the trigger, and the weapon was pointed in a safe direction.

If an officer has his/her handgun out with their finger on the trigger and uses the free hand in an attempt to control a subject, the officer’s trigger finger can move the trigger and cause the gun to fire – unintentionally.  The cause is an “interlimb interaction,” meaning that what one hand does, influences the other hand.  An officer is arresting an individual and has his/her handgun in their shooting hand, finger on the trigger.  With the free hand, the officer attempts to control the individual – and bang.  As the non-gun hand uses more force to control the subject, the shooting hand contracts with an “interlimb interaction” and the officer’s trigger finger moves the trigger to the rear.  The shot was unintentional, and in most cases could have been prevented if the officer had his/her finger off the trigger. 

After the Study

After the study, officers everywhere were trained and told to keep their fingers off the trigger, until they are going to shoot.  Unfortunately, not all departments follow these simple guidelines.  Some agencies train officers to keep their fingers off the trigger, unless they are getting ready to shoot, or might be getting ready to shoot.  The trouble with the training is that the trigger finger ends up on the trigger when the officer is not shooting and can be subjected to; startle, balance, or interlimb effects.

Many departments/agencies adopted training and policies that were intended to keep the officers trigger finger off the trigger until they were going to shoot, believing the training and policy would keep the firearms from discharging.  While teaching officers to keep their trigger fingers off the triggers until they were shooting greatly reduced the unintentional discharges, it did not eliminate them. 

Officer Smith was positive his trigger finger was indexed on the frame and off the trigger.

Although Officer Smith was positive he had his finger off the trigger, being startled, losing his balance and using both hands to avoid a collision, Officer Smith’s gun went off – meaning his finger was on the trigger.    At the civil trial, Officer Smith’s expert witness testified that the combination of all three conditions; balance, startle and interlimb interactions, could cause the officer’s finger to leave the touch point and end up on the trigger.  The expert had witnessed this in simulated training events. 

In Officer Smith’s case, a combination of all three conditions caused Officer Smith’s Trigger finger to leave the indexed position – to the trigger – and then pull the trigger, without Officer Smith’s intent.

Some of you reading this article may be saying something like “Male Bovine Fecal Material.”  You may think that teaching students to keep their trigger finger off the trigger will prevent all unintentional discharges, it does not.  There are those rare instances where an officer’s trigger finger is indexed along the frame, and because of a combination of events, like Officer Smith’ case, the finger goes to the trigger and bang – and its unintentional.

Question #2, If keeping your trigger finger off the trigger does not prevent all unintentional discharges, what does?

Keeping the officer’s trigger finger off the trigger does not prevent all unintentional discharges, but it would probably eliminate, or has the ability to eliminate many of them.  Therefore, teaching officers to keep their finger off the trigger until they are going to shoot, not that they might shoot, but are going to shoot, should be the standard.        

There is some evidence that the officer, while keeping his/her finger off the trigger, should keep a curvature in the trigger finger using the tip of the finger as the touch part.  The idea or thought is that if the trigger finger contracts, due to balance, startle or “interlimb effects” the trigger finger will fall behind the trigger, inside the trigger guard.  The anecdotal evidence for this strategy does exist, but conversely the space behind the trigger on many of the common firearms used by law enforcement, is not sufficient for a trigger finger.  Another idea is for officers to have a curvature in the trigger finger with the touch point behind the trigger, and yet another theory is that if the officer’s indexed trigger finger is “straight,” it is less likely to fall to the trigger?             

The small amount of research on the above practices is not sufficient to make generalized statements of fact.   Additionally, the facts are that officers have different sized hands and fingers and there are different sized firearms and operating systems.  Add these generalities to the fact that officers are human and can make mistakes, then maybe the prevention of all accidental discharges does not appear to be possible? 

In “Involuntary Muscle Contractions and the Unintentional Discharge of a Firearm,” by Roger M. Enoka, Ph.D., 2003, (see references), Dr. Enoka offers suggested training to reduce unintentional discharges.  The training should be scenario based that is likely to cause involuntary contractions that could induce unintentional discharges of a weapon, the training should include stress, simulating field experiences with high arousal levels, and the training should be offered more than once a year.  Static training and/or closed motor skills, firing a standard qualification course, is thought to accomplish little in the reduction of unintentional discharges by involuntary muscle contractions.

To help reduce unintentional discharges, officers should be taught to follow the simple safety rules.  While these rules are quit common, many times they become espoused theory rather than theory in use.  Rules don’t prevent accidents, only the actual practice of the rules can prevent accidents.

1. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are going to shoot.  This will not always prevent the trigger from being pulled, (Officer Smith’s case) but it should greatly reduce the number of times that it can occur.    
2. Keep the muzzle of the weapon pointed in a safe direction.   If – the officer has an unintentional discharge and the weapon is pointed in a safe direction, the probability of injury is greatly reduced.  The laser rule, keep it pointed in a safe direction.  
3. Teach officers why they need to keep their finger off the trigger.  If you could talk to ninety-nine percent of all officers, just before they have an unintentional discharge, they would tell you that would not happen to them.  This could be related to the fact that they do not know that it could happen (Enoka studies).

• Williams, George T., “Teaching Finger Indexing”, The Police Marksman, January/February 2004 edition.Enoka, Roger M., Ph.D., “Involuntary Muscle Contractions and the Unintentional Discharge of a Firearm”, Law Enforcement Executive Forum, Volume 3, N2, 2003.A must read for every firearms instructor
• Artwhol, Alexis, Ph.D., “No Recall of Weapon Discharge”, Law Enforcement Executive Forum, Volume 3, Number 2, 2003, Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
• Grossi, David M., “Unintentional Discharges: A Training Concern”, The Police Marksman, March/April 2004 edition.
• Arizona Department of Public Safety Staff Report on Interlimb Interactions, “Sympathetic Squeeze”, November 2991, December 9, 1991 and February 11, 1993.
• Enoka, Roger, M., Ph.D., University of Arizona, Tuscon; a review of a presentation on Involuntary Muscular Contraction and Accidental Discharge of a Firearm, IALEFI Conference, September 25, 1991.

About the Author

Stay safe. 


THE LIBRARY - Suggested Reading for the Professional
By Henk Iverson

This will be a monthly column to share information regarding literature that is out there that is deemed "must read" for Law Enforcement personnel, trainers and professional gunmen.

I was walking around the tables at a gun show recently and found a very interesting read. The book is titled "The Warriors" by J. Glenn Gray. The subtitle of this book is "Reflections on Men in Battle". Author  Gray was very involved in World War 2 and wrote this book 12 years after the end of hostilities. I found the book to be gripping.

The book is written in the "On Killing" (by Dave Grossman) fashion.

Chapters include:

• Remembering War and Forgetfulness
• The Enduring Appeals of Battle
• Love: War's Ally and Foe
• The Soldier's relation to Death
• Images of the Enemy
• The Ache of Guilt
• The Future of War

A quotation from this book reads:

"Equally ancient, and apparently as persistant, is the image of the enemy as a creature who is not human at all. Especially common to simple, uneducated soldiery when fighting a foe of another color or race, it is by no means unknown to educated, unimaginative men. They regard the opponant as subhuman, a peculiar species of animal with indeterminable qualities and habits, all evil."

The only problem is finding this publication. I think the last printing was in 1970. Try your local library. 

This is a really good insight into the minds of fighting men. You might be surprized (as I was!) to find yourself described in detail. MUST READ for trainers. 

A quotation from this book reads: The only problem is finding this publication. I think the last printing was in 1970. Try your local library.  This is a really good insight into the minds of fighting men. You might be surprized (as I was!) to find yourself described in detail. for trainers. 

 

A quotation from this book reads: The only problem is finding this publication. I think the last printing was in 1970. Try your local library.  This is a really good insight into the minds of fighting men. You might be surprized (as I was!) to find yourself described in detail. for trainers. 

 

A quotation from this book reads: The only problem is finding this publication. I think the last printing was in 1970. Try your local library.  This is a really good insight into the minds of fighting men. You might be surprized (as I was!) to find yourself described in detail. for trainers. 

 

A quotation from this book reads: The only problem is finding this publication. I think the last printing was in 1970. Try your local library.  This is a really good insight into the minds of fighting men. You might be surprized (as I was!) to find yourself described in detail. for trainers. 

 

A quotation from this book reads: The only problem is finding this publication. I think the last printing was in 1970. Try your local library.  This is a really good insight into the minds of fighting men. You might be surprized (as I was!) to find yourself described in detail. for trainers. 

 

A quotation from this book reads: The only problem is finding this publication. I think the last printing was in 1970. Try your local library.  This is a really good insight into the minds of fighting men. You might be surprized (as I was!) to find yourself described in detail. for trainers. 

 

QUOTE OF THE MONTH
By Henk Iverson

"We all figured we might be dead in the next minute, so what difference did it make what we did? But the longer I was there, the more I became convinced that it was the other way around that counted - that because we might not be around much longer, we had to take extra care how we behaved. Anyway, that's what made me believe I was interested in religion. Another man might have called it something else, but the idea was simply that we had to answer for what we did. We had to answer to something, to someone - maybe just to ourselves."