Wildalaska
October 5, 2003, 03:27 AM
Fromm todays Voice of the Times in the ADH...
A few rules for carrying concealed
By ROB HEUN
Deputy Chief Anchorage Police Department
The recently adopted state law on concealed carry provides greater flexibility for citizens who carry concealed firearms for personal protection.
It also puts a greater responsibility for safety on the part of the person exercising his or her Second Amendment rights under the law.Editorial by me...the Anch PD recognizes a 2nd Am right...interesting... For one, each individual must decide what training to take in order to attain a level of safety and competency with the weapon of choice.
There are also certain considerations that must be given to preclude potentially tragic misunderstandings when dealing with police officers while carrying a concealed firearm.
First of all, the fundamental rule for officers is to assume all guns are always loaded. This basic safety premise determines the level of respect that a police officer shows a firearm when either handling it or when spontaneously encountering a gun on the street.
The Anchorage Police Department is unyielding in its insistence that this perspective is instilled in officers from their earliest days of training, and ensures that the mindset is maintained throughout their careers. Citizens would do well to adopt this philosophy themselves and assume that all guns are always loaded.
And never point the gun's muzzle at anything that you are not willing to destroy. A citizen's inattention to where the gun is pointed can often precipitate a lethal response by a police officer.
In the split seconds afforded to assess a threat, the officer has no time to second-guess the intention of the person holding a gun. The bottom line is that if you point a gun at a cop, you will find yourself on the receiving end of deadly force.
Armed citizens must also keep their fingers off the trigger until they have determined a necessity to shoot. Too often weapons are accidentally discharged when fingers are rested on the trigger when there is no intent to shoot.
Keeping your trigger finger extended straight out above the trigger guard, along the top of the gun's frame, is an effective way to ensure the trigger is not inadvertently depressed.
Should you ever find yourself in a situation that justifies the use of lethal force and you have made the decision to use your weapon, be sure of your target and your surroundings.
Firing shots willy-nilly with no control as to their intended placement, or having no consideration for the surroundings in which misplaced bullets might strike an unintended mark, is irresponsible and potentially deadly. Practice with your weapon so that you are competent with the end result, whether you are at the range or engaged in responding to a lethal threat to yourself or another person.
Under the new law, if you are contacted by a police officer, it's your responsibility to advise the officer that you are carrying a concealed weapon. At the time of contact, please do exactly as the officer tells you.
Do not reach for the gun to show the officer you have it before you advise him of the fact. Do not reach for the gun as you are telling the officer that you are carrying one. Do not ever handle the weapon in a manner that allows the muzzle to be pointed at the officer or anyone else.
Officers responding to calls for service cannot immediately ascertain the good guys from the bad guys. We do not have the luxury to determine if a gun is loaded or not.
This is the short version of what we are taught and conditioned for. It makes a good list for anyone handling a firearm.
€ All guns are always loaded;
€ Never cover anything with the muzzle that you are not willing to destroy;
€ Keep your finger off the trigger until you have decided to shoot; and,
€ Be sure of your target and your surroundings.
If you, as a responsible citizen, exercise caution while maintaining a disciplined mindset regarding the handling and use of firearms, you will strike a safe balance between your rights and responsibilities.
That balance could save a life, perhaps your own.
The Voice of the Times does not represent the editorial views of the Anchorage Daily News. This commentary is published under an agreement with the owner of the former Anchorage Times newspaper to preserve its separate editorial voice. The Voice of the Times staff can be contacted at anchtimes@alaska.net.
WildsupportyerlocalpoliceAlaska
A few rules for carrying concealed
By ROB HEUN
Deputy Chief Anchorage Police Department
The recently adopted state law on concealed carry provides greater flexibility for citizens who carry concealed firearms for personal protection.
It also puts a greater responsibility for safety on the part of the person exercising his or her Second Amendment rights under the law.Editorial by me...the Anch PD recognizes a 2nd Am right...interesting... For one, each individual must decide what training to take in order to attain a level of safety and competency with the weapon of choice.
There are also certain considerations that must be given to preclude potentially tragic misunderstandings when dealing with police officers while carrying a concealed firearm.
First of all, the fundamental rule for officers is to assume all guns are always loaded. This basic safety premise determines the level of respect that a police officer shows a firearm when either handling it or when spontaneously encountering a gun on the street.
The Anchorage Police Department is unyielding in its insistence that this perspective is instilled in officers from their earliest days of training, and ensures that the mindset is maintained throughout their careers. Citizens would do well to adopt this philosophy themselves and assume that all guns are always loaded.
And never point the gun's muzzle at anything that you are not willing to destroy. A citizen's inattention to where the gun is pointed can often precipitate a lethal response by a police officer.
In the split seconds afforded to assess a threat, the officer has no time to second-guess the intention of the person holding a gun. The bottom line is that if you point a gun at a cop, you will find yourself on the receiving end of deadly force.
Armed citizens must also keep their fingers off the trigger until they have determined a necessity to shoot. Too often weapons are accidentally discharged when fingers are rested on the trigger when there is no intent to shoot.
Keeping your trigger finger extended straight out above the trigger guard, along the top of the gun's frame, is an effective way to ensure the trigger is not inadvertently depressed.
Should you ever find yourself in a situation that justifies the use of lethal force and you have made the decision to use your weapon, be sure of your target and your surroundings.
Firing shots willy-nilly with no control as to their intended placement, or having no consideration for the surroundings in which misplaced bullets might strike an unintended mark, is irresponsible and potentially deadly. Practice with your weapon so that you are competent with the end result, whether you are at the range or engaged in responding to a lethal threat to yourself or another person.
Under the new law, if you are contacted by a police officer, it's your responsibility to advise the officer that you are carrying a concealed weapon. At the time of contact, please do exactly as the officer tells you.
Do not reach for the gun to show the officer you have it before you advise him of the fact. Do not reach for the gun as you are telling the officer that you are carrying one. Do not ever handle the weapon in a manner that allows the muzzle to be pointed at the officer or anyone else.
Officers responding to calls for service cannot immediately ascertain the good guys from the bad guys. We do not have the luxury to determine if a gun is loaded or not.
This is the short version of what we are taught and conditioned for. It makes a good list for anyone handling a firearm.
€ All guns are always loaded;
€ Never cover anything with the muzzle that you are not willing to destroy;
€ Keep your finger off the trigger until you have decided to shoot; and,
€ Be sure of your target and your surroundings.
If you, as a responsible citizen, exercise caution while maintaining a disciplined mindset regarding the handling and use of firearms, you will strike a safe balance between your rights and responsibilities.
That balance could save a life, perhaps your own.
The Voice of the Times does not represent the editorial views of the Anchorage Daily News. This commentary is published under an agreement with the owner of the former Anchorage Times newspaper to preserve its separate editorial voice. The Voice of the Times staff can be contacted at anchtimes@alaska.net.
WildsupportyerlocalpoliceAlaska