Johnny Guest
Moderator In Memoriam
Just for the sake of discussion - - -
First: Police in general do carry their SIDEARMS loaded and ready for instant use. With an autoloader, this means having a round in the chamber.
I served for 37 years as a full time peace officer, starting when almost all agencies required the use of double action revolvers. I've always been interested in guns, and paid close attention to how other agencies treat the issue of firearms carry. I have NEVER encountered a civil law enforcement organization which required chamber empty carry of a handgun. The military is another matter, but outside the topic of this discussion.
The idea of carrying a modern double action revolver with an empty chamber under the hammer makes little or no sense. I have known one experienced officer who kept his S&W .357 with an empty chamber for "first up," feeling this would give him an instant's advantage if he lost control of the handgun. I believe he was a bit obsessive on the topic, and he refused to discuss the matter.
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Second: While I understand that the topic at hand pertains to handguns, many police agencies either provide LONG GUNS or approve carry of personally owned long guns. Typically, shotguns, rifles, and carbines are carried in "Cruiser ready" mode. This is Chamber EMPTY, uncocked, safety OFF, and a loaded magazine. There's a variety of reasons for this, the main one being that the long gun is not normally carried on the officer's person, but is left in the patrol car (hopefully cased or in a locked rack) for the entire shift. The handgun, though, remains under the officer's direct control at all times.
//A long winded way of saying, "I agree."\\
Best
Johnny
First: Police in general do carry their SIDEARMS loaded and ready for instant use. With an autoloader, this means having a round in the chamber.
I served for 37 years as a full time peace officer, starting when almost all agencies required the use of double action revolvers. I've always been interested in guns, and paid close attention to how other agencies treat the issue of firearms carry. I have NEVER encountered a civil law enforcement organization which required chamber empty carry of a handgun. The military is another matter, but outside the topic of this discussion.
The idea of carrying a modern double action revolver with an empty chamber under the hammer makes little or no sense. I have known one experienced officer who kept his S&W .357 with an empty chamber for "first up," feeling this would give him an instant's advantage if he lost control of the handgun. I believe he was a bit obsessive on the topic, and he refused to discuss the matter.
.Second: While I understand that the topic at hand pertains to handguns, many police agencies either provide LONG GUNS or approve carry of personally owned long guns. Typically, shotguns, rifles, and carbines are carried in "Cruiser ready" mode. This is Chamber EMPTY, uncocked, safety OFF, and a loaded magazine. There's a variety of reasons for this, the main one being that the long gun is not normally carried on the officer's person, but is left in the patrol car (hopefully cased or in a locked rack) for the entire shift. The handgun, though, remains under the officer's direct control at all times.
//A long winded way of saying, "I agree."\\
Best
Johnny
