2TransAms said:
Would there be any way to post this study in its entirety?
It's around 80 glossy, full-color pages. Posting it online is not practical.
I did take notes on the study, and scanned in some figures from it. The resulting .pdf is 18.2 MB due to the graphics. It's a beast, and if you want it I suggest that you save it--the file won't be there forever.
Click here for the file. (NOTE: limited to 400MB per hour, so it is limited to 20 viewings per hour--don't waste bandwidth by closing it and then reopening it in case others are waiting to view the file.)
If you just want the notes, text is below.
-----------------
Examines 40 incidents with 43 offenders and 50 officers interviewed
Handguns were criminals’ “weapons of choice,” 9mm most common p9
Why chose weapon: 22 say weapon availability, 25 say ammo availability, 4 took weapons from officer p9-10
Weapon choice: availability over riding factor, familiarity second, other: 1 hand-loads to match available gun, 1 low cost, 1 “because he felt it would do the most damage to a human being” p45
41 of 50 officers assaulted with firearms: 36 handguns, 4 rifles, 1 shotgun; 4 officers assaulted with knives, 3 with vehicles, 3 with hands/fists/feet p10
4 cases where offenders were in residences, offenders did not summon officers and “all [of the offenders] viewed the presence of the officer as an intrusion” p10
10 of 43 offenders were enlisted personnel in the military prior to incident.
“‘I mean, the police officer don’t get as much work as I do. I mean, when it comes to shooting and stuff like that, I do every day so a police officer cannot intimidate me. I mean, look at them guys with a uniform on that’s sometimes, most of them are out of shape. You know, they got stomachs. You know, they can’t run. And, here I am a thug on the street been shooting and killing people all my life and why am I gonna let a guy that just went through the police academy and I’ve been out here in the war zone all my life, why am I gonna let him do something to me?’” p42
“To protect all Americans, the federal government has passed many laws to restrict and limit firearm purchases. The offenders in this research, however, stated that none of these laws are statutes deterred them. During interviews for the Killed in the Line of Duty study, one offender said ‘The weapon I used was stolen in an auto burglary. I didn’t worry about any laws. I sawed the stock and barrel off and had never fired the weapon until I shot and killed the officer.’ … ‘I stole the gun from a guy who stole the gun in a burglary in another jurisdiction… Guns are very easy to get on the street; you just have to know the right people.’” pp43-44
16 offenders had prior firearm instruction: 10 military, 2 high school program, 2 basic skills course, 1 family, 1 hunter-safety program p44
18 officers previously involved in shooting incidents; 18 offenders previous involvement, with 10 reporting involvement in 5 or more incidents p44
“It appeared clear that none of these officers were willing to use deadly force against an offender if other options were available.” p45
50 officers average 14 hours/year; 28 practiced shooting outside requirements, of which 22 hunted by did not practice with handguns—only 6 practiced with handguns outside of requirements (2 weekly, 4 monthly) p46
Of 43 offenders, “most…who carried handguns stated that they practiced shooting their firearms,” 9 practiced on different types of firearms, only 2 shot at ranges, most practiced at informal areas, e.g. “rural areas, wooded terrain, trash dumps, and on street corners in known drug-trafficking areas where gunfire was commonplace.” 81% practiced regularly averaging 23 practice sessions per year p46
“26 of the offenders claimed to be instinctive shooters, which they described in various ways that involved the act of pointing and firing the weapon without consciously aligning the sights.” p47
Illegal drug trafficking coincides with gun trafficking; criminals steal, trade, swap, rent, and barter guns; “Generally, they obtained the firearms by illegal street purchase, trade, swapping on the street, or as the proceeds of theft, such as burglaries and larcenies.” p50
None of the gang members (13) in the study obtained their guns legally p50
4 officers were assaulted with handguns taken from them p50
6 of 43 offenders practiced escape and disarming techniques, sometimes learning them during incarceration p 31
33 offenders used handguns: 32 were obtained illegally: 18 purchased or traded from other individuals, 6 from burglaries, 4 from victim officers, 2 from larcenies, 1 during a homicide, 1 illegally purchased from a firearms dealer in a store (straw purchase by a female associate); 1 legally purchased in a gun store p50-51
Handguns used: 18 semis, 14 revolvers, 1 derringer p51
Long guns used: 4 rifles (1 from a homicide, 1 from an illegal purchase or trade, 2 legally purchased from a dealer store), 1 shotgun (illegal purchase or trade) p51
“None of the rifles, shotguns or handguns connected with this study were obtained from gun shows or related activities.” p51
“When asked about the ease of obtaining firearms illegally, one offender in the current study said: ‘All these politicians are screaming about more gun laws, more gun laws. **** the gun laws. I never gave a **** about the gun laws that are on the books. And, the 8,000 new gun laws would have made absolutely, whatsoever, about me getting a gun. Why? Because I never went into a gun store or to a gun show or to a pawn shop or anyplace else where firearms are legally bought and sold and picked up a gun, ever. Because I’m a felon, and I couldn’t pass a background check, you know. And, that’s just common sense, and I think most felons know that. I’m not going to pass a background check, and I’m not even going to try. Why? Because I can break into Joe Blow’s house down the road here. And, if you do your burglaries in the right places, the chances are very good, I’d say 80 percent or better, that these people are going to have a handgun of one form or another. You can then take that handgun and sell it privately. Of course, it’s not a legal sale. Of course, it’s under the table because you’re probably selling it to another felon, you know, and make money off it or swap him for a better piece. But, that’s the most proficient way that I’ve found to do it, was just break into a house where it was relatively likely they were gonna have a piece and search the mother****er from top to bottom until you found your gun.’” p52
“The investigators asked another offender if he normally purchased handguns from a store. He stated: ‘No, we ain’t going to no store to buy them. I mean, you know, you got everybody out there doing their thing as far as being a criminal. You got guys our there that sell drugs. Guys out there that do burglaries and all that stuff. So, there is some gun sellers out there; so, when it comes down to getting the connect, it’s not difficult at all. I mean, there’s somebody selling guns. I mean, it’s easy. I want to say it’s almost easy as being able to find drugs. Somebody knows who sells guns.’ Such statements are representative of the offenders interviewed” p52
35 offenders regularly carried a handgun: 17 concealed in front belt/waistband area, 8 hid in groin area, 7 in small of back, 4 in pockets, 1 “outside of his clothing tucked in his armpit, making it easy to get to or dispose of as necessary (he exerted pressure on the handgun with his arm to keep it in place)”, none regularly used holsters, 11 sometimes gave their weapons to others, typically a female companion, to carry p45
92% of offenders who carried handguns regularly carried them in the middle torso area of their bodies – should be a focus of attention for body language p56
Beware of those who may carry firearms in hoods of jackets or sweat shirts—notice if someone does not have his or her hood up during raining or snowing weather p56
If an incident involves a vehicle, leave forensic evidence on it such as fingerprints by touching it with your hand p96
When alone in a close position with a drawn gun on you, stay calm and try to talk your way out—do not attempt a disarm maneuver without proper training; if sufficient distance, run for the nearest cover before attempting to address the threat p101
“‘Most shootings don’t occur while standing stationary and shooting at a stationary target…I could have used a lot more training in shooting from a ground position. I might have done better’” –officer who was shot p103
“‘I would have had time to employ a backup weapon if I had been carrying one that day’” –officer who was shot p105
Practice weapon retention, and use proper holsters p106
Do not engage in foot pursuits without formal training; several officers were shot during foot pursuits p119
