The rule is not repealed just because you're at home, or have a long gun. If you have a light on your weapon, you're pointing the gun at whatever the light is illuminating.
I didn't mean that the general rule should be repealed, but that it can be useful to find safe ways to use weapon-mounted lights rather than dismissing them out of hand. I had suggested that in some situations it is unnecessary to point the gun directly at a person in order to identify them, in which case the rule does not apply.
The statement I was responding to went far beyond the boundaries of this topic, saying in absolute terms that no lights belong on any weapon, and I wanted to see what the poster thought regarding other common scenarios (hopefully without implicitly and needlessly belittling others this time--tough luck, I guess).
A better choice is to work out your tactics. I always recommend a safe room at the end of a hall, with a night light at the other end to silhouette anyone approaching the safe room.
Yes, as everybody knows, home invasions and other defensive scenarios, much like combat, is always predictable--make a solid plan ahead of time and never deviate from it because the enemy will always do what you expect.
I'm with the group who prefers a hand held light to anything mounted on a handgun.
I prefer to use a handheld flashlight, too, whenever that is possible, but I also like to have the option of a weapon-mounted light available (and yes, this takes more training).
I'd rather not use my trigger finger for anything other than trigger manipulation. It's not terribly hard to look around and learn of an instance where some cop unintentionally manipulated a trigger under stress, instead of a light switch, and the weapon fired.
That's a valid concern, which is one reason I prefer to use a handheld flashlight with pistols. What I'm arguing against is the absolute dismissal of all weapon-mounted lights.
To the poster that pointed out my HORRIBLE error as to the actual list and where DO NOT POINT/AIM YOU GUN AT ANYTHING YOU DO NOT INTEND TO DESTROY,I thank you and might add = its still one of THE rules that many here are violating - PERIOD.
But until the shooting, if any, starts I would not be pointing the weapon at anybody, as explained above. Indirect illumination is sufficient for identification under many circumstances, given an adequately bright light. A light mounted on a gun gives me this capability while simultaneously freeing up a hand.
And to any that post that they train with the many hours and live rounds to perfect this discipline needed to use afore mentioned gun mounted lights = please explain where and how often you shoot in low light while moving .Sorry but my b.s. meter dont go that high.
I train in my home several times a week, and in my garage whenever it involves shooting or would disturb other members of my household. Much of my training and practice involves handling and manipulation that takes place before any shooting, so I can do that anywhere. It's fun (although I take it seriously), so it's not a chore. When I combine this with shooting, I use Airsoft guns in my garage. Using live ammo would be ideal, but it's not necessary in order to gain proficiency in tactics and the safe use of weapon-mounted lights. If you think that I must be lying, then there is no way to convince you otherwise, but nothing I've described here is outside the realm of possibility for just about anybody.
Many are in a fantasy world and I am sad to see how many are willing to ignore the obvious and do something that will be a great lawsuit if used - lights on a gun.
What would be the basis of such a lawsuit if the shooting was justified?
That it helped me identify the intruder as an intruder and perhaps shoot him with greater accuracy? Is that illegal?
OR,its just possible that 90% of the posters are just blowing hot air to amuse themselves,not knowing others might actually believe their flights of fancy.
Not if you "splash" the light off the floor/ground, wall or ceiling. There's no need to point the muzzle at the threat to identify friend or foe when using a weapon mounted light.
Now here is a voice of reason. Inside my home, at least, I don't even need to point a gun anywhere I normally wouldn't point it because the whole room (any room) is illuminated from floor bounce alone. The point is to have a light that I can readily control, while leaving a hand free whenever that is necessary. Sometimes I'll use a house light, but I can't entirely depend on that. Sometimes I'll use a handheld flashlight, but even that does not provide me with the flexibility that I may need for some dynamic situations.
Usually I'll simplify my equipment and techniques as much as possible, eliminating things that I don't feel I'll ever need, but there is no simplifying certain aspects of defensive firearms use beyond a certain point. For example, it'd be nice if we could pick a single stance and devote all of our practice to that stance, but in reality we have to adapt to whatever the situation turns out to be, including the use of cover and being forced to fire from awkward positions or while on the move (I work on all of these--Airsoft is quite liberating and helps one become a better fighter, in conjunction with putting in the necessary range practice with live ammo). Similarly, the critical capability of using light to identify potential targets should not be limited to what we can plan for ahead of time, which includes how we use our hands. I'll use other lights first, as allowed, but having a weapon-mounted light available increases my adaptability. And whenever the shooting starts but for some reason doesn't end right away, the weapon-mounted light becomes the preferred option, allowing me to use both hands with the weapon or one hand for any other purpose (e.g. holding onto a frightened child who didn't make it to where they're supposed to go--things don't always go as planned and tend to happen quickly).
However a simple verbal challenge can also be used to identify friend or foe, which is preferrable to using a flashlight and waiting until you're at the brink of using deadly force.
That's right, and it depends on the situation. Generally, if you're using a light, it means that the situation has, for whatever reasons, already been escalated. We still need to see who we're potentially going to shoot, though, as there may be reasons why a non-target would not respond immediately to a verbal challenge.
