LEO Long Gun Reduced Reduced Light Training

Copyright National Rifle Association 2001  Copyright National Rifle Association 2007

Reduced Light Training

Reduced Light Training  1/2 of law enforcement work is performed in reduced light conditions  Day shift – windowless buildings and interior rooms, parking garages  FBI UCR report shows:  69% of officers are assaulted between 6 pm and 6 am

 Of those, 80% occurred between 8 pm and 2 am

Reduced Light Training

 How many dim light trainingsessions per year?  Different from daylight training?  Increasing options for reduced light training - early shifts, indoor ranges, substitute equipment  Document all reduced light training

Target, Threat & Background

Must be Positively Identified

Human Vision

Processed by Cones and Rods located in the eye’s retina.

RODS

CONES

 Cones function to provide:  Color and black and white vision  Ability to discern fine detail  Precise depth perception  Ability to maintain accurate focus on a target  Ability to follow moving targets Daylight Vision

Low-Light Vision  Rods function in diminished light:  Detect edges & motion well  Limitations:  Only see black and white  Diminished depth perception  Cannot see fine detail  Take 7-10 minutes to adapt to dark, and 20 30 minutes before they are efficient

Unaided Shooting Techniques

 Ambient light is usually sufficient.  Too frequently, there is not enough time to deploy a flashlight.  In 71% of the Officer Killed incidents, the distance between the Victim Officer and the Offender was 10 feet or less.

Tactically Distance = Time

Unaided Shooting Techniques  Daytime practice engrains the fundamentals  Silhouette the sights on the horizon  In darkness, there is a gradual loss of the ability to maintain accurate eye focus upon a target.  Use Off-Center Vision And Scanning:  Easier to see by looking

to the side of an object instead of directly at it  Important to continue scanning in dim light

EQUIPMENT SHOOTING AIDS

Laser Sights

Advantages

Disadvantages  Can give position away  Less visible in sunlight  Become laser reliant  Increases tunnel vision  Multiple user problems

 Accurate from

difficult positions

 Training aid

Effective Range varies greatly with ambient lighting conditions, reflectivity of the target, and the shooter’s vision.

Luminous Sights

Disadvantages

Advantages

 Sights may be

 Rapid

bright enough to be seen by a threat in the darkness

identification of sight alignment  Shooters more likely to focus on the sights

 Because only sights are

illuminated, threat and background ID could be difficult  May hamper night vision

Flashlights Tactical Considerations

 ALWAYS have a light  Anything on the ground should be considered lost  Two-way button & dark finish  Have a back-up light  Cup your hands around the lens to reduce the amount of light  Flashlight in support hand  Officers must always train with the light they carry

Using a Light

 Tactical Advantages  Identification of the target, threat and background  Scan larger area for other threats  Disable an adversary by temporarily blinding with light  User controls lighting conditions

Using a Light

 Tactical Disadvantages  Limited use in close quarters

 Gives position away  Beam = bullet magnet  Fumbling  Accessibility of flashlight  Can be difficult using a handheld light with a long gun

Flashlight Techniques

1. Stacked technique – Rifle resting on meaty portion of support hand thumb 2. Modified Harries – Rifle resting on wrist of support hand 3. Mag Well Press – Flashlights with endcap button pulled back into the magazine well

Flashlight Techniques

 Reloading & stoppage clearing  Under shooting side arm  In waistband  Behind support side knee

Mounted Lights

Disadvantages  They can fail when you need them most  Recoil may cause the grip to change, thus turning off a “dead man’s switch”  Anything illuminated may be unintentionally muzzled

Advantages  Light is always available on the weapon  High light output aids in blinding the attacker  Usually used in conjunction with the normal firing grip

 Always have a hand-held flashlight  Allows you to illuminate things you wouldn’t want to cover with your muzzle.  Allows projection of light from angles difficult to achieve with a weapon mounted light.  TRAIN with your backup light. Mounted Lights

Use of Cover

 Light off behind cover  Establish flashlight, grip & stance prior to rocking out  Technique may be chosen based on cover  Position must allow flashlight to be forward of cover to avoid backlighting

Backlit

Important Considerations  When you are in a lighted area, use the flashlight to see into dark areas  If in the dark, use darkness as concealment and do not use the light unless necessary  Light Use:  Move after using  If you leave it on, be a moving target and get out of the line of attack  Maintain visual contact with threat once established  Consider leaving the light on to scan and dominate

Range Operations  All day-light safety rules apply  Stay in your position  Do NOT bend down or search for dropped articles until directed  Keep flashlights “OFF” until required/directed

Copyright National Rifle Association 2001  Copyright National Rifle Association 2007