by 24626151 » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:43 am
Sorry to be a naysayer gents but most weapons are carried in the loaded/made safe mode. When the procurement people decided to buy weapons with slings that are part of the system and not an acoutrement then weapons are at sometime going to point at someone. There is no such thing as a safe direction to point a loaded weapon, only a safer direction. Good drills and skills prevent negligent discharges and the Police have to recieve release from a senior officer if a weapon is to be used or even out on show. Deployment of armed response is in theory controlled. I have had this argument with shooters before, I agree that weapons on a range should be pointed downrange and unloaded at all times, the only exception being when targets are engaged. In the real world of engaging targets that shoot back or at least being ready for them, then muzzle direction awareness is important. This in the british army was taught by the soldier only pointing/carrying the weapon in the direction he was looking. Pointing semi autos in the air as in the early days in NI just gives the weapon farter to fall. When your organisation issues a system with fixed body slings then you need to train for that. Good handling, fingers off triggers and only made ready when necessary, and I hope with plod this means when about to engage targets and having recieved authority to do so! I cant unfortunately see the HK in question but as I carried a 53 on and off for 2 years in NI!