VikingWarlord
Sharpshooter
Who cares?
This was really my first thought when seeing this thread.
Apparently. four pages worth of people discussing it.
Who cares?
This was really my first thought when seeing this thread.
Who cares?
I couldn't disagree more. Snatch resistant holsters and manual safeties increase reaction time. Considering that officers usually react to a situation and are immediately put at a disadvantage; adding to that could be a death sentence. I believe in the KISS principle. Weapon retention training is very important and adequate holsters are a must, but please, a manual safety...no way.With no offense toward my brothers and sisters in ISP, however, one post stated that since the Superintendant is a "Glock Guy", the ISP will be keeping Glocks, that's like saying since I prefer Jack Daniel's, all of the guys that I work with drink JD.
In most all police agencies (I know, I know, there are certainly exceptions) the department head is usually the LEAST knowledgeable about firearms, and usually the LEAST qualified to say which weapon is "better" than others. Not to mention that the department head usually posts a minimal qualifying score (if they qualify at all) during qualifications.
The firearms staff or "range instructors" usually make recommendations with regard to weapon selection. More progressive departments offer the officers several choices of weapon or different brands due to the differentiation (read different size and sex officers here) of the body of the workforce.
I still maintain that a police officer's sidearm, be it a semiautomatic pistol, should require a manual safety to be deactivated prior to the weapon firing, if nothing else to protect the officer carrying it. Carrying a Sig, Glock, DAO Beretta or DAO Smith with no manual safety device may endanger the officer or others if an officer should be disarmed by felonious assault. At least some sort of manual safety device such as the manual safety on a 1911, Browning Hi-Power, Beretta 92, et. al. provides a momentary window of opportunity for the officer to take some sort of action should he/she be disarmed. Unless that Glock has had the Cominolli modification, there is no "manual safety", and one has in effect a seventeen to nineteen round revolver.
I do believe that Springfield XD's and the Smith M&P have the option for an external "manual safety."
Not to mention, being adequately trained in the Manual of Arms for any weapon carried is not suggested, but required.
I intend no offense to those that carry personal weapons such as Glocks, etc. sans manual safety. If it works for you, and you paid for it, so much the better. That is your choice.
IDK, I was just relaying what trooper told me at the range a couple months ago. I don't know any ISP personally as with other departments so I can't confirm. I don't really care either way. I know many officers around the country and not all are Glock departments. Los Angeles still issues good ole' Beretta's. Between that and Glock I've seen everything on officer's sides from 1911' to M&P's and XD's. I don't really care what they choose regardless. I'm just not a brand name fanboy of any kind.Don't see how that would affect the ISP, since they are issued Gen3 G17s.
Who cares?
When a bad guy has your duty weapon, it is time to be evasive while drawing your backup. That might be an interesting training scenario.If a bad guy ends up with your gun you are already screwed. This was the case when revolvers were the only game in town and it's still the case today. Counting on a bad guy to not know how to disengage a manual safety is likely not going to work out too well. As mentioned, weapon retention training and quality holsters are critical.
The answers could fill a book!INCONCEIVABLE!!!!!! Why would anybody go from a Glock to a S&W?!
So could the questions. In all honesty, I would as a policeman want to train on what I was to use, and then just make sure I was the best I could be on it. You carry for a reason. You want it to go bang every time. You want it to be accurate. You want it to function properly. Beyond that, you want to be able to count on a constant in the firearm you carry. If it is a Glock or an S&W, a Ruger or a Colt, what does it really matter? As long as the gun does what you need it to do, it is a tool.The answers could fill a book!
So could the questions. In all honesty, I would as a policeman want to train on what I was to use, and then just make sure I was the best I could be on it. You carry for a reason. You want it to go bang every time. You want it to be accurate. You want it to function properly. Beyond that, you want to be able to count on a constant in the firearm you carry. If it is a Glock or an S&W, a Ruger or a Colt, what does it really matter? As long as the gun does what you need it to do, it is a tool.
Don't get too attached to names and duty weapon preferences. Most police I know prefer a quality weapon that works as intended, and aren't married to a brand.
Funny thing, you beat me to it, but that is what I just heard as well....I just talked to a Corporal with ISP. They're going with Glock 21's according to him.
Most police I know don't know much about guns and aren't concerned with what they carry. Trying to get them to qualify is like pulling teeth.Most police I know prefer a quality weapon that works as intended, and aren't married to a brand.
Who cares?
I couldnt agree more with the Beretta comment!!!!I never understood why they went away from the Berreta.