Search Result: Backup Guns

Because of the tough economic times most agencies issue only a duty sidearm, and the officer wishing to carry a backup can purchase one from a department-approved list. Let's take a look at some of the characteristics you should look for in a BUG.

I am an avowed fan of the revolver in general and short-barreled revolvers in particular. So I was prepared to like the LCR. And I'm happy to tell you it did not disappoint me.

As its name indicates, the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 was designed from the ground up for use by police officers and licensed civilians who needed a small, lightweight, concealable, and easy to use pistol. I believe it would be safe to say that S&W's engineers have delivered just that.

Besides its trim dimensions and extreme light weight, the DB380 also boasts a number of other refinements that make it ideal for backup or undercover carry.

In addition to being used for backup, the SIG Sauer P238 would be very practical for plainclothes officers who need a "deep cover" weapon or as an off-duty gun.

The latest Kahr model, the CW9, is an excellent example of a reliable, compact semi-auto, and it makes an excellent backup or off-duty weapon.

Life is full of compromises. This has been especially true for those that have faced the perplexing problem of selecting an off-duty, undercover, or backup gun.

Last June POLICE magazine published an editorial that asked readers to let us know if their agencies had policies that prohibited officers from carrying backup guns. We promised to contact these agencies and ask the reasons for the policies. Calls were made and the following is our agency-by-agency report.

One of the biggest problems with the concept of backup guns is that police administrators have a tendency to confuse backup guns with smaller, often less reliable "hideaway guns."

It's not hard to make a strong case for backup guns. The basic contention of backup gun proponents is that old saw that goes: If you absolutely have to have one of something to ensure your survival, then you better have two.

The possibility of being kidnapped was heavy on the minds of LAPD officers in the mid-1960s because of the kidnapping of their fellow Officers Bob Hettinger and Ian Campbell whose story inspired the book and movie, "The Onion Field."