Gang members on the street and inside prisons acquire edged weapons to use in close-quarter attacks on rival gang members or law enforcement officers. Street gang members typically will use fixed-blade knives, daggers, folding knives, butterfly knives or other utility tools, while inmates fashion their own jail-made shanks and other weapons from boot reinforcements, bed wiring, and other materials. Don't miss POLICE gang expert Rich Valdemar's "Edged Weapons and Gang Culture" blog post.
From full metal jacket to shotgun slugs, the right rounds are essential for every firearm's optimal performance. This is even more important for police officers, who depend on their weapons to help protect and serve. Check out POLICE Magazine's gallery of top manufacturers' newest ammo offerings for law enforcement.
The Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 was designed for use by police officers and licensed civilians who needed a small, lightweight, concealable and easy to use pistol. It's polymer frame is reinforced with a steel insert that contains the trigger mechanism and the rails that the slide reciprocates on. The pistol weighs a mere 11.85 ounces. View our photos showing the details of this new backup gun (including a disassembly view), and then read our Arsenal review, "Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 Pistol."
Los Angeles law enforcement officials including Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck attended an event marking the crushing of 3,469 pounds of weapons mostly used in crimes. Pieces of the weapons will be incorporated into a "peace angel" sculpture at the Boyle Heights Tech Center. Photos courtesy of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.
Green lasers are the rage this year in weapon-mounted lights. Why? If you were to set a green laser and a red laser side by side in a dark room, you'd hardly notice the difference. The green systems really shine in daylight or moderately bright environments. Our eyes see images in a defined spectrum from near infrared to near ultraviolet. Red is at the far edge of the spectrum close to infrared. But green is right smack dab in the middle of that spectrum, which is the most efficient frequency for the human eye. Read "Lights and Lasers: It's Easy Being Green."
Having a firm grip on your semi-automatic handgun is key for several reasons, the most important of which is to avoid what's commonly called "limp wristing" the gun. When a shooter has a weak or loose grip on the gun, it usually results in the firearm not cycling properly, causing the gun to jam. A firm grip will also help you on assignments, where you need to fire from a marine platform. Read "Perfecting Your Handgun Grip" for more. Photos courtesy of Michael Rayburn.
Knives and pocket tools are an invaluable asset for a patrol officer and have become as much a part of the duty uniform as body armor. Here's our look at 10 current offerings for 2010 from today's best-known suppliers.
Remington has reentered the handgun business with the new 1911 R1, manufactured under the ERPC brand. The company last made 1911s during World War I. This new model is a 1911A1 variant with some outstanding modern upgrades. Remington says this 1911 is just the first model in an extensive line. By the end of this year, it plans to offer a stainless-steel model. Other models under consideration include a Commander-style 1911, 1911-style pistols chambered for calibers other than .45 auto, and perhaps a centennial model for 2011.
Glock's pair of Gen4 pistols—the G17 (9mm) and G22 (.40 caliber)—upgrade the Gen 3 line with adjustable backstraps, a rougher-textured grip, double spring to reduce recoil and new slide serrations. Take a look at our gallery of the full-frame pistols introduced at SHOT Show. Then, read our "Arsenal" review of the pistols. This summer, look for Gen4 versions of the compact G19 and G23.
Take a closer look at the Bushmaster ACR "modular" rifle, which will be offered in law enforcement versions known as the Patrol and Special Purpose. Our photo gallery gives you a closer look at an innovative patrol or tactical rifle offering an alternative to other AR-type patrol rifles. A Remington version will be offered to federal law enforcement. Read our news item about the availability of the Bushmaster ACR.
Ruger introduced its new SR-556 rifle at last year's National Rifle Association show in Phoenix. The announcement ended years of speculation that Ruger was indeed working on an AR-style rifle, and the SR-556 quickly became the buzz of the show. While the newest Ruger long gun possesses many typical AR features, it also has a Ruger-designed piston drive system. The patent-pending, chrome plated two-stage piston system provides a cleaner, cooler running, and more reliable operation than any standard AR gas impingement system can deliver. Read our full review of Ruger's SR-556.
