Quote:
( Unless you have multiple officers with lasers, trying to figure out who's laser dot is who's. Go ahead, ask me how I know about this... )
(end quote)
This is the answer to the question concerning why more police depts. don't issue lasers even with their know advantages.
Hardly. Again, it comes down to training... which comes down to both time and money most departments just don't have.
And then there's also the fact that, as I've mentioned, SWAT teams being equipped with laser sights.
But then regular officers and SWAT officers tend to have vastly different job descriptions, along with different types and amounts of training, and much better discipline with the latter. The SWAT guys being more of a strike/assault squad, they also generally use their weapons in a much more aggressive manner than the typical patrol officer. And that generally doesn't involve 6 to 12 people pointing a weapon at only one or two targets.
The intimidation effect, if any, and other officers being able to see which of the BGs has a weapon covering him is probably also a useful feature for a SWAT officer.
Close range civilian self defense scenarios (which is where we are coming from in discussing lasers on J- frames) have no such problem.
Why don't you go back and read my post on "up close" encounters, a couple of posts back, and tell me where you think I'm wrong, or somehow not grasping the intended purpose and use of a snub nose revolver?
Oh, and something else to try: Stand in front of a mirror, about 3 feet away from it or so, and point your gun at your own reflection. Look very carefully at what your facing, and what you can see. That's what a person standing 6 feet in front of you and pointing a gun at you looks like. Also notice how little of his chest and other vital areas you cans see, due to his arms and yours.
That's what you get to shoot at, and what you have to hit before he does the same.
Now go practice dealing with that and tell me how much your laser does or doesn't help.
And that's only one out of a number of possible situations the average person is apt to end up in.
One last thing... it takes the average person about 1/4 second to recognize a threat and react to it, so if the other guy has the drop on you, that's about all the time you'll get to draw, aim and fire if your gun isn't already in your hand.
That's an interesting read, but like most gun magazines, on line or on paper, it reads like a sales brochure for Crimson Trace.
And I can't help but notice that the two "testimonials" are from a SWAT officer and an active-duty soldier
Seriously NOT in the average person's job description.
Oh, and my favorite, this bit:
"I never have been overwhelmed with Tritium night sights. They're better than no illumination at all, but not by a whole lot. The laser sight is much quicker and more positive in low light conditions."
What kind of Tritium sights is Syd using? Mine were visible to anybody standing behind me, even in fairly bright light. Are his just too old and at the end of their effective lifespan?
Sorry, but if you raise a gun with a set of Meprolights or Trijicons up into your field of view, you can see 'em. picking up the sights is just not a problem. And if it's too dark to make out your target, then you're likely not gonna hit it with the laser sighted gun either, and have no business firing.
Anyway, I can take the whole article apart and argue any part of it with ease. But in the end, the fellow does it for me:
" The question has been raised that looking for the red dot might actually slow down the shooter in an emergency. This is an issue which should be considered. If you are already fast and practiced enough that you can snap off a shot in the twinkling of an eye and get a good hit, the
Lasergrips might not be an asset in a speed shooting situation. I have been practicing for fast shots much longer than Lasergrips have been around, and I retain a certain mistrust of electronic gadgets.
In a spitting-distance slug fest, I might not worry about the red dot or take time to look for it. However, in bad light conditions and
when the target is somewhat further away, like 10-20 yards, the Lasergrips really speed up your target acquisition."
10 to 20 yards away? How do you know he/she's a threat? They got a gun pointed at you? If so, do you really want to aim a laser at 'em, and give away the fact you have a gun too? ( In low light, the BG may not see or recognize that you have a weapon. ) Sure, they might run off, but they might just start shooting too.
Sorry, but I'll keep my guns bare, except for tritium sights, and try to avoid any potential BGs while they're still out at that 20 yard range. If they happen to pop up inside that somehow, I'm certainly not gonna be shining any lights on 'em.
Syd and the rest of you can do as you see fit.
