LAW 2440 - Firearms & LAW 2531 - Basic Firearms - Law Enforcement

Textbooks & Readings

Deadly Force in Defense of Life
This article examines legal issues pertinent to the lawful police use of deadly force.
Emerging Use of Force Issues: Balancing Public and Officer Safety
Teaming up with the COPS Office, IACP held a symposium on emerging use of force issues in 2011 that resulted in this 2012 summary report. Recommendations stemming from the symposium addressed: public perception, factual documentation of incidents, managing force (chief’s duty), officer training post-academy, and officer mindset.
Improving Deadly Force Decision Making
Police agencies can help officers make better decisions in their use of deadly force by using three strategies: improving deadly force policies, training officers in survival physiology, and using dynamic training.

Firearm Safety – 10 Rules of Safe Gun Handling
While you’re at the shooting range or anywhere you handle a firearm safety ALWAYS comes first there are 10 Rules of Firearms Safety and the first four are the big ones.
Firearms Safety Education
Safety Education is a course that not only prepares students for safe hunting and boating experiences, but they also help hunters and boaters to have successful—and ethical—experiences. Subjects covered in Safety Ed include firearms and ammunition, hunter and boater safety tips, hunting and boating techniques, wildlife identification, first-aid, and basic life skills. Through comprehensive instructional content and illustrations, interactive learning exercises and games, and the best hunting and boating safety videos available anywhere, students learn about firearm safety, hunting and boating fundamentals, conservation, and the laws and regulations while completing a state-approved safety course.

Field Notes Ep. 15, Loading the Shotgun with Bill Murphy
SureFire Field Notes is a multi-segment informational video series with tips and techniques from subject matter experts of all backgrounds. In this episode, Bill Murphy discusses loading the shotgun.
SureFire
This tactical product manufacturer provides videos on product specs and usage.
How to Perform Speed and Tactical Reloads
Sid, from T1G, takes us through the definitions of Speed and Tactical Reloads.
Tactical Rifleman
Tactical Rifleman is the go-to destination for advice and tips for all things military, tactical, survival, driving and shooting related. This is not just a gun or shooting page; We will have subject matter experts across various different fields share expertise learned through years of military experience . We will show you how the US military shoots, moves and communicates and how we use the latest and greatest equipment. We will show you that knowledge is the best tool for the job and knowledge is your best weapon.
BCM Training Tip: How to load your AR
A quick training tip, presented by Bravo company USA, on how to properly load your AR.

Handgun 101: How to Safely Load and Unload a Semi-Auto Pistol and Magazine
This is the first video in a new series of tutorials for new shooters and gun owners. Today we will cover how to safely load and unload a semi-auto pistol with just your hands, as well as loading with a loading assistant/speed loader. The instructor in this video is an Army vet with multiple professional firearms training certifications, over 35-years of experience with guns, and has been a professional firearms instructor in both military and civilian fields for over 7-years.

Use of Force - Part I
Introduces students to the Fourth Amendment’s objective reasonableness standard, as laid out by the 1985 Supreme Court decision in Graham v. Connor. (Part I)
Use of Force - Part II
Introduces students to the Fourth Amendment’s objective reasonableness standard, as laid out by the 1985 Supreme Court decision in Graham v. Connor. (Part II)
Use of Force - Part VI
Discusses Intermediate Weapons (specifically batons, ECDs, and OC spray), their applicability to the Graham v. Connor case, and the government's interest in them. (Part VI)
Use of Force - Part VII
Concludes discussion on intermediate weapons. (Part VII)
Use of Force - Part VIII
Presents Myths vs. Reality

Use of Force - Part III
Introduces students to the Fourth Amendment’s objective reasonableness standard, as laid out by the 1985 Supreme Court decision in Graham v. Connor. Tennessee v. Gardner examples when force highly likely to have deadly effects is reasonable. (Part III)
Use of Force - Part IV
Following the precedent of Tennessee v. Gardner, other court cases followed, such as Scott v. Harris, Plumhoff v. Rickard, and San Francisco v. Sheehan, each of which is examined here. (Part IV)

Use of Force (Scott v. Harris)
MP3 recording (and Transcript) of a presentation by Tim Miller and Brad Lawrence regarding the Supreme Court's April 30, 2007 decision on use of force in Scott v. Harris.

Fourth Amendment
These resources explain when the Fourth Amendment applies, and what constitutes a reasonable search or seizure. Officers learn what is needed to obtain a search or arrest warrant, how to properly execute a warrant, and when an exception to the warrant requirement applies.

Officer-Involved Shootings: A Guide for Law Enforcement Leaders (2016)
This guide is intended to provide guidance for preparing officers and departments prior to an officer-involved shooting, suggested incident scene actions and procedures, recommended procedures for conducting criminal and administrative investigations, suggestions for working with the media, and mental health and wellness considerations and procedures.
Officer-Involved Shootings Investigative Protocols (2014)
In response to the growing national concern about officer involved shooting incidents, IACP, in partnership with COPS Office released this guide for law enforcement leaders. The Guide looks closely at four critical policy areas: administrative investigation, criminal investigation, officer mental health/wellness considerations and informing the community/transparency.
Officer-Involved Shooting Guidelines
In 2013, the IACP’s Police Psychological Services Section released a set of guidelines on how local agencies should engage/manage individual officers when an officer involved shooting occurs. Key points within the guidelines included: pre-incident preparation, at the scene of the incident, post-incident, the investigative period, and post-shooting interventions.