Although the majority of departments polled have semiautomatic and/or automatic weapons, many restrict their use. Sixty-nine percent limit their use to specialists such as SWAT members, undercover officers, or detectives. Even when regular officers have access to semiautomatic or automatic weapons, strict guidelines monitor or limit their use. Those who qualify to carry such weapons typically must become certified in their use and operation. The use of such weapons stems from the fact that more criminals are using sophisticated weaponry that requires police to increase their firepower in the interest of officer and public safety. Some of the respondents favor a ban on automatic weapons and assault-type semiautomatic rifles for public purchase, but they do not view such a ban as an alternative to police use of such weapons, given criminals' ability to obtain these weapons even under a ban. The debate surrounds the issue of whether or not public safety is actually served, or perhaps jeopardized, by police use of these weapons.