Over the past 40 years, technological advancements have vastly improved the capabilities of NVDs. The author describes the evolution of NVDs through the years, identifying three generations of NVDs, each more technologically advanced than the previous NVD. While NVDs can aid law enforcement in identifying a suspect in near dark environments, they do not provide substantial detail and, as such, it can be impossible to identify a weapon on a suspect in near dark conditions, even with the use of “Generation 3” NVDs. However, the development of image intensifier tubes known as IR illuminators, which can be affixed to NVDs, significantly increases the resolution of the image achieved with NVDs. Results of evaluations of the IR illuminators with Generation 1, Generation 2, and Generation 3 NVDs indicated that with all three types of NVDs, the IR illuminator significantly increased the resolution of the suspect and allowed for the identification of a weapon, even in near dark environments. The author suggests that the most effective device for night vision is currently a Generation 3 NVD with an internal IR illuminator. The N-Vision Optics GT-14 is identified as a Generation 3 NVD that is ultra-small, multi-functional, and has a built-in IR illuminator that is invisible to the human eye. Exhibits