WRITTEN FOR PERSONS WORKING IN THE SECURITY FIELD, THE ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE GREAT VARIETY OF FIREARMS AVAILABLE TO BOTH OFFICERS AND SECURITY GUARDS AND ALSO TO THE CRIMINAL. THE PUBLIC CAN EXPECT A VERY PROFESSIONAL RESPONSE FROM ARMED POLICE OFFICERS IN ENGLAND TODAY (1979). A CHART SUMMARIZES VELOCITY, ENERGY, AND KIND OF HANDGUNS, SUBMACHINE GUNS, SHORTGUNS, AND RIFLES, WHILE MOST OF THE ACCOMPANYING ARTICLE DISCUSSES MODERN HANDGUNS. HANGUNS CAN BE EITHER REVOLVERS OR SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOLS. THE VELOCITY, RANGE, METHOD OF USE, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES, AND DETAILS OF RELOADING ARE GIVEN FOR DIFFERENT KINDS OF WEAPONS. GUIDELINES ARE OFFERED FOR DETERMINING WHETHER A GUN IS LOADED AND HOW TO ACT ACCORDINGLY. INFORMATION IS DISCUSSED CONCERNING THE NUMBER OF ROUNDS A WEAPON HOLDS AND ITS RELOAD TIME. PHOTOGRAPHS OF SOME OF THE WEAPONS, AND OF BULLET PATHS THROUGH PROTECTIVE MATERIALS ARE INCLUDED. A SUCCEEDING ARTICLE WILL DISCUSS SHOTGUNS, RIFLES, AND GRENADES IN GREATER DETAIL. (RFC)