The volume is designed for firearms training programs for patrol officers, plainclothes investigators, backup units, and off-duty officers in small and medium-sized police departments as well as for use by legally armed citizens. Guidelines focus on preparing police officers to react effectively under various conditions, including darkness, surprise, multiple targets, noise, confusion, and crowds. Case examples illustrate the need to assess situations quickly and react appropriately and the ability to shoot rapidly and accurately at close moving targets. The text considers selection of handgun caliber for effectiveness and recoil force. An analysis of handgun types describes the single shot, multibarrel, hand-cocked revolver, self-cocking revolver, and semiautomatic or self-loading pistol. The text assesses handguns, rifles, shotguns, and special-purpose weapons such as submachine guns and silenced countersniper rifles from a tactical and historical perspective. It evaluates the commonly used .38 special for its stopping power, cost effectiveness, mechanism, size, and weight. The text discusses associated equipment for firearms including ammunition, metallic sights, grips, finishes, holsters and positions for carrying weapons, loading services, and lanyards. The text delineates the proper use of various weapons showing appropriate stances for firing handguns, rifles, and shotguns and for using the burst-firing technique. It notes legal requirements regarding weapons such as sawed-off shotguns. Also covered are the construction of training ranges, the use of fixed and moving training targets, and the characteristics and benefits of body armor. The text recommends that a training program be realistic without being dangerous so that officers can practice in situations they are likely to encounter. Developments since the completion of the manuscript are also briefly summarized. Extensive photographs and reference notes for each chapter are provided.