Taking up a handgun for personal defense is indeed a life-changing experience that warrants a great deal of forethought and preparation. You not only have to select the best possible handgun and related gear to fit your lifestyle, but also become proficient in its use and knowledgeable of the laws that relate to personal defense and the use of force. You must also answer the questions of whether your pistol will be utilized primarily for home defense, or if it will be an everyday carry piece discreetly hidden on your person as you go about your daily routine.
Also, you must consider the types of situations and environments you might be carrying your pistol. Do you reside or work in a high crime area? Quite frankly, a great deal of violent crime can unfold in “nice” areas where you might feel safe. Suffice it to say, danger is unpredictable and can present itself at any time of the day or night and in just about any location.
One long-time trend that is tough to ignore is that many situations involving gunplay occur during the hours of darkness. This trend has been known by law enforcement agencies for years and is supported by significant data from NYPD, the FBI and other definitive sources. There is simply no getting around the fact that roughly two-thirds of all police shootings occur under dim light conditions. But what about armed citizens who have taken up a firearm for self-defense? Is there a heightened risk associated with violent crime and low light?
One of the first things I look at when I get my new issue of the NRA’s American Rifleman magazine every month is The Armed Citizen column. It typically highlights a half dozen or so recent events where a responsible member of society used a firearm to protect their life or that of another. These events often take the form of attempted carjackings, home invasions, muggings and robberies and, more often than not, take place at night. It may not be the final word, but it does give us a great deal of insight.
The problem of course, is darkness muddies up the waters. Human beings are diurnal creatures and function best in bright light. Once darkness sets in, our ability to perform simple tasks is degraded. As far as personal safety, spotting potential danger and making an assessment is far more difficult. And if you do have to take some corrective measures, they too can be harder to pull off.
Light Moves
The simplest way to improve performance in poor light is to use a light. Over the last quarter century, flashlight technology has taken a quantum leap and, today, one can pack a small tactical flashlight that is very low profile but features capabilities unimaginable a few short years ago. I have long been of the feeling that if you carry a gun, you should also have a light close at hand.
I have been teaching low-light shooting and threat management techniques to law enforcement officers for many years and, while some of that information might apply to armed citizens, the needs of the police are very different. Unlike the police officer, a citizen with a gun should not be engaging in foot pursuits, investigating suspicious persons, or clearing multiple rooms. Conflict avoidance remains the key. On the downside, if you do get caught up in some ugly event, it is likely to be a surprise with little forewarning. The danger is likely to be in very close proximity and there will be little time to react.
Police officers are typically shown a number of flashlight-assisted shooting techniques at some point in their initial training. Having worked with them while teaching a fair number of students, I can say without reservation that some are very good while others, not so much. A lesson that took me a long time to buy into was that when it comes to flashlights and pistols, simple is good. Complicated techniques unravel once we factor in a spontaneous attack, high stress and movement.
There’s no doubt in my mind that a police officer has a clear need to have command of a few different flashlight-assisted shooting techniques as well as the ability to quickly transition from searching to shooting. Since an armed citizen will not be called on to perform the same tasks as a law enforcement officer, their needs are somewhat different.
Will you actually use a flashlight as a shooting aid? One top-tier trainer reported that in more than 60 low-light shooting incidents his students were involved in, none used a flashlight. How can that be? Consider that most events are not going to unfold in total darkness but outside the convenience store or in a parking garage where there are reduced-light conditions but still enough ambient light to identify a threat. Distance between you and your assailant is likely to be very short.
Even in view of this data, I would still suggest you get cozy with a simple, intuitive flashlight-assisted shooting technique that is easy to learn and allows you to get on target fast. After all, you may be the anomaly and may require light to positively determine if a deadly threat is present.
Much More Than a Shooting Aid
Although a flashlight can be used as a shooting aid in poor light, it’s an extremely versatile tool and brings much more to the table. In fact, in some situations a flashlight can go a long way in averting the need to use deadly force.
The bottom line is that shooting, both for the law enforcement officer and armed citizen, is the unusual event. More often than not, that flashlight carried on your person will be used as a utility tool and to search for your lost car keys or to navigate in a dark area. Have you ever found yourself someplace out in public when the lights went out? I’ve experienced these sorts of issues both in windowless commercial buildings and the subway when it suddenly went dark. Having a light source instantly available brings peace of mind.
Light itself can be either a subtle or overt application of force. As a law enforcement officer, I occasionally had to deal with less-than-cooperative people in low-light environments. Slowly bringing my hand-held flashlight up to direct light into their face gave me the upper hand. They may not have liked it, but it did put them at a disadvantage if they were going to try something stupid.
How might this lesson apply to the responsible citizen? A small tactical flashlight is legal to carry just about anywhere. Should you find yourself in some sketchy area after dark, there is nothing alarming or provocative about having a flashlight in hand. Should words not deter some aggressive panhandler from keeping his distance, introducing 500 lumens of intense white light into his face might change his priorities.
A small tactical flashlight can indeed be used as an improvised impact weapon or even for takedowns. In situations where deadly force is not justified, a blast of white light will certainly disrupt the night-adapted vision of an assailant and give you time to counterattack and/or escape.
Even in conflict, we should hope to avoid the need to use deadly force. But if things get ugly, we want to be absolutely certain there is an immediate and unavoidable risk of death or serious bodily injury and you had no alternative. Having a light source gives you the ability to make a sound decision.
Keeping It Simple
Flashlight-assisted shooting techniques can be categorized as either hands-together where the light and gun are locked into a single unit or hands-apart where the gun and light can be worked independently. While hands-together can be useful in certain situations, I found that they are slow to snap into and present a number of safety questions. I would make a strong case that for the armed citizen the hands-apart techniques are far more useful for a number of reasons.
A personal favorite when coordinating a light with a pistol is the Neck Index technique. The light is held in the support hand with the bezel down toward the pinky, with the thumb on the tailcap activation switch. Raise the light up to the face, and bring it up on the jaw line. While probing an area or confronting an individual, the pistol is held in the dominant hand, finger off the trigger with the muzzle directed down.
When held in this manner, the pistol and light can work independently, minimizing risk of the muzzle covering somebody or something it shouldn’t. Should you need to stop a threat, simply raise the pistol to eye level and press the trigger.
The Neck Index technique is dirt simple and quick to learn. Its limitation is that it is a one-hand shooting technique and only as good as your ability to hit when firing solo hand. I also like the idea that the support-side arm can be used to block a strike. If when trying it out you’re bothered by light reflecting off the back of your gun, simply slide the light up to eye level and the problem goes away.
Also consider the Modified FBI Technique. The light is held in the same manner with the support hand. However, it’s not anchored and can be moved to the left, right or above the head. It is especially useful when conforming to cover, minimizing your exposure while directing light on the threat.
The Harries and Surefire techniques are a couple of hands-together options that are widely taught. However, I don’t feel they are especially useful in most of the situations that armed citizens are going to find themselves in. Should you have a need to use a handheld flashlight in concert with your pistol, I think something simple and fast is the best way to go.
Some Final Thoughts
I would make a strong case that if you are going to carry a flashlight, you had better bring a good one. When it comes to personal defense tools, “hobby grade” just doesn’t cut it. Two personal favorites include the Streamlight ProTac 2L-X and a Surefire Fury Dual Fuel Tactical. Both are small enough to carry in the pocket yet, put out a great deal of intense white light. I have also grown very fond of Surefire’s Stiletto series of illuminators that are rechargeable, multi-output LED lights of unconventional shape easily stowed on your person.
Weapon mounted lights (WMLs) have evolved from the exotic category to commonplace and offer a great many advantages. Understand the WML’s are strictly threat-management tools and should not be used for utility tasks. In short, the pistols I use in my role as a LE trainer are equipped with lights, but my everyday carry guns are not. I have no heartburn if you wish to carry a pistol with a WML; but recognize it does not eliminate the need for a handheld light.
Will you really use your light as a shooting aid? Unless the light is already in your hand when the situation begins, it’s highly unlikely. But to keep your options open, place the flashlight in your support hand at the first sign of trouble.
The biggest advantage light affords us is the ability to make an informed decision. What is he holding? Is he a threat or not? What are my options here? The ability to sort out the good guys from the bad guys cannot be overstated.
Unlike the law enforcement officer, the responsible citizen seeks to avoid conflict. A light may give you time to size up a situation and leave before it becomes a problem. Should a problem develop that doesn’t justify a deadly force response, a small tactical flashlight can buy you a few precious seconds to employ countermeasures or escape.
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