11 July 01

>From a friend, "Why do you dislike assault slings and co-directional flashlights mounted on rifle barrels?"

"Assault" sling systems are fine, if you have time to climb into one and then get it adjusted. Once in it, it's difficult to assume a low profile and it is also difficult (impossible for most people) to switch shoulders, something I consider to be a fatal shortcoming. I've seen people try to put them on fast, and it's a comedy of errors! They typically feature far too many snaps, buckles, adjustments, releases, etc. The whole concept is not suitable to emergencies. I still prefer a single, nylon strap. I usually don't get confused when using one.

Co-directional flashlights, mounted parallel with the rifle barrel, are surely an arguable accessory, as there is no good way, that I know of, to hold a longarm and a flashlight simultaneously and make the whole thing work.

However, I can't tell you how many of them I've seen get knocked off the rifle during movement exercises. If they don't get knocked off the rifle completely, they get knocked off center, so they end up pointing in a useless direction.

Another problem, and this is inherent any time one tries to combine functions. Ie: have a single piece of ostensibly emergency/safety equipment perform multiple functions. In building/movement exercises, I continuously see officers with rifle/fashlight combinations using their rifle as a flashlight! They constantly point it in unsafe directions in an attempt to get some light on something, which often turns out to be another officer!

If we're going to issue "gun/flashlight combination tools" to officers, we need to be sure they never forget that it's a gun first. A separate, handheld flashlight is a critical necessity.

I'm waiting for "gun/flashlight/laser/OC dispenser/beanbag launcher combination tools" to be issued. Being easily confused, I, for one, prefer a gun that is just a gun!

/John