2025 NC BLET Firearms

Four Cardinal Rules for firearms safety (obj 1)

1. Treat all guns as loaded

2. Point the muzzle in a safe direction at all times

3. Be sure of your target and what is around and behind it

4. keep your finger off the trigger, outside the trigger guard, and on the frame until you are on target and have a legal right to fire and have made the conscious decision to fire

Components of the field stripped duty handgun (obj 7)

1. Frame

2. Slide

3. Muzzle

4. Backstrap

5. Front Strap

6. Rear Sight

7. Front Sight

8. Trigger Guard

9. Trigger

10. Magazine

what should your holster guard against

1. accidental discharge

2. accidental dropping

3. removal by an adversary

Correct Location for a duty belt holster (obj 2)

should be at the outside seam line of your pant leg on your dominant side.

-should not be carried on the same side as the less lethal EQ

-drawing should be unimpeded by other EQ

Drawing and firing the handgun (obj 4)

1. eyes remain focused on the threat

2. w/ dom hand, disengage retention device, and establish master grip on the firearm

3. Draw the weapon straight up and extend the weapon towards the target as soon as the muzzle clears the holster.

4. support hand stays at the center of the chest until it is ready to meet the dom hand and establish the 2 hand grip as your drive toward the target

5. your trigger finger remains outside the trigger guard until an imminent threat is present, you have decided to fire, and your sights are on target

6. Bring the gun to eye level

Shooting stances (obj 3): Modified Isosceles Stance

1. shoulders and feet are squared to the target w/ elbows slightly bent

-full body armor towards threat

2. feet are shoulder width apart or slightly wider

-dominant foot slightly back for balance

3. knees are slightly bent as the shooter leans forward

-ears in front of the shoulders and shoulders in front of the hips

4. Hands should stay above the waistline and the front of the body to respond to any threat presented

Shooting stances (obj 3): Isosceles Stance

1. The feet are about or a little more than shoulder-width apart, and the knees are slightly bent

-weight evenly distributed and the body faces the target

2. The weapon is drawn and is brought to shoulder level as the 2 had grip is gained

3. the arms are straight from the shoulder and the elbows and wrists are locked

-recoil should be felt in the shoulder

4. The arms and chest appear to create an isosceles triangle

Shooting stances (obj 3): Weaver/Modified Weaver Stance

1. feet shoulder width apart

-support side foot forward and body is turned at a slight angle (not more than 45 degrees)

2. strong arm is brought across the chest toward the target

-The support arm forms a V and provides isometric tension by pulling backward

3. support hand pulls rearward while the gun hand pushes forward and reduces recoil and aids in steadying the weapon

4. dominant arm is not flexed

2 hand grip (obj 5)

The handgun should be gripped with the lower 3 fingers and the back of the palm of the gun hand, index finger straight along the frame until time to fire

grip should always be high on the backstop to assist in recoil

grip firmly but not so tight that the hand trembles

1. the dominant hand will grip the pistol from front to back while the trigger finger remains high on the frame until ready to fire

2. the support hand will grip the pistiol while filling in the void on the grip left by the dominant hand

The master grip is maintained with additional control from the support hand

1 hand grip (obj 5)

The handgun should be gripped with the lower 3 fingers and the back of the palm of the gun hand, index finger straight along the frame until time to fire

grip should always be high on the backstop to assist in recoil

grip firmly but not so tight that the hand trembles

1. the weapon may be slightly canted, think of how a punch is thrown

the national average hit rate for OIS with a pistol

18%

what to do when subject is no longer a threat

perform first aid and summon EMS to provide higher care

Holstering the weapon (obj 4)

1. Determine that the scene is safe or safe enough to holster and move

2. scan the area before holsting using a full 360 degree scan

-keep your weapon down range while you turn your head to the left and right

3. after scanning (2 methods)

a. holster while keeping eyes down range

b. holster while looking at the holster

4A impacts on using deadly force (obj 8)

4A restricts the use of all force

the force used by an officer for any lawful purpose must be reasonable

The test for reasonableness under the 4A is not capable of a precise definition or mechanical application

USSC ultimately decides if it is reasonable or not

Tennessee V Garner (obj 8)

TN law allowed using deadly force to prevent any fleeing felon from escaping

in the case a memphis cop shot and killed a fleeing unarmed burglary suspect to prevent his escape

USSC said using deadly force to stop the escape of a non-dangerous fleeing felon is unreasonable under the 4A and the TN law was unconstitutional

Objective Standard (obj 8)

used to determine if deadly force was reasonable

court determines based on the faces and circumstances known to the officer during the shooting

The court will then decide whether a reasonable officer faced with the facts and circumstances would use deadly force

-focuses on the moment that deadly force was used not the whole episode

Provisions of NCGS 15A-401(d)(2) (obj 9)

"A LEO is justified in using deadly physical force upon another person only when it is or appears to be reasonably necessary by

1. to defend himself or a 3rd party from what he reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of deadly physical force

2. to effect an arrest or to prevent the escape from custody (based on PC) of a person who the LEO reasonably believes is attempting to escape by means of a deadly weapon or who by his conduct or any other means indicates that he presents an imminent threat of death or serious physical injury to others unless apprehended w/o delay

3. to prevent the escape of a person from custody imposed upon them as a result of a conviction for a felony

-must have been convicted of a dangerous felony

4. can't be willful, malicious, or criminally negligent conduct by LEO

also based on the objective standard

Revolver

a cylinder w/ speratly loaded chambers (usually 6) revolves as the firearm is cocked or the action is pulled through, then aligning each chamber with the barrel and firing pin in succession

Revolver Nomenclature

1. rear sight

2. front sight

3. barrel

4. trigger

5. trigger guard

6. hammer

7. hammer spur

8. top strap

9. cylinder

10. extractor/rod

11. back strap

12. front strap

13. grips

14. thumb latch

15. cylinder star

16. extractor rod shroud

Double Action revolvers

It can be fired by cocking the hammer and then pulling the trigger, and can also be fired by pulling the trigger only, making the hammer pull back and fall in one motion, detonating the cartridge primer

Revolver mechanics

S&W rotates counterclockwise

Colt rotates clockwise

Cylinder latch

-S&W: forward

-Colt: back

-Ruger: in

Semi-Automatic nomenclature

1. rear sight

2. front sight

3. ejection port

4. grip

5. trigger

6. trigger guard

7. magazine

8. slide

9. slide-stop notch

10. receiver/frame

11. magazine release or catch

12. barrel w/ locking ribs

13. ejector

14. extractor

15. front strap

16. back strap

17. Magazine well

18. slide stop/release lever

19. recoil spring and guide rod

20. takedown lever

21. safety

22. hammer

23. decocking lever

Semi Automatic: Feeding

occurs when the cartridge is placed in the slide's path, ready for chambering

the mag is used for this purpose

Semi Automatic: Chambering

occurs when the cartridge is seated in the chamber. the action occurs when the slide moves forward under pressure provided by the recoild spring

Semi Automatic: Locking

occurs when the locking ribs on the barrel are engaged w/ the locking recesses in the slide, and the slide is as far forward as it will go

locking prevents the loss of gas pressure until after the bullet has left the firearm's muzzle

Semi Automatic: Firing

occurs when the trigger is pulled and the firing pin or striker impacts firing the round

Semi Automatic: Unlocking

occurs after a round is fired, gases from the fired cartridge force the slide and barrel reward

Semi Automatic: Extracting

occurs when the cartridge or empty casing is extracted from the chamber using the extractor located on the slide, which engages with the cartridge's rim dring chambering

Semi Automatic: Ejecting

occurs when the expended casing is thrown out of the firearm by way of the ejection port

Semi Automatic: Cocking

occurs when the slide moves rearward, it forces the hammer or striker rearward, cocking the pistol

Semi Automatic: Safety Devices

1. manual safety

2. safety/decocking lever

3. grip safety

4. firing pin lock

5. magazine disconnectors

6. trigger safety

Loading a semi automatic handgun

1. Keep your finger off the trigger

2. hold firearm properly and point it in a safe direction

3. insert the mag and ensure the mag is seated in the mag well

4. if the slide is locked to the rear, pull the slide rearward and release it to chamber a round

5. If the slide is forward, pull the slide to the rear and release it to chamber a round

Reloading a semi automatic pistiol

1. Slide Back

-aka emergency reload

-is when firearm is empty and the slide is locked to the rear

-drop empty mag and insert a new mag

-pull the slide to chamber next round

2. Tactical Magazine Exchange

-removing and saving a partially full mag and replacing it w/ a full mag

-from a position of cover, keep eyes on the target

-get fresh mag with your finger on the fornt of the mag with your support hand

-drop old mag and insert new mag

-store partial mag

-re-establish 2-hand grip

Potential outcomes LEO can experience after using deadly force (obj 10)

1. it can be lawful/unlawful

2. be w/in policy or out of policy

3. LEO can be injured/killed or uninjured

4. The suspect can be injured/killed or uninjured

5. bystanders can be injured/killed or uninjured

6. Property damage can result or not

Criminal Investigation (obj 10)

LEO is placed on administrative leave but could be placed on desk duty pending the outcome

If the suspect is killed, the case will be investigated by the SBI

LEO will read the Miranda warnings

Internal Affairs Investigation (obj 10)

automatic after the use of deadly force to determine justification or disciplined/terminated

IA investigations range from basic policy violations to wide-range information gathering after-action investigations including how issued EQ performed, was the LEO trained properly

LEO may be disciplined for lying or refusing to answer question

must remain separate from criminal investigation and IA cant share info with the criminal investigation

Civil Rights (Federal) Charges (obj 10)

even if LEO is not indicted or terminated under NC, the LEO could still face Federal Civil Rights Violation Charges depending on the circumstances on the use of force

Civil Action (Lawsuits) (obj 10)

LEO and LEA can be civilly sued

1. a lawsuit seeking monetary damages can be filed up to 3 years after the shooting

2. When LEO acts w/in the course and scope of their employment, the agency or its insurance company provides the officer w/ an attorney and pays any civil judgment awarded

-LEO has the right to their own attorney

3. Some LE associations provide attorneys for their members as part of their dues, this attorney is hired in addition to the attorney provided by the LEA

Define Perception (obj 11)

is comprehending a situation such as a hazard by means of the senses and mind

Define Reaction (obj 11)

as a person's voluntary or involuntary response to a hazard or situation that has been perceived

reaction time slows down between 35-45 y/o

Define Reaction Time (obj 11)

the length of time from when a person perceives a given situation to when they react to the perception

1.5 sec for daytime

2.5 sec for nighttime

Define Simple Reaction (obj 11)

a response to an expected situation such as responding to a traffic light

0.75 secs is required

Action beats reaction

Define Reactionary Gap (obj 11)

the minimum amount of space needed to ensure that you can properly react to whatever threat may be presented by a suspect

Reactionary Gaps Distances

Firearms: get cover

Edged Weapons: 20-25 ft

Impact Weapons: 10-12 ft

empty hands: 5-6 ft

Weapon out and ready for a known threat

1. man w/ a gun call

2. known high risk traffic stop

3. violent encounters

calling for EMS is required even if suspect appears to be dead

true

OODA Loop (obj 12)

1. Observe

2. Orient

3. Decide

4. Act

OODA Loop (obj 12): Observe

observe the conduct

this is a perception of what the officer sees, hears, feels, etc.

-by understanding quickly whats going on you can observe the changing situation clearly

-you have to look at you and the situation as though you are an outsider and not from your own point of view

-all senses are used at this stage as a result of which as much info can be collected as possible

OODA Loop (obj 12): Orient

Orient by understanding and interpreting the actions

-this stage is described as the most important process in the loop

-info from step 1 is organized

OODA Loop (obj 12): Decide

Consider lawful options and tactics and form a decision about what is the best next step to undertake during the encounter

-centered on learning from experiences

-based on someone's current mental perspective, they make decisions and determine what course of action they need to take

OODA Loop (obj 12): Act

act on or implement the decision

result of the action is sent back to observe and the OODA loop starts over

OODA Loop objective (obj 12)

dont let your opponent complete the loop

the combination of observation and orientation leads to a decision which leads to action and the cycle starts over

Define Fear (obj 12)

The automatic reaction to a perceived threat that results in predictable physical, emotional, perceptual, and cognitive changes

4 elemtents of fear (obj 12)

1. Automatic: this will happen as a function of how your brain and body operate

2. Perceived: the response based on your perception

-if someone shoots you from behind and you never see/hear them you have no perception of the threat so you have no response

-If you see a man with a gun, you have a perception and consequently have a fear-based response

3. Predicatable: you dont know what is gonna happen but you know somthing is gonna happen

4. Physical: the response from your brain and body is driven by physical changes such as HR and BP

Physiological Processing (obj 13): Amygdala

a small part of your brain that is a major processing center for emotions

links other brain abilities like memories, learning and senses

controls the body's vital functions such as HR, breathing, body temp and balance

Physiological Processing (obj 13): Hypothalamus

acts as body's smart control coordinating center

main function is to keep your body in a stable state

directly influences your ANS and manages hormones

-impacts motor movement, especially eye movement and auditory and visual processing

-oreint phase of ooda loop

Physiological Processing (obj 13): Cerebral Cortex

processes info related to complex cognitive activites, sensory and associative functions and voluntary motor activites

keeps us engaged in violent incidents

Physiological Stress Response (obj 13)

Fight/Flight/Freeze

Fight (obj 13)

when your body senses danger and believes you can overpower the threat

brain releases signals to your body preparing for the physical demands needed for fighting

-tight jaw

-grinding teeth

-urge to punch something or someone

-feeling of intense anger

-need to stomp or kick

-crying in anger

-burning or knotted stomach

-attacking the source of danger

-intense focus

Flight (obj 13)

body doesnt think you can over power the threat but can avoid it by running away

a surge of hormones like adrenaline give your extra stamina than normal

-excessive exercise

-feeling fidgety, tense or trapped

-constantly moving your legs, feet and arms

-restless body

-numbness in arms and legs

-dialated, darting eyes

-appearing disintrested in the LEO while looking around

Freeze (obj 13)

causes you to feel stuck in place and happens when the body doesnt think you can fight or flight

-sense of dread

-pale skin

-feeling stiff, heavy, cold, numb

-loud, pounding heart

-decreasing HR

Physiological impacts and responses to stressors (obj 13)

impact on motor skills

-loss of fine motor skills at HR of 115 BPM

-loss of complex motor skills at HR of 145 BPM

-gross motor skills are enhances at a HR of 145-175 BPM

-auditory exclusion, loss of cognitive reasoning, tunnel vision at 175 BPM

Condition White (obj 13)

normal, non-combative state of mind

ex. at home with fam watching a movie or eating dinner

Condition Yellow (obj 13)

state of relaxed alertness

should be present any time you are on duty

observation and orientation phases of the oodla loop are ongoing in this phase

Condition Orange (obj 13)

state of alarm

A person is orienting to a perceived hazard or threat, requiring full attention and entering the decision phase of ooda loop

Condition Red (obj 13)

state of defensive combat

moving from decision to act phase of ooda loop

the person will either engage the threat or retreat (fight or flight)

Box Breathing (aka autogenic breathing and combat breathing)

inhale for 4

hold for 4

exhale for 4

hold with no air for 4

6 rounds

adaptive unconscious (intuition) related to the ooda loop

Sizing up the world = Observe and Orient

Setting Goals = Decide

Initiating action = act

thoughts and feelings during and OIS (obj 13)

1. Disbelief

2. Fear

3. Need to Survive

4. Adrenalin Rush

5. Intrusive Thoughts

Perceptual Distortions During OIS (obj 13)

1. Tunnel Vision: the brain focuses on the sense most necessary for the body to survive

2. Auditory Exclusion: brain focuses on vision and the need for hearing is diminished

3. auto pilot

4. heightened visual clarity

5. enchanced visual detail

6. dissociation

7. slow mo

8. fast mo

9. intensified sound

10. temporary paralysis

11. Memory loss: The brain only cares about survival and doesn't focus on recording the event

-memory gaps are normal

-The brain will try to fill in gaps, which can lead to inaccurate information

thoughts and feelings after OIS (obj 13)

1. elation

2. sadness

3. numbness

4. recurrent thoughts

5. anxiety

6. guilt

7. nightmares

8. fear for safety

9. fear of legal problems

10. others

Physical responses after OIS (obj 13)

1. Nausea

2. Appetite loss

3. Headache

4. Fatigue

5. Crying

6. Trouble Sleeping

7. others

Operating principles for firearms (obj 14)

1. a firing pin or hammer nose strikes a primer at the base of the cartridge

2. when the primer is struck, it exploades and ignites the powder inside the cartridge, causing the projectile to go through the barrel and out of the muzzle

Rifling (obj 14)

1. longitudinal grooves cut spirally into the bore of their barrels

-the ridges/raised portions between the grooves are called lands

-grooves cause the bullet to spin as it travels in the barrel after being fired, making it more stable and accurate

2. some shotguns dont have grooves and are called smooth bore

Ammo (obj 14)

1. case

2. primer

3. powder charge

4. projectile

assembled round is called a cartridge

Ammo (obj 14): Case

brass, steel, copper, paper or plastic cylinder which all other components are assembled

Ammo (obj 14): Primer

contains a chemical mixture that explodes when struck by the firing pin

-serves as a match to ignite the powder charge

Rimfire- low pressure

Centerfire- High Power

Ammo (obj 14): Powder Charge

when ignited produces significant quantities of gas that propel the bullet through the barrel

-modern smokeless powder burns slowly but seems to explode when contained inside the chamber

-Smokeless powder has many different grains and compositions used in different guns

-basic difference is the burning rate and the amount fo gas produced

black powder is less stable and has explosive qualities

-has no sustained rate of burning

Ballistics (obj 14)

1. Internal

2. External

3. Terminal

Ballistics (obj 14): Internal

study of the propulsion of a projectile

covers the time from ignition until the projectile exits the barrel of the gun

when pressure exceeds the amount of friction holding the bullet in place the bullet will begin to leave the cartridge and shoots the projectile into the bore

bullet interacts with the lands and grooves in the bore causing it to spin and accelerate

Ballistics (obj 14): External

deals with the factors affecting the behavior of the bullet after the bullet leaves the muzzle

Gravity and Density

Ballistics (obj 14): External (Gravity)

pulls down on the bullet once it leaves the barrel

Objects fall faster. The longer they fall, the bullet falls, and the more off its original path, the longer it travels

Ballistics (obj 14): External (Density)

refers to atmospheric conditions such as rain, sleet, or snow

if the atmosphere is heavily saturated it could affect the bullets trajectory in flight

will not affect a pistol at 50 yards or less

Ballistics (obj 14): Terminal

focuses on the behavior and effects of a bullet when it hits and transfers its KE to a target

Primary/Permanent Cavity: is the intital hole in the target made by the bullet

-wound channel is the same diameter as the bullet and fragments

Temporary Cavity: is created as the bullet continues its path and the internal tissue is stretched beyond its elasticity, and is cut and torn as it quickly tries to return to its original position

Projectile Types: Wadcutters

inexpensive

low recoil low engergy

used for practice in revolvers

Projectile Types: Semi-Wadcutters

round nose version of wadcutters usually loaded to a more powerful level

used in revolvers

Projectile Types: Full Metal Jacket

round nose lead bullet covered w/ a thin layer of copper to improve feeding and reduce lead fouling of the barrel

may pass through targets w/o engery transfer

Projectile Types: Hollow Points

expand on impact for max energy transfer and decreases the likelyhood of passing though the target

Projectile Types: Jacketed Hollow Points

jacketed bullet with an open cavity at the tip to promote expansion

Ammo Failures: Misfire/Hangfire

Misfire: a situation where the primer fails to ignite the powder charge

Hangfire: the temporary failure of the primer, causing a short delay before it fires

Ammo Failures: Squib Load

not enough powder to project the bullet (but has a primer)

pop instead of boom

diminished recoil

DO NOT TAP RACK READY if the bullet is stuck in the barrel

The gun is disabled until repaired by an armorer

Storage of firearms to protect minors (obj 15)

any person who resides in the same house as a minor, owns or possesses a firearm and stores or leave the firearm

a. in a condition that the firearm can be discharged and

b. in a mnner that the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor would be able to gain access to the firearm is guilty of a Class 1 misdemenaor if minor gains access to the firearm w/o the lawful permission fo the minor's parents or a person having charge of the minor and the minor

a. possesses it

b. exhibits it in a public place in a careless, angry or threatening manner

c. causes personal injury or death w/ it not in self-defense

d. uses it in the commission of a crime

Benefits of kneeling

1. makes it easier to use low cover

2. makes you a smaller target

3. puts you below eye level

4. it it quick to get in and out of

5. its more stable than standing hence more accurate

Sight alignment and Sight Picture (obj 16)

Alignment refers to the relationship of the front sight to the rear sight

-focus on the front sight

Sight Picture refers to the relationship of the aligned sights to the target

Weapon Malfunctions (obj 17): Failure to Fire

gun doesnt fire for whatever reason could be the operator didnt load a live round

Weapon Malfunctions (obj 17): Failure to feed

occurs often when the shooter doesnt slingshot the slide but just rides the slide forward

can also occur when the mag isnt in correctly

Weapon Malfunctions (obj 17): Failure to eject

casing doesnt eject

Weapon Malfunctions (obj 17): Failure to extract

extractor fails to pull the fired casing from the chamber

unlikely in semis and will cause a double feed

Weapon Malfunctions (obj 17): Double feed

when 2 cartridges simultaneously attempt to enter the chamber as the slide moves forward or when the casing failed to extract and the new one tries to load

Weapon Malfunctions (obj 17): out of battery

occurs when the muzzle or slide is pushed back, the weapon is not locked in the battery and the gun will not fire

pull or push the slide to fix