263 lines
13 KiB
Plaintext
263 lines
13 KiB
Plaintext
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VEHICULAR LONG BARREL WEAPONS MOUNT
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By
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David W. Pisenti
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Special Agent
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Firearms Training Unit
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FBI Academy
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Concealment, Security, Accessibility--These three factors
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are critical to the storage of long-barrel weapons in unmarked
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law enforcement vehicles. However, until recently, addressing
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all three of these factors simultaneously was not feasible. For
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the most part, law enforcement personnel had no other choice
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than to store such weapons in the trunks of unmarked vehicles,
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thereby sacrificing accessibility for concealment and security.
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Unfortunately, this practice led to many tragic situations that
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resulted in injury or death for a number of local, State, and
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Federal law enforcement officers. On June 26, 1975, FBI Special
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Agents Jack Coler and Ron Williams were surrounded by
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adversaries at Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Special Agent Coler
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was shot while attempting to remove shoulder weapons from the
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trunk of the Bureau vehicle. As Special Agent Williams
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administered first aid to his wounded colleague, he too was
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shot. Both Agents were killed at point-blank range.
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Obviously, for maximum personal protection, law enforcement
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personnel should have immediate access to shoulder weapons when
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necessary. In response to this need, the FBI developed and
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tested an innovative vehicular long-barrel weapons mount that
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provides for the concealment, security, and accessibility of
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shoulder weapons. This article discusses the versatility of
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this new weapons mounting system, which accommodates a variety
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of shoulder weapons and is adjustable to fit a number of
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vehicles.
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RESEARCH BACKGROUND
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The Firearms Training Unit (FTU) at the FBI Academy began
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conducting extensive research to devise a passenger compartment
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storage system for long-barrel weapons in the late 1970s.
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Initially, a system was developed to mount the weapon forward of
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the front seat cushion. This system, while providing for
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storage and accessibility, did not conceal the weapon
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effectively and could not be used in vehicles with bucket seats
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or a center console. Also, because this system could not be
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locked, the vehicle could not be left unattended. Thus, while
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the system filled immediate needs, it did not satisfy long-term
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objectives.
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In the early 1980s, the concept of a mounting system on the
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vehicles ceiling was proposed. Such a system would improve
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concealability and would facilitate storage and accessibility of
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the weapon, regardless of interior design variations.
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Along these lines, a manufacturer developed a two-piece
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shotgun mount that attached to the outside edges of the vehicle
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headliner. The mount consisted of two components--the butt
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assembly, which encompassed the entire circumference of the
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shotgun recoil pad, and the barrel assembly, which accommodated
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the barrel end of the weapon. A synthetic spring-loaded dowel
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inserted into the muzzle applied sufficient pressure to the butt
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assembly to hold the weapon in place.
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To remove the shotgun from this mount, horizontal pressure
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needed to be applied to the weapons muzzle. This freed the butt
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from the mount so that it could pivot forward until it was clear
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of the unit. Then, by releasing the tension of the
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spring-loaded dowel, the shotgun was ready for use.
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However, for most individuals, both hands were needed to
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remove the shotgun from this mount. This required that the
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vehicle be stationary, which resulted in reduced response time
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during a crisis. Furthermore, this particular mount
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accommodated only one barrel length of shotgun, and the unit
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could not be locked.
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REDESIGNED WEAPONS MOUNT
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Then, in 1986, the Firearms Training Unit initiated a
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research and development project to design a new ceiling-mounted
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vehicular weapons mount system. In addition to concealment,
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security, and accessibility, the FTU set other requirements for
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a weapons mount: 1) The ability to fit any vehicle, and 2) the
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ability to accommodate a variety of weapons.
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With these specific requirements in mind, FTU Agents
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drafted detailed specifications for a weapons mount, which were
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sent to interested manufacturers in the industry. A final
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prototype was fashioned and submitted to the FTU for testing.
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TESTING THE NEW WEAPONS MOUNT
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To evaluate the effectiveness of the new weapons mount, FTU
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Agents conducted a series of tests. These tests involved
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installing the mount in various types of vehicles to ensure its
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adaptability to vehicles used by law enforcement personnel.
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Then, these vehicles were driven at speeds of up to 65 m.p.h. to
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see if the occupants, regardless of seating position, could
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dislodge the weapon easily from the mount while the vehicle was
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in motion. Also, shotguns with different barrel lengths were
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placed in the mount to test its versatility. After extensive
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evaluation, this prototype was accepted for use in Bureau
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vehicles.
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INSTALLING THE MOUNT
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The major problem with equipment that is not installed in
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the factory is adapting the unit to individual automobile
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designs. Specifically, automobile ceiling construction varies
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from manufacturer to manufacturer and even among models built by
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one manufacturer. For example, some manufacturers install
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secondary roof supports from front to back, while others use
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supports that run side to side. Also, the distance between
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supports depends on the model. Knowing where secondary supports
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are located is important for proper installation of the weapons
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mount.
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However, regardless of manufacturer or model design, a
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common feature in vehicle roof structures is the steel beam
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support that runs the length of the roof above the side windows.
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Therefore, specially designed brackets were attached to the ends
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of the vehicle weapons mount to accommodate curve variations in
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the roof. These roof-line variations make it necessary at times
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to reshape the end brackets so that the unit can be fitted as
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close to the headliner as possible. With the brackets properly
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shaped, the mount can be expanded telescopically to fit
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virtually any automobile, small truck, or van by adjusting the
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screws on the back of the center mount insert. Also, each
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bracket is affixed to the body of the mount by four screws to
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facilitate removal for reshaping. Once the vehicular weapons
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mount is properly adjusted, it can be installed in the vehicle.
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The weapons mount can also be positioned front to back,
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from directly behind the rear view mirror and covering the dome
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light with its lens removed. However, to install the unit in
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this fashion, the secondary support must also run from front to
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back. Actually, the vehicular weapons mount can be positioned
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wherever there is support to anchor the end brackets. For
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example, mounts could be installed horizontally or vertically on
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the side wall of a tactical van. Once a mount is installed, the
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butt assembly can be adjusted to store a particular weapon.
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Depending on the width of the vehicle, this weapons mount
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accepts a 14-inch, 18-inch, or 20-inch pump or auto-loading
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shotgun of any manufacturer, an H & K or Colt submachinegun, or
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an AR-15, M16A1, M16A2, M16A1 or A2 carbine. In addition, this
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unit accepts any shoulder weapon that will fit in both the butt
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and barrel-housing assemblies.
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ADJUSTING THE MOUNT
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The vehicular weapons mount can be adjusted by loosening
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the butt assembly with a wrench and placing the weapon into the
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unit barrel first. Then, the butt assembly should be slid
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forward until the butt plate of the weapon is secure. Marking
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the location of the butt assembly on the mount with a pencil
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facilitates repositioning once the weapon is removed. The loop
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of the butt assembly that holds the heel of the stock is also
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adjustable and should be marked to show a proper fit.
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When properly adjusted, the weapon should be worked back
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and forth into the butt assembly so that it does not rattle when
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the vehicle is in motion. Once the butt assembly is properly
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positioned and tightened, the weapon should be removed several
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times to ensure proper assembly.
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REMOVING THE WEAPON
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When the mount is installed on the vehicle's ceiling, a
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half-moon detent or notch, approximately the diameter of a
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12-gauge shotgun barrel, can be seen in the center of the barrel
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assembly. This detent cradles the weapons muzzle end. If the
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weapon is equipped with an elaborate, high-profile front sight
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system, the mount may not accept it.
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Directly above the detent is a spring-loaded jaw that pivots
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on the rear side of the barrel assembly. Therefore, the weapon
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must be lifted approximately 1 inch and pivoted forward for
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removal. This mechanical design feature allows the driver to
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remove the weapon from the mount with one hand, regardless of
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whether the vehicle is in motion or stationary.
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To remove the weapon from the mount, the driver remains
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seated, with the left hand on the steering wheel and the right
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hand grasping the weapon close to the muzzle. Then, with palm
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up, the driver rests the thumb against the front edge of the
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mount body. By doing this, the weapon can be lifted up and
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moved forward over the driver's head. Once the muzzle end is
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clear of the barrel assembly, the weapon is pivoted against the
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butt assembly with the weapon's foregrip resting on the driver's
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right forearm. If the vehicle is in motion, the weapon can be
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placed in a ready position, with the muzzle against the floor or
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to the left in the driver's lap.
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The weapon can also be removed by the right front seat
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passenger, if necessary. In this position, the passenger uses
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the left hand, palm up. The weapon is again eased out of the
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mount over the driver's head, pivoted from the butt assembly,
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and rotated clockwise so that the muzzle end is never pointed at
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any occupant of the vehicle.
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SHOOTING POSITIONS
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Once the weapon is removed from the mount, a variety of
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shooting positions can be used with the vehicle as cover. For
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example, while remaining seated, the driver can place the weapon
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on the left shoulder and fire from a position above the top door
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hinge. Or, the driver can fire from the right shoulder with the
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weapon placed as described above. Using the right or left
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shoulder position, the driver can also fire the weapon through
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the open driver's door window.
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For front seat passengers, the weapon can be fired while in
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the vehicle through the open window from either the left or
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right shoulder, depending on the exact location of the target.
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Like the driver, this shooter can also exit the vehicle, kneel,
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and shoot right or left shoulder from a position above the door
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hinge or through the window of the open door.
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Firing positions can also be taken behind either the front
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or rear wheels of the vehicle. However, the position taken
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depends on the demands of the specific tactical situation.
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SAFETY
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Although there are many tactical advantages to the
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vehicular weapons mount, safety must always be the first
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consideration. Whenever the weapon is stored in the mount, it
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can be loaded, but no round of ammunition should be in the
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chamber. Also, the weapon should be removed from the mount when
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transporting a prisoner. If the vehicle is left unattended, the
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barrel assembly can be locked with a coinbox-type security key.
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The unit should not be mounted directly above the driver's
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head or near the sun visors. In the event of an accident, body
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movement could cause injury to the occupants of the vehicle.
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OPTIONS
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As an added feature, headliner fabric matching the interior
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of the vehicle can be used to make a concealable weapons mount
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cover. As long as the cover can be fastened in such a manner
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for easy detachment, it will not impair the quick removal of the
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weapon from the mount, while providing added concealment.
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CONCLUSION
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Providing concealment, security, and accessibility for
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long-barrel weapons in unmarked vehicles is critical to the
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well-being of law enforcement personnel. The vehicular weapons
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mount designed and tested by the FBI's Firearms Training Unit
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ensures that these criteria are met, giving an advantage to
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those deployed to potentially dangerous situations.
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To obtain additional information regarding this vehicular
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weapons mount, write the author at the FBI Academy, Quantico,
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Virginia, 22135, or call 1-703-640-1159.
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