August 2007
The HandgunOffensive or Defensive Weapon?
By Jason Wuestenberg
I recently attended a SWAT school where the lead instructor stated several times
that the handgun was a defensive weapon and the rifle was an offensive weapon. I
have heard this many times before. I have seen several articles and books titled
“Defensive Handgun.” I have seen very few articles or
books titled “Offensive Handgun.” I have read internet
forums where the members are debating the features that
separate a defensive handgun from an offensive handgun.
Is there such a thing as an offensive vs. defensive
handgun?
Most officers would say they would rather have a
rifle instead of a handgun for a gunfight. There is the
famous quote that states you use your handgun to fight
your way to your rifle. If you carry a rifle or shotgun, then
your handgun is typically referred to as a “secondary”
weapon.
All of these connotations could easily lead many people to believe that the
handgun is an inferior weapon system and not the best firearm to use in a deadly force
confrontation. I say that is absolutely wrong.
The handgun is a tool; nothing more and nothing less. How that tool is used is
dependent on the mindset and training of the user. Eric Haney, a retired Sergeant
Major and a founding member of Delta Force, talks about the use of handguns in his
book titled Inside Delta Force. On page 117, he states, “Each operator has two, and
they are the weapons he uses more than anything else
for close-in work. Pistols are trade-offs. You trade
power, range, and accuracy for portability and
concealability. With the .45, we kept the power we
wanted, and constant intensive training gave us the
range and accuracy.” So, because of the mindset of the
operators and the commitment to training, the typical
trade-offs associated with handguns were no longer
trade-offs.
Colonel Charlie Beckwith, who was the Founder and First Commanding Officer of
Delta Force, also talked about the use of handguns for hostage rescue operations in his
book titled Delta Force. On page 160, he states, “The situation will dictate the
weaponry. If it is a single room, with two or three terrorists, a four-man team will attack
with handguns; the last man could go in with a 12-gauge shotgun.” Even though Delta
Force had submachine guns in their inventory at that time, they trained to use handguns
for this type of offensive operation.
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Pro-Active Training Institute, Inc.
www.pro-activetraining.us
August 2007
Let’s get past the obvious fact that the
handgun is the primary weapon system for Patrol
Officers. Let’s look at more specialized situations. If
you have been trained in conducting vehicle assaults,
then you know that the handgun is the primary
weapon used by the assault team. If you have been
trained in conducting bus assaults, then you know
that the handgun is
the primary weapon
used for the window assault teams and isle runners. If
you have been trained in conducting aircraft assaults
then you know the handgun is the primary weapon for
isle runners and those tasked with re-taking the flight
deck. If you have been trained in conducting boat or
ship interdiction then you know that the handgun is
often used when clearing the confined spaces
associated with the interior sections. All of these
operations are offensive in nature. Why is a handgun being used if it’s considered a
defensive weapon or an inferior weapon system? Because, it’s the best tool for the job,
the situation, and/or the environment.
All tools have advantages and disadvantages, or pros and cons. Understanding
what the tool can and can’t do is paramount. When possible, we prefer to use the best
tool for the job. If you had to tighten a Phillips head screw, you would prefer to use a
Phillips screw driver. But, if you only had a standard screw
driver that would fit, you would use it and make it work.
That’s because you’re committed to completing the task at
hand. I would prefer to have a rifle if I am responding to an
active shooter situation, not because the handgun is an
inferior weapon system, because the rifle offers different
advantages (and more options) when combined with the
handgun. But, if I only have a handgun, I will make it
work. Responding to, and intervening, an active shooter is
an offensive action. If you think your handgun is a
defensive weapon or inferior weapon system, then you
probably should go home because you’re not in the right
mindset.
A handgun should not be labeled as a specific type of weapon. It’s not an
offensive or defensive weapon. It is a tool; nothing more and nothing less. It is not an
inferior weapon system. It’s just a different weapon system. There are no specific
features on a handgun that make it offensive or defensive by design. Any handgun can
be used offensively or defensively. How the handgun is applied depends on the
training and mindset of the end user.
Train hard & stay safe!
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Pro-Active Training Institute, Inc.
www.pro-activetraining.us