Human Factors Issues in Firearms Design and Training

Can CCTV Reliably Detect Gun Crime?

“…Therefore, this information may be very useful to the agencies dealing directly with a firearms incident, particularly if the gun is not visible from their perspective. There is potential for identifying the type of firearm via CCTV as firearms vary widely with regard to form and operation [24].…”

An ergonomic comparison of firearm safety mechanisms

“…Within this demographic, the degree of formal training on the safe, reliable and effective use of these weapons is highly variable (Hancock et al 2006). Indeed, there are no federal regulations requiring formal training prior to firearm ownership and in the few states that have enacted training regulations, the required training is woefully inadequate Hendrick 2003, Hendrick et al 2007).…”

“…Integral safety mechanism method of operation, status indication and placement within the reach of the shooting hand are, therefore, not presently regulated or standardised. This lack of design standardisation and method of operation can lead to confusion regarding the intended purpose, status ('fire' or 'safe') and method of actuation of a safety mechanism when encountering some firearms for the very first time, even if the user is an expert in the use of many other firearms (Hancock et al 2006). Even worse, few military or commercial safety mechanisms relay enough visual information about their status and operation for an inexperienced individual to correctly determine the exact readiness of the firearm or the associated danger level.…”

“…Even with extensive formal firearms training, carelessness in operation or storage, operational confusion, poor design and the failure to accurately recognise safety status can lead to inadvertent operation, often resulting in injury or death (Paradis and Hendrick While no one will debate the assertion that the first line of defence in preventing injury or death by accidental discharge is the competency, attentiveness and skill of the user, firearm safety mechanisms are of vital importance in the safe operation, transport and storage of these weapons Hendrick 2003, Hancock et al 2006). Indeed, many regard the safety mechanism as the primary means of preventing inadvertent operation and accidental discharge (Hancock et al 2006). However, as Hancock et al (2006) and Hendrick et al (2007) have observed, commercial and military firearm designs, and safety mechanisms in particular, lack standardisation and consistency in form and structure.…”

“…Indeed, many regard the safety mechanism as the primary means of preventing inadvertent operation and accidental discharge (Hancock et al 2006). However, as Hancock et al (2006) and Hendrick et al (2007) have observed, commercial and military firearm designs, and safety mechanisms in particular, lack standardisation and consistency in form and structure. For example, both the United States NIJ guidelines for police weapons and the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute voluntary standards state only that the manually operated safety mechanism must prevent inadvertent firing and should be designed such that the safety can be disengaged with the 'shooting' hand (National Institute of Justice 1998, Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute 2007, 2008.…”