https://paulnystrom.com/tags/guns/Recent content in Guns on Paul NystromHugoen-usSun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://paulnystrom.com/posts/use-of-force/Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://paulnystrom.com/posts/use-of-force/<p>There are many types of law enforcement officers (LEOs) at the local, state, and federal levels, but for the sake of simplicity, I’m going to use “cops” in this post.</p> <p>The media often paints cops in a bad light. They frequently rely on the same three points to add drama to their reporting, making police actions appear excessive and aggressive. I’m going to briefly address those points.</p> <p>First, the term “armed police” is used instead of just “police.” In America—and in most of Europe—patrol officers (i.e., the ones who show up first when you call) carry a gun. A duty pistol with extra magazines is standard, along with other control devices like batons, Tasers, pepper spray, a flashlight, and handcuffs. More specialized units commonly carry rifles—often called “assault rifles” for dramatic effect, despite the term lacking a uniformly agreed-upon definition. Most patrol officers also have a rifle or shotgun in their patrol vehicle.</p>