It is devoted exclusively to understanding and mastering techniques that work for survival in real life situations. Unfortunately, most of the current literature on so-called 'combat shooting' explores what works against paper targets. Few street-wise experts or truly contemporary articles have emerged on street survival, although deadly assaults on the police continue to occur year after year. We began our research by analyzing more than 400 detailed reports of officer-involved shootings and by surveying some 50 law enforcement agencies about the firearm instructions they offer...the major problems their officers encounter on the street...and what their greatest survival needs appear to be. This book can help make you survival sensitive. The techniques it emphasizes are designed to affect the way you prepare, plan and react, to keep you alive in real situations. They are not hypotheses, but proven procedures, based on the insights of officers who have experienced gun battles and survived and on the lessons left behind by those who have died. These tactics fall into two broad categories: 1) those that will help you prevent risky situations from escalating into life-threatening encounters, and 2) those that can help you survive if, despite your best efforts, violence does erupt. Among other things, you will come to understand the common attitudes that lead suspects to engage the police in gunfights, officer attitudes that hamper response, the circumstances likely to influence confrontations, safe methods for approaching high-risk situations, ways to use light, verbal commands, surprise, movement and protective cover, concealment and equipment to reduce or overcome a suspect's advantage, as well as procedures to assure that your gun will work when you need it.