Police officers today have a much higher likelihood of encountering someone carrying a gun than in the past. Until recently, even if it was legal to own a gun, carrying one was usually prohibited in cities, and transporting it was usually extensively regulated.¹ However, that is no longer the case in many locations across the United States. The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives citizens the right “to use [handguns] for the core lawful purpose of self-defense.”² Every U.S. state currently grants its citizens the right to obtain a concealed carry license, and, in many states, people are also legally permitted to openly carry a firearm.³ With states allowing their citizens to “pack heat,” how should police officers respond when they are likely to be dealing with an armed populace?