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?
