Brandishing is generally defined as unlawful pointing/threatening another person with a gun. That action may be justified in the event I am in fear of death or great bodily injury. The rules vary by state.

My concern is a complaint from a non-thug lit up by a weapon light. I am not concerned by a possible complaint from a genuine thug of being lit up; as my experience has been that genuine thugs have no desire to face a police interview.

Consequently when I am out and about I expect to rely on my regular flashlight or cell phone light for general illumination with the gun mounted weapon light reserved for action requirements. My weapon is holstered. If necessary the hand light is dropped/exchanged in favor of the weapon mounted light on the gun.

I do like to have only one hand involved in an actual action scenario as the other hand may be needed to carry/hold something or someone ( toddler perhaps).

Your thoughts are invited as to how you handle nighttime incidents such as changing a tire or walking through a dark neighborhood.

EasyFire

Are you saying that you want to walk around at night using a pistol-mounted light as your primary light source (presumably pointing your pistol at anything you want to look at), and the reason you don't is fear of legal action?

Yeah. The Weapon Mounted Light is NEVER intended to be a general light source. It's attached to a weapon. Anyone at my agency who forgets that will get an unpaid vacation to contemplate it. It was one of the things we had to drive home before we approved the lights.

quote:

Originally posted by EasyFire:
Your thoughts are invited as to how you handle nighttime incidents such as changing a tire or walking through a dark neighborhood.
EasyFire

I use a flashlight for any illumination needs. I do not have a light mounted on any of my pistols, except the one I keep on my nightstand. I always carry a gun, knife, and flashlight on me. If I did have a light mounted on my carry firearm, I would NEVER use it as a light source in a normal non-threatening situation.

quote:

Originally posted by EasyFire
Your thoughts are invited as to how you handle nighttime incidents such as changing a tire or walking through a dark neighborhood.

With a flashlight? The rest of your post doesn’t make much sense to me as written. The light on the gun is only and ever to identify and illuminate your target. It’s not a flashlight. Your flashlight is a flashlight.

Sorting through the W-T-F in your post, it boils down to this:

(1) No need to draw your weapon => standalone flashlight. So like 99.9% of your life

(2) Need to draw you weapon => use WML as needed.

Here ends the lesson.

And yes, you need a good flashlight in addition to you phone and any weapon mounted light you may decide to carry on your person. Well, at least if you want to be remotely prepared.

quote:

My concern is a complaint from a non-thug lit up by a weapon light.

If you've lit up a non-thug, you have failed in some way. You should have lit them up with your powerful standalone flashlight well beforehand.

I don't understand???

How many times has this been a concern in your entire life?
I got the being prepared thing, but actually feeling like you needed to light someone up with your gun pointing at them?

Firearm Safety Rule #1 - Always Keep the Muzzle Pointed in a Safe Direction!

Per the NSSF: This is the most basic safety rule. If everyone handled a firearm so carefully that the muzzle never pointed at something they didn’t intend to shoot, there would be virtually no firearms accidents. It’s as simple as that, and it’s up to you.

Never point your gun at anything you do not intend to shoot. This is particularly important when loading or unloading a firearm. In the event of an accidental discharge, no injury can occur as long as the muzzle is pointing in a safe direction.

A safe direction means a direction in which a bullet cannot possibly strike anyone, taking into account possible ricochets and the fact that bullets can penetrate walls and ceilings. The safe direction may be “up” on some occasions or “down” on others, but never at anyone or anything not intended as a target. Even when “dry firing” with an unloaded gun, you should never point the gun at an unsafe target.

Make it a habit to know exactly where the muzzle of your gun is pointing at all times, and be sure that you are in control of the direction in which the muzzle is pointing, even if you fall or stumble. This is your responsibility, and only you can control it.

You need to get yourself a good Flashlight....Yesterday!

Obviously I shouldn't post while taking meds. Let this one slide.

EasyFire

Outside of the sheer insanity of using a weapon light as a flashlight... there are actual practical reasons not to.

Lights are set up to be used in different ways. Most EDC lights are set to have a balance between brightness and battery life. They usually have different brightness levels to help you manage battery life.

A weapon light is made to give you maximum brightness at all times, battery life is not a concern.

Point is, even if you dismounted the weapon light to use a regular light, you'll be swapping batteries on a regular basis.

With the advent of small powerful lights, I keep a tiny one attached to my keyfob. It’s bright enough to work on the car with. I keep a bigger light in the car.

My WML isn’t used like a handheld light. We also have this rule at work. Caught using your WML as a flashlight, instant days off with no pay.


130 lumens for 20 mins. Olight i1r

WMLs are not general-use flashlights. You should have a separate flashlight for that. This handheld flashlight should be used for 95+% of your illumination needs.

A WML is used to positively identify your target in a low-light situation in which it is already justified to have your weapon drawn, without having to tie up one of your hands.

quote:

Originally posted by EasyFire:
Obviously I shouldn't post while taking meds. Let this one slide.

Bahahahahah, I was gonna ask if you were drinking or something.

quote:

Originally posted by EasyFire:
Obviously I shouldn't post while taking meds. Let this one slide.

EasyFire

It happens. You will get a pass.

Since we are on the topic: I rely on my old school "flashlight techniques" that I learned in the dark (see what I did there) ages before WMLs existed. I find that WMLs are still too bulky for EDC although they continue to shrink in size. My house gun has WML permanently attached.

I think I understand what the OP is getting at.

He said he'll use a cell phone or a hand light for general illumination. So, no reason to stone him. I agree with using a handlight, not a fan of using cell phone lights.

I believe the actual concern is if the OP used his weapon light and illuminates someone who turns out to be a non threat and if they chose to pursue legal action against the OP.

I can't really answer that authoratively as I'm neither a lawyer or a professional/expert witness.

I'd recommend being able to articulate why you felt the need to draw your weapon and WML to the authorities. If you hear something rustling around in your backyard in the middle of the night, near your expensive boat or car and you illuminate a misplaced drunk you may not have an issue. If you hear something rustling around in your home in the middle of the night, You can truthfully say that you thought someone was breaking into your home and that you were afraid for your wellbeing. If you are in Walmart and the lights go out, you probably don't want to whip out the WML/weapon, unless you hear screaming and sounds of violence.

As a side bar, remember that lights are not lasers. It is entirely possible to illuminate someone or something without pointing the light (and attached weapon) at them.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CD228,

id advise the OP to stay in at night...for the good of all of us..smh

I'm a big proponent of using a headlamp for general and task lighting.
Many are quite powerful and have different intensities. They also free your hands for whatever task you have.

I keep one in each vehicle as well as at home.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
I'm a big proponent of using a headlamp for general and task lighting.
Many are quite powerful and have different intensities. They also free your hands for whatever task you have.

I keep one in each vehicle as well as at home.

I have two headlamps; I need to put one in my truck. Good idea, thanks.