"A firearm is a tool of last resort. Respect it accordingly."
The Use of Force Continuum (Armed Context)
Instructor Sele: Carrying a firearm does not change the use of force continuum — it adds a level at the top. You must understand every step below lethal force before you ever draw your weapon. The decision to fire is irreversible. Make it correctly.
Section 1 — The Continuum for Armed Guards
Armed guards follow the same graduated continuum as unarmed guards, with the addition of lethal force capability. Level 1 — Presence: uniformed, visible, professional. Level 2 — Verbal Commands: clear, calm direction. Level 3 — Soft Physical Control: guided escort, non-pain compliance. Level 4 — Hard Physical Control: restraint, takedowns. Level 5 — Less-Lethal Intermediate: pepper spray (if issued). Level 6 — Lethal Force: firearm — last resort only.
Section 2 — When Drawing is Justified
Drawing your firearm (presenting it without firing) is justified when: you or another person faces an imminent threat of serious bodily harm or death; lower levels of force have failed or are clearly inadequate; the threat cannot be managed any other way.
Drawing your firearm does not mean you will fire. It signals that you are prepared to fire if necessary. It also changes the situation dramatically — for the threat, for witnesses, and legally for you. Never draw casually or to intimidate.
Section 3 — When Firing is Justified
Discharging your firearm is justified only when: there is an imminent threat to life (yours or another's); the threat is immediate — it cannot be resolved by withdrawal or de-escalation; there is no reasonable alternative.
Once the threat is neutralised — stop. Do not continue firing at a non-threat. The moment a threat surrenders, falls, or flees, the justification for lethal force ends. Any shots fired after that point are potentially criminal.
Section 4 — Proportionality with a Firearm
The test of proportional force is absolute with a firearm. An unarmed person threatening you verbally does not justify drawing a weapon. A person running away does not justify shooting them in the back. Proportionality means your response is matched to the specific, immediate threat you face — not the threat you fear, not the threat you imagine.
- •Armed guards follow the full use of force continuum — a firearm is the last resort, not the default
- •Drawing a firearm is justified only when facing imminent serious harm that cannot be managed otherwise
- •Discharging a firearm is justified only as a last resort to protect life
- •The moment a threat ends, the justification for force ends — stop immediately
- •Proportionality is the legal and ethical test for every use of force, especially lethal force
"I trained a guard who told me: 'If someone pulls a knife, I'm shooting.' I told him: 'Then you will go to prison.' A person with a knife 10 metres away is a potential threat. A person with a knife 1 metre away, lunging — that is an imminent threat. The law demands you know the difference. Distance. Intent. Imminence. Think before you draw."
Which of the following best describes proportional force?