University of Virginia Library

Sidearm As Equalizer

"The sidearm is an equalizer.
If you took it away a suspect could
simply run away from an officer
or, if he was brawny, fight it out."

Mr. Bromwell went on to comment
"They can take away the
gun but who is going to give the
instinct to the policeman warning
him of a provocation so he can
retrieve it from his car. We have
to take surprise into account."