ABSTRACT
There is a limited body of research available for understanding the history of policing. This chapter used historical information to document the early use and evolution of firearms in American policing. The evidence is framed within the Inevitability Thesis, suggesting that the notion of risk in policing has contributed to the progression from the early use of pistols to the current state of weaponry. The historical information dealing with firearms is divided into three “eras” similar to those commonly associated with policing. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the current state of risk in policing as an explanation and possible justification for the expanded use of military-style equipment to protect officers.
