Israel Armed Guard Firearm Theory flashcards

35 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Universal firearm safety rules

Treat every weapon as loaded, never point at anything you are unwilling to destroy, keep the finger off the trigger until sights are on target, and know the target and what lies beyond it.

Trigger finger index point

The straight finger resting along the frame above the trigger guard whenever the weapon is drawn, holstered, reloaded, cleared, or handed over, moving to the trigger only when firing is decided.

Negligent discharge common causes

Finger on the trigger during handling, a weapon assumed unloaded, the muzzle sweeping a person, or a trigger snag during holster and draw are the dominant causes of unintentional discharges.

Safe handover procedure

Clear the weapon, verify an empty chamber visually and physically, lock the action open where possible, and pass it grip-first with the muzzle controlled.

Cycle of operation stages

Feeding, chambering, locking, firing, unlocking, extraction, ejection, and cocking; a stoppage is diagnosed by identifying which of these eight stages failed.

Short-recoil locked breech

The barrel and slide stay locked together briefly during firing, then the barrel drops and unlocks, delaying opening until chamber pressure has dropped to a safe level.

Field stripping sequence

Remove the magazine, verify the chamber is empty, retract the slide slightly, release the takedown lever, separate the slide from the frame, then remove the barrel and recoil spring.

Limp-wristing stoppage

A shooter's weak grip allows the frame to move with the slide, short-cycling the action and causing a failure to feed or eject that disappears with a firmer grip.

Tap-rack immediate action

Seat the magazine with a firm tap, rack the slide to eject the faulty round and chamber a fresh one, then re-acquire the target and fire if the threat remains.

Double feed clearance

Lock the slide to the rear, strip the magazine, rack the slide two or three times to clear the chamber, insert a fresh magazine, and release the slide.

Stovepipe malfunction

A spent case caught in the ejection port; clear it by sweeping the case out with the support hand while racking the slide forcefully, then re-acquire and fire.

Failure to fire causes

A light primer strike from a weak firing pin spring, contaminated ammunition, or a firing pin safety issue; repeated failure with the same ammunition requires armorer inspection.

Sight alignment versus sight picture

Sight alignment is the front sight centered and level with the rear sight; sight picture adds the target. Alignment error dominates accuracy at close defensive distances.

Trigger control press

Press the trigger straight to the rear with the middle of the index finger pad; jerking or heeling produces low or low-left groups for a right-handed shooter.

Range cease fire command

On any unsafe act or the command itself, all shooters stop firing immediately, keep the muzzle downrange, and await the range officer's instruction.

Breath control firing pause

Fire during the natural respiratory pause after exhaling; holding the breath beyond roughly eight seconds produces tremor and degraded shot placement.

Israeli self-defense elements

An imminent unlawful attack on life, body, liberty, or property, a response that is necessary, and force proportionate to the threat, with force ceasing when the threat ends.

Necessity defense

An act is justified only when no less harmful alternative existed and the harm avoided clearly exceeds the harm caused by the act itself.

Deadly force threshold

Deadly force is justified only to prevent a threat to life or serious bodily harm, not to protect property alone or to stop a fleeing suspect posing no immediate danger.

Duty to reassess

After the threat stops, the guard must stop firing, reassess the scene, render aid if safe, and secure the area; continued firing may be unlawful.

Ownership license versus carry permit

The license authorizes possession of a specific registered firearm; the carry permit authorizes carrying it in public. Both must be valid and carried together.

Firearm storage requirement

A licensed firearm is stored in a locked container or safe, unloaded and separated from ammunition, with the key or code held only by the licensee.

Licensing authority

Israel's Firearms Licensing Division of the Ministry of Public Security issues licenses tied to a specific person and firearm, subject to renewal at set intervals.

Carrying while unfit

Carrying a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or while medically unfit, is prohibited and removes the legal protection of the permit.

Guard engagement criteria

Identify the threat, confirm it is imminent and directed at life, give a warning where feasible, and use the minimum force that stops the threat.

Weapon display as force

Drawing a weapon as a display of authority without a reasonably anticipated threat is itself a use of force and must be justified and reported.

Police handover

When police arrive and assume control, the guard hands over the scene, all relevant information, and any detained person, and steps back from the security role.

Pursuit limits

A guard does not pursue a fleeing suspect beyond the post's area of responsibility unless the security plan authorizes it and the pursuit can be conducted safely.

Post-incident scene steps

Secure the scene, secure the weapon, render aid, notify the supervisor and emergency services, and preserve evidence including casings, CCTV, and witness details.

Incident report content

A factual chronological record of time, location, persons, threat, actions taken, rounds fired, injuries, witnesses, and the guard's state of mind, excluding opinions and conclusions.

Weapon preservation after shooting

A weapon that fired in an incident is secured and left uncleaned and unmodified until investigators examine it; cleaning destroys forensic evidence.

Tourniquet application

Place the tourniquet high and tight on the limb, tighten until bleeding stops, and record the application time for handover to emergency medical services.

Junctional hemorrhage control

Bleeding at the neck, armpit, or groin cannot be controlled with a tourniquet; pack the wound with hemostatic gauze and apply sustained direct pressure.

Open chest wound seal

Seal an open chest wound with a vented chest seal and monitor for tension pneumothorax, indicated by worsening breathing, distended neck veins, and one-sided breath sounds.

Scene safety before aid

The guard confirms the threat is neutralized before approaching a casualty, so that rendering aid does not create a second casualty at the scene.