Speed alone does not compensate for poor tactics. Many officers mistakenly believe that if they shoot quickly enough, they can overcome a bad position. Reality says otherwise.

No matter how fast you fire, misses do not stop threats. In fact, rapid, inaccurate fire often increases risk to officers, bystanders, and fellow responders.

Avoid getting into an open-air gunfight in the first place. A gunfight should never become a contest of who can stand in the open and shoot faster.

The officer who uses cover, exploits angles, and minimizes exposure often gains a decisive advantage before the first round is fired.

This principle is reinforced by officer-involved shooting data. Most officers shot during structure-clearing incidents were not engaged in a face-to-face gunfight. They were shot by suspects in adjacent spaces, through doors, or through walls.

The greatest threat often comes from an opponent who has positional advantage while the officer is exposed.

Instead of trying to shoot faster, use tactics that make shooting unnecessary until you have the advantage:

• —Use cover
• —Use angles
• —Slow the problem down when circumstances allow