As usual change is difficult.
Anyway, I must say that some of the recent SureFire marketing language is a bit over the top for me. I would prefer straight forward, professional language that operators understand and appreciate. Not within my sphere of influence, but I will bring forth the justifiably negative reaction to these ads. My function with SureFire is to develop/present curriculum, doctrine, drills and scenarios specific to Low-Light engagements as they relate to Law Enforcement and Military environments.
The fact remains, high intensity, white light used properly in conjunction with other force options can be a significant advantage in many close quarter engagements. No technique, no piece of equipment, no understanding of principle in isolation should be considered sufficient. Firearms offer no guarantee of safety at close ranges.
One of my sayings is: Unless the head is separated from the body by more than 4 feet, that person is still a potential threat
Do I think the latest generation of white light illumination tools offer some new possibilities, the answer is a resounding yes.
Handheld and weapon mounted lights have been traditionally associated with navigation, location and identification purposes only.
Ken Good definition of Force: Anything I do to impose my will in the environment
Newer illumination tools can offer a higher level of control of threats in much the same way an officer uses his or her vehicle spots to create a white wall of light from which to operate and deploy. Do the lights actually stop anyone by physical pressure, of course not! Proper application of light does impede the incoming, critical decision-making data that the threat needs in order to make decent decisions. Somewhere in the mix, you have to act. It may be an escalation of force, it may not. The temporary concealment and probing of the light is a great way to start things off.
Some threats will tend toward capitulation when deprived of good visual data. Others will charge, standby to standby.
Like any other tool in the inventory, it is only activated and made useful by intelligent application of technique based on sound principles.
One thing I will say is that the instructional staff at the SureFire Institute is always ready to demonstrate our principles in real-time using the current non-lethal projectile-based Force-on-Force (FOF) training technologies. Hopefully this is not perceived as pure arrogance, as I have been shot many, many times in FOF training simulations by all levels of participants, but more often than not I follow the biblical doctrine of Gunfighting: It is better to give than receive.
I frequently encounter naysayers that speak from a distance (having never attended the training); many change their perspective after of week of close quarter attention.
As far as operators that have helped develop the doctrine that is currently being propagated through the SureFire Institute which supports the development of high intensity white light tools, lasers and IR spectrum tools, there is ample doses of real-world combative experience firearms based engagements.
This arguement of non-exeperience has been half hazardly pitched my way when faced with friction of change on a frequent basis.
The majoriy of our LE and Military full-time instructors have multiple shootings and real world operational expeience under their belt in a diversity of environments. Adjunct staff as well as our certified Instructor staff that is nearing 400 strong. I also have several hundred emails from students and operators from around the globe who have been in firefights where the proper use of white light illumination was a significant factor in the outcome. We maintain a constant liaison with these professionals to ensure doctrinal relevance.
If it does not work, we don't want it.