Editing Tactical light (section)

==Handheld lights==
[[Image:Flashlight carry.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Alert (top) and Ready (bottom) positions of two different flashlight holds for use with handguns, from MCRP 3-01B section 10]]
Handheld lights are generally restricted to use with [[handgun]]s, as long guns such as rifles and shotguns require two hands to operate.  While just about any handheld flashlight can serve in the role of tactical light with the proper technique, some features are more readily adapted to the role. Because the flashlight needs to be reliable and rugged, specialized, more expensive tactical flashlights are generally used by law enforcement officers and soldiers, rather than inexpensive consumer-grade units.  Some manufacturers sell lights specifically designed for use as handheld tactical lights.  Police training programs in shooting while holding a flashlight date back to at least the 1930s.<ref>[http://www.rechargeableledlight.net]{{cite book |author=Ed McGivern |title=Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting |date=December 1975 |isbn=0-8329-0557-7 |pages=322–328 |publisher=New Win |author-link=Ed McGivern}}</ref>

To use a handheld light as a tactical light, the handgun is held in one hand, and the light in the other.  There are a variety of positions that can be used to allow the light and handgun to be held parallel and provide mutual support, or the light can be held off to the side of the body to present a false target to a potential assailant.<ref>McGivern, p. 322</ref>  Since the weapon and light are not attached to each other, the light may be used to illuminate areas that may or may not contain a target, without pointing the weapon at the area.  If a target is detected, the handgun can quickly be brought into line to cover the target.<ref>United States Marine Corps Reference Publication 3-01B section 10</ref>

A flashlight intended to be used in this way will have provisions for ease of use when used with a handgun.  Some models will have a narrow body and a ring designed to fit through the fingers, allowing the light to be used in a tight two handed grip on a handgun, with the switch controlled by pulling back with the fingers on the ring.  More traditional models can be used as well. Some flashlights feature a momentary on switch so that the light is quickly turned off by releasing finger pressure on the button. Another useful feature is the ability to attach a [[lanyard]] to the light, allowing the light to be secured to the hand holding it; this allows the light to be dropped if the hand is needed (for a [[Magazine (firearms)|magazine change]], for example) and quickly retrieved.

Police often use large flashlights like the classic [[D battery|D cell]] [[Maglite]], a sturdy metal unit which, when held correctly, can double as a [[billy club]] and as a tactical light.  The flashlight is held in the weak hand, with the back of the flashlight extending past the thumb.  This allows the light to quickly be reversed, swinging the back end of the light forward to strike the target or block a blow.  The strong hand can then be used to draw a sidearm, and place the hands back to back to provide support and illumination in the firing position.<ref>{{cite book |title=Do Elephants Jump? |author=David Feldman, Kassie Schwan |year=2004 |publisher=Harper Collins |isbn=0-06-053913-5 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/doelephantsjump00feld/page/30 30–32] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/doelephantsjump00feld/page/30 }}</ref> Smaller tactical flashlights often have crown-like protrusions around the lens to enable its use as a weapon by [[Strike (attack)#Hammerfist|hammerfist]] strike.