Published: 15 May 2014
Purpose: to identify inconsistencies and gaps in the legal regulation of the use of firearms by police officers first of all in situations of apprehending the offenders committing crime or other socially dangerous acts and also of relevant self-defense. Methods: rules in Chapter 5 of the Federal Law "On Police" regulating the grounds and procedures of the use of force, special means and firearms by the police officers, as well as their relation to the norms of the RF Criminal Code regulating the lawful infliction of harm during the arrest and relevant self-defense. Scientific novelty: certain shortcomings in the provisions of the Federal Law "On Police" significantly worsening the position of police officers in violent actions against offenders compared to the rest of the citizens are identified. Possible solutions, including by adjusting the current criminal and other legislation are demonstrated. Results: The identified legal contradictions not only affect the legal assessment of the police actions, but considerably reduce efficiency of their activities of combating crime and other illegal actions; they ify the reasonable initiative of the law enforcement bodies, without which it is impossible to successfully confront the criminal aggression.