“Always out-gun your enemy”: conventional firearms, right-wing extremism and the challenge to contemporary policing

Purpose – This article aims to better understand right-wing extremist guidance on conventional firearms, to inform and enhance police preparedness and officer safety. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses a novel methodology, which synthesises targeted literature reviews with a weapons intelligence assessment on instructional content in eleven right-wing extremist manifestos, with a case study on conventional firearms possession. These three datapoints were analysed to understand the threat posed to police through considerations of technical accuracy, possession reality and the challenge to contemporary policing. Findings – We found that extremist instructional guidance varied in accuracy. Despite this variance, authors encouraged readers to adopt a “bigger is better” mindset in firearms selection and acquisition to out-gun police. We establish that this has occurred even in restrictive firearm contexts, using Australia as a case study. Research limitations/implications – This research has highlighted the underdeveloped nature of this topic and the importance of expanding research efforts to better understand the threat posed by extreme right-wing instructional guidance. Practical implications – This has practical implications for active duty police, in addition to the broader community of practice, to support officer safety and preparedness when engaging with alleged right-wing extremists. Originality/value – There is a gap in knowledge regarding the instructional validity of firearms guidance provided in right-wing extremist manifestos. This article addresses this gap, and in doing so, seeks to inform counter-terrorism policing, practice and preparedness.