It differs from a revolver in that after each round is fired it ejects the spent shell and loads a new shell into the firing chamber. Currently, a Penn police officer carries eighteen bullets- six in the revolver and twelve rounds in speed loaders. Semiautomatic handguns have clips that can hold almost three times the ammunition that a revolver can hold. This would mean that in a shoot-out, a Penn police officer will be better able to deal with criminal firepower. Although we hope Penn police officers never have to use their guns, it is best to plan for the worst case scenario.
Firearms can have a button or mechanism called a safety that prevents it from being misfired.
Revolvers have no safety mechanism. Almost all semiautomatic guns have at least one safety. In terms of accuracy semiautomatic weapons are more desirable than revolvers. Beyond allowing the men and women in our police force to feel safer, there is also the health issue. Several officers have complained of lower back problems caused by the heavy and bulky revolvers they use.