The Glock handgun- the CIA and Law Enforcement weapon of choice
Although CIA operatives are issued 9mm Glocks, they rarely carry them, for most countries are not like Texas- you are not allowed to carry them around and if you get caught doing so, your cover is blown! If things get physical, they are trained in using improvised weapons and in the martial arts of krav maga, jeet kune do and Brazilian jiu jitsu.
The CIA prefers the Glock 19 as its weapon of choice, with its 9mm rounds, but operatives have access to a wide variety of other calibers within the Glock platform to choose from, if so desired. Some prefer the higher .45 caliber Glock 30. Move over, James Bond, for the Sig Sauer’s P228 is another favorite. The Sig Sauer is commonly used by members of both the Navy Seals and the CIA. It functions well, even when wet, and is compact.
So, contrary to Hollywood’s portrayal, most CIA officers do not carry weapons. Aside from officers in the Security Protective Service, or those serving in war zones, most CIA officers will never be issued a gun. They rely on their training in hand-to-hand combat and in escape and evasion techniques, including how to get out of handcuffs and duct tape restraints, in resisting torture, and in many of those James Bond spy craft tactics that you see in spy thriller movies.
MISSION OF VENGEANCE: Take the journey of espionage and intrigue with CIA Spymaster Corey Pearson!
In my latest spy thriller novel MISSION OF VENGEANCE, the Glock 30 is carried by the CIA counterintelligence teams that CIA spymaster Corey Pearson positioned throughout the Caribbean and Florida Keys. Here are a few snippets:
Snippet 1: Murray and Sweeney walked onto the patio, holding hands and laughing. Corey smiled and waved them over to his table. A young couple dating…good cover when contacting each other… no elaborate deception needed.
They sat down. Both wore matching tropical shirts that hung loosely over drab cargo pants with deep pockets housing clips of jacketed .45 caliber hollow points. A Glock 30 was concealed in a reversible holster firmly held by a metal clip in their waistbands. Corey was similarly armed. The Glock 30 was standard issue for CBIF agents.
Snippet 2: Moments before the attack, he may begin sweating profusely, acting nervously, licking his lips or checking his satchel if he’s carrying one… just before placing his hand into a pocket where the dead man switch is. You’re all excellent marksmen with your Glock 30’s. A .45 caliber hollow point to the nose if you end up facing him or an inch below the base of his skull if you’re behind him will do the job.”
Murry replied, “That beats a round to the chest with a guy wearing an explosive vest.”
“Exactly, a head shot is the only option, but we’re not going to go there. I’m not going to ask you to get close enough to make a lethal hit with your pistol before he presses the switch… trying to kill a suicidal bomber with your Glock is suicide.”
End of snippets
Lastly, this video The Glock Pistol: Why So Popular? explains why the Glock handgun has been so popular for the past 25 years inside the U.S. and why it remains one of the most popular handguns for Law Enforcement, for everyday handgun enthusiasts… and for the CIA (Although it does not mention the latter). There’s nice shooting action, enjoy!
Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO), enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community, and relishes traveling to the Florida Keys and Key West, the Bahamas and Caribbean. He combines both passions in his Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thriller: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.