[Stoat]

 

A police officer responds to the mall shooting.

With something actually effective, hard to tell for certain in that picture, but I believe it's a short barreled shotgun, for which you or I would have to pay a federal infringement Tax and get a "mother may I" slip from both the federal government and the local chief LEO.

It's possible the barrel is 18" long, in which case the above doe not apply.

Considering the glare from the rear window and the angle it's being carried in this lousy photo, I could see it as being a standard-size shotgun, the sort that's locked upright to the dash.  I would really have preferred to see her getting an AR-15 or better yet a select-fire M-16 out of her trunk.  Initial reports had the perp with an AK, and a standard shotgun would not have been my first choice to grab when up against that, if I had had a choice.

[El Gato]

I could see it as being a standard-size shotgun, the sort that's locked upright to the dash.

Try putting your shotgun in the same position in your full sized car. Bet it hits the windshield. Most of those have 14" barrels. Very few have folding or collapsible stocks. That's the advantage of a short barrel, it's "handier", especially in a confined space like a vehicle, and is also handier in many situations where a longer barrel would sort of get in the way.

[Dagny&Hank]

That shotgun and her handgun are likely all that lady cop had.

[sig226]

Somewhere on this wonderful website, Box o' Truth is a study in what 12 gauge slugs do to things. Most police officers will engage a threat at less than 50 yards. A slug gun is probably the most deadly small arm available for that range. If you've ever had a .45-70, you'll really enjoy what that thing did to the boxes.

A sniper should of course use a rifle, but most cops will never operate as snipers. After I looked at the various studies on the site, I unloaded my AR and filled up the 590. Check out the site, you'll find it very interesting.