etc. As such they mirror very closely those issued by the Home Office to the police in England and Wales. In addition, the Lord Advocate has also issued guidance to the police in Scotland regarding the circumstances in which firearms can be used by the police in accordance with the law of Scotland. The guidelines set out the decisions which individual police officers must take and subsequently account for when carrying a loaded firearm. The guidelines state that: "A police officer is not entitled to open fire against a person unless he has reasonable grounds for believing that that person is committing or is about to commit an action which is likely to endanger the life of the officer himself or any other person and that there is no other way to prevent the danger." CCPR/C/58/Add.6 page 16 Pnlirp USB of firearms - NQr^hprn Ireland 69. Two hundred and sixty-seven police officers have been killed as a result of terrorist activity in Northern Ireland in recent years. In the light of the obvious dangers which they face, members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary regularly carry firearms. Nevertheless, strict rules exist for the issue and use of firearms and, as with England and Wales, the fundamental principle for their use is that no member of the security forces is above the law, and that no more force must be used than is reasonable in the circumstances. Use of firearms bv the military 70. The use of firearms by members of the armed forces is subject to the provisions of the criminal law. In essence, a serviceman may employ lethal force only if he believes that there is imminent danger to life (his own life or the life of others) and that there is no other way of averting that danger. In this respect the serviceman is no different from any other 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the use of firearms by law enforcement and military personnel in the context of national security and defense. It highlights the strict rules and guidelines that govern the issue and use of firearms, emphasizing the principle that no member of the security forces is above the law.

**Category**
Justice, Public Safety