By Ruth Brown
Idaho Falls Post Register
IDAHO FALLS — A very small light in a very dark room can save a life.
That’s why Idaho Falls Police Lt. Bill Squires, a gun owner and 18-year police veteran, created the ReadyLight Pistol Light.
The light illuminates whatever is in front of the person holding the gun and can be used on any standard, semiautomatic pistol.
“The issue is that the vast majority of defensive use in firearms happens either at night or in low-light conditions,” Squires said. “So, the necessity of having a flashlight coupled with a firearm — a rifle or pistol — is pretty well-documented.”
Earlier this year, Squires won the inaugural BIG - Business + Innovation + Growth - competition hosted by Grow Idaho Falls.
Squires was awarded $3,000 for his lightweight gun light.
Grow Idaho Falls CEO Linda Martin said Squires’ entry stood out among the 27 entries received for the competition.
“He grabbed your attention immediately in his presentation,” Martin said. “He wanted to license it to someone who could manufacture it, so his expectations were very reasonable.”
Squires understands the need for such a device.
All IFPD police officers carry flashlights on their utility belts, as well as a flashlight attachment on their firearms.
But that flashlight attachment adds bulk and weight to the gun and, as a result, needs a larger holster, Squires said.
“But for the average person, and when I’m off duty, I don’t want to be packing all these pieces of equipment,” he said.
Squires incorporated his light design into a standard, semiautomatic handgun.
He replaced the gun’s stock “guide rod and spring” with a “proprietary guide rod” that’s designed to hold the power source and a separate recoil spring. The spring’s purpose is to return the gun to loaded condition after firing.
Squires’ innovation also holds a power source and a bulb at the end of the gun. The outside of the gun has a power switch and brightness adjustment.
The prototypes made by Squires were fashioned in local machine shops and used some pieces manufactured overseas.
The device, he stressed, is not only for police officers.
“Anybody that wants to use a firearm responsibly for defensive purposes would want this,” he said. “It adds the ability to be able to recognize targets and what you’re seeing in low-light conditions. Light is an essential piece of equipment.”
Squires knows what he’s talking about.
He’s spent about half of his career in the narcotics unit. Narcotics officers don’t wear uniforms and carry weapons that are concealed.
“It’s impossible to conceal the larger light,” Squires said.
Idaho Falls Police Chief Mark McBride said gun lights are a necessity for his officers.
“It’s very awkward to try to hold up a flashlight while trying to steady a gun,” McBride said. “It’s not as accurate.”
The chief said his officers use their lights for a variety of different reasons. Even when searching in daylight, police officers come across closets, basements and other dark areas.
Squires said he would like to see a firearms manufacturer or an existing flashlight manufacturer take on his patent.
“If I license it to them, then they already have the distribution channels in place,” he said. ""What’s taking me months to perfect, they can do in days. It would be a more effective way of getting it to the market.”
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