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Mystery: Why did armed man refuse to shoot Tel Aviv terrorist?
Arutz Sheva ^ | 3/1/16 | Gil Ronen

Posted on 01/03/2016 3:06:51 AM PST by Eleutheria5

According to several reports from the murderous terror attack in Tel Aviv Friday, at least one of the bystanders at the scene of the attack was armed with a handgun, but he failed to use it against the terrorist.

David Malka, who owns the Sidewalk Café, which is located at the scene of the attack, said that the terrorist "ran in our direction and kept on firing. Three bullets struck here, and he hit [the] Japanika [restaurant] as well. He ran toward Gottlieb street. Me and two other guys chased after him. We had no weapons. He pointed the weapons at us, and by the time security forces arrived, he had disappeared. I saw him right in front of my eyes and I identified him in the security camera footage.

"One of the guys, who wore civilian clothes, carried a weapon, but he did not draw his handgun," said Malka, who was cited on several news sources. "I don't know who the guy was. There were three or four of us. We told him to shoot, but he didn't fire. He didn't function, it seems he was in some kind of shock."

While it is certainly possible that the man with the handgun was in a state of shock, another possibility being floated by many on social media is that he was afraid of being prosecuted if he fired at the terrorist.

Since the start of the current terror wave, media personalities and politicians from the radical Left have been campaigning to try and keep security forces and civilians from firing at terrorists. Many were shocked when the Attorney General instructed the Department for Investigations of Policemen to summon for questioning a policeman who fired at a terrorist in Jerusalem.

The policeman was eventually cleared...

Leftist women's groups....

.....

(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Israel; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: guns; israel; shooting; sidewalkcafe; telaviv
Yes. We have them here, too. But my money is on the man just freezing up.
1 posted on 01/03/2016 3:06:51 AM PST by Eleutheria5
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To: Eleutheria5

If he froze, was it a) shock, b) fear, or c) recognition?

After the shootings the man fled with a pack of armed gun waving disorganized security forces and a pack of media running through the streets. There was no organized pursuit until later. The shooter was known to the police as a person to be watched, but they did not.

The shooter is now believed to be with ISIS in Syria.


2 posted on 01/03/2016 3:13:58 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: PIF

Couldn’t possibly say, but the man might.


3 posted on 01/03/2016 3:16:49 AM PST by Eleutheria5 (End the occupation. Annex today.)
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To: Eleutheria5
Since the start of the current terror wave, media personalities and politicians from the radical Left have been campaigning to try and keep security forces and civilians from firing at terrorists.

Are they insane?!

Sure just let the terrorist have free reign to kill with impunity that will make the terrorist know that we mean them no harm.

/S

4 posted on 01/03/2016 3:18:22 AM PST by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: Eleutheria5

Pulling the trigger is not easy. We want to think we will when needed but freezing up is not uncommon and it’s not because of fear.


5 posted on 01/03/2016 3:18:56 AM PST by Dusty Road (")
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To: Dusty Road

Like “buck fever”.


6 posted on 01/03/2016 3:21:53 AM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: Eleutheria5

The old saying goes: “You don’t bring a knife to a gun fight.” You also don’t bring a sidearm to an automatic rifle fight. Prudence would dictate that you don’t expose your weapon until you are in a sure kill situation.


7 posted on 01/03/2016 4:30:09 AM PST by norwaypinesavage (The Stone Age did not end because we ran out of stones)
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To: Eleutheria5

He could have frozen, or maybe he did not have a clear shot—this was a crowded area. A missed shot takes out someone completely innocent.


8 posted on 01/03/2016 4:35:32 AM PST by exit82 ("The Taliban is on the inside of the building" E. Nordstrom 10-10-12)
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To: Dusty Road

+1


9 posted on 01/03/2016 4:35:46 AM PST by waterhill (I Shall Remain, in spite of __________.)
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To: Eleutheria5

Perhaps he was not effectively armed? Maybe had no ammo, weapon not loaded, fake weapon (with orange plug removed).


10 posted on 01/03/2016 4:44:54 AM PST by C210N (When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is liberty)
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To: norwaypinesavage
The old saying goes: “You don’t bring a knife to a gun fight.” You also don’t bring a sidearm to an automatic rifle fight. Prudence would dictate that you don’t expose your weapon until you are in a sure kill situation.

My thoughts too - committing suicide isn't all that helpful in the long run..

Soon to hear from the brave heroes who would have shot their eyes out and secured the area w/o breaking a sweat....

11 posted on 01/03/2016 6:24:24 AM PST by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: Eleutheria5

Leftists: Don’t shoot.

Leftists: But you didn’t shoot! What is wrong with you?


12 posted on 01/03/2016 7:12:32 AM PST by theBuckwheat
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To: Eleutheria5

You don’t process legal implications in moments of stress.

I’m pretty sure it was shock and mind freeze.


13 posted on 01/03/2016 7:54:58 AM PST by G Larry (ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS impose SLAVE WAGES on LEGAL Immigrants.)
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To: Dusty Road
Pulling the trigger is not easy. We want to think we will when needed but freezing up is not uncommon and it’s not because of fear.

Also, unsure of the backdrop beyond the target may have hindered him. At times it can be pretty congested with pedestrians in downtown Tel Aviv. Who knows?

14 posted on 01/03/2016 8:03:28 AM PST by semaj (Audentes fortuna juvat: Fortune favors the bold. Be Bold FRiends.)
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To: G Larry; Dusty Road; semaj; R. Scott; exit82

My money is that the guy just froze, and I would have a hard time blaming him if he did.

That can’t be an easy thing to do the first time (if it was) I don’t care who you are.

Heck, I have heard that some steely-eyed snipers had to get over that the first time.


15 posted on 01/03/2016 8:30:37 AM PST by rlmorel ("Irrational violence against muslims" is a myth, but "Irrational violence against non-muslims" isn't)
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To: Eleutheria5

The terrorist had a machine gun, which would cause anyone with an ordinary handgun to think twice.


16 posted on 01/03/2016 8:37:45 AM PST by aimhigh (1 John 3:21)
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To: PIF

Being shot at is not something 99% of civilians train for.


17 posted on 01/03/2016 12:10:33 PM PST by huldah1776
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you'd like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

another possibility being floated by many on social media is that he was afraid of being prosecuted if he fired at the terrorist

Here in the USA, add the cost of criminal defense, significant even if his actions were completely legal, and the eventual civil suit. This is a significant deterrent to acting when someone else's life might, or might not, be in danger. Heck, in the USA it's a deterrant to police, and they have union lawyers at no cost

18 posted on 01/03/2016 1:28:33 PM PST by SJackson (What I’m watching in him (O), is uncertainty...a leader doesn’t give sh*t...he gets it don)
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