Posted on 07/23/2012 10:08:01 AM PDT by marktwain
As I continue to read about the terrible tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, I can’t help but think there’s some lessons from my time as a Navy SEAL that I can pass on to the average citizen. So here goes…
Don’t Make Yourself an Easy Target
When at sporting events, concerts, and the movies, choose seats that give you a tactical advantage always. What do I mean? Choose seats that allow good and east vantage points and a hasty exit point. Always stack the odds in your favor. It’s the reason I still combat park (back in to a space) and sit with my back to the wall when I’m eating.
Active Shooter Scenario Advice
Take cover and not concealment. Concealment hides, cover hides AND protects. It’s the difference between hiding behind a movie seat or a concrete wall.
Don’t lie there with your eyes closed and get shot. Think and move. A good decision executed quickly is better than a great one never executed. Violence of action, as we call it in the Spec Ops community, will often change the odds in your favor.
For close quarter combat drills we’d draw a gun with someone over 20 feet away running at us. In most cases you can be on someone before they can draw and take a shot. I’m not advocating running straight at someone but if you have the tactical advantage (jam, re-loading, distraction or the shooter isn’t paying attention) then take the shooter down or get the hell out of there. Deal with the situation with your eyes wide open.
In Aurora, the shooter was severely weighted down with armor and his helmet would have also limited his vision. You can use all this to your advantage.
Flashlight anyone? I have one for daily carry and take it everywhere with me. It’s become another extension of me and has diffused at least two potentially violent confrontations in a non-lethal way. I recommend 200+ lumens.
How to use it in this situation?
I would have pulled my high lumens pocket flashlight and blinded this guy. The high powered beam would have taken away his vision for 3-4 seconds, which is an eternity and enough time to flight or fight. There’s also no shame in surviving and getting you and your loved ones out of harm – especially little ones. Be a Hero to your kids and family for surviving, nobody can expect more of you than that. Like we say in Survival Escape Evasion Resistance (SERE) school, “Survive with Honor.”
Concealed Carry
If you’re lucky enough to live in a state like Texas that not only allows concealed carry, but supports the use of deadly force, then train to use it.
Think seriously about whether it’s worth a Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) permit in states where you’re likely to get screwed by a jury if you use it. Example: I can get a CCW in CA but I’m likely screwed if I shoot somebody. The mostly liberal (I’m a registered independent for the record) jury will be sure to have my ass and it’s why I own a dog that’s trained to bite and protect (another good option). Nothing makes me happier then visualizing PETA pitted against other wild-eyed liberals.
Bottom line is that if you own a gun and have it as daily carry, you’d better rehearse your use scenarios both physically and mentally, and the same with the gun in the home. Mental practice is extremely valuable after you’ve mastered the basics. FYI, shooting paper at the local range will not prepare you for a defensive shooting situation. Rehearsing defensive scenarios is the only thing that will prepare you.
For most of you, the best bet is to buy a good tactical flashlight, there are plenty on the market. Specs: At least 200+ lumens, waterproof, LED, and a 3volt lithium battery. Use and carry your light with you at all times. It’s the best non-lethal and practical option available, in my opinion. You can take it anywhere – including on an airplane – and if it’s a high lumen model it will blind people in broad daylight. I can’t recommend this purchase enough.
Learn From an Expert
There are plenty of former Military and Law Enforcement that have great self-defense skills. Just vet your instructor carefully, ask for references and proof of service. While there are many solid instructors out there, there are also a plethora of wannabe Rex-Kwon-Do types who are self-proclaimed experts and worse – lie about their service.
Alter Your Lifestyle, and it May Save Your Life
Avoid opening night and large crowds (e.g. go to Disney World during off-peak) that make easy targets. FYI, most domestic and foreign terrorists want the biggest bang for their buck. They want Yankee stadium sold out and not Padre stadium at 60% capacity. It sucks to live this way sometimes but ask the survivors from Colorado if it’s worth a minor lifestyle change. I say it is, and it’s the main reason I’m watching the Olympics on TV and not attending this year. London is too much of a risk for a variety of reasons that I will not go into on this post.
Don’t Be a Victim
Rehearse emergency scenarios before there’s an emergency, the time to practice is NOT when it’s happening.
The world is a dangerous place these days. Be prepared.
A great book I’d also recommend is, Escape The Wolf by Clinton Emerson.
My condolences to the victims and their families in Aurora Colorado.
-Brandon
Brandon is a former Navy SEAL, and worked as a Special Operations intelligence & security specialist in Iraq during 2006-07. He is also author of the New York Times Best Seller, “The Red Circle”.
Just hope you’re not behind and to the side of the guy with that flashlight...I would have to ask the good guy with the gun and/or flashlight to stay the hell away from me and my family when he’s in his combat reaction mode.
Because it appears that we was not a combat trained shooter, it is likely that a 9MM or .45 hitting him in whatever armor he was wearing would have delayed the next shot and might have made him a bit wary, slowing down his shooting.
The objective of defensive shooting is to keep the perp from making the next shot. Delaying his next shot with return fire would have been good. Hitting him outside his armor would be better. I am going to guess that having CCWs actively firing on the goofball would have reduced the number of casualties.
As I recall some Boy Scout campouts were almost like combat anyhow...everthing but live ammunition.
I didn't know it was called that either, but I've been doing it since I was younger and drove older cars that sometimes needed a jump. Much easier to get a jump when the front of the car is accessible. As I got older I just kept doing it to get out easier.
You can get an LED replacement bulb. 140 lumens for the 3-cell Maglite for $14.66. If you really want to brighten somebody's day, for $68, you can get a 1000 Lumen replacement bulb for your Maglite.
I always carry a flashlight for this reason and the obvious other reasons as well.
My current light is a 700 lumen cree. smaller than a candy bar and fits in just about any pocket.
I guarantee you do not want this thing burning your retinas in the dark.
I am at that point of my life now too. I will be carrying in the near future.
“Wouldn’t a flashlight create a situation where the guy is pissed off and fires his rounds at random spraying everything.”
So, we are worried that we might piss off a mass murderer? A mass murderer that is already spraying rounds?
;-)
Those lights are great and my 700 lumen cree is the same size.
I’d blind the guy and then invite everyone to go blanket party on him.
This is the one I carry.
It claims 900 lumen but I compare to my Fenix TK35 and it’s not quite as bright as the Fenix.
Make sure you and your family are behind the good guys when the shooting starts...
I don't consider myself "paranoid." And I do not feel like I sacrifice anything. I do not fear being in public or anything else. But I have always been more comfortable sitting near a wall where I can see a crowd, I've never like huge crowds of people where personal space seems invaded and I've always been quick to notice something suspicious.
These passive "personality traits" have helped me avoid two potentially dangerous situations. One incident happened years ago in Chicago when I noticed a group of "youths" noticing my small group (4 of us) exit a restaurant downtown late at night. They were a block and a half away and it was late. Our vehicle was parked about two blocks away from the restaurant and a block away from the group of suspicious "youths." We immediately altered our route back to the car and when two of the young men started our way, we had the women walk back towards the restaurant and told them we (the guys) would bring the car to them. The two youths followed us to the car and asked for some money in a rather intimidating fashion. They were abruptly persuaded to turn around and rejoin their group now only a block away and we peacefully drove over and picked up the girls.
It was a nonevent as they did "ask" for some money and did not "demand" it. But I believe my awareness and healthy suspicion avoided an actual robbery or worse as we were able to formulate a plan.
For the record, I have noticed other events that turned out to be innocuous. But it's not paranoia. I consider it "street smarts."
If it’s concealed who’s to know....
I guarantee you, my 700 lumens searing your brain is going to stop you for a few seconds.
It hurts and will blind you.
I’m no badass but I would like to think I would have blinded this jackwagon long enough for me or someone to put the hurt on him.
bookmark
Everyone, the flashlight below cost me all of $30 with the batteries.
I bought three. Two for me and one for my brother, who bought 5 or 6 more.
We’ve dropped em, place them in water and they work great.
You will not find a better value for your money than these light sabers.
This is the one I carry.
It claims 900 lumen but I compare to my Fenix TK35 and it’s not quite as bright as the Fenix.
I was just thinking about that - watched a movie where a woman made good her escape from a wasted, wild man of of a husband, and I thought, if she had had to back out she never would have gotten away. I’ll try it. Kind of a pain in the rear though.
That is great advice that I have given to my own wife. I've told her, especially with the kids, "If you ever encounter a suspicious person or 'feel' like someone has 'noticed you' make direct and obvious eye contact until they look away and DON'T BE SMILING." I've also told her when someone approaches here asking for money (as many did in Chicago and San Fran) look directly at them and sternly say "NO!" (not mean and not screaming just deliberate).
Hubby found one online and gave it to our d-i-l, who walks their dog after work. In the winter, it gets dark early, so she's always walking at night-time. The one he got her is VERY bright, and has several options, including a fast strobe which could cause blindness and immobilization. It's also has a zig-zag edging on the very heavey head so that it can cause maximum damage when used as a blunt instrument, if someone gets that close.
Oh, nice! That seems to be the only trouble with the mini-lights, ye cain’t whomp somebody upside the head with it.
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