Streamlight Pro-Tac Tactical FlashlightHas 200 lumen, strobe and low light. The strobe is disorienting. I showed to the state trooper when he dropped off my pistol permit and he was impressed.
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”.
See my post 11. And no, I don’t work for Costco. These are just the most amazing flashlights I’ve ever seen.
BTW, I used to use a $150 light for night commuting on my bicycle. These little gems are brighter on 3 watts and a snap to mount (using two hose clamps).
In fact, here they are:
http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=218055
Streamlight Pro-Tac Tactical FlashlightHas 200 lumen, strobe and low light. The strobe is disorienting. I showed to the state trooper when he dropped off my pistol permit and he was impressed.
I would also add to run in a zig-zag fashion - as the odds of a direct hit on a moving target drop dramatically!
I have a family member who’s a police officer and she always complicates family seating arrangements at restaurants because she won’t sit with her back to the door or to the kitchen (or any door or entry point, in fact)! But it’s good advice if you’re armed and ready to respond, because one thing the creeps always rely on is the element of surprise.
The flashlight is good advice in most situations. It would not have worked in Aurora. The theater was filled with smoke, so a bright light would not have blinded the perp and would only have pinpointed anyone carrying the light. As anyone who has driven a car through heavy fog can testify, using your brights just throws a wall of reflected light up in front of you, making it even more difficult to see.
I have a small one that is mounted to a MAC11 I use for home defense. That sucker is bright and it really will blind you (far brighter than a camera flash). Look for a tactical flashlight that is made to rail mount on a weapon. It will be small and very bright.
Example:
Lowes sells LED replacement elements for the krypton(?) bulb in those old MagLights. It's a huge improvement, and those "D" cells will power a LED nearly forever.
You're right Mark - this is the best I've read too...
“A major contractor in the Iraq war had many civilians driving vehicles in theater. If they caught you NOT combat parking they fired you immediately.”
Didn’t know it was called “combat parking.” I’ve always called it “Boy Scout Parking.” That’s the way you park when car camping. Quick exit.
There’s a ton of good advice here. Thanks for posting.
Thank You
$19.95 for a three pack at costco. machined aluminum body. 200 lumens. Brighter than most car headlights. About 5" long. Runs on three triple A's. I live on a 12 acre farm that is mostly field. These things give you a weird "power trip" feeling due to the incredible brightness. With a single light I can see anything anywhere on my property easily. And the thing can be used as a weapon as well. And did I mention $19 for a threepack.
One in the car console, one at home, and one in my pocket.
That said, I'm not going to avoid sporting events, concerts, movie theaters, etc because, on very rare occasions, someone goes crazy or an incident happens.
Excellent ideas and basic ones. Wisdom that will work ... if ... we actually do prepare and stay alert to our situations always.
We live in a world in chaos, ... all of us at home on our computer, Face book, playing war games, etc., we just do not see it or seemingly know it. Many of us are isolated, and thus interested in our own small world and ignore the rest. MOO
Excellent product suggestions, folks, thank you!
Good article with some good tips.
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