cirrusly
Regular Member
Well- I went a public forum training session earlier this week. Valid points about making a decision to as when to engage an "active shooter" and when to hide. They covered in detail about exiting a building with "hands in sight" as so LEOs can readily identify your innocence. etc. etc.
Throughout the discussion of the "fight" option the LEO discussed how various "ordinary" items could be used as a defensive weapon, ex. stapler, scissor, etc. They then stressed that it is against the law to carry any weapon into the federal building. Oh, thanks guys, I didn't realize this already.
Then they asked "who here knows what a gun shot sounds like?" Only about 5% raised their hand. The lead LEO stated, "I'm surprised that's quite a few!" In another portion he stressed, law enforcement will likely have a badge and a weapon so you can identify them from the shooter.
They extended the discussion to include hypotheticals like being in a shopping mall, and other situations. Not once did they even mention of possibility of law abiding bystanders being armed. They painted an image that regardless of where this hypothetical situation would occur the only other party with a weapon would be LEOs, and they would be identifiable as such. :banghead: Now granted, I'm sure as hell not going to risk my own life by drawing my weapon during an "active shooter" situation unless my family or I are directly faced with the threat, that does not mean another law abiding citizen wouldn't draw if he/she has a clear line in a safe direction.
It's disgusting that in a country where we all have the "right to bear arms" (with the right validated as "extending to all law abiding citizens" SCOTUS 2008) that its fully expected only the "active shooter" would be armed, and that LEOs will assume and presumably shoot any good samaritan neutralizing the situation would be shot on site.
I learned an important thing this week: I will not protect any citizen, ever, except myself and my family. But hey, it's DC so what should I expect? I can still decide on which part of my clothing I display my security badges when on client site, so I guess I have some type of freedom, right?
Throughout the discussion of the "fight" option the LEO discussed how various "ordinary" items could be used as a defensive weapon, ex. stapler, scissor, etc. They then stressed that it is against the law to carry any weapon into the federal building. Oh, thanks guys, I didn't realize this already.
Then they asked "who here knows what a gun shot sounds like?" Only about 5% raised their hand. The lead LEO stated, "I'm surprised that's quite a few!" In another portion he stressed, law enforcement will likely have a badge and a weapon so you can identify them from the shooter.
They extended the discussion to include hypotheticals like being in a shopping mall, and other situations. Not once did they even mention of possibility of law abiding bystanders being armed. They painted an image that regardless of where this hypothetical situation would occur the only other party with a weapon would be LEOs, and they would be identifiable as such. :banghead: Now granted, I'm sure as hell not going to risk my own life by drawing my weapon during an "active shooter" situation unless my family or I are directly faced with the threat, that does not mean another law abiding citizen wouldn't draw if he/she has a clear line in a safe direction.
It's disgusting that in a country where we all have the "right to bear arms" (with the right validated as "extending to all law abiding citizens" SCOTUS 2008) that its fully expected only the "active shooter" would be armed, and that LEOs will assume and presumably shoot any good samaritan neutralizing the situation would be shot on site.
I learned an important thing this week: I will not protect any citizen, ever, except myself and my family. But hey, it's DC so what should I expect? I can still decide on which part of my clothing I display my security badges when on client site, so I guess I have some type of freedom, right?
Last edited: