Showing posts with label what would you do. Show all posts
Showing posts with label what would you do. Show all posts

Saturday, March 22, 2014

An armed citizen's encounter in a movie theater

I was reading about the Curtis Reeves shooting in Florida and quite honestly; shaking my head and muttering something like "as a concealed carry permit holder and a shooter, I don't want to be associated with this guy."  

You see, I'm of the mindset that when carrying a concealed weapon; one must be more polite and ready to de-escalate a situation than usual.  Got cut off in traffic?  Smile and wave!  Having a weapon on your person means that you need to have a thicker skin than normal; NOT shooting a guy in a theater for throwing popcorn at you.  That concealed pistol means you need more maturity and tolerance for rude behavior, not the other way around. 

I've got a good friend that feels the same way.  A career military man who's been in harm's way off and on for a long time.  Below is his experience when he could have shot with far more justification than Curtis Reeves and he did not.  


A roughly 6', 240lb guy was screaming at a 17yr old teenage female for being too loud in the movie theater.  I intervened when I saw him smack her in the face twice and spit on the girl.  I got almost within arm's distance and yelled "Sir, back away!" twice.  He snapped out of his rage and saw me ready to draw (Glock 26 in CCC AIWB holster) and gathered up his wife and children (yes, he was doing this in front of his family!), threw his popcorn and drink, and left.

I followed him out to inform management. I fingered him and commanded the management to call the police. He overheard me then pivoted and rushed at me, stopping short at three feet when he apparently noticed me ready to draw my Glock. He then said, "don't think you are the only one that can pop them!" (pointing at my hand on gun). 

I kept a stone face, hand on chambered and holstered G26.   He retreated without further incident. 

Police arrived, took victim statement only. I gave the victim my email address and told her to have her parents press charges. I'll be happy to take the stand. 

Least I could do. 



Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Something for your "active shooter" bag (or your pocket or laptop bag)

  and it's gun free zone friendly!  SME Chuck Haggard at PF pointed out in this fascinating thread that one of the most important thing you can have to thwart an active shooter is......a doorstop (the one he recommends is linked).  This nugget of wisdom REEKS of common sense and is one of the reasons I love that forum.

 Other forums have Walter Mitty-esque moments of fantasizing of say someone running and out grabbing his "terrorist interdiction bag" but this, this is a bit more realistic.  Of course, good on ya if you are ready to take on an active shooter.  Preparation never hurts.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

CIA Contractor Raymond Davis - gear and tactics

  Raymond Davis is the former Army SF (Special Forces) dude that recently touched off an international incident in Pakistan.  Raymond was working there as a contractor for the CIA.  It appears that he was tasked with helping the CIA agents do their job and more importantly; to protect them.

  Raymond was in Lahore Pakistan, driving a Honda Civic.  He was armed with a Glock 17 9mm (3rd Gen) and 75 rds of ammo.  Two magazines according to the post at theModernSurvivalist.com but I see what could be Glock magazines alongside what are clearly AR15/M16 aluminum magazines and what looks to be a third Glock magazine in the picture with the Glock and magazines encircling a pile of ammo.   I'm not a flashlight guy so I can't ID his lights; maybe someone else can.  I can see what looks to be a filter or diffuser on the light pictured.  

  Raymond was driving the Honda Civic and stopped because of traffic.  A motorcycle with a passenger had pulled in front of his car and stopped.  A motorcycle carrying two young men following Raymond that he had noticed doing so earlier.  The passenger turned towards Raymond in his Civic and cocked his weapon (most likely a revolver).  

  Click.

  In an instant Raymond's mind switched from CIA contractor attempting to be the "gray man" (blending in, inconspicuous) to fighting for his life.  He knew he was alone in a foreign city, marked and easily found because of his race.  He knew that being outnumbered and being the lone white American male in a crowded Lahore neighborhood made for stacked odds against his survival unless countered with an immediate and aggressive counterattack.  He had almost certainly seen the grisly home videos of what happens to wayward Americans when kidnapped by militants in Islamic countries.  Not that these two Pakistani men's motives were ever clearly identified.  

  Raymond shot a five round group with his Glock 17 through the windshield at his attackers.  A tight group, almost certainly fired one-handed.  He hit the passenger in the stomach, behind the right ear, the left arm, and the left thigh.  Only one shot did not hit the passenger.  

  The man driving the motorcycle fled as his accomplice dropped his pistol and collapsed.  He ran towards the intersection as Raymond exited the Civic and shot him at least three times.  Twice in the back, once in the chest, and one grazing his thigh.  Apparently not fleeing.

  Both assailants having been killed, Raymond walked back to the Civic, got his camera, and calmly, deliberately took photographs of their bodies.  He contacted his team for assistance and extract but a mob formed against him.  He attempted to escape in the Civic and did get away from the crowd only to get caught by another crowd and a traffic warden.  Luckily, the local police took him into custody before the mob could kill him there on the street.

  Meanwhile, the international incident boiled over.  The team sent to extract Raymond ran over and killed a motorcyclist whilst going the wrong way against traffic in an attempt to get to Raymond.  The Land Cruiser did make it to the scene of the shooting but Raymond had already fled the mob.  A Pakistani man approached the Land Cruiser and flung the door open, only to be persuaded to leave by the muzzle of an assault rifle pressed to his head.  The Land Cruiser then fled to sanctuary of the American consulate.

  Raymond endured months in Pakistani prison.  Never said a word.  He was released after the US government paid diyah; the traditional Islamic law allowing for monetary restitution when bloodshed is involved.  He was also fined $235 for carrying an unlicensed firearm.

  Now back in the States, Raymond worries about getting work to make a living.
  For further reading, look no further than this excellent Men's Journal article by Matthew Teague.  

  I hope that Raymond is back in our country's service.  I hope that our country recognizes the debt owed to him.  

  Mindset and training kept Raymond from being another grainy execution video or simply a missing person.