Armed citizens are much in the news of late. Here, we see Afghan civilians trained in marksmanship and patrol tactics by the US military routing Taliban terrorists from their villages.
A short time-frame apart, two separate bank robberies in Florida are each foiled by armed citizens with concealed carry permits, and armed with their own handguns.
In Omaha, Nebraska an armed robbery team comes out second to an armed citizen, who drew a Smith & Wesson Military & Police .40 pistol, killing a perpetrator armed with a sawed-off shotgun and capturing a second robber. As if to prove to the world the danger he faced, one of his bullets goes into the muzzle and down the barrel of the gunman’s sawed-off. The prosecutor has already ruled the shooting justifiable, but the citizen, licensed to carry openly, is being accused of illegally carrying concealed. Local gun rights activists, notably Nebraska Firearms Owners Association , have rallied to his defense. Details on the shooting are here and here.
Finally, my favorite of the week, sent along by old friend Adam Kasanof, retired from NYPD where he spent much of his career with the Chief of Department’s office. A gunfight survivor himself (off-duty encounter) Adam is one of the majority of cops who cheer when good guys and gals prevail against the bad guys. Officers in Des Moines, Iowa where it happened apparently agree; after the shooting was over, they reloaded the delicate octogenarian’s revolver for her. Gotta love it: see it here.
These stories always make me feel good. Thank You.
The last one is in Iowa though, not Ohio.
Thanks, Chris. I had already caught and corrected it, but another pair of eyes is always welcome.
Appreciatively,
Mas
A couple miles from here in a nearby “college town” several years ago, a drunk student – just dumped by his girlfriend – tried to break into her apartment to “talk” with his girlfriend. He was so drunk he went the wrong way – and instead broke into the house of an uninvolved elderly woman, who he beat the hell out of and put in the hospital for a couple weeks. That’s what happens to UNARMED older women.
Mas: I don’t know if you teach it in your classes, but isn’t it wrong to hit someone in the head with a handgun like in the Florida incident? I have been taught to “get off the X” and back up a little for the draw. A drawn handgun in a Close Quarters Combat situation is easily taken away like you show in some of your books. Plus, most poly-framed pistols don’t have the heft of a steel 1911 or HD revolver. Do you ever teach CQB techniques that have the good guy hit the bad guy with the handgun? IMHO, that is what the off-hand is for while drawing from concealment. Thanks.
I noticed that the elderly lady was using an inexpensive revolver, the type the Left was trying to ban a few decades ago as a Saturday Night Special.
Fred, I agree with you, but I’m sure we’re all happy that the Good Guy dominated the situation and everything turned out OK.
best,
Mas
Am I the only one who worried about where the bullet from the old lady went? I was taught that I was responsible for every bullet I fire. I am glad the burglar was arrested but I would be very peeved if my child was hit by stray rounds.
Mas and Fred, I forget who said it first (maybe Cooper?). That there “ain’t no rules in a gunfight” applies.
So, do you support OC now??????
The Omaha city prosecutor announced today that since surveillance video could not prove the armed citizen’s gun was completely concealed, the charges have been dropped.
Long Island Mike, we were getting at the fact that if you’re close enough to smack the bad guy with the gun, you’re close enough for him to grab it if he’s quick, or just lucky.
Jim, I don’t think open carry in public is the best option tactically for most situations. However, I support it being legal. First, it allows newly minted gun carriers who are being stalked or otherwise are at high risk, to be armed immediately without waiting weeks or months for a CCW application to be processed. Second, it prevents misunderstandings about what’s legal or not when the wind blows the coat open to reveal a legally concealed handgun.
best,
Mas
L.I. Mike: My point ( as Mas notes) is that the most dangerous place you can be is 3 feet or less from your assailant with your weapon not in a firing position. Of course, Col. Cooper was correct in most things. But a free hand to push away the crook gives you time to draw and shoot.
There is recent story on http://www.police.one that mentions a SWAT Team member that had a bad guy’s 9 shot .22 in contact with the officer’s head. The officer used his free hand to push the gun away then fired four times with his handgun. Especially with an auto you need room so that the pistol does not go out of battery. Contact shooting with any auto ( especially a Glock) does not work. You can push on a Glock slide with two fingers to get it out of battery.
Correction from above post: it is http://www.policeone.com. There are many interesting stories there. Only registered police/LEO’s are allowed to post. I am not a LEO but this site has interesting reading about real-world survival skills.
Guys my point was that if in a confrontation, whether with or without a gun, ya have to do whatever you have to do to come out alive, or least injured. I may have been too glib in my post. I apologize. We are on the same page I believe. Bad guys don’t follow rules and you must be prepared for that. Also the exigency of a serious confrontation may require you to also do something not usually planned or trained for. Life is filled with the unexpected. Stay safe.
P.S. Mas are you heading to the NRA annual meeting this coming week?
Long Island Mike, that’s understood. We’re on the same wavelength, and on the same side.
Can’t make the NRA conference unfortunately; am committed elsewhere for teaching. Have a great time, and let us know about all the cool new guns that are going to debut there. A lot of stuff (the new “secret” Ruger, the S&W SD series pistols, etc.) will first see the light of day at the NRA conference. Feel free to post your comments on what you see there, here!
best,
Mas