Originally Posted by
David A. Rowe
No offense taken, but since we're going to discuss it... let's get my pedigree out of the way. I have spent the last 17 years of my life in military service, shooting or in law enforcement. I had the extreme privilege to be trained several times by some of the most skilled shooters and tactically proficient operators around. I have practiced often, and I have experienced everything including shoot houses, airsoft, deployments, academy, virtual trainers, ranges, and classes equating to many thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of rounds of learning and practical application. I do not even begin to consider myself a subject matter expert on shooting and tactics because they are exceptionally perishable skills, and the amount of hours to stay proficient are difficult to maintain. Especially when on a limited time/money budget. It's not merely one or two skills, it's a legion of skills that must be practiced and executed under exceptionally high stress. CQB is one of the deadliest environments, and this is well-evidenced by the rate of casualties among even Tier 1 operators and SRT/SWATs. Tactics and weapons also evolve and change over time, and that's paid for with a tremendous amount of blood and money.
Regarding concealed carry, yes. Please do. An armed populace loosely correlates to a reduction in crime. But be responsibly armed and understand that it still requires hundreds of hours to reach basic proficiency for a self defense scenario involving one attacker.
I do not give excuses for other people because I cannot do that. I also will not do that. What you refer to as swift, decisive and morally correct action is still subject to the stark reality that room clearing a complex structure with multiple entries/exits/rooms/hallways/nooks. Throw in the smells, sights and sounds of the chaos that is an active shooter scene. Try to imagine moving down a hallway with no idea how many shooters there are, if there are explosives, and with a torrent of screaming, fleeing and possibly wounded children and adults.
There is likely nothing on earth more complex and chaotic with higher stakes. There is also no way to prepare yourself without having faced that, or similar things, enough to inoculate yourself to the stress and fear. That is the reality.
But wait, let's go over public expectations of law enforcement agencies (LEAs). LEAs and their governments are sued extremely frequently, and the vast majority of those cases are dismissed because they are unfounded. Beyond that, though, society has regressed substantially the past sixty or seventy years, and now government is expected to provide far more services and held accountable to unrealistic or standards (many times even perfection). One of the critical touch points is law enforcement, and the career has been vastly over-burdened with responsibilities beyond enforcing the law.
Put simply: society does not produce enough people possessing sufficient character and competency to its imagined standard of what a LEO should be, nor can every LEA/Government afford to pay them enough.
Russia has always had zero fucks to give with regard to civilian casualties, and they are the absolute normal of the world. That is nearly everywhere. Only in some Western countries do people expect extremely low rates of civilian casualties and attempt to staff accordingly.
"Taken out the cops." Okay. The internet warrior's best idea is to not only engage law enforcement officers, but also storm a building afterwards and take out a shooter. Remember everything I've mentioned so far? You're entirely disconnected from reality.
You think if shit hits the fan you're just gonna rob and kick in doors of other people's houses to steal whatever you need? You're going to die quickly.
You think you can fight a civil war because you're "ready to die for your country." You're going to die quickly.
You have child-like fantasies about your own capabilities and how shit actually goes down. Real, no-shit combat will disillusion you of it all in the most absolute way. And you will likely die quickly.
I am a parent. I have children in school. I get it. But your instincts are not going to make up the gap to the reality of the situation. Some prey run, some fight... but there are a lot of predators that eat, regardless.
I'm not arguing against parental rights or instincts. I'm not saying don't arm yourselves. I'm not saying don't save your children even at your own peril. I'm saying take REALLY good stock of your actual capabilities and limitations.
There is nothing more chaotic or complicated than that environment, and furthermore... we still have no idea what's going on. I merely gave what I believe to be the most plausible scenario of what may have happened based on my experience and training. ALL of this could be bullshit. The vast majority of it already has been.
Yet for some reason the "correct" side insists on blaming people they don't know, doing a job that they won't, and thinks that the best thing is just to kill cops and bad guys.
You're fuckin' nuts.
Finally, though, I agree with you. You cannot negotiate with evil or fix crazy. So DO make yourselves women and men of great strength, character and competence. Become exceptionally dangerous, but if you want to throw morals and ethics out the window you're the bad guy, too.
P.S. This is not a defense of "cops" or even the LEOs/LEAs involved with this incident. I don't know them. I don't know the law in Texas. I don't know the victims. I don't know what happened that day, nor do I know the policies in place beforehand. I'm willing to bet none of you do, either. If they were cowards fire them, and if they fucked up they should be liable and address the mistakes to learn from them and fix what they can.
I do not care, though, because it is a big enough job caring about the people I actually know, love and interact with.