911 Analysis Analyzed

My commentary relates to this blog post by Xavier. It was also in the U.S. Concealed Carry
"Armed American Report" dated 6/6/2008. Check it out, then my commentary will make sense.

The '911 Analysis' article is worth reading. Even as gun owners & CCW people we probably give too little thought how to handle ourselves if & when we actually have to draw our guns in self-defense. Like everything else we train regarding firearms, you need to train for this scenario, because when the adrenaline dumps, it won't go as planned, & if you throw in a biased numbskull 911 operator to boot...well the monkey on your back will be named Mr. Murphy & this is a ride he's going to stay on until it's finished. I think Xavier's advise is right on & it is similar to what Massad Ayoob tells his students. Just give the 911 operator the facts, in language that leaves no doubt that you are the good guy and return your focus to the threat. If you have a compliant bad guy, then you can stay on the phone with 911. Remember that all these calls are taped & could help/harm you if you have to use your gun in self-defense.

While Massad's advice here is geared towards an actual shooting, it can be modified slightly to provide the required information to the 911 operator. Massad teaches the following:

* Whoever calls in 1st gets to be the victim complainant - the only other role is the perpetrator.
* The perpetrator could be lying in a pool of blood doing a remarkably convincing imitation of being a victim - you by default become the perpetrator if you don't make the call (especially if you have a gun in your hand when the cops arrive).
* The system is keyed on the assumption that whoever made the initial call is the victim (unless you have a biased 911 operator).
* Five points to say to the cops: (some say don't say anything until your lawyer gets there, but that's too late, because there are a lot of things the cops need to know to establish in their minds who is the good guy & who is the bad guy)
* 1. Point out the perpetrator to the police with something like 'Officer, this man attacked me."
* 2. Tell the police you will sign the complaint. This tells them in language they understand that you are the complainant, the guy on the ground is the subject of the complaint.
* 3. Point out the evidence. If you don't it has a tendency to disappear.
* 4. Point out witnesses. If you don't they have a tendency to disappear also.
* 5. Make a statement to the effect 'Officer, you'll have my full cooperation in 24 hours after I've spoken with council.'
* The responding officer will set the tone for the investigation, the DA & the courts.

This article/topic also reminds me of a phone call I received on 6/7/08. A friend & MO CCW permit holder had traveled to Las Vegas for a professional association national convention that weekend. He called me to let me know he had just landed & taken a cab to his hotel. In route, at an intersection when the cab was stopped, he caught sight of a large man wearing very baggy clothing out of the corner of his eye. He said he looked at him briefly then turned away. The man started 'mad dogging' him - you know, that look that says 'What are you looking at MF!' My friend said he ignored him, but as his cab was pulling away he caught something out of his peripheral vision that made him look. The man in question was raising his shirt & putting a gun in his front pocket! He had drawn a gun and apparently prepared to shoot my friend while he sat in a cab at an intersection!

Now put yourself in that scenario. You've traveled on company business & haven't brought your firearm. What could/should you do? When my friend asked me for options, I offered this; hit the floor of the cab & hope he shoots high; tell the cab driver to floor it, there's a man pointing a gun at us! You could also call the police & give them a description of the man, but if he's arrested are you prepared to go back to Las Vegas & testify against him? Because your traveling on company business, & thus unarmed for liability & job security reasons, your only options seem to be avoidance & operating in condition yellow at all times. My friend had a close call - I'm glad he wasn't harmed.

Students, your homework is that you now have two scenarios to war game! Let me know what you come up with.

FIF/FEW
The KS Infidel

(since this is my first post I want you to know FIF/FEW is my code that stands for Fight the Islamic Fascists/Fight the Enemy Within)