Different ‘rules of engagement’, something that politicians don’t seem to understand.

I was doing that shooting on my time, using my ammo, because I didn’t want to make a mistake, and didn’t want to have a stray bullet take out a voting, taxpaying constituent of my boss’s boss’s boss because the sewage flows downhill and I was in the valley.

Seeking available cover is taught in the police academy, as is positively identifying the target. When all the information you have is ‘shots fired’ all you know is that someone has a gun. Hell, most of time you don’t have even a minimal description to go on, and people expect you to save the day. You end up with a lot of armed jumpy people converging at a single location from different directions, and the people who might give you some information are too busy getting as far away as possible.

Simple people offer simple solutions. When the only thing in the tool box is a gun, the answer to all problems is a gun.

What most civies don’t understand is that a lot of the training by Military and (some) security forces is not just about pulling a gun and shooting, but about threat evaluation and quick and *CORRECT* reactions. If I’m in a shopping mall and I detect a threat (people screaming is a good indicator in that case), or I see someone with a weapon, I’m not going to stand there and say *make my day!*) I’m going to dive for cover and decide how to eliminate the threat. If I have a weapon, then once I find cover and the threat is within range, it will be eliminated. But the first priority is *ALWAYS* “Secure thine own ass FIRST!!” One big difference between Military training and LEO is that we allow for civilian casualties and expect them. Our job isn’t “to protect and serve”, ours is to complete the mission “by all means necessary within the rules of engagement”. There is a good reason why most Western Military personnel are not allowed to go armed in public. 🙂

The last thing you want on a ‘shots fired’ call is random armed civilians, because you will probably shoot them. Hell, plain clothes officers get shot by uniforms. and even uniformed officers are shot by other officers in bad lighting. You don’t want amateurs with guns at incident sites because there isn’t a lot of time to make the decision on shooting. Further, a crowd of people rushing to the incident may make taking a shot impossible because of the danger of hitting innocent people.

People have seen too many bad movies to understand what a real incident is like, and they are not ready to deal with. Life and death is not a game.

Could not have said it better Badtux!

I was once called in to a Neighborhood Watch meeting of *concerned citizens* by a very frustrated Police commander, when they constantly demanded to know why the couldn’t be armed. I was into my spiel about the difference between a pro (me) and them. I was in camo’s with my sidearm (my Glock, with firing pin and ammo removed) when one of the yahoos asked to see my *gun* (which I was waiting for). I said “Sure…” drew, and in the space of a couple heartbeats pointed it at his head, said *bang* and drew a bead on 3 other loudmouths and said *bang* again, and then said “OK. You four are now dead, and I still have 15 rounds left for the other 8, who would also now be dead. Any questions?” I wasn’t expecting any as they were all screaming (and two had fainted, we had paramedics in the foyer in case someone had a heart attack or something.) Of course, they screamed blue murder to the Councillors etc, but the program clearly stated that there would be a practical demonstration and that no live weapon would be used. Not my problem they can’t read! 😆

One bright spark wanted me arrested for breaking the regulation that a serving member of the defense forces was not allowed to carry his weapons in public. But it is allowed for purposes of demonstration when approved by the powers that be, as this had been. 😀

The Police, BTW, were very grateful, but declined to invite me back for further demonstrations! Can’t imagine why… I had fun! 😈

Some days… I loved my job! I don’t think I stopped smiling for days! Heh. 😀

It’s $166 for the course, and as the permits are issued by the Agricultural Commissioner in Florida, the background check is a joke. The Ag Department doesn’t have access to the FBI databases.

That is all.

— Badtux the Snarky Penguin

Many of these morons are regulars in the media, which demonstrates how broken the media is. This is why we keep getting sucked into wars.

You get the message? Anyone need a translation? (It would be long if I use proper English, or quite short and succinct with profanity!)

As I heard many Soviet’s and Europeans say often, usually with much mirth… “Americans!!”

*SIGH*