Tag Archives: self-defense

Local media goes back to telling you to act like a wounded minnow

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The ABC owned, local news station commonly known as Channel 13 is often called one of the most trusted news sources in town. And believe it or not, where local news in concerned, that’s often true. But with a recent post, they collaborated with a “security expert” and admitted that they, “specifically did not mention firearms…”

To their credit, they mention ways of letting folks know you’re home and that’s fine given the fact many home invasions start out as a common burglary. Bad guy knocks on door. No one answers. Because he now thinks no one his home, he or his buddies go around to the back door to kick it in. This is a very common tactic. Of course, answering the door to an unsolicited visitor isn’t necessarily a good idea either. Having your car keys handy and hitting the panic button on your key fob, if your vehicle is so equipped, isn’t a bad idea though. it can draw unwanted attention to the home but, honestly, when was the last time anyone actually paid attention to a car alarm?

Where the wheels really fall off the bus and the author, Illona Carson, endorses victimization, is telling you that should you, “…come face to face with an intruder and you’re not prepared, lie down and do not look at them. Pretend to have a heart attack or breathing problem.” I am not sure what planet Carson and “expert,” Miguel Yanez are living on but, this is just plain stupid.

Folks, if you act like a wounded minnow, you’ll be treated like one and likely put out of your misery…Bet on it. There are countless cases of people, especially women, who simply gave into their attackers. They laid down to offer no resistance, and they are no longer here to discuss the issue. For sure, this tactic minimized injuries and violence because the victims were simply executed without hesitation. Do you really want to take that chance? I am not foolish enough to tell you that a gun is THE answer to this problem but, laying down, crapping your pants, or faking a heart attack like Fred Sanford (for those old enough to remember that show), aren’t likely to help solve the problem either.

But how about hardening your home against burglary or home invasion in the first place? Do you have a home alarm? Is it monitored? Does it have glass-break sensors? Do you have it on while you’re home? If not, get one. Also, wooden doors with nice glass centers are pretty but, not terribly secure. Get a steel door and/or reinforce the entire door way with an armored strike plate and hinges while you’re at it. Many/most modern homes have large walk in closets…These can often be easily made into a not so obvious safe room. Your plan may simply be, telling your kids to go to their safe room and wait for you to come get them.

And finally, a gun can be part of your plan. It’s a force multiplier that allows you to potentially deal with multiple threats at a distance. But if it’s just a lucky charm you’ve never trained to use and it’s locked away where you can’t get to it, it’s of little use. Carry your gun on your person, get quality instruction, and train to at least the same level of proficiency with which you operate your car…As in, you don’t have to think about how to drive, you just do it.

-GM

When calling 911 goes wrong

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According the kgw.com, a man who called 911 about a shooting suspect ended up getting shot by responding officers in Vancouver, Washington last week. The incident started when John Kendall, 59, shot his neighbor, Abigail Mounce, in the face on October 31. Officers spotted the man who’d called 911, not knowing he was still in the area.

A SWAT team arriving at the scene spotted a man who matched Kendall’s description. They were unaware that the citizen who called 911 was still there.

 

“Law enforcement personnel watched as the citizen (believed to be Kendall) exited his vehicle and circled behind his trunk,” police explained. “Fearing that he armed himself, law enforcement fired multiple shots at the individual in order to stop the perceived threat before the citizen could enter the woods.”
via Police mistakenly shoot 911 caller during manhunt.

Now I could be wrong but, I suspect there are a lot of cops who will find this acceptable/justifiable given the circumstances. You’ve traced the suspect’s phone to the area. The person in view allegedly looks like your suspect. And he looks like he’s potentially arming himself.

The man was shot in the leg. He took cover behind a gravel pile and fired a shot back, then he called 911 again, this time to report that he had been shot.

via Police mistakenly shoot 911 caller during manhunt.

There’s so much fail here but, I’m glad the citizen survived. He’s lucky. Very lucky. Chances are high, the leg wound is a result of an excited officer shooting at an unknown distance, resulting in the shot going low.  I say that because shooting him in the leg intentionally is surely a violation of policy and demonstrably, did nothing to eliminate the threat of him shooting at anyone. This is why we do not shoot to wound.

Fortunately, things didn’t go any further than the initial exchange of gunfire. The officers involved have been relieved of duty pending an investigation. By the time officers caught up with Kendall, the real suspect, he’d already turned himself off with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. I might argue this error is big enough that they might not get to be cops any more but, I don’t believe this was criminal behavior on their part.

All that said, there’s something to be learned here. Starting with, DON’T BE THERE. If you have just called 911 to say you saw a guy involved in a shooting, don’t be in the area when the police show up if you can help it! I’ve said before that if I am ever involved in a shooting, even if I am just a witness, my preferred action is to move to a safe location other than the shooting, and then call 911. Police responding to a shooting in progress can be a little excited. That’s normal and that’s OK but, it presents some hazards if you happen to resemble the suspect. It presents hazards even if you don’t resemble the suspect. So again, just don’t be there.

-GM

Adrianne Curry shows a moment of mental clarity about guns

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Post by Adrianne Curry.

Screenshot from 2014-10-27 13:12:21
I have to applaud her post and response here. There’s a mental clarity to it that one can’t ignore. I’ll never suggest a gun is some sort of talisman to ward off evil but it’s one hell of a force multiplier in the hands of a anyone trained to use it. Get equipped. Get trained. Have a plan. Be prepared. She’s at least on the right track here. But it’s hard to square this clarity with some of her previous FB commentary on guns.
Screenshot from 2014-10-27 13:30:28

It seems that she assumes gun owners (other than herself) don’t care about homelessness or kids. I know I’ve participated in many matches and gun related events over the years that were dedicated specifically to addressing those issues. At the same time, if I don’t defend my own right to self-defense and the tools there-in, it’s really hard to be able to do anything in defense of anyone else.

-GM

More and more evidence is supporting Darren Wilson in Ferguson

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A forensic pathologist from San Francisco, Dr. Judy Melinek, says based on a bullet wound to Brown’s arm, Brown’s palms could not have been facing Wilson in the standard surrender position – with hands up and palms out – when he was shot, and Brown was falling forward or lunging when he was hit by the fatal shot to the top of his head.

via New Information Released on Michael Brown Case « CBS St. Louis.

 

The last week or so has seen new evidence and reports released that support Officer Darren Wilson’s side of the Brown shooting. While there have been some witness claiming that Brown had his hands up and was surrendering to Wilson, the evidence released in the last week refute that claim.

Initially, the New York Times published a report indicating that Brown was in fact shot initially during a struggle inside Wilson’s patrol vehicle. Brown supporters explained that away by claiming that Wilson pulled Brown into the patrol car with him. And the few who didn’t dispute that fact went on to point out that the initial report does not explain why Wilson fired at Brown again outside the vehicle.

As of yet, not one report or autopsy indicates Brown was running away when shot as initially claimed. That has since become, he was surrendering. The latest report now contradicts the claim of Brown surrendering. At the very least, it indicates his hands and arms were NOT in a position typically associated with surrender (hands above the shoulders, palms out) when the fatal round struck the top of Brown’s head.  According to the St. Louis affiliate station, “A forensic pathologist from San Francisco, Dr. Judy Melinek, says based on a bullet wound to Brown’s arm, Brown’s palms could not have been facing Wilson in the standard surrender position – with hands up and palms out – when he was shot, and Brown was falling forward or lunging when he was hit by the fatal shot to the top of his head.”

Of course, none of this changes anything for most Brown supporters. To them, until they see Darren Wilson stand trial for murder, there is no justice. Worse, some won’t be satisfied without a guilty verdict regardless of the facts.

-GM

Deputies investigating home invasion, deadly shooting at home in Spring | abc13.com

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Investigators say there were narcotics including cocaine in plain sight in the home. Once they removed the dead body, they tried to search the house, but the people who live there stopped being cooperative. Detectives are now waiting for a search warrant.

via Deputies investigating home invasion, deadly shooting at home in Spring | abc13.com.

 

Narcotics out in plain sight at the crime scene. And all of a sudden the folks that live there get uncooperative. Gee…I wonder why? I could be wrong but, this does not seem to be random. What are the chances these people know their assailants?

All that aside, the moment someone enters your home should not be the first moment you are aware of their presence on your property. Having a dog that alerts you is nice. And it sounds overly simplistic but, lock your door.  You’d be amazed at how many people live with their doors unlocked while they are home. And this is also why we recommend you maintain a gun on your person, even at home.

-GM