The shootings in Colorado

[harrygunner]

'357_Sig' Thanks for that info.
   
Sad to say, I'm looking up helmet specs on Internet. If I'm ever in a situation like that, regardless of the perp's motives, it's good to know how "hard" such protection is.
   
Looks like a knowledgeable person would still shoot the helmet if that's the only shot available. They're primarily intended to deflect fragmentation and shrapnel.

Found the V50 specification less than comforting if I were wearing a helmet. That's the speed of a 9mm, where half penetrate and half are stopped. 

At any rate a square hit to the helmet from 180-200gr 10mm might have gotten his attention.

Same with Kevlar vests. A solid hit from a .40S&W may not penetrate, but would displace the Kevlar enough to produce a significant injury.

I'm concluding one should take the shot if the chance appears. Don't be intimidated by the garb a psycho might be wearing.

[harrygunner]

In a larger sense, I was addressing the sense of hopelessness that was discussed on other sites when dealing with an armored assailant. Some people were under the impression the perp had armor covering over his legs, groin, chest, throat and head.

That turned out not to be true. But, even if it were true, the impression a handgun is completely ineffective is false. And if one determines that it's fight or die, their efforts are not automatically fruitless.

[sqlbullet]

I read a post on another forum I visit occasionally that really struck home to me.

It isn't about being armed.

It is about having a self-sufficient mentality.  Considering how you would deal with threats in any environment.

A couple of face's full of coca-cola and popcorn followed by a 4-5 man rush as soon as he appeared would probably have stopped this.

This gets back to the philosophy that there aren't dangerous weapons, there are dangerous people.  Do we train to be a danger to those who would harm us in any situation.

I fly quite often.  No gun.  In the last 4 months I have been to France twice and Columbia once, for a total of 3.5 weeks out of country. It goes without saying, but no gun in those places.  And no knife either since I don't check bags. My only friend?



All of us go places from time to time that are not only not gun friendly, but quite illegal to carry into.  (US Post Office, I am looking at you, and your cousins the federal buildings.)

I pray each day that I am never in this type of situation.  I was a hostage once many years ago.  The situation resolved without violence.

I hope if I am ever in this type of situation, I will be maintain a self-sufficient mentality and use any tool available to resist.

[Bro KV]

My buddy would tell me that he runs first and will ask questions later. I just can't get with that mentality. Seems that's what everyone does these days.

I don't know what I would of done in that situation but I know how I think, how I approach day to day situations.

[sqlbullet]

There is a time to retreat, but that is very different from running away.  A retreat is a tactical or strategic move to preserver resources in order to more effectively continue another time/place.

Running away is hoping someone else will fight for you, or the aggressor isn't after you specifically.

[harrygunner]

... there aren't dangerous weapons, there are dangerous people.

Good post.

I trained with a California police department with a strong training program. The trainer was pro-CCW. Took all the classes up to "Advanced" where I was paired with an officer as we moved and shot through and around barriers. Phoenix seems to be the place that wants to validate my training. Had a few encounters there, including one where I thought I'd actually have to pull the trigger. Responding to those situations felt "natural" because of the training.

Now, I'm thinking I want to take some classes about more extreme situations. Not so much about shooting or CQC in those conditions, but about assessing and responding to them.

[sqlbullet]

Now, I'm thinking I want to take some classes about more extreme situations. Not so much about shooting or CQC in those conditions, but about assessing and responding to them.

This.  Alot of it is verbal.

The shooting in Colorado is the exception.  We are more likely to be struck by lightning twice I read somewhere.

But, having the ability to read a situation, and in an encounter to de-escalate is a big plus.  And one, that from my observations on both sides of law enforcement, is lacking in far too many people.

[REDLINE]

Some of you will think this is crazy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i46RI2twVao

The scary part to me is that some people will believe stuff like what's in the video is crazy.  And that's just what we know, on top of all kinds of other stuff we know.  I am rarely if ever surprised by anything I hear or come across anymore.  What worries me is what they haven't let out of the bag yet.  I figure what we come across is probably a fraction of what we wish we knew, then there are those that just don't want to know for fear of disrupting the fairytale mindset they live in.

I think some of the old addages are true and should be held dear.  For example(s):  Hope for the best and plan for the worst.  Always be on your guard.  Pay attention (this ties into what sqlbullet was saying about "the ability to read a situation, and in an encounter to de-escalate").  And so on...

Of course there will always be those who will simply choose to believe "it" will never happen to them.  And that's fine.  Everyone is free to choose how they should handle their own life.  Funny thing is they are always most surprised when "it" does happen to them.  For some of the rest of us who plan for "it" to happen, even if it never does, are generally way more than a couple steps ahead if/when "it" does go down.  Mentally prepared and not living in a fairytale world are half the battle I think.  Well, having a tools around like knives and firearms doesn't hurt either.   About those cannons...

Anyway, blah blah blah, I'm just preaching to the choir here.

[DM1906]

Anyway, blah blah blah, I'm just preaching to the choir here.

Sure, but even weathermen talk about the weather.  Discussion is healthy.

[REDLINE]

True.  Thank You.