A What If That Really Happened

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Treo

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The other day (Friday morning I think) there was a shooting here in Colorado Springs. Here are the details I have.

3 A.M. or so a guy stops in a 7-11 for a pack of smokes. While he's in line someone opened fire from a car in the parking lot. The guy buying the smokes, whom police suspect was the target (as opposed to being just some random unlucky guy) was killed. Another guy was critically wounded. the suspect(s) fled and have not been apprhended.
The incident took less time than you just spent reading it.

Here's the what if

You're there (either in or out of the store)

You do NOT know how many people are in that car

You are NOT in the line of fire and you ARE alone

It's 3 A.M. depending on you you may have been drinking.

You are (obviously) armed

The shooting is gang related (IOW if you get involved you're involved

What to you do?
 
Get [ ] out of there... contact the cops from a safe location.
 
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Uhm, nope. In my state it's against the law to ccw while consuming alcohol. even one sip.
 
TAB has the right idea. You aren't carrying anything you can stop a car with, there is very likely more then one subject in the car, and likely more then one weapon. Why pick a fight you probably aren't going to win?

Jeff
 
Oh yeah, I'd take cover and stay [ ] out of it, unless the shooter(s) come into the store looking for witnesses.
 
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TAB has the right idea. You aren't carrying anything you can stop a car with, there is very likely more then one subject in the car, and likely more then one weapon. Why pick a fight you probably aren't going to win?
Click to expand...

Absolutely. There even be more than one car. They have just about every tactical advantage from their position and you have none.

Of course Bruce Willis would leap through the plate glass window punch through the windshield with his fist and throttle the guy all while they sprayed bullets ineffectually in his general direction, but he has a stunt double.....
 
The old John Farnam dicta applies IMHO: http://www.defense-training.com/quips/2003/19Mar03.html , if you haven't read it before you should read it now.

This one is really pushing the envelope as a "What if," much of anything beyond offering thanks to one's creator for not sporting an accessory navel or nostril in those circumstances is pretty much just chestbeating, for anyone not carrying LEO credentials.

lpl
 
For that scenario, the best weapon I have is a cell phone.

Why?

First, if these folks are opening fire from a car, there's more than one of them. There is no way I can engage without endangering someone else with my bullets--I have no clear shot.

At 0300, I can't even see inside the car. There is a possibility that there might be an innocent person inside that vehicle, so I can't identify my target--and to step into the open is to invite the quick and painful introduction of lead into my system.

Thus, I maintain cover and call in CYMBAL--color, year, make, body and license of the vehicle, as good a description as I can get of the occupants, and keep dispatch on the line.
 
That's kinda what I figured people would say. My biggest reason for not getting involved, was the gang involvement. Get involved in something like that and even if you win you're going to spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder.

So now that we're all on the same page, how big a role does the fact that it's gang related play in your decision making process?
 
my guess is before you had a time to decide it was gang related it was over.

to me the gang thing is not relevant. if there is an immediate threat to yourself or your family you do what you have to do. otherwise you get the heck out of the way and call the cops.
 
I agree the gang element does'nt really play a part, what does is the time for the event to unfold. I would probably be ducked down trying to figure the situation out and it would all be over with the car driving away.
 
I learned to low-crawl in the Army. I can get lower than a snake's belly in a wagon wheel rut.

That's what I'd do.

Biker
 
I doubt that you would have time to do anything, I mean the targets are down almost as realization hits you of what is happening, you go to cover and it's over...
 
If it wasn't gang related would you shoot back?

The same principles apply whether it is gang related or not.
 
I wouldn't necessarily know it's gang related.

My thought process (if I have one at all in a blind panic) would be:

Are they shooting at ME?

Are they still shooting?

Could I be next?

Hit the ground, and take any concealment/cover i can find. In this scenario, by the time I have reacted so far as to duck and cover, they are already racing out of the parking lot. But the time I have regained my senses, and thought to check whether my underwear is still clean, they are gone.
 
If it wasn't gang related would you shoot back?
Click to expand...

I would be more likely to shoot back if it wasn't gang related, because that would indicate to me that this is some phsyco who's taking out his frustrations on the world. Which would make me more likely to believe that I'm fixing to become a target.

Take out the gang involvement and this isn't much different than Vonn Marr or New Life Church, some psyco shooting up a building. If I had a clear shot I'd take it under those circumstances. But also under those circumstances it would be much more likely that it would be a single shooter.
 
While the occupants of the car are busy and the car is stopped, poke a small hole in the bottom of the gas tank.
 
I maintain cover and call in CYMBAL--color, year, make, body and license of the vehicle...
Click to expand...

I've never heard that acronym for remembering the elements of a car description - I like it.


While the occupants of the car are busy and the car is stopped, poke a small hole in the bottom of the gas tank.
Click to expand...

:confused: :confused: :confused:

Those little smiley emoticons really help communicate sarcasm or humor (or confusion). Simply click on the "Go Advanced" button to find them. Otherwise, somebody might think you're serious.
 
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