Quote:
Originally Posted by JAGO
Prior to becoming an Army JAG I served as a an Army CID agent (Seq # 1586) and they sent me to DEA school. During our undercover techniques this issue was extensively covered. In the situation where you are armed and unrelated to your presence violence errupts (Particularly when you are in "relaxed grooming" standards) the Boys in Blue that respond are pretty well full of adrenaline and expecting violence. The odds are you will become a casualty of Blue on Blue fire if you got a gun in your hand. This caution was expanded upon if you were wearing anything resembling biker gear and special empansis was placed upon agents that were members of minority groups. We were taught that it is a fact of life if you are a black male in street gear when the alarm goes off don't be waiving no gun in the 7-11 whether you are a federal agent or not - odds are you will be perceived as hostile by the responding officers.
The prevailing DEA guidance then was sit back, be a good witness taking in all the details for the arriving officers and be prepared to hit the deck face down with your badge face up in hand when the responding units make entry and order everybody down.
The guidance continued that if the shooter was "postal", a disgruntled ex or on crack/PCP - you just as well take him down and risk the friendly fire because if you didn't you were a goner anyway.
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The thing I learned watching Florida's CCW laws become more enlightened, make sure the state law where you carry is clear, can you use deadly force in protection of yourself, your family, or others
v/r
phil
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X10...
Plus, there is a basic tactical issue. I cant remember the FBI statistic off the top of my head right now, but a significant percentage of "takeover" style robberies involve an "advance man" accomplice who enters the establishment prior to the robbery, and hangs out quietly disguised as a patron while it goes down. His sole job is to make sure the main assailant doesn't encounter resistance.
In that scenario, the would-be Good Samaritan who exposes his firearm to intervene in the robbery will likely never have a chance to use it because he will be shot by the back up.
A few years ago as part of my on-going CCW training I did a LE "use of force" training program where I was put through this very scenario and
failed it BIG TIME. I wont forget that lesson, EVER.
Priority #1 Hard Cover.
Priority #2 Escape.
Pulling (and shooting) the gun only comes up as a last resort when 1 and 2 are not options and the bad guy is turning his attention toward me or my loved ones.