After the Garland, Texas incident this spring I wrote an article titled
“The Threat Has Changed.” Now, after
last night’s six-phase terrorist attacks in Paris, leaving more than 120 dead, it’s time to revisit the
topic:
Your five-shot revolver may not be enough anymore.
On May 3 two American-born Islamic radicals attacked a public gathering
near Dallas. They engaged police in a
rifle versus pistol fight that was won by a 60-year-old traffic officer who
knew how to use his .45 cal. Glock, though SWAT was involved. Both of the self-proclaimed mujahedeen were
killed; a school guard was wounded.
The attackers, whose names are irrelevant, were not starry-eyed
kids. They were self-motivated lone-wolf
assassins in their thirties, and they lived in Phoenix. Press reports stated that they had pledged
loyalty to ISIS, which later attributed credit to “two soldiers of the
caliphate,” for whatever that’s worth.
The Garland incident followed the January attack on the controversial Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris,
resulting in 12 dead and about as many wounded.
Those attackers, also in their thirties, were subsequently found and
killed.
Both incidents involved depictions of the prophet Mohammad, whose image
is banned due to Islamic aversion to idolatry.
Organizers of the Garland event drew criticism from liberals who
considered the prize for a picture of the Prophet equal to trolling—ensuring a
violent response. Defenders of
Americans’ freedom of expression thought otherwise, and there’s no middle
ground.
None of which need concern us overmuch.
Sunni and Shia Muslims probably have slain far more Sunni and Shia
Muslims than either has killed infidels.
But hajis and others do not need a specific reason to target Americans
or westerners. They will try again.
After Garland, ISIS announced that it had 71 “trained soldiers” in as
many as 15 states and would commit them to the jihad. It’s probably impossible to know, but Paris
and Garland certainly lend credence.
The Garland event was held at the Curtiss Culwell Center, owned by the
school district. Certainly it was a
potentially target-rich environment, with 6,800 seats. Its website makes no mention of firearms, pro
or con. But apparently few if any of the
attendees were armed because reportedly their response to gunfire was merely to
sing the national anthem…
So what can we learn from Paris and Garland?
For starters, the S&W J-frame in your fanny pack probably won’t cut
it these days.
Many "packers" routinely carry a “groceries gun”—a small gat that fits
in a pocket or nonstandard conveyance, often without a reload. It’s probably adequate for the
high-percentage confrontation: a random encounter at conversational distance in
a store or on the street.
It is not optimum for a focused attack by jihadists or a mob of any
origin. Without delving into the legal
complexities of shooting “unarmed teenaged assailants” (who kill hundreds of
Americans annually), let’s concede that more ammo equals better. And here’s why:
The jihadist attacks involved dedicated assailants armed with rifles
and, if we can believe the press, body armor.
(Frequently the media cannot distinguish between armor and load-bearing
“tactical” vests.)
The engagement distances were far more than across the cafeteria counter
or even across the convenience store lobby.
Film from Paris showed attackers shooting well down a street, and a
detailed account from Garland said the effective police officer engaged from 20
yards down to 10.
Most “civilian” mass killers stop or self-destruct when they encounter
resistance. Religious zealots do
not. They expect to kill or die
fighting. Reportedly the same applies to
drug cartels insistent on making a point.
So: assume you will face two or more determined killers at medium to
long range for a pistol, and they may wear armor. How many rounds do you need to end the fight?
Damnsure more than five.
How accurate are you under stress?
Can you make an all-or-nothing head shot across the street—maybe 25 or
30 yards?
In a gunfight you might get shot.
You don’t quit, but how’s your one-handed ambidextrous shooting?
Clearly, a three-round Mozambiqe Drill might not solve the problem. And six or eight rounds may not be
enough. That’s why some confirmed
single-stack .45 guys are converting to double-stack 9mm or .40 cal. With today’s quality ammunition, increasingly
it’s more about placement than bullet size.
My Para-Ord Lightweight Commander is spooky accurate, but a
double-column looks attractive.
Many shooters prefer “off body” carry for convenience—no strapping
belts, holsters, and mag pouches on and off.
Contrarily, a Safepacker is handy, practical, and fits almost any likely
scenario.
But it doesn’t fit them all. And
it can never be as fast as the holstered pistol under your shirt.
While scenario shopping, consider the assassins’ perspective—what’s an optimum
location? Someplace where the victims
are crowded, offering dense targets amid low mobility. Like a restaurant. (Remember the 1984 San Ysidro McDonald’s and
1991 Killeen Luby’s, both with 20 dead.)
The restaurant scenario is valuable for its complexity, and it compares the difference
between off-body and “on body” carry. Remember, a reload is far handier from the belt than from the
Safepacker, which easily could run five lethal seconds.
Meanwhile, you may want to expand your options beyond a handgun. A friend often carries a Ruger 10-22 in a
zippered tennis racquet case. He
routinely makes fast, offhand 50-yard head shots on IPSC targets. Another sportsman reportedly uses the same
carry mode for a compact AR-15.
Of course, not everyone lives in Free America. We Arizonans can legally carry concealed
almost anywhere, and with a CCW we can carry where adult beverages are
served. (Meanwhile, there still have
been no liquored-up Long Branch Saloon shootouts, just as we predicted.) But since mass murderers prefer gun-free
zones--recall the Colorado movie theater—you can guess where you and your loved
ones are most vulnerable.
Whatever your preference, it’s vital to analyze your options and to
practice. Get quality training—it’s the
best insurance available. But perhaps
more than anything, make the attitude adjustment. They’re here, folks. They walk among us, and the initiative is
always theirs.
Be aware, stay alert—and practice.
