© COPYRIGHT 2009 BY BRADLEY J. STEINER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Sword and Pen – May 2009 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
LAST month another nut massacred a group of innocent people, for no apparent reason. The incident occurred in Binghamton, New York, and doubtless our readers are familiar with the story.
One of our Black Belts suggested that we discuss this problem of workplace murder and mayhem, and that if possible we offer some suggestions on how people might prepare themselves just in case it ever does happen to them. It would seem, from the news reports of late, that it is happening to someone, somewhere — all of the time.
There are no "nice" ways to handle a would-be murderer, and so we shall not insult the intelligence of our esteemed readership by suggesting any. Instead, let us be straightforward and clear:
First, no one should overlook the fact that it could happen to him. Any workplace or public place is the possible site of explosive violence by some lunatic.
The obvious "best" reaction to the appearance of an armed madman who is apparently intending to unleash lethal force is immediate armed response. Shoot him! Thus, we advocate when and where it is possible to do so legally: Have a loaded firearm available to you, with which you are proficient, at all times. (Of course this sounds "outrageous" to those who have been brainwashed into believing that private citizens ought not be armed. That is most unfortunate).
Most likely, one will not have access to a firearm when and if a deadly threat manifests unexpectedly in the workplace or elsewhere. Things are still not hopeless, but it must be emphasized that without a loaded gun that one is able to handle competently, it becomes a significantly greater challenge to handle a crisis in which one is threatened by armed violence. Unarmed, insofar as firearms are concerned, your initial reaction to the awareness of a would-be killer's presence must be to ATTACK HIM, AND TO ATTACK HIM WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT! The killer's initial approach will likely consist of his appearance on the scene or his suddenly arising and making some kind of announcement or insane statement that momentarily astonishes all who are present, as he physically moves to produce the weapon with which he intends to carry out his plan. It is at that moment when some piece of furniture should be smashed into him or thrown at him, and when he should be pounced upon with force-to-kill. If there is nothing at hand, drive into him physically and attack his throat or his eyes. Plainly put: This is the moment of truth. It is now that every ounce of your strength, every measure of your fighting
spirit, and every nuance of physical combative skill that you possess must be mercilessly brought to bear in order to save not only your life, but the lives of any other innocents who may be present. USE DEADLY FORCE. The threat is clearly lethal, and there is no time to delay or to bother with forbearance and restraint.
Get the madman. Render him unconscious and helpless. Do not stop until he cannot move! Don't worry, right now, about the weapon on his person. If you've smashed him down and battered him into unconsciousness, it doesn't matter which pocket, or where upon his person he may be concealing the gun with which he intended to commit murder. He can be disarmed once he has been neutralized.
If the madman already has his firearm in his hand then the situation is worse — but it is still not hopeless. He still must be attacked.
Countering the lunatic when there are many people present is somewhat easier than if you are the sole target of his rage. Act, if possible, when the weapon is directed away from you and, if you can do so, while he is speaking. Follow the same instructions outlined above, if possible striking his weapon bearing hand downward with some heavy object (or, if necessary, with a powerful handaxe chop) before going at the nut, himself. (Question: "Isn't this risky?" Answer: "Of course it is, fool! But it's more risky to simply allow yourself and anyone else present to be passively shot dead! This is the real world, bubba! There is no more any ‘guaranteed way' to handle a crisis such as this than there is a way to go to war with any sort of ‘guarantee' that there'll be no casualties on your side!").
If you are directly in the gunman's sites, so to speak, and he is clearly intending to fire, and he does not move the weapon so that you are, for a moment, out of alignment, then you'll simply need to take a chance and attack him. You've always got at 50/50 chance of successfully saving your life when you resist. There is a 100% certainty, however, that if you do not resist, you will simply die.
Dodge without warning out out the weapon's path and move in at the lunatic as fast as you possibly can. Use deadly force on him, forthwith. Remember: It's kill or be killed, plain and simple, and HE caused the situation.
When and if a gunman is within reach at the time he issues his threat, take him down at once. A powerful blow to the throat, a jab into the eyes, or a knee breaking kick, following by a good stomping when he hits the floor should accomplish what needs to be done. If there is a weapon in the madman's hand at the time he issues his threat, then employ proper counter-weapon actions. These should be successful if done without warning and if undertaken with all-out force, speed, and no restraint.
No doubt our advice will be resented by many and discredited "publicly" by some who hold jobs as cops (but who, in our position, have no business being law enforcement officers), and who know that we are spot on in what we say. Readers must take responsibility for their own thoughts and actions, and each person must decide for him or herself what makes the most sense when deciding how to handle life-threatening crises. We take no responsibility for anyone's use or misuse of that which we espouse. You have a mind; you decide what makes sense to you. Then, take full responsibility for whatever you choose to do.
If one will study the outcome of such incidents that have occurred over the decades in which this sort of atrocious violence was visited upon innocents by armed crackpots (in San Ysidro, California or in Stockton, going back some, right on to the Canadian incident a few years back, when a lunatic massacred the female engineering students in a classroom, after dividing the students into two groups, and then mowing down the females, etc.,to Killeen, Texas, to Columbine, and on and on) one will understand that surrender and passivity and ducking under desks just will not cut it. We, as a professional, HAVE studied these incidents — and dozens more — and the solution is for the populace to get tough, and to be prepared to crush these murdering nutjobs whenever and wherever they make their appearance.
There you have our input, for whatever it may be worth. We'll conclude with some obvious suggestions:
• Try always to secure a workplace, permitting access only to authorized employees and expected visitors
• Report any threats, in person or by phone, to the police, and if threatened, prepare, "just in case"
• If you are a supervisor or executive learn how to tactfully and decently speak to and manage people. The phenomenon of "going postal" did not receive such a label because of employees' responses to the conspicuously excellent management style of supervisors in the various post offices where and when some loosely wrapped carriers or others finally snapped and went ballistic. Some people have a very, very low tolerance for sarcasm, disrespect, and verbal abuse or humiliation
• If you are an employee, be respectful an tactful with your coworkers. Same reasons as above
• If anyone with whom you work shows signs of violent resentment toward anyone and verbally discusses using violence against others, report it
• Once again: Never think that it will never happen to you, or that "it couldn't happen here"
Bradley J. Steiner
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