Knowing what happens when police shoot is a Camelot version of what might happen when a Concealed Carry Shooter shots. That is because there is a back up support system for police people, but not always true for CCW shooters. Although at no point is this event physically, mentally and economically easy for anyone.
While reading through a document that explains what happens I began to see some very disturbing differences between what happens to a police person and what happens to a CCW person.
The police will be called - Yes for both Police and CCW more police will be called in to investigate the scene. The problem is, the police will come as support for their fellow co-worker but may not be as nurturing to a civilian carrying a gun.
Your gun will be taken away - Yes for both Police and CCW holders. The difference is for how long. Police may get it returned after forensics evidence is collected. A CCW holder may have his/hers confiscated as evidence until after the investigation or trial is over.
You will be told to contact a lawyer - Yes for both Police and CCW holders. However the expense of the lawyer will be the burden of the CCW holder.
The press will have your name on the air in minutes after their arrival - This will happen for both, however the Police will have a spokesperson there who is trained public relations person to handle the press. The CCW person is on his or her own. Best to keep very quiet.
A mental health team will be put in place - Police get support from professionals trained in these situations free. The CCW person is on his/her own.
The responsibility of the CCW holder is a very serious one. The idea that one can purchase a gun, shoot in a range, and get a license will not prepare them physically, mentally and economically for what might happen if you are to shoot.
Last night at IDPA, I was getting lots of advice on how to shot, stand and even hold my tongue at the correct angle and got flustered. Shot like hell. As I watched this news report I wondered. Would I be able to calmly handle a situation like the officers found themselves in a crowded city sidewalk with a gun man pointing a gun directly at them. What would I really do immediately and then an hour later?
Did you watch the video of the NYPD shooting incident at the Empire State building?
ReplyDeleteWhat I saw was the perp clearly pulling his gun, BUT not pointing it at the officers, not evening aiming it at anything. Still he did pull it, and I'd have shot him too.
But I also saw one officer, the one who called on his radio right after the perp went down, firing his weapon at something off to the camera's right, but not at the perp. The other officer does appear to have shot/aimed at the perp. They were only about 8 feet away from the perp, and still missed as often or more often than they hit.
Isn't the first rule to know your target and what lies beyond it? A CHL/CCP holder would be charged with reckless endangerment, at the very least, and would probably be convicted in all but the most armed citizen friendly jurisdictions. Even in those the grand jury would very likely indite. And justifiably so IMHO, especially in the case of the first officer I mentioned. I think he may have ID'd the wrong target. His angle was such that he may not have seen the perp's gun, at least not right away when the other officer started shooting.
I did watch it and, my guess is that thousands of others will also. At some point we have to be able to trust that police officers have the proper training to deal with these situations.
ReplyDeleteThe discusison would also be do CHL/CCP/CCW license holders get the same type of training? From my experiences, no; not for a gun battle.