Another Lesson: Mumbai, India
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
By now we’ve all seen the news about the terrorist attack in Mumbai. As much as I hate to sound like a broken record there are a few things we - the law enforcement professionals of the United States and every citizen who refuses to be a willing victim - need to learn.
1) TEN terrorists killed over 300 people. 10… 300. ONE AK-47 with a full magazine has enough bullets to kill 30 people. Most of the time I’d expect bad guys to carry more than one magazine load of ammo (history shows that they do). So the fact that they managed so few deaths (isn’t that a screwed up way to look at it?) is an indicator of their discipline of fire. They were reportedly firing “from the hip”. When the time comes that we have to face them on our home turf we need to remember that “spray and pray” isn’t acceptable, efficient, effective or professional. Concentrate on shot placement as much as you can while staying alive.
2) 60 hours long. Once you’re in the fight how long will you be there? Your “go bag”, “bug out bag”, etc should be stocked with at a minimum a day’s worth of food, water, etc. If you’re on a close perimeter position and there is no relief available, well, guess what? You’re STUCK there. Abandoning your position is unacceptable. Be prepared. (The Boy Scouts have had it figured out for years)
3) Reports indicate that some of the armed police wouldn’t fire back. A trained police officer trained and equipped with a loaded weapon is absolutely useless if he doesn’t possess the will to use it. Am I being critical? Hell, yes! Is it justified? Maybe, maybe not. I wasn’t there and freely admit that I shouldn’t stand in judgment. That said, if you find yourself in a place and time where bad guys are shooting at innocent people and you pull your gun and take cover and then take no action at all you are as much good as the unarmed innocent being killed. PROTECT and serve, remember? Sometimes the “protect” part means doing harm to a bad guy. If you’re incapable, um, perhaps you’ve pursued the wrong line of work?
4) Management of the Taj Mahal hotel admitted that they had warning and that they “temporarily increased security after being warned of a possible terrorist attack”. Now I know that increases in security have a dollar amount attached and that such an increase in security can’t be maintained indefinitely. The same management spokesman seemed surprised that the terrorists didn’t come through the entrance that had a metal detector but instead through a back entrance. Um, DUH! We have GOT to accept that while terrorists may be evil and deserving of the most efficient death we can deliver, they aren’t STUPID.
5) I say again: Law Enforcement Professionals in any and every uniform (even if the uniform is plain clothes) is our first line of defense against a terrorist attack in this country. The police officer or deputy will be the first to respond and the first to engage the terrorists (unless an armed citizen has the guts to do so before the police arrive). Are you prepared? Do you have a weapon that is reasonable to take into such a fight? Or are you facing an AK-47 with your handgun? Do you have plates to pull on? Is your Go Bag packed, maintained and ready? Do you have a first-aid / trauma pack (blow out kit) on you, in your bag or at least ready to grab when you go?
I repeat: carry, carry, carry. If you are a law enforcement professional or a retired officer who meets the Law Enforcement Officers’ Safety Act requirements, CARRY YOUR GUN. Don’t get caught without the necessary tools to defend yourself and your loved ones. Remember the oath you took and remember this: just because you’re retired or off-duty doesn’t mean your oath went away.
Comments?
As a highly trained civilian, Practical training, Sig Sauer Academy, Blackwater, Blackwater Tactical lifesaver course , CHL, Mental Prep, On Combat, Fear Less, and ordering your book also, I have considered putting my AR 15 in my trunk incase something like what happened in India would happen in America, love my glock 45, but not against a AK 47, (I view a pistol as a defense weapon and a AR 15 as a offensive weapon) and I would not have a problem putting a terrorist down without hesitation, ( warrior mind set ) My question for you as peace officer, if I am in a position were I get involved with a active shooter or shooters, What is the best way for me to identify myself as a good guy were I don’t fall victim to friendly fire when the Police or Swat show up, Any suggestions.
Terry
Great column, Frank. I’d love to hear your advice for civilians as well.
THAT is a big challenge and concern obviously. Bear in mind that MANY police officers and deputies aren’t nearly as pro-2nd-Amendment as I am.
1) Make sure you’re only carrying if you can do it LEGALLY.
2) Realize that ANYONE with a gun NOT in a uniform is going to be a target when the cops show up.
3) HAVE A PLAN. Calling 911 and taking a position of cover while you communicate your location, appearance (height, build, hair color, clothes) and intentions to the dispatchers. STAY on the phone (if you can) so you KNOW before the police actually get there.
4) Follow all orders without hesitation or pause.
If you are legal to carry a concealed weapon search online to find a concealed carry permit holder badge. Don’t abuse it and make sure it’s legal in YOUR state to wear / carry. If things go bad, make sure that badge is visible to any law enforcement officers showing up.
Depending on whether you live in a rural or urban area - usually the difference between a large department and a smaller one - it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go meet your law enforcement professionals. Get to know them. Let them get to know YOU the law abiding citizen.
Do you have or is there availiable up to date info on the HR218 covering military police. I am a civillian cop for the Navy. I cant carry cuz it is not practical to take my weapon with me only to drop it off somewhere b4 I can got to work on the base. I have taken a local civilian CCW course and am a line coach for these classes. Tnax, Kory
I was discussing this incident with family, and some of them were appalled that I would carry a firearm at every opportunity to thwart such an attempt by gunmen. I explained that while I may not actively go pursuing the individual with my handgun I was certainly not going to let family or myself become victims without atleast trying to prevent their harm.
Some fo my family was even more appaled to find that I was carrying a firearm at their dinner table without their knowledge - “because I was just going to their house”.
I would bet that most hotel guests in Mumbai wish they had some sort of weapon to try and protect themselves when the gunmen began shooting.
Kory: I don’t know about any changes to HR218 / LEOSA that will ever have it cover Military Police. Stick with the CCW and act accordingly.
J Burns: I find it humorous when people ask me WHY I carry a gun and I answer, “Because I can.” They get the most interesting look on their face…
I am supprised that an incident like what happened in India has not happened here yet. I believe that EVERY citizen, LEO, military are resposible to do what ever they can to take the bad guys down. We seem to have developed the “let someone else do it” mentality and that can get us killed.I owe it to my family to do what ever I can to ensure their safety and survival. If a situation comes down that it would take time for police to muster a response, then use armed civillians. They have just as much to lose as a LEO. I firmly believe that armed civillians can be an asset to plolice in a situation such as what happened in India.
We were discussing this in briefing the other day. Our active shooter response is designed to deal with an armed 15 year old or an angry ex-employee, not multiple offenders with AKs, explosives, and training. Departments need to take this threat seriously and modify tactics accordingly. I think this should first involve arming officers with long rifles and IBA style body armor. They should then look at evolving some of the movement techniques and tactics to address the opposition’s increased weapons capability. If the kill radius of a grenade is 5 meters, a modified diamond would be a perfect target.
Ahmen, Brother! It’s better to have a weapon and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Good article. You’re right on. The terrorists aren’t going to fly planes into buildings again, that hole has been plugged. Bombs or what happened in India is much a more likely scenario for happening here. Think 10 guys in a crowded mall with AK47s. I am licensed CCW but generally don’t carry since I admit I’m not nearly as trained as I should be. For those who do carry, I’m glad you emphasize training. A panicked wanna-be Tackleberry with a gun can make a bad situation worse. But lawful, well trained arms citizens could help make a difference. I wish every state with CCW permits required ongoing practical training to keep it current.
Hey brother right on. The time is getting near, remember Beslan and now India. Law enforcement has to see the light we need high tech weapons, the era when rifles were only for SWAT is over. Stay safe.
Glad to see so many positive comments. I’m also glad to see so many of those comments demonstrating a warrior’s heart. We have to keep it beating strong!
You are a security guard/off-duty in uniform officer, you hear gun shots in the mall where you work. You duck behind cover to assess. You see yourself (fill in description of what you look like right now) moving in the area of the problem with a gun drawn.
What are the chances that a terrified virtually untrained security guard, under trained jailor moonlighting or rookie would shoot you? Or you are challenged by a plain clothes person with a handgun, what would you do? Yes there are plain lcothes security people.
I agree we have an obligation to protect. Preplan - how are you going to protect yourself from well meaning good guys?
What if you saw you carrying a long gun (from your trunk)in the mall? Would you think you were the shooter?
The tragedy in Mumbai,India,reminded me that Harmless Tool for Personal Self Defense does not exixst yet.
In the encounter:Aggressor-Victim,one of the sides suffer
injury and death.The current existing tools,guns,knieves,
fists are all injurious.Spilling blood brings more of blood shed.Needed is a Tool(not a weapon).that will neutralize the potential aggressore,even before he makes the move.This should be an “Open Tool” and not a “Concealed Weapon”(Available 24/7 to anyone starting from childhood).I forecast significant drop in the number of injuries,deaths,kidnapping,traffic related crimes.(By using this Tool)
The Tool was invented by me.I need direction in metrializing it.
I prefer a collboration with The Police Academy.