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Could History Repeat Itself? The True Story
Reprinted from Wikipedia At around 8 a.m on January 25, 1993, Mir Aimal Kansi, a Pakistani immigrant, stopped a borrowed brown Datsun station wagon behind a number of vehicles waiting at a red traffic light on the eastbound side of Route 123, in Fairfax County, Virginia. The vehicles were waiting to make a left turn into the main entrance of CIA headquarters. Kansi emerged from his vehicle with an AK-47 type semi-automatic rifle and proceeded to move among the lines of vehicles, firing a total of 11 rounds into them (though a story in the L.A. Times reported he "allegedly fired at least 70 rounds as he moved down the line of cars"), killing Lansing H. Bennett, 66, and Frank Darling, 28. Three others were left with gunshot wounds. Darling was shot first and later received additional gunshot wounds to the head after Kansi shot the other people.
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 The Scenario: You've taken your family to a restaurant for dinner and you're seated at a table with a view of the front door. You know where all the exits are and, because you've read about and usually practice situational awareness, you've scouted available cover and escape routes... Just in case.
As your attention is focused on the server who is taking your order, you hear screaming from the lobby area. You hear someone yell, "He's got a gun!" And then you hear a shot... And then another... You quickly begin to move your family to a position of cover, and toward an exit away from the danger. You draw your firearm from concealment and look around the room as you try to orient yourself and determine the location of the shooter. WHERE IS HE?  There is an old saying that practice makes perfect. This is only partly true. It really all depends on how you practice.
Cal Rypken, Sr., a baseball legend, is credited with clarifying this statement. He said, "PERFECT practice makes perfect." If you practice imperfect technique, you will perfectly develop imperfect (bad) habits. But if you practice perfect technique you will develop perfect habits.  One of the most common objections to buying non-lethal defensive weapons is, "I don't need one of those, I have a gun permit," though it has been my experience that many people who have a "permit" are not actually carrying a gun.
Whether you already have a gun permit or you're thinking about getting one, there are several reasons to consider adding non-lethal weapons to your self-defense arsenal.  Self-defense is defined as the right to prevent suffering force or violence through the use of a sufficient level of counteracting force or violence. This definition is simple enough on its face, but it raises many questions when applied to actual situations. There are, however, certain "rules" or elements that apply in nearly all self-defense statutes. The exact rules and/or wording of statutes may differ between states, but the considerations are largely the same.
 The number of citizens arming themselves continues to grow nationwide as people become more concerned with their own safety and realize that police are unable to protect them from violence.
With police response times to emergencies averaging 10-20 minutes nationally, it is important to recognize that stopping a violent attack is most likely going to rest solely with you... The intended victim. While we are encouraged that more citizens are taking the steps necessary to protect themselves by obtaining gun permits, it is important to emphasize that being certified to carry a firearm does not equate to being qualified to perform under the most stressful circumstances imaginable. While the 'permit class' (technically a gun safety course) is a great place to start your training, it is not the level of training after which you should consider yourself "qualified" - or even remotely prepared - to defend yourself or your family when violence is threatened or a sudden violent attack occurs. Those new to carrying firearms for self-defense are often led to believe that a basic gun safety course (it's NOT a concealed carry class!) and an occasional trip to the range are "good enough", and that no further training is necessary. Nothing could be further from the truth. Minimal training through permit classes, and instruction received from untrained peers at the local range are never "good enough" when your life is on the line. We strongly encourage every responsible gun owner to take at least one defensive shooting class. The more training you get, the more competent and confident you'll become. And THAT is what will matter when your heart is pounding and the natural fight-or-flight response takes complete control of all bodily functions. |
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