EM Gear Blog has an article on what they call a "low profile" response kit to an active shooter situation. What caught my attention was the reference to the Kenyan Mall Massacre.
We haven't had it yet but its going to happen if history is any indication. Either a couple of thrill killers, a few insane buddies or terrorist will band together and go on a killing spree in a public place.
All this brings me to the question at hand. How much ammo do you really need to carry with you to be considered prepared? American Mercenary tells a story of two soldiers that ran through a basic load in a matter of minutes (you can read it here)....the juicy bits follow...
I recently came back from the sand box, and for the first time in a deployed environment my unit faced an "active shooter" scenario.I'm also trying to dig up an article from Police One where a LEO ended a car chase in a shootout from hell.
We lost one our own. Yes it sucked, but I learned something again, and being close to the action put things in perspective. I'm thankful that this time I didn't know the deceased on a very personal level. It is easier to compartmentalize and move on logically that way.
Two Soldiers with M9 pistols and full magazines, were able to save themselves from a pissed off Afghan with an AK long enough for someone else to shoot him with a rifle. Both the Soldiers went dry on ammo.
If you are going to carry a pistol, odds are it will save your life. Odds are statistically speaking, that it won't always kill the bad guy. If you want to make sure your pistol work kills the bad guy, you need to practice like Tam does so that you don't "suck."
Luckily the guy was a paranoid, squared away son of a bitch. He ended up exchanging gunfire with the bad guy and finally put him down. Over 100 rounds were exchanged. And before you get started, spare me the nonsense about it being a spray and pray situation. You're by yourself, you're hookin and jabbin and you have to keep the bad guys head down while shooting and moving????? He did good. I'll keep trying to find the article, but the guy now carries North of 140 rounds with him now (I'm positive that includes 33 round mags in a go bag).
But back on task. Is 15 rounds ready plus another 15 rounds in a spare mag enough for active SHOOTERS in this day and age? Or is preparing for the lone robber or thief enough? I don't know but I'm seriously beginning to wonder. Maybe its time to rethink the taboo of offbody carry when it comes to being ready for active shooters.
