Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Do you think as a side-armed citizen, you could have thwarted the El Paso shooter?

No idea what I could or couldn’t do in any given situation. As a father of young children I am with Rocky Raab.

On the other hand, I have absolutely no doubt that more good guys with guns anywhere anytime is good not bad.

Yeah, his rifle.

In most cases, just engaging a mass shooter will stop the killing because most of them are not mentally prepared for a gunfight. That said, carrying a gun for self defense is very different than being a LEO. The average armed citizen is under no obligation to confront a mass shooter and most probably wouldn't unless there is no other choice. You would want to have good handgun skills to go up against a rifle. Ultimately, it depends on the individual and the exact situation.

In Texas I am surprised that there was not a side-armed citizen response.

Apparently there was one guy armed who chose to take the time to move some children out of the line of fire.

our problem as a society we don’t want to say anything. Most just want to avoid confrontation with people. So with that, how many people saw this guy walking towards the store with the rifle ear muffs on? I guess as a society we see so many ph ucking screwballs we/they just chalk it up as nothing. Hell look at the picture rehegade50 posted of ziggi stardust at cicci pizza. Anyhow no one said anything, would that would of helped? Who knows but saying something to a guy could of threw him off his plan.. but when one is getting shot it tends to make you rethink shooting up a store or public gathering.

Are you asking could I have stopped it, or would I have tried?

I think so. I am in that store several times a week. Know the layout. It is right across the freeway from my business. Shoot competitively several times per month. My S&W 40 is very accurate. Last two coyotes were shot at 40 and 85 yards.
John

Tough question. Easy to be a side line quarterback and offer advice. Frankly I don’t know what I would do. If I were slightly hidden and had a good shot opportunity would take it. My biggest concern would be if a LEO or other person carrying thought I was connected to the shooter.
It’s a tough call and so many things could alter my decision.

My family is grown and out of the nest. I'm getting older and got good life insurance.

If I was with my granddaughter I would probably be all about getting her out of danger.

Otherwise I would like to think I would run towards the sound of gunfire, to do what I could. Dying trying at this point would be a good way to go out if it came to that..

Never has happened tho so I have no way of knowing how I would react..

It is impossible to predict a future situation and the appropriate response. If using the El Paso example the variables will affect your choices. If you are w/ loved ones you must 1st protect them, escape if possible, kill the threat if escape is not an option. If you don't train seriously to respond effectively you will probably fail.

Unless you are a fool that believes that it can't happen to me you can prepare yourself to have choices. Choice#1`Commit to training until you have proven yourself effective. Choice#2 Admit that you are willing to let yourself and your loved ones be victims and pray for mercy.

Ancient platitudes such as fighting to your rifle ignores the fact that the threat situation creates the choices available to you. I always have a Glock 19 and an extra mag on my person. I don't like leaving my AR unattended in my car, ergo I devote the vast majority of my training effort to problem solving with the Glock.

Planning to succeed is essential. Then work the plan to failure and improve as necessary, you are never "good enough"


mike r

Secure the parking lot?

Do you guys ever get tired of being trolled?

The OP doesn't post on here except on the freakshow and even then is just with posts such as this to provoke responses.

Exhibit A: How many times since the original post has he posted on this thread?

I would honestly like to think I would at least engage, but realistically most of us are not mentally prepared for that type of situation. You have to sort out in your mind that there is a bad guy killing people, locate the bad guy, and confront them while being sure they need to be dead and understanding you are way under gunned. That's a completely different response than most self defensive situations we train for. I'm going to guess my response would not be fast or any where near perfect, and I would be chitting myself the whole time. I really think you have to train for that scenario to be anywhere close to effective. And don't forget to add to fact you might be a target by a leo or other good guy because you have a gun and there is a active shooter that might be you.

You wait hidden from the shooter watching until you can ambush him from close up. Then blast him, making sure to hit him in the head and pelvis area.

Hard to say. You never get the fight you want, you get the fight you get, and you have to be prepared for anything.

Not arguing the Troll status, but I believe every time something like this happens prob'ly most everyone who carries wonders what they would have done if they had been there.

Oh, I'm not saying it's not a valid question at all. Simply the source. If you pay attention to his/her posts they are written to elicit a response. As if he/she were intentionally stirring the pot and recording the answers.

Wasn't a post by a normal person nor worded as such.

Truth, he is a creep and I am guilty as charged.


mike r

That is why they are walking in there like it is a parade after everything is all over. They stop on the way to put on every "tactical" gadget MY money can buy them.

When SHTF, you are on your own with what you brought with you. Think about that when are looking through the feather light derringer combination key fob and EDC department.