Oh, the weather outside is frightful

This story is just the latest iteration of the same warnings issued about this time of year since 9-11-01. I've read some comments on various blogs that suggest a growing belief out there that the warnings are stupid, it'll never happen here, this is the same old scare tactic used every year, especially when elections are coming up.

So does that mean it can be ignored? Uh... nope.

I wrote about shooters in an earlier post and there are lots of details there. But I'll cover the issue from a slightly different angle here. I'm not going to cover chemical/biological attacks here but will do so soon.

If they're going to do a mall attack, the recon is probably already done. The next step is the attack.

Here are some likely attack MOs.

Shooters inside the mall.

And this one, too.

If they did their homework, and you can be sure they did, they'll probably try a hammer/anvil tactic. Shooter(s) at one end of the mall will open fire, a/o set off small explosions to drive shoppers toward another area in the mall, down a narrow hallway a/o toward a large exit where more shooter(s) are waiting to fire into the moving crowd o/a those bunched up at the exits. Perhaps they'd try to herd people into one larger store and commit some savagery in there.

If this is what develops, do not run with the crowd away from the gunfire. With all the lead flying, the odds of you getting shot and killed will still be pretty low, so don't obey the shooters in this scenario just because you're afraid they will shoot you, as opposed to anyone else in the herd. If you're in the stampede, ASAP get into one of the smaller shops and exit through their back door. Get in your car and go home. If your car is parked on the side of the building where the crowd was headed, then make your way carefully back to your car around the outer circumference of the parking lot, don't walk close to the building to get back to your car. Follow police orders.

Shooters outside the mall.

Remember that guy? He's what is referred to as a sympathizer terrorist. They're out there, people; in every race and ethnicity so you have to be operating in the proper mindset all the time. Recon the parking lot as you're coming in. If someone just wants to sit in the car and listen to The Grateful Dead while others shop, that hoser will probably be in the front seat of the vehicle and won't be doing anything suspicious... other than smoking a little dope, maybe. But if a van, or truck with full canopy or camper shell, has windows cracked open a little bit and is situated with the opened windows facing a mall entrance, that's suspicious, especially if you see movement in the back of the vehicle. The windows may be open innocently for ventilation or maybe a broken latch, but they might be intentionally open just enough to permit a clear shot toward the store entrance. Muhammad shot through a large hole in the rear of the trunk lid on his car.

While walking toward the store entry, walk perpendicular to the doors to provide a laterally moving target ~ you'll be harder to hit. Avoid the Fatal Funnel going in and out. Huh? Ever notice how, for example at Target, almost no one uses the center doors that require an actual push to open, opting for the ease of the automatic door? Those automatic entry/exit doors, in this case, are Fatal Funnels, where most people enter/exit because of the 'convenience'. Move up to and through these types of doors as quickly as possible; don't linger in front of them. Try to enter/exit using customer side doors, if possible.

Things that go BOOM!

Don't walk right next to store windows, whether you're inside or out. Walk down the center of the aisle, or as close to it as possible. Things go boom, broken glass starts flying whether it was part of the bomb or not.

Don't spend a lot of time in the food court, it's a great target area. Most have too few ways in/out. Not enough exits for you to use if rage boys show up. Get your food, and get out of there. Better yet, wait and get something better elsewhere once you're done shopping.

People that go BOOM!

I wrote at length on homicide bombers over at the When it's not just recon post, so surf on over there and take a look. I'll wait for you here.

Okay, nice to have you back.

I read something last week recommending that, if you see a suicide bomber, you should not shout out any warning because you might startle the poor fella and he might detonate the bomb, killing people. NG... not good. The writer of that advice is evidently expecting a lone bomber wearing a bomb with no arming switch and a 'dead man' detonator.

Let's dissect this a bit. The intent of the bomb maker is to kill people. The intent of the bomber might be to free his family being held hostage somewhere and to bring that to pass, he has to wear the bomb to a place his handler directs. In this case, the handler will detonate the bomb from a distance, probably with a cell phone. So, the handler is looking for the biggest bunch of people along the path of the bomber before he remote detonates the bomb. So, if you see what you reasonably believe to be a homicide bomber, why would you not warn people in the immediate area? If a warning is sounded and people start to un-ass the AO, then the bomber, whether on his own or under the control of a handler, will suddenly have fewer potential victims. Good.

You don't know when he's going to detonate, whether he's alone or with a handler. Why would you not warn those around you in order to immediately minimize casualties? Why would you turn and walk away and let this guy find a bigger crowd in which to become pink mist? Fear of ending up in court if you're wrong? How is that honorable?

Bodyguards warn the person they're protecting if they see a threat. Why would you say nothing if you saw people in danger? Say something. Save lives.

Motorized attack in the mall.

The thugs in that story and the two below fall into the category of Sudden Jihadists. They're just suddenly so swept up in the fervor of their religious beliefs that they have to express it by driving over anyone around who happens to look like an infidel. So, anyway; there you are, minding your own bidness, when you notice a truck coming your way. Normally not a horror but in this case you're trying to remember where you left your wallet as you shuffle into the local home improvement store and the SUV driver looks like he wants to park his vehicle on top of you.

Try this: move perpendicular to the direction of the inbound vehicle, if at all possible. If you're going to get behind something, it should be solid, attached to the ground. If not, the assault vehicle can strike an object such as another car or trash can/dumpster and push it onto/into you. If you're armed and you decide you are going to shoot, shoot at the driver, not the vehicle. A vehicle is considered a deadly weapon when it's being driven with deadly intent, not when the brake slipped and it's coasting downhill into a ditch. Therefore, it's the driver that makes the vehicle a threat, in this scenario. Shoot at the driver. But see the four rules of handling firearms before you do that.

Comments

[greg_o]

I don't know what to say. Wish that I wasn't such an old fart. But, I am going to start getting into a shape other than round. I only have two pistols: A S&W 10 mm and a Walther P22. The Smith is too big to hide under my clothes, so, until I start making money again I just carry the pea shooter. But, I do keep my eyes open...