It could have been worse

And, it could have been better.
 
Note that in this story from Tulsa, people were running out the doors to get away from the wannabe martyr.  Good call, I guess.
 
But did anyone take a look to see if the trooper needed help?  Either they did and decided not to help or they didn't and just ran for their lives.
 
Sure, it was best for unarmed people to get out of Dodge. But, we're living in times when courage needs to be the first impulse we follow, not fear and self-preservation.
 
I wasn't there and don't know the details so I won't comment... much.
 
I think some strappin' Oklahoma cowboy should have stayed in position to see if the trooper needed help in his struggle.  As it turned out, Trooper Robinson was able to subdue the man with the gun but it could have turned out differently.    
 
Most cops don't mind when you offer to help, believe me.  In a situation where there is no struggle, you can move into a position where he or she can see you and that you pose no threat, and then say Let me know if you need help.  Then stay where you can be seen and summoned if necessary.
 
If the cop's struggling with someone who doesn't appear to be armed, you still need to be careful because there's automatically one gun already there: the cop's duty gun.  Maybe the only help you can give is to grab one of the bad-guy's arms and try to get it behind his back so he can be cuffed.  Maybe all you can do is grab a hand-full of miscreant head-hair and pull his head away from the struggling cop. 
 
If the bad-guy has a gun or knife and the cop is struggling with him or her, and you are armed with a handgun, remember you don't have to issue a warning to the bad-guy.  If you get a shot, it might be best to just take it since you can't predict how the fight will go if you don't. You may have to get close to the fight in order to get a clear shot at the bad-guy.

Well, then... be brave. 

All these options are entirely your decision to make based on the totality of circumstances at the time. 

Whatever the situation, a police officer in a struggle will appreciate your offer of help.  If he doesn't want help, he will most assuredly let you know.

But, the larger point is this: whoever this sudden or not-so-sudden jihadist turns out to be, he was willing to walk into a family restaurant in mid-America and start killing people in order to fulfill his "mission" to please Allah.

Thank God the trooper showed up.  But if he hadn't, how many dead would there be? How many witnesses saying, I never thought it could happen here... ?

Take the threat seriously.  Prepare.

Comments

[anin]

This is the first thing I usually ask my travel companion when I'm traveling to another country, If it's fine there to help out in an accident or another dire (hostage, suicide, robbery, etc) situation.

Back in my country, the citizen help each other because law people and medics usually come a little too late. Two people I know have been victims of their courage. One got stabbed for saving a woman and one got run over by a car whose driver tried to flee from the crime scene.

I would like to help too when I can, although being a short and physically weak woman may hinder my effectiveness in a struggle. It's just doesn't feel right to just be there and watch.

[undaunted]

Seems like a jurisdictional preference, and you're right to pay heed to it, ka.

[ka]

"Cops don't mind when you offer to help, believe me."

In my Oklahoma CCW class I was specifically told that "Cops don't need, want, or appreciate your help." I was told that by the lawyer who taught the first part of the class on legal responsibility and by the retired cop who taught the second part on safe gun handling.

I will ask the deputy sheriff I train in martial arts with to get his perspective. But the largest CCW training center in Oklahoma City specifically advises all of its students to look out for themselves and those around them but to not attempt to help the police in any way. I would be very surprised if CCW students in Tulsa were taught something differently.

As far as I can tell based on past police behaviour as reported by the press, if I help out and the cop gets hurt (even if by the suspect) I will probably be blamed for it. If I get hurt, the cop will not be blamed for it. A cop once threatened to arrest my wife for interfering in an accident scene while she was providing first aid to an accident victim which another cop had asked her to do. So I think I am likely to protect myself, my family, and those around me and let the cops do their thing without my help.