Well it’s that time of year again; the Christmas Season!  You may be wondering, “How is “Focusing on Tactics” and Christmas related?!”  Well put on your favorite flannel pajamas and your old wool slippers.  Grab yourself a cup of hot chocolate or Jo, turn on the Christmas tree lights and hang on to your cold red nose, ‘cause here we go!

When you mention the word “tactics” or “tactical” some folks relate it to the 1970’s television show S.W.A.T., or the modern day Penguins of Madagascar who hijack a super tanker, disabling the entire crew by hand so they can escape New York City to live a life of ease in Antarctica eating cold Sushi daily!  If you haven’t watched these little terrors of tactics, then you haven’t lived!  You might learn a few things from them!

Have you noticed that when you are with your non-shooting friends or family and you mention the dreaded “T” word that they look at you like you are from Montana, a member of a Dooms Day Cult, bitter-clinger, anti-government extremist, gun toting, red-neck survivalist, want-to-be Special Forces paranoid schizophrenic freak of nature??  Well maybe you are, I don’t know.  But that is beside the point.  The described reaction is sometimes predictable, even when talking with fellow shooting sports enthusiasts or hunters.

We derive the word “tactical” and “tactics” from the Greek word taktika or taktikos; meaning to arrange in order.  My favorite definition for these words is provided in Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary in part states:

“the art or skill of employing available means to accomplish an end, or a system or mode of procedure…”    

In essence, being “tactical” is a way of life, not an ethereal concept or happenstance cosmic occurrence.  Rather, it is having a plan well in advance of a critical dynamic incident and reacting with your pre-thought-out plan.  In law enforcement circles this is known as “situational awareness and response” or “critical thinking.”

Let’s look at a scenario you can run though in your mind:

You and your two young children are at your local mall shopping.  It does not matter if it is an inside or outside type mall or the time of day.  The mall is jammed with shoppers.  Kids crying, moms and dads are in line waiting to take pictures of their children with Santa Clause.  It is the typical holiday season hustle and bustle.  Unexpectantly you hear several loud “pops” on your left side about fifteen to twenty yards away.  You look over in the direction of the noise and you see a man who is visibly angry, agitated and hostile.  He is yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs that he hates Christmas and is going to kill everyone in the mall!  He is holding a handgun and several people have obviously been shot and are laying on the ground bleeding-out.  The mall erupts in screams and panic as everyone begins to run in every direction.  The gunman begins to fire indiscriminately into the crowd and people begin to fall to the ground in pain.  What do you do now?

The answer is…not what you do “now” it’s what you could do well before you got to the mall and something like this happens to you.  At this point in time we are not going to discuss specific armed response tactics for the outlined critical incident in this newsletter, but will hopefully provide you with a starting point to ponder well before hand.  With that in mind, let’s outline some points of a “tactical thinking” check list:

• Develop a survival mindset and determine if you are willing to use a firearm in self-defense before carrying a firearm.·    If you have a concealed weapons carry permit (CWP or CCW), make sure you take your firearm, extra ammunition, a small tactical flashlight, along with your cell phone with you.  If you don’t have a concealed carry permit, locate an experienced firearms instructor who can qualify you to apply for your permit.

• Before you park your car in the mall lot, park as close to an entry point (mall doors) and make a mental note of where your car is.  Preferably, park near a source of light at night.

• Insure that you know where your car keys are and that you have not locked them in the car.  

• Scan the parking lot for anything or anyone that looks out of place.  You will have to decide what is out of place using your life experience and training.  No one can make that determination for you!  This determination is based upon your observations and the use of your five senses.  Don’t dismiss the hackles going up at the back of your neck, that uneasy or queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach, or that small voice that is telling you that something is wrong!  

• Does everything appear normal in the parking lot?  Are there police cars, ambulances or fire trucks there…if so, maybe you want to leave and come back later.

• When entering the mall, approach the entry point (mall doors) from an angle so as to see inside to insure that everything is “normal.”  Are people running and screaming, or are they shopping and moving about as expected?

• Once in the mall, continue to scan the area and people to make sure everything is “alright.”  Look in all directions and various distances so as to take in the proverbial “big picture.”

• Make note of entrance and exit points in the event you must leave immediately.

• Scout out locations for “cover and concealment.”  The term “cover” refers to a place which is going to stop bullets from striking you, cement planters, curbs, heavy benches, brick wall et al.  Concealment refers to something that can hide you, but will not stop bullets like a cardboard sale sign, foliage, wicker furniture et al.  Use cover and concealment to provide you with a tactical advantage in helping you decide if you are going to be forced to engage the threat as a last resort.  Know the “use of force” and firearms laws in your area before carrying and using a firearm.

• Don’t depend on law enforcement or anyone else to protect you and your family in a critical incident immediately.  In general, law enforcement may have an extended response time for various reasons. You should also keep in mind that depending on your law enforcement agencies training and preparedness regarding “active shooter” responses, you may have to wait awhile until they arrive.

 
Our “tactical thinking list” is not by all means an exhaustive one, but one which I hope would cause you to think ahead while going about your daily living and activities.  Take some time and add to this list to suit your needs and requirements.

I hope that we have determined how “Focusing on Tactics” and Christmas are related!  Thinking tactically, having a plan, practicing with your firearm, carrying your firearm wherever lawful, being aware of your surroundings no matter where you are or whatever you are doing and knowing your abilities and deficits are imperative to surviving a critical incident.  Your family, friends and strangers are depending on your ability to think clearly during a critical incident.  Remember that those who prepare survive; those who do not, do not.  Period, end of story! Enough said.

So keeping in mind all that we have discussed in this newsletter, the next time you are going to the mall, leave your flannel pajamas, your old wool slippers, your favorite hot beverage at home.  Rather, take your newly developed tactical lifestyle with you so you and your family can come home to the fireplace and the Christmas tree!  Oh, by the way…