Written by Richard Dockery, Femme Fatale ARMS & Training, May 17, 2022
Buffalo was a horrific event committed by someone with obvious mental issues…who had already been evaluated and released! The system is clearly broken and has been for a long time. There are multiple theories around the ‘why’ but regardless, it was a tragedy similar to others which means there will likely be more.
So what does this mean to us as individuals?
It means that we need to be more ready than we ever have been to deal with this type of situation. The “that wont happen here” or “but nothing ever really happens to me” lines are a false and dangerous sense of security. The people in that supermarket were taken completely off guard as they went about their daily life. It happened fast, violent, and completely unexpected by the victims.
So what would have stopped the attacker?
I’d like to say a good guy with a gun…but..there was one, and he is among the victims….and I am not going to, in any way, be critical of the individual, his actions, background, anything…he did all he could do to stop the situation and is a true hero for trying.
It takes more than a good guy with a gun…more than one person to save all persons. It takes everyone being more vigilant, more ready, and more prepared for the evil that is too commonplace in our world.
….We all own a piece of our security, personally and collectivley.
The system has, and will continue to, fail us miserably. Law enforcement is on the line for us, but can only react to a situation long after it occurs. We are the ones there when it happens, and need to realistically accept that it can happen to any of us anywhere, at any time…..and we need to be operating at a higher level as a result of this realization and acceptance.
So how do we operate at a higher level?
Situational awareness is a start….watch Everything wherever you go. This unfolded amazingly rapidly and time to react was limited. What would you do if you were in the supermarket and someone started shooting?..or church…or a restaurant?
Think it through Now, because you wont be able to if it happens.
Have a realistic personal plan for what YOU would do. Not what you hope you would do, and not a half thought out idea. What would you, knowing your own skillset, disposition, and how you react..what WILL you do? Remember, there is no shame in running the other way, hiding, and putting the most distance between you and the threat as possible…it is a highly recommended solution!
….but what if running isn’t an option?…and hiding is a very short term action that delays the inevitable confrontation at best? THIS was the reality that innocent people faced in Buffalo. What if this were your reality?
Will you fight?…Can you fight?..do you know how to fight?..and just as important, are you ready to fight?….or is your only remaing option in this reality to accept the fate being forced on you?….and by accepting this fate knowing that the violence will continue beyond you to the next person.
What if in a situation like just occurred, many people were vigilant and aware? What if they recognized the threat faster, knew how to fight, had the tools to fight with, and chose to fight? We don’t know what the outcome would be, but we do know that such a scenario would potentially result in less innocent lives lost.
It is a sad day that we live in a world where we need to be constantly vigilant, and always ready, but it is now the world we live in.
If you dont own a firearm, get one…and carry it everywhere, always. You do not get to pick the time and place where you are attacked…your attacker does.
Learn to use your firearm effectively, otherwise it is of no use. When I say effectively, this means beyond an introductory course, beyond youtube videos, and beyond what your friend showed you. Progressive Professional training….and practice! To stop an event like just happened would take a far higher skillset than you can learn on your own. Start at the beginning…and then keep learning! Do you have to be a member of an elite unit to stop them? No…but you do need trained skills that have been committed to muscle memory and drilled repeatedly. It is not a quick and easy process, but it is worth the time and effort.
You only get 1 chance to save your life and if that moment comes, you will fall to the level of your training, not rise to your expectations. Make sure that your training is all it needs to be…and lets hope there are others around you who also take their safety as seriously and have followed the same path. Collective readiness is the most effective first line of defense.
Femme Fatale ARMS & Training is a woman-owned business that provides education and support to an over victimized and underserved segment of our population. We have programs to build confidence and skill without the intimidating aspects that tend to exist elsewhere in this industry. Our goal is customer satisfaction and loyalty. We’d appreciate an opportunity to show you how we are different, yet still, help you to accomplish your education and safety goals.
Amyone can shoot a gun, we train you to defend yourself!
Femme Fatale Arms & Training is located at 160 Malabar Road, Palm Bay, Fl. We are open Mon-Wed 10 to 5, Thurs and Fri10 to 6, and Saturday 12 to 4
