So right you are. When I was younger I worked 10 years for a refinery in the 70's. During this time we didnt have the safety protocols and often we had to contend with disasters that killed many. Some may remember the tragedies at Texaco Refinery in Port Arthur & the ones at Mobil Oil in Beaumont; but what you probably dont know is the potential disasters that we were able to head off.AlphaWhiskey wrote: I have been involved in a deadly force encounter. I acted pretty much as I thought I would have. I have been on the X personally, and the only thing I know for sure is that the only way to know what I will do next time is to find myself there again. I hope and pray that day never comes, for me and for all of you, but I do not fear it. Just a little perspective on the "what if".
I worked at one the above refineries and was on the X more than once; I also witnessed how my co-workers responded during their time on the X. We reacted respectfully a few times, and sometimes we didnt....and guys, I still cant tell you how I will react the next time if I am on the X, nor can I depend on how my then co-workers will.
There was extensive news coverage and communication black outs when I was involved in one of the explosions and fire. There was vague reports on the number of injuries and deaths. I didnt get home for a long time and when I did, I saw just how terribly my wife suffered just at the thought of me not ever coming home. I realized then that I have a responsibility to her; my risks where her risks. I doubt if either one of us could survive for long without the other.
With this in mind I have questions: My first and foremost priority is my wife's safety. If she and I were down and behind a row of seats & presumably away from the action, could I leave her unprotected to advance on the shooter? What about the danger of drawing the shooters attention to the location where my wife is that I leave to advance?
A few random observations on this shooting. Most of the people's movements were severely restricted as they couldnt move but in two directions, X or Y...few could move diagonally or had an opportunity to advance directly to the shooter because of the seats & the panicked people. Im sure I couldnt get my big carcass over the first row of seats without drawing attention & I would probably look like one of the ducks at a carnival shooting gallery if I tried walking between the row of seats, stumbling and slipping on bodies and blood.
I can only conclude that only a select few could be in a position to effectively and responsibly engage this guy; anything else could be drawing attention to some who may have been safe; and that's gambling.
(still to this day if I hear Debbie Boone singing "You Light Up My Life" I wanna kill) So I can accept being exposed to certain other forms of media stimulation can nurture violent behavior.