The man who was critically wounded during Sunday's shooting rampage at Tacoma Mall drew a pistol and confronted the gunman before he was cut down by gunfire, his family said Tuesday.
We don't know the details, so this is mere speculation--but expect opponents of self-defense to point to this, and trumpet how having a gun didn't save Brendan McKown.
Possibly he just didn't have time to draw, aim and fire. Possibly he didn't have time to seek cover before doing so. Possibly, since not too many people are really trained for this sort of encounter, he froze for a critical few seconds.
With the benefit of hindsight, and in the comfort of my armchair, let me offer the following: If you feel justified drawing on a suspect, don't "confront" him. Shoot him. Again and again and again.
9 comments:
Training would always be a plus. However, during LFI's Judicial Use of Lethal Force class, the instructor said that sometimes you can do everything right and things still don't work out. Even so, the individual must work out all the issues of a defensive shooting before they are ever thrust into the situation. If they settle all of the moral and ethical issues beforehand, they can move on to training based on what they plan to do. When the moment of truth comes, they can begin reacting according to how they trained as opposed to thinking about what to do. In this case, Mr. Codrea's advice is the most practical. The suspect has already met all the criteria for a justifiable shooting. He had Ability, Opportunity, and demonstrated the intent (Jeopardy) to harm. Shoot, shoot, shoot ... until he stops.
Ultimately, the fact is that Mr. McKown had the courage and sense of responsibility to provide for his own protection. He didn't live in that gray twilight of uncertainty, hoping that someone would come to rescue him. He had the means to respond. Unfortunately for him, things did not work out perfectly. My prayers and thoughts go out to him.
Finally, though I would strongly advocate training for anyone who is going to carry a firearm, I would never require it. That would be like saying, "Before we allow you to defend yourself, you must know how to defend yourself."
Not at all. He should have called the police or alerted mall security. Instead he behaved like a fool.
McKown accomplished two things:
•"Trigger' the gunman to start shooting; and
•Get himself maimed for life.
Perhaps Maldonaldo would have begun shooting at a later time. Perhaps not. We will never know for sure. Being shot at first by McKown decided it.
McKown will have plenty time to think about his ridiculous claim that he is a hero. A paraplegic's bowel progam alone can take hours. Hopefully, after reflection and some real education about guns, he will face reality.
You do the world no favor by urging other people to behave as foolishly as he did.
J., you sound like an authority on the incident, including the chain of events.
The news account says McKown was shot after the shooting had begun.
You say his actions triggered the gunman to begin firing.
Who is right?
I too, wish you (J) would provide more background to back up your commentary.
When did the confrontation between Maldonado and Mckown occur? The news account never says that McKown fired a shot. It only states that he "confronted" Maldonado. You also stated that McKown will have plenty time to think about his ridiculous claim that he is a hero. Are you referring to Roger or Dan McKown? I hope you are aware that (according to the article) Dan McKown has never claimed to be a hero. I could ask you about what type of education and reality you are speaking of but I think I already know, so I'll digress.
The most telling portion of your response was your opening paragraph ... He should have called the police or alerted mall security. Instead he behaved like a fool. Not withstanding all the We're the only ones professional enough ... links available on this blog, what would lead anyone to believe that the police could have arrived in a timely manner? We also are still unclear about the nature of the confrontation or if Mckown would even have had an opportunity to call anyone. (Never mind the fact that he already had a rescue tool in his possession.) By the way, were the mall security personnel armed? If not, what could they do?
J if you have the answer to any of these questions, please share them with the rest of us. As a sidebar, you mentioned real education about guns. What is your background with firearms and self-defense training(whether armed or not). I don't believe that training or lack thereof on any particular matter should preclude someone from commenting on that subject. However, you used the word fool and foolishly in your post so I was wondering your level of expertise.
According to local broadcast news, McKown pointed his gun at Maldonado and possibly fired. There hasn't been any offical information, but that is what people said.
I am not going to respond to your pro-gun tirade. I believe most people seeing a situation like this realize that having a gun did not help and may have been a liability. I was at a bar when an interview of McKown's parents came on and the consensus was "bad move, dude." I doubt that reading your praise will convince any reasonable person that McKown's actions were wise.
Since when does asking logical and pertinent questions about the issue at hand become a tirade?
My questions / statements still stand. Who shot first? Had anyone else been fired upon by Maldonado before he was confronted by McKown? What was the exact nature of the confrontation ... did Maldonado come up and "surprise" McKown? ... did McKown try to "surprise" Maldonado? How do we know that McKown didn't call for assistance or instruct someone else to call?
I repeat my call for you to cite your level of expertise and training in firearm usage. You felt the need to use the words fool, foolish and made reference to real education about guns. I am simply interested in what that education is. Did it involve taking a test?
Finally, perhaps I should apologize for not being clear enough. Your characterization of foolish behavior is in reference to what McKown might or might not have done. I do not have all the facts before me so I can not be specifically supportive nor critical of McKown’s actions. For all I know, he might have jumped up and down in front of Maldonado while reciting the alphabet and sucking his thumb … in which case, that would be foolish. However, I feel that your definition of foolish behavior is rooted in the belief that McKown should not have had a firearm in the first place. I do take issue with that premise. For that, I ask your level of training. Sitting in a bar while some “dudes” proclaim a “bad move” will not cut it. I was hoping you were one of the investigators with inside information as to what actually happened. Without that credential and without any training or experience in the daily intricacies of defensive firearm carry, you are what Dave has already identified as just another fool with an opinion. It’s certainly your right but as long as your opinion is uninformed, don’t be surprised if it is deemed irrelevant and foolish.
I repeat my remark that I am not going to respond to vitrolic tantrums of gun nuts. I don't respond to five-year-old boys holding their breaths until they turn purple and there is little difference between the two.
The latest information, an interview with McKown has him backtracking from his parents' earlier claims. Who knows? Maybe he will claim just to have been a bystander by the time this over.
"vitrolic tantrums" ?
"gun nuts" ?
"five-year-old boys holding their breaths until they turn purple" ?
POOF! I have been turned into a five year old cyanotic gun nut that's throwing a vitrolic tantrum ... excellent and articulate defense of an opinion!
Anyway, I think you've indirectly answered my questions about your expertise.
By the way, according to your own link, McKown did not trigger Maldonado to start shooting. According to the account, Maldonado was already firing into the crowd when McKown issued a challenge. This would make your first assertion from your original post erroneous.
Backtracking from the parent's earlier claims? What's the contradiction? I've looked at both accounts (the original as well as the one you provided) and I see no backtracking or inconsistency. The parents as well as McKown maintain throughout both accounts that he drew his weapon, that he confronted Maldonado and that he didn't fire. J, you seem confused on your facts. I wish you were a little more precise when making an assertion.
Personally, I will be following this story long after public interest has faded. There are lessons to be learned for those of us who accept the responsibility of defending ourselves. This one will be analyzed, I'm sure, in the numerous gun magazines and self-defense training schools.
I hope my tirade and vitrolic tantrum didn't offend you too badly this time. This five year old gun nut has to go to bed soon.
Merry Christmas, J.
by the way, can I breathe now? ... sorry Dave for using so much of your blog. Send me a bill.
j. is what's commonly known as a "troll". Pay no attention to him. He simply doesn't matter.
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