Shootout at The Shops at Mission Viejo--So Cal Peeps

[LaserFreak]

I can't say much about this incident, because I work for security there, but it was a scary night. Being at the business end of a gun is not cool.

You can find the story at www.cbs2.com/kcal

Just click on the link for "Deputies shoot gunman at Mission Viejo Mall".

Here's a picture of me from behind (didn't know this shot got taken) in action after the incident:

 

[Fallingwater]

What goes through a criminal's mind when he starts shooting the police? I don't get it. You have a simple pistol, what do you hope to accomplish against several trained police agents all of whom are likely to be better armed than yourself? Even if you do manage to drop one, the others will riddle you full of holes in a split second.

 

[NA8]

What goes through a criminal's mind when he starts shooting the police?

Well there's the ever popular "suicide by police", but in this case you have to think the guy was probably a druggie and most likely hasn't been thinking too clearly for a long time.

 

[jtr1962]

What goes through a criminal's mind when he starts shooting the police? I don't get it.

Easy-if they're a career criminal and it's a choice of going back to jail for a long time (perhaps for life), or trying to avoid capture, they'll do the latter. There's really no downside. If they don't escape, they'll end up dead, but that's an escape of sorts anyway. Given a choice between being dead and spending even a few years in jail, I'd personally rather be dead. Just watch any of these reality shows which show how horrible jail is. You're basically treated like a 5-year old child, told when to eat, sleep, use the bathroom, etc. And when/if you get out, since you're a convicted felon, nobody will hire you, so you pretty much have to return to a life of crime, which will eventually get you dead or back in jail. Like I said, death is preferable to that. What's really stupid is deciding on a life of crime in the first place. That I totally don't understand as there's nothing positive about it.

Another thing I don't understand is people shooting at cops or running for a stupid traffic ticket. They basically trade their lives for whatever fine they might have had to pay. Totally stupid, illogical behavoir.

 

[Paladin]

Maybe we should pass a law against owning or carrying handguns in public.

Paladin

 

[Thujone]

Maybe we should pass a law against owning or carrying handguns in public.

Paladin

I think it is faulty logic to ensure the only people with guns are criminals. How does that make anyone safer? :thumbsdow

Laserfreak: Glad you made it out OK, hope you never have to deal with that situation again.

 

[LaserFreak]

Just an FYI, the news report that I provided a link to states that the subject was taken to the hospital for gunshot wounds, but doesn't say that he died later at the hospital.

In my opinion, I think it's crazy that this guy decided to trade his life versus jail. I don't think a few thousand dollars worth of jewelery is worth a life.

 

[chiphead]

It seems as if madness has become the norm these days.

chiphead

 

[ampdude]

Maybe we should pass a law against owning or carrying handguns in public.

Paladin

Because criminals obey laws.

 

[meuge]

Maybe we should pass a law against owning or carrying handguns in public.

Paladin

Because the people who intend to commit murder will be prevented from doing so when they carefully obey the law you proposed, right?

That's like saying that we're going to prevent robbery if we pass the law that prohibits people from purchasing goods with stolen money.

 

[Paladin]

Because the people who intend to commit murder will be prevented from doing so when they carefully obey the law you proposed, right?

That's like saying that we're going to prevent robbery if we pass the law that prohibits people from purchasing goods with stolen money.

Apparently sarcasm translates poorly on the net. Of course gun control laws are BS, and merely inconvenience law abiding citizens. Which is why I'm blessed to live in Texas, where deadly force can be used against predatory criminals even while in my vehicle, and without needing a CHL.

Paladin

 

[Empath]

The topic of the thread devolved into a discussion of gun control politics and opinion, quite quickly. That topic won't survive here. The topic opened by LaserFreak could easily survive, and is a welcomed topic of discussion. That topic does not necessitate political tangents.

Let's return the thread to LaserFreak's topic.

 

[mchlwise]

:shakehead

Terrifying for sure. Glad LaserFreak's o.k.

(glad Paladin's comments were sarcastic too)

 

[Paladin]

I can't say much about this incident, because I work for security there, but it was a scary night. Being at the business end of a gun is not cool.

LazerFreak, what are your orders when such an incident takes place? As a security worker, what part of your beltload or training did this incident cause you to draw upon?

Paladin

 

[KC2IXE]

RE Being on the wrong side of a gun.

Been there - done that. To make a LONG story short, for a very short period of time, the PD of the next county over thought that a group of 3 of us in a car were involved in a drug gang, and we got pulled over at gun point - staring down the barrel of a 12 gage, and two 9mms was a TAD scary, particularly when the driver of the car is carrying - on a badge. Took about 20 minutes to straighten out - Cops called in the badge, checked ID, and we were let out of the cuffs. A few scary minutes there - and darn does that hole in the front of the 12 gage look BIG when there is a screaming cop on the other end. Case of stay calm - keep hands in site, and listen to the cop, plus the driver realizing what was about to go down about 15 seconds before it did - and giving us a warning "keep your hands in plain site"