The Soapbox

Joined: 10/07/1999 Posts: 255
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Mass shooters are not looking to get into a shootout

They are looking to feel powerful, to hold the power of life and death over others in their hand, to see people cower before them. The instant they meet armed resistance, that dream world is destroyed.

I could argue it would be a better deterrent than you think. When that is the motivation, going into a place where you know you will meet armed resistance bursts your bubble before you even start.

I think there is a different class of shooter that is focused on murdering specific people, and has no regard for their own life, that would be virtually impossible to deter. But your "typical" mass shooter (sadly, there is such a a thing at this point) fundamentally just wants to feel powerful.

Being the only armed person in a building makes you powerful. Being one of a dozen armed people...especially when you have no idea who the other 11 are...doesn't.

I need to dig up the source, but I read somewhere the average body count from a mass shooter where law enforcement responded and stopped the shooter was 14. The average body count from a mass shooter where an armed civilian, or armed off-duty law enforcement that just happened to be on-site, was the first responded is about 2.5.

In fact, law enforcement has changed their tactics for these scenarios. They used to wait until enough officers showed up that they had full control over the building's exterior before they sent anyone in. Now, as soon as two officers are on-site,they go in because confronting an active shooter with armed resistance has proven to drastically lower the casualties.

(In response to this post by Beerman)

Posted: 02/21/2018 at 9:03PM

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Anyone listening to the White House listening session? -- HokieSignGuy 02/21/2018 4:59PM

Should you really need a note to remind yourself to show empathy? -- hooshouse 02/21/2018 6:19PM

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What a pathetic, and unhelpful tweet, and post. And that's supposed to be -- Hoodafan 02/21/2018 6:29PM

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Same group of people who demonized public schools and teachers, -- hooshouse 02/21/2018 6:35PM

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The Columbine Dad was really powerful...his child would be in their -- Tuckahokie 02/21/2018 5:43PM

More guns and drills. Ridiculous ** -- hooshouse 02/21/2018 5:10PM

Why is it ridiculous to provide better security for our schools? ** -- Hokie5150 02/21/2018 5:19PM

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One level of razor wire or two?** -- Shenhoo 02/22/2018 05:11AM

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Some people just like an arms race I guess -- Beerman 02/21/2018 5:37PM

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There is tech out there the NRA opposes that would only allow a gun to be -- hokienole 02/21/2018 11:58PM

That doesn't change the fact that such efforts do absolutely nothing to -- Hokie5150 02/22/2018 06:25AM

I'd be on board -- Beerman 02/21/2018 6:05PM

**** -- TomKazanski 02/21/2018 5:26PM

They dont care about safety, just want a political issue ** -- TomKazanski 02/21/2018 5:27PM

I think it is ridiculous that it is even considered necessary... to me, -- HokieSignGuy 02/21/2018 5:26PM

Many schools already have off duty or specially assigned PD in them serving -- Hoodafan 02/21/2018 5:54PM

Hey, I agree with everything here. Could have written it myself. -- HokieSignGuy 02/21/2018 6:25PM

It is definitely ridiculous that we have to have these conversations. But -- Hoodafan 02/21/2018 6:35PM

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It's gone beyond that -- Wahoo Ron 02/21/2018 6:44PM

Two decades ago the homicide rate was more tha double what it is today. ** -- WahooRQ 02/21/2018 10:24PM

Homicide rate cut in half while gun transactions doubled...interesting. -- Hokie5150 02/22/2018 07:27AM

Not really that interesting. Ownership rates down significantly too -- the -- WahooRQ 02/22/2018 07:51AM

Concerts? ** -- Guy LeDouche 02/21/2018 5:46PM

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You didn't listen to the listening session. ** -- hooshouse 02/21/2018 6:11PM

In the background while doing work, so it's possible I missed someone -- Hoodafan 02/21/2018 6:23PM

Trump actually mentioned it ** -- hooshouse 02/21/2018 6:27PM

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Excellent example! -- Beerman 02/21/2018 5:39PM

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...you ok? -- hoothat 02/21/2018 10:35PM

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Pretty sure in VB the school resource officers are armed. ** -- JMHoo 02/21/2018 10:05PM

I have three -- Beerman 02/21/2018 6:07PM

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I suspect... -- Beerman 02/21/2018 7:21PM

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Great info that I haven't heard repeated too often. -- HokieSignGuy 02/22/2018 12:37AM

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