Chutzpah Redefined: Gun rights advocates following the Fort Hood tragedy
undoubtedly realize how preventable it was, and how the media refuses to
ask the right questions, specifically:
* Why yet another massacre was perpetrated in yet another "gun free"
zone;
* Why members of America's military are disarmed and left to depend
on the arrival of civilian police officers; and finally,
* Why the press seems so confused about the motives of shooter
Moslem psychiatrist Nidal Malik Hasan, who argued with others
against Middle East war policy, had previously been investigated
by the FBI for Internet postings equating suicide bombers with
soldiers who sacrifice themselves to save others, who described
his nationality as "Palestinian" despite being American-born, and
who committed the atrocity while yelling "Allahu Akbar!"
..But it takes a special kind of Chutzpah to exploit the massacre of
military personnel as justification for depriving those very same
military personnel of due process of law. Remarkably, that is exactly
what the Violence Policy Center (VPC) and Handgun Control, Inc. (a/k/a/
"The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence") did yesterday in attacking
S. 669, the "Veteran's 2nd Amendment Protection Act," introduced by
Senator Richard Burr (NC)...
http://www.examiner.com/x-2698-Charlotte-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d7-Gun-foes-exploit-Ft-Hood-tragedy-to-subvert-vets-rights
---
One of Those Other Safety Rules: Anyone who has taken a hunter-education
course will recall having to memorize one or more lists of safety rules
so long that they were not practical to store in long-term memory. A few
decades ago, Jeff Cooper sought to simplify things and consolidated the
most crucial material into the Four Rules. However, there are clearly
other rules and we sometimes neglect to think of some simply because
they seem like common sense. One of these is only to chamber rounds of
the appropriate caliber (or gauge) for the firearm. Here we have the
results of inadvertently inserting a .308 cartridge into a .25-06
chamber. For those who may not be familiar with the rounds, the .308 is
essentially a shortened .30-06 (7.62x51mm versus 7.62x63mm) while the
25-06 is a .30-06 necked down to take a bullet with a diameter of
0.257" as opposed to one of 0.308". Thus, while a .30-06 round would not
have chambered in this barrel, the shorter .308 round did, with
catastrophic consequences. The chances of this sort of mishap increase
when more than one chambering of firearm and/or more than one caliber of
ammunition are present simultaneously. In this case, the firearm appears
to have been a single-shot Thompson-Center, one of whose selling points
is the ability to swap barrels of different chamberings on the same
receiver. The US Park Police, which has an indoor range complex in DC,
will not allow more than one caliber of ammunition on one of its ranges
at a time. Instructors who teach students with privately owned firearms
may not have that luxury. Extra caution is required whenever
non-matching ammo is present on a range. Smaller rounds can slide into
the barrels of firearms chambered for larger rounds, causing
obstructions. (Registration [free] may be required to view the linked page.)
http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/108029-308-down-257-tube-hurts-like-hell-ugly-pics.html
---
From Force Science Research Center:
I. Emergency docs on excited delirium: "Yes, it's for real!"
It's now official: In a move strongly supportive of law enforcement, a
special investigative task force of the American College of Emergency
Physicians has formally declared that the violent and sometimes lethal
phenomenon known as "excited delirium" really does exist.
Some police critics have insisted that ED is nothing more than a
convenient concept "manufactured" by law enforcement to cover-up
brutality and exonerate authorities when a suspect is roughly arrested
or dies in custody.
But after a thorough review of available research, the ACEP group
affirms in a recent White Paper that ED is "a unique syndrome" that may
not be identified in autopsies but that can be recognized in the field
by "a distinctive group of clinical and behavioral characteristics." The
task force has presented its report to ACEP's directors but at this
writing, it has not yet been publicly released. Force Science News
obtained a copy after learning of its existence at the recent IACP
conference in Denver.
The report makes clear that the psycho-physiological meltdown known as
ED is not always fatal. Indeed, given an appropriate collaboration by
responding officers and EMS personnel, the condition might be "amenable
to early therapeutic intervention," the document speculates.
But, refreshingly, the task force acknowledges the daunting and
controversial challenges involved in an ED encounter from a police
perspective. "LEOs are in the difficult and sometimes impossible
position of having to recognize this as a medical emergency, attempting
to control an irrational and physically resistive person, and minding
the safety of all involved" in a situation that has "degenerated to such
a degree" that authorities have been called to deal with it, the paper
states.
"Given the irrational and potentially violent, dangerous, and lethal
behavior of an ExDS [excited delirium syndrome] subject, any LEO
interaction...risks significant injury or death to either the LEO or the
ExDS subject." These cases may draw "intense public scrutiny, coupled
with the expectation of a perfect outcome. Anything less
creates...potential public outrage. Unfortunately, this dangerous
medical situation makes perfect outcomes difficult in many circumstances."
"This paper could be the genesis of a new understanding of the complex
issues involved in excited delirium," says Dr. Bill Lewinski, executive
director of Force Science. "The report is the clearest and most
important effort yet to describe the true nature off this syndrome and
the kind of difficulties officers encounter in trying to deal with it on
the street.
"Law enforcement authorities can use this document as an important
reference source for the media and the general public at the time of an
ED crisis and can also make it familiar to medical examiners, coroners,
and ER physicians who may not be current with the latest professional
literature on the subject.
"Within the last 12 months, I encountered a coroner in a major
jurisdiction who flatly denied the existence of excited delirium or
anything like it. So there is no doubt that the ACEP's findings are
timely and desperately needed."
The task force was formed last year in response to increased reports and
media coverage of "sudden deaths in severely agitated subjects" and a
lack of "clarity and consistency" within the medical community about the
nature and causes of these fatalities.
Eighteen emergency physicians and 1 PhD researcher and neurology
professor were named to the group, with a mandate to determine whether
ED actually exists as an "entity," and, if so, "whether it could be
better defined, identified, and treated." Among the task force members
was Dr. Matthew Sztajnkrycer, chairman of emergency medicine research at
the Mayo Clinic and a technical advisor to the Force Science Research
Center.
The group's White Paper is intended to "raise awareness" of ED among the
public and medical personnel and to help law enforcement, corrections
officers, EMS personnel, and health care providers "identify best
practices to deal with this true medical emergency." It includes a
bibliography of 58 articles on the subject from professional
publications. [Click here to read a report on the White Paper in
Emergency Medical News, based on an interview with the group's chair,
Dr. Mark DeBard, professor of emergency medicine at Ohio State
University College of Medicine.
According to the group's findings, ED, under various names, has been
reported in medical circles for more than 150 years, often with a high
mortality rate. In the 1980s, "there was a dramatic increase in the
number of reported cases," the White Paper says. Most "were found to be
associated with the...abuse of cocaine," as well as other illicit
stimulant "drugs of abuse," such as meth and PCP. Among cocaine users,
an ED onset "usually appears to occur in the context of a cocaine binge
that follows a long history of cocaine abuse," the report says.
A history of psychiatric illness is reported in a "distinctly smaller"
portion of ED subjects. In these cases, researchers "frequently cite
abrupt cessation of psychotherapeutic medications" as an underlying
factor; in short, the subject is off his meds.
In all, the task force estimates that some 250 ED subjects die in the US
each year, an estimated 8 to 14% of those who experience the syndrome.
Despite circumstantial relationships with stimulant drug abuse,
psychiatric disease, psychiatric drug withdrawal, and underlying
metabolic disorders, science has not yet determined how these factors
lead to excited delirium or why only some cases end in death.
The "typical course" of an ED episode described in published accounts
involves "acute drug intoxication, often a history of mental illness
(especially...paranoia), a struggle with law enforcement, physical or
noxious chemical control measures or electrical control device (ECD)
application, sudden and unexpected death, and an autopsy which fails to
reveal a definite cause of death from trauma or natural disease," the
task force reports.
The paper points out that while "most organized medical
associations...and medical coding reference materials...do not recognize
the exact term 'excited delirium,' some professional groups do, such as
the National Assn. of Medical Examiners. Moreover, references to the
syndrome can be found in the International Classification of Diseases
under other names, such as manic excitement, delirium of mixed origin,
psychomotor excitement, abnormal excitement, and so on.
The semantics issue "does not indicate that ExDS does not exist," the
report emphasizes. It only means that "this exact and specific
terminology may not yet be [universally] accepted."
What's more consistent are the "common characteristics" observed among
subjects in the throes of the syndrome. "These subjects are
hyperaggressive with bizarre behavior, and are impervious to pain,
combative, hyperthermic [abnormally high body temperature], and
tachycardic [rapid heart rate]," the report says.
Officers are likely to find them tirelessly resistant, sweating,
breathing rapidly, agitated, unusually strong, and inappropriately
clothed (especially nude). "[R]emorse, normal fear and understanding of
surroundings, and rational thoughts for safety are absent in such
subjects," the report explains.
Like much else about ED, why some subjects exhibiting these symptoms die
and others do not is "not fully understood," the task force notes. Some
researchers suspect that "chronic stimulant-induced abnormalities of
dopamine transporter pathways" in the brain, as well as "elevation of
heat shock proteins," may be involved. Others are exploring possible
"genetic susceptibility." At the moment, the true significance of any
potential causative influence "remains unknown."
It is clear, though, that the "majority of lethal ExDS patients die
shortly after a violent struggle" that becomes "more severe than anyone
anticipates," the report says. "Many have already sustained traumatic
injuries before the arrival of law enforcement and still exhibit intense
struggling, even when a struggle is futile and self mutilation is a
result." The subject may experience a "sudden collapse after restraint"
and lapse into a "period of tranquility" or "giving up" shortly before
dying. Even "aggressive resuscitation" efforts may then prove unsuccessful.
Expecting an ED encounter to be resolved without a potentially fatal
struggle may be asking the near impossible of responding officers. As
the task force acknowledges: "[A]lmost everything taught to LEOs about
control of subjects relies on a suspect to either be rational,
appropriate, or to comply with painful stimuli. Tools and
tactics...(such as pepper spray, impact batons, joint lock maneuvers,
punches and kicks, and ECDs, especially when used for pain compliance)
that are traditionally effective in controlling resisting subjects, are
likely to be less effective on ExDS subjects.
"When methods such as pain compliance maneuvers or tools of force fail,
the LEO is left with few options. It is not feasible for them to wait
for the ExDS subject to calm down, as this may take hours in a
potentially medically unstable situation fraught with scene safety
concerns."
Two resolution possibilities that most officers would consider would be
a physical "swarming" of the subject if sufficient manpower is available
or the firing of a Taser. Unfortunately, the task force does not offer
recommendations or even a listing of pros and cons regarding these
specific options. Nor does it address the controversy regarding Tasering
and in-custody deaths.
A member of the task force told Force Science News that there was "much
debate" about these issues, but that the final consensus seemed to be
that "we should not dictate to cops what to do. We are physicians, not
use-of-force experts." Sztajnkrycer explains: "The purpose of the report
was to emphasize rapid medical recognition" of the syndrome.
The report says simply that "Some of the goals of LEOs in these
situations should be to 1) recognize possible ExDS, contain the subject,
and call for EMS; 2) take the subject into custody quickly, safely, and
efficiently if necessary; and 3) then immediately turn the care of the
subject over to EMS personnel when they arrive for treatment and
transport to definitive medical care."
Because "control measures are a prerequisite for medical assessment and
intervention," the report goes on, "this should be accomplished as
rapidly and safely as possible...[i]n subjects who do not respond to
verbal calming and de-escalation techniques.... Recent research
indicates that physical struggle is a much greater [potential danger]
than other causes of exertion or noxious stimuli.... [S]pecific physical
control methods employed should optimally minimize the time spent
struggling, while safely achieving physical control. The use of multiple
personnel with training in safe physical control measures is encouraged."
And: "There are well-documented cases of ExDS deaths with minimal
restraint such as handcuffs without ECD use. This underscores that this
is a potentially fatal syndrome in and of itself, sometimes reversible
when expert medical treatment is immediately available."
Once the subject is handed off to EMS, "Officers should attempt to
ensure that the tactile temperature of these subjects is documented and
request EMS to measure it," the report advises. "In fatal cases, a
significantly elevated temperature may suggest that a life-threatening
disease or condition was present" and that any death that might result
"was independent of the police intervention."
Once in EMS care, the subject is probably best sedated immediately and
cooled as quickly as possible "to reduce the risk of death," the task
force suggests. "As with any critically ill patient, treatment should
proceed concurrently with evaluation for precipitating causes or
additional pathology" while the crew is en route to a medical facility.
"The risk of death is likely increased with physiologic stress [so]
attempts to minimize such stress are needed in the management of these
patients," the report says.
At this time, the White Paper concludes, there is "insufficient
data...to determine whether fatal ExDS is preventable, or whether there
is a point of no return after which the patient will die regardless of
advanced life support interventions."
The task force recommends several goals for the future to expand the
understanding of ED. These include: studies to "identify susceptibility
genes," more research into "the role of law enforcement control
techniques and devices in the death of subjects," the establishment of a
national "report registry" to compile documentation about fatal and
nonfatal known and suspected ED cases, and research that would lead to
"field protocols and techniques that allow police, EMS, and hospital
personnel to interact with these agitated, aggressive patients in a
manner safe both for the patients and the providers....
"While many of the current deaths from ExDS are likely not preventable,
there may be an unidentified subset in whom death could be averted with
early directed therapeutic intervention."
Only more research and greater understanding of the intricacies of this
vexing condition will tell.
NOTE: What Dr. Lewinski describes as "the best swarming technique that
can be used in an ED situation" is the Star Tactic, developed by FSRC
board member and internationally known DT trainer Gary Klugiewicz. Click
here for a detailed description.
================
(c) 2009: Force Science Research Center, www.forcescience.org. Reprints
allowed by request. For reprint clearance, please e-mail:
[email protected]. FORCE SCIENCE is a registered trademark of
The Force Science Research Center, a non-profit organization based at
Minnesota State University, Mankato.
=======
---
From John Farnam:
2 Nov 09
Urban Blight? From a friend just returning from Detroit:
"Thrill-seeker that I am, I drove around the City of Detroit last
weekend, as I haven't been there for several years.
The East Side is scarcely more than rubble! Complete city blocks have
been razed, leaving huge areas that have, non-unexpectedly, returned to
native prairie. I saw only a handful of isolated, standing houses.
None looked occupied. All had so many bars on windows and doors that
they looked like small jails, and all were so rickety that I concluded
that only reason they were still standing was that termites were all
holding hands!
Downtown, one can see the results of taxpayer-funded 'Urban Renewal.'
There are sports stadiums and a nice Farmer's Market. But, surrounding
the downtown area is what looks like a movie set for a documentary on
the City of Dresden. Kind of ruins the mood, and belies the veneer!
Without industry (which has long-since fled), the City serves no
purpose. With such a large demographic of government-subsidized,
willfully, permanently non-productive, all residents can do is beg for
scraps, from sleazy politicians who steal money doled out to them by the
federal government.
The immensity of rotting blight is something you can't imagine until you
see it with your own eyes. Total land area of abandoned/vacant property
in Detroit now equals that of the entire City of Boston!
As we entered Detroit City Limits, we were greeted by a billboard
advertising employment opportunities. The job:
One thousand new CCW instructors are needed for the State of Michigan.
Imagine that!"
Comment: A system where government hand-outs are routinely used to
purchase votes from the permanently dependant insures such
ever-expanding blight. The only beneficiaries are erstwhile-unemployed
politicians, living in luxury, who never want to see anyone else's lot
improve.
"Of all tyrannies, one sincerely exercised for the 'good' of its victims
is most oppressive. It is better to live under robber-barons than under
omnipotent moral-busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sleep
sometimes, and his lust may, at long-last, be satisfied. But, who
torment us 'for our own good,' will do so without ceasing, because they
do it with the approval of their own consciences."
CS Lewis
/John
(I would have expected John to focus on the enhanced need to take
personal responsibility for one's own safety as social conditions
deteriorate. Of late, I have been getting some interesting e-mails from
potential students, suggesting this growing awareness.)
6 Nov 09
Profession of Arms?
Learned helplessness in the military.
Had Wednesday's serial murders at Ft Hood taken place just outside the
Base in the City of Killeen, TX, the murder suspect would likely have
been gunned-down immediately by several Texas CHL holders.
Tragically, the murders took place in a "gun-free zone" (aka "criminal
empowerment zone"), because in America, among those claiming to be
active members of the "Profession of Arms," no one is armed!
Reaction from the idiot Press were predictable:
They sought out anyone who would comment on the subject of personal
weapons on base. One representative fell into their trap and tried to
defend Base rules that require "... anyone on Base with a weapon must
have it out-of-reach and unloaded." However, as we all know, any gun
that is "perfectly safe" is "perfectly useless," and its owner is
"perfectly helpless."
Base commanders apparently believe everyone should be disarmed and
always ready to be victimized, rather than (Heaven forbid!) armed,
trained, and prepared.
Interesting philosophy, and it obviously "worked" perfectly! Curious
that the murder suspect himself apparently didn't pay much attention to
that particular rule. Imagine that!
The fact is that the best, and only really effective, deterrent to
criminal violence is good and decent people who are constantly armed and
prepared. That practice has ignificantly discouraged all criminal
activity every time it has been tried.
It works. Nothing else does!
Years ago, in all branches of the US Military, officers and staff NCOs
were always armed with a pistol, on base, off base, in uniform, or not.
Being ever "armed and ready" was considered a point of honor! To be
unarmed was to be incapable of performing one's duty. Such a thing
would be dishonorable. Back then, we didn't have mass murders on
military bases!
Under today's "enlightened" policy, even star-wearers are unarmed and
helpless, foolishly relying upon some ill-defined "reactionary force" to
protect them, a force that will predictably arrive long after the
damage has been done. Who own personal weapons, have local CCW
permits, and acquire training outside the "System," are now classified
as "gun-enthusiasts" and are thus highly suspect from that point
forward, lumped in with lepers and child-molesters.
So long as professing practitioners of the "Profession of Arms" are
pathologically frightened of guns and suspect of each other, we can look
forward to more such mass murders of the defenseless. And, I promise
you, all will take place in "gun-free zones."
As always, the real villain here is arrogance, the kind of personal
vanity the ever precludes us from sincerely admitting we're wrong and
that we need to change directions.
Learned helplessness? Not a formula for victory!
/John
(I would not argue that a zealot who is prepared to die would never
stage an attack in a venue that was not a gun-free zone. I will argue
that when it does occur, it will likely be terminated more quickly than
if it had occurred in such a zone.)
--
Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
