Saturday, December 1, 2018

Puck Controversy and the DERP

A few days ago ABC News posted a news article about Oakland University in suburban Detroit handing out hockey pucks to help counter an active shooter. You can read the original article here:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/university-passes-hockey-pucks-defense-active-shooters/story?id=59468711

From the article the purpose of this initiative is "circulating hockey pucks around campus in case of a dire situation, and raising funds to retrofit the school's classroom doors so that they can be locked from the inside."

Predictably the usual suspects in the "shall not be infringed/guns are magic talismans crowd" chimed in making snarky comments, calling people snowflakes and other helpful suggestions. Even Rock and Roll icon and outspoken meat eater Ted Nugent chimed in on his Facebook page "And yet more mushybrained freaks plummet further into the abys of politically correct numbnutness. The desoulling of America on the fastrack to hell. "

The DERP and ridicule was thick. But really what are all these folks upset about? Are they upset that the University is a "gun free zone"? Probably. Are they upset that someone had an idea that didn't involve a firearm and a lethal response? Maybe. Are they sadly living in an open carry fantasy land? Yup

The problem with making fun of initiatives like this is it stifles efforts to promote an aggressive mindset as well as denying reality. Here is a reality check for you. SOMETIMES I DON'T CARRY A GUN. I carry where ever I can legally however If you are promoting breaking the law by carrying in prohibited places as your defensive strategy you are the problem. If your only plan is to shoot something and suddenly you are deprived of the tool you can use to do that then your plan is not a plan at all. Sometime even if you have a gun you shouldn't use it.

Early in my military career I learned about an acroynym PACE. Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency. As in have a plan for all those things. So why not give folks hockey pucks to distract the bad guy and potentially escape or divert attention while someone else tackles them to the ground and beats them senseless? Are we so tied to the gun agenda we can't have backup plans?

Sun Tzu in the Art of War said this "

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

During my decades in the US Army Special Forces I was taught to know my operational environment. Should we be working towards changing schools from gun free zones to a different status? Absolutely, but until then we must operate within the constraints placed upon us. That's reality, not cowboy shoot em up fantasy camp.

Additionally the entire second objective has been missed in all the hoopla. The University is trying to raise money to become a harder target. They are actually raising funds to increase security. Are we so tied to an agenda that we can't see the forest for the trees? The ultimate goal is to keep people safe. You do that by education and infrastructure improvements. Training and mindset cultivation. The gun community needs to quit being assholes and get on board.

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