Podcast
[audio:http://churchsecuritypodcasts.s3.amazonaws.com/churchsecurityshooting.mp3]
Fernando Diaz Jr., 33, was arrested for shooting 3 people at a church festival. While the media sorts out how to stop an apparently “random” shooting, churches are left with the difficult question of stopping an incident while it is happening.
Incidents like this church related shooting have increased, and churches are seeking the best methods for stopping a violent attack against for their congregation. These incidents have been stopped by “spontaneous heroes” who take Jesus’ words “No greater love hath a man than to lay down his life for his friends” to heart.
This most recent incident in Granada Hills, California demonstrates how these incidents normally conclude. Someone present at the scene decides he or she is going to be the one to step forward and stop the insanity. While most people are staring and trying to determine whether this violent incident is a dream or reality, a brave soul stands up and acts. Instead of running away like everyone else, these people run to the sound of the gunfire, risk their very lives, and take violent action against the perpetrator.
Violence In Church? Weapons Strips.
Most Christians I know are peace loving people who would never dream of hurting anyone. These were most of the people running away from the gunman. Yet, when a man rushes onto church property with the intention of harming innocent people, there are some who make the choice to stop the aggressive action.
If one chooses to stop the aggression, it is a good idea to train for it. In Columbus, OH a shooter entered a night club and began randomly shooting band members and anyone who tried to stop him. In the video, I watched as man after man rushed the shooter, grabbed the shooter’s wrist, and then was shot in the abdomen and chest.
In the CA incident the men who stopped the shooter, waited for a lull and then launched their attack. One man took the waist, and another took the neck. This worked out fine, but the problem was they didn’t control the weapon.
Church security teams should be proficient in empty hand tactics. Churches should consider allowing chosen individuals to carry firearms following all state and local laws. However, if a weapon is not available on site, any you choose to attempt to attack the shooter – ATTACK THE WEAPON FIRST, CONTROL IT WITH THE BARREL AWAY FROM YOU, and then attack the shooter.
The barrel away from you means you have stepped out of the way, you have controlled the limb with the gun behind you, or you have pushed the weapon up into the air (think Statue of Liberty) and it is not pointed at you.
THEN attack the shooter’s vital areas.
Attack the shooter by head butting to the face, palm heel to the throat, elbowing to the nose and sternum, punching the nose area repeatedly, knee striking the groin, stomach, and face or kicking.
Don’t worry about disarming the person. Worry about controlling the weapon first, then go to work on the shooter. If you attempt to disarm the person, and wrest the gun from his control, the person with the most leverage and strength will win the battle. If it’s not you, then you are in serious trouble.
In the near future, we will put together a weapon retention (any weapon) weapons strips video.
