re: Hoover Police mall shooting-UPDATE pg 9- 2/8/19: Shooting is under Federal review

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If you were carrying and were in an active shooter situation you're trying to tell me you wouldn't draw your gun bc you'd be worried about the laws? Gtfo. What's even the point of owning a handgun if not for situations like this?

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The number one piece of advice I could ever give anyone on this type situation, if carrying concealed/open (depending on where you are) and an active shooter situation arises, would be to not draw your weapon and run. The best thing is to simply run, moving targets are harder to hit, and if you are confronted by the assailant, then you draw to defend yourself. But if you are clear of danger, one of the worst things you can do is draw your weapon while running away. A simple bit to remember...run, hide, defend. Run first, hide if running isn't possible, and be ready to defend when you have to.
During the chaos of an active shooter situation, if running around with a weapon in your hand, you've just made yourself a target for law enforcement.

I've trained through several active shooter defense classes with defense experts as well as law enforcement. This was stated universally in each class.

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Looks like ALEA isn't going to give Hoover permission to release any video's or information

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I hope Hoover goes through with their threat to do it anyway. Now that they have a suspect in custody there's really no reason not to. By not releasing the video it looks like they're hiding something. Releasing the video would go a long way towards re-establishing trust between the police department and the public and make it easier for the officers out on the streets to do their jobs effectively.

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I hope Hoover goes through with their threat to do it anyway. Now that they have a suspect in custody there's really no reason not to. By not releasing the video it looks like they're hiding something. Releasing the video would go a long way towards re-establishing trust between the police department and the public and make it easier for the officers out on the streets to do their jobs effectively.

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Hoover would really be stupid to do that. The person that releases the video could be charged with obstructing an active investigation by ALEA.

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The number one piece of advice I could ever give anyone on this type situation, if carrying concealed/open (depending on where you are) and an active shooter situation arises, would be to not draw your weapon and run. The best thing is to simply run, moving targets are harder to hit, and if you are confronted by the assailant, then you draw to defend yourself.

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While I don't disagree with this, I find it incredibly ironic that what is preached by law enforcement is the exact opposite of what so many gun rights activists preach in "the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."

It works if one is only absolutely forced to use it in a life or death self defense situation, but the overall theme of the good guy with a gun statement is that the good guy with a gun is supposed to shoot the bad guy with a gun, and not run and hide.

This is my comment on the SECr post the night it happened

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This was not the case, he was actively involved in what happened. Unfortunately, I saw the initial argument between two groups go down. There was 7-10 on each side with the guy who is dead and the other was wearing a red windbreaker and a Louis Vuitton doo rag. It started just on the other side of the food court on the second level above the Vans store. I got caught in the middle of the argument without realizing it just due to how many people were there. I saw the dead guy reaching in his pants for something but he never pulled anything out. I told a mall security guard there looked like there was about to be a huge fight and showed him which direction they went (towards foot action) and he said he was getting backup to confront the situation. We decided to leave within 5 minutes of that happening and before I even got home (live behind the summit) I had got a text from my dad asking if I was ok because he knew I was there. I ended up calling Hoover PD and told them everthing I saw about what looked like the beginning of it. Pretty sure the kid who’s in the hospital is the guy in the read jacket just based on what I saw.

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Now I’m seeing this

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Hoover police say investigators believe that more than two individuals were involved in the initial altercation, including 21-year-old Bradford.

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News link

And that’s an interesting twist on the narrative. I’ve wanted to make so many comments on social media regarding this but have stayed quiet. I’ve relayed this story to Hoover PD, Jefferson Co Sheriff, and ALEA. Hope they get all this sorted out as soon as possible.

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While I don't disagree with this, I find it incredibly ironic that what is preached by law enforcement is the exact opposite of what so many gun rights activists preach in "the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."

It works if one is only absolutely forced to use it in a life or death self defense situation, but the overall theme of the good guy with a gun statement is that the good guy with a gun is supposed to shoot the bad guy with a gun, and not run and hide.

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The two aren't mutually exclusive. If you are armed, your first instinct should be to elude the attacker if possible and defend yourself as a last resort. The purpose of the gun is to level the playing field if the last resort arises. The benefit here being, in addition to the individual defending themselves, possibly disabling the shooter and preventing further casualties.

I don't think most gun rights promoters are suggesting that armed civilians should go hunting an active shooter in an active shooting.

Ahh. I was curious because my brother in law is an instructor and he said if it's not posted with the state code on the front door, then one can carry. Something like that. We're discussing this a few days ago. Also , each state is different.

The guy I mentioned in the red jacket would most likely fit this description. The biggest thing I remember about him was he looked pretty young. I’m not saying it is him but also wouldn’t be surprised at all.

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I don't think most gun rights promoters are suggesting that armed civilians should go hunting an active shooter in an active shooting.

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I don't agree with that. There's certainly a false bravado that comes with this phrase. There are way too many people that think that phrase means to actively try to stop the "bad guy with a gun." That's what the phrase insinuates.

If it didn't, it would be "the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun, but only after he runs, hides and uses his gun as an absolute last resort."