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The Reality of the “Hostage Shot”

Posted on 4 August 2014 by The Tactical Hermit

[youtube=http://youtu.be/Pobjj9U3K5g]

 

Most all CO’s in the world have people in their lives they love and care for. Part of the reason they train like they do is for  those loved one’s safety and security. Nothing epitomizes the “worst case” scenario for the CO  than if a scumbag had one of our loved ones in a “hostage/shield” situation like in the video above.

For the CO, nothing is as important than to be able to reach into their toolbox (in a moments notice) and make that critical “First Shot” to neutralize that threat. Unfortunately, this is one of those handgun skill-set’s that is glamorized often by hollywood and the movies but sadly, is not drilled on near enough by the CO. As this video shows, this is indeed a “street reality” and not a sporadic, random incident as most training suggest. If the CO’s  training is to be REALISTIC, it needs to reflect this type of threat regularly in it’s drills.

What is unique to me about this vid is it shows the combative realities of a typical hostage encounter on the street versus the often over-dramatized and unrealistic versions of hostage encounters many trainers use today. For instance:

  • This encounter is about average in distance for a self-defense shooting (around 6 feet), while most hostage scenario training I have done is around 7 to 10 yards!
  • While in most “hostage” scenarios low-percentage HEAD SHOTS are emphasized to IMMEDIATELY NEUTRALIZE the threat to ensure the hostage is not harmed, here we see the cop TAKES WHATEVER THE PERP GIVES HIM TACTICALLY, WHICH IS COMBAT 101.

Firstly, the perp is stupid (as most street criminals are) in choosing a crowd of men to holdup!? He does a terrible job in controlling both the hostage and the crowd, and the cop makes him pay for his stupidity by choosing the right time he is distracted to draw and fire. Secondly, the perp is sloppy in how he controls the uses the hostage as a shield (which is hostage taking 101!!) exposing his body to the cop and the cop makes him pay for it with 2 solid center mass shots. Consider: Why go for the lower percentage head shot (even at this distance) when the perp is giving you the much higher percentage body shot(s) to the lungs and heart?

In summation:

  • For the CO, nothing is more important for his survival than to train realistically. Examine ALL your  firearm drills regularly. If they do not reflect “street reality” CHANGE THEM ASAP!
  • Don’t get bogged down in “techniques”; THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL TO MASTER IN COMBAT IS IMPROVISATION: TAKING WHAT THE ENEMY GIVES YOU IN A FIGHT and USING IT AGAINST THEM!
  • SHOOT THEM TO THE GROUND! Don’t wait to see how your rounds “effect” him; .keep pulling the trigger until he is NOT JUST DOWN, BUT NO LONGER A THREAT!!

Stay Dangerous!

 

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