Understanding Violence
Based on research in psychology, criminology, and public health the most frequently cited
causes of violence are personal, social, economic, and psychological factors.
The cause of violence can be divided into two groups based on the planning involved:
unplanned and planned.
Planning Levels
- Unplanned: Spontanious, Emotional, Reactionary
- Emotional - Inability to manage stress, frustration, or rejection
- Relationship Conflict - Power, jealousy, control, and emotional dependency
- Substance Abuse - Alcohol and drugs lower inhibitions and impair judgment
- Mental Illness
Unplanned violence or spontanious violence is incredibly hard to predict.
Be aware of your surroundings and leave situations that seem to be escalating towards
violence.
Remove the people you care about from the scene and move to a safer environment.
Spontanious violence can often come from a loved one or family friend.
Responding with a firearm may result in their death.
And that death may lead to your imprisonment.
If someone you love attempts to hurt you:
- Leave the situation
- Leave the relationship
- Never look back
There are no exceptions to this rule.
You are NEVER going to accept being a VICTIM as condition to being loved.
Jesus loves you; and, that is enough. It is far better to be alone then to live in fear.
Seek help from family, friends, churches, shelters, ... whatever it takes.
- Planned: Pre-meditated, Organized
- Revenge and Retaliation
- Poverty and Economic Desperation
- Power and Control
- Cultural and Social Norms
Planned violence can be predicted through awareness training.
Being aware that a person or party could attempt violence provides opportunities to
train for those situations.
The situational training is part of "Planned Violence"; it is part of the "Preparedness
Culture" to respond to violence with tactics that ensure survival.
Ensuring survival means the threat must be stopped.
In most cases that means applying deadly force.
Violence Against You
The mindset is simple: escape or kill.
If you can't leave the situation and the threat is real then you engage with efficient
deadly force.
Body armor defeat drill: 2 shots to the heart, 1 shot to the head.
Any action between leaving and deadly force is open to litigation.
If you think you might be in danger, leave.
If you think other people might be in danger, leave, call the police.
Trying to play hero will get you killed or imprisoned.
The line between Citizen's Arrest and Impersonating Public Servant is razor thin.
Civillians are not law enforcement.
It is illegal for civilians to brandish a firearm (Aggravated Assault), point a firearm at
someone (Deadly Conduct), or hold someone at gunpoint (Unlawful Restraint).
Citizen's Arrest - Statute Article 14.01(a)
"A peace officer or any other person may, without a warrant, arrest an offender when the
offense is committed in his presence or within his view, if the offense is one classed
as a felony or an offense against the public peace."
Impersonating Public Servant - Texas Penal Code ยง 37.11
"Knowingly perform an act in pretended capacity as a public servant"
- Detain or question a person
- Coerce or intimidate others
Violence Against Strangers
If you see someone being attacked, you have a moral obligation to engage.
Right?
The problem is context.
You don't know "why" the violence is occurring.
You don't know the character of those involved.
Let's take something simple and make it complicated.
You see two men repeatedly kicking a man on the ground who is trying (unsuccessfully) to
defend against their attacks.
The man on the ground needs help; but, what if:
- the man tried to rob them with a knife
- the man sold them tainted drugs
- the man raped a child
The police are trained to collect people, evidence, and witness statements in order to allow
the courts to determine the truth of things.
It takes a large coordinated effort by experts to figure out these situations.
You do not have enough information to mettle in other people's business.
If you see violence, report it, and stay out of it.
What about Active Shooters? Terrorists? Drive Bys?
In the ultra rare case of an obvious threat to society, like an active shooter, the goal
would be to get people to safety and render medical aide.
If you see the threat, you kill it.
Don't search for the threat.
Don't pretend to be a special operator.
Don't believe that the police need your help.
The police wear uniforms and will engage anyone not on their team.
They could shoot you.
You could accidently shoot an undercover police officer or another citizen trying to stop
the threat.
The rules are the same: escape or kill.