Lightning Strikes – Can we prevent it?

Las Vegas…. Sigh.

I’ve been a busy guy over on Facebook, as I cannot help being drawn into discussions about firearms, most recently stemming from the incident in Las Vegas.  As many of my readers and friends know, I am a firearms enthusiast.  But, just as I am a nerdy dentist, I’m a nerdy gun guy, too.  I don’t simply “like” firearms.  I have dived deep into the pool of firearms knowledge.  I have not come to my positions casually, nor do I take the subject lightly.  I have spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours studying the topics of firearms, firearms use / marksmanship, defensive use of firearms, ballistics, and firearms laws.  I have also studied books on violent crime and situational awareness.

But, this article isn’t about guns.  Really.  Stay with me.  Read on.

I actually know shit.

I will not claim to be an “expert among experts.”  Hardly.  I am way down the totem pole of real experts.  But, in a room of “normal” people, I dare suggest I have a bit more knowledge than the rest.   😉   Besides having read dozens of books by the most recognized experts in the field, I am…

  • Qualified “Expert” Pistol in U.S. Navy.  (Not that difficult, really.  But, I got a medal and everything!)
  • 40 years of firearms experience (fired my first firearm at age 13 at summer camp).
  • Certified Pistol Instructor (NRA).
  • Certified Range Safety Officer (NRA).
  • Attended other “hands-on” firearms courses.

So, when I see or hear pure unadulterated bullshit about firearms… I’m talking completely incorrect statements of “fact,” I cannot help chiming in to set the record straight.  Though, I have found that no amount of facts can compete with emotionally-based positions.  No amount of credentials can counter celebrity or popular opinion.  And, again… this article… not about guns.  We shouldn’t be talking about guns.  Read on!

We all want the same thing.

I understand that these violent incidents, perpetrated by suicidal sociopaths hell-bent on taking as many innocents with them as possible, are VERY disturbing.  It’s safe to say that ALL of us, regardless of political inclinations, are compelled to seek solutions to prevent or mitigate these crimes.  It’s very emotional to see it happen before our eyes on streaming video.

It’s scary to think we may not be safe at a concert, mall, movie, or other enjoyable activities outside our homes.  Consequently, we tend to react in knee-jerk fashion, desperate to point our fingers at something.  We “HAVE to do SOMETHING.”  We need to make something against the law, so people can’t do this.  “Doing SOMETHING is better than doing nothing.”  No, it’s not.  “I have a ‘right’ to feel safe.”  (No.  You don’t.)

We are each our own “first responders.”  The police and fire-rescue are SECONDARY responders.  We are responsible for our own safety.  And, a little knowledge will go a long way.  Stay with me!

Upon reflection, a rational person realizes that no amount of legislation will stop a suicidal person from doing suicidal things and going to extremes to take others with him.  No law will stop that man.  The methods by which he can exact his rage on innocents is limited only by his imagination.  Guns.  Trucks.  Planes.  Knives.  Improvised explosives.  He certainly won’t be stopped by a law.  It is akin to thinking you can stop lightning from striking by legislating it.

Ban the bans!

Banning a solid plastic gizmo, that does NOTHING that a shooter can’t do with his bare hands, is a pointless gesture.  It’s actually worse than “doing nothing,” because it distracts us from doing something that WILL help.  As a “firearms expert,” I can tell you that ANY semi-auto firearm can be “bump-fired” (fired at a high rate by using the recoil to aid in quickly resetting the trigger) without any gizmo.  There are a few methods to do it, including simply passing your finger through the trigger guard and hooking it on your pants belt-loop.  Again… no bump-stock needed.  No accessories at all.  Just your finger and a knowledge of Physics.  They can’t ban fingers and Physics, eh?

But, again… this article isn’t about guns.  Here we go…

Lightning is gonna be lightning.

So, we can’t prevent lightning from striking.  RIGHT?  But, we CAN learn about lightning.  We can LEARN about where and when lightning is more likely to strike.  We can learn how to position ourselves in the environment so that we are less likely to be struck by lightning.  We can also learn life-saving skills that will enhance the chances of survival of our fellow man who has been struck by lightning.

You wanna do SOMEthing?

So, I propose a two-pronged approach that would arguably save far more lives than the mindless gesture / feel-good legislation of indiscriminately banning various inanimate objects.  Smug ignorance wrapped in vacuous virtue-signaling will save NO ONE.  OK.  Here we go!  Two simple suggestions!  They require neither legislation nor the use of guns.

1.  Teach Situational Awareness.

This can easily be done via Public Service Announcements and leveraging all media to advance this knowledge, just as we have done with fire safety, dangers of smoking, water safety, impaired driving, etc.

When you enter any public space, whether it is a restaurant, a concert venue, a convention hall, retail establishment, or any other public space… Where are the exits?  How can we get out of here, quickly?  Where are the marked exits (doors)?  Where might there be unmarked exits (restaurant kitchens always have an exit)?  Where could we CREATE an unconventional exit (break a window)?  Survival is a simple science.

Trust your spidey senses.  Does something or somebody not “seem right?”  Use your Situational Awareness.  Look around.  Scan.  You don’t have to be “paranoid.”  Just be aware.  Every once in a while, scan the area and people around you.  Keep having fun.  Keep doing what you’re doing.  Just don’t be oblivious.  Oh… you can put your goddamned phone away.  😡

When you hear “Bang!  Bang!  Bang!”  It’s NOT fucking fireworks, folks!  Unless you’re at a Fourth of July show… IT’S.  NOT.  FIREWORKS.  You need to mentally condition yourself to assume it’s BAD NEWS.  And, your reaction should be to MOVE!  MOVE!  MOVE!  You can precondition your brain to react instinctively to such cues.

If you can find cover (solid structures like a brick wall, car engine or axle / wheel, metal structure or appliance, etc) that’s good.  But, be prepared to move again.  Otherwise, get your ass out of there and keep running until you either collapse from exhaustion or reach the state line!  If it turns out to be a false alarm, you risk only a little embarrassment.  I’d rather be alive and embarrassed than potentially dead or severely injured.

Do not “prairie dog” to see what’s going on.  Do NOT whip out your phone camera in hopes of attaining your 15 minutes of viral fame on Youtube.  GTFO!  Get the fuck out!  Do not “get down” face-down on the ground, making yourself a STATIONARY target.  This seems to be conventional wisdom borne of Hollywood movies.

I’ll say it one more time:  MOVE!  A moving target is less likely to get hit.  In recent years, I’ve watched videos of violent incidents like this one in Las Vegas and the airport shooting in Fort Lauderdale.  I’m STUNNED at how many people either stand in there frozen, or walk around aimlessly… completely unaware of, or in denial of, what is happening.  You need to rehearse these things in your mind“What would I do if ______?”  “Where would I go / run if ______?”  Do it over and over.  Practice it when you walk into a place or arrive at a venue.

2.  Learn First Aid!

That’s me on the left. We are carrying a “litter” (stretcher with patient) through an obstacle course at Camp Bullis in Texas. Combat Casualty Care Course.

Many lives can be saved with prompt first aid treatment.  Most deaths in these situations are either breathing or bleeding issues.  Emergency room doctors talk about the “Golden Hour” to save a life.  Out in the “field,” with a hit to a major artery, we’ve got a Golden MINUTE.  If you know how to PROPERLY apply a tourniquet, you can save a life.

As a dentist in the Navy, I had to take the ATLS / “C4” course (Advanced Trauma Life Support / Combat Casualty Care Course).  This was an EIGHT-DAY advanced course for medical professionals that included emergency surgical interventions for combat-related trauma and even how to deal with chemical, biological, and nuclear weapon casualties.  In the case of combat, military dentists become first line trauma surgeons.

Me, front and center. King(s) of the Hill! At C4 course at Camp Bullis and Fort Sam Houston in Texas. Circa 1989.

Well, that was in 1989, and I have been fortunate enough to never need to use those skills.  I need a refresher (on a more basic level).  You don’t have to be a medical professional to take a “tactical first aid” course.  They are offered all over the country.

In the spirit of “doing something” PRODUCTIVE and EFFECTIVE, I am committing myself to finding such a course (civilian version) and taking it as soon as possible.  I will then equip myself with the requisite “trauma first aid kits” to have at my disposal.  I hope to never use them.  And, chances are I won’t.  The probabilities are quite low.  But, the stakes are high.  Imagine if, in a crowd of 10,000 people with mass casualties, there were 100 people trained to stop massive bleeding on the spot.  If just ONE percent of the population knew how to properly apply a tourniquet, how many lives might be saved in such an unfortunate situation?  It just makes sense.  Be a one-percenter!

Avoidance.  Evasion.  Escape.  First Aid.

To recap:  I propose that these two actions (Situational Awareness and First Aid) would undoubtedly save lives… far more than banning silly gizmos that frighten people who know nothing about them.  Criminals don’t abide by laws, anyway.  Rather than FEEL like “we did something,” how about YOU actually DO something TANGIBLE for the greater good AND your OWN good.  The life you save may be your own or your family.

Let’s not divert our focus, mental energies, and legislative and law enforcement resources on banning objects.  Rather, let’s do something truly tangible about “lightning strikes.”  We know lightning can strike.  Banning “electricity” is an empty and ineffective gesture.  We can be aware and recognize lightning.  We can observe the environment where lightning is more likely to strike.  We can’t stop it preemptively.  But, we can surely avoid getting struck, and we can learn how to effectively manage casualties caused by lightning.

I submit that this two-step proposal is virtually unassailable and irrefutable.  It just makes sense.  It doesn’t infringe on anyone’s Rights.  It doesn’t penalize law-abiding citizens.  It’s a true grass roots approach that costs little and virtually eliminates government involvement.   It would undoubtedly save lives.  Many lives.

Check out some of the links embedded in this article (to read similar articles I’ve written).  Feel free to comment below!

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove © 2017 The Dental Warrior®
This entry was posted in Current Events, Editorial, Personal Security & Safety and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

19 Responses to Lightning Strikes – Can we prevent it?

  1. Ken says:

    Very logical and common sense written here but unfortunately logic and common sense seem to take a back seat in our country these days? A local guy was on the radio saying the same things you were saying about awareness and preparedness but my guess is his interview and advice went largely ignored? People don’t realize or more likely choose to ignore there already are gun laws in place. As a friend somewhat comically pointed out about this whole thing; “We need to pass a law that makes breaking the law illegal” but that would make about as much sense as passing a law to ban lightning wouldn’t it? 😉

    • The Dental Warrior says:

      Thanks for your comments, Ken. I certainly cannot disagree. But, I’m going to keep trying to preach the “good word” about personal security and common sense (and easy) measures we can all take. I have to believe that, eventually, truth will win. I have to! 🙂

  2. romo says:

    This is exactly what I needed to read today as I sit in my dark living room, reading the latest news to come out of LV, crying and feeling helpless.

    My dad, who grew up in the Bronx, taught us situational awareness and what I call “city survival”. Most of my friends not only don’t understand my need to pick a seat in a restaurant with my back to a wall, they laugh at me for it. I’ve had many conversations with my two sons about how to stay as safe as possible in a movie theater or mall. I hope it has sunk in.

    I work as an assistant in a dental office (only about an hour away from yours) in a strip mall where the young punk doctor requires the back door to remain ajar at all times so that he can get in without having to be bothered to use his keys. At best, this is a HIPAA violation due to old charts stored just inside the door. At worst, we all die when a junkie slips in looking for drugs and we don’t hear him over the compressor. No one else in the office seems to think it’s a bog deal so my concerns are ignored.

    I would love to take a tactical first aid course. If you find one in central/south FL, please post the info.

    • The Dental Warrior says:

      The doc leaves the back door propped open ALL DAY? If so, YIKES.

      Thanks for chiming in with your comments!

  3. Mike,
    Thanks for the common sense. I too need to re-take my tactical first aid course. I do keep a gun shot first aid kit in my car, office, and home. I hope I never need to use them, but I hope I don’t ever need to use the fire extinguishers either.

  4. Mike Kippenberger says:

    Hi Mike,

    Great article. I grew up on a farm in Kansas and Oklahoma. Guns were always around.
    Never any problems. Mike, you are so right about this.

    I’m sure Rosalita’s has an exit through the kitchen

    Mike

  5. This is a gun-mad country. No other nation has the problem that we have. The second amendment was designed to let a militia keep their arms at home. The elected officials who support NRA legislation have the blood on their hands for much of the violence that is a plague on this nation. And the media glorify the gun. And Michael glorifies the gun

    • Andy Talacba says:

      The NRA does not write, nor pass legislation. The NRA supports people who are interested in protecting themselves with the use of guns, and who enjoy the use of guns as a recreational endeavor. So people like you, with comments like you wrote, are simple wrong, and have no business repeating silly ideas that you may have read or heard about. Your comment clearly shows that you have no idea whatthe NRA is about.

    • The Dental Warrior says:

      Really? LOL! Got ANY references for your postulated notion about the “militia keeping arms at home?” Just one would be good. That’s some imagination you have. On the other hand I’ve got tons of references… letters, quotes, speeches and more from the Founders that patently defy your delusional proclamation. Do some homework and get back to us when you have some facts. 🙂

      So, you disagree with the idea that increased situational awareness and a working knowledge of first aid would positive actions to take? Perhaps you can address the actual subject at hand here?

      I glorify freedom in every form. And, that it bothers you so much is icing on the cake. Thanks for making my day! 😛

  6. Andy Talacba says:

    If Mike ever gets his head out of his rectum, he will have a serious problem with sunburn thereafter. Mike is such a self-important, righteous and arrogant meaningless inhabitant of this planet. He pushes himself and his opinions on everyone, like his opinions are the best and the greatest and should be followed by everyone. Tsk, tsk. He is obviously overcompensating for his small stature. He’s so disrespectful of everyone in his chosen “profession” of dentistry. which, by the way, has about zero respect among those in the know. Anyone can write an article and express one’s opinion. Mike thinks he is going to save the world, if only everyone would follow his advice, and recognize him for it. Sadly, that will never happen

    • The Dental Warrior says:

      So, besides indulging in ad hominem flowing like diarrhea from the wrong end of the tube…. It’s interesting that you claim I’m “pushing myself and opinions” on you. Yet, HERE YOU ARE. You’re the one that clicked over to my blog, all by yourself. Don’t like what I say or write? Don’t come here. LOL! I write this blog for ME. Really, it’s an entirely self-indulgent exercise, admittedly. It doesn’t matter to me, if I’m the only one that reads it, or others get enjoyment out of it. But, get this: 10,000 views per month on this silly little one-man-show blog!

      Hey… This blog (and anything else I write or speak) has never been intended to please everyone. Again, my blog is intended to please ME. It’s quite therapeutic. Maybe you should try it? But, 10,000 times a month other people, of their own volition, come to read my musings. Nobody is forced to read anything I write. It’s a free country, dude. As a matter of fact, if I didn’t occasionally (or even more than occasionally) piss off, offend, or incite rage in some people, I’d be disappointed.

      But, like I told the other malcontent further up in the comments… When you can dispense with the histrionic name-calling and come back with some facts, I’ll entertain them with due consideration. Otherwise, that I made you THAT angry is just another feather in my cap. Thanks for letting me live in your head rent-free and for making my day! 😛

      Ya’ll come back now, ya heah? 😉

      • Mimi says:

        Freedom of speech and the exposure of reasoned ideas can create a reaction. And yes expression is therapeutic.
        Continuing exposure to freedom of speech will sanitize the pathogen of false propaganda. It may take time, sometimes too much time, but truth will be known. I hope it’s not too late for truth to save civilization in a connected world. Again, thank you for a great passion for the truth well and nobly written.

    • Mimi says:

      WOW! Self revealing invective is all you have to contribute to this serious discussion? Surely you can come up with one real comment to bolster the opposing view to Dental Warrior’s sincere editorial.

  7. John says:

    For the first time I’m going to disagree. But only with the statement that we all want the same thing. It has become painfully obvious through their hypocracy that the left does NOT want to prevent these shooting incidents. In fact they want them to happen and they want them to be emotionally painful. They set up schools as gun-free zones. They refuse to act on problem students. Then they wait for the inevitable to happen. When it fits their agenda, out come the crocodile tears, the suspiciously well-planned protests, demonization of all gun owners, and a new incrementally designed gun ban.
    Without these tragedies, the left has no “great cause” to champion.

    • The Dental Warrior says:

      Hi John. Thanks for your comments. I will say that I do not disagree. I do not believe your position is “far-fetched.” The more I look into it, the more I also believe you are on to something. The anti-liberty faction is not interested in “safety.” They have hijacked that word to justify their insatiable desire to CONTROL the rest of us. Our FREEDOM is the biggest threat to them.

      That said, I also believe there are plenty of “anti-gun” people who genuinely want to feel safe. Unfortunately, they are operating on a very low level of knowledge about firearms and gun laws. Their intent is noble…. albeit misguided. It can be frustrating when they remain willfully ignorant. There are some that will listen to facts about firearms and existing gun laws. But, some are quite resistant to the “discussion” they claim to want to have.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *