For couple of days, I was reading a lot of articles on hostage situations in public domain. Reading news archives from Beslan to the down under, from single perpetrator with ridiculous motive to a well organized combatants. I was wondering, what should be the appropriate response for civilians trapped in a hostage situation since many times the perpetrators although only in small number, always managed to control the hostages. It is a commonly expected that the hostage should keep calm and do not provoke the perpetrators, however this may leads to give a success-feeling to the perpetrators as it will give them time to use the situation as a stage to issue demands and proclaiming manifesto etc. Should civilian be taught to handle such situation? I observe that many people without proper training will just freeze and some others just panic. An angry mob can take a well armed personnel, but in hostage situation rarely sees it happens. Is it legal in your area for civilian to take down a perpetrator using lethal means?
Tactical squads may already be deployed but they may need the time to assess the situation. Going in fast with possibility to cause more casualties but sends a message of government does not deal with terrorists or going slow with increased rate of success to wait for the perpetrators to get tired but with complaints from the hostage's family members, and giving a signal that it is easy to perform such outrageous act in public places? The logic is, if only one place with one perpetrator can cause a buzz, what will happen with more numbers? The Mumbai tragedy is the one that sets an example that moving perpetrators in multiple places can wreak havoc.
Just some tips, my old man used to teach me the following :
1. Observe exits when entering building.
2. Sit on place where you can safely escape.
3. Use reflective surfaces to aid visual observation.
4. Slip away without anyone noticing when anything bad happens.
Not paranoid, but only as precaution.
Regret comes last, if it comes early its called registration!
In the end, only fellow preppers truly respects other preppers.
When nothing happens, the world will laugh at you.
When SHTF, what will happen when they found out you got supplies?
I don't think that it's possible to create a hard and fast rule like "run to the nearest exit at all cost" or "run for the hostage taker and neutralize him/her". The reality is that there is a wide spectrum of events possible, from Beslan to Sidney.
My biggest fear would be to manage to make it out of the situation and find out later that hostages were executed or ill treated in retaliation for my running away.
And CCW isn't really a solution as in the Vegas Walmart case where an armed citizen shot at one of the perpetrator thinking he was a lone wolf, just to be killed by the perp's wife. At the very least, you need to know about the threat, including how many are involved. Remember that "pros" may have planted what seems to be an innocent bystander there just to serve as back up.
That is exactly the two options I favor the most. Either we can run or try to fight, not giving the advantage to the perps. If the situation goes the same after a few hours, it will give more time to the perps to rig something worst. Thats why I was wondering if there are any drills related to hostage situation. Maybe like a fire drill or earthquake drill. Is there any of fellow preppers here may have encounter such situation? Maybe escaping or even put on a fight and explaining the reason behind that option?
For the wide spectrum and variables, I agree that too many factors must be calculated. By the way for the running away and causing misfortunes to others, maybe we can see from this options:
A. Stay, may remain safe
B. Stay, can be executed
C. Go, others may remain safe
D. Go, others being executed as a reason for you running away
E. You Stay, others are escaping, other got executed for the runaways
F. You stay, others are escaping, you got executed for the runaways
Either options we took its actually not our mistake. Therefore I don't get it if someone managed to escape may being mocked for leaving other hostages. People should blame the perps, not blaming victims that not wishing his ordinary day ruined and wanting to live another day.
CCW may not be a solution but giving a chance to fight. The downside is that you may also be mistakenly identified as another perps.
Regret comes last, if it comes early its called registration!
In the end, only fellow preppers truly respects other preppers.
When nothing happens, the world will laugh at you.
When SHTF, what will happen when they found out you got supplies?