It’s an ancient warfare tactic, and one terrorists of every stripe employ to wreak violence on the innocent: The element of surprise. Once the attacker ambushes presumably unarmed civilians, in a peaceful setting, the victims are usually paralyzed through shock and cannot defend themselves.
It takes remarkable presence of mind to survive – much less mount a unified offensive against the attacker and save other innocents. In the Arizona attack Saturday that killed six and injured 14, the heroes who intervened include 74-year-old retired Army Col. Bill Badger, Roger Sulzgeber, Joseph Zimudie and Patricia Maisch, 61.
That morning Badger, Sulzgeber and Maisch were in line for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords at her meet-and-greet at a Tucson grocery store. Zimudie was also nearby when the alleged killer – Jared Loughner – fired at Giffords and others with a 9-mm semi-automatic pistol.
The four retaliated, tackling, subduing and disarming the shooter. When Loughner reached to reload, Maisch heard someone say, “Get the magazine!”
“So I got the magazine, and I was able to secure that. That’s what needed to be done!” she said.
It is very difficult to remain cool, calm and deliberate after having been surprised by gunshots going off and people dropping to the ground near you – and that’s in a war zone. It’s all the more difficult when all you were doing was waiting to greet your favorite politician.
A successful attack
For an attacker to be successful in his endeavor, he needs to adhere to some basic principles: He must be certain of secrecy, use deception and be able to surprise his victims. If someone, however, is able to expose the secret or deception before an attack, it would thwart the attacker’s plans. There won’t be a surprise.
It appears Loughner deceived everyone by appearing to be just another concerned citizen keen to meet a lawmaker before drawing a gun and shooting at her.
A successful defense
The best way to mitigate the paralyzing-shock factor is by thinking through a planned response to a surprise attack. Or at least make the decision never to allow a thug to frighten or intimidate you.
Col. Badger, having served in the military, demonstrated the trait of showing courage in the face of a violent attack, doubtlessly instilled in him during his training. This spirit stood this hero in good stead as he carried on fighting despite a bleeding bullet wound on the back of his head.
During our military training in the South African Defense Force, we learned the only time to retreat in the face of the enemy was when you were preparing to attack again from another position or angle.
Showing cowardice before your foe is an offense that in most military structures carries a very severe penalty.
Surprise
The best form of defense for the victim is the very tactic the attackers first used – surprise – which can be turned against the perpetrator.
This is exactly what these four heroes did. They gained control of the situation in dramatic fashion, first hitting the shooter on the back of the head with a camping chair. Badger then held his wrist and used a throat grip to make escape a flimsy possibility.
I’ve had to use the same technique – surprise – when responding to terrorists armed with automatic assault rifles and hand grenades when they attacked our church in Cape Town, South Africa on July 25, 1993. I used it again July 1, 2008, when I was almost a victim of an attempted car-jacking.
Courage
As our prayers and hearts go out to those injured and the families of those who lost loved ones in this mindless atrocity, all, I’m sure, are thankful to these heroes for their courage, tenacity, discipline and fearless response in the face of danger.
I have much admiration for those who fight off gun-wielding attackers with their bare hands. As for a 74-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman who subdued and “de-ammoed” a violent thug in the midst of his rampage, they did what heroes do: Help save lives.
Also, never underestimate the difference private citizens – who refuse to be victims – can have in a time of crisis.
Charl van Wyk used his .38 special revolver to save lives in his church after attackers entered the building and began shooting. He is the author of “Shooting Back: The Right and Duty of Self Defense”.
