Caught In A Riot?
What To Tell Customers

One reason your customers buy defensive firearms and related gear from you instead of the Monster Mart or online is you’re the resident expert on their use — including questions about self- and home-defense tactics. This gives you, the gun dealer, an ethical duty to give them good advice.

The rioting and social unrest of 2020 has brought this issue to the forefront, and it’s a question commonly asked. (It’s certainly one I’ve been getting a lot.) The advice I offer is informed by 40-plus years as a sworn L.E. officer, 41 as an expert witness in weapons and shooting cases and many homicide investigation classes both taught and taken. If you find it of use, you’re welcome to share it. Let’s look at some important factors to consider.

The Changing Face Of Mob Violence

One question from those who’ve done some legal research is, “Isn’t it true, historically, the law has viewed a mob as an organism in which any member shares responsibility for the damage and the fear it unlawfully creates, and therefore shares the same jeopardy of deadly force being used against them in self-defense by innocent victims?”

The answer, in the broad historical scope, is yes. However, the problem today is the face of mob violence has changed.

In the early 20th century, legendary Texas Ranger Frank Hamer became famous for bringing the outlaws Bonnie and Clyde to fatal justice, but Texans who study the Rangers give him even more credit for his fight against the KKK and saving an estimated 15 people, mostly black, from lynch mobs. He lost one prisoner to a mob that burned down the building where the suspect was jailed, but stood off the rest with the threat of deadly force. Something like a lynch mob was what the legal principle was designed for: A group of people who shared a murderous intent, and were acting as the “single organism” we mentioned earlier.

Today, however, more than one thing has changed. The pattern of 2020 mob violence has not, for the most part, been one of the single amorphous “thing” with shared criminal intent. Instead, clever manipulators have created large groups of people with good, if outraged, intent … and used them as cover and camouflage.

In a major American city is a very smart cop who writes under the pen name of “Spencer Blue.” He has written today’s rioters — the ones who practice arson and vandalism and violent assault — swim in a sea of protesters, people who at heart mean, and do, no harm.

This means the “mob” is no longer an amorphous evil entity with shared criminal intent, and if the customer who asks your advice sees a large group of protesters as a “herd of evil zombies” from “The Walking Dead” it’s your duty to remind them the TV show is a fantasy and not a training film.

If An Encounter Occurs …

CCW Scenarios: If your customers can legally carry, encourage them to keep their handguns on their person. They may have to exit a vehicle quickly. If they’ve abandoned a long gun in the car, it will go up for grabs and end up arming looters.

Advice for dealers: Remind concerned customers you can sell them secure lock boxes for long guns that bolt to the floor of a vehicle.
Slings Aid Muzzle Control: In any accusations brought against the St. Louis couple, expect the accusers to harp on the fact their muzzles crossed the protesters.

Advice for dealers: Show your long-gun customers tactical slings and how to use them. (One would have shortstopped this particular allegation against Mr. McCloskey.)

Dual Need For Eye Protection: Inform customers rocks or bottles hitting auto glass can send “spall” flying into passengers’ eyes, as can bullets going through the same glass in either direction.

Advice for dealers: Remind them it’s a good idea for each vehicle to contain enough safety glasses for all passengers.

Carrying A Shotgun: Does the customer insist he or she needs a shotgun to deal with crowd situations?

Above all, convey this advice: avoidance is the best of all strategies.

Advice for dealers: Remind him or her of their responsibilities in situations described above — the spreading pattern of a shot load endangers bystanders, as does the deep penetration of most slug loads. (A consideration for pistol-caliber carbines: they allow precise targeting of deadly threats, and hollowpoints from a long barrel are less likely to “shoot through” and strike an innocent or even one of their potential rescuers.)

Seatbelt Considerations: When a car is suddenly swarmed, it’s hard for someone seat-belted in a car to draw from a strongside hip holster.
Advice for dealers: Point out to customers you can sell them cross-draw and shoulder holsters. (A compact handgun in an ankle holster is also easy to reach when seat-belted in a sitting position. You’re able to furnish these, yes?)

Backup Guns: In line with the above, ask the customer to consider whether he or she might be sharing a suddenly attacked vehicle with someone who’s not carrying a gun of their own but is fully capable of responsibly using one in an emergency.

Advice for dealers: Remind the customer of the many uses a backup gun has, one often overlooked is the ability to arm a trustworthy companion.

Above all, convey this advice: Avoidance is the best of all strategies.

Dealers, what questions have you fielded from customers during this time? We want to hear from you!
comments@shootingindustry.com

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