Bringing a Purse to a Gun Fight

While attending the Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy this week, I had an opportunity to see part of Ken Trump's presentation on School Board security.  He showed the video of the Panama City School Board shooting during the presentation.  At one point, a woman attempts to use her purse to knock the gun out of the shooter's hand.  She fails, and he pushes her away.

Mr. Trump made the seemingly derisive comment, "Don't bring a purse to a gun fight."

That comment rubbed me the wrong way.  A woman, not young by any means, attempts to intervene in a shooting using the tools she had, and a man who was lecturing others on school safety mocks her efforts.

Mark Mireles, one of the most decorated officers in LAPD history, wrote about the Ten Warrior Virtues in "Warriors", compiled by Loren Christensen.  One of the virtues Mireles mentions is nobility.  To be a warrior, you must love what you defend.  The warrior is no better than the ones he protects.  Ken Trump's comment did not show much nobility.

Part of my job as a School Safety Officer is to help teachers who are sheep-like become more warrior-like.  One of the things I try to teach is to think on your feet, use what you have, and as they teach in the Infantry; adapt, change, and overcome.  The lady in the board room is to be commended.  Sure, she can learn from it.  We all learn from each experience.  But dammit, she acted, when others ran, or froze!

I, for one, salute her.